Diurnal rhythm of hypophyseal cells in mich. II. Pars intermedia.

By the use of Mac Conaill's lead hematoxylin, periodic acid and Schiff's reagent (PAS, PbH-positive and PAS-positive cells were distinguished in the pars intermedia of the hypophysis in mice. Nuclear volume in PbH-positive and PAS-positive cells in the pars intermedia of the hypophysis in male and female mice under conditions of 12 h light and 12 h darkness shows distinct diurnal rhythmicity. Maximum nuclear volume in PbH-positive cells of the pars intermedia in both sexes was observed at 1800 h, and minimum at 2400 h. In the Pas-positive cells in females maximum nuclear volume was observed at 600 h, and minimum at 2400 h. In males maximal nuclear volume in these cells appears at 2400 h, and minimum at 1800 h. Maximum number of vacuoles in the nuclei of PbH-positive cells in the pars intermedia in both sexes appeared at 1800 h, and minimum at 2400 h. Maximum numbers of vacuoles in the nuclei of PAS-positive cells in females was noted at 1200 h, and minimum at 2400 h. In males the maximum number of vacuoles appeared at 600 h, and minimum at 1200 h. Differences in the number of vacuoles in the nuclei of PAS-positive cells between males and females were also noted.     

Inactivation of single cardiac Na+ channels in three different gating modes.

In small cell-attached patches containing one and only one Na+ channel, inactivation was studied in three different gating modes, namely, the fast-inactivating F mode and the more slowly inactivating S mode and P mode with similar inactivation kinetics. In each of these modes, ensemble-averaged currents could be fitted with a Hodgkin-Huxley-type model with a single exponential for inactivation (tauh). tauh declined from 1.0 ms at -60 mV to 0.1 ms at 0 mV in the F mode, from 4.6 ms at -40 mV to 1.1 ms at 0 mV in the S mode, and from 4.5 ms at -40 mV to 0.8 ms at +20 mV in the P mode, respectively. The probability of non-empty traces (net), the mean number of openings per non-empty trace (op/tr), and the mean open probability per trace (popen) were evaluated at 4-ms test pulses. net inclined from 30% at -60 mV to 63% at 0 mV in the F mode, from 4% at -90 mV to 90% at 0 mV in the S mode, and from 2% at -60 mV to 79% at +20 mV in the P mode. op/tr declined from 1.4 at -60 mV to 1.1 at 0 mV in the F mode, from 4.0 at -60 mV to 1.2 at 0 mV in the S mode, and from 2.9 at -40 mV to 1.6 at +20 mV in the P mode. popen was bell-shaped with a maximum of 5% at -30 mV in the F mode, 48% at -50 mV in the S mode, and 16% at 0 mV in the P mode. It is concluded that 1) a switch between F and S modes may reflect a functional change of inactivation, 2) a switch between S and P modes may reflect a functional change of activation, 3) tauh is mainly determined by the latency until the first channel opening in the F mode and by the number of reopenings in the S and P modes, 4) at least in the S and P modes, inactivation is independent of pore opening, and 5) in the S mode, mainly open channels inactivate, and in the P mode, mainly closed channels inactivate.     

Effects of low culture temperature on the induction of hsp70 mRNA and the accumulation of hsp70 and hsp105 in mouse FM3A cells.

We have shown that heat shock does not induce the synthesis of hsp70 in FM3A cells maintained at a low culture temperature of 33 degrees C although it does so in cells maintained at 37 degrees C [T. Hatayama et al. (1991) Biochem. Int. 24, 467-474]. In this paper, we show that FM3A cells maintained at 37 degrees C produced hsp70 mRNA during continuous heating at 42 degrees C or during postincubation at either 37 or 33 degrees C after being heated at 45 degrees C for 15 min, whereas cells maintained at 33 degrees C did not produce hsp70 mRNA during continuous heating at 37, 39, 42, or 45 degrees C, or during postincubation after being heated at any temperature. Thus the lack of hsp70 synthesis in cells maintained at 33 degrees C seemed to be due to the absence of hsp70 mRNA induction. Also, hsp70 was accumulated in cells maintained at 37 degrees C during continuous heating at 42 degrees C and during postincubation at 37 degrees C after heat shock at 45 degrees C, but not during postincubation at 33 degrees C. The cellular level of the constitutive hsp73 as well as the mRNA level were both similar in cells maintained at 33 and 37 degrees C. On the other hand, the cellular level of the constitutive hsp105 in cells maintained at 33 degrees C was only half of that in cells maintained at 37 degrees C. These hsp105 levels increased significantly in both types of cells after continuous heating at 39 degrees C. These findings indicate that the culture temperature affects not only the induction of hsp70 mRNA but also the accumulation of hsp70 and hsp105 in the cells.     

