Specific photoperiodic stimulation of dry matter production in a high-latitude cultivar of Poa pratensis

Vegetative plants of Poa pratensis L. cv. Holt (origin 69°N) raised in short days gave large and significant increases in plant dry weight, plant height and leaf area upon exposure to continuous light, compared with 8-h short days, at essentially identical daily inputs of radiant energy (8-h summer daylight ± low intensity extension). For example, by the fourth harvest (after 26, 34 and 46 days at 21, 15 and 9°C, respectively), the dry weights of plants in long days were 81, 163 and 195% greater than those of the corresponding short-day controls at the respective temperatures. Plant leaf areas in long days were between two and four times as large as control values by the end of the experiment. This was mainly due to increased leaf length caused by long-day stimulation of cell extension and division. However, the photoperiod did not affect the partitioning of assimilates amongst leaves, culms and stolons. Most of these effects could also be brought about by exogenous gibberellin application to plants in short days. However, in contrast to the effect of long days, gibberellin treatment also induced stem internode elongation even in these vegetative plants. Examination by standard growth analysis procedures revealed that the observed increases in relative growth rate were due primarily to increased net assimilation rate followed, several days later, by increases in leaf area ratio when newly-emerged leaves began to constitute a significant proportion of the leaf area. It is concluded that these reactions are of great adaptive significance for growth at the marginal temperatures prevailing at high latitudes.     

Modulation of locomotor activity by substance P in rats

The effects of intraperitoneally or intracerebrally (DA A-10 area) administered substance P (SP) on locomotor activity of rats were studied in an exact 12-h light/12-h dark cycle changing from dark to light at 6 a.m. SP was administered either at 11 a.m. (light phase, minimal locomotor activity) or at 7 p.m. (dark phase, maximal locomotor activity). The effects of 12.5 micrograms/kg SP intracerebral and 125 micrograms/kg SP intraperitoneal were very similar. In the light phase SP produces excitation but inhibition of locomotion in darkness. Hence, the effect of SP depends on the internal mechanisms controlling motor activity and tends to level off the spontaneous circadian oscillation. We found a long lasting SP effect during both the light and dark period. The present experiments led us to the conclusion that SP has a levelling effect on locomotor activity. Probably this effect might be explained as SP's action on the dopaminergic pathway or dopamine metabolism, because the dopamine content in neurons also has a circadian rhythm.     

The hypothalamus of Lacerta sicula R.

Summary An analysis of the preoptic area of the lizard, Lacerta sicula R., with the use of the Golgi method revealed that: 1)in principle, the dendritic pattern of its neurons is relatively simple; 2) the supraoptic nucleus contains large- to medium-sized bipolar or multipolar neurons together with small, usually multipolar nerve cells; 3) the preoptic periventricular gray and the paraventricular nucleus exhibit a varied neuronal typology, including large multipolar or bipolar elements, abundant CSF-contacting neurons, and some tufted elements; and 4) the lateral regions display some conspicuous multipolar neurons.With a financial contribution from Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione     

Localization of Glyoxylate Cycle Enzymes in Glyoxysomes in Euglena*

SYNOPSIS. We demonstrated previously microbodies in Euglena gracilis grown in the dark on 2-carbon substrates. We have now established in Euglena the particulate nature of enzymes known in other organisms to be localized in microbodies (glyoxysomes and leaf peroxisomes). On a linear sucrose gradient the glyoxylate cycle enzymes band together at a nigner equilibrium density (1.20 g/cm3) than mitochondrial marker enzymes (1.17 g/cm3), establishing the existence in Euglena of glyoxysomes similar to those of higher plants. Glyoxylate (hydroxypyruvate) reductase and, under certain conditions, also glycolate dehydrogenase co-band with the glyoxylate cycle enzymes, suggesting that Euglena glyoxysomes, like those of higher plants, may contain peroxisomal-type enzymes. Catalase, an enzyme characteristic of microbodies from a variety of sources, was not detected in Euglena.     

