EXTERNAL MORPHOLOGY AND PIGMENTATION OF THE VAQUITA, PHOCOENA SINUS (CETACEA: MAMMALIA)

The vaquita, Phocoena sinus , is a porpoise in the family Phocoenidae that lives only in the Gulf of California. The external appearance of P. sinus was unknown until 13 fresh specimens were recently examined. The most obvious morphological feature distinguishing P. sinus from its two congeners is the proportionately higher dorsal fin. The most striking features of the pigmentation pattern are the large black eye patches and the black upper and lower lip patches. In both areas, the pigmentation contrasts sharply with the surrounding light gray coloration. The total lengths of the specimens ranged from 70.3 cm (a neonate) to 143.5 cm (an adult female).     

Algal epilithon and water quality of a stream receiving oil refinery effluent

Changes in epilithic algal communities colonizing introduced substrata were determined in a stream polluted with oil refinery effluent at Digboi (Assam, India). The number of algal taxa was reduced but the growth of blue-green algae, particularly two species ofOscillatoria, was encouraged. Epilithic biomass (as chlorophylla) also declined at polluted stations. The algal community of the upstream station was markedly different from the community occurring just after the confluence of effluent; however, the differences were gradually reduced downstream, indicating improvement in water quality. Of the various criteria tested for possible relationships with the level of pollutants, species richness, Shannon diversity and biomass showed significant relationships. The study demonstrates the usefulness of algal criteria for monitoring oil pollution in running waters.     

刺激家兔颈交感神经对颈动脉窦反射的影响

在36只麻醉家兔观察了电刺激颈交感神经(CSN)对颈动脉窦压力感受器(CSB)活动的影响。所得结果如下:(1)电刺激 CSN 可使夹闭颈动脉引起的加压反射消失或倒转,△BP 从刺激前的 39.5±3.6mmHg 变为刺激时的-0.31±5.4mmHg(P<0.001)。(2)在电刺激CSN 时,静注新福林所诱发的颈动脉窦压力感受器-心率反射增强,表现为反射性心率减慢较刺激前更为明显。(3)在以50—200mmHg 的压力充胀两侧颈动脉窦的条件下,刺激 CSN 引起窦内压与平均动脉压的关系曲线下移,与刺激前曲线相比有明显差异(P<0.01)。(4)切断 CSN 后,动脉血压有所升高,提示 CSN 对 CSB 活动有紧张性调节作用。以上结果比较明确地表明家兔 CSN 对 CSB 活动有调节作用。此作用可能是 CSN 作用于窦壁平滑肌而间接引起的。     

颈动脉窦内压的变化速率对反射性降压效应的影响

在成年狗身上制备右侧孤离颈动脉窦,借助灌流装置用饱和氧的任氏液对其进行灌流。灌流压为搏动性的。通过改变每搏泵出量、灌流管道的阻力和弹性来调节灌流压及其变化速率。用多导生理记录仪同步记录股动脉血压、窦内灌流压及其变化速率。本文主要观察窦内压的变化速率对降压反射的影响。在8只狗身上共进行了93次实验。结果表明,在窦内压相同的情况下,灌流压的上升速率愈快,降压效应愈明显,而其下降速率则无显著作用。已有资料证明搏动性窦内压所引起的降压效应较非搏动性压力更为明显。由此可见,狗的颈动脉窦压力感受器不仅对搏动性压力而且对其上升的变化速率也很敏感。     

颈动脉窦区注入枸橼酸钠抑制家兔呼吸的机制

向颈总动脉头端注入枸橼酸钠能使大多数家兔发生呼气性呼吸暂停和呼吸频率变慢。此呼吸抑制效应可被地卡因麻醉颈动脉窦区所消除。切断窦神经不能阻断枸橼酸钠对呼吸的抑制。切断迷走神经窦支则使半数以上家兔的呼吸抑制减弱或消失,而在结状神经节上方切断迷走神经能阻断大多数家兔的呼吸抑制。结果提示,迷走神经窦支是颈动脉窦区感受器传入通路之一,向颈动脉窦区注入枸橼酸钠对呼吸的抑制主要是通过迷走神经传入引起的。     

Scanning Electron Microscopy of Xiphinema,Longidorus, and Californidorus Stylet Morphology

