Cryptomonad algae are evolutionary chimaeras of two phylogenetically distinct unicellular eukaryotes

Although it is widely accepted that the plastids of plants and algae originated as endosymbionts, the details of this evolutionary process are unclear. It has been proposed that in organisms whose plastids are surrounded by more than two membranes, the endosymbiont was a eukaryotic alga rather than a photosynthetic prokaryote. The DNA-containing nucleomorph of cryptomonad algae appears to be the vestigial nucleus of such an algal endosymbiont. Eukaryotic-type ribosomal RNA sequences have been localized to a nucleolus-like structure in the nucleomorph. In support of the hypothesis that cryptomonads are evolutionary chimaeras of two distinct eukaryotic cells, we show here that Cryptomonas phi contains two phylogenetically separate, nuclear-type small-subunit rRNA genes, both of which are transcriptionally active. We incorporate our rRNA sequence data into phylogenetic trees, from which we infer the evolutionary ancestry of the host and symbiont components of Cryptomonas phi. Such trees do not support the thesis that chromophyte algae evolved directly from a cryptomonad-like ancestor.

Cardiac output by impedance cardiography: two alternative methodologies compared with thermodilution

One critical component of the Kubicek (8) stroke volume equation, used to measure cardiac output by impedance cardiography, is dZ/dt(max). The present study, conducted on six anesthetized dogs, compared impedance cardiac output derived using two alternative methods of quantifying dZ/dt(max), with simultaneous thermodilution measures. Values for dZ/dt(max) quantified relative to dZ/dt = 0 baseline and relative to the dZ/dt B-point were entered into the Kubicek equation to generate cardiac output measures designated as impedance-A and impedance-B, respectively. Emphasis was placed upon evaluating impedance cardiac output within its accepted limits as a relative change measure. Systematic alterations in cardiac output were produced by intravenously administered isoproterenol, phenylephrine and nitroprusside. Drug-induced changes in cardiac output measured by the impedance-A method were statistically identical to thermodilution. For the impedance-B method, similarity to thermodilution was limited to two of the three drug conditions. Correlations of impedance cardiac output with thermodilution tended to be higher for the impedance-A method. Together with theoretical and practical considerations, these results support quantification of dZ/dt(max) relative to dZ/dt = 0 when used in the Kubicek stroke volume equation.

Maternal behavior of spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto normotensive rats: effects of reciprocal cross-fostering of litters

Maternal behavior of spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) normotensive dams rearing either their natural pups or pups of the opposite strain was assessed when pups were 4-6 days of age. Consistent with previous reports, SHR dams caring for their natural pups were observed nursing and licking their pups more often than WKY dams and were away from their pups less often. The behavior of dams rearing cross-fostered pups demonstrated that this strain difference in patterns of maternal behavior is dependent on pup type. Mothers of both strains shifted their behavior in the direction of the opposite strain's maternal behavior pattern when caring for cross-fostered pups. This shift was most pronounced in SHR dams caring for WKY pups. These data suggest that alterations in patterns of maternal behavior produced by cross-fostering may play an important role in cross-fostering effects on the physiological development of SHRs previously reported.

Maternal environment and development of high blood pressure in Dahl hypertensive rats

The contribution of the preweanling maternal environment to the development of hypertension was examined using the technique of reciprocal cross-fostering between two inbred rat strains, the Dahl hypertension-sensitive (SS/Jr) rat and the Dahl hypertension-resistant (SR/Jr) rat. Litters of SS/Jr and SR/Jr pups were reared by their natural mother, in-fostered to a dam of the same strain, or cross-fostered to a dam of the opposite strain for the entire preweanling period from postnatal days 1 to 30. At 60 and 100 days of age, one rat from each litter was surgically prepared with an indwelling catheter in the ventral tail artery. One day after surgery, measures of resting mean arterial pressure and heart rate were taken as the animals were resting and undisturbed in their home cages. Body weights were also obtained at 30, 60, and 100 days of age as a measure of general somatic development. Our findings indicate that SS/Jr rats fostered to SR/Jr dams exhibited a significant reduction in resting mean arterial pressure compared with naturally reared or in-fostered SS/Jr rats (P less than 0.01 at 60 days and P less than 0.03 at 100 days). Conversely, arterial pressure of SR/Jr rats did not differ across rearing conditions at either age. Body weights were not significantly affected by cross-fostering in either strain. We conclude from these results that characteristics of the SS/Jr maternal environment interact with the inbred genetic susceptibility of the SS/Jr pup to elicit the full expression of the SS/Jr hypertensive phenotype.

Open-field behavior of spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto normotensive rats: effects of reciprocal cross-fostering

The influence of the maternal environment on the development of open-field behavior in spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats was investigated using the technique of reciprocal cross-fostering. Entire litters of SHR and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) normotensive rats were either reared by their natural mothers, in-fostered to dams of the same strain, or cross-fostered to dams of the opposite strain on the day after birth. Open-field behavior was assessed in male and female rats from the six groups (2 strains x 3 rearing conditions) at 30, 60, 90, and 120 days of age. Animals were observed in the open-field during a 5-min test period and the number of squares entered and hindlimb rears were recorded. At all ages tested, SHR rats were more active in the open field, entering more squares and rearing more frequently than WKYs. SHR females were more active than age-matched SHR males, while no sex differences were apparent in the WKY strain. At each age, open-field behavior was similar across WKY rearing groups. SHR control and in-fostered animals responded similarly in the open field; however, SHR cross-fostered rats (particularly females) tended to be more active than controls. Although cross-fostering has profound effects on cardiovascular development and functioning in the SHR, it appears that altering the early maternal environment experienced by SHR pups does not grossly affect the development of open-field behavior.

