A molecular characterization of the charismatic Faroe house mouse

Faroe house mice are a ‘classic’ system of rapid and dramatic morphological divergence highlighted by J. S. Huxley during the development of the Modern Synthesis. In the present study, we characterize these charismatic mice using modern molecular techniques, examining specimens from all Faroe islands occupied by mice. The aims were to classify the mice within the modern house mouse taxonomy (i.e. as either Mus musculus domesticus or Mus musculus musculus) using four molecular markers and a morphological feature, and to examine the genetic diversity and possible routes of colonization using mitochondrial (mt) control region DNA sequences and microsatellite data (15 loci). Mice on the most remote islands were characterized as M. m. domesticus and exhibited exceptionally low genetic diversity, whereas those on better connected islands were more genetically diverse and had both M. m. musculus and M. m. domesticus genetic elements, including one population which was morphologically M. m. musculus‐like. The mtDNA data indicate that the majority of the mice had their origins in south‐western Norway (or possibly southern Denmark/northern Germany), and probably arrived with the Vikings, earlier than suggested by Huxley. The M. m. musculus genetic component appears to derive from recent mouse immigration from Denmark. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 102 , 471–482.     

Individuals' decision to co-donate or donate alone: an archival study of married whole body donors in hawaii

Background

Human cadavers are crucial to numerous aspects of health care, including initial and continuing training of medical doctors and advancement of medical research. Concerns have periodically been raised about the limited number of whole body donations. Little is known, however, about a unique form of donation, namely co-donations or instances when married individuals decide to register at the same time as their spouse as whole body donors. Our study aims to determine the extent of whole body co-donation and individual factors that might influence co-donation.

Methods and Findings

We reviewed all records of registrants to the University of Hawaii Medical School’s whole body donation program from 1967 through 2006 to identify married registrants. We then examined the 806 married individuals’ characteristics to understand their decision to register alone or with their spouse. We found that married individuals who registered at the same time as their spouse accounted for 38.2 percent of married registrants. Sex differences provided an initial lens to understand co-donation. Wives were more likely to co-donate than to register alone (p = 0.002). Moreover, registrants’ main occupational background had a significant effect on co-donations (p = 0.001). Married registrants (regardless of sex) in female-gendered occupations were more likely to co-donate than to donate alone (p = 0.014). Female-gendered occupations were defined as ones in which women represented more than 55 percent of the workforce (e.g., preschool teachers). Thus, variations in donors’ occupational backgrounds explained co-donation above and beyond sex differences.

Conclusions

Efforts to secure whole body donations have historically focused on individual donations regardless of donors’ marital status. More attention needs to be paid, however, to co-donations since they represent a non-trivial number of total donations. Also, targeted outreach efforts to male and female members of female-gendered occupations might prove a successful way to increase donations through co-donations.     

Identification of structural DNA variations in human cell cultures after long-term passage

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was adapted for genomic identification of cell cultures and evaluation of DNA stability in cells of different origin at different culture passages. DNA stability was observed in cultures after no more than 5 passages. Adipose-derived stromal cells demonstrated increased DNA instability. RAPD fragments from different cell lines after different number of passages were cloned and sequenced. The chromosomal localization of these fragments was identified and single-nucleotide variations in RAPD fragments isolated from cell lines after 8–12 passages were revealed. Some of them had permanent localization, while most variations demonstrated random distribution and can be considered as de novo mutations.     

Does day-3 LH/FSH ratio influence in vitro fertilization outcome in PCOS patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with different GnRH-analogue?

In an attempt to evaluate whether high basal day-3 luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone (LH/FSH) ratio affects IVF cycle outcome in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients undergoing ovarian stimulation with either GnRH-agonist (n = 47) or antagonist (n = 104), we studied 151 IVF cycles: 119 in patients with basal LH/FSH <2 and 32 in patients with LH/FSH ≥ 2. The PCOS with high LH/FSH ratio achieved a non-significantly higher pregnancy rate using the GnRH-agonist (50% vs 17.9%, p = 0.2; respectively), as compared to the GnRH-antagonist protocols, probably due to the ability of the long GnRH-agonist protocol to induce a prolong and sustained reduction of the high basal LH milieu and avert its detrimental effect on oocyte quality and implantation potential.     

The Distribution of Some Hydrolytic Enzymes in the Wheat Seed

A histochemical study of dry and germinated wheat embryos andseeds has been made to identify the sites of activity of 3'-and 5'-nucleotidases, phosphatases, lipase, and esterase. Theenzymes all showed the same distribution, with the coleorhizaas the most prominent site of activity in the dry embryo, especiallywhen compared with the adjacent roots with very low activity.Investigations of the whole seed after 24 h germination showeda very high activity in the aleurone cells and high activitiesin the scutellum and coleorhiza. The epithelium and provasculartissues of the scutellum showed moderate to low activity whilethe endosperm had little or none. Hydrolase activity also wasfound in the testa. The function of the coleorhiza. as firstfood reserve for the roots and its location at the most importantsite of water entry, is discussed.     

Prostaglandin synthesis in decidual tissue of the rat uterus

Prostaglandin (PG) synthetase activity and tissue concentration were measured in unilateral deciduomata induced by traumatization of the pseudopregnant rat uterus and in the decidua of pregnancy. PG synthetase activity per unit weight of deciduoma tissue was 7–10 fold higher, throughout the life-span of the deciduoma, than that in the untraumatized control horn. The concentration of prostaglandins of the E-type in the deciduoma exceeded that found in the control uterine horn by a factor of 10–20 on days 3–4 after decidual induction, and about five-fold on days 9–10. The concentration of prostaglandins of the F-type in the deciduoma measured on days 4 and 8 did not differ significantly from that in the control horn.

In the decidua of pregnant rats, both PG synthetase activity and PGE content were 20–40 times higher than the corresponding values for the myometrium of the same horn. The physiological role of the high level of prostaglandin production in decidual tissue requires further investigation.     

Genetic Analysis of Giardia from Hoofed Farm Animals Reveals Artiodactyl-Specific and Potentially Zoonotic Genotypes

ABSTRACT. Thirty one Giardia isolates, established from six species of hoofed livestock by axenic culture or growth in suckling mice, were compared genetically by analysis of DNA amplified from loci encoding variant surface proteins or the enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase and by allozyme analysis. The isolates were heterogeneous, but all showed affinity with genetic Assemblage A-one of two major assemblages defined previously by analysis of Giardia from humans. Three distinct genotypes were evident. Ten isolates (eight axenic and two established in suckling mice) from an alpaca, pig, horse, cattle and sheep were indistinguishable from human-derived G. intestinalis belonging to a previously designated genetic group (Group I). This genotype seems to have broad host specificity, including a zoonotic potential for humans. Five isolates (two axenic and three established in suckling mice) from an alpaca, a horse and sheep had close affinity with human-derived Group I and Group I1 G. inresrinalis genotypes. The other 16 isolates (comprising both axenic and suckling mouse-propagated cultures derived from cattle, sheep, alpaca, a goat and pigs in Australia and Europe) differed from all other Giardia with "duodenalis" morphology that have been examined by these methods and they segregated as a highly distinct sublineage (referred to herein as 'Novel livestock') within genetic Assemblage A. The predominance of 'Novel livestock' genotypes in the test panel and their apparent exclusive association with artiodactyl hosts indicates that they may be confined to this group of mammals. Assemblage B genotypes, which are prevalent in humans and some other animal species, were not detected.