Demonstration of cytoplasmic receptors for the molting hormones in crayfish

Summary From in vitro experiments using different binding assays it is in crayfish demonstrated that the cytosol of target tissues is able to bind both ecdysone and ecdysterone. The ability to bind ecdysteroids is destroyed by heating and by treatment with -chymotrypsin and N-ethyl-maleinimide (NEM) (Figs. 4, 5). In target tissues there is a strong positive correlation between protein content and binding (Fig. 6). The association of the hormone-protein-complex is rapid, taking only a few min even at 5° C (Fig. 3). The binding of the two hormones to the cytosol is both specific and saturable. The association constants for the cytoplasmic receptors from hypodermis, hindgut and midgut gland are in the range of 3–6×10⁷ M^–1 for ecdysone and 5–7×10⁸ M^–1 for ecdysterone (Fig. 8). The data suggest the existence of cytoplasmic ecdysteroid receptors.     

Epidermal and seed surface characters of plants: systematic applicability and some evolutionary aspects

Based on SEM examinations of about 5000 species of seed plants, this is a survey of their epidermal surface characters with an aim to application in taxonomy. Surface characters may be grouped into four categories: (1) Cellular arrangement or cellular pattern. (2) Shape of cells (the "primary sculpture" of a surface). (3) Relief of outer cell walls (the "secondary sculpture" superimposed on the primary sculpture), caused mainly by cuticular striations and superficially visible wall inclusions and wall thickenings. (4) Epicuticular secretions (the "tertiary sculpture" superimposed on the secondary sculpture), i.e. mainly waxes and related substances.
The systematic applicability is discussed for each of these structural groups. Epidermal characters are only slightly influenced by environmental conditions. Their high structural diversity provides most valuable criteria for the classification between species and family level. There is also some evidence for their systematic applicability above the family level.
The possible evolutionary–ecological significance of surface sculpturing is discussed briefly. There is evidence that these features may be seen primarily under the aspects of reduced ability of plants to contaminate and as temperature control mechanisms of the surfaces.     

Demonstration of five major glycoproteins in myelin and myelin subfractions.

Myelin was found to contain five major glycoproteins with molecular weights of 120000, 95000, 88000, 43000 and 38000. Light myelin contained only 5-7% of the amount of these glycoproteins in whole myelin, whereas heavy myelin and the membrane fraction contained amounts nearly identical with whole myelin. Since all the major and minor glycoproteins, with the exception of 120000-mol-wt. glycoprotein, were detected only after treating the myelin membrane with neuraminidase, N-acetylneuraminic acid is a terminal sugar residue in these glycoproteins.     

The transition of the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop into the distal convoluted tubule in the nephron of the rat kidney

Summary Examination of serial semithin sections of rat kidney cortex and a subsequent electron microscopic study of selected areas revealed that the characteristic epithelium of the cortical part of the thick ascending limb of Henle extends for a varying distance beyond the macula densa. The transition from the relatively thin epithelium of the thick ascending limb at this site to the three -or even four-fold thicker epithelium of the convoluted part of the distal tubule is sharply defined and occurs without the interposition of an intermediate cell type.The position of the macula densa at the end but still clearly within the ascending limb of Henle's loop is functionally interpreted to guarantee the separation of the sensor point macula densa from disturbing influences which might arise from the secretory activity of the subsequent tubular portion.Investigations supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. The skillful technical assistance of Mrs. Saliha Sabanovic is gratefully acknowledged     

Forschungsschwerpunkte der paläobotanik und palynologie der Universität Wien

An initial accent on the investigation of megafossils by some well-known Austrian paleobotanists (like Ettinghausen, Stur, Unger) changed with time to a higher degree of research on the histology and anatomy of fossil plants, especially of wood and cuticles by the late E. Hofmann. Due to the large quantity of spores and pollen grains in peat, brown coal, salt rocks, phosphorites, clay and shales in Austria, the major topic of investigation at the present time is clearly devoted to palynology. Quaternary, Neogene and Permo-Triassic microfloras occupy the first place in research. Concerning the determination of pollen and morphologic studies of a selection of modern comparison species by all kinds of light and electron microscopy have been initiated to find out whether biospecific determination could be carried out in the Quaternary and Neogene. An example of pollen-morphological features within the genus Pinus is presented.The microflora of Upper Permian and Triassic sediments of the east Alpine salt rocks, their environment and inclusions receive comprehensive microphotographic documentation and will be backed from a stratigraphic point of view by sulphur-isotope investigations, which promise to be of great value in dating the Permo-Triassic boundary.     

Repeated characterization, analysis of variance limitation and discrimination analysis classification of EEG-activity patterns in human sleep]

1. To describe quantitatively and to deliminate nine EEG sleep patterns, mean values and standard deviations of abundances of the frequencies 0.8 ... 1.8 c/sec, 2...3.5 c/sec, 4...13c/sec, 14 to 17 c/sec, 18 to 22 c/sec, and 23 to 40 c/sec as well as of the average amplitudes in selected frequency ranges were calaculated and the distributions represented. 2. All nine EEG activity patterns could be separated by means of univariate and multivariate analyses of variance on the basis of all 28 as well as the 17 indispensable variables. 3. In the course of a stepwise reduction of variables within the framework of a linear discriminant analysis an optimal set of 17 variables was determined for the separation of the patterns, comprising: the percent quantity of the frequencies 0.8 ... 3.5 c/sec, 7 ... 9 c/sec and 18 to 40 c/sec as well as the average amplitudes in the frequency ranges 0.8 to 3.5 c/sec and 7.5 to 40 c/sec. 4. By linear regression analyses it could be shown that the sleep scording system used, can be reflected on an interval scale with the aid of discriminant functions; this can be achieved on the basis of the optimal set of variables as well as of the five most indispensable variables. 5. Finally the degree of the objectivity of the scoring procedures was demonstrated. Advantages and disadvantages of sleep scoring systems were discussed and possibilities of the utilization of results suggested, also in respect to the further development of the automatic recognition of EEG activity patterns.     

Mikromorphologie und Orientierungsmuster epicuticularer Wachs-Kristalloide: Ein neues systematisches Merkmal bei Monokotylen

Based on SEM examinations of some 1600 species of monocotyledons out of 61 families the characteristics of their epicuticular waxes are described in this preliminary paper and illustrated by 20 SEM micrographs. Four basic types of waxes are recognized. Two of them occur throughout the monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous orders of angiosperms; two others are of high systematic significance and restricted to particular orders of the monocotyledons: The “Convallaria-Type” is characterized by fine wax platelets with parallel orientation, forming a pattern around the stomata reminiscent of electromagnetic field lines. This type is restricted to the three liliiflorous ordersAsparagales, Liliales, andBurmanniales. The “Strelitzia-Type” is characterized by massive compound wax rodlets; it is restricted to the superordersAreciflorae, Commeliniflorae, Zingiberiflorae, plus the two liliiflorous ordersBromeliales andVelloziales. The data are compared with the classifications ofDahlgren & Clifford (1982); they tentatively indicate the exclusion ofBromeliales, Velloziales, andTyphales from theLiliiflorae.