Lethal combats in the forest among wild western gorillas.

Lethal intergroup encounters occur in many species because of sexual selection. While documented in mountain gorillas, they are absent in western gorillas as, instead, it is predicted by their higher feeding (frugivory) and mate competition (single-vs. multi-male groups).

Feeling a bit peckish: Seasonal and opportunistic insectivory for wild gorillas.

Objectives: Insectivory likely contributed to survival of early humans in diverse conditions and influenced human cognitive evolution through the need to develop harvesting tools. In living primates, insectivory is a widespread behavior and frequently seasonal, although previous studies do not always agree on reasons behind this. Since western gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) diet is largely affected by seasonal variation in fruit availability, we aimed to test three non-mutually exclusive hypotheses (habitat use, frugivory and rainfall) to explain seasonality in termite feeding across age/sex classes in three habituated groups (N  = 27) in Central Africa.

Shifting through the forest: home range, movement patterns, and diet of the eastern chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda.

Populations of the endangered eastern chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) are declining throughout their range. Although Nyungwe National Park (NNP) harbors the largest remaining eastern chimpanzee population in Rwanda, we know little about their space use and dietary patterns. We studied home range, movement, and diet of two communities of chimpanzees in NNP using daily tracking data (6:00 am to 6:00 pm) collected from 2000 to 2015.

The Influence of Seasonal Frugivory on Nutrient and Energy Intake in Wild Western Gorillas.

The daily energy requirements of animals are determined by a combination of physical and physiological factors, but food availability may challenge the capacity to meet nutritional needs. Western gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) are an interesting model for investigating this topic because they are folivore-frugivores that adjust their diet and activities to seasonal variation in fruit availability. Observations of one habituated group of western gorillas in Bai-Hokou, Central African Republic (December 2004-December 2005) were used to examine seasonal variation in diet quality and nutritional intake.

The genetic population structure of wild western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) living in continuous rain forest.

To understand the evolutionary histories and conservation potential of wild animal species it is useful to assess whether taxa are genetically structured into different populations and identify the underlying factors responsible for any clustering. Landscape features such as rivers may influence genetic population structure, and analysis of structure by sex can further reveal effects of sex-specific dispersal. Using microsatellite genotypes obtained from noninvasively collected fecal samples we investigated the population structure of 261 western lowland gorillas (WLGs) (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) from seven locations spanning an approximately 37,000 km(2) region of mainly continuous rain forest within Central African Republic (CAR), Republic of Congo and Cameroon.

Western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) change their activity patterns in response to frugivory.

The most important environmental factor explaining interspecies variation in ecology and sociality of the great apes is likely to be variation in resource availability. Relatively little is known about the activity patterns of western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), which inhabit a dramatically different environment from the well-studied mountain gorillas (G. beringei beringei).

Activation of peripheral blood CD14+ monocytes occurs in diabetes.

Blood levels of inflammatory markers associated with endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis are increased in diabetic patients; the highest levels occur in poorly controlled diabetes. We investigated the activation state of peripheral blood monocytes in diabetes with respect to scavenger receptor (CD36) expression and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, intracellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors mRNA expression. CD14(+) monocytes were isolated from peripheral blood of type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients with good (HbA(1c) <7.

Endoparasites of western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) at Bai Hokou, Central African Republic.

A coprologic study of free-ranging western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) at Bai Hokou, Dzangha-Ndoki National Park, Central African Republic (2 degrees 51'34''N, 16 degrees 28'03''E) was conducted from October 1999 to November 2000. All 75 fecal samples examined were positive for endoparasites, and each contained at least two species. Parasites present included two genera of amoebae, entodiniomorph ciliates, including Prototapirella gorillae, Troglodytella spp.

Social structure and life-history patterns in western gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla).

Life-history traits and ecological conditions have an important influence on primate social systems. Most of what we know about the life-history patterns and social structure of gorillas comes from studies of eastern gorillas (Gorilla beringei sp.), which live under dramatically different ecological conditions compared to western gorillas (Gorilla gorilla sp.

Effects of group dynamics and diet on the ranging patterns of a western gorilla group (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) at Bai Hokou, Central African Republic.

This study describes how group dynamics and diet have influenced the ranging patterns of a western gorilla group at Bai Hokou, Central African Republic. The results are compared with those from an earlier study [Cipolletta, International Journal of Primatology, 2003], when the same group was larger and undergoing the process of habituation to humans. Data were obtained from maps of the gorillas' travel routes, direct observations, and analysis of fecal samples.

Western gorilla diet: a synthesis from six sites.

The objective of this paper is to collate information on western gorilla diet from six study sites throughout much of their current range, including preliminary information from two sites (Afi and Lossi), where studies of diet have begun only recently. Food lists were available from each site, derived from indirect signs of gorilla feeding (such as feces), with some observational data. Important staple, seasonal, and fallback foods have been identified, and a number of striking similarities across sites have been revealed based on a much larger data set than was previously available.

