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Sulphate metabolism among thermophiles and hyperthermophiles in natural aquatic systems.

Although controversial, the idea that hydrothermal systems may have been the site for prebiotic synthesis of organic molecules and origin of life is widely supported. For the nascent life to survive, it must have had some sort of metabolic mechanism for generating energy. However, little is known of the specific metabolic pathways utilized by the early life forms or the effect of high temperatures on their activity. Recent research on natural high temperature aquatic environments, though limited because of difficult field logistics and experimental problems, is revolutionizing our understanding of possible energy-generating redox pathways, such as sulphate reduction. An abridged review of research on thermophilic sulphate reduction is presented here. Because of a complex interplay between microbiological and geochemical entities involved, and the uncertainties that modern hydrothermal systems are proxy for biogeochemical conditions on early Earth, great caution is required for interpretation and extrapolation of data from these studies to primordial times. Furthermore, a general lack of integrated geological and microbiological studies towards a common understanding of origin and sustenance of life on Earth is starkly evident from this review.

Earth, Planet↗

[The principle of optimality in biophysical medicine].

It was consider biological, molecular, biochemical and clinical aspects of a problem of an optimality. Examples of selective sensitivity of alive formations in relation to temperature of environment, ultraviolet and infa-red radiations, the contents of light negative aeroions. The gas preferendum phenomenon at animals and the person in relation to oxygen partial pressure in an inhabitancy is in details analysed. The data on evolution of gas structure of atmospheric air and a role of oxygen radicals in physiological and pathological processes are resulted. It is stated the actual material testifying to presence enough of powerful mechanisms of the adaptation vertebrales animals, but the limited opportunity to resist to high concentration of oxygen. The conclusion is made, that conditions moderately reduced Po2 provide the maximal activity physiological regeneration and can recommended for wider use in practice of clinical and out-patient rehabilitation.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Gender-related sleep differences in neonates in thermoneutral and cool environments.

Although thermoregulation and sleep exhibit gender differences in adults, the question is still debated in neonates. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between gender-related sleep differences and cool defence mechanisms in neonates. Sleep and thermoregulation were recorded in healthy preterm neonates (21 boys and 17 girls, 37 +/- 2 weeks post-conceptional age) exposed to thermoneutral and cool conditions. Sleep was analysed for continuity and structure. Although the cool exposure did not strongly impair body homeothermia, sleep was altered but without any significant gender difference. However, when data recorded under each of the thermal conditions were pooled, some gender differences emerged: boys slept less, with more wakefulness after sleep onset, more active sleep and less quiet sleep than girls. In contrast to sleep architecture, most of the sleep continuity parameters exhibited greater variability in boys than in girls. This variability may bias the statistical analyses and probably explains the varying conclusions reported in the literature regarding gender-specific sleep-related differences.

Body Temperature Regulation↗

Effect of ambient temperature on cardiovascular parameters in rats and mice: a comparative approach.

Ambient air temperatures (T(a)) of <6 degrees C or >29 degrees C have been shown to induce large changes in arterial blood pressure and heart rate in homeotherms. The present study was designed to investigate whether small incremental changes in T(a), such as those found in typical laboratory settings, would have an impact on blood pressure and other cardiovascular parameters in mice and rats. We predicted that small decreases in T(a) would impact the cardiovascular parameters of mice more than rats due to the increased thermogenic demands resulting from a greater surface area-to-volume ratio in mice relative to rats. Cardiovascular parameters were measured with radiotelemetry in mice and rats that were housed in temperature-controlled environments. The animals were exposed to different T(a) every 72 h, beginning at 30 degrees C and incrementally decreasing by 4 degrees C at each time interval to 18 degrees C and then incrementally increasing back up to 30 degrees C. As T(a) decreased, mean blood pressure, heart rate, and pulse pressure increased significantly for both mice (1.6 mmHg/ degrees C, 14.4 beats.min(-1). degrees C(-1), and 0.8 mmHg/ degrees C, respectively) and rats (1.2 mmHg/ degrees C, 8.1 beats.min(-1). degrees C(-1), and 0.8 mmHg/ degrees C, respectively). Thus small changes in T(a) significantly impact the cardiovascular parameters of both rats and mice, with mice demonstrating a greater sensitivity to these T(a) changes.

