Effects of androgen on scent marking and aggressive behavior of neonatally bulbectomized female Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

Female gerbils were bilaterally bulbectomized, unilaterally bulbectomized or sham-operated at 2 days of age (Birth DAY = 0). As adults, the occurrence of scent marking and aggressive behavior was measured prior to and following administration of either testosterone propionate (TP) or oil. TP-treated sham operates showed increased scent marking; bilaterally bulbectomized and unilaterally bulbectomized females treated with TP did not. The display of aggressiveness increased for all females following TP. Neonatally bulbectomized animals treated with TP, however, were the most aggressive. Although androgen augments these species-typical response patterns, it seems dependent upon the integrity of the olfactory bulbs.     

Spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of chloro-N-methylprotoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester iron(II), a species related to the intermediate in the formation of N-alkylprotoporphyrins from the cytochrome P-450 prosthetic group

N-alkylporphyrins are formed when certain agents such as 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-2,4,6-trimethyl-1,4-dihydropyridine or ethylene interact with cytochrome P-450 in rats. It is likely that the iron protoporphyrin complex in cytochrome P-450 is first alkylated and then demetallated to form the free base N-alkylprotoporphyrins that are observed. An iron complex of N-methylprotoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester, chloro-N-methylprotoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester iron(II), shows the following properties: a double Soret band (λ_max = 435 nm, with a shoulder at 390 nm) relatively facile reduction (E_{$\text{1}\text{2}$} for Fe(III)/Fe(II) of 0.385 V vs Ag/AgCl in acetonitrile) and facile demetallation by acid or good nucleophiles such as thiophenol. A knowledge of such properties should be useful in determining the mechanism of formation of N-alkylprotoporphyrins in vivo.     

The ontogeny of agonistic behaviour in the blue gourami, Trichogaster trichopterus (Pisces,Anabantoidei)

The development of agonistic behaviour in the blue gourami, Trichogaster trichopterus, was studied from hatching to four months of age. Larval motor patterns appear first as simple, uncoordinated, and irregular movements and gradually become regular and well coordinated, forming integrated complex patterns, such as swimming, surfacing, and feeding. Most motor patterns used in agonistic interactions are first exhibited in non-social contexts. Initial interactions between young fish consist of Approach and investigation in a feeding context, in some cases followed by nibbling, Biting, and Chasing by one fish. Later, initial Approaches are separated from Biting and Chasing by Lateral Displays, circling, Tail Beating, and Fin Tugging, and by Appeasement behaviour that inhibits Chasing and Biting by the opponent.Agonistic behaviour of socially isolated fish, when paired in dyadic encounters as adults, indicates that the role of social experience as an integrator and regulator of social behaviour may change progressively during development and become more important as ontogeny proceeds.     

A comparative study of the bactericidal activity of horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) hemolymph and vertebrate serum

This paper describes a partially heat-labile, naturally occurring bactericidal factor in cell-free hemolymph preparations obtained from Limulus polyphemus. This bactericidal activity has been shown to be directed against two Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, whereas it had no effect on the Gram-positive bacteria tested, Micrococcus lysodeikticus and Staphylococcus aureus. Maximal bactericidal activity of this factor was observed at 30°C and pH 6.0. Since complement and antibody are required for antimicrobial activity in vertebrate sera, the activity of this factor in the presence of various complement inhibitors was assayed. The bactericidal activity of Limulus hemolymph is abolished by treatment with endotoxin; however, other anticomplementary substances were without effect. Limulus amebocyte lysate is known to contain protein which may be precipitated by endotoxin; it is possible that the reduction of bactericidal activity produced by endotoxin treatment may be caused by the denaturation of a bactericidal protein moiety produced by the hemocytes.     

