Cerebellar afferents in the frogs,Rana esculenta and Rana temporaria

Summary Afferents to the cerebellum in frogs (Rana esculenta, Rana temporaria) were studied by use of retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase. Following injections restricted to the molecular layer of the cerebellum cell labelling was found in the contralateral inferior olive and the ventral portion of the caudal medullary raphe. Injections involving the granular layer resulted in labelling in the ventral horn of the cervical spinal cord, the caudal spinal trigeminal nucleus, the nucleus caudalis and the medial portion of the nucleus ventralis of the vestibular nerve, the inferior reticular nucleus and the nucleus of the fasciculus longitudinalis medialis. Following larger injections, which may have spread significantly into the cerebellar, secondary gustatory, trigeminal or vestibular nuclei, labelled cell bodies were also found in the nucleus ruber, nucleus solitarius, the rostral spinal trigeminal nucleus and the rostral rhombencephalic reticular formation. It is unclear whether the fibers from these latter areas innervate the cerebellum of the frog, as they do in mammals, or only reach the underlying areas. This situation emphasizes a limitation of the HRP technique when applied to small structures as is often the case in lower vertebrates.Supported by Grant Gr 276 to U. G.-C. from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

A study on hearing in frogs (Rana pipiens and Rana clamitans)

Zusammenfassung Die relative Reizschwellkurve für die Schallempfindung bei den Fröschen Rana clamitans und R. pipiens wurde in dem Frequenzbereich von 30–15000 Hz bestimmt. Die Kurve ist dieselbe für beide Geschlechter. Versuche zeigten, daß Schälle entweder inhibierend oder stimulierend auf die Atmungsbewegungen wirken können. Diese Wirkung wird nicht von der Frequenz oder der Intensität der Schälle bestimmt, sondern von dem physiologischen Zustand des Tieres.Die Latenzzeit zwischen Reiz und Effekt ist unabhängig von der Tonfrequenz, wird aber von den Intervallen zwischen aufeinanderfolgenden Reizen beeinflußt; sie wird kürzer, wenn die Intervalle verlängert werden.Dressurversuche mit 18 Tieren, unter Anwendung von Strafung durch elektrische Schläge und einem Dressurton von 300 Hz, ergaben positive Erfolge bei zwei Individuen von R. clamitans.

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Contribution No. 67 of the Department of Biology, Hamilton College, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.     

两种蛙Sox基因的PCR-SSCP分析

采用PCR技术,以参考人SRI,基因HMG-box的保守区序列而设计一对特异引物,扩增了黑斑蛙和金线蛙的Sox基因。结果两种蛙的雌雄个体均扩增出217bp的基因片段,与人对照相同。对扩增产物进行SSCP分析显示,两种蛙雌雄个体间的单链迁移率相同,两种蛙之间差异较小,而与人有较大差异。测序表明,两种蛙的Sox序列之间以及与各类物种的Sox基因都有非常高的相似性,充分显示出Sox基因在系统进化上的高度保守性。     

Cell adhesion to extracellular matrix in normal Rana pipiens gastrulae and in arrested hybrid gastrulae Rana pipiens female X Rana esculenta male

Rana pipiens eggs fertilized by Rana esculenta sperm (ESC) hybrid embryos develop until gastrulation in control Rana pipiens embryos (PIP) and then show morphogenetic arrest. After arrest, ESC do not gastrulate but live for 5 days as blastula-like embryos. We studied the distribution of fibronectin (FN)-containing fibrils and integrin (INT) in PIP and ESC. There are many FN-fibrils in PIP organized in anastomosing networks radiating away from the center of individual cells and across intercellular boundaries. ESC have fewer fibrils compared to PIP. These fibrils are first located between cells in disorganized arrays. After arrest in ESC, when PIP are Stage 14 neurulae, many more FN-fibrils appear. INT-staining occurs in both embryos in similar patterns. In xenoplastic transplantations, we found that the extracellular matrix on the inner surface of the ESC blastocoel roof serves as a substratum for PIP cell migration. In an in vitro assay, we found more cell adhesion to FN-substrata in PIP than in ESC. Cell locomotion rates on FN-substrata were 1.70 +/- 0.85 microns/min for PIP but only 0.46 +/- 0.56 microns/min for ESC. We also found that the inner surface of the blastocoel roof from ESC can not promote cell adhesion and locomotion when Stage 11 fragments are used for conditioning but that Stage 14 fragments can deposit a FN-fibril-rich extracellular matrix which supports PIP mesodermal cell migration at a rate of 1.26 +/- 0.38 microns/min.     

棘胸蛙、虎纹蛙、黑斑蛙血细胞的比较

应用Giemsa染色法对棘胸蛙、虎纹蛙和黑斑蛙的血细胞进行显微观察和各形态参数测定,并对各类细胞作了图示和描述。结果表明,红细胞和白细胞的形态和数量比例有一定属和种的特征,并与其生长环境和进化地位有一定联系。     

Molecular phenotyping of maternally mediated parallel adaptive divergence within Rana arvalis and Rana temporaria

When similar selection acts on the same traits in multiple species or populations, parallel evolution can result in similar phenotypic changes, yet the underlying molecular architecture of parallel phenotypic divergence can be variable. Maternal effects can influence evolution at ecological timescales and facilitate local adaptation, but their contribution to parallel adaptive divergence is unclear. In this study, we (i) tested for variation in embryonic acid tolerance in a common garden experiment and (ii) used molecular phenotyping of egg coats to investigate the molecular basis of maternally mediated parallel adaptive divergence in two amphibian species (Rana arvalis and Rana temporaria). Our results on three R. arvalis and two R. temporaria populations show that adaptive divergence in embryonic acid tolerance is mediated via maternally derived egg coats in both species. We find extensive polymorphism in egg jelly coat glycoproteins within both species and that acid‐tolerant clutches have more negatively charged egg jelly – indicating that the glycosylation status of the jelly coat proteins is under divergent selection in acidified environments, likely due to its impact on jelly water balance. Overall, these data provide evidence for parallel mechanisms of adaptive divergence in two species. Our study highlights the importance of studying intraspecific molecular variation in egg coats and, specifically, their glycoproteins, to increase understanding of underlying forces maintaining variation in jelly coats.     

