bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential pattern of CCR1 internalization in human eosinophils: prolonged internalization by CCL5 in contrast to CCL3
Authors: Elsner J. , Dulkys Y. , Gupta S. , Escher S. E. , Forssmann W.‐G. , Kapp A. , Forssmann U.
Published: October 2005

Background:  Whereas recent studies underlie the fundamental importance of the CC chemokine receptor 3 (CCR3) for the recruitment of eosinophils in allergic diseases, controversial data exist about the relevance of CCR1 on eosinophils. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the expression and regulation of CCR1 on eosinophils.

Methods:  Flow cytometric analysis of whole blood eosinophils and CD16‐negative selected eosinophils from healthy nonatopic donors and from patients with atopic disorders was performed and CCR1 receptor internalization and re‐expression were studied.

Results:  Flow cytometric analysis of whole blood eosinophils revealed that 17.8% of the donors expressed high levels of CCR1 (CCR1high) and 82.2% low levels of CCR1 (CCR1low). A significant down‐regulation of CCR1 was induced by 24 h preincubation of isolated eosinophils from CCR1high donors either with IL‐3, CC chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3), CCL5, CCL7, or CCL13. Internalization experiments using eosinophils from CCR1high donors revealed that CCL5 is more effective to induce CCR1 internalization than CCL3. Whereas CCR1 re‐expression after stimulation with CCL3 reached prestimulation levels (120 min: 81.3% relative CCR1 surface expression) CCL5 induced a prolonged CCR1 internalization (120 min: 15.7%).

Conclusions:  This study demonstrates a distinct pattern of CCR1 internalization and re‐expression in human eosinophils between CCL3 and CCL5, as CCL5 induces a prolonged CCR1 internalization and the basic value is not reached after 24 h. Since prolonged receptor internalization plays a central role in chemokine‐mediated inhibition of receptor function, CCR1 seems to be an attractive target on human eosinophils for chemokine receptor blockade besides CCR3.
High sensitivity of basophils predicts side‐effects in venom immunotherapy
Authors: Kosnik M. , Silar M. , Bajrovic N. , Music E. , Korosec P.
Published: October 2005

Background:  Systemic side‐effects of venom immunotherapy (VIT) represent a considerable problem in the treatment of patients allergic to Hymenoptera venom. We examined the hypothesis whether basophil responsiveness might be connected with the adverse reactions to VIT.

Methods:  Basophil surface expression of activation marker CD63 induced by different concentrations of honeybee and wasp venom (0.1 and 1 μg/ml) was measured by flow cytometry in 34 patients with history of systemic anaphylactic reactions to Hymenoptera sting just before rush honeybee or wasp VIT.

Results:  Eleven of 34 patients had systemic anaphylactic reaction (Mueller grades I–III) and one patient a large local reaction to VIT. In those 12 patients, median percentage of activated basophils after stimulation with VIT‐specific venom in concentration of 0.1 μg/ml was 99% (range: 17–195) of value reached with stimulation with 1 μg/ml. Side‐effects occurred in all patients with 0.1/1 ratios over 92% (eight of 12). In contrast, in 22 patients with no side‐effects, the median 0.1/1 ratio was 25% (range: 2–92). These concentration‐dependent activation ratios were significantly different between the groups with and without side reactions (P < 0.0001). We also show significant positive correlation of the occurrence/clinical grade of the side‐effects with individual ratios of CD63 basophil response (r = 0.73, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion:  The results suggest that increased basophil sensitivity to allergen‐specific in vitro stimulation is significantly associated with major side‐effects of VIT.
Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus in house dust mite allergic patients and healthy controls
Authors: Riechelmann H. , Essig A. , Deutschle T. , Rau A. , Rothermel B. , Weschta M.
Published: October 2005

Background:  Staphylococcal colonization may influence the course of allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis or allergic rhinitis. The frequency of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) nasal carriage and its possible influence on persistent allergic rhinitis was investigated.

Methods:  In nasal lavages from 22 patients with house dust mite allergy and 18 healthy controls, the number of SA colony forming units per ml were assessed and related to nasal symptom scores, the concentrations of three inflammatory cell activation markers, nasal total IgE and 17 cytokines in nasal secretions.

Results:  SA was found in 15/22 allergic patients and 4/18 controls (P < 0.01). Comparing allergic SA carriers with allergic noncarriers, nasal symptom scores tended to be higher (P < 0.1), and the cell activation markers ECP (102.23±0.33vs 101.45±0.50 ng/ml; P < 0.05) and elastase (102.70±0.21vs 102.12±0.34 ng/ml; P < 0.01), and nasal total IgE‐levels (101.66±0.38vs 101.2±0.28 kU/ml; P < 0.05) were significantly higher in allergic SA carriers. Nasal SA carriers had a higher nasal IL‐13/IFN‐γ ratio (P < 0.01), and this was correlated with higher nasal total IgE in allergic patients (r = 0.6, P < 0.05).

