Phosphatase activity in testis and prostate of rats treated with embelin andVinca rosea extract

Summary Daily administration ofVinca rosea Linn. extract orally and embelin s.c. to male albino rats caused significant rise in levels of acid and alkaline phosphatases of testis and prostate indicating altered metabolic function.We acknowledge the financial support by Indian Council of Medical Research and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. Thanks are due to Dr J. Bahadur, School of Studies in Zoology, Jiwaji University, Gwalior for providing laboratory facilities.     

Pathogenicity of sorghum ergot fungus (Sphacelia sorghi McRae)

Zusammenfassung Die Konidien einer in vitro aufgezogenen Kultur vonSphacelia sorghi sind weniger infektiös als die Konidien aus dem Honigtau der auf Hirse gewachsenen Pilze. Es wird daher eine Substanz im Honigtau vermutet, welche die Keimung der Konidiensporen fördert.

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This study was supported in part by a Junior Fellowship awarded by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi 1 (India).     

Isolation and fusion studies on protoplasts from pollen tetrads

Summary different enzymes were tested for isolation of intact protoplasts from pollen tetrads. About 80% isolation was achieved from pollen tetrads of Cajanus cajan and Zea mays and about 60% from Luffa cylindrica and Lycopersicon esculentum after 4 h of treatment with 5% cellulase. When these mononucleate protoplasts were incubated in presence of 0.05 M CaCl₂ in 0.3 M glucose at pH 10.5, 70–80% fusion was achieved. Fusion was rare in sodium nitrate solutions.This work was supported by a grant from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi (No. 1-32/73, Ed. I) in the form of a Senior Fellowship awarded to P. C. D.Work carried out at Molecular Cytogenetics Research Unit, Dept. of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.     

Influence of oestradiol on tissue respiration of the Indian garden lizard,Calotes versicolor

Summary Ovariectomy reduced the respiratory rates of liver and skeletal muscle homogenates of the Indian garden lizard,Calotes versicolor. Administration of oestradiol dipropionate elevated the rate of tissue respiration of ovariectomized animals. This finding lends support to the view that oestradiol, like testosterone, is able to stimulate the oxidative metabolism of this animal.Part of a thesis qualified for the award of Ph.D. degree of Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. The author expresses his deep sense of gratitude to Professor J. P. Thapliyal of the Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University for valuable guidance and constant inspiration. Financial assistance was provided by a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (New Delhi) Junior Research Fellowship.     

Isolation of di-N-2-propylpentyl phthalate from human urine

Summary A higher percentage of di-N-2 propylpentyl phthalate isolated from the urine of the normals and a lower quantity in the patients suffering from Eales' disease accompanied with the occurrence in patients of another compound which is also most likely a phthalate ester has been correlated with the Eales' disease.Acknowledgement. This work was supported by grants from the Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India.     

Phosphatases ofMycobacterium 607

Zusammenfassung Die Phosphatase(n)-Aktivität der zellfreien Extrakte vonMycobacterium 607 wurde untersucht und Pyrophosphat, ATP, ADP und Fructose-1,6-diphosphat hydrolisiert. Eigene Eigenschaften der Phosphatasen wurden studiert. Auch wurde nachgewiesen, dass die Hydrolyse von ATP und ADP durch mindestens zwei verschiedene Enzyme hervorzurufen ist.

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Supported in part by funds from Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi and Grant No. E-3427, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases U.S.P.H.S. Thanks are due to Dr.R. Viswanathan for his interest in this work.     

Effect of the scorpion,Heterometrus fulvipes (C. Koch), venom on some enzyme systems in rat (albino) tissues

Summary Sublethal doses ofHeterometrus fulvipes venom decreased NADP-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase activity levels and increased NADP-specific glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase activity levels during a 48-h-period.Acknowledgments. D. V. thanks the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, for awarding a Senior Research fellowship.     

Giemsa `and formation in M-chromosomes of Vicia faba

Summary Various alterations in Giemsa banding technique have been introduced to observe their influence on band formations in M-chromosome of Vicia faba root tip dividing cells. With the introduction of some minor alterations in the technique, revelation of a large number of classes of constitutive heterochromatin has been made possible. Apparently such Giemsa banding pattern is comparable to the ones observed in a routine way amongst mammalian chromosomes.Acknowledgments. This study was supported by a grant from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi (No. 7/13 [619]/72 GAU. I), to JPG and from the Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi (No. 31/BS/323), to SKS.     

