Clinical aspects of the melatonin action: impact of development,aging, and puberty,involvement of melatonin in psychiatric disease and importance of neuroimmunoendocrine interactions

During the last decade we have learned much on physiological changes in the secretion of the pineal hormone melatonin (MLT) in man. Reportedly, there is little or no MLT secreted before age 3 months. Then MLT production commences, becmes circadian, and reaches highest nocturnal levels at the age of 1–3 years. During all of childhood nocturnal peak levles drop progressively by 80% until adult levels are reached. This alteration appears to be the consequence of increasing body size in face of constant MLT production during childhood. The biological significance of this MLT alteration is presently unknown. Because of conceptual considerations, major depressive syndrome (MDS) and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) have been in the focus of pineal research for several years. Although in these disorders alterations in MLT levels could not be substantiated, light therapy, a consequence of this research, was discovered as an effective treatment for SAD and perhaps for MDS. In addition, there is some recent evidence for low MLT levels in schizophrenia. Finally, the potential effect of MLT in neuroimmunoendocrine interactions is presently explored. Reportedly, in vitro studies and animal experiments give evidence for a modulatory role of MLT in the immune response. However, the exact way of this possible action of MLT remains to be clarified. Clinical studies are too scant for a meaningful estimation of MLT's involvement in human neuroimmunoendocrine interactions.     

Phosphorylation of p27BBP/eIF6 and its association with the cytoskeleton are developmentally regulated in Xenopus oogenesis

p27^BBP/eIF6 is an evolutionarily conserved regulator of ribosomal function. It is necessary for 60S biogenesis and impedes improper joining of 40S and 60S subunits, regulated by protein kinase C or Efl1p. No data on p27^BBP/eIF6 during early development of Metazoa are available. We studied the distribution, post-translational changes and association with the cytoskeleton of p27^BBP/ eIF6 during Xenopus oogenesis and early development. Results indicate that p27^BBP/eIF6 is present throughout oogenesis, partly associated with 60S subunits, partly free and with little cytoskeleton bound. During prophase I, p27^BBP/eIF6 is detected as a single band of 27-kDa. Upon maturation induced by progesterone or protein kinase C, a serine-phosphorylated 29 kDa isoform appears and is kept throughout development to the neurula stage. Confocal microscopy showed that the distribution of p27^BBP/eIF6 and its association with the cytoskeleton varies according to oogenesis stages. Briefly, in stage 6 oocytes, p27^BBP/eIF6 has a limited dot-like distribution, and does not co-localize with cytokeratin, whereas upon maturation it spreads throughout the cytoplasm. After fertilization, a large fraction coalesces around cytomembranes and a cytochalasin B-sensitive co-localization with cytokeratin occurs. RNAse removes p27^BBP/eIF6 from the cytokeratin fibres. Developmental data suggest a role of p27^BBP/eIF6 in controlling ribosomal availability or regulating cross-talk between ribosomes and the cytoskeleton.Received 7 April 2005; received after revision 11 May 2005; accepted 25 May 2005R. Carotenuto and N. De Marco contributed equally to the paper     

Thermal-induced polycondensation of soluble organic matter in coal of lower maturation stage

A brief discussion is given to the thermal-induced polycondensation of soluble organic matter (SOM) in coal during lower maturation stage, based on laboratory simulation on hydrocarbon generation from coal and on correlation with natural maturation of coal. An essential relationship between the retrogressive variation of SOM and thermal-induced polycondensation during the lower maturation stage has been established.     

雌核发育高背鲫成熟分裂前期的细胞学研究

雌核发育的高背鲫，成熟分裂前期共经历了细线期、偶线期、凝线期、粗线期和双线期５个发育阶段，显示出第一次减数分裂的基本特征．但也存在一些差异，表现在偶线期染色体可能没有正常配对，进入粗线期在等长上全面发生了分离，以致双线期没有交叉和二价体灯刷染色体形成．这些差异是前期的一种改变，是雌核发育高背鲫由第一减数分裂前期演变成没有同源染色体分离，而只有一次姐妹染色体分开的一种己有的成熟分裂机制     

4个品系雌性黑腹果蝇性成熟时间的初步研究

选用1种野生型(18#)和3种突变型(e#、2#和6#)黑腹果蝇(Drosophila melanogaster)为材料,通过将刚羽化的雌果蝇与成熟的雄果蝇混合培养,初步测出雌果蝇性成熟的时间.结果表明,雌果蝇在羽化后的第10~13 h便可达到性成熟,而且不同的品种其性成熟的时间有所不同,野生型(18#)雌果蝇要早于突变型.     

一类带有成熟期及捕获的单种群模型最优化分析

利用常微分方程的定性、稳定性理论、种群动力学等知识,对一类带有成熟期及捕获的单种群模型进行研究,分析了系统在其平衡点的稳定性态,通过特征方程的特征根判断在T=0时平衡点的稳定性以及在T〉0时正平衡点的局部稳定性随成熟期变化的情况,得到系统平衡点的绝对稳定和绝对不稳定以及不稳定情况,从而得到捕获率h满足一定的条件时,经济效益最大。     

相关分子在哺乳动物原始卵泡启动和生长中的作用

本文综述了调控原始卵泡生长启动相关因子的最新进展,为进一步研究雌性生殖机制提供了理论依据;对拯救濒危物种甚至复活已灭绝的物种展示了光明的前景。     

Oscillatory change of SR-protein kinase activities during oocyte maturation meiosis in fish

The SR-protein kinase activity was analyzed and the cytological changes were observed during oocyte maturation in bisexual transparent color crucian carp ( Carassius auratus color variety). The results revealed that the SR-protein kinase activity was sensitive to the artificially induced spawning hormones, and the change of oscillatory activity was similar to that of the maturation-promoting factor (MPF) kinase that regulates meiotic cell cycle in fish.