Effect of cadmium chloride on steroidogenic enzymes in the Bidder's organ of the toad (Bufo melanostictus)

Summary Injection of cadmium chloride in a toad increases both the ⁵-3-hydroxy-steroid dehydrogenase and 17-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities in Bidder's organ.     

Effect of ascorbic acid on pigmentation of toad (Bufo melanostictus)

Summary Administration of ascorbic acid in toad during breeding season results an increase in melanin pigments in skin, liver and vocal sac.Acknowledgment. The authors' thanks are due to Prof.C. Deb, Head of the Department of Physiology, Calcutta University, for encouragements.     

Effect of carbon tetrachloride intoxication on the liver of toad (Bufo melanostictus)

Résumé Les auteurs constatent que le tétrachloride de carbone ne cause pas de dommage au foie du Crapaud non hibernant, mais provoque une dégénérescence de cet organe pendant l'hibernation de l'animal. Ils émettent des suggestions quant au mécanisme auquel seraient due cette différence.     

Effect of ascorbic acid on pigmentation of toad (Bufo melanostictus).

Administration of ascorbic acid in toad during breeding season results an increase in melanin pigments in skin, liver and vocal sac.     

Ascorbic acid and testicular activity in heat-exposed toad (Bufo melanostictus)

Résumé On a trouvé que la fonction du testicule et la concentration de l'acide ascorbique dans cette glande ont été augmentées chez les crapauds exposés à la chaleur.     

Studies on some enzymes of the toad (Bufo melanostictus) testis and their probable role at the time of fertilization

Summary Glycosidases like sialidase,-galactosidase, -L-fucosidase, N-acetyl hexosaminidase and proteases were detected in toad testis. Neuraminic acid aldolase activity was also detected. The enzyme activities were found to vary as production of spermatozoa varied. All enzymes, except N-acetyl glucosaminidase, were shown to decrease after injection of toad pituitary extract and they were also found to be absent from testis containing no spermatozoa. The glycosidases were found to act on toad oviduct jelly and they may therefore be involved in the degradation of the jelly after fertilization, into smaller bits, which may be utilized as nutrients by the fertilized zygote.Acknowledgment. We thank Prof. T.R. Ramaiah, Head of the Department of Biochemistry, University of Mysore, for his help. We also acknowledge the financial assistance of University Grants Commission to one of us (MS) and CSIR through a grant No. 9 (165)83/EMR-II to HSS. Please address all correspondence to H.S. Seshadri.     

Compensatory hypertrophy of the contralateral testis after unilateral castration in the toad,Bufo melanostictus (Schn)

Zusammenfassung Nachweis kompensatorischen Wachstums des nach einseitiger Kastration verbleibenden Hodens bei indischer Krötenart (Bufo melanostictus (Schn)). Zunahme von Gewicht, Grösse und Spermienzahl.     

Electroencephalographic studies in toad (Bufo melanostictus) following prolonged exposure to heat during hibernation and non-hibernation

Résumé L'électroencephalogramme des grenouilles qui ont été exposées à 48°C pendant 8 jours durant la nonhibernation révéla une extrême «low voltage fast activity» avec une absence complète de la «high voltage slow activity» (HVSA). L'hibernation (à 58°C pendant 8 jours) montra un HVSA irrégulier à régulier avec 100% d'augmentation en longuer et quelques méchanismes corticaut et subcorticaux restent actifs même lors d'une prolongation de la chaleur.     

Genome size in the green toad (Bufo viridis) group

Summary Specimens of the green toad,Bufo viridis, from Morocco to Kirgizistan, have identical DNA amounts per erythrocyte nucleus. 1 specimen from Kirgizistan is a tetraploid. Of 3 closely related species,B. calamita andB. brongersmai have about the same DNA amount asB. viridis, whileB. latastii from Afghanistan has 36% more DNA per nucleus.     

A simple approach to the toad's (Bufo melanostictus) nerver muscle preparation

Summary A simple and modified dorsal approach method has been made in the toad's (Bufo melanostictus) sciatic gastrocnemius nerve-musle preparation. This method incurs less blood loss, time consumption, nerve damage and visceral spoil compared to conventional ventral approach method.     

A simple approach to the toad's (Bufo melanostictus) nerve muscle preparation.

A simple and modified dorsal approach method has been made in the toad's (Bufo melanostictus) sciatic gastrocnemius nerve-muscle preparation. This method incurs less blood loss, time consumption, nerve damage and visceral spoil compared to conventional ventral approach method.     

Effect of the venom sac content of the oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis) on the metamorphosis of the toad tadpole (Bufo viridis)

Résumé Le venin de la guêpe (Vespa orientalis) supprime la métamorphose du têtard de crapaud (Bufo viridis) chez tous les animaux traités au stade prémétamorphique et chez 60% des animaux traités au stade prométamorphique. Onze des animaux traités ont montré un éclaircissement de la peau.     

Hepatic parenchymal cell and nuclear volume in hypophysectomized toad (Bufo melanosticuts)

Résumé On a noté une décroissance significative dans les volumes des cellules hépatiques (et aussi dans leurs volumes nucléaires) du crapaud hypophysectomié par rapport au non-hibernant. Ceci est probablement dû à un changement du modèle-type métabolique ou, peut-être, à l'action directe hormonale déséquilibrée, exercée sur les cellules hépatiques à la suite de l'hypophysectomie.     

Testicular Leydig cells and 277-1277-1277-1dehydrogenase in cadmium-treated toads (Bufo melanostictus)

Summary Injection of cadmium chloride in toad increased Leydig cell size (area) and ₅-3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in the testis.Acknowledgments. We would like to express our thanks to Dr C. Deb, Head of the Department of Physiology, Calcutta University, for his constant encouragement and Mr R. K. Bhattacharya, Microphotographer, Department of Physiology, for his kind cooperation. This work was supported by U. G. C. Teachers' Grants, New Delhi.     

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

Fractionation of the poisonous secretion of the toad Bufo 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).     

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).     

Colchicine dissociates the toad (Bufo arenarum) urinary bladder responses to antidiuretic hormone and to serosal hypertonicity

Resumen Los efectos de la ocitocina y la hipertonía serosa sobre la respuesta hidrosmótica de la vejiga urinaria del sapo pueden ser disociados empleando colchicina, y mas evidentemente cuando el alcaloide es colocado junto con Cu⁺⁺.     

Teratogenic effects of cadmium on Bufo arenarum during gastrulation

Developing Bufo arenarum embryos were treated during gastrulation with cadmium chloride in concentrations ranging from 6x10(-7) to 1.5x10(-5)M Cd++ at 20 and 30 degrees C. Initial failures at gastrulation result mainly in axial incurvations, microcephaly, hydropsy and abnormal tail formation. The higher temperature has a dual effect: at high concentrations of Cd early malformations are significantly increased; whereas, at low concentrations the higher temperature prevents alterations.     

Action of cadmium chloride on sensory ganglia

Résumé Le chlorure de cadmium produit chez le rat, une nécrose hémorragique sélective du ganglion de Gasser et des ganglions sensitifs spinaux. Dans ces organes, on observe une pycnose des noyaux et une lyse du cytoplasme des cellules nerveuses qui sont entourées d'effusions hémorragiques.

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This work was supported by the John A. Hartford Foundation and the Medical Research Council of Canada.     

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.