A phylogenetic analysis of species in the Bufo crucifer group (Anura: Bufonidae), based on indolealkylamines and proteins from skin secretions

This research tested the utility of two classes of skin secretion compounds to the phylogeny of the Bufo crucifer group. Skin secretions from specimens of nine populations of B. crucifer group were obtained and submitted to qualitative analysis. We observed a clear difference in the composition of the skin secretion molecules obtained from the species of Bufo studied. Fifty-nine molecules, 16 indolealkylamines and 43 proteins, were used as characters, and 39 of these were parsimonious informative. The tree topology of the skin secretion combined data showed areas of congruence and conflict when compared to an mtDNA phylogeny of the B. crucifer group. We used the Templeton test to evaluate the heterogeneity between the skin secretion and mtDNA data. Although not recommended, we performed a combined analysis with the two partitions. The skin secretion characters from the species of Bufo studied have phylogenetic signal. These data are indicative, at least as a preliminary study, of the phylogenetic relationships among the B. crucifer group taxa.     

First report of a green toad (Bufo viridis sensu lato) in the Early Pleistocene of Spain: Palaeobiogeographical and palaeoecological implications

For the first time unequivocal fossil remains of a green toad (Bufo viridis s.l.) are described in the Iberian Peninsula. The fossils come from the Cueva Victoria site, a late Early Pleistocene (ca. 1.1–1.2 Ma) karstic filling in semi-arid southeastern Spain (Murcia region). By extension, other remains from two other Early Pleistocene Spanish localities, Barranco León D (ca. 1.3 Ma) and Almenara-Casablanca 3 (ca. 1.1 Ma), are cautiously attributed to the group B. viridis. The B. viridis group was previously reported with some uncertainty to the west of its current distribution area in Western Europe (Spain and France) in the Pliocene (Bufo cf. viridis) and less probably in the Early Miocene (Bufo aff. viridis). Since no osteological differences have been established between the recently described extant species of B. viridis s.l. (e.g. Bufo balearicus, Bufo siculus, Bufo boulengeri, B. viridis sensu stricto and Bufo variabilis) no precise palaeobiogeographical relationships can be drawn for the Spanish fossils. However, the occurrence of a third species of bufonid toad during the Pleistocene in the South of the Iberian Peninsula raises some interesting ecological questions in relation to the local disappearance of the green toad, which can be hypothetically linked to the intensification of the Pleistocene glacial/interglacial climate dynamic or to probable competition with another toad, Bufo calamita.     

新疆绿蟾蜍的染色体组型初步研究

近年来,有关两栖类的染色体组型已有不少报道。无尾两栖类中蜍蟾属(Bufo)的染色体数目分为两类:2n=22和2n=20(Blain,1972)。我们对采自新疆4个地区的绿蟾蜍进行了染色体组型分析,发现其二倍体细胞染色体数均为44,是四倍体。现将我们的初步研究报道如下。     

Fluorescent measurements of intracellular free calcium in isolated toad urinary bladder epithelial cells

Summary Sodium-calcium exchange has been suggested to play a pivotal role in the regulation of cytosolic free calcium (Ca _f ) by epithelial cells. Using isolated epithelial cells from the toad urinary bladder, Ca _f has been measured using the intracellular Casensitive fluorescent dyes Fura 2 and Quin. 2. Dye loading did not alter cell viability as assessed by measurements of ATP and ADP content or cell oxygen consumption. When basal Ca _f was examined over a wide range of cell dye content (from 0.04 to 180 nmol dye/mg protein) an inverse relationship was observed. At low dye content, Ca _f was 300–380 nM and, as dye content was increased, Ca _f progressively fell to 60 nM. Using low dye content cells, in which minimal alteration in Ca steady state would be expected, the role for plasma membrane Na–Ca exchange was examined using either medium sodium substitution or ouabain. While medium sodium substitution increased Ca _f , prolonged treatment with ouabain had no effect on Ca _f despite a clear increase in cell sodium content. The lack of effect of ouabain suggests that Na–Ca exchange-mediated Ca efflux plays a minimal role in the regulation of basal Ca _f . However, exchange-mediated Ca efflux may play a role in Ca _f regulation when cytosolic calcium is elevated.     

Microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2)-immunoreactive neurons in the retina of Bufo marinus: colocalisation with tyrosine hydroxylase and serotonin in amacrine cells

Summary Neuron populations in the retina of the toad, Bufo marinus, were labelled with a monoclonal antibody raised against microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2). A subpopulation of cones, probably corresponding to the blue-sensitive small single cones, large diameter amacrine cells in the most proximal row of the inner nuclear layer and some large ganglion cells in the ganglion cell layer were labelled. Double labelling experiments were carried out to establish the colocalisation of MAP2 with known putative transmitter substances of the anuran amacrine cells. MAP2 was colocalised in a subpopulation of serotonin-immunoreactive and in all tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive amacrine cells. The results indicate, that the MAP2 content in the neurons of the anuran retina can be correlated with other well-defined neurochemical and/or physiological properties.On leave from Department of Zoology, Attlia József University, Szeged, Hungary     

蟾蜍血液淋巴细胞姐妹染色单体互换及细胞周期动力学研究

本文对中华大蟾蜍Bufo bufo gargarizans血液淋巴细胞在植物血球凝集素(PHA)刺激条件下的细胞周期动力学及丝裂霉素C(MMC)诱发姐妹染色单体互换(SCE)的敏感性进行了研究。用姐妹染色单体差别染色方法确定细胞的分裂次数。实验结果表明,中华大蟾蜍血液淋巴细胞在体外培养2天后出现第二次分裂细胞,3天后达峰值(占分裂细胞中期相的38.9％),此后,其百分比逐日下降,培养后4天出现第三次分裂细胞,第5天出现第四次分裂细胞。Brdu浓度在8—24μg/ml范围内对SCE本底无影响。6ng/ml MMC所诱发的SCEs比对照组高3倍以上,说明中华大蟾蜍对MMC的诱变作用相当敏感。     

花背蟾蜍(Bufo raddei Strauch)眼形态发生过程中角膜上皮表面结构的扫描电镜观察

扫描电镜观察表明,花背蟾蜍眼形态发生过程中角膜上皮细胞表面形态结构的变化,大致可分三个阶段。1.从神经管期至肌肉感应期预定角膜上皮表面无明显变化;2.在心跳期和鳃血循环期预定角膜上皮表面出现较多的细胞缢束和其下细胞表面的下陷;3.在以后各期,角膜上皮中纤毛细胞的纤毛逐渐退化消失,在右鳃盖封闭期纤毛细胞全部消失。上述变化与视网膜及其中光感受器的发育分化密切相关,纤毛的退化和消失更精确地反映了这种依赖关系,似可作为角??膜上皮分化的一个形态指标。     

Effect of transection at different levels of hypothalamus on the hypothalamo-hypophysial system of the toad,Bufo bufo,with particular reference to the ultrastructure of the zona externa of the median eminence

Summary The ultrastructural changes taking place in the median eminence of Bufo bufo 3 hours to 4 months after transection of the brain at different levels, are described.5 types of neurons in the zona externa of the median eminence of normal toads are described. All types of neurons degenerate, and profound changes of the ultrastructure of the capillaries are observed after transection just behind, or immediately in front of the optic chiasma. A few neurons containing dense granules with a diameter of about 1,000–1,300 Å remain intact, however. The degeneration following denervation in front of the optic chiasma was considerably delayed compared to degeneration after denervation behind the optic chiasma.After transection more rostral to the optic chiasma, no significant degeneration of the median eminence was observed.The results are discussed with regard to degenerative dynamics and origin of the different nerve types. It is concluded, that all types of neurons terminating in the median eminence, originate at a level between the caudal and rostral parts of the preoptic nucleus, some fibres, however, containing dense, 1,000–1,300 Å granules, originate caudally to the optic chiasma, in the posterior hypothalamus.Part of this study was presented at the Vth International Symposium on Neurosecretion, Kiel, Germany, August 1969.     

季节及人工低温对大蟾蜍肌组织ATP酶的影响研究

本文研究了大蟾蜍心肌和腓肠肌肌球蛋白钙激活ATP酶的活性。实验结果显示,大蟾蜍心肌和腓肠肌肌球蛋白钙激话ATP酶活性具有不同的季节变化规律。并且这种酶活性的季节变化不受人工低温环境因素的影响。此外,大蜍蟾心肌中ATP酶的活性始终高于腓肠肌的。上述酶活性的变化均具有一定的生理意义。