Persistent activation of steroidogenesis in adrenocortical cells by photoaffinity labeling of corticotropin receptors

Photolysis of rat adrenocortical cells in the presence of the photoreactive derivative [(2-nitro-5-azidophenylsulfenyl)Trp9]-adrenocorticotropic hormone (2,5-NAPS-ACTH) at 24°C resulted in persistent activation of corticosterone production. The basal rate of steroidogenesis became maximal when photolysis was performed at 24°C but remained the same as that of control cells when irradiation was performed at 0°C. No increase in basal rate was observed with dark controls or cells photolyzed with [(2,4-dinitrophenylsulfenyl)Trp9]ACTH, a photoresistant analog of the hormone. Prephotolyzed 2,5-NAPS-ACTH failed to induce persistent activation. Both ACTH and 2,4-(dinitrophenylsulfenyl)Trp9-ACTH blocked the photo-induced activation of steroidogenesis elicited by 2,5-NAPS-ACTH. Under photolysis conditions which caused the basal rate of steroidogenesis to become maximal, a 3-fold increase in the basal rate of cAMP formation was observed

Fertilization in Broadcast-Spawning Corals of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

Broadcast spawning is considered to be the dominant reproductive strategy for reef corals, but little is known about two critical postspawning processes, fertilization and early larval development. Instead, most efforts have focused on dispersal and recruitment. Since 1993, we have examined coral fertilization and development at the Flower Garden Banks, which contain two isolated reefs with predictable and dramatic annual mass spawning events in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Observations of in vitro fertilization indicate that the hermaphroditic scleractinian species Colpophyllia natans, Diploria strigosa, Monfastraea faveolata, and M. franksi all have high fertilization potentials when outcrossing. However, although D. strigosa can self-fertilize readily, self-fertilization levels within C. natans and the Montastraea species are low. In addition, interspecific crossing attempts among the hermaphroditic species of Montastraea (M. franksi, M. faveolata, and M. annularis) yielded low levels of fertilization. The differences observed in the timing of spawning and the low hybridization success between the Montastraea siblings lend additional support to their recent reclassification as separate species. Spawned egg samples collected immediately upon release from female colonies of the gonochoric species M. cavernosa and Stephanocoenia intersepta produced an unexpected observation—very high levels of fertilization. This suggests internal fertilization prior to egg release, a process that has not heretofore been observed in a broadcast-spawning scleractinian

Timing, Species Participation, and Environmental Factors Influencing Annual Mass Spawning at the Flower Garden Banks (Northwest Gulf of Mexico)

Since 1990, highly predictable and intense annual mass spawning events have been witnessed at the Flower Garden Banks (northwestern Gulf of Mexico), and more recently at several other western Atlantic coral reefs as well. The annual reproductive period at the Flower Gardens coincided with the summer seawater temperature maximum and occurred between the seventh and 10th evenings following a full moon in August or September. Species-specific peaks of activity were centered on the eighth and 10th evenings. Coral spawning at the Flower Gardens began within 1 hr of sunset and continued for roughly 4 hr. On the eighth evening, coral species observed spawning during the first 2.5 hr were Diploria strigosa, Montastraea cavernosa, and M. franksi. Other reef-dwelling invertebrate species were also consistently seen spawning during this time. Montastraea annularis, M. faveolata, and Stephanocoenia intersepta spawned about 1 hr later, following a brief transition period during which little spawning activity was observed. The 10th evening was characterized by the successive spawning of Colpophyllia natans (early evening) and S. intersepta (late evening). Male colonies of the gonochoric species M. cavernosa and S. intersepta typically began spawning up to 30 min before females, although several individuals of M. cavernosa have been observed spawning more than 3 hr before females

Tight Temporal Consistency of Coral Mass Spawning at the Flower Garden Banks, Gulf of Mexico, from 1997-2003

Mass spawning by the hard corals of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary has been studied for over a decade. In this report we present observations by a single set of experienced observers on spawning events extending over seven years, on spawning activity, lack of activity and coordination within and between species. This compilation shows that the spawning times of each species are extremely consistent during major events, with onset and hiatus often predictable to within seven minutes, and in some species to within two minutes. In addition to the extraordinary degree of temporal regulation, the other striking feature of the spawning schedule is the uniqueness of most spawning windows. With the exception of Diploria strigosa, each of the major spawning species—Colpophyllia natans, Montrastraea cavernosa, M. annularis, M. faveolata, M. franksi and Stephanocoenia intersepta—has a unique window of time in which it and no other coral species releases gametes. Spawning times for the 2005-2008 seasons are predicted based on these findings

