The infectivity of polyhedra of nuclear polyhedrosis virus (N.P.V.) after passage through gut of an insectpredator

Polyhedral inclusion bodies (P.I.B) of a nuclear polyhedrosis virus of Heliothis punctigera (Lep.) were found in excreta of Nabis tasmanicus (Het.), a predator of H. punctigera. An immunofluorescent counting method was used to estimate numbers of P.I.B. Bioassays demonstrated that no loss of infectivity occurred during passage through the gut.     

Sperm activation inBalanus balanoides (Crustacea: Cirripedia)

Summary Ammonium ions alone will activate both vesicula and inseminated spermatozoa ofBalanus balanoides. Maximum activity, however, occurs when inseminated spermatozoa are treated with the blood and oviducal gland fluid ofB. balanoides.Acknowledgments. I should like to thank Mr K. White for the ammonia determinations and Prof. D. J. Crisp and Dr P. A. Gabbott for useful discussions.     

Effect of the extracts fromAristolochia indica Linn. on interception in female mice

Summary The crude petroleum ether, chloroform and alcoholic extracts of the roots ofAristolochia indica (Linn.) showed 100% interceptive activity in mature female mice at the single dose of 100 mg/kg body wt. The follow-up studies with the chloroform extract showed the most significant effect in the basic part and two acidic fractions at the single dose levels of 50 mg/kg body wt. No toxic effect was observed at the dose levels used.The authors are thankful to Mr.P. P. Ghosh Dastidar, Medicinal Chemistry Division for the plant extracts. Thanks are also due to Indian Council of Medical Research and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research for granting scholarships to two of them (B.C. and A.D.) and to Prof.R. N. Chakravarti, Director of the Institute for encouragement.     

Karyotype and DNA content ofPhractolaemus ansorgei Blgr. (Teleostei: Gonorynchiformes)

Summary The diploid DNA content ofPhractolaemus ansorgei spinosus (Phractolaemidae) is estimated by Feulgen cytophotometry at 3 pg. The karyotype has 28 chromosomes and 54 chromosome arms; it significantly resembles the karyotype ofChanos chanos (Chanidae).Research supported by the Division of Human Genetics, K. U. Leuven, Belgium. The Zairian ONRD permitted a stay at IRSAC-Mabali. The Department of Human Genetics, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands, provided laboratorium facilities for cytophotometric analysis. I thank J. Bylsma, M. Kibishwa, F. Koperdraad and H. Van den Berghe for advice.     

LysogenicKlebsiella pneumoniae strains of capsular serotype 2(B)

Résumé L'auteur décrit quatre souches deKlebsiella pneumoniae du type capsulaire B lysogènes pour les bactériophages actifs pour une autre souche du même type.

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I am grateful to ProfessorsD. G. Catcheside andJ. P. Duguid, Drs.B. H. Park, I. Ørskov, J. Papavassiliou andY. Hamon for encouragement, information and bacterial strains. This work was begun at the Microbiology Department, University of Birmingham, while the author held an award from the Agricultural Research Council.     

Role of salivary glands in the maintenance of midgut amylase activity inPeriplaneta americana L.

Summary It was experimentally demonstrated, by the surgical removal of salivary glands and severence of salivary ducts, that most of the amylase in the gut ofPeriplaneta americana comes from the salivary glands.We wish to acknowledge Prof. H. Swarup (Jiwaji University, Gwalior, M.P.) for working facilities provided at School of Studies in Zoology, Vikram University, Ujjain, M.P., and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, for fincancial support in the form of Junior Research Fellowship to one of us (O.P.A.)     

Tetraploidy inProtopterus (Dipnoi)

Summary Comparative DNA values obtained by Feulgen cytophotometry for 3 species ofProtopterus, as well as karyotype analysis, show the existence of a diploid-tetraploid relationship within the genusProtopterus.Research supported by the Division of Human Genetics, K. U. Leuven, Belgium, and by the Université Nationale du Zaire, campus Kinshasa, Zaire. The Department of Human Genetics, University of Amsterdam. The Netherlands, provided laboratory facilities for cytophotometric analysis. I thank J. Bylsma, A. Debont, F. Koperdraad and H. Van den Berghe for advice, R. Ruysschaert and G. Warmoes for hospitality and technical assistance and T. Mohsen for the generous gift ofP. annectens from Senegal.     