Conclusion:  Nasal SA carriage is frequent in patients with persistent allergic rhinitis. The data of this study suggest that they are not only secondary bystanders, but actively modulate the disease by promoting local IgE production.
Diagnosis of Hymenoptera venom allergy
Authors: Biló B. M. , Rueff F. , Mosbech H. , Bonifazi F. , Oude‐Elberink J. N. G. ,   the EAACI Interest Group on Insect Venom Hypersensitivity
Published: October 2005

The purpose of diagnostic procedure is to classify a sting reaction by history, identify the underlying pathogenetic mechanism, and identify the offending insect. Diagnosis of Hymenoptera venom allergy thus forms the basis for the treatment. In the central and northern Europe vespid (mainly Vespula spp.) and honeybee stings are the most prevalent, whereas in the Mediterranean area stings from Polistes and Vespula are more frequent than honeybee stings; bumblebee stings are rare throughout Europe and more of an occupational hazard. Several major allergens, usually glycoproteins with a molecular weight of 10–50 kDa, have been identified in venoms of bees, vespids. and ants. The sequences and structures of the majority of venom allergens have been determined and several have been expressed in recombinant form. A particular problem in the field of cross‐reactivity are specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies directed against carbohydrate epitopes, which may induce multiple positive test results (skin test, in vitro tests) of still unknown clinical significance. Venom hypersensitivity may be mediated by immunologic mechanisms (IgE‐mediated or non‐IgE‐mediated venom allergy) but also by nonimmunologic mechanisms. Reactions to Hymenoptera stings are classified into normal local reactions, large local reactions, systemic toxic reactions, systemic anaphylactic reactions, and unusual reactions. For most venom‐allergic patients an anaphylactic reaction after a sting is very traumatic event, resulting in an altered health‐related quality of life. Risk factors influencing the outcome of an anaphylactic reaction include the time interval between stings, the number of stings, the severity of the preceding reaction, age, cardiovascular diseases and drug intake, insect type, elevated serum tryptase, and mastocytosis. Diagnostic tests should be carried out in all patients with a history of a systemic sting reaction to detect sensitization. They are not recommended in subjects with a history of large local reaction or no history of a systemic reaction. Testing comprises skin tests with Hymenoptera venoms and analysis of the serum for Hymenoptera venom‐specific IgE. Stepwise skin testing with incremental venom concentrations is recommended. If diagnostic tests are negative they should be repeated several weeks later. Serum tryptase should be analyzed in patients with a history of a severe sting reaction.
Evolution of handling time can destroy the coexistence of cycling predators
Authors: Kisdi É. , Liu S.
Published: October 2005

Several consumers (predators) with Holling type II functional response may robustly coexist even if they utilize the same resource (prey), provided that the population exhibits nonequilibrium dynamics and the handling time of predators is sufficiently different. We investigate the evolution of handling time and, in particular, its effect on coexistence. Longer handling time is costly in terms of lost foraging time, but allows more nutrients to be extracted from a captured prey individual. Assuming a hyperbolically saturating relationship between handling time and the number of new predators produced per prey consumed, we obtain three results: (i) There is a globally evolutionarily stable handling time; (ii) At most two predator strategies can coexist in this model; (iii) When two predators coexist, a mutant with intermediate handling time can always invade. This implies that there is no evolutionarily stable coexistence, and the evolution of handling time eventually leads to a single evolutionarily stable predator. These results are proven analytically and are valid for arbitrary (not only small) mutations; they however depend on the relationship between handling time and offspring production and on the assumption that predators differ only in their prey handling strategy.
Tempo, mode and phylogenetic associations of relative embryo size evolution in angiosperms
Authors: Verdú M.
Published: October 2005

Relative embryo size (E : S, the ratio of embryo to seed) is a key trait related to germination ecology and seed plant evolution. A small, underdeveloped embryo is a primitive feature of angiosperms, which has led to the hypothesis that an evolutionary trend towards increasing E : S has occurred. Here, I examine first the tempo and mode of E : S evolution in angiosperms; then I test for phylogenetic associations of E : S with traits hypothetically related to anagenetic (germination time) and cladogenetic (number of species per family and differential speciation) change, and finally I test the existence of a directional increasing trend in E : S. The analysis of the evolutionary tempo suggests that E : S changed very fast early in evolutionary time and remained stable later, which is consistent with early radiations and fits well with the history of angiosperms consisting of rapid spread associated with great diversification rates soon after their origin. E : S evolution in angiosperms has not followed a punctuational mode of evolution but a scaled-gradualism evolution in which stasis has occurred in longer branches of the phylogeny. An evolutionary trend towards increasing E : S has not been actively driven by anagenesis nor cladogenesis, although large E : S is associated with high levels of diversification (i.e. number of species per family). This rapid ecological diversification occurring in the early radiation probably produced an increasing phenotypic variance in the E : S. Because the ancestral embryo was so small, an increase in variance might have produced a passive trend towards the only direction allowed for the ancestral embryo to evolve. Thus, a passive diffusion away from a lower bound may explain the average increase in E : S.
Implications of the difference between true and predicted breeding values for the study of natural selection and micro-evolution
Authors: Postma E.
Published: October 2005

The ability to predict individual breeding values in natural populations with known pedigrees has provided a powerful tool to separate phenotypic values into their genetic and environmental components in a nonexperimental setting. This has allowed sophisticated analyses of selection, as well as powerful tests of evolutionary change and differentiation. To date, there has, however, been no evaluation of the reliability or potential limitations of the approach. In this article, I address these gaps. In particular, I emphasize the differences between true and predicted breeding values (PBVs), which as yet have largely been ignored. These differences do, however, have important implications for the interpretation of, firstly, the relationship between PBVs and fitness, and secondly, patterns in PBVs over time. I subsequently present guidelines I believe to be essential in the formulation of the questions addressed in studies using PBVs, and I discuss possibilities for future research.
Estimates of relative contribution of biomass, harvest index and yield components to soybean yield improvements in China
Authors: Cui S. Y. , Yu D. Y.
Published: October 2005

