The fate of intramitochondrial paracrystalline inclusion bodies in germ line cells of water frogs (Amphibia,Anura)

Summary Numerous intramitochondrial pararystalline inclusion bodies (ICIB) were observed in the germinal plasm of a mid-blastula, and in primordial germ cells (PGCs) after their migration to the germinal ridges, inRana ridibunda, R. lessonae andR. esculenta. In oogonia the number of ICIB decreases rapidly. Single ICIB are observed in the germ cells up to the leptotene stage; they have never been observed in pachytene oocytes. In diplotene oocytes that have reached a diameter of about 100 m ICIB are visible again, and their number increases concomitantly with oocyte growth.     

Somatic chromosomes of Indian burrowing toad,Uperodon globulosum (Gunther) (Anura; Amphibia)

Summary Somatic chromosome complements of the Indian burrowing toad,Uperodon globulosum, have been described for the first time. The 2n number is 26 (NF=52) in both the sexes. No heteromorphism in relation to sex chromosome pair has been recorded. Deviations from 2n number (2n=10–28) have been noticed in the cells of different specimens. The result has been compared withU. systoma.Acknowledgment. Sincere thanks are due to Prof. P. K. Ghosh, Hooghly Mohsin College and to Dr A. K. Roy of the same college for encouragement. Thanks are due to Mr Bipul Kumar Das for his help during collection of specimen.     

Seasonal variations in the fertilizing capacity ofBufo arenarum (Amphibia Anura) spermatozoa

Resumen La capacidad fecundante de los espermatozoides deBufo arenarum decae más rápidamente en verano que en invierno. Ello probablemente sea debido a la presencia, durante el invierno, de factores testiculares de protección.

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This work was supported by a grant from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas de la República Argentina and by the Population Council grant No. 71.68 awarded to the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas to be administered by the Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán.

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The author is most grateful to Dr.F. D. Barbieri for his kind discussion and helpful advice in the course of the present study.     

Karyotype and chromosome banding in the reed frogHyperolius viridiflavus ommatostictus (Amphibia,Anura, Hyperoliidae)

Summary C-banding and mithramycin staining were used to characterize the karyotypes of 10 specimens of the African reed frogHyperolius viridiflavus ommatostictus from Tanzania. The diploid chromosome number is 2n=24. Although no heteromorphic sex chromosomes were present in the mitotic karyotypes, in many diakineses of male meiosis one or two bivalents exhibited an end-to-end arrangement. In the laboratory 7 out of 24 females changed sex spontaneously. This indicates that an XY/XX system of sex determination operates inH. viridiflavus ommatostictus.This study was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Schm 484/2-4). We thank K. E. Linsenmair and C. M. Richards for helpful comments on an earlier draft.     

Karyotype and chromosome banding in the reed frog Hyperolius viridiflavus ommatostictus (Amphibia, Anura, Hyperoliidae)

C-banding and mithramycin staining were used to characterize the karyotypes of 10 specimens of the African reed frog Hyperolius viridiflavus ommatostictus from Tanzania. The diploid chromosome number is 2n = 24. Although no heteromorphic sex chromosomes were present in the mitotic karyotypes, in many diakineses of male meiosis one or two bivalents exhibited an end-to-end arrangement. In the laboratory 7 out of 24 females changed sex spontaneously. This indicates that an XY/XX system of sex determination operates in H. viridiflavus ommatostictus.     

Variation in the specific activity of intestinal DNA in Alytes obstetricians larvae (Amphibia, Anura) treated with thyroxine]

Treatment by thyroxine modified the specific activity of intestianl DNA in premetamorphic Alytes tadpoles. The activity decreased up to the 3rd day, and showed afterwards a peak which culminates on the 9th day. These results have been discussed in comparison with previous radioautographic observations.     

Consequence of heterospecific cytoplasmic graft on gastrulation of Bufo bufo L. (Amphibia, Anura)]

Bufo bufo nuclei were grafted in virgin and enucleated Bufo calamita eggs. In these conditions embryonnic development was stopped at the early gastrula stage in 92% of the recipient eggs. For accomparative analysis Bufo calamita cytoplasm was injected into fertilized Bufo bufo eggs and produce arrest of development at the early gastrula stage. The progressive enhancement of this development inhibition was related to the increasing of the injected cytoplasm volume.     

