Decreased expression of VE-cadherin and claudin-5 and increased phosphorylation of VE-cadherin in vascular endothelium in nasal polyps

VE-cadherin and claudin-5 are major components of adherens and tight junctions of vascular endothelial cells and a decrease in their expression and an increase in the tyrosine-phosphorylation of VE-cadherin are associated with an increase in endothelial paracellular permeability. To clarify the mechanism underlying the development of edema in nasal polyps, we studied these molecules in polyp microvessels. Normal inferior turbinate mucosal tissues and nasal polyps from patients treated with or without glucocorticoid were stained for VE-cadherin or claudin-5 and CD31 by a double-immunofluorescence method and the immunofluorescence intensities were graded 1–3 with increasing intensity. To correct for differences in fluorescence intensity attributable to a different endothelial area being exposed in a section or to the thickness of a section, the relative immunofluorescence intensity was estimated by dividing the grade of VE-cadherin or claudin-5 by that of CD31 in each microvessel. Tyrosine-phosphorylation of VE-cadherin was examined by Western blot analysis. The relative intensities of VE-cadherin and claudin-5 in the CD31-positive microvessels significantly decreased in the following order; inferior turbinate mucosa, treated polyps and untreated polyps. The ratio of tyrosine-phosphorylated VE-cadherin to VE-cadherin was significantly higher in untreated polyps than in the inferior turbinate mucosa and treated polyps, between which no significant difference in the ratio was seen. Thus, in nasal polyps, the barrier function of endothelial adherens and tight junctions is weakened, although glucocorticoid treatment improves this weakened barrier function.     

Karyomorphology of Incarvillea (Bignoniaceae) and its implications in distribution and taxonomy

The karyomorphology of 11 species of the genus Incarvillea Juss. is reported. The chromosome numbers of all species studied are 2 n  = 22. The interphase nuclei and prophase chromosomes were found to be of the simple chromocentre type and the interstitial type, respectively. The asymmetry of the karyotype of I. arguta (two populations) in subgenus Amphicome is type 2A. The karyotypes of Incarvillea s inensis var. sinensis , I.  s inensis var. przewalskii, and I. olgae in subgenus Incarvillea are of asymmetry type 3A. The remaining nine species and one variety in subgenus Pteroscleris are also of asymmetry 3A. Data on three species and one variety studied are first reports. This study indicates that karyotype variation at the diploid level appears to be the predominant feature of chromosome evolution in the genus Incarvillea . According to this study of karyomorphology, morphological characteristics and geographical distribution, it seems that the three subgenera should be regarded as three independent genera. The geography of the genus is discussed.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 144 , 113–121.     

Behavioural and chemical mechanisms of plant‐mediated deterrence and attraction among frugivorous insects

1. Herbivory often induces systemic plant responses that affect the host choice of subsequent herbivores, either deterring or attracting them, with implications for the performance of both herbivore and host plant. Combining measures of herbivore movement and consumption can efficiently provide insights into the induced plant responses that are most important for determining choice behaviour. 2. The preferences of two frugivorous stink bug species, Nezara viridula and Euschistus servus between cotton plants left undamaged or damaged by Helicoverpa zea and Heliothis virescens larvae were investigated. A novel consumer movement model was used to investigate if attraction rates or leaving rates determined preferences. Stink bug consumption rates were measured using salivary sheath flanges. Finally, the systemic induction of selected phenolic‐based and terpenoid secondary metabolites were measured from heliothine herbivory on developing cotton bolls, to investigate if they explained stink bug feeding responses. 3. Heliothine herbivory did not affect the N. viridula feeding preference. However, we found opposing effects of H. zea and H. virescens herbivory on the behaviour of E. servus. Avoidance of H. zea‐damaged plants is not obviously related to phenolic or terpenoid induction in cotton bolls; whereas a preference for H. virescens‐damaged plants may be related to reductions in chlorogenic acid in boll carpel walls. 4. The present results highlight the inferential power of measuring both consumer movement and consumption in preference experiments and combining behavioural responses with phytochemical responses. Furthermore, while plant‐mediated interactions among herbivorous insects are well studied, interactions among frugivorous species specifically have been poorly documented.     

