Temperature-dependent activity of mosquito larvicidal factor(s) present inBacillus sphaericus 1593–4 and 1691

Summary The larvicidal factor(s) ofBacillus sphaericus 1593–4 and 1691 was more active at high temperature (33–35 °C) as compared to low temperature (23–25 °C) for the larvae ofCulex fatigans andAnopheles subpictus.     

Inhibitory effect of halocyamine,an antimicrobial substance from ascidian hemocytes,on the growth of fish viruses and marine bacteria

Summary Halocyamine A, an antimicrobial substance isolated from hemocytes of the solitary ascidianHalocynthia roretzi, inhibited in vitro the growth of fish RNA viruses (infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus and infectious pancreatic necrosis virus). Pretreatment of RNA virus with halocyamine A reduced the infectivity of the virus toward host cells. The growth of marine bacteria,Achromobacter aquamarinus andPseudomonas perfectomarinus, was also inhibited by halocyamine A but that ofAlteromonas putrefaciens andVibrio anguillarum was not. These results suggest that halocyamine may have a role in the defense mechanisms ofH. roretzi against marine viruses and bacteria.     

Infection of frog tadpoles (Amphibia) by insect parasitic nematodes (Rhabditida)

Summary Infective stage juveniles ofNeoaplectana carpocapsae (Steinernematidae) andHeterohabditis heliothidis (Heterorhabditidae) were able to penetrate through the alimentary tract of young tadpoles ofHyla regilla (Hylidae) andXenopus laevis (Pipidae) and enter the body cavity. Some infectives ofN. carpocapsae were able to release their symbiotic bacterium,Xenorhabdus nematophilus inside the host and in two cases, the nematodes developed into adult females before they perished. Tadpole mortality was associated with foreign bacteria entering the penetration holes made by the invading nematodes. The infective stage juveniles of both nematodes frequently encountered a host defense reaction upon reaching the tadpole's infective stage juveniles of both nematodes frequently encountered a host defense reaction upon reaching the tadpole's coelom.     

Presenza di enteramina o di una sostanza enteraminosimile negli estratti gastrointestinali e splenici dei pesci e negli estratti gastroenterici delle Ascidie

Summary It was possible to demonstrate, by means of chemical and biological reactions, the presence of enteramine or of an enteramine-like substance in gastro-intestinal extracts of twoAscidi, Tethium plicatum andCiona intestinalis.The same substance was also found in gastric and still more in intestinal extracts ofSelacia, but seems not to be present in the spleen ofSelacia nor in the alimentary canal ofTeleostea.     

Isolation of the two paragonial substances deposited into the spermatophores ofAcanthoscelides obtectus (Coleoptera,Bruchidae)

Summary Aqueous extracts from spermatophores ofAcanthoscelides obtectus (Coleoptera, Bruchidae) have been chromatographed on Sephadex G 25 and G 15 columns, the active fractions being further purified by preparative SiO₂ TLC. The isolation and properties of 2 biologically active compounds are reported. The paragonial substance A has a favourable action upon oogenesis, is a low molecular weight molecule (500–1000) and gives 1 single amino acid on hydrolysis, corresponding to glycin on TLC. The paragonial substance B is toxic, or an inhibitor of oogenesis at lower concentration, thus showing an antagonistic effect.     

Spermatozoid-attracting substance in hermaphrodite brown algae,Pelvetia wrightii andFucus evanescens

Summary A spermatozoid-attracting substance of the hermaphrodite brown algae,Pelvetia wrightii andFucus evanescens, was identified as 1, trans-3, cis-5-octatriene, respectively, by¹H-NMR and¹³C-NMR data and biological activities.Acknowledgments. The authors would like to express their thanks to Mr A. Nishikawa for technical assistance, to Dr M. Abe (Yamagata Univ.) for valuable discussion on biological work and to Prof. Y. Sakai (Hokkaido Univ. Director of the Institute of Algological Research, Muroran) for the facilities during the investigation ofP. wrightii andF. evanescens. Financial support from the Ministry of Education Science, and Culture (Grant-in Aid for Scientific Research No. 556092) is gratefully acknowledged.     

Goniothalamicin and annonacin: Bioactive acetogenins fromGoniothalamus giganteus (Annonaceae)

Summary Using brine shrimp lethality for activity-directed fractionation, goniothalamicin (I), a new tetrahydroxy-mono-tetrahydrofuran fatty acid -lactone (acetogenin), has been isolated from ethanolic extracts of the stem bark ofGoniothalamus giganteus Hook. f., Thomas (Annonaceae). This novel compound was found to be cytotoxic and insecticidal and inhibited the formation of crown gall tumors on potato discs. Annonacin (II), the only other reported mono-tetrahydrofuran acetogenin, was also isolated; the previously reported 9ASK (astrocytoma reversal) activity ofII was confirmed, andII is now also found to be weakly active against 3PS murine leukemia.     

Defensive substances from stink bugs of Cydnidae

Summary The odorous and physiologically active substances of the secretions of Japanese stink bugs (Cydnidae) were investigated. The main components of the secretions ofM. japonensis andA. nigritus aren-tridecane andn-pentadecane together with 2-octenal and 2-decenal, while 2-hexenal is the main components in the secretion ofA. magna.The authors are indepted to Dr.Nakayama and MissEguchi (Department of Chemistry, Hiroshima University) for measurement of the mass spectra.     

