Chiasma distribution in asynaptic Locusta migratoria

The formation of chiasmata in six full sib male partially asynaptic individuals of Locusta migratoria has been studied. The mean chiasma frequency per cell was 2.3 both at diplotene and metaphase I. Chiasmata tended to be distributed evenly among the bivalents. The frequency and distribution of the chiasmata in each type of bivalent (L, M, or S) depended on the level of asynapsis and on interference between the bivalents. Short bivalents were the most affected by interference, while M bivalents associated independently of L and S bivalent behaviour.     

The metabolism of 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-D-glucose by Locusta migratoria and Schistocerca gregaria

3-Deoxy-3-fluoro-D-glucose (3FG) administered by injection is toxic to adult Locusta migratoria or Schistocerca gregaria (LD50, 4.8 mg/g). temperature-programmed and isothermal gas chromatographic analysis of poisoned locust haemolymph reveals the presence of a fluorinated metabolite identified as 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-D-glucitol (3FGL). The enzymes responsible for the accumulation of this metabolite are located in the fat body of the insect and partially purified as aldose reductase (alditol: NADP+ 1-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.21) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (L-iditol: NAD+ 5-oxidoreductase EC 1.1.1.14) 3FGL is shown to be both a competitive inhibitor of the NAD-linked sorbitol dehydrogenase with Ki 8?x 10(-2) M as well as a substrate with Km 0.5 M. A kinetic rate equation is derived and verified to account for the kinetic duality of 3FGL. These results partially explain the toxic effects of 3FG and are consistent with the presence of a hitherto undetected sorbitol metabolism in locusts.     

The post-ecdysis development of female fat tissue Locusta migratoria and its endocrine control

Cellular events associated with degeneration of the projection of the olfactory bulb to the molecular layer of the piriform cortex of the mouse have been studied with rapid-Golgi and Fink-Heimer impregnations and with the electron microscope. Four classes of axon terminals: s-1, s-d, f-1, and f-d, are differentiated on the basis of whether the synaptic vesicles are spherical or flattened and whether the axoplasm is lightly or darkly stained. The majority of s-1 terminals, the predominant class in sublamina Ia of the molecular layer, degenerate after bulb ablation. Degeneration of axon terminals is associated with dilation and, eventually, degeneration of segments of dendrites in Ia. Both s-1 and s-d terminals contribute to a partial reconstitution of the neuropil of Ia during the weeks after bulb ablation.     

The adipokinetic cells in the corpus cardiacum of Locusta migratoria preferentially release young secretory granules

The influence of flight activity on the release of secretory granules from the adipokinetic cells in the corpus cardiacum of Locusta migratoria was studied. Two labeling methods, an enzymatical and a radioactive one, were used to label young, newly synthesized secretory granules and so distinguish them from older, preexisting granules. Both methods demonstrated that the ratio between the numbers of labeled and unlabeled secretory granules was lower in flight-stimulated adipokinetic cells than in unstimulated cells. This ratio was lower in both the cell bodies and the cell processes of flight-stimulated cells. After flight there was no detectable change in the total number of secretory granules, which indicates that the synthesis of new secretory granules is not inhibited by flight activity. Rather, the tendency of flight-stimulated cells to have more trans-Golgi networks labeled with wheat-germ agglutinin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase suggests that the synthesis of new secretory granules was enhanced by flight. The results led to the conclusion that young secretory granules were preferentially released over older secretory granules.     

Role of phagocytosis and soluble antibacterial factors in experimental immunization of Locusta migratoria

Last instar larvae of Locusta migratoria can be protected ("vaccinated") against lethal doses of Bacillus thuringiensis by previous injections of low doses of this pathogen. If iron saccharate is injected in to larvae prior to the administration of the "vaccinating" dose of Bacillus thuringiensis, no antibacterial protection can be induced. Injection of iron saccharate in to "vaccinated" larvae does not interfere with the induced protection; such larvae resist lethal doses.     

