Blood lipids of the small octopus,Octopus tehuelchus (mollusca,cephalopoda) at different stages of sexual maturation

• 1.1. The lipid and fatty acid composition from the plasma and hemocytes in Octopus tehuelchus at different stages of sexual development, was determined.
• 2.2. The highest content of lipids was found in females engaged in egg development, and the lowest in post-spawning and brooding females. Highest levels occurred during the autumn season in both sexes.
• 3.3. Changes were mainly due to triacylglycerols and diacylglyceryl ethers.
• 4.4. The plasma fatty acid composition did not demonstrate significant changes at different stages of maturation. The arachidonic acid (20:4 ω 6) was present at surprisingly high levels.

     

A note on eggshell porosity,nest humidity and the effects of DDE in the grey heron (Ardea cinerea)

• 1.1. Water vapour conductance (G_H2O) was determined for 25 grey heron Ardea cinerea eggs in the laboratory, and in nests during natural incubation at two Scottish colonies.
• 2.2. The mean G_H2O of eggs measured in the nest which successfully hatched was 9.0 mgH;O/mmHg/day and the mean water vapour pressure gradient between egg and nest (ΔP_H2O), measured using “calibrated” duck eggs, averaged at 31 mmHg (4.13 kPa).
• 3.3. Based on eggshell porosity results, from the eggs which hatched, such a gradient would result in a loss of water from the eggs during incubation equivalent to 11% of their fresh weight.
• 4.4. Shell thickness, the number of pores/cm² of eggshell and DDE content were also determined for the 25 eggs measured in the laboratory.
• 5.5. Eggs containing high levels of DDE had thinner shells, more pores in the eggshell and a higher overall eggshell porosity.
• 6.6. The main problem posed by a high level of DDE would appear, however, not to be an excessive water loss from the egg during incubation, but rather eggshell thinning leading to a loss of the egg due to breakage in the nest.

     

Effects of low temperatures on NAD-sorbitol dehydrogenase activity and morphogenesis in non-diapause eggs of the silkworm,Bombyx mori

• 1.1. The activity of NAD-sorbitol dehydrogenase (NAD-SDH; EC 1.1.1.14) and levels of sorbitol were examined in non-diapause eggs of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, exposed to temperatures of 20-0.5°C from 1 day after oviposition. The morphology of embryos in the cold-acclimated eggs and the hatching of eggs after transfer to 25°C were monitored.
• 2.2. Temperatures between 15 and 0.5°C retarded the development of NAD-SDH activity at a specific embryonic stage that was comparable to diapause, and sorbitol accumulated in the eggs.
• 3.3. With the appearance of NAD-SDH activity, sorbitol was converted into glycogen, just as it is in diapause eggs. The results indicate that NAD-SDH participates in the utilization of sorbitol rather than in its formation in non-diapause eggs.
• 4.4. Distinct effects of low temperatures on the morphological development of the embryos are also discussed.

     

Differences between chick and turkey embryos in sensitivity to 3,3′,4,4′-tetrachloro-biphenyl and in concentration/affinity of the hepatic receptor for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

• 1.1. 3,3′,4,4′-Tetrachlorobiphenyl (TCB) was 20–100 times more toxic in chick embryos than in turkey embryos when injected into eggs.
• 2.2. The ed₅₀-value for induction of AHH activity by TCB in the liver of early chick and turkey embryos was estimated to be 0.6 and 6 μg/kg egg, respectively.
• 3.3. In both species α-naphthoflavone was more effective than metyrapone at inhibiting basal and TCB-induced AHH activities.
• 4.4. The TCDD receptor was detected in the liver of 7-day-old chick embryos, while it was not found in 9-day-old turkey embryo liver.

     

Evidence of an egg-laying factor in the prostatic secretions of Helix aspersa müller

• 1.1. A high percentage (53%) of isolated snails injected with prostate gland homogenates lay eggs.
• 2.2. These egg masses consist of a few eggs which contain many nonviable oocytes.
• 3.3. Preliminary experiments suggest that an egg-laying factor may be present in prostatic secretions.
• 4.4. Snails bred in isolation from hatching, whether injected or not, occasionally lay viable eggs.
• 5.5. This observation shows that self-fertilization or parthenogenesis is, in fact, possible in Helix aspersa Müller.

