Short communication: effect of dietary supplementation with a mixture of fish and sunflower oils on the expression of key lipogenic and cholesterologenic genes in adipose tissues with different metabolic functions.

The present study investigated the effects of dietary fish and sunflower oils as sources of n-3, n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on the expression of key lipogenic and cholesterologenic genes in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and tail adipose tissue (TAT) of fat-tailed sheep. Twenty-six male Afshari lambs were divided into 4 groups. Three groups were fed a high concentrate basal diet plus 100 g/lamb/day oil supplement (OS; 60 g sunflower oil and 40 g fish oil) beyond a 21-day adaptation period for 10, 20, and 30 days (groups OS10, OS20, and OS30; n = 6, each) until slaughter. A control group was slaughtered at the last day of adaptation (OS0; n = 4). Expression of PPARγ, SREBP-1c, and SREBP-2 were determined in TAT and SAT. All transcription factors had lower expression in SAT than TAT. Feeding OS induced a similar pattern of SREBP-1c expression in both TAT and SAT with highest values in OS20. SREBP-2 mRNA decreased by > 50% in TAT of OS30 compared to OS0, whereas the expression of SREBP-2 mRNA did not change in SAT in the same period. PPARγ expression was not affected over time either in SAT or TAT. Plasma concentrations of cholesterol and blood urea nitrogen increased in OS20. The comparison of gene expression responses to OS in TAT vs. SAT suggest that PUFA-mediated effects on lipid metabolism differ between SAT and TAT, which may be linked to the specific role of TAT in energy and water balance under arid conditions.

An apparatus to measure frictional, anelastic, and viscous behavior in ice at temperate and planetary conditions.

In this paper, we describe a cryogenic, servo-controlled biaxial friction apparatus designed to measure the deformational behaviors of ice. The apparatus is specifically designed to accurately achieve and measure the low differential stresses applicable to deforming ice on earth and on icy satellites. We can apply loads in the range ∼2-1800 kPa and velocities up to 4 mm/s, with resolution of 39 Pa and 0.7 µm, respectively. Precise temperature control, measurement, and insulation allow testing at constant temperature (from -2 to -30 °C) for prolonged periods of time. The apparatus is tested with various plastics as well as with polycrystalline ice samples and the results are consistent with previously published values. Critical components of the instrument are described along with examples of data collection schemes and preliminary results. The flexibility of the design allows for both glaciological and planetary applications over a range of deformational behaviors including friction, anelastic, and viscous.

New species in the genus Thagria Melichar from the Oriental and Australian regions, with a revised key to genera and species and a synoptic catalogue of the genus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Coelidiinae).

The following 21 new species of Thagria from the Oriental and Australian regions are described, illustrated and photographed: T. aenigmatis, sp. nov., T. asperitas sp. nov., T. biretrorsa sp. nov., T. colorata, sp. nov., T. coniunctionis, sp. nov., T. constanti, sp.nov., T. fidelitas sp. nov., T. freytagi sp. nov., T. intorta sp. nov., T. iuxta, sp. nov., T. lobata sp. nov., T. longicatilla sp. nov., T. malenovskyi sp. nov., T. oldfieldi, sp. nov., T. paraunca, sp. nov., T. quadrimaculata, sp. nov., T. quadrispinosa sp. nov., T. trimaculata sp. nov., T. unibasispinosa, sp. nov.; T. unica sp. nov. and T. viraktamathi, sp. nov. Thagria bidentata Xu & Kuoh 1998, preoccupied by Thagria bidentata Nielson 1982 is renamed herein Thagria xui nom. nov. Thagria multicalcara Nielson is suppressed junior synonym of Coelidia inscripta Walker. Thagria hongdoensis Kwon & Lee is suppressed junior synonym of resurrected Coelidia satsumensis Matsumura. Cambodia is a new record for T. longistyla Freytag. Laos is a new record for T. acrodens Freytag, T. boulardi Nielson, T.emeiensis Zhang, T. fuscoscuta Zhang, T. janssoni Nielson, T. obrienae Nielson and T. ungulata Nielson. Vietnam is a new record for T. grandis Nielson and T. marissae Nielson. Intra-inter specific variation involving 6 closely related species (melichari species complex) in Southeast Asia is discussed. Morphology and taxonomic value of the dorsal connective, revised key to species and genera in Thagriini and an updated synoptic catalogue of the genus are also presented. Problematical species in the genus Thagria are reviewed. Distribution of 235 known species and the relationship between clypellus configuration and geographical origin are given.

