ALBERT

Notes: Summary In comparisons made under typical summer conditions in the field at Davis, California, the foliage of the anthocyanin-deficient mutant af proved to be much more susceptible to attack by Epitrix hirtipennis (Melsheimer) than that of the isogenic normal line, normal cultivars, or any other tested mutant. Since a relatively uniform level of damage was observed in leaves of various ages that contacted the soil, the interaction is probably of a preference rather than antibiotic nature. A comparison with nine other anthocyaninless mutants proved that anthocyanin deficiency is not responsible for susceptibility. The severe reduction of glandular hairs and consequent lack of foliage aroma—hitherto unsuspected pleiotropic effects of af—probably account for the high susceptibility of this mutant. The evolutionary significance of the distinct foliage aromas characteristic of each tomato species is discussed.

Notes: Chromosome measurements were carried out in Hordeum vulgare, H. bulbosum, and their diploid, triploid, and tetraploid hybrids. The chromosomes were classified by using relative values, and thus karyotypes were established. For comparison of these karyotypes both relative and absolute values were used. It was concluded that differential amphiplasty occurred, whereas neutral amphiplasty could not be demonstrated. In the hybrids the relative length of the parts of the chromosomes (long arm, short arm, satellite) was not changed in comparison with these lengths in the pure species. The karyotypes of both species had considerable similarities. From comparing the mean absolute genome lengths, it was, however, concluded that in the pure species, as well as in all hybrid types, the chromosomes of H. vulgare were longer than those of H. bulbosum. In the diploid and tetraploid hybrids the mean genome lengths were shorter than those in the pure species and the triploid hybrids. The differential amphiplasty was such that the secondary constriction of chromosome 6 of H. bulbosum, did not show up in the hybrids. This could be related to the suppression of nucleolar formation in the genome of H. bulbosum, because the maximum number of nucleoli in root tip cells equalled the number of satellite chromosomes. Finally it was found that the pattern of nucleolar fusion in diploid and triploid hybrids deviated from the expectation. The results were discussed in relation to chromosomal disturbances that occurred in the hybrid tissues and that resulted in elimination of chromosomes and other effects.

Notes: Summary The corpora cavernosa et spongiosa penis from Rhesus monkeys, Cynomolgus monkeys and cats have been investigated by means of the method for fluorescence microscopical detection of catecholamines- and tryptamines according to Falck and Hillarp. In all species investigated the smooth muscle cells surrounding the sinusoidal cavities of the corpora cavernosa are densely innervated by varicose adrenergic nerve fibres, which form a typical autonomic ground-plexus. A superficial and a deep plexus have been distinguished, the former being composed of densely packed preterminal, ramifying bundles the latter consisting mainly of terminal varicose fibres. In contrast to this the corpus spongiosum — being mainly composed of collagenous and elastic tissue — receives only a moderate adrenergic nerve supply related to the small bundles of smooth musculature. Whereas arteries of the penis are characterized by a superficial adventitial fibre plexus, the greater veins of the penis are supplied by adrenergic fibre meshes which penetrate the media up to the limiting lamina elastica interna. In addition the paraurethral glands seem to possess a direct adrenergic innervation. According to microspectrographical results it is concluded that the transmitter is noradrenaline. This assumption is supported by the finding of relatively high amounts of noradrenaline in tissue pieces from the erectile tissue of four Rhesus monkeys: 0,67 μg/g (± 0,05). No dopamine or adrenaline have been detected. Scattered along the whole length of the urethral epithelium there occur yellow fluorescent cells morphologically resembling enterochromaffin cells. The fluorophore has the spectral properties of formaldehyde-condensed authentic 5-hydroxytryptamine. The possible role of the sympathetic noradrenergic innervation to the penis concerning the initiation and termination of the erection is discussed.

Notes: Summary The distribution of monoamines in the pharynx and oesophagus of the rhesus monkey (Macacus rhesus) and the cat (Felis domestica) was investigated by means of fluorescence microscopical and chemical methods. Fluorimetric determinations reveal the presence of varying amounts of noradrenaline in the pharynx and oesophagus of the rhesus monkey. The lowest amount (0.05 (μg/g) was found in the lower part of the oesophagus, the so-called sphincter-segment. The middle and upper part of the oesophagus contain medium amounts of noradrenaline (0.06–0.09 μg) whereas the highest concentration was detected in the pharynx (0.14 (μg/g). Neither dopamine nor adrenaline occurred in the tissue pieces analyzed. Fluorescence microscopically noradrenaline was found to be located in varicose intramural nerve fibre plexus which innervate mucous glands and blood vessels in the pharynx of both species. In the rhesus monkey, the lamina muscularis mucosae of all parts of the oesophagus is supplied by a well developed noradrenergic ground-plexus. Preterminal and terminal varicose nerve fibres are distributed in myenteric and submucous ganglia of the oesophagus; the number of such ganglia decreases towards the lower segment. The density of the adrenergic innervation is higher in myenteric when compared to submucous ganglia. The arrangement of the intraganglionic terminals suggests that both axosomatic and axodendritic contacts occur in Auerbach's ganglia whereas axodendritic contacts seem to predominate in Meissner's ganglia. Myenteric ganglia situated close to the submucosa as well as true submucous ganglia may be occasionally seen to be traversed by faintly fluorescent non-varicosed fibres which do not establish any synaptic contacts. The fluorescence intensity of intraganglionic varicosities varies considerably; accordingly the transmitter content of individual varicosities seems to be very variable. The adrenergic innervation of the lamina muscularis is restricted to single contorted fibres being sparsely distributed throughout the longitudinal smooth muscle layer. The circularly arranged smooth musculature of the sphincter-segment lacks an adrenergic nerve supply. The vagus nerve carries sympathetic adrenergic fibres to the lower oesophagus and the cardia. Species differences between the innervation pattern in rhesus monkeys and cats are outlined: No adrenergically innervated ganglia occur in the submucosa of the cat. However, part of the myenteric ganglia in cats exhibit an adrenergic innervation pattern similar to that seen in submucous ganglia of the rhesus monkey. They might therefore be regarded as morphologically equivalent to the plexus submucosus which is, however, present in the whole gut. The density of the noradrenergic ground-plexus in the muscularis mucosae of the cat's oesophagus is less than that of the corresponding plexus in rhesus monkeys. The influence of noradrenaline upon the smooth musculature and the neurons from myenteric as well as submucous ganglia is discussed. From the point of view of the adrenergic innervation there is no structure corresponding to the sphincterlike lower oesophageal segment.