An unusual ultrastructural association of smooth membranes and glycogen particles: The glycogen body

Summary An electron microscope study of the epithelium of rabbit fallopian tube demonstrated a rarely described intracytoplasmic structure consisting of an array of smooth membranes associated with glycogen particles. This organelle is seen exclusively in the ciliated cells. A three-dimensional reconstruction of these glycogen bodies has been made from serial sections. The peripheral localization of the rough-surfaced membranes in continuity with intra-corpuscular smooth membranes, which have lost their granules, suggests a possible role for the rough membranes in the genesis of the smooth membranes of these glycogen bodies. The role of both the smooth and the rough membranes in glycogenesis and glycogenolysis is discussed.This investigation was made in part in the Laboratoire d'Hormonologie et de Cytologie Expérimentale, Hôpital Broca, Paris.     

Induction of microspore embryogenesis inBrassica napus L. by gamma irradiation and ethanol stress

Summary Gamma irradiation and ethanol stress treatments redirected pollen development to an embryo formation pathway inBrassica napus. Less than 0.01% of microspores developed into embryos at 25°C compared to approximately 2% at 32°C. However, subsequent to gamma irradiation and ethanol treatments up to 1% and 0.7% of microspores formed embryos at 25°C, respectively. Gamma irradiation also enhanced embryogenesis at 32°C. The possible importance of these findings is discussed in relation to microspore embryogenesis.     

Preferred Temperature of Meloidogyne incognita

In laboratory thermal gradients, newly hatched infective juveniles of the plant-parasitic root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita migrated toward a preferred temperature that was several degrees above the temperature to which they were acclimated. After shifting egg masses to a new temperature, the preferred temperature was reset in less than a day. Possible functions of this type of thermotaxis are discussed, including the use of thermal gradients around plant roots to locate hosts and to maintain a relatively straight path while ranging in the absence of other cues (a collimating stimulus).     

Body shape and differences between species

The variation of body shape among prosimians is reviewed. Special emphasis is placed on the selective advantages, that is the mechanical reasons, to which variants of the locomotor apparatus can be traced back. There are differences found in the cheiridia, but at present they cannot be explained in terms of mechanics; there is nearly no knowledge about the mechanical meaning of their diversity. Myological characteristics of taxa can be explained mechanically, but this has not yet been done. Well known are variations of body proportions. These discriminate higher taxa, and are largely coincident with the often-used locomotor categories. In spite of this, there are only few sound arguments about the real biomechanic value of characteristic proportions for a given locomotor mode. What is known on this field, is reviewed. Progress can be made only, if the mechanical conditions, set by postural behavior and locomotion, are understood completely. The subtle distinctions between lower taxonomic units can normally be identified only on the basis of detailed and quantified analyses of movements on one hand, and of biometrics on the other. In the few cases in which such studies have been made, the differences of morphology fit to the mechanical requirements of locomotion which also differ only in quantitative details.     

Effect of cooling rate,cryoprotectant and holding time at different transfer temperatures on the survival of cryopreserved cell suspension culture (Puccinellia distans (L.) Parl.)

Reflexed saltmarsh-grass suspension cultures produced by seed callus were frozen to the liquid nitrogen temperature. Cooling rates, cryoprotectants and holding times were taken as a function of transfer temperatures. The highest survival of cells (45%) was found at a freezing rate of 1°C min^-1, without cryoprotectant treatments. The cryoprotectants (proline, dimethyl sulphoxide, glycerol), used at different concentrations and transfer temperatures, increased the survival rate. The maximum value was 78% at 12.5% (w/v) of proline with –30°C transfer temperature. Considerable improvement of viability (from 0% to 95%) among the 12.5 and 15.0% (v/v) dimethyl sulphoxide cryopreserved cells was achieved by holding them at – 20°C for 10–30 min before plunging into the liquid nitrogen. A 20 min holding time at 15.0% (v/v) glycerol level and – 30°C transfer temperature significantly enhanced the viability of the explants from 42% to 92%. Plants were successfully regenerated from cells cryopreserved with proline (w/v) and dimethyl sulfoxide (v/v) levels of 12.5 and 15.0%, respectively.     

Recent developments in in vivo neutron activation analysis facilities

Two new facilities for in vivo activation analysis of patients have been designed, developed, and constructed at Toronto General Hospital. One of these is for the determination of body calcium for the diagnosis of osteoporosis and other diseases associated with bone loss. The other is for the measurement of total body nitrogen for the determination of protein status. These facilities replace old university facilities and take into account the comfort and management of patients. In addition, in the case of the calcium facility, the precision of the measurements has been improved because of larger detector volume and increased neutron source strength. Both the facilities are now in routine hospital clinical use.     

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。     

Environmental and endogenous control of diapause inTrichogramma species

The 1st feature revealed typical for diapause phenomena inTrichogramma species is the interaction of environmental conditions in both parental and filial generations in induction of diapause in the latter. Lowered temperature during larval development is the ultimate factor evoking diapause in pronymphs but the norm of this thermal reaction is not fixed but varies depending on photoperiod and temperature in the previous generation due to maternal influence. Short day and in some cases high temperature in parental generation enhance tendency to diapause in the progeny. Unlike maternal influence the development to filial generation itself is not (or almost is not) governed by its own photoperiodic reaction. The 2nd typical feature revealed is the occurrence of endogenous process running in the sequence of generations and causing changes in the diapause tendency and underlying reaction norms even under constant rearing conditions.