Cardiac troponin I levels in canine pyometra

BACKGROUND: Myocardial injury may contribute to unexpected deaths due to pyometra. To detect myocardial damage, measurement of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is currently the most sensitive and specific method. The aims of the present study were to evaluate presence of myocardial damage in canine pyometra by analysis of cTnI, to explore whether myocardial injury was associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and to evaluate whether other clinical or laboratory parameters were associated with cTnI increase. METHODS: Preoperative plasma levels of cTnI were investigated in 58 female dogs with pyometra and 9 controls. The value of physical examination findings, haematological, serum biochemical and pro-inflammatory (CRP and TNF-α) parameters as possible predictors of increased cTnI levels was also evaluated. RESULTS: Seven dogs with pyometra (12%) and one control dog (11%) had increased levels of cTnI. In the pyometra group, the levels ranged between 0.3–0.9 μg l(-1 )and in the control dog the level was 0.3 μg l(-1). The cTnI levels did not differ significantly between the two groups. No cardiac abnormalities were evident on preoperative physical examinations. Four of the pyometra patients died within two weeks of surgery, of which two were examined post mortem. In one of these cases (later diagnosed with myocarditis and disseminated bacterial infection) the cTnI levels increased from 0.9 μg l(-1 )preoperatively to 180 μg l(-1 )the following day when also heart arrhythmia was also detected. The other patient had cTnI levels of 0.7 μg l(-1 )with no detectable heart pathology post mortem. CTnI increase was not associated with presence of SIRS. There was a trend for the association of cTnI increase with increased mortality. No preoperative physical examination findings and few but unspecific laboratory parameters were associated with increased cTnI levels. CONCLUSION: Increased cTnI levels were observed in 12% of the dogs with pyometra. The proportions of dogs with cTnI increase did not differ significantly in the pyometra group compared with the control group. CTnI increase was not associated with presence of SIRS. A trend for association of cTnI increase and mortality was observed. Preoperative physical examination findings and included laboratory parameters were poor predictors of increased cTnI levels

Particle Dark Matter Physics: An Update

This write--up gives a rather elementary introduction into particle physics aspects of the cosmological Dark Matter puzzle. A fairly comprehensive list of possible candidates is given; in each case the production mechanism and possible ways to detect them (if any) are described. I then describe detection of the in my view most promising candidates, weakly interacting massive particles or WIMPs, in slightly more detail. The main emphasis will be on recent developments.Comment: Invited talk at the 5th Workshop on Particle Physics Phenomenology, Pune, India, January 1998; 21 pages, LaTeX with equation.st

The Identification of Lymphocyte-Like Cells and Lymphoid-Related Genes in Amphioxus Indicates the Twilight for the Emergency of Adaptive Immune System

To seek evidence of a primitive adaptive immune system (AIS) before vertebrate, we examined whether lymphocytes or lymphocyte-like cells and the related molecules participating in the lymphocyte function existed in amphioxus. Anatomical analysis by electron microscopy revealed the presence of lymphocyte-like cells in gills, and these cells underwent morphological changes in response to microbial pathogens that are reminiscent of those of mammalian lymphocytes executing immune response to microbial challenge. In addition, a systematic comparative analysis of our cDNA database of amphioxus identified a large number of genes whose vertebrate counterparts are involved in lymphocyte function. Among these genes, several genes were found to be expressed in the vicinity of the lymphocyte-like cells by in situ hybridization and up-regulated after exposure to microbial pathogens. Our findings in the amphioxus indicate the twilight for the emergency of AIS before the invertebrate-vertebrate transition during evolution

Expansion and further delineation of the SETD5 phenotype leading to global developmental delay, variable dysmorphic features, and reduced penetrance

Diagnostic exome sequencing (DES) has aided delineation of the phenotypic spectrum of rare genetic etiologies of intellectual disability (ID). A SET domain containing 5 gene (SETD5) phenotype of ID and dysmorphic features has been previously described in relation to patients with 3p25.3 deletions and in a few individuals with de novo sequence alterations. Herein, we present additional patients with pathogenic SETD5 sequence alterations. The majority of patients in this cohort and previously reported have developmental delay, behavioral/psychiatric issues, and variable hand and skeletal abnormalities. We also present an apparently unaffected carrier mother of an affected individual and a carrier mother with normal intelligence and affected twin sons. We suggest that the phenotype of SETD5 is more complex and variable than previously presented. Therefore, many features and presentations need to be considered when evaluating a patient for SETD5 alterations through DES

Lipopolysaccharides Impair Insulin Gene Expression in Isolated Islets of Langerhans via Toll-Like Receptor-4 and NF-κB Signalling

BACKGROUND:Type 2 diabetes is characterized by pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and is associated with low-grade inflammation. Recent observations suggest that the signalling cascade activated by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) binding to Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4) exerts deleterious effects on pancreatic β-cell function; however, the molecular mechanisms of these effects are incompletely understood. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that LPS alters insulin gene expression via TLR4 and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) in islets. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:A 24-h exposure of isolated human, rat and mouse islets of Langerhans to LPS dose-dependently reduced insulin gene expression. This was associated in mouse and rat islets with decreased mRNA expression of pancreas-duodenum homebox-1 (PDX-1) and mammalian homologue of avian MafA/l-Maf (MafA). Accordingly, LPS exposure also decreased glucose-induced insulin secretion. LPS repression of insulin, PDX-1 and MafA expression, as well as its inhibition of insulin secretion, were not observed in islets from TLR4-deficient mice. LPS inhibition of β-cell gene expression in rat islets was prevented by inhibition of the NF-κB pathway, but not the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) pathway. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:Our findings demonstrate that LPS inhibit β-cell gene expression in a TLR4-dependent manner and via NF-κB signaling in pancreatic islets, suggesting a novel mechanism by which the gut microbiota might affect pancreatic β-cell function