Protamine-DNA association in mammalian spermatozoa

We have previously identified two subsets of basic nuclear proteins of mouse sperm: the protamines and a group of less basic proteins and, with the aid of a polyvalent antiserum, we have demonstrated their differential extractibility by NaCl in reducing solution (Rodman et al., J cell sci 53 (1982) 227) [9]. By affinity purification with isolated mouse sperm protamines we have obtained a protamine-specific fraction of that antiserum and a fraction that contains antibodies to the subset of less basic proteins. With those immunochemical probes we have shown the following The antigenic sites recognized by the protamine-specific antibodies are accessible, intranuclearly, only after the DNA has been removed by DNase I. The antibodies and DNA compete for binding sites on the protamines. DNA removal and consequent availability of the antigenic sites of the protamine molecules to the antibodies are possible only after displacement of the less basic proteins and chromatin decondensation have been induced. Immunoreactivity by the less basic proteins takes place without intervention of DNase. Those data indicate that the protamines are DNA-bound but that the less basic proteins are not or, alternatively, their putative DNA-binding sites do not coincide with their immuno-reactive sites. Those data also suggest that a function of the subset of less basic proteins may be to provide a shield for the protamine-DNA complex. The mouse protamine-affinity-bound antibodies are highly cross-reactive with protamines of other mammalian sperm suggesting that, despite considerable molecular diversity among mammalian protamines, the DNA-binding sites are conserved.     

Muscarinic cholinergic binding sites in the developing avian heart.

The potent muscarinic cholinergic antagonist 3-quinuclidinyl benzylate (QNB) has been used to detect and quantify muscarinic receptors in the developing chick heart. Specific binding in microsomal pellets prepared from hearts ranging in age from 70 hr in ovo to adulthood was examined and was found to increase from 4 × 10^?13 moles of [³H]QNB bound/mg of protein at the earliest stage tested to 5 × 10^?12 moles of [³H]QNB/mg of protein at birth and then to drop slightly to 2 × 10^?12 moles of [³H]QNB/mg of protein at the latest age tested. The developmental significance of these results is discussed.     

Quantification of acetylcholinesterase,acid and alkaline phosphatases in the central nervous system of Schizodactylus monstrosus, D. (schizodactylidae:orthoptera). Effect of topical application of the pyrethrum

The newly emerged adult male and female Schizodactylus monstrosus D. were treated with an insecticide, pyrethrum or with petroleum ether in the case of controls. At selected intervals of 6 h, 12 h and 18 h after treatment, the brain and ventral nerve cord and ganglia were homogenized to estimate the activity of acetyl-cholinesterase, and acid and alkaline phosphatase. The resultant activities of these three enzymes showed that: acetylcholinesterase decreased rapidly, and acid and alkaline phosphatase increased significantly after pyrethrum treatment in both brain and ventral nerve cord with ganglia compared with the controls. The activities of alkaline phosphatase showed a marked fluctuation at different post-treatment periods in both the tissues. The results have been discussed in relation to the impact caused by the treated insecticide and its metabolism.     

Multiple matings in the blue gourami, Trichogaster trichopterus (Pisces,Belontiidae)

The reproductive behaviour of the blue gourami, Trichogaster trichopterus, was examined in 15 bisexual pairs and 22 trios maintained in 75-litre aquaria for 23 days. During this time, 74 spawning episodes occurred among 26 different pairs and trios. Sixty-nine of these spawnings were directly observed. Both males and females were capable of mating repeatedly with the same or different partners with as little as 20 to 24 h separating successive spawnings. Females often mated with two males in the same afternoon, while only one male succeeded in mating with two females in one day. It is concluded that blue gouramis probably do not form pair bonds and that both sexes will mate with differet partners when the physical environment permits two or more males to maintain territories in the same aquarium.     

A method for predicting the location of particles sedimenting in sucrose gradients

A theory was developed for the calculation of the positions of zones of particles sedimenting through a sucrose gradient. Equations were derived for particles sedimenting through gradients in which the sucrose concentration is (a) a linear function of radius, or (b) a hyperbolic function of radius. Computations were made for both swing-out and zonal rotors. The theory, which is based on direct integration of the sedimentation equation, exploits equations relating (a) the density of sucrose solutions to sucrose concentration and (b) the viscosity of sucrose solutions to sucrose concentration, and also the concept of reduced time (T/2 = S20.w integral of t to w2dt) of Fujita. The required computations may be made using a scientific calculator. Experimental support for the theory was obtained.     

