RESUMO
Cactus pears are succulent plants of the Cactaceae family adapted to extremely arid, hot and cold environments, making them excellent models for the study of molecular mechanisms underlying abiotic stress tolerance. Herein, we report a directional cDNA library from 12-month-old cladodes of Opuntia streptacantha plants subjected to abiotic stresses. A total of 442 clones were sequenced, representing 329 cactus pear unigenes, classified into eleven functional categories. The most abundant EST (unigen 33) was characterized under abiotic stress. This cDNA of 905 bp encodes a SK(3)-type acidic dehydrin of 248 amino acids. The OpsDHN1 gene contains an intron inserted within the sequence encoding the S-motif. qRT-PCR analysis shows that the OpsDHN1 transcript is specifically accumulated in response to cold stress, and induced by abscisic acid. Over-expression of the OpsDHN1 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana leads to enhanced tolerance to freezing treatment, suggesting that OpsDHN1 participates in freezing stress responsiveness. Generation of the first EST collection for the characterization of cactus pear genes constitutes a useful platform for the understanding of molecular mechanisms of stress tolerance in Opuntia and other CAM plants.
Assuntos
Biblioteca Gênica , Opuntia/metabolismo , Proteínas de Plantas/metabolismo , Temperatura Baixa , Regulação da Expressão Gênica de Plantas/genética , Regulação da Expressão Gênica de Plantas/fisiologia , Opuntia/genética , Opuntia/fisiologia , Proteínas de Plantas/genéticaRESUMO
The Andean tree genus Polylepis (Rosaceae) is notorious for the high morphological plasticity of its species and the difficulty in their circumscription. The evolutionary mechanisms that have driven diversification of the genus are still poorly understood, with factors as diverse as ecological specialisation, reticulate evolution, polyploidisation and apomixis being proposed to contribute. In the present study, chromosome counts, flow cytometry and stomata guard cell size measurements were employed to document for the first time the presence of polyploidy in the genus and to infer ploidy levels for most species. Inferred ploidy levels show a clear progression from diploidy in cloud forest species to polyploidy (tetra- to octoploidy) in the morphologically and ecologically specialised incana group, indicating that polyploidisation may have played a major role in speciation processes and the colonisation of novel habitats during the Andean uplift. At least two species of Polylepis comprise populations with varying degrees of ploidy. More extensive studies are needed to obtain a better understanding of the prevalence and effects of intraspecific polyploidy in the genus.
Assuntos
Poliploidia , Rosaceae/genética , Árvores/genética , Cromossomos de Plantas , DNA de Plantas/genética , Cariotipagem , Estômatos de Plantas/anatomia & histologia , América do SulRESUMO
We describe the relative prevalence and pattern of distribution of osteoarthritis (OA) in the hands of elderly (> 15 years) rhesus macaques using clinical, radiographic, and skeletal examinations. In the clinical study the prevalence of nodes was 72% and 16% in the distal inter-phalangeal joints (DIPJ) and proximal inter-phalangeal joints (PIPJ), respectively, 31% of all monkeys had polyarticular nodes. Radiographic OA was present in 55%, 9.1%, and 0% of the DIPJs, PIPJs, and thumb base, respectively. Skeletal OA as defined by joint surface eburnation for the DIPJ, PIPJ, and thumb base were 16%, 8%, and 2%, respectively. A similar pattern of hand OA with humans is described except for the thumb base OA. This may be due to the relatively rudimentary manipulative role of the macaque thumb. The finding of polyarticular nodal OA raises the possibility of a common pathogenensis for IPJ OA amongst primates.
