A lens-like specialization for photic input in the pineal window of an Indian catfish,Heteropneustes fossilis

Summary An unusual lens-like structure is reported in the pineal window of the Indian nocturnal catfishHeteropneustes fossilis. This is the first report of its kind for the pineal window of fishes. This structure, coupled with a pineal fossa and a pineal window, forms a specialization that apparently serves to concentrate the photic input to the intracranially situated pineal organ. This structure may play a significant role in the photoneuroendocrine function of the photosensitive pineal under conditions of low light intensity, controlling the fish's circadian rhythmic activities.The work was financially supported by CSIR, New Delhi (sanction No. 38(693)/88/EMR-II dated May, 1988) which is thankfully acknowledged.     

Predictive models of molecular machines involved in Caenorhabditis elegans early embryogenesis

Although numerous fundamental aspects of development have been uncovered through the study of individual genes and proteins, system-level models are still missing for most developmental processes. The first two cell divisions of Caenorhabditis elegans embryogenesis constitute an ideal test bed for a system-level approach. Early embryogenesis, including processes such as cell division and establishment of cellular polarity, is readily amenable to large-scale functional analysis. A first step toward a system-level understanding is to provide 'first-draft' models both of the molecular assemblies involved and of the functional connections between them. Here we show that such models can be derived from an integrated gene/protein network generated from three different types of functional relationship: protein interaction, expression profiling similarity and phenotypic profiling similarity, as estimated from detailed early embryonic RNA interference phenotypes systematically recorded for hundreds of early embryogenesis genes. The topology of the integrated network suggests that C. elegans early embryogenesis is achieved through coordination of a limited set of molecular machines. We assessed the overall predictive value of such molecular machine models by dynamic localization of ten previously uncharacterized proteins within the living embryo.     

A genetic blueprint for cardiac development

Congenital heart disease is the leading non-infectious cause of death in children. It is becoming increasingly clear that many cardiac abnormalities once thought to have multifactorial aetiologies are attributable to mutations in developmental control genes. The consequences of these mutations can be manifest at birth as life-threatening cardiac malformations or later as more subtle cardiac abnormalities. Understanding the genetic underpinnings of cardiac development has important implications not only for understanding congenital heart disease, but also for the possibility of cardiac repair through genetic reprogramming of non-cardiac cells to a cardiogenic fate.     

Radioimmunoassay of some hormones simultaneously measured in serum and breast cyst fluid

Blood and breast cyst fluid were drawn simultaneously for hormonal determination. There was no difference between serum and cyst fluid values of PRL and TSH. A significant difference was noted for LH (p less than 0.01) and FSH (p less than 0.05), serum concentrations being higher than cyst fluid concentrations.     

Synthesis of dinucleoside phosphates by reaction of 5′-chloro-5′-deoxynucleosides with nucleotide anions

Zusammenfassung Uridylyl-(3–5)-adenosin und Uridylyl-(3-5)-ionosin wurden durch Umsetzung eines passenden 5-chloro-5-deoxy-2, 3-O-isopropylidene-Nukleosids mit Uridin-3-phosphat synthetisiert.     

French bean seed coat as an ovipositional attractant for the pulse beetle,Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius)

Zusammenfassung Nachweis, dass die Samenhüllen gewisser Leguminosenarten die Eiablage des BohnenkäfersCallosobruchus maculatus stimulieren und die Wasserextrakte attraktiver Samenhüllen die Oviposition auch auf inertem Filterpapier anregen.     

Morphological evidence for electrical synapse of ‘gap’ junction type in another vertebrate receptor

Résumé Une étude des organes tubéreux de grande taille chez un poisson électrique à faible décharge,Sternarchus albiforns a été effectuée en microscopie électronique. Elle a permis d'observer la présence, en plus de la synapse chimique, d'une jonction en «gap» de la synapse électrique.

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Acknowledgments. I am grateful to Dr.T. Szabo for his valuable suggestions. The work was carried out during the tenure of French Govt. Fellowship award to the author who is on leave from Department of Zoology, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, India.     

Studies on Plant extracts with juvenile hormone activity. Effects ofIris ensata Thamb. (Iridaceae) onDysdercus koenigii F. (Pyrrochoridae)

Zusammenfassung Acetonextrakt aus Wurzeln und Rhizomen vonIris ensata hemmen die Metamorphose vonDysdercus koenigii. Adultoide sind schwach fortpflanzungsfähig.

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Acknowledgments: The authors are thankful to Dr.K. Ganapathi, Director, and Dr.A. Husain, Chairman, Discipline of Agricultural Sciences, Regional Research Laboratory, Jammu-Tawi, for the facilities provided for this work. Thanks are also due to Mr.Y. K. Sarin, Incharge, Plant Collection Unit, of the same laboratory for she identification and collection of the plant material.