Influence of ovarian hormones deprivation on gene expression in the lower urinary tract of rats

OBJECTIVE: Identify the influence of ovarian hormone deprivation in expression genes on the lower urinary tract of rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study deals with gene screening on lower urinary tract of rats. Fifty isogenic rats divided in two groups of twenty-five animals have their lower urinary tract surgically removed: group I, ovariectomized rats 30 days prior to surgery; group II, non-ovariectomized rats. Total RNA was isolated from bladder and urethra, and differential expression of genes was analyzed quantitative, qualitative and comparatively by array technology and RT-PCR. RESULTS: A total of 76 candidate genes were identified as differentially expressed between the groups, 26 being lower expressed in group II, and 50 in group I. Among them, differential expression validation was confirmed by RT-PCR for three lower expressed genes in group I: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), Beta-2 Microglobulin (B2M) and Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit I (COX I). CONCLUSION: Ovarian hormone deprivation influences the expression genes on lower urinary tract. We demonstrated that a 30-day period of castration down regulate the expression of VEGF, B2M and COX I in adult rats which are involved in activities of angiogenesis, immune responses and cellular metabolism respectively.Federal University of São Paulo Department of GynecologyUNIFESP, Department of GynecologySciEL

Variability of the year-class strength of western Baltic spring spawning herring (Rügen herring) - which factors determine the year-class strength

No abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author.Estimates of the year-class strength of the Rügen herring in ICES Sub-division 22 to 24 that are based on the number of larvae which reach the length of 20 mm in the Strelasund and in the Greifswalder Bodden are used as first index of the new year-class (HAWG report 2008). The estimates are highly correlated with the acoustic estimates of age group 1 in the western Baltic Sea one and a half year later. That means that the year-class strength is mainly influenced by factors like SSB, fecundity, fertilization rate and hatching success as well as the survival of larvae smaller than 20 mm besides the hydrographical conditions which affect many of the factors mentioned before. The study analyses the development of the year-class strength from the hatching of larvae (5 – 7 mm) to the length of 20mm. Mean densities of hatched larvae (individual m-2) varied between zero catches and 4,663 larvae m-2. High densities of hatched larvae (more than 50 ind m-2) results in a strong decrease of the larvae numbers because the required density of food is not available. Therefore, the year-class increases if the distribution pattern of hatched larvae is relative homogeneous distributed in the total area without strong concentrations. The year-class strength is also influenced by the period where the herring larvae hatch. Numbers of larvae which hatched within May (week 18 to 21) explain about 85 % of the variability of the year-class index N20 together with the heterogeneity of the spatial distribution pattern of hatched larvae. Larvae which hatch earlier hit on low densities of food items, which are fast down grazed. Larvae which hatch after week 21 are strongly influenced by the high temperature which influences the organogenesis. It can be concluded that the optimum time frame for the reproduction of Rügen herring decreases by about one week if the mean water temperature increases by 1 °C due to climatic effect

External peer review of survey series: Lessons learned from the Rügen Herring Larvae Survey

No abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author.ICES coordinated surveys are, on a non-regular basis, reviewed by parent expert groups. A potential problem is that these are often conducted by evaluators being themselves involved in the surveys, thus lacking independence. Compared to the cost of most surveys, the funds assigned to quality control is minimal, and external peer reviews rarely happen. In this poster, we describe our unanimously positive experience with the external peer review of the Rügen Herring Larvae Survey (RHLS). This national survey is conducted since 1977 in one of the important, clearly defined spawning areas of the Western Baltic Spring Spawning herring. 35 standard stations were sampled 10-14 times in weekly intervals over the entire spawning period. Hydrographic and other accessory data were regularly recorded on each station. The survey was increasingly reduced to the delivery of a recruitment index for the assessment of this stock, but the time series could never be used for the analytical assessment. Two external experts reviewed the time series during a week in late 2006, together with all institute’s staff involved in the survey. The group was looking at the general survey design and methods used, results, and allocation of manpower for sampling and evaluation. About 2 days were spent on reviewing methods and available data, two more days for the development of recommendations and a future workplan (within the limits set by the institute), and the last day was used for the presentation of the review results and reporting