Temperature acclimation in respiratory and cytochrome c oxidase activity in common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

• 1.1. Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) exposed to experimental temperatures of 12, 18, 24, 30 or 36°C for a 4-week period were used to investigate the effect of temperature acclimation on the frequency of opercular movement (FOM), growth and cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) activity in heart, liver and muscle.
• 2.2. An exponential relationship between FOM and temperature after the first week (10₁₀ =1.76) disappeared after the second week.
• 3.3. The initially high FOM at temperatures of 30 or 36°C and the low FOM at 18 or 12°C changed over 4 weeks to approach the FOM of fish at 24°C.
• 4.4. This change in the relationship of FOM to temperature from highly dependent to independent appeared to be thermal compensation.
• 5.5. Heart and liver CCO activities were significantly affected by temperature, with the lowest activity at the approximate optimum temperature for growth, 24°C.
• 6.6. Highest CCO activities for heart and liver occurred at both the highest and lowest temperatures.
• 7.7. Among the three tissues, heart CCO activity was generally the highest and most affected by acclimation temperature.
• 8.8. Muscle tissue had the lowest CCO activity and was unaffected by temperature.
• 9.9. The high CCO activity at a cold acclimation of temperature 12°C was probably due to thermal compensation and the high activity at 36°C may have been a result of thermal stress.

     

Isohematoporphyrin-diesters and diethers

• 1.1. A series of diesters of isohematoporphyrin (isoHp), from dimethyl to dioctyl were prepared according to Rimington et al. (1989b). Their optical absorption, fluorescence spectra and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) retention times were recorded.
• 2.2. A plot of HPLC retention time against number of C atoms in the alcohol used for esterification was approximately linear at first then rising steeply from diamyl to diocyi ester, whether a gradient elution was used or only methanol: water, 95/5, at pH 7.5.
• 3.3. Preparation of the diethers of isoHp was much more difficult than that of the corresponding derivatives of hematoporphyrin (Hp). Several different methods were investigated, varying both times and temperatures.
• 4.4. These methods included reaction of isoHp or its demethyl ester with
  • 4.1.(i) a bromoalkane in presence of anhydrous K₂CO₃;
  • 4.2.(ii) reaction with bromoalkane and Ag₂O;
  • 4.3.(iii) reaction of brominated-isoHp, prepared by using thionylbromide, with the selected alcohol, or corresponding sodium alcoholate;
  • 4.4.(iv) heating of isoHp alone with an alcohol containing 20% (w/v) H₂SCO₄ (temp. range from 45° to 118°C),
  • 4.5.(v) refluxing as in (iv) at the b.p. of the alcohol; and
  • 4.6.(vi) carrying out this reaction in refluxing ethyleneglycoldimethyl ether (b.p. 85°C) or diethyleneglycoldimethyl ether (b.p. 155°C).
• 5.5. Some diether formation was observable by all these methods but yields were small, a considerable quantity of unreacted isoHp and other products remaining.
• 6.6. Examined by HPLC, the diethers consistently afforded a forked peak which on thin layer chromatography was only resolved into two very closely associated bands by a solvent mixture carefully selected for development.
• 7.7. On elution these materials had virtually identical optical absorption and fluoresence spectra.
• 8.8. The nature of the association is discussed, atropisomers (Gottwald and Ullman, 1969) and possible stacked monomer: dimers (Abraham et al., 1963) being considered as possibilities.

     

Effects of long-term food restriction on energy expenditure and thermoregulation in broiler-breeder fowls (Gallus domesticus)

