The origin of ovarian neuropeptide Y (NPY)-immunoreactive nerve fibres from the inferior mesenteric ganglion in the pig

Summary Applying a double-immunofluorescence technique, the porcine ovary is demonstrated to receive two populations of NPY-immunoreactive nerve fibres originating from the inferior mesenteric ganglion: one with colocalized tyrosine hydroxylase and supplying predominantly the ovarian vasculature, and a second, solely NPY-immunoreactive and almost exclusively associated with growing follicles. A third group of tyrosine hydroxylase-and dopamine--hydroxylase-positive, but NPY-negative nerve fibres is associated with ovarian blood vessels and, to a minor extent, with ovarian follicles. As revealed by retrograde tracing, the vast majority of postganglionic neurons projecting to the ovary is located in a discrete area of the ganglion, suggesting a somatotopic organization of the porcine inferior mesenteric ganglion. Moreover, the finding indicate that three subpopulations of postganglionic sympathetic neurons with different chemical codes supply different target components of the porcine ovary. The physiological relevance of the described neurons in the nervous control of ovarian functions remains to be elucidated.A portion of these results has been presented in abstract form (Majewski et al. 1991)     

Diversity concept in ecology

Hierarchy of systems organization is used as a framework in advancing methodological guidelines for posing correct questions related to ecological diversity.Diversity if defined in general terms as a property of a set of elements dependent on and determines: by the epistemological perspective. Ontological diversity, because it is indefinite, is regarded as unmeasurable.Ecological diversity — be it species, spatial, reproductive or trophic, is a particular case of diversity of matter and must be precisely defined on the studied level of system organization.Diversity measurements combining more than one level of organization are information-void, for data become irretrievable as a result of such a treatment.Hypotheses explaining diversity sources are briefly surveyed. An integrated model interrelating them is constructed as a result of some basic views on the structure of matter coupled with the empirical knowledge of involved factors. The model reflects hierarchies of systems, their dynamics, and the complexities of factors affecting diversity. The model's properties suggest that it is conceptually related to an imaginary model of organization of ecological systems. Parameters recognized as invariant components of this complexity are: habitat differentiation, ecological specialization of species, ambiental changes, and integration of this system.Finally, it is shown that the peculiar shape of the species abundances curve is a necessary consequence of stratification of the system structure, which is an intrinsic attribute of hierarchical organization.     

Furrows and dermal ridges of the hand in patients with alcohol embryopathy

Summary Palmar creases and dermal ridge patterns of 34 patients with alcohol embryopathy are compared with 470 healthy individuals. In alcohol embryopathy several typical deviations were noted. Palmar Creases. The interdigital part of the distal palmar crease is generally sharply bent, the proximal transverse crease is hypoplastic or missing, the thenar crease is commonly well marked. Simian creases and bridged palmar creases are more common in patients with alcohol embryopathy than in healthy individuals. Ridge Patterns of the Palm. The main line D coming from triradius d in patients with alcohol embryopathy mostly shows a low type of ending in the fourth interdigital area; in this area loops are twice as common as in healthy individuals. Patterns of the Fingertips. No deviations were noted in the distribution of whorls and loops, but virtually no arches were observed in patients with alcohol embryopathy. These anomalies suggest embryonic damage in the twelvth week of gestation.     

Satelliten-Telemetrie beim Wei?storch (Ciconia ciconia) auf dem Wegzug — eine Pilotstudie

Zusammenfassung (1) 1991 konnten erstmals 4 mit Kleinsendern ausgerüstete Weißstörche mit Hilfe der Satelliten-Telemetrie auf Teilstrecken ihres Wegzugs bis zu 46 Tage lang verfolgt werden. Die japanischen Sender betrugen nur etwa 2 % des Körpergewichts der Vögel; die Ortung erfolgte durch das ARGOS-System. Die Versuchsvögel zeigten völlig normales Zugverhalten. — (2) Drei der in Brandenburg und Sachsen-Anhalt markierten Vögel waren Ostzieher und konnten über Strecken von etwa 640–4700 km verfolgt werden, 1 Storch bis zur ägyptisch-sudanesischen Grenze. Ein Westzieher konnte rund 1400 km bis zu den Pyrenäen geortet werden. — (3) Die Vögel wanderten individuell recht verschieden. 2 zogen weitgehend kontinuierlich bis in den Sudan bzw. zu den Pyrenäen, die anderen legten längere Pausen ein. Die ermittelten Zugstrecken verliefen recht geradlinig; Richtungsänderungen erfolgten vor allem an der Donau, den Karpaten, am Mittelmeer und auf der Sinai-Halbinsel. Tagesetappen betrugen mindestens bis zu 370 km, in einem Fall in 21 Tagen durchschnittlich 224 km/Tag. Die Zuggeschwindigkeit lag in der Größenordnung von 30–90 km/h. — (4) Verbesserte Sender mit längerer Lebensdauer und mehreren Ortungen pro Tag dürften es bald ermöglichen, individuelle Wanderrouten von Weißstörchen und anderen Großvögeln praktisch lückenlos zu ermitteln. Begleitmannschaften werden zudem die Zug- und Rastökologie mit Sendern ausgerüsteter Vögel mit erfassen können. Damit dürfte der Vogelschutz auf dem Zug eine neue Dimension gewinnen.

