Transformation of Atriplex gmelini plants from callus lines using Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Atriplex gmelini plants were regenerated via organogensis from hypocotyl explants. Callus lines were induced from the hypocotyl explants on Linsmaier and Skoog (LS) medium supplemented with 1 M benzyladenine and 5 M -naphthaleneacetic acid in the dark. Shoots were regenerated from the callus lines on LS medium supplemented with 20 M thidiazuron and 0.1 M -naphthaleneacetic acid under a high-intensity light condition (450 mol m^–2 s^–1). The regenerated shoots were rooted on LS medium without growth regulators to obtain fully developed plants. We succeeded in transforming Atriplex gmelini from callus lines using Agrobacterium tumefaciens.     

Three-dimensional organization of smooth muscle cells in blood vessels of laboratory rodents

Summary Three-dimensional aspects of smooth muscle cells of the microvas-culature were studied ultrastructurally in laboratory rodents by means of serial thin sections and reconstruction of muscle cell models. It was demonstrated that a muscle cell of an arteriole (luminal diameter (LD) 17 m) in hamster striated muscle was spindle-shaped, 70 m long, and wound twice round the vessel axis. The volume of the cell was calculated as 750 m³ and its surface area as 1330 m². A muscle cell in an arteriole (LD 6 m) in the rat retina was irregular in shape, about 22 m long, and had branched processes. The cell volume was calculated as 139 m³ and its surface area as 298 m².     

Dry to wet weight biomass conversion constant for Tetrahymena elliotti (Ciliophora,Protozoa)

Summary The wet and dry weights of both axenic and monoxenic cultures of the ciliate Tetrahymena were determined directly. These estimates are dependent upon the method of volume determination. Assuming a prolate spheroidal shape for the ciliate, we calculate a mean wet weight of 0.4157±0.0713 pg m^-3 and a mean dry weight of 0.2793±0.0652 pg m^-3. Using electronic cell sizing, our estimates are 0.7869±0.1659 pg m^-3 and 0.5239±0.1101 pg m^-3, respectively. Independent of the method of volume determination, we estimate a mean biomass conversion ratio (dry weight/wet weight) of 0.59±0.08.     

The Sertoli cell of the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) during the spermatogenic cycle

Summary Ultrastructural features and morphometric evaluations of buffalo Sertoli cells are reported for the six phases of the spermatogenic cycle. The phases of the tubular seminiferous epithelium are identified according to characteristic cellular associations with completed spermiation as demarcation between two cycles. Average tubular diameter (245 m) and epithelial height (61 m) do not vary significantly during the cycle. The relative Sertoli cell volume in the seminiferous epithelium varies between 30% (phase 4) and 39% (phase 8). The calculated volume of a single Sertoli cell increases from a nadir of 7118 m³ in phase 3 abruptly to a maximum of 8968 m³ in phase 4 and is then gradually reduced during the following phases. The Sertoli cell surface area shows a similar trend: it amounts to 11105 m² in phase 3 and to 14260 m² in phase 4. The contact area of the Sertoli cell with adjacent cells and structures is subject to characteristic changes; from the expansion of basal Sertoli-Sertoli contacts it is concluded that the blood-testis barrier in the buffalo is particularly tight during phases 8, 1 and 2. The irregularly contoured nucleus contains a vesicular nucleolus, has a calculated volume from 465 m³ to 543 m³ and occupies 5 to 7% of the cell. Volume percentages of mitochondria (4%), Golgi apparatus and lysosomal bodies are rather constant during the cycle. Whorls and orderly arranged aggregates of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum occur in basal location as well as in close association with elongating spermatids. Smooth ER is the organelle that exhibits the most prominent changes during the Sertoli cell cycle: it occupies 5.79% in phase 3 and 20.9% in phase 4 of the total cellular volume. Phagocytosis of residual bodies is insignificant in this species and a lipid cycle is absent in buffalo Sertoli cells.     

Micropropagation of mature Chinese tallow tree (Sapium sebiferum Roxb.)

