Genetic and morphological variation in a partially isolated population of Caucasian shrew <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sorex satunini</Emphasis> (Mammalia)

Morphological and genetic variation at microsatellite loci of Caucasian shrew Sorex satunini Ogn. is examined and compared with that of the common shrew S. araneus L. Genetic distance at microsatellite loci between the common shrew and Caucasian shrew proved to be threefold higher than between chromosome races of the common shrew. The Caucasian shrew manifested low polymorphism in studies of both microsatellites and morphometric mandibular traits. The heterozygote deficit was also typical. These properties may be a consequence of partial isolation of the population and gene drift.     

A silver impregnation method for embedded central nervous tissue of the rat

A simple and yet reliable silver impregnation method, using potassium ferrocyanide, for demonstrating nervous tissue of the rat central nervous system embedded in paraffin or paraplast is described. The method reported here is compared and discussed with earlier techniques using potassium dicyanoargentate, potassium ferrocyanide and potassium ferricyanide.