Neurotensin localization in adenomatoid cystic malformation versus normal lung: Preliminary report of six consecutive cases

Neuropeptides are considered a new class of neurotransmitters, several of which interact with the immune system as well as the macrophagic activity. Among these, neurotensin (NT) enhances the phagocitic response of macrophages and is the only neuropeptide that can enhance the cytolytic effects of activated macrophages. In this way, it may play a role as an inflammatory mediator. In order to investigate the possible relationship between NT and the defence mechanisms of the lung, we started to localize the presence of NT in pulmonary adenomatoid cystic malformation (CCAM). This series consists of 6 children affected by CCAM. In every case, at operation, we obtained specimens of both normal and pathological lung. Tissue sections from the pathological lung showed a significant increase of NT-like immunoreactivity in respect to sections of normal lung. NT influences and activates the macrophages, thus suggesting that it could represent a defence mechanism in children's lung activated in some malformative conditions. Finally, the increasing evidence of NT immunoreactivity in CCAM could explicate an in utero infectious pathogenesis of this malformation

Characterization of the different behaviours exhibited by juvenile flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus Linnaeus, 1758) under rearing conditions

Aim of study: To describe the common behaviour of flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) under rearing conditions. Area of study: Tepic, Mexico. Material and methods: Behaviours exhibited by mullets were videorecorded with submersible cameras installed inside of three tanks. A total of 690 min per day (07:30 - 18:30 h) were recorded per tank during a week. Afterwards, the different behaviours exhibited by juvenile M. cephalus were described, identified and characterized in an ethogram and grouped into two categories: a) locomotion, including three different observed behaviours (resting, swimming and fast swimming) and b) feeding, including three behaviours (surface feeding, bottom feeding and rubbing). Each of the behavioural variables were quantified. Main results: M. cephalus is a species with a constant locomotion associated to feeding, since fish showed continuous movement during most of day light period. On the contrary, fish exhibited reduced movement during dark periods. Mullets were observed to be a non-aggressive fish species under conditions of the present study, since the absence of dominance and aggression towards conspecifics was observed, which suggested a high predisposition for adaptation to captivity. Finally, behavioural frequencies of grey mullet juveniles were similar among the three tanks for most of the behavioural variables analysed (p>0.05) except for the variable bottom feeding (p=0.02). Research highlights: Results from this study could be of interest for the aquaculture industry to optimize rearing techniques and welfare for the production of grey mullet.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Modulation of the expression of components of the stress response by dietary arachidonic acid in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) larvae

This study reports for the first time in European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax (L.), larvae, the effect of different levels of dietary arachidonic acid (ARA; 20:4n-6) on the expression of genes related to the fish stress response. Copies of mRNA from genes related to steroidogenesis (StAR (steroidogenic acute regulatory protein), c-Fos, and CYP11β (11β- hydroxylase gene)), glucocorticoid receptor complex (GR (glucorticoid receptor) and HSP (heat shock proteins) 70 and 90) and antioxidative stress (catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX)) were quantified. Eighteen day-old larvae were fed for 14 days with three experimental diets with increasing levels of ARA (0.3, 0.6 and 1.2% d.w.) and similar levels of docosahexaenoic (DHA; 22:6n-3) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA; 20:5n-3) acids (5 and 3%, respectively). The quantification of stress-related genes transcripts was conducted by One-Step TaqMan real time RT-PCR with the standard curve method (absolute quantification). Increase dietary levels of ARA induced a significantly (p<0.05) down-regulation of genes related to cortisol synthesis, such as StAR and CYP11β and up-regulated genes related to glucocorticoid receptor complex, such as HSP70 and GR. No effects were observed on antioxidant enzymes gene expression. These results revealed the regulatory role of dietary ARA on the expression of stress-related genes in European sea bass larvae

The effect of dietary arachidonic acid during the Artemia feeding period on larval growth and skeletogenesis in Senegalese sole, Solea senegalensis

International audienceTo improve the understanding of the incidence of skeletaldeformities in Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis), a feedingtrial was carried out to evaluate the effect of increasing dietaryarachidonic acid (ARA) levels during theArtemiafeedingperiod on larval growth and skeletogenesis. Larvae were fedfrom 8 to 50 days post hatching (dph) withArtemianaupliienriched with three different levels of ARA: ARA-Low, ARA-Medium and ARA-High (1.0, 4.5 and 7.0% ARA of total fattyacids, respectively). Increasing levels of dietary ARA did notaffect significantly the survival. However, it influenced growth;larvae from the ARA-M group presented the highest values offinal standard length and dry weight (11.36 ± 0.47 mm and5.86 ± 1.06 mg at 50 dph, respectively) and larvae from theARA-H group the lowest ones (9.53 ± 0.27 mm and2.47 ± 0.26 mg at 50 dph). The skeleton of larvae fed theARA-M diet tended to be more calcified at 15 dph than that oflarvae fed ARA-L and ARA-H diets. Larvae from the ARA-M group tended to show a higher incidence of fusion ofhypurals 3 and 4 (34.4 ± 3.1%) at 50 dph than the larvaefrom the other groups (18.7 ± 1.6%, in average). The latterresults reflected a trend to a higher degree of skeletaldevelopment rather than a deformity, this being in agreementwith the higher larval growth of this group. Besides, ARAlevels did not affect significantly the incidence of total skeletaldeformities (41.4 ± 1.5% in average). Larvae from all dietarytreatments mostly displayed fusions of the vertebra 43 and 44(32.2 ± 1.3% in average). The amount of 4.5% of total fattyacid of dietary ARA duringArtemiafeeding period promotedthe best growth and proper skeletogenesis in Senegalese sole larvae