• 1.1. From 2 to 21 weeks of age, 150 female broiler-breeder chicks received one of three dietary treatments. Fifty received an ad libitum supply of food (treatment AL). The remaining 100 were given weighed (restricted) rations once a day, 50 receiving the amount per bird recommended in the Ross 1 Parent Stock Management Manual (treatment R) and the other 50 receiving twice this recommended amount (treatment 2R). Water was provided ad libitum for all treatment groups.
• 2.2. The daily allowance for R birds increased from 26 g per bird at 2 weeks of age to 94 g at 21 weeks. The intake of AL birds meanwhile increased from 65 g at 2 weeks to 240 g at 19 weeks, before decreasing to about 200 g at 21 weeks.
• 3.3. Median heat productions (H) per bird in the R and 2R treatment groups were, respectively, 65 and 40% lower than in the AL when adjustment was made for the reduced food intake of AL birds in the calorimeter chambers. The effects of dietary treatment on fasting H were proportionally similar.
• 4.4. Because the increasing divergence in body weights would have made a large contribution to differences in H per bird, the results were adjusted to the median weight of 2.03 kg and to unit weight (1.00kg). Adjusted fasting heat production was 18 and 11% less in 2R and R birds than in those fed ad libitum.
• 5.5. If age was included as a variate in the logarithmic multiple regression, H was proportional to body weight (W, kg) raised to the power 0.73; if age was not included, H was proportional to W^0.55.
• 6.6. Rectal temperature was 0.7°C higher in AL birds at ambient temperatures of both 23 and 28°C. All treatment groups had a higher rectal temperature at 28°C than at 23°C, with the AL birds most affected.
• 7.7. Foot surface temperature of R birds at an ambient temperature of 23°C was 8°C lower than that of the 2R and AL groups, indicating peripheral vasoconstriction.
• 8.8. Polypnea (panting) and wing-extension occurred frequently in the AL birds, which also had a greater water intake. It was also observed that the restricted birds tended to aggregate, while the AL groups tended to space themselves evenly about the pen.
• 9.9. It was concluded that broiler breeder fowl responded to restricted food intake by a reduction in heat production over and above that resulting directly from reduced metabolism of food and reduced body weight. The reduced metabolic rate per unit of weight conferred a thermoregulatory advantage at high ambient temperature.

     

Utilization of body stores in embryonated ova and larvae of two coregonid species (Coregonus lavaretus L. and C. albula L.)

• 1.1. Developing eggs of whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus L.) and vendace (Coregonus albula L.) were kept at 1–2°C and some eggs taken gradually up to 8°C to provoke mass hatching of embryos.
• 2.2. Wet weight, dry matter and the contents of lipid, protein and ash were measured in fish during the course of experiment.
• 3.3. Dry matter content decreased gradually in whitefish eggs from 15.64 to 11.95% during 1 month at 1–2°C, whereas vendace eggs showed only a slight decrease from 16.27 to 15.53%.
• 4.4. In both species protein content decreased but lipid increased when approaching the natural time of hatching.
• 5.5. During delayed hatching at low water temperatures protein contributes to catabolism, whereas lipid content decreased only in the later phase of the experiment.
• 6.6. Larvae starved for 10 days after hatching lost increasing amounts of dry matter (from 26.1 to 50.3% of body weight) and protein (from 18.7 to 45.9% of body weight) as they remained longer in cold water as embryos.
• 7.7. A correspondence was found between assessment of metabolic utilization of body stores based on chemical analysis of fish body and previous work on oxygen consumption and nitrogen excretion.

     

Characterization of two distinct latent proteinases associated with myofibrils of crucian carp (Carassius auratus cuvieri)

:

• 1.1. Enzymatic properties of two distinct proteinases tightly associated with crucian carp myofibrils were characterized.
• 2.2. These proteinases were latent but activated at 50 and 60°C, respectively.
• 3.3. The optimum pH of 50°C-proteinase was neutral-alkaline, while that of 60°C-proteinase was weak acid-neutral pH.
• 4.4. Both proteinases required more than 1% NaCl for the activity, but 50°C-proteinase was partially inhibited at higher concentrations of NaCl.
• 5.5. Both proteinases were regarded as trypsin-like proteinases belonging to a serine proteinase family, but only 60°C-proteinase was sensitive to urea, n-butanol and iso-propanol.

     

Influence of environmental factors on the deep and skin temperature in the European bison,Bison bonasus (L.)

• 1.1. In 43 European bison divided into three groups (Group A, 3–8-month-old calves; Group B, 18-month-7-year-old young bison; Group C, 12–24-year-old bison) the rectal, humerus region and abdomen region temperatures were measured.
• 2.2. The experiments were carried out in winter months, from mid-December to mid-March.
• 3.3. The mean rectal temperatures changed from 38.55°C in calves to 38.15°C in the oldest bison.
• 4.4. The mean temperatures of the humerus region changed from 20.69°C in calves to 21.49°C in older bison.
• 5.5. The mean temperatures of the abdomen region changed from 20.79°C in calves to 22.17°C in older bison (Gr. B).
• 6.6. The cluster analysis divided the bison into four groups named hot, warm, cool and cold bison.
• 7.7. Only air temperature measured 2 m above the ground and snow cover influenced the integrated bison temperature. Age, sex and mass as well as some environmental factors had no influence.
• 8.8. Measurements made 1 to nearly 4hr after a bison's death showed a drop in rectal temperature and mostly increases in temperatures of the humerus and abdomen regions.

