A revision of species of the genus Dicranotaenia (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae). II. New data on the type-specimens of Dicranotaenia sacciperium (Mayhew, 1925), D. macrostrobilodes (Mayhew, 1925) and D. introversa (Mayhew, 1925)

This second paper in a series on the revision of the type-specimens of older species of the genus Dicranotaenia Railliet, 1892 sensu Spassky & Spasskaya (1954) presents new information particularly on the measurements and configuration of cirrus and sacculus accessorius internus in D. sacciperium, D. macrostrobilodes and D. introversa. The type-material of the Dicranotaenia spp. studied, with the exception of D. sacciperium, has neither a protuberant cirrus nor a protuberant sacculus accessorius internus. The configuration of these organs, however, indicates that D. macrostrobilodes and D. introversa may be synonymous. To suggest their synonomy with D. coronula is, however, premature.     

Selective staining of Y chromosomal loops in Drosophila hydei,D. neohydei,and D. eohydei

Modified Giemsa procedures have been developed which elicit differential and highly selective staining of individual Y chromosomal lamp-brush loops in spermatocyte nuclei of Drosophila hydei, D. neohydei, and D. eohydei. In all three species the Y loop pair known as the clubs stains a brilliant dark red with Giemsa at pH 10. With the same treatment other loop pairs either remain unstained, e.g. the threads, or show a differentiation between light blue and pink staining matrical material, e.g. pseudonucleolus and cones in D. hydei and D. eohydei. With eosin at pH 2.8 the threads in D. hydei can be stained intensely, as well as one matrical component of the pseudonucleolus. Pretreatment with RNase or TCA removes all stainability from the Y loops with Giemsa at pH 10. TCA treatment enhances eosin staining at pH 2.8. These and other variations of Giemsa may be utilized to establish homologies between Y loops in different species. The molecular basis of the staining reactions remains to be elucidated.     

A revision of the species of the genus Dicranotaenia (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae). IV. New data on the type-specimens of Dicranotaenia mergi (Yamaguti, 1940)

This fourth paper in a series revising the type-specimens of older species of the genus Dicranotaenia Railliet, 1892 sensu Spassky & Spasskaya (1954) presents new data on the type-specimens of the D. mergi (Yamaguti, 1940) from Mergus serrator L. and M. merganser L. The re-examined holotype from Tokyo has shown that the spinous cirrus is 98–135 m long with a spherical or club-shaped dilatation at its distal end. The shape of this organ differs considerably from the cirrus of D. coronula (Dujardin, 1845), which has a bulbous dilatation in its mid-part. In addition, these species differ in the shape of the aperture of the pars copulatrix vaginae and in other characters. The author therefore includes D. mergi among the valid species of the genus Dicranotaenia.     

The effects of pyridine nucleotides on the activity of a calcium-activated nonselective cation channel in the rat insulinoma cell line,CRI-G1

The activity of a calcium-activated nonselective (Ca-NS⁺) channel in a rat insulinoma cell line (CRI-G1) is inhibited by pyridine nucleotides in excised patches. The effects of all four pyridine nucleotides tested, -NAD⁺, -NADH, -NADP⁺ and -NADPH were very similar when tested at 0.1 mm, and at 1 mm the phosphorylated forms, -NADP⁺ and -NADPH, appeared to be slightly more potent than -NAD⁺ and -NADH. All the pyridine nucleotides tested reduced both the open state probability of the channel and the number of functional channels observed in a single patch.The application of -NAD⁺, but not of the other nucleotides tested, to the cytoplasmic surface of isolated inside-out patches from CRI-G1 cells opened a novel nonselective cation channel (the -NAD⁺-NS⁺ channel). The activity of this new channel is calcium sensitive and may also be inhibited by AMP.     

“Differentiation Induction” culture of human leukemic myeloid cells stimulates high production of macrophage differentiation inducing factor

A suitable procedure for the production of human monokines was defined as differentiation-induction culture. Human monocytic leukemia THP-1 cells were well-differentiated from nonfunctional promonocytes into macrophage-like cells by the induction with a combination of mezerein, retinoic acid, and aMycoplasma fermentans extract. The differentiated THP-1 cells secreted a high amount of macrophage differentiation-inducing factor (DIF) activity and concomitantly produced other known monokines, such as tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-), interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-1 (IL-1), into the medium. These results suggest that other novel human monokines may also be found in the conditioned medium of THP-1 cells induced by the differentiation-induction culture conditions defined in this study. Macrophage DIF was purified to homogeneity and NH₂-terminal amino acid sequence analysis revealed that macrophage DIF is very similar or identical to human leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). The cDNA encoding human LIF was isolated using the polymerase chain reaction, and a clone producing 3.7 g/10⁶ cells day recombinant LIF was selected from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells which were transfected with the LIF cDNA. The recombinant LIF production in CHO cells was quantified using MTT reduction assay with M1 cells.     

