Bioarchaeological insights into the process of domestication of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) during Roman times in Southern France

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera), one of the most important fruit species in the Classical Mediterranean world, is thought to have been domesticated first in South-Western Asia, during the Neolithic. However, the domestication process remains largely unknown. Crucial unanswered questions concern the duration of the process (rapid or slow?) and the related geographical area (single or multiple-origins?). Seeds from domesticated grapevine and from its wild ancestor are reported to differ according to shape. Our work aims, first, to confirm this difference and secondly to identify the extent of domestication in the grapes cultivated by Romans in Southern France during the period 50 BCE–500 CE. We had the opportunity to analyze uncharred waterlogged grape pips from 17 archaeological sites. Based on an extended reference sample of modern wild grapevines and cultivars our work shows that both subspecies can be discriminated using simple measurements. The elongation gradient of the pip’s body and stalk may be regarded as an indicator of the strength of the selection pressures undergone by domesticated grapes. Grapevines cultivated during the Roman period included a mix of morphotypes comprising wild, intermediate and moderately selected domesticated forms. Our data point to a relative shift towards more selected types during the Roman period. Domestication of the grapevine appears to have been a slow process. This could result from the recurrent incorporation into cultivation of plants originating from sexual reproduction, when grape cultivation essentially relies on vegetative propagation.

Impact of histological chorioamnionitis, funisitis and clinical chorioamnionitis on neurodevelopmental outcome of preterm infants

BACKGROUND

The role of chorioamnionitis in neurodevelopment of preterm infants is not fully understood.

AIM

To examine the association between different indicators of intrauterine inflammation (clinical chorioamnionitis, histological chorioamnionitis and funisitis) and neurodevelopmental impairment in very preterm infants.

METHODS

Preterm infants with a birth weight of <1500 g or a gestational age of <32 weeks were included. Follow-up evaluation up to 2 years of age consisted of neurological examination, neurodevelopmental assessment and visual and audiologic tests. Outcome data were compared between the chorioamnionitis and the control groups, controlling for gestational age, birth weight and Apgar score at 5 min.

RESULTS

One hundred seventy-seven patients comprised the study population (mean gestational age 29±2 weeks, mean birth weight 1167±344 g). Histological chorioamnionitis was present in 49% of placentas, whereas funisitis was observed in 25%. In 57% cases clinical maternal chorioamnionitis was suspected. Follow-up was available for 130 (82%) patients. Infants with funisitis, compared with controls, had a significantly higher incidence of moderate to severe disability (18% vs 5%, OR 4.07; 95% CI 1.10-15.09).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that, unlike a broad definition of histological chorioamnionitis including inflammation of maternal or fetal placental tissues, funisitis may entail a higher risk of moderate to severe disability at 2 years of age in preterm infants.

Expression of Na+-D-glucose cotransporter in brush-border membrane of the chicken intestine

We have studied the expression of Na+-D-glucose cotransporter in brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMVs) of chicken enterocytes to correlate the changes in the apical Na+-dependent transport with the changes in the amounts of transporter determined by Western blot analysis. Two different rabbit polyclonal antibodies were used simultaneously. The antibody raised against amino acids 564-575 of the deduced amino acid sequence of rabbit intestinal SGLT-1 (antibody 1) specifically detects a single 75-kDa band in the three segments, and this band disappeared when the antibody was preabsorbed with the antigenic peptide. The antibody raised against the synthetic peptide corresponding to amino acids 402-420 of the same protein (antibody 2) only reacts with jejunal and ileal samples, but no signal is found in BBMVs of rectum. Only when antibody 1 was used was there a linear correlation between the maximal transport rates of hexoses in BBMVs and the relative protein amounts determined by Western blot. These results indicate that the Na+-D-glucose cotransport in the jejunum, the ileum, and the rectum of chickens is due to an SGLT-1 type protein.

Developmental changes in glucose transport, lipid composition, and fluidity of jejunal BBM

Na(+)-dependent D-glucose uptake was studied in jejunal brush-border membrane (BBM) vesicles of chickens at 2 days and 1, 2, 5-6, and 12-14 wk of age. Both initial rates and accumulation ratios of the Na(+)-dependent D-glucose transport were significantly higher during the 1st wk than at other ages. To explain the age-related changes observed in the transport of D-glucose, the phlorizin-specific binding, Na+ permeability, lipid composition, and fluidity were studied. Transporter site density was quantified using 50 mumol/l phlorizin and found to be higher during the 1st wk. During the 2nd wk it decreased and then remained constant. Permeability of Na+, studied using 22Na+, showed that fluxes were similar during the first 6 wk, and a significant decrease was observed in the oldest group. Furthermore, membrane fluidity results showed a significant age-dependent decrease that correlated well with both the increased molar ratio of cholesterol to phospholipid and the decreased ratio of lipid to protein found during development. In conclusion, changes in the density of Na(+)-dependent D-glucose transporter as well as in lipid content and fluidity might be involved in the changes observed in D-glucose uptake during the posthatching development.