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 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.     

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

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

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.     

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.     

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.     

Changes in microsomal lipids of rat liver after chronic carbon tetrachloride intoxication

Riassunto Un prolungato trattamento con tetracloruro di carbonio, tale da indurre una grave cirrosi epatica, determina una diminuzione degli acidi grassi più insaturi (acido arachidonico ed acido docosaexenoico) dei fosfolipidi dei microsomi di fegato di ratto. L'ipotesi che tale diminuzione sia dovuta ad una parziale distruzione di questi acidi grassi attraverso un processo di perossidazione lipidica indotto dal CCl₄, è avvalorata dalla presenza, nei lipidi microsomiali, di una banda di assorbimento caratteristica dei «dieni coniugati».     

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.     

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.     

Liver phospholipides after carbon tetrachloride intoxication in rats

Riassunto Dopo avvelenamento acuto di ratti con CCl₄ somministrato con dose singola per via orale l'incorporazione in vivo di P³² nei fosfolipidi del fegato è alterata precocemente. A 80 min dalla somministrazione del tossico si osserva un forte aumento delle P³²-lisolecitine, mentre risulta bloccata la sintesi di acido fosfatidico.     

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.     

Testicular degeneration in rats by carbon tetrachloride intoxication

Zusammenfassung Es wird gezeigt, dass CCl₄ (Carbontetrachloride) nicht nur eine hepatotoxische Wirkung besitzt, sondern offenbar auch eine endokrine Komponente, die wahrscheinlich an der Hypophyse angreift.