Assuntos
Mãos/diagnóstico por imagem , Osteoartrite/veterinária , Doenças dos Primatas , Animais , Artrografia , Osso e Ossos/diagnóstico por imagem , Osso e Ossos/patologia , Feminino , Macaca mulatta , Masculino , Osteoartrite/diagnóstico por imagem , Osteoartrite/patologia , Porto RicoRESUMO
Homotropic T cell adhesion, as generally studied, consists of a rapid, transient binding process that is measured over a 15-120 min. period. Here we report a slow type of adhesion process occurring with human or rhesus T cells, purified from peripheral blood, that manifests itself by the formation of rounded, multi-layer clusters which may contain hundreds of cells. The maximal number and size of the clusters peak 1-2 days after the addition of phorbol ester, an absolute requirement. The number of clusters formed is proportional to phorbol ester concentration up to 1.25 ng/mL. Phorbol esters such as phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), phorbol dibutyrate (PDB), and 7-octylindolactam (OIL) induced optimal cluster formation at 1-13 ng/mL, levels slightly higher than that required to induce mitogenesis of purified T cells. Phorbol itself and the alpha-form of the ester were inactive. Both cluster formation and mitogenesis (stimulated by Con A or anti-CD3) are completely inhibited by staurosporin at 12.5 ng/mL. Even at 2.5 ng/mL, 74% of cluster formation was inhibited, which strongly implies a crucial role for protein kinase C. In the presence of accessory cells, T cell clusters were suppressed. Monoclonal Ab such as anti-CD3, mouse anti-CD3 followed by anti-mouse IgG, anti-CD4, anti-CD4A, anti-CD2, anti-CD8, and anti-CD45 did not induce cluster formation. None were inhibitory or stimulatory in the presence of PMA, except for anti-CD3 which enhanced cluster formation by 26%. However, anti-LFA-1 beta-chain (mouse monoclonal) completely blocked cluster formation over the range studied (63-1000 ng/mL) for both human and rhesus cells; rat anti-LFA-1 only blocked human cell adhesion. Anti LFA-1 only partially inhibited T cell mitogenesis. These results show that slow cluster formation shares the LFA-1 and phorbol ester requirements of the rapid adhesion of T cells requiring LFA-1 and ICAM-1. However, cluster occurs at a very low phorbol ester concentration, appears more sensitive to staurosporin inhibition, and is not stimulated via the TCR receptor like the rapid adhesion process. We hypothesize that certain neuronal processes, induced by phorbol ester, and which also show a similar protein kinase C activation time course, may share mechanisms in common with cluster formation.
Assuntos
Adesão Celular/imunologia , Agregação Celular/imunologia , Teste de Inibição de Aderência Leucocítica , Antígeno-1 Associado à Função Linfocitária/fisiologia , Proteína Quinase C/fisiologia , Linfócitos T/imunologia , Animais , Adesão Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Agregação Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Ativação Linfocitária/efeitos dos fármacos , Ativação Linfocitária/imunologia , Macaca mulatta , Camundongos , Ésteres de Forbol/farmacologia , RatosRESUMO
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from four different primate species were tested for their respective ability to support the "in vitro" replication of the human immunodeficiency viruses, HIV-1, and HIV-2. PBMC of Cebus apella, patas (Erythrocebus patas), green (cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus) and rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were infected "in vitro" with either HIV-1 or HIV-2. Cultures were assayed weekly for particle-associated reverse transcriptase activity. Both viruses were found to be cytolytic for all these monkey's PBMC. Low levels of HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection were observed in Cebus cells. However, productive infection was only detected in HIV-2 infected rhesus PBMC. The capacity of HIV-2 to replicate in rhesus cells may provide a useful model for evaluating antiviral drugs and vaccines.
Assuntos
HIV-1/fisiologia , HIV-2/fisiologia , Haplorrinos/microbiologia , Leucócitos Mononucleares/microbiologia , Animais , Cebus/microbiologia , Sobrevivência Celular , Células Cultivadas , Chlorocebus aethiops/microbiologia , Erythrocebus patas/microbiologia , Leucócitos Mononucleares/enzimologia , Macaca mulatta/microbiologia , DNA Polimerase Dirigida por RNA/análise , Replicação ViralRESUMO
Eighty-two percent of a group of rhesus monkeys removed from Cayo Santiago were seropositive for B virus (Herpesvirus simiae) antibodies. Similar results were obtained from the Cayo Santiago macaque population two decades ago and from feral Indian rhesus monkeys. Thus it is likely that B virus has been enzootic in the Cayo Santiago population since 1938, when the colony was established with stock imported from India.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Antivirais/análise , Infecções por Herpesviridae/veterinária , Herpesviridae/imunologia , Herpesvirus Cercopitecino 1/imunologia , Macaca mulatta , Macaca , Doenças dos Macacos/epidemiologia , Fatores Etários , Animais , Feminino , Infecções por Herpesviridae/epidemiologia , Masculino , Prevalência , Porto Rico/epidemiologia , Fatores SexuaisRESUMO
The lectin (EC) from the coral tree, E. cristagalli, while less mitogenic on a molar or weight basis than PHA or ConA, strongly activates both Rhesus monkey and human T cells. The optimal mitogenic concentrations for both Rhesus and human T cells are 0.25, 2.5, and 25 micrograms/ml, respectively, for PHA, ConA, and EC. Aged Rhesus T cells were profoundly suppressed in mitogenic response to EC (approx. 80%) compared to young Rhesus cells. However, in the presence of supplemental interleukin 2 (20 U/ml), the age-related defect was reversed; the average mitogenic response of the old Rhesus T cells was increased sixfold.
