The principal islet of the coho salmon (Oncorhyncus kisutch) contains the BB isoenzyme of creatine kinase

The importance of creatine kinase (E.C. 2.7.3.2) in endocrine tissues has been generally overlooked. Using a specific radiometric assay, we have demonstrated the existence of CK in the Brockmann body (principal islet) of the Coho salmon. We have purified this protein from insular tissue and concurrently purified CK from brain and muscle of the salmon. Purification characteristics, immunological cross-reactivity, and N-terminal sequence analysis have demonstrated that the predominant cytosolic CK from the Brockmann body is indistinguishable from the BB (brain) isoenzyme. Immunocytochemical studies indicated that the enzyme resides in the endocrine parenchyma. Phosphocreatine may serve as a reservoir of energy in the islet and augment its capacity to secrete hormones. The induction of CK-BB in the islet by other hormones could influence the secretion of insular hormones. Interorgan flux of the substrate creatine may be an undescribed mechanism of physiological regulation.     

Effect of dietary aflatoxin B1 on the growth response and haematologic changes of young Japanese quail

Feeding of aflatoxin B₁ at the rate of 0.5 ppm to young Japanese quail resulted in significant (p<0.01) decrease in body weight gain that became apparent on the third week. There was no significant difference in the mean values of haemoglobin, packed cell volume and total erythrocyte counts of quail chicks given aflatoxin B₁ in feed in comparison to those fed on a similar diet without aflatoxin. However, the total leucocyte count revealed an increase on the third week which was due to an increase in the percentage of heterophils and decrease in lymphocytes.     

Intra- and interspecific variation in body size ofProtohermes (Megaloptera: Corydalidae)

The life history of three populations ofProtohermes grandis and two populations ofProtohermes immaculatus (Megaloptera: Corydalidae) was compared. In general, the larvae lived in stream riffles for 2 years and the adults appeared in summer. Adult body size differed between these closely related species and also between the populations ofP. grandis. Dwarfism occurred inP. immaculatus, a species that is endemic to the small, isolated island, Amami Island. The population ofP. grandis on Yaku Island, located between Amami Island and the mainland Kyushu, had an intermediate body size between that ofP. immaculatus and the mainland population ofP. grandis. Despite being an insular population,P. grandis on Tsushima Island had a similar body size to mainlandP. grandis. In these populations with large adults, some larvae lived in the streams for 3 years. The size distribution of benthic animals, which are the prey available toProtohermes larvae, differed between the streams studied. The density of large prey was lowest on Amami Island, intermediate on Yaku Island, and highest on the mainland and Tsushima Island. Different size distributions of available prey may be caused by the differences of benthic fauna; most of Ecdyonuridae and Ephemerellidae (large mayflies) and Perlidae (large stoneflies) were not found on Amami and Yaku Islands. Thus, there is a tendency to dwarfism in the populations ofProtobermes inhabiting streams where the density of large prey is low.     

Was “Lucy” more human than her “child”? Observations on early hominid postcranial skeletons

Fully adult partial skeletons attributed to Australopithecus afarensis (AL 288-1, “Lucy”) and to Homo habilis (OH 62, “Lucy's child”), respectively, both include remains from upper and lower limbs. Relationships between various limb bone dimensions of these skeletons are compared to those of modern African apes and humans. Surprisingly, it emerges that OH 62 displays closer similarities to African apes than does AL 288-1. Yet A. afarensis, whose skeleton is dated more than 1 million years earlier, is commonly supposed to be the ancestor of Homo habilis. If OH 62, classified as Homo habilis by its discoverers, does indeed represent a stage intermediate between A. afarensis and later Homo, a revised interpretation of the course of human evolution would be necessary.     

