Proximal structure and development in the Ordovician graptolite Parisograptus Chen and Zhang, 1996

The proximal development of Parisograptus Chen and Zhang is described from three–dimensionally preserved specimens. The unique development features an origin of proximal thecae like a string of pearls vertically upon each other on the reverse side of the rhabdosome with the dorsal sides of the initial stipes placed side by side. The development differs strongly from that found in the superficially similar Arienigraptus in which the first thecal pairs grow downwards side by side, even though the rhabdosome shapes are quite similar. It represents a first step towards the development of a completely biserial rhabdosome and eventually leads to the biserial, monopleural glossograptids.     

志留纪笔石Oktavitesexcentricus(Bjerreskov,1975)的古生物学特征及地层意义*

陕西紫阳地区在古地理上位于扬子台地西北缘,区域内志留纪地层发育,其中志留系兰多维列统(Llandovery)特列奇阶(Telychian)笔石相地层出露较为完整,笔石带较为连续。Oktavites excentricus(Bjerreskov,1975)是特列奇阶Oktavites spiralis笔石带重要的伴生分子,在世界范围内广泛分布。文中通过对紫阳地区一系列特列奇阶剖面研究后认为,Oktavites excentricus较短的化石延限和广泛的古地理分布使其具备地层对比潜力,这将为Oktavites spiralis笔石带的进一步细分提供依据。同时,Oktavites excentricus胞管为典型的奥氏笔石式,其笔石体的盘旋方式又与稍晚的Cyrtograptus lapworthi(Tullberg,1883)(笔石带化石,弓笔石类的早期代表)十分接近,因此,对该种的演化过程的研究也为讨论弓笔石的起源过程提供了更多参考。     

The evolution of anther morphology in orchids: incumbent anthers, superposed pollinia, and the vandoid complex

The anther is the source of several of the principal characters traditionally used for classification in Orchidaceae, especially in Epidendroideae. In particular, anther and pollinium orientation are important, but little-studied characters; it is not known whether various instances of these states are achieved in the same way. We examined variation in anther and pollinium orientation in Epidendroideae and Vanilloideae using anatomical sections of columns at successive ontogenetic stages and related the observed changes to the final anther morphology to reexamine our homology hypotheses for these characters. Anther bending in vanilloids is achieved primarily by massive expansion of the connective. In nonvandoid epidendroids it is the result of column elongation and tipping of the mature anther, while in vandoids it is due to a redirection of growth in very early ontogenetic stages. Superposed pollinia result from a reorientation of developing thecae; those is Sobralia result from incurving of the thecae, while vandoids have thecae that are directed outward (latrorse). Contrasting ontogenetic and phylogenetic patterns suggest heterochronic changes in these characters, especially in vandoids. These observations allow us to further refine character states that are crucial to our understanding of orchid relationships.     

The Arthropod Alalcomenaeus cambricus Simonetta, from the Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale of British Columbia

More than 300 specimens of the previously rare arthropod Alalcomenaeus cambricus Simonetta have been collected from a new Burgess Shale locality in the Glossopleura Zone on Mount Stephen, British Columbia. This new material provides much more complete information on its morphology. The cephalon was covered by a shield. A pair of pedunculate eyes and three median eyes were followed by a large anterior appendage, the 'great appendage', bearing three long flagella. The two posterior head appendages, like those of the trunk, were biramous. They consisted of a segmented, inner branch, and a flap-like outer branch, fringed with long filaments. The trunk consisted of 11 somites, each protected by a tergite and bearing a pair of biramous limbs. The telson was paddle-like and fringed posteriorly with wide flat spines. Alalcomenaeus was probably a predator, moving mainly by swimming. It is now known to be one of the more abundant, widely distributed and longest ranging of Burgess Shale arthropod genera. Its affinities lie with the Arachnomorpha.     

Didymograptus bifidus and the trans-Atlantic correlation of the Lower Ordovician

Bergström, S. M. & Cooper, R. A.: Didymograptus bi'us and the trans-Atlantic correlation of the Lower Ordovician.
The co-occurrence of Didymograptus bifidus (Hall) and Prioniodus mae Lindstrom, and other conodonts of the middle Arenigian P. mae Zone in the upper part of the Marathon Limestone, Texas, provides the first non-graptolitic evidence that at least part of the D. bifidus Zone, as recognized in the reference area for the standard graptolite zonal succession of the Ordovician of North America, is as old as the BritisK D. nitidus Zone. This has important implications for the correlation of Early Ordovician rocks within North America and across the Atlantic. A regional review of the available evidence from conodonts and shelly megafossils indicates that the D. bifidus—D. artus graptolite assemblage widely used for identification of the D. bifidus Zone in North America ranges in age from the middle Arenigian to, probably, the lower Llanvirnian, and hence is of relatively limited use for precise local and regional correlations. It is also noted that the base of the North American Middle Ordovician falls within hograptus 'caduceus' Zone strata that apparently correspond to an interval in the middle to upper part of the British D. hirundo Zone.     

