Somatic polyploidy in extraembryonic membranes of the snake,Elaphe guttata

Summary Video-densitometric DNA measurements of Feulgenstained tissues of 42 day old eggs of the corn snake,Elaphe g. guttata (Columbridae, Serpentes), revealed a basic DNA content of 2C=2.17 pg, with somatic polyploidy in the allantois, the chorioallontois, the yolk sac, and other extraembryonic membranes. The maximum value determined was 128C (in binucleate cells 2×128C) at the distal pole of the egg. This is the first report of somatic polyploidy in a snake, and one of the first in reptiles in general.     

Investigation of cis-acting sequences regulating expression of the gene encoding yolk protein 3 in Drosophila melanogaster.

Summary The regulatory sequences leading to the ovarian and fat body expression of yolk proteins 1 and 2 (YP1 and 2) of Drosophila melanogaster have been characterised in some detail. These genes (yp1 and yp2) share many enhancer elements, and some important regulatory sequences lie within the coding regions. We have begun to investigate the cis-regulation of the gene encoding yolk protein 3 (yp3). We describe a system for P element transformation using the complete and unaltered yp3 gene rather than reporter genes and describe sequences conferring correct expression in the ovary and carcass.     

Development of fertilized ovules and their role in the growth of the pea pod

The histological development of fertilized ovules during fruit-set and development in pea ( Pisum sativum L. cv. Alaska) has been investigated. Killing the ovules on day 0 (anthesis) or day 1 prevented fruit-set and resulted in ovary degeneration. When the ovules were destroyed at later stages the ovaries developed, though the rate of growth of the pod was reduced significantly. Pollination in pea occurs normally the day before anthesis, and fertilization of the egg cell 32 to 48 h later. The first divisions of the zygote and endosperm nuclei started simultaneously (ca 48 h after pollination) but the endosperm developed more rapidly than the embryo; the embryo sac cavity was lined with free endosperm nuclei at the time of beginning suspensor elongation. Extracts of endosperm and ovule coats from ovules at day 7 after anthesis showed fruit-set activity in pea, the latter material having about 3 times more activity than the former per ovule basis. These results indicate that fertilization of the ovule is necessary for fruit-set in pea, and that compounds which induce fruit-set are probably synthesized in the ovules following fertilization.     

Inhibition of rat yolk sac tumour growth in vivo by a monoclonal antibody to the retroviral molecule P15E

Summary A monoclonal mouse IgG2b antibody 19F8, directed towards a determinant on the retroviral transmembranous molecule p15E, binds selectively to certain rat tumours, including all tested yolk sac tumours, one rat colon carcinoma, one spontaneous kidney carcinoma and an adenovirus-type-9-induced rat breast tumour, as tested by antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and immunohistochemistry. Groups of rats receiving yolk sac tumour F56 isografts intraperitoneally (i.p.) or subperitoneally (s.p.) were treated with this monoclonal antibody (mAb), 19F8, inoculated twice a week in doses of 100 µg. Parallel control groups received analogous inoculations of an isotype-matched monoclonal antibody. A significant growth inhibitory effect was observed with 19F8. In 5/10 rats isografted i.p., tumour outgrowth was completely inhibited and in the other 5 rats the outgrowth was delayed compared to the 10 rats in the control group, which all developed tumours. All rats of the control group developed large volumes of ascites, whereas the 5 rats in the therapy group with eventual tumour outgrowth had little or no ascites. In two experiments with rats carrying subperitoneal isografts and treated with the 19F8 mAb, tumour grew out in 4/5 and 5/10 rats, though growth was delayed compared to the control groups, in which 5/5 and 9/9 rats developed tumours. The tumours grew significantly more slowly in the therapy groups compared to the controls. All rats that developed tumours in the therapy groups showed an anti-idiotypic response against mAb 19F8. The single tumour-free rat in the first experiment and 1/5 tumour-free rats in the other showed no such response. The draining lymph node cells from the tumour-free animals showed a specific proliferative response to yolk sac tumour F56 cells in a mixed lymphocyte tumour cell culture (MLTC), and the MLTC-induced cells were cytotoxic to F56 but not to the natural-killer-sensitive rat T cell lymphoma G1—Tc1. The cytotoxic cell population was more than 90% CD4⁺. It is concluded that the two test systems for identification of the epitope of p15E detected by mAb 19F8 correlated well in detection of the epitope in the cells (immunohistochemistry) and at the cell surface (ADCC). It is also concluded that mAb 19F8 has a growth-inhibitory effect on yolk sac tumour F56 and that, as a result of the treatment, T cells with specificity for F56 are appearing in draining lymph nodes of tumour-free animals.     