Effects of retinoic acid (RA) on gene expression of nuclear receptors and genes involved in the synthesis and degradation in Senegalese sole larvae (Solea senegalensis)

Retinoic acid (RA) is a potent morphogenetic nutrient that plays an essential role in the processes of morphogenesis, skeletogenesis and pigmentation of fishes by activating the expression of over 500 genes. However, still little is known about the transcriptional cascades mediated by RA in flatfish species. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of RA during the larval development and metamorphosis of Senegalese sole and to determine the transcriptional responses of genes involved in RA metabolism and action. In a first experiment, pre-metamorphic larvae (7 days after hatching, dah) were treated with an inhibitor of RA synthesis (DEAB) until the end of metamorphosis (20dah). In a second experiment, post-metamorphic larvae pretreated for 3 days with DEAB and DMSO (solvent of DEAB) were subdivided into three additional tanks to which all-trans RA (ATRA) and TTNPB (rar agonist) were added. In each experiment, samples were taken at different times to quantify the expression of genes involved in RA synthesis (rdh10a, raldh2), degradation (cyP26a1), metabolism (rbp1, rbp4, crabp1a), mediators of its action (retinoic acid nuclear receptors, rar&alpha;1, rar&alpha;2, rar&gamma;##, rxr&alpha;, rxr&beta;1, rxr&beta;2, ror&beta;, rarres3) and other RA-related pathways (thr&alpha;a, thr&alpha;b, thr&beta;). &nbsp;Retinoic acid (RA) is a potent morphogenetic nutrient that plays an essential role in the processes of morphogenesis, skeletogenesis and pigmentation of fishes by activating the expression of over 500 genes. However, still little is known about the transcriptional cascades mediated by RA in flatfish species. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of RA during the larval development and metamorphosis of Senegalese sole and to determine the transcriptional responses of genes involved in RA metabolism and action. In a first experiment, pre-metamorphic larvae (7 days after hatching, dah) were treated with an inhibitor of RA synthesis (DEAB) until the end of metamorphosis (20dah). In a second experiment, post-metamorphic larvae pretreated for 3 days with DEAB and DMSO (solvent of DEAB) were subdivided into three additional tanks to which all-trans RA (ATRA) and TTNPB (rar agonist) were added. In each experiment, samples were taken at different times to quantify the expression of genes involved in RA synthesis (rdh10a, raldh2), degradation (cyP26a1), metabolism (rbp1, rbp4, crabp1a), mediators of its action (retinoic acid nuclear receptors, rar&alpha;1, rar&alpha;2, rar&gamma;##, rxr&alpha;, rxr&beta;1, rxr&beta;2, ror&beta;, rarres3) and other RA-related pathways (thr&alpha;a, thr&alpha;b, thr&beta;). &nbsp;</p

Interdisciplinary Approaches in Fish Skeletal Biology (IAFSB)

Flatfish can provide a reliable model to study developmental disorders in bone tissues occurring during morphogenesis in response to nutritional imbalances. To date, most studies dealing with the effect of dietary essential fatty acids (EFA) on skeletogenesis in fish have focused their investigation on the role of docohexanoic (22:6n&#8722;3, DHA) and eicosapentaenoic (20:5n&#8211;3, EPA) acids, but only a few have focused on investigating the effects of arachidonic acid (20:4n&#8211;6, ARA) on bone during fish larval development. Bone development and composition at larval stage have been demonstrated to be highly sensitive to dietary levels of EFA, in particular the EPA and ARA acids, both precursors for highly bioactive eicosanoids presenting opposite effects on bone metabolism. Since fish are not able to synthesize EFA, they need to obtain them from the diet. However, dietary imbalances in EPA and ARA in flatfish larvae may disrupt bone formation and osteoblast differentiation in skeletal tissues, leading to the incidence of skeletal deformities, reduced mineralization and problems of bone remodelling in the cranial region associated with impaired eye migration. These anomalies in skeletal structures are one of the most important factors that affect flatfish larval quality and hamper their production. Thus, we have reviewed the current state of knowledge about the effects of dietary ARA contents on skeletogenesis in Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis), one of the main flatfish species cultured in Europe. Their larval quality still suffers for a high incidence of skeletal anomalies induced by dietary imbalances during metamorphosis