Determination of benzo(a)pyrene in isopods (Porcellio scaber Latr.) exposed to contaminated food

• 1.1. A method is presented for the determination of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) in the isopod Porcellio scaber, using reversed-phase HPLC with fluorescence detection.
• 2.2. This technique has a detection limit for BaP in P. scaber of approximately 3.2 ng g⁻¹ fresh weight.
• 3.3. BaP was assimilated from food by P. scaber.
• 4.4. After four weeks of ad libitum feeding on BaP-contaminated food, concentrations in the isopods were approximately 30–40 times lower than those in the food.
• 5.5. Male and female isopods did not differ in BaP concentration. Variation among males seemed to be much higher than among females.

     

Equilibria and kinetic of oxygen and carbon monoxide binding to the haemoglobin of the South American lungfish,Lepidosiren paradoxa

• 1. The haemoglobin of the South American lungfishLepidosiren paradoxa has a single component.
• 2. The equilibria of this respiratory protein with oxygen have been investigated both in the blood and with the purified haemoglobin. There is a substantial, normal, alkaline Bohr effect and marked sensitivity to organic phosphates in the haemoglobin solutions.
• 3. Studies on the pH dependence of the kinetics of oxygen dissociation can be interpreted in terms of a normal Bohr effect.
• 4. The kinetics of combination of carbon monoxide have an unusual pH dependence.
• 5. These findings are discussed in terms of the two-state model of Monodet al. (1965)

     

The carotenoids of eggs of wild and farmed cod (Gadus morhua)

• 1.1. Eggs of wild cod, and of farmed cod fed (a) a diet supplemented with astaxanthin and (b) a diet supplemented with both astaxanthin and canthaxanthin, were analysed with respect to carotenoids.
• 2.2. The total carotenoid contents in eggs were 0.7 ppm for wild cod and 0.5 ppm for farmed cod.
• 3.3. Cod, having white flesh, deposit ketocarotenoids in the eggs, preferably astaxanthin.
• 4.4. Canthaxanthin can replace astaxanthin in the eggs, but astaxanthin appears to be deposited preferentially when both carotenoids are present in the diet.
• 5.5. The isomer distribution of (3S, 3′S):(3R, 3′S, meso):(3R, 3′R) astaxanthin in the eggs reflected the isomer composition of the diet.
• 6.6. Echinenone, 4′-hydroxyechinenone, adonixanthin and zeaxanthin encountered in cod eggs may represent reductive metabolites of canthaxanthin and astaxanthin.

     

Subcellular distribution of metals within the kidney of the bivalve Mercenaria mercenaria (L.)

• 1.1. The subcellular distribution of nine transition metals (plus four additional elements) was measured in the kidney tissue of the quahog, Mercenaria mercenaria.
• 2.2. Elemental analyses of the subcellular fractions indicated three main patterns of metal distribution within kidney cells.
• 3.3. Barium, iron, manganese and lead were associated primarily with kidney granules.
• 4.4. Cadmium, copper, potassium and magnesium were found mainly in the cytosolic fraction.
• 5.5. Calcium, phosphorus and zinc were found in all isolated fractions, probably reflecting the important roles that these elements play in bivalve metabolism.
• 6.6. The organelle composition of the isolated subcellular fractions was determined using marker enzyme assays and microscopic techniques.

     

Transport of cholesterol in the hemolymph of the mollusc Diplodon delodontus

• 1.1. The dietary and inter-organ cholesterol transport in the hemolymph of the bivalve mollusc Diplodon delodontus, was studied. Plasma and hemocytes were obtained after feeding labeled cholesterol to animals or injecting it into the posterior adductor muscle.
• 2.2. In both cases, cholesterol was incorporated either into plasma or hematic cells.
• 3.3. Two plasmatic fractions differing in their hydrated densities were recognized as cholesterol carriers and were isolated. They have characteristics of high density (HDL) and very high density (VHDL) lipoproteins, respectively.
• 4.4. The major lipids in the different classes of lipoproteins were free sterols in HDL and phospholipids in VHDL.
• 5.5. Neither low nor very low density lipoprotein transporting cholesterol was detected.

     

Proteolytic system in Babesia hylomysci

• 1.1. Babesia hylomysci has an aminopeptidase and an acid endoprotease
• 2.2. The amino-peptidase has properties very similar to the aminopeptidase in Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis and P. chabaudi.
• 3.3. The acid endoprotease is specific towards haemoglobin and practically has no action on bovine serum albumin.
• 4.4. In mouse normal red blood cells we find an acid protease having physico-chemical properties similar to the enzyme present in B. hylomysci extracts.
• 5.5. The similarity of electrophoretic velocity between acid protease in B. hylomysci and non-infected red blood cells leads us to think that the acid protease of parasitic extracts comes from the host-cell.
• 6.6. The proteolytic system of Babesia and Plasmodium are similar.