Fluoreszenzmikroskopischer Nachweis biogener Monoamine in der Epiphysis cerebri von Rana esculenta und Rana pipiens

Zusammenfassung Die Epiphysis cerebri von Rana pipiens und Rana esculenta wurde fluoreszenzmikroskopisch auf das Vorhandensein bestimmter biogener Amine untersucht. Unter normalen Bedingungen lassen sich im Parenchym der Froschepiphyse keine Amine fluoreszenzmikroskopisch darstellen. Nach Vorbehandlung der Tiere mit dem Monoaminoxydase-Hemmer Nialamid ist aber eine intensive, durch Formaldehyd-Behandlung induzierte Gelbfluoreszenz in den Sinnes- und Stützzellen zu beobachten. Mikrospektrofluorometrische Messungen zeigen, daß das Fluorophor mit 5-Hydroxytryptamin identisch ist, obwohl das Vorkommen von anderen verwandten Indolen — z.B. 5-Hydroxytryptophan und Melatonin — nicht ausgeschlossen werden kann. Grünfluoreszierende adrenerge Nervenfasern sind im meningealen Hüllbindegewebe der Epiphyse zu erkennen; einige dieser Fasern scheinen auch in die Epiphyse einzudringen.Der Nachweis von 5-Hydroxytryptamin wird im Zusammenhang mit der Frage einer Melatoninsynthese diskutiert. Das 5-Hydroxytryptamin könnte außerdem in einer funktionellen Beziehung zu einem bisher noch unbekannten Protein- der Polypeptid-Hormon des Epiphysenparenchyms stehen.

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Fluorescence microscopic studies of biogenic amines in the pineal organ of Rana esculenta and Rana pipiens

Summary The pineal organ of Rana pipiens and Rana esculenta was studied by fluorescence microscopy for the histochemical demonstration of certain biogenic monoamines. Under normal conditions, no fluorogenic amines were visible in the organ. After pretreatment of the animal with a monoamine-oxidase inhibitor, nialamide, an intense yellow formaldehyde-induced fluorescence appeared both in the sensory cells and in the supporting cells. Microspectrofluorometric analysis indicated that the fluorophore is identical with 5-hydroxytryptamine; the presence of other closely related indoles, such as 5-hydroxytryptophan and melatonin, however, cannot be excluded. Fluorescent adrenergic nerves were found in the connective tissues surrounding the pineal organ; fluorescent fibers were observed also in the pineal parenchyma.The presence of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the anuran pineal organ is discussed with regard to the role that the amine plays in melatonin synthesis and with regard to a possible functional relation to some as yet unidentified protein- or polypeptid-hormone within the pineal parenchyma.

Finanzierung eines Studienaufenthaltes an der Universität Lund durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Forschungsvorhaben — Ok 1/15 — von Prof. Dr. A. Oksche u.a.).     

Immunofluorescent localization of calcitonin in the ultimobranchial gland of Rana temporaria and Rana pipiens

Summary Calcitonin-like immunoreactivity has been demonstrated by immunofluorescence in the cells of the ultimobranchial gland of two species of Rana, using an indirect (sandwich) technique with anti-pure porcine calcitonin serum. The possibility of cross-reactivity, between the amphibian hormone and anti-porcine calcitonin antibody, had been anticipated on account of the observation that injected porcine calcitonin lowered the plasma calcium levels in one of the species under investigation.     

贵州分布长肢林蛙种组物种一新记录——徂徕林蛙

2018年5月,在贵州省黄平县朱家山县级自然保护区进行本底资源调查时采集到蛙属Rana物种标本10号,结合形态鉴定和分子系统学分析,确认该物种为徂徕林蛙Rana culaiensis,为贵州省两栖动物新记录。此次发现对于进一步认识徂徕林蛙的形态特征及地理分布格局具有重要意义。此次采集标本与模式产地标本在体型、趾间蹼等方面存在差异,这种差异是否为适应不同的地理环境而产生的形态变异,还有待采集符合统计学的标本数据来论证。     

Caryotypes de Rana temporaria (L.) et de Rana dalmatina (Bonaparte)

The karyotype of Rana temporaria is analysed from preparations of squashed tadpole epidermis, the karyotype of Rana dalmatina from preparations of squashed larval epidermis and adult tissues. For each of these two species, the 26 chromosomes of the karyotype have been divided in two groups according to their length. Inside these two groups, three morphological criteria — relative length, arm-ratio and presence of secondary constriction — permit the identification of each of the component parts. For Rana dalmatina, the analysis of the two meiotic divisions shows that the classification remains possible in two groups. There is no evidence of an heteromorphic pair of chromosomes in these two species. The studies on Rana temporaria and Rana dalmatina are compared to recent ones on other Ranidae.