Effect of acetylcholine on melanophores ofRana tigrina

Summary Acetylcholine produced melanin aggregation and blanching of skin colour inRana tigrina, the common Indian frog. The effects were more prolonged in frogs pretreated with an anticholinesterase agent. Acetylcholine effects were not antagonized by eitherm-cholinolytic (atropine) orn-cholinolytic (pentolinium) agents, but were markedly inhibited by procaine. The results have been discussed in the light of the well-known membrane-stabilizing effect of procaine.     

Transplantation of neural tissues in the brains of laboratory mammals: Technical details and comments

Summary Various technical details on the transplantation of the embryonic neural tissues in the brains of the neonatal and adult rats are presented. Conditions determining successful or leading to unsuccessful survival, growth and differentiation of these transplants are critically examined.Supported by Research grants NS. 08817 and CA. 14650 from N.I.H.     

Transplantation of brain tissue in the brain of adult rats

Summary Brain tissues obtained from rat embryos were transplanted in the forebrain and/or cerebellum of the adult rats. The transplants survived, grew and achieved normal cellular and cytoarchitectural differentiation. They had become anatomically integrated with the host brain. The animals did not show any obviously detectable abnormal behavior or pathology of the brain. The transplants survived as long as the animals did suggesting that they had become a part and parcel of the host brain.Supported by research grants NS-08817 and CA-14650 from N.I.H.     

Anatomical identification of the presumed electroreceptors of two air breathing catfishes,Clarias batrachus andHeteropneustes fossilis

Summary Histological preparations for light microscopy have revealed for the first time the structure of the electroreceptor ofClarias batrachus andHeteropneustes fossilis, the 2 Indian air-breathing catfishes. These sensory organs are found to resemble the ampullary organs of many weakly electric and nonelectric electroreceptive teleost.The work was in part supported by grant of SCST (U.P.) during the period 1974–76 which is acknowledged.     

Viscero-somatic reflexes following distension of urinary bladder in cats: Role of supraspinal neuraxis

Summary Viscero-somatic reflexes have been studied by recording monosynaptic reflexes following distension of the urinary bladder in intact, decerebrate and spinal animals. It was observed that the viscero-somatic responses following bladder distension are inhibitory in nature and this inhibition was highest in decerebrates and least in spinal animals. The site of viscero-somatic interaction probably lies in the bulbar area (supraspinal) and spinal cord.Acknowledgment. The work was carried out with the financial assistance of the Indian Council of Medical Research, Govt of India. We are thankful to A. T. Pradhan, Abott Laboratories (India) Pvt. Ltd. for a generous supply of Nembutal.     

Thermal acclimatory responses of salivary amylase of Periplaneta americana (Linn.)

Summary A differential thermal acclimatory response of salivary amylase is evident in P. americana-nymphs demonstrating a translational and males a rotational pattern, while females exhibit the translational cum rotational pattern (Prosser's type IV-D).     

Gliogenesis during embryonic development in the rat

Summary With the aid of thymidine-H³ autoradiography gliogenesis in the rat brain was seen to start during embryonic stages, which might continue into the postnatal stages of development. Gliogenesis followed a caudo-rostral gradient closely following neurogenesis. Ependymogenesis was found to occur in parallel with gliogenesis.Supported by research grants NS-08817 and CA-14650 from N.I.H.     

Ethical principles and guidelines for scientific experiments on animals

Ethical principles and guidelines for scientific experiments on animals