The morphogenesis of the stomach and intestine in the salamander Ambystoma maculatum

The major events associated with the morphogenesis of the amphibian alimentary tract are described and illustrated with a series of photomicrographs that present a continuous account of the differentiation process from its onset at stage 38 until the initiation of feeding at stage 46. Histological evidence is presented for the normal disappearance of the midgut region of the archenteron and the de novo formation of the intestine through the yolk mass. The mechanics of intestinal lumen formation are discussed in terms of the dynamic autonomous actions and interactions of the endoderm and the splanchnic mesoderm. The opening of the intestinal lumen as a consequence of cytolysis or cellular digestion is discounted. The relation of the present observations to the previously described polar endoderm cells is considered.     

对虾的不同发育阶段对有机磷农药的敏感性及其机理初探

对硫磷、甲基异柳磷和久效磷对中国对虾无节幼虫、蚤状幼虫、糠虾幼虫、仔虾的２４ｈＬＣ５０分别为６．０、４．０、３．８、１８×１０－３ｍｇ·Ｌ－１;８．０、３．５、３．５、３０×１０－３ｍｇ·Ｌ－１;２４、２４、２４、０．９ｍｇ·Ｌ－１;敌敌畏均为４８×１０－３ｍｇ·Ｌ－１;对硫磷对南美白对虾为８．６、８．２、８．０、２．０×１０－３ｍｇ·Ｌ－１．研究结果表明,对虾的幼虫前期对硫代磷酸酯类农药的抗性强,仔虾及以后各期抗性弱,而各幼虫期对磷酸酯类农药的敏感性基本相同．     

Changes in the activity of hydrolytic enzymes in the brain of rats intoxicated by ethyl-mercury-p-toluene-sulfanilide.

A histochemical study concerning the activity of phosphatases and esterases of the brain has been undertaken in rats experimentally intoxicated by the fungicide ethyl-mercury-p-toluenesulfanilide (EMTS). The results have shown that compared with other mercury compounds, both organic and inorganic ones, such as corrosive sublimate and calomel, EMTS proved to be a less induced of alterations in the activity of cerebral hydrolases. The brains of animals intoxicated by EMTS revealed a notable decrease of ATP-ase and acid phosphatase activity as well as a moderate drop of AChE activity. Instead, the neuronal TPPase activity was distinctly elevated. Degenerative changes of neurons were observed in various regions of the experimental brains, the pyramidal cells of the Ammon's horn being affected most severely.     

Viburnum tinus L.: Investigation on its spontaneous emission at different phenological stages

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Plasticity in newt metamorphosis: the effect of predation at embryonic and larval stages

1. Some organisms under variable predator pressure show induced antipredator defences, whose development incurs costs and may be associated with changes to later performance. This may be of especial relevance to animals with complex life histories involving metamorphosis. 2. This study examines the effect of predation environment, experienced both during embryonic and larval stages, on palmate newt (Triturus helveticus) metamorphosis. Newt eggs were raised until hatching with or without exposure to chemical cues from brown trout (Salmo trutta), and larval development was monitored in the presence or absence of the cues. 3. Exposure to predator cues during the embryonic stage resulted in higher growth rates at the larval stage, reduced time to metamorphosis and size at metamorphosis. Metamorphs also had narrower heads and shorter forelimbs than those from predator‐free treatments. In contrast, exposure to predator cues during the larval stage did not affect metamorph characteristics. 4. These results indicate that developing embryos are sensitive to predator chemical cues and that the responses can extend to later stages. Reversion of induced defences when predation risk ceased was not detected. We discuss the possible adaptive significance of these responses.     

