Glutamine Alleviates Muscle Paralysis Induced by Bungarus multicinctus Envenomation via the Agrin-MuSK Signaling Pathway

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  Glutamine Alleviates Muscle Paralysis Induced by Bungarus multicinctus Envenomation via the Agrin-MuSK Signaling Pathway Abstract This study investigated the effect of glutamine (Gln) on paralytic symptoms in rats poisoned by Bungarus multicinctus and explored the underlying mechanism, focusing on the Agrin-MuSK signaling pathway in neuromuscular transmission recovery.An ex vivo diaphragm tension assay assessed Gln's reversal of venom-induced neuromuscular blockade. A rat poisoning model was established with Bungarus multicinctus venom (0.15 mg/kg). Rats were divided into normal, venom, and venom+Gln groups. We evaluated survival, paralysis, blood gases (PaO 2 , PaCO 2 , PaSO 2 ), diaphragm histopathology and ultrastructure, and oxidative stress markers (SOD, MDA). RT-qPCR and Western Blot analyzed key Agrin-MuSK pathway components (mRNA: Agrin, Chrne, Chrna, LRP4, MuSK, Rapsyn; protein: Agrin, p-MuSK/MuSK, α1- subunit of nAChR, ε- subunit of nAChR). Gln significantly reversed ...

Precision Lost with Complexity: On an Extraordinary New Species of Pholcidae (Araneae, Smeringopinae) from Western DR Congo

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Precision Lost with Complexity: On an Extraordinary New Species of Pholcidae (Araneae, Smeringopinae) from Western DR Congo

Abstract

A remarkable new pholcid spider species is described from the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Smeringopina polychila sp. nov. The male is distinguished by a unique and previously undocumented structure, here termed the “parachila”, which has not been observed in any other spider to date. The description is complemented by high-quality illustrations, including detailed drawings, photographs, micro-CT scans, and 3D reconstructions of the genitalia and the newly discovered male structure. Remarkable intraspecific variations, both somatic and genitalic, in males are also highlighted and discussed. A phylogenetic analysis based on the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, 16S ribosomal RNA and histone H3 gene fragments is presented to tentatively place the new species into an existing phylogenetic framework. The results of the molecular analyses confirm that the new species belongs to the subfamily Smeringopinae and is nested within the genus Smeringopina Kraus, 1957.

Henrard, A., Jocqué, R., Smitz, N., & Grignet, V. (2025). Precision Lost with Complexity: On an Extraordinary New Species of Pholcidae (Araneae, Smeringopinae) from Western DR Congo. Taxonomy, 5(4), 57. https://doi.org/10.3390/taxonomy5040057