     

Ventilatory rate in the butterfish (Pholis gunnellus) as a consequence of temperature and previous emersion

• 1.1. Observation of ventilation in immersed Pholis gunnellus showed a linear relationship between ventilatory rate and temperature between 8 and 20°C.
• 2.2. At 13°C and after 30 min emersion, ventilatory rate was initially lower than prior to emersion, providing evidence of adequate uptake of O₂ for standard metabolism during the emersion period.
• 3.3. This species has a laterally elongate body form with reduced scales and extensive mucus secretion.
• 4.4. During emersion, gaping behaviour probably exposes the gills and extensively vascularised oesophageal regions to air.
• 5.5. These are considered to be morphological and behavioural adaptations by P. gunnellus, to aerial respiration in the intertidal habitats occupied by this species.

     

Some tethered flight characteristics of a rose chafer beetle,Pachynoda sinuata (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

• 1.1. The relationships between wingspan, body mass and wing-beat frequency for the beetle. Pachynoda sinuata, have been established.
• 2.2. Thrust and lift generated during tethered flight have been measured using a simple technique and the beetles' responses to the unnatural constraints are discussed.
• 3.3. The biophysical correlates of P. sinuata tethered flight are compared with similar relationships obtained from flying animals and machines.

     

Characterization of the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in the gut of fishes

• 1.1. The presence of VIP was investigated in the dogfish, Scyliorhinus canicula, the ballanwrasse. Lubrus berggylta and the bib. Trisopterus luscus, using a specific radioreceptorassay.
• 2.2. Pure porcine VIP and gut extracts of fishes yielded similar dilution curves.
• 3.3. In the dogfish, the highest concentration of VIP was found in the hindgut. In contrast, in the two teleostei studied, the highest levels of VIP were in the first part of the gut.
• 4.4. The biologically active VIP measured by radioreceptorassay correlated well with the molecule determined using a specific radioimmunoassay.
• 5.5. Our results support the hypothesis of the appearance of VIP early in evolution.

     

Entomopathogenic fungal infection (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) affects water relations of the german cockroach,Blattella germanica (L.) (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae)

• 1.1. The total body water, lipid content, and cuticular permeability of fungus infected and uninfected German cockroaches, Blattella germanica, were examined.
• 2.2. Infected adult cockroaches weighed less and had significantly more body water than did uninfected specimens of the same size.
• 3.3. Uninfected medium-size nymphs weighed significantly more than infected nymphs, but there was no difference in body size between infected and uninfected small nymphs.
• 4.4. Cuticular permeability and lipid content of infected and uninfected cockroaches was not significantly different.
• 5.5. Sequestering of water by the fungal cells is discussed as a possible factor in the pathology of this fungal parasite.

     

The effect of salinity on the osmotic,sodium and chloride concentrations in the hemolymph of euryhaline shrimp of the genus Penaeus

• 1.1. The hemolymph is isosmotic to seawater at 745 mOs/kg in P. aztecus, 768 mOs/kg in P. duorarum, 680 mOs/kg in P. setiferus, 699 mOs/kg in P. stylirostris, and 718 mOs/kg in P. vannamei.
• 2.2. The hemolymph is hyperosmotic to seawater at salinities below the isosmotic concentrations and hypoosmotic to those above.
• 3.3. With respect to sodium and chloride, the hemolymph is hyperionic to seawater at low salinities and hypoionic to seawater at high salinities.
• 4.4. P. aztecus and P. duorarum are weaker osmotic and ionic regulators at low salinities than P. setiferus, P. stylirostris, and P. vannamei.
• 5.5. There are no significant differences in the osmotic and ionic regulatory capabilities of all five species at high salinities.

     

The erythrocytes of the metallic skink Niveoscineus metallicus

• 1.1. We studied the haemoglobin content, erythrocyte indices, erythrocyte enzymes and haemoglobin electrophoresis patterns of the metallic skink Niveoscineus metallicus and compared them to the small amount of published data on other small lizards.
• 2.2. Haemoglobin was much lower than that recorded for the salamander.
• 3.3. Erythrocyte enzymes (glucose phosphate isomerase and glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase) were lower in the skink than in the salamander. Glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase, phosphoglycerate kinase and pyruvate kinase were much higher in the skink than in the salamander.
• 4.4. A single, slow, haemoglobin component was identified by electrophoresis.

     

Purification and characterization of hatching enzyme of the pike (Esox lucius)

• 1.1. A choriolytic enzyme was isolated from the hatching medium of the pike, Esox lucius.
• 2.2. The enzyme is defined as hatching enzyme.
• 3.3. The molecular weight of the enzyme is 24,000.
• 4.4. The enzyme is a glycoprotein containing 2% carbohydrate.
• 5.5. Its isoelectric point is 6.5.
• 6.6. The pH optimum is around pH 8.
• 7.7. The enzyme molecule contains two disulfide bonds but no free cysteine.
• 8.8. Inhibitor studies and metal analysis show that the enzyme is a zinc-metalloprotease.

