Studies of the seminal receptacle of the crab Portunus sanguinolentus (Portunidae: Brachyura)

The seminal receptacle or spermatheca of Portunus sanguinolentus consists of two parts--an anterior glandular and a posterior chitinous part. The chitinous part continues as the oviduct, which opens on the sternite of the sixth thoracic segment. Significant morphological and histological differences were observed between the spermatheca, as well as the oviduct, of mated and unmated crabs. In mated crabs the spermatheca is much more bulging, owing to receipt of a copious supply of seminal products, and its cells are hyperactive. Further stages of ovarian development were observed as indicators of sequential changes in the spermatheca. The secretory cells gradually disintegrate by way of holocrine secretion; this results in cellular stratification and the formation of distinct furrows in the chitinous posterior part.     

Effects of temperature and infection with Eimeria ochrogasteri on digestive organs of the prairie vole, Microtus ochrogaster

Prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster, were infected with Eimeria ochrogasteri and exposed to 2 environmental temperatures, 5 and 22 C. Dry weights of the small and large intestines increased by 33% and 19%, respectively, in infected animals. Infected animals also exhibited a 14% decrease in cecal length compared to uninfected animals. The interaction between temperature and infection affected the length of the small intestine. Infected animals maintained at 5 C had longer small intestines than both infected animals housed at 22 C, and uninfected animals at 22 or 5 C. Furthermore, the dry weight of the small intestine was affected by a 3-way interaction (infection, temperature, and sex). Temperature affected stomach and liver dry weights, as well as lengths of the small intestine and cecum. Stomach and liver dry weights, as well as small intestine lengths, were greater in those animals held at 5 C, whereas cecum lengths decreased. Prepatency, patency, and total oocyst production were not affected by temperature; however, infected animals held at 5 C exhibited diarrhea during the patent period.     

Fire history of an isolated subalpine mountain range of the Intermountain Region,United States

Fire has historically been an important ecological component of forests in the Intermountain Region of the northwestern United States. This study is set in a small biogeographically disjunct mountain range. Our research objectives were to (1) investigate the historical frequency, severity, size, and spatial pattern of fire; (2) determine if and how fire regimes have changed since Euro-American settlement; and (3) compare how fire regimes of a small isolated range compare to nearby, but considerably larger, mountain agglomerations. Our findings suggest that this mountain range has historically supported fires typified by small size and high frequency, resulting in a high degree of spatial pattern complexity compared to mountain agglomerations. We also found disparity in size and burn severity solely within the study area based on the bisecting Continental Divide. Since the advent of Euro-American settlement in the 1870s, fire frequency and sizes of individual fires in the West Big Hole Range have significantly decreased resulting in an estimated 87% reduction in area burned. We discuss potential relationships of mountain range isolation and fire regimes in the Intermountain Region. Furthermore, we suggest that the relative small size of this mountain range predisposes it to greater anthropogenic effects upon fire occurrence.     

Insulin Sensitivity of Heifers on Different Diets

The hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp technique was used to investigate the effect on insulin sensitivity of 2 different diets used in practical cattle feeding in calves. Ten 4 to 5-month-old heifer calves were allocated to 2 feeding groups, LO or HI, to obtain growth rates of 400 g/day or 900 g/day. The heifers were fed and housed individually for 5 weeks. Growth rates close to calculated rates were obtained with the diets used. Weekly blood samples were collected from the jugular vein for analysis of glucose, insulin, cortisol, total serum protein, urea, cholesterol and nonesterified fatty acids. During week 5, insulin sensitivity was estimated using the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp technique. Insulin sensitivity did not differ between the groups, but the plasma glucose levels were higher during weeks 3 and 4 for the HI group compared to the LO group. It may be concluded that the amount of concentrate in the diet was too low to induce changes in either the basal plasma insulin levels or the insulin sensitivity in the HI group.     

A recessive mutation leading to vertebral ankylosis in zebrafish is associated with amino acid alterations in the homologue of the human membrane-associated guanylate kinase DLG3.

We describe the characterization of the zebrafish homologue of the human gene DLG3. The zebrafish dlg3 gene encodes a membrane-associated guanylate kinase containing a single PDZ domain. This gene was cloned using a gene-trap construct inserted in the gene's first intron. The insertion co-segregates with a viable mutation called humpback (hmp), which leads to formation of ankylotic vertebrae in adult fishes. Insertion and mutation have both been mapped to chromosome 12, in a segment which is syntenic with region p12 to q12 of human chromosome 17. The hmp mutant phenotype, however, appears to be due to two point mutations in the guanylate kinase domain rather than to the transgene insertion itself. The results of this study are discussed in the light of the possible function of the guanylate kinase domain.     

Actin participates in the structure of liver intermediate filaments

A dominating protein fraction (p45) having molecular weight of 45000 and pI 5.45 was found in the intermediate filaments pellet obtained from rat liver besides the present cytokeratins. Peptide mapping and radioimmunological assays with antibodies against this protein and muscle actin proved that the p45 protein belongs to the actin group. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that this protein is located on the liver intermediate filaments. By melting of the cytokeratin complexes in urea it was established that p45 protein is complexed with the low molecular weight cytokeratin.     

Selection of HLA compatible donors for patients with HLA antibodies

A strain of 1,507 typised donors enables 15.97 average donors to be selected for a thrombocyte transfusion in one of 75 patients selected at random with HLA antibodies being previously determined (1 to 66 donors per patient). HLA compatible donors were found for 72 patients (97.33 per cent). More than 5 HLA compatible donors could be found for 58 patients. The high number of compatible donors is based on the fact that among 1,507 donors there were 156 HLA homozygotes and 556 donors with 3 HLA-A or B-antigens respectively. Compatibility in the ABO-system was not taken into account.