Editorial

In a globally changing climate and with the alarming loss of biodiversity Comparative Endocrinology becomes ever more relevant as a scientific discipline. The comparative endocrinologist continues to be at the frontline of scientific endeavour trying to understand the myriad complexities of life forms on earth by looking at the regulatory factors that underpin key events in an organisms’ life and ensure maintenance of homeostasis and species survival

Steady state levels of pro-dynorphin-related end products in the striatum and substantia nigra of the adult rhesus monkey

Analysis of an acid extract of the striatum of the rhesus monkey revealed that the molar ratio of dynorphin A(1-8)-sized material and dynorphin (A(1-17)-sized material is approximately 1:1. In addition, the molar ratios of the dynorphin A-related end products to both dynorphin B(1-13)-sized material and alpha-neo-endorphin-sized material were approximately 1:1. Fractionation of an acid extract of the substantia nigra by gel filtration and reverse phase HPLC revealed the following molar ratios for pro-dynorphin-related end products. The molar ratio of dynorphin A(1-8) to dynorphin A(1-17) is approximately 6:1. The molar ratios of dynorphin A-related end products to dynorphin B(1-13) and alpha-neo-endorphin were approximately 0.5 and 0.8, respectively. Comparisons between proteolytic processing patterns of pro-dynorphin in the striatum and the substantia nigra of the rhesus monkey are considered. In addition, comparisons between pro-dynorphin processing in the substantia nigra of the rhesus monkey and the substantia nigra of the rat [4] are discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/25852/1/0000415.pd

Strategies for studying opioid peptide regulation at the gene, message and protein levels

Three opioid peptide precursors have been isolated and characterized in endocrine and nervous tissue: pro-opiomelanocortin, pro-enkephalin, and pro-dynorphin. Since each of those opioid peptide systems have been extensively characterized both biochemically and anatomically, this review will focus on strategies for studying the regulation of these systems at the levels of gene transcription, message translation, post-translational processing, secretion, and target cell receptor interaction.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/24939/1/0000366.pd

Immunohistochemical localization of enkephalin and ACTH-related substances in the pituitary of the lamprey

The distributions of ACTH-, αMSH-, β LPH-, and enkephalin-related substances were determined immunohistochemically in the pituitary of the brook lamprey, Lampetra lamotenii . An antiserum directed against the middle region of ACTH reacted chiefly with cells in the proadenohypophysis. An antiserum specific for αMSH reacted with all of the cells of the meta-adenohypophysis, but did not react with any of the middle ACTH-positive cells in the pro-adenohypophysis. Several antisera which crossreact with both β LPH and β -endorphin did not react with any region of the lamprey pituitary. However, an antiserum directed against γLPH did react with a small population of cells in the meso-adenohypophysis. This reactivity could be blocked following pre-absorption with mouse β LPH but was not blocked by synthetic β -endorphin(1–31).Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47679/1/441_2004_Article_BF00213730.pd

Analysis of opioid and non-opioid end products of pro-dynorphin in the substantia nigra of the rat

The substantia nigra is among the richest pro-dynorphin terminal field regions in the rat brain. We therefore contrasted processing in this area to the known processing in the posterior pituitary. Fractionation of acid extracts of the posterior pituitary by gel filtration followed by analysis by radioimmunoassay indicated that the molar ratio of dynorphin A(1-17) to dynorphin A(1-8) averaged 1:2. The levels of dynorphin A-related end products to [alpha]-neo-endorphin and bridge peptide (a 2K nonopioid end product of pro-dynorphin) were approximately equimolar; however, the levels of dynorphin B-sized material were 50% lower than dynorphin A levels. Similar analysis of acid extracts of the substantia nigra also indicated that the levels of dynorphin A, [alpha]-neo-endorphin, and bridge peptide were approximately equimolar. In this terminal field the levels of dynorphin B-sized material were approximately 60% lower than dynorphin A. A striking feature of the nigral system was that the molar ratio of dynorphin A(1-17) to dynorphin A(1-8) averaged 1:16. Thus, in the nigra, dynorphin A(1-17) is primarily a biosynthetic intermediate rather than as an end product.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/25774/1/0000335.pd

Carbon sequestration potential of second-growth forest regeneration in the Latin American tropics

Regrowth of tropical secondary forests following complete or nearly complete removal of forest vegetation actively stores carbon in aboveground biomass, partially counterbalancing carbon emissions from deforestation, forest degradation, burning of fossil fuels, and other anthropogenic sources. We estimate the age and spatial extent of lowland second-growth forests in the Latin American tropics and model their potential aboveground carbon accumulation over four decades. Our model shows that, in 2008, second-growth forests (1 to 60 years old) covered 2.4 million km2 of land (28.1%of the total study area).Over 40 years, these lands can potentially accumulate a total aboveground carbon stock of 8.48 Pg C (petagrams of carbon) in aboveground biomass via low-cost natural regeneration or assisted regeneration, corresponding to a total CO2 sequestration of 31.09 Pg CO2. This total is equivalent to carbon emissions from fossil fuel use and industrial processes in all of Latin America and the Caribbean from1993 to 2014. Ten countries account for 95% of this carbon storage potential, led by Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela. We model future land-use scenarios to guide national carbon mitigation policies. Permitting natural regeneration on 40% of lowland pastures potentially stores an additional 2.0 Pg C over 40 years. Our study provides information and maps to guide national-level forest-based carbon mitigation plans on the basis of estimated rates of natural regeneration and pasture abandonment. Coupled with avoided deforestation and sustainable forestmanagement, natural regeneration of second-growth forests provides a low-costmechanism that yields a high carbon sequestration potential with multiple benefits for biodiversity and ecosystem services. © 2016 The Authors