Biochemical and physiological studies of certain ticks (Ixodoidea): specific gravity of hemolymph and coxal and gut fluids of Argas (Persicargas) persicus and Argas (Persicargas) arboreus (Argasidae)

Specific gravity (sp. gr.) of cell-free hemolymph and gut and coxal fluids was determined at different states of the gonotrophic cycle (unfed + 15 days, engorgement day before and after coxal fluid emission, engorgement + 1 day, oviposition day, and oviposition completion + 1 day) of female Argas (Persicargas) persicus and A. (P.) aboreus (Argasidae). The patterns of hemolymph and gut fluid sp. gr. change differed from each other during the gonotrophic cycle, but both patterns were similar in the 2 Argas species. Hemolymph sp. gr. decreased to a minimum one day after feeding (1.0085 and 1.0081 for persicus and arboreus, respectively), and increased through oviposition to a maximum on oviposition + 1 day (1.0187 and 1.0221). Minimum gut fluid sp. gr. occurred on engorgement day before coxal fluid emission (1.0565 and 1.0697). Afterward, gut fluid sp. gr. increased to a maximum on engorgement day + 1 for persicus (1.1089) and on oviposition day for arboreus (1.0973), and then decreased during oviposition in both species. In each tested state of each species, the sp. gr. was consistently higher in gut fluid than in hemolymph. In each species, coxal fluid and hemolymph sp. gr. were the same on engorgement day.     

Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen an spezifischen Organellen von Endothelzellen des Frosches (Rana temporaria)

Zusammenfassung Endothelzellen der Wirbeltiere enthalten spezifische Organellen, deren Funktion unbekannt ist. Diese Organellen werden beim Frosch (Rana temporaria) nach unterschiedlichen Fixierungen elektronenmikroskopisch untersucht. Die Organellen sind walzenförmig mit mannigfachen Abweichungen, bis zu 2 lang und 0,1 bis 0,5 dick. Ihre oft unterbrochene Außenmembran ist dicker als zytoplasmatische Membranen. Das Innere der Organellen besteht aus Tubuli, die in eine elektronendichte Matrix eingebettet sind. Die Dichte dieser Matrix zeigt deutliche Abstufungen. Die Tubuli sind möglicherweise aus einer spiralförmigen Molekülkette aufgebaut. Das Verteilungsmuster der Organellen wird mit stereologischen Methoden untersucht. Die größte Volumendichte weisen die Aortae thoracicae mit 8% auf. Die Volumendichte der Organellen im Zytoplasma der Endothelzellen scheint mehr von der Entfernung der betreffenden Gefäßstrecke zum Herzen abzuhängen als von der Gefäßgröße. Es werden Verbindungen der Organellen zu zytoplasmatischen Membransystemen aufgezeigt. Auf Besonderheiten des Endothels, darunter Aggregationen von Ribosomen, wird hingewiesen.

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Electron microscopic studies on specific organelles of endothelial cells in the frog (Rana temporaria)

Summary Endothelial cells of vertebrates contain specific organelles of unknown function. These organelles are studied by electron microscopy with different fixations. The organelles are rod-shaped with many variations, up to 2 in length and 0.1 to 0.5 in thickness. Their outer membrane, which is often discontinuous, is thicker than cytoplasmic membranes. The density of the matrix shows distinct gradations. The organelles contain tubules, possibly built up by a spiral molecular chain. The distribution of the organelles is investigated with stereological methods. Their volume density in endothelial cell cytoplasm appears to depend more on the distance from the heart than on vessel size, the thoracic aortae showing the highest organellae content of 8%. Connections between organelles and cytoplasmic membranes are demonstrated. Particularities of endothelium, among them aggregations of ribosomes, are pointed out.

Herrn Prof. Dr. med. F. Hammersen und Fräulein Dr. med. M. Lewerenz danke ich herzlich für Anregungen, Unterstützung und Kritik. Die Arbeit entstand während eines vom Deutschen Akademischen Austauschdienst dankenswerterweise gewährten Stipendiums; sie wurde unterstützt vom Schweizerischen Nationalfonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Kredit-Nr. 3952.     

