Optimizing gene transfer to conventional outflow cells in living mouse eyes

The mouse eye has physiological and genetic advantages to study conventional outflow function. However, its small size and shallow anterior chamber presents technical challenges to efficient intracameral delivery of genetic material to conventional outflow cells. The goal of this study was to optimize methods to overcome this technical hurdle, without damaging ocular structures or compromising outflow function. Gene targeting was monitored by immunofluorescence microscopy after transduction of adenovirus encoding green fluorescent protein driven by a CMV promoter. Guided by a micromanipulator and stereomicroscope, virus was delivered intracamerally to anesthetized mice by bolus injection using a 33 gauge needle attached to Hamilton syringe or infusion with glass micropipette connected to syringe pump. The total number of particles introduced remained constant, while volume of injected virus solution (3-10 μl) was varied for each method and time of infusion (3-40 min) tested. Outflow facility and intraocular pressure were monitored invasively using established techniques. Unlike bolus injections or slow infusions, introduction of virus intracamerally during rapid infusions (3 min) at any volume tested preferentially targeted trabecular meshwork and Schlemm's canal cells, with minimal transduction of neighboring cells. While infusions resulted in transient intraocular pressure spikes (commensurate with volume infused, Δ40-70 mmHg), eyes typically recovered within 60 min. Transduced eyes displayed normal outflow facility and tissue morphology 3-6 days after infusions. Taken together, fast infusion of virus solution in small volumes intracamerally is a novel and effective method to selectively deliver agents to conventional outflow cells in living mice.

Impairment of lysosomal integrity by B10, a glycosylated derivative of betulinic acid, leads to lysosomal cell death and converts autophagy into a detrimental process

In this study, we report a novel mechanism of action for a cytotoxic derivative of betulinic acid (BA). B10 is a semi-synthetic glycosylated derivative of BA selected for its enhanced cytotoxic activity. Interestingly, although B10 induces apoptosis, caspase-3 downregulation incompletely prevents B10-induced cell death, Bcl-2 overexpression fails to protect cells and DNA fragmentation rates do not reflect cell death rates in contrast to cytoplasmic membrane permeabilization. These results implicate that apoptotic and non-apoptotic cell death coexist upon B10 treatment. Unexpectedly, we found that B10 induces autophagy and also abrogates the autophagic flux. B10 destabilizes lysosomes as shown by Lysotracker Red staining and by cathepsin Z and B release from lysosomes into the cytoplasm. Consistently, the cathepsin inhibitor Ca074Me significantly decreases B10-induced cell death, further supporting the fact that the release of lysosomal enzymes contributes to B10-triggered cell death. Downregulation of ATG7, ATG5 or BECN1 by RNAi significantly decreases caspase-3 activation, lysosomal permeabilization and cell death. Thus, by concomitant induction of autophagy and inhibition of the autophagic flux, B10 turns autophagy into a cell death mechanism. These findings have important implications for the therapeutic exploitation of BA derivatives, particularly in apoptosis-resistant cancers.

Preconditioning donor with a combination of tacrolimus and rapamacyn to decrease ischaemia-reperfusion injury in a rat syngenic kidney transplantation model

Reperfusion injury remains one of the major problems in transplantation. Repair from ischaemic acute renal failure (ARF) involves stimulation of tubular epithelial cell proliferation. The aim of this exploratory study was to evaluate the effects of preconditioning donor animals with rapamycin and tacrolimus to prevent ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Twelve hours before nephrectomy, the donor animals received immunosuppressive drugs. The animals were divided into four groups, as follows: group 1 control: no treatment; group 2: rapamycin (2 mg/kg); group 3 FK506 (0, 3 mg/kg); and group 4: FK506 (0, 3 mg/kg) plus rapamycin (2 mg/kg). The left kidney was removed and after 3 h of cold ischaemia, the graft was transplanted. Twenty-four hours after transplant, the kidney was recovered for histological analysis and cytokine expression. Preconditioning treatment with rapamycin or tacrolimus significantly reduced blood urea nitrogen and creatinine compared with control [blood urea nitrogen (BUN): P < 0·001 versus control and creatinine: P < 0·001 versus control]. A further decrease was observed when rapamycin was combined with tacrolimus. Acute tubular necrosis was decreased significantly in donors treated with immunosuppressants compared with the control group (P < 0·001 versus control). Moreover, the number of apoptotic nuclei in the control group was higher compared with the treated groups (P < 0·001 versus control). Surprisingly, only rapamycin preconditioning treatment increased anti-apoptotic Bcl2 levels (P < 0·001). Finally, inflammatory cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6, showed lower levels in the graft of those animals that had been pretreated with rapamycin or tacrolimus. This exploratory study demonstrates that preconditioning donor animals with rapamycin or tacrolimus improves clinical outcomes and reduce necrosis and apoptosis in kidney I/R injury.