     

Identification and characterization of a third form (D3) of cyclic 3'5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase from rhizobwm fredii

• 1.1. A third form (D3) of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from Rhizobiumfrediiv/as detected and characterized for the first time.
• 2.2. The enzyme could hydrolyse both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP with apparent K_m for cyclic AMP of approx. 0.2 μM.
• 3.3. D3 cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase had a pH optimum of about 6.0 when hydrolysing cyclic AMP.
• 4.4. The enzyme lost almost all its activity when heated to 60°C for 20 min.
• 5.5. Gel filtration with Sephadex G-100 gave a mol. wt of approx. 42.5 kD for the native enzyme.

     

Relevance of atmospheric odours and geomagnetic field to pigeon navigation: What is the “map” basis?

• 1.1. Pigeon homing is highly affected by olfactory deprivation, as can be seen from an almost complete lack of homeward orientation of initial bearings, from widely dispersed recovery sites, and from a strong reduction of homing success which achieves, in inexperienced pigeons displaced over longer distances, a level of zero.
• 2.2. Orientational deficits can be produced not only by various methods to eliminate the sense of smell, but also by elimination of odorous substances from the ambient air.
• 3.3. It is concluded that the observed deficits result from an interruption of an information flow necessary for navigation, and are not due to some general, nonspecific distraction or reduced motivation to home.
• 4.4. The range of olfactory navigation is large (radius up to 500 km and more), but not unlimited. Within this range, the pigeons do not depend on olfactory stimuli perceived during displacement to the release site.
• 5.5. Despite some controversial discussions of the matter, no experimental findings have been published contradicting the above statements and conclusions.
• 6.6. Experimental interference with perception of the geomagnetic field resulted, under sun (and thus with the sun compass capable to operate), in increased scatter of initial bearings, sometimes in slightly reduced homing speeds, but not in disoriented or poorly oriented recovery bearings and not in reduced homing success.
• 7.7. Correlations between initial orientation and spatial as well as temporal variations of the geomagnetic field, as reported by several authors, are unsuited to prove involvement of geomagnetism in the process of site localization.
• 8.8. It is concluded that atmospheric odours are a necessary component of the pigeons' navigational “map” system, whereas the geomagnetic field is not. It seems unlikely that the latter is involved in this system at all, and if it is, its role is expected to be quite subordinate and redundant at best.

     

Do birds possess brown adipose tissue?

• 1.1. Fluorescence and electron microscopy were used to visualize differences between avian adipose tissue (AAT) collected from clavicular and abdominal regions of the great tit, the willow tit, the house sparrow and the Japanese quail, and interscapular brown adipose tissue (BAT) obtained from the Djungarian dwarf hamster.
• 2.2. Multilocular fat cells were found in AAT. The prerequisite for multilocularity, however, was not simply winter acclimatization [short photophase 4L:20D and low ambient temperature (< −20°C in January in Oulu)] or cold-acclimation (−25°C). Multilocular adipocytes were found during autumn and in unacclimated control birds as well. Mitochondria in the AAT were fewer and about one-sixth the length of those in BAT. This finding was associated with low cytochrome oxidase (COX) activity in the tissue homogenate and isolated mitochondrial fraction of the AAT (< 5.2% of that in BAT).
• 3.3. Catecholamine fluorescence was seen only around arteries in the AAT. Signs of sympathetic parenchymal innervation were found neither in winter- nor in cold-acclimated birds, but typically, sympathetic nerve fibers forming a basket-like network around every cell were seen in the brown fat of the hamster.
• 4.4. Our results show that AAT in the adult birds resembles white adipose tissue more than brown. Multilocularity of adipocytes may improve lipolysis to deliver fatty acids for muscle fuel of shivering or NST.

     

Human-induced tachycardia in wild and tame mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

• 1.1. The effect of regular handling on fear reactions was investigated in mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) by exposing six hand-reared and four wild ducks to an approaching human being and recording heart rates with an external ECG device.
• 2.2. All ducks reacted to the approach with tachycardia, but the response was significantly less in tame birds.
• 3.3. Hand-reared females showed less response than males. No sex-linked differences were apparent in the wild ducks.
• 4.4. Decreasing responses throughout the experiments were only found in tame birds.
• 5.5. Fear or stress reactions can apparently be diminished through habituation induced by regular handling.

