Development and differentiation of Nucleus paraventricularis and nucleus supraopticus of the hypothalamus during the perinatal period in rats

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A key to the freshwater triclads (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida) of Herzegovina watercourses

The aim of this paper is to describe morphological characteristics of freshwater triclads in Herzegovina and to provide a key for their identification based mainly on their external morphology. Our research is based on the freshwater triclads collected at 26 sites in Herzegovina, including 10 rivers, 6 springs and 1 lake. Triclads were collected by hand and with the bait jar with a lid bearing many small perforations. Specimens were identified immediately after being collected or we transported them to the laboratory in termal containers with ice. The morphological features used for species identification in this key are: body coloration (color of the dorsal and ventral side), the size of the pharynx, the presence of tentacles and their location, number and position of the eyes in respect to each other and the body margin, and the shape of the head. Specimens were fixed using Steinmann’s fluid and conserved in 70 % alcohol. Inner morphological feature, shape of a penis, was used in determination of Polycelis tenuis and Polycelis nigra. We collected a total of 11 species, belonging to 8 genera (Polycelis Ehrenberg, 1831, Crenobia Kenk, 1930, Phagocata Leidy, 1847, Planaria Müller, 1776, Dendrocoelum Örsted, 1844, Schmidtea Ball, 1974, Dugesia Girard, 1850, Girardia Ball, 1974) and 3 families. The present study forms a baseline for future studies on the diversity and biogeography of Herzegovinian freshwater triclads

The effects of dexamethasone treatment of pregnant rats on maternal, fetal and neonatal ACTH-cells

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is secreted in response to a number of stimuli and it influences growth, differentiation and adrenal steroidogenesis. Rat pituitary ACTH-cells are differentiated at 14-16 days of fetal life, while synthesis of adrenal glucocorticoids starts from the 17th day of gestation as a result of increased synthesis and release of ACTH. The aim of this work was to examine the effect of dexamethasone (Dx), administered to gravid females, on the synthetic ability of their pituitary ACTH-cells as well as those of their fetal and neonatal offspring. The experimental group of pregnant females received Dx (1.5 mg/kg bw) on day 16 of gestation, while the control group received an equal volume of diluent at the same time. Plasma ACTH and cortisol concentrations were determined by RIA. The ACTH-cells were examined under light and electron microscopes. The results obtained indicate that single Dx-treatment of pregnant rats suppresses differentiation of fetal adrenocortical cells and the release of ACTH. However, in neonatal rats the number of ACTH- and precursor cells and their proliferation increased, as well as ACTH and cortisol synthesis and release, i. e. stimulation of synthesis and secretion of ACTH was noticed after suppression in the fetal period. The numerous changes observed in the fetuses and early neonates of dams treated with a single dose of Dx during pregnancy had disappeared in 30-day-old offspring.Adrenokortikotropni hormon (ACTH) se oslobađa kao odgovor na brojne stimuluse i utiče na rast, diferencijaciju i sintezu steroidnih hormona adrenalne žlezde. ACTH ćelije u hipofizi pacova diferenciraju se između 14. i 16. dana fetalnog života, dok sinteza glukokortikoidnih hormona nadbubrežne žlezde počinje 17. fetalnog dana kao rezultat povećane sinteze i oslobadanja ACTH. Cilj ovoga rada je bio da se ispita efekat deksametazonskog (Dx) tretmana gravidnih ženki na ACTH ćelije fetusa i potomaka tokom neonatalnog perioda. Paralelno je ispitivana i sintetska aktivnost ACTH ćelija majki. Eksperimentalna grupa gravidnih ženki tretirana je Dx (1.5 mg/kg/tt) 16. dana gestacije, dok je kontrolna grupa u istom periodu primila odgovarajuću količinu fizioloskog rastvora. Koncentracija ACTH u plazmi određena je RIA metodom. ACTH ćelije fetusa, neonatalnih pacova i gravidnih ženki ispitivane su svetlosnom i elektronskom mikroskopijom. Rezultati ovog istraživanja ukazuju da jednokratni Dx tretman gravidnih ženki inhibitorno utiče na diferencijaciju ACTH ćelija hipofize fetusa i oslobađanje ACTH. Međutim, u neonatalnom periodu broj prekursorskih ACTH ćelija i njihova proliferacija su povećani, kao i sinteza i oslobađanje ACTH i kortizola, tj nakon perioda inhibicije u fetalnom dobu dolazi do stimulacije u pogledu sinteze i sekrecija ACTH ćelija tokom neonatalnog perioda. Brojne promene opisane tokom fetalnog i neonatalnog perioda kod potomaka majki jednokratno tretiranih Dx 16. dana gestacije iščezavaju kod potomaka starih mesec dana.nul

Morphological features and comet assay of green and brown hydra treated with aluminium

Abstract Hydras are simple aquatic organisms, members of the phylum Cnidaria. Green hydra (Hydra viridissima Pallas) is endosymbiotic and brown hydra (Hydra oligactis Pallas) is a non-symbiotic species. Aluminium is one of the most abundant elements in the Earth's crust, but its effects upon living organisms have not been much studied until recently. The aim of this research was to explore the potential environmental effects of aluminium ions by studying aluminium-induced changes in two closely related hydra species, and to trace the extent damage caused. For the first time, a modified alkaline comet assay was used to study primary DNA damage in green and brown hydra cells. Aluminium toxicity triggered mortality, morphological, behavioral and DNA changes. DNA tail length and intensity changes were greater in brown than in green hydras, but behavioral responses to the presence of aluminium ions were observed more rapidly in green hydra. The toxicity also affected reproduction. Brown hydra was more susceptible to aluminium than green hydra, confirming the evolutionary advantage provided by symbiosis. Biomonitoring protocols using hydra and the comet assay could be developed to provide a valuable and rapid method for determining the quality of freshwater

