Behavior of Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata) mothers and neonates at parturition

Parturitional behavior in 12 caged Macaca fuscatawas analyzed. Wild-caught mothers showed adequate maternal behaviors immediately following the neonate’s expulsion. Parity differences existed in the behaviors; primiparae were more idiosyncratic than were multiparae. Among multiparae, those with two or more offspring were uniformly adequate, but those with a single birth experience varied in the adequacy of the maternal care they provided at parturition. Mothers embraced and licked their neonates and had ventroventral contact with them frequently immediately after parturition but decreased these behaviors after expulsion of the placenta. In contrast, mothers showed allogrooming after consuming the placenta. Placentophagy was correlated with the level of orality represented by maternal licking behaviors. An isolation-reared primipara reacted to her newborn in a basically negative manner, although she showed little actual aggression. She showed a rapid shift in her negative behavior during the immediate postpartum period. This mother’s newborn sought contact with her, indicating the neonate’s active role in establishing a stable mother-neonate bond.     

Phenolic acid effects on peanut growth and oil production

Plants of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. var. PG No. 1) were given two foliar sprays of phenolic compounds (H-acid, 1, 2, 4-acid, resorcinol and RD-Brown) at 100 and 200 ppm, 35 and 50 days after sowing. In treated plants, shelling %, yield (kg/ha), number of gynophores per plant and number of pods per plant were significantly greater than in the control. Oil content of kernels also showed a significant increase with all the phenolic compounds applied. These compounds increased the linoleic acid concentration so improving nutritional quality. The number of gynophores was significantly correlated with the number of pods per plant and yield per hectare. The effect of phenolic compounds on growth and development was independent of their structural configuration.     

Stimulation of acid invertase activity by indol-3yl-acetic acid in tissues undergoing cell expansion

The soluble acid invertase activity of young, excised P. vulgaris internodal segments fell when they were incubated in water, and their elongation ceased within 6–7 h. IAA (10 M) promoted segment elongation and stimulated an increase in the specific activity of acid invertase to a level greater than that originally present. The rate of segment elongation in the presence of IAA was closely and positively correlated with the specific activity of the enzyme. Optimum concentration of IAA for both elongation and stimulation of invertase activity was 10 M. Concurrent protein synthesis was necessary for these responses to IAA. Segments cut from mature, fully-elongated internodes did not responsd to IAA.Inclusion of Ca²⁺, vanadate or mannitol in the incubation medium abolished IAA-induced segment elongation but did not inhibit the stimulation of acid invertase activity by IAA. Auxin-induced elongation and acid invertase activity were both substantially increased in the presence of up to 25 mM D-glucose or up to 50 mM sucrose. Inclusion of either sugar in the medium considerably increased tissue hexose concentrations. Under some circumstances cell growth and invertase synthesis may compete for available hexose substrate.It is concluded that IAA-induced promotion of acid invertase in P. vulgaris internodal segments is not simply an indirect consequence of removal of end-product (hexose) during IAA-induced cell growth and that a more direct action of IAA on enzyme turnover is involved.     

Effects of in vivo ultrasound hyperthermia on natural killer cell cytotoxicity in the hamster

The effects of in vivo ultrasound irradiation of the spleen on immunological functions were assessed with an in vitro natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxic assay. Anesthetized hamsters were exposed to 1 MHz ultrasound at intensity levels currently being used clinically for therapeutic diathermy and hyperthermia (1-5 W/cm2, for 500 sec with constant beam scanning). Hyperthermic levels in the spleen ranged from 38-43 degrees C. Significant depression of natural killer (NK) cell activity was seen 4 h after spleen irradiation as compared to sham irradiated and normal animals. A return towards normal levels was observed in experimental groups at 24 h after exposure. Sham and normal animals were not significantly different in NK activity, indicating no significant stress-related immunosuppressive effects due to handling. Differential leukocyte counts taken for each exposure condition showed significant lymphopenia at 4, 8, and 16 h after exposure, near normal levels at 24 h, and complete recovery by 48 h. The number of circulating mononuclear cells at 4 h showed a dose-related suppression as the exposure intensities were increased.     

红皮树胚胎发育

本文报道红皮树(Styrax suberifoltus Hook.et Arn.)大小孢子发育和早期胚胎发生。子房具胚珠20—23枚,胚珠横生,珠被二层,薄珠心,孢原细胞直接起大孢子母细胞作用。合点端大孢子具功能。胚囊发育为正常型。成熟胚囊具大量淀粉粒。小孢子形成为同时型,成熟花粉为二细胞型。传粉后、受精前两个助细胞在形状和对苏木精着色程度上有显著区别。胚乳发育为细胞型。在合子分裂前,胚乳细胞增至约26个时,暂时停止分裂。苏木精对细胞质不易着色,似解体细胞。有胚乳吸器。     

Prevention of aortic lesions and hyperlipidaemia by alfalfa seed extract in cholesterol fed rabbit

Extract of alfalfa seed (ethanolic 50 % v/v) prevents the development of plaque formation and hyperlipidaemia in cholesterol fed rabbits. It inhibits the elevation of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, LDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol/phospholipid ratio, while HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio increases, which is associated with a reduced incidence of atherosclerosis. Further reduction in total cholesterol and phospholipid contents of liver and heart muscle are suggestive of a beneficial role of the seed extract. The possible mechanisms of action are discussed.     

Hydrogen peroxide formation and lipid peroxidation in rat uterus—effect of hormones and vitamin E

The effect of estradiol-17β and progesterone given separately as well as in combination on the rate of hydrogen peroxide formation and lipid peroxidation in the uteri of ovariectomized rats was studied. Estradiol in 3μg dose per day per animal elicited maximum stimulatory response and progesterone (100μg), on the other hand, was without any such effect. However, progesterone given along with estradiol completely prevented the effect due to the latter. In the same way, vitamin E, a well known antioxidant was found to be extremelv effective in protecting the uterus from the highly peroxidative action of estradiol-17β.     

落葵的花粉粒和胚囊的形成与发育

落葵(Basella rubra L.)小孢子的发育为同时型,四分体呈四面体排列。在花粉母细胞减数分裂过程中,可清楚地看到胼胝壁的消长变化。三胞花粉,具散沟和网状纹饰。腺质绒毡层。 胚囊的发育为蓼型。反足细胞早期退化。内珠被突出形成珠被喙,同时,在其珠孔区域,有由内珠被的内表皮细胞所发育而来的类似盖状结构。 本文还注意到同一花中以及相邻花朵之间,花粉粒与胚囊发育进程的相关。花粉粒的发育略早于胚囊的发育,但以后由于胚囊母细胞形成胚囊的进程较为迅速,以致花粉粒与胚囊能够同时成熟。     

伊蚊(纷蚊亚属)一新种——功果伊蚊的记述

1979年7月至1980年3月,作者在云南云龙县的功果采集到蚊类标本一批,发现伊蚊属纷蚊亚属(Finlaya)一新种,特记述如下。 功果伊蚊Aedes (Finlaya) gonguoensis,新种 雌蚊 中型黑色蚊虫,翅长3.5—4.2毫米。 头部 头顶前部平覆深褐宽鳞,中央区和后部具白弯鳞;头顶后部和后头有黑色窄竖鳞,并杂有少数白竖鳞;有眶白鳞线;头侧大部平覆白色宽鳞,仅前部有一褐鳞区。触角梗节内侧有淡色鳞。唇基光裸;喙约为前股的1.1倍长,一致暗黑色;触须约为喙