Effects of unilateral castration on morphologic characteristics of the testis in one-, two-, and three-year-old stallions

The effects of unilateral castration on testicular compensatory hypertrophy were measured in 12 Morgan stallions, four each at one, two, and three years of age. They were randomized within age to intact (IN) or unilaterally castrated (UC) groups. Allotment and surgery were in January 1983 and total castration was in June 1983, 150 d after unilateral castration. Testis weight increased linearly with age (P < 0.01) and was increased by unilateral castration (P < 0.07). Epididymal weight also increased linearly with age (P < 0.05) and was heavier in UC animals (P = 0.15). Tubule diameter (P < 0.10) and epithelial height (P < 0.03) were greater in UC than in IN stallions. In conclusion, testes of stallions underwent compensatory hypertrophy after unilateral castration.     

ADAPTATION OF CUTANEOUS TACTILE RECEPTORS : V. THE RELEASE OF POTASSIUM FROM FROG SKIN BY MECHANICAL STIMULATION

Potassium is released from the epithelial cells of frog''s skin on stimulation by an interrupted air jet. This evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that potassium is involved in the adaptation of the tactile nerve endings in frog''s skin.     

THE INFLUENCE OF LIGHT,TEMPERATURE, AND OTHER CONDITIONS ON THE ABILITY OF NITELLA CELLS TO CONCENTRATE HALOGENS IN THE CELL SAP

1. By the use of a special analytical technique it has been possible to study the accumulation of halogens in the cell sap of Nitella. 2. From a dilute solution, Br may be accumulated in the sap in a concentration much greater than that of the external solution. The conductivity of the sap may be markedly increased by such accumulation. The process is a slow one so that a month or more may be required to approach equilibrium. 3. Cl may be lost from the cell as a result of the accumulation of Br and vice versa. Other reciprocal relations between Cl and Br are indicated. 4. At equilibrium practically as much Br accumulated in the sap with an external solution containing 1 milli-equivalent of Br as with one containing 5 milli-equivalents. 5. Light energy was indispensable to the accumulation of Br. The temperature coefficient was characteristic of a chemical process.     

REVIVAL OF MAMMALIAN SPERM AFTER IMMERSION IN LIQUID NITROGEN

1. A wide variety of procedures was used to test the motility of mammalian sperm after plunging them into liquid nitrogen at –195°C. and later rapidly warming them to 35°C. by plunging them into a suitable balanced and isotonic medium. 2. Using seminal fluid sperm from the same human donor, maximal numbers of motile sperm survived vitrification when the samples were (a) very fresh, (b) untreated with plasmolysing solutions, (c) plunged into the refrigerant in the form of a foam. The maximum yield of motile human sperm recoverable from the liquid nitrogen was 50 per cent. Since in this sample only 75 per cent of the sperm were alive before immersion, 67 per cent of the living sperm survived vitrification. 3. Experiments with sperm from 31 rabbits were made with a variety of conditions of pretreatment to obtain maximal yields of recoverable, motile sperm after vitrification by liquid nitrogen. (a) A consistent recoverable yield of about 0.5 per cent was obtained when the untreated suspension of sperm was smeared on cellophane and partially dried in air before immersing in liquid nitrogen. (b) On a few out of many occasions plasmolysis for several minutes with hypertonic Ringer solution gave a recoverable yield of 0.1 per cent as did (c) pretreatment with hypertonic Ringer and butyric acid.     

Management of kudzu by the bioherbicide,Myrothecium verrucaria,herbicides and integrated control programmes

Replicated field plots were established and monitored for two years to evaluate management practices for kudzu. The bioherbicidal plant pathogen, Myrothecium verrucaria, several herbicides and a variety of integrated control programmes achieved a high level of kudzu suppression, although no system tested reliably achieved eradication in this time frame.     

Bioherbicidal activity from washed spores of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Myrothecium verrucaria</Emphasis>

The fungal plant pathogen, Myrothecium verrucaria, is highly virulent to several important weed species and has potential utility as a bioherbicide. However the production of macrocyclic trichothecene mycotoxins by this fungus presents significant safety concerns. It was discovered that trichothecenes are removed from M. verrucaria spores by repeated washes with water. These washed spores retained bioherbicidal efficacy against kudzu when tested in field trials and on sicklepod when tested under greenhouse conditions. Changes in the growth medium combined with washing spores with water resulted in greater than 95% reduction in roridin A and verrucarin A. Washing spores reduced trichothecene concentrations in spore preparations with no significant effect on plant biomass reduction, thus demonstrating the possibility of M. verrucaria formulations with improved safety to researchers, producers and applicators.