Nucleotide variation at the hypervariable esterase 6 isozyme locus of Drosophila simulans

Esterase 6 (Est-6/EST6) is polymorphic in both Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans for two common allozyme forms, as well as for several other less common variants. Parallel latitudinal clines in the frequencies of the common EST6-F and EST6-S allozymes in these species have previously been interpreted in terms of a shared amino acid polymorphism that distinguishes the two variants and is subject to selection. Here we compare the sequences of four D. simulans Est-6 isolates and show that overall estimates of nucleotide heterozygosity in both coding and 5' flanking regions are more than threefold higher than those obtained previously for this gene in D. melanogaster. Nevertheless, the ratio of replacement to exon silent-site polymorphism in D. simulans is less than the ratio of replacement to silent divergence between D. simulans and D. melanogaster, which could be the result of increased efficiency of selection against replacement polymorphisms in D. simulans or to divergent selection between the two species. We also find that the amino acid polymorphisms separating EST6- F and EST6-S in D. simulans are not the same as those that separate these allozymes in D. melanogaster, implying that the shared clines do not reflect shared molecular targets for selection. All comparisons within and between the two species reveal a remarkable paucity of variation in a stretch of nearly 400 bp immediately 5' of the gene, indicative of strong selective constraint to retain essential aspects of Est-6 promoter function.      

Production of endothelial progenitor cells obtained from human Wharton's jelly using different culture conditions

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) participate in revascularization and angiogenesis. EPC can be cultured in vitro from mononuclear cells of peripheral blood, umbilical cord blood or bone marrow; they also can be transdifferentiated from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). We isolated EPCs from Wharton's jelly (WJ) using two methods. The first method was by obtaining MSC from WJ and characterizing them by flow cytometry and their adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation, then applying endothelial growth differentiating media. The second method was by direct culture of cells derived from WJ into endothelial differentiating media. EPCs were characterized by morphology, Dil-LDL uptake/UEA-1 immunostaining and testing the expression of endothelial markers by flow cytometry and RT-PCR. We found that MSC derived from WJ differentiated into endothelial-like cells using simple culture conditions with endothelium induction agents in the medium.     

Evolution of spore release mechanisms in the saprolegniaceae (Oomycetes): evidence from a phylogenetic analysis of internal transcribed spacer sequences

Classical studies on spore release within the Saprolegniaceae (Oomycetes) led to the proposition that different mechanisms of sporangial emptying represent steps in an evolutionary transition series. We have reevaluated this idea in a phylogenetic framework using internal transcribed spacer sequences of four genera. These data were compared with the response to osmotic stress exhibited by each taxon. Saprolegnia emerges as the most basal genus, sister to Achlya, Thraustotheca, and Dictyuchus. Achlya and Thraustotheca are most closely related, while Dictyuchus appears to have evolved along a separate evolutionary lineage. The resulting phylogenetic framework is consistent with the idea that the mechanism of sporangial emptying exhibited by Saprolegnia represents the plesiomorphic condition from which the other mechanisms were derived independently. These alternative mechanisms of spore release may have resulted from a small number of mutations that inhibited axonemal development and altered the temporal and spatial expression of lytic enzymes that degrade the sporangial wall. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.     

Sparganosis in wild-caught baboons (Papio cynocephalus anubis)

BACKGROUND: Sparganosis is the infection of a paratenic host with the plerocercoid metacestode of Spirometra spp. A 12-year-old captive, pregnant, wild-caught baboon from Tanzania had multiple subcutaneous nodules. METHODS: Examination of the biopsied nodules revealed the presence of viable metacestodes. The histological morphology of the metacestodes was consistent with the genus Spirometra and other pseudophyllidean cestodes. Since species of Spirometra produce growth hormones that are active in mammals, we measured fetal and placental growth and hormone levels. Blood samples were taken from the mother and the cesarean-derived fetus for hematological, biochemical, and hormonal analyses and to test for the presence of antispargana antibodies. RESULTS: Baboon placental weight and fetal hematological, biochemical, and morphometric parameters were within normal ranges. Antibody titers to spargana did not differ significantly between mother (1.08 OD(405)) and fetus (0.91 OD(405)). Baboon maternal insulin-like growth factor and growth hormone values were also within the normal range. Estradiol and progesterone analysis in four of these animals (antibody titers ranged from 0.71 to 1.7 OD(405)) showed no statistically significant difference with age- or phase-matched cycle parameters compared with antibody-negative females. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results that have been obtained, sparganosis did not appear to affect the endocrinological profile of pregnant and cycling female baboons.     