Influence of the food to microorganisms (F/M) ratio and temperature on batch anaerobic digestion processes with and without zeolite addition

The main objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of the food to microorganisms (F/M) ratio and temperature on batch anaerobic digestion processes carried out with and without zeolite addition as a microbial carrier. Three laboratory-scale experimental runs were conducted using a synthetic substrate with a COD:N:P ratio of 500:5:1. The first run (I) was conducted at a constant temperature of 27°C, increasing the F/M ratio from 0.21 to 0.40 (g COD/g VSS). During the second run (II) the temperature and the F/M ratio increased from 27°C to 37°C and from 0.21 to 0.40, respectively. Finally, in the third experimental run (III) the F/M ratio achieved high values (1.92 and 1.30) either by varying the substrate concentration at a constant biomass concentration or by increasing the biomass concentration at a constant substrate concentration. Higher biomass growth rate, COD removal and methane production were found in the reactors with zeolite, especially at the highest F/M assayed during the first run. The highest ammonium removals were also achieved at the highest F/M ratio (0.40) in the reactors with zeolite. Within the range studied (25°C-37°C) in the reactors with zeolite operating at 37°C, the second run demonstrated the low influence of temperature on substrate consumption and ammonia removal, with 93% and 70% of COD and ammonia removal efficiencies, respectively. The third run corroborated the results previously obtained and fit the experimental results to simple kinetic models, the Monod model being the most adequate for predicting the behavior of the systems studied. The maximum specific microorganism growth rate (μ(max)) values for the reactors with zeolite were almost twice as high as those obtained for the reactors without zeolite for similar F/M ratios.

The predictive value of criteria for student admission to dentistry

INTRODUCTION

In this study, we investigated the value of an individual selection procedure to choose dental students for the Faculty of Dental Medicine at the University of Witten/Herdecke, Germany. The selection procedure was divided into the following four steps: step one consisted of a formal application; step two consisted of a practical test; step three consisted of a personal interview; and step four consisted of a final selection by an independent committee.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data from 196 students were collected from the university files. The following data were compared: the grades of the final secondary school certificate (Abiturnoten) were compared with the grades of the Natural Science Examination (naturwissenschaftliche Vorprüfung), first Dental Examination (zahnärztliche Vorprüfung) and State Board Examination (Staatsexamen); specialisation or non-specialisation at secondary school in natural sciences was compared with the grades of the Natural Science Examination and the first Dental Examination; the results of the practical test of the selection procedure were compared with the grades of the practical examination in the first Dental Examination; the interview recommendations to the committee were compared with the grades of the first Dental Examination and the State Board Examination.

RESULTS

The results showed a positive correlation (R = 0.34; P < 0.001) between the secondary school grades and the Natural Science Examination grades. The correlation was weaker between the grades of the first Dental Examination and State Board Examination. No correlation was found between the specialisation during secondary school in biology, chemistry and physics or non-specialisation, and the results of the Natural Science Examination and first Dental Examination. A weak correlation was found between the grades the candidates obtained in the practical test of the selection procedure and the first Dental Examination.

The use of Eugenol and electro-narcosis as anaesthetics: transcriptional impacts on the European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.)