A method was developed to estimate the relative contribution of increased biomass, harvest index and yield components to seed yield gain of soybean. Data from four field experiments conducted in three soybean production regions in China were used to measure the role of different traits (such as harvest index) in seed yield improvement by applying this method. The results indicated that harvest index was a larger contributor to the progress of soybean yield improvements than biomass in China. However, the estimates of improvements of yield components suggested that there could be several strategies for obtaining high yield. High yielding would be achieved by improving all of the three yield components (pods per plant, seeds per pod and seed weight) simultaneously, or significantly improving one or two of the three components.
Improved doubled haploid production protocol for Brassica napus using microspore colchicine treatment in vitro and ploidy determination by flow cytometry
Authors: Weber S. , ÜNker F. , Friedt W.
Published: October 2005

A rapid and efficient microspore culture protocol was applied to produce homozygous progeny of crosses between low erucic canola and high erucic resynthesized rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). Microspores of Canadian cultivars ‘Excel’ and ‘Profit’ as well as three F1 hybrids with the resynthetic line ‘RS239’ were treated with colchicine immediately after isolation. Flow cytometry was applied for early identification of doubled haploid (DH) regenerants. The diploidization rate was subsequently verified by scoring flower morphology. In vitro colchicine treatment had a positive effect on induced diploidization, and was associated with the frequency of preliminary spontaneous diploidization which was, however, determined by the genotype. In addition, the effects of colchicine treatment on embryoid formation and regeneration have been evaluated. The method presented is feasible for commercial large‐scale production of DHs in rapeseed as the genotype‐specific diploidization can be efficiently balanced by in vitro colchicine treatment. In addition, the use of flow cytometry immediately after in vitro culture allows efficient selection for DHs, thus saving labour and cost and in the laboratory and subsequent greenhouse phase.
Screening for resistance to Kyuri green mottle mosaic virus in various melons
Authors: Daryono B. S. , Somowiyarjo S. , Natsuaki K. T.
Published: October 2005

Among many species in the genus Tobamovirus, Kyuri green mottle mosaic virus (KGMMV) is known as a major seed‐borne virus infecting cucurbit plants, including melon, which possesses no known resistance. The identification of genetic resistance to KGMMV in Indonesia (KGMMV‐YM) in melons is of economic importance. Thus, 45 melon cultigens collected from 17 Asian countries were screened by manual virus inoculation and resistance to KGMMV‐YM was examined by visual observation, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). The results show that resistance to KGMMV‐YM was found in ‘Mawatauri’, ‘Kohimeuri’, PI 161375 and PI 371795, and analysis by RT‐PCR showed the presence of KGMMV‐YM in susceptible cultigens as early as 3 days after leaf inoculation.
AFLP–SSR maps of maize × teosinte and maize × maize: comparison of map length and segregation distortion
Authors: Mano Y. , Muraki M. , Fujimori M. , Takamizo T. , Kindiger B.
Published: October 2005

Two genetic linkage maps of Zea mays were constructed: one population comprised 94 F2 individuals of a dent ‘B64’ × teosinte (Z. mays ssp. huehuetenangensis) cross while the second consisted of 94 F2 individuals of a ‘B64’ × Caribbean flint ‘Na4’ cross. The level of polymorphism was higher in the ‘B64’ × teosinte combination than the ‘B64’ × ‘Na4’ combination. In the ‘B64’ × teosinte cross, a total of 338 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and 75 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were mapped to 10 chromosomes, which covered 1402.4 cM. In the ‘B64’ × ‘Na4’ cross, a total of 340 AFLP and 97 SSR markers were mapped to 10 chromosomes, covering 1662.8 cM. Segregation distortion regions were found on chromosomes 4, 5 and 8 in the ‘B64’ × teosinte cross and on chromosome 9 in the ‘B64’ × ‘Na4’ cross. Comparison of the two maps revealed that the maize × teosinte map was 11.5% shorter than the maize × maize map. The maps generated in this study may be useful to identify genes controlling flooding tolerance.
Genetic diversity in camelina germplasm as revealed by seed quality characteristics and RAPD polymorphism
Authors: Vollmann J. , Grausgruber H. , Stift G. , Dryzhyruk V. , Lelley T.
Published: October 2005

Camelina is an alternative oilseed crop species with limited information about the origin and diversity of available germplasm. Therefore, a set of 130 camelina accessions from a world collection was evaluated for oil content, protein content and 1000‐seed weight in field experiments grown in three macro‐environments in Austria. Based on phenotypic data, accessions were categorized into four groups with different seed characteristics using k‐means cluster analysis or principal component extraction. Subsequently, a representative set of 41 accessions was subjected to random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Of 24 primers, 15 were polymorphic producing a total of 30 marker loci. Genetic distance estimates between the 41 accessions were calculated, based both on RAPD polymorphism and on seed quality characteristics, and dendrograms were generated for comparison. Similarities were found between the two different clustering approaches, and grouping was partly in agreement with pedigree information or geographic origin. However, as the two estimates of diversity sampled different segments of the genome, i.e. regions coding for seed characteristics or phenotypically neutral genomic regions highlighted by discrete markers, the correlation between the two distance matrices was low.
Genetic basis of seedling‐resistance to leaf rust in bread wheat ‘Thatcher’
Authors: Mishra A. N. , Kaushal K. , Shirsekar G. S. , Yadav S. R. , Brahma R. N. , Pandey H. N.
Published: October 2005