     

Biochemical variations in three species of prairie dogs (Cynomys)

• 1.1. Blood proteins were studied by polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis in three species of prairie dogs, Cynomys gunnisoni, C. leucurus, and C. ludovicianus.
• 2.2. The sera were separated into 13–15 fractions and the three species could be distinguished by both qualitative and quantitative differences in their serum patterns.
• 3.3. Qualitatively, variations in the occurrence and number of slow albumin fractions are diagnostic at the species leel.
• 4.4. Quantitative differences were most apparent in variation in the mobility of the major albumin fraction and the transferrin fraction.

     

Hemolymph ferritin and radula structure in the limpets Patelloida alticostata and Patella peronii (Mollusca: Gastropoda)

• 1.1. The mean concentration of total hemolymph iron was 3060μg/100 ml in Patella peronii and 2950μg/100 ml in Patelloida alticostata.
• 2.2. Ferritin was found to act as a major iron-binding protein in the hemolymph of both P. peronii and P. alticostata.
• 3.3. P. alticostata ferritin has a molecular weight of approximately 505,000, while that of P. peronii has a mol wt. of approximately 520,000.
• 4.4. The lateral radula teeth of both species are mineralized by deposits of silica (SiO₂) and iron in the form of goethite (α-FeOOH).
• 5.5. Hemolymph ferritin is suggested to act as a high capacity transport system to supply iron to the mineralizing front of the radula.

     

Degradation of bacterial lipopolysaccharides by digestive-gland extracts of marine bivalve molluscs

• 1.1. Crude digestive gland extract (DGE) of 5 species of marine bivalve mollusc had glycosidase activity against lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of gram-negative bacteria.
• 2.2. Most of these extracts, after ammonium sulphate precipitation, had higher glycosidase activity than commercial Helix pomatia gut juice.
• 3.3. Inorganic phosphate was also released from LPS by the various DGE but the lipid moiety of LPS appeared to be resistant to attack except by a DGE from Cerastoderma edule, which released small quantities of only non-hydroxylated fatty acids.

     

Purification and characterization of the protamines and related proteins from the sperm of a tunicate,Styela plicata

• 1.1. We have characterized for the first time the major sperm-specific nuclear proteins (X, P1 and P2) of the tunicate Styela plicata. Both P1 and P2 have an amino acid composition that allows us to classify them as protamine-like proteins.
• 2.2. The protein P1 of lower electrophoretic mobility has a trypsin-resistant core which is compositionally related to that of histones of the H1 family and to the PL-I protein found in the sperm of marine invertebrates. The evolutionary significance of this finding is discussed.
• 3.3. In addition to P1 and P2, the sperm nucleus of S. plicata contains a protein X component which is also compositionally related to PL-I proteins from bivalve molluscs.
• 4.4. Besides these sperm-specific proteins, a full complement of somatic-like histones, including a somatic-like histone H1, is also present. These histones represent only a small fraction of the total nuclear proteins of the sperm.

     

Osmoregulatory adjustments by three atherinids (Leptatherina presbyteroides; Craterocephalus mugiloides; Leptatherina wallacei) to a range of salinities

• 1.1. Patterns of osmoregulation were studied in three species of Swan river atherinids (Leptatherina presbyteroides, lower estuarine and marine; Craterocephalus mugiloides, mid estuarine; Leptatherina wallacei, upper estuarine) over a wide range of salinities.
• 2.2. The plasma Na⁺ concentration was elevated with an increase in salinity.
• 3.3. Haematocrit and body water content decreased with acclimation to higher salinity.
• 4.4. All three species of atherinids osmotically regulated over a salinity range greater than that which these fish are reported to occur in.

     

Correlation between motor and electroretinographic circadian rhythms in the crayfish Procambarus bouvieri (ortmann)

• 1.1. The characteristics of both, motor and electroretinographic circadian rhythms in the crayfish Procambarus bouvieri, were examined.
• 2.2. The correlation between both rhythms in intact and brainless crayfish, was obtained.
• 3.3. The presence of at least two different but coupled oscillators responsible for the circadian variations in crayfish, is proposed.

     

Comparative analysis of dufour's gland secretions of two carpenter bees (xylocopinae: anthophoridae) with different nesting habits

• 1.1. The chemistry and function of Dufour's gland secretions of two carpenter bees were studied.
• 2.2. Dufour's gland of Proxylocopa olivieri, a ground nesting bee, produces long chain hydrocarbons that are utilized to line its brood cells and are mixed with its bee bread.
• 3.3. Dufour's gland secretion of Xylocopa sulcatipes, on the other hand, is dominated by ethyl eicosanoate and ethyl docosanoate accompanied by the corresponding methyl esters and high boiling hydrocarbons.
• 4.4. This wood nesting bee apparently does not use Dufour's gland secretion to line its nest.
• 5.5. The relationship between the respective chemistry and function of Dufour's gland secretion and the nesting ecology of the two bees is discussed.