Trichinella spiralis: acceleration and inhibition of cyst calcification in rats.

Daily administration of vitamin D3 (75,000 IU/kg b. wt) for 7 days accelerated Trichinella spiralis cyst calcification in rats with a 14-week-old infection. When disodium ethane-1-hydroxy-1, 1-diphosphonate (EHDP) was administered (50 mg/kg b. wt) from 2 days before until 2 days after vitamin D3 treatment, cyst calcification was inhibited. Thus, the ability to inhibit E. spiralis calcification has demonstrated for the first time.     

Infectivity ofTrichinella spiralis (nematoda) muscle larvae in normal-vs. Alloxan-treated rats

Zusamemnfassung Es wird gezeigt, dass kein signifikanter Zusammenhang zwischen Hyperglycämie, Erschöpfung des Muskelglykogens und Anzahl der Larven vonTrichinella spiralis im Zwerchfell männicher Albinoratten besteht.     

A possible age-related decrement in the conduction velocity of Aplysia neuron R2.

In late winter and in spring, the conduction velocity of the R2 axon of Aplysia californica is 0.48 m/sec or more in all specimens. However, in the summer, fall and early winter, some sexually mature animals exhibit markedly diminished R2 conduction rates (as low as 0.24 m/sec). It is possible that this reduced velocity is a reflection of the age of the specimen from which the axon is taken.     

Strong population substructure is correlated with morphology and ecology in a migratory bat

Examining patterns of inter-population genetic diversity can provide valuable information about both historical and current evolutionary processes affecting a species. Population genetic studies of flying and migratory species such as bats and birds have traditionally shown minimal population substructure, characterized by high levels of gene flow between populations. In general, strongly substructured mammalian populations either are separated by non-traversable barriers or belong to terrestrial species with low dispersal abilities. Species with female philopatry (the tendency to remain in or consistently return to the natal territory) might show strong substructure when examined with maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA, but this substructure generally disappears when biparentally inherited markers are used, owing to male-mediated gene flow. Male-biased dispersal is considered typical for mammals, and philopatry in both sexes is rare. Here we show strong population substructure in a migratory bat species, and philopatry in both sexes, as indicated by concordance of nuclear and mtDNA findings. Furthermore, the genetic structure correlates with local biomes and differentiation in wing morphology. There is therefore a close correlation of genetic and morphological differentiation in sympatric subspecific populations of this mammalian species.     

A functional variant in FCRL3, encoding Fc receptor-like 3, is associated with rheumatoid arthritis and several autoimmunities

Rheumatoid arthritis is a common autoimmune disease with a complex genetic etiology. Here we identify a SNP in the promoter region of FCRL3, a member of the Fc receptor-like family, that is associated with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (odds ratio = 2.15, P = 0.00000085). This polymorphism alters the binding affinity of nuclear factor-kappaB and regulates FCRL3 expression. We observed high FCRL3 expression on B cells and augmented autoantibody production in individuals with the disease-susceptible genotype. We also found associations between the SNP and susceptibility to autoimmune thyroid disease and systemic lupus erythematosus. FCRL3 may therefore have a pivotal role in autoimmunity.     

Presence of high adenosine triphosphatase activity in lenses and erythrocytes of embryonic and young chicks

Résumé Dans le cristallin et les erythrocytes de poussins à l'état embryonnaire et quelques jours après l'éclosion, l'activité de l'ATPase est beaucoup plus intense que chez d'autres animaux. Ce fait correspond bien à la forte incorporation de Rb⁸⁶ dans leur cristallin.

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This work was supported by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, the Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Foundation and the Helena Rubinstein Foundation. Inc. J. D. G. was supported by a fellowship from ATN Channel 7, Sydney.