Quinone tanning in Agnatha

Summary The buccal teeth and notochordal sheath of the marine hagfish,Petromyzon marinus (L.) are phenolically tanned like the cuticle of insects and other arthropods.Acknowledgments. We are grateful to Dr Bill Lovejoy for generously supplyingP. marinus L. A.R.V. is thankful to Prof. R.G. Michael for encouragement.Previously called A. Sannasi.     

Changes in the free amino acid pattern of haemolymph of the common indian scorpionPalamnaeus bengalensis during moulting

Summary Haemolymph ofPalamnaeus bengalensis contains normally 12 and during moulting up to 15 free amino acids, being in maximal number at the end of ecdysis. Aminoacidaemia is most pronounced during the pharate stage. Tyrosine appeared for tanning of the cuticle. Taurine and methionine were not present.Acknowledgment. The author is thankful to Dr.S. C. Shrivastava for valuable guidance and State C.S.I.R. (U.P.) for funds.     

Reduction in bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) infectivity vis-a-vis crude leaf extract of some higher plants

Summary Crude leaf extracts of 17 plants were tested for their antiviral activity against BCMV. An extract ofAzadirachta indica A. Juss. was found to be most potent in reducing the infectivity of the virus.Authors are thankful to Dr R. D. Joshi for his valuable guidance and Prof. S. N. Mathur for providing lab facilities. Financial assistance by U. G. C. and C. S. I. R. is gratefully acknowledged.     

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.     

On the contribution of haemolymph to the salivary proteins of the red cotton bug,Dysdercus koenigii F. (Heteroptera,Pyrrhocoridae)

Summary Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of haemolymph and the salivary gland of adult maleDysdercus koenigii has been carried out. The presence of common bands in the electropherograms of the salivary gland and haemolymph shows the possible elaboration of haemolymph protein into the salivary glands as also evidenced by leucomethylene blue incorporation into the salivary gland lobules. The results are discussed in the light of our present state of knowledge.I wish to acknowledge the financial support from the C.S.I.R., New Delhi, India. Grateful acknowledgements are made to Prof. P.S. Ramamurty for encouragements, and to Zoology Department, Banaras Hindu University for the working facilities.     

A study on the parameters of digestion inPeriplaneta americana L

Summary An attempt was made to provide evidence for the regulatory mechanism for digestion inPeriplaneta americana by studying possible correlations between digestive enzymes, taking midgut protease activity into considerationI wish to acknowledge Prof. J. Bahadur, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India, for his supervision, criticism and encouragement during the course of this study. Award of Junior Research Fellowship by C.S.I.R., New Delhi is also thankfully acknowledged.     

Autoradiographic studies on RNA synthesis and transport in the ovary ofHydrophilus olivaceus fabr. (Hydrophilidae,Polyphaga, Coleoptera)

Summary Autoradiographic studies using³H-uridine in the ovary ofHydrophilus olivaceus Fabr. show that nurse cells, the germinal vesicle and follicular nuclei play an important role in contributing RNA whereby the major portion of RNA comes from the nurse cells.I am grateful to Prof. P. S. Ramamurty, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India, for his constant inspiration during the tenure of the present investigation.     

Development of the auditory tympana in the cricketTeleogryllus commodus (Walker): Experiments on regeneration and transplantation

Summary Grafting and regeneration experiments on prothoracic legs of the cricketTeleogryllus commodus (Walker) demonstrate: a) that the legs retain their identity, as indicated by formation of tympanal cuticle in the adult, when transplanted to the site of a mesothoracic leg in immature animals, and b) that the presence of tympanal cuticle on a regenerate leg depends on the instar of amputation.I thank Mike Bate for the helpful discussion throughout the project and Carmen Vilcins for excellent technical assistance.     

The non-exponential decay pattern of the weak luminescence from seedling ofCicer arietinum L. stimulated by pulsating electric fields

Our experiments have shown that the response of etiolated seedlings ofCicer arietinum L. to an externally applied pulsating electric field involves a weak luminescence, the intensity of which follows a non-exponential decay pattern.Acknowledgment. It is our pleasure to acknowledge the useful discussions we had with Dr S. K. Srivastava of the Mathematics Department and Dr M. K. Parida of the Physics Department of NEHU, Shillong. We also appreciate the interest shown by Prof. R. K. Mishra, former director of I.S.O.S. & B., in this work.     

C-band positive W chromosome in the female Indian frog

Summary In the female Indian frog,Rana tigrina (2n=26; NF=52), the female is heterogametic. The heterochromosomes (ZW) are morphologically indistinguishable, but the W chromosome proves by C-banding analysis to be entierly heterochromatic.Acknowledgment. S.C. is grateful to Prof. G.K. Manna, Zoology Department, Kalyani University, Prof. Archana Sharma, Botany Department, Calcutta University and to Prof. T. Sharma, Zoology Department, Banarus Hindu University for encouragements. He is also thankful to Prof. D.K. Choudhuri, Burdwan University for support.     

Starfish encounters: An experimental study of its advantages

Summary The predatory starfishCrossaster papposus exploits a chemically mediated escape response in another predatory starfishAsteria rubens when a common food resource is available to both species. Intraspecific avoidance amongC. papposus is strong and functions in dispersal. Responses to inter- and intraspecific encounters among starfish may be important to the predatory ecology of species in high positions in their food webs.I thank the MAFF. Fisheries Lab., Burnham-on-Crouch for hospitality and facilities, Prof. N.B. Marshall, F.R.S. and Dr A.C. Campbell for laboratory facilities at Q.M.C.     

