ALBERT

Notes: Projection microradiography was used to determine the density and orientation of the force transmitting structures, i.e., trabeculae and bone lying between approximately parallel vascular canals, within the bones of cat skulls. The organisation in the skulls was confirmed statistically for a total of ten cats. The results of the observations showed that within specific areas of the skull a high degree of structural orientation and an increased density of osseous structures was present. The distribution of these characters corresponded in contiguous bones such that a continuum of structural organisation was established between the alveolar region and the site of attachment of the temporalis and masseter muscles and the glenoid region.The patterns of force transmission during jaw closure were determined when a resistance was placed initially between the canines and then the carnassials. An analysis was first carried out on dry skulls using colophonium resin to determine the direction of the force distribution. The nature and the approximate magnitude of the forces were ascertained by replacing the resin with strain gauges. The basic similarities in the strain patterns recorded from the dry skulls and those from the ten anaesthetised cats in which strain gauges had been intra-vitally implanted, substantiated the recordings made on the dry skulls. Combination of the results from the three sets of experiments defined the patterns of force distribution in the cat skull during the closure of the mandible against a resistance. The results showed that: (1) the combined action of the temporalis and masseter muscles tended to reduce the overall strain in the skull bones, and that the deformations produced by the action of the masseter were greater than that exerted by the temporalis muscles; (2) during biting, whether the resistance was placed between the canines or carnassials, compressive forces predominated in the facial bones; (3) small movements observed between facial bones indicated the presence of a flexible component within the skull, thus allowing large forces to be exerted during biting without overstressing the facial bones; (4) the glenoid fossa is part of a force bearing joint; (5) forces generated during biting were resisted within the skull by forces of an opposite nature generated within the system, the incompressible nature of bone and by the effect of the soft tissues; (6) the nature and the magnitude of the strain altered when a resistance was placed at the canines and then at the carnassials; however, the pattern of force distribution within the skull remained the same; (7) there was a direct correspondence between the detailed structural organisation of the bones and the patterns of force distribution. This conclusion would appear to apply in general to mammalian skulls. The study also emphasises the importance, neglected hitherto, of carrying out a variety of experiments to determine the patterns of force distribution in bones.The Trajectorial Theory of bone organisation is discussed and, on the basis of the results obtained, a modified theory is proposed. This states that: the structural continuum is common to the compact and cancellous bone and comprises bony bars which are aligned in the optimum direction for the transmission of force to a region in the bone or bones where it is effectively resisted.

Notes: The tarsi of all three pairs of legs of both sexes of Aedes aegypti (L.) bear spine sensilla, five types of hair sensilla, which are designated A, B, C1, C2 and C3, and campaniform sensilla. Type A and B hairs, spines, and cam-paniform sensilla are innervated by one neuron with a tubular body, a characteristic of cuticular mechanoreceptors. In particular the hairs and spines are tactile receptors and the campaniform sensilla are proprioceptors. The C1, C2, and C3 hair sensilla have the morphological features of contact chemoreceptors. Type C1 and C3 hairs are innervated by five and four neurons, respectively, which extend to the tip of the hair. Type C2 is innervated by five neurons, one of which terminates at the base of the hair in a tubular body while the remaining four extend to the tip of the hair. The role of the type C hairs in oviposition behavior, nectar feeding, and recognition of conspecific females is discussed. Presumed efferent neurosecretory fibers occur near the spine and hair sensilla.

Notes: The micro-anatomy of the corpuscles of Stannius of the toadfish, Opsanus tau, an aglomerular marine teleost, has been studied by light and electron microscopy. The corpuscles are composed of extensively anastomosed cords of epithelial cells which maintain intimate contact with blood capillaries. Most of the epithelial cells contain acidophilic granules which also show a positive reaction with the periodic acid-Schiff technique and aldehyde fuchsin. On the basis of fine structural criteria, three cell types can be recognized. The granular cells contain abundant quantities of granular endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, Golgi apparatus with prosecretory granules, coated vesicles, polymorphic mitochondria with lamellar cristae, filaments, microtubules, a cilium, a variety of lysosome-like dense bodies, glycogen particles, lipid droplets, secretory granules and intranuclear lipid-like inclusions. One variety of agranular cell (type I) is characterized by the total absence of secretory granules, but it contains large amounts of granular endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes, conspicuous profiles of Golgi apparatus, coated vesicles and sometimes an abundance of glycogen. Another variety of agranular cell (type II) has poorly developed cytoplasmic organelles. The perivascular space between the capillary and parenchyma contains connective tissue cells and abundant nerve fibers. The different types of epithelial cells observed in the corpuscles of Stannius of this fish may represent functional stages of the secretory cycle in a single cell type.

Notes: The nervous system of the maldanid polychaetes Clymenella torquata (Leidy) and Euclymene oerstedi (Claparede) (= Caesicirrus neglectus [Arwidsson, '11-'12]) retains its primitive association with the epidermis. It shows only slight metamerism in the presence of larger collections of neurones opposite the parapodia and of larger nerves at the segmental boundaries. Multicellular giant fibers are present in the ventral nerve cord; giant neurones which show a characteristic pattern of distribution in each species are also present. The cerebral ganglia supply nerves to the prostomial wall, nuchal grooves and the wall of the buccal cavity, and a pair of large nerves from the circumpharyngeal connectives also appear to join the buccal system. The organs of special sense are the elongated prostomial nuchal grooves, and prostomial ocelli in Euclymene but not in Clymenella. Statocysts are absent.Four pairs of nephromixia are present. They lie in the aseptate anterior trunk, in chaetigers 5-9 of Clymenella, and 6-10 of Euclymene. The nephridiopores lie at the ventral ends of the neuropodia of chaetigers 6-9 and 7-10, respectively. Each nephromixium consists of coelomostome, tubule and contractile bladder. The wall of the tubule and bladder consists of both excretory and ciliated cells. Most of the cytoplasm of the latter forms a bounding layer at the outer surface. The cytoplasm of the excretory cells contains lipid material and appears to synthesize lipofuscin. The tips of the excretory cells swell, fill with granules, and break off in the form of vesicles which are periodically expelled in clouds from the nephridiopores. Glycogen is present, especially in the ciliated cells of the tubule and coelomostome.Granules of a lipoid nature accumulate in (or between) cells of the nephridia, epidermis, and some regions of the gut, and may be excretory. Lipid granules also appear to be synthesized by coelomocytes which eventually end up in masses in the ventrolateral coelomic cavities of the tail.The nephridia act as gonoducts, but show no seasonal variation in either size or histological structure.

Notes: The ascophoran Pentapora foliacea was studied from epoxy sections of skeletal and soft (hard-soft) tissues. The basal wall is double, indicating the colony grew as two independent layers, back to back. The structure of the vertical walls and interzooidal communication organs indicates that zooids were budded in the usual way as in most encrusting cheilostomes. Secondary layers of the frontal wall are of acicular aragonite. The ovicell develops as a flattened cuticular bladder in early ontogeny; the aragonitic layer of the frontal wall later engulfs it. A median vesicle, an evagination of the vestibular wall, is present but the eggs may be supplied with sufficient yolk to nurture the embryo. The overall ovicell structure is similar to that of hyperstomial ovicells in other cheilostomes.

Notes: This investigation describes the pre-natal morphogenesis of the type I pneumocyte subsequent to its differentiation from pulmonary epithelium. Cells lining subpleural alveolar septa were photographed from serial sections with the electron microscope, and a three-dimensional representation of each cell was obtained by transferring the contours of the cell membranes from montages to transparent plastic sheets which were then spaced to scale and stacked. The results of this study indicate that: The nascent blood-air barrier of a 50-day reconstructed cell was twice as thick as the average definitive barrier; definitive barrier thickness was observed in some areas in a 63-day reconstructed cell; the amorphous component of elastic tissue which appears peripherally in septal connective tissue during pre-natal morphogenesis may be directly juxtaposed to the basal lamina of the alveolar epithelium; the orientation of the cell junction between a pneumocyte and its neighboring cells, as observed in sections of alveolar septa, changes as the contour of the pneumocyte changes from simple abutment to overlapping patterns.

Notes: The fine structure of the mid-gut musculature of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria is described and compared with that of the visceral muscles of other species. The gross morphology and fine structure of the nervous system which supplies the mid-gut muscle fibres is described.

Notes: The integument of Paranthessius anemoniae has been studied with light and electron microscopy. A cuticle with clearly defined epicuticular, exocuticular and endocuticular regions overlies a cellular hypodermal layer. The distribution of carbohydrate, lipid and protein components of the cuticle were demonstrated histochemically. Parabolic striations in oblique sections of cuticle suggest that its molecular architecture fits a “twisted sheet” theory proposed for other species.Arthrodial membranes at body and limb joints have a homogeneous structure, lacking exocuticle and endocuticle. Subcuticular glands appear to secrete substances thought to be responsible for the immunity which Paranthessius seems to have to the nematocysts of its host. Small hairs, situated in cuticular cups which occur over the dorsal body surface are considered to function as rheoreceptors.

Notes: The larval epithelium of the sea urchin, Lytechinus pictus, consists of squamous cells and bands of columnar epithelial cells bearing cilia. During metamorphosis this tissue undergoes a series of rapid, complex changes. Through the scanning and transmission electron microscope, we describe and analyse these changes. The changes can be divided into three steps. (1) The larval arms bend away from the left side of the larva, exposing the urchin rudiment. Cells which are identical to smooth muscle cells are in a position to bring about this bending. (2) The squamous epithelial cells assume a cuboidal shape. This change in shape results in the collapse of the larval epithelium onto the presumptive aboral surface. These cells possess a subapical band of microfilaments. The cellular shape change but not the bending of the arms is reversibly inhibited by Cytochalasin B. These observations suggest a mechanism for this change. (3) The former lining of the vestibule of the urchin rudiment comes to lie over the collapsed larval tissue and forms the adult epithelium. At this point, after only one hour, the larva has assumed the external shape of an adult sea urchin.

Notes: The mucous gland of the red-spotted newt, Notophthalamus viridescens viridescens, Rafinesque was examined by histochemical and ultrastructural techniques and its cytological responses to various hormonal conditions were studied. Its secretory epithelial cells produce and release in merocrine fashion a neutral, unsulphated mucosubstance. The secretory epithelium is bounded peripherally by a thin, but apparent non-functional, myo-epithelium. The duct of this mucous gland consists of a single keratinized tubular cell that extends from the neck region of the gland to the surface of the epidermis.Mucous secretion is absent or greatly reduced on the skins of newts maintained under laboratory conditions for a few weeks but reappears after injection of ovine prolactin. Mucous glands in laboratory conditioned animals show a 4-fold increase in volume brought about by the engorgement of their epithelial cells with secretory granules. Ovine prolactin reduces the volume of the glands to unconditioned levels with a corresponding reduction in granular content, suggesting that prolactin functions in the release of the granules. This view is reinforced by the findings that autotransplantation of the pituitary gland prevents the conditioning effect and that glandular volume increases in auto-transplanted animals given ergocornine. Granular accumulation begins also in hypophysectomized newts but ceases after a week, indicating the need for some hypophyseal factor in the synthesis as well as the release of the granules. Ovine prolactin restores mucous glands of hypophysectomized newts to the unconditioned state. Contrary to earlier findings, ovine prolactin induces a reduction in the volume of the mucous gland in thyroidectomized newts.

