Development of the definitive kidney in the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

Abstract: Formation of the definitive kidney in Macaca fascicularis embryos was investigated using light and electron microscopy. Appearance of the definitive kidney at stage 14 was indicated by the ureteric bud invading the metanephrogenic blastema. Glomerular capillaries originate from the connective tissue that surrounds the developing renal vesicle. At 46–100 days gestational age the more developed glomeruli show thinning of the capillary endothelium, thickening of the basal membrane, and presence of pedicels, suggesting a capability of renal function.     

Prediction of a low dose herbicide effect from studies on binding of metribuzin to the chloroplasts of Chenopodium album L.

Chenopodium album L. seedlings at the 4- and 8-leaf stage were exposed to low concentrations metribuzin [4-amino-6-(l, l-dimethyl)-3-(methylthio)-l,2,4-triazin (4 H )-one] in nutrient solution to study herbicide uptake and the effects of low-dose rates. Chlorophyll fluorescence was measured to relate the inhibition of photosynthesis to herbicide dose. The minimum rate at which metribuzin fully inhibited photosynthesis was less than 1 μM for seedlings at the 4-leaf stage of development, and between 1 and 5 μM for the 8-leaf stage seedlings. With isolated chloroplasts, experiments were conducted to establish the relationship between the amount of herbicide molecules bound to each chloroplast and the inhibition of photosynthesis. From the dose-response curves obtained it was calculated that photosynthesis was fully inhibited when 7.5 10⁵ molecules metribuzin were bound to each chloroplast. This amount of binding was used to estimate minimum-lethal dose rates of metribuzin required for seedlings differing in fresh weight of leaves and amounts of chloroplasts present. It is suggested that prediction of a low dose herbicide effect from studies on binding of photosystem-II inhibitors in combination with chlorophyll fluorescence measurements may lead to the development of a new weed management strategy.     

Sex ratio regulation in the waspEupelmus vuilleti (crwf.), an ectoparasitoid on bean weevil larvae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)

In Africa, the seeds and/or pods ofVigna unguiculata andVigna radiata (Papilionacea) are attacked in fields and storage structures by bruchid beetlesCallosobruchus maculatus andBruchidius atrolineatus, on which parasitoid communities can develop. One of these parasitoids is the solitary ectoparasitoidEupelmus vuilleti (Eupelmidae). The storage conditions ofV. unguiculata andV. radiata favor the overlapping of all host stages during several months. These conditions suggest that female parasitoids would vary the sex ratio of their offspring according to the different sizes or developmental stages of hosts. The sex ratio ofE. vuilleti was strongly related to the developmental stage of the hostC. maculatus. Under our experimental conditions, where superparasitism is rare, the proportion of daughters varied between 5 and 25% on the third larval stage but reached 70 to 90% on the pupae. The increase in the proportion of daughters was also observed in the absence of superparasitism. In this case, there was an absolute coincidence between the sex ratio of eggs laid and that of emerged adults. Manipulation of the sex of the egg by the females seems to take place at the time of the egg's fertilization. The relation between host weight and egg sex showed that the male eggs are preferentially laid on lighter host larvae and the female eggs on heavier ones.     

Identification of members of the HSP30 small heat shock protein family and characterization of their developmental regulation in heat-shocked xenopus laevis embryos

In the present study we have characterized the synthesis of members of the HSP30 family during Xenopus laevis development using a polyclonal antipeptide antibody derived from the carboxyl end of HSP30C. Two-dimensional PAGE/immunoblot analysis was unable to detect any heat-inducible small HSPs in cleavage, blastula, gastrula, or neurula stage embryos. However, heat-inducible accumulation of a single protein was first detectable in early tailbud embryos with an additional 5 HSPs at the late tailbud stage and a total of 13 small HSPs at the early tadpole stage. In the Xenopus A6 kidney epithelial cell line, a total of eight heat-inducible small HSPs were detected by this antibody. Comparison of the pattern of protein synthesis in embryos and somatic cells revealed a number of common and unique heat inducible proteins in Xenopus embryos and cultured kidney epithelial cells. To specifically identify the protein product of the HSP30C gene, we made a chimeric gene construct with the Xenopus HSP30C coding sequence under the control of a constitutive promoter. This construct was microinjected into fertilized eggs and resulted in the premature and constitutive synthesis of the HSP30C protein in gastrula stage embryos. Through a series of mixing experiments, we were able to specifically identify the protein encoded by the HSP30C gene in embryos and somatic cells and to conclude that HSP30C synthesis was first heat-inducible at the early tailbud stage of development. The differential pattern of heat-inducible accumulation of members of the HSP30 family during Xenopus development suggests that these proteins may have distinct functions at specific embryonic stages during a stress response.     

