Geographic variation of flower size is potentially affected by various biotic and abiotic factors such as pollinator size, abundance of nectar robbers, and temperature. To elucidate the effect of geographic variation ...Geographic variation of flower size is potentially affected by various biotic and abiotic factors such as pollinator size, abundance of nectar robbers, and temperature. To elucidate the effect of geographic variation of flower-visitor fauna on flower size, we investigated two spring-flowering, bumblebee-pollinated herbs, Lamium album L. var. barbatum (seven populations) and Meehania urticifolia (five populations), in central Japan. Flower-size variations were not correlated with altitude (an index of abiotic environmental change) in either species, but in both species they were related to the local species composition of flower visitors. In L. album, flowers were bigger in populations visited by long-tongued Bombus consobrinus and B. diversus queens, whereas they were smaller in populations visited by short-tongued bees such as Apis mellifera. Flower size did not vary much among populations of M. urticifolia visited by long-tongued bumblebees, but it was uniquely small in a population whose flowers were predominantly visited by the nectar-robbing bee Megachile japonica. In conclusion, both the size and nectar-robbing behavior of bees affect local flower-size adaptation in these two long-tubed, spring-flowering herbs.展开更多
Adult T-cell leukemia( ATL) is a mature T-cell malignancy caused by human T-cell leukemia virus type I infection, and 10%-25% of patients show central nervous system( CNS) involvement. CNS involvement significantly re...Adult T-cell leukemia( ATL) is a mature T-cell malignancy caused by human T-cell leukemia virus type I infection, and 10%-25% of patients show central nervous system( CNS) involvement. CNS involvement significantly reduces survival and there are no effective treatments for CNS involvement. Therefore, an appropriate animal model is required to evaluate the inhibitory effects of novel drugs on the progression of ATL with CNS involvement. Here, we established a mouse model of ATL with CNS involvement using NOD.Cg-Prkdc~ (scid) Il2 rg ^(tm1Wjl)/SzJ mice inoculated with ATL cells intramuscularly in the postauricular region, and these mice showed paraparesis. Of the 10 mice inoculated with ATL cells intramuscularly(I.M.) at 5 weeks of age, 8(80%) showed paraparesis, whereas none of the 10 mice inoculated with ATL cells subcutaneously(S.C.) showed paraparesis. In the I.M. group, PCR detected HTLV-1-specific genes in the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae; however, in the S.C. group, the vertebrae were negative for HTLV-1 genes. Histological analysis revealed a particularly high incidence of tumors, characterized by accumulation of the injected cells, in the thoracic vertebrae of mice in the I.M. group. Tumor cell infiltration was relatively high in the bone marrow. Spinal cord compression caused by invasion of the tumor mass outside the pia mater was observed in the thoracic vertebrae of the spinal cord. In conclusion, we have reported a mouse model of tumor growth with paraparesis that may be used to assess novel therapeutic agents for ATL with CNS involvement.展开更多
Many studies have argued the importance of the flower-pollinator size matching for flower trait diversification. However, non-pollinator agents may also influence flower traits. In this study, we investigated the alti...Many studies have argued the importance of the flower-pollinator size matching for flower trait diversification. However, non-pollinator agents may also influence flower traits. In this study, we investigated the altitudinal variation of flower size (spur length, stamen length, petal blade length, corolla diameter, and sepal length) and flower visitors of Aquilegia buergeriana var. buergeriana (long-spurred columbine) in central Japan. Although this species was primarily visited by Bombus consobrinus, which has an unvarying mouthpart length, flower sizes varied greatly among populations with no correlation with altitude. These results suggest that non-pollinator and non-meteorological agents, directly and/or indirectly, impose selection pressure on flower size in A. buergeriana.展开更多
文摘Geographic variation of flower size is potentially affected by various biotic and abiotic factors such as pollinator size, abundance of nectar robbers, and temperature. To elucidate the effect of geographic variation of flower-visitor fauna on flower size, we investigated two spring-flowering, bumblebee-pollinated herbs, Lamium album L. var. barbatum (seven populations) and Meehania urticifolia (five populations), in central Japan. Flower-size variations were not correlated with altitude (an index of abiotic environmental change) in either species, but in both species they were related to the local species composition of flower visitors. In L. album, flowers were bigger in populations visited by long-tongued Bombus consobrinus and B. diversus queens, whereas they were smaller in populations visited by short-tongued bees such as Apis mellifera. Flower size did not vary much among populations of M. urticifolia visited by long-tongued bumblebees, but it was uniquely small in a population whose flowers were predominantly visited by the nectar-robbing bee Megachile japonica. In conclusion, both the size and nectar-robbing behavior of bees affect local flower-size adaptation in these two long-tubed, spring-flowering herbs.
基金Japan Leukemia Research FundGrant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science,Grant/Award Number:No.24500493
文摘Adult T-cell leukemia( ATL) is a mature T-cell malignancy caused by human T-cell leukemia virus type I infection, and 10%-25% of patients show central nervous system( CNS) involvement. CNS involvement significantly reduces survival and there are no effective treatments for CNS involvement. Therefore, an appropriate animal model is required to evaluate the inhibitory effects of novel drugs on the progression of ATL with CNS involvement. Here, we established a mouse model of ATL with CNS involvement using NOD.Cg-Prkdc~ (scid) Il2 rg ^(tm1Wjl)/SzJ mice inoculated with ATL cells intramuscularly in the postauricular region, and these mice showed paraparesis. Of the 10 mice inoculated with ATL cells intramuscularly(I.M.) at 5 weeks of age, 8(80%) showed paraparesis, whereas none of the 10 mice inoculated with ATL cells subcutaneously(S.C.) showed paraparesis. In the I.M. group, PCR detected HTLV-1-specific genes in the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae; however, in the S.C. group, the vertebrae were negative for HTLV-1 genes. Histological analysis revealed a particularly high incidence of tumors, characterized by accumulation of the injected cells, in the thoracic vertebrae of mice in the I.M. group. Tumor cell infiltration was relatively high in the bone marrow. Spinal cord compression caused by invasion of the tumor mass outside the pia mater was observed in the thoracic vertebrae of the spinal cord. In conclusion, we have reported a mouse model of tumor growth with paraparesis that may be used to assess novel therapeutic agents for ATL with CNS involvement.
文摘Many studies have argued the importance of the flower-pollinator size matching for flower trait diversification. However, non-pollinator agents may also influence flower traits. In this study, we investigated the altitudinal variation of flower size (spur length, stamen length, petal blade length, corolla diameter, and sepal length) and flower visitors of Aquilegia buergeriana var. buergeriana (long-spurred columbine) in central Japan. Although this species was primarily visited by Bombus consobrinus, which has an unvarying mouthpart length, flower sizes varied greatly among populations with no correlation with altitude. These results suggest that non-pollinator and non-meteorological agents, directly and/or indirectly, impose selection pressure on flower size in A. buergeriana.