Structure and function of the prehensile tentilla of Euplokamis (Ctenophora,Cydippida)

Euplokamis has coiled tentilla on its tentacles, which can be discharged, flicking out at high velocity, when triggered by contact with prey. The tentillum adheres to prey by means of numerous colloblasts. Discharge, which takes 40–60 ms, is accomplished by contraction of striated muscles, found only in this genus among the Ctenophora. Restoration of the coiled state is attributable to passive, elastic components of the mesogloea. Rows of boxes (fluid-filled compartments) along the sides of the tentillum appear to stiffen the structure so that it does not collapse, kink or buckle during discharge. Smooth muscle fibres present in the tentillum may help pull the tentillum tight after prey have been captured.In addition to the rapid discharge response, the tentillum can perform slower, spontaneous, rhythmic movements which, it is suggested, resemble the wriggling of a plank-tonic worm, enabling the tentillum to function as a lure. These movements appear to be executed by contraction of two sets of myofilament-packed cells which differ in several important respects from conventional smooth muscle. They belong to a novel and distinct cytological subset (inner-ring cells), other members of which are packed with microtubules and seem to be involved in secondary structuring of the collagenous component of the mesogloea.     

Identification of ‘Amigo’ and ‘Kavkaz’ translocations in Ohio soft red winter wheats (Triticum aestivum L.)

One cultivar (GR876) and two advanced Ohio soft red winter wheat lines (OH413 and OH414), with Kavkaz in their pedigrees, were examined for the presence of the Kavkaz, 1RS/1BL rye/wheat chromosome translocation. Another advanced line (OH416), with Amigo in its pedigree, was examined for the presence of the Amigo, 1RS/1AL translocation. Only two satellited chromosomes were observed in most mitotic root-tip cells from GR876, OH413, and OH414, compared to four in most cells from OH416. Heteromorphic bivalents were observed in most PMCs from hybrids produced by crossing GR876, OH413, and OH414 as females to Chinese Spring. No heteromorphic bivalents were observed in PMCs from OH416 x Chinese Spring hybrids. When GR876 and the Ohio lines were hybridized with Chinese Spring dimonotelosomic-1B, telosomic trivalents, consisting of the short- and longarm telosomes paired with chromosome 1B, were only observed in PMCs from 43-chromosome hybrids involving OH416. The long-arm telosome paired with the translocation chromosome, while the short-arm telosome remained unpaired in all other 43-chromosome hybrids. Separation of gliadin proteins from GR876 and the Ohio lines by PAGE revealed that secalin bands for GR876, OH413, and OH414, migrated similarly to the secalins for Kavkaz. Bands for OH416, identified as possible secalins, migrated similarly to those for Amigo. Cultivar GR876 and advanced Ohio soft red winter wheat lines OH413 and OH414 carry the Kavkaz translocation, while OH416 carries the Amigo translocation.Communicated by K. Tsunewaki     

Salinity-temperature tolerance of two closely related triclad species,Dugesia lugubris and D. polychroa (Turbellaria), in relation to their distribution in The Netherlands

The tolerance of adult specimens of Dugesia lugubris and D. polychroa for 13 different chlorinities ranging from 15.0–3.8 and for two temperatures, viz. 4 and 23 °C, was tested.At chlorinities of 7.5 and lower, the survival time of both species was considerably longer than at higher chlorinities (a few hours at 7.5, one to several days at 6.6 and lower concentrations). It is assumed that this is determined by the osmoregulatory capacity of the planarians.It was found that at low chlorinities combined with a high temperature D. polychroa survived longer than D. lugubris, while at the same chlorinities the opposite was true for a low temperature. The effect of temperature on survival at low chlorinities was more drastic for D. lugubris than for D. polychroa.The results correlate with data on the distribution of both species in The Netherlands. Outside areas with an average chlorinity below 2 the two species were rarely found.     

A meta-analysis of the effects of exercise and/or dietary restriction on resting metabolic rate

A meta-analysis was used to examine the independent and interactive effects of dietary restriction, endurance exercise training and gender on resting metabolic rate (RMR). Sixty different group means (covering 650 subjects) were identified from the scientific literature and subjected to meta-analysis techniques. Collectively (i.e., all groups combined), body weight loss was greater (P < 0.05) for men ( 18 kg) than for women ( 12 kg). There were no statistically significant exercise training or gender effects on RMR during weight loss. Collectively (i.e., all groups combined), dietary restriction resulted in a – 0.59 kJ min^–1 ( – 12%) decrease in RMR (P < 0.05). When normalized to body weight, RMR was reduced by less than 2% (P < 0.05). These data suggest that exercise training does not differentially affect RMR during diet-induced weight loss. In addition, decreases in resting metabolism appear to be proportional to the loss of the metabolically active tissue.     