Animals↗

Do parasites live in extreme environments? Constructing hostile niches and living in them.

We develop the hypothesis that parasites do not invade extreme environments, i.e. hostile hosts, but rather 'create' them. We argue that parasites may have driven the evolution of the constitutive and adaptive immune system. This leads to several implications. First, parasites respond to 'genes to kill' by 'genes to survive' and this triggers an indefinite selection of measures and counter-measures. Second, these coevolutionary arms races may lead to local adaptation, in which parasite populations perform better on local hosts. Third, the evolution of the immune system, whose responses are predictable, may allow parasites to specialize, to evade and even to manipulate. Finally we show that the correlations between the increase in the antibody repertoire, the expansion of MHC loci and parasite pressures support our hypothesis that both host complexity and parasite pressures can be invoked to explain the diversity of antibodies, T-receptors and MHC molecules.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Neuroendocrine and autonomous mechanisms underlying thermoregulation in cold environment.

This review focuses on the central regulation of thermoregulatory responses with special attention to the participation of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in both autonomous and endocrine responses to a cold environment. Besides a direct projection of TRH neurons from paraventricular nuclei (PVN) to the median eminence, and the subsequent activation of the thyroid axis, there are direct projections from the PVN to the autonomic preganglionic neurons controlling autonomous responses. There projections convey information to peripheral targets involved in thermogenesis through the dorsal vagal complex and the spinal cord, for parasympathetic and sympathetic neurotransmissions respectively. Furthermore, cold exposure increases TRH mRNA levels in the PVN but also in dorsal motor and caudal raphe nuclei, thus providing strong evidence for a functional link between autonomous and neuroendocrine systems involved in thermoregulation. The review also focuses on neuroendocrine regulation of cold-induced TRH/TSH release associated with modifications in somatostatin release, with special reference to the participation of several central neurotransmitters (catecholamines, serotonin or GABA) or the influence of sex steroids.

Animals↗

Thermal manipulations during broiler chick embryogenesis: effects of timing and temperature.

This study aimed at elucidating the effects of thermal manipulation (TM) during different periods of embryogenesis on hatchability, body weight, and thermoregulation of Ross chicks at hatch, and on the chick's ability to cope with thermal challenge (TC) at 3 d of age. Control embryos were incubated at 37.8 degrees C and 56% RH, whereas the TM embryos were treated for 3 h at 39.5 (1) or 41.0 degrees C (2) and 65% RH, during early embryogenesis (EE), E8 to E10, and late embryogenesis (LE) at E16 to E18. At hatch, after feather drying, BW and body temperature (Tb) were measured, blood was drawn from the jugular vein to measure plasma concentrations of thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and corticosterone. These parameters were also measured in 3-d-old chicks during exposure to TC at 41 degrees C for 6 h. Hatchability was significantly higher in the LE1-treated group than in the other treatments. EE1- and LE1-treated embryos exhibited significantly lower Tb at hatch than the LE2 chicks. Significant hyperthermia was noted in the control chicks during 6 h of TC; it coincided with a higher plasma T3 concentration (P = 0.074). During TC, the LE1-treated chicks exhibited the lowest T3 to T4 ratio and a significantly reduced plasma corticosterone concentration. It can be concluded that TM at 39.5 degrees C for 3 h during E16 to E18 of incubation improved chick's thermotolerance acquisition and reduced the corticosterone level of chicks exposed to TC at the age of 3 d.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

High affinity binding of long-chain polysialic acid to antibody, and modulation by divalent cations and polyamines.