An in vitro propagation technique based on axillary bud proliferation has been developed for matureSapium sebiferum trees. Nodal segments cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with benzyl adenine (1–10 m and -naphthaleneacetic acid (0–0.5 m showed axillary bud proliferation. Shoots proliferated in vitro were multiplied on Murashige and Skoog medium containing 2.5 m benzyl adenine and 0.25 m -naphthaleneacetic acid. Seasonal changes affected the shoot proliferation potential of the initial explant. Shoots were rooted on a half-strength, growth-regulator-free, agar-gelled, MS medium after a 48-h treatment on half-strength MS liquid medium with 10 m indole-3-butyric acid. Rooted plantlets were potted and acclimatized in a growth chamber and then moved to the greenhouse. Four-month-old plants were transplanted to the field.Abbreviations BA Benzyl adenine - IBA Indole-3-butyric acid - 2-ip N⁶-(-dimethylallylamino)purine - MS Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium - NAA -Naphthaleneacetic acid     

Mitochondria in fine afferent nerve fibres of the knee joint in the cat: a quantitative electron-microscopical examination

The distribution of mitochondria, their content and concentration (expressed as the ratio of the mean volume of mitochondria and the surface of the sensory axon) were determined in group-III and-IV nerve fibres innervating the knee joint capsule in the cat. Mitochondria mainly accumulated in axonal swellings (beads) and end bulbs of the terminal branches. Between single nerve fibres, marked differences in the content and the concentration of mitochondria were obtained in proximal portions (inside of the perineurium) and in distal portions (unmyelinated sensory endings). In group-III nerve fibres, the mitochondrial concentration ranged from 0.005 to 0.030 m³/m² (proximal portion) and from 0.016 to 0.080 m³/m² (distal portion). In unmyelinated group-IV nerve fibres, the values also showed a broad variation ranging from 0.001 to 0.011 m³/m² (proximal portion) and from 0.003 to 0.019 m³/m² (distal portion). The wide range of mitochondrial concentrations may reflect different energy consumption during receptive processes: nerve fibres with a low mechanical threshold and a high probability of excitatory events may be rich in mitochondria, whereas fibres with a high mechanical threshold and a low probability of excitatory events may be poor in mitochondria.     

Dental amalgam and mercury

Summary Mercury concentration in intraoral air and urine of seven females with dental amalgam was measured before and after intake of one hard-boiled egg. A considerable decrease in mercury concentration in intraoral air was found. Twenty women with about equal dental amalgam status, with or without subjective symptoms related to dental amalgam, were also studied. Mercury concentrations in intraoral air and urine were measured. For all the 27 women the basal intraoral air concentration of mercury ranged over 0.6–10.4 g/m³ (median value 4.3 g/m³). This corresponds to a release of 0.02–0.38 ng/s (median value 0.16 ng/s). In urine, the mercury concentration varied from < 0.8–6.9 g/g creatinine (median value 1.9 g/g creatinine). Data from both parameters were significantly correlated to the total number of teeth areas with dental amalgam. Protein values in urine indicated no renal damage. Maximum concentrations of mercury vapour in intraoral air for the 27 women who had chewed chewing gum for 5 min varied between 2–60 g Hg/m³ (median value 19 g Hg/m³). This corresponds to 0.07–2.20 ng Hg/s and a median value of 0.70 ng Hg/s.     

The influence of temperature on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and the regulation of these enzymes in a mesophilic and a thermophilic cyanobacterium

The activities and kinetics of the enzymes G6PDH (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) and 6PGDH (6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase) from the mesophilic cyanobacterium Synechococcus 6307 and the thermophilic cyanobacterium Synechococcus 6716 are studied in relation to temperature. In Synechococcus 6307 the apparent K _m's are for G6PDH: 80M (substrate) and 20M (NADP⁺); for 6PGDH: 90M (substrate) and 25M (NADP⁺). In Synechococcus 6716 the apparent K _m's are for G6PDH: 550M (substrate) and 30M (NADP⁺); for 6PGDH: 40M (substrate) and 10M (NADP⁺). None of the K _m's is influenced by the growth temperature and only the K _m's of G6PDH for G6P are influenced by the assay temperature in both organisms. The idea that, in general, thermophilic enzymes possess a lower affinity for their substrates and co-enzymes than mesophilic enzymes is challenged.Although ATP, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate, NADPH and pH can all influence the activities of G6PDH and 6PGDH to a certain extent (without any difference between the mesophilic and the thermophilic strain), they cannot be responsible for the total deactivation of the enzyme activities observed in the light, thus blocking the pentose phosphate pathway.Abbreviations G6PDH glucose-6-phosphate, dehydrogenase - 6PGDH 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase - G6P glucose-6-phosphate - 6PG 6-phosphogluconate - RUDP ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate - Tricine N-Tris (hydroxymethyl)-methylglycine     

Optimization of in vivo tumor targeting in SCID mice with divalent forms of 741F8 anti-c-erbB-2 single-chain Fv: effects of dose escalation and repeated i.v. administration