Flexibility on the karyotype evolution in bitterlings (Pisces, Cyprinidae)

In bitterlings (Acheilognathinae) C- and Ag-banding karyotypes of 6 species-subspecies collected in China and South Korea were analyzed. The chromosomal constitution of 2n=46 (4SM+42ST) in Rhodeus atremius fangi was quite different from that of 2n=48 (8M+20SM+20ST) in other species-subspecies in Rhodeus. It was concluded from the analysis of banded chromosomes that the increase in number of ST during the karyotype change from 2n=48 to 2n=46 was achieved by a series of pericentric inversions from 24 M-SM to 24 ST, and the decrease in the diploid number was caused by an additional tandem fusion of 4 ST chromosomes, forming a new ST pair in the 2n=46 karyotype. The karyotype of Tanakia koreensis, T. signifer, and Acheilognathus macropterus is 2n=48 (8M+20SM+20ST), 2n=48 (8M+20SM+14–16ST+4–6 A), 2n=44 (14M+16SM+14ST), respectively. In R. ocellatus ocellatus, T. koreensis, T. signifer and A. macropterus, karyotype changes from 2n=48 to 2n=44 due to centric fusion and inversion have also been estimated. It was suggested that C-banding heterochromatin was greatly concerned with the karyotype evolution in bitterlings.     

\4 integrin expression onin vitro andin vivo metastatic variants of lewis lung carcinoma

The expression of 4, 6, and 1 integrin subunits has been investigated on somein vitro andin vivo murine metastatic variants derived from Lewis lung carcinoma (3LL). By the use of monoclonal antibodies which recognizes different epitopes of 6, 1, and 4 subunits we demonstrate that 6 and 1 subunits are expressed in all metastatic variants of 3LL irrespective of their metastatic potential, whereas 4 subunit is expressed only in highly metastasizing cells of 3LL. Northern blots of different metastatic variants probed with 1 and 4 subunits demonstrate thata) significant amounts of 1 mRNA were detected in all metastatic variants of 3LL;b) mRNA corresponding to the described entire coding sequence of 4 subunit is expressed only on highly metastasizing cells of 3LL. We conclude that 4 subunit is specifically expressed in highly metastasizig cells of 3LL while is undetectable in lower metastasizing ones.     

Uptake of sewage derived nitrogen by Ulva rigida (Chlorophyceae) in Bahía Nueva (Golfo Nuevo, Patagonia, Argentine)

Uptake kinetics of nitrogen derived from sewage–seawater mixtures (2.5–20% v/v effluent) were determined in the laboratory for Ulva rigida (Chlorophyceae) native from Bahía Nueva (Golfo Nuevo, Patagonia, Argentine). In terms of nitrogen concentration, experimental enrichment levels varied between 53.7 and 362.3M of ammonium and between 0.77 and 6.21M of nitrate+nitrite. Uptake rates were fitted to the Michaelis–Menten equation, with the following kinetic parameters: ammonium: V_max = 591.2molg^–1h^–1, K _s=262.3M, nitrate+nitrite: V _max=12.9molg^–1h^–1, K _s=3.5M). Both nutrients were taken up simultaneously, but ammonium incorporation was faster in all cases. The results show a high capability of Ulva rigida to remove sewage-derived nitrogen from culture media. In the field, most of the nitrogen provided by the effluent would be tied up in algal biomass, supporting low nitrogen levels found at a short distance away from the source.     

Meiotic studies ofElymus nutans andE. jacquemontii (Poaceae,Triticeae) and their hybrids withPseudoroegneria spicata and seventeenElymus species

Hybridizations ofElymus nutans andE. jacquemontii were carried out with one species ofPseudoroegneria (S genome), and 20Elymus species, each containing either of the SH, SY, SYH, or SYW genomes. Chromosome configurations were analysed at metaphase I of the two target taxa and their interspecific hybrids. It is concluded that (i)E. nutans is an allohexaploid containing the SYH genomes, andE. jacquemontii is an allotetraploid having the SY genomes; (ii) the genomic affinity is associated with the geographic distance between the species studied; (iii) minor genomic structural rearrangements have occurred within the hexaploid taxon ofE. nutans.