The bread wheat cultivar ‘Thatcher’ is documented to carry the gene Lr22b for adult‐plant resistance to leaf rust. Seedling‐resistance to leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina in the bread wheat cultivar ‘Thatcher’, the background parent of the near‐isogenic lines for leaf rust resistance genes in wheat, is rare and no published information could be found on its genetic basis. The F2 and F3 analysis of the cross ‘Agra Local’ (susceptible) × ‘Thatcher’ showed that an apparently incompletely dominant gene conditioned seedling‐resistance in ‘Thatcher’ to the three ‘Thatcher’‐avirulent Indian leaf rust pathotypes – 0R8, 0R8‐1 and 0R9. Test of allelism revealed that this gene (temporarily designated LrKr1) was derived from ‘Kanred’, one of the parents of ‘Thatcher’. Absence of any susceptible F2 segregants in a ‘Thatcher’ × ‘Marquis’ cross confirmed that an additional gene (temporarily designated LrMq1) derived from ‘Marquis’, another parent of ‘Thatcher’, was effective against pathotype 0R9 alone. These two genes as well as a second gene in ‘Kanred’ (temporarily designated LrKr2), which was effective against all the three pathotypes, but has not been inherited by ‘Thatcher’, seem to be novel, undocumented leaf rust resistance genes.
Detection of RAPD markers linked to the everbearing gene in Japanese cultivated strawberry
Authors: Sugimoto T. , Tamaki K. , Matsumoto J. , Yamamoto Y. , Shiwaku K. , Watanabe K.
Published: October 2005

To identify markers for the everbearing gene in strawberries, 199 F1 progeny plants were produced from a cross between ‘Ever Berry’ (a Japanese everbearing strawberry) and ‘Toyonoka’ (a Japanese Junebearing strawberry) as the experimental population. The results of flowering tests produced 97 everbears and 102 Junebears. The chi‐square test gave a goodness of fit for the expected ratio of 1 : 1 for everbears to Junebears, suggesting the inheritance of the everbearing trait is controlled by a monogenic dominant gene. RAPD analyses on this trait were carried out using ‘Ever Berry’ and ‘Toyonoka’. Seventy‐one primers, which produced 89 polymorphic fragments between the two parents, were identified from a total of 175 primers. Five markers relating to the everbearing trait were selected from 26 of the 199 progeny plants. The remaining 173 seedlings were analysed with these five markers and a linkage map was constructed using all of the 199 F1 progeny plants. The length of this linkage group is 39.7 cM. The closest markers found, OPE07‐1 and OPB05‐1, are respectively mapped at 11.8 and 15.8 cM on each side of the everbearing gene.
Identification and genetic characterization of a safflower mutant with a modified tocopherol profile
Authors: Velasco L. , Pérez‐Vich B. , Fernández‐Martínez J. M.
Published: October 2005

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seeds have a tocopherol fraction dominated by α‐tocopherol, which accounts for more than 95% of the tocopherols. α‐Tocopherol exerts a high vitamin E activity, but a low in vitro antioxidant action. For non‐food applications, replacement of high α‐tocopherol by γ‐tocopherol is preferred. Because of the limited variability found in germplasm of cultivated safflower, the objective of the present research was to search for variability for tocopherol profile in germplasm of wild safflower species. Bulk seed samples of 77 accessions from six species were analysed for total tocopherol content and profile. One accession of C. oxyacanthus showed increased γ‐tocopherol content (36%). Single‐seed analysis showed the existence of a bimodal distribution, which included high α‐tocopherol (>90%) and high γ‐tocopherol (HGT) seeds (>85%). Plants from the HGT seeds bred true for the trait and showed introgression of cultivated safflower, which allowed a rapid selection for cultivated safflower traits. Genetic analysis revealed that the HGT trait was controlled by partially recessive alleles at a single locus Tph1, which will facilitate the transference of the novel trait to diverse safflower germplasms.
Influence of high molecular weight glutenin subunit substitution on rheological behaviour and bread‐baking quality of near‐isogenic lines developed from Chinese wheats
Authors: Deng Z.‐Y. , Tian J.‐C. , Sun G.‐X.
Published: October 2005

Three near‐isogenic lines (NILs) of wheat involving Glu‐B1 and Glu‐D1 alleles were used to study the genetic contribution of high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW‐GS) to gluten strength. The HMW‐GS composition of each NILs was determined by SDS‐PAGE. No significant differences were found in grain protein contents among the NILs. Gluten strength and dough‐mixing properties were measured by the Farinograph, the Extensograph, and SDS‐sedimentation (SDS‐SE). Results indicated that line 2, containing the Glu‐1B 14 + 15 and Glu‐1D 5 + 10 combination of subunits, had higher values for flour quality, dough rheological parameters, and bread‐baking quality when compared with lines 8 and 13. Line 8, containing Glu‐1B 7 + 9 and Glu‐1D 5 + 10, was better than line 13 with the Glu‐1B 14 + 15 and Glu‐1D 10 combination. Some major parameters appeared significantly different. The presence of Glu‐1B 14 + 15 was associated with higher dough strength based on SDS‐SE volume and several rheological parameters when compared with Glu‐1B 7 + 9. Lines with subunit 10 at Glu‐D1 performed significantly worse than those with 5 + 10 in gluten index, SDS‐SE volume, Farinograph stability time, Extensograph area and bread‐baking quality.
Induction of long‐term depression and phosphorylation of the δ2 glutamate receptor by protein kinase C in cerebellar slices
Authors: Kondo Tetsuro , Kakegawa Wataru , Yuzaki Michisuke
Published: October 2005

