Biochemical characterization of insecticide resistance in the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, from Malaysia

The possible insecticide resistance mechanisms of four Malaysian field-collected strains of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (Linnaeus) (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae), were characterized with biochemical assays and native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Elevated esterase activity (at low to moderate frequency) and altered acetylcholinesterase (low frequency) were detected in all field strains, while elevated glutathione S-transferase levels were present in only two strains. Seven esterase bands were separated by native PAGE; a greater intensity occurred in three bands in the resistant strains compared to the susceptible strain. Inhibition studies using specific inhibitors on polyacrylamide gels suggested that the slowest of these three esterases is a cholinesterase, while the other two are carboxylesterases with a preference for beta- over alpha-naphthyl acetate.     

Comparisons of toxic baits for controlling the cockroach, Blattella germanica: attractiveness and feeding stimulation

Female German cockroaches, Blattella germanica (L.) (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae) and nymphs (stages 1, 3 and 6) were used to test the attractiveness and the feeding stimulation of several commercial gel formulations of insecticide food baits in laboratory binary choice tests. The four toxic gel baits tested were: 'Avert' (0.05% abamectin=avermectin B1), 'Drax' (33.3% boric acid), 'Goliath' (0.05% fipronil) and 'Maxforce' (2.15% hydramethylnon). The attractiveness of a bait was estimated by the number of cockroaches that chose it first, and by their tendency to change to it secondarily. Feeding stimulation was estimated by the mean duration of feeding bouts and total duration of food intake. Variability of these factors was assessed in relation to age of cockroaches and to age of baits. With a few exceptions, cockroach age did not affect performance in any of these tests. Attractiveness to B. germanica ranked 'Goliath' gel higher than 'Avert', 'Drax' and 'Maxforce' gels, whether or not the active ingredient fipronil was present in 'Goliath' gel. Feeding stimulation ranked 'Avert' and 'Maxforce' gels higher than 'Goliath' gel, and 'Drax' gel was inferior. With ageing up to 3 months, the feeding stimulation power of 'Goliath' and 'Maxforce' gels increased, whereas that of 'Avert' fluctuated. Assuming that all types of bait effectively kill cockroaches once ingested, these results illustrate the importance of behavioural observations on bait efficiency and show that ranking of these different food baits varies in relation to the parameter analysed.     

ω-Conotoxin Inhibits the Acute Activation of Tyrosine Hydroxylase and the Stimulation of Norepinephrine Release by Potassium Depolarization of Sympathetic Nerve Endings

Increased Ca2+ influx serves as a signal that initiates multiple biochemical and physiological events in neurons following depolarization. The most widely studied of these phenomena is the release of neurotransmitters. In sympathetic neurons, depolarization also increases the rate of synthesis of the transmitter norepinephrine (NE), via an activation of the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and this effect also seems to involve Ca2+ entry. We have examined whether the mechanism of Ca2+ entry relevant to TH activation is via voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels and, if so, whether the type of Ca2+ channel involved is the same as that involved in the stimulation of NE release. We have investigated the isolated rat iris, allowing us to examine transmitter biosynthesis and release in sympathetic nerve terminals in the absence of sympathetic cell bodies and dendrites. Potassium depolarization produced a three- to fivefold increase in TH activity and an approximately 100-fold increase in NE release. Both effects were dependent on Ca2+ being present in the extracellular medium, and both were inhibited by omega-conotoxin (1 microM), which inhibits N-type voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels. In contrast, the dihydropyridine nimodipine (1-3 microM), which blocks L-type Ca2+ channels, had no effect on either measure. These data support the hypothesis that increases in NE biosynthesis and release in sympathetic nerve terminals during periods of depolarization are both initiated by an influx of Ca2+ through voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels and that a similar type of Ca2+ channel is involved in both processes.     

In vitro plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis from root culture of some rhizomatous irises

A method for plant regeneration of Iris via somatic embryogenesis is described. Root and leaf pieces from in vitro-grown plants of several genotypes of rhizomatous Iris sp. were cultured in vitro. Callus induction occurred only on root cultures incubated under low light intensity (35 mol m^-2 s^-1) on two induction media containing 2,4-D (4.5 or 22.5 M), NAA (5.4 M) and kinetin (0.5 M). Somatic embryos developed after transfer of callus onto four regeneration media containing 9 or 22 M BA, or 5 M kinetin and 2 M TIBA or 9 M BA and 4 M TIBA. Plantlets could be obtained from these somatic embryos. Genotypic differences were found both in callus induction and somatic embryo formation, with I. pseudacorus responding better than I. versicolor or I. setosa. Cytological analysis performed on root tips of 80 regenerated plants revealed that two of the I. pseudacorus regenerants were tetraploid.Abbreviations 2,4-D dichlorophenoxy acetic acid - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid - BA 6-benzyladenine - TIBA 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid - IBA indolebutyric acid     

射干和鸢尾的挥发性成分

射干和鸢尾的挥发性成分秦民坚王强徐珞珊徐国钧（中国药科大学,南京２１００３８）田中俊弘（岐阜药科大学,日本国岐阜市５０２）ＶｏｌａｔｉｌｅｃｏｎｓｔｉｔｕｅｎｔｓｏｆＢｅｌａｍｃａｎｄａｃｈｉｎｅｎｓｉｓａｎｄＩｒｉｓｔｅｃｔｏｒｕｍＱｉｎＭｉｎＪ...     

