Two kinds of peripheral afferent neurons in the earthworm reflex arc

• 1.1. Two kinds of neurons were identified in the body-wall longitudinal muscle layer of the earthworm, Amynthas hawayanus, by the simultaneous potential recording and Lucifer Yellow-CH injection method with a single microelectrode.
• 2.2. Both kinds of neurons have their somata, neuntes and longitudinal processes imbedded in the longitudinal muscle layer. Those with two circular processes extending into the third segmental nerve trunk are tentatively named “intra-nerve-trunk” neurons and those with four circular processes extending into four setae shafts are tentatively named “intramural” neurons.
• 3.3. Both kinds of neurons responded to electrical and mechanical stimuli applied in an afferent direction to them.
• 4.4. The “intra-nerve-trunk” neuron decreased its response amplitudes to these stimuli after the third nerve trunk was sectioned in correlation to the response amplitude decrease recorded from the nerve trunk after it was sectioned.
• 5.5. The response amplitude decrease due to denervation implies a nonlinear structure of the earthworm reflex circuits.
• 6.6. The “intramural” neurons are believed to be primary sensory neurons connected to the mechanoreceptors in the setae.

     

Temperature acclimation in respiratory and cytochrome c oxidase activity in common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

• 1.1. Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) exposed to experimental temperatures of 12, 18, 24, 30 or 36°C for a 4-week period were used to investigate the effect of temperature acclimation on the frequency of opercular movement (FOM), growth and cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) activity in heart, liver and muscle.
• 2.2. An exponential relationship between FOM and temperature after the first week (10₁₀ =1.76) disappeared after the second week.
• 3.3. The initially high FOM at temperatures of 30 or 36°C and the low FOM at 18 or 12°C changed over 4 weeks to approach the FOM of fish at 24°C.
• 4.4. This change in the relationship of FOM to temperature from highly dependent to independent appeared to be thermal compensation.
• 5.5. Heart and liver CCO activities were significantly affected by temperature, with the lowest activity at the approximate optimum temperature for growth, 24°C.
• 6.6. Highest CCO activities for heart and liver occurred at both the highest and lowest temperatures.
• 7.7. Among the three tissues, heart CCO activity was generally the highest and most affected by acclimation temperature.
• 8.8. Muscle tissue had the lowest CCO activity and was unaffected by temperature.
• 9.9. The high CCO activity at a cold acclimation of temperature 12°C was probably due to thermal compensation and the high activity at 36°C may have been a result of thermal stress.

     

A comparison of aspartate transcarbamylase activity in juvenile pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) when fed various diets

• 1.1. The optimum pH for measurement of aspartate transcarbamylase activity in oyster tissue was determined to be 9.35 while the optimum temperature was 39.5°C.
• 2.2. Aspartate transcarbamylase activity varied significantly over short periods of time (hr) possibly due to fluctuations in the amount of food digested.
• 3.3. The composition of the oyster's diet also affected the levels of aspartate transcarbamylase activity in oyster tissues.
• 4.4. Those oysters fed an egg yolk-starch diet contained significantly lower aspartate transcarbamylase activity than oysters fed an egg yolk-starch-salmon oil diet or a casein-starch-salmon oil diet.
• 5.5. The aspartate transcarbamylase activities in oysters fed Phacedactylum tricornutum or a starch diet were not significantly different from the activities in oysters fed the egg yolk-starch diet.

     

Lipid agglutinins from coelomic fluid of the earthworm,Lumbricus terrestris

• 1.1. Coelomic fluid of the earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris, contains lipid agglutinins that are primarily glycolipids. They are present in fluid from both immunized (induced) and unimmunized (naturally occurring) worms.
• 2.2. Lumbricus agglutinins partially purified by Folch extraction followed by silicic acid chromatography, were present in all fractions but in highest concentration in acetone and methanol fractions.
• 3.3. Immunodetection revealed agglutinin activity in acetone and methanol fractions, but not in the chloroform fraction.

