Antennal sensory organs in the millipede Eurypauropus ornatus: Fine structure of the flagella and globulus

On the antennal tip of Eurypauropus ornatus are 3 threadlike sensilla—the flagella, and a single spheroid sensillum—the globulus. Each of the 3 flagella is innervated by 2 groups of sensory cells. One group contains 4 cells, the other, 5. All cells of the “four group” and 3 of the “five group” are comprised of single cilia and unbranched dendrites which extend along the lumen of the flagellum. Two cells of the “five group” have double cilia and pairs of unbranched dendrites. One pair also enters the flagellum and the other pair terminates beneath the flagellar base to form a concentric array of lamellae. No pores are present in the cuticular wall. Eight sensory cells innervate the globulus. They are arranged in 3 groups, one triplet and 2 pairs, in addition to a single cell. The single cell contains a pair of cilia whose unbranched dendrites differentiate into tubular bodies that are inserted into the base of the globulus. Each of the other 7 sensory cells has a single cilium. Their unbranched dendrites penetrate into the globulus in 3 groups as described for the sensory cells. The dendrites in each group terminate in an individual pore channel at the globulus tip and completely fuse with the electron-dense material that plugs the pore channel. Based on structural similarities to sensilla having known functions, it is probable that the flagella and the globulus are chemoreceptors, the former responding to odors, the latter sensitive to substances in aqueous solution.     

Sexual differentiation in Mucor: Trisporic acid response mutants and mutants blocked in zygospore development

Spores of a minus strain of Mucor mucedo (Bref.) were treated with 1-methyl-[3-nitro]-1-nitro-soguanidine and mutants were isolated either by testing for zygophore induction with externally supplied trisporic acids (TA) or by mating with wild type plus colonies. Mutants were found defective (Tar^?) or temperature-sensitive (Tar-Ts) in their reaction towards trisporic acids, blocked or temperature-sensitive in their mating with plus strain (Mat^? or Mat-Ts) or temperature-sensitive in zygospore development (Zyg-Ts). The inability to react against externally supplied trisporic acids was not necessarily coupled with an inability to mate with plus strain (phenotype Tar^? Mat⁺). This indicated that the diffusion and uptake of trisporic acids is not a necessary prerequisite to the sexual interaction of Mucor mating types.     

Cardiovascular dynamics inCrocodylus porosus breathing air and during voluntary aerobic dives

Summary Pressure records from the heart and out-flow vessels of the heart ofCrocodylus porosus resolve previously conflicting results, showing that left aortic filling via the foramen of Panizza may occur during both cardiac diastole and systole. Filling of the left aorta during diastole, identified by the asynchrony and comparative shape of pressure events in the left and right aortae, is reconciled more easily with the anatomy, which suggests that the foramen would be occluded by opening of the pocket valves at the base of the right aorta during systole. Filling during systole, indicated when pressure traces in the left and right aortae could be superimposed, was associated with lower systemic pressures, which may occur at the end of a voluntary aerobic dive or can be induced by lowering water temperature or during a long forced dive. To explain this flexibility, we propose that the foramen of Panizza is of variable calibre. The presence of a right-left shunt, in which increased right ventricular pressure leads to blood being diverted from the lungs and exiting the right ventricle via the left aorta, was found to be a frequent though not obligate correlate of voluntary aerobic dives. This contrasts with the previous concept of the shunt as a correlate of diving bradycardia. The magnitude of the shunt is difficult to assess but is likely to be relatively small. This information has allowed some new insights into the functional significance of the complex anatomy of the crocodilian heart and major blood vessels.Abbreviations bpm beats per minute - LAo left aorta (aortic) - LV left ventricle (ventricular) - PA pulmonary artery - RAo right aorta (aortic) - RV right ventricle (ventricular) - SC subclavian artery Deceased     

Inositol Phospholipid Hydrolysis by Rat Sciatic Nerve Phospholipase C

Rat sciatic nerve cytosol contains a phosphodiesterase of the phospholipase C type that catalyzes the hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids, with preferences of phosphatidylinositol 4'-phosphate (PIP) greater than phosphatidylinositol (PI) much greater than phosphatidylinositol 4',5'-bisphosphate (PIP2), at a pH optimum of 5.5-6.0 and at maximum rates of 55, 13, and 0.7 nmol/min/mg protein, respectively. Analysis of reaction products by TLC and formate exchange chromatography shows that inositol 1,2-cyclic phosphate (83%) and diacylglycerol are the major products of PI hydrolysis. [32P]-PIP hydrolysis yields inositol bisphosphate, inositol phosphate, and inorganic phosphate, indicating the presence of phosphodiesterase, phosphomonoesterase, and/or inositol phosphate phosphatase activities in nerve cytosol. Phosphodiesterase activity is Ca2+-dependent and completely inhibited by EGTA, but phosphomonoesterase activity is independent of divalent cations or chelating agents. Phosphatidylcholine (PC) and lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC) inhibit PI hydrolysis. They stimulate PIP and PIP2 hydrolysis up to equimolar concentrations, but are inhibitory at higher concentrations. Both diacylglycerols and free fatty acids stimulate PI hydrolysis and counteract its inhibition by PC and lysoPC. PIP2 is a poor substrate for the cytosolic phospholipase C and strongly inhibits hydrolysis of PI. However, it enhances PIP hydrolysis up to an equimolar concentration.     

Important risk factors for death in adults: a 10-year follow-up of the Nutrition Canada survey cohort.

Data on mortality among over 8000 Canadians aged 35 to 79 years who participated in the Nutrition Canada survey are presented. The effects of various risk factors on mortality were assessed with a multivariate Poisson regression analysis. Factors associated with a significantly increased risk of death over a 10-year follow-up period ending in 1981 included cigarette smoking, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. A shallow U-shaped mortality pattern was observed for body mass index and for serum cholesterol level. No statistically significant increases in risk were associated with alcohol consumption. The population attributable risks for smoking, hypertension and diabetes were 39%, 8% and 6% respectively for men and 21%, 12% and 7% respectively for women.