Induction of the mesoderm and primordial germ cells by the endoderm of Pleurodeles waltlii (Amphibia, Urodele): development during gastrulation]

Blastulae ectoderm is combined with dorsal or ventral endoderm from blastulae, gastrulae and early neurulae. In vitro culture reveals the presence of different mesodermal structures whose nature is connected with the endoderm origin site. Primordial germ cells differentiate essentially in the recombinates including ventral endoderm. The inducing capacity of this latter concerning germ cells is maximum at the beginning of gastrulation, then decreases during it and finally disappears at the onset of neurulation.     

Die Bedeutung des Serumeiweissbildes zur Diagnose vonBufo calamita Laur.,Bufo viridis Laur. und deren Bastarden (Amphibia,Anura, Bufonidae)

Summary Electrophoretic investigations of the serum protein patterns of natterjacks (Bufo calamita Laur.) from the Iberian Peninsula and from Western and Central Europe, and of green toads (Bufo viridis Laur.) from Central Europa, Asia Minor and North Africa show that the two species differ disctinctly in the position of their albumin fractions. The identification of problematic specimens can result from the production of mixed serum with specimens of both species. As the albumin fraction of hybrids is doubled according to this method, it is also suitable for demonstrating the existence of such hybrids in natural populations.     

Effect of diet on the mitotic activity and rate of cytolysis of intestinal epithelial cells in tadpoles of the common toad, Bufo bufo (Amphibia, Anura)]

Effects of diet on the mitotic activity and cellular mortality rate of the intestinal epithelium cells have been examined in Toad tadpoles. As yolk is utilized, the composition of diet has little effect on these 2 parameters. As development goes on, the cellular mortality rate increases with dietary carbohydrate, fat or protein supplementation. But only the fats affect the mitotic activity.     

Effect of bromocriptine on the "prolactin-like cell" of Nectophrynoides occidentalis (Amphibia, viviparous Anura): optical and electronic microscopical studies]

Bromocriptin has an effect on prolactin-like cells of Nectophryno?des occidentalis. 16 days after delivery, these cells are fully active in normal animals. Retention of secretory granules and myelinic formations have been observed in the prolactin-like cells of females treated by CB 154.     

New chromosome numbers in Australian Leptodactylidae (Amphibia,Salientia)

Summary Fra i Leptodactylidi Australiani,Cyclorana alboguttatus ha 2n=26 come le forme più generalizzate della famiglia, mentre alcune specie diLimnodynastes hanno 2n=22; specie di altri 5 generi hanno 2n=24. Fra questi ultimi, il problematicoRheobatrachus, completamente acquatico, possiede alcuni microcromosomi come i membri più primitivi dell'ordine.     

Spontaneous occurrence of aneuploidy in somatic cells ofRana tigrina (Ranidae: Anura)

Zusammenfassung Es wurde Aneuploidie bis zu drei Chromosomen in den männlichen Körperzellen vonRana tigrina (Ranidae: Anura: Amphibia) beobachtet. Die Variationen betreffen:2n–3, 2n–2, 2n–1, 2n, 2n+1, 2n+2 und2n+3.

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Acknowledgments. My sincere thanks are due to Dr.S. P. Sharma, Zoology Department, for facilities; to Mr.R. K. Pillai and MissMadhu for technical assistance with preparations and Drs.K. K. Rishi andL. K. Vats for helpful suggestions.     

Na-pump sites in the oviduct ofSalamandra salamandra (L.) (Amphibia,Urodela)

Summary Using³H-ouabain autoradiography, Na⁺–K⁺-ATPase has been localized on the basolateral membranes of ciliated and nonciliated cells in the oviduct (pars recta, p. convoluta I, II, III) of the European fire salamander,Salamandra salamandra. The mucous and seromucous gland cells of the p.convoluta I, II, III, however, do not show any significant labelling. An asymmetrical distribution of ouabain binding sites is a main feature of transporting epithelia.