The influence of experimental ileitis on the neuropeptide coding of enteric neurons in the pig

In the present study, both the ELISA test and immunohistochemical staining were used to investigate the influence of artificially induced ileitis on the chemical coding of enteric neurons in the pig. The ileum wall in experimental (E) pigs was injected in multiple sites with 4% paraformaldehyde to induce inflammation, while in the control (C) animals, the organ was injected with 0.1M phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). Three days after ileitis induction, samples of ileum wall from all the animals were evaluated for VIP, SP, CGRP, NPY, GAL and SOM concentration (ELISA test) and the expression of these biologically active substances by the enteric neurons (immunohistochemical staining). Quantitative results showed that ileitis decreased tissue concentration of VIP, CGRP and SOM but increased tissue concentration of SP, NPY and GAL. Immunochemistry revealed that in both the experimental and control pigs, VIP-positive (VIP+) nerve fibers supplied mainly ileal blood vessels, and the labeled pericarya were located in the inner (ISP) and outer submucous plexus (OSP). SP+ and CGRP+ nerve terminals were found in both the mucous and muscular membrane, while the labeled pericarya were found in ISP, OSP and myenteric plexus (MP). In both C and E pigs, the very few nerve terminals containing NPY and SOM were located mainly in the mucous membrane. NPY- or/and SOM-immunopositive nerve cell bodies were found in ISP, OSP and MP. GAL+ nerve fibers supplied all layers of the ileum and were most numerous in the muscular membrane, while the labeled pericarya were present in all the enteric plexuses. The present results suggest that enteric neurons are highly plastic in their response to inflammation.     

In memoriam Professor Dr. Constantin von Regel

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Imidazenil,a new drug for the management of convulsions in organophosphate intoxication in rodents

The summary deals with the anti-convulsant and antilethal effects of a new benzodiazepine receptor partial agonist, imidazenil, in DFP intoxication. It has been demonstrated that imidazenil (2–5 mg kg⁻¹) significantly decreases convulsion intensity, rapidly inhibits seizure patterns in brain bioelectrical activity and significantly increases the anti-lethal efficacy of atropine plus obidoxime therapy. These effects are comparable to diazepam at 5 mg kg⁻¹. However, diazepam exhibits myorelaxant activity at therapeutic doses, which are only observed at 5–10 times the therapeutic doses of imidazenil.     

Biopesticides – towards increased consumer safety in the European Union

The introduction of new food safety regulations in the European Union has resulted in the withdrawal of many synthetic active substances used in plant protection products, in light of their potential or actual harmful effect on human and animal health, as well as on the environment. Alternatives to these compounds are being developed – naturally occurring pesticides, also referred to as biopesticides. The use of biopesticides in crop protection leads to decreased levels of pesticide residues in foods, and as a result to lower risk levels for the consumer. Biologically active agents defined as biopesticides are varied, and therefore application of the same environmental and consumer safety criteria to all of them is impossible. This presents serious complications in the approval of these pesticides as active plant protection products and in their registration. It needs to be stressed that, in the registration procedure of the European Union, biopesticides are subject to the same regulations as synthetic active substances. This situation has resulted in the need to introduce numerous new provisions in the legislation, as well as the preparation of new guidelines facilitating the registration of biopesticides. These activities aim to promote naturally originating pesticides. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry     

Escherichia coli induces DNA double-strand breaks in eukaryotic cells

Transient infection of eukaryotic cells with commensal and extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli of phylogenetic group B2 blocks mitosis and induces megalocytosis. This trait is linked to a widely spread genomic island that encodes giant modular nonribosomal peptide and polyketide synthases. Contact with E. coli expressing this gene cluster causes DNA double-strand breaks and activation of the DNA damage checkpoint pathway, leading to cell cycle arrest and eventually to cell death. Discovery of hybrid peptide-polyketide genotoxins in E. coli will change our view on pathogenesis and commensalism and open new biotechnological applications.     

Growth of tobacco protoplasts stimulated by synthetic lipo-chitooligosaccharides

fat Nodulation (Nod) factors are lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) secreted by rhizobia to trigger the early steps of nodule organogenesis in leguminous plants. A method to synthesize LCOs in vitro was developed. Synthetic LCOs alleviated the requirement for auxin and cytokinin to sustain growth of cultured tobacco protoplasts. LCOs containing C(18:1) trans-fatty acyl substituents were more effective than those containing cis-fatty acids in promoting cell division as well as in activating an auxin-responsive promoter and the expression of a gene implicated in auxin action. These data indicate that LCOs redirect plant growth also in nonlegumes by activating developmental pathways also targeted by phytohormones.