Assuntos
Envelhecimento/imunologia , Lectinas/farmacologia , Linfócitos T/imunologia , Animais , Concanavalina A/farmacologia , Erythrina/metabolismo , Interleucina-2/farmacologia , Macaca mulatta , Fito-Hemaglutininas/farmacologia , Lectinas de Plantas , Plantas MedicinaisRESUMO
Since 1985 a group from the University of Florida has examined 136 rhesus monkeys from the Cayo Santiago colony. From the sample, 97 are older than nine years (approximately 30 human years) and 39 are younger. Drusen were found in 17% of the younger eyes and in 46% of the older eyes. All animals over 25 years of age had drusen in the central fundus. The incidence of drusen varied from 19-77% between five social groups. Incidence reported in random-source colonies in the continental U.S.A. is about six percent. Compared to near-age matched controls without drusen, selected rhesus exhibited visual resolution losses amounting to two Snellen-lines or more. The end-stage disciform changes and ultrastructural similarities are comparable with human macular disease. Future prospective studies may include therapies, surgical intervention, environmental manipulation and genetic research.
Assuntos
Macaca mulatta/fisiologia , Macaca/fisiologia , Degeneração Macular/veterinária , Doenças dos Macacos/fisiopatologia , Academias e Institutos , Fatores Etários , Animais , Angiofluoresceinografia/veterinária , Degeneração Macular/fisiopatologia , Porto Rico , Retina/fisiopatologia , Acuidade VisualRESUMO
55 femora of free ranging rhesus monkeys from the Caribbean Primate Research Center ranging in age from 2-25 years were analyzed using histology, density fractionation and chemical analysis and correlated with morphometric data. The vertebral density was determined by photon absorptiometry. 119 caudal vertebrae from the skeletal collection were analyzed chemically. Cortical mineral density and porosity increased with age, and vertebral density and cortical area increased with weight. There was significant sexual dimorphism in many histological variables reflecting size differences and cortical porosity was greater in males. The chemical analysis showed no influence of the diet on bone mineral but that Ca increase with age in females but not in males. Finally a subgroup of aged, animals had hypermineralized, and more porous bone. This subpopulation may prove to be a valuable model for senile osteoporosis.
Assuntos
Osso e Ossos/fisiopatologia , Macaca mulatta/fisiologia , Macaca/fisiologia , Minerais/metabolismo , Doenças dos Macacos/fisiopatologia , Osteoporose/veterinária , Academias e Institutos , Fatores Etários , Animais , Feminino , Masculino , Osteoporose/fisiopatologia , Porto RicoRESUMO
A description of the Cayo Santiago rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) colony is provided including an aerial photograph and map.
Assuntos
Academias e Institutos , Macaca mulatta , Macaca , Meio Social , Animais , Dinâmica Populacional , Porto RicoRESUMO
To understand the pathogenesis of degenerative arthritis, an experimental model of the disease in which systemic factors can be investigated is required. This study reviews the evidence that the spontaneous degenerative arthritis in free ranging rhesus macaques at the Caribbean Primate Research Center meets the criteria for such a model. Two forms of degenerative arthritis in rhesus macaques have been identified: osteoarthritis and calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease. These diseases resemble spontaneous human arthritis with respect to age, sex, joint histology and cartilage composition. The availability of large numbers of affected primates as well as the availability of age/sex matched controls free of disease are additional factors that make spontaneous degenerative arthritis in rhesus macaques a suitable experimental model for the study of the human disease.