Single-chain Fv molecules in monovalent (sFv) and divalent [(sFv')₂] forms exhibit highly specific tumor targeting in mice as a result of their small size and rapid systemic clearance. As a consequence, there is a rapid reversal of the sFv blood/tumor gradient, resulting in diminished retention of sFv species in tumors. In this report we investigate two distinct strategies, dose escalation and repetitive intravenous (i.v.) dosing, aiming to increase the absolute selective retention of radiolabeled anti-c-erbB-2¹²⁵I-741F8 (sFv')₂ in c-erbB-2-overexpressing SK-OV-3 tumors in mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). A doseescalation strategy was applied to single i.v. injections of¹²⁵I-741F8 (sFv')₂. Doses from 50 g to 1000 g were administered without a significant decrease in tumor targeting or specificity. High doses resulted in large increases in the absolute retention of¹²⁵I-741F8 (sFv')₂. For example, raising the administered dose from 50 g to 1000 g increased the tumor retention 24 h after injection from 0.46 g/g to 9.5 g/g, and resulted in a net increase of greater than 9 /g. Over the same dose range, the liver retention rose from 0.06 g/g to 1 g/g, and resulted in a net increase of less than 1 g/g. The retention of 9.5 g/g in tumor 24 h fllowing the 1000-g dose of (sFv')₂ was comparable to that seen 24 h after a 50-g dose of¹²⁵I-741F8 IgG, indicating that the use of large doses of (sFv')₂ may partially offset their rapid clearance. When two doses were administered by i.v. injection 24 h apart, the specificity of delivery to tumor observed after the first dose was maintained following the second injection. Tumor retention of¹²⁵I-741F8 (sFv')₂ was 0.32 g/g at 24 h and 0.22 g/g at 48 h following a single injection of 20 g/g, while 0.04 g/ml and 0.03 g/ml were retained in blood at the same assay times. After a second 20-g injection at the 24-h assay time, tumor retention increased to 0.49 g/g, and blood retention was 0.06 g/ml, at the 48-h point. These results suggest that multiple high-dose administrations of radiolabeled 741F8 (sFv')₂ may lead to the selective tumor localization of therapeutic radiation doses.Supported by National Cancer Institute (NCI) National Cooperative Drug Discovery Group grant U01 CA51880, CA06927, an appropriation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the Bernard A. and Rebecca S. Bernard Foundation     

Additional Fallisia spp. (Apicomplexa: Plasmodiidae) of Neotropical lizards

Fallisia biporcati n. sp. parasitises thrombocytes and lymphocytes of Anolis biporcatus and A. lionotus in Panama. Round or oval schizonts average 13.3 × 11.5 (10.5–16 × 9–13) m, with LW 153.8 (94–208) m², and produce 38.3 (28–60) merozoites. Gametocytes are variably shaped, from round or oval to nearly triangular or rectangular, and average 12.6 × 9.0 (10–15 × 6–12) m, with LW 113.1 (82–150) m² and L/W ratio 1.43 (1.0–2.2). Thrombocytes and lymphocytes of A. poecilopus in Panama are parasitised by F. poecilopi n. sp. Schizonts, oval to elongate in shape, 7.7 × 4.7 (5.5–9 × 3–6) m, with LW 36.5 (22–54) m², are filled with 31.0 (20–51) tiny nuclei or merozoites. Gametocytes are 10.1 × 8.0 (7.5–14 × 6–11) m, with LW 82.0 (45–132) m², round to elongate with L/W ratio 1.27 (1.0–1.6). F. thecadactyli n. sp. parasitises thrombocytes and lymphocytes of Thecadactylus rapicaudus in Panama and Venezuela. Oval, oblong, or triangular schizonts average 10.3 × 8.0 (7–13 × 5–12) m, with LW 86.6 (37–156) m², and produce 40.2 (26–61) merozoites. Gametocytes are round, oval, triangular or elongate, 10.4 × 7.0 (7–15 × 5–11) m, with LW 74.8 (40–154) m² and L/W ratio 1.51 (1.1–2.2). F. dominicensis n. sp. parasitises thrombocytes of A. cybotes on Hispaniola. Schizonts, 6.0 × 4.8 (4–8 × 3–7) m, with LW 29.1 (12–56) m², round, oval, elongate, oblong or lentiform in shape, produce 12.4 (8–22) merozoites. Gametocytes are 6.6 × 5.0 (5–9 × 4–7) m , with LW 33.8 (20–56) m², round, oval or elongate, and L/W ratio of 1.34 (1.1–2.0).     

