Microtubule stabilization reduces scarring and causes axon regeneration after spinal cord injury

Hypertrophic scarring and poor intrinsic axon growth capacity constitute major obstacles for spinal cord repair. These processes are tightly regulated by microtubule dynamics. Here, moderate microtubule stabilization decreased scar formation after spinal cord injury in rodents through various cellular mechanisms, including dampening of transforming growth factor-β signaling. It prevented accumulation of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans and rendered the lesion site permissive for axon regeneration of growth-competent sensory neurons. Microtubule stabilization also promoted growth of central nervous system axons of the Raphe-spinal tract and led to functional improvement. Thus, microtubule stabilization reduces fibrotic scarring and enhances the capacity of axons to grow.     

Growth and Biochmical Studies of Mrigal Fish (Cirrhinus mrigala) Fed Graded Levels of Oil

A 45-day experiment was carried out to evaluate the growth performance,digestive enzymes activity and biochemical response of Cirrhinus mrigala fed graded levels of oil.Three isonitrogenous purified diets(6%,8%and 10%of oil)were formulated.A total of 108 juveniles of Cirrhinus mrigala(5.95±0.25)g were equally distributed in triplicate groups in nine plastic tanks of 100 L capacity and fed under natural light cycle.Growth performance of the fish significantly reflected the effect of inclusion levels of oil tested but the diet with 8%lipid had the best significant growth performance[%weight gain,Feed Conversion Ratio(FCR)and Specific Growth Rate(SGR)],across different experimental groups.Levels of secretion of digestive enzymes in the fish fed different experimental diets resulted in significant values of(p0.05)amylase and lipase,while Aspartate transaminase(AST),Alanine transaminase(ALT),Lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)and Malate dehydrogenase(MDH)values in the muscle and liver decreased significantly(p0.05)as the levels of oil in the diet increased.However,serum biochemical parameters did not record any significant difference(p0.05)with the exception of the total lipid across diets.The study confirmed the inclusion effect of graded levels of oil in juvenile Mrigal diet,but the inclusion should not be more than 8%to avert growth depression.     

Movement and habitat use of the freshwater catfish (Tandanus tandanus) in a remnant floodplain wetland

Knowledge of the movement and habitat use of fishes is important in identifying and understanding the causes of population declines and predicting how populations are likely to respond to management interventions. In this study, radiotelemetry was used to examine the spring and summer movement and habitat use patterns of the freshwater catfish (Tandanus tandanus) in a remnant wetland to inform the development of recovery actions for this threatened species. Twenty‐one adult fish were tagged and released within Tahbilk Lagoon, Victoria, Australia, in September 2009. Fish were located every 1–2 weeks between September 2009 and February 2010, a period which coincides with the spawning period for the species. Eleven of the fish were also tracked every 2 h for 68 consecutive hours in December 2009 to examine diel movements. The study revealed that freshwater catfish make extensive use of cover (e.g. wood and macrophytes) and typically have limited ranges (median total linear range and 90% linear range 599 and 173 m respectively), although they occasionally moved more extensively (up to 1.5 km) between floodplain and riverine habitats. Fish moved over much greater areas at night compared with during the day. There was also evidence of sex‐specific variation in movement, with a trend for greater movement of female fish at night compared with males. The results of the study suggest that strategies that protect macrophyte and wood habitats and improve connectivity between riverine and floodplain habitats are likely to be important in maintaining and restoring remnant populations of this species.     

Varietal differences in locular gas composition in developing fruit of sweet and hot peppers,Capsicum spp., and evidence for divergent diffusion pathways

Summary

Although gaseous environment has been shown to have a fundamental influence on seed development, the internal atmosphere of developing fruit has seldom been characterized. Most studies depend upon emission rates that may not reflect true internal gas concentrations, or utilize excised fruit, the internal atmosphere of which may be compromised by manipulations acompanying harvest. In this study, we use Capsicum fruit as a model system to examine fluxes of oxygen and carbon dioxide in developing fruit from shortly after fruit set to full fruit ripeness. There are strong varietal differences in the concentrations of these gases during different developmental stages and these differences correlate with both morphological and developmental characteristics. In situ and removal experiments suggest that the concentrations of metabolic gases are modulated by the radically different diffusion pathways that occur in the separate cultivars.     

