Effets comparés de laβ-propiolactone et du formol sur les propriétés inductrices de l'organisateur chez les amphibiens

Summary -propiolactone-treated dorsal lips ofAmbystoma mexicanum are grafted in the blastocele of young gastrulas. The inducing ability of dorsal lips is not altered. These results are compared with the effects of formaldehyde which suppress the inducing ability. An interpretation of these facts is proposed. The cross-linking reactions which occur between formaldehyde and proteins may be important for the suppressing of the inductive ability by this agent.     

Adsorption de protéines par les plaquettes sanguines

Summary When brought into contact with radioactive albumin, the blood platelets adsorb this protein firmly, thus proving the existence of intensive surface phenomenon at the level of these elements.     

Quelques commentaires sur les méthodes de culturein vitro de jeunes blastodermes de poulet

Summary The relationship between yolk entoblast and the nutritional medium in cultures of chicken blastoderm, classical type, was studied. In addition, some refinements to the research ofNew ^5–7, and some modifications permitting operations from the dorsal side, are proposed.

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Travail subventionné par le Fonds national suisse de la Recherche scientifique.     

L'action du 2,4-dichlorophénoxyacétate de sodium sur les végétaux

Zusammenfassung 0,5prozentige Lösungen von 2,4-dichlorophenoxyessigsaurem Natrium verhindern das Keimen vonAgrostemma Githago, Hordeum vulgare undTriticum vulgare. Das Wachstum junger Pflanzen der drei Arten wird durch Verpflanzen auf mit 0,5prozentigen Lösungen dieses Stoffes getränktem Sand gehemmt. Schwächere Lösungen gestatten das Wachstum, es ist aber verlangsamt und die Pflanzen tragen Mißbildungen verschiedener Art, die an die nach Einwirkung von Colchicin und Heteroauxin beschriebenen erinnern. Stark verdünnte Lösungen (5·10^–6) beschleunigen das Wachstum und regen die Wurzelbildung an; diese Wirkung ist beiHordeum vulgare besonders deutlich.     

Action de la triéthylènemélamie sur les mitoses de segmentation de l'œuf de Pleurodèle

Summary Triethylenemelamine (1/400 to 1/12000) induces pseudo-chiasmas and chromosome-breakage in the egg-segmentation mitoses ofPleurodeles waltlii Michah. The primitive effect is stickiness, breakages appear subsequently, but without an interval of time between: the primary physiological and the secondary genetical effect cannot be separated. There are points of breakability, which explains the symmetry of certain fragments. The action is inverted in the epidermal cells of the larvae, where spindle alterations are prominent. Cytodieresis is never inhibited.     

Présence d'uraninite dans les minéraux accessoires du granite de baveno

Summary Microscopic crystals of uraninite are found in the accessories of the Baveno granite by the nuclear photographic emulsion technique. The uraninite is believed to be a primary mineral of the granite, its concentration in the sample is less than 1 p.p.m. but it contributes about 10% of the total activity.     

Analyse expérimentale de la différenciation embryonnaire chez les échinodermes

Sans résumé     

L'évolution de la symbiose chez les Isoptères

Summary An attempt is made to retrace the evolution of symbiotic associations in Blattopteroidea, with particular reference to Isoptera. It seems probable that double symbiosis occured in the common ancestor of Blattids and Termites: intracellular microorganisms of bacteriocytes, xylophagous intestinal Flagellates. Where as actual Blattids, exceptingCryptocercus, have only retained the former, the primitive Termites, exceptingMastotermes, have only kept the latter. Evolved Termites (fam. Termitidae) have in turn lost the symbiotic Flagellates, but have acquired a rich and complex bacterial flora. — Some of these microorganisms, mixed with their aliments, certainly aid digestion (breakdown of cellulose), whilst others, localised at a particular level of the alimentary canal and not found in the alimentary mass, presumably play a different rôle. Furthermore, Protozoa are constantly associated with certains Termites (xylophagous Amoebae, humus-feeder Ciliates of the genusTermitophrya) and may play some rôle in the process of digestion. Finally, an association occurs between fundgus-growing Termites (subfam. Macrotermitinae) and mushrooms (Termitomyces).     