     

Assessment of egg quality in atlantic salmon,Salmo salar,treated with testosterone—II. Amino acids

• 1.1. Atlantic salmon (Satmo salar) were treated with Silastic pellet implants containing testosterone (200 μg/g body weight) four times in a year. Eggs stripped from control (sham implantation) and testosterone-treated fish were fertilized and comparisons of free and total amino acid compositions made until first feeding.
• 2.2. Despite having eggs which were smaller in diameter, lighter in weight and lower in total amino acid contents, alevins from testosterone-treated fish were heavier in wet weight and larger in body length, and exhibited enhanced free amino acid contents at first feeding.
• 3.3. The qualitative composition of total amino acids in eggs from treated and control fish did not differ.
• 4.4. Total amino acid pool of eggs and alevins declined during development, but an increase in the free amino acid pool was noticed through development. The increase in free amino acid pool was higher in eggs and alevins from treated fish than controls, perhaps due to enhanced mobilization of the free amino acid pool.

     

The relation of d-alanine and alanine racemase activity in molluscs

• 1.1. Eighteen molluscan species were examined for the presence of d-alanine and alanine racemase activity to probe the probable relation between them.
• 2.2. Two bivalve species had high concentration of d-alanine and l-alanine (1:1) and showed high activities of alanine racemase. In these species, the occurrence of d-alanine could be explained by the action of alanine racemase.
• 3.3. In other species, the levels of d-alanine and enzyme activity were low, and the occurrence of d-alanine did not correspond with the presence of alanine racemase activity.
• 4.4. The mechanism of the occurrence of d-alanine in molluscan tissues seems to vary from species to species and seems not to be associated with the phylogenic situation or habitats of the respective species.

     

The effect of water loss upon the urate,urea and ammonia content of the egg of the Japanese quail Coturnix coturnix japonica

• 1.1. The urate, urea and ammonia content of the whole egg of the Japanese quail was measured in late incubation in eggs subject to different rates of water loss.
• 2.2. High rates of water loss substantially increased egg urate content, but had little or no effect on urea or ammonia content.
• 3.3. Allopurinol, an inhibitor of urate synthesis, reduced egg urate content to low levels, but produced no effect on urea content, and a small reduction in ammonia content.
• 4.4. The urea concentration of the embryo was lower than in allantoic fluid.
• 5.5. It is concluded that urate production by the avian embryo is primarily concerned with the modification of allantoic fluid composition.

     

Ascaris suum: Influence of embryonation temperature on the viability of the infective larva

• 1.1.|The infective larvae of Ascaris suum develop in the egg between the temperatures 16 ± 1°C and 34 ± 1°C. Within this temperature range, increases in temperature increase the rate of development. The maximum rate of egg development is attained at 31 ± 1°C.
• 2.2.|Eggs embryonated at 28 ± 1°C and above give rise to infective larvae which have less ability to hatch in vitro, shorter longevity when aged in phosphate buffered saline (pH 7.2) at 37°C, and more limited ability to penetrate tissue membranes in vitro, when compared with those larvae from eggs embryonated at lower temperatures.
• 3.3.|Maximum larval viability and ability to penetrate tissues in vitro was achieved when eggs were embryonated at 22 ± 1°C. These results suggest that the optimal temperature for rate of development and larval viability, or survivability are not the same, a point which has not previously been emphasised.
• 4.4.|The practical significance of these results are discussed in relation to the epidemiology of Ascarias and the known biology of the parasite.

     

Comparative studies of phosvitin from chicken and salmon egg yolk

• 1.1. A method developed for the isolation of phosvitin from chicken egg yolk was successfully applied to the isolation of phosvitin from salmon eggs.
• 2.2. Salmon roe phosvitin is smaller in molecular size than chicken egg phosvitin.
• 3.3. Circular dichroism spectra of all phosvitins investigated displayed good similarities with spectra showing characteristics of unordered and β-sheet secondary structure.
• 4.4. The main component in the Fourier transform infrared spectra of chicken egg phosvitin is indicative of unordered conformation, whereas the Fourier infrared data of the salmon egg phosvitin are consistent with more of β-sheet structure compared to the chicken egg phosvitin.

