Evolutionary breakdown of distyly to homostyly is accompanied by reductions of floral scent in Primula oreodoxa

Reproductive traits that function in pollinator attraction may be reduced or lost during evolutionary transitions from outcrossing to selfing. Although floral scent plays an important role in attracting pollinators in outcrossing species, few studies have investigated associations between floral scent variation and intraspecific mating system transitions. The breakdown of distyly to homostyly represents a classic example of a shift from outcrossing to selfing and provides an opportunity to test whether floral fragrances have become reduced and/or changed in composition with increased selfing. Here, we evaluate this hypothesis by quantifying floral volatiles using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in two distylous and four homostylous populations of Primula oreodoxa Franchet, a perennial herb from SW China. Our analysis revealed significant variation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) among populations of P. oreodoxa. Although there was no difference in VOCs between floral morphs in distylous populations as predicted, we detected a substantial reduction in VOC emissions and the average number of scent compounds in homostylous compared with distylous populations. A total of 12 compounds, mainly monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids, distinguished homostylous and distylous morphs; of these, (E)-β-ocimene was the most important in contributing to the difference in volatiles, with significantly lower emissions in homostyles. Our findings support the hypothesis that the transition from outcrossing to selfing is accompanied by the loss of floral volatiles. The modification to floral fragrances in P. oreodoxa associated with mating system change might occur because high selfing rates in homostylous populations result in relaxed selection for floral attractiveness.     

A new method for the determination of the anionic adsorption capacity of bottom deposits with particular reference to the adsorption of anionic detergents

Summary After a short discussion of the scarce and incomplete literature on anionic adsorption properties of soils and sediments, a new technique based on the adsorption of manoxol to soils, sediments and pure humic acid is described.Adsorption curves for various sediments, humic acid and clays are given. The adsorption capacity of bottom deposits are interpreted in terms of humic acid equivalents.The method can be used for series analysis of both the specific adsorption capacity for manoxol of river muds and also as a more general parameter for the anionic and surface adsorption capacity of various materials such as sludges, soils and compost.

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Zusammenfassung Nach einer kurzenBesprechung der bestehenden spärlichen Literatur über anionische Adsorptionseigenschaften von Böden und Sedimenten wird eine Technik, die auf der Adsorption van Manoxol (Na-dioctyl-sulfosuccinat) an Bodensedimenten beruht, beschrieben.Adsorptionskurven verschiedener Sedimente, Huminsäuren und einiger Tone werden graphisch dargestellt und die Adsorptionskapazitäten von Bodensedimenten als Huminsäure-äquivalente ausgedrückt und interprätiert.Die beschriebene Methode eignet sich für Serienanalysen zur Bestimmung der spezifischen Adsorptionskapazität für Manoxol von Sedimenten natürlicher Gewässer und kann auch als ein allgemeiner Parameter zur Charakterisiering der anionischen und Oberflächen-adsorptionskapazität von Substraten, wie Schlamm, Böden und Kompost angewandt werden.

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National Institute for Water Research, S. A. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research     

L'intoxication alloxanique chez la femelle gravide de cobaye

Sommaire Chez la femelle de cobaye gravide, une injection intracardiaque de 200 mg/kg d'alloxane provoque en 6–8 hs, une pycnose généralisée des cellules B des îlots endocriniens du pancréas; 18–20 hs après l'injection, les acini exocrines en bordure des îlots devenus nécrotiques se différencient et prolifèrent des cordons de cellules endocriniennes. Cette régénération intense et rapide est pratiquement achevée 42 hs après l'injection.L'effet, sur le pancréas foetal, de l'alloxane injectée à la femelle gravide, varie suivant le stade de développement atteint par le tissu endocrine au moment de l'injection. Pendant la phase de différenciation, aux dépens de l'épithélium des canaux, des premières cellules A (emb. de 13 mm, 25e jour) et B (emb. de 27 mm, 34e jour), puis de prolifération de cordons aboutissant à la formation des îlots primitifs dits îlots à manteau (foetus de 58 mm, 43e jour), les cellules B sont totalement réfractaires à l'action de l'alloxane. Chez les foetus ayant atteint 75 mm (50–51e jour), les premiers îlots à architecture définitive ont fait leur apparition par remaniement secondaire des îlots à manteau, processus qui continuera jusqu'à la naissance. Dès que ce stade est atteint, l'alloxane injectée à la mère provoque la pycnose généralisée des cellules B dans les îlots définitifs alors que les îlots à manteau voisins restent intacts. Il semble donc que les cellules B doivent atteindre un certain degré de maturité pour être sensibles à l'alloxane.     