Notes: The process of coelomic pouch formation in Pisaster ochraceus was studied with light microscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy and time-lapse cinemicrography as well as with the drug cytochalasin B. As in most asteroids, the paired coelomic pouches of Pisaster ochraceus are formed from outpocketing of the archenteron.Arrays of 50 Å microfilaments are found in the presumptive coelomic pouch cells at the apex of the archenteron as well as in the filopodia of the mesenchyme cells. Both cell types undergo active movements throughout the entire process. Treatment of embryos with cytochalasin B (CCB) during coelomic pouch formation results in the loss of cell movements and the regression of the coelomic pouches; this is accompanied by the loss of microfilament arrays in both cell types. Cell movements and microfilament arrays reappear on removal of CCB and coelomic pouch formation resumes.Our evidence suggests that the microfilaments in the presumptive coelomic pouch cells provide the main force for the outpocketing movement. The major role of the microfilament arrays in the filopodia of the mesenchyme cells associated with the coelomic pouches is to determine the definitive shape and location of the pouches.

Notes: Morphological changes of the ovary of the Chinese cobra, Naja naja, throughout the annual reproductive cycle are described. A single clutch of between 6 and 22 eggs is produced in late June. From July to the following April the ovary remains quiescent and contains small previtellogenic, hydration stage follicles. The growth of an ovarian follicle from a primary oocyte to maturation and ovulation is estimated to take three years. The histology of the germinal epithelium and the follicular granulosa shows seasonal changes correlated with the growth of the oocyte. During the quiescent period, the germinal epithelium lacks mitotic activity, but during April, when yolk deposition and rapid growth of the preovulatory follicles take place, the germinal epithelium shows intense mitotic activity. The growth of the smallest hydration stage follicles, and the occurrence of cytoplasmic bridges between the pyriform cells of the granulosa and the developing oocyte, also appear to increase during this period. The possible function of the pyriform cell is discussed and the literature on the origin and fate of these cells in the squamate ovary is reviewed. Postovulatory follicles (corpora lutea) and two types of atresia are described and compared with what is known of these structures in other reptiles.

Notes: An experiment was undertaken to determine which sensory structures of the mouse embryo inner ear developed from what portion of the mouse otocyst. Otocysts of gestation days 10, 11, 12 and 13 were divided by surgical dissection into six anatomical groups: dorsal, ventral, anterior, posterior, medial and lateral halves. They were organ cultured separately. After a period of ten days, the explanted tissues were harvested and processed histologically for microscopic analysis. The surgical control specimens fixed at the time of explanation were composed of undifferentiated ectodermal cells for tissues of gestation days 10, 11, and 12. Otocysts of gestation day ten showed no gross morphological differentiation. Otocysts of gestation days 11 and 12 showed, during the course of their subsequent growth, that the three semicircular ducts and their associated cristae developed from the dorsal and lateral halves. Only the anterior and posterior canals and cristae originated from the medial portion. The posterior half gave rise to the posterior crista and the anterior half provided for the development of the anterior and lateral cristae. The cochlear duct and its sensory epithelium developed in all the anatomical groups except the dorsal half. The utricle developed in the dorsal section of the middle third of the otocyst, while the utricular macula developed in the anterior half of the same section of the otocyst. The saccule and its macula differentiated from the ventral section of the middle third of the anterior half.

Notes: The pineal-paraphyseal complex of sea turtles is an impressively large structure which projects dorsally and anteriorly above the prosencephalon. The complex was examined by light microscopy in several age classes of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) and from juvenile loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta). The paraphysis is extensively fused to the distal portion of the pineal body, suggesting an interrelated function for these two tissues. No duct or canal was observed connecting the pineal lumen to the third ventricle. Two pineal cell types are described which appear to correspond to the neuroglial supportive cells and the secretory rudimentary photoreceptor cells of other amniotic vertebrates. A possible luminal secretion in the form of apical protrusions is produced by the latter cell type. No typical photoreceptive outer segments were observed.

Notes: The fine structure of the wax gland of Anomoneura nymph and its metamorphic change were investigated. In the nymph, this organ encircles the anus, and consists of two kinds of cells, derived from epidermal cells: (1) very tall, slim wax cells, which produce and secrete the wax, and (2) flat interstitial cells found among the wax cells. The whole gland is covered by a wax-secreting cuticle with a delicate surface sculpture. Each wax cell has a long, wide duct which opens at the cuticle and penetrates the entire cell. Its cytoplasm is rich in mitochondria and smooth endoplasmic reticulum while that of interstitial cells contains rough endoplasmic reticulum. During each nymphal molt, the cluster of primordial wax gland cells  -  derived from the epidermis  -  proliferates rapidly and forms the gland of the next instar. The gland of the preceding instar meanwhile degenerates. Interstitial cells play an important role in cuticle formation and shedding at each molt. These cells alone produce and deposit the new cuticle of the next instar; the wax cells, specialized for wax production, cannot produce cuticle. The apical portion of the wax cell is cut off from the main cell body by growth of the surrounding interstitial cells. Thereafter, the wax cells degenerate, resulting in the rapid disappearance of the previous instar's wax gland. Adults lack this gland entirely.

Notes: The dorsal ventricular ridge (DVR) is a subcortical, telencephalic structure in reptiles and birds that protrudes into the lateral ventricle. The structure of DVR has been studied in the red-eared turtle (Pseudemys scripta elegans) in Nissl and Golgi preparations. The DVR in Pseudemys is divided into the anterior dorsal ventricular ridge (ADVR) and the basal dorsal ventricular ridge (BDVR) by the dorsal branch of the middle ventricular sulcus. The structure of ADVR has been examined in detail.The ADVR is divided into four regions with distinct boundaries termed dorsal area, medial area, ventral area and central area. Dorsal area, medial area and ventral area border on the lateral ventricle; central area lies deep to the other areas. Three classes of neurons are found in Golgi preparations of ADVR. Juxtaependymal cells have somata near the perikarya of ependymal cells; their dendrites are found primarily in a periventricular fiber zone. Aspiny neurons were observed only in the dorsal half of ADVR and appear to be restricted to deep regions of the ridge. These multipolar neurons are rarely encountered in Golgi preparations, and the observed distribution may not represent their actual distribution in ADVR. The majority of the cells observed in ADVR are spiny neurons with dendritic fields that range from stellate to double-pyramidal. Cells in this class may be subdivided on the basis of axonal morphology into at least two groups, but further studies are needed to determine the range of axonal morphology exhibited by these neurons.An analysis of the distribution of these cell types in Golgi material shows that dorsal area, medial area and ventral area are organized in four zones concentric with the ventricular surface. Central area apparently lacks a concentric pattern of organization. Zone 1 is a periventricular fiber band that contains juxtaependymal neurons and ascending dendrites of zone 2 spiny neurons, and it may serve as a structural substrate for segregated input onto these cell populations. Zone 2 contains clusters of spiny neurons with apposed somata, which vary in size and distribution between areas. Dendrites of zone 4 neurons are also found in the deep half of zone 2. Zone 3 is a cell-poor region which lies at the center of a region of overlapping dendritic fields of zone 2 and zone 4 neurons. Zone 4 contains predominantly spiny neurons (aspiny neurons are found only in the dorsal half of ADVR) which are either isolated or in small clusters with apposed somata. Dendrites of zone 2 cells extend superficially into zone 4, so that the deep portions of zone 4 may be a substrate for segregated input to zone 4 neurons. These zones are differentially elaborated in each area. Central area, by contrast, consists of scattered spiny and aspiny neurons among fibers connecting ADVR and the lateral forebrain bundle.A comparison of these findings with the ADVR of snakes (Ulinski, '78a,b) shows both similarities and differences in DVR organization in the two taxa. Although snakes lack areal divisions, ADVR is organized in four concentric zones (zones A-D). Zones A and B resemble zones 1 and 2 in turtles, consisting of a superficial fiber zone and a subjacent cell cluster zone. The clusters are smaller in snakes than in turtles. However, snakes lack a cell-poor band deep to zone B, and dendrites of cells in zone C enter zone A. Thus, there are differences in both areal and zonal dimensions of ADVR organization in turtles and snakes.

Notes: Ultrathin sections of the nasal barbel of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, were studied in the electron microscope and the fine structure was compared to that of barbels of other teleosts and to the mandibular (dentary) barbels of I. punctatus. While the overall histology of the nasal barbel is similar to that of barbels described previously, this study revealed far greater cellular complexity and variability than was previously reported. A layer of stratified epidermal cells rests upon a connective tissue dermis containing a cartilage rod, a large number of nerve fibers and numerous blood vessels, fibroblasts and pigment cells. Taste buds are present in the epidermal layer. This layer was found to contain probably 16 kinds of cell types, several of which may represent transitional stages, in addition to taste bud cells. Observations were made pertaining to innervation and cell types in the taste buds. A new terminology for designating the barbels of I. punctatus is suggested.

Notes: New data on the brain of Latimeria indicate that previous estimates of the brain weight were too high by a factor of two. Our data suggest a brain weight of 1.1-1.5 grams for a specimen with a body weight of 30 kilograms. Quantitative data on major divisions of the brain are presented for the first time, and the relative size of the major brain divisions is similar to that of sturgeons and generalized sharks (such as hexanchids and squalids). Examination of brain component weight (s): body weight plots in a sample of non-teleost actinopterygian fishes indicates that all major divisions of the brain, except the telencephalon, are larger than in Latimeria. Brain component sizes in Latimeria are more similar to those extrapolated for amphibian brains than to those for actinopterygians. However, the cerebellum of Latimeria is considerably larger than that of amphibians.

Notes: The Champy-Maillet osmium tetroxide-zinc iodide technique and a new method using azur B-sodium thioglycolate were used to study the general nervous tissue structure in planarians. A subepidermal and a submuscular nerve plexus, partially reported by earlier authors, are described, and a gastrodermal plexus is reported for the first time in triclads. The possible functions for each one of these plexuses are discussed. By the Champy-Maillet method, the innervation within the parenchyma appears as an array of numerous single nerve fibers that course between the parenchyma cells making apparent synaptic contacts. The pharynx has outer and inner nerve nets similar in structure to the submuscular nerve plexus. Both nerve nets are connected to each other by radial nerves.The central nervous system has a sponge-like structure with many lacunae filled with cell bodies, dorso-ventral muscle fibers, parenchymal cell processes and excretory ducts. The existence of this sponge-like nervous tissue structure is discussed in relation to the still incomplete centralization of the nervous tissue in these organisms, to the lack of a true vascular system and to the acoelomate level of organization. A comparison with the nervous tissue structure of more advanced groups like polyclads and nemertines is suggested.

Notes: Secretion in the salivary glands of Gromphadorhina portentosa involves three cell types: parietal cells, secretory cells, and duct cells. The organization and role of the parietal and secretory cells are here considered. Parietal cells have numerous mitochondria, indicating an active metabolic role and the subsequent production of ATP. Plasma membrane invaginations and intracellular ductules containing microvilli appear to function in the absorption of solutes from the hemolymph and finely-tapered ductules. Secretory cells contain abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum, the three forms (stacked, vesicular, and diffuse) of which appear to develop sequentially during maturation. Secretory vesicle formation is asynchronous between adjacent secretory cells, and apparently the large vesicles often coalesce. The secretory vesicles also show differing degrees of electron density, indicating distinct biochemical composition.

Notes: Studies were undertaken of the microcirculation and histology of the gill of Protopterus aethiopicus as a prerequisite for elucidating the function of the gills in a bimodal respiratory system. The lamellae of the gill-bearing arches (I, IV, V, VI) resembles the arborescent external gill of the larval amphibian rather than the gill of the teleost or selachian.The arterio-arterial system (a-a) of the gill consists of an afferent artery, a series of large capillaries, and an efferent artery on each of the primary, secondary and tertiary lamellae. There are no pillar cells and the loose capillaries are covered with a multilayered epithelium. While living in water, the minimum distance for gas exchange is of the order of 5 μ. An afferent-efferent arterial shunt at the base of each primary lamella may be involved in control of lamellar blood flow and the resistance of the gill vasculature.The arterio-venous system originates primarily from the efferent side of the arterio-arterial system and drains into large branchial veins. Numerous contractile cisternae, interposed between intercellular channels and veins, presumably function as micropumps that collect fluid from intercellular epithelial spaces and inject it into the venous circulation.During aestivation, the epithelial layer of the gill lamellae becomes thinner. The entire gill vasculature, including the capillaries and afferent-efferent shunts on arches IV-VI, are very dilated which presumably promotes blood flow through these gill arches to the lungs.