Effects of additive iron on growth,tissue distribution,haematology and immunology of gilthead sea bream, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sparus aurata</Emphasis>

The comparative effects of iron-supplemented levels on growth, tissue distribution, haematology and immunology of gilthead sea bream, Sparus aurata (2 g) were investigated, using four organic (50, 100, 200, 300 mg ORG/kg diet) and one inorganic iron source (200 INOR mg/kg diet). Fish were treated for 12 weeks with the experimental diets and maintained at a water temperature of 19–22°C. Growth (final weight and specific growth rate), tissue distribution (spleen, liver and muscle), haematological parameters (red blood cells, haematocrit, haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration) and non-specific immune indexes (respiratory burst activity and antibacterial activity of serum) were analysed. No significant differences were found in growth and iron tissue distribution among the tested groups. Red blood cell counting was statistically higher in fish given 50 ORG, 100 ORG, 200 ORG and 200 INOR feeds. However, haematocrit, haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration were not significantly affected by increasing dietary iron. Fish receiving the 100 ORG diet had the best performance with respect to the respiratory burst activity and significantly higher values for antibacterial activity of serum were obtained in fish fed with the 300 ORG diet. The present findings provided no clear evidence of the optimum iron concentration. However, there was adequate indication that iron supplementation enhanced the performance of gilthead sea bream, mainly from a haematological and immunological point of view.     

Effect of glyphosate on the tripartite symbiosis formed by Glomus intraradices,Bradyrhizobium japonicum,and genetically modified soybean

Most soybeans grown in North America are genetically modified (GM) to tolerate applications of the broad-spectrum herbicide glyphosate; as a result, glyphosate is now extensively used in soybean cropping systems. Soybean roots form both arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and rhizobial symbioses. In addition to individually improving host plant fitness, these symbioses also interact to influence the functioning of each symbiosis, thereby establishing a tripartite symbiosis. The objectives of this study were to (1) estimate the effects of glyphosate on the establishment and functioning of AM and rhizobial symbioses with GM soybean, and (2) to estimate the interdependence of the symbioses in determining the response of each symbiosis to glyphosate. These objectives were addressed in two experiments; the first investigated the importance of the timing of glyphosate application in determining the responses of the symbionts and the second varied the rate of glyphosate application. Glyphosate applied at recommended field rates had no effect on Glomus intraradices or Bradyrhizobium japonicum colonization of soybean roots, or on soybean foliar tissue [P]. N₂-fixation was greater for glyphosate-treated soybean plants than for untreated-plants in both experiments, but only when glyphosate was applied at the first trifoliate soybean growth stage. These data deviate from previous studies estimating the effect of glyphosate on the rhizobial symbiosis, some of which observed negative effects on rhizobial colonization and/or N₂-fixation. We did observe evidence of the response of one symbiont (stimulation of N₂-fixation following glyphosate) being dependent on co-inoculation with the other; however, this interactive response appeared to be contextually dependent as it was not consistent between experiments. Future research needs to consider the role of environmental factors and other biota when evaluating rhizobial responses to herbicide applications.     

Use of insect antifeedants against aphid vectors of plant virus disease

The probing and feeding behaviour of aphids can result in uptake of viruses from infected plants and subsequent transmission to healthy plants. It is possible to interfere with virus acquisition and transmission by influencing aphid host-selection and feeding behaviour with antifeedant chemicals. Published work is reviewed and new work is presented in this paper. The two most successful classes of antifeedants against aphids are (a) compounds derived from the aphid alarm pheromone and (b) plant-derived antifeedants such as the sesquiterpene (-)-polygodial. Results with these and other compounds are discussed in terms of antifeedant activity against Myzus persicae, their effects on resistant aphids and the evidence for dec?ease in virus spread by aphids in laboratory and field.