人体和动物模型的体表物理信息地形图的研究

对人体头面、躯干、四肢、耳廓各局部几十个及整个人体等体表部位正、背面等210个部位进行超微弱冷光和温度测量,输入电子计算机,经特殊的自编程序处理,获得十分清晰的,由3000多数据构成的各个局部或人体整体的冷光和温度地形图。 对家兔左、右耳廓、胸腹部、背部都分别观察32个部位的冷光与体表温度,经计算机分析处理,每观察区域获得约由2000个数据构成的精确的冷光、温度地形分市图。并可见不同生理、病理状态及不同病程家兔体表冷光、温度等地形图呈有规律的改变。 此外,我们还编制了以体表左右相应对称部位差值为分析数据进行地形图分析的程序,用以人体和动物体表物理信息对称规律的研究。 本工作以图形的形式显示物理参量在体表的广泛的分布规律,以揭示机体内部的不同生理、病理状态。本方法定位准确、直观醒目,为研究体表信息及机体生命活动规律提供了与逐点直接测量方法相互补充的有益的新手段。     

Regulation of glycolytic intermediates in cockroach fat body by the corpus cardiacum

Glycolytic intermediates and related metabolites were measured in the fat body of the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) to locate the rate-limiting reactions that regulate glycolysis during the action of the corpus cardiacum (CC) in vitro.

Species number, species abundance and body length of arboreal arthropods associated with an Australian rainforest tree

Abstract.

• 1 The species number, the abundance per species and the body length of arthropods foraging within the crowns of an over-storey rainforest tree from Australia, Argyrodendron actinophyllum (Sterculiaceae), were investigated by interception trap sampling and restricted canopy fogging. Emphasis was placed upon the interpretation of trap data. Arthropods were trapped continuously day and night, over a 2-year period and the final analyses examined the attributes of 759 species which represented 20,500 individuals.
• 2 The proportion of‘rare’species (Le. collected once) intercepted was high (35.7%), although lower than in other similar rainforest surveys. Neither the α log-series nor the log-normal distribution could be fitted to the relationship between number of species and number of individuals, since the number of rare species was much higher than predicted and the mode of the distribution could not be identified. The proportion of rare species was higher in fogging collections (452%) than in trap collections.
• 3 The data are compared with a study of Bornean arboreal beetles, obtained by fogging trees during a single sampling event. Several patterns were common to both data sets. However, the three-dimensional plot of the variables describing the structure of the arthropod community showed a notably rougher surface than in the case of Bornean beetles.
• 4 Although several factors may complicate the interpretation of the three-dimensional plots, long-term and continuous sampling may alter our perception of complex arthropod communities. This methodology is imperative for a proper understanding of arthropod community structure in rain forests.

     

颈动脉内注入腺苷对呼吸,血压和肾交感神经活动的影响

在33只麻醉家兔,观察了颈动脉内注入腺苷所诱发的平均动脉压、心率,呼吸和肾交感神经活动的变化。结果如下:(1)颈动脉内注入腺苷后,平均动脉压呈剂量依赖性下降;呼吸加快,深度变化不明显,剪断窦神经后注入腺苷,仍引起平均动脉压下降,而呼吸变化消失。(2)隔离的颈动脉窦灌流液内加入腺苷后,平均动脉压下降,心率减慢;颈动脉体(CB)失活后反应消失。(3)将腺苷灌注到颈动脉窦区后,平均动脉压下降,肾交感神经传出放电活动增加,CB 失活或剪断窦神经后,反应消失。由此提示:腺苷可作为兴奋 CB 的一种物质,引起平均动脉压降低,心率减慢,呼吸加强和肾交感神经放电活动增加。     

Age-specific flight behavior in relation to body weight and lipid content of Ips calligraphus reared in slash pine bolts with thick or thin inner bark (phloem)

Rearing larvae of Ips calligraphus (Germar) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in bolts of typical slash pine, Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii, with thin (TN; 0.5–1.5 mm) phloem (inner bark) relative to adult beetle body width significantly reduced body weight and lipid content of emerging adults compared with thick (TK; 2.5–3.5 mm) phloem-reared adults. Unmated (pre-nuptial) TK beetles averaged 2-fold longer daily and life-time flight duration than TN beetles. Daily flights were highly variable, averaging <20 min (longest daily flight=173 min). TK and TN beetles initiated flight, and the greatest number flew, on the first or second day after emergence form their rearing bolt; % of beetles flying and survival gradually declined to zero by day 9. Males (both TK and TN) averaged 2.5 days of flight, ca. 1 day longer than females. Fliers lived ca. 2-fold longer than non-fliers. Among TK and TN fliers, significant but weak positive correlations occurred between body weight and lifetime flight duration. Poor correlation between lifetime flight duration and longevity suggests little physiological cost to flight, but effects on fecundity were not assessed. Flight by mated, egg-laying (post-nuptial) beetles was substantially delayed (peaking on day 6), suggesting degeneration and subsequent regeneration of flight muscles.

