Hybridization between Robertsonian karyotypic races of the common shrewSorex araneus

Summary British common shrews of the Aberdeen, Oxford and Hermitage Robertsonian karyotypic races were hybridized successfully in captivity. Hybrids, both simple Robertsonian heterozygotes and double Robertsonian heterozygotes with monobrachial homology, have been identified in an area of contact between the Oxford and Hermitage races. The relative fertility of these two types of hybrid is considered.I thank Dr. C. E. Ford F. R. S., Prof. F. W. Robertson and Dr A. E. Douglas for reading earlier drafts of this paper, Prof. F. W. Robertson, Dr J. R. K. Savage and Dr J. R. Clarke for laboratory facilities, Mrs J. E. Evans for technical assistance and S.E.R.C. for financial support.     

Crossing paths: interactions between the cell death machinery and growth factor survival signals

Cytokines and growth factors play a crucial role in the maintenance of haematopoietic homeostasis. They transduce signals that regulate the competing commitments of haematopoietic stem cells, quiescence or proliferation, retention of stem cell pluripotency or differentiation, and survival or demise. When the balance between these commitments and the requirements of the organisms is disturbed, particularly when it favours survival and proliferation, cancer may result. Cell death provoked by loss of growth factor signalling is regulated by the Bcl-2 family of apoptosis regulators, and thus survival messages transduced by growth factors must regulate the activity of these proteins. Many aspects of direct interactions between cytokine signalling and regulation of apoptosis remain elusive. In this review, we explore the mechanisms by which cytokines, in particular Interleukin-3 and granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor, promote cell survival and suppress apoptosis as models of how cytokine signalling and apoptotic pathways intersect.     

Development of visual sensitivity in the fly,Sarcophaga bullata

Summary Ontogeny of light response in the compound eyes of the fly,Sarcophaga bullata was investigated. Even though the eyes are structurally differentiated before eclosion they become electrophysiologically functional only after eclosion.Supported by grants from University of New Brunswick and NSERC to P.S. and NIH grant DHHS-1-RO1-EY 03408-03 to W.S.S. We would like to thank Mark Biagi and Roger Smith for technical assistance.     

Mitosis in the haemocytes of Sarcophaga ruficornis (Diptera)

Among the haemocytes of Sarcophaga ruficornis, only the prohaemocytes divide. Injection of phytohaemagglutinin-P induces 100% prohaemocytes to undergo mitosis but does not induce mitosis in other cells. Mitotic stages other than the prophase are apparently very short lived.     

Progesterone induced diminished incorporation of exogenous14C-amino acids in diapausing mouse blastocysts

Summary Under identical in vitro labeling conditions, significantly lower amounts of radioactivity were found a) in proteins of early diapausing blastocysts (days 7–9 p.c.) vs normal, late blastocysts (day 5 p.c.) and b) in proteins of days 19–23 p.c. diapausing blastocysts from ovariectomized mothers treated with progesterone vs similar embryos from untreated mothers. Thus, progesterone, which maintains the viability of embryos during prolonged diapause, causes diminished utilization of exogenous amino acids for protein synthesis in these embryos.Acknowledgment. This study was supported, in part, by NICHD grant HD-06234.     

Photoreceptor properties of an ectopic eye in the fleshfly,Sarcophaga bullata

Summary Ectopic eyes were produced on the fleshfly,Sarcophaga bullata by transplantation of imaginal eye discs. Electrophysiological and histological observations of these supernumerary eyes indicate the absence of synaptic connections between retinular cells and higher order neurons.Supported by an University of New Brunswick research grant to P.S. and NSF grant BNS-76-11921 and NIH grant 1-R01-EY-02487-01A1 to W.S.S.We would like to thank Dr I.A. Meinertzhagen for suggestions and Mary Johnson for technical assistance.     

Histopathological effect of thiourea on the ovarian tissues of Sarcophaga ruficornis (Fabr.).

The primary target of thiourea in female Sarcophaga are the follicles in the ovarioles. The follicle cells as a result become syncytial and their nuclei get pycnotic, inhibiting the transport of nutrient material into the nurse cells and of yolk into the oocytes. The subnormal eggs produced are not viable.     

Activity of the corpora allata of diapausing females of Tetrix undulata (SWRB) (Orthoptera-Tetrigidae)]

The implantation of one or two pairs of corpora allata of diapausing females in another diapausing females (two weeks old) induces vitellogenesis and laying of one, two or three egg-pods in a great number of females. The denervation of the corpora-allata of a diapausing female also induced vitellogenesis. These results suggeste that corpora-allata of diapausing females are not active. The denervation induces the break of the inhibition "travelling" by the corpora-allata-cardiaca nerves or stimulates the corpora-allata.     

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

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 combination ik, and one western race with the arm combination hi in the third pair of autosomes were established. In the contact area of these chromosomal forms, the fourth karyotypic race with the arm combination hk was found.     

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.     

Effects of an insect growth regulator,ZR-2646 on egg fertility in the fleshfly,Sarcophaga bullata

Summary Topical application of an insect growth regulator, ZR-2646 on adult females ofSarcophaga bullata affects the viability of the eggs. The compound is most effective if applied at the time of ovulation.The work was supported by the National Research Council of Canada.I am grateful to Dr G.B. Staal, Zoecon Corporation, Palo Alto, California, for the gift of ZR-2646.     

黑腹果蝇品系纯合体杂交后代翅型变异的遗传分析

目的探究实验室条件下果蝇杂交后代所表现出的基因连锁、互换与自由组合效应,计算白眼、卷刚毛、小翅基因座位间的距离,并探索可能的基因互作。方法将三隐性（白眼、卷刚毛、小翅）与残翅两种品系的果蝇进行杂交,并使F1代互交,对正反交的F2代进行表型数据统计分析。结果发现F2代出现新性状小皱翅,将其分为3种情况进行讨论,计算出了3个基因座位闻的距离。结论果蝇小翅和残翅基因互作产生了新性状小皱翅;在统计上它是一种“例外”新性状,而不是小翅或残翅范畴里的特情。     

Interaction between aldosterone and renomedullary prostaglandins. Competitive action between aspirin and spironolactone

Aldosterone injected i.m. decreased the release of renomedullary PGEs and the index (urinary Na/K ratio) in conscious normotensive intact and adrenalectomized rats. Coadministration of spironolactone increased the release of PGEs as well as the index (urinary Na/K ratio). The effect of spironolactone was partly inhibited by aspirin injected in a ratio 5:1 (aspirin:spironolactone), and effect which could be reversed by the infusion of a synthetic prostaglandin (PGA2) in a subhypotensive dose.     

Interaction between aldosterone and renomedullary prostaglandins. Competitive action between aspirin and spironolactone

Summary Aldosterone injected i.m. decreased the release of renomedullary PGEs and the index (urinary Na/K ratio) in conscious normotensive intact and adrenalectomized rats. Coadministration of spironolactone increased the release of PGEs as well as the index (urinary Na/K ratio). The effect of spironolactone was partly inhibited by aspirin injected in a ratio 51 (aspirin: spironolactone), an effect which could be reversed by the infusion of a synthetic prostaglandin (PGA₂) in a subhypotensive dose.Acknowledgements. The authors gratefully acknowledge Dr J. Pike, Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA, who kindly provided prostaglandins used for this study. This work was supported by a grant from INSERM (ATP 32 76 64) to Dr N. Papanicolaou.