Influence of discharge, hydraulics, water temperature, and dispersal on density synchrony in brown trout populations (Salmo trutta)

International audienceLes facteurs environnementaux peuvent causer des fluctuations synchrones de densités entre populations. Une meilleure compréhension des processus expliquant la synchronie est fondamentale pour prédire des pertes de résilience des métapopulations sujettes à des changements environnementaux. Nous étudions la synchronie des chroniques de densités de trois classes d’âge de la truite brune (Salmo trutta) (0+, 1+ et adultes) entre 36 tronçons de cours d’eau. Nous utilisons des tests de Mantel pour discriminer les effets relatifs de la proximité géographique, de la synchronie de variables environnementales clefs (débit, température de l’eau, conditions hydrauliques et mobilité du substrat) et de la dispersion densité-dépendante. La synchronie environnementale expliquait fortement la synchronie de la truite jusqu’à des distances de 75 km. Cet effet était dû en partie à l’influence négative sur les 0+ des hauts débits pendant l’émergence et une influence de la mobilité du substrat pendant la période de ponte. La dispersion entre tronçon influençait faiblement nos résultats. Les densités de juvéniles et d’adultes étaient fortement structurées par des processus de survie, mais n’étaient pas influencées par la synchronie des conditions environnementales. Les résultats suggèrent que l’environnement peut avoir des effets généraux sur la dynamique de population qui peuvent influencer la résilience des métapopulation

The Role for HNF-1β-Targeted Collectrin in Maintenance of Primary Cilia and Cell Polarity in Collecting Duct Cells

Collectrin, a homologue of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), is a type I transmembrane protein, and we originally reported its localization to the cytoplasm and apical membrane of collecting duct cells. Recently, two independent studies of targeted disruption of collectrin in mice resulted in severe and general defects in renal amino acid uptake. Collectrin has been reported to be under the transcriptional regulation by HNF-1α, which is exclusively expressed in proximal tubules and localized at the luminal side of brush border membranes. The deficiency of collectrin was associated with reduction of multiple amino acid transporters on luminal membranes. In the current study, we describe that collectrin is a target of HNF-1β and heavily expressed in the primary cilium of renal collecting duct cells. Collectrin is also localized in the vesicles near the peri-basal body region and binds to γ-actin-myosin II-A, SNARE, and polycystin-2-polaris complexes, and all of these are involved in intracellular and ciliary movement of vesicles and membrane proteins. Treatment of mIMCD3 cells with collectrin siRNA resulted in defective cilium formation, increased cell proliferation and apoptosis, and disappearance of polycystin-2 in the primary cilium. Suppression of collectrin mRNA in metanephric culture resulted in the formation of multiple longitudinal cysts in ureteric bud branches. Taken together, the cystic change and formation of defective cilium with the interference in the collectrin functions would suggest that it is necessary for recycling of the primary cilia-specific membrane proteins, the maintenance of the primary cilia and cell polarity of collecting duct cells. The transcriptional hierarchy between HNF-1β and PKD (polycystic kidney disease) genes expressed in the primary cilia of collecting duct cells has been suggested, and collectrin is one of such HNF-1β regulated genes

Physiology and pathophysiology of the vasopressin-regulated renal water reabsorption

To prevent dehydration, terrestrial animals and humans have developed a sensitive and versatile system to maintain their water homeostasis. In states of hypernatremia or hypovolemia, the antidiuretic hormone vasopressin (AVP) is released from the pituitary and binds its type-2 receptor in renal principal cells. This triggers an intracellular cAMP signaling cascade, which phosphorylates aquaporin-2 (AQP2) and targets the channel to the apical plasma membrane. Driven by an osmotic gradient, pro-urinary water then passes the membrane through AQP2 and leaves the cell on the basolateral side via AQP3 and AQP4 water channels. When water homeostasis is restored, AVP levels decline, and AQP2 is internalized from the plasma membrane, leaving the plasma membrane watertight again. The action of AVP is counterbalanced by several hormones like prostaglandin E2, bradykinin, dopamine, endothelin-1, acetylcholine, epidermal growth factor, and purines. Moreover, AQP2 is strongly involved in the pathophysiology of disorders characterized by renal concentrating defects, as well as conditions associated with severe water retention. This review focuses on our recent increase in understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying AVP-regulated renal water transport in both health and disease

Computer display of curved surfaces

technical reportThis research describes a method for producing shaped pictures of curved surfaces. It uses a small polygon approximation of the surface to solve efficiently the nidden parts detection, and then computes the shading on each polygon in such a way that visual discontinuities between adjacent polygons disappear, thus restoring the apparent smoothness of the surface and increasing greatly the realism of the pictures produced. The smooth shading technique described here has been used to produce a large variety of pictures of which several airplanes, a car, a human face and some mathematical surfaces are included to illustrate the effect of the method

Role of habitat variability in trout population dynamics: Application of a dynamic population model to three French rivers

The Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM) was developed to determine flows that must be maintained downstream of hydropower plants to preserve aquatic populations. It is based on the hypothesis that the characteristics of the habitat in periods of low flow have a crucial impact on the dynamics of these populations. Other parameters that may also affect populations include: water quality, temperature, flood episodes, strategies for stocking, fishing, etc. Dynamic models of fish populations are now being developed in an attempt to integrate all these factors. The model presented here was applied on 3 populations (on Oir River, Neste d'Oueil River, and Roizonne River). The study has highlighted the fundamental role of the temporal variability of environmental parameters (particularly temperature, discharge and Weighted Surface Area) in structuring trout populations. Particularly, the flow-related habitat role simulated in the model – through a phenomenon of compensation during the first months of life and through displacement resulting in mortality, and mortality among fry when discharge is high – was illustrated by these examples