The insertion of mesenchyme cells into the ectoderm during differentiation in Sea urchin embryos

Summary During the course of sea urchin development, from early blastula to pluteus larva, there are two major visible processes toward which all activities seem to be focused. They are the differentiation of the larval skeleton by the primary mesenchyme cells and the differentiation of the primitive gut by the secondary mesenchyme cells. These activities take place within the shell-like layer of epithelial cells, or ectodermal wall. The interactive role of the ectodermal wall with the mesenchyme cells is not yet clearly understood. A number of earlier studies have proposed that the ectoderm may have an inductive influence on the mesenchyme cells and that its inner surface forms a molecular template for guiding the mesenchyme cells. In this report, we suggest an additional role for the ectodermal wall. We show that some primary mesenchyme cells and secondary mesenchyme cells insert between the cells of the ectodermal wall in order to firmly anchor the anlage of the larval skeleton and primitive gut during differentiation. This mechanism may provide a physical basis for maintaining the stable positional relationship of the anlage during development.     

The cytoskeleton of isolated murine primitive erythrocytes

Summary Cytoskeletons of primitive erythrocytes have been isolated from the embryos of day 12 pregnant C57/Bl mice and examined by transmission electron microscopy, immunofluorescence microscopy, and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Microtubules are the most prominent cytoskeletal component. They are found either singly or organized into loose bundles just under the plasma membrane, but do not form classical marginal bands in most cells. Immunofluorescence with a polyclonal tubulin antiserum confirms this distribution and further reveals numerous mitotic figures among the cells. Rhodamine-conjugated phalloidin and heavy meromyosin labeling reveal that actin is localized in the cortex of the primitive erythrocyte in the form of 6 nm filaments. Antibody directed against avian erythrocyte alpha spectrin demonstrates that spectrin is also found in the cortex. Occasional 10-nm intermediate filaments, observed in the primitve erythrocytes by electron microscopy, are believed to be of the vimentin class based on positive reaction of the cells with vimentin-specific antiserum. In addition, a band in erythrocyte cytoskeletons comigrates in SDS-polyacrylamide gels with vimentin isolated from mouse kidney. Spectrin and actin were also found to be associated with the membrane of primitive erythrocytes when membrane ghost preparations were analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.     

Could life have arisen in the primitive atmosphere?

Summary A recently proposed model for the origin of prebiotic progenitors of life in particles suspended in a primitive, specially organized atmosphere is considered critically. It is concluded that the physical and chemical framework of the new hypothesis conflicts with the conditions necessary for the evolution of the progenitors of life in the atmosphere of the early Earth. Therefore this model seems not to be a reasonable alternative to the Oparin thesis.     

Reproductive structures and phylogenetic significance of extant primitive Angiosperms

A brief survey is presented on fossil reproductive structures of early Angiosperms from the Lower and mid-Cretaceous and at the same time on the reproductive structures of those extant Angiosperms which resemble most closely these fossils and which seem to be especially primitive also on other grounds: a first group (Degeneriaceae, Himantandraceae, Eupomatiaceae, Austrobaileyaceae) possessing relatively complicated and conspicuous flowers with elaborated inner staminodes, a second group (Chloranthaceae, Trimeniaceae, Amborellaceae) possessing small and relatively simple, inconspicuous flowers with peculiar features in the carpels, and a third group (Winteraceae) possessing flowers with unusual variability in organ number and size. The three groups exhibit a certain diversity in pollination biology, although cantharophily seems to prevail, however different the cantharophily character syndromes may be between the groups. In the extant primitiveMagnoliidae variability occurs on other morphological levels than in the higher advanced Angiosperms. This has to be taken into consideration in evaluations of the systematic relationships of the various groups of theMagnoliidae. Presumably often their relationships are closer than it may appear at first sight. This is also true for the three groups here discussed.     

Synthesis of polypeptides by microwave heating II. Function of polypeptides synthesized during repeated hydration-dehydration cycles

Summary Polypeptides, synthesized from a mixture of amino acid amides by microwave heating during repeated hydration-dehydration cycles, showed hydrolase- and oxidoreductase-like catalytic activities. Poly(GAVDH), polypeptides synthesized from an equimolar mixture (each 0.1 M) of glycinamide,l-alaninamide,l-valinamide,l-aspartic acid -amide, andl-histidinamide, catalyzed the hydrolysis of PNPAc. The hydrolytic rate of PNPAc with poly(GAVDH) was the quadruple of that ofl-histidine alone. Though the k_cat values of different resulting polypeptides were 10³–10⁶ times less than those of native hydrolases, the K_m value of the polypeptides further containing phenylalanine residues was nearly equal to that of the esterase. This result indicates the presence of hydrophobic interaction between a substrate and the polypeptides. Resulting polypeptides also showed catalytic activity for the reduction of ferricyanide ion [Fe(CN)^3–] with NADH. The polypeptides seemed to have a strong affinity for adenine nucleotides, because the reaction was inhibited by adenine derivatives such as NAD⁺ and AppA. A hypothesis for the emergence of primitive protein enzymes is discussed.     

