Male and female odors induce Fos expression in chemically defined neuronal population

Olfactory information modulates innate and social behaviors in rodents and other species. Studies have shown that the medial nucleus of the amygdala (MEA) and the ventral premammillary, nucleus (PMV) are recruited by conspecific odor stimulation. However, the chemical identity of these neurons is not determined. We exposed sexually inexperienced male rats to female or male odors and assessed Fos immunoreactivity (Fos-ir) in neurons expressing NADPH diaphorase activity (NADPHd, a nitric oxide synthase), neuropeptide Urocortin 3, or glutamic acid decarboxylase rnRNA (GAD-67, a GABA-synthesizing enzyme) in the MEA and PMV. Male and female odors elicited Fos-ir in the MEA and PMV neurons, but the number of Fos-immunoreactive neurons was higher following female odor exposure, in both nuclei. We found no difference in odor induced Fos-ir ill the MEA and PMV comparing fed and fasted animals. Ill the MEA, NADPHd neurons colocalized Fos-ir only in response to female odors. In addition, Urocortin 3 neurons comprise a distinct population and they do not express Fos-ir after conspecific odor stimulation. We found that 80% of neurons activated by male odors coexpressed GAD-67 mRNA. Following female odor, 50% of Fos neurons coexpressed GAD-67 rnRNA. The PMV expresses very little GAD-67, and virtually no colocalization with Fos was observed. We found intense NADPHd activity in PMV neurons, some of which coexpressed Fos-ir after exposure to both odors. The majority of the PMV neurons expressing NADPHd colocalized cocaine-and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART). Our findings suggest that female and male odors engage distinct neuronal populations in the MEA, thereby inducing contextualized behavioral responses according to olfactory cues. In the PMV, NADPHd/CART neurons respond to male and female odors, suggesting a role in neuroendocrine regulation in response to olfactory cues. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Prevalence and risk factors of radiographic vertebral fracture in Brazilian community-dwelling elderly

The prevalence and risk factors of radiographic vertebral fracture were determined among Brazilian community-dwelling elderly. Vertebral fractures were a common condition in this elderly population, and lower hip bone mineral density was a significant risk factor for vertebral fractures in both genders. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of radiographic vertebral fracture and investigate factors associated with this condition in Brazilian community-dwelling elderly. This cross-sectional study included 943 elderly subjects (561 women and 382 men) living in So Paulo, Brazil. Thoracic and lumbar spine radiographs were obtained, and vertebral fractures were evaluated using Genant`s semiquantitative method. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry, and bone biochemical markers were also evaluated. Female and male subjects were analyzed independently, and each gender was divided into two groups based on whether vertebral fractures were present. The prevalence of vertebral fracture was 27.5% (95% CI 23.8-31.1) in women and 31.8% in men (95% CI 27.1-36.5) (P = 0.116). Cox regression analyses using variables that were significant in the univariate analysis showed that age (prevalence ratio = 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.06; p = 0.019) and total femur BMD (PR = 0.27, 95% CI 0.08-0.98; p = 0.048) were independent factors in predicting vertebral fracture for the female group. In the male group, Cox regression analyses demonstrated that femoral neck BMD (PR = 0.26, 95% CI 0.07-0.98; p = 0.046) was an independent parameter in predicting vertebral fractures. Our results suggest that radiographic vertebral fractures are common in Brazilian community-dwelling elderly and that a low hip BMD was an important risk factor for this condition in both genders. Age was also significantly correlated with the presence of vertebral fractures in women.

Color inheritance and pigment characterization of red (wild-type), greenish-brown, and green strains of Gracilaria birdiae (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta)

Species of Gracilaria are some of the most useful algae in the world for the production of agar. As a consequence of its economic importance, the genus has been the subject of many studies worldwide. Color variants of Gracilaria birdiae have been found in the natural population on the Brazilian coast, and they have also been isolated from plants cultivated in laboratory. These findings raised new questions regarding intraspecific variation and the prospects of cultivating such variants for their agar production. Therefore, this work aimed to determine the mode of color inheritance for two G. birdiae strains: a greenish-brown strain (gb) found in a natural population and a green strain (gr) which had arisen as a spontaneous mutation in a red plant cultured in the laboratory. The pigment contents of these strains, as well as the red wildtype (rd), were also characterized. Crosses between female and male plants of the same color (rd, gr, or gb) and between different colors were performed. Crosses between plants of the same color showed tetrasporophytic and gametophytic descendents of the parental color. Recessive nuclear inheritance was found in the greenish-brown strain, and cytoplasmic maternal inheritance was found in the green strain; both had lower phycoerythrin and higher concentrations of allophycocyanin and phycocyanin than the wild-type. Chlorophyll a contents were similar among all strains. Taken together, our results contribute to knowledge about the variability of this important red algae. In addition, since greenish-brown and green strains showed stability of color, both could be selected and tested in experimental sea cultivation to evaluate if mutants have advantageous performance when compared with red strain.

