The musculature of the electric fish Eigenmannia virescens (South American green knife fish) characterized with cytochrome oxidase staining

Using cytochrome C-oxidase staining, different types of somatic musculature were clearly distinguished in the gymnotoid fish Eigenmannia virescens. Except for a few thin fibres in the region of the horizontal septum, which stained faintly, no others in the trunk muscle stained. Strong staining appeared in the fibres of the anal fin muscles. According to the classification of fish musculature into white, intermediate and red, only the locomotory organ of this fish has red fibres, whereas the trunk muscles are white. The red muscles along the horizontal septum, found in all other fish which have been investigated in this respect, seem to be absent. This is noteworthy since the anal fin alone provides locomotion while the trunk muscles are responsible for posture only.     

Chlorophyll-protein-complexes of thylakoids of wild type and chlorophyll b mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana

Pigment-protein-complexes of two chlorophyll b deficient mutants of Arabidopsis and from the wild type were separated electrophoretically. Light-harvesting proteins were absent in the chlorophyll b free mutant ch¹ and their amount was reduced in the mutant ch² which has a reduced content of chlorophyll b. The ratio of CPa:CP I increased with decreasing chlorophyll b content which indicated that the stoichiometry of photosystem II to photosystem I is not constant.Abbreviations Chl chlorophyll - CPa chlorophyll a-protein - CP I P-700 chlorophyll a-protein - LHCP light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-protein - PAGE polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - PAR photosynthetically active radiation - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate     

Aldehyde oxidase isoenzymes (E.C. 1.2.3.1) in potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum)

Two isoenzymes of aldehyde oxidase (E.C. 1.2.3.1 [EC] ) can be separatedfrom potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum) by polyacrylamide gelelectrophoresis. The pH optima of these two isoenzymes werepH 7.5. Both enzymes can oxidize different aldehydes, e.g. crotonaldehyde,Propionaldehyde, acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, glyoxal and benzyl-aldehyde.The isoenzymes could not use xanthine as a substrate. Formaldehydewas oxidized only in the presence of phosphate ions. A substratedependent inhibition of the enzyme activity is possible throughchloral hydrate. PMS, FMN, riboflavine, cytochrome c and O₂ serve as electronacceptors. (Received December 12, 1973; )     

The effect of indole-3-acetic-acid on the photosynthetic apparatus of Sinapis alba

The influence of indole-3-acetic-acid (IAA) during the development of primary leaves of Sinapis alba was studied. IAA treatment (4 ppm 22.8 M) caused a decrease of dry weight, soluble reducing sugars, soluble protein, chlorophylls, carotenoids and cytochrome f; it also caused a lower ratio of protein to chlorophyll, a lower ratio of chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b and a higher ratio of chlorophyll per cytochrome f. Furthermore, IAA treatment induced a significantly lower rate of CO₂ fixation and a depressed nitrite reductase activity. Similar effects could also be observed in adaptation reactions brought about by red light and low-light (or shade) conditions.

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Zusammenfassung Der Einfluß von Auxin (IES) auf die Entwicklung der Primärblätter von Senfpflanzen wurde untersucht. Die Behandlung mit IES (4 ppm 22.8 M) führte zu einer Erniedrigung des Trockengewichtes, der Gehalte an löslichen, reduzierend wirkenden Zuckern, an löslichem Protein, Chlorophyllen, Karotinoiden und Cytochrom f. Außerdem wurden die Quotienten von Protein zu Chlorophyll und von Chlorophyll a zu Chlorophyll b gesenkt und es kam zu einer Erhöhung des Verhältnisses von Chlorophyll zu Cytochrom f. Darüberhinaus bewirkte die Behandlung mit IES eine deutliche Abnahme der CO₂-Fixierungsrate und eine Verringerung der Nitritreduktase-Aktivität. Diese Effekte stimmen gut mit Anpassungsreaktionen überein, die durch Rotlicht oder Schwachlicht hervorgerufen werden.

