Dynamics of eupyrene and apyrene sperm storage in ovipositing females of the swallowtail butterfly Papilio xuthus (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)

A male swallowtail butterfly, Papilio xuthus, transfers both eupyrene and apyrene sperm during copulation, both of which migrate to the spermatheca via the spermatophore in the bursa copulatrix of the female. Because the spermatheca seems to remain constant in size during the female lifespan, the excess sperm migration may cause the spermatheca to overflow. Approximately 9000 eupyrene and 265 000 apyrene spermatozoa were transferred during a single copulation, and approximately 1000 eupyrene and 1100 apyrene spermatozoa successfully arrived in the spermatheca. The number of both types of spermatozoon decreased in the spermatheca after the onset of oviposition, and no eupyrene spermatozoa were found by 7 days after copulation, partly due to insemination. The spermathecal gland leading from the distal end of the spermatheca was gradually filled by eupyrene spermatozoa. Although the function of the gland remains unclear, the final destination of the sperm is likely to be the gland.     

Allozymic and morphometric analysis of populations in the Zygaena purpuralis complex (Lepidoptera, Zygaenidae)

In Central Europe and Asia Minor Zygaena purpuralis and Z. minos are two sibling species exhibiting a considerable geographic variation in several features. In this study we examine some populations from the Central and Southern Apennines (Italy) by comparing multivariate analyses of individual allozymic multilocus profiles and of individual morphometric profiles of male genitalia in order to assess their genetic and phenetic relationships.
Results indicate that populations of Z. purpuralis in the Apennines behave in rather different ways with respect to the occurrence of gene exchange with other gene pools. No gene flow appears to occur between two geographically close southern populations; however, extensive introgression, revealable at both the allozymic and morphometric level, seems to occur between some purpuralis and minos -like sympatric populations from Abruzzi. Evolutionary relationships among these peninsular Italy populations are discussed with reference to historical factors, that is, the occurrence of multiple Pleistocene refugia, which could have determined different degrees of isolation among gene pools. This situation is rather different from that previously outlined for Central Europe and present results suggest that the Z. purpuralis complex might include more than two biological species.     

Timing of emergence of males and females of Ephoron shigae (Ephemeroptera: Polymitarcyidae)

SUMMARY. 1. The winged adults of Ephoron shigae swarming over the water surface were collected by successive random sweeps during their daily emergence period, and the changes in sex and stage composition were examined, in the lower reach of the Asahi River in western Japan.
2. The emergence occurred mainly during a 1¹/₂ h period beginning some time after sunset. Male sub-imagos emerged synchronously and moulted to imagos in a 25 min period immediately prior to an abrupt increase of female emergence.
3. This timing of male emergence may be considered the result of selection of males to decrease the risk of death before mating, and for all the males to have an equal opportunity to mate.     

Identification of the Tubulin Gene Family and Sequence Determination of One β-Tubulin Gene in a Cold-Poikilotherm Protozoan, the Antarctic Ciliate Euplotes focardii

ABSTRACT. Four different tubulin genes were identified in the somatic nucleus (macronucleus) of Euplotes focardii , a strictly coldadapted, Antarctic ciliate: one of 1,800 bp for α-tubulin and three of 2,150, 1,900, and 1,600 bp, respectively, for β -tubulin. Preliminarily analysed for restriction fragment length polymorphisms, these genes showed remarkable differences in organisation from tubulin genes of other ciliates which live in temperate areas and were analysed in parallel with E. focardii. The complete coding sequence of the 1,600 bp β -tubulin gene was then determined and shown to contain unique structural features of potential importance for E. focardii microtubule organization and activity. Of eight unique substitutions detected, seven were concentrated in the large amino terminal domain of the molecule that directly interacts with the carboxy terminal region of α-tubulin for heterodimer formation. Sequence analysis of the cloned gene revealed, in addition, a potential new exception in the use of the genetic code by ciliates. A TAG codon was aligned in correspondence with Trp-21 which is strictly conserved in every tubulin sequence so far determined.     

SOURNESS–SWEETNESS INTERACTIONS IN DIFFERENT MEDIA: WHITE WINE,ETHANOL AND WATER*

The aim of this work was to study the sourness–sweetness interactions in water, white wine and alcoholic environment to interpret sweet/sour perception in low concentrations within the range normally encountered in white wine. Nine trained assessors rated sweetness and sourness intensity in mixtures of fructose (11.1, 25.0 and 38.9 mM) and tartaric acid (pH 3.0, 3.4 and 3.8) in water and wine (experiment 1) or ethanol solutions at 2.0, 4.0 and 12.0% v/v (experiment 2). The range of quantitative responses was larger for sourness than for sweetness in the three media. The global sourness intensity perception in wine mixtures was significantly lower than in water and ethanol mixtures, indicating the effect of other wine components. The suppressive effect of tartaric acid on fructose sweetness was stronger than the suppressive effect of fructose on tartaric acid sourness.     

Spontaneous Infarction of an Intraductal Papilloma of the Breast: Cytological Presentation On Fine Needle Aspiration

A relatively rare case of spontaneous infarction of an intraductal papilloma of the breast is presented which was considered to be suspicious for malignancy on fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology. The aspirate revealed several groups of atypical cells featuring a high nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio, coarsely granular chromatin, and somewhat prominent nucleoli. There was abundant necrotic cellular debris in the background. These cellular features were considered evidence of ductal carcinoma of the breast. The correct diagnosis was made by open biopsy which revealed necrosis involving the breast due to infarction of an intraductal papilloma.