The Effect of Ivermectin on Convulsions in Rats Produced by Lidocaine and Strychnine

Ivermectin is one of the most commonly used drugs in pharmacotherapy of parasitic diseases in domestic and wild animals caused by parasitic nematodes and arthropods. However, ivermectin and other avermectins very often produce side-effects in hosts. The most dominant clinical symptom of ivermectin toxicity in domestic and wild animals is CNS depression. In nematodes, the target site of ivermectin’s action is glutamate-gated chloride-channel receptor and GABA receptor. The depressive effect of ivermectin in mammals might include more than one mechanism; therefore, the anticonvulsive effect of ivermectin against convulsions caused by lidocaine and strychnine was evaluated. Ivermectin antagonized lidocaine- and strychnine-induced convulsions in rats, although these have different mechanisms. In the present study, the anticonvulsive ED₅₀ of ivermectin for lidocaine-induced convulsions was 2.44 mg/kg (95% CL 1.67 to 3.57 mg/kg), whereas for convulsions induced by strychnine it was higher at 4.25 mg/kg (95% CL 2.32 to 3.78 mg/kg). At the same time, both anticonvulsive doses are significantly lower then the observed LD₅₀ of ivermectin (18.20 mg/kg). Furthermore, flumazenil (0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg), an antagonist of benzodiazepine receptors, antagonizes just one part of these anticonvulsive effects of ivermectin. Our results show the significant anticonvulsive properties of ivermectin and support the findings that ivermectin in the CNS of mammals produces multiple inhibitory effects, probably through participation in the function of GABA-sensitive and GABA-insensitive chloride channels.     

Recultivation of Agricultural Land Impaired by Construction of a Hydropower Plant on the Sava River,Slovenia

Hydropower plants on the lower river Sava, Slovenia, were developed without sealing the underground upstream. As a consequence, without the countermeasures of elevating and recultivating, the agricultural land on the river banks would be inundated because of the water‐table increase of the river. To remedy this, the fields were elevated and recultivated. The goal of this study was to assess soil quality and production potential after land raising and recultivation and to answer the question whether it is possible to recover soil quality and crop yield after large‐scale mass manipulation, such as land raising. After recultivation and after the second year of land reuse for the two cultures grass–clover mixture and corn on two sites, Middle Pijavsko and Lower Pijavsko, soil physical and chemical characteristics and crop yields were evaluated. Mixing of topsoil with the second horizon during removal and during backfill with filling material resulted in uneven soil fertility, plant growth and decreased yield. Driving on the refilled second layer with heavy machinery caused soil compaction in the Middle Pijavsko in spite of favourable soil texture (loam, 38·7% sand). On the areas with very high sand content (over 55%) and low clay content (10%), soil compaction was not as severe or persistent. Recultivation measures restored the agricultural land almost to the production potential prior to powerplant construction. Immediate intensive land use (corn) showed less favourable effect on soil characteristics. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

RAPD analysis of interspecific relationships in presumably apomictic Cotoneaster species

A few of the approximately 300 Cotoneaster species described are diploid but the majority appear to be polyploid. The occurrence of apomixis inpolyploid Cotoneaster species has been reported but never proven with genetic markers. We have used 76 polymorphic RAPD markers to investigate the breeding system and phenetic grouping of some critical taxa, including a total of 19 plant accessions representing 13 mostly European species in the series Cotoneaster. Three to four individual plants, raised from seed from the same original plant, were analyzed for each of three accessions to investigate the possible occurrence of apomictic seed set. Absolutely congruent RAPD profiles were encountered among seedlings from one accession, whereas we found one or two marker differences among seedlings from the other two accessions. Genetic similarities among the different accessions were analyzed with a UPGMA-derived dendrogram. The most deviant taxon was the Chinese C. albokermesinus. A group withC. soczavianus and C. tomentosus was rather isolated from the remainder, as was also C. kullensis. Among the remaining taxa, two well supported clusters were found: (1) C. antoninae and C. uralensis, and (2) C. integerrimus and C. raboutensis, whereas the other five species (C. canescens, C. niger, C. scandinavicus, C. juranus, C. cambricus) formed a poorly supported cluster with no clear substructuring. A principal coordinate analysis yielded results that were in good correspondence with the dendrogram. Again C. albokermesinus appears to be totally isolated from the other species. In addition, two well-defined and rather isolated groups were found: (1) C. tomentosus and C. soczavianus, and (2) C. antoninae and C. uralensis, with the remainder comprising a loosely defined group. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Chromosomal interchanges and phylogeny of some accessions of Triticum aestivum subsp. spelta

Summary The occurrence of chromosomal interchanges was studied in F1 hyrids in two diallel schemes, including nine accessions of Triticum aestivum subsp. spelta, originating from Iran, Europe and North Africa, and the common wheat variety Chinese Spring as a reference. Seven accessions of subsp. spelta differed in one translocation from Chinese Spring. The European accession Grey differed in one or perhaps two interchanges from the reference variety, and Iran 417a showed a difference of three interchanges with Chinese Spring. In total six or perhaps seven interchanges were observed. Thus the number of translocation events in subsp. spelta appeared to be low. One translocation was unique and occurred only in the accession from North Africa. Also one accession from Europe, the landrace Schwarzwald, possibly carried a unique translocation. In both diallels an interchange with a relatively low coefficient of multivalent realisation at first meiotic metaphase was observed in most accessions. The two extra translocations in Iran 417a are considered to be the result of more recent translocation events, whereas the possible second translocation in accession Grey showed such a low coefficient of multivalent realisation that its existence could be doubted.     

