THE MICROSTRUCTURE OF THE COMPOUND EYES OF INSECTS

The apposition eyes of two diurnal insects, Sarcophaga bullata (Diptera) and Anax junius (Odonata), have been examined with the electron microscope. In the latter case only the rhabdom is described. The rhabdom of the fly consists of a central matrix and seven rhabdomeres, one for each retinula cell. The rhabdomeres show an ordered internal structure built up of transverse tubes, hexagonal in cross-section. These slender compartments running the width of the rhabdomere are 370 A in diameter. After fixation with osmium tetroxide the walls of the compartments are more electron dense than the interiors. The retinula cells contain mitochondria, and pigment granules smaller than those found in the pigment cells. These granules tend to cluster close behind the membranes which separate the retinula cells from their rhabdomeres. The rhabdom of the dragonfly is a single structure which appears to be composed of three fused "rhabdomeres," each similar to a rhabdomere of Sarcophaga. Reasons are given for believing that the rhabdom may be the site of photoreception, as well as the organ for analyzing plane-polarized light, as suggested by other workers.     

THE TEMPERATURE CHARACTERISTIC OF RESPIRATION OF AZOTOBACTER

The temperature characteristic of respiration of Azotobacter vinelandii possesses a constant value of 19,330 ± 165 over the temperature range 20–30°C. This value is independent of pH, oxygen tension, age of culture, and other factors within the limits studied. The optimum temperature of respiration is 34–35°C., with limits at about 10° and 50°C.     

各种昆虫耐饥力的观察

昆虫耐饥力的强弱,为昆虫的生物学特性之一。对於这个问题,以前还没有人作过系统性的观察。1950—1951两年,我们在这方面,曾经化了一些时间,并已初步得出一些结果,现在把它整理出来,以供大家讨论。     

THE EFFECT OF SWELLING ON THE RESPIRATION OF ERYTHROCYTES

1. Oxygen consumption measurements made while a chicken erythrocyte swells show no increase over the control value. 2. There is no change in the rate of anaerobic glycolysis in beef erythrocytes when they swell. 3. The above statements are true whether the cells swell from a shrunken condition back to the normal volume, or swell from the normal to the hemolytic volume. 4. These data add a further test of the hypothesis that a relationship exists between the cell membrane and its respiratory activity.