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PubMed2004

Partitioning of trace metals between soft tissues and shells of Patella aspera.

This paper describes the partitioning of iron, manganese, zinc, copper, cadmium, cobalt, nickel and lead between the soft tissues and the shells of the gastropod mollusc Patella aspera. Specimens of the limpet P. aspera were collected from a clean coastal marine site (CMS) and from an estuarine contaminated site (ECS) on the south coast of Portugal. Fe and Zn concentrations were significantly lower on both populations and less variable in the shells than in the soft tissues. In contrast Mn concentrations were higher in the shells than in the soft tissues at ECS. The partitioning factor (PF), defined as the ratio between the mean metal concentrations in soft tissues and in the shells, was maximum for iron and minimum for manganese. Between the soft tissues and the shells, only manganese at ECS recorded a significant relationship between metal concentrations, suggesting that the mechanism that controls the accumulation of this essential metal in both tissues was different from the others. From the obtained data, in biomonitoring sewage contamination studies, shells of P. aspera can be considered as a good indicator for Mn while the soft tissues for Zn. As copper, cadmium, nickel and cobalt concentrations were much higher in the soft tissues than in the shells (< 0.1 microg g(-1)), this indicates that the shells were not a good indicator for these metals because they do not reflect the environmental bioavailability as do the soft tissues.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Lead reduces shell mass in juvenile garden snails (Helix aspersa).

In an earlier paper examining inherited tolerance to Pb, the shell growth of laboratory-bred offspring of Helix aspersa from contaminated sites was compared with that ofjuveniles from naive populations on dosed and undosed diets. Eight-week-old snails were fed either 500 microg g(-1) Pb or a control food in competitive trials between two populations. In the first series of trials, a parental history of exposure to Pb did not confer any advantage to either of two populations (BI and MI) competing with a naïve population (LE). whether Pb was present in the diet or not. However, in the analysis of their metal concentrations reported here, LE are found to retain higher levels of Pb in the soft tissues than either BI or MI. Compared to their siblings on the unleaded diet, dosed LE and BI juveniles had lower soft tissue concentrations of Ca and Mg. Although the growth in shell height is unaffected by diet, LE and BI juveniles build lighter shells on the Pb-dosed diet, achieving around 75% of the shell mass of their controls. In contrast, the shell weights of dosed MI juveniles are depressed by only 15% and show no change in the essential metal concentrations of their soft tissues. A second experiment using five populations fed only the dosed food show that the shell weight/soft tissue weight ratios are comparable to the dosed snails of the previous experiment. Building a lighter shell thus appears to be the common response of all Helix populations to a high Pb diet, at least amongst juveniles. The reduction in its mass means that less Ca and Mg is added to the shell and, along with the lowered soft tissue concentrations observed in some populations. may be a consequence of an increased effort to excrete Pb. The possibility that the MI population shows a genotypic adaptation. perhaps as some form of modification of its Ca metabolism, is briefly discussed.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2001

GABA(A) agents injected into the ventral pallidum differentially affect dopaminergic pivoting and cholinergic circling elicited from the shell of the nucleus accumbens.

The ability of GABA(A) receptors in the ventral pallidum to modulate shell-specific behavior was studied. Injections of the non-selective acetylcholine receptor agonist, carbachol (5 microg), into the shell of the nucleus accumbens elicited contraversive circling, namely turning marked by normal stepping; in contrast, injections of a mixture of dopamine D(1) (SKF 38393, 5 microg) and D(2) (quinpirole, 10 microg) receptor agonists into this brain structure elicited contraversive pivoting, namely turning marked by abnormal hindlimb stepping. Unilateral injections of the GABA(A) receptor agonist muscimol (10, 25 and 50 ng) into the ventral pallidum dose-dependently mimicked shell-specific circling, especially when given at a level +8.6mm anterior to the interaural line; this effect was GABA(A) receptor specific, because it was prevented by the GABA(A) receptor antagonist bicuculline (150 ng). Unilateral pallidal injections of a dose of muscimol that was ineffective per se (10 ng) abolished contraversive pivoting elicited by shell injections of dopamine receptor agonists; instead, it elicited moderate ipsiversive pivoting. Pallidal injections of bicuculline (150 ng) replaced the contraversive pivoting elicited by dopamine receptor agonist with ipsiversive circling. In contrast, unilateral pallidal injections of 10 ng muscimol (anterior +8.6mm level) suppressed the contraversive circling elicited by shell injections of carbachol; instead, it elicited moderate ipsiversive pivoting. Pallidal injections of bicuculline (150 ng) produced short-lasting ipsiversive circling that was followed by contraversive pivoting. We conclude that the ventromedial portion of the ventral pallidum contains GABA(A) receptors that are crucial for the transmission of information from the shell of the nucleus accumbens via the ventral pallidum towards other brain structures; this holds especially for information about shell-specific circling elicited by carbachol. The same portion of the ventral pallidum also contains GABA(A) receptors that control the transfer of information from the nucleus accumbens towards structures outside the ventral pallidum; this holds especially for information about shell-specific pivoting elicited by dopaminergic agonists.

