The stress response in anterior pituitary (AP) is mediated by corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) acting through CRH-R1 and -R2, however, the function of CRH-R2 in AP is still not fully elucidated. We used 1-h long restraint (IMO) as well as restraint combined with water immersion (IMO+C). Using real-time PCR we quantified mRNA expression of CRH-R1, CRH-R2alpha-soluble and -insoluble, and cAM...

The nervous system in many species consists of multiple neuronal cell layers, each forming specific connections with neurons in other layers or other regions of the brain. How layer-specific connectivity is established during development remains largely unknown. In the Drosophila adult visual system, photoreceptor (R cell) axons innervate one of two optic ganglia layers; R1-R6 axons connect to ...

It is easy to see that there is at most one pair of polynomials (q(x), r(x)) satisfying (1); for if (q1(x), r1(x)) and (q2(x), r2(x)) both satisfy the relation with respect to the same polynomial u(x) and v(x), then q1(x)v(x)+r1(x) = q2(x)v(x)+r2(x), so (q1(x)− q2(x))v(x) = r2(x)−r1(x). Now if q1(x)− q2(x) is nonzero, we have deg((q1 − q2) · v) = deg(q1 − q2)+deg(v) ≥ deg(v) > deg(r2 − r1), a c...

The intricate system of serum complement proteins provides resistance to infection. A pivotal step in the complement pathway is the assembly of a C3 convertase, which digests the C3 complement component to form microbial binding C3 fragments recognized by leukocytes. The spleen and C3 provide resistance against blood-borne S. pneumoniae infection. To better understand the mechanisms involved, w...

Several families of diuretic hormones exist in insects, one of which is the calcitonin-like diuretic hormone (CT/DH) family. CT/DH mediates its effects by binding to family B G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Here we isolate and functionally characterize two R. prolixusCT/DH receptor paralogs (Rhopr-CT/DH-R1 and Rhopr-CT/DH-R2) using a novel heterologous assay utilizing a modified human embr...

A binding pocket for thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) within the transmembrane helices of the TRH receptor type 1 (TRH-R1) has been identified based on experimental evidence and computer simulations. To determine the binding site for a competitive inverse agonist, midazolam, three of the four residues that directly contact TRH and other residues that restrain TRH-R1 in an inactive conformati...

The anti-inflammatory activity of intravenous Ig (IVIG) results from a minor population of the pooled IgG molecules that contains terminal alpha2,6-sialic acid linkages on their Fc-linked glycans. These anti-inflammatory properties can be recapitulated with a fully recombinant preparation of appropriately sialylated IgG Fc fragments. We now demonstrate that these sialylated Fcs require a specif...

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is an important factor in various acute and chronic neurodegenerative disorders. In retinal ischemia, we show early, transient upregulation of TNF, TNF receptor 1 (TNF-R1), and TNF-R2 6 hr after reperfusion preceding neuronal cell loss. To assess the specific role of TNF and its receptors, we compared ischemia-reperfusion-induced retinal damage in mice deficient for ...

Wide-narrow row maize planting patterns are a popular way to enhance yield via improving canopy PAR. To further optimize PAR, we designed an improved wide-narrow pattern (R2) based on the principle of shortest projection length and longest illumination objects ground. Compared traditional (R1), increased by about 10% in R2. R2 had higher leaf area index, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate...

The current research attempted to evaluate the impact of various thawing techniques (R0: control group, R1: water immersion thawing, R2: low-temperature R3: combined then R4: combination low temperature and R5: oven thawing) on quality, microbiota, organoleptic characteristics chicken meat fillets. findings showed that moisture content varied from 74.43 72.33%; loss peaked in R1 at 4.66%, while...