NAD- and NADP-Linked Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases in Light- and Dark-Germinated Seeds of Scots Pine (Pinus silvestris)

By means of arsenate in optical tests the occurrence of both NAD- and NADP-linked glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity has been found in embryo and endosperm tissues from Scots pine seeds. By exclusion of arsenate also evidences for the activity of a non-phosphorylating NADP-linked form have been demonstrated. The results are sustained by inhibition experiments. The enzyme activities have been followed principally during the first 24 hours of the germination process and in relation to the germination-controlling light factor. Homogenates from complete seeds and partly also from separated embryo and endosperm tissues have been studied. The predominant activity in both of the tissues was linked to the NAD-form, expressed either on seed (part) or protein basis. No indications for a light-regulation of anyone of these enzymes have been found contrary to findings from other plant materials.     

Local adjustment of sex ratio in the spider Pityohyphantes phrygianus

The sex ratio in five populations of the sheetweb spider Pityohyphantes phrygianus in southwest Sweden was investigated in July and September, the spiders being juveniles and subadults, respectively. In July, no heterogeneity between the five populations was found and the pooled samples revealed a sex ratio of 36% males and 64% females. A significant heterogeneity in sex ratio was observed in the September samples; the proportion of males varied between 23% and 40%. In several cases, male mean weight differed significantly between the five populations, comparing the July and September samples separately. This suggests that the prey availability varied considerably between the sites. In September, dead spiders were collected in two sites. This mortality was probably caused by starvation and the mortality rates differed significantly between the two sites. Indirect evidence suggested that the local sex ratio was affected by the prey availability, males being at a relative disadvantage in poor sites. Local environmental conditions may govern the adult sex ratio in this spider by causing differential mortality and/or migration.     

Polygyny in the Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus in Swedish Lapland

The breeding sex ratio of Willow Warblers Phylloscopus trochilus in a subalpine birch forest was strongly female biased. Very few territorial males remained unmated and most became polygynous. Bigyny was the rule, but some males probably had three females. Male assistance at secondary nests varied and was probably dependent on temporal distance between the females' nests. There was no significant reduction in reproductive output for these females. Variation in the sex ratio of breeding birds can be explained, at least partly, by variation in the timing of male settlement.     

Multiple α2-Adrenoceptor Signalling Pathways Mediate Pigment Aggregation Within Melanophores

It has previously been shown that α₂-adrenoceptors (α₂-ARs) mediate pigment granule (melanosome) aggregation in melanophores of the teleost fish Labrus ossifagus. The present investigation scrutinized the signalling mechanisms of melanosome aggregation induced by sympathetic nerve stimulation or by exogenous addition of α-AR agonists and cAMP analogues. The following was observed: i) nerve-induced melanosome aggregation was associated with a rapid decrease in the cAMP level; ii) noradrenaline or medetomidine (an α₂-AR agonist) caused melanosome aggregation and reduced the cAMP content; iii) RP-S-CI-cAMP, a membrane-permeating inhibitor of protein kinase A induced melanosome aggregation; and iv) B-HT 920 (an α₂-AR agonist) and methoxamine (an α₁-AR agonist) induced melanosome aggregation, although they did not reduce cAMP. It has been suggested that in some teleost species α₁-ARs mediate melanosome aggregation by increasing the level of intracellular calcium. However, we found that the effect of methoxamine in melanophores from Labrus ossifagus could be blocked by yohimbine (an α₂-AR antagonist) but not by equimolar concentration of prazosin (an α₁-AR antagonist). Furthermore, 1 μM ionomycin (a calcium ionophore) did not induce melanosome aggregation. Our findings therefore do not indicate that α₁-ARs and/or an increase in intracellular calcium mediate melanosome aggregation in Labrus ossifagus. Our results suggest that α₂-AR-mediated melanosome aggregation is induced by multiple signalling pathways. One of these involves a reduction in cAMP, but none involves an increase in intracellular calcium.     

Biomass and structure of planktonic communities along an air temperature gradient in subarctic Sweden

1. Air temperature will probably have pronounced effects on the composition of plankton communities in northern lake ecosystems, either via indirect effects on the export of essential elements from catchments or through direct effects of water temperature and the ice‐free period on the behaviour of planktonic organisms. 2. We assessed the role of temperature by comparing planktonic communities in 15 lakes along a 6 °C air temperature gradient in subarctic Sweden. 3. We found that the biomass of phytoplankton, bacterioplankton and the total planktonic biomass were positively related to air temperature, probably as a result of climatic controls on the export of nitrogen from the catchment (which affects phytoplankton biomass) and dissolved organic carbon (affecting bacterioplankton biomass). 4. The structure of the zooplankton community, and top down effects on phytoplankton, were apparently not related to temperature but mainly to trophic interactions ultimately dependent on the presence of fish in the lakes. 5. Our results suggest that air temperature regimes and long‐term warming can have strong effects on the planktonic biomass in high latitude lakes. Effects of temperature on the structure of the planktonic community might be less evident unless warming permits the invasion of fish into previous fishless lakes.     

Formation of a Piperidinium Derivative from N-(5′-Chloropentyl)-N-methylaminoaceto-2,6-xylidide in relation to the Sustained Local Anaesthetic Action on the Sciatic Nerve of the Guinea-pig <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis>

THE possibility of using the intramolecular alkylation reaction of tertiary ω-haloalkylamines (Fig. 1) to overcome the cell membrane barrier to cyclic quaternary ammonium compounds seems to have been almost entirely overlooked. Some pharmacological applications of this principle have already been studied^1–3 and we feel that the possibility of obtaining local anaesthetic agents⁴ may be of therapeutic interest. The nerve sheaths and membranes hinder the penetration of quaternary ammonium compounds⁵, but tertiary amines in their base form are able to pass⁶. Thus, a tertiary haloalkylamine (I in Fig. 1) should be able to cross the barriers, and, because of its capacity to cyclize, the corresponding cyclic quaternary ammonium derivative (II) would be expected to be formed at least to some extent at the sites for blockade of nerve excitation. The barriers to outward diffusion of the quaternary compound formed are probably the same as for the inward movement, so that very slow disappearance can be expected. Accordingly, if the quaternary derivative has a local anaesthetic action, this would probably be of long duration. Our observation that tertiary haloalkylamine derivatives closely related to lidocaine have a long term anaesthetic effect⁴ supports this hypothesis. It would be valuable, however, to try to relate the local Q XCH3 JH3 -NHCOCH2N(CH2)5CI VCH3 I 'CH3 jJrX . -NHC0CH2N 4-Ct CH3 *? II anaesthetic effect in vivo with the amount of (I) and of the piperidinium derivative (II) formed in the nerves. One compound, N-(5 '-chloropentyl)-N-methylaminoaceto-2,6-xyli-dide (I in Fig. 1), tritium-labelled in the 1'-position (specific activity 10 mCi/mmol), was therefore selected for the following experiments.     

Phase Shift Effects in the Kalanchoë Petal Rhythm due to Two or More Light Pulses

The circadian petal rhythm of Kalanchoë blossfeldiana Poellniz was studied theoretically and experimentally. Results of experiments in which (i) two light pulses and (ii) repeated light pulses were given to the flowers are compared with predictions based on a previously published feedback model. In this model both the amplitude and the phase of the rhythm are affected by light pulses. Results from the present phase shift studies are shown to be in good agreement with the model. The results are also discussed in relation to a constant amplitude model like that suggested by Pittendrigh for the eclosion rhythm of Drosophila.