Induction of an enzyme in genetically deficient rats after grafting of normal liver

Tissue from normal rat livers was grafted onto the livers of rats that were genetically deficient in bilirubin uridine diphosphate glucuronyltransferase activity. Twelve weeks after the grafting operation, the liver of the recipient rats had bilirubin uridine diphosphate glucuronyltransferase activity.     

Immunosuppressive effects of aflatoxin B1 in Indian major carp (Labeo rohita).

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a potent immunomodulator in endotherms. The experiment was carried out to study the immunosuppressive nature of AFB1 in one ectothermic species of Indian major carp. Graded levels (0, 1.25, 5.00 mg/kg of body weight) of purified AFB1 were intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected into rohu (Labeo rohita) fingerlings weighing 30-50 g, and the fish were observed for a period of 90 days. At the end of the trial, blood samples were collected from the control group as well as the AFB1 injected fish and were screened for nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) assay, serum total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin-globulin ratio (A:G), serum bactericidal activity and bacterial agglutination titre against Edwardsiella tarda. The aflatoxin-treated fish revealed a reduction of total protein, globulin levels, bacterial agglutination titre, NBT and serum bactericidal activities, as well as an enhanced A:G ratio without change in albumin concentration, irrespective of dose levels of toxin treatment, when compared to the control group. Thus, AFB1 proved to be immunosuppressive in rohu even at the lowest dose (1.25 mg/kg body weight) of toxin treatment. This could be of economic significance in intensive culture systems of rohu.     

Sex difference in the morphology of erythrocyte nucleus and melanising activity of blood of one-day-old chicks

Erythrocyte nuclear breadth and area were found to be less in the male than in the female of 1‐d‐old chicks. The nuclear length and area of erythrocyte as a whole did not vary between sexes. The percentage of erythrocytes with narrow nuclei was higher in the male than in the female. Blood from males showed higher melanising activity than that from females.

From the results obtained it is suggested that these sex differences are due to the male's higher oxidation rate.     

Yersinia YopJ acetylates and inhibits kinase activation by blocking phosphorylation

Yersinia species use a variety of type III effector proteins to target eukaryotic signaling systems. The effector YopJ inhibits mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and the nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) signaling pathways used in innate immune response by preventing activation of the family of MAPK kinases (MAPKK). We show that YopJ acted as an acetyltransferase, using acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) to modify the critical serine and threonine residues in the activation loop of MAPKK6 and thereby blocking phosphorylation. The acetylation on MAPKK6 directly competed with phosphorylation, preventing activation of the modified protein. This covalent modification may be used as a general regulatory mechanism in biological signaling.     

Biomass and Defoliation Tolerance of 12 Populations of Pseudoroegneria spicata at Two Densities

Pseudoroegneria spicata(Pursh.) A. Löve is an important native grass of the rangelands of the Intermountain West, USA and is widely used in this region for restoration applications. High grazing preference, together with high grazing sensitivity, has reduced the abundance of this species, indicating the need for the development of grazing-tolerant plant materials. While a genotype may be defoliation tolerant at low density, e.g., in an experimental setting, an effective grazing-tolerant genotype must also display this trait at higher densities resembling those found in natural and restoration settings. We compared 12 restoration plant materials for response to spring-defoliation at high (25 plants · m^?2) and low (8 plants · m^?2) plant densities in a field experiment. Two consecutive years of spring-defoliation reduced shoot biomass 19% compared to the nonspring-defoliated control, and this reduction was similar for the two densities examined. Two populations, P-3 and Acc:238, were able to compensate for shoot biomass after 2 yr of spring-defoliation, while the remaining 10 populations undercompensated, as is commonly reported for cool-season grasses in arid and semiarid regions. While the association between control and spring-defoliated shoot biomass was marginally positive (R² = 0.26; P < 0.10), we found a stronger negative association (R² = 0.36; P < 0.05) between spring-defoliation tolerance and control shoot-biomass production. This suggests a possible trade-off between growth and defoliation tolerance (calculated as percentage of control biomass) among populations. Of the four commercially available plant materials in our study, the more recent prevariety germplasm, P-7, exhibited higher control shoot biomass and higher spring-defoliation tolerance than the older cultivars, Whitmar and Goldar. Anatone germplasm was intermediate but not statistically different from these other plant materials for these two traits.     

Does white wine qualify for French paradox? Comparison of the cardioprotective effects of red and white wines and their constituents: resveratrol, tyrosol, and hydroxytyrosol

It is generally believed that the French paradox is related to the consumption of red wine and not other varieties of wine, including white wine or champagne. Some recent studies have indicated that white wine could also be as cardioprotective as red wine. The present investigation compares the cardioprotective abilities of red wine, white wine, and their principal cardioprotective constituents. Different groups of rats were gavaged with red wine, white wine, resveratrol, tyrosol, and hydroxytyrosol. Red wine and its constituent resveratrol and white wine and its constituents tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol all showed different degrees of cardioprotection as evidenced by their abilities to improve postischemic ventricular performance, reduce myocardial infarct size and cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and reduce peroxide formation. It was discovered in this study that although each of the wines and their components increased the enzymatic activities of the mitochondrial complex (I-IV) and citrate synthase, which play very important roles in oxidative phosphorylation and ATP synthesis, some of the groups were more complex-specific in inducing the activity compared to the other groups. Cardioprotective ability was further confirmed by increased expression of phospho-Akt, Bcl-2, eNOS, iNOS, COX-1, COX-2, Trx-1, Trx-2, and HO-1. The results of this study suggest that white wine can provide cardioprotection similar to red wine if it is rich in tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol.     

Results of molecular analysis of an archaeological hemp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cannabis sativa</Emphasis> L.) DNA sample from North West China

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) cultivation and utilization is an ancient practice to human civilization. There are some controversies on the origin and subsequent spread of this species. Ancient plant DNA has proven to be a powerful tool to solve phylogenetic problems. In this study, ancient DNA was extracted from an archaeological specimen of Cannabis sativa associated with archaeological human remains from China. Ribosomal and Cannabis specific chloroplast DNA regions were PCR amplified. Sequencing of a species-specific region and subsequent comparison with published sequences were performed. Successful amplification, sequencing and sequence comparison with published data suggested the presence of hemp specific DNA in the archeological specimen. The role of Humulus japonicus Sieb. et Zucc. in the evolution of Cannabis is also indicated. The identification of ancient DNA of 2500 years old C. sativa sample showed that C. sativa races might have been introduced into China from the European–Siberian center of diversity.