[Pinguicula vulgaris]

R. Anheisser

Euphorbia splendens - Berberis vulgaris

AR

Caragana chamlagu - Berberis vulgaris - Teucrium frutescens - Halesia tetraptera - Andromeda polifolia

AR

Blattformen : 1. Alchemilla vulgaris - 2. Trollius europaeus - 3. Aconitum napellus - 4. Saxifraga - 5. Saxifraga caespitosa - 6. Hydrophyllum virginicum - 7. Alchemilla alpina - 8. Artemisia absinthium

AR

Fruchtformen : Iris florentina - Nigella damascena - Asclepias hallii - Datura strammonium - Aquilegia vulgaris - Dictammus fraxinella

AR

Aquilegia atropurpurea - Aquilegia vulgaris

AR

Polygala vulgaris - Antirrhinum majus

AR

A novel role for neural crest cells in thymus organogenesis

Classical ablation studies have shown that neural crest cells (NCC) are critical for thymus organogenesis, though their role in this process has never been determined. We have used a mouse model deficient in NCC near the thymus rudiment to investigate the role of NCC in thymus organogenesis. Splotch mice exhibit a lack of NCC migration due to mutation in the gene encoding the transcription factor Pax 3. Homozygous mutants, designated Pax3Sp/Sp, display a range of phenotypes including spina bifida, cardiac outflow tract deformities, and craniofacial deformities. Pax3Sp/Sp, mice have also been reported to have hypoplastic and abnormal thymi, which is consistent with the expected result based on the classical ablation studies. However, in contrast to the dogma, we find that the thymus lobes in Pax3Sp/Sp, mice are even larger in size than those of littermate controls, although they fail to migrate and are therefore ectopic. Differentiation of the thymic epithelial compartments occurs normally, including the ability to import hematopoietic precursors, until the embryos die at embryonic day E13.0. We also investigated the patterning of the third pharyngeal pouch which gives rise to both the thymus and the parathyroid. Using RNA probes to detect expression of transcription factors exclusively expressed in the ventral, thymus- or dorsal, parathyroidfated domains of the E11.5 third pouch, we show that the parathyroid domain is restricted and the thymus-fated domain is expanded in Pax3Sp/Sp, embryos. Furthermore, mixing of the boundary between these domains occurs at E12.0. These results necessitate reconsideration of the previously accepted role for NCC in thymus organogenesis. NCC are not required for outgrowth of the thymus up to E13.0, and most strikingly, we have discovered a novel role for NCC in establishing parathyroid versus thymus fate boundaries in the third pharyngeal pouch. ^

Effects of thymus size and involution on the contribution of recent thymic emigrants to the peripheral T cell pool

The contribution of recent thymic emigrants (RTEs) to the peripheral naïve T cell population is necessary to maintain diversity of the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire and produce immune responses against newly encountered antigens. The thymus involutes with age, after irradiation or chemotherapy, and due to severe viral infections. Thymus involution results in decreased thymopoiesis and RTE output leading to a reduced diversity of peripheral T cells. This increases susceptibility to disease and impairs immune responsiveness to vaccines. Therefore, studies aimed at maintaining or regenerating thymic function are integral for maintaining and restoring peripheral TCR diversity. Mice that express a K5.CyclinD1 transgene expression have a severely hyperplastic thymus that fails to undergo involution. Both thymocyte and TEC development appear normal in these mice. We have used the K5.CyclinD1 transgenic model to test the hypothesis that preventing thymus involution will sustain RTE output and incorporation into the peripheral T cell pool to prevent naïve T cell depletion with age. The K5.CyclinD1 transgene was crossed to the RAG2p-GFP transgenic model so that RTEs could be tracked by the intensity of the GFP signal. The frequency and number of RTEs in naïve CD4 splenic T cells was analyzed at monthly intervals to 5 months of age. Using this double transgenic approach, we determined that preventing thymus involution does maintain or enhance the number of RTEs in the peripheral T cell pool before and after thymus involution.

Tecnologías emergentes aplicadas a la conservación de porotos (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

La conservación de alimentos por tecnología de barreras es una alternativa de procesamiento, en la cual se aplican las técnicas de conservación tradicionales pero de una manera menos intensa, mediante una combinación de obstáculos a fin de mantener las cualidades organolépticas en el producto final. El objetivo de este trabajo fue desarrollar un método de conservación de porotos con la aplicación de tecnología de bajo costo y de aceptabilidad comparable al método convencional (Método Appert). La metodología que se empleó en la elaboración de conservas de porotos por tecnologías de barrera fue la siguiente: selección, lavado, remojado durante 24 horas, escurrido, cocinado a presión en salmuera al 0,5% durante cinco minutos a 121°C. Posteriormente se envasaron en recipientes esterilizados, se agregó la solución de relleno en ebullición (vinagre 7,50%, ácido láctico 0,30%, ácido ascórbico 0,35%, ácido cítrico 0,35%, sal 1,00% y azúcar 0,50%. No se esterilizó y se dejó enfriar hasta alcanzar la temperatura ambiente. La determinación de la calidad de las conservas elaboradas se realizó a los seis meses de almacenadas realizando una evaluación microbiológica, físicoquímica y sensorial. La conserva obtenida es aceptable, inocua y puede ser preservada a temperatura ambiente.

Variability in the indument of Phaseolus vulgaris var. aborigineus (Fabaceae)

The indument of Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. aborigineus (Burkart) Baudet, a native bean from Argentina, potential source for improvement of cultivated varieties, was compared between different genetic lines. Seeds collected from wild, weedy forms and presumptive hybrid individuals in two distant latitudes were sown in two sites of Buenos Aires University Campus (field and greenhouse). Two type of trichomes were found, which differenciate in length and shape. The pubescence density was significantly different between wild specimens from different latitudes and between culture sites for plants of a same procedence. This character could be involved in physical defences of these plants.