多异瓢虫生物学的研究

多异瓢虫在山东省德州地区一年发生４代,部分个体５代,以成虫在杂草丛内、残枝落叶及土块下越冬。在自然变温下,卵、幼虫、预蛹、蛹、成虫产卵前期和全世代的发育始点和有效积温分别为１８．８±０．５２℃和１５．０日度、１６．９７±０．０３℃和７３．３日度、１５．９７±０．０１℃和１０．２３日度、１５．４７±０．０５℃和２３．０５日度、１７．６±０．０４℃和３４．１日度、１８．２±０．１０℃和１７０．３日度。据Ｈｏｌｉｎｇ圆盘方程测定,１─４龄幼虫和产卵前期成虫日最大捕食棉蚜量依次力６．７头、３６．４头、７７．５头、８１．３头和６８．０头。     

Comparative anatomy and systematics of woody Saxifragaceae. Aphanopetalum Endl.

The floral and vegetative anatomy of the small Australian genus Aphanopetalum were studied. Wood is described for the first time and is characterized by predominantly solitary pores, scalariform vessel element perforation plates with low bar numbers, imperforate tracheary elements with distinctly bordered pits, sparse axial parenchyma, and a combination of homocellular and heterocellular rayS. Starch occurs in both axial and ray parenchyma of the wood. Stems possess unilacunar, one-trace nodes and the uncommon feature of an endodermis with well-defined Casparian stripS. Leaves have anomocytic stomata, a bifacial mesophyll and semicraspedodromous venation or a combination of semicraspedodromous and brochidodromous venation. The tetramerous flowers are apetalous or have minute petals. The compound, half-inferior gynoecium consists of essentially totally united carpels. The pattern of floral vascularization resembles different Saxifragaceae sensu lalo in that the compound sepal-plane and petal-plane traces give rise to staman bundles as well as sepal, petal, and carpel wall venation in their respective planes. The ventral ovarian bundles are fused into a single ventral complex that subdivides at the top of the ovary to form ventral bundles and to supply the one ovule in each locule. Vegetative and floral features provide compelling evidence to suggest that Aphanopetalum has its nearest relatives among the Saxifragaceae sensu lato rather than Cunoniaceae. The genus is probably best treated as forming its own subfamily (or family) among the saxifragaean alliance.     

The early ontogeny of the southern mouthbrooder,Pseudocrenilabrus philander (Pisces,Cichlidae)

Synopsis The early development of the southern mouthbrooder,Pseudocrenilabrus philander, is documented from activation until the early stages of the juvenile period. The duration of the embryonic period is about 14 days at 25°C. Development is direct and there is accelerated exogenous feeding into the embryonic period. The pattern of development and the timing of ontogenetic events and structure formation are a reflection of both internal and external environmental conditions. During mouthbrooding, oxygen uptake is facilitated by embryonic respiratory plexuses and flapping of the pectoral fins. At the time of first release from the buccal cavity, the embryos are in an advanced state of development. The switch-over from the temporary embryonic respiratory system to the adult branchial system has occurred. The yolksac serves as a supplemental source of nutrition as the embryos develop their external food-gathering abilities. The skeletal and sensory systems are sufficiently developed to allow the young to return to the safety of the female's buccal cavity. Pigmentation may provide disruptive colouration. The rate and pattern of development of another mouthbrooding cichlid,Oreochromis mossambicus, is similar to that ofP. philander despite their phylogenetic differences, and may be a consequence of similar life-history styles.     

不同生境下蓝桉的木材解剖研究

用光镜及扫描电镜对不同生境下的蓝桉（Ｅｕｃａｌｙｐｔｕｓｇｌｏｂｕｌｕｓ Ｌａｂｉｌｌ．）木材结构进行了解剖学观察,描述了木材结构特征。以蓝桉木材的１１ 个主要特征——导管频率、单孔率、导管直径、导管分子长度、管胞长度和直径、纤维管胞长度和直径、纤维长度、射线频率和高度为指标,对生长在不同生境下的蓝桉进行比较发现：随着纬度的增加,生长轮变化不明显;木材中大部分组成分子的数量特征,除导管频率有降低趋势外均与纬度成正相关。评述了年降雨量对蓝桉木材结构的影响     

自然贮存苹果的生化分析及形态解剖学研究

本文对自然贮存六个月的秦冠、红富士及新红星苹果果实在生化成分及显微、超微结构上进行了对比研究,发现红富士果实中果胶质、总糖及粗蛋白含量均高于其它品种;三种果实表面均有不同形态的蜡质分布;果皮角化层以红富士较厚,新红星次之;不同品种果肉细胞的形态有明显差异。本文对此结果进行了初步的探讨,以期为苹果贮存研究积累资料。