Effects of cortisol on testicular apoptosis in goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Apoptosis is a programmed cell death that has been attributed to the action of stress hormones, such as cortisol. We investigated the in vitro effect of cortisol in goldfish (Carassius auratus) mature (GSI: 2.75-4.65) or immature (GSI: 1.94-2.4) testes. Testes were taken out and transferred into culture medium (M 199), cut into 20 micron thick slices and supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS), added different doses of cortisol (0, 50, 100, 200, 400, 750 and 800 ng/ml) and incubated for 24h, 48h or 72h at 18°C. Samples were rinsed and homogenized with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) after incubation period. Duplicates or triplicates processed for caspase-3 activity. The results showed a significant increase in caspase-3 activity in immature testes after 72h treatment with 750ng/ml of cortisol (P<0.05), and also at 400ng/ml (P<0.05). In contrast, no significant differences were observed between non-treated and cortisol-treated samples from mature goldfish testes. In this study we have demonstrated, for the first time that the stress hormone cortisol induces apoptosis in the goldfish testis in a stage-specific manner (immature testis)

Exploring the ontogenetic scaling hypothesis during the diversification of pollination syndromes in <i>Caiophora</i> (Loasaceae, subfam. Loasoideae)

Phenotypic diversification of flowers is frequently attributed to selection by different functional groups of pollinators. During optimization of floral phenotype, developmental robustness to genetic and non-genetic perturbations is expected to limit the phenotypic space available for future evolutionary changes. Although adaptive divergence can occur without altering the basic developmental programme of the flower (ontogenetic scaling hypothesis), the rarity of reversion to ancestral states following adaptive radiations of pollination syndromes suggests that changes in the ancestral developmental programme of the flower are common during such evolutionary transitions. Evidence suggests that flower diversification into different pollination syndromes in the Loasoideae genus Caiophora took place during a recent adaptive radiation in the central Andes. This involved transitions from bee to hummingbird and small rodent pollination. The aim of this work was to examine if the adaptive radiation of pollination syndromes in Caiophora occurred through ontogenetic scaling or involved a departure from the ontogenetic pattern basal to this genus.Fil: Strelin, Marina Micaela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Benitez-Vieyra, Santiago Miguel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Fornoni, Juan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Klingenberg, Christian Peter. University of Manchester; Reino UnidoFil: Cocucci, Andrea Aristides. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentin

Sutherland-type Trigonometric Models, Trigonometric Invariants and Multivariable Polynomials. II. E7E_7 case

It is shown that the $E_7$ trigonometric Olshanetsky-Perelomov Hamiltonian, when written in terms of the Fundamental Trigonometric Invariants (FTI), is in algebraic form, i.e., has polynomial coefficients, and preserves the infinite flag of polynomial spaces with the characteristic vector $\vec \alpha = (1,2,2,2,3,3,4)$. Its flag coincides with one of the minimal characteristic vector for the $E_7$ rational model.Comment: 11 pages, LaTe

Influencia de grelina y leptina sobre alteraciones psiquiátricas en sujetos con obesidad

La obesidad (índice de masa corporal [IMC] > 30 kg/m2) se define como el exceso en la proporción del tejido adiposo; consecuencia de un ingreso calórico superior al gasto energético del individuo. Es considerada un problema inflamatorio, sistémico, crónico y recurrente que causa diversas complicaciones. Esta enfermedad se ha relacionado con diversos problemas metabólicos y fisiológicos ampliamente estudiados; además de psicopatológicos.La obesidad es un problema de salud pública en diversos países, principalmente en Norteamérica. Se ha observado que sujetos que presentan obesidad manifiestan numerosas alteraciones psiquiátricas, entre ellas: depresión, ansiedad y trastorno por atracón. Por ello, diversos estudios han llegado a la conclusión de que las hormonas gastrointestinales fungen un papel crucial en el establecimiento de conductas, siendo la orexigénica grelina y la anorexigénica leptina 2 de las hormonas con mayor participación activa. Dicha intervención se debe a que ambas hormonas presentan receptores en sistema nervioso central, primordialmente en áreas del sistema límbico, regulador crucial de conductas hedónicas. Por lo tanto, en la presente revisión bibliográfica describiremos el papel de la grelina y la leptina sobre la expresión de conductas psicopatológicas comunes en sujetos que padecen obesidad

Dystroglycan Depletion Impairs Actin-Dependent Functions of Differentiated Kasumi-1 Cells

Background Dystroglycan has recently been characterised in blood tissue cells, as part of the dystrophin glycoprotein complex involved in the differentiation process of neutrophils. Purpose In the present study we have investigated the role of dystroglycan in the human promyelocytic leukemic cell line Kasumi-1 differentiated to macrophage-like cells. Methods We characterised the pattern expression and subcellular distribution of dystroglycans in non-differentiated and differentiated Kasumi-1 cells. Results Our results demonstrated by WB and flow cytometer assays that during the differentiation process to macrophages, dystroglycans were down-regulated; these results were confirmed with qRT-PCR assays. Additionally, depletion of dystroglycan by RNAi resulted in altered morphology and reduced properties of differentiated Kasumi-1 cells, including morphology, migration and phagocytic activities although secretion of IL-1β and expression of markers of differentiation are not altered. Conclusion Our findings strongly implicate dystroglycan as a key membrane adhesion protein involved in actin-based structures during the differentiation process in Kasumi-1 cells