Changes in the magnitude and distribution of forces at different Dictyostelium developmental stages

The distribution of forces exerted by migrating Dictyostelium amebae at different developmental stages was measured using traction force microscopy. By using very soft polyacrylamide substrates with a high fluorescent bead density, we could measure stresses as small as 30 Pa. Remarkable differences exist both in term of the magnitude and distribution of forces in the course of development. In the vegetative state, cells present cyclic changes in term of speed and shape between an elongated form and a more rounded one. The forces are larger in this first state, especially when they are symmetrically distributed at the front and rear edge of the cell. Elongated vegetative cells can also present a front-rear asymmetric force distribution with the largest forces in the crescent-shaped rear of the cell (uropod). Pre-aggregating cells, once polarized, only present this last kind of asymmetric distribution with the largest forces in the uropod. Except for speed, no cycle is observed. Neither the force distribution of pre-aggregating cells nor their overall magnitude are modified during chemotaxis, the later being similar to the one of vegetative cells (F(0) approximately 6 nN). On the contrary, both the force distribution and overall magnitude is modified for the fast moving aggregating cells. In particular, these highly elongated cells exert lower forces (F(0) approximately 3 nN). The location of the largest forces in the various stages of the development is consistent with the myosin II localization described in the literature for Dictyostelium (Yumura et al.,1984. J Cell Biol 99:894-899) and is confirmed by preliminary experiments using a GFP-myosin Dictyostelium strain.     

普甜玉米种子萌发期糖代谢和水解酶活性动态变化

种子萌发是一个较复杂的生理生化过程,是种子贮藏物质在酶的作用下经过一系列反应生成蔗糖、葡萄糖、果糖等各种糖类化合物,为种子萌发提供碳源和能量。该研究利用两个不同来源、籽粒营养成分具有差异的普甜玉米种子动态分析了种子萌发期蔗糖、果糖和葡萄糖代谢及关键水解酶活性的变化。结果表明:在种子萌发过程中,E22和T26两个普甜玉米种子的物质动员量、物质利用率、蔗糖、葡萄糖和果糖含量均存在遗传差异,其中淀粉含量较高的T26种子具有较突出的物质利用率,表明淀粉是影响普通甜玉米种子萌发的关键因子;在种子萌发4~8 d、6~10 d时,E22分别具有较高的蔗糖和葡萄糖含量,而T26是在萌发10 d时具有较高的果糖含量。随着种子发芽进程,蔗糖合成酶活性、淀粉酶活性都呈逐渐上升的趋势,但淀粉酶活性变幅较明显;进一步关联分析8个种子萌发物质利用性状间关系,结果表明种子萌发期间,种子物质动员量主要受淀粉酶活性影响,而种子物质利用率则主要受糖含量多少制约。因此,提高甜玉米种子萌发期物质利用率对其种子发芽和幼苗生长,增强其与杂草生长的竞争力,提高甜玉米产量均具有重要意义。     

Free amino acids and some enzymes of placental amino acid metabolism at different stages of its development]

There were revealed changes in the content of free amino acids and in the activity of glutamic dehydrogenase, aspartic- and alanine-aminotransferases in the course of development of the placenta in guinea pigs. The greatest values by the indices under study were reached by the 25th--30th days of pregnancy, i.e. by the period of final formation of the placenta. By the 40th day of pregnancy the activity of the enzymes and the content of free amino acids fell, and from the 45th day persisted at a certain stable level up to the occurrence of labour.     

不同林龄桤-柏混交林生态系统的碳储量及其分配

选取代表性的10、15、20和25年生桤(Alnus cremastogyne)柏(Cupressus funebris)混交林及由桤-柏混交林演替而来的30年生纯柏林为研究对象, 探讨了川中丘陵区人工桤-柏混交林生态系统碳储量的变化动态及其分配规律.结果表明：桤-柏混交林的植被碳储量在10～30年间持续增加,30年时达到52.40 t·hm^-2,5个林龄中乔木层碳储量所占比例均在85.59%以上;桤-柏混交林的土壤碳储量(0～40 cm)在10～15年间显著增加(P<0.05),15年时达最大值84.79 t·hm^-2,15～25年间显著下降(P<0.05),25～30年间趋于稳定(P>0.05);桤-柏混交林生态系统碳储量在15年时达最大值118.13 t·hm^-2,15～25年间缓慢下降,25～30年间有所增加;植被碳储量所占比例在10～30年间持续增加,土壤碳储量则相反.与我国其他类型人工林相比,桤-柏混交林的碳储量偏低.     

