60 research outputs found
Resting and denning sites of European mink in the northern Iberian Peninsula (Western Europe)
We recorded resting and breeding sites used by the endangered European mink (Mustela lutreola) inhabiting Western Europe (Foral Community of Navarre). Over a sample size of 22 radio-tracked mink (10 adult females, 7 adult males, 2 young females, and 3 young males) between March 2007 and February 2009, we found that European mink mainly rested within brambles and reeds (39.7% for each type, n=156), regardless of seasons and age-sex classes. On average, the resting site re-use rate was 1.3 (range=1–4.3). Nine out of 10 breeding dens were located in lagoons or tributaries. The only one located along a main river course lost the litter due to flooding. Eight out of 10 breeding dens were in bramble patches. Thick and helophytic vegetation should be prioritised in management plans aimed at improving the conservation status of this species. Promoting this vegetation would favour adequate resting and breeding sites for European mink. A focus on improving vegetation around lagoons or tributaries can help to minimise flooding during the breeding period.Peer reviewe
Mechanisms of action of Methylthioadenosine: pathways implicated in neuroprotection in models of Multiple Sclerosis and other neurological diseases
From 5th European Workshop on Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases (Sitges-Barcelona, Spain. 1-3 December 2010)Background
Methylthioadenosine (MTA) has anti-oxidant and anti-proliferative properties and was shown to induce cell protection in hepatic cells. We previously demonstrated that exert immunomodulatory and neuroprotective effects in the animal model of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and other neurological diseases like Parkinson disease, stroke and Epilepsy.
Objective
To study the mechanisms of action and different pathways implicated in the neuroprotective effect of MTA in neurological diseases.
Methods
RN22 (Schwnoma cell line) and PC12 (Pheochromocytoma cell line) were used to test the neuroprotective activity of MTA against stress in RN22 and to differentiate neurites in PC12. BV2 cells were used to test the effect of MTA in microglia. Organotypic cerebellum cultures were used to determine MTA effect in demyelination/remyelination. Luminex technology, western blot and ELISA were used in order to study the phosphorylated state of different pathways (AkT/PKB, ERK/MAPK, P38/SAPK or STAT3) and to determine the amount of different cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α). Ros determination was also done by fluorescence determination.
Results
In vitro studies revealed that MTA protection against different stresses and its capacity to differentiate neurites implies pathways like ERK/MAPK, P38/SAPK or STAT3. MTA neuroprotective capacity is also related with its ability to reduce ROS production and oxidative stress. MTA was shown to protect against demyelination in cerebellum organotypic cultures treated with LPS or Lysolecithin.
Conclusions
MTA is neuroprotective in models of MS, Parkinson disease, stroke or Epilepsy. This neuroprotective effect depends on its capacity to protect against demyelination, its anti-oxidant effect and the activation of pathways related with protection against stress and production of neurite differentiation
Physical Activity Patterns of the Spanish Population Are Mostly Determined by Sex and Age: Findings in the ANIBES Study
Background
Representative data for the Spanish population regarding physical activity (PA) behaviors
are scarce and seldom comparable due to methodological inconsistencies.
Aim
Our objectives were to describe the PA behavior by means of the standardized self-reported
International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and to know the proportion of the Spanish
population meeting and not meeting international PA recommendations.
Material and Methods
PA was assessed using the IPAQ in a representative sample of 2285 individuals (males,
50.4%) aged 9–75 years and living in municipalities of at least 2,000 inhabitants. Data were
analyzed according to: age groups 9–12, 13–17, 18–64, and 65–75 years; sex; geographical
distribution; locality size and educational levels.
Results
Mean total PA was 868.8±660.9 min/wk, mean vigorous PA 146.4±254.1 min/wk, and mean
moderate PA 398.1±408.0 min/wk, showing significant differences between sexes
(p<0.05). Children performed higher moderate-vigorous PA than adolescents and seniors
(p<0.05), and adults than adolescents and seniors (p<0.05). Compared to recommendations,
36.2%of adults performed <150 min/week of moderate PA, 65.4% <75 min/week of vigorous PA and 27.0%did not perform any PA at all, presenting significant differences
between sexes (p<0.05). A total of 55.4%of children and adolescents performed less than
420 min/week of MVPA, being higher in the later (62.6%) than in the former (48.4%). Highest
non-compliance was observed in adolescent females (86.5%).
Conclusion
Sex and age are the main influencing factors on PA in the Spanish population. Males
engage in more vigorous and light PA overall, whereas females perform more moderate
PA. PA behavior differs between age groups and no clear lineal increase with age could be
observed. Twenty-seven percent of adults and 55.4% of children and adolescents do not
meet international PA recommendations. Identified target groups should be addressed to
increase PA in the Spanish populationCoca-Cola Iberia through Spanish Nutrition Foundation (FEN)Coca-Cola Iberi
Fine Tuning of Ca(V)1.3 Ca2+ Channel Properties in Adult Inner Hair Cells Positioned in the Most Sensitive Region of the Gerbil Cochlea
Hearing relies on faithful signal transmission by cochlear inner hair cells (IHCs) onto auditory fibres over a wide frequency
and intensity range. Exocytosis at IHC ribbon synapses is triggered by Ca2+
inflow through CaV1.3 (L-type) Ca2+
channels. We
investigated the macroscopic (whole-cell) and elementary (cell-attached) properties of Ca2+
currents in IHCs positioned at
the middle turn (frequency ,2 kHz) of the adult gerbil cochlea, which is their most sensitive hearing region. Using near
physiological recordings conditions (body temperature and a Na+
based extracellular solution), we found that the
macroscopic Ca2+
current activates and deactivates very rapidly (time constant below 1 ms) and inactivates slowly and only
partially. Single-channel recordings showed an elementary conductance of 15 pS, a sub-ms latency to first opening, and a
very low steady-state open probability (Po: 0.024 in response to 500-ms depolarizing steps at ,218 mV). The value of Po
was significantly larger (0.06) in the first 40 ms of membrane depolarization, which corresponds to the time when most Ca2+
channel openings occurred clustered in bursts (mean burst duration: 19 ms). Both the Po and the mean burst duration were
smaller than those previously reported in high-frequency basal IHCs. Finally, we found that middle turn IHCs are likely to
express about 4 times more Ca2+
channels per ribbon than basal cells. We propose that middle-turn IHCs finely-tune CaV1.3
Ca2+
channel gating in order to provide reliable information upon timing and intensity of lower-frequency sounds
Barriers to Non-Viral Vector-Mediated Gene Delivery in the Nervous System
Efficient methods for cell line transfection are well described, but, for primary neurons, a high-yield method different from those relying on viral vectors is lacking. Viral transfection has several drawbacks, such as the complexity of vector preparation, safety concerns, and the generation of immune and inflammatory responses when used in vivo. However, one of the main problems for the use of non-viral gene vectors for neuronal transfection is their low efficiency when compared with viral vectors. Transgene expression, or siRNA delivery mediated by non-viral vectors, is the result of multiple processes related to cellular membrane crossing, intracellular traffic, and/or nuclear delivery of the genetic material cargo. This review will deal with the barriers that different nanoparticles (cationic lipids, polyethyleneimine, dendrimers and carbon nanotubes) must overcome to efficiently deliver their cargo to central nervous system cells, including internalization into the neurons, interaction with intracellular organelles such as lysosomes, and transport across the nuclear membrane of the neuron in the case of DNA transfection. Furthermore, when used in vivo, the nanoparticles should efficiently cross the blood-brain barrier to reach the target cells in the brain
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