High level of divergence of male-reproductive-tract proteins, between Drosophila melanogaster and its sibling species, D. simulans

We compared male-reproductive-tract polypeptides of Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans by using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Approximately 64% of male-reproductive-tract polypeptides were identical between two randomly chosen isofemale lines from these two species, compared with 83% identity for third-instar imaginal wing-disc polypeptides. Qualitatively similar differences were found between reproductive tracts and imaginal discs when D. sechellia was compared with D. melanogaster and with D. simulans. When genic polymorphism was taken into account, approximately 10% of male- reproductive-tract polypeptides were apparently fixed for different alleles between D. melanogaster and D. simulans; this proportion is the same as that found for soluble enzymes by one-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Strikingly, approximately 20% of male-reproductive- tract polypeptides of either D. melanogaster or D. simulans had no detectable homologue in the other species. We propose that proteins of the Drosophila male reproductive tract may have diverged more extensively between species than have other types of proteins and that much of this divergence may involve large changes in levels of polypeptide expression.      

Temporal relationship between the onset of oestrus, the preovulatory LH surge and ovulation in farmed fallow deer, Dama dama

A study was conducted to determine the timing of ovulation relative to the onset of oestrus and the preovulatory LH surge in fallow deer. Mature fallow does were randomly allocated to two treatments (N = 10 per treatment) designed to synchronize oestrus on or about 17 May. Does assigned to Group 1 (prostaglandin-induced oestrus) each initially received single intravaginal CIDR [Controlled Internal Drug Release] devices for 13 days followed by an i.m. injection of 750 mg cloprostenol on Day 12 (15 May) of the subsequent luteal cycle. Does assigned to Group 2 (progesterone-induced oestrus) each received CIDR devices for 13 days, with withdrawal occurring on 15 May. All does were run with crayon-harnessed bucks (10:1 ratio) from the start of synchronization (18:00 h 15 May). Ten does (5 per group) were blood sampled via indwelling jugular cannulae every 2 h for 72 h from cloprostenol injection or CIDR device withdrawal and the plasma was analysed for concentrations of progesterone and LH by radioimmunoassay. Does within each treatment were randomly allocated to an ovarian examination time of 12, 16, 20 or 24 h after the onset of oestrus. Laparoscopy was repeated at 12-h intervals until ovulation was recorded. The ovaries of does failing to exhibit oestrus were examined 72 and 86 h after cloprostenol injection or CIDR device withdrawal. A total of 17 does were observed to exhibit oestrus at a mean (+/- s.e.m.) interval from treatment of 44.6 +/- 3.6 h for Group 1 (N = 9) and 34.1 +/- 2.5 h for Group 2 (N = 8).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Microelectrode studies of the active Na transport pathway of frog skin

When the outer surface of short-circuited frog skin was penetrated with microelectrodes, stable negative potentials that averaged near -100 mV were recorded consistently, confirming the results of Nagel (W. Nagel. 1975. Abstracts of the 5th International Biophysics Congress, Copenhagen. P-147.). The appearance of these stable potentials, V(O), concurrent with the observations that (a) a high resistance outer barrier R(O) accounting for approximately 75 percent or more of the transcellular resistance of control skins had been penetrated and that (b) 10(-5) M amiloride and reduced [Na] outside caused the values of V(O) to increase towards means value near -130 mV while the values of percent R(O) increased to more than 90 percent. It was of relationships were the same as the values of E(1) observed in studies of the current-voltage relationships were the same as the values of E’(1) defined as the values of voltage at the inner barrier when the V(O) of the outer barrier was reduced to zero by voltage clamping of the skins. Accordingly, these data are interpreted to mean that the values of E(1), approximately 130 mV, represent the E(Na) of the sodium pump at the inner barrier. 2,4-DNP was observed to decrease the values of transepithelial voltage less than E(1) the V(O) was negative. These data can be interpreted with a simple electrical equivalent circuit of the active sodium transport pathway of the frog skin that includes the idea that the outer membrane behaves as an electrical rectifier for ion transport.     

Relationship between the onset of oestrus, the preovulatory surge in luteinizing hormone and ovulation following oestrous synchronization and superovulation of farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus).

