Mutagenicity and toxicity of chloroethylene oxide and chloroacetaldehyde

Summary Exposure of severaltrp-auxotrophicEscherichia coli strains, carrying base0pair substitutions, to chloroethylene oxide or chloroacetaldehyde (two metabolites of vinyl chloride) increased the mutation frequency to tryptophan prototrophy. Strong cytotoxic and mutagenic effects were observed with 2.5 mM chloroethylene oxide, while a higher concentration of chloroacetaldehyde (100 mM) exhibited a mutagenic effect which was 400 times lower.I am grateful to Prof. G. Michel, Laboratoire de Biochimie Microbienne, and to Dr H. Bartsch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, for the support of this work. I wish to thank Dr F. Besson-Simien and Dr A. Barbin for their collaboration.     

Net ATP synthesis by running the red cell calcium pump backwards

Summary Ca²⁺ loaded inside-out vesicles from human red blood cells, yielding Ca²⁺ into a Ca²⁺ free medium with 4 mM EGTA, 2 mM ADP and 10 mM phosphate, produced an excess of 14.9 pmoles · min^–1 · (mg protein)^–1 of ATP compared to controls in which the transmembrane Ca²⁺ gradient was abolished by the ionophore A 23 187.We are obliged to Dr H. Fey and Miss H. Pfister (Veterinarybacteriological Institute Bern) and Dr H. Porzig (Pharmacological Institute Bern) for help and advice.     

Chromsome aberrations in cattle raised on bracken fern pasture

Summary Thirteen cows maintained on natural bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) were analyzed cytogenetically. The frequency of structural chromosome aberrations detected in peripheral blood cells was significantly higher when compared to that detected in animals raised on pasture containing no bracken fern. We discuss the clastogenic action of fern and its synergistic action with infection by type 2 and 4 papilloma virus in the same animals.Acknowledgments. We are grateful to Dr F. J. Benesi, Dr J. L. Guerra and Dr I. L. Sinhorini for performing some of the clinical and pathological analyses; O. P. Ferraz, L. A. Tadeu Dias, L. F. Feitosa and A. M. N. Paiva for technical assistance; and to Dr N. H. C. Castro and Dr C. de Araujo Peres for critical and statistics review, respectively. Research was supported by CNPq FAPESP and CAPES.     

Reversion of virus N-1 resistant mutant of blue-green algaNostoc muscorum

Summary The reversion of N-1 virus resistant strain of the algaNostoc muscorum was studied by inoculating parent virus in the resistant culture at various incubations. A fraction of virus resistant cells reverted to wild sensitive type with the reversion rate of 3.99×10^–6/cell/generation.We gratefully acknowledge Dr H.K. Pande and Dr S. Patnaik, Crops and Soils Division.     

Abnormal organization of ovarian follicles in the mutantl(1)su(f) mad-ts ofDrosophila melanogaster

Summary The morphology of ovarian follicles in the temperature-sensitive female-sterile mutantl(1)su(f) ^mad-ts has been studied by means of light and electron microscopy. As the follicle cells gradually degenerate at the restrictive temperature (29°C) the follicles become increasingly disorganized with respect to shape and polarity.Acknowledgments. This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 46). We wish to thank Mrs R. Koppa for excellent technical assistance and Mrs G. Mahlke for photographic work. We are also indebted to Dr D. Zissler, Dr E. Gateff and Prof. K. Sander for many helpful suggestions.     

Structure and stereochemistry of attenuol,a new lignan fromKnema attenuata (Wall.) Warb.

Summary A new lignan attenuol has been isolated from the bark ofKnema attenuata (Wall.) Warb. Its structure (I) is deduced on the basis of analytical and spectral data. The compound has been assigned the absolute configuration as 2S,3R-dimethyl-1S-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-6,7-methylenedioxytetralin (III).Contribution No. 487 from the Ciba-Geigy Research Centre.Acknowledgments. We thank Dr H. Fuhrer and Dr P. Moser of Ciba-Geigy Ltd. Basle for the NMR spectral data and ORD determinations and Dr S. Selvavinayakam and his colleagues for the analytical results.     

Attraction of the male house fly to cuticular hydrocarbons and feces of several other dipteran species

Zusammenfassung Männchen vonMusca domestica werden von Kohlenwasserstoffextrakten aus der Cuticula weiblicherMusca domestica, M. autumnalis undHaematobia irritan angelockt (gleiche oder ähnliche Pheromone), nicht aber von entsprechenden Extrakten ausStomoxys calitrans, Glossina morsitans, G. austeni, Fannia canicularis undCochliomyia hominivorax.

