Cyanobacteria distribution and abundance in the Spanish water reservoirs during thermal stratification

A study of the distribution and abundance of Cyanobacteria in 47 Spanish water reservoirs revealed a significant correlation between these algae and total phosphorus in the water. Cyanobacteria distribution was related to the N:P ratio, and they were scarce when the atomic ratio of total inorganic N / total P exceeded 50. The N:P ratio was influenced by the geology of the catchment, and it was lower in the solute-poor waters of western Iberian Peninsula, where Cyanobacteria were more abundant (mainly the Nostocales). Therefore, this area would be more prone to present problems derived from Cyanobacteria proliferation than the eastern part of Spain. In the studied reservoirs we have recorded 45 taxa of Cyanobacteria, many of which can produce toxins. A comparison of our results with those of previous studies served to conclude that Cyanobacteria have increased both in biomass and species number in Spanish reservoirs.El estudio de la distribución y abundancia de Cianobacterias en 47 embalses españoles reveló una correlación significativa entre estas algas y la concentración de fósforo total en el agua. La distribución de Cianobacterias estuvo relacionada con el cociente N:P, siendo generalmente poco abundantes cuando la relación atómica N inorgánico total / P total fue superior a 50. La relación N:P en el agua está influenciada por la geología de la cuenca, y fue menor en las aguas menos mineralizadas del oeste de la Península Ibérica, donde las cianobacterias fueron más abundantes (especialmente las nostocales). Por lo tanto, esta zona de la península Ibérica sería más propensa a sufrir problemas relacionados con la proliferación de Cianobacterias que la zona este de España. En los embalses estudiados hemos encontrado 45 taxones de Cianobacterias, muchas de las cuales pueden producir toxinas. La comparación de nuestros resultados con estudios realizados previamente sirvió para concluir que en los embalses españoles se ha producido un aumento del número de especies y de la biomasa de Cianobacterias

Ancient vicariance and climate-driven extinction explain continental-wide disjunctions in Africa: the case of the Rand Flora genus Canarina (Campanulaceae)

20 p., gráf., mapas, tablas -- Post-print del artículo publicado en Molecular Ecology. Versión revisada y corregida.Transoceanic distributions have attracted the interest of scientists for centuries. Less attention has been paid to the evolutionary origins of ‘continent-wide’ disjunctions, in which related taxa are distributed across isolated regions within the same continent. A prime example is the ‘Rand Flora’ pattern, which shows sister taxa disjunctly distributed in the continental margins of Africa. Here, we explore the evolutionary origins of this pattern using the genus Canarina, with three species: C. canariensis, associated with the Canarian laurisilva, and C. eminii and C. abyssinica, endemic to the Afromontane region in East Africa, as case study. We infer phylogenetic relationships, divergence times and the history of migration events within Canarina using Bayesian inference on a large sample of chloroplast and nuclear sequences. Ecological niche modelling was employed to infer the climatic niche of Canarina through time. Dating was performed with a novel nested approach to solve the problem of using deep time calibration points within a molecular dataset comprising both above-species and population-level sampling. Results show C. abyssinica as sister to a clade formed by disjunct C. eminii and C. canariensis. Miocene divergences were inferred among species, whereas infraspecific divergences fell within the Pleistocene–Holocene periods. Although C. eminii and C. canariensis showed a strong genetic geographic structure, among-population divergences were older in the former than in the latter. Our results suggest that Canarina originated in East Africa and later migrated across North Africa, with vicariance and aridification-driven extinction explaining the 7000 km/7 million year divergence between the Canarian and East African endemics.This work was funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Projects CGL2006-09696, CGL2009-1332-C03-01, CGL2012-40129-C02-01) the JAE-Doc programme (CSIC/FSE) to MA, and a PhD research grant (BES-2010-037261) to MM. LP was funded by a research contract under CGL2012-40129-C02-01.Peer reviewe

