Effect of fungal staling growth products on growth behaviour of rhizosphere microfungi

Summary Strong mycostatic property ofTrichoderma harzianum, Aspergillus flavus andPenicillium rubrum, which have very high competitive ability in staled agar disc from rhizosphere soil inocula of Lentil (Lens esculantum Moench.), was observed corresponding to similar growth-behaviour in staled culture filtrates of dominant microfungi.Acknowledgments. Thanks are due to the Head, Botany Department, Banaras Hindu University, for the facilities. One of us (D.K.A.) whishes to thank the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Govt. of India, for financial assistance.     

Oenocytes of poultry liceLipeurus lawrensis tropicalis Peters (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera)

Summary Oenocytes ofLipeurus lawrensis tropicalis Peters, an ischnoceran Mallophaga (Sens. Lat. Phthiraptera) occur either singly or in clusters of 2–6, and do not exhibit any changes in the different stages of nymphs and adults of the 2 sexes.Acknowledgment. Thanks are due to Head of the Zoology Department Banaras Hindu University, for laboratory facilities and to State Council of Science and Technology, U.P. for financial assistance under the grant No.SCST/4779/BHU (43)/77     

Effect of fungal staling growth products on colony interaction amongRhizoctonia solani Kuhn and some potential rhizosphere fungi

Summary Colony interactions betweenRhizoctonia solani Kuhn: a root pathogen ofLycopersicon esculentum Mill and some dominant rhizosphere fungi were assessed in vitro in virgin and staled agar to examine their antagonistic ability and tolerance to antagonism. The range of inhibition ofR. solani varied widely in competition with some of the antagonists.Acknowledgments. I would like to express my appreciation to Dr R. S. Dwivedi for encouragement and CSIR for financial assistance.Address for reprint request: Dr D.K. Arora, Old G/14, Jodhpur Colony, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India.     

Effect of volatile phylloplane fungal metabolites on the growth of a foliar pathogen

Summary Volatile fungal metabolites excluded from various leaf-inhabiting microfungi were tested for their mycostatic activity against the growth ofPestalotiopsis funerea Desm., a leaf spot pathogen ofEucalyptus globulus Labill. Findings reveal thatTrichoderma viride andTrichothecium roseum exhibited significant antagonistic action, however,Cladosporium herbarum, Nigrospora sphaerica andPapulaspora sp. showed a stimulating effect. A morphophysiological effect was also observed.Acknowledgments. The grant from CSIR (India Govt.) in the form of SRF and laboratory facility from the Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University are gratefully acknowledged. Thanks are due to Professor R.S. Dwivedi for guidance and constant encouragements.     

Isolation and fusion studies on protoplasts from pollen tetrads

Summary different enzymes were tested for isolation of intact protoplasts from pollen tetrads. About 80% isolation was achieved from pollen tetrads of Cajanus cajan and Zea mays and about 60% from Luffa cylindrica and Lycopersicon esculentum after 4 h of treatment with 5% cellulase. When these mononucleate protoplasts were incubated in presence of 0.05 M CaCl₂ in 0.3 M glucose at pH 10.5, 70–80% fusion was achieved. Fusion was rare in sodium nitrate solutions.This work was supported by a grant from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi (No. 1-32/73, Ed. I) in the form of a Senior Fellowship awarded to P. C. D.Work carried out at Molecular Cytogenetics Research Unit, Dept. of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.     

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.     

Stress by restraining potentiates morphine catalepsy in rats

Summary Restraint-induced stress potentiated morphine catalepsy in rats. This potentiation was partially antagonized by pharmacologic treatments decreasing central serotonin, acetylcholine, prostaglandins and by naloxone. Selective increase in central dopamine also inhibited the potentiation.Acknowledgments. SKB is an ECFMG Senior Faculty Fellow from the Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. Partial research support by the Dakota State Aerie Fraternal Order of Eagles is gratefully acknowledged.     

Age-related response of citrate synthase to hydrocortisone in the liver and brain of male rats

Summary The activity of citrate synthase of the liver and brain of rats shows a gradual increase as a function of age. Adrenalectomy causes no significant change in the activity of citrate synthase in either of these tissues in young, adult or old rats. Administration of hydrocortisone to adrenalectomized rats depresses the activity of this enzyme maximally in the liver and brain of young rats. Administration of actinomycin D tends to normalize, the depressed level of this enzyme.Acknowledgments. The authors are indebted to Professor M.S. Kanungo of the Department of Zoology of Banaras Hindu University for helpful advice and facilities. A part of this project was presented at the 12th International Congress of Biochemistry, Australia, 1982.     

Age-dependent response of lactate dehydrogenase of pituitary of rat to testosterone

Summary The effects of time and various doses of testosterone on the responsiveness of lactate dehydrogenase of pituitary of 7-, 38- and 78-week-old rats were studied. The activity of the enzyme increases in 78-week-old rats. Castration decreases the enzyme activity at all ages. Maximum increase in the enzyme activity is seen with 50 and 100 g of testosterone 4 h after administration of hormone to castrated rats. No further time and dose-dependent effect is observed. The magnitude of increase for the enzyme is higher at the age of 38 weeks and decreases in 78-week-old rats.To whom all correspondence should be addressed. The authors are grateful to Professor M.S. Kanungo, Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University for the suggestions and encouragement. K.V.G. thanks the PL-480 for a research fellowship.     

