The leukocytic organ of the megascolecid earthworm,Amynthas diffringens (annelida,oligochaeta)

Leukocytic organs of Amynthas diffringens are aggregations of leukocytes contained within a smooth muscle and stromal cell framework suspended in the coelom. Elongate processes of stromal cells subdivide each organ into numerous cell-filled compartments and are perforated by 130-nm pores that may permit the exchange of humoral substances between compartments, or between the organ and the surrounding coelomic fluid. We divide leukocytes within the organs into four morphotypes. Phagocytic leukocytes have many lysosomelike vesicles and may possess phagosomes. Mature types I, II, and III granulocytic leukocytes share certain features but are readily distinguished by cell shape and by the size, shape, and electron density of the cytoplasmic inclusions. Immature as well as mature phagocytes and granulocytes occur within these organs, suggesting that they are sites of leukocyte maturation and storage. Concentrations of leukocytes within the organs result in extensive cell to cell contact, especially within islets and tightly packed cords. Phagocytosis of cell debris occurs throughout the organs. Immature stages of the four morphotypes are difficult to distinguish even at high magnification, raising the possibility that they may originate from a common precursor. Our inability to observe mitoses or to detect lymphocytelike stem cells suggests that immature leukocytes migrate to the organs via coelomic fluid from as yet unidentified primary sites of production.     

Ultrastructural investigations on the nuchal organ of the protandric polychaete,Ophryotrocha puerilis (Polychaeta,Dorvilleidae)

Summary The nuchal organs of the protandric hermaphrodite Ophryotrocha puerilis were studied by electron microscopy. Ophryotrocha puerilis is the first species hitherto described which possesses four instead of two nuchal organs. These sensory structures are located as ciliary pits at the posterior margin of the prostomium. Histologically, the nuchal organs are composed of supporting cells with long motile cilia and bipolar sensory cells, the perikarya of which form four distinct nuchal ganglia adjoining the brain. These structural components are concentrically arranged around the central sensory area. This area is covered by a modified cuticle, whereas the cuticle above the peripheral region of the sense organ exhibits the appearance typical for polychaetes. Two types of vesicular material are produced in the basal supporting cells, a dense-cored one within the central supporting cells only and a clear irregular-shaped one in all of these cells. The first type is considered to be responsible for the formation of the modified cuticle. The significance of these most probably long-distance chemoreceptory organs and their possible role in reproductive behaviour is discussed.     

Ultrastructural organization of the anal organs in the anal capsule of Craterostigmus tasmanianus Pocock, 1902 (Chilopoda, Craterostigmomorpha)

We describe the ultrastructural organization of the anal organs of Craterostigmus tasmanianus, which are located on the ventral side of the bivalvular anal capsule. Each part of the capsule bears four pore fields with several anal pores. The pores lead into a pore canal, which is surrounded by the single-layered epithelium of the anal organs. Each anal organ is composed of four different cell types: transporting cells of the main epithelium, junctional cells, isolated epidermal glands, and the cells forming the pore canal. The transporting cells exhibit infoldings of the outer cell membranes, forming a basal labyrinth and a poorly developed apical complex. The cells are covered by a specialized cuticle with a widened subcuticular layer. Only the cuticle of the main epithelium is covered by a mucous layer, secreted by the epidermal glands. The ultrastructural organization of the anal organ is comparable to the coxal and anal organs of other pleurostigmophoran Chilopoda. It is likely that the coxal and anal organs of the Pleurostigmophora are homologous, due to their identical ultrastructural organization. Differences concerning the location on the trunk of Pleurostigmophora are not sufficient to reject a hypothesis of homology. Anal organs are found not only in Craterostigmomorpha, but also in most adult Geophilomorpha, and in larvae and most adults of Lithobiomorpha. The anal organs of C. tasmanianus are thought to play an important role in the uptake of atmospheric water. J. Morphol.     

Crevice organs: Sensory structures on the wings of dragonflies (Insecta,Odonata)

Summary Crevice organs are small, elongate, innervated indentations in the hard cuticle of one wing vein of aeshnid dragonflies. There are four groups on each wing. The structure and orientation of crevice organs suggest that they detect strains in the cuticle during wing movements.I wish to thank Mr. R. Whitty and staff for technical assistance with the scanning electron microscope and Dr. E.E. Ball for helpful discussion     

Patterns of accumulation,distribution and liberation of zn,cu, cd and pb in different organs of the land snail Helix pomatia L