Assuntos
Modelos Animais de Doenças , Macaca mulatta/fisiologia , Macaca/fisiologia , Doenças dos Macacos/fisiopatologia , Osteoartrite/veterinária , Academias e Institutos , Animais , Pirofosfato de Cálcio/fisiologia , Cristalização , Articulações/fisiopatologia , Osteoartrite/fisiopatologia , Porto RicoRESUMO
Macaca mulatta on Cayo Santiago (CS) were examined with intravenous glucose tolerance tests (IV-GTT) for evidence of abnormalities in glucose clearance and insulin secretion. About 10% of the 98 monkeys had impaired glucose clearance associated with impaired insulin secretion. Another 6% had either fasting or secretory hyperinsulinemia with slightly increased rates of glucose clearance, and 20% had low insulin secretion, but no significant changes in glucose clearance. Results were compared to those obtained with CS-derived monkeys tested at Sabana Seca (SS). Glucose clearance per amount of insulin secreted was 40% more effective among CS macaques than among those at SS. There were no differences in weight between impaired and control macaques on CS. Effects of genetics, physical activity, and food consumption can be studied among these macaques and results related to similar metabolic abnormalities in prediabetic and diabetic human beings.
Assuntos
Glicemia/metabolismo , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental/sangue , Insulina/sangue , Macaca mulatta/sangue , Macaca/sangue , Meio Social , Academias e Institutos , Animais , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental/genética , Teste de Tolerância a Glucose/veterinária , Porto Rico , Fatores de RiscoAssuntos
Academias e Institutos/história , Macaca mulatta , Macaca , Animais , História do Século XX , Porto RicoRESUMO
The free-ranging population of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) on Cayo Santiago was sero-surveyed for human measles, simian virus 40, B virus (Herpes simiae), rhesus cytomegalovirus, human and simian retroviruses and encephalomyocarditis virus to determine the prevalence of these viruses in the colony. The results of this study indicate that the colony is free of SV40, HTLVIII (HIV-1), STLVIII (SIV) and SRV1; has a low prevalence of measles and EMCV; and high prevalence rates for B virus, CMV and HTLVI.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Antivirais/análise , Macaca mulatta/imunologia , Macaca/imunologia , Doenças dos Macacos/diagnóstico , Viroses/diagnóstico , Academias e Institutos , Fatores Etários , Animais , Citomegalovirus/imunologia , Anticorpos Antideltaretrovirus/análise , Vírus da Encefalomiocardite/imunologia , Vírus do Sarampo/imunologia , Doenças dos Macacos/imunologia , Vigilância da População , Porto Rico , Vírus da Imunodeficiência Símia/imunologia , Viroses/imunologiaRESUMO
The relationship between serum total cholesterol (STC) and social dominance rank was investigated in adult (greater than or equal to 5 year old) males of a single, naturally-formed free-ranging troop of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) on Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico. Dominance rank, age and body weight were not correlated with STC, nor was rank correlated with age or body weight. The mean (+/- 1 SD) STC was 154.0 +/- 27.0 mg/dl. Seven of the 34 males sampled had STC levels (189.1 +/- 4.3 mg/dl) greater than 1 SD above the mean for all males. These monkeys did not differ significantly in age or body weight from each other or the remaining males in the study, but 5 of the 7 monkeys with high STC were high-ranking in the group and 7 of 8 monkeys with STC (115.6 +/- 5.8 mg/dl) 1 SD or more below the mean for all males were low-ranking. The difference was significant (p less than .05, Fisher's Exact Test).