     

Characteristics of carotenoid features in muscle and ovary from anadromous and river resident types of Alaskan dolly varden charr (Salvelinus malma malma)

• 1.1. The carotenoids in the muscles and eggs from two types of natural Alaskan dolly varden charr, anadromous and river resident types, were examined.
• 2.2. In the muscle from the anadromous charr, astaxanthin was the major component comprising more than 70% of the total, followed by idoxanthin and 4-keto-zeaxanthin.
• 3.3. The egg carotenoid features in the river resident charr were more complicated compared with those in the anadromous fish. A considerable proportion of unidentified carotenoids was found in the eggs from the river resident charr.
• 4.4. Idoxanthin was the main component along with considerable propotions of β-carotene tetrol and astaxanthin in the eggs from the anadromous charr, whereas zeaxanthin and lutein were detected besides idoxanthin and β-carotene tetrol in the eggs from the river resident fish.
• 5.5. The prey was considered to be responsible for the difference in the carotenoid features of the eggs from the anadromous and river resident charr.

     

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.

     

Phosphorylation in crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) eggs during hatching

• 1.1.|The high-energy phosphorylation metabolism in crayfish, Procambarus clarkii eggs during brooding and juvenile crayfish after hatching was studied by in vivo³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance (³¹P NMR) spectroscopy.
• 2.2.|Inorganic phosphoric acid (Pi) and adenosine-5′-triphosphate ATP(γ-,α-,β-) were detected in the dark brownish red eggs after oviposition.
• 3.3.|In orange unhatched eggs, only sugar phosphate (SP), Pi and resolved phosphometabolite from ATP were observed.
• 4.4.|Peaks of SP, Pi, arginine phosphate (Arg-P), and ATP (γ,α,β) appeared in larvae of crayfish after hatching (nauplius, zoea and juvenile crayfish).
• 5.5.|The high-energy phosphorylation metabolism changed to an anaerobic condition along with a decrease in the concentration of dissolved oxygen in fresh water.

     

Seasonal changes of circulating blood parameters in the grass snake Natrix natrix natrix L.

• 1.1. Seasonal changes of circulating blood parameters of Natrix n. natrix were evident and involved both sexes to the same extent.
• 2.2. A significant decrease in red cell count, haematocrit and haemaglobin concentration in the mating period, and an increase in those parameters and mean cell volume in autumn were observed, and haemodilution during winter torpor.
• 3.3. The changes during the breeding season had probably a hormonal background; in winter, they resulted first of all from a decreased erythropoietic activity and, to a lesser extent, from an increased red blood cell breakdown rate. However, the possibility that some erythrocytes were withdrawn from the circulation cannot be excluded.
• 4.4. Winter lymphocytopenia, eosinocytopenia and neutrophilic granulocytosis in females during egg laying were expressions of changes of leucocyte formula.
• 5.5. Seasonal cyclicity was found only with respect to the white cell count in males and the eosinophile fraction in males and females.
• 6.6. Probable reasons for, and mechanisms of the changes in blood composition are discussed.

     

γ-Glutamyltranspeptidase in echinoderm eggs and larvae: fertilization-dependent and developmentally-induced changes in specific activity

• 1.1. γ-Glutamyltranspeptidase is present in echinoderm eggs and larvae: in homogenates the level of activity is comparable to that of rat cerebral cortex.
• 2.2. In eggs of Lytechinus pictus, fertilization induces an early rapid and sustained (5 min–6 hr) 37% increase in the activity of γ-glutamyltranspeptidase in homogenate fractions.
• 3.3. Relative to these homogenate levels, the specific activity of γ-glutamyltranspeptidase are ≈60% lower in 40,000 g supernatant fractions and 2.7-fold higher in 40,000 g particulate fractions in both unfertilized and 15 min post-fertilized Lytechinus pictus eggs.
• 4.4. The subcellular distribution of γ-glutamyltranspeptidase is the same in both unfertilized and 15-min post-fertilized Lytechinus pictus eggs: 78% in 40,000 g particulate fractions, 22% in 40,000 g soluble fractions.
• 5.5. In both unfertilized and 15 min post-fertilized eggs of Lytechinus pictus the enzyme responds to heat (50 vs 37°C) by activation in a similar manner: 1.72- and 1.68-fold homogenates; 2.6- and 3.0-fold in supernatants; 1.97- and 1.90-fold in particulate fractions.
• 6.6. In homogenates of Pisaster ochraceous larvae, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase activity increases steadily during the course of larval development: relative to the low activity at day 5, activities exhibit an increase of 1.2-, 2.0-, 3.1- and 5.4-fold at days 10, 16, 22 and 28, respectively.

