Hormonal influences on in vitro [35S]-sulfate uptake by gill arches from the goldfish (Carassius auratus L.)

A bioassay for insulin-like growth factor (IGF), based on the in vitro incorporation of [³⁵S]-sulfate into gill arch tissue was used to study the hormonal regulation of proteoglycan synthesis in the goldfish (Carassius auratus). [³⁵S]-sulfate incorporation into gill arch tissue was found to be time-dependent with maximal uptake occurring by 48h, suggesting that proteoglycan synthesis in this tissue was maintained for at least 48h in vitro. The addition of human recombinant IGF-I (IGF-I) to the incubation medium was found to significantly stimulate [³⁵S]-sulfate uptake into the gill arches, whereas bovine growth hormone (GH) was without effect. Porcine insulin was also stimulatory, but results indicate that the effects of porcine insulin and IGF-I may be mediated by a single receptor system. Finally, arches from hypophysectomized fish were significantly less responsive to IGF-I than were arches from sham-operated fish. Furthermore, administration of ovine GH in vivo appeared to increase subsequent responsiveness in vitro. Together, these results provide evidence that the growth-promoting actions of GH in the goldfish may be mediated, at least in part, by a peptide related in structure to mammalian IGF-I.     

Determination of a tissue and sediment threshold for tributyltin to protect prey species of juvenile salmonids listed under the US Endangered Species Act

• 1. The purpose of this report is to determine the concentrations of tributyltin in sediments that would be protective against adverse effects on prey species of salmonids listed under the US Endangered Species Act.
• 2. Two approaches for determining adverse sediment concentrations due to tributyltin (TBT) contamination are presented here. The first is the equilibrium partitioning (EqP) approach, which relies on a sediment‐water partition coefficient and toxicological data for water exposures. The EqP approach utilizes the large water quality database that has been generated over the last two decades for TBT and provides strong evidence for adverse effects at low exposure concentrations.
• 3. The second approach involves determination of a TBT tissue residue that is considered harmful for most species, which is then used to predict the sediment concentration that would likely produce this adverse tissue concentration.
• 4. Both approaches are presented here because they generally support each other but based on the information presented below, and the inherent difficulty in measuring porewater concentrations, the tissue residue approach is the recommended method for determining adverse sediment concentrations.
• 5. Using this analysis, the protective sediment concentration for TBT proposed here is 6000 ng g^?1organic carbon. Direct effects are not expected on salmonids at this sediment concentration because of their relatively short residence time in the estuary, general lack of interaction with sediment, and relatively high metabolic capacity. This concentration may ensure adequate abundance of salmonid prey species; however, it may not be low enough for the protection of sensitive benthic species.

Published in 2002 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Latitudinal and seasonal variation in reproductive effort of the eastern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus)

Geographic variation in life‐history traits among populations of wide‐ranging species is influenced by both spatial and temporal aspects of the environment. Rarely, however, are the effects of both aspects examined concurrently. We collected gravid female lizards (Sceloporus undulatus) from northern (Indiana), central (Mississippi) and southern (Florida) populations, spanning nearly the full latitudinal range of the species, to examine amongpopulation differences in strategies of reproductive energy allocation. Adult females from the southern population were smaller, and produced fewer and smaller eggs in their first clutches than did females from the more northern populations. Southern females were more likely to produce a second clutch, and second clutches were smaller than first clutches for females from the 2 northern populations. Together these trends eliminated population differences in overall reproductive output after accounting for body size. The trend for greater reproductive energy to be allocated to first clutches at higher latitudes, and to later clutches at lower latitudes is corroborated by published data from field studies on multiple populations. Distributing reproductive effort by producing more clutches of smaller eggs may be an adaptive response to the long season available for egg incubation and lizard activity in sub‐tropical southern environments. In contrast, allocating greater resources to early reproduction may enhance maternal fitness in the relatively short activity seasons that characterize more northern sites.     

Oxygen uptake in the Antarctic teleost Pagothenia borchgrevinki. Limitations imposed by X-cell gill disease

Fish in a population of Pagothenia borchgrevinki in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, are affected by a gill disease (X-cell disease) which causes tissue hyperplasia that results in a decreased gill surface area and an increased water/blood diffusion distance. P. borchgrevinki acquires 95% of its oxygen via the gills, but damage to the gills by X-cell disease did not affect this function. There was no compensatory shift to cutaneous respiration. X-cell disease reduced the ability for oxygen uptake at low ambient P_{O 2} and the decreased uptake was related to the extent of the disease. _{O 2} max was greatly reduced in X-cell affected fish and substantially reduced their aerobic potential. This effect may impair the ability of diseased fish to catch prey and avoid predators.     

