Calling songs of the sibling species Cicada barbara and C. orni were studied in sympatric and allopatric populations on the Iberian Peninsula, where the distribution ranges of both species overlap. No difference was found in any acoustic property for the sympatric and allopatric populations of C. barbara studied and only one variable (minimum frequency) was significantly different between sympatric and allopatric populations of C. orni. No hybrids with intermediate songs were found and no character displacement in the calling song was detected. It is very likely that these species were already considerably differentiated when they met on the Iberian Peninsula. Particularly, premating (or even postmating) isolating mechanisms (according to Mayr's Biological Species Concept) or different specific-mate recognition systems (in the view of the Paterson's Recognition Concept of Species) were most likely already present, which prevented hybridization between this pair of species. It is assumed that the calling songs are the most important premating isolating mechanism corresponding to the specific-mate recognition systems of these species of cicadas.
Calodium hepaticum (Bancroft, 1893) Moravec, 1982 (syn. Capillaria hepatica) is a cosmopolitan capillariid nematode, infecting mainly rodents and occasionally other mammals, including humans. Reports of C. hepaticum in canids are rare and the present one is, to the best of our knowledge, the first reported case in a red fox (Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus) in Italy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination of the eggs of C. hepaticum allowed a precise description of the egg morphology, which is one of the most relevant specific characteristics of capillariid nematodes. The egg shell showed a fibrous beam-like network which differs from that of the eggs of closely related trichinelloid species. This characteristic can be useful especially in case of spurious infection, when misdiagnosis among different trichinelloids species can occur.
Calprotectin (MRP8/14, S100A8/S100A9, 27E10 antigen) is a heterodimer of two calcium-binding proteins present in the cytoplasm of neutrophils and expressed on the membrane of monocytes. Upon neutrophil activation or endothelial adhesion of monocytes, calprotectin is released and may be detected in serum or body fluids as potentially useful clinical inflammatory marker. The soluble form of calprotectin provides both bacteriostatic and cytokine-like effects in the local environment. When calprotectin metabolism is affected on a systemic level, the zinc-binding properties of protein may induce severe dysregulation of zinc homeostasis with severe clinical symptoms. The distribution of membrane form of calprotectin is restricted to monocytes and immature macrophages and the presence of calprotectin-positive infiltrating cells reflects the influx of mononuclear phagocytes to the site of inflammation. Calprotectin expression and release seems to be of particular importance in immune and immunopathological reactions.
In the mammalian neocortex, the calcium-binding protein calretinin is expressed in a subset of cortical interneurons. In the recent years, research on interneurons is one of the most rapidly growing fields in neuroscience. This review summarizes the actual knowledge of the functions of calretinin in neuronal homeostasis and particularly of the distribution, connectivity and physiological properties of calretinin expressing interneurons in the neocortex of rodents and primates, including humans. The possible neuroprotective role of calretinin and the presumed “resistance” of calretinin-expressing interneurons to various pathological processes are also discussed., F. Barinka, R. Druga., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Calsequestrin is the main calcium binding protein of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, serving as an important regulator of Ca 2+ . In mammalian muscles, it exis ts as a skeletal isoform found in fast- and slow-twitch skeletal muscles and a cardiac isoform expressed in the heart and slow-twitch muscles. Recently, many excellent reviews that summarised in great detail various aspects of the calsequestrin structure, localisation or function both in skeletal and cardiac muscle have appeared. The present review focuses on skeletal muscle: information on cardiac tissue is given, where differences between both tissues are functionally important. The article reviews the known multiple roles of calsequestrin including pathology in order to introduce this topic to the broader scientific community and to stimulate an interest in this protein. Newly we describe our results on the effect of thyroid hormones on skeletal and cardiac calsequestrin expression and discuss them in the context of available literary data on this topic., P. Novák, T. Soukup., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
A pathogenic Asian nematode species of Camallanus, C. cotti Fujita, 1927, was found in New Caledonia, South Pacific, for the first time; it was recorded from two native fishes, Awaous guamensis (Valenciennes) (Gobiidae) (prevalence 51%, intensity 1-25) and Kuhlia marginata (Cuvier) (Kuhliidae) (a single specimen found), of the La Foa River, about 100 km north of Nouméa; the latter represents a new host record. Morphological data on C. cotti based on New Caledonian specimens and those previously collected from aquarium-kept Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (Cantor) in Canada have been provided. The SEM examination of C. cotti, applied for the first time in this species, made it possible to study some of its morphological details; first-stage larvae from the female's uterus were found to possess several digit-like processes on the tail tip, not previously reported for any species of the Camallanidae. Camallanus moraveci Petter, Cassone et France, 1974 is considered a junior synonym of C. cotti. A list of hitherto recorded hosts of C. cotti is provided. Camallanus cotti is assumed to be introduced into New Caledonia along with the introduction of the exotic poeciliid fishes, which are known to be among the most common hosts of C. cotti in aquarium cultures worldwide.
The family Pachynomidae is recorded from Borneo as well as Southeast Asia for the first time. Camarochiloides gen. n. and its type species C. weiweii sp. n. is described. Dorsal habitus and various morphological characters of the new species are illustrated. Subfamily placement and affinities of the new genus are briefly discussed, a key to the genera of Pachynominae is provided. Body and wing polymorphism and nymphal morphology of the new species are documented.
The highest altitude recorded for an amphibian in Europe (west of the Caucasus) is 2965 m. It refers to the "lacs de Cambalès" according to an old reference. However, these lakes are all situated below 2600 m, while the altitude corresponds exactly to that of the summit of the Pic de Cambalès. We undertook an almost complete survey of ponds in a 2.5 km radius from the Cambalès peak, and complemented these data by fieldwork in a larger portion of the Central Pyrenees. Based on our observations in a total of 325 lakes and ponds we conclude that no water bodies above 2800 m exist in the Cambalès area, and that no water bodies above 2600 m are populated by Rana temporaria. The highest amphibian record was that of a single R. temporaria specimen at 2569 m, while the highest reproducing population was found at 2516 m. Highest records of other amphibians were 2516 m (Alytes obstetricans), 2160 m (Bufo bufo), 2259 m (Euproctus asper), and 2142 m (Salamandra salamandra). The presence of ice-free water bodies during a sufficient amount of time for larval development is probably the limiting factor for elevational distribution of Pyrenean amphibians, and the adequate conditions are usually not met above 2500 m in this massif. In contrast, in the Alps, ponds at higher altitudes are often protected by much higher surrounding peaks, which leads to higher elevational occurrence of amphibians. The Italian Laghi di Tre Becchi (up to 2742 m) are therefore the highest locality of a reproducing anuran population in Europe west of the Caucasus.