Notes: The movements of the shoulder girdle of eight adult cats during overground stepping were studied, using standard slow motion cinematographic techniques. The patterns of activity of shoulder muscles were examined, using simultaneous intramuscular electromyography. Walking, trotting and galloping steps were analyzed from digitized single motion picture frame images. Angular movements of the shoulder girdle consist of biphasic flexion and extension of the shoulder joint and a monophasic flexion-extension alternation of the scapula on the thorax during each step cycle. In addition, the center of the scapula moves craniad during the swing phase and caudad during the stance phase with respect to a fixed reference point on the animal. Similar vertical movements of the center of the scapula also occur in each step cycle. Results of EMG studies of the 17 muscles capable of acting on the shoulder girdle indicate that three overall patterns of activity are found: (1) a pattern typical of extensor muscles, active during all the extension epochs; (2) a pattern typical of flexor muscles, active during the flexion epoch; and (3) a biphasic pattern of activity, active twice in each step. These data are used, along with a re-examination of previous models of the mechanics of the shoulder girdle of carnivores to examine the function and mechanics of shoulder motion. It is concluded that the rotary and translatory movements of the shoulder girdle during stepping combine to enhance step length.

Notes: The most striking morphological feature of the ovarian epithelium of Cymatogaster is the presence of intercellular dilations during much of the year. These dilations increase markedly in volume during the several months prior to ovulation and fertilization, and decrease in volume during the months of embryogenesis and gestation. The epithelium then returns to its initial, relatively undifferentiated state. The extracellular material within the dilations likely is synthesized in the cells adjacent to or within the dilations. Apparently most of this material is released into the ovarian lumen when the apicolateral margins of adjacent epithelial cells pull apart; possibly it serves as nutrient for developing embryos.In addition to supporting embryogenesis, the ovarian epithelium also apparently is involved in sperm storage. Sperm are maintained within pockets in the ovarian epithelium for the several months between insemination and fertilization. The cells lining the sperm pocket do not develop the intercellular dilations characteristic of most of the ovarian epithelium, and sperm remain associated only with the sperm pocket cells.

Notes: The antennae of Folsomia candida and Hypogastrura copiosa are provided with tactile hairs on all four segments and, in addition, with chemoreceptors on segments three and four. The cuticle of the thin-walled chemo-receptors of Folsomia, as in most other insects, is penetrated by many small pores uniformly distributed over the surface. In contrast, the cuticle of the thin-walled chemoreceptors of Hypogastrura is unusual in that a band of cuticle without perforations spirals around, or partly around, the hair. The cuticle between the spirals is very thin, and has extremely small openings in it. The tip of the antenna of Folsomia is thin, permeable to dyes in aqueous solution and apparently glandular. The antennal tip of Hypogastrura is definitely glandular.

Notes: After hemisection of the spinal cord and medulla oblongata, a projection has been traced to the inner half of the tectal white of the tiger salamander, using Fink-Heimer degeneration staining. By microelectrode recording it was found that the tectal projection forms a topographic somatosensory map of the contralateral half of the body. This map is in register with the overlying retino-tectal visual projection. Using the Falck-Hillarp technique, it was found that the somatosensory tectal input is associated with yellow-fluorescing 5-hydroxytryptamine fibers.

Notes: A comparative morphological study concerning typology and topography of chemoreceptors on the prothoracic legs of Calliphora vicina, Phormia terranovae and Musca domestica has been carried out. The typological criteria of Grabowski and Dethier ('54) and Hansen and Heumann ('71) were used. A single criterion, the shape of the tip, was used to define the different types of chemoreceptors.A-hairs have a rhombic pore at the side of the tip; B-hairs have an oval pore at the tip apex and D-hairs have a rectangular pore under an undulated, cap-like structure at the hair tip. A-, B-and D-hairs were found in the tarsomeres of Phormia; in Musca and Calliphora only B- and D-hairs were found. An opening and closing mechanism may operate on the pores of the tips of the chemoreceptors. Chemoreceptors were counted and a topographical map was completed, using SEM-techniques. Topographical maps are of value in electrophysiological and behavioural research, where only a limited optical magnification is possible.

Notes: The structures of the lantern tracheoles of three genera of flashing fireflies are compared. All three genera have stiff, reinforced tracheoles which resist folding or collapsing under conditions which flatten more typical tracheoles. This common specialization supports the hypothesis that the tracheoles play a major role in flash control in these fireflies, especially as the morphological basis of the stiffening is different in the three genera. Study of the tracheoles of other tissues reveals that there is great variety in structure and flexibility of these vessels from tissue to tissue and organism to organism, suggesting that tracheolar specialization may be a general phenomenon, with the fine structure of these air tubes being tailored to the particular demands and conditions of the tissues in which they are found.

Notes: Tibiotarsal segments of 12-day chick embryos homozygous for the crooked neck dwarf gene (cn/cn) were examined histologically following routine methods of preparation. The myogenic mass fails to divide into separate muscle bundles during the early stages of differentiation. Myoblasts and myotubes are observed, although the proportion favors the mononucleate cell population. Multinucleate myotubes are often wavy in appearance and many contain eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions. The entire tissue mass of mutants appears more compacted than in control limbs. Poor organization of muscle appears related to the lack of a suitable connective tissue system. Epimysia, perimysia, and subcutaneous connective tissue fail to develop properly. Tendons are poorly developed or absent. Comparisons between mutant and control embryos show no differences in peripheral innervation. Nerve fascicles penetrate deeply into the developing muscle of both species. The distribution of vascular elements is seemingly normal also. Skeletal muscle of cn/cn embryos is capable of differentiating to the myotube stage, after which it undergoes cellular degeneration without achieving a functional state. Comparisons of this mutant with alleged chemical phenocopies show important differences.

Notes: The histology and carbohydrate histochemistry of eight teleostean stomachs are compared. Three gross anatomical types of stomachs are described and their shapes appear to correlate somewhat with feeding habits. Each type can be divided histologically into a corpus and pylorus. Gastric glands, containing only one cell type, occur in the copora of all species, but are present in the pylori of esocids only. As a single cell can produce both enzymes and hydrochloric acid such cells may be comparable to those of amphibians but not mammals. Lamina propria and submucosa are indistinctly separated in corpora but better defined in pylori by an intervening muscularis mucosa. The arrangement of the muscularis into inner circular and outer longitudinal layers is the opposite of that seen in the esophagus. Gastric mucous cells show species variations in localization of epithelial mucosubstances, which in broad terms are recognized as sulfomucins, sialomucins and neutral mucosubstances. A piscivorous diet does not appear to demand any particular type of carbohydrate. Within the Centrarchidae, gastric pit cells vary in carbohydrate content from only neutral mucosubstance to only weakly acidic sulfomucin; two species contain both types. A positive PAS reaction on the surface of gastric epithelial cells is suggestive of a striated border and thus possibly absorptive function. The absence of stomachs in some teleosts and the evolutionary and dietary significances are discussed.

Notes: The American cockroach has a total of 368 muscles inserting on the post-coxal segments of its legs. By using a narrow morphological definition for delimiting individual muscles, it is shown (i) that the protrochanteral musculatures (23 muscles/leg) differ from the essentially identical meso- and metatrochanteral musculatures (24 and 26 muscles/leg) in number and disposition of extensors and in having a completely different flexor composition, and (ii) that the musculatures of the more distal segments of the legs are completely serially homologous, there being 2 muscles for moving each femur, 23 for each tibia, 7 for each first tarsomere, and 5 for each of the paired pretarsal claws. In all six legs, the trochanteral and tibial musculatures each contain single slender muscles that may be acting proprioceptively to measure the angular displacements between, respectively, the coxas and trochanters, and the femurs and tibias. Neurological and phylogenetic considerations are used to demonstrate why a narrow morphological definition should be employed, and why the widely used functional definition of Snodgrass ('35) is not only fallacious on evolutionary grounds, but also leads to making erroneous conclusions regarding the manner in which insect musculature is controlled by the insect central nervous system. Finally, it is hypothesized that the physiological limitations imposed by having an open circulatory system and the problems inherent in the neural control of large muscles may have been major evolutionary factors in forcing insects to use many slender muscles to control their body movements.

Notes: Among piscivorous cichlids consistent differences have been recorded between ambush and pursuit hunters with respect to electromyographic, kinematic, pressure and behavioral profiles during prey capture by high speed inertial suction. Piscivorous cichlids possess a repertoire of at least two patterns of prey capture, each of which is characterized by an extreme regularity of the kinematic, pressure, electromyographic and behavioral profiles. The nature and locomotory behavior of the prey, visually analyzed by the predator during the prestrike stalk, determine which of the two preprogrammed patterns is recruited. Agile and elusive prey invariably will elicit a preprogrammed motor output (stereotyped motor pattern) that produces the greatest suction velocities in both ambush and pursuit hunters. The greater the kinematic and suction velocities, the greater the overlap of the firing sequences of antagonistic muscle complexes. The opercular and branchiostegal apparati function as an exceedingly effective anti-backwash device, damping potential fluid oscillations within the oropharynx. Mastication occurs by triphasic movements and actions of muscles of the upper and lower pharyngeal jaws in both ambush and pursuit hunters. The lower pharyngeal jaw is acted upon by a force couple of which the fourth levator externus on one hand and the pharyngocleithralis externus and pharyngohyoideus on the other hand are the antagonistic components. Furthermore, the lower pharyngeal jaw is suspended by a muscular sling, the tension of which can be modified continuously. It is postulated that the switch from insectivorous to piscivorous feeding regimes (and perhaps vice versa) is accomplished by very minor structural and functional modifications, because the modulatory multiplicity and total range of repertories of the feeding machinery of the two trophic groups overlap significantly. Piscivorous cichlids may not have arisen by orthoselection in gradually-changing lineages, but represent the differential success of subsets from a random pool of speciation events. Adaptive features identified as characteristic for piscivory could have evolved in multiple and independent lineages at a punctuational mode and tempo.