Neural parameters contributing to temperature compensation in the flight CPG of the locust, Locusta migratoria

Elevated thoracic temperature increases the wingbeat frequency of flying locusts. We investigated the extent to which temperature-induced changes in resting membrane potential and postsynaptic potential amplitude contribute to the effects of increased temperature on the frequency of the central flight rhythm. Flight neurons were hyperpolarized by changing the K+ concentration of the superfusing saline from 10 mM to 2 mM. 5 min of low-K+ superfusion hyperpolarized flight motoneurons from -42.8 mV to -50.1 mV with a concomitant decrease of the frequency of the central flight rhythm from 11.6 Hz to 10.5 Hz. The amplitude of postsynaptic potentials was halved after 10 min of zero Ca2+/high Mg2+ superfusion, but the frequency of the central rhythm did not change significantly. GABAergic inhibitory connections were reduced in amplitude using picrotoxin. This treatment increased the frequency of the central rhythm from 11.6 Hz to 12.9 Hz, and increased the thermosensitivity of the rhythm frequency. We conclude that the excitatory effect of increased temperature on rhythm frequency is not mediated by temperature effects on membrane potential and/or synaptic potential amplitude. We propose that the inhibitory effect of temperature-induced hyperpolarization of the membrane potential compensates for the excitatory effect of temperature on rhythm frequency (e.g. via increased conduction velocity). We further suggest that some measure of temperature compensation is afforded by equal effects on the amplitudes of excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials, such that the net effect on the level of excitation is zero.     

Cooperation of dopachrome conversion factor with phenoloxidase in the eumelanin pathway in haemolymph of Locusta migratoria (Insecta)

Dopachrome Conversion Factor (DCF) was found in the plasma of the locust Locusta migratoria. It has an apparent molecular mass of 85,000. Its K(m) was 0.2 mM at 22 degrees C and pH 7 with L-dopachrome as substrate. It had a high substrate specificity for L-dopachrome, methyl-L-dopachrome and L-dopachrome methyl ester but no activity on the corresponding D-isomers or on dopaminechrome. DCF was devoid of any phenoloxidase activity. Under action of DCF, L-dopachrome was converted into dihydroxyindole, which showed that a decarboxylation occured in the course of reaction. Locust DCF was inhibited by indole-3-propionic acid but not by indole-3- or indole-2-carboxylic acid. It was also inhibited by L-tryptophan in a competitive manner. Inhibition and substrate specificity suggest that a carboxyl group, either free or as a methyl ester, is necessary but not sufficient for enzyme recognition. When purified prophenoloxidase was activated and then added to dihydroxyindole either prepared by chemical synthesis or obtained by action of purified DCF on dopachrome, black pigments with a maximum absorption at 540 nm were generated. Therefore in the eumelanin pathway of locust plasma, phenoloxidase can catalyze the reaction that converts the product generated by DCF.     

Isolation and identification of three ecdysteroid conjugates with a C-20 hydroxy group in eggs of Locusta migratoria

Three ecdysteroids conjugates with a hydroxy group at C-20 were isolated from developing eggs of locusta migratoria and identified as 22-phosphate conjugates of 2-deoxy-20-hydroxy-ecdysone, 20-hydroxyecdysone and 20-hydroxyecdysone acetate.     

Fucosterol-24,28-epoxide, an intermediate in the oxidative biodegredation of fucosterol to cholesterol by the cricket (Locusta migratoria (R. and F.)

beta-Sitosterol 1 is metabolised to cholesterol 5 by phytophagous insects. It has been previously shown that fucosterol-24,28 epoxide 3 is transformed into 5 in Locusta migratoria, desmosterol 4 being an intermediate. It is now established that locusts transform [3-3H]fucosterol propionate into the corresponding labelled epoxide 3, recovered as such or as an oxazoline derivative 11.     

Diversity revealed by a novel family of cadherins expressed in neurons at a synaptic complex

In mammals, neurons are highly differentiated and play distinctive functions even in the same brain region. We found a novel cadherin-related neuronal receptor (Cnr) gene family by studying Fyn-binding activity in mouse brain. CNR1 protein is located in the synaptic junction and forms a complex with Fyn. Sequence analysis of eight Cnr products of approximately 20 genes indicates that these comprise a novel cadherin family of the cadherin superfamily. The expression patterns of each member of this novel family were grossly similar to each other but restricted to subpopulations of neurons of the same type. The diversity of the Cnr family genes suggests that there are molecular mechanisms that govern highly differentiated neural networks in the mammalian CNS.     

低品位复杂红土镍矿微波干燥及矿相分析

研究了在碳化硅辅助吸波作用下,低品位红土镍矿在微波场中的干燥过程.采用热重分析(DTG)、X射线衍射(XRD)和傅里叶变换红外光谱(FT-IR)分析考察了添加不同质量分数碳化硅对失重率和产物物相的影响.结果表明:碳化硅与红土矿配比R为2.2:1时,微波干燥处理低镍、铁品位红土矿30min,既可快速脱除矿物绝大部分表面吸附水和部分结晶水;通过控制碳化硅的比例还可以避免过热现象.微波能够改变红土矿的微观结构,促进矿物的分解.进一步的氢还原实验表明,微波干燥有利于红土矿中镍和铁氧化物的还原,其还原率高于常规干燥.     

