Comparative study of leaf anatomy of Malaysian species of Chionanthus and Olea (Oleaceae) with special reference to foliar sclereids

The foliar anatomy of 15 Malaysian species of Chionanthus and 3 species of Olea is described and compared with particular reference to sclereids. The anatomy of the two genera is similar except that Chionanthus shows a wider range in sclereid form, eight kinds ofsclereid are recorded. Filiform sclereids are present in all Olea species and most Chionanthus species examined, additional kinds ofsclereid found in these Chionanthus species include astrosclereids, dendrosclereids, osteosclereids and polymorphic sclereids, with brachysclereids of several forms in the petiole. Quantity of sclereids is not related to coriaceousness, which is determined by leaf thickness. Anatomical characters do not support any major grouping of species within Chionanthus and provide further evidence that the sections, Eulinocitra and Ceranthus , are untenable. The distinction between the lepidote scales of Olea and the peltate hairs common to all oleaceous genera is discussed.     

Polymerase chain reaction primers for polymorphic microsatellite loci in the African armyworm,Spodoptera exempta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Eight pairs of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers that amplify polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed for the African armyworm, Spodoptera exempta (Walker) to be used in the study of its population dynamics in sub‐Sahara Africa where the species is a major pest of cereals and rangeland. A magnetic beads based enrichment protocol was used; it appears that previously reported scarcity of microsatellites in Lepidoptera species does not apply to the African armyworm. All the loci showed significant heterozygote deficit; possibly because the samples were laboratory reared from limited stock. Four primer pairs successfully amplified single fragments of beet and fall armyworm DNA of comparable size to the African armyworm alleles.     

Immunocytochemistry In the Assessment of Ps2 Protein Expression In Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology From Breast Carcinoma

pS2 protein is a cysteine-rich polypeptide, of unknown function, the expression of which is induced in the human cancer cell line MCF-7 by oestrogen. the availability of a murine monoclonal antibody to human pS2 protein has prompted us to evaluate its expression in 47 cases of primary breast carcinoma. Using a double indirect immunoperoxidase technique, we compared the expression of pS2 protein in fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology smears with that in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections from subsequently excised tumours from the same patients. We also compared the expression of pS2 protein and oestrogen receptor (ER) status using immunocytochemical assay (ER-ICA) in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections from 22 primary breast carcinomas. We found the application of immunocytochemistry in the assessment of pS2 protein expression in FNA cytology to be a reliable and cost-effective technique, having a sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 100%. There was also a good correlation between the expression of pS2 protein and ER status.     

Altered actin polymerization of Plutella xylostella (L.) in response to ovarian calyx components of an endoparasitoid Cotesia plutellae (Kurdjumov)

Abstract Cotesia plutellae (Kurdjumov) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a solitary braconid endoparasitoid wasp, parasitizes the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) by suppressing the host defense response, thereby resulting in successful parasitization. During parasitization, ovarian calyx fluid is also delivered into the haemocoel of the host along with the wasp egg. The effect of calyx fluid constituents on haemocyte‐spreading behaviour of P. xylostella is analysed by measuring F‐actin development in the haemocytes. For this purpose, the calyx fluid of C. plutellae is separated into ovarian protein and C. plutellae bracovirus (CpBV). The ovarian protein consists of a wide range of molecular weight proteins, which are apparently different from those of CpBV. When nonparasitized P. xylostella haemocytes are incubated with either ovarian protein or CpBV for 1 or 2 h, haemocytes lose their responsiveness to a cytokine, plasmatocyte‐spreading peptide, in a dose‐dependent manner for each calyx component and fail to exhibit haemocyte‐spreading behaviour. Some CpBV genes are expressed within 1 h of parasitization. The inhibition of haemocyte‐spreading could be explained by measuring F‐actin contents, in which parasitization by C. plutellae inhibits F‐actin development in the haemocytes of P. xylostella. Either ovarian protein or CpBV could inhibit F‐actin development in the nonparasitized haemocytes. In addition, co‐incubation of ovarian protein and CpBV results in significant additive inhibition of both haemocyte‐spreading and F‐actin development in the haemocytes in response to cytokine. These results suggest that both components of C. plutellae calyx fluid function in a synergistic manner, leading to immunosuppression during the early stage of parasitization.     

Characterization of polymorphic microsatellite markers,isolated from ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.)

The present study reports isolation and characterization of eight polymorphic microsatellite markers for Zingiber officinale Rosc. (Ginger). A total of 34 alleles were detected across the 20 accessions, with an average of 4.3 alleles per locus. Values for observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0 to 1.0 and from 0.23 to 0.67, respectively. The heterozygote deficits were observed at three loci. At the significance threshold (P < 0.05) of the eight loci, seven were found to have deviated from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, whereas significant linkage disequilibria were observed between 10 pairs of loci. Our data indicate the existence of moderate level of genetic diversity among the ginger accessions genotyped with eight markers.     

Light and electron microscope studies on ovarian follicles in the lizard Chalcides ocellatus

The development of ovarian follicles in a skink has been studied with light and electron microscopy. In early stages the previtellogenic oocyte has a follicular covering (granulosa) comprising only two cell types, small cells and pyriform cells. A complex microvillous interdigitation between follicle cells and oocyte is present from very early stages but regresses as a mature size is reached. The outer thecal layer differentiates into distinct interna and externa as growth proceeds. Occasional biovular follicles are formed. Pyriform cells establish direct continuity with the oocyte via cytoplasmic bridges which traverse the layer of microvilli interdigitating in the zona pellucida. Such bridges appear most frequently just before the onset of yolk deposition; the organelles and cytoplasmic constituents presumed to be transferred across them may stimulate this activity. As the follicles grow, the pyriform cells shrink and disappear to leave just the small cells forming the single layered granulosa. There is asynchrony in recruitment and/or early growth rates of follicle crops and uniformity of oocyte size appears only as vitellogenesis nears completion (with up to five oocytes, about 1 cm in diameter, on each side). Yolk deposition may involve transformation of golgi vesicles or pinocytotic vesicles but there is no evidence to show mitochondria as foci for deposition.