Ex vivo approach supports both direct and indirect actions of melatonin on immunity in pike-perch Sander lucioperca.

The melatonin hormone, which is a multifunctional molecule in vertebrates, has been shown to exert complex actions on the immune system of mammals. In teleosts, the immunomodulatory capacity of this hormone has seldom been investigated. In the present experiment, we exposed ex vivo spleen and head kidney tissues of pike-perch to melatonin (Mel) and cortisol (Cort). We applied three concentrations of both hormones, alone and in combination, namely (1) Mel (10, 100 or 1000 pg mL-1) (2) Cort (50, 500 or 5000 ng mL-1) (3) Mel + Cort (10 + 50, 100 + 500 or 1000 pg mL-1+5000 ng mL-1). Pure medium without Mel or Cort served as control. After 15 h of incubation, we assessed the expression of a set of immunity-related genes, including genes encoding for pro-inflammatory proteins (il-1ß, cxcl8 and tnf-α), acute-phase proteins (fgl2, fth1, hepc, hp and saa1) and key factors of the adaptive immune system (fκbp4 and tcrg). Both Mel and Cort, when used alone or combined at physiological concentrations, significantly influenced immune gene expressions that may lead to a global immune stimulation. Our results support both, an indirect action of the Mel hormone on the immune system through the regulation of intermediates such as Cort, as well as a direct action on immune targets through specific receptors.

Charge breeding at GANIL: Improvements, results, and comparison with the other facilities.

The 1+/n+ method, based on an ECRIS charge breeder (CB) originally developed at the LPSC laboratory, is now implemented at GANIL for the production of Radioactive Ion Beams (RIBs). Prior to its installation in the middle of the low energy beam line of the SPIRAL1 facility, the 1+/n+ system CB has been modified based on the experiments performed on the CARIBU Facility at Argone National Laboratory. Later, it has been tested at the 1+/n+ LPSC test bench to validate its operation performances. Charge breeding efficiencies as well as charge breeding times have been measured for noble gases and alkali elements. The commissioning phase started at GANIL in the second half-year of 2017. It consisted of a stepwise process to test the upgrade of the SPIRAL1 facility from simple validation [operation of Charge Breeder (CB) as a stand-alone source] up to the production of the first 1+/n+ RIB. Thus, this year, a 38mK/38K RIB has been successfully delivered to a physics experiment over a period of 1 week. The yields on the physics target were in the range of ∼2-4 × 106 pps at 9 MeV/u. The target ion source system (TISS) was made of a FEBIAD ion source connected to a hot graphite target. This is the first time a RIB is accelerated with a cyclotron with the 1+/n+ method. Moreover, a production test with the FEBIAD TISS has confirmed the yields measured previously, which validates the extension of the GANIL/SPIRAL1 catalog for a number of isotopes. In parallel, R&D is being performed on new TISSs (e.g., a fast release one, using surface ionization source). Targets are also a subject of ongoing R&D for yield and release time optimization. This contribution will present the new acceleration scheme of the SPIRAL1 facility, which largely extends the palette of RIBs available for nuclear physicists. It will be compared to the ones used at similar ISOL facilities. This facility is more than a simple ISOL facility, and an overview of the new opportunities offered by the upgraded installation will be also discussed.