2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-ben↗

PubMed1999

Different sensitivity of in vivo acetylcholine transmission to D1 receptor stimulation in shell and core of nucleus accumbens.

We investigated whether D1 dopaminergic receptors modulate in vivo acetylcholine output in the shell and core areas of rat nucleus accumbens using the microdialysis technique. Subcutaneous injection (1, 2 and 3 mg/kg) of the D1 agonist SKF 82958 enhanced acetylcholine output in both areas of the nucleus accumbens while the selective D1 antagonist SCH 39166 (0.15 and 0.30 mg/kg, s.c.) lowered it. Both SKF 82958 and SCH 39166 were more effective in the shell than in the core region. The increase in acetylcholine release induced by SKF 82958 in the shell was tetrodotoxin-sensitive. The dopamine release inducer d-amphetamine (1 and 2mg/kg, s.c.) and the dopamine uptake inhibitor cocaine (10 and 20 mg/kg, i.p.) dose-dependently raised acetylcholine release in the shell and core areas. The dopaminergic stimulants, like the direct-acting D1 compounds, were more effective in the shell than in the core compartment of the nucleus accumbens. The acetylcholine increases in the shell induced by d-amphetamine (2 mg/kg), cocaine (20 mg/kg) and SKF 82958 (3 mg/kg) were antagonized by the D1 antagonists SCH 39166 (5 microM) and SCH 23390 (10 microM), applied locally by reverse dialysis. The results suggest that dopamine acting at the D1 receptors exerts a tonic stimulatory control over the cholinergic function of the shell and core compartments of the nucleus accumbens with the shell being more strongly influenced.

Acetylcholine↗

PubMed2002

Freshwater bivalve shells as archival indicators of metal pollution from a copper-uranium mine in tropical northern Australia.

Freshwater bivalves (Velesunio angasi) were sampled in 1996 from the Finniss River in tropical northern Australia at 10 sites a priori exposed and nonexposed to acid rock drainage (ARD), containing elevated metal concentrations, from the rehabilitated Rum Jungle copper-uranium mine. Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) was used to measure Cu, Mn, Zn, U, Ni, Co, Pb, and Fe/Ca ratios across the annual shell laminations of the longest-lived bivalves found at each site, with the aim of evaluating the ability of the shells to archive measured annual metal inputs and their temporal patterns. At sites not contaminated by ARD, relatively constant and similar (baseline) SIMS signals were found for all metals in the shell laminations of V. angasi, dating as far back as 1965. At sites contaminated by ARD, relatively constant, but variably elevated, SIMS signals were evident for Cu, Mn, Zn, Ni, and Co in the shell, which extended back to the end of rehabilitation (1986) only. Since rehabilitation, the temporal patterns of Cu, Zn, and Mn observed in the shells at the most contaminated sites reflected those of the measured annual dissolved loads in the surface waters. The average concentrations of Cu, Mn, Zn, Ni, and Co in the shells decreased (3-13-fold) with increasing distance downstream of the mine site, until concentrations characteristic of the noncontaminated sites were reached. This geographic pattern of decline in pollution signal in the shell with increasing distance downstream of the pollution input is consistent with the pattern established for water and sediment chemistry. Overall, the SIMS results support the proposition that the shells of V. angasi can be used as archival indicators of metal pollution in surface waters of the Finniss River over their lifetime.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Redox-transmetalation process as a generalized synthetic strategy for core-shell magnetic nanoparticles.

