Distributional gradients and variability of macroelement concentrations in the crowns of plantation grownPinus resinosa (AIT.)

Summary The vertical distribution of inorganic nutrient concentrations in red pine were dependent on the foliage age. Older foliage did not show an average vertical gradient while younger foliage did show a significant gradient. Horizontal gradients across foliage age classes in a branch whorl were consistent for all branch whorls, but the relative difference between the concentration of the current foliage and foliage three years-old or older was dependent on crown position. Coefficients of variation (CV) did not show a variability gradient in the crown for nitrogen and phosphorus. Variability of potassium tended to decrease as foliage age increased. Contribution of the University of Florida, Soil Science Department, Gainesville, FL and State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York. Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. 3017.     

Plastids of sieve tube members in the stamen vascular bundle ofSorghum bicolor (Gramineae)

Summary The plastids in sieve tube members of the stamen vascular bundles ofSorghum bicolor, fixed in glutaraldehyde with postfixation in osmium tetroxide, are of the P-type containing cuneate crystalloids of a proteinaceous nature surrounded by a double envelope. Secondary inclusions are present in these P-type plastids. P-type plastids inSorghum often remain intact in the mature sieve tube members.This work was supported by a grant from the Iowa Agricultural and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, U.S.A. Project No. 1740 toHarry T.Horner, Jr., andNels R.Lersten and Project No. 1914 toHarry T.Horner, Jr. of the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Iowa State University, Ames, U.S.A. This work was completed by the author as part of the Ph. D. dissertation research.     

Eye movements of monkeys during learning of color and form discrimination problems involving reversal and nonreversal shifts

Eye movements of monkeys were measured during performance on a series of two-choice color and form discriminations which involved reversal and nonreversal shifts. Neither the amount of visual scanning nor the duration of individual fixations was related to the relevant dimension or to the type of shift. However, amount of scanning increased over the series of problems and was linearly related to the time to respond. The last fixation of a trial tended to be on the positive stimulus and a fixation near the end of a trial tended to be longer than one near the beginning.This research was supported by a research grant (GB-18953X) from the National Science Foundation to the first author. Part of the research served as the basis for the second author's doctoral dissertation (Vaughan, 1970).     

On lipid droplets in renal interstitial cells

Summary By examining Epon sections of the renal papilla, it is demonstrated that a brief period of salt repletion in salt-depleted rats induces a considerable increase in the number of lipid droplets in the renal interstitial cells. It is supposed that this difference indicates that the lipid droplets contain substances which are physiologically important for the kidneys. Possibly, these substances are prostaglandins, which have been demonstrated previously by other authors in extracts from the renal medulla.This work was supported by a grant from the Danish State Research Foundation.The author wishes to acknowledge the support and inspiration given by E. Bojesen, M.D., and P. Leyssac, M.D., the Institute of Experimental Medicine.     

A survey of a familial transmission of an anomalous autosome in group 13–15

A male child hospitalized due to undescended testes (cryptorchism) was found to possess an abnormal autosome with an unusually elongated short arm in group 13–15. A familial chromosome investigation undertaken in 14 persons related to the propositus in his paternal line and in his mother revealed that his clinically normal father, grandfather, 2 aunts and a female cousin carried the same aberrant autosome. It is evident that a carrier of the abnormal chromosome is the grandfather, that the anomalous element was transmitted, irrespective of sex, from the parents either one of whom carried the aberrant one, and that the particular autosomal abnormality is not always associated with specific phenotypic anomaly. A possible origin of the aberrant autosome is discussed.Contribution no. 733 from the Zoological Institute, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo.The senior author (S. M.) wishes to dedicate this paper to Dr. Jakob Seiler on the occasion of his 80th birthday, May 16, 1966.     

Multiple temperature optima in collectotrichum graminicola

Summary The dry weights of three isolates ofColletotrichum graminicola (Ces.)Wills., growing at 10°, 15°, 20°, 30°, and 35° C in yeast extract liquid medium were recorded. Two temperature growth optima and minima occurred at 20°C, 30°C and 10°C, 25°C respectively.Portion of a Ph. D. thesis, The Ohio State University, Columbus 10, Ohio, U.S.A. Department of Botany and Plant Pathology. Paper Number 657.     