青岛文昌鱼卵卵黄粒内的一种亚微结构

在文昌鱼卵及胚胎发育过程中,卵黄粒内存在一种结构,形态上有7—9个亚单位排列呈环的管,类似“微管”,其直径为500—700(?),具“负染色”性(醋酸铀和柠檬酸铅染色)。推测其成分可能为糖-蛋白和脂蛋白及中性脂肪的复合体;其功能可能与建成细胞成膜物质有关。     

蛙卵黄粒晶形区向非晶区过渡的电镜观察及伪彩色图象处理

用水溶性氨基树脂作为电镜标本包埋介质包埋早期卵裂时的黑龙江林蛙卵;用透射电镜观察了卵黄粒晶形体向非晶区转变的过程;一部分电镜照片用伪彩色图象处理技术转换成彩色照片以提高其清晰度。晶形体向非晶结构转化主要有两种形式:1.沿晶形体表面成排地脱落晶分子并在晶形体表面形成台阶样结构;2.晶分子参差不齐地成群脱离晶形体并在晶形区与非晶区之间形成一个似晶非晶的过渡区。脱离晶形体后的晶分子参加到非晶区,使深色亚区扩大并在其中酝酿成“微滴”样结构。若干“微滴”汇合并转变成微泡。伪彩色图象处理能较清楚地显示出卵脂蛋白半分子(一个亚单位)独立脱离晶形体的现象。讨论了引起晶分子脱离晶形体的可能??原因。     

落葵的花粉粒和胚囊的形成与发育

落葵(Basella rubra L.)小孢子的发育为同时型,四分体呈四面体排列。在花粉母细胞减数分裂过程中,可清楚地看到胼胝壁的消长变化。三胞花粉,具散沟和网状纹饰。腺质绒毡层。 胚囊的发育为蓼型。反足细胞早期退化。内珠被突出形成珠被喙,同时,在其珠孔区域,有由内珠被的内表皮细胞所发育而来的类似盖状结构。 本文还注意到同一花中以及相邻花朵之间,花粉粒与胚囊发育进程的相关。花粉粒的发育略早于胚囊的发育,但以后由于胚囊母细胞形成胚囊的进程较为迅速,以致花粉粒与胚囊能够同时成熟。     

大叶杨配囊及胚珠的形成和发育

本文应用细胞化学方法研究了大叶杨胚珠、胚囊的形成和发育过程中核酸、蛋白质及不溶性多糖的分布和消长。大孢子母细胞、大孢子四分体及功能大孢子中含较少不溶性多糖,但却含丰富的RNA和蛋白质。功能大孢子经分裂发育成八核的蓼型胚囊。四核胚囊开始积累细胞质多糖,成熟胚囊中除反足细胞外充满淀粉粒。反足细胞形成后不久即退化。助细胞具多糖性质的丝状器,受精前两个助细胞退化。卵细胞核对Feulgen反应呈负反应。二极核受精前由胚囊中部移向卵器,与卵器接触后融合形成次生核。发育早期的胚珠为厚珠心,双珠被。晚期,内珠被退化,故成熟胚珠为单珠被。四核胚囊时期,珠孔端珠心组织退化,胚囊伸向珠孔形成胚囊喙。合点端珠心组织含丰富的蛋白质和核酸,这一性质与绒毡层性质相似,可能涉及胚囊的营养运输。胚囊的营养来源于子房和胎座细胞内贮存的淀粉粒。     

Quantitative three-dimensional study on the position of the female gametophyte and its constituent cells as a prerequisite for corn (Zea mays) transformation

Summary The position of the embryo sac in the spikelet and of the embryo sac's constituent cells within the sporophytic tissues of Zea mays was localized by scanning electron microscopy, serial thick sectioning, and computer three-dimensional reconstruction. Within certain limits, the embryo sac is consistently oriented in the same position inside of the spikelet. This information is a prerequisite for successful microinjections into the in situ female cells of Zea mays.     

鹤顶兰胚囊发育过程中微管变化的共焦显微镜观察

光镜的观察确定了鹤顶兰（Ｐｈａｉｕｓ ｔａｎｋｅｒｖｉｌｌｉａｅ （Ａｉｔｏｎ） Ｂｌ．）胚囊发育属单孢子蓼型。应用免疫荧光标记技术及共焦镜观察了胚囊发育过程中微管分布的变化。当孢原细胞初形成时,细胞内的微管呈网状分布。之后,孢原细胞体积增大发育为大孢子母细胞。大孢子母细胞延长,进入减数分裂Ⅰ。微管由分裂前的网状分布变为辐射状排列。二分体的两个细胞内的微管分布一样,呈辐射状。四分体的近珠孔端的３ 个大孢子解体,细胞内的微管消失。靠合点端的功能大孢子内有许多微管呈网状分布。当功能大孢子进入第一次有丝分裂时,细胞内的微管由网状变为辐射状,从核膜伸展至周质。再经两次有丝分裂形成八核胚囊。在核分裂之前微管一般是呈网状分布并紧包围着核。在分裂期间二核和四核胚囊都呈极性现象,微管系统也呈极性分布。微管在八核胚囊内的分布变化情形特别复杂。首先,八核分别作不同程度的移动,其中两个核移向胚囊中央,珠孔端和合点端的３ 个核分别互相靠拢,形成３ 个区,即中央区、反足区和卵器区。胚囊未形成区时,８ 个核都被网状分布的微管包围着。当胚囊明显分成区时,反足区内的微管仍作网状分布。中央区的微管分布则趋疏松,形成篮形结构,包围着液泡和两个极核。在