The phosphorylation of ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) by protein kinases plays a crucial role in synaptic plasticity. In the cerebellum, protein kinase C (PKC) activation is required for the induction of long‐term depression (LTD) at parallel fibre–Purkinje cell synapses. Although δ2 glutamate receptors (GluRδ2), expressed predominantly in Purkinje cells, are essential for cerebellar LTD, little is known about the mechanism by which GluRδ2 participates in LTD or its relationship with PKC activation pathways. We found that a PKC activator, phorbol ester, induced postsynaptic LTD in Purkinje cells in mouse cerebellar slice preparations without significantly changing the presynaptic properties. Under this condition, the GluRδ2 prepared from the cerebellar slices was significantly phosphorylated. Indeed, the C‐terminus of the GluRδ2 fused with glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) was directly phosphorylated by purified PKC at a specific serine residue. In addition, two‐dimensional phosphopeptide mapping analysis indicated that the major phosphorylation site of the GST‐fusion protein containing the C‐terminus of GluRδ2 was identical to that of GluRδ2 prepared from cerebellar slices. Therefore, GluRδ2 is phosphorylated by PKC in vitro and by an LTD‐inducing stimulus in slice preparations. Because this region of GluRδ2 is known to associate with certain intracellular molecules, the PKC phosphorylation status of the C‐terminus of GluRδ2 may be involved in new signaling pathways during LTD.
Improvement of memory for context by inhibition of caspase‐1 in aged rats
Authors: Gemma Carmelina , Fister Matthew , Hudson Charles , Bickford Paula C.
Published: October 2005

Impaired learning and memory is a common pathologic feature associated with numerous neurologic disorders. There is strong evidence that central inflammation contributes significantly to the progression of several neurodegenerative diseases as well as to the ageing process. For example, in aged rats an increase in interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) is implicated in the decline of synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus and impaired performance on cognitive tasks such as contextual fear conditioning. IL‐1β is a proinflammatory cytokine initially synthesized in an inactive precursor form that is cleaved by caspase‐1 to generate the biologically mature form. In the present study, cleavage of IL‐1β was chronically inhibited using a specific caspase‐1 inhibitor (Ac‐YVAD‐CMK; 10 pmol) in both aged (22 month) and young (4 month) rats. Both groups received Ac‐YVAD‐CMK for 28 days intracerebroventricularly through a brain infusion cannula connected to an osmotic minipump. On day 20 the animals were trained in contextual fear conditioning, and memory for context was tested on day 22. Chronic infusion of a specific caspase‐1 inhibitor in aged rats ameliorated age‐related increases in hippocampal IL‐1β and improved memory for context.
Dynamic distribution of endoplasmic reticulum in hippocampal neuron dendritic spines
Authors: Toresson Håkan , Grant Seth G. N.
Published: October 2005

The role of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) localized in dendritic spines has become a subject of intense interest because of its potential functions in local protein synthesis and signal transduction. Although it is recognized from electron microscopic studies that not all spines contain ER, little is know of its dynamic regulation or turnover. Here, we report a surprising degree of turnover of ER within spines. Using confocal microscopy imaging we observed continuity of spine‐ER with dendritic ER in hippocampal primary neurons. Over 24 h, less than 50% of spine ER was stable. Despite this high degree of turn over, we identified a significant subset of spines that maintained ER for at least 4 days. These results indicate that within a single neuron, the organelle composition of a spine is unexpectedly dynamic and may explain aspects of the spine‐to‐spine variation in calcium spike magnitude and localized protein synthesis and trafficking.
Decreased metabolic response to visual stimulation in the superior colliculus of mice lacking the glial glutamate transporter GLT‐1
Authors: Herard Anne‐Sophie , Dubois Albertine , Escartin Carole , Tanaka Kohichi , Delzescaux Thierry , Hantraye Philippe , Bonvento Gilles
Published: October 2005

During a specific task, an increase in glucose utilization anatomically restricted to the functionally activated region(s) is a landmark of brain physiology. While this response represents the biological bases for functional brain imaging, the underlying signalling pathway(s) are still not fully characterized. Recent evidence suggests that glial glutamate (re)uptake plays a key role. We provide evidence that the metabolic response to synaptic activation (i.e. enhancement of glucose uptake) is decreased in the superior colliculus during visual stimulation in young adult mice deficient in the glial glutamate transporter GLT‐1. A similar reduction was not observed in the glial glutamate transporter GLAST‐knockout mice. Consistent with our previous observation obtained in the somatosensory cortex, our data suggest that a metabolic crosstalk takes place between neurons and astrocytes in the adult brain which would be regulated by synaptic activity and mediated by GLT‐1.
Isolation and characterization of neural precursor cells from the Sox1–GFP reporter mouse
Authors: Barraud Perrine , Thompson Lachlan , Kirik Deniz , Björklund Anders , Parmar Malin
Published: October 2005