Ecotoxicological studies aim to assess the potential environmental risks of various products. This implies the use of various biological models and tests on live animals. In case of handling fish and mammals, ethical rules have to be respected. The use of anaesthesia is considered to be the best way to ensure animal welfare. Eugenol and electro-narcosis are among the most popular chemical and physical anaesthetics used in fisheries and by field biologists. In this study, the genetic and endocrine impacts of these anaesthetics were assessed in order to establish whether the use of such methods could skew the results of ecotoxicological studies. Twenty yellow European eels (Anguilla anguilla) were submitted to Eugenol (50mg/L) and electro-narcosis until they reached a level of deep anaesthesia, while 20 other eels were kept aware. Five anaesthetized and five unanaesthetized eels were sacrificed and analysed directly after treatment and after 1, 7 and 21 days of recovery. At the brain level, Eugenol triggered an increase in the transcription level of genes encoding proteins involved in oxidative stress responses (catalase expression 2.5-fold, mitochondrial superoxide dismutase expression 3-fold), probably due to a hypoxic event during anaesthesia. Later impacts were detected in muscles 21 days after anaesthesia (ATP synthase subunit 6 3-fold, NADH deshydrogenase subunit 5 4-fold and mitochondrial superoxide dismutase 3-fold increased) revealing oxidative stress from an accrued mitochondrial respiratory metabolism. Hormone dosages showed that the use of Eugenol reduced the release of plasma cortisol during anaesthesia. However, this impact seemed to be reversible within one day. In case of electro-narcosis, no significant variation in transcriptional levels could be detected between anaesthetized and unanaesthetized eels. Our results suggest that the use of Eugenol as an aesthetic in ecotoxicological studies measuring gene expression or plasma cortisol concentration is not appropriate, while electro-narcosis does not seem to have any impact, at least on the parameters taken into consideration in this study.

Abstract P4-02-18: Antiprogestins as Possible Therapeutic Agents for Breast Cancer Patients Showing a High Expression of the Progesterone Receptor Isoform A

Near 75 percent of breast cancer patients express progesterone (PR) and estrogen (ER) receptors and are potential candidates to receive an endocrine therapy. Most of the endocrine therapies available have been designed to target ER and there is not much information about PR as a therapeutic target for breast cancer treatment. However, extensive clinical and experimental evidence suggest that progestins are associated with the induction and maintenance of the neoplastic phenotype in the mammary gland. Moreover, different antiprogestins including ZK 98299, ZK 230211 and RU-486 proved to exert excellent therapeutic effects in murine mammary carcinomas from the MPA-breast cancer model which express high levels of PR with an increased PR-isoform A/PR-isoform B ratio (PR-A/PR-B) (Lanari C et al, Endocrine Related Cancer, 2009 Feb, Jun;16(2):333-50).

The main goal of this study is to validate these experimental results using human breast cancer samples and to identify breast cancer patients that might benefit from an antiprogestin therapy. In the first part of this study our aim was to set up primary cultures from each breast cancer sample and to evaluate the in vitro response to antiprogestins, correlating this response with the PR-A/PR-B ratio. Tumor samples were obtained at surgery from patients diagnosed with breast cancer at the Magdalena V. de Martinez Hospital from General Pacheco and at the Rivadavia Hospital of Buenos Aires after signing the informed consent (n=70; median age 53.9 years). All tumor samples were processed by mechanical and enzymatic disaggregation and epithelial cells were purified by differential sedimentation techniques. Only 10 percent of the tumor samples succeeded in tissue culture and could be subcultured for further studies in 24 well plates. Cells were grown in culture medium in the presence of 10% fetal calf serum with or without RU-486 (10-8 M) or Tamoxifen (10-8 M). After one week of treatment, the cells were trypsinized and the total number of cells in each well was counted. Treatment with RU-486 or with Tamoxifen induced a decrease in the number of cells as compared to the controls (n=4, P&lt;0.05). In these patients PR-A expression was the same or higher than PR-B as observed by Western Blot. Our results suggest that RU-486 might be an alternative therapy to treat breast carcinomas showing a high expression of PR-A. We still need more successful cultures in order to correlate the in vitro responsiveness with the PR isoform ratio.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-02-18.

Bivalve population health: multistress to identify hot spots

This study investigated some stress (metals, parasites) and response (immunity, metallothionein) factors in two cockle and two Manila clam populations. Data from eight seasons were averaged to obtain global baseline values. Stress/response characteristics of each population were compared to population health status that was determined through population dynamics parameters. Four different scenarios were discussed: (1) a lightly stressed cockle population with correct population health but with a risk of deterioration (hot spot); (2) a lightly stressed introduced cockle population threatened of extinction. In this case ecological factors were suspected; (3) a moderately stressed clam population with moderate adaptative response. The population was sustainable but the level of stress should not increase (hotspot); and (4) a stressed clam population and unfavourable ecological conditions preventing clam settlement. This monitoring highlighted that the discrepancy between population health and stress levels could be due to insufficient response by bivalves and/or by unfavourable ecological factors.