Functional genomic analysis of type II IL-1beta decoy receptor: potential for gene therapy in human arthritis and inflammation.

Gene expression arrays show that human epithelial cells and human arthritis-affected cartilage lack detectable amounts of mRNA for IL-1 antagonizing molecules: IL-1Ra and IL-1RII, but constitutively express IL-1. Functional genomic analysis was performed by reconstituting human IL-1RII expression in various IL-1RII-deficient cell types to examine its antagonist role using gene therapy approaches. Adenovirus-expressing IL-1RII when transduced into human and bovine chondrocytes, human and rabbit synovial cells, human epithelial cells, and rodent fibroblasts expressed membrane IL-1RII and spontaneously released functional soluble IL-1RII.

Stimulation of cyclooxygenase-2-activity by nitric oxide-derived species in rat chondrocyte: lack of contribution to loss of cartilage anabolism.

Cross-talk between inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS II) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was investigated in rat chondrocytes. In monolayers, interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) induced COX-2 and NOS II expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner, to produce high prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and nitrite (NO(2)(-)) levels in an apparently coordinated fashion. COX-2 mRNA was induced earlier (30 min.

Reversal of autocrine and paracrine effects of interleukin 1 (IL-1) in human arthritis by type II IL-1 decoy receptor. Potential for pharmacological intervention.

Interleukin 1 (IL-1), produced by both synovial cells and chondrocytes, plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of cartilage destruction in osteoarthritis (OA). We examined the specific expression and function of IL-1 receptor family-related genes in human joint tissues. Gene array analysis of human normal and OA-affected cartilage showed mRNA expression of IL-1 receptor accessory protein (IL-1RAcp) and IL-1 type I receptor (IL-1RI), but not IL-1 antagonist (IL-1ra) and IL-1 type II decoy receptor (IL-1RII).

The role of 3D-microscopy in the study of chondrocyte-matrix interaction (alginate bead or sponge, rat femoral head cap, human osteoarthritic cartilage) and pharmacological application.

The potentialities of a new non-invasive optical scanning microscopy technique were evaluated through 3D analysis of chondrocyte-matrix interactions. Five different 2D or 3D culture systems were used: (1) MonoLayer (ML) of human chondrosarcoma cell line; (2) rat or human chondrocytes encapsulated in Alginate Bead (AB); (3) human chondrocytes encapsulated in Alginate Sponge (AS); (4) Rat Femoral Head Cap (RFHC); (5) slices of knee human Osteoarthritic Cartilage (HOAC). Chondrocytes ML, AB, RFHC were incubated for 24 h in vitro in the presence of recombinant human interleukin1-beta (rhIL1-beta) and the effects on cytoskeleton organisation (F-actin filament), Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) expression (tyrosine kinase), collagenase B expression (metalloprotease) were studied.

Cartilage protection by nitric oxide synthase inhibitors after intraarticular injection of interleukin-1beta in rats.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors on proteoglycan synthesis following intraarticular administration of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in rats.

Methods: Recombinant human IL-1beta and NOS inhibitors with different selectivity for inducible NOS (N-monomethyl-L-arginine [L-NMA], N-iminoethyl-L-ornithine [L-NIO], and S-methylisothiourea [SMT]) were simultaneously administered in rats by a single intraarticular injection in each knee. L-NMA was also infused for 72 hours using an Alzet mini osmotic pump implanted into the peritoneal cavity 24 hours before IL-1beta challenge.

Modulation of IL-1 effects on cartilage by NO synthase inhibitors: pharmacological studies in rats.

Objective To compare the ability of L-arginine (L-arg) analog nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors and isothioureas to restore the interleukin-1 (IL-1) induced inhibition of proteoglycan (PG) synthesis in rat.Methods Chondrocytes beads and patellae were challenged with IL-1betain vitro and monitored for NO production and proteoglycan synthesis. Rats injected with IL-1beta in knee joints were monitored for NO(2)( - )+NO(3)( - )levels in joint tissues and ex-vivo(35)S sulfate incorporation in patellae.

Modulation of IL-1-induced cartilage injury by NO synthase inhibitors: a comparative study with rat chondrocytes and cartilage entities.

Nitric oxide (NO) is produced in diseased joints and may be a key mediator of IL-1 effects on cartilage. Therefore, we compared the potency of new [aminoguanidine (AG), S-methylisothiourea (SMT), S-aminoethylisothiourea (AETU)] and classical [Nomega-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)] NO synthase (NOS) inhibitors on the inhibitory effect of recombinant human interleukin-1beta (rhIL-1beta) on rat cartilage anabolism. Three different culture systems were used: (1) isolated chondrocytes encapsulated in alginate beads; (2) patellae and (3) femoral head caps.