     

Purification and characterization of the amylolytic enzymes of Saccharomycopsis fibuligera

• 1.1. A complex of extracellular amylolytic enzymes produced by Saccharomycopsis fibuligera KZ, grown on fine fibre (waste product from corn starch production) and corn-steep liquor, has been studied.
• 2.2. α-Amylases and glucoamylases, as the main representatives of this complex, were separated by hydrophobic chromatography on Spheron 300 LC.
• 3.3. Individual isoenzymes of one type were separated on FPLC-Mono Q.
• 4.4. The relative molecular weight of α-amylases is 54,000, glucoamylases 62,000, maximal activity is reached by both enzymes between pH 5.0 and 6.2 at a temperature of 40–50°C.
• 5.5. Glucoamylases have a higher stability of the native structure than α-amylases, they retain 55% of their original activity, even after 10 min of incubation at 100°C.

     

Analysis of clotting defects in diseased lobsters—I. Alterations in blood parameters

• 1.1. In gaffkemic lobsters kept at 15°C. drastic declines in the hemocyte number and clotting ability occur.
• 2.2. In animals kept at 10°C, although some clotting defects rapidly occur, a high number of amoebocytes is found. Clotting ability reappears after 5 days.
• 3.3. The proportion of each type of hemocyte changes. Numerous hemocytes show morphologic altered features.
• 4.4. Dorsal hematopoietic tissue is as in control lobsters.
• 5.5. Total protein contents are similar in bacteremic or control lobster hemolymphs.

     

Effects of temperature and metabolic inhibitors on contraction of anterior byssus retractor muscle of Mytilus

• 1.1. Anterior byssus retractor muscle of Mytilus (ABRM) was stimulated to contract by ACh (acetylcholine) and effects of temperature (5–30°C), FDNB (1-fluoro 2,4 dinitro-benzene) and IAA (iodoacetic acid) on tension response were examined.
• 2.2. Isometric tension was highest at the temperature range of 10–20°C and decreased at higher and lower temperature than that range.
• 3.3. The rate of tension decay after washing of ACh was accelerated by the increase of temperature.
• 4.4. Tension redevelopment after release of 1 % during contraction was much smaller at 5°C than at 20°C.
• 5.5. Tension development by ACh and the rate of tension decay after washing of ACh were remarkably decreased by the treatment of FDNB or IAA.
• 6.6. The above results were discussed from the viewpoint that energy metabolism might be related to catch.

     

Behavioural thermoregulation and critical thermal limits of Macrobrachium acanthurus (Wiegman)

• (1)The preferred temperatures of Macrobrachium acanthurus were determined for prawns acclimated to 20°C, 23°C, 26°C, 29°C and 32°C, and the final preferendum estimate was (29.5°C).
• (2)The critical thermal minima (CTMin) and maxima (CTMax) were 11.0°C, 12.1°C, 13.0°C and 14.8°C, and 34.2°C, 35.0°C, 36.1°C and 39.8°C, respectively.
• (3)The zone of thermal tolerance assessed using the CTMin and CTMax boundaries was 644°C².
• (4)The acclimation response ratio was between 0.33 and 0.62.
• (5)To cultivate this species in the southeastern region of México it should be done in not <15°C (CTMin) during the winter and below 38°C in summer (CTMax).

     

Sea-water tolerance in freshwater-resident arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus)

• 1.1. Freshwater-resident Arctic charr acclimated for 2 months at 8°C, 15% were divided into four experimental groups in July and exposed to 1 and 8°C in 15 and 34% salinity.
• 2.2. Only slight changes in gill Na-K-ATPase activity, blood plasma osmolality and blood plasma concentrations of Cl⁻ and Mg²⁺ were found for the fish exposed to 1 or 8°C in brackish water.
• 3.3. When exposed to sea-water at 8°C, an increase in osmolality and in concentrations of Cl⁻ and Mg²⁺ took place during the first 2–3 days, after which it levelled off.
• 4.4. If exposed to sea-water at 1°C, however, marked increases were found for all parameters measured and all the fish were dead within 5 days of exposure.
• 5.5. These results show that freshwater-resident Arctic charr—if acclimated to brackish water—can survive in sea-water during summer if the environmental temperature is not too low.