Notes: Gastrocnemius tendons of 10 White Leghorn chickens at 6, 8, and 12 weeks of age were divided into proximal, middle, and distal portions to assess regional variability in composition and growth. Body weight increases ∼ 150% during the period examined, whereas the lateral gastrocnemius muscle and tendon increase ∼ 193% and 227%, respectively. No significant changes in cellularity (DNA concentration) or hydroxypyridinium (OHP) crosslinks occur with increasing age. Hydroxyproline (HYP) concentration increases by 12 weeks of age, as hexuronate, glucosamine, and galactosamine decrease. Composition shows some regional variation: the distal region of the tendon has a lower HYP concentration, and increased GAGs and OHP crosslinks compared to either the proximal or middle regions, which do not differ from each other. The mean collagen fibril diameter increases with age, but the oldest tendons also contain more small diameter fibrils (〈40 nm). There is a unimodal fibril distribution at all three ages, although this has broadened by 12 weeks. The data from this study suggest that rapid tendon growth occurs throughout the time period examined and that changes characteristic of mature tendon, such as increased OHP crosslink concentration, have not yet developed in hatchlings because of the large amount of new tissue being produced. Whereas all three regions of the tendon are similar in size, composition of the distal region differs from that of the proximal and middle regions, suggesting that this portion of the tendon should be avoided when sampling a tendon. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: The integument of Pycnogonida (Arthropoda) consists of an epicuticle decorated with tubercles and a filamentous coat, an exocuticle with a small number of ill-defined layers, and an endocuticle whose numerous layers are composed of conspicuously cross-banded fibrils. This cuticular periodicity, attributable to cross-linked chitin, has been observed previously in uncalcified and untanned cuticle of many lower crustaceans, especially branchiopods and copepods, and in scattered examples of thin respiratory or excretory cuticles of other arthropods. It is uniformly present in all representatives of all nine pycnogonid families examined to date. Stomodeal, proctodeal, and arthrodial cuticles are devoid of the endocuticular periodicity. The cuticle is decorated with sensory filaments and setae, but is more noteworthy for a dense coverage by glands, up to 1,400/mm2. Myocuticular junctions have desmosomal fine structure previously found only in chelicerates. Muscle fine structure is that of slow fibers with long sarcomeres and a high actin to myosin filament ratio, except for cardiac muscle, which has short sarcomeres. Among the arthropods, only merostomates resemble the pycnogonids in the lack of fast somatic muscle fibers. Pycnogonids display a hybrid array of fine structural features that variously serve to relate them to some arthropod subphyla and distance them from others. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: The chimaeroid holocephalian fishes are distinguished among extant chondrichthyans by the possession of three pairs of tooth plates, evergrowing and partially hypermineralized, that are not shed and replaced like the teeth of living elasmobranchs. Although derivation of the chimaeroid tooth plate from the fusion of members of a plesiomorphic chondrichthyan tooth family has been proposed, evidence for this hypothesis has been lacking. A new analysis of the development and structure of the tooth plates in Callorhinchus milii (Holocephali, Chimaeriformes) reveals the compound nature of the tooth plates in a chimaeroid fish. Each tooth plate consists of an oral and aboral territory that form independently in the embryo and maintain separate growth surfaces through life. The descending lamina on the aboral surface of the tooth plate demarcates the growth surface of the aboral territory. Comparison with the tooth plates of Chimaera monstrosa indicates that compound tooth plates may be a feature of all chimaeroids in which a descending lamina is present. The tooth plates in these fishes represent the fusion of two members of a reduced tooth family. The condition of the tooth plates in C. milii is plesiomorphic for chimaeroids and is of evolutionary significance in that it provides further evidence to support a lyodont dentition in chimaeroid fishes similar to that found in other chondrichthyans. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: The process of morphological and functional regeneration was followed on a tilapid fish, a cross of Oreochromis aureus × Oreochromis niloticus, by observations on movements and the use of X-rays. A four-year-old adult fish that lost its tail as post larva, including ten vertebrae, was able to reconstruct a novel and shorter central skeleton, including a specially modified urostyle. The enlarged and strengthened pterygiophores and their junctions with the dorsal and anal spine formed a fast-holding base for the fins, the posterior part of which largely performed the functions of the missing caudal fin. Although the fish was much shorter than usual, this male behaved and functioned normally. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: A study of the ultrastructure and function of the paraphysis in Bufo bufo larvae was carried out. The structure is a tubular-ramified gland made up of numerous tubules with monolayered epithelial walls surrounded by connective tissue and sinusoids. The epithelial cells secrete glycoprotein to contribute to production of the cephalorachidian fluid. The role of the paraphysis in the transport of fluids and electrolytes from the blood to the cephalorachidian fluid in regulation of ionic and osmotic homeostasis is discussed. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: Spermatozoa from representatives of the five insect orders in superorder Neuropteroidea were examined by electron microscopy following a new fixation method that includes tannic acid in the primary fixative but has uranyl acetate rather than osmium tetroxide as the secondary fixative. The sperm axoneme was found to be similar in the four orders Megaloptera, Raphidioptera, Neuroptera, and Coleoptera, and is characterized above all by its so-called intertubular material being divided into two portions, one located outside, but in contact with the doublet, and the other projecting from the accessory tubule and having a beak-like shape. These features have not been seen in insects from other orders and may be a synapomorphy for these neuropteroid orders. The accessory tubules in these four orders have 16 protofilaments. The shape of the accessory bodies adjacent to the mitochondrial derivatives is nearly the same in insects from the more primitive neuropteroid orders and in Coleoptera. The sperm tail of the examined strepsipteran deviates in several respects from that of other neuropteroids: the particle row in the wall of accessory tubules is incomplete, an intertubular material is missing, and the mitochondria contain no crystal. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: In the embryo of Haliotis tuberculata spiral cleavage induces size differences between the quadrants in the 4-cell embryo. These size differences, together with the formation of compact cell configurations, induce asymmetrical positions of equivalent cells in the 8- and 16-cell embryo. The asymmetries in size and position influence the final specification of the dorsoventral asymmetry in the 32-cell embryo, as well as formation of the mesentoblast. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: The anatomy and histology of the abdominal eversible vesicles and the male reproductive tract of the spoonwing lacewing Palmipenna (Neuroptera: Nemopteridae) have been examined. The eversible vesicles open as a pair of large bulbous sacs between tergites five and six, each folding into halves during retraction. They consist of highly pleated cuticle, beneath which are typical gland cells, each having a circular or oval end apparatus surrounded by closely packed microvilli. These communicate to the surface via cuticularized channels. In spite of considerable behavioral observations, male Palmipenna were never noted with everted vesicles. Even during mating trials, where females were presented to males in the field, the vesicles were never everted during the attempted copulation that ensued. Our observations indicate that mate attraction is mediated by the release of a female pheromone. The function of the eversible vesicles and their associated gland cells remains unknown, and their structure appears to be unique to the Nemopteridae. The reproductive tract is similar to that of other Neuroptera, consisting of a pair of five-lobed testes, a medium-to-large pair of seminal vesicles, and three pairs of accessory glands. The major accessory glands are surrounded by circular and longitudinal muscle, and are lined by an epithelium, the cells of which presumably secrete the amorphous rods of material always present in this pair of glands. The sperm in the seminal vesicles are elongate, with a pointed head and a 9 + 9 + 2 configuration in the flagellum. A single spermatophore, similar in shape to that described for other Neuroptera, was found occluding the bursa copulatrix of a teneral female. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: Embryos of viviparous goodeid fishes undergo a 10 to 150 × increase in dry weight during gestation. Maternal nutrients are transferred across a trophotaenial placenta comprised of the ovarian lumenal epithelium and the trophotaeniae of the embryo. Trophotaeniae are externalized projections of the embryonic hindgut. Epithelial cells of the ribbon trophotaenia (Ameca splendens) resemble intestinal absorptive cells of suckling mammals and endocytose macromolecules. They possess an apical brush border, endocytotic complex, endosomal-lysosomal system, and apical and basal clusters of mitochondria. Cells of the rosette trophotaenia (Goodea atripinnis) lack an endocytotic apparatus, have small lysosomes, two mitochondrial clusters, and transport small molecules. Organelle-specific fluorescent probes were employed to characterize the functional organization of the two types of trophotaenial cells. In A. splendens, Lucifer Yellow, a membrane-impermeable tracer of vesicular transport, first appears in peripheral vesicles (15-45 sec), then passes into elongated tubular endosomes (1-3 min) and later appears in large central vacuoles (10-15 min). These vacuoles accumulate Acridine Orange, a classical probe for lysosomes, and have been shown to contain lysosomal enzymes. Endosomelysosome fusion was observed. In both A. splendens and G. atripinnis, Rhodamine 123 fluorescence was localized in two clusters of fine spots that corresponded to mitochondria. 4′,6-diaminido-2-phenyl-indole (DAPI) staining of nuclei established the positional relationships of cell organelles with respect to the nuclei. 3,3′-dihexyloxacarbo-cyanine iodide (DiOC6) revealed the perinuclear distribution of the endoplasmic reticulum. In order to compare in vivo fluorescence of Lucifer Yellow with previous ultrastructural observations, we employed fluorescence photoconversion and electron microscopy. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: The ontogenesis and structural characteristics of the seminal vesicles in Clarias gariepinus (sharptooth catfish) were studied by light and electron microscopy and are described in detail. The seminal vesicles, beginning as simple protrusions from the vas efferentia, becomes more complex with age. Their distal ends become fingerlike and the bases form palm-like extensions. Juvenile male organs do not reveal any signs of seminal vesicles although spermatogenic tissue is already well delineated. The developing gonads contain clusters of large cells, close to the sperm duct and cysts of the testis, from which seminal vesicles are formed. Secretory epithelium lines the tubules of the seminal vesicles and becomes columnar as the tissue matures. Electron micro-graphs of these epithelial cells reveal two types of cells: opaque cells and cells with very vacuolized cytoplasm. Dense pinocytotic vesicles are present between the membranes of neighbouring seminal tubules and apical cell membranes facing the lumen. Maturation and onset of secretion by the secretory cells is accompanied by morphological changes. Protruding cylindrical cells become shortened, modified to cuboidal, rounded cells that send tubular extensions into the lumen. In the final stage of differentiation, only connective tissue membranes supporting the tubule walls remain intact. At the points of contact between the testis, seminal vesicles, and sperm duct, the epithelia of these organs often become confluent. The distal parts of the seminal vesicles, rarely contain sperm; during spawning sperm accumulated in the proximal tubules of the vesicles. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: There are two discrete lobes comprising the armadillo subman-dibular gland. These two lobes can be defined grossly, histochemically and morphologically with the light and electron microscope. The minor lobe stains more intensely with PAS and AB. When viewed in the electron microscope, the secretory granules of the acinar cells within this lobe appear mucous-like. The granules of the demilune cells are slightly different in appearance. The secretory granules of the acinar cells in the major lobe contain many dense foci embedded in a fibrillar matrix, a substructure not described previously. The demilune cells of this lobe contain secretory granules with a mucous-like structure which is consistent throughout the entire lobe. As in the minor lobe, these demilune cells stain very intensely with PAS and AB.

Notes: End-plate distributions have been determined for three frog muscles of different morphology in order to relate end-plate topography to spatial muscle structure and nerve branching. Koelle's cholinesterase technique was applied, both on whole muscles and frozen sections. The end-plates of the short parallel-fibered cutaneus pectoris muscle appeared to be located in short bands along the nerve branches. The nerve tree is restricted to a zonal area across the middle part of the muscle. Depending on the way the nerve branches, the end-plate bands form innervation patterns, varying from one single continuous band to multiple distributed bands. In the latter case one frequently observes that different end-plate bands do not run across the same longitudinal muscle fiber area, although the respective nerve branches run parallel across this area. The long parallel-fibered sartorius muscle has a wider nerve tree and exhibits the same phenomenon for close parallel nerve branches, but end-plate bands along parallel nerve branches far apart cover the same muscle fiber area. The end-plate distribution in the bipennate, short-fibered gastrocnemius is zonal throughout the muscle except in certain compartments containing tonic fibers. The end-plate zone centers around the inner aponeurosis about half-way between the muscle tendon junctions of the fibers and is visible only at the muscle surface where muscle fibers run over their entire length at that surface. The results are of general use in the electrophysiology of neuromuscular transmission because they illustrate how in certain twitch muscles neuromuscular morphology may help to localize end-plates.

Notes: When a larva of Haplothrips verbasci is ready to feed, it grasps the surface of the leaf with its pretarsi, sinks down between its front legs, lifts its head, and places the tip of its mouthcone against the surface. It then shortens its mouthcone and punches a hole in the epidermis by rapidly and repeatedly protracting and retracting its left mandibular stylet. The thrips then inserts its two maxillary stylets as a unit into the wound with a series of rapid thrusts and withdrawals, salivating continuously while doing so. When a food source in the epidermis or mesophyll is found, probing and salivation stop and cibarial pumping begins. Cytoplasm is sucked into the opening at the tip of the protracted stylets, up the food canal between them and into the cibarium.Probing and feeding can occur without mandibular intervention but uptake of liquid seems to require use of the mutually coadapted maxillary stylets, even when these are fully retracted.Prior to molting, the larva protracts its maxillary stylets maximally and, in the pharate state, seems incapable of feeding or drinking.Structures used in feeding are fully described and are shown to resemble those of Hemiptera except for the presence of maxillary and labial palpi and the absence of the loral lobes, right mandible and of a salivary canal between the protracted maxillary stylets. Seven single and 18 paired muscles function in the feeding act, nine less than in adults of the same species.Differences in the feeding mechanism of terebrantian and tubuliferous thrips are discussed and evidence is presented to suggest that the simplified and more highly specialized mouthparts of the latter insects are adaptations for feeding in confining spaces.