Osmotic measurements on stomatal cells ofCommelina communis L.

Summary Observations of aperture changes as sucrose is added to the solution bathing epidermal strips ofCommelina communis L. allow calculation of the osmotic changes required to open or close the stomatal pore, for comparison with changes in potassium content. With isolated guard cells, in strips in which all cells other than guard cells have been killed, the internal osmotic changes required are 83 mosmol kg^–1 m^–1 below 10m aperture, 129 mosmol kg^–1 m^–1 in the range 10–15 m, and 180 mosmol kg^–1 m^–1 above 15 m. For opening against subsidiary cell turgor in addition to guard cell turgor, in intact strips with live subsidiary and epidermal cells, these figures should each be increased by about 33 mosmol kg^–1 m^–1. A change in subsidiary cell turgor is magnified in its effects on the water relations of the guard cell by a factor greater than 3.7 for equal changes in the water potential of the two cells, or greater than 4.7 at constant volume of the guard cell.     

Lateral mobility of lipid analogues and GPI-anchored proteins in supported bilayers determined by fluorescent bead tracking

Lipid analogues and glycosylphosphati-dylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins incorporated in glass-supported phospholipid bilayers (SBL) were coupled to small (30 nm diameter) fluorescent beads whose motion in the liquid phase was tracked by intensified fluorescence video microscopy. Streptavidin (St), covalently attached to the carboxyl modified surface of the polystyrene bead, bound either the biotinylated membrane component, or a biotinylated monoclonal antibody (mAb) directed against a specific membrane constituent. The positions of the beads tethered to randomly diffusing membrane molecules were recorded at 0.2 sec intervals for about l min. The mean square displacement () of the beads was found to be a linear function of diffusion time t, and the diffusion coefficient, D, was derived from the relation, (t) = 4Dt. The values of D for biotinylated phosphatidylethanolamine (Bi-PE) dispersed in an egg lecithin: cholesterol (80:20%) bilayer obtained by this methodology range from 0.05 to 0.6 m²/sec with an average of D = 0.26 m²/sec, similar to the value of D = 0.24 m²/sec for fluorescein-conjugated phosphati-dylethanolamine (Fl-PE) linked to St-coupled beads by the anti-fluorescein mAb 4-4-20 or its Fab fragment. These values of D are comparable to those reported for Fl-PE linked to 30 nm gold particles but are several times lower than that of Fl-PE in the same planar bilayer as measured by fluorescence photobleaching recovery, D = 1.3 m²sec. The mobilities of two GPI-anchored proteins in similar SBL were also determined by use of the appropriate biotinylated mAb and were found to be D = 0.25 and 0.56 m²/sec for the decay accelerating factor (DAF, CD55) and the human FcRIIIB (CD16) receptors, respectively. The methodology described here is suitable for tracking any accessible membrane component.This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grants 1R24 RR05272 and AI-24322.     

Micropropagation of flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) from seedlings

A method for regenerating whole plants from nodal (axillary bud) cultures of seedlings was developed for flowering dogwood (Cornus florida L.). The seed source significantly influenced the rate of proliferation, although cultures initiated from each of the seven mother trees produced some shoots. Woody plant medium (WPM) was superior to either Murashige and Skoog or Schenk and Hildebrandt basal medium. 6-Benzyladenine (BA) at 2.2 or 4.4 m stimulated the generation of significantly more useable shoots (1 cm) compared to all other concentrations (0.5–22.5 m tested. Thidiazuron (TDZ) at 0.6 and 1.1 m supported proliferation, but strongly inhibited shoot elongation. TDZ initiated cultures transferred to medium containing 4.4 m BA produced usable shoots after five additional subcultures. Shoots generated adventitious roots when exposed to either a 12-h pulse of relatively high concentrations (246–1230 m or continuous lower concentrations (0.5–49.0 m of indolebutyric acid (IBA) for longer periods. Microshoots produced the significantly greatest number of roots when subjected to 4.9 m IBA in WPM over a 4-week period. Whole plants were acclimatized to the laboratory conditions and subsequently to the greenhouse. The methodology described here should be useful in a breeding program by supplying multiple copies of unique, recombinant genotypes.     