Effects of flow on the synthesis and release of fibronectin by endothelial cells

Summary Human umbilical vein endothelial cells at confluence were subjected to steady shear flow. The effect of flow on the synthesis of fibronectin, its release into the medium, and incorporation into the extracellular matrix were investigated. The total content of fibronectin in endothelial cells exposed to flow was found to be lower than that in static controls after periods of 12 to 48 h. In the presence of cycloheximide there was no difference in the fibronectin content of sheared and unsheared cells. Our results suggest that the synthesis of fibronectin is inhibited by the flow-induced perturbation of endothelial cells. This work was supported by grant EET 8708692 from the National Science Foundation, Washington, DC; grant HL-40696 from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD; and a Research Initiation Grant from the Pennsylvania State University.     

Some effects of a discrete trial procedure on differentiation learning by Japanese monkeys

Employing newly developed equipment, which permitted presentation of discriminative stimuli and the response manipulandum separately, the present study reexamined the results ofMcClearn's (1957) study on differentiation learning. When a discrete trial procedure analogous toMcClearn's was used, the subjects (two Japanese monkeys;Macaca fuscata fuscata) persisted in responding on S- trials, replicatingMcClearn's results. However, when a free operant procedure was used, in which the response manipulandum was continually available, the subjects made few responses during S- trials and showed almost complete differentiation. It was concluded that the discrete presentation of the manipulandum itself has some obstructive effects on differentiation, or successive discrimination learning.     

Establishment,maintenance, and behavior of free-ranging chimpanzees on Ossabaw Island,Georgia, U.S.A.

A small number of adult chimpanzees were released on Ossabaw Island, Georgia, in order to evaluate the feasibility of establishing a free-ranging reproductive colony of chimpanzees in a semitropical North American climate. First, three females and one male were released in June 1972. Following the unexpected deaths of two of these females, four more females were added. Except for one newborn that was removed from the colony, the chimpanzee colony remained intact, and was still in existence as of February 1975. Preparation for and maintenance of the chimpanzees is described. Behavioral adaptations to the environment, and some aspects of chimpanzee social behavior are reported. The potential importance of colonies such as this, for reducing over-exploitation of naturally occurring primate populations is discussed. The financial support of Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, and The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Poultry Science, University Park, Pennsylvania, permitted us to make these observations. Funding for planning and construction of the island facilities, and relocation and maintenance of the chimpanzees was provided by a National Institutes of Health grant toGeoffery Bourne, Director of the Center.     

Light-microscope studies of the cytology of the adenohypophysis of the white-crowned sparrow,Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii

Summary Adenohypophyses from more than two hundred white-crowned sparrows of both sexes and different ages, and from different periods of their annual reproductive cycle, have been used for this investigation. In addition to examination of these normal birds, we have also studied the adenohypophyses of 23 castrates and 24 controls held in different photoperiodic conditions.Cytologically the pars distalis of the adenohypophysis of the white-crowned sparrow is typically avian with distinct cephalic and caudal lobes, each with characteristic cell-types.Four basic cell-types, the acidophils, basophils, amphophils, and chromophobes, have been identified in the pars distalis by means of Matsuo tetrachrome and Matsuo modified PAS-methyl blue staining methods.Three types of acidophils, orange, red, and small, are confined to the caudal lobe of the pars distalis. Their possible functions are discussed.Light basophils (PAS-light red cells) and deep basophils (PAS-deep red cells) are equally distributed in both lobes. It is suggested that basophils may be involved in gonadotropic function since their appearance correlates well with the annual gonadal cycle and photoperiodic stimulation of gonadal growth and with the results of castration.The amphophils or PAS-purple cells (aldehyde-fuchsin positive) are found only in the cephalic lobe. Their probable function is discussed.Two types of chromophobes, specific and ordinary chromophobes, have been observed. The specific chromophobes are found only in the cephalic lobe and are similar to the Kernhaufen described by Romeis (1940). The ordinary chromophobes are similar to those of the pars distalis of other avian species and of mammals.The castration cells are found in both lobes of the photosensitive castrates under natural photoperiodic conditions as well as in those subjected artificially to photostimulation (20-hour daily photoperiods). Similar cells have also been observed in the pars tuberalis of the castrated photostimulated birds.The relations of the rostral and caudal groups of the portal vessels to the cell-types found in the cephalic and caudal lobes are discussed.Dedicated to Professor Dr. Y. Kato, Department of Anatomy of the Domestic Animals, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan, and to President Dr. H. Mimura, Shinshu University, Matsumoto, Japan, in honor of their retirement.The investigation reported herein was supported by a research grant (5RO 1-HEO7240 NEUA) from the National Institutes of Health to Professor Vitums, by funds for biological and medical research made available by State of Washington Initiative Measure No. 171 to Professor Vitums; by a Research Career Development Award (5K3 AM-18, 370) from the National Institutes of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases to Professor King; and by a research grant (5RO 1 NB 06 187) from the National Institutes of Health to Professor Farner. The senior author is greatful to Professor Dr. Hideo Murai and Doctor Yasukuni Watanabe, Department of Animal Science, Shinshu University,Ina,Japan, for their cooperation and support in this investigation. We wish to thank Mrs. Sumiko Sumida for technical assistance, and Miss Kathleen Reinhardt for the preparation of the drawings.     