Effets de l'actinomycine D sur le développement normal et sur les modifications expérimentales de la morphogénèse de l'oeuf de l'oursinParacentrotus lividus

Summary In the presence of actinomycin D (20–40 µg/ml), the development of the eggs of the sea urchin,Paracentrotus lividus, is slowed from the late morula and stopped at the blastula stage. The development is immediately stopped in the blastula treated with actinomycin D (20–40 µg/ml). The inhibitory effects of actinomycin D are prevented by deoxyribonucleic acid. Actinomycin D does not exert animalizing or vegetalizing effects. However, the enhancing of vegetalizing action of lithium and the weakening of animalizing effects of zinc ions and Evans blue have been observed in the presence of actinomycin D. These observations may reflect some difference in the state of dependence of differentiation of entomesodermic and ectodermic structures towards the nucleus.     

Action de la ribonucléase sur les cellules du carcinome d'Ehrlich

Summary The reduced form of ribonuclease acts on the cells ofEhrlich's carcinoma by producing important changes in the RNA content of cells:(1) First, there is an important synthesis of intracellular RNA and an accumulation of free nucleotides (from the external medium). This phenomenon accompanies the necrosis of the cells.(2) After this first stage begins a rapid degradation of intracellular RNA.Simultaneously, the respiration of cells decreases whilst protein content remains unchanged.The oxidized form of ribonuclease has no action on the cells.

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Aspirant du Fonds national belge de la Recherche scientifique.     

Détection cytochimique de l'acide ribonucléique dans les chromosphères pré- et post-méiotiques des sporanges de résistance d'Allomyces

Summary Premeiotic chromospheres in the immature resistant sporangia (RS) ofAllomyces lose their basophily after treatment with trichloracetic acid, perchloric acid or ribonuclease. Postmeiotic chromospheres in the mature RS, becoming the nuclear caps of the ‘reduced’ zoospores, do not stain with toluidine blue or pyronine after ribonuclease digestion. It is concluded that, as gametic and zoosporic nuclear caps, pre- and postmeiotic chromospheres are transitory cytoplasmic organites rich in RNA.      

Etude histochimique de l'action des rayons X sur les cholinestérases

Summary Using a histochemical method, we have observed the cholinesterase activity in mice after X irradiation. Both types of cholinesterases were examined: AChE (specific ChE) of megacaryocytes of spleen and bone marrow, and AChE of motor endplates; and non-specific ChE of liver, pancreas and prostate. There is no inactivation of AChE even after 5000 r. ChE is also very resistant: activity is slowed down only 12 h or even a few days following irradiation and the inactivation remains slight. We suppose that the great alterations in cellular permeability caused by irradiation are not correlated with these enzymes.     

Sur la présence deβ-alanine dans les tissus des plantes supérieures

Summary -alanine has always been found in peptide hydrolysates of various higher plants, but never in protein hydrolysates. An assumption that the-alanine so found is a constituent of coenzyme A has been suggested.     

Inhibition de la cancérogenèse spontanée chez les souris R III et AkR par des implants de tissus cancéreux modifiés

Summary (1) After a 24-h passage in a rabbit, fragments of spontaneous isologous mammary carcinoma were implanted under the skin of young R III females. This procedure was found to prevent the appearance of spontaneous mammary tumours in a high percentage of these animals. The subsequent appearance of carcinoma was to be observed in only 23% of treated animals as compared with 51% in controls.(2) After a 24-h passage in a rabbit, fragments of leukotic isologous tissue, implanted subcutaneously in young AkR females, reduced subsequent spontaneous leukomogenesis from 85 to 38%.     

Action duCorynebacterium parvum sur les taux de lysozyme (muramidase) sérique

Summary An i.v. injection of 548 g of killedCorynebacterium parvum into C57B1 mice leads to significant changes in serum lysozyme (muramidase) levels. After an initial fall at 24 h, the activity of the enzyme increased progressively, reached a peak on the 9th day and returned to control range after the 15th day.     

Application de méthodes d'analyse biochimique à une étude taxonomique: les corégones du lac de Neuchâtel

Summary Two closely related forms ofCoregonus from Lake Neuchatel were examined cytologically and biochemically, in order to ascertain the chromosome number and the DNA content of haploid and diploid nuclei.Coregonus fera has 2N=78 ± 2 chromosomes, and a DNA content (diploid) of 5.8 × 10⁻⁹ mg;Coregonus macrophthalmus, 2N=78⁺ ± 3, DNA content of 6.1 × 10⁻⁹ mg. The difference between the two DNA constants is statistically significant. These results do not support the hypothesis which postulates that polyploidy may be a determining factor in the speciation of these fishes.