Bibarba bibarba: A new genus and species of Cobitinae (Pisces: Cypriniformes: Cobitidae) from Guangxi Province (China)

A new genus of Cobitinae, Bibarba gen. n., and a new species, B. bibarba sp. n., were discovered and are described for the Chengjiang River, a tributary of the Hongshuihe River in Guangxi Province of southern China. This river region is characterized by a Karst landscape, and the river that is inhabited by the new genus is a slowly moving stream with arenaceous and cobblestone beds. The new genus resembles Cobitis Linnaeus, 1758 (subfamily Cobitinae) in the shape and pigmentation pattern of their body, the absence of scales on their head, and the presence of a suborbital spine, but differs from it by a single Lamina circularis on the third pectoral fin ray instead of on the base of the second pectoral fin ray; two pairs of barbels (one rostral pair and one maxillo-mandibular pair) instead of three pairs of barbels (one rostral pair, one maxillary pair, and one maxillo-mandibular pair); a relatively thick and short suborbital spine with a strong medio-lateral process instead of a suborbital spine without or with a weakly formed medio-lateral process as in Cobitis; and the lack of a black stripe extending from the occiput through the eye to the insertion of the rostral barbel. The first two characters have not been reported in any other genus of the subfamily Cobitinae. A morphometric character analysis based on PCA reveals differences between B. bibarba and C. sinensis in body size, barbel length, interorbital width, pectoral fin length in males, and the position of the dorsal and ventral fins. Type specimens of the new species are kept in the Freshwater Fishes Museum of the Institute of Hydrobiology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Wuhan, Hubei Province.     

Sexual preferences of male hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) for conspecifics in different endocrine conditions

The behavioral responses of sexually experienced male hamsters toward a pair of anesthetized conspecifics were investigated. Males spent significantly more time licking, sniffing, and mounting neonatally and adult castrated males than intact males. Adult castrated males receiving oil injections were preferred over castrates receiving exogenous testosterone propionate (TP). Ovariectomized females were preferred over intact males, adult castrated males, or spayed females receiving exogenous TP. It was concluded that the absence of an androgen-dependent factor(s) renders an animal more sexually attractive.     

A Combination of Radiation and the Hypoxia-Activated Prodrug Evofosfamide (TH-302) is Efficacious against a Human Orthotopic Pancreatic Tumor Model

This study was designed to investigate the effect of single-dose radiation therapy (RT) in combination with evofosfamide (TH-302), a hypoxia-activated prodrug, in a pre-clinical model of pancreatic cancer. AsPC1 tumors were implanted orthotopically in the pancreas of nude mice. Tumors were treated with 15 Gy of RT, using a 1 cm diameter field, and delivered as a continuous arc. Image-guidance to center the field on the tumor was based on CT imaging with intraperitoneal contrast. Evofosfamide (100 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered 3 hours before RT. Tumor volumes were measured using ultrasound, and regrowth curves were plotted. Tumor hypoxia and cell proliferation were measured using pimonidazole and the thymidine analog EdU, respectively. In vitro clonogenic assays were performed. Tumors were shown to contain substantial areas of hypoxia, as calculated by percent pimonidazole staining. Evofosfamide was active in these tumors, as demonstrated by a significant reduction in uptake of the thymidine analog EdU. This effect was visible in oxygenated tissue, consistent with the previously reported bystander effects of evofosfamide. RT produced significant regrowth delay, as did evofosfamide. The combination of both agents produced a growth delay that was at least equal to the sum of the two treatments given separately. The improvement in tumor response when evofosfamide is combined with RT supports the hypothesis that hypoxia is a cause of radioresistance in high dose RT for pancreatic cancer. Assessing the efficacy and safety of stereotactic radiation treatment and evofosfamide is warranted in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer.     

