The fine structure of sense organs in the ovipositor of the parasitic wasp, Orgilus lepidus Muesebeck

Three types of sensilla were observed in the ovipositor, including a multicellular sensillum presumed to respond to both chemical and mechanical stimuli, plus two types of campaniform sensilla. Four or five bipolar chemosensory cells innervate each multicellular sensillum, witln the dendrites terminating at an 800 ,Å dia. pore in the cuticular wall. The dendrite of an associated mechanosensory neuron is inserted upon a slender shaft of cuticle which extends inward from the wall of the ovipositor. This mechanosensory neuron may he activated by stretching when the ovipositor is bent. The dendrite of each campaniform sensillum ends in a cavity in the wall of the ovipositor, and are probably activated by stresses and vibrations as the wasp probes for a host. Sensilla of each type are present in the medial and lateral stylets of the ovipositor. Earlier behavioral studies indicated that the parasite probably uses these sense organs to locate hosts and distinguish healthy from already parasitized hosts.     

Gonosomale Mosaike

With an incidence of approximately 0.2?% in newborns gonosomal chromosome aberrations are of major relevance for clinical genetics. They frequently occur as numerical and/or structural gonosomal mosaicism. The correlation between genotype and phenotype is poor most probably due to different levels of mosaicism in different tissues and they represent a great challenge especially in prenatal diagnostics, requiring genetic counseling by an experienced clinical geneticist. Postnatally, gonosomal mosaicism in females often leads to the clinical symptoms of Turner’s syndrome (especially short stature and infertility) with an potentially increased risk for gonadoblastoma if an XY cell line is present. In males with Klinefelter’s syndrome mosaicism is also frequent (up to 20?%). Mosaicism in 47,XYY and 47,XXX karyotypes is rarely reported perhaps due to the innocuous phenotype seldom being an indication for chromosome analysis.     

Giant cells fromSaccharomyces uvarum grown after X-irradiation

Yeast cells, Saccharomyces uvarum, were irradiated with X-rays and grown in liquid suspension. Glucose as the only carbon source was limited to 12.5 mM. Under these conditions giant cells are formed. Cell number, glucose utilization, ethanol production and oxygen consumption are measured during the time of growth. The mean weight of single cells in the stationary phase increases up to 75 krad and is not due to an uptake of water. In irradiated cultures oxygen consumption and glucose utilization per cell are higher than in control cells. The data demonstrate that synthesis- and energy-metabolism during the formation of non-dividing, radiation-induced giant cells is increased.     

Automatic morphometric analysis of retrograde changes in the nucleus n. facialis at different ontogenetic stages in the rat

Summary The grey level index (= GLI) and the fresh volume were determined with the image analyser Micro-Videomat for the nucl. n. facialis after axotomy of the left n. facialis. The experiments were performed on 10 rats in different stages of ontogenesis. The GLI is a quantitative parameter which could be quickly obtained and which demonstrated quantitative changes during retrograde reaction in the respective centres. A decrease in the fresh volumes of the affected nucl. n. facialis could also be demonstrated. The meaning of GLI is discussed.Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft grants Kr 289/10 and Zi 192/1Dedicated to Prof. Dr. H. Leonhardt on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Verlust des Sensibilitäts- und Schmerzempfindens

The sensory nervous system detects pressure, touch, stretching, heat, and cold and translates these stimuli into action potentials. To protect the body from tissue damage acute pain is felt when a stimulus gains a critical intensity. The combination of impaired nociception and autonomic dysfunction is the hallmark of hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathies (HSAN). Sensory loss in HSAN patients results in ulcerations of hands and feet and may necessitate amputations. Congenital onset of HSAN leads to self-mutilating behavior in affected children. Degeneration of motor neurons can complicate the disease. HSAN is divided into five groups according to clinical symptoms. So far, nine genes have been identified as causative for the disorder. The present article reviews the clinical, genetic, and pathophysiological aspects of HSAN.     

Vitellin and vitellogenin in the soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris: identification with monoclonal antibodies and reproductive response to diet

A 171,000 M(r )polypeptide of Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) that constituted 16% of the protein in eggs also constituted up to 25% of the protein in hemolymph of fed females. It was identified as the major or sole apoprotein of vitellogenin. Eggs contained major polypeptides of 171, 106, and 51 kDa. The hemolymph polypeptide was identified with a polypeptide (vitellin) in egg extracts by comparing molecular weights, specificity of occurrence in fed females, and immunological reactivities. Females, starved for 5 days after eclosion to assure complete previtellogenic development, produced vitellogenin within a day after feeding on larval Galleria mellonella, and within 4 days after feeding on an artificial diet. Appearance of vitellogenin preceded ovarian growth by 2-3 days. Two monoclonal antibodies raised against egg proteins of P. maculiventris were selected for their strong reaction against egg extract and female hemolymph and null reaction against male hemolymph. Only one 170-kDa band in egg and hemolymph reacted with the antibodies on denaturing Western blots. These monoclonal antibodies are being used to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to quantitate reproductive response of females to diets of differing quality.     

Stress-induced septicemia as an impediment to laboratory rearing of the fruit fly parasitoid Biosteres (opius) longicaudatus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and the Caribbean fruit fly Anastrepha suspensa (Diptera: Tephritidae)

High pupal mortality experienced during laboratory rearing of Biosteres longicaudatus, a parasitoid of the Caribbean fruit fly Anastrepha suspensa was attributed primarily to the action of two species of opportunistic pathogens, Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These bacteria were best able to overwhelm both parasitized and nonparasitized fly larvae and pupae when they were subjected to thermal stress (rearing temperatures >30°C). Methenamine mandelate chemotherapy had no prophylactic effect, but potentially deleterious side effects (aberrant fly premating sounds) were caused by incorporation of this antibiotic in the A. suspensa larval rearing medium. Control was effected by optimizing the cultural conditions rather than by the use of antibiotics.     

Rearing and life history studies onBiosteres (Opius) longicaudatus [Hym.: Braconidae]

Efficient methods were developed for rearingBiosteres (Opius) longicaudatus Ashmead, using the Caribbean fruit fly,Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), as the host. Evaluations were made of the influence upon parasite survival and reproduction of the host's diet and of CO₂ and N₂ anaesthesia, chilling, and aspiration as adult collection methods. Data were obtained on aspects of the life history ofB. longicaudatus.