Intermediate site of development of Anaplasma marginale in feeding adult Dermacentor andersoni ticks that were infected as nymphs

The development of Anaplasma marginale in midgut epithelial cells was studied in feeding, transmitting adult Dermacentor andersoni ticks. Laboratory-reared ticks experimentally infected as nymphs were allowed to feed from 1 to 9 days on susceptible calves. Gut tissues from ticks were collected on each day they fed (total, 9 days) and were processed for light and transmission electron microscopy. Colonies of A marginale were abundant during the first 6 days of feeding, after which numbers decreased. Colonies were adherent to the basement membrane of gut cells early during feeding, with resultant flattening of the colonies. Colonies also were seen in muscle cells on the hemocoel side of the basement membrane. Morphologic features of A marginale within muscle cells varied and were similar to those observed in gut cells. In addition, however, a large reticulated form in the colonies was observed in muscle cells and appeared to give rise to small particles by budding. Development of A marginale in muscle cells appears to represent an intermediate site of development between those in gut and in salivary glands.     

Sustained endocrine and exocrine function in the pancreas of the Pacific spiny dogfish post-feeding

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry - Secretions of the exocrine pancreas contain digestive enzymes integral to the digestive process. The Pacific spiny dogfish (Squalus suckleyi) has a discrete...     

Ultra-fine grinding increases the antioxidant capacity of wheat bran

In order to study the influence of wheat bran particle size on its antioxidant capacity, the wheat bran was ground under normal and cryogenic conditions with variable intensity to produce ten fractions with different physical structures. The high energy grinding increased 3-fold the specific surface of the bran fractions and also the proportion of particles smaller than 50 μm assimilated to the proportion of disrupted aleurone cells. All the ground bran fractions presented similar total ferulic acid concentration and chemical form (free, conjugated, linked). A positive effect of the grinding on the antioxidant capacity of the bran fractions was noticed. The antioxidant capacity increased from 30 to 45 mmol TEAC/kg when the specific surface increased from 0.09 to 0.26–0.30 m²/g. The antioxidant capacity of the bran fractions was linearly correlated with the specific surface, with the D₅₀ values and with the proportion of particles smaller than 50 μm. In in vitro gastric conditions, the finely ground bran inhibited the accumulation of conjugated dienes more efficiently than coarse bran. In conclusion, the bran structure affects its antioxidant capacity. This effect remained in gastric conditions showing that grinding can be used to produce wheat bran fractions with higher nutritional value.