     

Distribution patterns in glycoconjugate expression during the development of the rat palate

Summary The distribution of complex carbohydrate structures during the embryonic development of the rat palate was analysed by examining lectin-binding patterns in serial paraffin and cryostat sections. With few exceptions, the binding patterns showed a general increase in lectin receptors in the more developed stages of palatogenesis. High mannose oligosaccharides were especially amplified during development. Terminal fucose molecules were not expressed. In contrast, terminal sialic acid molecules were ubiquitously distributed in epithelial and mesenchymal tissues. Non-sialylated terminal N-acetylglucosamine was specifically restricted to evolving bone matrix. Before palatal fusion, quantitative but not qualitative differences were detected between oral, nasal, and medial-edge epithelial surfaces. The only exception was LCA, which specifically marked epithelial cells at the tip of palatal shelves. A very selective affinity for Jacalin was demonstrated in the oral epithelium of the palate after day 16, suggesting the presence of sialylated terminal galactose-(-1,3)-N-acetylgalactosamine. PNA specifically marked the basal lamina of the oral side of palatal processes. The binding patterns of DBA, GSL I_A, SBA, and VVA indicated that the epithelium of the tongue is characterized by terminal - and -galactose residues, whereas palatine cells possess only molecules with -anomery. During palatogenesis, glycosaminoglycans patterns were significantly modified. Our data suggest that alteration of complex carbohydrate structures may play a central role in modulating cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. The significance of these findings, however, remains to be elucidated.     

Changes in pigmentation of phytoplankton species during growth and stationary phase — consequences for reliability of pigment-based methods of biomass determination

In applied water ecology several methods for estimating the biomass or activity of phytoplankton depend on the proportion of accessory pigments (xanthophylls) to chlorophyll a. Therefore, changes in pigmentation during growth and stationary phase were investigated in four different species (Amphidinium klebsii, Euglena gracilis, Prymnesium parvum, Cryptomonas ovata) typical representatives of the major algal groups. The ratios of the different xanthophylls to chlorophyll a depended not only on the growth phase, but also on the species. InAmphidinium andEuglena, the ratio of xanthophylls to chlorophyll rises continuously during the growth phase and declined during the stationary phase. InPrymnesium, quantitative pigmentation was found to be nearly independent of the growth phase. InCryptomonas, however, this ratio was relatively constant during growth, but increased in the stationary phase. In contrast to higher plants, in which the breakdown of chlorophylls occurs before that of the xanthophylls, in three of the species both pigment classes were reduced in parallel when the cultures were in the stationary phase. AgingCryptomonas, however, exhibited a pigment breakdown pattern similar to higher plants. The use of these findings for the widely applied biomass determination by chlorophyll fluorescence and for other pigment-based methods is discussed.     

Ganglionic distribution of inputs and outputs of C-PR, a neuron involved in the generation of a food-induced arousal state inAplysia

Cerebral neuron C-PR is thought to play an important role in the appetitive phase of feeding behavior ofAplysia. Here, we describe the organization of input and output pathways of C-PR. Intracellular dye fills of C-PR revealed extensive arborization of processes within the cerebral and the pedal ganglia. Numerous varicosities of varying sizes may provide points of synaptic inputs and outputs.Blocking polysynaptic transmission in the cerebral ganglion eliminated the sensory inputs to C-PR from stimuli applied to the rhinophores or tentacles, indicating that this input is probably mediated by cerebral interneurons. Identified cerebral mechanoafferent sensory neurons polysynaptically excite C-PR. Stimulation of the eyes and rhinophores with light depresses C-PR spike activity, and this effect also appears to be mediated by cerebral interneurons.C-PR has bilateral synaptic actions on numerous pedal ganglion neurons, and also has effects on cerebral neurons, including the MCC, Bn cells, CBIs and the contralateral C-PR. Although the somata of these cerebral neurons are physically close to C-PR, experiments using high divalent cation-containing solutions and cutting of various connectives indicated that the effects of C-PR on other cerebral ganglion neurons (specifically Bn cells and the MCC) are mediated by interneurons that project back to the cerebral ganglion via the pedal and pleural connectives. The indirect pathways of C-PR to other cerebral neurons may help to ensure that consummatory motor programs are not activated until the appropriate appetitive motor programs, mediated by the pedal ganglia, have begun to be expressed.     