Abstract 1992: In silico transciptome analysis and experimental validation of epigenetically regulated genes in gastric carcinoma

Gastric Cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide and no biomarkers are available for early detection. To search for potential biomarkers we analysed in silico transcriptome followed by experimental validation of epigenetically regulated genes. Methods. In silico transcriptome analysis was performed after download 4 normal and 10 tumor gastric Serial Gene Expression (SAGE) libraries from CGAP/GEO domains to create a single file containing 121,409 tags. Clustering libraries were identified by PCA, COA and Support Clustering. Significance Analysis for Microarray (SAM) was performed to select differentially expressed tags and SAGE Genie/TAGmapper was applied for tag-gene association. CpG island in the promoter region of selected genes was interrogated by UCSC or EMBOSS CpGPlot browsers. Functional annotation was performed by Gene Ontology (GO) using Babelomics. Experimental validation of epigenetically regulated genes was performed by RT-PCR in five gastric cancer cell lines (NCI-N87, MKN-45, KATO-III, AGS, HSC-38) and other cell lines (MCF7, ZR-75-1, A549, Hep2, JURKAT, CASKI, FS and Hek293T]) after 5 uM of 5-azaC incubation for 72 hrs. Genes with restored expression were further analyzed by bisulfite sequencing and clinico-pathological significance was evaluated by in 91 early gastric cancers and 148 chronic gastritis cases by Tissue Microarray (TMA) methodology. Results. Two thousand and four hundred and thirty seven (2%) tags were expressed in all normal libraries and all tumor libraries. PCA, COA and Support Cluster analyses clearly identified normal and tumor libraries and were confirmed by Support clustering analysis. SAM revealed 90 tags differentially expressed between these two libraries with 78 down-regulated and 12 up-regulated tags in tumor libraries. Tag to gene association identified 59 genes. Functional annotation revealed that most of downregulated genes were negative regulators of apoptosis (GO:0016265) and overexpressed genes were cell cycle regulators (GO:0007049) or angiogenesis inducers (GO:0001525). Interestingly, 16 genes did not have any prior investigation in gastric carcinoma. Finally by bona-fide CpG island analysis, 38 genes contained CpG in their promoter regions, and 12 demonstrated epigenetic regulation after 5-azaC incubation including FLT1 and STAT1. Bisulfite sequence confirmed CpG methylation changes for FLT1 gene and IHC staining of STAT1 on TMAs revealed almost significant overexpression in cancer-associated gastritis vs chronic gastritis control cases (p=0.057). Discussion. Experimental validation of in silico analysis of gastric carcinoma transcriptomes reveal epigenetic regulation of several genes. Among these, STAT1 is a promissory candidate to distinguish chronic gastritis from cancer-associated gastritis.

Supported by FONDECYT 1080563 from Government of Chile.

Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010 because the presenter was unable to attend.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1992.

Visual electrophysiological findings in CHARGE syndrome with bilateral colobomas: a case report

Colobomas are the major ophthalmic manifestation of CHARGE syndrome. Ophthalmological advice may be sought for an infant diagnosed with CHARGE syndrome presenting with coloboma, and electrophysiology can be particularly useful in assessing retinal and cortical function at an early age. Here we describe electrophysiology findings in a four-week-old infant born with bilateral coloboma, more extensive in the right eye, as part of CHARGE syndrome. The left eye showed robust ERGs indicating near-normal rod and cone function. The right eye ERG amplitudes were relatively reduced being around one half to two-thirds that of the left eye ERGs. Flash VEPs were present from both left and right eyes, but the right eye VEP was smaller and delayed relative to that of the left eye. By 5 years of age, right eye acuity was approximately 6/1000 and left eye acuity was 6/12 (Cardiff cards). In cases such as this, it is helpful to give parents a reasonable prediction of visual outcome as soon as possible, allowing instigation of appropriate management and permitting parents to begin to come to terms with the diagnosis. Electrophysiology can provide valuable information on visual function when behavioural testing is limited by the child's ability to co-operate, such as during the early weeks of life.