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Satellite tracking of White Storks during the autumn migratory period — a pilot study

Summary (1) In 1991 parts of the routes of White Storks migrating in autumn could be recorded for the first time by satellite tracking. Four individuals could be followed for up to 46 days. Transmitter weight accounted for only about 2 % of body mass. Locations were obtained by the ARGOS system. Migratory behaviour of the experimental birds appeared to be absolutely normal. — (2) The birds were equipped with transmitters in eastern Germany. Three of them followed the eastern migration route and could be tracked from 640 up to 4700 km, the latter reaching the borders of Egypt and Sudan. A western migrant could be followed over a distance of about 1400 km towards the Pyrenees. — (3) Migration showed considerable individual variation. Whereas in two birds migration was largely continuous towards the Sudan and the Pyrenees, respectively, the other birds rested for longer periods. The tracked migration routes were fairly straight. Marked directional shifts occurred towards the Danube valley, at the Carpathian mountains, the Mediterranean and on the Sinai. Capacity per day was at least 370 km. One bird covered 224 km/day on average during a period of 21 days. Migration speed ranged in the magnitude of 30–90 km/h. — (4) Improved transmitters with increased lifetime giving several locations per day will presumably allow to record migration routes of White Storks and other large birds more completely in the near future. Escorts should then be able to closely analyse the ecology of migration and staging of their test birds. These possibilities may give a new dimension to bird conservation measures during migration.

     

Chemostat-cultivated Escherichia coli at high dilution rate: multiple steady states and drift

The representation of metabolic network reaction kinetics in a scaled, polynomial form can allow for the prediction of multiple steady states. The polynomial formalism is used to study chemostat-cultured Escherichia coli which has been observed to exhibit two multiple steady states under ammonium ion-limited growth conditions: a high cell density-low ammonium ion concentration steady state and a low cell density-high ammonium ion concentration steady state. Additionally, the low-cell-density steady state has been observed to drift to the high-cell-density steady state. Inspection of the steady-state rate expressions for the ammonium ion transport/assimilation network (in polynomial form) suggests that at low ammonium ion concentrations, two steady states are possible. One corresponds to heavy use of the glutamine synthetase-glutamate synthase (GLNS-GS) branch and the second to heavy use of the glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) branch. Realization of the predicted intracellular steady states is also found to be dependent on the parameters of the transport process. Moreover, the two steady states differ in where their energy intensity lies. To explain the drift, GLNS, which is inducible under low ammonium ion concentrations, is suggested to be a "memory element." A chemostat-based model is developed to illustrate that perturbations in dilution rate can lead to drift between the two steady states provided that the disturbance in dilution rate is sufficiently large and/or long in duration.     

Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia spp. in Dermacentor reticulatus ticks found within the city of Białystok,Poland—first data

Pathogens carried by ticks pose a threat to both human and animal health across the world. Typically associated with rural landscapes, ticks appear to adapt well to life in urban recreational areas. Although Dermacentor reticulatus is commonly found across Europe, data on the prevalence of pathogens in this tick species, in an urban environment, are very limited. PCR was used to examine 368 D. reticulatus individuals collected in the Zwierzyniecki Forest Nature Reserve in Bia?ystok, Poland. In total, 10.3% of ticks were infected, with Babesia spp. (9.2%), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (0.8%) and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (0.3%). Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., and Coxiella burnetii were not detected. Sequence analysis for Babesia-positive samples identified 79.4% of them as Babesia canis, 8.8% as Babesia microti, 5.9% as Babesia spp., 2.9% as Babesia venatorum, and 2.9% as Babesia vogeli. Results obtained in this study indicate that D. reticulatus ticks found within the urban premises of the study area are infected with at least three pathogens and therefore are an important factor in public health risk for tick-borne diseases.

     

Immunohistochemical properties of nerve fibres supplying accessory male genital glands in the pig. A colocalisation study

 Immunohistochemical studies have been performed to investigate the occurrence and coexistence of two catecholamine-synthesising enzymes, tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine-β-hydroxylase, and several neuropeptides, including neuropeptide Y, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, Leu⁵-enkephalin, somatostatin, calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P, in nerve fibres supplying porcine accessory genital glands, the seminal vesicles, prostate (body and the disseminated part) and bulbourethral glands. Three major populations of nerve fibres supplying non-vascular elements of the glands have been distinguished (from the largest to the smallest one): (1) noradrenergic fibres, the majority of which contain Leu⁵-enkephalin, neuropeptide Y or, to a lesser extent, somatostatin, (2) non-noradrenergic, putative cholinergic fibres containing vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, neuropeptide Y and/or somatostatin and, (3) non-noradrenergic, presumably sensory fibres, containing calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P. Whilst the coexistence patterns within nerves supplying particular glands are similar, the density of innervation varies between the organs. The innervation of the seminal vesicles and prostatic body is more developed than that of the disseminated part of the prostate and bulbourethral glands. The majority of noradrenergic fibres related to blood vessels contain neuropeptide Y only, while the non-noradrenergic nerves contain mainly vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. The possible function and origin of particular nerve fibre populations are discussed. Accepted: 16 November 1998