CYTOGENETIC STUDIES IN THE GENUS TRIBOLIUM (POACEAE: ARUNDINEAE)

The genus Tribolium Desv. consists of nine species, i.e., T. utriculosum (Nees) Renv., T. ciliare (Stapf) Renv., T. echinatum (Thunb.) Desv., T. hispidum (Thunb.) Desv., T. acutiflorum (Nees) Renv., T. obliterum sensu Davidse, T. glomeratum sensu Davidse, T. uniolae (L.f.) Renv., and T. brachystachyum (Nees) Renv. The genus has a basic chromosome number of 6, and from diploid to hexaploid specimens have been examined. Precocious segregation of metaphase I bivalents were observed in four species. Multivalent formation results in unequal chromosome segregation during anaphase I, and several cells with an 11–13 chromosome distribution have been observed. The presence of univalents and anaphase I bridges in all T. brachystachyum specimens suggests a hybrid origin for the species. B-chromosomes were present in specimens from four species. The B-chromosomes are similar to the euchromosomes with the exception that they do not participate in meiosis. The B-chromosomes have a possible isochromosome origin. The cytogenetic evidence presented supports the combination of Plagiochloa and Lasiochloa into Tribolium and indicates that the genus is closely related to Urochlaena, whereas it is not closely related to Prionanthium.     

Infectivity of preserved Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts for immunosuppressed adult mice

Abstract The present study was undertaken to determine the infectivity of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts for immunosup-pressed adult C57BL/6N mice after the oocysts had been stored from 1–48 months at 4°C in 2.5% potassium dichromate. All mice inoculated with oocysts 1–18 months old developed patent infections, while mice inoculated with older oocysts remained uninfected. The prepatent period was extended from 2 to 6 or 7 days as the storage time for oocysts increased. The finding that C. parvum oocysts remain infective for mice for at least 18 months offers important economic and time-saving advantages for investigators who frequently require large numbers of oocysts that must be painstakingly purified from calf manure.     

肝炎平对D－氨基半乳精所致肝损害保护作用的酶组织化学研究

本实验采用Ｄ－氨基半乳糖（Ｄ－ＧａｌＮ）诱导的大鼠急性肝损伤模型,观察大鼠肝脏组织化学的变化,探讨肝炎平对急性肝损伤的保护作用。实验分为四组,即正常对照组、模型组、肝炎平及肝得健保护组。结果表明：肝炎平对肝细胞膜系统有一定的保护作用。肝炎平组和肝得健组ＳＤＨ、ＣＣＯ及ＣｈＥ活性明显高于模型组,且与正常对照组相近。本实验模型组ＡＣＰ的活性明显高于正常组,而肝炎平组ＡＣＰ的活性明显低于模型组,与正常对照组无显著性差异。提示：肝炎平可显著改善因Ｄ－氨基半乳糖所致肝损害的作用。且其对肝细胞的保护作用与肝得健一致。     

中药固真方对一些与细胞增殖有关基因表达的影响

 中药固真方对一些与细胞增殖有关基因表达的影响姚明忠,顾文聪,丁卫,韩志芬,杜国光（上海中医药大学生物化学教研室,上海２０００３２）（北京医科大学生物化学与分子生物学系,北京１０００８３）中药固真方（ＶＲＦ）具有补肾益精、延缓衰老的作用［１］．能提高成...     

Forskolin对成骨样细胞蛋白激酶C及三磷酸肌醇的影响

Ｆｏｒｓｋｏｌｉｎ（ＦＳＫ）是一种植物二萜类化合物,为腺苷酸环化酶的特异激活剂,实验发现：ＦＳＫ和作为参照的诱导分化剂维甲酸（ＲＡ）单独或联合应用均可升高胞浆蛋白激酶Ｃ（ＰＫＣ）活性,并降低膜ＰＫＣ活性,ＦＳＫ可使表皮生长因子（ＥＧＦ）诱导的细胞内三磷酸肌醇（ＩＰ３－１,４,５）水平降低至对照组的４４．４％至６７％;ＦＳＫ与ＲＡ合用可显著降低成骨样细胞特征蛋白碱性磷酸酶（ＡＫＰ）的活性。以上结果表明,ＦＳＫ对成骨样细胞内磷脂酰肌醇信息传递体系有深刻影响,可能与其调节细胞的增殖分化有关。