Intimate partner violence among Latinas in eastern North Carolina

This article explores the correlates of intimate partner violence (IPV) among rural, southern Latinas. A sample of 1,212 women in blue-collar work sites in rural North Carolina completed a questionnaire assessing IPV and other social, demographic, and health-related variables. Social and demographic correlates of IPV were examined. Adult lifetime prevalence of IPV in Latinas was 19.5%, similar to that of non-Latinas. As compared to Latinas who did not experience IPV and non-Latinas who experienced IPV, Latinas who experienced IPV were more likely to lack social support and to have children in the home. Agencies that provide services to victims of IPV in the rural South need to be prepared to meet the unique needs of Latina immigrants.

Outbreak of 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1), Los Lagos, Chile, April-June 2009

On 17 May 2009, the first two cases of 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) were confirmed in the Metropolitan region (Santiago, Chile). On 6 June 2009, Chile reported 500 confirmed cases, seven severe and two fatal. Because six of the severe cases and the two deaths occurred in the region of Los Lagos in southern Chile, a retrospective study was conducted using data on emergency room visits as well as laboratory viral surveillance, during the period from 1 April to 31 May, in order to establish the date of the beginning of the outbreak. From 1 to 27 June, data were collected in real time, to establish the real magnitude of the outbreak, describe its transmission, clinical severity and secondary attack rates. Confirmed cases, their household contacts and healthcare workers were interviewed. This analysis showed that the outbreak in Los Lagos started on 28 April. By 27 June, a total of 14.559 clinical cases were identified, affecting mostly 5-19 year-olds. The effective reproduction number during the initial phase (20 days) was 1.8 (1.6-2.0). Of the 190 confirmed cases with severe acute respiratory infection, 71 (37.4%) presented a risk condition or underlying illness.

How To Deal with Additional Findings Seen in Pre-Therapeutic Breast MRI and Their Impact on Therapeutic Approach. A Prospective Longitudinal Single-Institutional Study in 465 Patients

Background: Accurate assessment of the extent of breast cancer with breast MRI (BMRI) yields additional findings (AF) that must be characterized in order to guide treatment. The aim of our study was to analyze the work-up of AF seen in pre-therapeutic BMRI and their impact on therapeutic approach and re-excision rates.Methods: From 07/2002 to 04/2007 we studied prospectively 465 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of breast cancer that underwent a pre-treatment BMRI to evaluate disease extent. BMRI studies were performed with a 1,0 and a 1,5 T magnet and coronal T2-weighted fast spin-echo and contrast-enchanced T1-weighted 3D gradient-echo sequences were evaluated. Post-processing included parametric, multiplanar reconstructions and maximum intensity projections. Fischer's scale was used to characterize additional lesions (AL). AL &gt;5 mm were classified as: increase in tumor size, multifocal, multicentric and contralateral disease. AF that would potentially change therapeutic approach were re-evaluated with 2nd-look ultrasound (US), biopsied if found and/or marked with clips or with a radioisotope (ROLL). BI-RADS 3 lesions were followed up with BMRI. Gold standards were pathology reports and follow-up &gt;2 years for benign lesions. Therapeutic change based on MRI findings was deemed correct in malignant AF and incorrect if pathology was benign. Re-excision rates and disease-free intervals were calculated.Results. A total of 280 AF were found in 222 (47,7%) patients. US studies were performed in 111 patients, in 99 of which the AL (89,1%) was found. 63 patients underwent biopsies and 48 of them (76,1%) were malignant. ROLL procedures were performed in 32 patients and malignancy rate was 65,6%. Follow-up BMRI studies for BI-RADS 3 lesions were performed in 42 patients (9%). BMRI found index lesions seen by mammography or US in 98,9% of the patients and did not find additional multifocal or multicentric disease in 10 patients, yielding a total negative predictive value of 96,7% for BMRI (6 invasive and 9 intraductal cancers). Therapeutic approach was changed in 107 patients (23%) and considered correct in 92 (86%) representing 19,7% of all patients and incorrect in 15 (14%) corresponding to 3,2% of the total. Re-excision due to positive margins during the first 6 months was performed in 39/323 patients treated with conservative surgery (re-excision rate of 12%). Mean follow-up was 48,4 months (m) (6,7-81,4 m) and mean disease-free interval was 45 m (6,7-81,4 m).Conclusion: Work-up of AF diagnosed in BMRI allows accurate treatment adjusted to disease extent in 96,8% of the patients. Additional work-up using US and close correlation with the rest of conventional modalities is the mandatory behaviour to ensure an integrated evaluation of AF. This policy allows a correct treatment in 86% of the patients with potential therapeutic change. Overtreatment was induced in 14% of these patients. Regarding the overall series of 465 patients submitted to BMRI, the 15 patients who were overtreated represent 3,2% of the total. The precision level of preoperative MRI in this scenario is clearly superior to conventional modalities when combined in an integrated multimodality approach.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 4023.

