First record of the genus Leptodactylus (Anura: Leptodactylidae) in Cuba: Leptodactylus fragilis,a biological invasion?

The Neotropical genus Leptodactylus is currently represented by three species in the West Indies (Leptodactylus albilabris, Leptodactylus fallax and Leptodactylus validus). Based on morphological, acoustic and molecular evidence, we document the presence of a fourth species in the Caribbean region, Leptodactylus fragilis (Brocchi, 1877). The species was found at two localities in western Cuba, and molecular data suggest a northern South American origin, possibly Venezuela, for these populations. We discuss the potential invasive status of L. fragilis, based on its known distribution, relative abundance, behaviour and possible impacts on native species of Cuban amphibians.     

Synonymy of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), 1790 and R. vulneratus (Panzer), 1798 (Coleoptera,Curculionidae, Rhynchophorinae)

Morphological, molecular-genetic and breeding data were collected to investigate the species status of the Asian palm weevils, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) and R. vulneratus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). These weevils are distinguished by characteristic colouring of the pronota and elytra, but naturally occurring colour intermorphs were observed. Contrary to the literature, quantitative measurements of the concavity of subgenal sutures and of pronotal shape indicated no differences between the two species. Larvae did not differ significantly in labral characteristics. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) banding patterns were identical for nine of 14 primers, indicating that these weevils are very closely related. Sequences of the cytochrome oxidase gene for 201 base pairs read were identical for R. ferrugineus and R. vulneratus, but the congener R. bilineatus differed from them by 10%, suggesting divergence of these lineages about 5?million years ago. Hybrid F1s were obtained from all heterospecific crosses, and one surviving hybrid F1 female produced viable eggs. Previous studies have revealed no pheromonal differences. On the basis of this evidence, R. ferrugineus and R. vulneratus should be considered colour morphs of the same species and be synonymized under the name Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), with the common name Asian palm weevil.     

Which neurological abnormalities and neuropsychological impairments share the same substrate in psychosis?

Approximately 60% of subjects with schizophrenia present minor neurological signs (neurological soft signs, NSS), which include abnormalities in sensory and motor performance indicative of a non-specific cerebral dysfunction. These are also present in healthy individuals and relatives of patients with psychosis, at significantly lower rates. The excess of NSS in psychosis may be a potential endophenotype for this disorder, and reflect the same neurodevelopmental brain dysfunction that also underlies the cog...     

An anti-Bcl-2 antibody prevents 2-deoxy-D-ribose-induced apoptosis in the IPLB-LdFB insect cell line

Confocal microscopy reveals that the anti-Bcl-2 antibody (pAb) is able to diffuse across the plasma membrane of the fat body cell line IPLB-LdFB from the insect Lymantria dispar, demonstrating the presence of Bcl-2-like molecules in the cytoplasm. Immunoperoxidase procedure confirms the cellular localization. Furthermore, an immunoprecipitation corresponding to a molecular weight of 29 KDa is observed with western blot analysis using the anti-Bcl-2 pAb. Cytofluorimetric experiments show that anti-Bcl-2 pAb counteracts 2-deoxy-d-ribose-induced apoptosis and provokes morphological changes in the insect cell line, i.e. a reduction in cell size, the disappearance of the vacuola and changes in shape. At the same time, the antibody provokes mitochondrial membrane depolarization, and N-acetyl-l-cysteine is unable to reconstitute the physiological conditions. The present findings suggest that Bcl-2-like proteins play a main role in maintaining of the integrity of cellular components, e.g. mitochondria, rather than in controlling programmed cell death. Received 23 January 2001; received after revision 1 March 2001; accepted 1 March 2001     

白洋淀乌鳢线粒体D-Loop区序列遗传多样性分析

采集白洋淀野生鸟鳢(Channa argu)群体和养殖乌鳢群体62个样本.运用PCR技术对该62个样本的线粒体D-Loop区序列进行扩增,测序得到的序列进行比对.结果显示,线粒体D-Loop区片段中,T,C,A和G碱基平均含量分别为28.14％,22.36％,34.38％和15.12％,A+T的含量(62.52％)高于G+C含量(37.48％),具有明显的碱基组成偏向性.共检测到112个变异位点,占全部序列的12.3％,检测到单倍型9种,单倍型多样性(Hd)为0.783,核苷酸多样性(Pi)为0.054 09,2个群体的遗传距离为0～0.12,遗传分化指数(Fst)为0.943 44,基因流(Nm)为0.014 99.基于线粒体D-Loop区序列的研究表明:野生乌鳢群体的遗传多样性比养殖群体的遗传多样性低,同时2群体间具有明显的遗传分化现象.     