     

Role of the visceral nerve in heart rate variations during different behavioral patterns in Megalobulimus sanctipauli (mollusca,gastropoda, pulmonata)

• 1.1. The role of the visceral nerve in mediating the changes in heart rate associated with different behavioral patterns was investigated in Megalobulimus sanctipauli.
• 2.2. The results of acute and chronic denervation experiments indicate that the visceral nerve has no excitatory or inhibitory tonic action on the heart of snails retracted into the shell, nor does it account for the increase in heart rate associated with the locomotion and feeding behaviors.
• 3.3. These changes in heart rate are, probably, indirect effects of increased activity such as an increase in venous return.
• 4.4. The visceral nerve is responsible for approximately 3/4 of the increase in heart rate associated with the first minute of extrusion.
• 5.5. The small increase in heart rate observed in denervated animals is probably caused by an increase in venous return generated by muscle activity that forces the head and food out of the shell.

     

Serotonin or electrical optic nerve stimulation increases the photosensitivity of the Aplysia eye

• 1.1. Exposure of isolated Aplysia eyes to serotonin (10⁻⁷ M) produces large and long-lasting (hours) increases in the ERG recorded from the surface of the eye.
• 2.2. Dopamine, octopamine, or acetylcholine do not mimic the effect of 5-HT on the ERG.
• 3.3. Brief electrical optic nerve stimulation (2 Hz, 2 min) also increases the ERG and this effect also lasts a long period of time (0.5–2 hr).
• 4.4. Our results suggest that serotonin increases the response of photoreceptor cells to light and that efferent optic nerve activity may modulate photosensitivity through release of serotonin in the eye.

     

The bioluminescence system of microscolex phosphoreus and its similarities to those of other bioluminescent earthworms (oligochaeta)

• 1.1. Microscolex phosphoreus (Acanthrodrilidae: Oligochaeta) is a small bioluminescent earthworm with a broad distribution throughout the world.
• 2.2. In response to adverse stimuli it exudes a luminescent fluid from the mouth and along the body wall which originates in the coelome and contains large (27.1 ± 4.2 μm) granule filled cells.
• 3.3. Similarly to the other species examined so far, the luminescence system is found associated with the isolated granule filled cells; it is stimulated to emit by hydrogen peroxide, Diplocardia longa luciferin and D. longa luciferase; and exhibits a broad, unimodal bioluminescence spectrum (λ_max = 538 nm).
• 4.4. The spectrum of the bioluminescence is matched by fluorescence which is associated with these same cells.
• 5.5. The spectrum of the soluble extract has a considerably altered spectrum with some indications of a similar, but more complex, alteration in the spectroscopy of the fluorescent component.
• 6.6. These results are discussed in comparison with other investigations of M. phosphoreus bioluminescence and the general common features of earthworm bioluminescence.

     

Comparative study on AMP deaminase in gill,muscle and blood of fish

• 1.1. High AMP deaminase activities were determined in the gill of one selachian, Scyliorhinus caniculus, and five teleosts, Anguilla anguilla, Cyprinus carpio, Salmo gairdneri, Perca fluviatilis and Esox lucius.
• 2.2. The highest activity was generally found in skeletal white muscle, except in A. anguilla and S. caniculus.
• 3.3. In s. caniculus a very high AMP deaminase activity was found in the blood where it was shown to be tightly regulated by inorganic phosphate.
• 4.4. Seasonal variations were observed for AMP deaminase activity in gill and white muscle, but also for blood Hb and protein concentration in the three tissues examined.

     

Sex-specific gene expression in distinct tissues of the shrimp Penaeus vannamei

• 1.1. Soluble proteins extracted from male and female Penaeus vannamei tissues such as eyes, eyestalks, brain, nerve cord, hemolymph, heart, muscle, hepatopancreas, hepatopancreas membrane and cuticular epidermis were analyzed and compared by high-resolution mini-two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (mini-2D-PAGE).
• 2.2. In each shrimp tissue a large number of discrete polypeptides was observed.
• 3.3. The polypeptide patterns from the same tissue of female and male shrimp were mostly similar but both qualitative and quantitative differences were noted, suggesting the presence of sex-specific gene products in various shrimp tissues.
• 4.4. Future applications of these results are discussed.