Sympathetic-adrenal medullary responses to acute stress in Dahl hypertensive (S/JR) rats

Sympathetic-adrenal medullary responses to acute footshock stress were assessed in inbred Dahl salt-sensitive (S/JR) and salt-resistant (R/JR) rats by measuring plasma levels of norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EPI). Ten-week-old S/JR and R/JR rats were surgically prepared with indwelling tail artery catheters which permitted direct measurements of mean arterial pressure (MAP, mmHg) and heart rate (HR, beats/min) and remote sampling of blood. Two days after surgery, S/JR and R/JR rats were subjected to an acute stress paradigm. Blood samples were collected before and 3 minutes after transfer of rats to a shock chamber, after 1 minute of intermittent footshock, and again 5 minutes later. S/JR rats had significantly higher resting MAP's compared to R/JR rats. In contrast, baseline heart rates were similar for rats of the two strains. Basal plasma levels of NE and EPI were also similar in S/JR and R/JR rats. Upon transfer from the home cage to a shock chamber, S/JR rats exhibited significant increases in plasma levels of both catecholamines, while R/JR rats maintained circulating levels of NE and EPI that were near baseline values. However, S/JR and R/JR rats had similar increments in plasma NE and EPI following acute footshock stress. Five minutes after footshock, levels of NE and EPI returned toward baseline values for R/JR's, but remained significantly elevated above baseline in hypertensive S/JR rats. These data suggest that S/JR rats are more responsive than R/JR controls to the mild stress of transfer, but exhibit comparable responses to the more intense stress of inescapable footshock.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

An antegrade surgical uterine flush technique for ova collection in the ewe

A surgical uterine flush technique was evaluated for percentage of ova/corpora lutea (CL) collected and development of reproductive adhesions in 79 superovulated ewes. The median collection rate for ova/CL was 70%, and 47 of 79 ewes had greater than or equal to 67% ova/CL. At 50 to 80 days after uterine flushing, celiotomies were performed on 50 of the 79 ewes to evaluate the reproductive tract for adhesions. Adhesions of the reproductive tract were not found. Thirty ewes were given prostaglandin F2 alpha, were mated, and became pregnant. The ova collection rates were comparable with rates reported in ewes in which oviductal flush methods were used; however, adhesions did not develop and reproductive function was maintained after surgery.

Sympathetic responses of the heart and adrenal medulla in developing Dahl hypertensive rats

Functional development of the sympathetic nervous system was examined in inbred Dahl salt-sensitive (S/JR) and salt-resistant (R/JR) rats by assessing cardiac and adrenal medullary responses to insulin-induced hypoglycemia at 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 days of age. Heart ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and adrenal catecholamine content were measured in pups of the two strains 3 hours after administration of either saline or insulin. The centrally mediated increase in sympathetic outflow caused by insulin-induced hypoglycemia was attended by induction of heart ODC activity and depletion of adrenal epinephrine (EPI). No significant differences were found overall between R/JR and S/JR strains with regard to either heart ODC activity or adrenal epinephrine. This was true for basal values obtained from saline-injected pups as well as for measures from insulin-injected pups. Functional innervation of the heart was present in pups of both strains as early as 2 days of age, while in the adrenal medulla a significant response to stimulation was not detected until 8 days of age. While the susceptibility for hypertension in the salt-sensitive animals may well be linked to increased sympathetic tone, the present findings indicate that S/JR rats do not have an accelerated development or a hyperresponsiveness of sympathetic input to either the heart or the adrenal medulla during the pre-weanling period.

Continuous intrathecal hydromorphone and clonidine for intractable cancer pain

The use of hydromorphone and clonidine, delivered intrathecally by an implanted infusion pump, is described in a patient with intractable cancer pain. The patient was a 48-year-old woman with uterine cervical cancer-related pain that was poorly responsive to conventional oral narcotics. Hydromorphone was used because of the patient's history of morphine intolerance. When progressive intrathecal hydromorphone dosages were required, intrathecal clonidine (an alpha 2 adrenergic agonist) was infused concomitantly. Intrathecal hydromorphone and clonidine successfully controlled this patient's pain without the necessity to resort to destructive neurosurgery.

Medical student education in life-support skills

A life-support skills course designed to facilitate competent decision making during emergency care situations has been developed for third-year medical students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. The objective of the one-week course is to combine the knowledge acquired in the basic sciences with the performance skills required in the clinical setting. This is achieved through the use of a variety of instructional strategies, including lectures, reading periods, and laboratory exercises. A scientific approach to the teaching of life-support skills is incorporated, educational objectives are defined, methods of achieving the educational objectives are provided, and an evaluation system is used to determine the effectiveness of teaching. After successful completion of the training program, the student is better able to deliver competent emergency medical care.