Diurnal rhythms of pinealocyte ultrastructure, pineal serotonin content and plasma melatonin level in the domestic pig

The study was conducted to investigate diurnal changes in pinealocyte ultrastructure, pineal serotonin content and plasma melatonin concentration in the domestic pig. The immature pigs (n=24) were kept under a cycle of 12 h light : 12 h dark, with a photophase between 0800 and 2000. During the photophase the animals were exposed to direct sunlight. After four weeks the gilts were slaughtered at 0900, 1400, 2100 and 0200. The pineals were removed and divided into two parts - one for quantitative ultrastructural study (by a point count method) and one for serotonin assay. Simultaneously, blood samples were taken for melatonin assay. The relative volume of mitochondria in pinealocyte perikarya was significantly higher at 1400 than at 0200 and 0900 as well as at 2100 than at 0200. The relative volume of Golgi apparatus was higher at 0900 and 1400 than at 0200. The relative volume of dense bodies of the MBB-1 type in pinealocyte perikarya was significantly lower at 1400 and 2100 than at 0900. In contrast, the relative volume of MBB-2 was higher at 1400 than at 0900 and 0200. The numerical density of DCV in perikarya was significantly higher at 0200 than at 1400. No significant differences were found in rough endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes and multivesicular bodies. The pineal serotonin content showed a prominent rhythm with the maximum at 1400. The plasma melatonin concentration was significantly higher at 0200 than at 0900, 1400 and 2100. The obtained results demonstrate that both pinealocyte ultrastructure and pineal biochemistry in the pig undergo significant changes in the course of the diurnal rhythm.     

Influence of postirradiation incubation temperature on recovery of radiation-injured Clostridium botulinum 62A spores.

The number of colonies formed by unirradiated Clostridium botulinum 62A spores was independent of temperature, in the range from 20 to 45 degrees C (in 5 degrees C increments); no colonies developed at 50 degrees C. Spores irradiated at 1.2 or 1.4 Mrads produced more macrocolonies at 40 degrees C than at higher or lower temperatures. Apparently, radiation-injured spores were capable of repair of 40 degrees C than at the other temperatures studied. More than 99% of the radiation (1.2 Mrads) survivors were injured and were unable to form macrocolonies in the presence of 5% NaCl. The germinated radiation-injured spores were also sensitive to dilution, resulting in the loss of viability of 77 to 79% of the radiation survivors. At 30 and 40 degrees C, the irradiated spores did not differ significantly in the extent of germination (greater than 99% at both 30 and 40 degrees C), emergence (64% at 30 degrees C and 67% at 40 degrees C), and the maximum number of emerged cells that started to elongate (69% at 30 degrees C and 79% at 40 degrees C). However, elongation was remarkably more extensive at 40 degrees C than at 30 degrees C. Many elongated cells lysed within 48 h at 30 degrees C, indicating an impaired repair mechanism. If the radiation-injured spores were incubated at 40 degrees C in the recovery (repair) medium for 8 to 10 h, they germinated, emerged, and elongated extensively and were capable of repair. If, after 8 to 10 h at 40 degrees C, these cultures were shifted to 30 degrees C, the recovery at 30 increased by more than eightfold, resulting in similar colony counts at 30 and 40 degrees C. Thus, repair appeared to be associated with outgrowth. Repair did not occur in the presence of chloramphenicol at 40 degrees C, whereas penicillin had no effect, suggesting that the repair involved protein synthesis but did not require multiplication.     

