A chromosome study ofScarites occidentalis (Coleoptera,Caraboidea)

Summary Scarites occidentalis has 2n=41 (females 2n=42), n=19+X₁X₂Y. This multiple sex-chromosome system and other karyotypic characteristics suggest that this species andS. buparius share a recent common ancestor in which the sex trivalent was probably originated.Thanks are due to Dr N. Virkki for his valuable comments and his help with the English, to Dr Ramos and Dr Aparicio for discussion and advice, to Dr F. Hiraldo and M. Mañez for collecting the specimens. This work has been supported by a postdoctoral fellowship of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas.     

Attraction of the male house fly to cuticular hydrocarbons and feces of several other dipteran species

Zusammenfassung Männchen vonMusca domestica werden von Kohlenwasserstoffextrakten aus der Cuticula weiblicherMusca domestica, M. autumnalis undHaematobia irritan angelockt (gleiche oder ähnliche Pheromone), nicht aber von entsprechenden Extrakten ausStomoxys calitrans, Glossina morsitans, G. austeni, Fannia canicularis undCochliomyia hominivorax.

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The authors thankDr. P. A. Langley, University of Bristol, for his geneous aid in providing cuticular washes and feces of tsetse flies;Dr. C. M. Jones, USDA, for face fly samples;Dr. R. L. Harris, USDA, for horn fly samples;Dr. B. G. Hightower and R. R. Grabbe, USDA, for screwworm samples andDr. W. M. Rogoff, USDA, for little house fly samples.     

Effect of cyproterone acetate on the testis and epididymis of the lizard,Psammophilus dorsalis (Gray)

Summary The effect of cyproterone acetate (CPA) on the testis and epididymis of the lizard,Psammophilus dorsalis has been studied. Treatment with CPA affects spermatogenesis and steroid metabolism in the testis. It also causes regression of the epididymis and a decrease in steroidogenic enzyme activity.Acknowledgments. We wish to thank Prof. M.R. Rajasekarasetty for his encouragement, Dr K.V. Rao, Nagpur, for a generous gift of cyproterone acetate, Dr V.B. Nadkarni, Dharwar, for permitting the use of his cryostat, Sri B.M. Sekharappa for his technical assistance and UGC, New Delhi for their financial help to one of us (GRS).     

C-banding pattern on the chromosomes of the Japanese house shrew,Suncus murinus riukiuanus,and its implication

Summary The C-band on the chromosomes of the Japanese house shrew,Suncus murinus riukiuanus (Insectivora), was studied. Various types of C-banding pattern were found in the genome of this subspecies. Such banding patterns could be useful for an understanding of autosome and sex-chromosome polymorphisms withinS. murinus.Acknowledgment. The authors are very grateful to Prof. T. Wasano of Fukuoka University for his encouragement, Dr K. Ogawa of Fukuoka University, the Nohara family for help in collecting specimens, and Prof. E.W. Jameson, Jr, University of California, Dr J.W. Bickham and his students of Texas A & M University for comments.     

Anti-endotoxin (anti-lipid-A) antibodies

Summary Anti-lipid-A, anti-endotoxin, antibodies have been measured by a passive haemolysis test using antigen from anE. coli Re mutant. Titres in the normal population are low but do rise in situations in which there has been gram-negative sepsis. Absence of raised titres in other situations has profound implications.We are most grateful to Dr Günter Schmidt of Freiburg for his gift of Lipid-A antigen. We also thank Dr L. Monnens of Nijmegen and Dr T.M. Barratt of London for their sera.     

Antiviral substances in starfish

Zusammenfassung Eine Gruppe von teilweise chemisch charakterisierten Verbindungen, welche die Vermehrung des Influenza-Virus in Huhnembryo-Test verhindern, wurde aus den SeesternenAsterias forbesi, Asterias pectinifera undAcanthaster planci isoliert.

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This research was supported by the N.S.F. Sea-Grant Program. The author thanks Dr.H. W. Younken Jr. and Dr.L. R. Worthen for their encouragement and suggestions throughout this work. Thanks are also due to Dr.Hashimoto, Tokyo University, and Dr.Yasumoto, Tohoku University, for the specimen ofAsterina pectinifera, and Dr.B. M. Branham, University of Hawaii, forAcanthaster planci sample. The antiviral test was carried out by Dr.O. Liu, Northeast Shellfish Sanitation Research Center, D. H. E. W., Narragansett, Rhode Island, to whome the author expresses his sincere gratitude.     

