The spatial extent and the dispersal strategy of species shape the occupancy frequency distribution of stream insect assemblages.

Several theoretical models have been proposed as the underlying mechanisms behind occupancy frequency distribution (OFD) patterns. For instance, the metapopulation dynamic model predicts bimodal OFD pattern indicating the dominance of dispersal processes in structuring the assemblages, while the niche-based model predicts unimodal right-skewed OFD pattern, and thus assemblages are driven mostly by niche processes. However, it is well known that the observed OFD pattern reflects the interplay of several other factors (e.g. habitat heterogeneity, species specificity and sampling protocol parameters). It follows that the individual contribution of each factor to the OFD pattern is rather complicated to explore. Our main objective was to examine the role of the spatial extent of the sampling and the dispersal strategies of species in shaping OFD pattern. For this, we collected samples of stream insect assemblages inhabiting near-natural streams in the Pannon Ecoregion. We formed groups of species representing contrasting dispersal strategies (referred to as dispersal groups). Applying a computer program algorithm, we produced samples with different spatial extent. We found that with increasing spatial extent, the OFD pattern changed from bimodal to unimodal for active dispersers. Insect groups with different dispersal strategies differed in the strength of support for OFD patterns within all spatial extent. Furthermore, the strength of support for OFD patterns varied across dispersal groups differently as the spatial extent increased. Our results reflected underlying changes in mechanisms structuring assemblages along an increasing spatial extent. We also assumed that the stream insect dispersal strategy influences the relative role of dispersal and niche processes particularly as spatial extent increases from stream reaches to the extent of adjacent valleys. We could define spatial extents and dispersal strategies within which unique metacommunity processes could underlie the organisation of assemblages.

[Effect of retraction materials on the blood supply of marginal gingiva]. / Az ínybarázda feltárására használt anyagok hatása a marginális gingiva vérkeringésére.

Effect of knitted cord and retraction medicaments applied to achieve gingival displacement prior to taking impression has been studied on the blood supply of marginal gingiva of volunteers using laser Doppler flowmetry. Immediately after application of #00 cord saturated with 0.9% saline, 25% AlCl3 or 15.5% Fe2(SO4)3 solutions, significant decrease of blood perfusion was registered. Removal of cords containing medicaments resulted in prompt gingival hyperemia. However, vasoconstriction observed as a consequence of cord application saturated with 0.1% epinephrine proved to be long-lasting and persisted even in the 20th min of cord removal. In conclusion our results suggest that the reduced perfusion of marginal gingiva is evoked by the mechanical compression of retraction cord. At the time of making impression, which procedure in clinical practice is due immediately after cord removal, the blood flow of marginal gingiva is elevated. Permanent hypoperfusion can be achieved only by the means of cord impregnated with 0.1% epinephrine.

Intrarenal distribution of blood flow in sodium depleted and sodium loaded rats: role of nitric oxide.

The renal hemodynamic effects of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition and dietary salt were studied in rats. L-NAME (0.1 mg/ml in the drinking fluid, about 12 mg/kg/day) was given for 4 days to rats receiving low (sodium depletion, SD), normal (N) or high (sodium load, SL) NaCl diet. Intrarenal hemodynamics was studied in anaesthesia. NOS inhibition decreased renal blood flow and increased renal vascular resistance in each group. Cortical and outer medullary but not inner medullary blood flow increased in direct ratio to the sodium intake. NOS inhibition decreased the blood flow and increased the vascular resistance in all layers of the kidney in SD, N, and SL rats as well. In SD and N, but not in SL rats L-NAME induced vasoconstriction was higher in the outer (OM) and inner medulla (IM) than in the cortex (C) [SD: DeltaCVR 43%, DeltaOMVR 54%, DeltaIMVR 84%; N: DeltaCVR 54%, DeltaOMVR 96%, DeltaIMVR 106%; SL: DeltaCVR 50%, DeltaOMVR 64%, DeltaIMVR 35%]; in normal rats blood flow shifts from the medulla toward the cortex. In conclusion, nitric oxide may have a role in the regulation of renal vascular tone not only in the case of regular sodium uptake but in the sodium depleted or loaded organism as well. However, nitric oxide has no role in the dietary salt evoked vascular adaptation in the kidney.

Blood flow of the submandibular gland in sodium-depleted and -loaded rats: effect of nitric oxide synthase inhibition.

The present investigations were designed to study the hemodynamic effects of different sodium diets in the submandibular gland of rats with or without nitric oxide (NO) synthesis inhibition. Experimental animals were kept on: (1) standard chow and tap water ad libitum (normal group, N), or (2) wheat and distilled water ad libitum for 4 weeks (sodium-depleted animals, SD), or (3) standard chow and saline ad libitum for 4 weeks (sodium-loaded animals, SL). NO synthase was inhibited by N omega-nitro-L-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME, 10 mg/kg per day) in the last week. The rats were anesthetized, and blood pressure, cardiac output (Stewart-Hamilton's principle) and blood flow (BF) of the submandibular gland (Sapirstein's technique) were determined. High sodium intake resulted in a 47% increase of glandular BF as compared to BF measured in the control group. In all groups L-NAME decreased BF (ml/min per 100 g gland) as compared to those of rats with no L-NAME treatment (N: 76.4 +/- 15.4 vs. 56.0 +/- 11.6, P < 0.05; SD: 71.0 +/- 17.7 vs. 56.2 +/- 15.1, n.s.; SL: 112 +/- 29.4 vs. 66.9 +/- 18.4, P < 0.001), whereas the vascular resistance (VR, mm Hg x ml-1 x s x kg-1) increased (N: 11.0 +/- 2.3 vs. 17.5 +/- 4.1, P < 0.001; SD: 11.0 +/- 2.7 vs. 17.0 +/- 4.2, P < 0.01; SL: 8.5 +/- 2.4 vs. 14.9 +/- 4.6, P < 0.001). The increase in VR after L-NAME treatment was 64% in normal, 55% in sodium-depleted and 75% in sodium-loaded rats. Our results suggest that NO takes part in the regulation of vascular resistance and BF in the submandibular gland. Sodium load itself increases BF of the submandibular gland and this phenomenon may partly be mediated by NO.