Although multicomponent core-shell type nanomaterials are one of the highly desired structural motifs due to their simultaneous multifunctionalities, the fabrication strategy for such nanostructures is still in a primitive stage. Here, we present a redox-transmetalation process that is effective as a general protocol for the fabrication of high quality and well-defined core-shell type bimetallic nanoparticles on the sub-10 nm scale. Various core-shell type nanomaterials including Co@Au, Co@Pd, Co@Pt, and Co@Cu nanoparticles are fabricated via transmetalation reactions. Compared to conventional sequential reduction strategies, this transmetalation process has several advantages for the fabrication of core-shell type nanoparticles: (i) no additional reducing agent is needed and (ii) spontaneous shell layer deposition occurs on top of the core nanoparticle surface and thus prevents self-nucleation of secondarily added metals. We also demonstrate the versatility of these core-shell structures by transferring Co@Au nanoparticles from an organic phase to an aqueous phase via a surface modification process. The nanostructures, magnetic properties, and reaction byproducts of these core-shell nanoparticles are spectroscopically characterized and identified, in part, to confirm the chemical process that promotes the core-shell structure formation.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Monodispersed core-shell Fe3O4@Au nanoparticles.

The ability to synthesize and assemble monodispersed core-shell nanoparticles is important for exploring the unique properties of nanoscale core, shell, or their combinations in technological applications. This paper describes findings of an investigation of the synthesis and assembly of core (Fe(3)O(4))-shell (Au) nanoparticles with high monodispersity. Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles of selected sizes were used as seeding materials for the reduction of gold precursors to produce gold-coated Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles (Fe(3)O(4)@Au). Experimental data from both physical and chemical determinations of the changes in particle size, surface plasmon resonance optical band, core-shell composition, surface reactivity, and magnetic properties have confirmed the formation of the core-shell nanostructure. The interfacial reactivity of a combination of ligand-exchanging and interparticle cross-linking was exploited for molecularly mediated thin film assembly of the core-shell nanoparticles. The SQUID data reveal a decrease in magnetization and blocking temperature and an increase in coercivity for Fe(3)O(4)@Au, reflecting the decreased coupling of the magnetic moments as a result of the increased interparticle spacing by both gold and capping shells. Implications of the findings to the design of interfacial reactivities via core-shell nanocomposites for magnetic, catalytic, and biological applications are also briefly discussed.

Ferric Compounds↗

PubMed2005

Double hydrophilic block copolymer monolayer protected hybrid gold nanoparticles and their shell cross-linking.

This paper describes the syntheses of core/shell gold nanoparticles stabilized with a monolayer of double hydrophilic block copolymer and their stimuli responsiveness before and after shell cross-linking. The hybrid nanoparticles consist of gold core, cross-linkable poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMA) inner shell, and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) corona. First, diblock copolymer PEO-b-PDMA was prepared via the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) technique using a PEO-based macroRAFT agent. The dithioester end group of PEO-b-PDMA diblock copolymer was reduced to a thiol end group. The obtained PEO-b-PDMA-SH was then used to prepare diblock copolymer stabilized gold nanoparticles by the "grafting-to" approach. 1,2-Bis(2-iodoethoxy)ethane (BIEE) was utilized to selectively cross-link the PDMA residues in the inner shell. The stimuli responsiveness and colloidal stability of core/shell gold nanoparticles before and after shell cross-linking were characterized by laser light scattering (LLS), UV-vis transmittance, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). At pH 9, the average hydrodynamic radius Rh of non-cross-linked hybrid gold nanoparticles starts to increase above 35 degrees C due to the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phase behavior of the PDMA blocks in the inner shell. In contrast, Rh of the shell cross-linked gold nanoparticles were essentially independent of temperature. Core/shell gold nanoparticles before and after shell cross-linking exhibit reversible swelling on varying the solution pH. Compared to non-cross-linked core/shell gold nanoparticles, shell cross-linking of the hybrid gold nanoparticles leads to permanent core/shell nanostructures with much higher colloidal stability and physically isolates the gold core from the external environment.

Gold↗

PubMed2006

Novel core-shell-structured Li[(Ni0.8Co0.2)0.8(Ni0.5Mn0.5)0.2]O2 via coprecipitation as positive electrode material for lithium secondary batteries.