Sympathetic outflow activates the venom gland of the snake Bothrops jararaca by regulating the activation of transcription factors and the synthesis of venom gland proteins

The venom gland of viperid snakes has a central lumen where the venom produced by secretory cells is stored. When the venom is lost from the gland, the secretory cells are activated and new venom is produced. The production of new venom is triggered by the action of noradrenaline on both alpha(1)- and beta-adrenoceptors in the venom gland. In this study, we show that venom removal leads to the activation of transcription factors NF kappa B and AP-1 in the venom gland. In dispersed secretory cells, noradrenaline activated both NF kappa B and AP-1. Activation of NF kappa B and AP-1 depended on phospholipase C and protein kinase A. Activation of NF kappa B also depended on protein kinase C. Isoprenaline activated both NF kappa B and AP-1, and phenylephrine activated NF kappa B and later AP-1. We also show that the protein composition of the venom gland changes during the venom production cycle. Striking changes occurred 4 and 7 days after venom removal in female and male snakes, respectively. Reserpine blocks this change, and the administration of alpha(1)- and beta-adrenoceptor agonists to reserpine-treated snakes largely restores the protein composition of the venom gland. However, the protein composition of the venom from reserpinized snakes treated with alpha(1)- or beta-adrenoceptor agonists appears normal, judging from SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. A sexual dimorphism in activating transcription factors and activating venom gland was observed. Our data suggest that the release of noradrenaline after biting is necessary to activate the venom gland by regulating the activation of transcription factors and consequently regulating the synthesis of proteins in the venom gland for venom production.

S100 beta Protein Expression: Gender- and Age-Related Daily Changes

S100 beta is a soluble protein released by glial cells mainly under the activation of the 5-HT1A receptor. It has been reported as a neuro-trophic and -tropic factor that promotes neurite maturation and outgrowth during development. This protein also plays a role in axonal stability and the plasticity underlying long-term potentiation in adult brains. The ability of S100 beta to rapidly regulate neuronal morphology raises the interesting point of whether there are daily rhythm or gender differences in S100 beta level in the brain. To answer this question, the S100 beta expression in adult female and male rats, as well as in adult female CD-21 and S100 beta -/- female mice, were investigated. Scintillation counting and morphometric analysis of the immunoreactivity of S100 beta, showed rhythmic daily expression. The female and male rats showed opposite cycles. Females presented the highest value at the beginning of the rest phase (5:00 h), while in males the maximum value appeared in the beginning of the motor activity period (21:00 h). These results confirm previous S100 beta evaluations in human serum and cerebrospinal fluid reporting the protein`s function as a biomarker for brain damage (Gazzolo et al. in Clin Chem 49:967-970, 2003; Clin Chim Acta 330:131-133, 2003; Pediatr Res 58:1170-1174, 2005), similar behavior was also observed for GFAP in relation to Alzheimer Disease (Fukuyama et al. in Eur Neurol 46:35-38, 2001). The data should be taken into account when considering S100 beta as a biomarker of health condition. In addition, the results raise questions on which structure or condition imposes these rhythms as well as on the physiological meaning of the observed gender differences.

Redescription of Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) lutzii, and Resurrection of Anopheles guarani From Synonymy With An. lutzii (Diptera: Culicidae)

Anopheles lutzii Cruz (Diptera: Culicidae) is redescribed using specimens collected in Pariquera-Acu, Vale do Ribeira, state of Sao Paulo, southeastern Mata Atlantica, Brazil. Specimens of An. lutzii from Vale do Ribeira and two females from Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, are compared with three syntypes of An. lutzii, deposited in the Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro. Comparisons of external morphology of specimens from the type locality of Anopheles guarani Shannon demonstrate it is a valid species, and that Anopheles niger Theobald is conspecific with Anopheles guarani stat. rev. The adult male, male terminalia, fourth-instar larva, and pupa of An. guarani stat. rev. are described for the first time. Diagnostic characters of the male and female, male terminalia, fourth-instar larva and pupa of An. lutzii and An. guarani stat. rev. are illustrated. An. guarani stat. rev. is herein resurrected from the synonymy with An. lutzii, and Anopheles niger comb. nov. is transferred from the synonymy with An. lutzii to the synonymy of An. guarani stat. rev.

Complement 4 phenotypes and genotypes in Brazilian patients with classical 21-hydroxylase deficiency

The aim of this work was to analyse C4 genotypes, C4 protein levels, phenotypes and genotypes in patients with the classical form of 21-hydroxylase deficiency. Fifty-four patients from 46 families (36 female, 18 male; mean age 10.8 years) with different clinical manifestations (31 salt-wasting; 23 simple-virilizing) were studied. Taq I Southern blotting was used to perform molecular analysis of the C4/CYP21 gene cluster and the genotypes were defined according to gene organization within RCCX modules. Serum C4 isotypes were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results revealed 12 different haplotypes of the C4/CYP21 gene cluster. Total functional activity of the classical pathway (CH50) was reduced in individuals carrying different genotypes because of low C4 concentrations (43% of all patients) to complete or partial C4 allotype deficiency. Thirteen of 54 patients presented recurrent infections affecting the respiratory and/or the urinary tracts, none of them with severe infections. Low C4A or C4B correlated well with RCCX monomodular gene organization, but no association between C4 haplotypes and recurrent infections or autoimmunity was observed. Considering this redundant gene cluster, C4 seems to be a well-protected gene segment along the evolutionary process.