The proximal tubule in the pathophysiology of the diabetic kidney

Diabetic nephropathy is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease. A better understanding of the molecular mechanism involved in the early changes of the diabetic kidney may permit the development of new strategies to prevent diabetic nephropathy. This review focuses on the proximal tubule in the early diabetic kidney, particularly on its exposure and response to high glucose levels, albuminuria, and other factors in the diabetic glomerular filtrate, the hyperreabsorption of glucose, the unique molecular signature of the tubular growth phenotype, including aspects of senescence, and the resulting cellular and functional consequences. The latter includes the local release of proinflammatory chemokines and changes in proximal tubular salt and fluid reabsorption, which form the basis for the strong tubular control of glomerular filtration in the early diabetic kidney, including glomerular hyperfiltration and odd responses like the salt paradox. Importantly, these early proximal tubular changes can set the stage for oxidative stress, inflammation, hypoxia, and tubulointerstitial fibrosis, and thereby for the progression of diabetic renal disease.     

Immunolocalisation of vasoactive intestinal peptide and substance P in the developing gut of Dicentrarchus labrax (L.)

This study was carried out on the sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) to follow, during development, the appearance and distribution of substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), which act on gut motility. The results suggest that SP and VIP play an important role as neuromodulators, influencing the motility of the digestive tract starting from the early stages of gut development, even prior to exotrophic feeding. In the peptidergic nervous system, the appearance of immunoreactivity to SP began at the rectum and followed a distal to proximal gradient, whereas for VIP, it began proximally and progressed along a proximal to distal gradient. The two peptides also appeared in gut epithelial cells. In some regions, all the cells were positive. From this distribution of positive cells, we conclude that these peptides may also have other roles, besides being neurotransmitters in the enteric nervous system and hormones of the gastro-entero-pancreatic system. VIP and SP might have paracrine and/or autocrine activity in the physiological maturation of the gut epithelium, as it has already been hypothesised for other peptides.     

The systematic position of mites of the genus Larinyssus Strandtmann (Gamasoidea, Rhinonyssidae), parasitizing gulls]

A study was carried out of the variability of mited colledted from 6 species of birds as follows: Larus argentatus Pontopp., L. minutus Pall., Gelochelidon nilotica Gm., Chlidonias leucoptera (Temm.), Ch. nigra (L.) and Sterna hirundo L. Structural peculiarities characteristic of the parasites of the above species have been revealed. The mites from St. hirundo were isolated into a distinct species, Larinyssus substerna sp. n., which is most close to L. sterna Fain, 1972. The new species differs from L. sterna in a smaller size of gnathosoma and chelicerae, lesser number of hypostomal setae and the presence of pigidial shields.     

Clonal analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Distal-less</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">engrailed</Emphasis> expression patterns during early morphogenesis of uniramous and biramous crustacean limbs

In order to investigate the correlation of cell lineage, gene expression, and morphogenesis of uniramous and biramous limbs we studied limb formation in the thorax and pleon of the amphipod Orchestia cavimana and the isopod Porcellio scaber. We took advantage of the fact that in amphipod and isopod crustaceans—both Malacostraca—uniramous limbs evolved independently in the thorax whereas ancestral biramous limbs are formed in the pleon (abdomen). The gene Distal-less is expressed in the early limb buds as in other arthropods. Accordingly, it is likely to be responsible for the development of the proximodistal axis of the appendages. Double staining of Distal-less and Engrailed proteins suggests that Distal-less in the pleon of the amphipod Orchestia might not be under the control of the Wingless protein. Additionally, we studied axis formation of the uniramous and biramous limbs. In both species investigated, biramous limbs originate exclusively by the subdivision of the original limb bud. Both distal elements continuously express Distal-less. There is flexibility in the suppression of the development of additional branches in the crustacean limb. In the amphipod O. cavimana, uniramous thoracopods are formed by downregulation of Distal-less in the area where, in biramous limbs, the exopodites would occur. In contrast, this region never expresses Distal-less in the uniramous thoracopods of the isopod P. scaber. Our results suggest that the gene expression pattern is independent of the cell division pattern. Gene expression domains and morphogenesis of limbs and segments, on the other hand, show a good correlation.Edited by D. Tautz     

