Anatomy of the larva of Amathia vidovici (Bryozoa: Ctenostomata) and phylogenetic significance of the vesiculariform larva

Amathia vidovici (Vesiculariidae) has a lecithotrophic coronate larva. The apical disc of A. vidovici larvae is more complex than that of other vesiculariids and includes a new cell type, which may be glial-like in function. A massive nerve nodule consists only of neural processes; as no ganglia or other evidence of interneurons were found, sensory cells apparently innervate their effectors directly. Putative synaptic junctions within the nerve nodule indicate that both receptor and effector cells send processes to this neuropile. Some 44 intercoronal cells of three types, two of which are new, are interspersed among the approximately 40 coronal cells. Juxtapapillary bodies, a unique sensory complex previously known only from Bowerbankia gracilis larvae, also occur in A. vidovici. A large refractile body, which is of uncertain function and is positioned near the center of the larva, is described for the first time. A comparison of vesiculariid larvae that have been studied at the ultrastructural level reveals that larvae of Amathia vidovici and Bowerbankia gracilis are more similar to each other than either is to B. imbricata. Differences between the two Bowerbankia species, however, may reflect relative detail of their study and differences in interpretation rather than intergenic plasticity. Nevertheless. a distinctive suite of larval characteristics are shared by other members of the family Vesiculariidae, justifying a specific name—vesiculariform—for their larvae. A number of the defining characteristics of vesiculariform larvae also appear in the carnosan superfamily Victorelloidae. This finding is consistent with arguments based on adult characteristics that the Victorelloidea are ancestral to the Vesicularioidea. If this geneology is correct, one can predict that those vesiculariform traits which originated in the victorellids are plesiomorphic not only to the Family Vesiculariidae but to all sister taxa placed in the Vesicularioidea. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

韭菜迟眼蕈蚊幼虫消化系统的解剖学和组织学

本利用石蜡切片对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊幼虫其消化系统的组织学进行了研究。结果表明,幼虫的消化道无特殊变异,但中肠亚端部的一对胃盲囊长而发达,是消化道的突出特征。中肠和胃盲囊不同部位的细胞学特点有明显差异。根据中肠细胞形状及其分布将中肠分为4个区域,对中肠不同区域的细胞学特点进行了描述。     

Melatonin in epilepsy: first results of replacement therapy and first clinical results

At a single evening dose of 5-10 mg, melatonin (MLT), the pineal gland hormone, can exert a positive effect on the frequency of epileptic attacks in children with sleep disturbances of various etiologies. We have shown that the sleep behavior can be normalized and an existing epilepsy can be favorably influenced. Pretherapeutic MLT secretion profiles can provide new information concerning the origin and treatment of these disturbances. In vitro experiments suggest that this effect might be the result of the interaction between MLT and MLT-specific receptors in the neocortex. Due to its favorable safety profile, MLT can be liberally administered in the specified doses and be considered as a useful antiepileptic drug.     

Further evaluation of the skin micronucleus test: results obtained using 10 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

The standard in vivo micronucleus (MN) test detects clastogenicity in hematopoietic cells and is not suitable for detecting chemicals that target the skin. Previously, we have developed an in vivo rodent skin MN test that is simple to perform and can be applied to several laboratory animals, including the hairless mouse-a species whose use simplifies the procedure of skin testing. In this paper, we report new data that confirms the predictive ability of the test. Following the application of 10 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene; 3-methylcholanthrene; benzo[a]pyrene; dibenz[a,h]anthracene; benz[a]anthracene; dibenz[a,c]anthracene; chrysene; benzo[e]pyrene; pyrene; anthracene) with various degrees of genotoxicity to the dorsal skin of hairless mice, we found that these compounds caused MN production that in general correlated with their reported carcinogenicity. We believe that this test will be useful in detecting skin clastogens that test negative when analyzed using the standard micronucleus test.     