Postsynaptic complex spike bursting enables the induction of LTP by theta frequency synaptic stimulation

Long-term potentiation (LTP), a persistent enhancement of synaptic transmission that may be involved in some forms of learning and memory, is induced at excitatory synapses in the CA1 region of the hippocampus by coincident presynaptic and postsynaptic activity. Although action potentials back-propagating into dendrites of hippocampal pyramidal cells provide sufficient postsynaptic activity to induce LTP under some in vitro conditions, it is not known whether LTP can be induced by patterns of postsynaptic action potential firing that occur in these cells in vivo. Here we report that a characteristic in vivo pattern of action potential generation in CA1 pyramidal cells known as the complex spike burst enables the induction of LTP during theta frequency synaptic stimulation in the CA1 region of hippocampal slices maintained in vitro. Our results suggest that complex spike bursting may have an important role in synaptic processes involved in learning and memory formation, perhaps by producing a highly sensitive postsynaptic state during which even low frequencies of presynaptic activity can induce LTP.     

Termination of imaginal diapause of female Tetrix undulate (Sow.) (Orthoptera, Tetrigidae) by implantation of the corpora allata of an active female Locusta migratoria

The effect of implanted active corpora allata on the reproductive diapause in adult females of grasshopper, Tetrix undulata (Sow.) was investigated. Implantation of one corpus allatum originating from sexually mature, adult female Locusta migratoria donors effectively terminated reproductive diapause by inducing oocyte development and egg-laying. The diapause-break is the same in females reared at 8, 12, 16 hours light at 30 degrees or 25-20 degrees. There is no difference between females reared with male or without male.     

多金属复杂金精矿硫酸化焙烧热力学分析

对多金属复杂金精矿硫酸化焙烧主要反应热力学数据进行计算,导出△GT^0-T函数,并绘制△GT^0-T图和lgPso2-lgPo2图。经分析可知,焙烧温度和焙烧气氛对多金属复杂金精矿硫酸化焙烧效果影响显著。对比高氧压气氛焙烧和常规氧压气氛焙烧lgPso2-lgPo2图得出,高氧压更有利于硫酸化焙烧。在高氧压气氛条件下（po2=0．42×10^5Pa）,硫酸化焙烧最适温度控制为963K．温度控制上限为1055K。     

Identification of a secretomotor centre in the brain of Locusta migratoria, controlling the secretory activity of the adipokinetic hormone producing cells of the corpus cardiacum

After retrograde filling of axons terminating in the glandular lobe of the corpus cardiacum (CC) of Locusta migratoria with cobalt chloride, a paired group of about 15 cobalt containing cells was demonstrated in the lateral area of the protocerebrum. The axons of these cells run via the NCC II into the glandular lobe of the CC. These small neurons have the characteristics of secretory cells; they contain secretory granules of about 1000 A in diameter. The axon terminals in the glandular lobe, making synaptic contacts with the glandular cells, contain secretory granules of the same size. It is therefore concluded that the cell groups in the protocerebrum control the activity of the glandular cells which produce an adipokinetic hormone. Arborizations of fibers of the lateral secretomotor cells are present in the dorsal neuropile of the protocerebrum, ventral of the mushroom bodies and along the tracts of the NCC I within the brain. It is proposed that these arborizations are sites of synaptic input. It is discussed that the axons of these cells might receive additional synaptic input in the storage lobe of the CC. The localization of cell bodies, the axons of which enter the storage part of the CC is described. The course of the axon tracts of the various cell groups in the protocerebrum and their connections with the NCC I and NCC II are demonstrated.     

The analysis and calculation of equilibria in complex metallurgical systems

The analysis of equilibrium and an iterative method of calculation of the equilibrium state in selected metallurgical systems are presented. The methods of matrix algebra are coupled with the chemical knowledge about the system to determine the number of independent reactions occurring at equilibrium. The role of the stoichiometric constraint in heterogeneous systems is delineated. The method of calculation of the equilibrium state in complex systems using high-speed digital computer is illustrated by two examples, namely, Al-C-O-Cl and Fe-C-O-H reaction systems at elevated temperatures.