California, a new genus of geraniaceae endemic to the southwest of North America

Los datos morfológicos permiten distinguir, a nivel de genero, Erodium macrophyllum Hook. & Am. de las especies incluidas en Erodium y Monsonia (Geraniaceae). Tambien los datos obtenidos de la secuencia de ADN cloroplSstico (»mL-F) apoyan estas diferencias. Por lo tanto, proponemos un nuevo genero monotípico, California Aldas., C. Navarro, P. Vargas, Ll. Saez & Aedo, para que queden mejor reflejadas las relaciones filogeneticas en la clasificacidn de las Geraniaceae. Incluimos una diagnosis, ilustraciones, a diferenciales y una clave de géneros de Geraniaceae. Se propone una nueva combinaci6n: California macrophylla (Hook. & Am.) Aldas., C. Navarro, P. Vargas, Ll. SSez & Aedo, comb, nov. [basion.: Erodium macrophyllum Hook. & Am.]; y se designan dos lectdtiposMorphological data provide evidence for the separation of Erodium macrophyllum Hook. & Arn. in a new genus, different from either Erodium and Monsonia (Geraniaceae). Also cpDNA sequence data (rrnL-F) support this view. Thus, we propose the recognition of a new monotypic genus, California Aldas., C. Navarro, P. Vargas, Ll. Saez & Aedo, to better reflect phylogenetic relationships in Geraniaceae. We provide diagnosis, illustrations, comparative analysis of distinctive characters, and a key to genera of Geraniaceae. The new combinationb proposed is: California macrophylla (Hook. & Am.) Aldas., C. Navarro, P. Vargas, Ll. Saez & Aedo, comb. nov. [basion.: Erodium macrophyllum Hook. & Am.]; and two lectotypes are designe

Function of Glia in Aging and the Brain Diseases.

Microglia cells during aging, neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation show different morphological and transcriptional profiles (related to axonal direction and cell adhesion). Furthermore, expressions of the receptors on the surface and actin formation compared to young are also different. This review delves into the role of glia during aging and the development of the diseases. The susceptibility of different regions of the brain to disease are linked to the overstimulation of signals related to the immune system during aging, as well as the damaging impact of these cascades on the functionality of different populations of microglia present in each region of the brain. Furthermore, a decrease in microglial phagocytosis has been related to many diseases and also has been detected during aging. In this paper we also describe the role of glia in different illness, such as AD, ALS, pain related disorders, cancer, developmental disorders and the problems produced by opening of the blood brain barrier. Future studies will clarify many points planted by this review

Nuevos datos morfométricos para el Lago de Sanabria

Se presenta un nuevo mapa batimétrico del lago de Sanabria, con curvas de nivel situadas a cada metro de profundidad y algunos parametros morfométricos. La forma de este lago, basándonos en la curva hipsográfica relativa del área frente a la profundidad es cóncava (C). Este lago tiene altos valores de los parámetros: desarrollo del volumen (Dv) y la relación de profundidad (cociente profundidad media / profundidad máxima: zm / zmax), esto refleja su morfometría con un fondo considerablemente plano y grandes pendientes desde las orillas hacia el mismo, como ocurre en algunos tipos de lagos de origen glaciar. La profundidad relativa (Zr) es intermedia y los índices: área de la cuenca / volumen del lago (Ac / V) y área de la cuenca / área del lago (Ac / A) son bastante altos, si los comparamos con otros lagos. El valor de estos parámetros indica la gran influencia de los factores externos sobre la dinámica del lago.A new bathymetric map of Lake Sanabria is presented, showing depth isolines each meter and some morphometric parameters. The lake form, based on the relative hypsographic curve (cumulative area-depth), is concave (C). This lake shows high values of volume development (Dv) and of the depth relation (mean depth / maximal depth ratio: zm / zmax), which indicates a nearly flat bottom and high slopes in the shores, like those of some types of glacial lakes. The relative depth (Zr) has an intermediate value and the indexes: basin area / lake volume (Ac / V) and basin area / lake area (Ac / A) are quite high, when compared to other lakes. The values of these parameters indicate the large influence of external factors on the lake dynamics

Action of low doses of Aspirin in Inflammation and Oxidative Stress induced by aβ1-42 on Astrocytes in primary culture

Aspirin has been used as anti-inflammatory and anti-aggregate for decades but the precise mechanism(s) of action after the presence of the toxic peptide Aβ1-42 in cultured astrocytes remains poorly resolved. Here we use low-doses of aspirin (10-7 M) in astrocytes in primary culture in presence or absence of Aβ1-42 toxic peptide. We noted an increase of cell viability and proliferation with or without Aβ1-42 peptide presence in aspirin treated cells. In addition, a decrease in apoptosis, determined by Caspase 3 activity and the expression of Cyt c and Smac/Diablo, were detected. Also, aspirin diminished necrosis process (LDH levels), pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-β and TNF-α) and NF-ᴋB protein expression, increasing anti-inflammatory PPAR-γ protein expression, preventing Aβ1-42 toxic effects. Aspirin inhibited COX-2 and iNOS without changes in COX-1 expression, increasing anti-oxidant protein (Cu/Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD) expression in presence or absence of Aβ1-42. Taken together, our results show that aspirin, at low doses increases cell viability by decreasing inflammation and oxidative stress, preventing the deleterious effects of the Aβ1-42 peptide on astrocytes in primary culture. The use of low doses of aspirin may be more suitable for Alzheimer's disease

