Handedness is a determining factor in lateralized olfactory discrimination

The study aimed to re-investigate differences in olfactory thresholds and odor discrimination between the left and right sides in relation to the handedness of healthy subjects. Twenty left- and 20 right-handers participated; all were in excellent health with no indication of any major nasal or health problems, and all were non-smokers. The two groups were comparable in terms of sex and age (left-handers: 11 women, 9 men, median age 25 years; right-handers: 9 women, 11 men, median age 26 years). Odor thresholds did not differ in relation to handedness. However, in the odor discrimination task the left-handers performed significantly better at the left side compared with the right nostril; this pattern was reversed in the right-handers. The data indicate that, similar to other sensory systems, higher olfactory functions exhibit a certain degree of lateralization.      

Annulate lamellae in plant cells: Formation during microsporogenesis and pollen development in Canna generalis Bailey

Summary The occurrence of stacked annulate lamellae is documented for a plant cell system, namely for pollen mother cells and developing pollen grains of Canna generalis. Their structural subarchitecture and relationship to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and nuclear envelope cisternae is described in detail. The results demonstrate structural homology between plant and animal annulate lamellae and are compatible with, though do not prove, the view that annulate lamellar cisternae may originate as a degenerative form of endoplasmic reticulum.     

The influence of genetic background on expression of mutations at the diabetes locus in the mouse. I. C57BL/KsJ and C57BL/6J strains

Two new diabetic strains, C57BL/KsJ-db ^2J and C57BL/6J-db ^2J, have been developed. C57BL/KsJ-db ^2J/db^2J mice are indistinguishable from C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice, the original diabetes mutation. Both have severe diabetes characterized by hyperphagia, obesity, marked hyperglycemia, temporarily elevated plasma insulin concentrations, and typical degenerative changes in the islets of Langerhans. In contrast, C57BL/6J-db ^2J/db^2J mice, although also hyperphagic and obese, have mild diabetes characterized by transitory hyperglycemia and markedly elevated plasma insulin concentrations coupled with marked hypertrophy of the islets and increased proliferative capacity of beta cells. The mild diabetes-like syndrome produced by diabetes-2J on the C57BL/6J background is similar to that produced by the obese gene (ob) on the same background. The islet responses, whether atrophy or hypertrophy, appear to be due to the interaction of diabetes-2J (and possibly obese) with modifiers in the genetic background rather than being peculiar to the specific mutant. The markedly different disease patterns that result when the same gene is placed on different inbred backgrounds emphasize the importance of strict genetic control in biochemical and physiological studies with these and other obesity mutants.Supported in part by NIH Research Grants AM 14461 from the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases; CA 05873 from the National Cancer Institute; ACS E-162, a Janice M. Blood Memorial Grant for Cancer Research from the American Cancer Society; GB 27487 from the National Science Foundation; and an allocation from the Southwaite Foundation.     

Die Sehfelder der zentralen Ommatidien in den Appositionsaugen von Apis mellifica und Cataglyphis bicolor (Apidae,Formicidae; Hymenoptera)

Experimental equipment has been developed to make possible continuous recordings of intensity distribution curves as a function of angle of incidence of light in single ommatidia of arthropod compound eyes. — As preliminary experiment, the visual fields of ommatidia in Limulus, Apis and Cataglyphis have been ascertained without a light measuring instrument. A point source was moved through the visual field and the angular position of the light source on both sides of the visual field at which the rhabdome in the cut-off eye viewed from proximal turned dark was determined. In the dorsal part of the Limulus eye, the cranio-caudal width of the visual field is 42.6±0.3°. The width of the visual field of central ommatidia in Apis is 6.68±0.14° in the dorsoventral plane and 7.42±0.24° in the cranio-caudal direction, in Cataglyphis 15.5±0.5° and 12.5±0.4° respectively.— Similar Gaussian curves for light and dark adapted ommatidia resulted from the continuous recordings of intensity distribution curves in Apis. The rotatory symmetric curve of the worker bee has a half-width of =2.57°. The standardized curve of amplitude one may be approximated by the function y=exp (-0.41 [degree^–2] ²). In Cataglyphis, the half-width of the intensity distribution curve is =8.8° in the dorso-ventral plane and =6.8° in the cranio-caudal plane. Near the axis, the functions y=exp(-0.04 [degree^–2]²) and y=exp(-0.06 [degree^–2] ²) approximate the standardized curves. — Knowledge of intensity distributions in connection with interommatidial angles allows estimation of contrast transfer and resolving power of the array of the dioptric systems. Correlations with behavioural findings are attempted.

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Mit Unterstützung durch den Schweizerischen National-fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Kredit Nr. 3.315.70, die Eidgenössische Konstruktionswerkstätte (Thun) sowie die Firmen Philips AG (Zürich) und Wild AG (Heerbrugg).     

Beziehungen zwischen Struktur und chemischer Zusammensetzung der Spermien vom Bergmolch,Triturus alpestris Laur.