Long-chain polysialic acid (PSA) is expressed on the vertebrate neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) during neuronal plasticity. Its structural similarity to the capsular PSAs of some pathogenic bacteria has hampered the development of polysaccharide vaccines against meningitis. The antibodies formed during immunization require a long epitope for binding, and cross-react with host tissue PSA. The nature of the epitope and possible external effectors involved are still unclear. We have evaluated the interaction of PSA with its antibody mAb735 by surface plasmon resonance. The influences of PSA chain length, pH, temperature, ionic environment, and polyamines were also determined. The antibody binding affinity was found to dramatically increase with PSA chain length. A sub-nanomolar dissociation constant (K(D)=8.5 x 10(-10)M) was obtained for the binding of very long chain native MenB polysaccharides (approximately 200 Neu5Ac-residues). Colominic acid from Escherichia coli K1 (approximately 100 residues) and shorter polymers exhibited progressively weaker affinities. The antibody also bound tightly (K(D) approximately 5 x 10(-9)M) to polysialylated glycopeptides from human embryonal brain. The effects of pH and ionic strength suggested that the interaction is largely electrostatic. Ca2+ and Mn2+ ions promoted the observed surface plasmon resonance response in a concentration dependent fashion. Spermine increased the response in a similar way. Our results suggest that divalent cations and polyamines may play significant role in the regulation of the PSA epitope presentation in vivo.

Animals↗

Effect of environmental cooling on certain biochemical responses in broilers.

Investigations were undertaken to study the effect of different thermal environments of growth attributes of broilers. One hundred fifty-day old chicks of both sexes were kept each in control, foggers, exhaust fan and cooler groups during hot and dry, and hot and humid periods to assess the effect of cooling on growth efficiency of broilers in terms of blood cholesterol and ascorbic acid. The average cholesterol content (mg/100 ml) of blood plasma was highest in the control groups of both the periods. The birds of the control and exhaust groups were more stressed as compared to birds in fogger and cooler groups where the cholesterol content was least. The average values for the ascorbic acid content of blood plasma (mg/100 ml) were highest in the cooler groups of both the periods showing the greater resistance of these birds against the thermal stress. The increased amounts of ascorbic acid in the cooler groups were positively correlated to the heavier body weights of the birds in this particular group. In contrast, the birds in the control and exhaust groups had minimum amounts of ascorbic acid content at all ages irrespective of sexes. Therefore, from the above results of cholesterol content and ascorbic acid concentration, it is concluded that hot and humid period at Ludhiana is the most stressful and evaporative cooling is the most efficient method for alleviating summer stress in broilers.

Animals↗

Temperature-induced changes in the coenzyme environment of D-amino acid oxidase revealed by the multiple decays of FAD fluorescence.

A temperature-dependent change in the microenvironment of the coenzyme, FAD, of D-amino acid oxidase was investigated by means of steady-state and picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. Relative emission quantum yields from FAD bound to D-amino acid oxidase revealed the temperature transition when concentration of the enzyme was lowered. The observed fluorescence decay curves were well described with four-exponential decay functions. The amplitude of the shortest lifetime (tau 0), approximately 25 ps, was always negative, which indicates that the fluorescence of D-amino acid oxidase at approximately 520 nm appears after a metastable state of the excited isoalloxazine decays. The other components with positive amplitudes were assigned to dimer or associated forms of the enzyme, monomer, and free FAD dissociated from the enzyme. Ethalpy and entropy changes of intermediate states in the quenching processes were evaluated according to the absolute rate theory. The temperature transition was much more pronounced in the monomer than in the dimer or associated forms of the enzyme.

Animals↗

Myocardial dysfunction in septic shock.

Myocardial depression is a major but poorly understood component of septic shock. This study investigates the morphologic and biochemical abnormalities associated with septic shock. Myocardial cells are incubated in normal and septic plasma in a nutrient-, oxygen-, pH-, electrolyte-, and temperature-controlled environment. Cells and media are tested for basal- and epinephrine-stimulated cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine kinase. Electron microscopic studies are done at the end of incubation. Septic LDH and creatine kinase levels in the media are increased substantially, and septic cAMP levels are reduced significantly. Septic cells beat irregularly and arrest along with exhibiting abnormal electron microscopic structure. Septic myocardial dysfunction occurs independently of previously postulated causes that are controlled for in this experiment and therefore may be due to endogenously produced or accumulated toxic factor(s).