Growth and yield of maize at different altitudes in Rhodesia

A late (SR 52) and an early (N × K) variety were grown, with irrigation, on well fertilized soil at three sites, Chiredzi (altitude 420 m), Henderson (1260 m) and Grasslands (1620 m). Mean incoming radiation was similar at all sites, while mean temperature decreased as altitude increased. Final total and grain dry weights were greatest at Henderson, and those of SR 52 exceeded those of N × K, although not greatly at Chiredzi. Initially, leaf area index (L) decreased with increase in altitude, but plants flowered later as altitude increased, and L at the time of flowering was greatest at Henderson. L at flowering was greater in SR 52 than in N × K, though only slightly so at Chiredzi. Leaves withered sooner after flowering at Chiredzi and Grasslands than at Henderson, but leaves of the two varieties withered at about the same time after flowering at each site. During most of the vegetative phase the efficiency of the leaves and crop growth rate (C) increased with decrease in altitude, and were greater in N × K than in SR 52. More dry matter was accumulated after flowering at Henderson than at the other sites, and more by SR 52 than by N × K at Henderson and Grasslands, but not at Chiredzi. Leaf area duration (D) after flowering was greater at Henderson than elsewhere, and greater in SR 52 than in N × K, except at Chiredzi. After flowering leaf efficiency (dry weight increase ÷D) was least at Henderson and greatest at Grasslands, but differed little between varieties at each site. The fraction in the grain of the dry matter accumulated after flowering decreased with increase in altitude and was greater in SR 52 than in N × K.     

Effects of temperature on survival,infectivity and in vitro encystment of the cercariae of Echinostoma caproni

The effects of temperature on survival, infectivity and in vitro encystment of Echinostoma caproni cercariae in artificial spring water (ASW) were studied. Effects of aging cercariae in ASW at various temperatures showed that at 23 degrees C cercariae achieved 50% survival in 24 h, compared to 92 h at 12 degrees C. Cercariae aged in ASW at 28 and 37.5 degrees C showed 50% survival at 16 and 10 h, respectively. Cercariae aged at different temperatures for various times were used to infect juvenile Helisoma trivolvis (Colorado strain) snails maintained in ASW at 23 degrees C. Index of infectivity was based on counting encysted metacercariae in the snails at 8 to 12 h post-infection. Cercariae aged at 23, 28 and 37.5 degrees C showed 50% encystment at 6, 8 and 4 h, respectively. Cercariae aged at 4 degrees C showed 50% encystment in 10 h and cercariae aged at 12 degrees C showed 50% encystment beyond 16 h. Cercariae showed maximal longevity and infectivity in snails when aged at 12 degrees C in ASW. For E. caproni, as in other digeneans, the infective period of cercariae is markedly shorter than the maximal life-span at any given temperature. Studies on in vitro encystment of E. caproni cercariae in Locke's solution:ASW (1:1) showed that encystment was optimal at 23 degrees C (78% encystment) and that it declined to 44% at 28 degrees C and became almost nil (0.02%) at 12 or 37.5 degrees C.     

