Permanent Preservation of Whole Alizarin Red S Skeletons by Clearing and Embedding in Polyester Resins

A one-step clearing and embedding procedure for alizarin red S stained skeletons is described. Embryos are fixed in formalin, skinned and eviscerated. After staining in a 10 mg/liter solution of alizarin red S in 5% aqueous KOH, specimens are dehydrated in a graded series of acetone-polyester monomer solutions. Finally, the specimens are embedded at room temperature in the polyester resin. A special reusable metallic mold is described for embedment of large fetuses. Specimens previously cleared in glycerol can be processed with this method.     

Succinate dehydrogenase in Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides: subunit composition and immunocross-reactivity with other related bacteria.

Antibodies were raised against the succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) present in the chromatophores of phototrophically grown Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides. Crossed immunoelectrophoresis experiments indicated that the SDH present in the cytoplasmic membranes of heterotrophically grown R. sphaeroides is probably the same enzyme observed in the chromatophores. The enzyme was extracted by Triton X-100 in a form which consisted of only two subunits (molecular weight, 68,000 and 30,000) and was not associated with a cytochrome b. The antibodies directed against SDH from R. sphaeroides showed no immunocross-reactivity with SDH from phylogenetically related bacterial species, including Rhodopseudomonas capsulata, Paracoccus denitrificans, Rhodopseudomonas palustris, Rhodospirillum rubrum, and Rhodospirillum fulvum.     

Immunological investigation of the distribution of cytochromes related to the two terminal oxidases of Escherichia coli in other gram-negative bacteria.

Monospecific antibodies were raised against the two terminal oxidase complexes of the aerobic respiratory chain of Escherichia coli. These are the cytochrome d and cytochrome o complexes. The antibodies were used to check for the occurrence of cross-reactive antigens in membrane preparations from a variety of gram-negative bacteria by rocket immunoelectrophoresis and immunoblotting techniques. With these criteria, proteins closely related to the cytochrome d complex of E. coli appeared to be widely distributed. Among the strains containing cytochrome d-related material were Serratia marcescens, Photobacterium phosphoreum, Salmonella typhimurium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Azotobacter vinelandii. The data suggest that the d-type terminal oxidase in many of these strains is associated in a complex with b-type and a1-type cytochromes, as has been found to be the case in E. coli. K. pneumoniae and S. typhimurium were also shown to have material cross-reactive to the E. coli cytochrome o complex.     

Relation between electromyogram and force in fatigue

The relationship between the surface electromyogram (SEMG) and force was examined during maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Isometric MVC of elbow flexors were studied in 18 subjects who performed 27 trials, each consisting of six MVCs lasting 45 s at intervals of 30 s. There was a decrease in the median frequency (Fm) of the SEMG and of the compound action potentials (CAP) during MVC. The CAPs demonstrated that the fall in Fm was associated with a proportional increase in signal power, whereas CAP amplitude did not decrease, indicating intact neuromuscular transmission. The SEMG root-mean-square amplitude remained fairly constant, progressively deviating from force with time of contraction (r = 0.40). When SEMG amplitude was corrected for the Fm change, it tracked force more closely (r = 0.68), indicating a fall in motoneuron drive during MVC. The corrected SEMG was used to calculate the change in the generalized firing rate of motoneurons. The firing rate decreased 60% in the first and sixth contractions, tracked force closely, and corresponded to the firing rate fall seen in late adaptation of motoneurons (r = 0.90, P less than 0.001).     

Characterization of mitoses with sister chromatid differentiation (SCD) and consequences for the analysis of proliferation kinetics and sister chromatid exchanges in asynchronously growing cells

Summary Labeling cells with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) permits the differentiation of mitoses of the first, second, and third generation after the addition of BrdU. The term second mitoses is used for those cells which have incorporated BrdU for two-S-phases and which exhibit sister chromatid differentiation (SCD). However, SCD can also be obtained if the cell was in S-phase at the time of BrdU-addition and had already replicated part of its DNA. Such cells with incomplete BrdU-substitution in the first S-phase can only be differentiated from completely substituted ones by the quality of the SCD and are usually also grouped as second mitoses in the evaluation of experiments. Due to the heterogeneity of the evaluated second mitoses, the determination of proliferation delay and the incidence of sister chromatid exchange-induction can depend on the time of chromosome preparation.     

Evidence for androgen independence of male mounting behavior in white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii)

Previous experiments have shown that expression of mounting behavior in sexually inexperienced, adult male white-crowned sparrows does not require elevated plasma levels of androgen; adult males maintained on nonstimulatory short days mount sexually receptive females. The experiments reported here demonstrate that (1) sexually inexperienced, prepubertal males maintained on nonstimulatory short days show very low mounting rates in response to female sexual displays; (2) these males exhibit high mounting rates when exposed to stimulatory long days but androgen treatment on short days is ineffective in stimulating high mounting rates; and (3) prepubertal castration has no effect on the expression of mounting behavior by photostimulated adult males. Thus, there is no evidence that mounting behavior of adult male white-crowned sparrows depends on androgen.     

Thylakoid differentiation in endocyanelles

Cyanophora paradoxa Korshikov synchronized autotrophically in a light-dark regime of 14 h light and 10 h dark divides in the last two hours of the dark period. The division rate of the free-living blue-green alga, Synechococcus leopoliensis Raciborski, at identical culture conditions (24°C; 32 W m⁻²) is only slightly lowered in the light period. The comparison of thylakoid differentiation in the endocyanelles of Cyanophora paradoxa and in Synechococcus leopoliensis during the light-dark regime yields (1) the same ensemble of pigment-protein complexes in both organisms, (2) comparable syntheses of chlorophyll and phycobilins of Cyanophora paradoxa grown under 32 W m⁻² and of Synechococcus leopoliensis grown under light intensities below 9.2 W m⁻², and (3) identical photosynthetic oxygen evolution during the light period of the light-dark regime with minima at the beginning, in the middle (6th–7th h), and at the end of the light period. In both organisms this stage-specific oxygen evolution is inhibited by treatment with chloroamphenicol. Cycloheximide, however, causes no significant alterations. Results are discussed in view of the endosymbiotic theory.