Morphogenesis of the dorsal pigmentary pattern in wild-type and mutant Rana pipiens

The transition from larval to adult pigmentary patterns during metamorphosis of wild-type. burnsi, and kandiyohi R. pipiens is described. Larval fusiform epidermal melanocytes form a pattern that exactly corresponds to the adult spotting pattern. It is concluded that the larval epidermal pattern expresses a “prepattern” in the larval tissue for the adult pattern. This “prepattern” is visible in kandiyohi, but not in burnsi, tadpoles. The role of the extracellular environment in pigmentary pattern determination is discussed. Gradual changes in all chromatophore densities accompany larval development, while abrupt changes accompany metamorphic climax. There is a net increase in all chromatophore densities by the completion of metamorphosis. Kandiyohi density changes differ quantitatively but not qualitatively from those of wild type. In both wild type and kandiyohi, differentiation of many new dermal melanophores in presumptive spot regions effects expression of the adult spotting pattern. The relative roles of chromatophore differentiation and mitosis in pattern expression, and the hormonal control thereof, are discussed.     

GABA UPTAKE IN RAT BRAIN SLICES: INHIBITION BY GABA ANALOGUES AND BY VARIOUS DRUGS

Abstract— 2-Hydroxy-, 2-chloro-, 2- and Cmethyl-GABA are linear competitive inhibitors of GABA uptake in rat brain slices. These analogues are thus potential substrates for the GABA transport system and possible'false transmitters'. 2-Hydroxy-GABA is the most potent inhibitor of GABA uptake yet described. No specific inhibitor of GABA uptake was revealed amongst the drugs tested.     

Measurement of profiles of potassium activity and electrical potential in the intact root

Summary Profiles of potassium activity and electrical potential in the vacuoles of cells across the intact root of Helianthus annuus have been measured. No gradient in either potassium activity or potential difference was detected from epidermis to pericycle. The trans-root electrical potential was found to be made up of two components, a large P.D. between the outside solution and the outer cells and a small P.D. at the pericycle-xylem interface. The results indicated that all the living cells of the root have the same capacity to actively accumulate potassium.     

Implications of Two Different Types of Diffusion for Biological Membranes

AS it is not widely appreciated that diffusion within complex media can be strikingly and often qualitatively different from that in simple liquids such as water, there is confusion concerning transport processes across biological membranes^1,2. We would like to draw attention to some fundamental differences between the diffusion process in simple liquids and that in more complex media-non-porous networks of hydrophobic polymers and biological membranes.     

Genetic and morphological variation in a partially isolated population of Caucasian shrew <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sorex satunini</Emphasis> (Mammalia)

Morphological and genetic variation at microsatellite loci of Caucasian shrew Sorex satunini Ogn. is examined and compared with that of the common shrew S. araneus L. Genetic distance at microsatellite loci between the common shrew and Caucasian shrew proved to be threefold higher than between chromosome races of the common shrew. The Caucasian shrew manifested low polymorphism in studies of both microsatellites and morphometric mandibular traits. The heterozygote deficit was also typical. These properties may be a consequence of partial isolation of the population and gene drift.