四种农药对小菜蛾体温的影响

【目的】本研究旨在为阐明小菜蛾Plutellaxylostella体温在其防治中的应用价值提供资料。【方法】在不同人工气候箱内温度(环境温度)下,测定小菜蛾2, 3和4龄幼虫的体温,建立各龄幼虫体温(y)与环境温度(x)的关系方程;同时测定了不同环境温度下不同浓度阿维菌素、毒死蜱、氟虫腈和高效氯氰菊酯分别处理后小菜蛾3龄幼虫在不同处理时间的体温。【结果】小菜蛾2, 3和 4龄幼虫体温(y)与环境温度(x)关系方程分别为y＝0.95x+1.19(r=0.9463), y＝0.95x+1.18(r=0.9988),以及y＝0.93x+1.45(r=0.9989),等温点分别为22.16℃,21.40℃和21.41℃。在气候箱温度设定为15℃或40℃时,4种农药都对小菜蛾3龄幼虫体温无影响;而其他温度条件下,农药处理都可能改变小菜蛾3龄幼虫体温。对于阿维菌素,25℃下 2, 4和8 mg/L处理12 h,2和4 mg/L处理24 h, 0.5, 2, 4和8 mg/L处理36 h以及0.5, 1, 2和8 mg/L处理48 h时3龄幼虫体温均显著高于对照, 8 mg/L阿维菌素处理24 h时3龄幼虫体温显著低于对照;30℃下0.5 mg/L处理24 h及1 mg/L处理36 h 3龄幼虫体温显著低于对照,1 mg/L处理48 h和各浓度处理60 h时3龄幼虫体温均显著高于对照;35℃下只有1和8 mg/L处理48 h时3龄幼虫体温显著低于对照。对于毒死蜱,20℃下50, 200和800 mg/L处理24 h, 100, 400和800 mg/L处理36 h时3龄幼虫体温都显著低于对照;25℃下100和200 mg/L处理12h, 800 mg/L处理24 h, 100, 200和800 mg/L处理60 h时3龄幼虫体温均显著低于对照,而50, 100, 200和400 mg/L处理24 h, 100和200 mg/L处理36 h及100和400 mg/L处理48 h时3龄幼虫体温均显著高于对照;30℃下只有800 mg/L处理24 h时3龄幼虫体温显著低于对照,50, 100, 200和800 mg/L处理60 h时3龄幼虫体温显著高于对照。对于氟虫腈,20℃下只有0.5 mg/L处理36 h时3龄幼虫体温显著低于对照;25℃下 4 mg/L处理12 h和各浓度处理60 h时3龄幼虫体温显著低于对照,0.5 mg/L处理24 h以及0.25, 1和2mg/L处理48 h时3龄幼虫体温均显著高于对照;30℃下 0.25和0.5 mg/L处理12 h, 0.25和2 mg/L处理24h, 4 mg/L处理48 h以及2 mg/L处理60 h时3龄幼虫体温显著低于对照;35℃下只有0.25和0.5 mg/L处理60 h时3龄幼虫体温显著高于对照。对于高效氯氰菊酯,20℃下2和8 g/L处理36 h, 4和8 g/L处理48 h时3龄幼虫体温显著高于对照;25℃下 2, 4和8 g/L处理12 h时3龄幼虫体温均显著低于对照, 0.5, 4和8g/L处理24 h, 1, 4和 8 g/L处理36 h以及1, 2和4 g/L处理60 h时3龄幼虫体温均显著高于对照;30℃下 0.5和1 g/L浓度处理12 h, 0.5, 1, 4和8 g/L处理24 h以及1, 2和8 g/L处理60 h时3龄幼虫体温都显著低于对照。【结论】小菜蛾幼虫自律性体温调节能力低;阿维菌素、毒死蜱、氟虫腈或高效氯氰菊酯处理影响小菜蛾3龄幼虫的体温,影响形式随农药种类和浓度,环境温度及处理时间不同而不同。本研究拓宽了农药毒理学及害虫防治研究内容。     

Constraints on the evolution of thermal sensitivity of foraging in Trichogramma: genetic trade-offs and plasticity in maternal selection

Negative genetic correlation between performance at different temperatures or temperature-dependent mutations may promote evolution of thermal specialization in ectotherms. The first hypothesis implies that a selective change in performance at one temperature simultaneously results in change in performance at others, while the second implies a delay before observing such indirect responses. Comparison of the direction of evolution among Trichogramma lines selected for improvement of parasitization capacity at low, medium, or high temperatures indicated that a change in performance at one temperature concurrently resulted in opposite changes at distant temperatures. Unexpectedly, selection at high temperatures resulted in a decrease in adult fitness components, while adult performance expressed at cold temperatures simultaneously increased. The relationship between maternal fecundity and offspring fitness components varied across the thermal range. No correlation between these traits was present at cold or medium temperatures, but negative relationships appeared at high temperatures. We show that maternal selection resulting from a conflict between adult and offspring fitness components may have resulted in reversed evolution of the adult traits at the high end of the thermal range. Thus, genetic trade-offs in performance at different temperatures and phenotypic plasticity in maternal selection may constrain evolution of the thermal niche in Trichogramma.     