We have successfully synthesized a spherical core-shell structure based on Li[(Ni0.8Co0.2)0.8(Ni0.5Mn0.5)0.2]O2 via a coprecipitation route. According to the careful examination by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy energy-dispersive spectroscopy (TEM-EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), it was found that the core-shell particle consisted of Li[Ni0.8Co0.2]O2 as the core and Li[Ni0.5Mn0.5]O2 as the shell, of which the thickness was estimated to be 1 to approximately 1.5 microm. Both the core and shell were dense as confirmed by SEM. Though the core-shell-structured Li[(Ni0.8Co0.2)0.8(Ni0.5Mn0.5)0.2]O2 delivered a slightly reduced initial discharge capacity, the capacity retention and thermal stability were significantly improved relative to those of the Li[Ni0.8Co0.2]O2 electrode without the Li[Ni0.5Mn0.5]O2 shell. The carbon/Li[Ni0.8Co0.2]O2 pouch cell underwent an explosive ignition during the nail penetration test, whereas the carbon/Li[(Ni0.8Co0.2)0.8(Ni0.5Mn0.5)0.2]O2 cell remained stable, demonstrating the superior thermal stability of the core-shell electrode. As a new positive electrode material, the core-shell-structured Li[(Ni0.8Co0.2)0.8(Ni0.5Mn0.5)0.2]O2 is a significant breakthrough in the development of high-capacity lithium secondary batteries.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1967

The chemical composition of the egg shells of the potato cyst-nematode, Heterodera rostochiensis Woll.

1. Eggs of the potato cyst-nematode (Heterodera rostochiensis Woll.) were isolated by sieving a suspension of crushed cysts. Eggs were broken open by ultrasonic vibration and the egg shells separated from the released larvae by centrifuging in a potassium tartrate density gradient. About 1 mg. of dried egg shells was obtained from 1000 cysts. 2. The major constituent of the egg shells was protein (59%, calculated from nitrogen content). About 80% of the egg shells went into solution on acid hydrolysis. Of the 18 amino acids determined with the Technicon Auto-Analyser, proline was most abundant and, with aspartic acid, glycine and serine, made up about 64% by weight of the total amino acids. The small amounts of aromatic and sulphur-containing amino acids, and the presence of hydroxy-proline, indicate a collagen-like protein. 3. The egg shells gave a positive van Wisselingh colour test for chitin, and glucosamine was detected in their acid hydrolysate by chromatography. The glucosamine content of the egg shells, determined by the Elson-Morgan colorimetric method, was 7%, corresponding to about 9% chitin. 4. Dried egg shells contained about 7% of lipid, 6% of carbohydrate and 3% of ash. Polyphenols (3% by weight of the egg shells) were detected in the acid hydrolysates. 5. Neither the collagen nor the chitin showed evidence of crystallinity when examined by X-ray diffraction.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed2003

Glutamate motivational ensembles in nucleus accumbens: rostrocaudal shell gradients of fear and feeding.

This study demonstrates that microinjection of an AMPA/kainate glutamate antagonist elicits motivated fear and feeding behaviour mapped along rostrocaudal gradients of positive-to-negative valence in nucleus accumbens shell (similar to rostrocaudal shell gradients recently reported for GABA agonist microinjections). Rats received rostral or caudal microinjections of the glutamate AMPA/kainate receptor antagonist DNQX (0, 50, 450 or 850 ng in 0.5 micro L) or the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 (0, 0.5, 1 or 2 micro g in 0.5 micro L), into medial accumbens shell prior to behavioural tests for fear, feeding or conditioning of place preference or avoidance. Another group received rostral or caudal microinjections of DNQX in nucleus accumbens core. Rostral shell DNQX microinjections potently increased appetitive food intake and established only weak conditioned place avoidance. Caudal shell DNQX microinjections elicited defensive treading behaviour, caused rats to defensively bite the experimenter and emit fearful distress vocalizations when handled, and established strong conditioned place avoidance. By contrast, no rostrocaudal gradients of motivational bivalence were produced by microinjections of the glutamate AMPA/kainate receptor antagonist DNQX into the core, or by microinjections of the NMDA antagonist MK-801 into the shell. Our results indicate that appetitive and aversive motivation is carried in anatomically differentiated channels by mesocorticolimbic glutamate signals to microcircuits in the medial shell. Hyperpolarization of local shell ensembles by AMPA/kainate glutamate receptor blockade elicits fear and feeding behaviours mapped along distinct positive-to-negative rostrocaudal gradients.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Effect of fill weight, capsule shell, and sinker design on the dissolution behavior of capsule formulations of a weak acid drug candidate BMS-309403.

