Distribution maps must satisfy additional attributes if used for conservation analyses and strategies, including minimizing commission and omission errors, credibility of the source/assessors and availability for public screening. We review currently available databases for mammals globally and show that they are highly variable in complying with these attributes. The heterogeneity and weakness of spatial data

seriously constrain their utility to global and also sub-global scale conservation analyses.”
“The orphan receptor Steroidogenic Factor-1 (SF-1, NR5A1), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is present in fetal and adult steroidogenic tissues and also participates in the regulation of ovarian function. In this study, the expression levels FAK inhibitor of SF-1 mRNA and protein were determined in granulosa find more cells (from follicles >1 cm and <1 cm in diameter) and luteal tissue (from days 1-5, 6-10, 11-15, and 16-19 of the estrous cycle and weeks 3-5,

6-8, and 9-12 of pregnancy). Additionally, the effects of a synthetic SF-1 stimulator (4-(heptyloxy)phenol – HxP; 1 x 10(-7) M) and a synthetic SF-1 inhibitor (F0160; 1 x 10(-5) M) on the secretion of estradiol and oxytocin (OT) from granulosa cells (from follicles > 1 cm) and the secretion of progesterone (P4) and OT from luteal cells (days 11-16 of the estrous cycle) were investigated. The levels of SF-1 mRNA and protein were higher in granulosa cells (P<0.05) from follicles >1 cm than in cells from follicles <1 cm. In luteal tissue, the mRNA Bindarit abundance was the highest (P<0.05) on days 6-10 of the estrous

cycle, and the amount of protein was the highest on days 6-15 (P<0.05). The lowest levels of mRNA and protein for SF-1 were observed on days 16-19 of the estrous cycle (P<0.05). The abundance of SF-1 mRNA decreased at 9-12 weeks of pregnancy (P<0.05). The stimulation of the studied cells with HxP increased P4 and estradiol secretion from luteal and granulosa cells, respectively, and OT secretion from both types of cells. The SF-1 inhibitor did not affect hormone secretion by either type of cell, but it did diminish the effect induced by the SF-1 stimulator. The obtained data revealed estrous cycle-dependent levels of mRNA and protein for SF-1 in luteal tissue, and the use of a specific SF-1 stimulator and a specific SF-1 inhibitor confirmed the involvement of this receptor in steroidogenesis and OT secretion from cultured granulosa and luteal cells. These findings suggest that the SF-1 receptor participates in the local regulation of ovarian function during both the estrous cycle and the first trimester of pregnancy in cows. Furthermore, the concentrations of the SF-1 inhibitor and stimulator that we used in the primary cell culture could effectively modify the activity of this receptor. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.