Arginine-vasotocin and gonadal activity in the lizard,Podarcis s. sicula Raf.

Summary Arginine-vasotocine (AVT) injected into male adult lizards,Podarcis s. sicula Raf., inhibits the last phases of spermatogenesis and the endocrine activity of gonads. In female lizards the substance induces an early interruption of egg deposition.     

Distribuzione di fosfatasi alcaline in gonadi di Crostacei isopodi in rapporto al ciclo degli acidi nucleici

Summary The distribution of alkaline phosphatases has been studied in male and female gonads of some isopod crustaceans by means of Gomori's reaction.Monophosphatases are found on all Feulgen-positive nuclear structures, in the nucleolus and in the cytoplasm of young oocytes. They disappear from the cytoplasm in auxocytosis, during yolk formation, although they persist in the germinal vesicle. The authors think that the cytoplasmic localization is coincident with ribonucleic acid distribution.From the experiments related in the following note, nucleolar phosphatases appear to be in some way different from the nuclear (sensu stricto) and cytoplasmic phosphatases.Diphosphatases do not follow so closely the nucleic acid localization. They are absent from cytoplasm; in the nucleolus they are not distributed uniformly but show characteristic structure; in the nucleus they are not localized in the chromosomes but homogeneously diffused.     

La question des hétérochromosomes chez les Sauropsidés. Oiseaux

Summary The chromosomes of the fowl were studied with the aid ofMakino's andNishimura's water pretreatment squash technique, modified byMatthey, in embryonic spleen and gonads of both sexes. The number of chromosomes was found to be about 78; the numerical variations are to be ascribed to technical difficulties, caused by the extremely small size of the microchromosomes, rather than to an unchromosomelike behaviour of the latter, as was supposed byNewcomer andBrant. As to the exact number of chromosomes, we consider its determination beyond the possibilities of cytology. The 5^th largest pair of the male, represented by a single element in the female, could be identified as the sex chromosome pair, in accordance with the findings ofYamashina. The digamety might be of theZ-O orZ-W type.     

Sur le mécanisme de la régression du canal de Müller droit chez l'embryon de Poulet femelle

Summary In the in vitro experiments described above neither the hormone of the left ovary nor that secreted by the rudimentary right gonad brought about the regression of the right Müllerian duct of the female chick embryo. In castration experiments, this naturally occurring phenomenon had been found to depend either on the right gonad (Huijbers ⁴) or on both the right and left gonads (Wolff ^1–3).     

Transplantations interspécifiques de gonades embryonnaires de Phasianidés

Summary When indifferent gonads from red-legged partridges, Japanese quail or pintado embryos were transplanted into the coelomic cavity of early chick embryos, they differentiated into ovaries and testes, regardless of the sex of the host. Testicular transplants brought about the retrogression of both Müllerian ducts in female hosts, and ovarian transplants the feminization of the left testis in male hosts. This demonstrates hormonal activity of the embryonic gonads in the 3 species under study. Since the embryonic sex hormones show inter-specific activity, they may be of identical chemical nature.

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Avec la collaboration technique deA. Zeis.     

Presence of the H blood group antigen on a carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Enzymatic transformation of H to A and B specificities]

The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA-M) was purified from a hepatic metastasis obtained from a blood group O patient with a cancer of the rectum. Using 125I-labelled-CEA and blood group antisera, H specificity was found on the CEA-M; the addition of anti-H to anti-CEA does not modify the binding of labelled-CEA-M to its antibodies (86%), this result leads us to conclude that H and CEA determinants are carried by the same molecule. However the low percentage of binding (30% with 1/10 anti-H) suggests that only a few CEA-M molecules do carry the H antigenic determinant. Finally, glycosyltransferases were used to modify the H specificity into blood group A and B specificities.     

Total atresia of the ovaries ofTilapia leucosticta (Cichlidae) after intoxication with the insecticide Lebaycid

Summary Intoxication with sublethal Lebaycid concentrations led to total atresia of the ovaries in 90% of the treated specimens ofTilapia leucosticta. The gonads were filled with atretic follicles and mature eggs were never found. In regeneration trials, intoxicated fish proved to be unable to spawn for at least 9 weeks.This work was undertaken with the aid of Prof. Dr E. Kulzer.     

Effect of indole-3-acetic acid on the histology of gonads and their development inDacus dorsalis hendel

Summary The paper deals with the effects of indole-3 acetic acid on the histology of the gonads and their development inDacus dorsalis Hendel (Diptera; Tephritidae). Flies were topically treated with solutions of different concentrations. This treatment effectively reduced the size of gonads when applied to newly-emerged flies. Most severely affected parts were the germinal regions of the gonads. The number of sperm bundles was much reduced in the treated testes as compared to controlled ones.Acknowledgment. The authors are thankful to Prof. H. O. Agarwal, Department of Bio-Sciences, for providing the necessary laboratory facilities.     

Submikroskopische Struktur von Vanadocyten. Ein Beitrag zur Vanadin-Anhäufung bei Tunicaten

Summary Electronmicrosopical sections prepared from blood cells ofPhallusia mamillata Cuvier containing vanadine (vanadocytes) exhibit dense areas with cytoplasmatic compartments, which are called vanadophores. Vanadophores are also found in the blood cells ofCiona intestinalis L. The vanadophores show an inner structure which is granular or filamentous in character.     

Characterization of the estrogen receptors in the uterine and blood eosinophil leukocytes

Summary Estrogen receptors are found in the rat uterine and in the eosinophil-rich human blood leukocyte 24,000g fractions, but not in the low-eosinophil count human blood leukocyte 24,000g fraction. The total number of binding sites per blood eosinophil leukocyte is 7,400 sites per cell, and theK _d =5.6×10^–10 M.Acknowledgments. This work was supported in part by funds from the Unité de Recherches sur le Métabolisme Moléculaire et la Physio-Pathologie des Stéroïdes de l'INSERM, Hôpital de Bicetre, France, and by grant No. 2015 from the Oficina Técnica de Desarrollo Científico y Creación Artística of the University of Chile.