Phosphorus-use efficiency of kale genotypes from coastal Croatia

Understanding the mechanisms of phosphorus (P)-use efficiency (PUE) may contribute to enhancing crop P nutrition because species growth variability at low-P is well known. The experiment was carried out to evaluate the response of kale genotypes to different P supply in randomized block design in three replications. Low-P supply led to a decrease in most parameters, whereas an increase was recorded in root growth parameters. Genotypes differed in shoot dry weight (DW), leaf area, root length and area, and shoot and root P content and concentration. Root traits significantly positively correlated with PUE. Genotypes Red Russian (RR) and IJK 17 were superior in terms of shoot DW production at low P supply, and had the highest uptake efficiency. Genotypes IJK 17 and 81 had the highest P utilization efficiency, while Vates blue curled (VBC) showed the lowest PUE. Genotypes had similar shoot P content and concentration at low P supply, but large PUE differences, implying the importance of P utilization efficiency.     

Precipitation chemistry and atmospheric processes in the forested part of Croatia

The influence of mesoscale weather patterns on the chemical composition of daily precipitation samples is analysed. The data of pH, sulphur from sulphates and total nitrogen are analysed for two rural sites: Plitvice station in forested part of Central Croatia (1981 to 1990) and Puntijarka suburban station on the mountain near Zagreb, the capital of Croatia (1982–1991). The two prevailing weather types in precipitation days are selected and the comparison of chemical composition of precipitation is made for each of them. The frequency distributions of pH, sulphur and nitrogen show that concentration of major ions in precipitation apparently depends on the regional scale weather type. It is shown that the seasonal variation of deposition is related to the seasonal variation in precipitation amount. In both weather types Plitvice receives more pollution than Puntijarka that is closer to urban and industrial pollution sources. Both locations are under the prevailing influence of regional pollution sources.     

Zur Variabilität des Rohproteingehalts im Gaterslebener Maissortiment

Zusammenfassung Im Laufe von 16 Jahren (1968–1983) wurden für Rohproteinanalysen des Korns aus dem Gaterslebener Maissortiment zufällige Stichproben von etwa 40 bis 80 Stämmen jährlich entnommen. Für die Mittelwerte und Varianzen der Stichproben wurden die 95 %-Vertrauensbereiche geschätzt (Abb. 1 und 3). Die meisten Jahresmittelwerte für den Gehalt an Rohprotein (RP %) liegen zwischen 11,4 und 12,1 % (ohne Puff- und Zuckermais). Signifikante Abweichungen wurden nur selten beobachtet. Die jährlichen Variabilitätskoeffizienten liegen hier bei etwa 12 %, bei vielen anderen Merkmalen dagegen um 30 %. Die Schätzung der Korrelation zwischen RP % und TKM im Durchschnitt von 13 Jahren (wieder ohne Puff- und Zuckermaise) ergab einen nicht signifikanten Wert vonr _s =-0,04. Ferner wurden zahlreiche Varianzanalysen (Modell II) mit Schätzung von Varianzkomponenten (auch in %) für die Faktoren Stamm und Jahr durchgeführt, die dafür sprechen, daß für eine befriedigende Erfassung von RP %-Variabilität 3 bis 4 Kolben je Stamm in 3 bis 4 Jahren nötig sind. Am Schluß sind 40 Gaterslebener Sortimentsnummern mit mindestens vierjährigen Rohprotein-Mittelwerten über 12 % und den dazugehörigen 95 %-Vertrauensbereichen angeführt.

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Variability of the curde protein content in the Gatersleben maize collection

Summary Random samples of a number between 40 and 80 strains out of the Gatersleben maize collection were taken every of 16 years (1968–1983) for analyses of grain crude protein. For both means and variances, 95 % confidence intervals were estimated (Figs. 1 and 3). Most of the annual means of the crude protein content are between 11.4 and 12.1 per cent (except pop and sweet corn). Significant deviations were only seldom observed. The annual coefficients of variability are here around 12 %, whereas those of many other characters are around 30 %. For the correlation between crude protein content and thousand grain weight for an average of 13 years (again except pop and sweet corn), a non-significant value of r _s =–0.04 was estimated. Furthermore, numerous analysis of variance (Model II) were made, with estimation of the components of variance (also in per cent) for the factors strain and year. They suggest that 3 to 4 ears per strain for every of 3 to 4 years are necessary, in order to ascertain satisfactorily the variability of the crude protein content. Finally, 40 strains of the Gatersleben collection are listed, which gave crude protein means above 12 % for at least four years; the corresponding 95 % confidence intervals are included.

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16 (1968–1983) 40 80 . 95 %- (. 1 3). ( %) 11,4 12,1 % ( ). . ( 12 %), 30 %. % 1000 13 (. =–0,04). ( ) () , % 3 4 3–4 . 40 »« , 12 % ( 4-) 95 %- .