Notes: In contemporary entomology the morphological characters of insects are not always treated according to their phylogenetic rank. Fossil evidence often gives clues for different interpretations. All primitive Paleozoic pterygote nymphs are now known to have had articulated, freely movable wings reinforced by tubular veins. This suggests that the wings of early Pterygota were engaged in flapping movements, that the immobilized, fixed, veinless wing pads of Recent nymphs have resulted from a later adaptation affecting only juveniles, and that the paranotal theory of wing origin is not valid. The wings of Paleozoic nymphs were curved backwards in Paleoptera and were flexed backwards at will in Neoptera, in both to reduce resistance during forward movement. Therefore, the fixed oblique-backwards position of wing pads in all modern nymphs is secondary and is not homologous in Paleoptera and Neoptera. Primitive Paleozoic nymphs had articulated and movable prothoracic wings which became in some modern insects transformed into prothoracic lobes and shields. The nine pairs of abdominal gillplates of Paleozoic mayfly nymphs have a venation pattern, position, and development comparable to that in thoracic wings, to which they are serially homologous. Vestigial equivalents of wings and legs were present in the abdomen of all primitive Paleoptera and primitive Neoptera. The ontogenetic development of Paleozoic nymphs was confluent, with many nymphal and subimaginal instars, and the metamorphic instar was missing. The metamorphic instar originated by the merging together of several instars of old nymphs; it occurred in most orders only after the Paleozoic, separately and in parallel in all modern major lineages (at least twice in Paleoptera, in Ephemeroptera and Odonata; separately in hemipteroid, blattoid, orthopteroid, and plecopteroid lineages of exopterygote Neoptera; and once only in Endopterygota). Endopterygota evolved from ametabolous, not from hemimetabolous, exopterygote Neoptera.The full primitive wing venation consists of six symmetrical pairs of veins; in each pair, the first branch is always convex and the second always concave; therefore costa, subcosta, radius, media, cubitus, and anal are all primitively composed of two separate branches. Each pair arises from a single veinal base formed from a sclerotized blood sinus. In the most primitive wings the circulatory system was as follows: the costa did not encircle the wing, the axillary cord was missing, and the blood pulsed in and out of each of the six primary, convex-concave vein pair systems through the six basal blood sinuses. This type of circulation is found as an archaic feature in modern mayflies. Wing corrugation first appeared in preflight wings, and hence is considered primitive for early (paleopterous) Pterygota. Somewhat leveled corrugation of the central wing veins is primitive for Neoptera. Leveled corrugation in some modern Ephemeroptera, as well as accentuated corrugation in higher Neoptera, are both derived characters. The wing tracheation of Recent Ephemeroptera is not fully homologous to that of other insects and represents a more primitive, segmental stage of tracheal system.Morphology of an ancient articular region in Palaeodictyoptera shows that the primitive pterygote wing hinge in its simplest form was straight and composed of two separate but adjoining morphological units: the tergal, formed by the tegula and axillaries; and the alar, formed by six sclerotized blood sinuses, the basivenales. The tergal sclerites were derived from the tergum as follows: the lateral part of the tergum became incised into five lobes; the prealare, suralare, median lobe, postmedian lobe and posterior notal wing process. From the tips of these lobes, five slanted tergal sclerites separated along the deep paranotal sulcus: the tegula, first axillary, second axillary, median sclerite, and third axillary. Primitively, all pteralia were arranged in two parallel series on both sides of the hinge. In Paleoptera, the series stayed more or less straight; in Neoptera, the series became V-shaped. Pteralia in Paleoptera and Neoptera have been homologized on the basis of the fossil record.A differential diagnosis between Paleoptera and Neoptera is given. Fossil evidence indicates that the major steps in evolution, which led to the origin first of Pterygota, then of Neoptera and Endopterygota, were triggered by the origin and the diversification of flight apparatus. It is believed here that all above mentioned major events in pterygote evolution occurred first in the immature stages.

Notes: Studies of the response of adult mammalian and amphibian ventricle to injury have indicated the formation of a connective tissue scar in the place of the wounded or amputated muscle. It has been demonstrated that amphibian myocytes adjacent to a wound surface, unlike mammalian myocytes, have a proliferative capacity. In the present study, a minced cardiac muscle graft was placed into the adult newt ventricle in order to increase the number of myocytes near a wound surface. With such an increased number of reactive myocytes, it was thought a new wall consisting primarily of muscle might be formed. One-sixteenth to one-eighth of the ventricular apex was removed, minced and returned to the amputation surface of the ventricle. General histological and autoradiographic studies were conducted on two sham-operated animals and on five experimental animals which were killed at 5, 10, 20, 30, 50 and 70 days after surgery. Major events of the repair and reorganization of minced cardiac muscle included blood clot formation followed by necrosis of the blood clot and much of the muscle graft. By ten days, an apparent coalescence of muscle fragments and continuity of ventricular and graft lumina were observed, although the graft area never formed an integrated unit with the wounded ventricular wall. The peak of mitotic activity (3.19%) and thymidine labeling (28.1%) of graft cells, including many cells which resembled cardiac myocytes, was observed at 20 days. At 30 days, the graft was observed as a continuous wall composed primarily of muscle fibers. Several 30-, 50- and 70-day grafts had rhythmic contractions. These results suggest that amphibian cardiac muscle has histogenetic and proliferative capacities not attributable to mammalian cardiac muscle.

Notes: An ultrastructural comparison of mouse oocytes isolated at various stages of growth and meiotic competence has been carried out. Progressive changes in the nucleoli, ribosomes, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex, and other organelles and inclusions of the oocyte have been examined as a function of oocyte size by transmission electron microscopy. The observations presented support the idea that growth of the mammalian oocyte involves not just tremendous enlargement of the cell, but extensive alterations in its overall metabolism as reflected in the ultrastructure of the oocyte at various stages of growth.

Notes: The mammalian ovary has been studied by optical microscopy and by scanning and transmission electron microscopy with the purpose of presenting an integrated view of the differentiating mammalian follicle. During follicular development, changes in the granulosa cells are particularly noteworthy and include dramatic modifications in cell shape coincident with antrum formation. The cytoplasmic processes of those granulosa cells immediately surrounding the oocyte, as well as the more peripheral granulosa cells comprising a second and third layer, traverse the zona pellucida, infrequently interdigitate with the microvilli of the egg, and make both desmosomal and gap junction contacts with the oocyte. The zona pellucida is thus distinguished by numerous fenestrations of varying diameters. The membrana limitans (basal lamina) is a bipartite structure composed of (a) a homogeneous stratum upon which the peripheral layer of granulosa cells rests, and (b) an outer region of collagen-like fibers. The specific advantages and limitations of the different methodologies utilized to study folliculo-genesis are discussed.

Notes: The gross external morphology of the salivary glands of Gromphadorhina portentosa is described from light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopic observations. Various techniques, such as cryofracturing and epoxy-fracturing followed by plastic removal, were employed. Internally, the transportation system is characterized by a cuticle-lined lumen bordered by duct cells. The duct collects secretory products, some of which are reabsorbed by duct cells. Products are transported to intercalary ducts and eventually to the hypopharynx and/or salivary reservoirs. Transmission electron micrographs demonstrate distinctive morphological differences between duct cells bordering ductules and those which line expanded regions of the duct. Duct cells which surround ductules have a microvillous-lined apical border in which the cuticular coat of the lumen may be only partially developed. Duct cells in other regions may retain microvilli, or the apical plasma membrane may invaginate and vesiculate. In some cells the apical region has neither microvilli nor invaginations, but possesses two morphologically different forms of microtubules. Some duct cells are characterized by the presence of lamellar bodies in the nuclear region and/or collagenous material above the basal lamina in the area where the acinar duct becomes confluent with the intercalary duct. The plasma membranes between adjacent duct cells within acini become convoluted, forming loops filled with cytoplasm. These loops, along with contact and septate desmosomes formed between membranes, may serve dual functions: adherent mechanisms between cells and/or transportation of materials between cells.

Notes: Fertilization in Notophthalmus viridescens is internal and involves passage of the sperm through five layers of egg jelly (J5-J1, from outermost to innermost), each of which is secreted by a discrete region of the oviduct. Polyspermy is normal. Passage of the sperm through the jelly and into the egg was studied by a technique of artificial insemination similar to natural insemination, in that undiluted fluid from the vas deferens was applied directly to eggs with various layers of jelly present, followed by flooding with water three to five minutes later. In general, successful fertilization increased as the number of jelly layers increased; jellyless coelomic eggs were not fertilizable. Sperm passage through the jelly and into the egg usually occurs within one to three minutes. Upon hydration of the jelly, barriers to sperm penetration develop in layers J5 and J3. Changes in the egg jelly thus seem to be involved in the restriction of polyspermy to a low level.

