17 beta-Estradiol and progesterone improve in-vitro cytoplasmic maturation of oocytes from unstimulated prepubertal and adult rhesus monkeys

BACKGROUND: Effects of 17beta-estradiol and progesterone on rhesus monkey oocyte maturation in vitro were evaluated by embryo development subsequent to IVF. METHODS AND RESULTS: In experiment 1, immature cumulus-oocyte complexes collected from unstimulated adult females during the non-breeding season were matured in modified medium CMRL-1066 containing various combinations of gonadotrophins (FSH + LH), estradiol and/or progesterone. Formation of morulae and blastocysts was greatest in oocytes matured in medium containing estradiol and/or progesterone, with or without gonadotrophins (morula 38-46%, blastocyst 14-20%) than in control oocytes matured without estradiol or progesterone (morula 14%, blastocyst 0%). In experiment 2, cumulus-oocyte complexes from unstimulated prepubertal female monkeys were matured in medium with gonadotrophins, estradiol or progesterone. The best development to the morula stage was obtained with oocytes matured with gonadotrophins and estradiol or gonadotrophins and progesterone (43 and 25 morulae, respectively), while control oocytes matured with gonadotrophins but without steroid hormones gave the poorest morula developmental response (12%). However, there was no difference in blastocyst development across all groups (0-3%). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that during rhesus monkey oocyte maturation in vitro: (i) estradiol or progesterone can improve oocyte developmental competence; (ii) immature oocytes from prepubertal versus adult females have differential responses to challenge with estradiol or progesterone.

beta gamma-CAT, a non-lens beta gamma-crystallin and trefoil factor complex from amphibian skin secretions, caused endothelium-dependent myocardial depression in isolated rabbit hearts

Previous in vivo study demonstrated that beta gamma-CAT, a newly identified non-lens beta gamma-crystallin and trefoil factor complex from frog Bombina maxima skin secretions, possessed potent lethal toxicity on mammals resulted from hypotension and cardi

Melanoma cell growth inhibition by beta gamma-CAT, which is a novel non-lens betagamma-crystallin and trefoil factor complex from frog Bombina maxima skin

In vertebrates, non-lens beta gamma-crystallins are widely expressed in various tissues but their functions are unknown. The molecular mechanisms of trefoil factors, initiators of mucosal healing and being greatly involved in tumorigenesis, have remained

Acute toxicity of beta gamma-CAT, a naturally existing non-lens beta gamma-crystallin and trefoil factor complex from frog Bombina maxima skin secretions

In vertebrates, non-lens beta gamma-crystallins are widely expressed in various tissues, but their functions are unknown. The molecular mechanisms of trefoil factors, initiators of mucosal healing and being greatly involved in tumorigenesis, have remained

Studies on the chemical control of psychrophilic bacterial spoilage of fish. 2 - The effect of antibiotics on the growth of psycrophilic bacteria isolated from marine fish

Among the various antibiotics tried, tetracyclines particularly chlorotetracycline (CTC), chloramphenicol and chlorostrep were found to be fairly effective at 8 and 10 p.p.m. levels. The order of sensitivity to CTC among the six genera studied was found to be Achromobacterantibiotics than species belonging to other genera. Among the resistant organisms, Achromobacter superficialis was found to be most resistant and only CTC at 10 p.p.m. level could partially inhibit this culture. The useful combinations of antibiotics for commercial application are discussed.

Use of antibiotics in the preservation of prawn

Effect of incorporating chlorotetracycline (CTC) in ice up to 5 ppm level on the keeping quality of prawns has been studied. A shelf life extension by nearly six days is obtained for the CTC-iced sample over the control. The headless prawns absorbed greater amounts of CTC than whole prawns during storage in CTC-ice. Traces of the antibiotic are found in the muscle of the CTC-iced prawns even after cooking for one hour. The cause of destruction of CTC when used for prawn preservation is discussed.