Stylet ultrastructure of five Xiphinema, four Longidorus, and three Californidorus species was compared by scanning electron microscopy. Morphological differences were seen in the odontophores and odontostyle bases between the genera and some of the species. All Xiphinema studied had well-developed odontophore flanges; the Longidorus species lacked flanges, except for weakly developed ones in L. diadecturus; and none of the Californidorus had flanges. Three sinuses were present in the odontophores of all species. The sinuses varied in length depending upon species. In Xiphinema and Californidorus the odontostyle bases had distinct overlapping collars, but in Longidorus the collars were absent except for L. diadecturus. The odontostyle-odontophore junction from a lateral view appeared as a slanted transverse line in all the species, but in a dorsal view of Xiphinema and Californidorus it was V-shaped. Dorsal longitudinal seams of the odontostyle and odontophore were observed in all the species. The dorsally located odontostyle aperture was ca. 1 μm from the anterior end in all species, except in one Longidorus sp. it was ca. 4 μm from the end.     

Nitric oxide synthase in the rat carotid body and carotid sinus

The participation of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the innervation of the rat carotid body and carotid sinus was investigated by means of NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry and NOS immunohistochemistry using antisera raised against purified neuronal NOS and a synthetic tridecapeptide. NOS was detected in 23% of neurons at the periphery of the carotid bodies. Some negative neurons were surrounded by NOS-positive terminals. NOS-containing varicose nerve fibres innervated the arterial vascular bed and, to a lesser extent, the islands of glomus cells. These fibres persisted after transection of the carotid sinus nerve and are probably derived from intrinsic neurons. Large NOS-positive axonal swellings in the wall of the carotid sinus were absent after transection of the sinus nerve, indicating their sensory origin. The results suggest a neuronal nitrergic control of blood flow, neuronal activity and chemoreception in the carotid body, and an intrinsic role of NO in the process of arterial baroreception.     

Distribution of chylomicron degradation products in the isolated,perfused rat heart

Chylomicron degradation by hearts from fed and fasted rats was studied using a perfusion technique, which allows the separate collection of coronary (Q_rv) and interstitial effluent (Q_i). Upon perfusion with [³H]-cholesterol-containing chylomicrons the tissue recovery of label was highest in the fasted state, while label recovered in Q_i was highest in the fed state. Density gradient centrifugation of Q_i indicated that the label was recovered in lipoproteins with higher densities: low density lipoproteins (1.019<d<1.050), high density lipoproteins (1.050<d<1.21) and a fraction of d>1.21. These particles probably represent chylomicron degradation products (remnants and “surface fragments”). Our results indicate that tissue cholesterol uptake during chylomicron degradation may be inhibited in the fed state. Furthermore, the role of the myocyte (or interstitial) lipoprotein lipase in chylomicron degradation is discussed.     

The influence of coal ash and thermal discharges upon the distribution and bioaccumulation of aquatic invertebrates

The distribution, density and uptake of twenty elements by aquatic invertebrates inhabiting a drainage system, that received excessive coal ash effluent (275 JTU of turbidity) at one end and thermal loading (44.5°C) at the other end, was studied for 15 months. The ash settling basin filled during the first eight months of sampling which resulted in the release of ash effluent directly into the receiving system. Density of invertebrates was lowest in the 300 m stream between the ash basin and swamp and highest 1200 m beyond the stream-swamp confluence where ash influence was minimal. Invertebrate density was lowest in the stations where turbidity from ash effluent was greatest. The most tolerant invertebrates to coal ash stress were odonates (Libellula sp. and Enallagma sp.), crayfish (Procambarus sp.), amphipods (Gammarus sp.) and gastropods (Physa. sp.), and midges (Chironomidae) when the basin was filling. During the period of ash overflow, all groups were either reduced in numbers or absent. In the thermally stressed station, Libellula sp. was the predominant invertebrate sampled when water temperature ranged from 25.5–45.5°C (257-1=28.7°C) all aquatic invertebrates were limited in numbers and density when temperature exceeded the lower and upper ranges of 10.0–38.0°C.This research was supported by AEC Contract AT (38-1-824)This research was supported by AEC Contract AT (38-1-824)     

Isolation of polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing bacteria from an integrated-farming pond and palm-oil mill effluent ponds

Bacterial isolates from two environments, an integrated-farming pond in the university and palm-oil mill effluent (POME) ponds at a local palm-oil-processing factory, were screened for polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). Initially Sudan Black B staining was performed to detect lipid cellular inclusions. Lipid-positive isolates were then grown in a nitrogen-limiting medium containing 2% (w/v) glucose to promote accumulation of PHA before the subsequent Nile Blue A staining. The PHA extracted from positive isolates was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The proportion of PHA-positive bacterial isolates was higher in the POME ponds compared to the integrated-farming pond.