Presence of primary and secondary males in a population of the protogynous Synbranchus marmoratus

Synbranchus marmoratus , the 'swamp eel', is a protogynous diandric fish. The primary and secondary males can be distinguished from each other easily by differences in gonadal morphology. Primary males have lobular, unrestricted testes with central efferent ducts. The secondary male has a 'lamellar' testis, efferent ducts are present in the ventral region (new formation), lateral supports and it is covered by the former ovarian capsule. The length of primary male varies from 13 to 88 cm while secondary males range from 56 to 91 cm. Transitional individuals vary between 45 and 60 cm in length. The swamp eel population studied is composed of 80% primary males and 20% secondary males. Although gonadosomatic indices are always higher in primary males, they increase in secondary ones as the newly acquired stage progresses. The lamellar organization of the gonad of secondary males, the absence of this kind of testis in individuals smaller than 56 cm, and the presence of hermaphroditic fish, is evidence for protogyny in this species.     

Sex differentiation in the European eel: histological analysis of the effects of sex steroids on the gonad

The effects of sex steroids on sex differentiation in the European eel were studied. The steroids, 17α-methyltestosterone (MT) and 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE), were given in the diet to 6–8 cm elvers and to 15–18 cm and 22–25 cm yellow eels. In our rearing conditions a very large percentage of the untreated eels developed as males. No masculinizing effect of MT could be demonstrated. The EE, administered at a dose of 10 mg kg^-1 of diet to 6–8 cm elvers and 15–18 cm eels, induced ovarian differentiation in about 90 and 65% of eels respectively, while in the control <5% of females was recorded. In 22–25 cm yellow eels a moderated feminizing effect was observed.
Histological analysis of the gonads of treated eels showed that sex steroids affect the gonadal structure. The androgen stimulates hypertrophy of compact connective tissue, early differentiation of Leydig cells, Sertoli cells and early formation of the spermatic duct. Oestrogen inhibits the differentiation of these structural components and stimulates the differentiation of follicular cells and an ovarian structure.
The involvement of gonadal structural components is discussed in relation to the effect of steroid treatment and to the peculiarities of sex differentiation in the European eel.     

Peculiarities of the male urogenital apparatus of two grunt species (Teleostei, Haemulidae)

An unusual testicular structure in the white grunt, Haemulon plumieri , and the French grunt, H. flavolineatum , and a urinary exocrine gland in H. flavolineatum are described. The testes of both species are comprised predominantly of efferent ducts, with spermatogenetic tissue restricted to the gonadal periphery. The epithelial cells of the efferent ducts produce glycogen which may serve a role in the storage and nutrition of sperm. The urinary gland is a male accessory gland thought to be associated with reproduction. The gland is mesonephric in origin and the epithelial cells of the gland produce mucins which may be involved in intraspecific chemical communication.     

On the RNA World: Evidence in Favor of an Early Ribonucleopeptide World

A highly complex RNA world, as is sometimes presented in view of the widespread and diversified use of RNA enzymes, would have encountered many difficulties in passing to a world with catalysis mediated by proteins. These difficulties can be overcome by postulating a very early relationship between the nucleotide and the amino acid components. In particular, after asserting that some characteristics expressed by (nucleotide) coenzymes in catalysis are easier to understand if a close and early relationship between these coenzymes and amino acids is hypothesized, a model is presented for the origin of the enzyme–coenzyme complex. This model is essentially based on an intermediate formed by a tRNA-like molecule covalently linked to a polypeptide. The model attributes the majority of the catalytic role in the ribonucleoprotein world to the latter complex and thus it takes into account the birth of the key intermediate in the origin of protein synthesis—namely, peptidyl-tRNA, which would have otherwise been extremely difficult to select. The predictions of the model are discussed along with its robustness, using the data derived from the study of intermediary metabolism and those from molecular biology. Finally, the appearance of the genetic code in the late phase of the ribonucleopeptide world is discussed. Received: 13 January 1997 / Accepted: 25 July 1997     

B-cells of the synovial membrane. II. Differentiation during development of the synovial cavity in the mouse

Summary Study of pre- and postnatal development of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the mouse shows that the synovial cavity (SC) forms before any differentiation of the synovial mesenchyme. The primitive cleft results from degradation of a thin vascular mesenchymal layer in direct contact with the chondrogenic layers. Differentiation of the synovial membrane coincides with clarification of the SC (3rd to 6th day of postnatal life). When dilatation of the SC occurs (6th to 8th day), the two intimal cells types (A- and B-cells) are well identified. The B-cells already show typical features at day 6; their content of typical dense secretory vesicles is comparable to that of the adult B-cells at day 13. The specific secretory function of B-cells could be correlated with the particular structure of the intimal interstitial tissue and could account for the origin of some protein(s) of the synovial fluid.ERA 178 (Neuroendocrinologie Comparée) du CNRS et INSERM