Notes: The long (49-93 mm) antennae of two species of Australian gryllacridids have high total numbers of sensilla consisting of five sensillar types. Ametrus sp. 7 has 22,300 (♀) and 26,250 (♂) sensilla; although the antennae of males are 33% longer than those of females, their sensillar density was 11% less. Bothriogryllacris pinguipes has 26,700 (♂) and 31,900 (♀) sensilla; antennae of females are 55% longer than those of males but sensillar density is 23% less. Aporous sensilla chaetica form 94.5 to 99.5% of all sensilla; they are presumably mechanoreceptors. Uniporous trichoid contact chemoreceptors range from 75-900 in number. Olfactory, multiporous, basiconic sensilla range from 22-440 and olfactory, coeloconic sensilla from 16-235. Two to five multiporous lenticular organs occur on all but female A. sp. 7. Differences in sensillar abundance between males and females are discussed as well as are the relationships between sensillar diversity on gryllacridid mouthparts and antennae. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: Homozygous recessive cardiac mutant gene c in the axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum, results in a failure of the embryonic heart to initiate beating. Previous studies show that mutant axolotl hearts fail to form sarcomeric myofibrils even though hearts from their normal siblings exhibit organized myofibrils beginning at stage 34-35. In the present study, the proteins titin and myosin are studied using normal (+/+) axolotl embryonic hearts at stages 26-35. Additionally, titin is examined in normal (+/c) and cardiac mutant (c/c) embryonic axolotl hearts using immunofluorescent microscopy at stages 35-42. At tailbud stage-26, the ventromedially migrating sheets of precardiac mesoderm appear as two-cell-layers. Myosin shows periodic staining at the cell peripheries of the presumptive heart cells at this stage, whereas titin is not yet detectable by immunofluorescent microscopy. At preheartbeat stages 32-33, a myocardial tube begins to form around the endocardial tube. In some areas, periodic myosin staining is found to be separated from the titin staining; other areas in the heart at this stage show a co-localization of the two proteins. Both titin and myosin begin to incorporate into myofibrils at stage 35, when normal hearts initiate beating. Additionally, areas with amorphous staining for both proteins are observed at this stage. These observations indicate that titin and myosin accumulate independently at very early premyofibril stages; the two proteins then appear to associate closely just before assembly into myofibrils. Staining for titin in freshly frozen and paraffin-embedded tissues of normal embryonic hearts at stages 35, 39, and 41 reveals an increased organization of the protein into sarcomeres as development progresses. The mutant siblings, however, first show titin staining only limited to the peripheries of yolk platelets. Although substantial quantities of titin accumulate in mutant hearts at later stages of development (39 and 41), it does not become organized into myofibrils as in normal cells at these stages. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: Based on a detailed description of hatchling skeletons of the precocial buttonquail (Turnix suscitator) and the altricial budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus), this report presents the hypothesis that the rate of avian posthatching growth is limited by the quantitative design (i.e., relative volumes of cartilage, bone, and marrow) of the hatchling skeletons. A Jarge portion of bone in the skeletal elements and fast growth are hypothesized to be mutually exclusive. This hypothesis is tested by morphometric techniques and by statistical comparison of morphometric and growth data. All predictions are met by the data, and the design of hatchling skeletons is described as determined by a tradeoff between tissue composition of skeletal elements and maximum rates of posthatching growth. The precocial design shows large bony areas that supposedly resist mechanical stress of locomotion; however, the relatively small cartilaginous areas exclude high growth rates. The altricial design shows the reverse relationship with small bony areas and a lack of locomotion on the one side but large cartilaginous areas and fast posthatching growth on the other side. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: Jaw protrusion is an important component of prey capture in fishes, although the mechanics of protrusion have thus far been studied largely in teleosts. Elasmobranchs are also able to protrude their jaws (Tricas and McCosker [1984] Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci. 43: 221-238; Tricas [1985] Mem. S. Calif. Acad. Sci. 8:81-91.; Frazzetta and Prange [1987] Copeia 4:979-993). Several related features of the feeding apparatus contribute to jaw protrusion in sharks. Labial cartilages form an extendible series attached dorsally to the anterolateral face of the palatoquadrate and ventrally to the anteroventral surface of Meckel's cartilage. The labial cartilage chain swings anterolaterally as the lower jaw is depressed, thrusting the labial margins forward to form a circular oral opening and displacing the jaw apparatus towards the food; this pattern is analogous to halecomorph and primitive actinopterygian fishes in which the maxilla swings forward (Lauder [1979] J. Zool. Lond. 187:543-578). The palatoquadrate and Meckel's cartilage also project anteriorly and represent the major contribution to protrusion. These movements occur simultaneously with enlargement of the oral cavity to generate suction. The wobbegong sharks (Orectolobidae) are specialized for jaw protrusion. The spotted wobbegong protrudes its jaw by 33% of its chondrocranial length using two different mechanical systems. In the first mechanism of jaw protrusion, the intermandibularis and interhyoideus muscles medially compress the lower jaw and hyomandibulae. Compression of the lower jaw results in a more acute symphyseal angle so that the anteroposterior alignment of the lower jaw increases due to the rotation of each lower jaw towards a saggital orientation. Distal compression of the hyomandibulae at their attachments to the jaws swings the jaws forward. The second mechanism involves rotation of the ceratohyal around a posterior process of the lower jaw, pushing the hyomandibulae anteroventrally, thereby pushing the jaw articulation ventrally and anteriorly to protrude the jaws. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: Gap junctions in mammalian heart function to provide low-resistance channels between adjacent cells for passage of ions and small molecules. It is clear that the almost unrestricted passage of ions between cells, ionic coupling, is required for coordinate and synchronous contraction. This knowledge of gap junction function has made it important to study their properties in normal and abnormal tissues. In the present study, we analyzed gap junction distribution in normal and cardiomyopathic heart tissue utilizing immunofluorescent and electron microscopy techniques. Frozen, unfixed sections of age-matched normal and cardiomyopathic cardiac tissues were immunofiuorescently stained using an antibody directed against a specific peptide sequence of the connexin-43 gap junction protein. These studies revealed a characteristic punctate staining pattern for the intercalated discs in normal tissues. Some of the intercalated discs in cardiomyopathic hearts appeared to stain normally; however, others stained diffusely. The pixel intensity distribution of the confocal images demonstrated a marked difference of up to 90% increase in the number of pixels in cardiomyopathic myocardium (CM), yet the pixel intensity of gap junctions had a decrease of approximately 60%. This suggests the possibility that connexin-43 is present in CM cells in significant quantity; however, it does not become localized on the membranes as in normal cells. Electron-microscopic findings corroborate these observations on CM cells by showing an irregular distribution of intercalated discs relatively smaller in size with abnormal orientation and distribution. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: We describe some significant structures of the adult ovary in a Japanese penicillate diplopod, Eudigraphis nigricans, with respect to phylogenetic implications. The ovary is a long, saclike organ lying between the alimentary canal and the ventral nerve cord from the fourth through the ninth body segment. The ovarian wall consists of a thin ovarian epithelium and a sparse muscle covering. There are two types of oogenetic sites: a single, mound-shaped germarium sitting on the center of the ventral ovarian epithelium, and ∼ 10 pairs of patchlike vitellarial areas metamerically arranged anterior and posterior to the germarium. The germarium consists of oogonia, early previtellogenic oocytes, and some somatic interstitial cells. In contrast, the vitellarial areas are composed of more advanced oocytes, follicle cells surrounding the oocytes, and some interstitial cells, but no oogonia. A few larger previtellogenic oocytes rise up from each vitellarial area into the ovarian lumen. Each of these oocytes is still connected with its own vitellarial area by a partial extension of its follicle. Vitellogenesis takes place in these oocytes rising in the ovarian lumen. The ripe primary oocytes leave their follicles to be transported forward into the oviducts. Some phylogenetic implications of the basic characteristics in ovarian structure and oogenesis of E. nigricans are discussed. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: The sperm of the shiner surfperch are packaged into high density aggregations which are introduced into the female genital tract at insemination. Germ cell differentiation occurs within cysts formed by nongerminal Sertoli cells. In late spermiogenesis, spermatozoa within the cysts come to lie parallel to each other and become more densely packed. These sperm packets (spermatophores), containing approximately 600 spermatozoa, then are released into the efferent sperm ducts.The exact nature of the spermatophore binding material is not known, but a major component is proteinaceous and is synthesized in the rough endoplasmic reticulum of the efferent sperm duct epithelial cells. The mechanism by which the spermatophores pass from cysts into ducts is not clear. It appears that whereas many Sertoli cells degenerate causing the cyst wall to break down, many Sertoli cells do not degenerate, but rather assume the configuration of columnar duct cells. The spermatophores remain intact within the testicular ducts, but rapidly dissolve within the female ducts in response to increased pH.

Notes: The telemetered electromyographic activity (EMG) of select hindlimb muscles of unrestrained cats during standing, walking, trotting, and galloping have been recorded. Simultaneous cinematographic records permitted close correlation of muscle activity and locomotor behavior. In general, the pattern of extensor activity of the ankle, knee, and hip during locomotion is fairly consistent, while that of the flexors is more variable.Changes in basic EMG patterns from walk, to trot, to gallop are most evident in the two-jointed muscles associated with the knee and hip. Progressively greater variation of activity onset and cessation can be seen among extensor muscle groups from the walk, to trot, to gallop. Co-activation of the joint extensors and flexors, especially of the hip, at the end of the stance phase (E3) is slight in the walk, moderate in the trot, and considerable in the gallop. These EMG changes are necessary to meet the demands imposed upon the musculature at the faster gaits, particularly galloping, which include limb rigidity as related to loading, momentum as related to the limb's directional change from the stance phase to the swing phase, and lower spinal movements.The peroneal muscles of the ankle and the gluteal muscles of the hip show extensor activity and act as joint stabilizers during locomotion. Both biceps femoris anterior muscle and biceps femoris posterior muscle show consistent hip extensor patterns at all gaits. During quiet standing, extensor activity about the knee, ankle, and metatarsophalangeal joints is evident; but the hip extensor and flexor musculature is remarkably silent.EMG data for unrestrained cats are compared to those of dogs on a treadmill (Tokuriki, '73a,b, '74; Wentink, '76) and those recorded from decerebrate cats (mesencephalic preparation) during controlled locomotion (Gambaryan et al., '71). The EMG patterns from decerebrate cats are more consistent at the walk and gallop within functional groups of muscles at the ankle, knee, and hip than the EMG patterns observed in unrestrained cats or animals moving on a treadmill.

Notes: The relationship of the cells and tissues which comprise the developing ovarian follicle in Xenopus laevis has been studied with scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The saclike ovary is covered on its coelomic side by a squamous epithelium. The cells of this epithelium are extensively interdigitated, and each bears a short, centrally positioned cilium. The lumenal surface of the ovary is covered with a layer of nonciliated squamous cells. The areas of cell-cell contact are characterized by desmosomes in both epithelia, and between the epithelia lies a connective tissue layer-the theca-which contains collagen fibers, blood vessels, nerves, smooth muscle cells and oogonia. Beneath the theca in each follicle lies a single layer of flat stellate follicle cells. Associations between adjacent follicle cells are intermittent, leaving wide spaces or channels. Junctional contacts between neighboring follicle cells are characterized by desmosomes. From the basal surface of each follicle cell extend long, broad macrovilli which penetrate the underlying acellular vitelline envelope and contact the surface of the oocyte. Evidence is presented which suggests that follicle cells may produce and release components which participate in the formation of the vitelline envelope which consists of a 3-dimensional lattice of ropey fibers. Passageways through the vitelline envelope allow the maintenance of contact between oocyte and follicle cells and also allow ready penetration of materials both to the oocyte (e.g., vitellogenin) and from it (e.g., cortical granule material) at different stages of its development.

Notes: This study reveals age related changes in the microscopic structure of the paired frontal bone of the domestic rabbit. Undecalcified ground sections were prepared from anterior frontal bone slices removed from New Zealand White rabbits ranging from birth to 24 months of age. Included were 40 females, 4 males and 6 rabbits less than 14 days old of unknown sex. The ground sections revealed both qualitative and quantitative age changes. Qualitative changes include change in bone tissue types and developmental processes, and presence or absence of primary and secondary osteones. Quantitative changes were measured by counting primary osteones in the outer table of each frontal bone half within 1.6 mm of the metopic suture. In this region, primary osteones were absent at birth, limited in number at 14 days and generally numerous between one and three months of age. In animals older than three months, numbers of primary osteones generally decreased with increasing age. No animals older than 16 months revealed primary osteones. Possible sources of variability in the relationship between observed primary osteone number and age include ability to recognize primary osteones, methods of sampling and processing bone slices, sex related differences and diseases afflicting specimen. Significance of this study includes increased knowledge of frontal bone growth and histology.

Notes: Light microscopic autoradiography with 3H-thymidine demonstrates that the three regions of the alimentary tract in the larval (ammocoete) lamprey, Petromyzon marinus L., possess different patterns for renewing their epithelium. In the oesophagus, columnar and mucous cells originate from stem cells located at the bases of folds and migrate to the tops of the folds where they are apparently extruded. Ciliated cells, located only at the tops of the folds, seem to differentiate from migrating columnar cells. In the anterior intestine, stem cells are present throughout the epithelium so that there is limited migration of cells and their extrusion occurs randomly. In the posterior intestine, the stem cells located at the bases of the typhlosole provide a continuous population that differentiates and migrates to the top of the typhlosole and to the opposite epithelial wall where they are presumably extruded. The rates of cell renewal in all three epithelial regions of the alimentary tract are slower in animals maintained at 10 ± 1°C compared with those kept at 21 ± 1°C. Comparatively, ammocoetes have the least specialized system for cell renewal known in the alimentary tract of a vertebrate.

