TETRODOTOXIN ON THE SODIUM AND OTHER IONS OF CEREBRAL TISSUES, EXCITED ELECTRICALLY AND WITH GLUTAMATE

Abstract—

• 1 Guinea pig neocortical tissues incubated in glucose-bicarbonate salines maintained defined intracellular Na concentrations which were about 0.25 those of the salines and were unaffected by tetrodotoxin.
• 2 Electrical stimulation or the addition of 5 mm -l -glutamic acid allowed tissue Na to increase at about 400,μequiv./g hr. Tetrodotoxin almost completely prevented the increase induced electrically, and partly inhibited that induced by glutamate. Influx of ²²Na induced by glutamate was also partly inhibited by the toxin. The extrusion of Na following electrical excitation was unaffected by tetrodotoxin.
• 3 The concentration of tetrodotoxin needed for half-maximal inhibition of Na movement induced electrically, was 25–30 mμm . Action of the toxin was reversed by washing the tissue, and the tetrodotoxin associated with the tissue during its action was probably no more than 0 15 mμmoles/g tissue.
• 4 Structurala factors common to the molecules of tetrodotoxin, glutamic acid and membrane components considered to be involved in cation movements, are indicated.

     

江豚皮肤的超微结构及其与其它豚类的比较

江豚皮肤的超微结构与海洋豚类相同,但在各层表皮细胞中存在大量的膜被颗粒,这很可能与江豚适应从海水进入淡水的生活方式有关。大量成束的张力原纤维的存在,有利于江豚在水中深潜和快速游泳,可适应来自各方面的压力,加强细胞之间的联接。在上下颌皮肤的乳头层基部大量被囊神经末梢和有鞘神经纤维束的分布、与江豚水底觅食方式有关。白鱀豚和条纹原海豚皮肤的超微结构与江豚大致相同,但亦有其各自的特点。     

割草对牧草分蘖萌发的影响

对皇草（Ｐｎｎｉｓｅｔｕｍ ｐｕｒｐｕｒｅｕｍ ×Ｐ ｇｌａｕｃｕｍ）杂交狼尾草（ｐｅｎｎｉｓｅｔｕｍ ｇｌａｕｃｕｍ×Ｐ ｐｕｒｐｕｒｅｕｍ）、矮象草（Ｐｅｎｎｉｓｅｔｕｍ ｐｕｒｐｕｒｅｕｍ）和墨西哥玉米（Ｚｅａ ｍｎｙｓ ｓｕｂｓｐ．ｍｅｘｉｃａｎａ）等４种牧草在生长期进行了４次割草试验,探讨了不同割草次数对牧草单兜株数的影响。结果表明：１）在进行１次割草的情况下,４种牧草的营养生长时间分别为５３、９６、１５３和２０８ ｄ时,单兜株数分别为２０．２,８．５,１７．２,１１．７株,牧草的单兜株数随营养生长时间的增加而呈大小相间排列;２）在可靠性为９５％以上时,第二次割草时的单兜株数与第一次割草时有明显的差异,而多次割草后的差异性逐渐减小;３）营养生长的时间长短和前一次的单兜株数对牧草后一次的萌发和分蘖有显著的影响,在一定程度上决定了后一次的单兜株数;４）杂交狼尾草在多次连续割草后,单位面积上的株数变得不均匀,而皇草、矮象草和墨西哥玉米则逐渐均匀化,这个作用使得杂交狼尾草在退化坡地水土保持上的价值减少．     

