Upregulation of LENK and VIP in paracervical ganglion neurons supplying the urinary bladder of tetrodotoxin- and resiniferatoxin-treated female pigs

Both resiniferatoxin (RTX) and tetrodotoxin (TTX) have been reported to be effective in several clinical trials aiming to cure urinary bladder dysfunction. The goal of this experiment was to study the effect of intravesical administration of RTX and TTX on the chemical coding of paracervical ganglion (PCG) neurons that supply the urinary bladder in pigs. The vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and the opioid family member Leu5-enkephalin (LENK) are both known for their regulatory effects in the function of the porcine genitourinary tract. The PCG neurons innervating the urinary bladder were identified by application of the retrograde tracer Fast Blue (FB), injected into the bladder wall prior to intravesical RTX or TTX administration. Immunocytochemical detection of LENK and VIP expression in the FB-labelled perikarya revealed that in the control group 25.15% of the FB-positive PCG neurons contained LENK, and 9.22% of them expressed VIP. Intravesical infusion of RTX resulted in an increase in the number of LENKIR neurons to 48.19% and VIP-IR perikarya to 11.25%. Optional treatment with TTX induced increase of LENK-IR neurons up to 81.67% and VIP-IR population to 16.46% of the FB-positive PCG cells. The present results show that both neurotoxins affect the chemical coding of PCG nervous cells supplying the porcine urinary bladder and that they stimulate both LENK and VIP expression. Furthermore, the results indicate a possible involvement of LENK and VIP neurons in the mechanisms of action of RTX and TTX in the therapy of overactive bladder disorder.     

Relationships between local stand density and local species composition and nutrient content in the topsoil of pure and mixed stands of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.)

This study examined topsoil samples from the humic mineral horizon in four pure silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) and five mixed stands with beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), spruce (Picea abies L.; Karst.) and pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). In every stand, 60–70 sampling locations were chosen using a stratified random scheme that represented a gradient in local stand density and local species composition. One working hypothesis was that stand density and species composition affect the content of nutrients in the mineral humic soil horizon. Specifically, the analysis statistically tested for relationships between general and species-specific local stand density measures (basal area, sum of tree diameters weighted by distance, canopy openness) and the contents of total C, total N (in four stands), base cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, Na⁺) and Mn²⁺ (in nine stands). A considerable variation in nutrient concentrations was observed; the coefficients of variation ranged from 0.21 to 0.38 for N, from 0.20 to 0.94 for the sum of base cations and from 0.56 to 0.95 for Mn. However, no clear relationship emerged between local stand density and the concentration of N and base cations; in five stands, manganese showed a negative correlation with local stand density. In the mixed fir-beech stand, significantly higher concentrations of Ca, K and Mn were found in the vicinity of beeches, and species-specific stand density explained up to 15, 29 and 34% of total variation in the content of these elements, respectively. Similar tendencies also appeared in the mixed stands with pine, although the relationships were weak. The results obtained for two fir-spruce stands were ambiguous. In sum, in the stands studied, small canopy gaps and inter-crown openings might not be considered ‘‘nutrient hot spots’’, and the admixed species, except for beech, had an insignificant effect on nutrient content in the humic mineral horizon.     

Survival,growth and photochemical efficiency of silver fir seedlings produced with different technologies

New Forests - Forest tree seedling production technologies impact reforestation success determined with survival and quality of seedlings. Five Abies alba seedling production technologies were...     

Ultrasound evaluation of the gonadal structure in sex-reversed rainbow trout females

Ultrasound approach has been used to assess morphology of the gonadal structure in the sex-reversed rainbow trout females (neomales) provided in the course of 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione treatment applied within gonadal differentiation period. Eighteen matured individuals (in range 38.0–48.6 cm of body length and 802–1644 g of body weight) were scanned using digital ultrasound apparatus (DP-6900 model) Mindray Ltd., during the spawning season. After screening, fishes were killed to validate the morphological configuration and position of the gonads in the body cavity. The favorable place for cross-sectional imaging of gonadal lobes was half of the distance between the pectoral and pelvic fins below lateral line of neomales. Most of the examined specimens (61 %) had properly shaped, paired testis. Moreover, presence of individuals with asymmetrical gonads (33 %) and one bisexual fish was confirmed. There were no differences between total volume of sampled semen and sperm motility, but statistically significantly different in sperm concentration within selected (with symmetrical and asymmetrical testis) groups of neomales. It was confirmed that ultrasonic imaging is an efficient and accurate method to determine the state of gonads of mature sex-reversed rainbow trout females during spawning season and offers the opportunity for non-invasive detection of any morphological anomalies in their gonads.     

Pyramiding genes affecting sprouting resistance in Rye by means of marker assisted selection

The 541 × Ot1-3 intercross population and bulked segregant analysis (BSA) were used to search for molecular markers linked to genes underlying sprouting and alpha-amylase activity. Six RAPD markers showing association with studied traits were tested for their potential effectiveness in selecting sprouting resistant genotypes. It was shown that although individual effects of markers were not high, their accumulation in one genotype gives substantial increase in sprouting resistance.     