We have made use of a reporter mouse line in which enhanced green fluorescence protein (GFP) is inserted into the Sox1 locus. We show that the GFP reporter is coexpressed with the Sox1 protein as well as with other known markers for neural stem and progenitor cells, and can be used to identify and isolate these cells by fluorescence‐activated cell sorting (FACS) from the developing or adult brain and from neurosphere cultures. All neurosphere‐forming cells with the capacity for multipotency and self‐renewal reside in the Sox1–GFP‐expressing population. Thus, the Sox1–GFP reporter system is highly useful for identification, isolation and characterization of neural stem and progenitor cells, as well as for the validation of alternative means for isolating neural stem and progenitor cells. Further, transplantation experiments show that Sox1–GFP cells isolated from the foetal brain give rise to neurons and glia in vivo, and that many of the neurons display phenotypic characteristics appropriate for the developing brain region from which the Sox1–GFP precursors were derived. On the other hand, Sox1–GFP cells isolated from the adult subventricular zone or expanded neurosphere cultures gave rise almost exclusively to glial cells following transplantation. Thus, not all Sox1–GFP cells possess the same capacity for neuronal differentiation in vivo.
Immediate–early gene induction in hippocampus and cortex as a result of novel experience is not directly related to the stressfulness of that experience
Authors: Pace Thaddeus W. W. , Gaylord Reginald , Topczewski Farran , Girotti Milena , Rubin Benjamin , Spencer Robert L.
Published: October 2005

The stressful quality of an experience, as perceived by rats, is believed to be largely represented by the magnitude of a hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis response. The hippocampus may be especially important for assessing the stressfulness of psychological stressors such as novel experience. If such is the case then experience‐dependent immediate–early gene expression levels within the hippocampus may parallel relative levels of HPA axis activity. We examined this prospect in rats that were placed in four different novel environments (empty housing tub, circular arena, elevated pedestal or restraint tube). Restraint and pedestal produced the largest magnitude of increased ACTH and corticosterone secretion, arena an intermediate level (Experiment 2) and tub the least magnitude of increase. We saw a very similar experience‐dependent pattern of relative Fos protein, c‐fos mRNA and zif268 mRNA expression in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. However, in hippocampus (and select regions of cortex), immediate–early gene expression was associated with the exploratory potential of the novel experience rather than level of HPA axis activity; pedestal and arena elicited the greatest immediate–early gene expression, tub an intermediate level and restraint the least amount of expression. We conclude that the stressfulness of psychological stressors is not represented by the amount of immediate–early gene induction elicited in hippocampus and cortex, nor does there appear to be a general enhancing or depressive influence of acute stress on immediate–early gene induction in those brain regions.
Regulation of adult olfactory neurogenesis by insulin‐like growth factor‐I
Authors: McCurdy Richard D. , Féron François , McGrath John J. , Mackay‐Sim Alan
Published: October 2005

Insulin‐like growth factor‐I (IGF‐I) has multiple effects within the developing nervous system but its role in neurogenesis in the adult nervous system is less clear. The adult olfactory mucosa is a site of continuing neurogenesis that expresses IGF‐I, its receptor and its binding proteins. The aim of the present study was to investigate the roles of IGF‐I in regulating proliferation and differentiation in the olfactory mucosa. The action of IGF‐I was assayed in serum‐free culture combined with bromodeoxyuridine‐labelling of proliferating cells and immunochemistry for specific cell types. IGF‐I and its receptor were expressed by globose basal cells (the neuronal precursor) and by olfactory neurons. IGF‐I reduced the numbers of proliferating neuronal precursors, induced their differentiation into neurons and promoted morphological differentiation of neurons. The evidence suggests that IGF‐I is an autocrine and/or paracrine signal that induces neuronal precursors to differentiate into olfactory sensory neurons. These effects appear to be similar to the cellular effects of IGF‐I in the developing nervous system.
Critical role of amygdala in flavor but not taste preference learning in rats
Authors: Touzani Khalid , Sclafani Anthony
Published: October 2005

The role of the amygdala (AMY) in learning to associate complex flavor (taste + odor cues) with the oral and post‐oral properties of nutrients was examined. Rats with excitotoxic lesions of the basolateral AMY learned to prefer flavors paired with intragastric (IG) infusions of maltodextrin or corn oil (Experiment 1), although the preference was slightly attenuated. However, rats with large AMY lesions failed to develop a preference for flavors paired with IG infusions of the same nutrients (Experiments 2 and 4) but were able to learn a preference for a taste mixture paired with IG maltodextrin infusions (Experiment 3). The rats with large AMY lesions also did not acquire a preference for a flavor cue paired with the sweet taste of fructose (Experiment 5). Collectively, these data provide evidence that AMY is essential for flavor‐ but not taste‐nutrient preference learning.
Optic chiasm formation in humans is independent of foveal development
Authors: Neveu Magella M. , Holder Graham E. , Sloper John J. , Jeffery Glen
Published: October 2005