Die Ultrastruktur der Rektalpapillen vonThrips (Thysanoptera,Terebrantia)

Zusammenfassung Die Rektalpapillen vonThrips bestehen aus vier Typen von Zellen, die eine polsterförmige Aufwölbung mit einem abgeschlossenen Hohlraum bilden. Die innere Zellschicht besteht aus fünf großen Hauptzellen und einer Kanalzelle. Die Hauptzellen enthalten Glykogen in Form von-Granula und multivesikuläre Körper. Ihre apikale Zellmembran bildet einen Faltensaum mit einem regelmäßigen Partikelbesatz auf der Innenseite und angelagerten Mitochondrien. Die laterale Plasmamembran der Hauptzellen hat einen gewundenen Verlauf und steht in engem Kontakt zu zahlreichen Mitochondrien. Die Flüssigkeit in den Interzellularräumen des Hauptzellkomplexes wird über einen Kanal zum zentralen Hohlraum der Papille abgeleitet; er wird von einem gebogenen rüsselförmigen Fortsatz der Kanalzellen gebildet. Die äußere Schicht der Papille besteht aus einer inneren und einer äußeren Nebenzelle. Ihre Differenzierungen zum Flüssigkeitstransport sind deutlich, aber allgemein weniger hoch entwickelt. Eine offene Verbindung vom Lumen der Papille zum Haemocoel wurde nicht gefunden. Verbindungszellen bilden den Übergang von der Papille zum übrigen Rektalepithel. Axonendigungen mit Neurosekret liegen an der Papillenbasis. Die möglichen Wege des Flüssigkeitstransports werden diskutiert, und der Aufbau derThrips-Papillen wird mit dem bei anderen Insekten verglichen.

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The ultrastructure of the rectal papillae ofThrips (Thysanoptera, Terebrantia)

Summary The rectal papillae ofThrips consist of four types of cells arranged as a closed hollow pad. The inner layer is composed of five large primary cells (Hauptzellen) and of a drain cell (Kanalzelle). The primary cells contain glycogen in form of-granula, and multivesicular bodies. Their apical cell membrane, forming numerous leaflets is associated with mitochondria and with a coat of repeating subunits on the cytoplasmic surface. The lateral plasma membrane of the primary cells has a sinuous course and is in close contact with numerous mitochondria. The intercellular spaces of the primary cell complex are drained to the central cavity of the papilla by a discharge formed by a curved elephant's trunk-like process of the drain cell. The outer layer of the papilla consists of an inner and an outer secondary cell (Nebenzellen). Their differentiations related to fluid transport are evident, but generally less elaborate. An open communication of the lumen of the papilla with the haemocoel was not detected. The papilla is connected with the rest of the rectal epithelium by junctional cells (Verbindungszellen). Neurosecretory terminals are present at the base of the papillae. The possible ways of fluid transport are discussed and the structure of theThrips papilla is compared with that in other insects.

     

Restitutionserscheinungen an pflanzlichen Meristemen nach Röntgenbestrahlung

Summary Young undifferentiated embryos ofEranthis hiemalis were treated with x-rays (1000–4000 r) and their further development was observed. In most of the 4000 r-group the division-activity is completely and irreversibly arrested, but the cell image remains unchanged. The embryos treated with doses between 1000 and 2000 r are also severely damaged, this time undergoing radical disorganization of the tissue, due to degeneration and necrosis. In these embryos small cell groups or even single cells are able to regain their mitotic potency. Meristematic centers (embryoids) arise and develop into normal or sometimes misformed viable adventive embryos. This restitution takes place only in x-rayed embryos whose cell coherence is heavily disturbed, a condition which is absent not only after exposure to low (<1000 r) but also to high (4000 r) x-ray doses. It is concluded that the somatic cells of young embryos are totipotent when released from the as yet unknown correlative influences of their environment.Since the adventive embryos are more exposed to developmental disturbances than the zygotic ones, they show a higher percentage of morphological anomalies. Therefore in the future it will be necessary, when dealing with the so-called x-ray induced cotyledonary anomalies, to distinguish between true x-ray damage of the original embryo and indirect teratogenic effects in the case of adventive embryony.

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