Evidence for a fucose-binding protein in boar spermatozoa

Summary A fucose binding, protein was detected in boar spermatozoa by means of a specifically developed modified enzyme-linked-lectin-assay using glycosylated peroxidase derivatives. The distribution of the fucose binding protein was assessed by means of fluorescence microscopy with fluoresceinyl-glycosylated peroxidase. Fucose binding was particularly prominent at the apical region of the sperm head. In order to gain more insight into the precise localization of the carbohydrate binding, protein electron microscopical studies were performed using fucosyl peroxidase coupled to colloidal gold. In ultrathin sections as well as in specimens, prepared in toto for TEM an intensive binding of fucosylperoxidase-colloidal gold was predominantly found at the apical part of the acrosome appearing as a crescent-like area. In some cases this binding pattern was replaced by a triangle-like intensive labelling at the equatorial segment as revealed clearly by specimens prepared in toto. By SDS-PAGE of the SDS-extractable sperm-proteins, followed by transblotting to nitrocellulose and visualization with the fucosylperoxidase by enzymatic amplification with 4-chloro-1-naphthol mainly one protein with the reduced molecular weight of approximately 53 kdal and some small proteins with apparent molecular weights less than 20 kdal was found to be responsible for the fucose-binding ability of porcine spermatozoa.     

Neurokinin A-like immunoreactivity in rat primary sensory neurons; coexistence with substance P

Summary Rat spinal cord, dorsal root ganglia and skin were investigated employing immunohistochemical technique with specific antisera to neurokinin A and substance P. Neurokinin A-like immunoreactivity was detected in the spinal dorsal horn and skin with a similar distribution pattern as that of substance P-like immunoreactivity. After dorsal root transection a parallell decrease of neurokinin A and substance P-like immunoreactivity was observed in the dorsal horn. Using colchicine pretreatment a population of neurokinin A positive cell bodies was seen in the dorsal root ganglia, and by comparison of consecutive sections of the same cells stained for substance P it was revealed that these neurons also display substance P-like immunoreactivity. However, substance P-, but not neurokinin A-, immunoreactive cells were also observed. It is concluded that neurokinin A- and substance P-like immunoreactivity coexist in a population of rat primary sensory neurons.     

Histamine-immunoreactive cells in the superior cervical ganglion and in the coeliac-superior mesenteric ganglion complex of the rat

Summary Using the immunoperoxidase technique in conjunction with specific antisera to -atrial natriuretic polypeptide (-ANP), it was shown that immunoreactive cell bodies and varicose fibers are widely distributed throughout the rat brain. The highest concentrations of -ANP-containing neuronal cell bodies and fibers were found in the hypothalamus and septum. This result confirms the radioimmunological determination of -ANP immunoreactivity in the rat brain.     

Differential distribution of3H dihydrotestosterone and3H estradiol nuclear binding sites in mouse male accessory sex organs

Summary The distribution of specific nuclear binding sites for androgens and estrogens in the male accessory sex organs of the mouse was assessed by autoradiography with³H dihydrotestosterone (³H DHT) and³H estradiol (³H E₂). With³H DHT nuclear labeling differed among the epithelia of the organs. It was high in seminal vesicle and ampullary gland, moderate in ventral prostate, urethral gland, prostatic excretory ducts and the ampulla ductus deferentis, low in dorsal prostate and low or absent in coagulation gland. With³H E₂, in contrast, epithelial nuclear labeling was high only in coagulation gland, moderate or low in seminal vesicle, low or absent in ventral and dorsal prostate and absent in ampullary gland and ampulla ductus deferentis. In the lamina propria of all organs nuclear labeling with³H DHT was generally moderate and existed only in some cells, with the highest number in the ampulla ductus deferentis. With³H E₂, nuclear labeling in the lamina propria showed a high intensity in all organs, except in ventral and dorsal prostate which remained unlabeled. Many labeled cells were found in the deferent duct and its ampulla, while in the other organs only a few cells showed nuclear labeling with³H E₂. In the smooth muscle sheath of all organs, some muscle cells were moderately labeled with³H DHT, but not with³H E₂. The results indicate the presence of nuclear receptors in male accessory sex organs for both dihydrotestosterone and estradiol. The differential patterns of³H DHT and³H E₂ nuclear uptake suggest differential sensitivities of the individual organs and their tissue compartments for androgens and estrogens. Supported by PHS grant NSO9914 to W.E.S. and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Dr94/4 to U.D. The work of Dr. Schleicher and his stay in Chapel Hill were additionally sponsored by Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes and Boehringer-Ingelheim Fonds     