Hormonal monitoring of ovarian activity using the Ovarian Monitor,part I. Validation of home and laboratory results obtained during ovulatory cycles by comparison with radioimmunoassay

A study was conducted to determine the accuracy and reliability of the Home Ovarian Monitor for measuring estrone glucuronide (E1G) and pregnanediol glucuronide (PdG) during ovulatory cycles as a means of monitoring ovarian activity. Approximately 60 ovulating women in three centres collected timed specimens of urine (3h or more) for a total of six cycles each. The women measured the E1G and PdG excretion per 24h in their urine specimens using the Monitor. A local laboratory using the Monitor also measured the excretion. Urine specimens from 18 to 19 cycles were sent frozen to the WHO Reference Laboratory in London where they were analysed for E1G and PdG by the Monitor and by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The correlation coefficients between the Monitor and radioimmunoassay results obtained in London were better than 0.84 in 80% of the cycles. A urine bias caused the Monitor E1G results to be higher than those obtained by radioimmunoassay but the daily patterns were the same. In 50% of the cycles, this bias caused a delay of up to 3 days in identifying the beginning of the E1G rise compared with radioimmunoassay. Timing of the preovulatory E1G peak and the postovulatory PdG rise agreed within the experimental errors of the two systems. The study confirmed that women using the Monitor at home obtained results that were as accurate as those obtained by laboratory procedures. Careful supervision was required to maintain laboratory levels of quality control and interpretation of results.     

A new species of Omicrus Sharp (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) from Puerto Rico and its larva, the first known larva of Omicrini

A remarkable new species of bromeliadicolous Hydrophilidae, Omicrus ingens sp.n., is described from Puerto Rico. Notes on the habitat and occurrence of the species are given. Larvae found in association with adult beetles are assigned to the same species and described as such. It is the first known larva of the sphaeridiine tribe Omicrini. Comparative notes are given to other hydrophilid larvae, particularly Sphaeridiinae, and preliminary keys to larvae are presented for known subfamilies of Hydrophilidae and known tribes of Sphaeridiinae.     

Desktop analysers: quality of results obtained by medical office personnel.

We carried out a study to evaluate the quality of results obtained by 14 nontechnical medical office personnel using desktop analysers. The instruments evaluated were the Reflotron analyser, the Seralyzer, the Vision analyser and the DT60 analyser. For precision studies low and high concentrations of control materials were used. For correlation studies the results obtained by the office personnel were compared with those obtained by a trained technologist. The coefficient of variation for the office personnel ranged from 3.0% to 8.1% with the Reflotron analyser, from 6.3% to 26.5% with the Seralyzer, from 1.0% to 4.1% with the Vision analyser and from 1.4% to 16.7% with the DT60 analyser. The correlation coefficient ranged from 0.970 to 0.997 with the Reflotron analyser, from 0.779 to 0.997 with the Seralyzer, from 0.975 to 0.998 with the Vision analyser and from 0.963 to 0.995 with the DT60 analyser. The proportion of results obtained by the office personnel that differed by more than 10% from those obtained by the technologist was 7% with the Reflotron analyser, 42% with the Seralyzer, 2% with the Vision analyser and 21% with the DT60 analyser. The instruments whose operation involves the least number of steps gave the most reliable results in the hands of medical office personnel.     

The neurohypophyseal capillary bed. I. Anatomy and arterial supply.

Vascular casts of the pituitary-median eminence complex of mice,rats, dogs, sheep and monkeys were examined with the scanning electron microscope. Microfil-injected specimens of the rabbit and monkey pituitary-median eminence complex were examined by light microscopy after intracranial internal carotid artery occlusion. In each species a common neuropophyseal capillary network was found uniting infundibulum (median eminence), infundibular stem and infundibular process. This capillary bed is supplied from above by superior hypophyseal arteries and from below by inferior hypophyseal arteries. An artery to the infundibular stem was found in some species. With occlusion of the intracranial internal carotid arteries, flow through superior hypophyseal arteries did not occur. Yet the entire neurohypophyseal capillary bed filled upon injection with Microfil. These observations suggest the concept of a restricted arterial supply to the median eminence with drainage to the underlying adenohypophsis on one hand and to the infundibular process with drainage to the systemic circulation on the other must be modifed and that blood flow within the neurohypophyseal capillary bed (between infundibular process and median eminence) occurs.