Die optische Richtungsorientierung der Roten Waldameise (Formica Ruea L.)

Zusammenfassung Alle folgenden Angaben beziehen sich auf Formica rufa L., die Rote Waldameise, und sind nur unter Vorbehalt auf andere Insektenarten übertragbar.Die Ameisen benützen zur optischen Richtungsorientierung künstliche Lichtquellen, die Sonne oder den Mond.Eine distinkte Lichtquelle kann als Orientierungsmarke durch einen diffusen Lichtschein ersetzt werden.Mit Hilfe einer Polarisationsfolie läßt sich nachweisen, daß sich die Ameisen sowohl nach der Schwingungsrichtung des blauen Himmelslichtes als auch nach der Schwingungsrichtung des Folienlichtes orientieren können.Die Orientierung nach Landmarken, wie Häusern und Bäumen, spielt eine große Rolle und ist bei bewölktem Himmel wahrscheinlich die einzige optische Orientierungsmöglichkeit.Werden Himmels- und Landmarken in Konkurrenz gesetzt, dann läuft die Ameise in einer Kompromißrichtung.Ameisen reagieren in Neststimmung vorwiegend negativ und in Exkursionsstimmung vorwiegend positiv phototaktisch.Es wird eine Methode angegeben, mit der durch Vergleich von Dreherregungen die Stärke der phototaktischen Drehreaktionen gemessen werden kann.Bei gleich großer Ablenkung vom orientierten Lauf sind die geotaktischen und die phototaktischen Dreherregungen (Drehtendenzen) quantitativ gleich.Die phototaktischen Dreherregungen (Drehtendenzen) sind helligkeitsunabhängig, ändern sich jedoch mit dem Einfallswinkel des Lichtes.Aus den experimentellen Befunden wird geschlossen, daß sich am zentralnervösen Funktionsgefüge der negativen (positiven) Phototaxis mindestens drei nervöse Instanzen (Mechanismen) beteiligen: Das Integrationszentrum, das Lagezentrum und der Koordinationsmechanismus der Beinbewegung.Wichtige Vorgänge beim Übergang von der positiven und negativen Phototaxis zur menotaktischen Hin- und Rückwegorientierung sind orientierungsfreie Suchschleifen und Lernprozesse, die zur Ermittlung der Luftlinienrichtung führen.Diese Lernprozesse finden sowohl auf dem Hin- als auch auf dem Rückweg statt.Die Ermittlung der Luftlinienrichtung geschieht über die Auswertung (Integration) der optischen Reizfolge, die kinästhetische Reizfolge ist dafür wahrscheinlich völlig bedeutungslos.Mit Hilfe der Kompensationstheorie werden eine Reihe von Reaktionen sich menotaktisch orientierender Ameisen kausal erklärt.Die Ameise kann sich eine Laufrichtung in bezug auf eine Lichtquelle mindestens 5 Tage lang merken.Die Ameise kann sich mit Hilfe von Landmarken an mindestens vier verschiedenen Plätzen im Gelände je eine bestimmte Laufrichtung merken.Erinnerungsbilder von Himmels- und Landmarken werden im Gedächtnis der Ameisen unabhängig voneinander aufbewahrt, die Erinnerungsbilder der Himmelsmarken dagegen sind im Gedächtnis der Ameisen aneinandergekoppelt.Die Ameisen haben die Fähigkeit, die Wanderung der Sonne bei der Richtungsorientierung mit einzuberechnen.     

Detection of renal cell carcinoma-associated markers via proteome- and other 'ome'-based analyses.

Proteome analysis has rapidly developed in the post-genome era and is now widely accepted as the complementary technology for genetic profiling. It has been shown to be a powerful tool for studying human diseases and for identifying novel prognostic, diagnostic and therapeutic markers. This review focuses on the identification of new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for renal cell carcinoma using different 'ome'-based technologies.     