The timing of ovulation relative to the onset of oestrus and the preovulatory surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) was studied in red deer following treatments to synchronize oestrus and induce either a monovulatory or superovulatory response. Mature hinds (n = 36) were allocated randomly to two mating groups (n = 16 + 20), with respective treatments staggered by 4 weeks during the 1990 rut (March-April). Each hind was treated with an intravaginal controlled internal drug releasing (CIDR)-type S device for 14 days. Treatments to induce a monovulatory response included CIDR device alone (treatment A; n = 4 + 8) and additional injection of 200 iu pregnant mares' serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) at device removal (treatment B; n = 4 + 4). Treatments to induce a superovulatory response included injections of 200 iu PMSG and 0.5 units ovine follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) at about time of removal of CIDR devices (treatment C; n = 4 + 4) and further treatment with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue 18 h after removal of CIDR devices (treatment D; n = 4 + 4). The hinds were run with crayon-harnessed stags from insertion of CIDR devices (12 March or 9 April) and blood samples were taken every second day to determine plasma progesterone. Further blood samples were collected for determination of plasma LH and progesterone via indwelling jugular cannulae every 2 h for 72 h from removal of CIDR devices. Hinds were allocated randomly to an initial ovarian examination by laparoscopy at either 16 or 20 h (A and B), or 12 or 16 h (C and D) after the onset of oestrus, with laparoscopy repeated at intervals of 8 h until either ovulation was recorded (A and B), or for four successive occasions (C and D). All hinds received cloprostenol injections 15 days after device removal. A total of 28 hinds (78%) exhibited oestrus and a preovulatory LH surge, with mean (+/- SEM) times to onset of oestrus of 44.6 +/- 1.0 h (A; n = 7), 37.4 +/- 2.0 h (B; n = 7), 16.3 +/- 1.7 h (C; n = 6) or 14.0 +/- 1.7 h (D; n = 8). Failure to exhibit oestrus or LH surge was most prevalent among hinds in treatment A early in the rut.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Neanderthal hand and foot remains from Moula‐Guercy,Ardèche,France

The hand and foot remains from Moula‐Guercy cave (Ardèche, France) comprise 24 specimens of Eemian age (ca. 120 ka). The specimens include primarily complete elements, which are rare among the Moula‐Guercy postcrania. The hand remains have several characteristic Neanderthal traits including a laterally facing (parasagittally oriented) second metacarpal‐capitate articulation, a short styloid process, a wide proximal articular surface on the third metacarpal, and absolutely expanded apical tuberosities on the distal hand phalanges relative to modern humans. The foot remains include several incomplete elements along with an antimeric pair of naviculars, a medial cuneiform and cuboid, and a single complete element from each of the distal segments (one each: metatarsal, proximal foot phalanx, intermediate foot phalanx, distal foot phalanx). Consistent among the specimens are relatively wide diaphyses for length in the metatarsals and phalanges and large and prominent muscle attachments, both consistent with previously published Neanderthal morphology. The hand and foot collection from Moula‐Guercy is an important dataset for future studies of Neanderthal functional morphology, dexterity, and behavior as it represents a previously undersampled time period for European Neanderthals. Am J Phys Anthropol 152:516–529, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The Caenorhabditis elegans CED-9 protein does not directly inhibit the caspase CED-3, in vitro nor in yeast

A genetically defined pathway orchestrates the removal of 131 of the 1090 somatic cells generated during the development of the hermaphrodite nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Regulation of apoptosis is highly evolutionarily conserved and the nematode cell death pathway is a valuable model for studying mammalian apoptotic pathways, the dysregulation of which can contribute to numerous diseases. The nematode caspase CED-3 is ultimately responsible for the destruction of worm cells in response to apoptotic signals, but it must first be activated by CED-4. CED-9 inhibits programmed cell death and considerable data have demonstrated that CED-9 can directly bind and inhibit CED-4. However, it has been suggested that CED-9 may also directly inhibit CED-3. In this study, we used a yeast-based system and biochemical approaches to explore this second potential mechanism of action. While we confirmed the ability of CED-9 to inhibit CED-4, our data argue that CED-9 can not directly inhibit CED-3.