Cylindrical structures in the chloroplasts of Sirogonium melanosporum

Summary Cylindrical structures with outside diameters of 390 to 410 Å have been observed in the chloroplasts of mature vegetative cells of the filamentous, green alga Sirogonium melanosporum. These cylindrical structures are either parallel to one another or randomly oriented in the stroma matrix of the chloroplast. Some of the outer cylindrical structures of the complex appear to be continuous with thylakoid membranes, suggesting a relationship between these two structures.This work was supported by an Institutional Grant from the American Cancer Society to the University of Arizona and by grant GB2440 from the National Science Foundation to R. W. Hoshaw. The authors thank Dr. Wayneferris for the use of the electron microscope supported by NSF grant GB3330.     

A new class of p-fluorophenylalanine-resistant mutants in Neurospora crassa

A p-fluorophenylalanine-resistant mutant (acc ^phe ) which grows on minimal medium has an altered prephenate dehydrogenase and maps at the try-1 locus. Two other tyr-1 mutants which require tyrosine for normal growth can eventually grow on minimal or minimal plus p-fluorophenylalanine (FPA). The three different tyr-1 mutants all accumulate phenylalanine when incubated in minimal medium. FPA is incorporated into protein at only 10–15% the wild-type rate when mutant conidia are incubated in a minimal salts-glucose system. Under the same conditions, phenylalanine incorporation in the mutants is initially the same as in wild type. When tyrosine is included in the medium, resistance to FPA is lost, phenylalanine accumulation is prevented, and FPA is incorporated into protein at the wild-type rate. Tyrosine apparently prevents the overproduction of phenylalanine by preventing the overproduction of chorismate and prephenate.This work was supported, in part, by an Atomic Energy Commission grant to the Institute of Molecular Biophysics, the Florida State University, and by the Genetics Training Grant, funded by the National Institute of Health. It contains, in part, data from the doctoral thesis of the senior author, who was supported by a Florida State University Nuclear Fellowship and by a Public Health Service Fellowship.     

Photoperiodic and osmotic influences on the ultrastructure of the hypothalamic neurosecretory system of the White-crowned sparrow,Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii

Summary An attempt was made to correlate functional changes in the neurohypophysis of the White-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii, with morphologic features on the light- and electron-microscope levels. The aldehyde-fuchsin-staining anterior median eminence possesses essentially the same ultrastructural features as the non-staining posterior median eminence. The axon terminals are characterized by the presence of a large number of small vesicles (approximately 400 Å in diameter) and occasional electron-dense granules. The more-or-less depleted anterior median eminence occasionally evident in the photosensitive bird showing testicular development is indistinguishable ultrastructurally from the more intensely staining median eminence generally characteristic of the photorefractory bird. In the median eminence, stainability and functional state do not seem to be correlated with changes in the type, size or number of vesicles. A slight increase in the number of granules was noted in the photorefractory bird but this was considered insufficient basis to account for differences in stainability.The pars nervosa, on the other hand, responded to osmotic stimuli (saline drinking water) by loss of stainability and decrease in numbers of elementary neurosecretory granules. Small vesicles are also present in the pars nervosa axon terminals, but are intermingled with neurosecretory granules in normal birds. Acute-osmotic birds, however, had axon terminals almost entirely occupied by small vesicles.It is to be emphasized that the pars nervosa and the median eminence are two structurally very different regions of the neurohypophysis. The basis for aldehyde-fuchsin staining in the median eminence appears to differ from that in the pars nervosa. The implications of these findings are considered in regard to hypothalamic control over gonadotropic activity in the White-crowned Sparrow.Dedicated to Professor Dr. W. Bargmann in honor of his 60th birthday.This investigation was supported by grant GB-2484 from the National Science Foundation to Professor Bern, grant GB-2819 from the National Science Foundation to Professor Mewaldt, and grant NB-01353 from the National Institutes of Health to Professor Farner. The authors wish to express their appreciation of the technical assistance of Mrs. Irene Brown, Mr. John Butchart, Sally S. Kibby, Mrs. Carol Nicoll, and Mr. John Striffler. Mrs. Emily Reid kindly prepared the histograms.     