Virus-like particles associated with brown muscle disease in Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum, in Arcachon Bay (France)

Recently, Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum, populations have suffered mortalities in Arcachon Bay (SW France). Mortality was associated with extensive lesions of the posterior adductor muscle, which become progressively brown and calcified. Ultrastructural observations by transmission electron microscopy revealed tissue degradation with necrotized muscle fibres and granulocytomas. Unenveloped virus-like particles (VLPs) were detected in muscle, granulocytic, epithelial and rectal cells. VLPs were abundant in the extracellular space, in the cytoplasm (free or enclosed in vesicles) and in the nucleoplasm of granulocytes. Nuclei and mitochondria of granulocytes displayed changes which suggested reactive oxygen species production and apoptosis induction. VLPs exhibited an icosahedral structure with a diameter of 25 to 35 nm. These observations suggest that the VLPs could belong to the family Picornaviridae or the Parvoviridae.

Hepatitis C virus compartmentalization and infection recurrence after liver transplantation

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) compartmentalization may have important implications in the pathogenesis of HCV infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and relevance of HCV compartmentalization in the setting of liver transplantation (LT). We collected samples of serum, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), perihepatic lymph nodes (PLN) and liver explant at the time of LT, and serum and PBMC after transplantation from 57 HCV-infected cirrhotic patients undergoing LT: 38 individuals received antiviral treatment before LT and 19 were untreated controls. HCV-RNA levels were determined by real-time PCR and the hypervariable region 1 (HVR-1) was sequenced. HCV-RNA was detected in all samples from control patients. In virological responders, recurrence after LT was associated with residual HCV-RNA in the liver explant. Within the entire cohort, 47% of patients harbored differences in direct sequences from distinct compartments. Quasispecies analysis revealed that in most cases, HVR-1 sequences recovered after infection recurrence were identical or closely related to those isolated from the liver explant and serum at the time of LT. Our study shows that a significant proportion of HCV-infected cirrhotic patients exhibit compartmentalization. Viral variants originating within the liver appear to be the main cause of HCV recurrence after LT.

Beneficial effects on the reproductive performance of sows of administering prostaglandin analogues after farrowing

Twenty-four to 36 hours after farrowing, 192 sows were treated with a single intramuscular injection (2 ml per animal) of a prostaglandin analogue; 102 were treated with cloprostenol racemate and 97 with dinoprost tromethamine, and 90 were left untreated. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in the percentages of sows that came into oestrus by eight days after weaning or conceived by eight days after weaning. Significantly more piglets were born per litter (10.71 and 11.00 piglets in the cloprostenol and dinoprost groups, respectively) and born alive (10.22 and 10.41, respectively) than in the controls (9.24 piglets born per litter and 8.66 piglets born alive).

Genetic relationships between seven Spanish native breeds of cattle

Ten genetic markers were studied in seven Spanish native cattle breeds, using a total of 725 animals. Of the ten, two were found to be monomorphic in all seven breeds. The genetic relationships of the seven breeds are estimated by three different genetic-statistical methods (genetic distances, main coordinate analysis and cluster analysis), which indicate three clearly distinct groups of populations: one where the Cárdena Andaluza and Alistana Sanabresa are very closely related, one comprising Sayaguesa, Morucha, Asturiana de los Valles and Asturiana de la Montaña cattle, and a third, genetically distant from the other two, comprising only Blanca Cacereña. The dendrogram drawn from the genetic distances matrix would seem to imply that the seven breeds are descended from different ancestors.

NADH diaphorase polymorphism in goat erythrocytes

This paper describes for the first time polymorphism of the erythrocyte diaphorase in goats. Three diaphorase 1 phenotypes were observed in the red cells of goats. Breeding data indicated that polymorphism was controlled by two autosomal codominant alleles, DiaF and DiaS, the frequencies of which were determined in 14 different Spanish breeds of goat.