Animals↗

Ultrasonic vocalizations by infant laboratory mice: a preliminary spectrographic characterization under different conditions.

During the first 2 to 3 weeks of life, isolated neonatal mice emit ultrasonic vocalizations, with various conditions such as hypothermia or olfactory or tactile stimulation eliciting this behavior. Although it is known that pup vocalizations stimulate prompt expression of maternal behavior, the communicative role of infant ultrasonic calls is still a matter of investigation. A fine-grained spectrographic analysis of ultrasonic calls emitted by pups exposed to different conditions was performed. Forty 8-day-old outbred CD-1 mice (Mus musculus) were isolated from their mothers and littermates and randomly exposed to one of the following conditions: (a) odor from the nest, (b) social isolation, (c) low temperature-isolation, (d) tactile stimulation, or (e) odor from a conspecific adult male. Upon consideration of the spectrogram typology and emission frequency interval, it appears that the conditions under which vocalizations are emitted influence the sound characteristics of call production.

Analysis of Variance↗

Albumin absorption and protein secretion by the gallbladder in man and in the pig.

To study albumin absorption by the gallbladder in man, an in vitro model was first established in the pig and compared with in vivo function in the same species. Water and electrolyte transport and 125I-albumin absorption and protein secretion in vivo and in vitro were compared. Then similar in vitro studies were performed on human gallbladders obtained at surgery. The in vivo study in the pig was performed without disturbing the gallbladder except to tie a cannula in the cystic duct end. The in vitro model was identical in the pig and human gallbladders. Gallbladders were excised using a technique causing minimal injury and anoxia. They were oxygenated on both mucosal and serosal surfaces in a temperature-controlled environment. Luminal and external bath test solutions consisted of modified Ringers bicarbonate with added glucose; luminal solutions also contained 125I-albumin from different species, depending on the study. Active absorption of sodium and water occurred in both types of studies in the pig but in vivo absorption rates were considerably greater than in vitro rates. Albumin absorption in vivo was substantial; although present in vitro, the absorption of albumin was diminished relatively more than electrolyte transport rates. Protein secretion rates into the gallbladder were similar in vitro and in vivo. The results of studies in the human gallbladders in vitro were similar to the pig, except albumin absorption was greater. Some human gallbladders were obtained from control patients and some from patients with cholesterol gallstones. There were no significant differences between the two groups for any of the variables studied; however, the numbers were small and some control gallbladders were not normal gallbladders.

Absorption↗

Fathers, fat, and maternal energetics in a biparental hamster: paternal presence determines the outcome of a current reproductive effort and adipose tissue limits subsequent reproductive effort.

Djungarian hamster females, Phodopus campbelli, are severely constrained in their ability to reproduce successfully and lose 20% of their body weight by the time pups are weaned. In the wild and in the laboratory, biparental care improves maternal reproductive success. Two experiments quantified the effects of paternal presence and partial lipectomy [surgical depletion of parametrial white adipose tissue (PWAT) on day 8 of the 18-day gestation] on maternal energy balance, reproductive success, and investment in a subsequent reproductive attempt. Paired females reproduced successfully, maintained body weight, and invested in a second litter. Removal of the male decreased pup survival, growth, and readiness for dispersal by 18 days of age. Solitary females lost 10% of their body weight by the birth and a further 10% by day 18 after the birth. Thus, paternal presence balanced maternal energy budgets during reproduction and prevented a 20% loss in body weight. Equivalent weight loss occurs in response to other maternal stressors, therefore 20% may be the maximum tolerable weight loss in this species. Fresh weight of interscapular brown adipose tissue was predicted by the extent of maternal hyperthermia but not by maternal energy balance or lipectomy. Partial lipectomy did not adversely affect the female or the first litter but decreased the probability of investment in a second reproductive attempt and halved the size of the second litter. This effect may have been due to the 0.1% of body weight amount of lipid removed or may reflect a specialized role for PWAT in adjusting maternal investment.

Adipose Tissue↗