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The authors thankDr. P. A. Langley, University of Bristol, for his geneous aid in providing cuticular washes and feces of tsetse flies;Dr. C. M. Jones, USDA, for face fly samples;Dr. R. L. Harris, USDA, for horn fly samples;Dr. B. G. Hightower and R. R. Grabbe, USDA, for screwworm samples andDr. W. M. Rogoff, USDA, for little house fly samples.     

Evolutionary implications of ascorbic acid production in the Australian lungfish

Summary It is shown that the Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri) synthesizes ascorbic acid in its kidney, suggesting that ascorbic acid synthesis started before the origin of the tetrapods.Acknowledgments. We would like to thank Dr G.C. Grigg, University of Sydney, Mr R. B. Humphries, Dr P.A. Janssens and Dr C.H. Tyndale-Biscoe, Australian National University, and Dr. M. Griffiths and J.C. MacIlroy C.S.I.R.O., Division of Wildlife Research for supplying the tissue.     

The identification of norlobariol,a new lichen constituent fromXanthoparmelia scabrosa (Tayl.) Hale

Summary Norlobariol (I) previously described as a synthetic product derived from norlobaridone (II) was isolated as a new metabolite fromXanthoparmelia scabrosa (Tayl.) Hale.Acknowledgment. The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of Dr D. Galloway in identifying the lichen sample and Dr A.W. Campbell for the microanalytical data.     

Aflatoxin production in some varieties of soybeans (Glycine max L.)

Zusammenfassung Es wurden 5 Varietäten vonGlycine max. mit 2 toxinerzeugenden Aspergillusstämmen beimpft und auf ihre Aflatoxinbildung untersucht. Alle Varietäten lieferten Substrate, die zur Biosynthese messbarer Aflatoxinmengen durch beide Aspergillusstämme führten.

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Acknowledgements. The authors are extremely grateful to Dr.C. Gopalan, Director National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, for his keen interest and valuable suggestions. The authors are also indebted to Dr.L. A. Goldblatt of New Orleans for the generou supply of pure aflatoxin standards; to Dr.S. Raghavendra Rao, Regional Research Laboratory, Hyderabad, for the culture ofA. parasiticus (NRRL 2999) and to Dr.H. Murakami of Tokyo for the culture ofA. toxicarius (RIB 4002).     

The relation between capillaries and neurons in the caudal neurosecretory system ofPomatomus saltatrix

Summary The caudal neurosecretory system ofPomatomus saltatrix was examined. Particular interest was devoted to the perikarya of the neurosecretory cells. The majority of these cells were characterized by a close association with the capillary network. The cells appeared to ensheath the capillaries thus bringing the nucleus and perinuclear cytoplasm into close association with the capillaries.Supported byA. D. Williams No. 3558 (505), Medical College of Virginia. The authors are grateful to Dr.H. R. Seibel for reading this report.     

Nervous and behavioral responses to light in colonies of the free-living bryozoan,Selenaria maculata (Busk)

Summary Bursts of electrical impulses which spread throughout the entire colony were recorded from individual zooids ofSelenaria. Strong illumination caused a rapid increase in the frequency of bursts and also caused the colonies to start moving, usually towards the light the recorded electrical activity may act to trigger locomotor behavior.We are grateful to Dr P. Arnold (James Cook University, Townsville) for his assistance in collecting the live material ofS. maculata, to Miss P. L. Cook and Mr P. J. Chimonides (British Museum (Natural History) for their helpful discussions, and to Dr J.P. Thorpe (University of Liverpool) for suggesting the topic. We thank also the Science and Engineering Research Council for financial support (grant No. GR/A71578).     

Distribution of free and conjugated ecdysteroids between follicle cell sheath and ooplasm in oocytes of the cockroachNauphoeta cinerea

Summary It is shown that both follicle cell sheath and ooplasm contain only small quantities ofHelix-hydrolyzable ecdysteroid conjugates and that 20-hydroxy-ecdysone is the predominant free ecdysteroid. Its concentration is very high in the follicle cell sheath immediately before chorion formation (6825 ng/g) and much lower after chorion formation (150 ng/g), while it is 234 ng/g and 95 ng/g in the ooplasm at the same stages respectively.Thanks are due to Dr J.D. O'Connor (Los Angeles) for the ecdysone antiserum, to Dr J. Koolman (Marburg) for 23,24-[³H]-ecdysone and to Mrs A. Tschan for technical assistance. A fellowship to X. Zhu from the Chinese Ministry of Education and financial support from the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant no. 3.714-0.80 to B. Lanzrein) are gratefully acknowledged.     

