Sexual dimorphism in scales of marbled flounder Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae (Pleuronectiformes: Pleuronectidae), with comments on the relevance to their spawning behaviour

Variation of scales on the blind side of Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae in relation to sex, maturity and body size was examined. Immature males often have cycloid scales, while mature males have mostly ctenoid scales. Large females also often have ctenoid scales (but with fewer spines compared with males), and small females have mostly cycloid scales. The number of spines (ctenii) on the blind‐side scale increases with body size in both sexes, indicating an ontogenetic change in scale morphology. As P. yokohamae spawn demersal eggs with males positioning themselves above the females on the ocular side, it is hypothesized that ctenoid scales on the blind side in mature males function for maintaining contact with females during spawning.     

DDT induced ethological changes in estuarine fish

Synopsis Experiments were carried out to study the feeding rates of the predator fish Therapon jarbua (Forsk) on mullet juveniles, before and after treatment with DDT. Mullet juveniles treated with a subacute concentration, were refused by the control predators, whereas predators treated with a subacute concentration consumed more mullet juveniles. In the present study crescent perch T. jarbua were exposed to subacute and acute concentrations of DDT, and their behaviour was compared with that of the control predators. There were changes in oriented behaviour and co-ordinated movements, and in feeding, aggression and comfort behaviour of the fish. Inflammation in the gills, and caudal fin serration, were noticed in treated fishes. The findings presented here throw light on fundamental pathways by which pollutants interact with the behaviour of fishes.     

Towards the mechanism and comparative effect of diphenyl diselenide, diphenyl ditelluride and ebselen under various pathophysiological conditions in rat's kidney preparation

As an extension of our previous work we not only evaluated the relationship between acidosis and lipid peroxidation in rat's kidney homogenate, but also determined for the first time the potential anti-oxidant activity of diphenyl diselenide, diphenyl ditelluride and ebselen at a range of pH values (7.4–5.4). Because of the pH dependency of iron redox cycling, pH and iron need to be well controlled and for the reason we tested a number of pH values (from 7.4 to 5.4) to get a closer idea about the role of iron under various pathological conditions. Acidosis increased rate of lipid peroxidation in the absence Fe (II) in kidney homogenates especially at pH 5.4. This higher extent of lipid peroxidation can be explained by; the mobilized iron which may come from reserves where it is weakly bound. Addition of iron (Fe) chelator desferoxamine (DFO) to reaction medium completely inhibited the peroxidation processes at all studied pH values including acidic values (5.8–5.4). In the presence of Fe (II) acidosis also enhanced detrimental effect of Fe (II) especially at pH (6.4–5.4). Diphenyl diselenide significantly protected lipid peroxidation at all studied pH values, while ebselen offered only a small statistically non-significant protection. The highest anti-oxidant potency was observed for diphenyl ditelluride. These differences in potencies were explained by the mode of action of these compounds using their catalytic anti-oxidant cycles. However, changing the pH of the reaction medium did not alter the anti-oxidant activity of the tested compounds. This study provides evidence for acidosis catalyzed oxidative stress in kidney homogenate and for the first time anti-oxidant potential of diphenyl diselenide and diphenyl ditelluride not only at physiological pH but also at a range of acidic values.     

Neuron differentiation and axon growth in the developing wing of Drosophila melanogaster

Sensory neurons in the wing of Drosophila originate locally from epithelial cells and send their axons toward the base of the wing in two major bundles, the L1 and L3 nerves. We have estimated the birth times of a number of identified wing sensory neurons using an X-irradiation technique and have followed the appearance of their somata and axons by means of an immunohistochemical stain. These cells become immunoreactive and begin axon growth in a sequence which mirrors the sequence of their birth times. The earliest ones are born before pupariation and begin axonogenesis within 1 to 2 hr after the onset of metamorphosis; the last are born and differentiate some 12 to 14 hr later. The L1 and L3 nerves are formed in sections, with specific neurons pioneering defined stretches of the pathways during the period between 0 and 4 hr after pupariation (AP), and finally joining together around 12 hr AP. By 16 hr AP the adult complement of neurons is present and the adult peripheral nerve pattern has been established. Pathway establishment appears to be specified by multiple cues. In places where neurons differentiate in close proximity to one another, random filopodial exploration followed by axon growth to a neighboring neuron soma might be the major factor leading to pathway construction. In other locations, filopodial contact between neighboring somata does not appear to occur, and axon pathways joining neural neighbors by the most direct route are not established. We propose that in these cases additional factors, including veins which are already present at the time of axonogenesis, influence the growth of axons through non-neural tissues.     

