Changes in evoked potentials during systematic exposure to a series of similar signals with variable intersignal intervals]

Series of clicks, standard by the number of stimuli and greatly varying by the length of interstimuli intervals in each series, were systematically presented to dogs without reinforcement. Evoked potentiale (EP) in the cortical auditory zone were recorded. It has been found that a typical U-shaped distribution of amplitude values of averaged EP is elaborated in the series in the course of repeated presentations; a maximal amplitude is observed in response to the first and last clicks, and a minimal, in the middle of the series. Such a regularity was previously found for the action of standard series with a constant interstimuli interval. It is assumed that an estimation may take place in the dog CNS of the number of signals used in a series, whose mechanism is not necessarily based on the time factor. The ability to estimate the number of signals in the series may be regarded as an elementary model of counting in the dogs' CNS.     

Translocation in colored light

The translocation of ¹⁴C-photosynthate in detached blades of sugarcane was studied under illumination from red, green, blue, and cool-white fluorescent lamps; under far-red illumination from the sun, and from incandescent lamps; and in total darkness.

The percentage of basipetal translocation and the accumulation against the concentration gradient were stimulated by light from the red or blue lamps more than by green or cool-white fluorescent illumination.

Basipetal translocation took place equally well in red light lacking blue irradiation and in blue light. Since the action spectrum for light-induced change in viscosity is a typical blue-type spectrum, the effect of light upon translocation is not due merely to changes in the physicochemical properties of protoplasm.

Basipetal translocation took place in red light lacking blue irradiation better than in cool-white fluorescent light, which may suggest a red stimulation of translocation.

Illumination in the far-red region of the spectrum did not support basipetal translocation but acted like total darkness.

Because of the wide emission characteristics of the fluorescent lamps employed, it is impossible to decide whether a chlorophyll-like system or some other pigment is involved in the light stimulation of phototranslocation.

Whatever the activating wavelength and whatever the pigment system involved, these results show that the phototranslocation of sucrose in the phloem is influenced by the quality of illumination.

     

Effect of visible light on canine distemper virus

Nemo, George J. (The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.), and Ernest C. Cutchins. Effect of visible light on canine distemper virus. J. Bacteriol. 91:798-802. 1966.-Canine distemper virus (CDV) was inactivated by visible light. The virus was light-sensitive in fluid suspension (in vitro) as well as during intracellular replication (in vivo). The addition of calf serum or glutathione reduced the extent of inactivation. CDV was less sensitive when suspended in distilled water or in the amino acid or Earle's salts components of the minimal essential medium of Eagle than when suspended in the vitamin component of the minimal essential medium of Eagle or in riboflavine (0.1 mg per liter). These findings indicate that, whereas some ingredient of the medium may enhance light sensitivity, its presence is not necessary for light inactivation of CDV. It is proposed that some substance derived from the host cell and intimately associated with the virus particle serves to render CDV light-sensitive.     

HEPATIC INTRACELLULAR OSMIOPHILIC DROPLETS : Effect of Lipid Solvents during Tissue Preparation

Lipid solvent extraction of aldehyde-fixed hepatic tissue of rats caused disappearance of all intravascular and hepatocellular osmiophilic droplets normally present, thus indicating their lipid content. Intramitochondrial dense granules and osmiophilic droplets in lysosomes also disappeared after this treatment. Lipid solvents extracted 43.8 to 92.6% of the radioactivity from aldehyde-fixed rat liver with C¹⁴-labeled lipids. Only 0.7 to 5.8% of the radioactivity was extracted when the hepatic proteins were labeled. When tissue was fixed with OsO₄, the lipid solvents extracted only 0.7 to 7.2% of the radioactivity from lipid-labeled liver and only 0 to 0.7% when proteins were labeled. Thin layer chromatography of the lipid solvents used in extraction of formaldehyde-fixed tissue revealed that triglyceride, phospholipid, and cholesterol and other lipid classes had been removed. However, acetone extracted less phospholipids than did ethanol or methanol-chloroform. During fat absorption the number and size of osmiophilic droplets increased in the nongranular endoplasmic reticulum. In animals fasted up to 5 days, 250-A osmiophilic particles were still present in the Golgi vesicles, other cytoplasmic vesicles, and in the space of Disse. These were considered possibly to represent lipoprotein being synthesized in the liver cell and secreted into the blood.     

Plasmodium hegneri n. sp. from the European Teal Anas c. crecca in Taiwan*

SYNOPSIS. Plasmodium hegneri n. sp. is described from the European teal duck, Anas c. crecca, from Taiwan. The blood stages, so far the only ones seen, are distinguished mainly by the elongate character of the gametocytes, which closely resemble Haemoproteus (though the pigment tends to be finer and less abundant), and the failure of both asexual and sexual forms to displace the nucleus or otherwise alter the host cell. Merozoites average 13.4 ± 2.2 (range 10–19) per segmenter. Trophozoites often adhere to the host cell nucleus, and may have a large vacuole and a remarkable long, slender pseudopodium. The species so far has been seen only in the European teal, although blood films from 194 species and over 1200 birds have been examined.