Punctuated stasis and collateral evolution in the Devonian lineage of Monograptus hercynicus

The changes in the sicula of Early Devonian monograptid graptolite populations show a pattern that is described as punctuated stasis: two longer periods of stasis separated by a transitional population of shorter duration between them. The pattern differs from punctuated equilibrium in that anagenesis is involved rather than cladogenesis. The pattern has been observed in several widely separated areas (Nevada, Thuringia, Poland, Ural Mountains) and is an example of collateral evolution in graptolites. In this case, the collateral morphologic change occurs relatively rapidly in a large, globally distributed taxon. The study permits accurate correlation of the horizon of appearance of Monograptus hercynicus Pemer in the upper delta Zone (conodont zonation) of late Lochkovian age (Devonian) on a global scale. The partial integration of these two biostratigraphies constrains correlations between the shelly, shallow-water biofacies and the deeper graptolitic biofacies. The pattern of punctuated stasis has been discovered in Lower Devonian strata of central Nevada, where 22 horizons in sequence were sampled. Statistical analyses were performed on 13 characters encompassing measurements of the sicula, thecae, and rhabdosome. Most of these characters do not exhibit sustained trends or punctuated changes. However, sicular width exhibits an abrupt increase over a short stratigraphic interval and is used to classify members of the group into four quantitatively defined morphotypes. This natural perturbation in the pattern of change is used to divide the lineage into paleospecies. This makes the segments of the lineage easy to identify and imparts stability to the classification and precision in biostratigraphy. The variation studies enable the ranges of the morphotypes to be used to further subdivide the stratigraphic record of the late Lochkovian. □ Graptolites, Devonian, Lochkovian, evolution, punctuated stasis, biostratigraphy, MONOGRAPTUS, phylogeny.     

Floral organogenesis of Chloranthus sessilifolius, with special emphasis on the morphological nature of the androecium of Chloranthus (Chloranthaceae)

 Floral organogenesis of Chloranthus sessilifolius K. F. Wu is described. The inflorescence primordium is dome-like in the beginning and then elongates, and bract primordia initiate almost decussately. Each floral primordium, arising from the axil of a bract, soon becomes a scale-like structure, with three primordia of androecial lobes originating from its abaxial part, and the gynoecial primordium in adaxial position. As the androecial lobes become more distinct, four thecae are already in differentiation, and the gynoecial primordium appears as a shallow disc. The androecial lobes do not extend their length until the thecae approach maturity and the stigma is differentiated. The androecial lobes are united at all the stages of development, and the entire androecium falls off as a unit at the end of anthesis. Based on these results, combined with published evidence from neobotany, palaeobotany and phylogenetic studies, the morphological nature of the androecium of Chloranthus is further discussed. Our studies support the viewpoint that the androecial structure of Chloranthus may have arisen by splitting of a single stamen with 2 marginal thecae. Received May 2, 2001 Accepted December 18, 2001     

Probable advanced hydroid from the Early Ordovician of China

A fossil of a colonial organism with pyritized soft tissues of elongated fusiform zooids, found in the middle part of the early Floian Fenxiang Formation in Hubei Province of China, probably represents the oldest reliable record of a hydroid cnidarian. The preservation of the fossil is sufficiently different from that of associated carbonized skeletons of graptolites to exclude affinities with this group. The fossil is unlikely to be a bryozoan because of the mode of budding from proximal, not distal, parts of parent zooids, which is typical rather of hydroids. Although no thecae are preserved, the fossil, named Sinobryon elongatum gen. et sp. nov., is suggested to be a thecate hydroid, possibly related to the Haleciidae. The apparent presence of an advanced member of the thecaphoran Macrocolonia clade in strata 470 Ma old means that much of the hydroid (and cnidarian) diversification preceded the Middle Ordovician.     

