Expression of Mst89B and CG31287 is Needed for Effective Sperm Storage and Egg Fertilization in Drosophila

In Drosophila, male reproductive fitness can be affected by any number of processes, ranging from development of gametes, transfer to and storage of mature sperm within the female sperm storage organs, and utilization of sperm for fertilization. We have previously identified the 89B cytogenetic map position of D. melanogaster as a hub for genes that effect male paternity success when disturbed. Here, we used RNA interference to test 11 genes that are highly expressed in the testes and located within the 89B region for their role in sperm competition and male fecundity when their expression is perturbed. Testes-specific knockdown (KD) of bor and CSN5 resulted in complete sterility, whereas KD of CG31287, Manf and Mst89B, showed a breakdown in sperm competitive success when second to mate (P2 < 0.5) and reduced fecundity in single matings. The low fecundity of Manf KD is explained by a significant reduction in the amount of mature sperm produced. KD of Mst89B and CG31287 does not affect sperm production, sperm transfer into the female bursa or storage within 30 min after mating. Instead, a significant reduction of sperm in female storage is observed 24 h after mating. Egg hatchability 24 h after mating is also drastically reduced for females mated to Mst89B or CG31287 KD males, and this reduction parallels the decrease in fecundity. We show that normal germ-line expression of Mst89B and CG31287 is needed for effective sperm usage and egg fertilization.

Effects of cyanidin 3-0-glucoside on cardiac structure and function in an animal model of myocardial infarction

Cyanidin 3-0-glucoside (CG) is a polyphenol with potential health benefits. In this study, we investigated, for the first time, the cardioprotective effects of CG in an animal model of myocardial infarction (MI), a major cause of death worldwide. Sham and MI rats were administered CG (10 mg kg^-1 day^-1) daily for one week prior to surgery, and 8 weeks post-surgery. Echocardiography was performed to assess cardiac structure and function at 4 and 8 weeks. At 4 weeks, MI rats had significantly lower body mass when compared to control rats, and CG administration significantly prevented this decrease. Four-week MI rats also showed significantly increased left ventricle dilation, end systolic and end diastolic volumes in comparison to controls, and CG significantly prevented these adverse changes. Ejection fraction was significantly lower in 4-week MI rats in comparison to controls, and CG had no effect on this parameter. At 8 weeks, body mass was significantly lower in MI rats when compared to control rats, and CG significantly prevented this decrease. At 8 weeks, MI rats showed a significant increase in left ventricle dilation and isovolumic relaxation time, while ejection fraction was significantly lower when compared to controls; these parameters were not altered by CG treatment. Eight-week MI rats had significantly higher level of oxidative stress in heart tissue in comparison to controls, and CG administration did not prevent this increase. In conclusion, administration of CG was able to significantly preserve body mass in both 4 and 8 weeks MI rats, as well as significantly prevent cardiac dilation in 4 weeks MI rats. However, CG was unable to sustain this cardioprotection, as cardiac structure and function were not significantly improved in 8 weeks MI rats.

Postmating Reproductive isolation between strains of Drosophila willistoni

Speciation can occur through the presence of reproductive isolation barriers that impede mating, restrict cross-fertilization, or render inviable/sterile hybrid progeny. The D. willistoni subgroup is ideally suited for studies of speciation, with examples of both allopatry and sympatry, a range of isolation barriers, and the availability of one species complete genome sequence to facilitate genetic studies of divergence. D. w. willistoni has the largest geographic distribution among members of the Drosophila willistoni subgroup, spanning from Argentina to the southern United States, including the Caribbean islands. A subspecies of D. w. willistoni, D. w. quechua, is geographically separated by the Andes mountain range and has evolved unidirectional sterility, in that only male offspring of D. w. quechua females × D. w. willistoni males are sterile. Whether D. w. willistoni flies residing east of the Andes belong to one or more D. willistoni subspecies remains unresolved. Here we perform fecundity assays and show that F1 hybrid males produced from crosses between different strains found in Central America, North America, and northern Caribbean islands are reproductively isolated from South American and southern Caribbean island strains as a result of unidirectional hybrid male sterility. Our results show the existence of a reproductive isolation barrier between the northern and southern strains and suggest a subdivision of the previously identified D. willistoni willistoni species into 2 new subspecies.

