Autoradiography and differential hemoglobin staining as aids to the study of fish hematology

Summary The confused state of the existing knowledge regarding the cell types in peripheral blood and hematopoiesis of fishes has been highlighted. Inadequacies of techniques presently used have been pointed out and the advantages of using Graham-Knoll's method for haemoglobin staining when counter stained with Giemsa together with autoradiography using tritiated thymidine have been demonstrated.Thanks are due to the University of Rajasthan for working facilities. J.S.D. is grateful to University Grants Commission, New Delhi for grant of Research Fellowship during the tenure of which this work was done.     

Age-G staining, a rapid technique for producing combined silver staining and Giemsa banding in mammalian chromosomes

A combination of the silver staining method with a Giemsa banding technique is described for mammalian chromosomes. This double staining simultaneously shows silver-stained NORs and a G-band pattern, and thus allows a rapid identification of the NOR-bearing chromosomes.     

Ag-G staining,a rapid technique for producing combined silver staining and Giemsa banding in mammalian chromosomes

Summary A combination of the silver staining method with a Giemsa banding technique is described for mammalian chromosomes. This double staining simultaneously shows silver-stained NORs and a G-band pattern, and thus allows a rapid identification of the NOR-bearing chromosomes.     

Characterization of the domestic horse (Equus caballus) karyotype using G-and C-banding techniques

Summary Giemsa banding techniques have been used to identify the chromosomes of the domestic horse.     

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.     

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.     

Measurement of orientation responses of caterpillars indoors and outdoors on a grid

Summary A method has been developed to measure orientation responeses of caterpillars to various sources of stimuli at predetermined distances on a grid of intersecting ribs indoors and outdoors.The authors are grateful to the University Grants Commission, New Delhi, for grant which partially supported this work and to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, for the Junior Research Fellowships to P. K. and S. G.     

Reflexine,a new indole alkaloid ofRauwolfia reflexa

Summary Reflexine, a new indole alkaloid, has been isolated from the leaves ofRauwolfia reflexa Teijsm. and Binn. From spectral studies, chemical reactions and correlation with seredamine, reflexine is shown to be its C-17 epimer (IV).Grateful thanks are accorded to ProfessorR. H. Thomson, Dr.R. T. Brown, Dr.Nitya Nand and Dr.S. C. Pakrashi for spectral measurements. Financial assistance from CCRIMH, New Delhi, and UGC, New Delhi, are also thankfully acknowledged.     

Hymenolepis nana: Transfer of acquired immunity in mice through sensitized peritoneal exudate cells

Summary Sensitized peritoneal exudate cells from syngeneic donor Swiss albino mice infected with single and repeated doses of viable eggs ofHymenolepis nana produced a significant adoptive immunity in test mice when compared with animals which received non-sensitized (normal) cells. No significant difference was observed among the 2 recipient groups which received singly or repeatedly sensitized peritoneal exudate cells.Acknowledgment. We thank Professor B. M. Sinha for providing facilities and to the University Grants Commission, New Delhi for financial assistance.     

A comparative study of membrane related phenomena in normal and crown gall tissues of red beet (Beta vulgaris L.)

Summary Divalent metal ions have been found to protect membranes of red beet crown gall tissue more than their adjacent normal regions from thermal or gamma radiation stress, suggesting the possibility of an alteration on the surface charge accompanying tumor formation in plants. Further, tumor tissue has been observed to possess enhanced membrane ATPase activity, a higher tissue sulfhydryl content and increased protein levels, thus suggesting a model of source (normal tissue) and sink (tumor tissue) relationship.Acknowledgments. Thanks are due to Dr Sudhir Sopory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi for a critical discussion on this paper. KVAR thanks the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, for financial assistance in the form of a Senior Research Fellowship.     

Induced morphogenetic variations inAspergillus oryzae by 8-azaguanine

Résumé Proliférations de l'appareil sporifère d'Aspergillus oryzae traité à l'azaguanine.

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The authors are deeply indebted to Dr.O. Isler of F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel (Switzerland) for his generous gift of 8-azaguanine and 6-azauracil. They are also grateful to the University Grants Commission, at New Delhi, which financed this research programme by grant-in-aid No. F-8/5-63 (G), to R.K.K.     

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.     

(+)-Tetrahydro-6-heneicosyl-2H-pyran-2-one,a natural product from Heliotropium curassavicum Linn

Summary The hitherto unknown lactone of -hydroxy hexacosanoic acid, tetrahydro-6-heneicosyl-2H-pyran-2-one has been isolated from hexane extracts of Heliotropium curassavicum Linn.We are grateful to the University Grants commission, New Delhi for award of Junior Research Fellowships to S.M. and P.K., and to Dr C. C. J. Culvenor, CSIRO (Australia) for the gc-ms data.     

Hemicastration-induced changes in the electrophoretic pattern of some enzymes in the brain of the skink,Mabuya carinata

Summary Hemicastration in the skink induces change in the electrophoretic pattern of some enzymes like LDH, MDH, acid phosphatase and esterases.The authors wish to thank Prof. N.B. Krishnamurthy for his encouragment, UGC, New Delhi for their financial help to DTP and SM, and CSIR, New Delhi for MR.     

Calcemic responses of Stannius corpuscle extract in parrotsPsittacula psittacula

Summary In parrots (Psittacula psittacula), i.p. injection of Stannius corpuscle extract (10 mg/ml/100 g b.wt) evokes hypocalcemia at 1 h. Thereafter, the values indicate hypercalcemia at 6 h and normocalcemia at 10 h.The authors express their appreciation to Mr S.P. Srivastav for his considerable help. Financial support for this investigation was provided by CSIR, New Delhi.     

Inhibition of tumor-induced angiogenesis and of tumor growth by activated lymphocytes

Summary Inhibition in angiogenesis (neo-vascularization) and of growth of a tumor piece graft in the anterior chamber of the eye of mice have been observed in the presence of activated syngeneic lymphocytes.Acknowledgment. The authors are thankful to ICMR, New Delhi, for financial assistance and to Mr N.C. Ghosh for illustration.     

Isolation of di-N-2-propylpentyl phthalate from human urine

Summary A higher percentage of di-N-2 propylpentyl phthalate isolated from the urine of the normals and a lower quantity in the patients suffering from Eales' disease accompanied with the occurrence in patients of another compound which is also most likely a phthalate ester has been correlated with the Eales' disease.Acknowledgement. This work was supported by grants from the Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India.     

Acrosomal hydrolases in buffalo spermatozoa

Summary Buffalo sperm acrosome resembles its counterpart in other species, being rich in hydrolytic enzymes. Of the enzyme activities estimated, acid phosphatase, -N-acetylglucosaminidase and hyaluronidase were low compared to those of ram semen. However, the aryl sulphatase activity was high. GOT activity estimated in sperm preparation may not be of acrosomal origin.NDRI publication No. 75-129.We should like to thank Dr.D. Sundaresan, the Director for encouragement and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi for partially funding this work. One of the authors (PSC) was recipient of a UGC junior fellowship.     

Substance P and neurotensin: Opposite effects on plasma cholesterol levels in ovariectomized conscious rats

Summary Intravenous pulse injection of neurotensin produces a significant and dose-dependent increase in plasma cholesterol levels in ovariectomized conscious rats, whereas substance P has opposite effect. 4-Aminopyrazolo (3,4,-d) pyrimidine, (4-APP) also significantly lowers plasma cholesterol. The suppressive effects of both substance P and 4-APP were readily reversed by neurotensin, suggesting that the peptides act on hepatic lipoprotein secretion.Supported by grants from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi. K.R. was recipient of a UGC fellowship.