The Influence of Temperature on Nitrate Reductase Activity of Agrostis palustris and Cynodon dactylon

The influence of temperature was studied in relation to nitrate reductase activity of creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds. cv. ‘Toronto’) a cool season grass and bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. cv. ‘Tifgreen’) a warm season grass. Maximum nitrate reductase activity of both species occurred at 20°C. The nitrate reductase level in bentgrass leaves was reduced when grown at 35°C while bermudagrass leaves were relatively unaffected. The activity per se of the bentgrass enzyme preparation was inhibited rather than synthesis of the enzyme.     

Synthesis of Substance P

SUBSTANCE P has been synthesized by the solid-phase procedure of Merrifield^1,2 according to the sequence H-Arg-Pro-LysPro-Gln-Gln-Phe-Phe-Gly-Leu-Met-NH₂ reported in the previous letter.     

Role of Different Sponge Cell Types in Species Specific Cell Aggregation

SEVERAL mouse alloantigens described recently are expressed solely or chiefly on lymphoid cells. This indicates that the programme of selective gene action responsible for cyto-differentiation includes instructions for the synthesis of unique cell surface conformations characteristic of particular cell types^{1, 2}.     

Genetic Regulation of Plasma Corticosterone Concentration and its Response to Castration and Allogeneic Tumour Growth in the Mouse

EXCESS fat deposition after castration is thought to be a response to hyperinsulinism induced by an increased level of adrenal glucocorticoids¹. Two mutant alleles, lethal yellow (A^y) and viable yellow (A^vy), at the agouti locus in the mouse induce excess fat deposition; the A^y allele has also been found to induce insulin resistance². Katsh³ concluded that in adrenalectomized KL strain mice a considerable portion of the high insulin tolerance depended on normal adrenal function. In the inbred YS/Wf and VY/Wf strains, both yellow pheno-types modulate serum insulin concentration⁴. Castration of inbred YS strain males causes a large decrease in serum insulin⁴, suggesting a possible relationship¹ to the concentration of adrenal glucocorticoids. Growth of allogeneic tumour cells has different effects on the serum insulin concentrations of YS and VY strain mice⁴.     

SOME ASPECTS OF BIG-GAME UTILIZATION OF MINERAL LICKS IN YANKARI GAME RESERVE, NIGERIA

At least ten major mineral licks occur along the Gaji River which bisects the Yankari Game Reserve. The licks show varying degrees of utilization and have craters of up to 1200m³ in volume. Three hundred and eighty five hours of observation were kept at one of the licks. Its use by different species was highly variable. Some species occurring in the reserve made no visits to the lick, whereas Western hartebeest (51 groups), waterbuck (53 groups) and warthog (276 groups) made frequent visits. Lick use was much greater in the daytime than at night, with the peak occurring around 1400 h. A limited number of soil samples (29) were analysed but no single element can be considered as the factor attracting wildlife. However, the lick areas were richer in most minerals than were samples of soil from drier habitat in the open woodland. It is possible that significantly increased lick use might in the future indicate degrading environmental conditions in the drier parts of the reserve. If hides are constructed, the commonly utilized licks will provide excellent opportunities for behaviour observatioii and photography by tourists.     

New Fibrous Long Spacing Form of Collagen

PRECIPITATION of collagen from solution in the presence of chondroitin sulphates (or certain other glycosaminoglycans), followed by dialysis against water, leads to the formation of the fibrous long spacing (FLS) polymorphic form of collagen. Electron microscopy shows this to consist of banded fibrils with a periodicity in the range 1200–2400 Å and a symmetric intraperiod structure, in contrast to the 600–700 Å periodicity and polarized fine structure characteristic of native collagen fibrils. FLS was originally reported by Highberger et al.^1–3 and has been observed in three principal modifications, FLS I, FLS II and FLS III, differing in periodicity and arrangement of dense bands^4–6. This letter reports a new form of FLS, denoted FLS IV.     

Storage Polysaccharide in Coccidial Sporozites after Excystation and Penetration of Cells

SYNOPSIS. Eimeria acervulina, E. necatrix , and E. meleagrimitis sporozoites were examined for carbohydrates by cytochemical methods during dormancy, after excystation, and after penetration of cells. The only carbohydrate found was amylopectin, a homogeneous polymer of glucose. It was distributed in 3 regions: (a) in front of the anterior refractile globule, (b) around the nucleus, and (c) behind the posterior refractile globule. The relative amounts decreased after excystation and penetration of cells until only small amounts remained around the nucleus. The quantity of amylopectin decreased following excystation from 30.0-36.7 to 9.4-13.3 μg glucose/10⁶ oocysts. Over a 6 yr period of storage at 4 C, there was a decrease in the quantity of amylopectin in dormant sporozoites of E. acervulina from 33.3 μg glucose/10⁶ oocysts at 3 mos to 1.5 μg at 6 years. Coincidentally, 3 month- and 1 year-old oocysts of E. acervulina produced patent infections in chicks with a dosage of 5 × 10⁴ oocysts, but only a few of the oocysts that had been stored for 2 years were infective; a dosage of 2 × 10⁶ oocysts was necessary to produce a patent infection. Oocysts which had been stored 6 years did not produce a patent infection.
It was concluded that amylopectin is the energy source for excystation and subsequent penetration of cells. Small amounts of amylopectin are used during dormancy and, when the content in the sporozoite falls below a certain level, the sporozoites lack sufficient energy to infect cells.     

Observations on Eimeria tenella in Feces of Inoculated Chickens

SYNOPSIS. In studies on coccidial excystation, Eimeria tenella sporulated oocysts were fed to 5 individually caged chickens, and during the next 4.5 hours, all droppings were collected immediately after excretion, mixed with 0.85% NaCl solution, then promptly examined for the parasites. Some samples were placed in cold storage at 4 C and examined at intervals thereafter. Three of the birds were necropsied after 5 hours and the intestinal contents examined. Apparently unbroken oocysts containing active sporozoites were in chicken droppings beginning 1–2.25 hours postinoculation; some activated forms were inside and others outside the sporocysts. Free sporozoites, sometimes numerous, first appeared in the feces 1.1–2 hours postinoculation. At necropsy, the state and condition of the parasites in the lumen of bird intestines were similar to those in its last fecal dropping. After being in cold storage for 48 hours, free sporozoites inside and outside the oocysts became active and moved about when placed on the warming stage of the microscope.