蚕豆叶片发育与衰老过程中超氧物歧化酶活性与丙二醛含量变化

蚕豆植株叶片随茎节自上而下表现出明显的发育与衰老顺序,可作为衰老特征的是叶绿素和蛋白质含量明显下降。蚕豆叶中SOD活性主要定位于12 000× g离心后所得的上清液和叶绿体组分。衰老叶片的SOD总活性和叶绿体组分的相对活性都有所下降,SOD同工酶谱也发生了改变。O_2~ 产生速率随叶龄增大而稍上升;而MDA含量在叶片外观表现枯黄衰老征兆前就急剧上升。可能因为衰老叶片过氧化氢酶活性大幅度下降与SOD之间的不平衡,致使O_2~ 代谢中间产物累积而引起膜的损伤.     

血液病患者的巨细胞病毒感染

用间接酶联免疫吸附实验(ELISA)对新近诊断的179例血液病患者血清巨细胞病毒(HCMV)IgM和IgA抗体进行了检测。阳性率分别为11,17％11,73％,明显高于对照人群(4,76％和3,97％),提示血液病患者由于免疫功能下降,易于发生HCMV活动性感染。     

Response of pondcypress growth rates to sewage effluent application

Cores were collected from dominant pondcypress trees growing in a swamp that had received sewage effluent for 7 yr and a nearby control swamp to determine the combined effects of changes in nutrient supply and hydrologic regime on tree growth. The cores were used to measure two indices of tree growth: basal area increment (BAI) and relative basal area increment (RBAI, which accounts for differences in growth due to the size of teh tree) between 1970–1983 while one swamp remained untreated and the other received weekly additions of sewage effluent from 1974–1981. Throughout the whole period, the mean BAI and RBAI of pond-cypress trees in the untreated swamp remained unchanged, ranging between 5.55–6.38 cm² yr^–1 and 1.09–1.27% yr^–1, respectively. In contrast, trees in the treated swamp increased their BAI approximately two-fold from 7.40 cm² yr^–1 prior to treatment to 14.83 cm² yr^–1 after the onset of treatment and maintained this rate of growth in the 2 yr period after cessation of treatment. Relative basal area increment showed a similar response, but the proportional increase due to treatment was less (1.5-fold factor) than for BAI. The response of pondcypress trees to the sewage effluent differed depending upon whether the trees were located in the deep or shallow water zones. Trees in the deep zone of the treated swamp had lower BAIs and RBAIs than those in the shallow zone during the treatment period, whereas in pre- and post-treatment periods growth indices were equal in both zones. No significant differences in growth between deep and shallow zones were observed during all three time periods in the control swamp.     

Plant resistance, plant traits, and host plant choice of the leaf-folding sawfly on the arroyo willow

Abstract. 1. The hypotheses that genetic variation in host plant resistance of the arroyo willow affected leaf folder ( Phyllocolpa sp.) (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) density and that genetic variation in shoot length and leaf length was correlated with resistance were tested.
2. Willows grown in pots and exposed to ovipojsition by the leaf folding sawfly in cages had significantly different densities among clones, indicating variation in resistance caused by genetic differences among conspecific host plants.
3. There was a general correspondence between leaf folder density on potted cuttings and on the plants in the field that were the sources of cuttings.
4. In behavioural choice experiments, susceptible clones (with highest leaf fold densities) had the highest oviposition activity of female leaf folders compared to clones that were resistant to the leaf folder.
5. Clones differed significantly in shoot length and leaf length among clones grown in pots, among clones in the field, and between shoots with galls and shoots without galls on clones in the field.
6. Leaf folder density was significantly positively correlated with mean shoot length on field clones in 1985 and 1986, but was not correlated with leaf length, although leaf length and shoot length were correlated.
7. Leaf length variation among willow clones accounted for a significant portion of the variation in resistance of potted willows, but shoot length was unimportant.