Artificial spawning effected in the fresh water teleost,Cyprinus carpio by clomiphene citrate

Summary Triweekly i.m. injections of clomiphene citrate (group 1, 25 g/0.5 ml and group II, 50 g/1.0 ml) were administered for a period of 3 months during the preparatory period to female fresh water teleosts exhibiting ovarian recrudescence, while a control group received 0.5 ml of physiological saline throughout the period of experimentation i.e., from February through April. 50 g clomiphene citrate treatment brought about a steady increase in ovarian size, and oocytes began to enlarge and mature and finally ovulation took place in April. This is 4 months ahead of their normal occurrence.The authors wish to express their gratitude to Richardson Merrel Co. for supplying the sample of clomiphene citrate, and Dr K.N. Udupa, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi for facilities.     

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.     

Stretch receptors in the eye muscles of a teleost fish

Summary Extraocular muscles of a teleost fish,Girella tricuspidata, contain a predominantly phasic stretch receptor, which consists of fine beaded nerve terminals within the red portion of the muscle.The authors are grateful to Mr V. Straznik for supplying the fish, and to Mrs M. Fisher for histological assistance. Financial support for this work was received from the New Zealand Medical Research Council and the Auckland University Research Committee and University Grants Committee.     

Role of salivary glands in the maintenance of midgut amylase activity inPeriplaneta americana L.

Summary It was experimentally demonstrated, by the surgical removal of salivary glands and severence of salivary ducts, that most of the amylase in the gut ofPeriplaneta americana comes from the salivary glands.We wish to acknowledge Prof. H. Swarup (Jiwaji University, Gwalior, M.P.) for working facilities provided at School of Studies in Zoology, Vikram University, Ujjain, M.P., and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, for fincancial support in the form of Junior Research Fellowship to one of us (O.P.A.)     

Effect of Tween 80 on lipids ofMycobacterium phlei ATCC 354

Summary Addition of Tween 80 to the growth medium brings about qualitative and quantitative changes in the lipids ofMycobacterium phlei ATCC 354. The results suggest that Tween 80 itself may be a variant in the system.Acknowledgments. K. R. D. is grateful to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, for the award of Senior Research Fellowship. This study was supported in part by funds from Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, and University Grants Commision, New Delhi.     

(±)9, 10-dihydroxy-Δ 6a(10a)-tetrahydrocanabinol and (±)8, 9-dihydroxy-Δ 6a(10a)-tetrahydrocannabinol: 2 new cannabinoids fromCannabis sativa L.

Summary The structures of 2 new polyhydroxylated cannabinoids, (±)9, 10-dihydroxy- ^6a(10a)-tetrahydorcannabinol and (±)8, 9-dihydroxy- ^6a(10a)-tetrahydrocannabinol, obtained from a hexane extract of an IndianCannabis variant were determined by spectral means and correlation with cannabinol.Acknowledgments. Supported by contract No. HSM-42-70-109 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi. The authors are grateful to Mrs Glenda Lewis (Research Institute) for running the gas chromatographic analyses and to Mr C. Versluis (Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, University Of Utrecht, The Netherlands) for recording an element list of both compounds.Cannabis Herbarium specimens are stored in the herbarium, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA.     

Temperature dependence of neurotransmitter release in the antarctic fishPagothenia borchgrevinki

Summary The quantal contents of endplate potentials from extraocular muscles of an antarctic fishPagothenia borchgrevinki were measured over a range of temperatures. Quantal release was maximal at about 5°C but showed little dependence on temperature between –2°C and 10°C. Above 10°C quantal content declined until release ceased about 18°C. In view of the fact that the ambient temperature at which these fish live is constant at –1.9°C, the results suggest thatPagothenia borchgrevinki is only partially adapted to its environment despite 25 million years acclimatization.The authors wish to thank the staff of New Zealand's Scott Base, Antarctica, without whose cooperation the work would have been impossible. Mr J. Quinn of the Auckland University Physiology Department gave invaluable assistance with computing and electronics and the Antarctic Division of the New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research provided transportation and logistic support. The project was financially supported by the New Zealand University Grants Committee and the Auckland University Research Committee. S.P. was a Senior Fellow of the N.Z. Medical Research Council.     

Flow microcalorimetric bioassay of polyene antibiotics: Interaction with growingSaccharomyces cerevisiae

Summary Microcalorimetric investigation of the interaction of polyene antibiotics with mid-exponential cells of a growing culture ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae has been used as the basis of a bioassay procedure. The assay is rapid, sensitive and reproducible. The results are compared to classical assays and potency ranking orders.This work was supported by the Science Research Council. (Studentship for B.Z. Chowdhry). We are grateful to the Central Research Fund of London University for funds to purchase the flow nephelometer used to support this study.     

Glucose phosphate isomerase heterophenotypes in the human filarial parasiteBrugia malayi from peninsular Malaysia

Summary Glucose phosphate isomerase of subperiodicBrugia malayi was studied by horizontal starch-gel electophoresis. Two heterophenotypes, each represented by 3 bands of enzyme activity, were found among 38 parasites studied. This finding is attributed to the occurrence of 2Gpi gene loci.This research is supported in part by a University of Malaya Vote F research grant. We wish to thank the Vice-Chancellor, University of Malaya, and the Director, Institute for Medical Research, for supporting this collaborative work, and Encik Rosni Sarjan and P. Azavedo for their assistance.     

The principal toxin ofDelphinium brownii Rydb., and its mode of action

Summary Examination ofD. brownii, a stock-poison of Western Canada, revealed that the principal toxin was methyllycaconitine: a potent neuromuscular blocking agent which appears to act competitively at nicotinic receptors.We thank the University of Calgary, The National Research Council of Canada, and the Alberta Agriculture Department, for financial assistance.