Endothelium-dependent relaxation of human saphenous veins in response to vasopressin and desmopressin

Purpose:The goal of this study was to determine the effects of vasopressin and the selective V2-receptor agonist desmopressin on human saphenous veins, with special emphasis on endothelium-mediated responses.Methods:Human saphenous vein segments were obtained from 35 patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery. Paired segments, one normal and the other deendothelized by gentle rubbing, were mounted for isometric recording of tension in organ baths. Concentration-response curves to vasopressin and desmopressin were determined in the presence and in the absence of either the V,-receptor antagonist d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP (10−6 mol/L), the V1-V2 receptor antagonist desGly-d(CH2)5D-Tyr(Et)ValAVP (10−6 mol/L), indomethacin (10−6 mol/L), or NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME, 10−4 mol/L).Results:In vein rings under resting tension, vasopressin produced concentration-dependent, endothelium-independent contractions with a concentration of vasopressin producing-half-maximal contractions (EC50) of 3.44 × 10−8 mol/L. The vasopressin V1-receptor antagonist (10−6 mol/L) displaced the control curve to vasopressin 9.86-fold to the right in a parallel manner. In precontracted vein rings previously treated with the V1-antagonist (10−6 mol/L), vasopressin caused endothelium-dependent relaxations. This relaxation was reduced significantly by indomethacin (10−6 mol/L) and unaffected by the V1-V2-receptor antagonist (10−6 mol/L) or by L-NAME (10−4 mol/L). Desmopressin caused endothelium-dependent relaxations in precontracted vein rings that were inhibited by the mixed V1-V2-receptor antagonist and by indomethacin, but not by the V1-antagonist or by pretreatment with L-NAME.Conclusions:These observations indicate that vasopressin exerts contractile effects on human saphenous vein by V1-receptor stimulation. Vasopressin causes dilatation of human saphenous vein only if V1-receptor blockade is present. This relaxation appears to be mediated by the release of relaxant Prostaglandins, probably derived from endothelial cells, and is independent of V2-receptor stimulation or release of nitric oxide. Desmopressin elicits relaxation that is largely dependent on V2-receptor stimulation, which may bring about the release of dilating Prostaglandins from the endothelial cells

Facilitation of Insulin Effects by Ranolazine in Astrocytes in Primary Culture

Ranolazine (Rn) is a drug used to treat persistent chronic coronary ischemia. It has also been shown to have therapeutic benefits on the central nervous system and an anti-diabetic effect by lowering blood glucose levels; however, no effects of Rn on cellular sensitivity to insulin (Ins) have been demonstrated yet. The present study aimed to investigate the permissive effects of Rn on the actions of Ins in astrocytes in primary culture. Ins (10−8 M), Rn (10−6 M), and Ins + Rn (10−8 M and 10−6 M, respectively) were added to astrocytes for 24 h. In comparison to control cells, Rn and/or Ins caused modifications in cell viability and proliferation. Rn increased protein expression of Cu/Zn-SOD and the pro-inflammatory protein COX-2 was upregulated by Ins. On the contrary, no significant changes were found in the protein expression of NF-κB and IκB. The presence of Rn produced an increase in p-ERK protein and a significant decrease in COX-2 protein expression. Furthermore, Rn significantly increased the effects of Ins on the expression of p-AKT, p-eNOS, p-ERK, Mn-SOD, and PPAR-γ. In addition, Rn + Ins produced a significant decrease in COX-2 expression. In conclusion, Rn facilitated the effects of insulin on the p-AKT, p-eNOS, p-ERK, Mn-SOD, and PPAR-γ signaling pathways, as well as on the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of the hormone

n-Alkan-2-ones in peat-forming plants from the Roñanzas ombrotrophic bog (Asturias, northern Spain)

We determined the distribution of lipids (n-alkanes and n-alkan-2-ones) in present-day peat-formingplants in the RoñanzasBog in northernSpain. Consistent with the observation of others, most Sphagnum (moss) species alkanes maximized at C23, whereas the other plants maximized at higher molecular weight (C27 to C31). We show for the first time that plants other than seagrass and Sphagnum moss contain n-alkan-2-ones. Almost all the species analysed showed an n-alkan-2-one distribution between C21 and C31 with an odd/even predominance, maximizing at C27 or C29, except ferns, which maximized at lower molecular weight (C21–C23). We also observed that microbial degradation can be a major contributor to the n-alkan-2-one distribution in sediments as opposed to a direct input of ketones from plant