Phylogeography of the tailed frog (Ascaphus truei): implications for the biogeography of the Pacific Northwest.

Tailed frogs are distributed in high-gradient streams within the disjunct mesic forests of the Pacific Northwest and represent the basal lineage of the anurans. We sequenced 1,530 nucleotides of the mitochondrial cytochrome b and NADH dehydrogenase subunit two genes from 23 populations and used parsimony, maximum-likelihood, and nested-clade analyses to estimate relationships among populations and infer evolutionary processes. We found two divergent haplotype clades corresponding with inland Rocky Mountain populations and coastal populations and separated by up to 0.133 substitutions per site. Within the coastal assemblage, haplotypes formed clades by mountain range with 0.010-0.024 substitutions per site divergence among populations. Inland haplotypes exhibited minimal genetic structure, with the exception of 0.021 substitutions per site distance between populations from the East Fork of the South Fork of the Salmon River and all other inland haplotypes. The magnitude of divergence between inland and coastal populations, as well as the paleobotanical record, suggest isolation of these lineages occurred during the late Miocene to early Pliocene, probably in response to the rise of the Cascade Mountains. Genetic structure within coastal and inland populations is consistent with isolation in refugia during the late Pliocene and early Pleistocene. Closely related inland haplotypes reflect range expansion following glaciation. The depth of divergence between inland and coastal populations supports the persistence of mesic forests within the inland Pacific Northwest throughout the Pleistocene and is congruent with patterns found in several other mesic forest species. Based on mitochondrial divergence and previous allozyme and morphological data, we recommend recognition of inland populations as a distinct species, Ascaphus montanus.

Axonal cytoskeletal changes after nondisruptive axonal injury. II. Intermediate sized axons.

Earlier studies of axonal cytoskeletal responses to stretch injury in the guinea pig optic nerve, a model of nondisruptive axonal injury such as occurs in human diffuse axonal injury, have demonstrated different cytoskeletal responses between the smallest and largest axons. But these form only approximately 3% of the total number of axons in the optic nerve. It was then posited that the pathology described in the latter axons may not be representative of the pathology in the majority of axons after stretch injury. In order to test this hypothesis, we carried out a quantitative, morphological analysis of structural changes in the cytoskeleton of intermediate (axonal diameter of 0.5-2.0 mM) sized axons at 4 h after stretch injury. Neurofilaments in axons up to 1.00 microm in diameter increased in number and in axons up to 1.50 microm diameter were compacted. This did not occur in larger axons (diameter of 1.51-2.00 microm) in the present study. However, there was focal compaction of neurofilaments in some of the larger fibers at sites where the integrity of the axolemma was lost. The response by microtubules to stretch injury differed from that of neurofilaments in that there was an increased spacing between microtubules and a loss of their number in axons of >1.51 microm diameter. We provide quantitative, morphological evidence (a) that the neurofilamentous cytoskeleton of different sized axons responds in different ways to stretch and (b) that the response by microtubules differs from that of neurofilaments.

The effect of glucagon-like peptide I (GLP-I) on glucose elimination in healthy subjects depends on the pancreatic glucoregulatory hormones.

Glucagon-like peptide I (GLP-I) decreases plasma glucose in type II diabetic patients and in healthy subjects indirectly by stimulation of insulin and inhibition of glucagon secretion, whereby the hepatic glucose production decreases. However, recent studies indicate that GLP-I may also directly influence peripheral and hepatic glucose uptake. We infused somatostatin (SS) intravenously (500 or 1,000 microgram/h) in 13 healthy subjects to suppress insulin and glucagon secretion from the endocrine pancreas, together with infusion of either GLP-I (50 pmol / kg / h) or saline intravenously. After 30 min, a 25-g intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) was carried out, and plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, glucagon, and GLP-I were measured during the following 2 h. IVGTT together with GLP-I infusion significantly elevated insulin during 500 microgram/h SS but not during 1,000 microgram/h SS. Plasma glucagon was strongly depressed in all experiments. During 500 microgram/h SS, the glucose disappearance constant, Kg, was 0.49 +/- 0.03% per minute with GLP-I and 0.39 +/- 0.04% per minute with saline (n = 8, P = 0.004). With 1,000 microgram/h SS, Kg was 0.42 +/- 0.03% per minute with GLP-I and 0.40 +/- 0.03% per minute without (NS). In conclusion, when endogenous insulin secretion is held at a constant low level, which may be accomplished only with very large doses of SS, GLP-I has no effect on glucose elimination. Thus, an insulin-independent effect of GLP-I on glucose disposal could not be demonstrated.