Two strengths of BMS-309403 capsules were developed from a common stock granulation. Dissolution testing of the capsules was conducted utilizing the USP apparatus 2 (paddle) with a neutral pH dissolution medium. Unexpectedly, the lower-strength capsules exhibited slower dissolution than the higher-strength capsules filled with the same stock granulation. Higher variability was also observed for the lower-strength capsules. This was found to be mainly caused by a low fill weight in a relatively large size hard gelatin capsule shell. Instead of bursting open, some gelatin capsule shells softened and collapsed onto the granulation, which delayed the release of the active drug. The problem was aggravated by the use of coil sinkers which hindered the medium flow around the capsules. Switching from the gelatin capsule shells to the HPMC (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) shells reversed the dissolution rate ranking between the two capsule strengths. However, both dissolved at a slower rate initially than the gelatin capsules due to the inherent dissolution rate of the HPMC shells at pH 6.8. Notably, the HPMC shells did not occlude the granulation as observed with the gelatin shells. The study demonstrated that the dissolution of capsule formulations in neutral pH media was significantly affected by the fill weight, sinker design, and capsule shell type. Careful selection of these parameters is essential to objectively evaluate the in vitro drug release.

Capsules↗

PubMed2000

Cumulative or sequential assessment during hermit crab shell fights: effects of oxygen on decision rules.

Agonistic interactions between animals are often settled by the use of repeated signals which advertise the resource-holding potential of the sender. According to the sequential assessment game this repetition increases the accuracy with which receivers may assess the signal, but under the cumulative assessment model the repeated performances accumulate to give a signal of stamina. These models may be distinguished by the temporal pattern of signalling they predict and by the decision rules used by the contestants. Hermit crabs engage in shell fights over possession of the gastropod shells that they inhabit. During these interactions the two roles of signaller and receiver may be examined separately because they are fixed for the duration of the encounter. Attackers rap their shell against that of the defender in a series of bouts whereas defenders remain tightly withdrawn into their shells for the duration of the contest. At the end of a fight the attacker may evict the defender from its shell or decide to give up without first effecting an eviction; the decision for defenders is either to maintain a grip on its shell or to release the shell and allow itself to be evicted. We manipulated fatigue levels separately for attackers and defenders, by varying the oxygen concentration of the water that they are held in prior to fighting, and examined the effects that this has on the likelihood of each decision and on the temporal pattern of rapping. We show that the vigour of rapping and the likelihood of eviction are reduced when the attacker is subjected to low oxygen but that this treatment has no effect on rates of eviction when applied to defenders. We conclude that defenders compare the vigour of rapping with an absolute threshold rather than with a relative threshold when making their decision. The data are compatible with the cumulative assessment model and with the idea that shell rapping signals the stamina of attackers, but do not fit the predictions of the sequential assessment game.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Functional-anatomical implications of the nucleus accumbens core and shell subterritories.

The nucleus accumbens, a major part of the ventral striatum, comprises numerous subterritories and compartments, of which the core and shell appear to be dominant. Shell exhibits greater chemical neuroanatomical diversity than core and is rather directly connected to it by a robust, feed-forward, striatopallido-thalamocortico-striatal pathway. Shell and extended amygdala share afferents, but the two are distinguished by their outputs, strongly toward cortex for shell and descendent toward brain stem effector sites for extended amygdala. Shell responds independently to stimulation by excitatory amino acids and dopamine, which are more mutually permissive in the core. Accordingly, the shell responds to a broad variety of physiological and pharmacological stimuli, including psychomotor and opioid drugs. Whereas locomotion and oro-facial movements are elicitable from the shell, lesions and blockade of EAA transmission in the core reduce locomotion. It is hypothesized that core-shell has a feed-forward functional organization.

Amygdala↗

PubMed2002

Experimental identification of finite cylindrical shell vibration modes.

Acoustic scattering from a finite air-filled elastic cylindrical shell, immersed in water, is investigated. The shell is made of stainless steel and has a thickness to outer radius ratio of 17%. The considered dimensionless frequency range extends over 7 << k1a << 22 (k1: wave number in water, a: outer radius). Bistatic measurements are carried out to identify vibration modes related to the phase matching of the first guided wave, T0, propagating on the shell. Both transducers, the emitter and the receiver, are positioned at the same angular distance with regard to the normal axis of the shell. The emitter transducer is fixed at a given position. In order to identify circumferential modes of vibration, the receiver transducer is made to rotate in the azimuthal plane, normal to the shell axis. Results obtained are plotted in functions of dimensionless frequency and azimuthal angle. Vibration modes along the shell's length are identified by moving the receiver transducer parallel to the shell axis. In this case, results are plotted in functions of dimensionless frequency and axial wave number. The experimental investigation is corroborated by theoretical results obtained from approximate calculations for thick finite cylindrical shells [Scot F. Morse et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 103, 785-794 (1998)]. The evolution of the mode position with respect to the incidence angle is discussed so as to clarify peak patterns in backscattered resonance spectra.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2000

Bone and shell contribution to lactic acid buffering of submerged turtles Chrysemys picta bellii at 3 degrees C.