Notes: The renal sac of the ascidian family Molgulidae (Tunicata, phylum Chordata) has been thought to function as a kidney, yet its structure, contents and activities seem incompatible with current generalizations regarding excretory processes in marine animals. The development of the renal sac is described here as part of a general effort to reexamine the organ's role in Molgula manhattensis. Light microscopy of living animals and fixed material has shown the following: (1) The renal sac begins to sequester concretions before the heart starts beating and before feeding begins. Therefore, blood circulation by heartbeat is not necessary for production or transport of the initial concretions, whatever its effects may be on the renal sac in older individuals. Ingested food cannot provide the initial concretion material. (2) In laboratory-raised animals, concretions appear in the renal sac before “renal sac organisms” (fungus-like organisms seen in the renal sac of all field-collected adults) can be detected. Thus, at least some portion of the concretions can be produced by Molgula in the absence of renal sac organisms. (3) No openings have been detected in the renal sac at any stage of its development, nor is there any evidence that concretions are dissolved or transported out of the renal sac. (4) The development and morphology of the renal sac are consistent with the hypothesis that the organ is an epicardial derivative, except that the renal sac arises from post-pharyngeal (presumptive gut) endoderm, rather than pharyngeal endoderm.

Notes: Oocytes and nurse tissue of Bruchidius differentiate from germ cells during the extended period of pupal development (7.2 ± 0.6 days). A system of 15 pupal stages correlates ovarian development with changes in pigmentation of the eyes, maxillae, alae and tarsalia. The ovarioles grow in length at a constant rate, though their width does not change.A differentiating zone, consisting of germ cells and the basal layer of interstitial cells, arises at the base of the tropharium and separates presumptive oocytes and nurse cells. Early in pupal development the germ cells are arranged in primary syncytia with the cells connected by persisting intercellular bridges filled with fusomal material, never with larger particles, such as mitochondria. At later stages membrane disintegration changes the primary syncytium into a secondary one including all nurse cell nuclei.Nutritive cords are first noticeable when differentiation of oocytes and nurse cells starts. The cords seem to be of primary origin, i.e., they are connections between sister cells which become elongated as these cells are separated during growth. This is indicated by the persistence of intercellular bridges which are sometimes found as part of the membrane of growing nutritive cords connecting young oocytes with the nurse cell syncytium.

Notes: The formation of protein-carbohydrate yolk in the statoblast of a fresh-water bryozoan, Pectinatella gelatinosa, was studied by electron microscopy. Two types (I and II) of yolk cells were distinguished. The type I yolk cells are mononucleate and comprise a large majority of the yolk cells. The type II yolk cells are small in number; they become multinucleate by fusion of cells at an early stage of vitellogenesis. In both types of yolk cells, electron-dense granules (dense bodies) are formed in Golgi or condensing vacuoles, which are then called yolk granules. For the formation of yolk granules, the following processes are considered: 1. Yolk protein is synthesized in the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum (RER) of the yolk cells. 2. The synthesized protein condenses in the cisternal space of the RER and is packaged into small oval swellings, which are then released from the RER as small vesicles (Golgi vesicles, 300-600 A in diameter). 3. The small vesicles fuse with one another to form condensing vacuoles, or with pre-existing growing yolk granules. 4. In the matrix of the condensing vacuoles or growing yolk granules, electron-dense fibers are fabricated and then arranged in a paracrystalline pattern to form the dense body. 5. After the dense body reaches its full size, excess membrane is removed and eventually the yolk granules come to mature. Toward the end of vitellogenesis of the yolk cells, the cytoplasmic organelles are ingested by autophagosomes derived from multivesicular bodies and disappear.

Notes: Testis structure in four species of goodeid teleosts is described. Testicular tubules terminate blindly at the testis periphery where spermatogonia are located. In goodeid teleosts, development of sperm takes place synchronously within cysts whose periphery is made up of a single layer of Sertoli cells. Upon completion of spermiogenesis, spermiation ensues wherein sperm are shed, as spermatozeugmata, into the testis efferent duct system. Subsequently, Sertoli cells, which comprised the cyst periphery, transform into efferent duct cells.Sertoli cells phagocytize residual bodies and are involved in the formation of spermatozeugmata. The structure of the goodeid spermatozeugmatum is quite different from that observed in the related poeciliids. It is concluded, in view of this and other considerations, that the goodeids and poeciliids have independently evolved solutions to the problems of internal fertilization and gestation.

Notes: The papillae basilares of 12 species of lizards from seven different families were studied by SEM. The iguanids, Sceloporus magister and S. occidentalis, have typical “iguanid type” papillae with central short-ciliated unidirectional hair cell segments and apical and basal long-ciliated bidirectional hair cell segments. These species of Sceloporus are unique among iguanids in that the bidirectional segments consist of but two rows of hair cells. The agamids, Agama agama and Calotes nigrolabius, have an “agamid-anguid type” papilla consisting of an apical short-ciliated unidirectional hair cell segment and a longer basal bidirectional segment. Agama agama is unusual in having a few long-ciliated hair cells at the apical end of the apical short-ciliated segment. The agamid, Uromastix sp., has an “iguanid type” papilla with a central short-ciliated unidirectional segment and apical and basal bidirectional segments. The anguid, Ophisaurus ventralis, has an “iguanid” papillar pattern with the short-ciliated segment centrally located. All the short-ciliated hair cells of the above species are covered by a limbus-attached tectorial network or cap and the long-ciliated hair cells, only by loose tectorial strands.The lacertids, Lacerta viridis and L. galloti, have papillae divided into two separate segments. The shorter apical segment consists of opposingly oriented, widely separated short-ciliated cells covered by a heavy tectorial membrane. The apical portion of the longer basal segment consists of unidirectionally oriented hair cells, while the greater part of the segment has opposingly oriented hair cells.The xantusiids, Xantusia vigilis and X. henshawi, have papillae made up of separate small apical segments and elongated basal segments. The apical hair cells are largely, but not exclusively, unidirectional and are covered by a heavy tectorial cap. The basal strip is bidirectional and the hair cells are covered by sallets. The kinocilial heads are arrowhead-shaped.The papilla of the cordylid, Cordylus jonesii, is very similar to that of Xantusia except that the apical segment is not completely separated from the basal strip.The papilla of the Varanus bengalensis is divided into a shorter apical and a longer basal segment. The hair cells of the entire apical and the basal three quarters of the basal segment are opposingly oriented, not with reference to the midpapillary axis but randomly to either the neural or abneural direction. The apical quarter of the basal segment contains unidirectional, abneurally oriented hair cells. The entire papilla is covered by a dense tectorial membrane.The functional correlations of the above structural variables are discussed.

Notes: The circulatory systems of four polystyelids, Botryllus schlosseri, B. primigenus, Botrylloides violaceus and Symplegma reptans, were compared. The palleal buds are connected to the parent zooid by a peduncle and to the colonial vascular system by connecting vessels. The peduncle of S. reptans disappears at an earlier stage of bud development than in B. primigenus; it survives the dissolution of the parent zooid in B. schlosseri and B. violaceus. The connecting vessel is formed by anastomosis between an epidermal outgrowth from the bud and a neighboring colonial vessel, and is characterized by the presence of a sphincter. The number of connecting vessels formed in a palleal bud is three in S. reptans, two in B. primigenus and one each in B. schlosseri and B. violaceus. In each species, the larva has eight rudiments of ampullae. In B. primigenus, the original ampullae degenerate soon after metamorphosis and new ampullae extend from the ventral epidermis of the oozooid. In the other species, the colonial vascular system is derived from the original ampullae.The whole colonial vascular system contracts and expands periodically, with regionally different phases. During each expansion cycle, the sphincter contracts once in B. primigenus and twice in S. reptans. The correlation may be due to blood pressure and the propagation of excitation through the colonial vascular system.

Notes: Scale neogenesis following excision of pieces of skin of various sizes and shapes has been studied in several squamate species. In small wounds, neogenesis does not occur, the wound region contracts, and increased areas of hinge differentiation are seen. In large wounds, the time taken for neogenesis to occur, and the size, shape, distribution, and number of the reformed units, are variable. We confirm previous reports that neogenesis accompanies a renewal phase of the shedding cycle, and suggests that this is because both types of morphogenesis require germinal stability.All types of trauma thus far studied show the initial formation of a hyperplastic wound epithelium with the histological characteristics of a normal α-layer: such tissues are the basis for physiological barrier functions. The mechanical functions of the skin can be fairly adequately restored even by abnormal neogenic scales. The observed variability in the process of scale neogenesis, and the final form of the individual units, are argued to be the result of mechanical factors impinging on the differentiating tissues.

Notes: The stages in wound healing of the wax-moth, Galleria mellonella, were examined using routine histological techniques. Final instar larvae were wounded and maintained for up to 72 hours before fixation, dehydration and embedding in Paraplast wax or Araldite.Immediately after wounding both fat-body and hemolymph were forced through the wound to form a plug. Concomitantly, the hemolymph coagulated forming vast networks of strand-like material attached to the hemocytes underlying the wound. After one to two hours this plug melanized and the cells became highly necrotic. Six hours after wounding, there was a massive influx of hemocytes which eventually attached to the melanized layer over the wound to form a multicellular sheath. Twelve to twenty-four hours later, the epidermal cells underlying the broken cuticle detached and migrated across the wound to form a new intact layer. This layer secreted an amorphous material which is probably the precursor of the new cuticle. Hemocyte functions during wound healing and other cellular defenses are discussed.

Notes: Time-lapse cinemicrography was used to show what changes in the number, size, shape, arrangement and what movements of apices of superficial cells occur during epiboly, extension, convergence and blastopore formation in the blastula or gastrula of Xenopus laevis. Epiboly of the animal region occurs by apical expansion of superficial cells at a nearly constant rate from the midblastula to the midgastrula stage. Egression of deep cells into the superficial layer does not occur. Extension of the dorsal marginal zone begins in the late blastula stage with the rapid spreading of the apices of cells in this region and this continues until the onset of neurulation when rapid shrinkage begins. Extension and convergence of the dorsal marginal zone occurs by a rearrangement in which individual cells exchange neighbors and by a change in the shape of the cell apices. Regional differences in apical expansion are accompanied by differences in rate of anticlinal division of superficial cells such that cells in all sectors of the animal region and the marginal zone show similar patterns of decrease in apparent apical area. Shrinkage of the apices of bottle cells during blastopore formation is described. From this and other studies, a model of the cellular behavior of epiboly, extension and convergence is constructed and several hypotheses as to how these activities might generate the mechanical forces of the gastrulation movements are presented.

Notes: The digestive tract of Hoplosternum thoracatum consists of an esophagus, gastric area, anterior digestive intestine with elaborate folds, digestive intestine with decreasing folds and thin, smooth-surfaced respiratory intestine. The upper tract has a mucoid columnar lining which is gently folded, whereas the gastric area has numerous pits opening into the tubular secretory glands. Striated muscle comprises the anterior muscularis but is replaced by inner circular and outer longitudinal smooth muscle layers in the gastric region. The digestive intestinal mucosa is elaborately folded, consisting of columnar cells with prominent brush borders. Mucosa, submucosa, circular and longitudinal muscularis and serosa layers are present throughout the tract. Goblet cells occur in both the digestive and respiratory intestine. Major changes that appear in the respiratory intestine are a drastic reduction in mucosa epithelial thickness and the penetration of an elaborate capillary bed into the epithelium. The other basic layers are not significantly reduced in thickness. The air-blood barrier consists of the thin epithelium, basement lamina and very thin capillary endothelium. Regional cellular composition and ultrastructural features are correlated with respective digestive and respiratory functions.