Homology of Holocene ostracode biramous appendages with those of other crustaceans: the protopod, epipod, exopod and endopod

Unambiguously biramous appendages with a proximal precoxa, well-defined coxa and basis, setose plate-like epipod originating on the precoxa, and both an endopod and exopod attached to the terminal end of the basis are described from several living Ostracoda of the order Halo-cyprida (Myodocopa). These limbs are proposed as the best choice for comparison of ostracode limbs with those of other crustaceans and fossil arthropods with preserved limbs, such as the Cambrian superficially ostracode-like Kunmingella and Hesslandona. The 2nd maxilla of Metapolycope (Cladocopina) and 1st trunk limb of Spelaeoecia, Deeveya and Thaumatoconcha (all Halocypridina) are illustrated, and clear homologies are shown between the parts of these limbs and those of some general crustacean models as well as some of the remarkable crustacean s.s. Orsten fossils. No living ostracodes exhibit only primitive morphology; all have at least some (usually many) derived characters. Few have the probably primitive attribute of trunk segmentation (two genera of halocyprid Myodocopa, one order plus one genus of Podocopa, and the problematic Manawa); unambiguously biramous limbs are limited to a few halo-cyprids. Homologies between podocopid limbs and those of the illustrated primitive myodocopid limbs are tentatively suggested. A setose plate-like extension, often attached basally to a podocopid protopod, is probably homologous to the myodocopid epipod, which was present at least as early as the Triassic. Somewhat more distal, less setose, and plate-like extensions, present on some podocopid limbs (e.g., mandible), may be homologous instead to the exopod (clearly present on myodocopid mandibles). The coxa (or precoxa) is by definition the most basal part of the limb. A molar-like tooth is present proximally on the mandibular protopod of many ostracodes; it is the coxal endite and projects medially from the coxa (or proximal protopod). The Ostracoda is probably a monophyletic crustacean group composed of Myodocopa and Podocopa. All have a unique juvenile (not a larva) initially with three or more limbs. Except that juveniles lack some setae and limbs, they are morphologially similar to the adult. Thus the following suite of characters in all instars may be considered a synapomorphy uniting all Ostracoda: (1) Each pair of limbs is uniquely different from the others. (2) The whole body is completely enclosed within a bivalved carapace that lacks growth lines. (3) No more than nine pairs of limbs are present in any instar. (4) The body shows little or no segmentation, with no more than ten dorsally defined trunk segments. No other crustaceans have this suite of characters. A probable synapomorphy uniting the Podocopa is a 2nd antenna with exopod reduced relative to the endopod.     

Two distinct classes of prechondrogenic cell types in the embryonic limb bud

Differences are demonstrated in the chondrogenic potential of cells derived from the distal and proximal halves of chick wing buds from as early as stage 23, prior to the appearance of overt cartilage differentiation. In high cell density cultures, cells obtained from the distal portions of stage 23 or 24 limb buds are spontaneously chondrogenic in micromass cultures. Cells obtained from the proximal portions, however, become blocked in their differentiation as protodifferentiated cartilage cels, since these cells in micromass cultures make detectable type II collagen, but fail to synthesize significant levels of cartilage proteoglycan or to accumulate an extracellular matrix that will stain for sulfated glycosaminoglycans. Such cultures of proximal limb bud cells can be stimulated to form alcian blue staining nodules by the addition of 1 mM dbcAMP or 50 micrograms/ml ascorbate, or by mixing proximal cells with small numbers of distal cells (1 distal cell to 10 proximal cells). These results demonstrate the existence of two distinct stages among prechondrogenic mesenchyme cells. The earlier stage appears to be able to provide a chondrogenic stimulus to proximal cells.     

The cellular changes in primary and recurrent infection with herpes simplex virus type 2 in an in vitro model

The cellular changes of primary and recurrent herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection were investigated in in vitro models. In the primary infection model, nuclear changes were characterized by clumping and margination of the nuclear chromatin, a homogeneous ground-glass nuclear appearance, multinucleation and the appearance of two different types of intranuclear inclusions. One of the two types of inclusions appeared as early as six hours postinfection, reached a maximum at nine hours postinfection and gradually decreased thereafter. This early inclusion, relatively small in size as compared to the other type of inclusion, gave a basophilic staining when the Papanicolaou staining method was used. The other type of inclusion was the typical Cowdry type A inclusion, which appeared as early as 12 hours postinfection. Both types of inclusions contained clear perinuclear halo. In the recurrent infection model, the appearance of all the nuclear changes was delayed, the appearance of early inclusions was infrequent, and the Cowdry type A inclusions were observed more frequently than in the primary infection model. These results may indicate that the early inclusion is a sign of rapid virus replication while the Cowdry type A inclusion is one form of the remains of an HSV infection.     