     

Identification of neurons involved in the earthworm Amynthas hawayanus reflex activity

• 1.1. The medial (MGF), lateral (LGF) and motor (RMS-2) giant neurons were confirmed as neural components in the earthworm Amynthas hawayanus polysynaptic reflex circuit by simultaneous potential recording and dye injection.
• 2.2. The reflex was initiated from the mechanoreceptors when evoked by mechanical stimulation but electrical stimulation also evoked an antidromic response in the motoneuron.
• 3.3. The primary reflex response propagates decrementally along both giant axons but directly evoked action potentials conduct in an all-or-none fashion.
• 4.4. The secondary reflex response continues to propagate after the primary response disappears.
• 5.5. A rhythmically discharging neuron of uncertain function was also identified.

     

A study of excitatory efferent fibres in the intestinal nerve of the fowl (Gallus domesticus)

• 1.1. The intestinal nerve of the fowl was studied in vitro.
• 2.2. A significantly larger amplitude spike discharge was recorded in side branches of the nerve which innervate the gut when the aboral end of the main nerve trunk was stimulated than when the oral end was stimulated.
• 3.3. Postganglionic autonomic neurones innervating the smooth muscle of the ileum are not located in the intestinal nerve. Evidence is presented, however, supporting the idea that such neurones innervating the rectum are located in the rectal position of the nerve.
• 4.4. The increase in intraluminal pressure and circular muscle tension in the ileum was greater following aboral nerve stimulation than following oral nerve stimulation.
• 5.5. It is suggested that excitatory efferent nerve fibres ascend the intestinal nerve to innervate the ileum.

     

Developmental changes of carbonic anhydrase activity of parotid gland and stomach of goat

• 1.1. Carbonic anhydrase activities in the various tissues of ruminants and non-ruminants were compared.
• 2.2. The highest activity was found in the parotid gland of ruminants such as bovine and goat. However the activity in the kidney was not significantly different between the ruminants and non-ruminants.
• 3.3. The effect of development on the carbonic anhydrase activity was studied. The activities in both the parotid gland and kidney of the goat were found to increase with age whereas the activities of the pancreas, liver and submaxillary gland did not change significantly.
• 4.4. The activities in the abomasum of the goat also increased with age however the other stomachs did not vary prominantly.

     

Alcohol dehydrogenase ontogeny and liver maturation in the leopard danio,brachydanio nigrofasciatus

• 1.1. The tissue specificity and ontogeny of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) are reported for the leopard danio, Brachydanio nigrofasciatus.
• 2.2. Of the seven adult tissues assayed (eye, brain, kidney, liver, ovary, skeletal muscle and stomach), only liver extracts showed ADH activity.
• 3.3. The activation of the Adh locus is correlated with the first functioning of liver. It is suggested that the state of liver cell differentiation may be the stimulus necessary for Adh locus expression.

     

Mixed function oxidase activity in the harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) from sable is., N.S.

• 1.1. One adult male, eight pups (including two full term foetuses) and nine adult female harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) were analysed for indices of mixed function oxidase (MFO) activity.
• 2.2. MFO activity was present in liver samples, but was at or below detection limits in samples of kidney, lung and pancreas.
• 3.3. Hepatic ethoxyresorufin O-de-ethylase and benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase activities were similar to those reported in other seals and in other mammals.
• 4.4. Cytochromes P-450 and b₅ concentrations were slightly lower than those observed in other mammals.
• 5.5. MFO activities in newborn pups and foetuses were significantly lower than those in adult females.
• 6.6. No qualitative differences in cytochrome P-450 isozyme distribution between foetal and adult samples could be discerned by electrophoresis.

     

Effects of oxygen on the cercal receptors of the cockroach Periplaneta americana

• 1.1. The activity of the cercal nerve XI and giant interneurons of the cockroach Periplaneta americana is much more intense in situ than in vitro, despite perfusion of the sixth abdominal ganglion by oxygenated saline.
• 2.2. The background cercal nerve activity increases in vitro upon oxygenation from a negligible level. It persists for about 10 min following cessation of oxygenation. The activity in situ remains unaffected.
• 3.3. Oxygenation also substantially increases the frequency of sensory spikes evoked during mechanical stimulation of cercal receptors in vitro, as well as the frequency of generated EPSPs in the interneurons which integrate the cercal activity. The latter effect is apparently due to the increased frequency of afferent spikes.
• 4.4. The intense activity detected in vitro in oxygenated preparations appears to be closer to that existing in situ.