     

The effect of temperature on the acid-base status of the blood of the hatching quail (Coturnix c. japonica)

• 1.1. The ambient temperature of embryos of pipped eggs was reduced from 38 to 28°C for a period of 45 min.
• 2.2. The blood P_CO2 was lower and the blood more alkaline at 28°C than at 38°C.
• 3.3. At 28°C plasma [HCO₃⁻] ] was lower than predicted from the blood buffer line determined in vitro.
• 4.4. The plasma concentrations of strong ions and lactate were the same at both temperatures.
• 5.5. After the ambient temperature had been returned to 38°C for a period of 45 min, blood pH was more acidic than before cooling, but there was no difference in blood P_CO2.
• 6.6. The plasma [HCO₃⁻] was the same as that at 28°C and plasma [K⁺] was higher than before cooling.
• 7.7. The results arc discussed in relation to the factors affecting blood pH in embryos at this stage of development.

     

Properties of the transition from short-term to long-term depression in neurons of Helix pomatia

• 1.1. Synaptic short-term depression could be transferred into long term depression by repetition of series of stimuli.
• 2.2. The transition from short-term depression to long-term depression was blocked by puromycin.
• 3.3. The majority of the transition took place during resting periods between stimulus series.
• 4.4. The initiation of the transition process was 83% completed after 5 min of stimulation.
• 5.5. Short- and long-term depression were quantitatively separated into their two serial sites of origin: afferent axons and synaptic terminals.
• 6.6. Long sequences evoked periods with increased and variable EPSPs not conforming to depression.

     

The influence of aerial exposure on gas exchange and cardiac activity in the shore crab,Carcinus maenas (L.)

• 1.1. The cardiovascular physiology of adult Carcinus maenas (L.) emerging into air has been investigated at three different air temperatures.
• 2.2. Transition from seawater to air or vice versa triggered transient increases in cardiac and locomotor activity.
• 3.3. However, crabs became inactive 5–10 min after emerging from seawater (15°C) into air at the same temperature (15°C) or at lower temperatures (12–13°C) and heart rate fell.
• 4.4. At higher air temperatures (18–20°C) heart rate rose but to a lesser extent than predicted from aquatic Q₁₀ heart-rate values.
• 5.5. Crabs were again quiescent in aerial conditions.
• 6.6. Mean arterial oxygen tension (Pa_o2) was ~ 74 mmHg in submerged crabs but fell to ~ 38 mmHg in air while mean arterial carbon dioxide tension (Pa_o2) increased from 1 to 4 mmHg resulting in respiratory acidosis.
• 7.7. A model of gill function is proposed to explain the development of internal hypoxia in air.
• 8.8. The results are discussed in relation to the distribution of adult and juvenile C. maenas in situ.

     

Analysis of clotting defects in diseased lobsters—II. Immunochemical study of blood proteins

• 1.l. In gaffkemic lobsters kept at 15°C, the plasma coagulogen amount rapidly decreases and the gelation of hemolymph is prevented.
• 2.2. In animals kept at 10°C, the available plasma coagulogen amount is always normal even when coagulation appears impaired or prevented.
• 3.3. Extended clotting times as well as damaged coagulation cannot be correlated with coagulogen concentration.
• 4.4. The site of synthesis of this factor is discussed.

     

Thermal properties for digestive enzymes of a sub-antarctic beetle,hydromedion sparsutum (coleoptera,perimylopidae) compared to those in two thermophilic insects

• 1.1. Proteolytic, lipolytic, amylolytic and cellulolytic activities were studied in adults of the phytophagous beetle, Hydromedion sparsutum, indigenous to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia.
• 2.2. Gastric enzyme activities were measured at experimental temperatures of 5–40°C and results were compared with those obtained from two thermophilic insects, Gryllus bimaculatus and Tenebrio molitor.
• 3.3. Protease and lipase activities in Hydromedion were 10–15 times lower than in Gryllus and Tenebrio.
• 4.4. In the temperature range of 5–15°C, α-amylase activity from Hydromedion was only slightly lower than that from Gryllus.
• 5.5. Hydromedion gut homogenates exhibited a distinct cellulolytic activity, even at a low temperature of 5°C.
• 6.6. Cellulolytic activity in the digestive tract of Hydromedion was confirmed by the evolution of ¹⁴CO₂ after consumption of labelled cellulose.
• 7.7. The thermal properties of digestive enzymes agree well with the role of Hydromedion as primary decomposer in its ecosystem.