A unique mode of multiplication of basidiospores inRavenelia hobsoni (Uredinales)

Zusammenfassung Erster Bericht über die Vervielfältigung von Sporidien durch binare Spaltung beiRavenelia hobsoni.

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Author is grateful to Prof.M. N. Kamat, Head of Mycology Division, M.A.C.S. Laboratory, Poona 4, for his deep interest and guidance, Dr.S. R. Sarvotham, Quality Control Laboratory, Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd., Pimpri, for the laboratory facilities and encouragement given. Thanks are also due to Dr.A. V. Sathe for several suggestions and to Mr.D. N. Nagpure for drawings.     

Presence of intrachromatidic bands in mitotic chromosomes ofTriturus marmoratus (Amphibia: Caudata)

Summary The C-banding technique has revealed the existence of single and double intrachromatidic bands in mitotic chromosomes ofTriturus marmoratus. The presence of the bands is discussed on the basis of the helical coil model versus the radial loop model, which assumes a different packing of the DNA fiber.We are very indebted to Prof. C. García de la Vega for his indispensable help, to Prof. Dr J. Martín for his comments and to M. Herrero for his support.     

Karyotypic races of the common shrew (Sorex araneus L.) from northern Poland

Summary Karyotypic races of the common shrew which differed with respect to the combinations of chromosome arms in certain 2-armed autosomes were distinguished in Poland. Two eastern races with the arm combinationik, and one western race with the arm combinationhi in the third pair of autosomes were established. In the contact area of these chromosomal forms, the fourth karyotypic race with the arm combinationhk was found.I wish to express my gratitude to my wife, A.M. Wójcik, M. Sc., for her help in catching the animals and making chromosome preparations. I must also offer my thanks to Dr J. Zima for giving me access to his as yet unpublished data, and to Prof. Z. Pucek and Dr S. Fedyk for reading the first draft of this paper.     

Effects of palytoxin on the electrical activity of dog and rabbit heart

Summary Reversible effects of palytoxin, extracted from colonies of the soft coralPalythoa caribaeorum, are described. There is a decrease of both membrane resting potential and overshoot during activity. Rise time of the action potential is prolonged, while repolarization is shortened. The electrical events resemble those seen with metabolic poisons.This work was supported by grant 10897 from the National Heart and Lung Institute, Bethesda, Md., and by grant 3.758. 72 from the Swiss National Science Foundation.I wish to thank Dr W. C. De Mello for hospitality in his department, Dr T. Morales for allowing me to use his equipment, Dr. J. Santos Martínez for providing me with hearts of poisoned and unpoisoned dogs, and Drs E. Toro-Goyco and A. M. Preston of the Department of Biochemistry for letting me have a sample of toxin.     

Genetic control of malate dehydrogenase inNicotiana suaveolens andN. glutinosa

Summary The study of malate dehydrogenase patterns in leaves ofNicotiana suaveolens, N. glutinosa and their interspecific hybrid has been carried out, in order to propose a model of its genetic control. Two possible explanations for the genetic control of malate dehydrogenase have been postulated forN. suaveolens, and at least two loci appear to be implicated in the control of this system inN. glutinosa.Acknowledgments. The authors thank Dr M. Pérez de la Vega for his valuable advice.     

Timing of action of sperm proteases in ascidian fertilization

Summary The timing of action of three sperm proteases, acrosin, spermosin, and a chymotrypsin-like enzyme, in the fertilization of the ascidian,Halocynthia roretzi, was examined by adding specific protease inhibitors at various times after insemination. The results indicate that the last two enzymes both function at the early stage of the process of sperm penetration through the egg investment, while acrosin functions at the late stage.Acknowledgments. We are indebted to Dr M. Hoshi of Tokyo Institute of Technology for his helpful discussion, and to Dr T. Someno of Nippon Kayaku Kogyo Co. for his generous gifts of Z-Val-Pro-Arg-H and leupeptin. This work was supported by Grants-in-Aid from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan, and from Naito Research Foundation.     