中华眼镜蛇蛇毒因子(CVF)对补体系统的作用及与人补作C_3和其他蛇毒抗原性关系

中华眼镜蛇蛇毒经DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B。HPLC等多次柱层析分离出有抗补体及溶血活性的眼镜蛇蛇毒因子(Cobra venom factor,CVF),纯化后的CVF在聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳图谱上呈单一区带,分子量为225000—230000,等电点为6.20。用二硫苏糖醇还原经SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳得三类亚基,其分子量总和为237,000。 体外抗补体及溶血试验表明,CVF的作用是通过补体旁路途经使总补体活力下降。双向免疫电泳鉴定,发现CVF与人血清作用后,其中补体成分C_3分子的抗原性发生改变,则表明CVF的作用是通过激活补体成分C_3而发挥的。给豚鼠腹腔注射CVF(0.15ug/g体重)后,其血清总补体水平下降到正常值的3％以下,7天后回升,13天后恢复到正常水平。 单相免疫电泳表明,CVF与人补体C_3抗血清间无任何交叉免疫反应,但人血清与CVF抗血清间有微弱的免疫沉淀反应。另外,CVF的氨基酸组成与人补体C_3也较为相似。鉴定还表明眼镜蛇科中四种蛇毒与CVF抗血清有强烈的免疫沉淀反应,蝰蛇毒及海蛇毒也有免疫沉淀反应,但只有眼镜蛇毒具有抗补体活性。     

THE INFLUENCE OF HABITAT ON THE DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF PEREGRINE AND LANNER FALCONS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Jenkins, A.R. 1994. The influence of habitat on the distribution and abundance of Peregrine and Lanner Falcons in South Africa. Ostrich 65: 281–290.

The distribution and abundance of Peregrine and Lanner Falcons in South Africa was compared using recorded sightings from various sources, including the Southern African Bird Atlas Project. Falcon distributions were compared with the distribution of cliffs and vegetation, to quantify differences in the habitat preferences of the two species in the breeding and the non-breeding seasons. Lanner Falcons outnumbered Peregrine Falcons in most areas by at least 10:1. Peregrine Falcons were more habitat specific than Lanner Falcons, in terms of topographic and biotic requirements. Peregrine Falcons were largely restricted to high cliff areas throughout the year and there probably were no large-scale seasonal movements within the population. The bulk of the resident Peregrine Falcon population was found in the fynbos biome, in the southwestern Cape. Outside of this area, Peregrine Falcons were concentrated in woodlands. Lanner Falcons were less dependent on high cliffs, although cliff availability was important in defining the ranges of both species. Lanner Falcons were most common in the sour grasslands in the east of the country in the breeding season, with apparent movements in the non-breeding season into the fynbos, the Nama Karoo and the southern Kalahari. Overall, Peregrine Falcons favoured relatively closed habitats and Lanner Falcons favoured relatively open habitats. The differences in the two species' habitat preferences are proximate factors influencing distribution and abundance.     

POLLEN AND GENE DISPERSAL: THE INFLUENCES OF COMPETITION FOR POLLINATION

Pollinators that forage indiscriminately can transfer pollen from one species to another, reducing the amount that reaches conspecific flowers. I present evidence that the presence of another plant species visited by the same pollinators can also reduce pollen dispersal distances and outcrossing. This has the potential to influence gene flow and reproductive success. Pollen carryover and movement patterns were measured for the shared insect pollinators of Stellaria pubera and Claytonia virginica in North Carolina. Bee flies deposited similar amounts of Stellaria pollen on a series of pistillate Claytonia flowers as on a series of pistillate Stellaria flowers. In arrays of potted plants, flies and solitary bees visited most flowers on a plant before leaving and then flew to a nearby plant chosen independently of species; 95% of moves were to one of 12 nearest neighbors. These measures of pollen carryover and movement patterns were used in a set of computer simulations to predict pollen dispersal distances. The simulations suggested that C. virginica substantially reduces outcrossing and pollen flow in S. pubera. These predictions were tested by tracking dye movement from anthers in populations of potted plants. Addition of C. virginica reduced the mean squared distance moved by dye to receptive S. pubera flowers by 23% and reduced the amount of dye moved by 51%. The estimated pollen component of gene flow was also much lower in a natural population of 5. pubera mixed with C. virginica than in the synthetic single-species populations.