1. The snail Helix pomatia was fed lettuce enriched with zinc, cadmium, lead and copper for 32 days, followed by a feeding period of 40–50 days with uncontaminated lettuce. The time-dependent distribution of the four metals during loading and unloading was determined in all major organs. Four general types of response to metal loading have been distinguished. Another general feature is the rhythmic nature of accumulation and de-accumulation of metals in several organs. On the other hand, each metal also elicits specific responses which can be described in terms of acute or delayed reaction and long-term accumulation.2. Lead is accumulated by most organs and redistributed after loading has stopped, but a single organ, the midgut gland, accumulates about 90% of this metal.3. Zinc accumulates in most organs during the first part of the loading period and is then redistributed to the midgut gland which may hold up to 70% of the metal at the end of the experiment.4. Cadmium is not taken up at all by a number of organs but the midgut gland and anterior gut keep accumulating it. After loading has been terminated the metal appears to move from the midgut gland to the gut.5. Copper is distributed more evenly than the other metals in the organs of the snail, the midgut gland not playing a dominant role in the storage of this metal.     

Evolution of Insect Eyes: Tales of Ancient Heritage, Deconstruction, Reconstruction, Remodeling, and Recycling

The visual organs of insects are known for their impressive evolutionary conservation. Compound eyes built from ommatidia with four cone cells are now accepted to date back to the last common ancestor of insects and crustaceans. In species as different as fruit flies and tadpole shrimps, the stepwise cellular patterning steps of the early compound eye exhibit detailed similarities implying 500 million years of developmental conservation. Strikingly, there is also a cryptic diversity of insect visual organs, which gives proof to evolution’s versatility in molding even the most tenacious structures into something new. We explore this fascinating aspect in regard to the structure and function of a variety of different insect eyes. This includes work on the unique compound–single-chamber combination eye of twisted-winged insects and the bizarre evolutionary trajectories of specialized larval eyes in endopterygote insects.     

Differential expression of hepatocyte growth factor in liver, kidney, lung, and spleen following burn in rats

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) plays a role as an organotropic factor for regeneration of injured organs. HGF is synthesized as an inactive single-chain precursor which is then converted to a biologically active heterodimeric form by proteolytic processing. Burn is the insult that results in hypovolemia which causes systemic organ injury. In this study, we investigated the induction and activation of HGF in various rat organs following burn trauma. Tissue HGF content determined as the total amount of the single-chain and heterodimeric form increased significantly in liver, lung, spleen, and kidney 12 h after burn. Molecular analysis revealed that HGF in these four organs of control rats was the single-chain precursor. In the burned rats, HGF was the single-chain form in the liver and lung, whereas heterodimeric HGF was detected in the spleen and kidney. Tissue protein content, an index of tissue injury, decreased significantly in the spleen and kidney, indicating that tissue damage was severe in these two organs. These results suggest that burn induces the production of HGF in various organs, and that the induced HGF is activated according to the severity of tissue damage caused by burn.     

灯盏花内生真菌多样性、群落结构及生态功能预测

【背景】灯盏花(Erigeron breviscapus)是国内知名的传统中药材,但关于灯盏花内生真菌多样性、群落结构和生态功能研究报道比较缺乏。【目的】探究灯盏花不同药用部位内生真菌多样性、群落结构组成及生态功能。【方法】采用ITS序列的高通量测序技术对比研究云南道地药材灯盏花根、茎、叶和花的内生菌群落结构及生物多样性差异,并利用FUNGuild数据库预测真菌群落生态功能。【结果】12个样品共获得540个操作分类单元(operational taxonomic unit, OTU),分属于5个门22个纲55个目114个科188个属。4个不同药用部位共有的OTU数目仅占14.45%,以根部独有OTU最多。各组织均以子囊菌门和担子菌门为优势菌门;其中,根部以子囊菌门为主,花部位以担子菌门为主。亚隔孢壳属(Didymella)为灯盏花植物的核心属,在各组织中均有分布;其余优势属尚有线黑粉菌属(Filobasidium)、Cystofilobasidium、织球壳属(Plectosphaerella),灯盏花4个组织中优势属和特有属分布各不相同。α多样性分析表明,根部内生真菌丰度显著高于其他组织,但多样性方面组织差异不明显。PCoA结果表明,根部菌落结构相对独立,而叶与茎中菌落结构较为相似。利用FUNGuild数据库分析发现,腐生真菌在各组织中占比较高,并含有大量未知功能菌群。【结论】灯盏花不同药用部位内生真菌群落组成存在明显差异,具有组织偏好。以上研究完善了灯盏花内生真菌资源的生物信息,为灯盏花内生真菌资源的开发利用提供了理论依据。     

Comparative peptidomics of four related hemipteran species: pyrokinins, myosuppressin, corazonin, adipokinetic hormone, sNPF, and periviscerokinins

