Pancreatic microcirculatory dysfunction emerged as a novel mechanism in the development of hypertension. However, the changes of pancreatic microcirculation profiles in hypertension remain unknown. Pancreatic microcirculatory blood distribution pattern and microvascular vasomotion of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKYs) were determined by laser Doppler. Wavelet transform analysis was performed to convert micro-hemodynamic signals into timefrequency domains, based on which amplitude spectral scalograms were constructed. The amplitudes of characteristic oscillators were compared between SHRs and WKYs. The expression of eNOS was determined by immunohistochemistry, and plasma nitrite/nitrate levels were measured by Griess reaction. Additionally, endothelin-1, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and interleukin-6 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. SHRs exhibited a lower scale blood distribution pattern with decreased average blood perfusion, frequency and amplitude. Wavelet transform spectral analysis revealed significantly reduced amplitudes of endothelial oscillators. Besides reduced expression of eNOS, the blood microcirculatory chemistry complements micro-hemodynamic profiles as demonstrated by an increase in plasma nitrite/nitrate, endothelin-1, malondialdehyde, interleukin-6 and a decrease of superoxide dismutase in SHRs. Here, we described abnormal pancreatic microcirculation profiles in SHRs, including disarranged blood distribution pattern, impaired microvascular vasomotion and reduced amplitudes of endothelial oscillators.
The striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena Linnaeus, 1758) is a near threatened large carnivore having a wider distribution range than other hyenas. However, very little information is available about its status and ecology. In the present study, we assessed the current status and population density of striped hyenas in the semi-arid tropical forests of the Gir National Park and Sanctuary, India. The density of striped hyenas was
estimated through individual identification using a photographic capture-recapture framework. With an effort of 600 trap nights, 24 individual hyenas
were identified with an average trapping effort of 17.6 per hyena photograph. The estimated density (individual/km² ± SE) for central zone
was 0.04 ± 0.01, for eastern zone 0.12 ± 0.03, for National Park 0.08 ± 0.05,
and for western zone 0.02 ± 0.01, while the estimated mean density was 0.07 ± 0.03. We discuss the results of this study in relation to the distribution of hyenas in the Gir National Park and Sanctuary, which provides them a safe denning refugia and dietary requirements. Striped hyenas are under continuous pressure of various threats that directly or indirectly affect its occurrence and abundance, and lack of reliable status of their populations makes it extremely difficult to develop and implement an effective conservation plan to arrest the inferred decline. Very few studies have been conducted so far on this species and our findings may provide some useful information for its conservation in India and elsewhere.