Mating structure and inbreeding and outbreeding depression in the rare plant Gentianella germanica (Gentianaceae)

Isolation and small size of populations as a result of habitat destruction and fragmentation may negatively affect plant fitness through pollinator limitation and increased levels of inbreeding. To increase genetic variation in small populations of rare plants artificial gene flow has been suggested as a management tool. We investigated whether pollinator limitation and inbreeding depression could reduce fitness in Gentianella germanica, an endangered biennial of increasingly fragmented calcareous grasslands in Central Europe. We experimentally excluded pollinators and generated progenies by hand-pollinating flowers with pollen from different distances. G. germanica was highly selfing. Pollinator exclusion strongly reduced seed set, indicating that pollinator limitation could potentially reduce plant fitness. Germination rate as well as number of leaves and rosette size of progeny from 10-m crosses was higher than that of progeny from open pollinations, self-, 1-m, and interpopulation crosses. After 6 mo of growth differences in the number of surviving plants persisted, whereas differences in plant size did not. The results suggest that inbreeding depression may reduce plant performance in G. germanica. Outbreeding depression in the performance of progeny from interpopulation crosses indicates that caution is necessary in using artificial interpopulation gene flow as a management tool.     

Pigment Cell Refugia in Homeotherms—The Unique Evolutionary Position of the Iris

Homeotherms are generally considered to lack classical active dermal pigment cells (chromatophores) in their integument, attributable to the development of an outer covering coat of hair or feathers. However, bright colored dermal pigment cells, comparable to chromatophores of lower vertebrates, are found in the irides of many birds. We propose that, because of its exposed location, the iris is an area in which color from pigment cells has sustained a selective advantage and appears to have evolved independently of the general integument. In birds, the iris appears to have retained the potential for the complete expression of all dermal chromatophore types. Differences in cell morphology and the presence of unusual pigments in birds are suggested to be the result of evolutionary changes that followed the divergence of birds from reptiles. By comparison, mammals appear to have lost the potential for producing iridophores, xanthophores, or erythrophores comparable to those of lower vertebrates, even though some species possess brightly colored irides. It is proposed that at least one species of mammal (the domestic cat) has recruited a novel iridial reflecting pigment organelle originally developed in the choroidal tapetum lucidum. The potential presence of classical chromatophores in mammals remains open, as few species with bright irides have been examined.     

Metabolism of ecdysteroids by a chitin-synthesizing insect cell line

A chitin-synthesizing cockroach cell line (UMBGE-4) previously shown to secrete ecdysteroids was analyzed for its ability to metabolize potential precursors of ecdysone (e.g., 2-deoxyecdysone, 2,22-dideoxyecdysone, 2,22,25-trideoxyecdysone, and cholesterol). All, except cholesterol, were actively metabolized by UMBGE-4 cells. However, all but 2-deoxyecdysone were converted to polar and hydrolyzable metabolites, and not to ecdysone. Labeling with cholesterol was unsuccessful. Labeling experiments with molting hormones, i.e., ecdysone and 20-hydroxyecdysone, confirmed that this cell line can metabolize ecdysteroids and allowed identification of some of the products. Molting hormones were converted into acetate conjugates and polar conjugates which were often double-conjugates, i.e., polar conjugates of acetate conjugates. Labeling experiments with ecdysone demonstrated that this cell line possesses a low ecdysone 20-hydroxylase activity. The capacity of UMBGE-2 cells, which do not synthesize chitin or ecdysteroids, was also examined. Neither ecdysone nor 20-hydroxyecdysone was significantly metabolized by UMBGE-2 cells. 2-Deoxyecdysone and 2,22-dideoxyecdysone were very slowly metabolized respectively to more polar compounds.     

Retinal vascularisation in the loach Noemacheilus rupicola rupicola: coexistence of falciform process and vitreal vessels

Synopsis The coexistence of a fully developed falciform process and vitreal vessels, a hitherto unknown situation in teleostean intraocular vascularisation, has been noted in the loach Noemacheilus rupicola rupicola. Possible implications of this vascular development for the species have been highlighted.     

内蒙古野生马蔺种质农艺性状遗传多样性研究

以收集自内蒙古11个盟市的20个野生马蔺种质材料为研究对象,通过对其13个农艺性状指标进行主成分分析、相关性分析和聚类分析,探讨不同种质间的亲缘关系、遗传变异特性及其原因,为马蔺的开发利用、资源保护和育种应用提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)不同来源的马蔺种质农艺性状表现出不同程度的变异性,变异系数范围为9.72%~300.00%,变异系数较大的性状是千粒重、胚长和发芽率,变异系数较小的性状是株高和叶宽。(2)千粒重、发芽率、吸水率、胚长、胚乳长、种子长、生殖枝数、营养枝数、叶宽、株高10个主要性状是引起不同来源马蔺种质农艺性状分化的主要指标。(3)各农艺性状间存在不同程度的相关性,经度、纬度、海拔高度是引起马蔺种质变异的主要因素,胚长、千粒重、吸水率易受生态环境因子的影响。(4)来源不同的20个马蔺种质聚为4类,绝大多数种质材料表现出明显的地域性,经、纬度相近或小生境相似的种质聚为一类。