Response properties of the glossopharyngeal taste system of the mud puppy (Necturus maculosus)

Summary The responses of individual glossopharyngeal neurons of the mud puppy,Necturus maculosus, were examined over an extended concentration series of NaCl, HCl, quinine hydrochloride (QHCl) and sucrose solutions. Neuron isolation was evaluated by a computer program that sorted neural impulses according to amplitude (Fig. 1). When sufficient isolation existed, a second program counted the impulses in each test period as well as in pre- and post-stimulus periods. Response latencies were calculated independently.The response to taste stimulation took one of three forms: 1) increased activity, 2) decreased activity, or 3) increased activity to the water rinse. For each concentration series the magnitude (SR) and latency functions of the responses were determined. These varied among stimuli and among nerve fibers (Fig. 4). However, the SR and latency functions were found in specific combinations, the most unique being one in which both functions remained constant over an entire concentration series (Fig. 4E, F).Most neurons responded to more than one of the stimuli. Many, however, responded to at least one of the stimuli with a particular form of response and combination of SR and latency functions (Fig. 6). In this sense they may be considered chemospecific as well as multiply sensitive. Despite the many types of response, the sum of the individual SR functions closely resembled the SR functions of the whole nerve (Fig. 7) and the summed latencies produced a temporal pattern with a phasic component similar to that of the whole nerve response (Fig. 8).Abbreviations SR stimulus concentration vs response magnitude - L latency of response - +,0, -,I (SR orL) magnitude or latency functions with positive, zero, negative or indeterminate slope - QHCl quinine hydrochloride Supported in part by NIH Grant NS09168The authors wish to thank Mr. Marc Schneider for the computer programs and his expert assistance and Mrs. G. Chapman of Florida State University for photography. We also thank Dr. David V. Smith for his critical comments. This work was submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph. D. degree to Michigan State University by the senior author.     

Purification of 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphohexonate aldolases of Pseudomonas saccharophila

Summary KDPG aldolase has been crystallized from extracts of sucrosegrown cells of Pseudomonas saccharophila. KDPGal aldolase, which is absent in sucrose-grown cells but is present together with KDPG aldolase in galactose-grown cells has been purified over 1000-fold. The two enzymes share many common features, but possess absolute substrate specificity and are immunochemically distinct. The equilibrium constants for the catalyzed reactions have been determined and found to favor the synthesis of the 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphohexonic acids.Dedicated to Prof. C. B. van Niel on the occasion of his 70th birthday. It was in his laboratory that Pseudomonas saccharophila was isolated and first studied some thirty years ago. In spite of a firm faith in enrichment culture techniques and incantations learned at Pacific Grove, repeated attempts to reisolate the organism from nature have been unsuccessful. One wonders whether it was the Knallgas atmosphere used for the original enrichment or that unique atmosphere of the master's laboratory, only occasionally tainted with a whiff of H₂S or mercury vapors, that nurtured this unique bacterium.This work was supported in part by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (AI-1808) and was conducted while the authors held tenure, respectively, as Postdoctoral Fellow and as Professor in the Miller Institute for Basic Research in Science at the University of California in Berkeley.     