Assuntos
Colesterol/sangue , Macaca mulatta/sangue , Macaca/sangue , Predomínio Social , Animais , Comportamento Animal , Masculino , Estresse Fisiológico/fisiopatologiaRESUMO
Experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) was induced in rhesus monkeys using purified acetylcholine receptor (AChR) from Torpedo california. A single dose of 80 micrograms induced antibody formation two weeks after injection. Two subsequent doses at two-week intervals caused clinical signs (anorexia, fatigability, weight loss, ptosis and dysphagia) which initially responded to treatment with neostigmine. Histologic examination of post-mortem tissues revealed lesions characteristic of myasthenia gravis in man: muscular atrophy, fibrous degeneration and lymphocytic infiltration. Antibodies were quantitated in the sera of three other monkeys which received only 60 micrograms of purified AChR. Abnormally high titers persisted for two years (60-200 micrograms /ml versus 0-10 micrograms/ml for controls). A monkey injected with 60 micrograms AChR as part of reconstituted membrane vesicles had lower titers (30-50 micrograms/ml) than those which received purified receptor. Only those monkeys with antibody titers exceeding 800 micrograms/ml developed overt disease. These titers were 4-100 times higher than those reported for myasthenic humans. The antibody-antigen molar ratios were higher for monkeys with disease than for asymptomatic animals. These data suggest that the diversity of antibody molecules synthesized by the sensitized monkeys determined the appearance of clinical signs, and that the cross reaction of anti-torpedo antibodies with monkey receptor was primarily responsible for the development of EAMG.
Assuntos
Miastenia Gravis/imunologia , Testes de Aglutinação , Animais , Formação de Anticorpos , Macaca mulatta/imunologia , Receptores Colinérgicos/imunologia , Torpedo/imunologiaRESUMO
This report summarizes demographic data collected on the Cayo Santiago colony of rhesus monkeys from 1976-1983 and compares the results with those from 1959-1964 [8,9]. For males and nonpregnant/nonlactating, pregnant, and lactating females mean (+/- 1 SD), body weights, crown-rump lengths, and ponderal indices are tabulated for each age on a large (n = 586) single sampling of this free-ranging population of macaques.
Assuntos
Macaca mulatta , Macaca , Dinâmica Populacional , Reprodução , Estatísticas Vitais , Animais , Animais Selvagens , Antropometria , Peso Corporal , Feminino , Macaca/fisiologia , Macaca mulatta/anatomia & histologia , Macaca mulatta/fisiologia , Masculino , Crescimento Demográfico , Porto Rico , Estações do AnoRESUMO
Free-ranging rhesus macaques on the island of Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico, were surveyed for intestinal parasites for the first time in over 40 years. Results were compared with the only previous study, and the relationships between the prevalence of Strongyloides and dominance rank, body weight, age, and matriline examined in the sampled population.
Assuntos
Enteropatias Parasitárias/veterinária , Macaca mulatta/parasitologia , Macaca/parasitologia , Doenças dos Macacos/parasitologia , Infecções por Nematoides/veterinária , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais , Fatores Etários , Animais , Animais Selvagens/parasitologia , Eucariotos/isolamento & purificação , Fezes/parasitologia , Feminino , Enteropatias Parasitárias/epidemiologia , Enteropatias Parasitárias/parasitologia , Masculino , Doenças dos Macacos/epidemiologia , Nematoides , Infecções por Nematoides/epidemiologia , Infecções por Nematoides/parasitologia , Gravidez , Infecções por Protozoários/epidemiologia , Infecções por Protozoários/parasitologia , Porto Rico , Fatores Sexuais , Estrongiloidíase/epidemiologia , Estrongiloidíase/veterináriaRESUMO
During seven annual birth seasons, from January 1976 to July 1982, 963 infants were born in the Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico, colony of free-ranging rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). The reproductive rate for mature females, 4 years of age and older, ranged between 74.1% and 84.7%, with a cumulative mean of 80.8% over 7 years. Live births comprised 95.3% of the total and the secondary sex ratio was 109 male to 100 female births. No twinning was observed. Aborted and stillborn monkeys represented 4.7% of all births. The percentage of stillborn females was greater than that of males (4.0% vs. 3.1%). Neonatal death, defined as mortality within 48 hours postpartum, occurred in 0.8% of the live births. Two cases of congenital abnormalities were observed. The first was an anencephalic, acranial female and the second a congenitally blind male. Both infants were born to matrilineally unrelated 7-and 8-year-old multiparous females with no prior history of delivering malformed offspring. The incidence of each defect, based on 963 births, was 0.10%, with a cumulative incidence of 0.20% for all teratisms seen during the study. Multiple occurrences of a rare, nonpathological and nonlethal hereditary anomaly were also seen. Five "golden" macaques were born into two genetically distinct social groups within the last 2 years of observation. The incidence of this phenotype, based on five cases, was 0.52%, 52 times the expected rate (.01%).