Phospholipids ofMycobacterium phlei

Résumé La cardiolipine est le principal phospholipide dansM. smegmatis CDC. Il constitue le 45% du phospholipide total. Elle est suivie d'une quantité de phosphatidylinositolmannosides. DansM. phlei ATCC 354 au contraire, ces derniers représentent le 46% du phospholipide total. Le monomannophosphoinositide y est présent en plus forte concentration que la cardiolipine.

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The author is grateful to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi for the award of senior a research fellowship.

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This investigation was supported in part by a PL-480 grant No. FG-In-336.     

Tissue specific biochemical alterations prior to spinning in the eri-silkworm,Philosamia ricini

Summary Silkgland, fatbody, hemolymph and midgut of eri-silkworm present tissue specific turnover in their biochemical correlates in preparation for spinning of the cocoon which is followed by larval-pupal transformation.Acknowledgment. The authors are thankful to Dr R. N. Singh, Principal, for providing the necessary facilities, to Dr A. B. Das, Zoology Dept. Visvabharti University for valuable suggestions and to Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India, for financial assistance.     

Robustaflavone—the first member of a new series of biflavones

Zusammenfassung Isolierung und Strukturaufklärung eines neuen Typs der Biflavone ausAgathis robusta.

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Acknowledgment: The author is thankful to Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, India, for financial assistance.     

Comparative effect of silver ion and gibberellic acid on the induction of male flowers on femaleCannabis plants

Summary Silver ion applied as AgNO₃ to the shoot tip of female plants ofCannabis induces male flowers. It is more effective than gibberellic acid (GA₃) in maintaining the induced state.Acknowledgment. G.S. thanks the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, India, for the award of a Junior Research Fellowship.     

Tissue specific biochemical alterations during spinning in the eri-silkworm,Philosamia ricini

Summary Protein, total free amino acid and RNA accumulated in the silk gland of eri-silkworm decrease drastically within 2–4 days of spinning. In contrast, the fatbody presents an augmentation of total protein concentration towards the end of the spinning process. The hemolymph maintains constancy of these molecules with little variation.Acknowledgment. The authors are thankful to Dr R. N. Singh, Principal, for providing necessary facilities, to Dr A. B. Das, Prof. and Head of Zoology Dept Visvabharti University for valuable suggestions and to Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India, for financial assistance.     

Chlamydospore development in soil byProtomycopsis thirumalacharii

Zusammenfassung Chlamydosporen (Dauersporen) des parasitischen PilzesProtomycopsis thirumalacharii (Protomycetaceae, Exoascales) können sich sowohl in vitro als auch im Boden entwickeln. Dauersporenentwicklung findet in der Regel in dieser Familie nur auf der Wirtspflanze statt.

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The junior author (MPH) expresses his gratitude to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi for the award of a junior Research Fellowship.     

A new host ofHemipteroseius indicus

Summary The discovery of the predator mite,Hemipteroseius indicus capable of effectively reducing nymphal and adult populations of the phytophagous insect pest,Dysdercus koenigii infesting cotton has been reported for the first time.Acknowledgment. This author conveys his grateful thanks to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, for the award of a Fellowship which made it possible for him to undertake this work.     

Measurement of orientation responses of caterpillars indoors and outdoors on a grid

Summary A method has been developed to measure orientation responeses of caterpillars to various sources of stimuli at predetermined distances on a grid of intersecting ribs indoors and outdoors.The authors are grateful to the University Grants Commission, New Delhi, for grant which partially supported this work and to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, for the Junior Research Fellowships to P. K. and S. G.     

Characterization of free amino acids in the hemolymph ofAchaea janata L. larvae (Lep.Noctuidae)

Summary 19 free amino acids were separated and quantified from the hemolymph of 5th instar larvae of the mothAchaea janata. Proline, histidine, threonine/glutamine/asparagine, lysine, valine and serine were the predominant amino acids in the hemolymph. Changes in amino acid concentration are discussed in relation to metabolic and other physiological activities.Acknowledgment. Y.P. Ramdev wishes to thank the Director, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India for providing Senior Research Fellowship.     

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.)     

Glycogen contents in the rat uterus: Response toHibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn. extracts

Summary Ethanolic extracts (50%), as well the benzene extracts, ofH. rosa-sinensis Linn. have reduced significantly the glycogen contents in the uterus of adult rat. Both the extracts exhibit a clear-cut dose-response relation. The inhibition in glycogen contents increases as the dose is increased. Of the 2, benzene extract seems to be more potent. The results are due to antiestrogenic nature of the extracts.This investigation was supported by a grant from Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, New Delhi.