灵空山褐马鸡种群遗传多样性研究

山西灵空山国家级自然保护区位于太岳山脉中段,近二百年来没有褐马鸡分布的记载和报道,2005年首次发现褐马鸡在此栖息.灵空山褐马鸡地理种群的来源和遗传背景的研究尚属空白.文章采用线粒体DNA分子标记技术,对灵空山褐马鸡种群的遗传多样性、遗传结构、系统发育进行了分析.结果 显示:4只个体均获得长度为1238 bp的mtDN...     

神经元及神经环路活性异常与阿尔茨海默病研究进展

 细胞外淀粉样蛋白（Aβ）沉积和细胞内神经纤维缠结是阿尔茨海默病的典型病理特征。淀粉样蛋白和tau蛋白（神经纤维缠结的主要组成成分）在脑中的异常聚集会导致神经元活性异常,进而引起神经环路结构及功能紊乱,最终造成阿尔茨海默病患者认知功能障碍。概述了Aβ及tau蛋白的生成及调控,阐述了Aβ及tau蛋白异常聚集在神经元及神经环路活动中的作用和机制,综述了ApoE、炎症反应及成体神经发生异常在AD神经元及神经环路活动障碍中的作用。     

扬子鳃蛭线粒体基因组全序列测定及其系统学地位——基于Pacbio和Illumina技术

利用Illumina和Pacbio测序技术对扬子鳃蛭（Ozobranchus jantseanus）线粒体基因组全序列进行测序及注释,并与NCBI数据库中蛭纲（Hirudinea）其他物种的线粒体全序列的排列方式和系统进化关系进行了比较,以确定其系统学地位.结果显示：获得的线粒体基因组序列长度为14 868 bp,蛋白编码基因存在2种起始密码子,分别为ATG和ATT;终止密码子共有4种,分别为TAA,TAG,TA和T;蛭纲10个物种的线粒体基因组全序列基因排序可分为2种类型,其差异表现在tRNAs的互换和长非编码区的长度的不同;扬子鳃蛭所属的吻蛭目（Rhynchobdellida）均为b型,绝大部分无吻蛭目（Arhynchobdellida）的排列方式为a型.基于蛭纲物种的13个蛋白编码基因(PCGs)的Neighbor-Joining（NJ）树进化分析显示,扬子鳃蛭与其他吻蛭目物种聚类.     

“酒蒸黄连-石菖蒲”组分配伍对实验性糖尿病认知 障碍大鼠脂质代谢的影响

脂毒、浊毒等是导致糖尿病认知障碍发生的重要原因,为进一步系统研究\"酒蒸黄连-石菖蒲\"组分防治糖尿病认知障碍的配伍作用机理,本研究拟采用小剂量STZ+高脂高糖乳液+D-半乳糖建立大鼠实验性糖尿病认知障碍复合模型,探讨药物配伍对糖尿病认知障碍模型大鼠脂质代谢的影响.实验分别检测大鼠血清总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、极低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(VLDL-C)和高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)的含量,以及载脂蛋白A1B(Apo A1、Apo B)和游离脂肪酸(NEFA)的含量,并依据上述指标分别计算脂质代谢紊乱因子TC/HDLC、TG/HDL-C、LDL-C/HDL-C以及Apo A1/Apo B的比值.研究结果表明,\"酒蒸黄连-石菖蒲\"组分配伍后能明显降低模型大鼠血清TC、TG、LDL-C、VLDL-C、NEFA以及Apo B的含量,升高HDL-C及Apo A1的含量,改善脂质代谢紊乱因子TC/HDL-C、TG/HDL-C和LDL-C/HDL-C比值,纠正Apo A1/Apo B比值的异常.上述结果提示,\"酒蒸黄连-石菖蒲\"组分配伍具有明显的调节脂质代谢作用.