Movement and distribution pattern of the residues of granular insecticides in tropical soil and okra plants

Summary The increased downward mobility of phorate, quinalphos and carbofuran residues was detected in soil with increase in depth of soil column whereas aldicarb was found to remain localised mainly in 0–7.5 cm and 7.5–15.0 cm layers. Persistence of organophosphate insecticides was higher as compared to carbamates in all the soil layers. Residues of all the four insecticides got distributed in all parts of okra plant through uptake but accumulated in higher amounts in fruits only. Contribution No. 312/83 from I.I.H.R. Bangalore (India)     

Pharmacological characterization of lower esophageal sphincter relaxation induced by swallowing, vagal efferent nerve stimulation, and esophageal distention.

To characterize the neural pathways involved in lower esophageal sphincter relaxation, intraluminal pressures from the lower esophageal sphincter of the opossum were monitored during swallowing, vagal efferent nerve stimulation, and intraluminal balloon distention in the presence and absence of pharmacologic antagonism of putative neurotransmitters. The combination of atropine, hexamethonium, and 5-methoxydimethyltryptamine, which is known to block ganglionic transmission in the vagal inhibitory pathway to the lower esophageal sphincter, significantly antagonized LES relaxation induced by both swallowing and vagal stimulation, but did not affect the LES relaxation induced by balloon distention. Administration of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N omega nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, on the other hand, markedly inhibited LES relaxation induced by vagal stimulation, swallowing, and balloon distention, and this effect was reversed by administration of the nitric oxide synthase substrate L-arginine. These studies indicate that the distension-induced intramural pathway mediating LES relaxation does not involve ganglionic transmission similar to that of the vagal inhibitory pathway to the LES. However, the LES relaxation induced by all forms of stimuli appears to depend on nitric oxide as a final mediator.     

Identification of CpG islands in a physical map encompassing the Friedreich's ataxia locus

The Friedreich's ataxia locus has been previously assigned to chromosome 9q 13-21.1 by the demonstration of tight linkage to two anonymous DNA markers. MCT112 (Z greater than 80, theta = 0) and DR47 (Z greater than 50, theta = 0). The absence of recombination between these three loci has prevented the resolution of gene/probe order in this region, impeding strategies for gene isolation. We report physical mapping over a 4-Mb genomic interval, linking the markers MCT112 and DR47 on a common 460-kb NotI fragment and identifying 11 CpG islands in the 1.7-Mb interval most likely to contain the Friedreich's ataxia locus. Four of these islands were detected only by analysis of three YAC clones spanning a 700-kb interval including the MCT112/DR47 cluster. Without clear evidence of the precise location of the disease locus from recombination events, each of these regions must be considered as specifying a potential "candidate" sequence for the mutated gene.     

The embryo sac ofPodostemum subulatus (Podostemaceae) — a reinvestigation

The female gametophyte ontogeny inPodostemum subulatus is of the Apinagia type and not the Podostemum type as reported earlier. The independent existence of the Podostemum type in the family is questioned.     

Association of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase of buffalo spermatozoa with sperm chromatin

Buffalo sperm heads contain more than 50% of the total cyclic AMP-phosphodiesterase activity (EC 3.1.4.17) present in spermatozoa. Its distribution in sperm heads revealed no activity in acrosome and other membrane structures present in the head. All the cyclic AMP-phosphodiesterase activity was found firmly bound to sperm chromatin which could not be solubilized. In addition to cyclic AMP, cyclic GMP was also hydrolysed by chromatin preparation. The rate of hydrolysis was 2.5-times more rapid with cyclic AMP than with cyclic GMP at their optimum pH of 7.5 and 8.0, respectively. The pH and heat stability profiles, inhibition studies and the effect of divalent metal ions indicated that the two activities are not associated with the same protein. Mixed substrate analysis showed two sites at which the hydrolysis of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP is catalysed. Chromatin cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases exhibited kinetics typical of one enzyme species both for cyclic AMP (K m = 100 microM; V = 1.0 nmol/min per mg protein) and cyclic GMP (Km = 23 microM; V = 0.4 nmol/min per mg protein). Each cyclic nucleotide was found to be a competitive inhibitor of the hydrolysis of the other with a Ki value of 30.18 microM for cyclic AMP hydrolysis and 256 microM for cyclic GMP hydrolysis. Hill coefficients of 1.0 obtained in the presence of cyclic AMP for cyclic GMP hydrolysis and vice-versa indicated no allosteric interactions. It is suggested that chromatin cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase may have a role post fertilization in cell growth and differentiation with no role in sperm motility which is regulated by similar enzymes present in sperm flagella.     

Light microscopic features of the rete testis,the vas efferens,the epididymis and the vas deferens in the adult rhesus monkey

The present study was carried out to determine the detailed histological and cytological features of the excurrent ducts of the male reproductive system in the rhesus monkey. The excurrent ducts show a regional difference in their histological features. The use of some of these features as histological markers and their possible functional significance are discussed. The epithelial cells in the different components of the excurrent duct system possess cytological features which suggest their involvement in absorption and the secretion of different products into the lumen.