Changes in the quantities of violaxanthin de-epoxidase,xanthophylls and ascorbate in spinach upon shift from low to high light

Zeaxanthin, a carotenoid in the xanthophyll cycle, has been suggested to play a role in the protection against photodestruction. We have studied the importance of the parameters involved in zeaxanthin formation by comparing spinach plants grown in low light (100 to 250 mol m^-2 s^-1) to plants transferred to high light (950 mol m^-2 s^-1). Different parameters were followed for a total of 11 days. Our experiments show that violaxanthin de-epoxidase decreased between 15 and 30%, the quantity of xanthophyll cycle pigments doubled to 100 mmol (mol Chl)^-1, corresponding to 27 mol m^-2, and the rate of violaxanthin to zeaxanthin conversion was doubled. Lutein and neoxanthin increased from 50 to 71 mol m^-2 and from 16 to 23 mol m^-2, respectively. On a leaf area basis, chlorophyll and -carotene levels first decreased and then after 4 days increased. The chlorophyll a/b ratio was unchanged. The quantity of ascorbate was doubled to 2 mmol m^-2, corresponding to an estimated increase in the chloroplasts from 25 to 50 mM. In view of our data, we propose that the increase in xanthophyll cycle pigments and ascorbate only partly explain the increased rate of conversion of violaxanthin to zeaxanthin, but the most probable explanation of the faster conversion is an increased accessibility of violaxanthin in the membrane.     

Effect of calcium-binding protein regucalcin on hepatic protein synthesis: Inhibition of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase activity

The effect of regucalcin, a calcium-binding protein isolated from rat liver cytosol, onin vitro protein synthesis in the 5500g supernatant fraction of rat liver homogenate was investigated. Addition of Ca²⁺ up to 5.0 M in the reaction mixture caused a significant decrease in protein synthesis. This decrease was saturated at 10 M Ca²⁺. The Ca²⁺ effect was not reversed by the presence of regucalcin (2.0 M); the protein caused a remarkable decrease in hepatic protein synthesis, and it enhanced significantly the Ca^2– effect. Meanwhile, calmodulin (2.5-20 g/ml), a calcium-binding protein, did not have an appreciable effect on the Ca²⁺ (10 M)-induced decrease in hepatic protein synthesis. [³H]Leucyl-tRNA synthetase activity in the 105000g supernatant fraction (cytosol) of liver homogenate was markedly decreased by addition of Ca²⁺ (1.0–50 M). This decrease was not reversed by the presence of regucalcin (2.0 M); the protein (1.0–2.0 M) caused a remarkable decrease in the enzyme activity. The present results suggest that regucalcin can regulate protein synthesis in liver cells.     

Choline Administration Reverses Hypotension In Spinal Cord Transected Rats: The Involvement of Vasopressin

Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) choline (50–150 g) increased blood pressure and decreased heart rate in spinal cord transected, hypotensive rats. Choline administered intraperitoneally (60 mg/kg), also, increased blood pressure, but to a lesser extent. The pressor response to i.c.v. choline was associated with an increase in plasma vasopressin. Mecamylamine pretreatment (50 g; i.c.v.) blocked the pressor, bradycardic and vasopressin responses to choline (150 g). Atropine pretreatment (10 g; i.c.v.) abolished the bradycardia but failed to alter pressor and vasopressin responses. Hemicholinium-3 [HC-3 (20 g; i.c.v.)] pretreatment attenuated both bradycardia and pressor responses to choline. The vasopressin V1 receptor antagonist, (-mercapto-, -cyclopenta-methylenepropionyl¹, O-Me-Tyr², Arg⁸)-vasopressin (10 g/kg) administered intravenously 5 min after choline abolished the pressor response and attenuated the bradycardia-induced by choline. These data show that choline restores hypotension effectively by activating central nicotinic receptors via presynaptic mechanisms, in spinal shock. Choline-induced bradycardia is mediated by central nicotinic and muscarinic receptors. Increase in plasma vasopressin is involved in cardiovascular effects of choline.     

Silver nitrate and aminoethoxyvinylglycine affect <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis>-mediated apple transformation

In Fuji, the production of ethylene was increased with the addition of AgNO₃ and inhibited with the addition of 10 M aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG). The addition of 80 M AgNO₃ to transformed explants of Fuji cultured on selection medium resulted in increased ethylene production (20 l l^–1) at 3 weeks. Under examining the effect of AgNO₃ in Fuji, the 40 M AgNO₃ showed with higher 33.8% and 6.5% in the efficiency of regeneration and transformation. However, ethylene production in Gala explants treated with 10M AgNO₃ (3 l l^–1) decreased after 2 weeks compared with the control (5 l l^–1). Although the regeneration efficiency of Gala with 10 M AgNO₃ was higher (41.1%) than the control (20.1%), there was no significant difference in the transformation efficiency at the same concentration. Shoot regeneration of Fuji and Gala was completely inhibited with 10 M AVG. These results suggest that the addition of AgNO₃ affects the efficiency of Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer in Fuji.Eun Soo Seong, Ill Min Chung- These two Authors Contributed equally to this work     

