Hemocyte phagocytosis assay in vitro revealed no significant differences in the average values of phagocytic activity (PA) and phagocytic index (PI) in samples of the molluscs Modiolus kurilensis that inhabit non impacted water areas (Kievka, Vostok, and Troitsa bays, the Sea of Japan). The only exception was an insignificantly lower value of PI for individuals from Troitsa Bay. The average values of PA for hemocytes of the total population of bivalves from non impacted water areas were 52.0 ± 1.0%. On the basis of the inter annual analysis of PA, the bivalve population from Vostok Bay was chosen as an appropriate reference group that is characterized by relatively stable PA values. In comparison with molluscs from the reference group and other investigated samples, M. kurilensis from the impacted water area (Sportivnaya Gavan, Amursky Bay) had considerably lower values of average PA (36.0 ± 2.0%) and PI (2.1 ± 0.05). The presented cell mediated immunity assay can serve as an effective method for estimation of the physiological state of the bivalve in nat ural and aquacultural populations in order to differentiate molluscs from impacted and non impacted water areas.
A small protein, Mitoregulin (Mtln), localizes in mitochondria and contributes to oxidative phosphorylation and fatty acid metabolism. Mtln knockout mice develop obesity on a high-fat diet, demonstrating elevated cardiolipin damage and suboptimal creatine kinase oligomerization in muscle tissue. Kidneys heavily depend on the oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria. Here we report kidney-related phenotypes in aged Mtln knockout mice. Similar to Mtln knockout mice muscle mitochondria, those of the kidney demonstrate a decreased respiratory complex I activity and excessive cardiolipin damage. Aged male mice carrying Mtln knockout demonstrated an increased frequency of renal proximal tubules’ degeneration. At the same time, a decreased glomerular filtration rate has been more frequently detected in aged female mice devoid of Mtln. An amount of Mtln partner protein, Cyb5r3, is drastically decreased in the kidneys of Mtln knockout mice.
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