Oxidative stress, cytokine/chemokine and disruption of blood-brain barrier in neonate rats after meningitis by Streptococcus agalactiae

We verify the levels of cytokine/chemokine, myeloperoxidase activity, oxidative stress and disruption of BBB in hippocampus and cortex of the neonate Wistar rats after meningitis by S. agalactiae. In the hippocampus the levels were increased of CINC-1 at 6 h and 12 h, IL-1β at 6, 12 and 24 h, IL-6 at 6, 24 and 96 h, IL-10 at 24, 48 and 96 h and TNF-α at 24 h and 96 h. In the cortex the CINC-1 and IL-1β levels were found increased at 6 h. The MPO activity was significantly elevated at 24, 48 and 98 h in hippocampus and at 6, 12, 24, 48 and 96 h in the cortex. The breakdown of BBB started at 12 h.TBARS levels were elevated in the hippocampus at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h and cortex at 72 and 96 h. Protein carbonyls were elevated in the hippocampus and cortex at 6, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. There was a decrease of SOD activity in hippocampus and in cortex. Catalase activity was elevated in hippocampus at 6 h and in the cortex at 12 and 96 h. Neonatal bacterial infections of the CNS are severe, the interference with the complex network of cytokines/chemokine, other inflammatory mediators and oxidants tend to aggravate the illness and can be involved in the breakdown of the BBB.     

Polyamines, Ornithine Decarboxylase, and Diamine Oxidase in the Substantia Nigra and Striatum of the Male Rat After Hemitransection

Partial hemitransection at the mesodiencephalic junction in the rat increased striatal and nigral putrescine concentrations on the lesioned side for at least 168 h, with maximal increases between 24 and 48 h. Spermidine and spermine levels declined at 24 h in the striatum, rising above control values at 48 h and further at 168 h. In the substantia nigra, they remained unchanged for the first 48 h and then increased by 168 h. Cadaverine in the striatum also increased at 48 h. On the intact side putrescine increased but to a much lesser extent (at 48 h in the striatum and at 24 and 48 h in the substantia nigra). Ornithine decarboxylase and diamine oxidase activities showed maximal increases at 24 h in the striatum of the lesioned side, whereas in the substantia nigra ornithine decarboxylase attained a very high value as early as 4 h after the operation and diamine oxidase activity peaked at 48 h. The enzyme activities returned toward the basal values at 168 h. On the intact side, ornithine decarboxylase showed a small increase starting at 4 h and diamine oxidase was enhanced at 48 h. These results indicate that the stimulation of biosynthetic and degradative enzymes of polyamine metabolism accompanied by marked and prolonged increases in putrescine may be essential events in the early phases of neuronal response to mechanical injury in the CNS.     

Spectra of glutamate dehydrogenase with diethylstilbestrol.

Glutamate dehydrogenase displays hyperchromicity at 256 nm and at 276 nm upon binding of diethylstilbestrol. Increase in absorbancy is linear at both regions up to 250 micrometer DES, and becomes parabolic at higher concentration of DES. ADP in the presence of DES causes decrease in absorbancy at 256 nm; absorbancy at 276 nm increased by DES is not affected by ADP. DES prevents spectral effects produced by GTP (decrease in absorbancy at 254 nm and at 276 nm). ADP still decreases absorbancy at 254 nm, leaving the 276 nm region unchanged. ADP enhances spectral effects produced by GTP. GTP, however, prevents changes produced by ADP.     