     

Monoclonal antibodies to antigen binding protein of annelids (Lumbricus terrestris)

• 1.1. Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to antigen binding protein (ABP) of the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris have been prepared.
• 2.2. The specificity of mAb for a determinant located outside the antigen binding site was determined and verified in inhibition experiments.
• 3.3. The mAb were used for isolation of a 56 kDa ABP by an immunoprecipitation technique.
• 4.4. The binding of mAb to coelomocytes has demonstrated the existence of two cell populations, one with low and the other with high densities of ABP molecules on the cell membranes.

     

Enzyme activities and isozyme composition of triglyceride,diglyceride and monoglyceride lipases in Periplaneta americana,Locusta migratoria and Polia adjuncta

• 1.1. Measurements of maximal enzyme activities were combined with an electrophoretic study of isozyme make-up in an examination of triglyceride, diglyceride and monoglyceride lipases from the flight muscle, fat body and gut of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana and the locust, Locusta migratoria and from the flight muscle and fat body of the moth, Polia adjuncta.
• 2.2. Tri-, di- and mono-glyceride lipases were present in all tissues of the insects with diglyceride lipase ≥ triglyceride lipase activity in all cases and monoglyceride lipase ≥ diglyceride lipase activity in locust and moth.
• 3.3. In the flight muscle, a strong correlation was found between the activities of lipases and the known use of lipid as a fuel for flight in these insects. Lipase activities were lowest in the cockroach (a carbohydrate-based flight metabolism), intermediate in the locust (both carbohydrate and lipid-fueled flight), and highest in the moth (a non-feeding, lipid-catabolizing adult) flight muscle.
• 4.4. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, using substrate-impregnated gels and stained for fatty acids released by lipase action, demonstrated the presence of tissue specific isozymes of tri-, di- and mono-glyceride lipases in the three insects. In addition, some, but not all, tissues showed multiple molecular forms of one or more of the lipases.
• 5.5. Diglyceride and monoglyceride lipase activities in both flight muscle and fat body of the insects coelectrophoresed suggesting the possibility that these two lipase activities might be catalyzed by a single enzyme protein.

     

Purification and partial characterization of an AMP deaminase from the marine invertebrate Palaemon serratus

• 1.1. AMP deaminase from Palaemon serratus tail muscle was partially purified by chromatography on cellulose phosphate.
• 2.2. Muscle homogenates expressed very low enzyme activities and the presence of ATP was necessary to detect AMP deaminase. The specific activity and substrate affinity of the purified enzyme were also very low.
• 3.3. The purified prawn muscle AMP deaminase was contaminated by contractile proteins, one of the major contaminants being actin.
• 4.4. The enzyme displayed a very high affinity for actomyosin which was only partially abolished by pyrophosphate.

     

Thermal properties for digestive enzymes of a sub-antarctic beetle,hydromedion sparsutum (coleoptera,perimylopidae) compared to those in two thermophilic insects

• 1.1. Proteolytic, lipolytic, amylolytic and cellulolytic activities were studied in adults of the phytophagous beetle, Hydromedion sparsutum, indigenous to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia.
• 2.2. Gastric enzyme activities were measured at experimental temperatures of 5–40°C and results were compared with those obtained from two thermophilic insects, Gryllus bimaculatus and Tenebrio molitor.
• 3.3. Protease and lipase activities in Hydromedion were 10–15 times lower than in Gryllus and Tenebrio.
• 4.4. In the temperature range of 5–15°C, α-amylase activity from Hydromedion was only slightly lower than that from Gryllus.
• 5.5. Hydromedion gut homogenates exhibited a distinct cellulolytic activity, even at a low temperature of 5°C.
• 6.6. Cellulolytic activity in the digestive tract of Hydromedion was confirmed by the evolution of ¹⁴CO₂ after consumption of labelled cellulose.
• 7.7. The thermal properties of digestive enzymes agree well with the role of Hydromedion as primary decomposer in its ecosystem.