Acidophilic granular cells in the epidermis of the brown trout,Salmo trutta L.

Summary Acidophilic cells occur in the epidermis of several species of salmonid fish, although their abundance fluctuates considerably between individuals within the same population and at different times during the life cycle. The histology, histochemistry and ultrastructure of an acidophilic, granular celltype in the epidermis of the brown trout, Salmo trutta L., is described. At the light microscope level this cell type is easily distinguished from the large, mucus-secreting, epidermal goblet cells by its acidophilic, proteinaceous secretion. At the ultrastructural level this secretion consists of membrane-bound granules formed by the very active Golgi region. It is argued that the acidophilic, granular cell is not a transformed blood cell but constitutes a normal epidermal component of the brown trout. Possible roles of this cell in the function(s) of the epidermis are discussed.     

Mouse interferon messenger RNA: characterization of the Xenopus laevis oocyte translation product

Mouse interferon messenger RNA was isolated from Newcastle disease virus-induced mouse Lpa cells and then translated in Xenopus laevis oocytes. The resulting oocyte homogenate containing translated interferon activity was unstable to treatment with 5 m urea and to repeated freeze/thaw cycles, and it was 1% cross-reactive on human cells, as was native mouse interferon. Both native mouse interferon and the mouse interferon produced by the translation of mouse interferon mRNA behaved almost similarly on CPG, poly(U)-Sepharose, and anti-mouse interferon antibody columns. When the oocyte-translated product was partially purified and analyzed on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels, it migrated as a major single band of activity at 21–22,000 daltons with a trailing edge at 22–30,000 daltons. Only minor activity was detected in the region of 35–40,000 daltons where the vast majority of the native mouse interferon migrated. Thus, the oocyte-translated mouse interferon product comigrated largely with the minor species of native mouse interferon with a little activity which corresponds with the larger molecular weight species of native mouse interferon.     

Morphological and chromosomal descriptions of new species in the Anopheles subpictus complex

Abstract. Anopheles subpictus Grassi is shown to comprise four reproductively distinct species, designated A, B, C and D, occurring sympatrically in villages of Pondicherry, southeast India.
Adult females were reared individually from wild larvae and examined for their morphological and chromosomal characters. Paracentric fixed inversions on the X-chromosome serve to distinguish the species cytogenetically, with no inversion heterozygotes (i.e. no interspecific hybrids) among totals of 717 species A (X+^a,+^b), 1863 species B (Xa, b), 869 species C (Xa,+^b) and 1365 species D (X +^a,b) identified.
Morphologically, diagnostic characters for each of the four species are seen in the egg float ridge number, larval mesothoracic seta 4, pupal seta 7-1 and the palpi of female adults. Species A. C and D immatures inhabit freshwater, whereas the malaria vector species B breeds in saltwater and was found only in coastal villages.     

Epidermal lesions and fungal infection on the perch, Perca fluviatilis L., in Windermere

An account is given of the histological changes associated with epidermal lesions on the Windermere perch, Perca fluviatilis L., between the months of January and March, 1976. During the later stages of the development of the lesions an apparent succession of fungal colonization was observed. A total of five genera of fungi were identified with Leptomitus lacteus appearing early in the infection and Achlya tending to dominate the more advanced lesions. The initial cause of the lesions has not been identified but the possibility of Argulus damage is discussed.     

Flock size and breeding success in flamingos

Using data on flocks of flamingos in Britain and Ireland, the relationship between flock size and breeding in captive flamingos was examined. Breeding flamingo flocks were significantly larger than nonbreeding flocks and larger flocks bred more frequently than smaller flocks. All Chilean flocks containing more than 40 birds have bred successfully; however, one flock of only 4 Chilean Flamingos has reared at least one chick. All Caribbean flocks over 20 birds have successfully reared a chick, yet the smallest flock to rear a chick was one of 14 birds. © 1992 Wiley-Liss Inc.     

Electrocardiographic signs of pulmonary hypertension in children who snore.

Two children presented with sleep disturbances due to enlarged tonsils and adenoids. One child died during induction of anaesthesia, and postmortem examination showed hypertrophy of the right ventricle and atrium. As a result a prospective survey was carried out of children undergoing tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy, or both. During a nine-month period an electrocardiogram was taken in 92 children. Three electrocardiograms (3.3%) showed evidence of right heart strain. The children with abnormal electrocardiograms had symptoms of sleep disturbance with apnoea, snoring, and daytime somnolence. These symptoms and the electrocardiographic changes were reserved by adenotonsillectomy. The prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in children with enlarged tonsils and adenoids is still underestimated. When signs and symptoms of sleep disturbance, particularly snoring, are present an electrocardiogram should be obtained and a cardiologist''s opinion sought before embarking on routine surgery in view of the potentially fatal consequences.