Compartmentation of the inulin space in mouse brain slices

(1) Mouse cerebrum slices swell in tris-buffered Krebs-Ringer medium. Swelling is rapid at first, then slows to a more or less constant rate. Even after 3 hr incubation, water content/g of tissue dry wt. shows no sign of an asymptotic limit. Swelling is the same at 37 degrees and at 0 degree. (2) Tissue water measured by incubation with tritiated water is equal to total tissue water measured by drying slices. Equilibration between tritiated water and tissue water is complete within 2 min. (3) Tissue liquid can be divided into three phenomenologically distinguishable compartments: first inulin space, which is the compartment permeable to inulin at both 0 degree and 37 degrees; second inulin space, which is the compartment permeable to inulin at 37 degrees but not at 0 degree; and 37 degrees non-inulin space, which is the compartment impermeable to inulin at both 0 degree and 37 degrees. The evidence for this is: (a) Penetration of inulin into tissue is greater at 37 degrees than at 0 degree. After the first 20 min the rate of penetration at 0 degree is approximately equal to the rate of penetration at 37 degrees, and only slightly less than the rate of increase of total tissue water. Therefore the smaller inulin space observed at 0 degree cannot be due to slower entry of inulin. (b) The inulin content of slices incubated in inulin-containing medium at 37 degrees and cooled to 0 degree in the same medium is the same as the inulin content of tissue incubated at 37 degrees without subsequent cooling. In contrast, the inulin content of tissues preincubated in inulin-free medium at 37 degrees and then incubated in inulin-containing medium at 0 degree is the same as the inulin content of tissues incubated in inulin-containing medium at 0 degree without preincubation at 37 degrees. Therefore the smaller inulin space at 0 degree than at 37 degrees can be due neither to a reversible temperature-dependent change in the size of one single inulin space nor to an irreversible, greater swelling of a single inulin space at the higher temperature, but is due to some portion of the 37 degrees inulin space becoming impermeable to inulin at 0 degree. (c) Some inulin is retained by tissue incubated with inulin at 37 degrees, then transferred to inulin-free medium at 0 degree; the amount of retained inulin is equal to the difference between inulin content of tissue incubated with inulin at 37 degrees and tissue incubated with inulin at 0 degree This confirms 3b above and in addition shows that inulin which has entered the second inulin space at 37 degrees is trapped there when this space becomes impermeable to inulin at 0 degree. (4) The penetration of the amino acids, L-lysine and D-glutamate at 0 degree is equal to the penetration of inulin at 37 degrees. This confirms the real existence of the 37 degrees inulin space at 0 degree, and shows that the barrier at 0 degree between the first and second inulin spaces does not exist for these substances. (5) The amino acids L-leucine and glycine penetrate total tissue water at 0 degree. L-leucine is actively transported at this temperature. (6) The amino acids alpha-aminoisobutyric acid, L-leucine, and L-lysine at 2 mM have no effect at 37 degrees on either the inulin space or the non-inulin space. (7) The inulin space is insensitive at 37 degrees to physiologically significant changes in the medium. In contrast, the non-inulin space is quite sensitive to these changes. Addition of D-glutamate greatly increases the non-inulin space; addition of ouabain or cyanide, or omission of glucose, increases the non-inulin space slightly; and replacement of Na+ ion by choline+ ion greatly decreases this space. These changes are independent and roughly additive.     

Effect of actin on the tryptic digestion of myosin subfragment 1 in the weakly attached state.

The structure of myosin subfragment 1 (S1) in the weakly attached complex with actin was studied at three specific sites, at the 50-kDa/20-kDa and 27-kDa/50-kDa junctions, and at the N-terminal region, using tryptic digestion as a structure-exploring tool. The structure of S1 at the vicinity of the 50-kDa/20-kDa junction is pH dependent in the weakly attached state because the tryptic cleavage at this site was fully protected by actin at pH 6.2, but the protection was only partial at pH 8.0. Since the actin protection is complete in rigor at both pH values, the results indicate that the structure of S1 at the 50-kDa/20-kDa junction differs in the two states at pH 8.0, but not at pH 6.2. Actin restores the ADP-suppressed tryptic cleavage after Lys213 at the 27-kDa/50-kDa junction in the strongly attached state, but not in the weakly attached state, which indicates structural difference between the two states at this site. ATP and ADP open a new site for tryptic cleavage in the N-terminal region of the S1 heavy chain between Arg23 and Ile24. Actin was found to suppress this cleavage in both weakly and strongly attached states, which shows that, in the vicinity of this site, the structure of S1 is similar in both states. The results indicate that the binding of S1 to actin induces localized changes in the S1 structure, and the extent of these changes is different in the various actin-S1 complexes.     