Cornea regeneration in the Pacific giant octopus,Octopus dofleini,and the common octopus,O. vulgaris

Summary Cornea regeneration in a Pacific giant octopus,Octopus dofleini, occurred within 10 days after the injury was observed. Surgical removal of the cornea in 2 common octopi,O. vulgaris experimentally duplicated this cornea regeneration within a 10-day period. It is, therefore, concluded that besides sucking discs, arms, and nerve fibres, octopi can also regenerated corneal tissue.The authors would like to thank U. E. Friese, B. Borowski, P. Burn, J.W. Atz, G.J. Nelson, H. Feinberg, P. Fenimore, C. Roper, M. Nixon, M. Segalla, G. Clark, D.O. Calligaro, J.M. Anderson and R.J. Koestler for assistance and advice. Illustrations were drawn by G.D. This work was supported by the New York Aquarium of the New York Zoological Society, while G.D. was at the New York Aquarium.     

The chromosomes ofBufo rubropunctatus andBufo chilensis (Anura,Bufonidae) and other species of thespinolosus group

Summary The chromosomes ofBufo rubropunctatus andB. chilensis (on basis of adults) are described for the first time. These chromosomic sets are compared with the karyotypes ofB. spinolosus andB. variegatus and other species ofspinolosus group. The importance of the secondary constrictions applied to the phylogeny ofBufo are discussed.Supported by Proyecto N⁰ S-77-47, Dirección de Investigación, Universidad Austral de Chile.I would like to thank Dr J. M. Cei for collecting the Argentinian toads. Mr N. Diaz collected the specimens from Santiago, Chile.The technical assistence of Sonia Lacrampe is acknowledged with appreciation.     

Attraction ofScolytus scolytus (F.) to the components of Multilure,the aggregation pheromone ofS. multistriatus (Marsham) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

Summary The attraction ofS. scolytus to the components of Multilure is described. 4-Methyl-3-heptanol is an attractant which is synergised bya-cubebene. Multistriatin appears to be an inhibitor. A combination of 4-methyl-3-heptanol and cubeb oil is more effective as a bait forS. scolytus than Multilure.We thank Mr A. K. Hughes and Mr J. Boswell for their cooperation in allowing us to conduct experiments on Parham Estate; Mr D. Mobbs and Mr C. Thorne for the statistical analyses; Dr J. W. Peacock for samples of mixed isomers of multistriatin and distilled cubeb oil; Mrs J. Allsop and Mr N. J. Fielding for technical assistance. We are grateful to Mr D. Bevan, Dr J. H. Borden, Dr J. F. Grove and Prof. A. W. Johnson for their interest and encouragement.     

Autoradiographic studies on RNA synthesis and transport in the Salivary gland ofLygaeus sp. (Hemiptera-Lygaeidae)

Summary Autoradiographic studies using³H-uridine in the salivary gland of adultLygaeus sp. were carried out. The gland cell nuclei, particularly the multiple nucleoli, are the sites of incorporation of the label exhibiting RNA synthesis. The labelled molecules (RNA) are transported to the cell cytoplasm and then into the gland lumen in which no turnover of the radioactivity is observed.I am grateful to my teacher, Prof. P. S. Ramamurty, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, for his constant inspiration. Grateful acknowledgement is made to Prof. J. P. Thapliyal, Dept of Zoology, B. H. U. for encouragement and to Dr Om Prakash, Dept of Biochemistry, B. H. U. for his valuable criticism.     

Alkaloid studies XXVI. The constitution of pyrifolidine

Zusammenfassung Die Struktur desAspidosperma-Alkaloids Pyrifolidin (I) wird durch Protonresonanz und durch Vergleich mit Aspidospermin und Aspidocarpin bewiesen. Dieses Alkaloid ist in seiner absoluten Konfiguration ein Antipode des Aspidospermins.

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Paper XXV,C. Djerassi, A. A. P. G. Archer, T. George, B. Gilbert, J. N. Shoolery, andL. F. Johnson, Exper.16, 532 (1960).

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Acknowledgement. Financial support has been provided by grant H-5048 of the National Heart Institute, National Institutes of Health (U.S. Public Health Service), and by the Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas (Brazil). The postdoctorate research fellowship ofB. Gilbert in Rio de Janeiro was financed from a grant of the Rockefeller Foundation in support of a collaborative research program between Stanford University and the Instituto de Quimica Agricola, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).     

Electrical response of bat retina to spectral stimulation: comparison of four microchiropteran species

Summary Electrical responses of the retinas of 4 species of microchiropteran bats stimulated by spectrally restricted light flashes were found to diverge systematically from the rhodopsin absorption spectrum. The divergence was progressively greater across the 4 species. The results appeared explainable by assuming a second photoreceptor class and photopigment which was present in progressively greater numbers in the retinas ofEptesicus fuscus, Desmodus rotundus, Artibeus jamaicensis andCarollia perspicillata.This work was made possible by equipment provided by grant No. EY 01228 from the U.S.P.H.S., Bob Hope Fight for Sight award No. G 522 and a grant from Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc. Portions of this work were presented at the Fifth International Bat Research Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico, August 11, 1978.The authors would like to express appreciation to Drs A.M. Potts, J. B. Longley, R. S. Crockett and T. G. Wheeler for helpful suggestions and to Drs J. H. Richardson, J. G. Cooper, L. Kundrotas, Mr B. Spoonamore and Mr W. Lopez-Forment for facilitating collection and importation of the Mexican bats.     