We performed the first comprehensive peptidomic analysis of neurohormones from hemipteran insects by analyzing the neuropeptides of two major neurohemal organs, namely the corpora cardiaca and abdominal perisympathetic organs. For the experiments we selected four related species of polyphagous stinkbugs (Pentatomidae), three of which are known to attack several important food crops. Peptide sequences were identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry; tandem fragmentation of myosuppressin, sNPF, CAPA-periviscerokinins and pyrokinins revealed novel sequences not known from other insects so far. Most Leu/Ile and Glu/Lys ambiguities could be solved by either specific side-chain fragmentations or on-plate acetylation experiments. The identification of the specific sequences provides a solid basis for forthcoming pharmacological tests to study the neuroendocrine system of these pest insects. However, it should be mentioned in this context that the sequences of the peptides from different stinkbugs are likely not representative of Hemiptera in general. The forthcoming release of the genome from the reduviid Rhodnius prolixus will provide sufficient data to clear this point.     

Foreword

The morphology of abdominal and alar androconial organs of four species representing four genera of danaine butterflies is described in detail, based mainly on scanning electron microscopy. The findings are discussed with respect to functional significance and phyletic development of the organs.     

The distribution of I/i, Pr and Gd antigens in mammalian tissues

The I/i Pr1-2 and Gd antigens are the targets of cold agglutinins. The expression of these antigens in the main organs of four mammalian species was studied by indirect immunofluorescence. Specific distribution patterns were observed and possible clinical aspects of the findings are discussed.     

The phylogenetic position of the East Asian freshwater crayfish Cambaroides within the Northern Hemisphere Astacoidea (Crustacea, Decapoda, Astacida) based on molecular data

The phylogenetic position of the four East Asian freshwater crayfish species of the genus Cambaroides is not settled. Morphological phylogenetic analyses suggest close affinities of Cambaroides with North American Cambaridae. This view is based mainly on characters of the male and female reproductive organs. In contrast, the only molecular phylogenetic analysis so far available leaves the phylogenetic position of Cambaroides unresolved. The question of whether Cambaroides is monophyletic or paraphyletic has so far been neither addressed morphologically nor with molecular data sets. Here we present the first comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of all four currently described species of Cambaroides in the framework of Northern Hemisphere freshwater crayfish (Astacoidea) relationships based on partial sequences of two mitochondrial genes ( CO1 and 12S rRNA). Despite some evidence in favour of a monophyletic Cambaroides more data is needed to resolve this question. Our analyses suggest a close relationship of the North American Cambaridae and the European Astacidae, leaving the Asian Cambaroides basal to them. If these results hold true the similar reproductive organs of Cambaroides and American Cambaridae must be either homoplastic or ancestral for Northern Hemisphere Astacoidea.     

4种作物部分非叶器官气孔频度及其在光合作用中的意义（英文

 通过对小麦（Triticum aestivum L.）、大豆 (Glycine max (L.) Merrill)、 油菜（Brassica napus L.）和玉米（Zea mays L.）等4种作物部分非叶器官(油菜和大豆的豆荚;小麦的外稃和玉米的苞叶)的气孔频度、气孔大小和气孔指数进行了比较研究。结果发现,上述作物非叶器官的气孔频度均较对应叶低;而气孔大小和气孔指数则变化较大。其中油菜和大豆非叶器官气孔的直径通常比对应叶大,小麦和玉米非叶器官的气孔直径则较小;大豆和油菜的非叶器官气孔指数比对应叶小,     

A Late Devonian plant assemblage from the Avon Gorge, west England: taxonomic, phylogenetic and stratigraphic implications

Plant fossils from the Avon Gorge originally identified as Rhacophyton sp. have been subjected to a detailed morphological study incorporating examination of both previously known material and new specimens. A single taxon, Chlidanophylon dublinensis, dominates the assemblage accounting for over 90% of the fossils encountered. Other plant organs identified include dispersed acupulate preovules and five less frequently occurring organs of which four are of unknown affinities; the leaf genus Platyphyllum, Alicomopleris sp., two kinds of novel and frequendy dichotomizing branching structures and the spermatophyte synangium Telangiopsis. Possible whole plant relationships between the components of the fossil assemblage are discussed and the stratigraphic, systematic and evolutionary position of the component taxa are considered.     

Organ specificity of the genotoxic effects of cyclophosphane and dioxidine: An alkaline comet assay study

The applicability of alkaline comet assay to studying the organ specificity of the genotoxic effects of drugs has been estimated using cells from four organs of mice (the liver, lungs, spleen, and brain). It has been found that cyclophosphamide damages DNA in all the four organs; and dioxidine, in all organs except the brain. It is concluded that this method can be used for studying the organ specificity of the DNA-damaging effects of various substances.     

