Effect of Age and Season on the Growth of some Endocrine and Lympho-Epithelioid Glands in Nigerian and White Leghorn Pullets

THE endocrine glands (pituitary, adrenal, thyroid), and thymus and bursa of Fabricius of Nigerian und White Leghorn pullets were studied from 2 weeks to 32 weeks of age in the wet and dry seasons of Nigeria. Pituitary weights were significantly (P <0.005) greater in the wet season-reared than in the dry season — reared birds. Adrenal weight differences due to breed were significant, but had no significant influence on this parameter, Nigerian pullets had significantly (P <0.005) greater thyroid Weights (absolute and relative) than the Leghorns, and the absolute weights were also significantly (P <0.05) higher in the wet that in the dry season. The differences in thymus weights between breeds and seasons were not significant but the interaction between season and age, and between breed and age were highly significant (P < 0.005). The relative thymus weights were generally and significantly greater (P ... 0.0005, in the Nigerian than in the Leghorn pullets. The interaction between age and season and between breed and age were also highly significant [P <0.005] in respect to the bursa. The effect of season and breed on the growth of the bursa was also highly significant (p <0.005). The possible significance of these findings in relation to the general physiology of the two breeds of chicken were discussed.

Clarification of the terminology used for description of calcium transport in different cell types

Some basic scientific terms in the field of general physiology that studies intracellular calcium transport have a multitude of definitions in the scientific literature. In this article we analyze these definitional ambiguities and try to clarify some basic terms used for the description of calcium transport in cells. The use of ambiguous scientific terminology and conflicting definitions may be a source of misunderstanding among scientists.

Can Evolution Inform Insights into Normal and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Ultimately Improve Maternal and Fetal Care?

Human survival, like all mammals’, is dependent upon successful pregnancy, the characteristics of which have been subjected to strong evolutionary pressures. This selection process for optimizing reproductive outcomes is unique in that two individuals are affected at the same time, the mother and fetus, and their respective interests may be either congruent or divergent. In this chapter, we provide an overview for considering evolutionary influences on pregnancy, general physiology of human pregnancy, and interactions of the mother and fetus that can either shape a healthy pregnancy or result in complications of pregnancy. Moreover, in considering research into mechanisms of pregnancy maintenance and parturition, we discuss the challenges and opportunities of differing reproductive strategies between species, altering selection in distinct ways, and making pregnancy in women unique amongst mammals.

Draft genome of starch-degrading actinobacterium, Microbacterium mangrovi MUSC 115T isolated from intertidal sediments

Microbacterium mangrovi strain MUSC 115T was isolated from intertidal sediments of Kuantan, Malaysia. Here we describe the draft genome of amylolytic strain MUSC 115T with total size of 4.4 Mbp from 55 contigs and G + C content of 70.0%. Total of 4,096 coding genes were observed, with 2 putative amylases genes in the draft genome of MUSC 115T. These genome features of MUSC 115T can improve our understanding of its starch-degrading mechanism and general physiology of the species, which provide opportunities for biotechnological and industrial exploitation.