Sex differences in vasopressin neurons in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis by in situ hybridization

To determine whether a sex difference exists in the biosynthetic capacity of vasopressingergic (AVP) neurons in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), we have used in situ hybridization and quantitative autoradiography to measure propressophysin messenger RNA levels in these cells from adult male and female rats. We have found that significantly more (p less than 0.01) neurons are labeled in male rats than in female rats and that these labeled cells averaged more grains/cell (p less than 0.05) in males than in females. Therefore, the sexual dimorphism of AVP pathways in the BNST and lateral septum recently shown by immunohistochemistry results from a sex difference in the biosynthetic capacity of these AVP neurons.     

Growth and development of winter tick, Dermacentor albipictus, on moose, Alces alces

Moose, Alces alces, were infested with 21,000 or 42,000 larval Dermacentor albipictus at the end of September. Larvae grew rapidly and molted to the nymphal stage 10-22 days after infestation. The nymphal stage lasted approximately 3 mo until mid-January and was characterized by a diapause. The diapause is likely an adaptation to survival in cold climates. Nymphs started engorging in January and adults were seen with increasing abundance from mid-January to March and April. The minimum parasitic period was 175 days. Growth of larvae and nymphs was similar on moose given different numbers of larvae and was generally similar between a moose infested in November and moose infested earlier. Dimensions and stages of development throughout the parasitic phase are given. Game enforcement officers are encouraged to use these data for determination of season of death of moose.     

Kinetic and spectroscopic studies of haemoglobin and myoglobin from Urechis caupo. Distal residue effects.

Seven components of the tetrameric haemoglobin (Hbu) from Urechis caupo were separated by preparative isoelectric focusing and characterized by their absorption spectra and pI values. The helix content and Soret delta epsilon values are reported for several of the components. Temperature-jump O2-binding kinetics of the major components of Hbu show biphasic behaviour, with the majority species having kon = 1.57 x 10(9) mol-1.s-1 and koff = 3.32 x 10(4) s-1. The Fourier-transform i.r. spectrum of pooled Hbu(II)-CO displays a stretching frequency of 1942 cm-1. E.s.r. of Hbu(II)-NO demonstrates evidence of proximal strain similar to that encountered in T-state human haemoglobin. CO-driven reduction of U. caupo methaemoglobin, Hbu(III) and U. caupo metmyoglobin [Mbu(III)] shows much higher rates relative to haemoglobins and myoglobins known to possess a distal histidine residue. Nitrosyl auto-reduction kinetics of Hbu(III)-NO and Mbu(III)-NO are examined. The equilibrium binding constants of several ligands are reported for both Hbu and Mbu, and together with the above kinetic data suggest differences in haem pocket environments between Hbu and Mbu. Reaction of Hbu with 2-chloromercuri-4,6-dinitrophenol demonstrates the presence of one reactive thiol group per globin chain. lambda max. values and the respective molar absorption coefficients for selected ligand-bound states are reported for the major component of Hbu and for Mbu. The majority haem orientation in U. caupo haemoglobin is identical with that of human haemoglobin.     

Particle sources and trace element reactivity in the Humber plume

Samples of suspended particulate matter (SPM) collected from the Humber Estuary had higher concentrations of particulate metals than SPM from Holderness coastal waters (U.K.). Characterised SPM from both sources was used in laboratory experiments involving the uptake of radiotracer¹⁰⁹Cd,¹³⁷Cs,⁵⁴Mn and⁶⁵Zn. Kinetic experiments, over five days, showed that the rate and extent of uptake was highly dependent on particle type, with¹⁰⁹Cd,⁵⁴Mn and⁶⁵Zn being more reactive with Humber Estuary particles than those from Holderness and¹³⁷Cs having the opposite trend. Adsorption experiments were also carried out on suspensions in which SPM from the Humber Estuary and Holderness coastal water were mixed in various proportions. These experiments revealed that K_d for⁶⁵Zn increased linearly with the proportion of Humber SPM, K_d for¹³⁷Cs decreased linearly with increase in Humber SPM and K_d for⁵⁴Mn and¹⁰⁹Cd displayed non-linear behaviour. The results of the study were used to develop an algorithm for predicting the partition coefficients in the Humber Plume based on the extent of particle mixing from the two source regions. The use of^206/207Pb ratios in determining the extent of particle mixing is discussed, along with the application of the algorithm to the modelling of particulate trace metal behaviour in the Humber-Wash coastal zone.     

Yeast hexokinase mutants.

Using yeast mutants, it is shown that growth on glucose occurs even in the absence of both hexokinase A and hexokinase B; fructose growth requires at least one of these two enzymes. Expression of hexokinase A and of glucokinase seem to be regulated.