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.      

Pre-induction priming of the uterine cervix with oral prostaglandin E2 and a placebo

A double blind study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness or oral prostaglandin E2 as a means of improving the pelvic score prior to induction of labour. 48 patients who were greater than 37 were gestation and who had Bishop scores of less than 6 entered the study. Ten tablets were given on an hourly regime. Of 25 patients in the prostaglandin group, 17 were considered successes (68.0%), whereas of 23 patients who received a placebo, 9 were successes (39.1%). No adverse effects were recorded. Prostaglandin E2 is therefore considered a safe and effective method for priming the unfavourable cervix prior to induction of labour.     

Monoclonal antibodies to rabbit liver cytochrome P-448

Cytochrome P-448 (mol wt 55,000 Daltons) from rabbit liver was purified to a specific content of 16.6 nmol/mg. Mice were immunised with this preparation, their spleens removed and dissociated lymphocytes hybridised with myeloma cells. Four monoclonal antibodies against cytochrome P-448 were raised and partially characterised. All four antibodies interacted with cytochrome P-448 in intact microsomal fractions and selectively immunoadsorbed cytochrome P-448 from solubilised microsomal preparations. One of the antibodies inhibited benzo[a] pyrene hydroxylase activity in a reconstituted system, one had no effect on activity and two increased activity. The possible applications of such antibodies are discussed.     

Growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter pylori</Emphasis> in a long spiral form does not alter expression of immunodominant proteins

Background  

We have previously reported that altered culture conditions (a broth media with shaking) could induce a strain of Helicobacter pylori to assume a long spiral morphology resembling that described for Helicobacter heilmannii. The present study was initiated to determine if other strains of H. pylori could be induced to assume that morphology and if doing so would alter the expression of immunodominant proteins.     

Expression of aromatase,androgen and estrogen receptors in peripheral target tissues in diabetes

Our previous studies have shown that diabetes in the male streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat is characterized by a decrease in circulating testosterone and concomitant increase in estradiol levels. Interestingly, this increase in estradiol levels persists even after castration, suggesting extra-testicular origins of estradiol in diabetes. The aim of the present study was to examine whether other target organs of diabetes may be sources of estradiol. The study was performed in male Sprague–Dawley non-diabetic (ND), STZ-induced diabetic (D) and STZ-induced diabetic castrated (Dcas) rats (n = 8–9/group). 14 weeks of diabetes was associated with decreased testicular (ND, 26.3 ± 4.19; D, 18.4 ± 1.54; P < 0.05), but increased renal (ND, 1.83 ± 0.92; D, 7.85 ± 1.38; P < 0.05) and ocular (D, 23.4 ± 3.66; D, 87.1 ± 28.1; P < 0.05) aromatase activity. This increase in renal (Dcas, 6.30 ± 1.25) and ocular (Dcas, 62.7 ± 11.9) aromatase activity persisted after castration. The diabetic kidney also had increased levels of tissue estrogen (ND, 0.31 ± 0.01; D, 0.51 ± 0.11; Dcas, 0.45 ± 0.08) as well as estrogen receptor alpha protein expression (ND, 0.63 ± 0.09; D, 1.62 ± 0.28; Dcas, 1.38 ± 0.20). These data suggest that in male STZ-induced diabetic rats, tissues other than the testis may become sources of estradiol. In particular, the diabetic kidney appears to produce estradiol following castration, a state that is associated with a high degree or renal injury. Overall, our data provides evidence for the extra-testicular source of estradiol that in males, through an intracrine mechanism, may contribute to the development and/or progression of end-organ damage associated with diabetes.     

Similar hypotensive responses to resistance exercise with and without blood flow restriction

Low intensity resistance exercise (RE) with blood flow restriction (BFR) has gained attention in the literature due to the beneficial effects on functional and morphological variables, similar to those observed during traditional RE without BFR, while the effects of BFR on post-exercise hypotension remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to compare the blood pressure (BP) response of trained normotensive individuals to RE with and without BFR. In this cross-over randomized trial, eight male subjects (23.8 ± 4 years, 74 ± 3 kg, 174 ± 4 cm) completed two exercise protocols: traditional RE (3 x 10 repetitions at 70% one-repetition maximum [1-RM]) and low intensity RE (3 x 15 repetitions at 20% 1-RM) with BFR. Blood pressure measurements were performed after 15 min of seated rest (0), immediately after and 10 min, 20 min, 30 min, 40 min, 50 min and 60 min after the experimental sessions. Similar hypotensive effects for systolic BP (SBP) were observed for both protocols (P < 0.05) after exercise, with no differences between groups (P > 0.05) and no statistically significant difference for diastolic BP (P > 0.05). These results suggest that in normotensive trained individuals, both traditional RE and RE with BFR induce hypotension for SBP, which is important to prevent cardiovascular disturbances.     

Adelphocorisella Miyamoto and Yasunaga newly recorded from Australia, with the description of a new species (Heteroptera: Miridae: Mirinae)

Adelphocorisella australis sp. n. is described from north Queensland. This, the first representative of the genus known from Australia, is compared with the two previously described species, both from Japan.     

Combined inhibition of aromatase activity and dihydrotestosterone supplementation attenuates renal injury in male streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats

Our previous studies showed that streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic male rats have increased estradiol and decreased testosterone levels that correlate with renal injury (Xu Q, Wells CC, Garman GH, Asico L, Escano CS, Maric C. Hypertension 51: 1218-1224, 2008). We further showed that either supplementing dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or inhibiting estradiol biosynthesis in these diabetic rats was only partially renoprotective (Manigrasso MB, Sawyer RT, Marbury DC, Flynn ER, Maric C. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 301: F634-F640, 2011; Xu Q, Prabhu A, Xu S, Manigrassso MB, Maric C. Am J Physiol 297: F307-F315, 2009). The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the combined therapy of DHT supplementation and inhibition of estradiol synthesis would afford better renoprotection than either treatment alone. The study was performed in 12-wk-old male nondiabetic (ND), STZ-induced diabetic (D), and STZ-induced diabetic rats that received the combined therapy of 0.75 mg/day of DHT along with 0.15 mg · kg(-1) · day(-1) of an aromatase inhibitor, anastrozole (Dta), for 12 wk. Treatment with the combined therapy resulted in attenuation of albuminuria by 84%, glomerulosclerosis by 55%, and tubulointerstitial fibrosis by 62%. In addition, the combined treatment decreased the density of renal cortical CD68-positive cells by 70% and decreased protein expression of transforming growth factor-β protein expression by 60%, collagen type IV by 65%, TNF-α by 55%, and IL-6 by 60%. We conclude that the combined treatment of DHT and blocking aromatase activity in diabetic male STZ-induced diabetic rats provides superior treatment than either treatment alone in the prevention of diabetic renal disease.