To evaluate shell and bone buffering of lactic acid during acidosis at 3 degrees C, turtles were submerged in anoxic or aerated water and tested at intervals for blood acid-base status and plasma ions and for bone and shell percent water, percent ash, and concentrations of lactate, Ca(2+), Mg(2+), P(i), Na(+), and K(+). After 125 days, plasma lactate concentration rose from 1.6 +/- 0.2 mM (mean +/- SE) to 155.2 +/- 10.8 mM in the anoxic group but only to 25.2 +/- 6.4 mM in the aerated group. The acid-base state of the normoxic animals was stable after 25 days of submergence. Plasma calcium concentration (¿Ca(2+)) rose during anoxia from 3.2 +/- 0.2 to 46.0 +/- 0.6 mM and ¿Mg(2+) from 2.7 +/- 0.2 to 12.2 +/- 0.6 mM. Both shell and bone accumulated lactate to concentrations of 135.6 +/- 35.2 and 163.6 +/- 5.1 mmol/kg wet wt, respectively, after 125 days anoxia. Shell and bone ¿Na(+) both fell during anoxia but the fate of this Na(+) is uncertain because plasma ¿Na(+) also fell. No other shell ions changed significantly in concentration, although the concentrations of both bone calcium and bone potassium changed significantly. Control shell water (27.8 +/- 0.6%) was less than bone water (33.6 +/- 1.1%), but neither changed during submergence. Shell ash (44.7 +/- 0.8%) remained unchanged, but bone ash (41.0 +/- 1.0%) fell significantly. We conclude that bone, as well as shell, accumulate lactate when plasma lactate is elevated, and that both export sodium carbonate, as well as calcium and magnesium carbonates, to supplement ECF buffering.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

PubMed2003

Removal of the shell coat affects maintenance of epithelia in blastocysts of the Brushtail Possum in vitro.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of the marsupial shell coat in embryonic development because it may be a potential target for immunocontraceptive control of the brushtail possum. Conceptuses from 52 female possums were collected between 1995 and 1997 in New Zealand and Australia. Development was examined in representative stages from cleavage to the early trilaminar blastocyst. The effect of coat removal by microdissection was examined by comparing development in vivo (n = 29), with development in vitro, both with (n = 10) and without (n = 13) shell coat removal. Conceptuses were monitored and photographed in culture, fixed and examined by transmission electron microscopy. The ultrastructure of uni-, bi- and trilaminar blastocyst stages in vivo and in vitro and of the early stages of hypoblast and embryonic endoderm formation are described for the first time in the possum. Shell coat removal had little impact on most cleavage stages, as the intact mucoid coat appeared to provide structural support to the embryo. Common features of unilaminar coat-free specimens after culture were rounding up and detachment of cells from the blastocyst epithelium and the loss of cell surface projections. The most remarkable features of the shell-free trilaminar blastocysts in comparison with the in vivo and in vitro controls were the hydration of many cells, and the large-scale disruption and modification of numerous epithelia, particularly of the younger, or newly forming populations. The shell appears to be functionally important after blastocyst formation, particularly after breakdown of the mucoid coat. After shell removal, conceptus response in vitro suggested that the shell played a role in maintaining structural integrity. The shell was found to be necessary for normal embryonic development.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Reducing effect of feeding powdered scallop shell on the body fat mass of rats.

The lipolytic effect of powdered scallop shells was estimated in vitro and in vivo. The scallop shells consisted of 98% calcium carbonate and 2% organic compounds, the extracted organic components promoted lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells. Male Wistar rats were fed on an experimental diet containing either the scallop shell powder or calcium carbonate (control) for 28 d. Feeding the scallop shell powder resulted in a decrease in body weight and in the weight of white adipose tissue. While the organ weights of the liver, kidney, testis, pancreas, and spleen, and of the brown adipose tissue relative to the body weight were no different between the scallop shell powder diet and control diet, the white adipose tissue weight relative to the body weight significantly decreased in the rats fed on the scallop shell powder. The glycerol concentration in the serum increased in the rats fed on the scallop shell powder, suggesting that this promoted lipolysis in the adipose tissue. These results show that the organic components in the scallop shells induced the decrease in weight of the adipose tissue due to the promotion of lipolysis.

3T3-L1 Cells↗