Some remarks concerning staining methods for neurosecretory products in insects

Summary Insect neurosecretory cells show great diversity and respond differently to reportedly homologous stains, including Victoria blue, chrome hematoxylin-phloxin and paraldehyde fuchsin. Apart from this diversity, it is shown on a phasmidClitumnus and a bugRoscius, that the mode of application of technics have a great influence upon the staining properties of the cells.Dedicated to Professor Dr M. Gersch's on the occasion of his 70th birthday.     

Distribution ofγ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the ganglia ofAplysia kurodai

Summary The concentration of GABA was determined in each ganglion ofAplysia kurodai by microassay. Highest concentration was observed in buccal ganglia.The authors are indebted to Miss C. Shimada for her skillful assistance and are also grateful to Dr. H. Koike in our institute for his advice to handleAplysia, to Dr. S. Ameniya, Misaki Marine Biology Station, University of Tokyo, for his support to get the animals.     

Oxygen consumption of genetically obese rats

Zusammenfassung Der Sauerstoffverbrauch genetisch fettleibiger Ratten ist auffallend niedriger als derjenige von Normalratten (littermates), die nach Hypothalamusverletzung fettleibig wurden.

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J.Mayer, R. E.Russell, M. W.Bates and M. M.Dickie, Endocrinology56, 318 (1952).

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The author thanks Dr. E. B.Astwood for his continuing support and encouragement.     

Acoustic differences between populations of western and eastern Bonelli's Warblers (Phylloscopus bonelli,Sylviidae)

Summary Sonographic analyses of songs and calls of Bonelli's Warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli) show important structural differences between the geographically isolated western (P.b. bonelli) and eastern (P.b. orientalis) populations. Playback experiments in the field and some morphological differences suggest that these populations may be separating into 2 species.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (H.-H.B. and J.M.).The authors wish to thank Dr D. Graham for his help in the translation.     

Isolation ofiso-butyropyrrothine along with thiolutin and aureothricin from aStreptomyces sp.

Résumé Une nouvelle espèce de Streptomyces (S. pimprina) produit l'iso-butyropyrrothine avec la thiolutine (l'acétopyrrothine), l'aureothricine (la propriopyrrothine) et un antibiotique antifongique du groupe du polyène (heptaène).

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Our thanks are due to Dr.M. J. Thirumalachar for his interest in this work.     

A novel biochemical systematic technique for herpetology based on epidermal keratin

Summary Using green geckos (Phelsuma) the molecular weights and isoelectric points of S-carboxymethylated keratin monomers from fresh and preserved reptile epidermis were investigated. Isoelectric focussing reveals that several of the circa 35 components differ between genera, species and races and that the relative similarity of the SCMK pattern is directly related to evolutionary similarity and is of considerable taxonomic value.We would like to thank the SRC (grant A/8799.9 to R.S. Th.) and the Department of Zoology, Aberdeen for funding this research and Dr Alan Knox for his advice and assistance at the inception of this project. R.S. Th. would like to thank the Bonhote fund, Carnegie Trust and the Joint Research Committee of Aberdeen University for travel expenses related to this research and the Reptile and Amphibian section of the BMNH for the loan of specimens. M. G. would like to thank J.M. Gillespie for communications on keratin biochemistry and Dr Charteris (BDH) for a sample of their molecular weight markers prior to it being marketed.     

Methyllycaconitine,a naturally occurring insecticide with a high affinity for the insect cholinergic receptor

Summary Studies of extracts ofDelphinium seeds, long known to be insecticidal, revealed that a principal insecticidal toxin was methyllycaconitine, which is shown to be a potent inhibitor of -bungarotoxin binding to housefly heads (K_inh=2.5×10^–10±0.5×10^–10M).Calgary for gifts of MLA, citrate and lycoctonine, and Dr W. Bowers of the University of Arizona for the original extract ofDelphinium seeds. We would also like to acknowledge the able technical support of Ms C. Dushin, Mr E.L. Bowman, Dr C. C. Gagne, Mr R. F. Borysewicz and Dr P. Mowery for his assistance in obtaining and interpreting the carbon-13 NMR spectra.