The antennae and mating behaviour ofDrosophila females

Summary The females ofDrosophila bipectinata andD. malerkotliana are able to discriminate between their own and alien males in the absence of antennae. Thus mate recognition seems to depend on contact chemoreceptors in these 2 species.We are grateful to the Head of the Department of Zoology, B.H.U. for providing the necessary facilities. Thanks are due to the U.G.C., New Delhi, India for awarding a junior research fellowship to O.P.S.     

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.     

Distribution of free and conjugated ecdysteroids between follicle cell sheath and ooplasm in oocytes of the cockroachNauphoeta cinerea

Summary It is shown that both follicle cell sheath and ooplasm contain only small quantities ofHelix-hydrolyzable ecdysteroid conjugates and that 20-hydroxy-ecdysone is the predominant free ecdysteroid. Its concentration is very high in the follicle cell sheath immediately before chorion formation (6825 ng/g) and much lower after chorion formation (150 ng/g), while it is 234 ng/g and 95 ng/g in the ooplasm at the same stages respectively.Thanks are due to Dr J.D. O'Connor (Los Angeles) for the ecdysone antiserum, to Dr J. Koolman (Marburg) for 23,24-[³H]-ecdysone and to Mrs A. Tschan for technical assistance. A fellowship to X. Zhu from the Chinese Ministry of Education and financial support from the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant no. 3.714-0.80 to B. Lanzrein) are gratefully acknowledged.     

Gastric mucus effusion elicited by oral copper compounds: Potential anti-ulcer activity

Summary In rats, both Cu(I) and Cu(II) show an irritancy profile not shared with Cu^o or Zn(II) or Ni(II). The gastric response to Cu(II), i.e. copius fluid and mucus secretion, can protect the stomach from the acute ulcerative effects of aspirin or physical stress administered subsequently.to whom all enquiries should be addressed, Supported by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council (Austr.) and University of Tasmania Research Commitee.Acknowledgments: ProfessorsW. R. Walker (Newcastle, Austr.) andL. Field (Nashville, Tenn.) for gifts of Cu(I) and Zn complexes;Dr. J. R. J. Sorenson (Cincinnatti, Ohio) for illuminating discussion; Drs.D. D. Perrin (Canberra) andR. P. Agarwal (Washington D. C.) for providing stability constants and much helpful advice.     

Structure and stereochemistry of attenuol,a new lignan fromKnema attenuata (Wall.) Warb.

Summary A new lignan attenuol has been isolated from the bark ofKnema attenuata (Wall.) Warb. Its structure (I) is deduced on the basis of analytical and spectral data. The compound has been assigned the absolute configuration as 2S,3R-dimethyl-1S-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-6,7-methylenedioxytetralin (III).Contribution No. 487 from the Ciba-Geigy Research Centre.Acknowledgments. We thank Dr H. Fuhrer and Dr P. Moser of Ciba-Geigy Ltd. Basle for the NMR spectral data and ORD determinations and Dr S. Selvavinayakam and his colleagues for the analytical results.     

Natural hybridization inDrosophila

Summary Although at least 159 cases of interspecific hybridization between closely related species ofDrosophila have been obtained under laboratory conditions, only 7 cases of natural interspecific hybridization have been recorded. We report yet another case, concerningD. malerkotliana andD. bipectinata.Thanks are due to the University Grants Commission for supporting the research project of J.P.G. and to the Head of the Department for laboratory facilities.     

Comparative evaluation of 7 helminth antigens in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (E.L.I.S.A.)

Summary 112 sera from Europeans with parasitologically proven helminthiasis were tested in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (E.L.I.S.A.) against 6 crude extracts of various helminths (2 of adult worms:Dipetalonema viteae, Fasciola hepatica; 3 of eggs:Ascaris suum, Toxocara canis, Schistosoma mansoni; and ofEchinococcus granulosus scolices) and against bovine hydatid fluid. Each serum was tested simultaneously at a fixed dilution of 1:160 against all antigens. Extensive cross-reactions were observed, leading to the conclusion that non-purified helminth antigens, even in combination, are of limited value for reliable serodiagnosis in E.L.I.S.A.