Heterochromosomen beiVipera berus L. (Viperidae,Serpentes)

Summary A dimorphic pair of chromosomes was found among the macrochromosomes in mitosis of females ofVipera berus L. It corresponds to a pair of medium-sized chromosomes in the male. The conclusion is drawn that females are heterogametic (ZW-type), males being homogametic (ZZ-type). Similar observations were made inVipera aspis L.,Natrix natrix L., andNatrix maura L.     

Presenza di un principio antidiuretico nelle ghiandole salivari posteriori degli Octopodi

Summary Acetone and alcohol extracts of the posterior salivary glands ofOctopus vulgaris, Eledone moschata andEledone Aldrovandi contain a principle which strongly reduces the diuresis in hydrated rats.The antidiuretic principle is absent in all otherOctopus tissues as well as in the salivary glands ofOctopus macropus.It shows a high termostability and is strongly adsorbed by animal charcoal at any reaction.The salivary antidiuretic substance is not identical with the posterior pituitary principle nor with the other active substances found in the salivary glands of Octopoda.The injection of salivary extracts satisfactorily reduces polyuria and polydipsia in human diabetes insipidus.

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Le presenti ricerche sono state in parte sovvenzionate da un contributo straordinario del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche.     

Halbe haploide Chromosomenzahl im Hoden vonMyrmica sulcinodis Nyl. (Formicidae)

Summary In the testes ofMyrmica sulcinodis there are not only haploid and some diploid cells to be found, as in the testes ofM. ruginodis, M. sabulsti andM. rubida, but a large mass of cells that have only half the haploid chromosome number. The diploid chromosome number ofM. sulcinodis is 56, those of six otherMyrmica species are between 42 and 48.     

Genetic studies on gynandromorphism (sgm,gm) inCulex pipiens fatigans

Summary Individuals showing anterior-posterior gynandromorphism or somatic mosaicism of palpi respectively have been found in a laboratory strain ofCulex pipiens fatigans. The origin of the gynanders on the basis of binucleated eggs bearing anm factor and independently fertilized by male gemetes ofM andm genotype respectively has been suggested.This study was supported by the grant (No. 7/112/919/81 EMR-1), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Govt., of India.     

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.     

La formule chromosomique deSorex minutus L. (Mammalia-Insectivora)

Summary The chromosome complement ofSorex minutus L. has been determined. The caryotype is characterized by a diploid number of 42 and by aNF (fundamental number) of 56. The sex-chromosomes are of theX−Y type usual in mammals. The origin and the evolution of the chromosome set ofS. minutus, S. unguiculatus, andS. araneus have been discussed.      

Albumin concentration in plasma of two related species ofCeratophrys (Anura Leptodactylidae) from two different environments

Summary Albumin concentration in plasma of two related species ofCeratophrys, C. cranwelli andC. ornata was analyzed and shown to be higher in the former species, which is the adaptive form found in dry areas.     

Chromosome complement of two species of Amelinae (Dictyoptera: Mantodea)

Summary The karyotypes ofApteromantis aptera (Fuente) andAmeles decolor (Charpentier) are described. Chromosomes numbers in females are 2n=30 and 2n=28 respectively. Sex determination mechanism in both is XO-XX.     

Trypsin activity in the midgut ofSarcophaga ruficornis andMusca domestica (Diptera: Insecta)

Summary The pH and temperature for the optimum activity of trypsin from the midgut ofSarcophaga ruficornis andMusca domestica was 7.5 and 8.0 respectively and 50°C. The enzymic activity increased with the increase in incubation period and enzyme concentration.Thanks are due to Prof.R. Rakshpal for guidance.     

Kolbenzellen in der Epidermis der Galaxiidae,Galaxias attenuatus (Salmoniformes)

Summary The epidermis ofGalaxias attenuatus (Galaxiidae, Salmoniformes) was found to contain club cells that are like the alarm substance cells of the Gonorhynchiformes and Cypriniformes. Whether they are alarm substance cells, can be decided only by experiments on the fright reaction. The existence of club cells in the Galaxiidae confirms the opinion that both the Gonorhynchiformes and the Ostariophysi derived from salmonoid-like fish.     

Karyotypes of three species of Caviinae (Rodentia,Caviidae)

Summary Chromosomes ofCavia aperea aperea (2n=64; FN=116Galea spixii (2n=64; FN=118) andKerodon rupestris (2n=52; FN=92) are described with data on banding patterns. Comparisons with karyotypes of others species of Caviinae are taken into consideration.The research was supported by Projeto Integrado de Genética (PIG-CNPq) and Academia Brasileira de Ciências (FINEP-85-I).     

New contribution to the study of chromosomes of the European Cryptocephalinae (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae)

Summary The chromosomes of three species ofPachybrachis and nine ofCryptocephalus chrysomelids were analyzed. The male meiotic bivalent formula ofP. azureus Suffr.,P. catalonicus Burl. andP. petitpierrei Daccordi is 7^II+Xy_r.Cryptocephalus sexmaculatus Ol. andC. vittula Suffr. have 13^II+Xy_p,C. bipunctatus L. 14^II+Xy_r,C. ochroleucus Steph. andC. ocellatus Drap. 14^II+Xy_p,C. crassus 01. 15^II+Xy_r,C. sulphureus 01. 15^II+Xy_p, the same number as inC. fulvus Goeze with 2n=32 chromosomes, whileC. primarius Har. has 19^II+Xy_p. The modal chromosome number inCryptocephalus is 2n=30 (about 60% of spp.), and most species are characterized their small chromosomes. The low variation found in the karyotypes of Cryptocephalinae along with their possible interrelationships with allied chrysomelid subfamilies are also discussed.