不同发育时期小麦种子活力的变化及其对环境温度的响应

以济麦22和山农23号为试验材料,利用标准发芽试验法对不同年份小麦种子发育过程中的种子活力变化进行研究,分析环境温度对不同发育时期小麦种子活力变化的影响,为早期小麦种子的利用及高活力种子的生产提供参考依据.结果表明: 伴随着小麦种子发育,鲜种子在花后26 d左右出现发芽能力,之后其发芽率整体呈上升趋势;干种子发芽势、发芽率和发芽指数在花后5～8 d迅速升高,之后保持相对稳定,活力指数主要受到幼苗单株干质量的影响而持续升高,一般在完熟前4～6 d达到最大值;不同发育时期小麦干种子的田间种植及其后代种子的活力测定表明,济麦22花后17 d以后的干种子田间出苗较好,并可成穗结实,其后代种子的发芽率和活力指数在不同样品间无显著差异.环境温度对不同发育时期小麦种子活力变化的影响显著,小麦花后日平均温度均值、日最高气温均值以及日最低气温均值均高,且花后日温差均值大的年份,种子发育时间短、百粒重及种子活力达到最大值的时间较早;反之,发育时间较长、百粒重及种子活力达到最大值的时间较晚,但完熟期积温高,种子活力较高.     

中亚热带常绿阔叶林不同演替阶段土壤呼吸及其温度敏感性的变化

为探明中亚热带地区常绿阔叶林演替序列土壤呼吸(R_s)的变化趋势及其影响机制, 在福建省建瓯市万木林自然保护区选取演替时间分别为15年(演替初期)、47年(演替中期)和110年(演替后期)三个不同演替阶段, 进行了为期1年的野外原位观测。结果发现: 演替初期、中期和后期的R_s分别为2.38、3.32和3.91 µmol·m ^-2·s ^-1, 温度敏感性(Q₁₀值)分别为2.64、1.97和1.79; 与演替初期相比, 演替后期的R_s显著增加64.29%, Q₁₀值显著降低32.30%; 不同演替阶段R_s的季节变化模式相似, 温度和含水量可分别解释季节变化的69.5% (初期)、81.9% (中期)和61.3% (后期); 回归分析发现, R_s与凋落物年归还量、细根生物量和土壤全氮和土壤有机质碳含量显著正相关。表明本研究区内植被演替促进了土壤碳排放, 降低了土壤呼吸的温度敏感性; 土壤碳输入增加、养分含量的提高和细根生物量增大是中亚热带常绿阔叶林R_s随演替进程逐渐增大的主要原因。     

Roles of macrophages in programmed cell death and remodeling of tail and body muscle of Xenopus laevis during metamorphosis

 Examination was made of the involvement of macrophage phagocytosis in programmed cell death of tail and body muscle of the frog, Xenopus laevis, during metamorphosis by electron microscopy and immunohistochemical analysis. Electron microscopic observation revealed that macrophages were often found to be present in body and tail muscles at the most active stage of metamorphosis and to actively phagocytose apoptotic muscle fragments. Developmental changes in macrophages were examined using the macrophage-specific antibody, HAM56. Macrophages initially appeared in the early climax stage (stage 59), when the triiodothyronine (T₃) level was high, increased rapidly during the process of muscle cell death, and assumed their greatest number at the late climax stage (stage 63/64). They decreased after stage 65/66, with a decrease in T₃. Distribution and change in the number of macrophages were the same as those of muscle apoptotic bodies (sarcolytes) during metamorphosis, which suggests an interactive mechanism between macrophages and dying muscle cells. For clarification of this, study was made of the expression of HAM 56 antigens that were X. laevis homologs of mouse attachmin, non-specific adhesion proteins in macrophages. The expression of HAM56 antigens in macrophages was found to increase with macrophage phagocytosis at the late climax stage, thus, macrophage differentiation would appear to take place during metamorphosis and HAM56 antigens may be essential for macrophage–dying muscle cell interactions. Accepted: 29 May 1997