Effect of coculturing canine notochordal,nucleus pulposus and mesenchymal stromal cells for intervertebral disc regeneration

IntroductionEarly degenerative changes in the nucleus pulposus (NP) are observed after the disappearance of notochordal cells (NCs). Thus, it has been suggested that NCs play an important role in maintaining the NP and may have a regenerative potential on other cells of the NP. As the number of resident NP cells (NPCs) decreases in a degenerating disc, mesenchymal stromal (stem) cells (MSCs) may be used for cell supplementation. In this study, using cells of one species, the regenerative potential of canine NCs was assessed in long-term three-dimensional coculture with canine NPCs or MSCs.MethodsCanine NCs and canine NPCs or MSCs were cocultured in alginate beads for 28 days under hypoxic and high-osmolarity conditions. Cell viability, cell morphology and DNA content, extracellular matrix production and expression of genes related to NC markers (Brachyury, KRT18) and NP matrix production (ACAN, COL2A1, COL1A1) were assessed after 1, 15 and 28 days of culture.ResultsNCs did not completely maintain their phenotype (morphology, matrix production, gene expression) during 28 days of culture. In cocultures of NPCs and NCs, both extracellular matrix content and anabolic gene expression remained unchanged compared with monoculture groups, whereas cocultures of MSCs and NCs showed increased glycosaminoglycan/DNA. However, the deposition of these proteoglycans was observed near the NCs and not the MSCs. Brachyury expression in the MSC and NC coculture group increased in time. The latter two findings indicate a trophic effect of MSCs on NCs rather than vice versa.ConclusionsNo regenerative potential of canine NCs on canine NPCs or MSCs was observed in this study. However, significant changes in NC phenotype in long-term culture may have resulted in a suboptimal regenerative potential of these NCs. In this respect, NC-conditioned medium may be better than coculture for future studies of the regenerative potential of NCs.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13075-015-0569-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

The distribution and evolutionary history of the PRP8 intein

Background  

We recently described a mini-intein in the PRP8 gene of a strain of the basidiomycete Cryptococcus neoformans, an important fungal pathogen of humans. This was the second described intein in the nuclear genome of any eukaryote; the first nuclear encoded intein was found in the VMA gene of several saccharomycete yeasts. The evolution of eukaryote inteins is not well understood. In this report we describe additional PRP8 inteins (bringing the total of these to over 20). We compare and contrast the phylogenetic distribution and evolutionary history of the PRP8 intein and the saccharomycete VMA intein, in order to derive a broader understanding of eukaryote intein evolution. It has been suggested that eukaryote inteins undergo horizontal transfer and the present analysis explores this proposal.     

Dose-related action of estradiol on placental prostanoid prediction

Prostanoids play an important role throughout all of pregnancy and during the initiation and progress of labor. The human placenta at term produces large quantities of prostanoids, yet little is known of the factors that regulate their biosynthesis. Herein, we report the effect of estradiol or estradiol and progesterone on the basal release of placental prostanoids from fresh human term placental explants using a perifusion system.The basal release of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂, prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α), thromboxane (TxB₂) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F_1α (6-keto-PGF_1α) increased about 50% from the fifth to the ninth hour in culture, while the release of 13, 14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF (PGFM) remained constant and hCG release decreased. The dose-related effect of estradiol (20–2,000 ng/ml) in the perifusing medium starting at the fifth hour of perifusiOn (i.e., the zero treatment time) effected no change in the release of TxB₂, PGF_2α, PGFM or hCG. A biphasic action on the release of 6-keto-PGF,. was observed, i.e. it was significantly decreased when incubated with 20 ng/ml of estradiol, but effected an increase after exposure to 200 ng/ml. The concomitant addition of progesterone (2,000 ng/ml) with estradiol (200 ng/ml) significantly inhibited the stimulatory action of estradiol at this dose. The release of PGE₂ was inhibited in a dose-related fashion with increasing dose of estradiol. The addition of progesterone with estradiol (2,000 and 200 ng/ml, respectively) reversed the inhibition of PGE₂ by estradiol alone.These data demonstrate that physiologic levels of estradiol affect 6-keto-PGF_α and PGE₂ release from the human term placenta, but do not significantly alter production of TxB₂, PGFM or hCG under these conditions.     

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone effects on placental hormones during gestation: II. Progesterone, estrone, estradiol and estriol

The release of progesterone (P), estrone (E1), estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3) from human placental tissue in vitro was found to be related to the gestational age of the placenta. The basal release of P, E1 and E2 on Day 1 of culture was highest from placentas of early gestation (9-13 wk). The release of P then declined, reaching a nadir by 15 wk, and continued at that level. The release of E1 and E2, reached a nadir at 17 weeks, and then again increased by term. In contrast, the basal release of E3 increased with increasing gestational age of the placenta. Thus, it appears that differing factors may influence placental P, E1, E2 and E3 production. In addition, the effect of synthetic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) on these hormonal releases was studied. The stimulation of P by GnRH was greatest in placentas of 16 and 17 wk of gestation after extended culture when the basal release of P had declined. As much as a 240-fold increase was observed on the eighth day of culture. A large stimulation of P (32-fold) was also observed in the term placental cultures. A stimulation of E1 and E2 by GnRH was observed during the initial days of culture and in mid-gestational placental cultures (16-17 wk). A stimulation of E2 only was also observed at 13-15 wk and at term. A stimulation of E3 was observed in certain individual placentas. A correlation of the P and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) response to GnRH stimulation was noted, as well as an inverse relation of estrogens and hCG stimulation by GnRH. These data demonstrate that steroidogenic competence of the placenta differs with gestational age and that GnRH can influence steroid release. The degree and pattern of response to GnRH varied with the gestational age of the placenta and its endocrine milieu.