Testicular and Color Variation in the Kissing Bug, Rhodnius brethesi, in Amazonas, Brazil

Abstract Because of the morphological and morphometric variation of testicular follicles in different genera of the subfamily Triatominae, it was of interest to associate those parameters with the different medial pronotal band patterns (wide and narrow) found in Rhodnius brethesi (Matta) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). This is a wild species often associated with Leopoldina piassaba Wallace (Arecales: Arecaceae) palm, with a geographical distribution restricted to the Amazon region. The specimens used were from the state of Amazonas, and were kept under conditions of 29 ± 1 (°)C, 80 ± 5% RH, 12:12 L:D photoperiod, and were fed weekly on blood from Swiss mice. Three-day-old fasting males were separated in accordance with the patterns of the medial pronotal band, dissected, and the testicles removed. After removal of the testicular membrane, the follicles were spread, drawn by camera lucida, and measured. The results showed that the testis of R. brethesi consists of seven follicles, divided into two groups by length; two long and five short. In specimens with a wide medial pronotal band, the long follicles were 5.4 mm in length, but in specimens with a narrow medial band, the long follicles were 5.64 mm in length. The difference was significant. The short follicles were not different in length, suggesting the presence of a possible complex "brethesi" in the Amazon region.     

Bericht über eine Sammelreise in die Mongolische Volksrepublik 1987 (Allium L. in der östlichen Mongolei)

Zusammenfassung Eine Sammelreise von Mitarbeitern des Instituts für Botanik Ulan-Bator und des Zentralinstituts für Genetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung Gatersleben in den Osten der MVR vom Juli/August 1987 galt der weiteren Inventarisierung der Gefäßpflanzen dieses Gebiets und den indigenen Wildsippen der GattungAllium L. im besonderen. Über Verlauf und erste Ergebnisse der Expedition wird kurz berichtet. DieAllium-Pflanzgutproben werden aufgelistet. Für verschiedene Arten(Allium macrostemon, A. neriniflorum, A. condensatum, A. polyrrhizum, A. mongolicum, A. ramosum) folgen Bemerkungen zur systematischen Stellung, Verbreitung und Standortscharakteristik in der Ostmongolei. Auf Nutzung und Kultur mongolischerAllium-Arten wird abschließend kurz eingegangen.

---

Report of a collecting mission to the mongolian people's republic 1987 (Allium L. in Eastern Mongolia)

Summary A collecting mission was carried out in the Eastern part of the MPR by staff members of the Institute of Botany, Ulan-Bator, and the Zentralinstitut für Genetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung, Gatersleben, in July/August 1987 for a further inventory of vascular plants in this area and for the indigenous wild species of the GenusAllium, particularly. The route and first results of the expedition have been described shortly. A list of theAllium plant-material is given. Some remarks are made in regard to systematic position, distribution and ecology, of some species(Allium macrostemon, A. neriniflorum, A. condensalum, A. polyrrhizum, A. mongolicum, A. ramosum) in Eastern Mongolia. Utilization and cultivation of MongolianAllium species have been discussed shortly.

---

1987 (Allium L. )

— 1987 (-) () , , , Allium L. . Allium. —Alium macrostemon, A. neriniflorum, A. condensatum, A. polyrrhizum, A. mongolicum, A. ramosum — , . Allium.

---

---

Ergebnisse der Mongolisch-Deutschen Biologischen Expeditionen seit 1962, Nr. 194

---

Frau Dr.R. K. Beridze, Tbilissi, aus Anlaß der 70. Wiederkehr ihres Geburtstages gewidmet     

Effect of ripeness and postharvest storage on the phenolic profiles of Cherries (Prunus avium L.)

The phenolic compounds hydroxycinnamates, anthocyanins, flavonols, and flavan-3-ols of sweet cherry cultivars Burlat, Saco, Summit, and Van harvested in 2001 and 2002 were quantified by HPLC-DAD. Phenolics were analyzed at partially ripe and ripe stages and during storage at 15 +/- 5 degrees C (room temperature) and 1-2 degrees C (cool temperature). Neochlorogenic and p-coumaroylquinic acids were the main hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, but chlorogenic acid was also identified in all cultivars. The 3-glucoside and 3-rutinoside of cyanidin were the major anthocyanins. Peonidin and pelargonidin 3-rutinosides were the minor anthocyanins, and peonidin 3-glucoside was also present in cvs. Burlat and Van. Epicatechin was the main monomeric flavan-3-ol with catechin present in smaller amounts in all cultivars. The flavonol rutin was also detected. Cultivar Saco contained the highest amounts of phenolics [227 mg/100 g of fresh weight (fw)] and cv. Van the lowest (124 mg/100 g of fw). Phenolic acid contents generally decreased with storage at 1-2 degrees C and increased with storage at 15 +/- 5 degrees C. Anthocyanin levels increased at both storage temperatures. In cv. Van the anthocyanins increased up to 5-fold during storage at 15 +/- 5 degrees C (from 47 to 230 mg/100 g of fw). Flavonol and flavan-3-ol contents remained quite constant. For all cultivars the levels of phenolic acids were higher in 2001 and the anthocyanin levels were higher in 2002, which suggest a significant influence of climatic conditions on these compounds.     