High-performance electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction derived from polyaniline, iron, and cobalt

The prohibitive cost of platinum for catalyzing the cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) has hampered the widespread use of polymer electrolyte fuel cells. We describe a family of non-precious metal catalysts that approach the performance of platinum-based systems at a cost sustainable for high-power fuel cell applications, possibly including automotive power. The approach uses polyaniline as a precursor to a carbon-nitrogen template for high-temperature synthesis of catalysts incorporating iron and cobalt. The most active materials in the group catalyze the ORR at potentials within ~60 millivolts of that delivered by state-of-the-art carbon-supported platinum, combining their high activity with remarkable performance stability for non-precious metal catalysts (700 hours at a fuel cell voltage of 0.4 volts) as well as excellent four-electron selectivity (hydrogen peroxide yield <1.0%).     

The metal — Metal interactions in biological systems Part III. Daphnia magna

The toxicity of single metal ions: Al, Co(II), Cr(III), Cu(II), Fe(III), Mg, Mn(II), Mo(VI), Ni(II), Se(VI), V(V) and Zn and the following pairs of them: Al-Co, Al-Mg, Al-Mo, Al-Se, Al-Zn, Cr-Co, Cr-Mg, Cr-Mo, Cr-Se, Cr-Zn, Cu-Co, Cu-Mg, Cu-Mo, Cu-Se, Cu-Zn, Fe-Co, Fe-Mg, Fe-Mo, Fe-Se, Fe-Zn, Mn-Co, Mn-Mg, Mn-Mo, Mn-Se, Mn-Zn, Ni-Co, Ni-Mg, Ni-Mo, Ni-Se, Ni-Zn, V-Co, V-Mg, V-Mo, V-Se, V-Zn, Zn-Co, Zn-Mg, Zn-Mo, and Zn-Se on Daphnia magna was examined. The most prominent antagonism in the toxicity was observed in the following ion pairs: Al-Mo(VI), Cr(III)-Co(II), Cr(III)-Mg, Cr(III)-Mo(VI), Cr(III)-Se(VI), Cr(III)-Zn, Fe(III)-Se(VI), Mn(II)-Mg, Mn(II-Se(VI), Zn-Mg and Zn-Mo(VI). The strong synergism was found for the following ion systems: Cr(III)-Se(VI), Cr(III)-Zn, Fe(III)-Se(VI), Mn(II)-Zn, Mn(II)-Se(VI), Ni(II)-Co(II), Ni(II)-Mo(VI), Ni(II)-Se(VI), Ni(II)-Zn, V(V)-Co(II), V(V)-Mo(VI), V(V)- Se(VI), and V(V)-Zn. Synergism and antagonism in toxicity were dependent on water hardness as well as on the ion concentration. Adaptive procesess of the animals to the toxic environment could also be observed. Thus, the toxicity of the single ions and their pairs was not linear with respect to time.     

Einfluß physikalischer Eigenschaften und anthropogener Tätigkeit auf die Hysterese der Wasserspannungskurve organogener Böden

Influence of the soil properties and human activity on the hysteresis of the moisture retention function in organic soils The hysteresis of the moisture retention function is characterized by the greatest difference of water content during drying and wetting (Θ_AΘ_B) at the same suction. It diminishes by an increased degree of peat decomposition, ash content, bulk density and pH and increases with the volume of macropores (Ø > 50 μm). In the soil suction range Ψ = –1 to –6 kPa the hysteresis can be calculated by multiple regression equations (Tab. 3). Under arable land compared with grassland the hysteresis increases depending on the soil looseness and diminution of soil aggregates. A sand cover on peatland leads in the upper (20–30 cm) layer to a diminution of hysteresis proportional to the sand thickness.     

Mapping of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">ms8</Emphasis> male sterility gene in sweet pepper (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum annuum</Emphasis> L.) on the chromosome P4 using PCR-based markers useful for breeding programmes

The nuclear male sterility gene ms8 is expected to facilitate the production of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) hybrids as it provides means for hybridization without the labor-intensive hand emasculation of female inbred lines. The development of molecular markers linked to ms8 locus will help the breeding practice for the selection of hybrid parental lines. In this study, F₂ population resulting from a cross between the sweet pepper male sterile line 320 and the male fertile variety Elf was used to identify DNA markers linked to the ms8 locus. With the use of RAPD–BSA technique, seven markers linked to the ms8 locus were found. Four of them were converted into SCAR markers. In addition, two COSII/CAPS markers linked to the ms8 locus were identified. Comparative mapping with reference pepper maps indicated that the ms8 locus is located on the lower arm of the pepper chromosome P4. Identified markers are useful for molecular breeding, however, at present markers tightly linked to ms8 locus are still lacking. Identification of molecular markers linked to the ms8 locus and determination of its chromosomal localization are useful for fine mapping and also provide the perspective for ms8 gene cloning.