The clinical value of computerized axial tomography in patients without focal neurological features.

74 randomly selected patients with non-focal cerebral symptoms and a normal neurologic examination were referred from neurologic departments to CT scan of the brain. 29 patients had generalised epilepsy of long duration. In 26 patients (90%) with epilepsy the CT scan was normal. 2 patients (7%) had cerebral atrophy, 1 (3%) showed porencephaly (?) 41 (91%) of the patients without epileptic features had a normal CT scan. 4 (9%) presented cerebral atrophy. In this survey, CT scanning did not contribute to a focal diagnosis in patients with diffuse cerebral features.

The effect of the shiverer mutation on myelin basic protein expression in homozygous and heterozygous mouse brain.

We report (a) that the shiverer mutation has pleiotropic phenotypic effects on myelin basic protein expression in the CNS of homozygous (shi/shi) mice and (b) that each of the effects of the shiverer allele is expressed co-dominantly with the wild-type allele in heterozygous (+/shi) animals. First, the total amount of myelin basic protein, as determined by radioimmunoassay, that accumulates in the CNS is approximately 0.1% of the wild-type amount in shi/shi animals and approximately 50% in +/shi animals. Second, the four major forms of myelin basic protein, with molecular weights of 21,500, 18,500, 17,000, and 14,000, that are present in wild-type mouse CNS are undetectable in either whole brain or purified myelin of shi/shi animals, and each of the four proteins is reduced commensurately in brain and myelin of +/shi animals. Third, the small amount of myelin basic protein-related material that does accumulate in the shi/shi brain consists of several polypeptides, with molecular weights ranging from 25,000 to 100,000, the pattern of which is different from that found in wild-type brain. The pattern of myelin basic protein-related polypeptides in +/shi brain is a composite of the wild type and the shiverer mutant. Fourth, messenger RNA from shi/shi brain, when translated in vitro, encodes a set of myelin basic protein-related polypeptides qualitatively similar to that encoded by wild-type messenger RNA, except that the 18,500 and 14,000 translation products are greatly reduced, while other myelin basic protein-related translation products are spared. The pattern of myelin basic protein-related translation products for +/shi messenger RNA is intermediate between the patterns for +/+ and shi/shi messenger RNAs. The results suggest that the genetic lesion in the shiverer mutation impinges on the structural gene (or genes) encoding myelin basic protein or on a cis-acting regulatory element controlling that gene (or genes).

Developmental regulation of myelin basic protein expression in mouse brain.

Developmental regulation of myelin basic protein expression in mouse brain has been examined by comparing the myelin basic protein coding potential of mRNA in vitro with the accumulation of myelin basic protein-related polypeptides in vivo. In vitro translation of mRNA isolated from mouse brain generated eight myelin basic protein-related polypeptides with apparent molecular weights of 34K, 30K, 29K, 26K, 21.5K, 18.5K, 17K, and 14K. A similar set of eight myelin basic protein-related polypeptides with corresponding molecular weights was identified in vivo when total brain proteins were analyzed by immunoblotting. Each of the myelin basic protein-related polypeptides shows a characteristic developmental profile in terms of mRNA level and rate of accumulation implying a complex developmental program of myelin basic protein gene expression with regulation and modulation at several different biosynthetic levels.

Comparison of radiopaque perfluorocarbon and Ethiodol in lymphography.

Lymphangiography was performed on 40 adult cats, 39 dogs, 20 rabbits, and 12 rats of mixed sex using Ethiodol or radiopaque perfluorocarbon (BPC). Ethiodol was more radiodense than RPC, but imaging of lymph channels and nodes was satisfactory with the latter. RPC could be infused rapidly, while Ethiodol infusion was time consuming. RPC was biologically inert; Ethiodol produced both local and systemic inflammatory reactions. The lymph node distribution with RPC was more uniform and persisted for longer periods. It was concluded that RPC was an improvement over Ethiodol for lymphangiography.

Sesquiterpene progenitor, germacrene A: an alarm pheromone in aphids.

Germacrene A, the elusive biogenetic "parent" of many sesquiterpenes, has been isolated from the spotted alfalfa aphid and identified as a new intrageneric aphid alarm pheromone.