Copper but not iron limitation increases astaxanthin production by Phaffia rhodozyma in a chemically defined medium

The influence of copper (0–32 M) and iron (0–108 M) on growth and astaxanthin production by Phaffia rhodozyma was studied. Copper below 3.2 M increased the astaxanthin content of the cells (from 220 to 287 g g^–1) but at the expense of a slightly decreased growth (from 11.3 to 10.2 mg ml^–1). In contrast, iron below 1 M decreased both the growth and astaxanthin content of the cells. Using copper limitation instead of toxic respiratory inhibitors to improve astaxanthin production has obvious advantages from the product quality, environmental and process operation points of view.     

A light microscopic study of nuclear and cytoplasmic size of the aggregate acidophil population in the hypophysis cerebri,pars distalis,of adult male mule deer,Odocoileus hemionus hemionus,relative to seasons of the photoperiod and antler cycles

Summary Nuclear and cytoplasmic size (²) of acidophils in the pars distalis of adult male deer were measured and the data analyzed statistically with reference to the four classical seasons of the photoperiodic cycle and five periods and two events of the antler cycle. The seasons, and the respective mean cross-sectional areas of cell nuclei and cytoplasm, are: Spring (21 March–20 June; increasing photoperiod greater than 12 hours), 28.45 and 48.68 ²; Summer (21 June–20 September; decreasing photoperiod greater than 12 hours), 27.81 and 44.25 ²; Fall (21 September–20 December; decreasing photoperiod less than 12 hours), 30.40 and 45.07 ²; Winter (21 December–20 March; increasing photoperiod less than 12 hours) 27.28 and 40.30 ². Beginning in late winter and early spring the components of the antler cycle, and the respective cross-sectional areas of cell nuclei and cytoplasm, are: Initial Antler Growth, 28.08 and 38.58 ²; Growth of Velvet Antler Form, 28.93 and 50.61 ², Antlers Hardening, 27.53 and 40.83 ²; Velvet Shedding, 29.03 and 53.20 ²; Rutting Season, 29.95 and 44.97 ²; Preparation for Shedding, 26.50 and 40.38 ²; Antlers Recently Shed, 27.53 and 47.85 ². Shedding of boney antlers, growth of velvet antlers and increases in nuclear and cytoplasmic areas of acidophil cells in the pars distalis occur when the photoperiod is increasing. Construction and retention of hard antlers occur when photoperiod is decreasing. This lessening of day length appears to influence the gonadotrophs that regulate secretion of testosterone.A part of a dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy, Anatomy, Colorado State University. Specimens were contributed by Colorado Federal Aid Project W-105-R, Colorado Division of Game, Fish and Parks, Game Research Center, Fort Collins and investigations of them was supported by grant T1-DE130 from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A.NIDR Predoctoral Trainee.     

Mercury budget of an upland-peatland watershed

Inputs, outputs, and pool sizes oftotal mercury (Hg) were measured in a forested 10 hawatershed consisting of a 7 ha hardwood-dominatedupland surrounding a 3 ha conifer-dominatedpeatland. Hydrologic inputs via throughfall andstemflow, 13±0.4 g m^–2 yr^–1over the entire watershed, were about doubleprecipitation inputs in the open and weresignificantly higher in the peatland than in theupland (19.6 vs. 9.8 g m^–2 yr^–1). Inputs of Hg via litterfall were 12.3±0.7g m^–2 yr^–1, not different in thepeatland and upland (11.7 vs. 12.5 g m^–2yr^–1). Hydrologic outputs via streamflow were2.8±0.3 g m^–2 yr^–1 and thecontribution from the peatland was higher despiteits smaller area. The sum of Hg inputs were lessthan that in the overstory trees, 33±3 gm^–2 above-ground, and much less than eitherthat in the upland soil, 5250±520 gm^–2, or in the peat, 3900±100 gm^–2 in the upper 50 cm. The annual flux of Hgmeasured in streamflow and the calculated annualaccumulation in the peatland are consistent withvalues reported by others. A sink for Hg of about20 g m^–2 yr^–1 apparently exists inthe upland, and could be due to either or bothstorage in the soil or volatilization.