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Résumé Le comportement de vol d'Ips calligraphus GERMAR (Scolytidae) a été examiné au laboratoire par une technique de vol captif. La génération parentale avait été artificiellement introduite, suivant la taille des adultes (1,6 à 2,1 mm) dans des morceaux de Pinus elliottii Engelm. variété elliottii au phloeme épais (TK=2,5 à 3,5 mm) ou fin (TN=0,5 à 1,5 mm) les larves se sont développées dans ces morceaux de pin. Le poids et la teneur en lipide des adultes obtenus à partir de TN étaient significativement inférieure à ceux de TK. Le poids des mâles les plus gros a été plus réduit que celui des femelles; les mâles les plus petits semblaient être moins efficaces dans l'initiation des attaques sur les arbres, et les femelles les plus petites ont eu une fécondité réduite.Les durées de vol quotidiennes pendant la vie des mâles TK vierges étaient en moyenne deux fois plus longues que celles des mâles TN. Les durées de vol quotidiennes étaient très variables: en moyenne moins de 20 minutes, mais la plus longue a été de 173 mn. En moyennes les adultes TN et TK ont commencé à voler, et volaient en plus grand nombre, le premier et le second jour après l'émergence. Ensuite la fréquence d'adultes volants et le pourcentage de surviveants, ont graduellement diminué jusqu'à tomber à zéro le neuvième jour. Les mâles TN et TK avaient des vols quotidiens plus longs et volaient environ 1 jour de plus que les femelles. L'activité de vol accrue des mâles reflète leur besoin de trouver dans la nature des arbres convenables; les vols des femelles peuvent généralement être plus brefs, étant plus directement orientés comme une réponse aux phéromones mâles.Les voiliers ont vécu environ 2 fois plus longtemps que les non-voiliers. Parmi les voiliers TK et TN il y avait une corrélation positive étroite entre le poids du corps et la durée totale des vols. Il n'y en a qu'une faible corrélation entre cette durée totale des vols et la longévité, suggérant un faible coût physiologique du vol. L'influence de cette durée des vols et du prélèvement consécutif de lipides sur la fécondité n'a pas été examinée. L'initiation au vol chez les individus fécondés a été sérieusement retardée (maximum le sixième jour) par rapport aux vierges, ce qui suggère un dégénérescence des muscles du vol associée à la reproduction, suivie d'une régénération importante, comme cela a été signalé chez d'autres Scolytes.Ces résultats contribuent à notre compréhension des facteurs conditionnant le comportement de vol et d'autres aspects fondamentaux de la biologie des insectes des pins. Une telle connaissance est nécessaire au développement d'une politique efficace de protection.

     

青年昼间发汗调定点正常值探讨

以加热腿足诱发前臂屈侧初始发汗的口腔温度阈值,作为发汗调定点的参考值(ToSSP),检测健康青年93人夏冬两季昼间ToSSP134次。结果表明,季节、性别、民族、于室温24℃左右变异达30％的相对湿度对ToSSP均无显著影响。提示ToSSP为一间接反映体温调定点较发汗率为稳定的指标。ToSSP的频数分布属于正态,均值为37.34℃,95％正常值范围为36.97～37.71℃。经于本工作前,后年份检测的两组结果以及与正常体温夜间最低时相组和发热患者组的ToSSP相验证,证明此正常值范围可靠。检测ToSSP的潜伏期夏季均值为19′57″冬季为18′22″(P<0.05)。检测ToSSP时口温变化分别与皮肤温、心率变化紧密相关,因而心率,皮肤温可作为监测ToSSP的辅佐指标。