Reestablishment of ecological functioning by mulching and termite invasion in a degraded soil in an Australian savanna

Soil degradation is a major source of ecological dysfunction in both natural and agricultural landscapes. Termites are key mediators of tropical soil structure and function, but there has been little experimental evaluation of their potential in soil rehabilitation. This study investigated if termite activity can be used as a tool to improve the properties and function of degraded soil in tropical Australia, through mulch addition. A 2 × 2 randomised block design was used, with mulch (bare [B] or mulched [M] plots) and termiticide (termite [T] or non-termite [NT] plots) as factors. Over 4.5 years I tested the hypothesis that the MT plots would show greatest increase in (i) soil macroporosity, (ii) total soil surface carbon and nitrogen, (iii) litter decomposition, (iv) soil water storage and (v) plant cover, and (vi) greatest reduction in soil strength. MT treatment plots showed a 46% and 45% increase in soil macroporosity and plant cover, respectively, and a 25% reduction in soil strength compared with MNT plots. Compared with B treatments (BT, BNT), macroporosity and plant cover were 98% and 60% higher, respectively and soil water storage increased by up to 15%. Termites contributed to 58% of litter loss in MT plots over the transitional/dry season period. Mulching doubled soil carbon and nitrogen levels. This research demonstrates termite-mediated processes can be initiated and maintained in degraded soil, thereby improving soil structure and key ecosystem functions. Termites may represent a valuable biological resource for promoting tropical soil restoration, through incorporating techniques that promote their activity into tropical soil rehabilitation management.     

Endocrine changes in the fowl during infection with Eimeria maxima

Plasma concentrations of thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), prolactin, growth hormone and corticosterone were measured in immature domestic fowl which were infected with Eimeria maxima, uninfected but given the same amount of food as those infected (pair-fed) or fed ad libitum. Infection with E maxima caused a decrease in plasma T4 concentration whereas pair feeding caused an increase when food intake was minimal. Plasma T3 concentrations were decreased similarly in both infected and pair-fed birds. Infection caused an increase in plasma prolactin concentration, whereas pair-feeding did not. The plasma concentration of growth hormone was not affected by any of the treatments. Plasma corticosterone concentration was markedly increased on days 5 and 6 in pair-fed birds but was not affected by infection with E maxima.     

Salinomycin toxicosis in horses

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 4-month-old American Paint filly was evaluated because of sudden onset of ataxia that progressed to recumbency. Five additional horses from the same and neighboring premises developed signs of poor performance, generalized weakness, ataxia, and recumbency; 2 of those horses were also evaluated. A new batch of a commercial feed supplement had been introduced to the horses' diet on each farm within the preceding 3 days. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Other than recumbency, findings of physical and neurologic examinations of the foal were unremarkable. The other 2 horses had generalized weakness and mild ataxia, and 1 horse also had persistent tachycardia. The foal had mild leukocytosis with neutrophilia, hyperglycemia, and mildly high serum creatine kinase activity. Results of cervical radiography, CSF analysis, and assessments of heavy metals and selenium concentrations in blood and vitamin E concentration in serum were within reference limits. Feed analysis revealed high concentrations of the ionophore antimicrobial salinomycin. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: The 5 affected horses survived, but the foal was euthanized. At necropsy, a major histopathologic finding was severe vacuolation within neurons of the dorsal root ganglia, which was compatible with ionophore toxicosis. The surviving horses developed muscle atrophy, persistent weakness, and ataxia. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In horses, ionophore toxicosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis for acute weakness, ataxia, recumbency, or sudden death. Furthermore, ionophore toxicosis should be considered as a cause of poor performance, weakness, muscle wasting, and cardiac arrhythmias in horses. Surviving horses may have impaired athletic performance.     

Vegetative phase change among sweet corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids varying for reaction to common rust (Puccinia sorghi Schw.)

In maize, timing of vegetative phase change has been implicated in the response to certain pests and environmental stresses. Common rust is the most serious disease of sweet corn in the north central United States. Sweet corn hybrids differing for resistance to common rust were evaluated for vegetative phase change traits. There were significant differences among hybrids for all vegetative phase change traits measured, as well as resistance to common rust. Certain hybrids displayed rapid transition (within two leaves) from juvenile to adult vegetation, while others displayed prolonged transition (within four leaves). There were no significant correlations between vegetative phase change traits and common rust severity among the commercial sweet corn hybrids evaluated in this experiment.