Anticomplementary fraction from the poisonous secretion of the paratoid gland of the toad (Bufo marinus paracnemis Lutz)

Summary Fractionation of the poisonous secretion of the toadBufo marinus paracnemis Lutz, by dialysis and chromatography on QAE-Sephadex, led to the isolation of a fraction which was adsorbed to the ion exchanger. This fraction, when incubated with human serum, yielded an anticomplementary effect that was evaluated by measuring the kinetics of lytic activity on sensitized sheep red cells (classical pathway) and unsensitized rabbit cells (alternative pathway).We are very much indebted to Dr Lewis J. Greene for valuable discussions. Thanks are due to Dr Antonio C. Nero and Miss Ester G. Silva for their cooperation. This work was supported in part by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP).     

Effect of seasonal variations and cold acclimation on serum transaminase activity of common Indian frogRana tigrina

Summary A definite seasonal change is observed in 2 transaminases, SGOT and SGPT ofR. tigrina. Cold acclimation significantly depresses transaminase activity of serum.Acknowledgments. Thanks are due to Dr M.M. Goil and Dr R. K. Sharma for their invaluable help in various ways. Dr K. Singh would also like to thank S.C.S.T., U.P., for the financial assistance.     

Narciclasine,an inhibitor of protein synthesis. Action onAllium cepa L. root meristems

Summary Shortening of nucleologenesis time in a synchronous cell population, labelled as binucleate, by a caffeine pulse and fall in frequency of prophases are related to narciclasine inhibition of protein synthesis inAllium cepa L. meristems.Acknowledgments. We gratefully acknowledge Dr D. Vázquez and Dr A. Jiménez, from the Instituto de Bioquímica de Macromoléculas, for calling our attention to this protein synthesis inhibitor and providing us samples both of narciclasine andNarcissus bulbs. We also greatly appreciate Dr B. Rodriguez and Dr F. M. Panizo of the Instituto de Química Orgánica (Departamento de Productos Naturales) for their valuable help in isolation and characterization of narciclasine, and for laboratory facilities. The work has been partially supported by the Comisión Asesora para la Investigación Científica (Spain). A.S. has a fellowship awarded by the Instituto de Cultura Hispánica, Spain.     

Flavonoids from pollens and stigmas of male and female flowers of four species of the genusCucurbita

Summary Differences have been found between the flavonoid patterns of pollens and corresponding stigmas ofCucurbita pepo, C. maxima, C. moschata andC. ficifolia. The major flavonoids ahve been identified as isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside isolated from stigmas ofC. pepo is absent in this material.Acknowledgments. The author thanks Dr Chr. Karl (Weleda, Schwäbisch Gmünd) for a sample of isorhamnetin and Mr A. D'Urso (Botanic Institute, University of Catania) for help in acquiring the plant material.     

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.     

Effects of precocene II and juvenile hormone III on the activity of neurosecretory A-cells inOncopeltus fasciatus

Summary Application of precocene II, topically or by contact method, appears to inhibit the synthetic activity of neurosecretory A-cells of the pars intercerebralis ofOncopeltus fasciatus. Treatment of precocene-treated insects with JH III apparently stimulates the secretory activity of these cells.Supported by National Research Council of Canada grant No. A4669.We thank Dr G. B. Staal, Zoecon Corporation, Palo Alto, California, for the gift of precocene II.     

An analytical study of the neurosecretory cells of the brain inPhilosamia ricini (Hutt.) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) during post-embryonic development

Summary A multiplicity of types of neurosecretory cell (NSC), and uniformity in the numbers occurring in medial, lateral, posterior and tritocerebral groups, have been observed inP. ricini. 3 types of cells A, B and C, with their subtypes (A-1, A-2, A-3; B-1, B-2; C-1 and C-2) have been reported. Only B-cells increase in numbers during post-embryonic development. Others (A and C) remain constant throughout development. Abnormal staining behaviour of A-cells has also been reported.Acknowledgements. We are grateful to Prof. S.D. Misra for the facilities and to the UGC, New Delhi, for sanctioning a grant No. F. 23-781/78 (SR II) dated 27.4.78 to Dr V.B. Awasthi, which is gratefully acknowledged.