Level of ascorbic acid and its oxidation in the liver of the scorpion,Palamnaeus bengalensis

Zusammenfassung Kolorimetrische und manometrische Untersuchungen zur Konzentrationsbestimmung der Ascorbinsäure und ihrer Oxydationsrate in der Skorpionsleber beiPalamaeus bengalensis.     

Intrasubspecific sex chromosome polymorphism in theBandicota bengalensis bengalensis (Gray) collected from India

Résumé Des préparations de moëlle osseuse ont permis d'établir le mombre diploïde (2N=42) et le nombre fondamental (NF=52) deBandicota b. bengalensis (Gray), les spécimens étudiés appartement à trois populations distinctes (Rohru, Varanasi, Belonia, Indes). Le nombre et la forme des autosomes sont les mêmes dans les trois échantillons alors que l'X peut être acrocentrique ou submétacentrique; L'Y est petit et submétacentrique.     

The effect of epinephrine and the hyperglycemic factor of the scorpion's cephalothoracic ganglionic mass (CTGM) on the phosphorylase activity of hepatopancreas of the scorpion,Heterometrus fulvipes C. Koch

Summary Injection of epinephrine and CTGM extract showed different effects on hepatopancreatic phosphorylase activity and levels of total carbohydrate and glycogen in heterometrus fulvipes. The former hyperglycemic principle involves phosphorolysis of glycogen whereas the latter does not.The authors are grateful to Proff. K. S. Swami and S. Nagaiah. An award of Junior Research Fellowship by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi is acknowledged by K. R.     

Esterase activity in the hepatopancreas ofMacrobrachium lamarrei (Crustacea: Decapoda)

Summary The activity of the hepatopancreatic esterase of the fresh water prawnMacrobrachium lamarrei was optimal at pH 7.4 and temperature 40°C. The activity increased with the increase in incubation period and enzyme concentration. The Michaelis constant (K_m) of the enzyme was 2.1×10^–3M.The investigations are a part of the thesis presented to University of Lucknow, India.Acknowledgments. The authors are grateful to the University Grants Commission, India for the award of a Junior Research Fellowship.     

Trypsin activity in the hepatopancreas ofMacrobrachium lamarrei (Crustacea: Decapoda)

Summary Trypsin from the hepatopancreas ofMacrobrachium lamarrei showed optimum activity at pH 7.5 and temperature 45°C. The enzyme activity increased with the increase in incubation period and enzyme concentration. Michaelis constant of the enzyme was 2.38×10^–2 M.Acknowledgments. The authors are thankful to University Grants Commission, India for the award of a Junior Research Fellowship.     

Studies on the survival time of the eupyrene and oligopyrene spermatozoa of the prosobranch,Vivipara bengalensis (Lamarck)

Summary Vivipara bengalensis, like many other gastropods, produces two types of spermatozoa viz., eupyrene (normal) and oligopyrene (abnormal). The eupyrene ones are comparatively small and uniflagellated, whereas the oligopyrene ones are much larger, worm-like and each with a tuft of tail flagella. Eupyrene and oligopyrene spermatozoa reveal in vitro differential survival characteristics; the eupyrene spermatozoa exhibit considerably shorter survival as compared with their oligopyrene counterparts.     

Evaluation of participation of glucose in elevation of glycemia of scorpion (Heterometrus fulvipes) caused by the hyperglycemic principle of the scorpion and crab

Summary A single injection of the hyperglycemic principle obtained from scorpion cephalothoracic ganglionic mass causes an elevation of glycemia in the scorpionH. fulvipes in which little glucose is involved (10.8%). With the crustacean hyperglycemic principle, the elevation of glycemia is initially almost exclusively contributed by glucose (glucose is 92% of total carbohydrate at 2 h post injection); 6 h after treatment, non-glucose carbohydrates appear to participate in the elevation of glycemia.Acknowledgments. We wish to express our gratitude to CSIR, New Delhi for providing financial support to P.S.R., Reprint requests should be addressed to Prof. R. Ramamurthi.     

On the storage and mobilization of organic resources in the hepatopancreas of a crab (Paratelphusa hydrodromus)

Résumé Etude des changements cycliques observés dans les hydrates de carbone et les lipides contenus dans l'hépatopancreas du crabeParatelphusa hydrodromus pendant le cycle de mue.     

Hyperglycemic activity of crab and scorpion hormones in grasshopper (Poecilocerus pictus)

Summary Hyperglycemic hormones obtained from crab and scorpion both cause significant, dose-dependent elevations of hemolymph sugars in the grasshopperPoecilocerus pictus. These results suggest a highly conservative evolution of some mandibulate arthropod neuro-hormones.This work was supported by CSIR grant to PSR.     

Central course of photic input in the ventral nerve cord of scorpion (Heterometrus fulvipes)

Summary The course of the photic input from the metasoma in the ventral nerve cord of scorpion was studied. The input was found to influence the activity in a large number of neurons in the nerve cord. The phenomenon of contralateral stimulation of units at various levels of the nerve cord has heen demonstrated.Acknowledgments. The electronic equipment used for the study was obtained with the help of Prof.T. H. Bullock and the late Prof.K. Pampapathi Rao who initiated me into this field of study, through a research grant from the USAFOSR to them. I am highly grateful to Prof.Bullock for permitting me to use the equipment. I am also grateful to Dr.A. R. Kasturi Bai for her kind encouragement and Dr.S. A. T. Venkatachari for his helpful comments.     

A contribution to the problem of the haem-protein linkage in haemoglobin

Résumé L'histidine inhibe la combinaison de l'oxygène avec l'hémoglobine. L'analyse de la courbe, donnant la relation entre lat _u des courbes de dissociation d'oxygène et la concentration de l'histidine, donne pour résultat qu'une molécule de histidine déplace deux molécules d'oxygène. On peut conclure que les hèmes s'attachent à la partie protéinique de l'hémoglobine par un seul groupement d'imidazole.      

Effect of scorpion venom (Androctonus australis) on neuromuscular transmission inhibited by botulinum toxin in the frog]

We have shown that Scorpion venom restores the neuro-muscular transmission inhibited by Botulinum toxin in the Frog. The effectiveness of Scorpion venom was antagonized by excess magnesium.