Behaviour of marine microflora towards antibiotics 1. Sensitivity towards chlortetracycline (CTC)

The sensitivity of 61 cultures of bacteria isolated from fish towards chlortetracycline (CTC) at 5 ppm and 20 ppm levels has been determined on two solid media: sea water agar (SWA) and a distilled water based medium consisting of peptone, beef extract, glucose and NaCI (PBGA). The cultures employed consisted of (i) gram-negative rods of marine origin (Achromobacter, Pseudomonas, Vibrio and Flavobacterium) and (ii) gram positive organisms (Micrococci and Corynebacterium). Depending on the inhibition zone diameter, the order of CTC sensitivity was found to be Pseudomonas

Phylogenetic studies of pantherine cats (Felidae) based on multiple genes, with novel application of nuclear beta-fibrinogen intron 7 to carnivores

The pantherine lineage of the cat family Felidae (order: Carnivora) includes five big cats of genus Panthera and a great many midsized cats known worldwide. Presumably because of their recent and rapid radiation, the evolutionary relationship among pantherines remains ambiguous. We provide an independent assessment of the evolutionary history of pantherine lineage using two complete mitochondrial (mt) genes (ND2 and ND4) and the nuclear beta-fibrmogen intron 7 gene, whose utility in carnivoran phylogeny was first explored. The available four mt (ND5, cytb, 12S, and 16SrRNA) and two nuclear (IRBP and TTR) sequence loci were also combined to reconstruct phylogeny of 14 closely related cat species. Our analyses of combined mt data (six genes; approximate to 3750 bp) and combined mt and nuclear data (nine genes; approximate to 6500 bp) obtained identical tree topologies, which were well-resolved and strongly supported for almost all nodes. Monophyly of Panthera genus in pantherine lineage was confirmed and interspecific affinities within this genus revealed a novel branching pattern, with P. tigris diverging first in Panthera genus, followed by P. onca, P. leo, and last two sister species P. pardus and P. uncia. In addition, close association of Neofelis nebulosa to Panthera, the phylogenetic redefinition of Otocolobus manil within the domestic cat group, and the relatedness of Acinonyx jubatus and Puma concolor were all important findings in the resulting phylogenies. The potential utilities of nine different genes for phylogenetic resolution of closely related pantherine species were also evaluated, with special interest in that of the novel nuclear beta-fibrinogen intron 7. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

New Insights into the Evolution of Intronic Sequences of the beta-fibrinogen Gene and Their Application in Reconstructing Mustelid Phylogeny

Mustelidae is the largest and most diverse family in the order Carnivora. The phylogenetic relationships among the subfamilies have especially long been a focus of study. Herein we are among the first to employ two new introns (4 and 7) of the nuclear P-f

Evidence of gene conversion in the evolutionary process of the codon 41/42 (-CTTT) mutation causing beta-thalassemia in southern China

The 4-bp deletion (-CTTT) at codon 41/42 (CD41/42) of the human beta-globin gene represents one of the most common beta-thalassemia mutations in East Asia and Southeast Asia, which is historically afflicted with endemic malaria, thus hypothetically evolvi

Aniracetam restores the effects of amyloid-beta protein or ageing on membrane fluidity and intracellular calcium concentration in mice synaptosomes

In the present study, we observed the in vitro effect of aniracetam on membrane fluidity and free calcium concentrations (Ca(2+)i) of frontal cortical (FC) and hippocampal (HP) synaptosomes of aged mice and young mice treated with amyloid-beta protein (A

A beta-galactose-specific lectin isolated from the marine worm Chaetopterus variopedatus possesses anti-HIV-1 activity

A 30 kDa beta-galactose-specific lectin named CVL was isolated from the polychaete marine worm Chaetopterus variopedatus (Annelida) and its anti-HIV-1 activity in vitro was determined. Results showed that CVL inhibited cytopathic effect induced by HIV-1 a

Synthesis and biological evaluation of N-acetyl-beta-aryl-1,2-didehydroethylamines as new HIV-1 RT inhibitors in vitro

A variety of N-acetyl-o-aryl-1,2-didehydroethylamines were synthesized by direct reduction-acetylation of beta-aryl-nitroolefins and assayed as HIV-1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) for the first time. Compound 7a exhibited a TI v

Flazinamide, a novel beta-carboline compound with anti-HIV actions

A beta-carboline compound, flazin isolated from Suillus granulatus has been shown weak anti-HIV-1 activity. Based on the structure of flazin, flazinamide [1-(5'-hydromethyl-2'-furyl)-beta-carboline-3-carboxamide] was synthesized and its anti-HIV activitie

The trouble with antibiotics and pesticides is...

The paper discusses the output of the meeting on the use of chemicals in aquaculture in Asia. The effects of chemical use on cultured stocks in the farm, the immediate environment through discharges and effluents, surrounding areas, farm staff, consumers and drug resistance organisms are also discussed. It also shows how an antibiotic-resistant microorganism develops as the result of indiscriminate use of antibiotics.