Thyroid activity in response to some gonadal steroids in methallibure-treatedHeteropneustes fossilis (Bloch)

Summary Methallibure treatment is as effective as hypophysectomy in reducing thyroid activity inH. fossilis. Sex steroids (TP and EB) administration restored thyroid activity in methallibure-treated females to normal level, but failed to elicit any response in males. This drug seems to block TSH secretion and thyroid hormone synthesis inH. fossilis.Financial assistance in the form of SRF from ICAR, New Delhi to one of us (R.B.R.), gift of methallibure from ICI Ltd., UK and TSH from NIH, USA, to T.P.S. are gratefully acknowledged.     

Maintenance of thyroid activity with some steroids in hypophysectomized and gonadectomized catfish,Mystus vittatus (Bloch)

Zusammenfassung Beim amerikanischen WelsMystus vittatus (Bloch) wurde festgestellt, dass die Radiojodaufnahme der Schilddrüse nach Hypophysektomie durch Cortison und Sexualhormone wieder normalisiert werden kann.     

Radiation-induced castration in the female teleostean fish,Heteropneustes fossilis bloch

Zusammenfassung Indischen Katzenwels-Weibchen (Heteropneustes fossilis Bloch) wurden im Februar und April 5µc Co⁶⁰ injiziert, was zur vollständigen Unfruchtbarkeit führte. Alle Fische erholten sich aber innerhalb von 14 Tagen auffallend gut von den Injektionsschäden.     

The effect of electrical stimulation of olfactory tract on the nucleus preopticus in the catfishHeteropneustes fossilis (Bloch)

Résumé Chez leHeteropneustes fossilis normal le périkaryon des neurons du noyau préoptique montrent une grande accumulation de substance neurosécrétaire AF-positive. Stimulation électrique du nerf olfacteur pendant une minute menait à une dégranulation incomplète, tandis qu'un traitement de dux minutes produisait un épuisement presque complet de la substance neurosécrétoire. Les neurons de la portion magnocellulaire du noyau préoptique paraissent répondre plus rapidement que ceux de la portion parvocellulaire.     

X-Irradiation and thyroid activity in a teleost,Mystus vittatus (Bloch)

Zusammenfassung Eine niedrige Dosis Röntgenstrahlen führt zu einer mässigen Steigerung der Radiojodaufnahme in der Schilddrüse vonMystus vittatus, während mit steigender Röntgendosis die Radiojodaufnahme gehemmt werden konnte.     

Zeitgeber induced modulation of activity patterns in nocturnal mammals (Chiroptera).

Changing the L:D intensity ratio of a synchronizing dark regime leads to characteristic modulations of the activity pattern of Chiroptera species. These modulations fit the predictions of WEVER'S oscillator model.     

Presence of hypothalamo-hypophysial portal system in the teleostHeteropneustes fossilis (Bl.)

Zusammenfassung Durch Injektion von Tusche wird nachgewiesen, dass bei Teleostiern auch ein Pfortader-system zwischen Hypothalamus und Hypophyse vorhanden ist. Diese Gefässversorgung ist sonst nur bei höher entwickelten Tieren bekannt und ist funktionell das Übermittlersystem für die Neurosekretion.

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The authors are thankful to Dr.K. N. Udupa, Surgical Research Laboratory, College of Medical Sciences, and Dr.L. M. Singh for providing all facilities and encouragements. The junior author is indebted to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research of India for the award of Junior Research Fellowship.     

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.     

Release of immuno-reactive and biologically active LH from fetal mouse pituitary in response to synthetic gonadotropin releasing factor (LRF).

In an incubation system, LRF stimulated significantly the release of LH from 18-day-old mouse fetal pituitary. This LRF-induced LH release, measured by RIA in the incubation medium was able to increase the testosterone production by age-matched fetal testes. This data suggests that the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-testicular axis is functional at the end of mouse prenatal life.     

Absence of electrical activity of the pigeon's pineal organ in response to light

Zusammenfassung Im Gegensatz zur Epiphyse von Fischen, Amphibien und Reptilien erweist sich das Pinealorgan der Taube bei Untersuchung mit Einstichelektroden als nicht lichtempfindlich.     

Decrease in motor activity - an early symptom in the course of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE).

Motor activity has been followed in rats during an experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). The disease was produced by transfer of lymph node cells from sensitized syngenic donors. Small and large movements were permanently registered by an electric activity meter. It could be demonstrated that a decrease of the motility is an early symptome of the disease. Therefore the measurement of the motoric activity might be a useful parameter in the classification of EAE.     

IAA oxidase activity in relation to adventitious root formation on stem cuttings of some forest tree species

Summary IAA oxixase activity was very high in stem cuttings ofSalix tetrasperma andPopulus robusta, which rooted profusely, less in stem cuttings ofHibiscus rosa sinensis which rooted less, and insignificant in those ofEucalyptus citriodora which did not root at all. Protein(s) extracted from the stem cuttings ofE. citriodora inhibited the activity of IAA oxidase as well as root formation on hypocotyl cuttings ofPhaseolus mungo. The possibility of involvement of IAA oxidase activity in the process of adventitious root formation is discussed.The research has been financed by a grant from U.S. Department of Agriculture.     

Increase of interferon antiviral activity by exogenous cyclic adenosine-3':5'-monophosphate (cAMP).

Some effects of cAMP on replication of Semliki Forest Virus in chick embryo fibroblast cell cultures are described. Depending on concentration, the incorporation of [3H]-uridine into viral RNA or the formation of plaque-forming units is inhibited; the highest concentration tested was 8 mM. Cyclic AMP has an effect of its own and increases the Interferon action in the lower concentration ranges of Interferon (up to 1 unit/ml). The effect of cyclic AMP is fast, needs no induction and is also visible in late phases of viral replication. However, these experiments do not establish a causal relation between cAMP and Interferon.     

In vitro protein synthesis and alpha amylase activity in F cells from hepatopancreas of Palaemon serratus (Crustacea; Decapoda).

In crustaceans, all the steps in the assimilation of food take place in the hepatopancreas. To facilitate the study of this organ, a method for the dissociation of cell types was developed. The hepatopancreas of the prawn Palaemon serratus was mechanically dissociated and the cells separated by Percoll density-gradient centrifugation. The E and R cells had similar densities of around 1.05 g/ml. The F cells were separated into two distinct fractions with densities of 1.075 and 1.082 g/ml. The B cells sedimented at a density of 1.12 g/ml. The ratio between the two populations of F cells was found to vary during the intermolt cycle while B cells disappeared after the molt. When the density gradient fractions were incubated with 3H-leucine, incorporation was highest in the F cell fractions. Measurements of alpha-amylase activity, indicated that the two populations of F cells may be derived from the same cell type.     

Bisalbumineamia in a bottlenosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).

Bisalbuminemia was found in a female bottlenosed dolphin (Turiops truncatus) on routine examination. There is no association with disease.     

Nekrobiotische Zellveränderungen in der Hypophyse des Bachneunauges (Lampetra planeri Bloch) als Folge von Pilzinfektionen

Summary In the adenohypophysis of brook lampreys (Lampetra planeri Bloch) necrobiotic cellular changes are described to develop as a result of infection of the animal bodies with parasitic fungi (Saprolegniaceae). These changes are restricted only on the mesoadenohypophysis. It is suggested that a cytotoxic substance released by the fungi has a selective destructive effect on a cell type which is localized in this lobe of the pituitary gland.