Postmolt cuticle growth in a cockroach: in vitro deposition of multilamellate and circadian-like layered endocuticle

Summary Pieces of the hind legs of freshly moltedBlaberus craniifer adults were cultivated in vitro. The deposition of multilamellate and circadian-like layered endocuticle was observed. In multilamellate cuticle, the number of double lamellae was frequently much greater than the number of days in culture. In circadian-like layered cuticle, the number of double layers corresponded to the numbers of days in culture, or it was smaller.I am indebted to Mrs Hassenrück, for excellent assistance. — Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (We 389/12-2).     

Karyotypic races of the common shrew (Sorex araneus L.) from northern Poland

Summary Karyotypic races of the common shrew which differed with respect to the combinations of chromosome arms in certain 2-armed autosomes were distinguished in Poland. Two eastern races with the arm combinationik, and one western race with the arm combinationhi in the third pair of autosomes were established. In the contact area of these chromosomal forms, the fourth karyotypic race with the arm combinationhk was found.I wish to express my gratitude to my wife, A.M. Wójcik, M. Sc., for her help in catching the animals and making chromosome preparations. I must also offer my thanks to Dr J. Zima for giving me access to his as yet unpublished data, and to Prof. Z. Pucek and Dr S. Fedyk for reading the first draft of this paper.     

On the stability of bilirubin

Riassunto Gli autori hanno studiato l'azione della luce sulla stabilità della bilirubina in soluzione alcalina e in soluzione cloroformica. Viene proposto, in via generate, un meccanismo del primo ordine per la trasformazione della bilirubina in pigmenti verdinoidi, sia per le soluzioni irradiate, sia per quelle conservate al buio.

---

---

Research carried out with CNR financial support. A report on this investigation, with more detailed experimental data, has been published in Acta medica romana (Annali della Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell'Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Roma)2, 192 (1964).

---

We are indebted to Prof. P.Fasella, University of Rome, and to Prof. A.Vaciago, Sacred Heart Catholic University Medical School, for their helpful suggestions and constructive criticisms. One of us (I. W. de E.) is also grateful to Prof. Ing. W. S.Hill, University of Montevideo, for his suggestion to her to investigate bilirubin spectroscopically.     

Sterilization of solanaceous hadda,Epilachna vigintioctopunctata F. by irradiating pupae using gamma radiation

Summary Sterility in males and females was observed in the resulting adults when 3–4-day-old pupae of solanaceous hadda,Epilachna vigintioctopunctata F. were exposed to gamma radiation doses of 2000 rad and 2500 rad. However, at 2500 rad longevity of treated insects was adversely affected.Acknowledgment. Financial help to one of us (J.K.G.) by C.S.I.R. in the form of J.R.F. is gratefully acknowledged. Authors are thankful to Prof. P.N. Srivastava and Dr A.R. Rao, School of Life Sciences, J.N.U. Delhi for providing radiation facility.     

Germ cell chromosomes in two species of terrestrial isopods from India

Summary In 2 species of terrestrial isopods, namelyPorcellio assamensis andP. laevis, the diploid and haploid numbers of chromosomes have been established to be 48 and 24 respectively for the former species and 50 and 25 respectively for the latter species. Female heterogamety of the ZW type has been found to exist inP. laevis.The authors express their sincere thanks to Prof. G.P. Sharma, and to Prof. S. Khera, Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, for the necessary laboratory facilities.     

Occurrence of β-chitin in the cuticle of a Pentastomid Raillietiella gowrii

Summary The purified chitin from the cuticle of a pentastomid was examined by X-ray method. The X-ray photograph discloses that the chitin in question is of -type. Since the arthropod cuticle contains -chitin, it is suggested that Pentastomida may be considered an independent phylum.Thanks are due to Prof. Dr. G. Sundara Rajulu for guidance and encouragement.     

The structure of jhanilactone

Summary The molecular structure and absolute configurationI was assigned to jhanilactone, a new lactone fromEupatorium jhanii Robinson, on the basis of X-ray crystallography and circular dichroism data.Part 37 in the series Chemistry of the Composites. For Part 36, see A.G. González, J. Bermejo, I. Cabrera, G.M. Massanet, H. Mansilla and J.M. Amaro, Phytochemistry, submitted for publication.Acknowledgment. We thank Prof. S. García-Blanco, Instituto Rocasolano, Madrid for the use of an X-ray diffractometer and Prof D.N. Kirk, Westfield College, London for the CD data.     

Hemolymph proteins in an ascitic condition,induced by lethal1(3)gl tumorous tissue inDrosophila hydei

Summary Drosophila hydei larvae homozygous for the gene1(3)gl may survive to the age of 3 weeks, become bloated and be incapable of metamorphosis. Wild-type flies after the injection of a fragment of the1(3)gl disc, which has been previously culture in vivo for 40–500 days, also become bloated (ascitic reaction). In the hemolymph of both the advanced1(3)gl larvae and ascitic adult hosts the accumulation of a specific protein is observed.Acknowledgments. This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation under Grant No.3.792-0.76 and the Georges und Antoine Claraz-Schenkung. We thank Prof. H. Gloor, University of Geneva, and Prof. P.S. Chen, University of Zürich, for advice and criticism.     

C-banding pattern on the chromosomes of the Japanese house shrew,Suncus murinus riukiuanus,and its implication

Summary The C-band on the chromosomes of the Japanese house shrew,Suncus murinus riukiuanus (Insectivora), was studied. Various types of C-banding pattern were found in the genome of this subspecies. Such banding patterns could be useful for an understanding of autosome and sex-chromosome polymorphisms withinS. murinus.Acknowledgment. The authors are very grateful to Prof. T. Wasano of Fukuoka University for his encouragement, Dr K. Ogawa of Fukuoka University, the Nohara family for help in collecting specimens, and Prof. E.W. Jameson, Jr, University of California, Dr J.W. Bickham and his students of Texas A & M University for comments.