Limb ontogeny and trunk segmentation in Nebalia species (Crustacea, Malacostraca, Leptostraca)

The ’egg-larval’ development of two species of Nebalia has been examined with SEM. Various details concerning limb ontogeny and trunk segmentation are described. The most important of these are the following. The tripartite state of the peduncle of antenna 2 in the adult of Nebalia species is derived from the fusion of the third and fourth podomeres, present in late larvae. The proximal portion of the mandible in the adult of Nebalia brucei, carrying the ’coxal process’, is, based on the ontogenetic evidence, interpreted as the combined basis and coxa, and the bipartite palp is interpreted as the endopod. The early development of the thoracopods and the three anteriormost pleopods is identical. They all start as laterally directed, biramous limb buds. This suggests that tagmatisation of the trunk of the Leptostraca (and other Malacostraca) has been developed from an ancestor with an undivided trunk region with serially similar limbs. Certain early stages reveal an extra, ’eighth’, limbless pleon segment, as compared with the normal number of seven pleomeres of adult Leptostraca. The presence of a row of ventral, sternitic, triangular processes between the bases of the thoracopods, as they are found in certain stages of a species of Nebalia, is suggested as a possible ground pattern for the Malacostraca. Accepted: 1 February 2000     

The progress zone model for specifying positional information

The Progress Zone Model proposes that positional information in a growing system can be specified by the time the cells spend in a zone where growth occurs. In the vertebrate limb, the Progress Zone is specified by the Apical Ectodermal Ridge. The best evidence for the model is that killing cells in the zone at an early stage leads to loss of proximal structure as cells remain much longer in the zone as it becomes repopulated.     

兰科新种巾唇兰的花粉团发育及分类学意义

巾唇兰属是我国新记录属,近十余年来先后在我国南方发现了两种,包括在云南发现的新种——巾唇兰（Pennilabium yunnanense）。利用解剖镜和石蜡切片技术观察了巾唇兰具有分类学意义的花形态特征和花粉团发育的胚胎学特征,结果如下。成熟花的合蕊柱短,无蕊柱足;花粉块由2个球形花粉团、粘盘和粘盘柄组成。在花药发育早期,花药原基分化出一对侧生并列药室;在小孢子母细胞时期,每个小孢子囊在两个药室相邻的内花药壁处分化出一段不贯穿药室的不育隔膜组织。在花药发育过程中,该隔膜组织逐渐被吸收降解,到花粉成熟时形成2个开口朝内的孔裂花粉团。发育成熟的花药壁共有4层,发育类型为单子叶型,绒毡层为单核、腺质型。在小孢子母细胞进入减数分裂阶段,表皮细胞变窄出现了降解,中层和绒毡层细胞也逐渐被吸收和降解;花药成熟时,花药壁仅剩下残缺的表皮和纤维状加厚明显的药室内壁。小孢子母细胞通过同时型胞质减数分裂形成小孢子四分体,其排列方式主要为正四面体形和左右对称,成熟花粉为2细胞型。本文从形态发育角度澄清了巾唇兰花粉团特征的描述,讨论了其花粉团发育特征的分类学意义,为兰科花药发育多样性提供了新资料。     

A Silurian 'marrellomorph' arthropod

Xylokorys chledophilia, a new arthropod with three-dimensionally preserved soft tissues, is described from the Herefordshire (Silurian) Lagerstätte of England. The head and trunk are covered by a relatively featureless ovoid carapace, which comprises a domed central part and a flange-like border. The head bears five pairs of appendages. The first is uniramous, with dorsal and ventral projections distally. Appendages two to four are biramous and each endopod terminates in two projections. Appendage five is possibly biramous. The hypostome is very long and subrectangular in outline. There are approximately 35 pairs of biramous trunk appendages. Each exopod comprises a long slender shaft bearing numerous fine filaments; each endopod comprises a ribbon-like shaft bearing paddle-like endites. Morphological comparisons and cladistic analyses of X. chledophilia indicate affinity with Vachonisia rogeri from the Lower Devonian Hunsrück Slate, within the marrellomorphs, but assignment to Marrellomorpha is provisional pending revision of other members of this clade. Xylokorys is the first ‘marrellomorph’ to be reported from the Silurian. It is interpreted as a benthic particle filter feeder, which may also have consumed prey items.