Cytotaxonomy of Begonia rubropunctata and B. purpureofolia (Begoniaceae)

The chromosome numbers of four Chinese Begonia species were counted for the first time as follows: 2 n  = 22 in B. rubropunctata , 2 n  = 18 in B. purpureofolia , 2 n  = 44 in B. pedatifida , and 2 n  = 22 in B. villifolia . The first two species had relatively large chromosomes with early condensed chromatin in the distal and interstitial or proximal regions, whereas the last two had small chromosomes with early condensed chromatin in the proximal regions. Although they have been reduced in the literature to synonyms of B. pedatifida and B. villifolia , respectively, B. rubropunctata and B. purpureofolia should be treated as distinct species because of the differences in chromosome numbers and other chromosome features.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 155 , 513–517.     

云南秋海棠属植物叶片横切面比较解剖研究

报道30种主产于云南的秋海棠属植物叶片的横切面解剖构造特征。采用常规石蜡切片法切片观察,结果表明:云南秋海棠属植物叶片薄、横切面均为异面叶、呈典型的阴叶结构,叶肉组织虽有栅栏组织和海绵组织的分化,但栅栏组织不发达,占叶肉组织的比例较小。表皮多为单表皮,极稀复表皮,表皮毛均由多细胞组成。气孔集中于下表皮,孔下室或下陷气孔特大、通气组织极发达;角质层形状多样,呈均匀增厚、瘤状和片状突起;叶绿体椭球形、数多、个体大,主要分布于叶肉组织,集中于栅栏组织。解剖构造特征在各分类组内呈现不完全一致性,而在相同茎的形态类型中有些较一致的特征,在不同种间解剖特征各有差别;根状茎和直立茎类型种类的横切面组织结构表现为表皮细胞壁外的角质层薄、栅栏组织与叶肉组织厚度比例较小等弱光照、湿生等适应性较弱的特征。球茎类型的种类表现为角质层较厚、栅栏叶肉组织厚度比例较大等适应略为干燥和较强光照的特征。     

Fungivory of Anatatha lignea, an interesting habit in Noctuidae (Lepidoptera)

The larvae of Anatatha lignea (Butler) were found consuming the brown surface of synthetic logs on which the shiitake mushroom, Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler, formed a thick mycelial coat. Fungivory has been rarely reported in the Noctuidae, and this is the first record of fungivory from the genus Anatatha. The female genitalia and the immature stages of A. lignea are illustrated and described for the first time. Its lectotype is designated and illustrated, and details of the species’ biology is given. The female genitalia of A. misae Sugi, a species closely related to A. lignea, are illustrated and described for the first time.     

Light-Induced Pigment Aggregation in Xanthophores of the Medaka,Oryzias latipes

The response mechanism of medaka xanthophores to light was examined at the cellular level. Innervated and denervated xanthophores of adult medakas responded to light (9,000 lux) within 30 sec by pigment aggregation, and this aggregation was not mediated through α-adrenoceptors on the cell membrane. Maximum sensitivity to light was at wavelengths of 410–420 nm, and the direct effect of light was reversible. Xanthophore responsiveness to light in summer was higher than that in winter. Ca²⁺ and calmodulin were not involved in the response, but rather, an important role for cAMP and phos-phodiesterase (PDE) was suggested. It seems likely that photoreception by visual pigment which is sensitive to light at wavelengths of 410–420 nm increases PDE activity, probably via a G-protein, such as occurs with visual cells in the retina, which causes a decrease in levels of cytosolic cAMP, in turn leading to pigment aggregation within medaka xanthophores.     

Mating Types in Glaucoma scintillans

SYNOPSIS. Two sexually isolated varieties or syngens of Glaucoma scintillans have been found in Japan. Each of these includes 8 (or 9) mating types, any one of which can conjugate with the other 7 (or 8). Under appropriate conditions, a high percentage of the animals in a mixture of 2 mating types of the same syngen underwent conjugation. Conjugating pairs appeared to be formed only between animals of different mating types. In a few combinations, inter-syngenic conjugation (usually in less than 5% of the animals) was seen. Neither selfing nor autogamy was seen. Clones from conjugants pass thru a long period of immaturity and a period of adolescence before attaining full maturity. Limited observations indicated that inheritance of mating types is synclonal. Nuclear reorganization processes during conjugation are similar to those reported for Tetrahymena pyriformis.