Zusammenfassung Aus isolierten Achsenfäden der Spermien von Triturus alpestris Laur. wurden drei Proteinfraktionen extrahiert und nach ihrer Zusammensetzung analysiert. In der leichtlöslichen Fraktion f3 überwog Arginin, daneben fand sich u.a. Cystin. f1+f2b enthielt weniger Arginin, dafür aber mehr Lysin. Den größten Anteil hatte hier Alanin. In jeder der beiden Fraktionen waren nur neun Aminosäuren vorhanden. Die schwerlösliche Fraktion c3 enthielt außer Cystin, Methionin und Tyrosin alle nachweisbaren Aminosäuren. Außerdem wies die Fraktion f1+f2b nicht weniger als fünf unbekannte Komponenten auf, von denen eine ein hellgrüner Farbstoff war. In geringeren Mengen kamen drei dieser Substanzen in f3 und noch eine in c3 vor. Nach den Ergebnissen des enzymatischen Abbaus an Ultradünnschnitten von glutaraldehydfixiertem Material dürfte die argininreiche Fraktion im Inneren des Achsenfadens, und zwar in seinem distalen Anteil zu lokalisieren sein. Die lysinreiche Fraktion wäre demnach im Inneren des proximalen Anteils zu finden, während die schwerlösliche Komponente c3 mit der außerordentlich widerstandsfähigen Rinde des Achsenfadens identisch wäre. Im Halsstück, das aus einem kristallinen Mantel und einem homogenen elektronendichten zentralen Teil besteht, fanden sich mindestens drei Komponenten. Der Mantel enthielt ein leicht extrahierbares Protein und ein stabiles Gerüst, in dem aromatische Aminosäuren vermehrt vorzukommen scheinen. Der zentrale Teil bestand aus argininreichen Verbindungen. Die Befunde werden im Zusammenhang mit der Bildung von Achsenfaden und Halsstück während der Spermiogenese diskutiert.

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Relationships between structure and chemical composition of spermatozoa of the newt, Triturus alpestris Laur.

Summary Axial rods from spermatozoa of Triturus alpestris Laur. have been isolated. Three protein fractions therefrom could be extracted and analysed for their composition. Arginine prevailed in the soluble fraction f3, among others also cystine was found. f1+f2b contained less arginine, but more lysine. The highest percentage was found here for alinine. In each of the two fractions only nine amino acids were present. The sparely soluble fraction c3 contained all identifiable amino acids besides cystine, methionine and tyrosine. Moreover, the fraction f1+f2b showed as many as five unknown components, from which one was a light-green colour. To a lesser degree three of these compounds were also found in fraction f3 and still one in fraction c3. According to the results of the enzymatic digestion carried out on ultrathin section of material fixed with glutaraldehyde, the arginine-rich fraction should be localized in the center of the axial rod in its distal part. The lysine-rich fraction would then be found in the center of the proximal part, while the sparely soluble fraction c3 would be identical with the extremely resistant cortex of the axial rod. Within the neck-piece, which consists of a crystalline mantle and a homogenously dark central part, at least three components were present. The mantle contained an easily extractable protein and a stable frame, in which aromatic amino acids seemed to be increased. In the central part arginine prevailed. The results are discussed with regard to the formation of the axial rod and the neck-piece during spermiogenesis.

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Mit dankenswerter Unterstützung durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Der Einflug der Gro?trappe(Otis tarda L.) nach West-Europa im Winter 1969/70

Zusammenfassung Im Winter 1969/70 fand ein besonders starker Einflug der Großtrappe (Otis tarda L.) nach West-Europa statt. Daran dürften etwa 300 Vögel beteiligt gewesen sein, von denen mindestens der überwiegende Teil aus der DDR stammte, und die hauptsächlich in Nordwestdeutschland und in Holland auftraten; Einzelexemplare flogen bis Bayern, Frankreich, Schottland und Dänemark.Nach den Einflügen bei strengem Frost und hoher Schneelage im Dezember und Januar führten die überwinternden Großtrappen witterungsabhängige, zwischen W und E pendelnde, Wanderungen aus, die typische Randzugerscheinungen darstellten. Auf dem Rückzug bildete sich im März im östlichen Niedersachsen ein Zugstau aus.Die Großtrappen zeigten sich meistens einzeln, mehrfach jedoch auch in Trupps bis zu 5, gelegentlich bis zu 20 Exemplaren. Das Geschlechterverhältnis betrug 1 : 1,35 . Etwa 10% der eingeflogenen Großtrappen kamen um.Da nicht jeder strenge Winter so ausgedehnte Großtrappenwanderungen in Mitteleuropa bewirkt, dürfte die Ursache für den Einflug 1969/70 das ganz besonders frühe Einsetzen winterlicher Witterung gewesen sein, so daß ein latent vorhandener Wegzugtrieb noch ausgelöst werden konnte.Summary An account is given of an extremely large invasion of Western Europe by the great bustard (Otis tarda L.) in the winter 1969/70, in the course of which about 300 birds, mostly from the DDR, were observed in Northwestern Germany and in Holland; single birds reached Bavaria, France, Scotland and Denmark.After the arrival of the birds in frosty weather with quite a lot of snow in December and January, wheather-dependent migrations of the wintering great bustards, oscillating between E and W, were found and are interpreted as Randzug. The spring migration stopped for about a week in March in the eastern parts of Lower Saxony.The great bustards mainly occured singly, but also several times in flocks up to 5 and occasionally up to 20 birds. The ratio of sexes was 1 : 1,35 . About 10% of the invading great bustards died.Because not every hard winter leads to extended migrations of the great bustard in Central Europe, the reason for the invasion 1969/70 seems to be the very early beginning of frosty wheather, so that a latent existing tendency to migration was brought out.