Thermoregulation and metabolism in the smallest African gerbil, Gerbillus pusillus

The effect of temperature on thermoregulation, metabolism, evaporative water loss and thermal conductance was studied in Gerbillus pusillus . Its resting body temperature (TB) was 34·6°C, approximately 5°C higher than the mean ambient temperature (TA) encountered in its burrow. As TA increased above 34°C, its ability to lose heat to the environment decreased. It overcame this problem by tolerating increases in TB to a non-lethal maximum of 41°C, whilst also eliminating increasing quantities of obligate heat by pulmocutaneous evaporation and conduction.
Metabolic rate was 41% lower than that predicted from Kleiber's (1975) allometric equation. This confers a considerable saving in energy in an environment where food is often scarce, whilst simultaneously reducing heat production and the degree of gaseous exchange in the already oxygen-poor and carbon dioxide-rich environment encountered in the plugged burrows of its natural milieu.
Gerbillus pusillus , therefore, does not maintain strict homeothermy and utilizes a labile TB and reduced metabolic rate as an adaptive mechanism for survival in the arid zones of tropical Africa.     

Population fluctuations, reproduction and survival in the Striped fieldmouse Rhabdomys pumilio on the Cape Flats, South Africa

A wild population of Striped fieldmice was studied for a continuous period of five years in an area of alien Acacio bush about 24 km from Cape Town, South Africa. Mice were live-trapped, marked by toe-clipping and released on a 60-station grid, and also kill-trapped in a separate area. Marked annual fluctuations in the population size were correlated with a 6–8 month summer breeding season. There were also marked inter-annual differences in peak population size. The age of sexual maturity of females was determined from the first pregnancy which occurred at 6–7 weeks old; and of males from the presence of visible spermatozoa in the vas deferens which occurred at about 11 weeks old. Litter size was affected by both the age and the body mass of the female. It appeared that mean survival from birth was only approximately 1.5 months and that survival from first capture was about 1.9–2.5 months. This high mortality appeared to be the major reason for the sharp seasonal fluctuations in population size and may also have been responsible for the interannual differences since marked changes in survival were recorded between some years.     

Nasal Tumor in a Fallow Deer (Dama Dama L)

A nasal, so called ethmoidal, tumor from a fallow deer is described. It appears to be the first reported case of that species. The etiology is discussed.     

马立克氏病毒单克隆抗体的研究

获得了4株分泌马立克氏病毒(MDV)特异性单克隆抗体(McAb)的杂交瘤细胞:4BS10对MDV所有毒株呈阳性反应;4CN8 对MDV血清1,3型毒株发生反应;2BN90和4CN24只对MDV血清1型毒株有阳性反应。3个McAb属IgG1,1个为IgG2b,均不中和MDV,免疫扩散试验也无沉淀线。对禽白血病毒(ALV)无交叉反应。 以2BN90和辣根过氧化物酶、异硫氰酸荧光素的结合物进行直接酶联免疫吸附试验和直接荧光抗体试验,均获得成功。抗体滴度前者为1/51,200,后者为1/640。对ALV无交叉反应。     

南方菜豆花叶病毒外壳蛋白基因序列的分析

用重组DNA技术及序列分析法测定了南方菜豆花叶病毒RNA基因组3′端1,000个碱基的序列,以及由此序列推导出的整个外壳蛋白的氨基酸顺序,它与巳报导的基本上一致。介绍了用DNA的寡核苷酸水解混合物作为起始引物,以3′端不含PolyA尾巴且不能加上PolyA的病毒RNA作为模板合成互补DNA,及进一步无性繁殖此cDNA的方法。