Effect of the Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lentilactobacillus buchneri on corn and sorghum silage quality and sheep energy partition under tropical conditions

This study aimed to evaluate the silage quality, ingestive behaviour, and sheep energy partition fed corn and sorghum silages, with or without inoculation with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lentilactobacillus buchneri. Whole plants of one dent corn hybrid (DCS), one flint corn hybrid (FCS), and one forage sorghum hybrid (SS) were ensiled with or without an inoculant containing L. plantarum and L. buchneri (4 × 10⁵ CFU g⁻¹), totalling six treatments (3 × 2 factorial scheme). The treatments were ensiled in metal drums with 200 L capacity. The lactic acid concentrations in the inoculated FCS and DCS were higher by 13.4% and 12.8%, respectively, than those in the non-inoculated plants. In contrast, the lactic acid concentration in the inoculated SS was 23.1% lower than that in the non-inoculated SS. Furthermore, there were differences in pH and acetic acid concentrations only in SS, which were 2.3% and 45.2% higher, respectively, in inoculated silage than in non-inoculated silage. In inoculated DCS and SS, propionic acid concentrations were 1.7 times higher (for both silages), and 1-propanol was 3.7 and 1.8 times higher compared than those in non-inoculated silages. There was a main effect of the inoculant on 1,2-propanediol concentrations, which were 37.5% higher in inoculated silages than in non-inoculated silages. However, ingestive behaviour, heat and methane production, and silage net energy concentrations were not affected by inoculant use. Fermentative modifications caused by inoculation with L. plantarum and L. buchneri in whole plant corn or sorghum silage did not modify sheep energy partition.     

Hypoglycemic and Vasorelaxant Effect of Passiflora edulis Fruit Peel By-Product

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Passiflora edulis fo. flavicarpa (Passifloraceae) is popularly known as yellow passion fruit and its fruit peels are considered a rich by-product in bioactive...     

Evaluation of colostral immunity in swine with commercial anti-leptospira polyvalent whole-bacteria vaccine

The intensity and duration of passive immunity against swine leptospirosis were investigated by the microscopic agglutination test and in vitro leptospira growth inhibition. Twenty-one females at first parturition were divided into three groups: Group A (n=08): received two doses with 30 days interval of the commercial anti-leptospira bacterin A. Group B (n=06) received two doses with 30 days interval of the commercial anti-leptospira bacterin B and Group C (n=07) was the control. In all groups the colostrums were collected. Blood collection of piglets was performed in four different ages. Agglutinin antibodies were equally detected in sera and colostrums for serovars Canicola, Grippotyphosa, Copenhageni, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Pomona (Group A) and Canicola, Copenhageni, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Pomona and Hardjo (Group B). Mean neutralizing antibodies titers were low. Passive immunity was low duration.     

Histopathological and immunohistochemical study of type 3 complement receptors (CD11b/CD18) in livers and spleens of asymptomatic and symptomatic dogs naturally infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi

Leishmania promastigotes interact with macrophages through the association of multiple membrane surface receptors. Macrophage complement receptor CR3 (CD11b/CD18 or Mac-1) has been implicated in the interaction of both human and murine macrophages with serum-opsonized promastigotes. The aim of this study was to determine CR3 expression in the livers and spleens of dogs naturally infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi. CR3 expression in liver was higher in asymptomatic than in symptomatic animals. Moreover, the hepatic parasitism load determined by immunocytochemical analysis was lower in parallel with higher numbers of granulomas. In contrast, in spleens, CR3 expression was higher in symptomatic animals than in asymptomatic ones. However, the tissue parasite load was greater in spleens of symptomatic dogs. There was a strict correlation between the parasite load and cellular CR3 expression in the spleens of dogs naturally infected with L. chagasi. CR3 macrophage integrins could be essential receptors for Leishmania survival. Considering that the symptomatic animals showed higher parasite loads and higher CD11b/CD18 expression in their spleens, we can conclude that these splenic cells (monocyte-macrophages) might serve to perpetuate intracellular infection.     

Expression of oestrogen receptors in foetal lung tissue of mice

Oestrogens are responsible for the sexual dimorphism in adult mice lung tissue, and this difference is most notable at sexual maturity. Oestrogen receptor-alpha (ERα) and the oestrogen receptor-beta (ERβ) are the two receptors that mediate oestrogen action, but adult mice lung tissue only expresses ERβ, and it is probably through this receptor that oestrogens exert their action. The goal of our study was to detect the expression of ERα and ERβ in mouse foetal lung tissues and identify possible gender differences. The foetal lung tissue was collected between developmental days E15-E19, processed for histology and the expression of oestrogen receptors was detected by immunohistochemistry. Over the 5?days of lung development that were evaluated ERα was not expressed in the foetal lung tissues of neither male nor female mice. In contrast, ERβ was detected in both sexes, although the immunoreactivity differed for each developmental day whilst the staining intensity observed for ERβ also indicated differences between male and female lung tissues. The results demonstrate the existence of a gender difference in the foetal expression of ERβ in lungs of mice.