Migratory behaviour and growth of hatchery-reared post-smolt Atlantic salmon Salmo salar

Individually lagged, 1+ and 2+ hatchery-reared smolts of Atlantic salmon were released in spring and early summer at the mouth of the R. Imsa, south-western Norway. The post-smolts moved mainly northwards in the sea with the coastal current. The estimated mean migratory speed (± s.d. ) of those captured in the sea along the Norwegian coast was 7.45 (± 6.26) km day ⁻¹; in the fjords it was 1.63 (± 2.33) km day⁻². Many of the post-smohs ascended rivers the same year as released; 37.3% of the total number recaptured were caught in R. Imsa, upstream from the site of release, and 5.8% were caught in other rivers throughout middle and southern parts of Norway. The fish recaptured in rivers was probably sexually mature and entered rivers to spawn. Mean specific growth rate for post-smolts caught in the sea was higher than for those caught in R. Imsa (P <0.001) but not for those caught in other rivers (P> 0.05). Post-smolts ascending R. Imsa were smaller at release than those ascending other rivers. However, there was no size difference at release between post-smolts captured in the sea and those recaptured in rivers other than the R. Imsa.     

Pore formation by the sea anemone cytolysin equinatoxin II in red blood cells and model lipid membranes

Summary The interaction ofActinia equina equinatoxin II (EqT-II) with human red blood cells (HRBC) and with model lipid membranes was studied. It was found that HRBC hemolysis by EqT-II is the result of a colloid-osmotic shock caused by the opening of toxin-induced ionic pores. In fact, hemolysis can be prevented by osmotic protectants of adequate size. The functional radius of the lesion was estimated to be about 1.1 nm. EqT-II increased also the permeability of calcein-loaded lipid vesicles comprised of different phospholipids. The rate of permeabilization rised when sphingomyelin was introduced into the vesicles, but it was also a function of the pH of the medium, optimum activity being between pH 8 and 9; at pH 10 the toxin became markedly less potent. From the dose-dependence of the permeabilization it was inferred that EqT-II increases membrane permeability by forming oligomeric channels comprising several copies of the cytolysin monomer. The existence of such oligomers was directly demonstrated by chemical cross-linking. Addition of EqT-II to one side of a planar lipid membrane (PLM) increases the conductivity of the film in discrete steps of defined amplitude indicating the formation of cation-selective channels. The conductance of the channel is consistent with the estimated size of the lesion formed in HRBC. High pH and sphingomyelin promoted the interaction even in this system. Chemical modification of lysine residues or carboxyl groups of this protein changed the conductance, the ion selectivity and the current-voltage characteristic of the pore, suggesting that both these groups were present in its lumen.     

CONSERVATION OF MOLECULAR PREPATTERNS DURING THE EVOLUTION OF CUTICLE MORPHOLOGY IN DROSOPHILA LARVAE

We are using patterns of cuticle specialization in Drosophila larvae as models to investigate the molecular, genetic, and developmental bases of morphological evolution. Members of the virilis species group differ markedly from one another in the distribution of hairs on the dorsal surface of first instar larvae. In particular, characteristic bands of hairs cover about 20% of each trunk segment in some species but about 70% in others. These major types do not correlate with recently proposed phylogenetic relationships, suggesting that similar phenotypes have arisen independently in different lineages. The patterns of expression of several genes that control or reflect intrasegmental patterning are indistinguishable in species with very different cuticle morphologies. We conclude that, in this case, morphology probably has evolved via altered response to a conserved molecular prepattern.     

Methyl chloride metabolism of the strictly anaerobic,methyl chloride-utilizing homoacetogen strain MC

The methyl chloride metabolism of the homoacetogenic, methyl chloride-utilizing strain MC was investigated with cell extracts and cell suspensions of the organism. Cell extracts were found to contain all enzyme activities required for the conversion of methyl chloride or of H₂ plus CO₂ to acetate. They catalyzed the dechlorination of methyl chloride with tetrahydrofolate as the methyl acceptor at a rate of 20 nmol/min × mg of cell protein. Also, the O-demethylation of vanillate with tetrahydrofolate could be measured at a rate of 40 nmol/min × mg. Different enzyme systems appeared to be responsible for the dehalogenation of CH₃Cl and for the O-demethylation of methoxylated aromatic compounds, since cells grown with methoxylated aromatic compounds exhibited a significantly lower activity of CH₃Cl conversion than methyl chloride grown cells and vice versa. In addition, ammonium thiocyanate (5 mM) completely inhibited CH₃Cl dechlorination, whereas the consumption of vanillate was not affected significantly. The data were taken to indicate, that the methyl chloride dehalogenation is catalyzed by a specific, inducible enzyme present in strain MC, and that tetrahydrofolate rather than the corrinoid-protein involved in acetate formation is the primary acceptor of the methyl group in the dechlorination reaction.     

Formation of acetyl-CoA in Zymomonas mobilis by a pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

In the gram negative, obligately ethanologenic bacterium Zymomonas mobilis a pyruvate dehydrogenase complex was identified and the complex was enriched from cell extracts. This multienzyme complex is responsible for acetyl-CoA biosynthesis from pyruvate. No activities of related multienzyme complexes, 2-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and branched chain keto acid dehydrogenase, could be detected.     