A failure of human foveal development only occurs in two genetically determined conditions; aniridia (Pax6 mutation) and albinism (tyrosinase mutation). The chiasmatic pathways from this region are disrupted in albinism and central retinal blood vessel patterns are abnormal. It is assumed that these three abnormalities have a common mechanism. Here we investigate whether similar abnormalities are present in subjects with aniridia. Using fundus photographs it is shown that abnormal blood vessel patterns are present in aniridia, but these significantly differ from those in albinos. Using electrophysiological techniques, abnormal hemispheric projections through the chiasm are demonstrated in albinos, but aniridics do not differ from normal subjects. These results demonstrate that although mutations in Pax6 and tyrosinase both affect central retinal development, they have a fundamentally different impact on the formation of the retinal vasculature and the projections from this region. This strongly suggests that separate mechanisms regulate the development of the central retina and decussation patterns at the optic chiasm.
Role of matrix metalloproteinases in apoptosis after transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats and mice
Authors: Copin Jean‐Christophe , Goodyear Marie‐Christelle , Gidday Jeffrey M. , Shah Aarti R. , Gascon Eduardo , Dayer Alexandre , Morel Denis M. , Gasche Yvan
Published: October 2005

The involvement of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in cerebral ischemia‐induced apoptosis was investigated in a model of transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats treated intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) with 4‐((3‐(4‐phenoxylphenoxy)propylsulfonyl)methyl)‐tetrahydropyran‐4‐carboxylic acid N‐hydroxy amide, a broad spectrum non‐peptidic hydroxamic acid MMP inhibitor, and in MMP‐9‐deficient mice. Our results showed that MMP inhibition reduced DNA fragmentation by 51% (P < 0.001) and cerebral infarct by 60% (P < 0.05) after ischemia. This protection was concomitant with a 29% reduction of cytochrome c release into the cytosol (P < 0.005) and a 54% reduction of calpain‐related α‐spectrin degradation (P < 0.05), as well as with an 84% increase in the immunoreactive signal of the native form of poly(ADP) ribose polymerase (P < 0.01). By contrast, specific targeting of the mmp9 gene in mice did reduce cerebral damage by 34% (P < 0.05) but did not modify the apoptotic response after cerebral ischemia. However, i.c.v. injection of MMP‐9‐deficient mice with the same broad‐spectrum inhibitor used in rats significantly reduced DNA degradation by 32% (P < 0.05) and contributed even further to the protection of the ischemic brain. Together, our pharmacological and genetic results indicate that MMPs other than MMP‐9 are actively involved in cerebral ischemia‐induced apoptosis.
Somato‐motor inhibitory processing in humans: a study with MEG and ERP
Authors: Nakata Hiroki , Inui Koji , Wasaka Toshiaki , Akatsuka Kosuke , Kakigi Ryusuke
Published: October 2005

The go/nogo task is a useful paradigm for recording event‐related potentials (ERPs) to investigate the neural mechanisms of response inhibition. In nogo trials, a negative deflection at around 140–300 ms (N2), which has been called the ‘nogo potential’, is elicited at the frontocentral electrodes, compared with ERPs recorded in go trials. In the present study, we investigated the generators of nogo potentials by recording ERPs and by using magnetoencephalography (MEG) simultaneously during somatosensory go/nogo tasks to elucidate the regions involved in generating nogo potentials. ERP data revealed that the amplitude of the nogo‐N140 component, which peaked at about 155 ms from frontocentral electrodes, was significantly more negative than that of go‐N140. MEG data revealed that a long‐latency response peaking at approximately 160 ms, termed nogo‐M140 and corresponding to nogo‐N140, was recorded in only nogo trials. The equivalent current dipole of nogo‐M140 was estimated to lie around the posterior part of the inferior frontal sulci in the prefrontal cortex. These results revealed that both nogo‐N140 and nogo‐M140 evoked by somatosensory go/nogo tasks were related to the neural activity generated from the prefrontal cortex. Our findings combining MEG and ERPs clarified the spatial and temporal processing related to somato‐motor inhibition caused in the posterior part of the inferior frontal sulci in the prefrontal cortex in humans.
Pseudomonas, the dominant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon‐degrading bacteria isolated from Antarctic soils and the role of large plasmids in horizontal gene transfer
Authors: Ma Yingfei , Wang Lin , Shao Zongze
Published: October 2005

Twenty‐two polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)‐degrading bacterial strains were isolated from Antarctic soils with naphthalene or phenanthrene as a sole carbon source, while no degrader was obtained from an unpolluted sampling site. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all belonged to the genus Pseudomonas except one that was identified as the genus of Rahnella. Some of them were closely related to previously reported cold‐tolerant species, while some were separated in deeply rooted branches and represent new strains. All these strains showed a high efficiency to degrade naphthalene at 4°C, and some additionally degraded phenanthrene. Using degenerate primers and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, ndo gene encoding naphthalene dioxygenase (NDO) was detected from all the isolates. Phylogenetic analysis grouped these genes into two clusters which shared 94% similarity to each other, and showed about 97% similarity within a cluster. However, no obvious difference was observed with mesophilic ndo genes; this indicates that the host cell is pivotal in cold adaptation. In addition, the mismatch between 16S rRNA and NDO phylogenetic trees strongly indicates horizontal gene transfer among these isolates and may have happened in situ. Further, Southern hybridization and plasmid curing confirmed that ndo genes were located on a large self‐transmissible plasmid, which can be transferred to a mesophilic strains. The transconjugants acquired the ability to utilize naphthalene and phenanthrene. Results of this article imply that Pseudomonas plays an important role in PAH biodegradation in Antarctic soils, and the related genes might be originally transferred from outside Antarctica and spread among indigenous species.
Analysis of the proteome of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 grown on different sources of carbon and energy
Authors: Kurbatov Leonid , Albrecht Dirk , Herrmann Heidrun , Petruschka Lothar
Published: October 2005