The opioid systems - Panacea and nemesis

This mini-review outlines the opioid systems and their roles primarily as related to reward and compulsive drug/alcohol intake. The central role is taken by the mu-opioid receptor, target for opiate analgesics and also a central target in compulsive alcohol abuse, alcoholism. The mu-opioid receptor and the cognate opioid neuropeptides from proenkephalin and proopiomelancortin are members of a superfamily of opioid systems, each with unique and still to be defined roles in the central nervous system.     

Germination ecology of drupelets of the fig (Ficus carica L.)

Abiotic and biotic factors and their effects on germination of fig drupelets were studied. The drupelets germinated between 10^oC and 30^oC.Constant humidity was necessary for germination and frequent drying out of the substrate was unfavourable. Total darkness for the whole duration of the experiments had a slighly negative effect on germination. The fastest germination occurred at constant humidity and an alternating temperature of 20/30^oC with exposure to light for 8 hours (at the higher temperature) and to darkness for 16 hours (at the lower temperature).Natural or artificial removal of drupelets from the syconium guaranteed a high germination percentage, whereas no germination occurred in drupelets left inside the syconium. Hence birds and mammals act as dispersal agents and mediators of germination. As they eat pieces of fig syconium, they free the drupelets from the flesh, eliminating the effect of inhibitors and/or microenvironments with high osmotic pressure inside the syconium. These findings support the hypothesis that germination occurs in autumn or spring depending on the climatic zone in which the species grows.     

GRF-induced feeding: Evidence for protein selectivity and opiate involvement

Growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) is a hypothalamic peptide named for its ability to induce release of growth hormone from the anterior pituitary. GRF also acts as a neurotransmitter in the suprachiasmatic nucleus/medial preoptic area (SCN/MPOA) to stimulate food intake. The purpose of this series of experiments was to explore the nature of GRF-induced feeding, with a particular emphasis on macronutrient selectivity, and to examine the role of opiate activity in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). Chow intake stimulated by GRF microinjection (1 pmol/0.5 μl) into the SCN/MPOA was blocked by injection of methyl-naltrexone (3 μg/0.5 μl) into the PVN. In animals habituated to macronutrient diets (Teklad, WI), GRF preferentially stimulated intake of protein at 2 and 4 h postinjection, whereas it had no effect on carbohydrate intake. Further, this effect was blocked by injection of naloxone (40 nmol/0.5 μl) into the PVN. Microinjection of morphine (0, 1, 10, and 17 μg/0.5 μl) into the PVN also specifically stimulated protein intake at 2 and 4 h postinjection. These results suggest that feeding derived from GRF actions in the SCN/MPOA is macronutrient selective, and is dependent on PVN opiate activity for expression.     

Adaptations for feeding on rock surfaces and sandy sediment by the fiddler crabs (Brachyura: Ocypodidae) Uca tetragonon(Herbst, 1790) and Uca vocans(Linnaeus, 1758)

Two species of fiddler crab, Uca tetragonon(Herbst, 1790) and Uca vocans(Linnaeus, 1758), which belong to the subgenus Gelasimus, dwell on rocky shores and muddy–sandy tidal flats, respectively, in Phuket Is., Thailand. We investigated their feeding ecology in relation to the morphology of their feeding organs: minor food-handling chelipeds and maxillipeds. U. tetragononfed chiefly on rocks covered by filamentous green algae. U. vocansfed on the emerged sand and in shallow water along the shoreline and in pools. While feeding, both crabs made sand pellets beneath their mouthparts and discarded them, indicating that they divided the matter scooped up with their minor chelipeds into edible and inedible fractions by using the maxillipeds in the water passing through their buccal cavity. The morphology of maxillipeds hardly differed between the two species, which means that both species are flotation-feeders. The morphology of their minor chelipeds, however, differed: the tips of the dactyl and pollex were flat in U. tetragononand pointed in U. vocans.When the minor cheliped was closed, U. tetragononhad a hemispherical space in the distal one-fourth of the gape, which was closed by the framing keratin layers and a few setae of the dactyl and pollex. On the other hand, U. vocanshad an ellipsoidal space in the distal half of the gape. We consider these morphological characters to be adaptations to the different feeding substrates for retaining more food-laden sediment. We discuss the role of the setae on the minor chelipeds on the basis of the morphological differences between populations of U. tetragononin Phuket Is. and East Africa where the crab inhabits muddy–sandy tidal flats.