Immunohistochemical detection of secretoneurin, a novel neuropeptide endoproteolytically processed from secretogranin II, in normal human endocrine and neuronal tissues

Summary An antiserum raised against a synthetic peptide derived from the primary amino sequence of rat secretogranin II (chromogranin C) was used for immunological (quantitative radioimmunoassay analysis) and immunohistochemical studies of normal human endocrine and nervous tissues. This antibody recognized a novel and biologically active neuropeptide which was coined as secretoneurin. In endocrine tissues, secretoneurin was mainly co-localized with chromogranin A and B with some exceptions (e.g., parathyroid gland). Secretoneurin was demonstrated immunohistochemically in the adrenal medulla, thyroid C cells, TSH- and FSH/LH-produting cells of the anterior pituitary, A and B cells of pancreatic islets, in endocrine cells of the gastrointestinal tract and the bronchial mucosa, and the prostate. Immunoreactivity determined by radioimmunoassay analysis revealed high secretoneurin levels in the anterior and posterior pituitary and lower levels in pancreatic and thyroid tissue. A strong secretoneurin immunoreactivity was also found in ganglion cells of the submucdsal and myenteric plexus of the gastrointestinal tract, and in ganglionic cells of dorsal root ganglia, peripheral nerves, and ganglion cells of the adrenal medulla. Thus, secretoneurin may serve as a useful marker of gangliocytic/neuronal differentiation.     

Effect of cell cycle on the regulation of the cell surface and secreted forms of type I and type II human tumor necrosis factor receptors

The cell cycle has been shown to regulate the biological effects of human tumor necrosis factor (TNF), but to what extent that regulation is due to the modulation of TNF receptors is not clear. In the present report we investigated the effect of the cell cycle on the expression of surface and soluble TNF receptors in human histiocytic lymphoma U-937. Exposure to hydroxyurea, thymidine, etoposide, bisbensimide, and democolcine lead to accumulation of cells primarily in G₁/S, S, S/G₂/M, G₂/M, and M stages of the cell cycle, respectively. Whilie no significant change in TNF receptors occurred in cells arrested in G₁/S or S/G₂ stages, about a 50% decrease was observed in cells at M phase of the cycle. Scatchard analysis showed a reduction in receptor number rather than affinity. In contrast, cells arrested at S phase (thymidine) showed an 80% increase in receptor number. The decrease in the TNF receptors was not due to changes in cell size or protein synthesis. The increase in receptors, however, correlated with an increase in total protein synthesis (to 3.8-fold of the control levels). A proportional change was observed in the p60 and p80 forms of the TNF receptors. A decrease in the surface receptors in cells arrested in M phase correlated with an increase in the amount of soluble receptors. The cellular response to TNF increased to 8- and 2-fold in cells arrested in G₁ and S phase, respectively; but cells at G2/M phase showed about 6-fold decrease in response. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the cell cycle plays an important role in regulation of cell-surface and soluble TNF receptors and also in the modulation of cellular response. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Changes in DNA supertwist as a response of Bacillus subtilis towards different kinds of stress

Abstract The silent parD ( kis/kid ) stability operon of plasmid R1 is normally repressed by the co-ordinated action of the Kis and Kid proteins. In this report it is shown that a mutation in repA , the gene of the plasmid replication protein, that reduces two-fold the copy number of the plasmid, leads to the derepression of the parD system. This derepression can be prevented by a suppressor mutation in copB, a copy number control gene of plasmid R1, that increases the efficiency of replication of the repA mutant. Derepression of the wild-type parD system leads to high plasmid stability. These data show the activation of a plasmid stability operon by a mutation that reduces the efficiency of wild-type plasmid replication.     

The plunge reaction of the backswimmerNotonecta glauca

Summary A reaction that causes flying backswimmers to dive into the water is described. This plunge reaction consists of the following sequence of movements: the animal briefly (typically for 60 ms) raises the body axis head-up, then tilts downward while spreading out the rowing legs and closing the wings. The backswimmers also exhibit the plunge reaction in the laboratory when they are over a structured surface emitting polarized UV light. Factors that elicit the plunge reaction and affect its course are discussed.     

Vascular morphology of the bovine spermatic cord and testis

Summary The highly coiled testicular artery within the bovine spermatic cord has a constant luminal diameter but a continuously decreasing mural thickness. The pampini form plexus is composed of three interconnected venous networks differing in mesh sizes and calibres. The large veins of the first network display pouches and permanent constrictions, which may serve as throttle devices. The constitutents of the third network are venules or venous capillaries with diameters between 10 and 20 m; they favor a periarterial position or even occupy the media-adventitia border of the testicular artery. All plexus veins are devoid of valves. The existence of true arteriovenous anastomoses between smaller branches of the testicular artery and plexus veins was established by serial sections. The vascular morphology of the spermatic cord is discussed with special attention to a postulated venous-arterial steroid transfer in this region.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and the Stiftung zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung an der Universität Bern