Using 2D electrophoresis the protein expression pattern during growth on carbon sources with different impact on carbon catabolite repression of phenol degradation was analysed in a derivative of Pseudomonas putida KT2440. The cytosolic protein pattern of cells growing on phenol or the non‐repressive substrate pyruvate was almost identical, but showed significant differences to that of cells growing with the repressive substrates succinate or glucose. Proteins, which were mainly expressed in the presence of phenol or pyruvate, could be assigned to the functional groups of transport, detoxification, stress response, amino acid, energy, carbohydrate and nucleotide metabolism. The addition of succinate to cells growing with phenol (‘shift‐up’) resulted in the inhibition of the synthesis of these proteins. Proteins with enhanced expression at growth with succinate or glucose were proteins for de novo synthesis of nucleotides, amino acids and enzymes of the TCA cycle. The synthesis of proteins, necessary for phenol catabolism was regulated in different manners following the addition of succinate. Whereas the synthesis of Phl‐proteins (subunits of the phenolhydroxylase) only decreased slowly, was the translation of the Cat‐proteins (catechol 1,2‐dioxygenase, cis,cis‐muconate cycloisomerase and muconolactone isomerase) repressed immediately and the synthesis of the Pca‐proteins (β‐ketoadipate enolactone hydrolase, β‐ketoadipate succinyl‐CoA transferase and β‐ketoadipyl CoA thiolase) remained unaffected.
Ecophysiology of a group of uncultured Gammaproteobacterial glycogen‐accumulating organisms in full‐scale enhanced biological phosphorus removal wastewater treatment plants
Authors: Kong Yunhong , Xia Yun , Nielsen Jeppe L. , Nielsen Per H.
Published: October 2005

The presence of glycogen‐accumulating organisms (GAOs) in enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) plants can seriously deteriorate the biological P‐removal by out‐competing the polyphosphate‐accumulating organisms (PAOs). In this study, uncultured putative GAOs (the GB group, belonging to the Gammaproteobacteria) were investigated in detail in 12 full‐scale EBPR plants. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed that the biovolume of the GB bacteria constituted 2–6% of total bacterial biovolume. At least six different subgroups of the GB bacteria were found, and the number of dominant subgroups present in each plant varied between one and five. Ecophysiological investigations using microautoradiography in combination with FISH showed that, under aerobic or anaerobic conditions, all subgroups of the GB bacteria could take up acetate, pyruvate, propionate and some amino acids, while some subgroups in addition could take up formate and thymidine. Glucose, ethanol, butyrate and several other organic substrates were not taken up. Glycolysis was essential for the anaerobic uptake of organic substrates. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) but not polyphosphate (polyP) granules were detected in all GB bacterial cells. Polyhydroxyalkanoate formation after anaerobic uptake of acetate was confirmed by measuring the increase in fluorescence intensity of PHA granules inside GB bacterial cells after Nile blue staining. One GB subgroup was possibly able to denitrify, and several others were able to reduce nitrate to nitrite. PAOs were also enumerated by FISH in the same treatment plants. Rhodocyclus‐related PAOs and Actinobacteria‐related PAOs constituted up to 7% and 29% of total bacterial biovolume respectively. Rhodocyclus‐related PAOs always coexisted with the GB bacteria and showed many physiological similarities. Factors of importance for the competition between the three groups of important bacteria in EBPR plants are discussed.
Perspectives on the Recent Decline in Disability at Older Ages
Authors: WOLF DOUGLAS A. , HUNT KELLY , KNICKMAN JAMES
Published: October 2005

A decline has been found in the prevalence of disability among the older U.S. population during the 1980s and 1990s. One source of evidence for this decline is data from the National Long‐Term Care Survey (NLTCS). This article investigates possible ambiguities in measuring disability using large‐scale household surveys, illustrating the consequences of such problems with new analyses of NLTCS data. The reanalysis suggests a more gradual decline in disability than that found in prior research. The article also discusses three societal trends in areas other than health or functioning that might contribute to declines in disability levels: a reduced supply of informal care, changes in the technology of self‐care, and changes in the definition and perception of both “ability” and “disability.”
Public Policy and Mental Illnesses: Jimmy Carter's Presidential Commission on Mental Health
Authors: GROB GERALD N.
Published: October 2005

President Jimmy Carter's Presidential Commission on Mental Health was intended to recommend policies to overcome obvious deficiencies in the mental health system. Bureaucratic rivalries within and between governments; tensions and rivalries within the mental health professions; identity and interest group politics; the difficulties of distinguishing the respective etiological roles of such elements as poverty, racism, stigmatization, and unemployment; and an illusory faith in prevention all influenced the commission's deliberations and subsequent enactment of the short‐lived Mental Health Systems Act. The commission's work led to the formulation of the influential National Plan for the Chronically Mentally Ill, but a system of care and treatment for persons with serious mental illnesses was never created.