Comparative aerial and underwater visual acuity of the mink, Mustela vison schreber, as a function of discrimination distance and stimulus luminance

The aerial threshold visual angle of mink rose from 15.4 min at 10 cm stimulus distance to 19.1 min at 90 cm and the underwater angle varied from 32.7 min at 10 cm to 46.6 min at 90 cm, all at 34 mL luminance. At constant 30 cm stimulus distance, the aerial angle rose from 15 min at 34 mL to 51.7 min at 0.012 mL, the underwater angle from 31.4 min at 34 mL to 95 min at 0.012 mL, the aerial and underwater data forming similar curves. If mink hunt in water at somewhat higher light levels than in air they can obtain equal acuities in the two media.     

Behaviour of female and pup grey seals Halichoerus grypus during the breeding period at Froan, Norway

We studied the behaviour of grey seals, Halichoerus grypus , during the breeding period at Froan, Norway, and compared our findings with existing studies on grey seals at breeding sites in Britain and Canada. The pups at Froan spent more time in water than pups at other breeding sites. While on-shore, the pups at Froan spent most of their time resting, behaviour similar to pups at other breeding sites. Lactating females at Froan spent most of their time in the sea, thus differing from females at most other breeding sites which spend most of their time on-shore. While in the sea, the females at Froan spent most time diving, typically interrupted by regular periods of surface swimming.     

Early development of fin-supports ani fin-rays in the milkfishChanos chanos

Development of fin-supports and fin-rays was observed in larval and juvenileChanos chanos, Chondrification of the caudal complex started at 4.70 mm SL. Ossification of the caudal elements started at 7.80 mm SL and was nearly completed at about 30 mm SL. Cartilaginous fusion of caudal elements, which occurs in hypurals of higher teleostean fishes but is not seen in lower teleosts, was observed between the neural arch of the preural centrum 1 and that of the ural centrum 1 via a small cartilage bridging the distal tips of the two arches. Caudal finrays began to develop at 6.60 mm SL, and an adult complement of principal rays was attained at 7.35 mm SL. Dorsal and anal pterygiophore elements were first evident at 6.70 mm and 6.65 mm SL, respectively. All proximal radiais were formed at 8.15 mm SL in both fins. Formation of dorsal and anal fin-rays started simultaneously at 8.60 mm SL, and adult fin-ray complements were attained at 10,00 mm and 10.70 mm SL, respectively. In the pectoral fin, the cleithrum, coraco-scapular cartilage and blade-like cartilage (fin plate) had already been formed at 4.65 mm SL. The mesocoracoid was observed to originate from the coraco-scapular cartilage and become detached from it in the course of ossification. Pectoral fin-ray formation started at 13.80 mm SL and was completed in number of rays at 20.00 mm SL. In the pelvic fin, the basipterygium was first evident at 13.00 mm SL. Pelvic fin-rays appeared at 13.80 mm SL and attained their adult count at 17.15 mm SL.     

Effects of training at simulated altitude on performance and muscle metabolic capacity in competitive road cyclists

Differences between the effects of training at sea level and at simulated altitude on performance and muscle structural and biochemical properties were investigated in 8 competitive cyclists who trained for 3-4 weeks, 4-5 sessions/week, each session consisting of cycling for 60-90 min continuously and 45-60 min intermittently. Four subjects, the altitude group (AG), trained in a hypobaric chamber (574 torr = 2300 m above sea level), and the other four at sea level (SLG). Before and after training work capacity was tested both at simulated altitude (574 torr) and at sea level, by an incremental cycle ergometer test until exhaustion. Work capacity was expressed as total amount of work performed. Venous blood samples were taken during the tests. Leg muscle biopsies were taken at rest before and after the training period. AG exhibited an increase of 33% in both sea level and altitude performance, while SLG increased 22% at sea level and 14% at altitude. Blood lactate concentration at a given submaximal load at altitude was significantly more reduced by training in AG than SLG. Muscle phosphofructokinase (PFK) activity decreased with training in AG but increased in SLG. All AG subjects showed increases in capillary density. In conclusion, work capacity at altitude was increased more by training at altitude than at sea level. Work capacity at sea level was at least as much improved by altitude as by sea level training. The improved work capacity by training at altitude was paralleled by decreased exercise blood lactate concentration, increased capillarization and decreased glycolytic capacity in leg muscle.