Adult Expression Outlines Ventralized Derivatives Along Zebrafish Neuraxis.

Signals issued by dorsal roof and ventral floor plates, respectively, underlie the major patterning process of dorsalization and ventralization during vertebrate neural tube development. The ventrally produced morphogen Sonic hedgehog (SHH) is crucial for vertebrate hindbrain and spinal motor neuron development. One diagnostic gene for motor neurons is the LIM/homeodomain gene , which has additional ventral expression domains extending into mid- and forebrain.

Head Growth and Intelligence from Birth to Adulthood in Very Preterm and Term Born Individuals.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of infant and toddler head growth on intelligence scores from early childhood to adulthood in very preterm (<32 weeks gestational age; VP) and/or very low birth weight (<1500 g; VLBW) and term born individuals.

Methods: 203 VP/VLBW and 198 term comparisons were studied from birth to adulthood as part of the prospective geographically defined Bavarian Longitudinal Study (BLS). Head circumference was assessed at birth; 5, 20 months; and 4 years of age.

Chances and limitations of isolated mouse heart models for investigating the endothelial glycocalyx1.

Background: The endothelial glycocalyx plays a decisive role in maintaining vascular homeostasis. Previous animal models have mainly focused on in-vitro experiments or the isolated beating guinea pig heart. To further evaluate underlying mechanisms of up- and down regulation, knock-out animals seem to be a promising option.

Polymorphisms in genes encoding potential mercury transporters and urine mercury concentrations in populations exposed to mercury vapor from gold mining.

Background: Elemental mercury (Hg0) is widely used in small-scale gold mining. Persons working or living in mining areas have high urinary concentrations of Hg (U-Hg). Differences in genes encoding potential Hg-transporters may affect uptake and elimination of Hg.

Yes, I am ready now: differential effects of paced versus unpaced mating on anxiety and central oxytocin release in female rats.

Sexual activity and partner intimacy results in several positive consequences in the context of stress-coping, both in males and females, such as reduced state anxiety in male rats after successful mating. However, in female rats, mating is a rewarding experience only when the estrous female is able to control sexual interactions, i.e.

Applicability of two mobile analysers for mercury in urine in small-scale gold mining areas.

Mercury is still used in developing countries to extract gold from the ore in small-scale gold mining areas. This is a major health hazard for people living in mining areas. The concentration of mercury in urine was analysed in different mining areas in Zimbabwe, Indonesia and Tanzania.

Improvement of the long-term stability of polyimide-coated fused-silica capillaries used in capillary electrophoresis and capillary electrochromatography.

Swelling of the polyimide coating of fused-silica capillaries in acetonitrile-containing buffers was found to be the reason for several problems in capillary electrophoresis (CE) and capillary electrochromatography (CEC). Scanning electron microscopy photographs of the ends of raw fused-silica tubing showed that the coating becomes soft and increases its volume after longer contact with such buffers. As a consequence, separation efficiency can deteriorate, the capillary ends can clog or break off.

Ionizing radiation induces, via generation of reactive oxygen intermediates, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) gene transcription and NF kappa B-like binding activity in the ICAM-1 transcriptional regulatory region.

Ionizing radiation produces reactive oxygen intermediates in mammalian tissues and may serve as a model system for the investigation of the biologic effects of free radicals. We have previously shown that the adhesion molecule ICAM-1 is induced by ionizing radiation, and here we have investigated the molecular mechanisms responsible. ICAM-1 mRNA and cell surface expression was induced in HeLa and HaCaT cells after exposure to ionizing radiation.