     

Partial purification and characterization of cysteine proteinase from metamorphosing tadpole tails of Rana catesbeiana

• 1.1. A leupeptin-sensitive proteinase was partially purified from regressing tadpole tails by acetone factionation and column chromatography on S-Sepharose.
• 2.2. The enzyme degraded hemoglobin and myoglobin at pH 3.0. The enzyme also hydrolyzed Z-Phe-Arg-MCA and Boc-Val-Leu-Lys-MCA at pH 4.0.
• 3.3. The enzyme activity was inhibited by leupeptin, egg cystatin, E-64 and monoiodoacetic acid and was activated by l-cysteine.
• 4.4. The enzyme degraded myosin and actin in myofibrils of tadpole tails.
• 5.5. The enzyme belongs to the cysteine proteinase and is possibly involved in tail degradation during the metamorphosis of tadpoles.

     

Dissociation between several egg parameters in two quail strains genetically selected for resistance or sensitivity to acute hypoxia

• 1.1. Eggs laid by females of two strains of Japanese quail, selected in a divergent way towards survival to an acute normobaric hypoxic challenge, were compared for their mass, the mass and the thickness of their eggshell and their water conductance (g_h2o).
• 2.2. Adults and embryos of the Ls+ strain survive at 70%, whereas those of the Ls-strain survive only at 20% to the acute hypoxia.
• 3.3. While the birds of both sexes of each strain do not statistically differ either by their body masses or by various physiological and biochemical parameters, the eggs laid by the females of these strains differ significantly (0.001 < P < 0.01) in mass, eggshell thickness, egg shell mass and water vapor conductance (g_h2o).
• 4.4. Ls-quail lay lighter eggs with lighter and thinner eggshells and with higher g_h2o than Ls+ quail.
• 5.5. Crossing these two strains gives f₁ hybrids (Ls±) whose females lay eggs that are statistically (0.001 <P <0.05) different from those laid by Ls+ in egg masses and shell masses, and statistically (0.001 <P <0.05) different from those of Ls-in shell masses, shell thicknesses and g_h2o.

     

The glycogen content in stressed marine bivalves: The initial absence of a decrease

• 1.1. Changes in the glycogen content, condition, stomach content and acetic acid concentration of mussels Mytilus edulis and cockles Cerastoderma edule were followed during periods of up to 14 days of exposure (to air) at temperatures of 5 and 20°C.
• 2.2. In animals with a high glycogen content the glycogen is not used during the first 3 to 7 days, at high and low temperature respectively.
• 3.3. After this latent period the glycogen concentration often decreased, coinciding with a high mortality and an increase of the concentration of acetic acid.
• 4.4. In cockles with a low glycogen content, and kept at a high temperature, glycogen can be used from the beginning of the stress period.
• 5.5. Between species no clear differences were found.
• 6.6. The stomach content decreased during exposure; however, the stomach content amounted to only 0.5 to 0.7% of the body weight, and is thought to be of minor importance as an energy source during the stress period.
• 7.7. Especially at the higher temperatures glycogen finally is transformed into acetic acid.
• 8.8. It is concluded that during exposure, the animals do not die because of a lack of energy reserves, but because of a high accumulation of acids.

     

Phosphorylation of Escherichia coli proteins during the SOS response

• 1.1. The phosphorylation of Escherichia coli proteins was analyzed comparatively before and after induction of the SOS response in a temperature-sensitive mutant strain.
• 2.2. The presence of phosphorylated proteins was evidenced by gel electrophoresis and autoradiography after labelling with radioactive orthophosphate in vivo or radioactive adenosine triphosphate in vitro.
• 3.3. Significant changes in the intensity of protein labelling were observed upon induction of the SOS functions: six proteins were found to be more phosphorylated while two others were less phosphorylated. Moreover, five additional proteins appeared to become phosphorylated exclusively during the SOS response. The molecular mass and isoelectric point of these various proteins were determined.
• 4.4. For most proteins, the changes in the pattern of protein phosphorylation were concomitant with variations in the amount of protein synthesized.
• 5.5. The changes in the pattern of phosphoproteins observed during the SOS response were not due to the temperature shift required experimentally for expressing the SOS phenotype.
• 6.6. Phosphorylation was found to be catalyzed by protein kinases that modify amino acid residues at hydroxyl groups in protein substrates.
• 7.7. Both in vivo and in vitro studies brought evidence that neither RecA nor LexA, the two key regulatory proteins of the SOS functions, were capable of undergoing phosphorylation.