Scanning electron microscopic studies of cilia

Summary A simple method for the preparation of ciliated epithelia for study with the scanning electron microscope is described. Ciliary groups are well preserved and it is possible to discern individual cilia and work out their numbers and orientation. Following scanning electron microscopical study some of the material was prepared for transmission electron microscopy and the ultrastructure of the tissue was found to be surprisingly well preserved. The tracheal epithelium of the rabbit, the olfactory epithelia of the goldfish and the rabbit, and the sensory epithelia in the statocyst of a cephalopod mollusc were examined with the scanning electron microscope to demonstrate the possibilities of the method. Acknowledgements. We would like to thank Professor J. Z. Young for his continued interest and support. The scanning electron microscope was purchased with a grant provided by the Science Research Council to Dr. Boyde, Mr. R. Willis helped in the initial stages of the study, Mr. G. Savage provided help with the goldfish material, Mr. S. Waterman provided much photographic assistance, and Mrs. N. Finney the secretarial assistance.     

Kluyveromyces marxianus: a potential source of diacetyl reductase

Kluyveromyces marxianus had a higher specific activity of diacetyl reductase (EC 1.1.1.5) than all other organisms previously reported. The enzyme was NADH-dependent and irreversibly catalysed the conversion of diacetyl to acetoin with an optimum pH of 7.0. It was stable at 40°C but lost 50% of its activity at 50°C in 30 min. The K _m and V _max values for diacetyl were 1.8 mm and 0.053 mm/min, respectively.The authors are with the Department of Food Science and Technology, Comell University, Geneva, New York 14456, USA     

On the structure of the XY bivalent in Mus musculus L.

Summary The structure and behavior of XY bivalent in mice is discussed. The view that XY bivalent in pachytene is embedded within the sex vesicle was fully confirmed. X and Y are paired end-to-end by a nonchiasmatic connection, which is established already in pachytene and persists until first meiotic metaphase. The pachytene complement in mice consists of 19 rod-shaped autosomal bivalents and the XY bivalent embedded within the sex vesicle. A satisfactory identification of individual autosomes in male pachytene has not been found possible.This paper is dedicated to Professor L. C. Dunn on the occasion of his retirement as Professor from Columbia University in recognition of his deep humanity as a scientist and a man.Research carried out under a fellowship of the Rockefeller Foundation, and later under fellowship support of the U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare through a training grant to the Department of Zoology, Columbia University. The experiments were supported financially by Contract AT/30-1/1804 with the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission.     

Ultrastructure of the plasmodial slime moldPerichaena vermicularis

Summary Mature plasmodia ofPerichaena vermicularis require a light period to induce sporulation. In this paper the ultrastructure and acid phosphatase localization of the mature plasmodium ofPerichaena vermicularis are investigated. Acid phosphatase is localized in vacuoles containing remnants of bacteria and cell organelles. Morphological and histochemical evidence support the interpretation that these vacuoles constitute two types of lysosomes called respectively heterophagic and autophagic vacuoles.Coated vesicles which apparently originate from smooth endoplasmic reticulum are dispersed throughout the plasmodium and frequently associated with lysosomes. Several dumbbellshaped mitochondria are observed in the plasmodium at the onset of fruiting but not during later stages of plasmodiocarp development. Cytoplasmic microtubules are identified inPerichaena vermicularis. Some of these are closely associated with microfilaments.This work was supported by National Science Foundation grants (GB-5884 and GB-8537) to Dr.Ian K.Ross, NSF grant (GB 12371) to Dr.James Cronshaw, and an NSF Traineeship (GZ 445 and 796) to I.Charvat.This constitutes a portion of a thesis presented to the Regents of the University of California by the first author in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph. D. degree.     

Partial purification and some properties of an alkaline cellulase from an alkalophilic Bacillus sp.

A newly isolated Bacillus species, which grew optimally at 30°C and pH 10, produced a carboxymethylcellulase in a medium containing 10 g CM-cellulose/l. The enzyme, when partially purified by gel filtration, had a mass of about 29 kDa as determined by both SDS-PAGE and gel filtration chromatography. It was optimally active at pH 9.5 and 40°C, and was stable from pH 7 to 11 at 4°C for 24 h. The enzyme was stimulated by Ca²⁺ (1mm) but was completely inhibited by Hg²⁺ (1mm). Neither EDTA nor EGTA (10mm) affected the activity.The author is with the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Jordan. PO Box 2686, Amman 11181, Jordan