Development and differentiation of Nucleus paraventricularis and nucleus supraopticus of the hypothalamus during the perinatal period in rats

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The effects of dexamethasone treatment of pregnant rats on maternal, fetal and neonatal ACTH-cells

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is secreted in response to a number of stimuli and it influences growth, differentiation and adrenal steroidogenesis. Rat pituitary ACTH-cells are differentiated at 14-16 days of fetal life, while synthesis of adrenal glucocorticoids starts from the 17th day of gestation as a result of increased synthesis and release of ACTH. The aim of this work was to examine the effect of dexamethasone (Dx), administered to gravid females, on the synthetic ability of their pituitary ACTH-cells as well as those of their fetal and neonatal offspring. The experimental group of pregnant females received Dx (1.5 mg/kg bw) on day 16 of gestation, while the control group received an equal volume of diluent at the same time. Plasma ACTH and cortisol concentrations were determined by RIA. The ACTH-cells were examined under light and electron microscopes. The results obtained indicate that single Dx-treatment of pregnant rats suppresses differentiation of fetal adrenocortical cells and the release of ACTH. However, in neonatal rats the number of ACTH- and precursor cells and their proliferation increased, as well as ACTH and cortisol synthesis and release, i. e. stimulation of synthesis and secretion of ACTH was noticed after suppression in the fetal period. The numerous changes observed in the fetuses and early neonates of dams treated with a single dose of Dx during pregnancy had disappeared in 30-day-old offspring.Adrenokortikotropni hormon (ACTH) se oslobađa kao odgovor na brojne stimuluse i utiče na rast, diferencijaciju i sintezu steroidnih hormona adrenalne žlezde. ACTH ćelije u hipofizi pacova diferenciraju se između 14. i 16. dana fetalnog života, dok sinteza glukokortikoidnih hormona nadbubrežne žlezde počinje 17. fetalnog dana kao rezultat povećane sinteze i oslobadanja ACTH. Cilj ovoga rada je bio da se ispita efekat deksametazonskog (Dx) tretmana gravidnih ženki na ACTH ćelije fetusa i potomaka tokom neonatalnog perioda. Paralelno je ispitivana i sintetska aktivnost ACTH ćelija majki. Eksperimentalna grupa gravidnih ženki tretirana je Dx (1.5 mg/kg/tt) 16. dana gestacije, dok je kontrolna grupa u istom periodu primila odgovarajuću količinu fizioloskog rastvora. Koncentracija ACTH u plazmi određena je RIA metodom. ACTH ćelije fetusa, neonatalnih pacova i gravidnih ženki ispitivane su svetlosnom i elektronskom mikroskopijom. Rezultati ovog istraživanja ukazuju da jednokratni Dx tretman gravidnih ženki inhibitorno utiče na diferencijaciju ACTH ćelija hipofize fetusa i oslobađanje ACTH. Međutim, u neonatalnom periodu broj prekursorskih ACTH ćelija i njihova proliferacija su povećani, kao i sinteza i oslobađanje ACTH i kortizola, tj nakon perioda inhibicije u fetalnom dobu dolazi do stimulacije u pogledu sinteze i sekrecija ACTH ćelija tokom neonatalnog perioda. Brojne promene opisane tokom fetalnog i neonatalnog perioda kod potomaka majki jednokratno tretiranih Dx 16. dana gestacije iščezavaju kod potomaka starih mesec dana.nul

A genetic history of the Balkans from Roman frontier to Slavic migrations

[Summary] The rise and fall of the Roman Empire was a socio-political process with enormous ramifications for human history. The Middle Danube was a crucial frontier and a crossroads for population and cultural movement. Here, we present genome-wide data from 136 Balkan individuals dated to the 1st millennium CE. Despite extensive militarization and cultural influence, we find little ancestry contribution from peoples of Italic descent. However, we trace a large-scale influx of people of Anatolian ancestry during the Imperial period. Between ∼250 and 550 CE, we detect migrants with ancestry from Central/Northern Europe and the Steppe, confirming that “barbarian” migrations were propelled by ethnically diverse confederations. Following the end of Roman control, we detect the large-scale arrival of individuals who were genetically similar to modern Eastern European Slavic-speaking populations, who contributed 30%–60% of the ancestry of Balkan people, representing one of the largest permanent demographic changes anywhere in Europe during the Migration Period.We thank the funding agencies for this study: PGC2018-0955931-B-100 grant (MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE) of the Spanish Ministry of Science of Innovation (C.L.-F.), PID2021-124590NB-100 grant of the Spanish Ministry of Science of Innovation (C.L.-F.), fellowship from “la Caixa” Foundation (ID 100010434), code LCF/BQ-ES11/10000073 (I.O.), grant “Ayudas para contratos Ramón y Cajal” funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ESF Investing in your future” (I.O.), FPI-2019 (Spanish Ministry of Science of Innovation, BDNS ID: 476421) (P.C.), NSERC Discovery grant (Canada) RGPIN-2018-05989 (M.G.), Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia (grant 533-03-19-0002) (M.N.), National Institutes of Health funding (HG012287) (D.R.), John Templeton Foundation (grant 61220) (D.R.), gifts from J.-F. Clin (D.R. and I.O.), the Allen Discovery Center, a Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group advised program of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (D.R.), and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (D.R.).Peer reviewe