Expression of protease and protease-inhibitory activity in human mononuclear leukocyte cultures : Effect of conA stimulation

Trypsin-activated protease activity was observed in the supernatants of conA-treated unfractionated or monocyte-depleted cultures at 1 h of incubation and trypsin-inhibitory activity was detected at 24 h. In contrast, supernatants from wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-treated cultures or untreated cultures exhibited trypsin-inhibitory activity at 1 h and trypsinactivated protease activity after 24 h. The expression of proteases and protease inhibitors may be early events that occur during the activation of quiescent lymphocytes to a proliferative state.     

Mutagenicity and cytotoxicity of the carcinogen-mutagen aflatoxin B1 in Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus) and Salmonella typhimurium: dependence on DNA repair functions

Strains R6, R6x and R6uvr-1 of Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcus) are sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of the mutagen/carcinogen aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁). R6uvr-1 is more prone to the cytotoxic effects of AFB₁ than the repair-proficient parental strain, R6. The same differential susceptibility of strains R6, R6x and R6uvr-1 was observed when UV light replaced metabolically activated AFB₁. All pneumococcal strains were immutable by AFB₁. AFB₁ mutagenesis in Salmonella typhimurium strains was dependent on a functional RecA gene product. The enhancing effects of ΔuvrB and plasmid pKM101 were found to be additive. Data presented are consistent with the following: (i) AFB₁ toxic effects are due mainly to DNA binding of AFB₁; (ii) AFB₁ mutagenesis is dependent on error-prone DNA repair; (iii) Pneumococcus lacks an active error-prone (SOS) DNA-repair system.     

Escape response in the damselfish Chromis cyanea (Pisces: Pomacentridae): A quantitative study

Models of different sizes, shapes, and colours evoked, oriented escape responses in schools of Chromis cyanea in their natural coral-reef habitat. Divers filmed these responses; from the films, the distance of the school from the model at the instant of response (reaction distance) was calculated. For a given model, reaction distance was independent of the speed of the model's approach. Darker coloured models were more effective in causing escape (yielded greater reaction distance) than lighter coloured models, suggesting contrast as an important feature of the stimulus. Larger models were more effective than smaller ones. Habituation to repeated stimuli was absent for inter-trial intervals from 0·5 to 4 min. Natural behaviour of Chromis suggests that cues such as sound, vibration, and details of shape, colours, and motion also play a role in triggering escape.     

A mid-Cretaceous ambrosia fungus, Paleoambrosia entomophila gen. nov. et sp. nov. (Ascomycota: Ophiostomatales) in Burmese (Myanmar) amber,and evidence for a femoral mycangium

An ambrosia fungus is described from filamentous sporodochia adjacent to a wood–boring ambrosia beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Platypodinae) in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Yeast-like propagules and hyphal fragments of Paleoambrosia entomophila gen. nov. et sp. nov. occur in glandular sac mycangia located inside the femur of the beetle. This is the first record of a fossil ambrosia fungus, showing that symbiotic associations between wood–boring insects and ectosymbiotic fungi date back some 100 million years ago. The present finding moves the origin of fungus-growing by insects from the Oligocene to the mid-Cretaceous and suggests a Gondwanan origin.     

Sterols of the unicellular algae Nematochrysopsis roscoffensis and Chrysotila lamellosa: isolation of (24E)-24-n-propylidenecholesterol and 24-n-propylcholesterol

Two rare C₃₀-sterols, (24E)-24-n-propylidenecholest-5-en-3β-ol and 24-n-propylcholest-5-en-3β-ol, and (24S)-24-ethylcholesta-5,22-dien- 3β-ol (stigmasterol) are the major sterols of Nematochrysopsis roscoffensis, a Chrysophyte of the Sarcinochrysidales order. This unique sterol composition is different from the sterol contents of other Chrysophytes and justifies the peculiar position of the Sarcinochrysidales, which are by some characteristics morphologically and biologically related to the Phaeophyceae. The presence of (24S)-24-methylcholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol (24-epibrassicasterol) as a major sterol in Chrysotila lamellosa is in accordance with the few previous results obtained from other Prymnesiophyceae, although the presence of the other major sterol, (24R)-24-ethylcholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol (poriferasterol) has never been reported in these algae.