Factors affecting the use of folic acid supplements in pregnant women in Glasgow

BACKGROUND

Use of folic acid supplements preconception, and during the first trimester, is associated with a reduced incidence of first and subsequent neural tube defects. The Department of Health guidelines recommend the use of folic acid supplements by all women planning a pregnancy.

AIM

To ascertain the proportion using folic acid supplements and the factors affecting their use.

METHOD

Questionnaires were distributed postpartum to the 515 women who delivered normal babies in three maternity units in Glasgow over a four-week period.

RESULTS

Forms were completed by 487 (95%) women. Only 57% took supplements at some point during their pregnancy, and only 21% took them before conception. Failure to take supplements was significantly associated with unplanned pregnancy, younger age, and previous pregnancies. Lack of awareness of the potential benefits associated with folic acid use was the commonest reason cited by women for not taking supplements.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased health education through health care professionals and mass media campaigns can improve awareness and thereby increase the use of supplements in planned pregnancies. However, 42% of women in our study had unplanned pregnancies. Intake of folic acid supplements in this group can only be increased by improvements in dietary intake within the population as a whole, and by fortification of commonly ingested foods.

Neonatal neurobehavioral tests following cesarean section under general and spinal anesthesia

The Scanlon Group of Early Neonatal Neurobehavioral Tests (E.N.N.S.) was administered to 150 babies delivered by elective cesarean section. Fifty of the mothers were induced into general anesthesia with thiopental, 4 mg. per kilogram, and 50 with ketamine, 1 mg. per kilogram. Fifty mothers received spinal anesthesia with 6 to 8 mg. of tetracaine. All mothers receiving spinal anesthesia were given 100 per cent oxygen by a transparent face mask and all undergoing general anesthesia received N2O-O2 (6L:6L) until delivery of the baby. All mothers were healthy and all babies weighed 2,500 grams or more, were apparently normal, and had Apgar scores of 7 or more at one minute to 10 at five minutes. Spinal anesthesia was associated with the greatest percentage of high scores on both the first and second day for overall assessment, pinprick response, tone, rooting, sucking. Moro response, placing, alertness, and total decrement (habituation) scores. There was a statistically significant difference between all the scores for spinal compared to the other two groups. The scores were lowest following a thiopental induction and intermediate with ketamine although the difference did not reach statistical significance.

Neonatal neurobehavior in the first 48 hours of life: effect of the administration of meperidine with and without naloxone in the mother

The early neonatal neurobehavioral scale was administered to three groups of newborns at 2, 4, and 24 hours of age. Group 1 consisted of 28 babies whose mothers had received no narcotics during labor, group 2 of 33 babies whose mothers had received meperidine hydrochloride alone during labor, and group 3 of 40 babies whose mothers had received meperidine followed by 0.4 mg of naloxone hydrochloride intravenously approximately 15 minutes before delivery. Babies who were not exposed to meperidine showed a statistically significantly greater percentage of high scores than those exposed to meperidine alone for all items on the neurobehavioral scale at 2 and 4 hours and for all items except tone and Moro response at 24 hours. Similarly, babies whose mothers had received meperidine and naloxone showed a significantly greater percentage of high scores than those whose mothers had received meperidine alone at 2 hours of age. At 4 hours a difference was found for tone and rooting and at 24 hours for overall score, placing, and total decrement score. It is concluded that naloxone given intravenously to the mother reverses the effect of meperidine on neonatal neurobehavior for approximately two hours after birth. At 4 and 24 hours, however, the neurobehavior of neonates exposed to meperidine and naloxone is depressed almost as much as that of babies exposed to meperidine alone.