Coxal organs of Lithobius forficatus (Myriapoda,Chilopoda)

Summary In Lithobius forficatus each of the coxae of the four posterior trunk segments bear a pore field with several coxal pores. The surrounding single-layered epithelium is composed of four different cell types: the main epithelial cells having a fine-structural organization of transport cells with deep apical and basal folds of the cell surfaces and plasmalemma-mitochondrial complexes, junctional cells, exocrine glands, and the wall cells of the pore channel. The entire epithelium is separated from the hemolymph by an inner cellular sheath. It is assumed that the coxal organs participate in fluid uptake.     

Exchange of endogenous selenium for dietary selenium as 82Se-enriched selenite in brain, liver, kidneys and testes

Male Wistar rats were fed a diet containing selenium (Se) in the form of 82Se-enriched selenite at the adequate concentration of 0.2 microg Se/g diet, i.e. a Se-deficient diet (<0.03 microg Se/g) fortified with 82Se-enriched selenite, from 5 weeks of age for 20 days, and the systemic disposition of the labelled Se and exchange of endogenous naturally occurring Se for the labelled Se were monitored in four organs. Features characteristic of each organ in terms of Se metabolism were revealed by plotting the disposition of 82Se and exchange of endogenous Se for 82Se against the number of days of feeding 82Se-selenite. Labelled Se amounted to 83.7, 80.8, 73.2 and 41.9% of the total Se in the liver, kidneys, testes and brain, respectively, after feeding 82Se-selenite for 20 days, suggesting that the disposition and exchange were most efficient in the liver but least efficient in the brain. However, when the weight gain of the four organs during the feeding period was taken into consideration, the apparent higher exchange was concluded to be caused by weight gain, i.e., more efficient uptake of the labelled Se by proliferating cells than non-proliferating cells in the liver, kidneys and testes. On the other hand, the uptake and exchange in non-proliferating cells were greater in the brain than in the other organs, especially in the late observation period. The relative metabolic turnover rates of selenoproteins were shown to be easy to determine from the relative exchange rates of endogenous Se for exogenous Se in the distribution profiles of Se obtained by the HPLC-ICP MS method.     

Dual bioluminescent systems in the anglerfish genus Linophryne (Pisces: Ceratioidea)

Females of the anglerfish genus Linophryne bear barbels containing luminous organs, in addition to an escal light organ. Luminescence has been observed from the barbels of four species of Linophryne , and the morphology of the luminous organs investigated. The barbel light organs do not contain bacteria but complex paracrystalline photogenic granules. The esca contains luminous bacteria. The esca is ectodermal in origin whereas the barbel organs may be derived from the mesoderm.
The possible significance of this unique dual system of luminous organs is discussed.     

Immunochemical similarities between subunits of acetylcholine receptors from Torpedo, Electrophorus, and mammalian muscle.

Polypeptide chains composing acetylcholine receptors from the electric organs of Torpedo californica and Electrophorus electricus were purified and labeled with 125I. Immunochemical studies with these labeled chains showed that receptor from Electrophorus is composed of three chains corresponding to the alpha, beta, and gamma chains of receptor from Torpedo but lacks a chain corresponding to the delta chain of Torpedo. Experiments suggest that receptor from mammalian muscle contains four groups of antigenic determinants corresponding to all four of the Torpedo chains. Binding of 125I-labeled chains was measured by quantitative immune precipitation and electrophoresis. Antisera to the following immunogens were used: denatured alpha, beta, gamma, and delta chains of Torpedo receptor, native receptor from Torpedo and Electrophorus electric organs and from rat and fetal calf muscle, and human muscle receptor (from autoantisera of patients with myasthenia gravis). The four chains of Torpedo receptor were immunologically distinct from one another and from higher molecular weight chains found in electric organ membranes. Antibodies to these chains reacted very efficiently with native Torpedo receptor, but the reverse was not true. Antibodies to native receptor from Torpedo and Electrophorus reacted slightly with each of the chains of the corresponding receptor. However, cross-reaction between chains and antibodies to any native receptor was most obviuos with the alpha chain of Torpedo or the corresponding alpha' chain of Electrophorus. Antiserum to alpha chains exhibited higher titer aginst receptor from denervated rat muscle. Antibodies from myasthenia gravis patients did not cross-react detectably with 125I-labeled chains from electric organ receptors. Most interspecies cross-reaction occurred at conformationally dependent determinants whose subunit localization could not be determined by reaction with the denatured chains.