脉冲电场对真皮成纤维细胞生长和膜流动性的影响

采用MTT比色分析法检测脉冲电场(f=50Hz,t=20μs,Epp=1V/m),对真皮成纤维细胞增殖的影响,结果表明,电场作用1分钟和5分钟,均产生促进细胞增殖的效果(P<0.05和P<0.001),而较长时间(t≥10分钟)的电场作用则显著抑制细胞的正常增殖(P<0.001)。 采用荧光偏振法研究了脉冲电场对真皮成纤维细胞膜流动性的影响。结果表明,电场作用5分钟后即刻引起膜流动性的显著增加。而电场作用45分钟后,需经过一段时间的温育(30 分钟),才表现出膜流动性的降低。说明不同作用时间的电场可以造成膜流动性的增加或降低,而且对膜流动性的影响是可逆的。我们认为,脉冲电场所引起的膜流动性改变是细胞分裂能力发生变化的原因之一。     

水稻OsMS2基因在花药发育中的功能分析

拟南芥MS2(MALE STERILITY 2)是一个调控花药花粉发育的关键基因。水稻OsMS2(Os03g07140)基因与拟南芥MS2的序列具有高度同源性。利用RNA干扰技术研究OsMS2基因在水稻花药发育过程中的功能。与野生型水稻相比, 转基因 植株营养生长阶段正常, 但雄性育性降低。转基因植株雄性育性降低与RNA干扰引起的OsMS2基因表达水平降低有关。进一步对转基因植株花药进行细胞学观察, 结果表明OsMS2基因表达水平的降低导致绒毡层细胞退化延迟, 小孢子壁的形成出现异常。扫描电镜观察结果显示, 小孢子壁光滑, 不能形成正常的外壁。以上结果表明OsMS2基因在水稻花药发育过程中起重要作用。     

广西陆栖兽类动物分布格局及区划探讨

根据广西陆栖兽类种类,数量和分布特点。结合自然地理条件,探讨了广西陆栖兽类支持发布格局,并将广西兽类地理区划为7个小区：Ⅰ桂西南缘山地小区;Ⅱ桂南沿海台地平原小区;Ⅲ桂西南丘陵盆地小区;Ⅳ桂中丘陵山地小区;Ⅴ桂中及桂东低丘台地,山地,谷地小区;Ⅵ桂西北岩溶山原盆坝小区;Ⅶ桂东北南岭山地小区。广西陆栖兽类区域分化不明显,而受地形因素的更显著,海拔较高的桂西,北边缘山地区系成分较为近似,而与东部和南部沿海低海拔的丘陵,低山及盆地形成较明显的差异。盆地内弧形山脉的动物区系别具特色。     

Autotoxic potential of cucurbit crops

Soil sickness is often observed in cucurbit crops such as Citrullus lanatus, Cucumis melo and Cucumis sativus, but not in cucurbit crops such as Cucurbita moschata, Lagenaria leucantha and Luffa cylindrica. Results showed that root aqueous extracts of Citrullus lanatus, Cucumis melo and Cucumis sativus were autotoxic, but those of Cucurbita moschata, Momordica charantia and Luffa cylindrica were less autotoxic to the radicle elongation of respective species. Plant growth of Citrullus lanatus, Cucumis melo and Cucumis sativus were greatly inhibited by autotoxic substances released from powered root tissue at a rate of 1 g per seedling. Root exudates of Citrullus lanatus, Cucumis melo and Cucumis sativus were autotoxic to radicle elongation and seedling growth of respective species. However, root exudates of Citrullus lanatus did not inhibit radicle elongation of Cucurbita ficifolia, which is commonly used as rootstock for the grafting of Citrullus lanatus, Cucumis melo and Cucumis sativus to decrease soil-borne diseases in commercial production. It seems possible to overcome autotoxicity in cucurbit crops by grafting on Cucurbita ficifolia. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Olfactory receptors on the maxillary palps of small ermine moth larvae: evolutionary history of benzaldehyde sensitivity

In lepidopterous larvae the maxillary palps contain a large portion of the sensory equipment of the insect. Yet, knowledge about the sensitivity of these cells is limited. In this paper a morphological, behavioral, and electrophysiological investigation of the maxillary palps of Yponomeuta cagnagellus (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) is presented. In addition to thermoreceptors, CO₂ receptors, and gustatory receptors, evidence is reported for the existence of two groups of receptor cells sensitive to plant volatiles. Cells that are mainly sensitive to (E)-2-hexenal and hexanal or to (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol and 1-hexanol were found. Interestingly, a high sensitivity for benzaldehyde was also found. This compound is not known to be present in Euonymus europaeus, the host plant of the monophagous Yponomeuta cagnagellus, but it is a prominent compound in Rosaceae, the presumed hosts of the ancestors of Y. cagnagellus. To elucidate the evolutionary history of this sensitivity, and its possible role in host shifts, feeding responses of three Yponomeuta species to benzaldehyde were investigated. The results confirm the hypothesis that the sensitivity to benzaldehyde evolved during the ancestral shift from Celastraceae to Rosaceae and can be considered an evolutionary relict, retained in the recently backshifted Celastraceae-specialist Y. cagnagellus.     

Newer applications of the histological stain prepared from Pterocarpus santalinus

A histological stain prepared from the heartwood of Pterocarpus santalinus Linn. has been found to be an excellent nuclear stain for various cells of animal and plant origin. As an elastic tissue stain, the results are comparable to standard elastic tissue stains. The striations of voluntary muscle fibers are well shown. The Nissl granules and fibers of cranial nerves in the pons are visualized. When counterstained with light green, it differentially stains muscle and fibrous tissue. The stain can be used as counterstain with certain histochemical procedures with satisfactory results. The preparation and use of this versatile stain are described.     

3,5-dibromo-2'-chloro-4'-isothiocyanato salicylanilide in the control of Hymenolepis nana in rats--a pilot study

The efficiency of a new anticestode compound, 3,5-dibromo-2'-chloro-4'-isothiocyanato salicylanilide (GUPTA et al. 1980) for mass eradication of hymenolepiasis from rat colonies was assessed in a pilot study. The drug was administered with milk or food. For effective eradication, depending on the size of animals, single or multiple doses of 100 to 500 mg of the drug/kg body-weight, mixed in milk, or 50 mg/kg in feed were necessary. Better results were obtained when the compound was given in feed as it ensured effective consumption irrespective of the seasonal variations. The efficacy of the compound was also assessed on cysticercoids in intermediate hosts (Tribolium confusum) by feeding them on flour medicated at 5%, 1% and 0.1% levels. None of the concentrations killed the larvae or arrested their development.