Fine structure of the spermatozoa of Crassostrea gigas (Mollusca,Bivalvia)

We describe sperm ultrastructure and acrosome differentiation during spermiogenesis in Crassostrea gigas (Mollusca Bivalvia). The sperm cell is a uniflagellated cell of the primitive type. The head region contains a rounded or conical nucleus surmounted by small acrosome. This organelle consists of a membrane-bound acrosomal granule, the contents of which have a homogeneous density, except in the anterior region, which is positive for PTA. The acrosome also surrounds the perforatorium, which includes oriented fibrillar elements: this is the axial body. The middle piece contains four mitochondria encircling two perpendicular centrioles. The distal centriole is provided with a system of mechanical fixation to the plasma membrane, consisting of nine fibers in radial arrangement. The tail flagellum, about 50 m?m long, contains the usual microtubular axoneme. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

前庭—交感反应的中枢通路分析

用锋电位触发叠加(STA)技术对大鼠前庭内侧核(NVM)、下段脑干网状结构(RF)和前庭小脑进行了探查,观察了这些结构中对摆动旋转起反应的单位(PPU)与内脏大神经(SN)记录的交感反应之间的关系。发现用NVM的PPU进行STA,在SN可得一阳性反应,其潜伏期为33.28±3.1ms;用下段脑干RF的PPU进行STA,SN的峰反应潜伏期为11.3±0.91ms;用前庭小脑的PPU进行STA,SN的峰反应潜伏期为21.86±1.73ms。本结果提示前庭交感反应的最近的脊髓上中继站是下段脑干RF旁正中区核团,其下行冲动可能是由网状脊髓束中慢速传导的纤维传导的。根据三个脑区PPU引起的SN-STA潜伏期的不同,在前庭交感反应中前庭小脑所处的地位可能在NVM和下段脑干RF核团之间。     

Relationship Between Spatial Pattern of Basal Bodies and Membrane Skeleton (Epiplasm) During the Cell Cycle of Tetrahymena: cdaA Mutant and Anti-Membrane Skeleton Immunostaining

Microtubular basal bodies and epiplasm (membrane skeleton) are the main components of the cortical skeleton of Tetrahymena. The aim of this report was to study functional interactions of basal bodies and epiplasm during the cell cycle. The cortex of Tetrahymena cells was stained with anti-epiplasm antibody. This staining produced a bright epiplasmic layer with a dark pattern of unstained microtubular structures. The fluorescence of the anti-epiplasm antibody disappeared at sites of newly formed microtubular structures, so the new basal body domains and epiplasmic layer could be followed throughout the cell cycle. Different patterns of deployment of new basal bodies were observed in early and advanced dividers. In advanced dividers the fluorescence of the epiplasmic layer diminished locally within the forming fission line where the polymerization of new basal bodies largely extincted. In wild type Tetrahymena, the completion of the micronuclear metaphase/anaphase transition was associated with a transition from the pattern of new basal body deployment and epiplasm staining of the early divider to the pattern of the advanced dividers. The signal for the fission line formation in Tetrahymena (absent in cdaA1 Tetrahymena mutationally arrested in cytokinesis) brings about 1) transition of patterns of deployment of basal bodies and epiplasmic layer on both sides of the fission line; and 2) coordination of cortical divisional morphogenesis with the micronuclear mitotic cycle.     

Effects of Ultrasonic Seed Treatment on Rice Performances under the Seawater Irrigation

Irrigation with desalinated seawater is an effective way to use ocean resources and save freshwater resources. However, seawater irrigation would cause yield loss of rice. In order to explore the effects of ultrasonic seed treatment on rice performances under seawater irrigation, the present study was conducted with three irrigation treatments (fresh water (SW0), ten times diluted seawater (SW1%, 0.34% salinity), and five times diluted seawater (SW2%, 0.68% salinity)) and two seed treatments (ultrasonic treated seeds (UT) and untreated seeds (CK)). Compared with SW0 + CK treatment, SW1 + CK and SW2 + CK treatments significantly decreased grain yield by 56.19% and 66.69%, spikelets per panicle by 30.11% and 55.80%, seed-setting rate by 23.05% and 18.87%, and 1000-grain weight by 4.55% and 14.50%, respectively. Seawater irrigation also significantly increased malonaldehyde (MDA) and proline contents and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD). Ultrasonic seed treatment significantly increased the grain number per panicle, seed-setting rate, and grain yield of rice under seawater irrigation. Compared with CK, UT treatment substantially reduced MDA content, SOD activity, and POD activity in SW1 and SW2 conditions. Furthermore, UT treatment significantly increased proline content and down-regulated proline dehydrogenase activity under seawater irrigation. We deduced that ultrasonic seed treatment enhanced the salinity tolerance of rice by inducing the proline accmulation. Our findings indicated that ultrasonic seed treatment could an effective strategy to promote rice productivity under seawater irrigation.