Blog Arasys Perfector - Xanya Sofra Weiss

P. A. Svensson; E. Forsgren; T. Amundsen; Helen Nilsson Sköld

In two-spotted gobies (Gobiusculus flavescens Fabricius 1779), females develop an orange belly as they approach sexual maturity. Bright belly coloration is preferred by males and has been suggested to act as a female ornament. This coloration is unusual in that it originates partly from pigmentation of the abdominal skin but also from strongly pigmented gonads directly visible through the skin. In addition, females have been observed to temporarily become more colourful during courtship and competition. To understand how gonad and skin pigmentation interact in this nuptial coloration, the potential for colour modification via regulation of skin chromatophores was investigated. Noradrenaline caused aggregation of chromatophore pigment and was used to experimentally reduce the contribution of skin chromatophores to the nuptial coloration. Chromatophore pigment aggregation caused bellies to become less colourful and abdominal skin biopsies to become less colourful and more transparent. There was a strong positive relationship between belly coloration and the coloration of the underlying gonads. This shows that belly coloration honestly reflects egg pigmentation, mainly because the transparency of the abdominal skin allows other fish to see the gonads directly. Interestingly, when noradrenaline caused pigment to aggregate and thereby increased the transparency of the skin, the relationship between belly and gonad coloration weakened. We conclude that female G. flavescens have a potential to use skin chromatophores to rapidly alter their nuptial coloration, thereby affecting the efficacy with which information about gonad coloration is conveyed.

J. Oschman

The living matrix is defined as the continuous molecular fabric of the organism, consisting of fascia, the other connective tissues, extracellular matrices, integrins, cytoskeletons, nuclear matrices and DNA. The extracellular, cellular and nuclear biopolymers or ground substances constitute a body-wide reservoir of charge that can maintain electrical homeostasis and “inflammatory preparedness” throughout the organism. Recent research has emphasized the significance of charge transfer in relation to the scavenging or neutralization of free radicals delivered to sites of injury during and after the oxidative burst. Evidence comes from studies of the role of electrons in mitigating the consequences of inflammation when living systems are connected to the earth (earthing). The phenomenon helps explain how bodywork and movement therapies can facilitate the resolution of acute or chronic injuries, and how patients with inflammatory conditions may “deplete” a therapist during hands-on treatments. It is suggested that barefoot contact with the earth as well as hands-on and hands-off therapies facilitate healing by stimulating the migration of charges into sites of acute or chronic inflammation. One hypothesis to explain the effects of earthing is that charges from the ground substance reservoir prevent “collateral damage” to healthy tissues in the vicinity of an injury. A second hypothesis is that earthing allows electrons to replenish charge in the ground substance reservoirs, making electrons available throughout the body.

Ana Lucia M. Britto,  Lars Josefsson, 2 Eliuna Scemes, Maria Aparecida Visconti,  and Ana Maria de L. Castrucci

ABSTRACT. The effects of either cation removal or ionic channel blockade were determined on the doseresponse curve (DRC) to PCH (pigment-concentrating hormone) in Macrobmchium potiuna erythrophores. In sodium-, potassium- and calcium-free salines, the pigment-aggregating responses to PCH were depressed; in the former condition, maximal aggregation was not achieved and the slope of the regression curve determined from the DRC was significantly different from control. Tetrodotoxin, verapamil or tetraethylammonium (TEA) treatments also diminished the pigment-aggregating responses to PCH, and the slopes of the regression curves were different from control in the presence of 10m6 M verapamil or 10m6 M TEA. Interestingly, the DRC determined in the absence of both sodium and calcium ions was not significantly different from control. When verapamil was applied in sodium-free conditions, maximal aggregation was prevented. The erythrophore resting membrane potential ranged from -62 mV to - 78 mV and did not vary during PCH-induced pigment aggregation as compared to the control. Our results suggest that transient modifications of potassium equilibrium potential may interfere with PCH signal transduction, revealing a more relevant role of potassium in the process, and that a sodium influx and an intracellular calcium mobilization are necessary to maintain a cytosolic balance between the ions for normality of PCH-induced responses. (COMP BIOCHEM PHYSIOL 113A;4:351-359, 1996)

Elena B. C. Llambías, Marta B. Mazzetti,  Sandra M. Lelli, Carmen Aldonatti

Hexachlorobenzene produces an experimental hepatic por-phyria in rats, which is similar to human porphyria cutanea tarda, with hyperpigmentation as one of its characteristic features. Alterations in tryptophan metabolism have been previously observed in this chronic porphyria. Melatonin formation from tryptophan via serotonin shows diurnal rhythmicity in the pineal gland, and higher values are observed during the dark phase of an imposed light-dark cycle. The purpose of this study was to determine the contents of tryptophan and its metabolites in pineal gland of normal and hexachlorobenzene-treated rats in order to find alterations potentially related to porphyria cutanea tarda. Results show that in animals with this experimental porphyria some tryptophan metabolite levels (serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid) increase only during the light period, whereas tryptophan content remained equal to the controls. Hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase activity also increases by light in pineal gland from hexachlorobenzene-treated rats. On the other hand, tryptophan is converted to melatonin in the dark period, but this route is not exacerbated in hexachloroben-zene porphyria. The relevance of these alterations is discussed in relation to hyperpigmentation, neoplastic and oxidative stress processes associated with this porphyria.

Andrzej Slominski , Desmond  J. Tobin,  Michal A. Zmijewski, Jacobo Wortsman and Ralf Paus

Melatonin, a ubiquitous methoxyindole, is produced by and metabolized inthe skin. Melatonin affects skin functions and structures through actionsmediated by cell-surface and putative-nuclear receptors expressed in skincells. Melatonin has both receptor-dependent and receptor-independenteffects that protect against oxidative stress and can attenuate ultravioletradiation-induced damage. The widespread expression and pleiotropicactivity of the cutaneous melatoninergic system provides for a high levelof cell-specific selectivity. Moreover, intra-, auto- and para-crine mechanisms equip this system with exquisite functional selectivity. Theproperties of endogenous melatonin suggest that this molecule is animportant effector of stress responses in the skin. In this way, melatoninactions may counteract or buffer both environmental and endogenousstressors to maintain skin integrity

Cheng-zhi Li†, Xiaogang Liao, Kejian Wang, Yunbo Tian, Niangang Yin & Zhi-biao Wang

Objective:This study was undertaken to investigate the ultrastructural changes of non-neoplastic epithelialdisorders of the vulva (known as vulvar dystrophies) after focused ultrasound treatment and to assess theeffectiveness of such treatment. Materials & methods: In total, 60 patients with non-neoplastic epithelialdisorders of the vulva were enrolled in this study and treated by focused ultrasound therapy. Before andafter treatment, changes to ultrastructures in the treatment region were evaluated using pathological andelectron microscopic studies in 30 patients and the short-term treatment effectiveness was assessed.Results: Symptoms of the patients were greatly reduced or even eliminated. There was no itching or painduring sex. Lesions prior to treatment showed various degrees of hyperplastic atrophy and degenerativechanges. At the same time, an increase in epithelial keratosic and decrease in melanotic granules anddesmosomes was observed. Mitochondria with swelling and capillary contraction were noted. After thefocused ultrasound treatment, the epidermis and dermis showed signs of recovery at various levels. Thestratified squamous epithelium of vulva had recovered normal stratification and thickness. The pigmentationcells could be obviously seen in the basal layer. Conclusions: The ultrastructural changes of non-neoplasticepithelial disorders of the vulva indicated the disappearance of symptoms of the disease and recovery of theultrastructures. These results indicate that patients with vulvar dystrophies can be treated with focusedultrasound effectively.