Notes: The morphology and microscopic anatomy of the reproductive organs and colliculus seminalis of the male rabbit are described and illustrated. Special attention is given to the accessory sex glands, because not all have been accurately identified previously. The terminology suggested for the accessory glands (with other terms commonly used in the literature in parentheses) follows: glandula vesicularis (glandula seminalis, vesicula seminalis), proprostata (glandula vesicularis, coagulating gland, prostata), prostata, paraprostata (glandula Cowperi superior), glandula bulbourethralis (glandula Cowperi inferior). The English equivalents are vesicular, proprostate, prostate, paraprostate and bulbourethral glands. Organs were obtained from 39 adult Dutch-belted rabbits that averaged 2,023 g in bodyweight. Organ weights (means and standard deviations) were as follows: testis, 2.035 ± 0.529 g; caput epididymidis, 0.264 ± 0.087 g; corpus epididymidis, 0.046 ± 0.019 g; cauda epididymidis, 0.398 ± 0.123 g; proximal part of the ductus deferens, 0.098 ± 0.026 g; ampulla of the ductus deferens, 0.177 ± 0.069 g; vesicular gland, 0.529 ± 1.169 g; proprostate gland, 0.633 ± 0.304 g; prostate gland, 0.411 ± 0.181 g; paraprostate gland, 0.040 ± 0.019 g; bulbourethral gland, 0.390 ± 0.133 g; and epididymal fat pad, 0.545 ± 0.339 g. Correlations among organ weights were calculated and interrelationships among them and bodyweight are discussed.

Notes: Early embryonic mitosis of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, was morphologically studied in the normal eggs and in the eggs treated by low temperature (-10°C).The first embryonic mitosis is observed in the eggs at 120 to 150 minutes after deposition at 26°C. After egg and sperm pronuclei unite, a spindle is formed in each of the pronuclei independently. At metaphase and anaphase paternal and maternal chromosomes are in separate groups on a spindle (gonomeric) and karyogamy takes place at telophase when they reach the poles.The second embryonic mitosis is shown in the eggs at 180 to 210 minutes after deposition. The division of two nuclei is not synchronous in the silkworm, and the mitosis is not gonomeric.In the eggs treated by low temperature, spindle fibers are not observed at all at -10°C, and chromosomes, which form two deeply stained masses of irregular shape, are seen in the less stained area of spindle shape. When the eggs are returned to 26°C, some eggs go into normal gonomeric division, while some form two small and compact spindles, which seem to be derived from each of the pronuclei. It was observed that these compact spindles are able to continue mitosis.

Notes: The morphology of eggshells from hatched eggs of captive Chinese alligators (Alligator sinensis) was compared with that of shells from eggs with early embryonic death and with the morphology of eggshells from the American alligator (Alligator mississipiensisis). Pieces of shells were examined in the scanning electron microscope. Parameters examined included: numbers of open pores on the outer surfaces, total shell thickness, and thickness of the outer densely calcified and inner mammillary layers. Results indicate that shells from Chinese and American alligator eggs with early embryonic death have a thicker outer densely calcified layer than do shells from hatched eggs or full-term embryos. Also, eggshells from Chinese alligator eggs with dead embryos have fewer open pores on the outer surface than do shells from hatched eggs, as has been reported earlier for the American alligator (Wink et al., '90). © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: Development of craniofacial muscles of Monodelphis domestica (Marsupialia, Didelphidae) is described. In a period of 4-6 days all craniofacial muscles in M. domestica progress from myoblast condensation, to striated myofibers that are aligned in the direction of adult muscles and possess multiple, lateral nuclei. This process begins 1 to 2 days before birth and continues during the first few days after birth. Compared to other aspects of cranial development, muscle development in M. domestica is rapid. This rapid and more or less simultaneous emergence of craniofacial muscles differs from the previously described pattern of development of the cranial skeleton in marsupials, which displays a mosaic of acceleration and deceleration of regions and individual elements. Unlike the skeletal system, craniofacial muscles show no evidence of regional specialization during development. M. domestica resembles eutherian mammals in the relatively rapid and more or less simultaneous differentiation of all craniofacial muscles. It differs from eutherian taxa in that most stages of myogenesis occur postnatally, following the onset of function. The timing of the development of muscular and skeletal structures is compared and it is concluded that the relatively early development of muscle is not reflected by any particular acceleration of the differentiation or growth of skeletal structures. Finally, the difficulties in accounting for complex internal arrangements of muscles such as the tongue, given current models of myogenesis are summarized. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: Study of the epithelial morphology of a stingless bee ileum from the pyloric valve to the last portion of high absorptive cells shows that although the bee ileum is an anatomically undifferentiated tube, four types of epithelial cells along the tube (in addition to the valve cells) indicate physiological differentiation. The anterior end seems to be less active in reabsorption, while the posterior region contains cells with typical morphology of an ion pump and permits conclusions about the mechanisms of absorption in the posterior end of the intestine. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: This study examines the allometric scaling relationships of the cetacean humerus, radius, and ulna. Bone lengths and diameters were measured for 20 species of odontocete and three species of mysticete cetaceans, representing eight of the nine extant cetacean families. The scaling of individual bone proportions (bone length vs. cranio-caudal diameter, bone length vs. dorso-ventral diameter), and of individual bone dimensions against estimated body mass, are compared to models of geometric and elastic similarity. The geometric similarity model describes the scaling relationship of bone length vs. cranio-caudal diameter and body mass vs. cranio-caudal diameter for the humerus only; geometric similarity also describes the scaling relationship of body mass vs. bone length for all three bones. None of the scaling relationships fits the elastic similarity model. The scaling relationships of bone length vs. dorso-ventral diameter for all three bones, and bone length vs. cranio-caudal diameter for the radius and ulna, exhibit negative allometry, indicating that large bones are less robust than small bones. Negative allometry of structural support elements has not been previously described for terrestrial mammals or plants. The high relative swimming speeds of small delphinids may generate sufficient stresses to require more robust bones relative to those of larger whales. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: The male reproductive cycle of this paedomorphic species that occurs only in Lake Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, México, was investigated by documenting changes in germinal cells during the spermatogenic cycle. Cysts of germ cells divide synchronously to complete spermatogenesis during September through December, with the proportion of evacuated cysts or cysts containing spermatozoa increasing during this period. The chromatin changes during prophase I of meiosis reveal the usual leptotene, zygotene, pachytene, and diplotene stages. A basal body at the caudal end of the spermatozoan head connects to the flagellum. After spermiation, empty cysts contain a granular substance. Spermatogenesis in this species follows an annual cycle like other north temperate salamanders, rather than the continuous spermatogenesis of some tropical salamanders. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: PC12 cells show a classical volume regulatory process when submitted to hypo-osmotic conditions. The present study examined the effects of such osmotic shock on the structural organization of different cytoskeletal elements. Results were obtained by use of different light and electron microscopy techniques combined with immunostaining methods. It appeared that the osmotically induced changes in cell volume were concomitant with important modifications in the organization of the microfilament network. Microfilaments concentrated in the perinuclear area, leaving only radial extensions of poorly organized structures in the cytoplasm. The latter were the only actin structures immunologically stained in the cytoplasm and seemed to anchor to the plasma membrane. Measurements of the fluorescence intensity of PC12 cells treated with FITC-labeled phalloidin indicated a progressive depolymerization, followed by a repolymerization of F-actin. This occurs in parallel with microfilament reorganization and volume regulatory processes. The appearance of microfilament reorganization was a function of both the incubation period and the amplitude of the osmolarity changes. During the first minutes of osmotic shock, a decrease was observed in the density and length of microvilli, which normally cover the PC12 cell surfaces, suggesting an early reorganization of the underlying microfilament network. Microtubules and intermediate filament networks were not affected by the hypo-osmotic conditions. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: The position and structure of the olfactory organ and its openings vary among actinopterygians. The anterior nasal opening is a simple perforation in the skin in many extant actinopterygians (e.g., acipenseriforms, lepisosteids, and primitive Recent teleosts) and represents the primitive condition. Polypterids and Amia each exhibit a derived condition, in which the anterior nasal opening extends into a tube. The olfactory organ is relatively far away from the anterior end of the elongate rostrum in acipenseriforms, whereas the olfactory organs are closer to the anterior end of the snout in extant actinopterygians (e.g., polypterids, lepisosteids, and amiids). In adults, olfactory organs are cuplike structures in most actinopterygians, but these organs are tubelike in polypterids. Among extant actinopterygians, a nasal diverticulum is present only in polypterids. Teleosts have accessory nasal sacs, but chondrosteans, polypterids, lepisosteids, and amiids lack them.The olfactory rosette is formed by primary folds or lamellae that may be placed anterior, lateral, posterior, and/or medial to the axis of the organ. Large acipenserids have 20-32 lamellae, polyodontids have 13-18 lamellae, lepisosteids have 8-10 lamellae, and Amia may have over 100. In teleosts, the number of lamellae varies from none or a few to over 200. Secondary lamellae are present in acipenseriforms, lepisosteids, and some advanced teleosts; secondary lamellae are interpreted as independently acquired in these lineages. Secondary lamellae are absent in Amia and primitive teleosts such as Elops and Hiodon. Tertiary lamellae are present in Acipenser oxyrhynchus. The arrangement of the primary lamellae in relation to the axis of the organ results in at least 11 patterns of the olfactory rosette in actinopterygians. Lamellae that are enclosed in a tubelike sac and that have an anteromedial diverticulum are specializations of polypterids. Primary lamellae anterior, lateral, and posterior to an elongate axis are characteristic of lepisosteids. The presence of primary lamellae lateral, medial, and posterior to an elongate olfactory axis is a synapomorphy of Halecomorpha (Amia plus teleosts). The absence of secondary lamellae is a synapomorphy of Halecomorpha. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: On the ventral side of each pupal abdominal segment of the housefly, there is a pair of histoblast nests, each containing about 600 diploid cells. These cells, during adult development, divide, replace intervening polytene larval epidermal cells (LEC), and form both the median sternite and the surrounding pleura of the adult segment. Since the histoblast nests and the LEC form a contiguous layer, we examined the role of these two types of cells in regulating the mitotic potential of the histoblasts during development of the median sternite. Two experimental approaches were used: deletion of one of the nests by thermocautery; and by disturbance of the continuity of the monolayered epidermis by thermocautery of, or topical application of heptanol on, the midventral LEC. Ablation of one of the contralateral nests resulted in a mirror image duplication of the hemisternite and pleura by the surviving nest. Disturbance of the continuity of the LEC produced mirror image duplication of the hemisternal pattern by each of the contralateral nests. From these results, we propose that the contralateral ventral nests mutually downregulate their mitotic potential by secreting regulatory factor(s) to produce the normal median sternite pattern and surrounding pleura. We also suggest that these chemicals act in a paracrine fashion, possibly through gap junctions in the LEC. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: The relatively large, but superficially similar, Lerista macropisthopus, L. connivens, and L. lineopunctulata differ in bodily elongation and limb reduction, inhabit sandy areas, and move under sand. Visual analysis and computer-generated excursion and curvature graphs show that each species moves differently on smooth and rough surfaces, on surfaces with and without nails, and in channels.The reduced-limbed quadruped, Lerista macropisthopus walks frequently, using its four clawed limbs, whenever traction is available. Its undulating body curves uniformly but never generates slide-pushing curves. The biped L. connivens walks with its hindlimbs, although less frequently, and/or oscillates its tail in propelling its relatively stiff, short body. The biped L. lineopunctulata rarely uses its hindlimbs but always undulates body and. tail. It can use single nails in cam-follower progression. L. macropisthopus and L. connivens walk well in channels with rough bottoms, but only L lineopunctulata uses tunnel concertina to travel in channels with smooth bottoms.Friction of body surfaces dragged and of those transmitting propulsive forces is critical to these lizards and explains the division of movement into slow and rapid progression rates. Animals that have clawed limbs, no matter how reduced, use them. Body and tail generally are used differently. The tail may be flipped anteriorly to facilitate concertina. In nail arrays, travel is by simple, never by lateral, undulation. Apparently distinct motor coordination patterns are associated with differences in morphology, habit, and habitat. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: The appearance, cellular distribution, and changes of sugar residues during tooth development in adults of the polyphyodont, Liolaemus gravenhorsti, were investigated by using horseradish-peroxidase-conjugate lectins (lectin-HRP). With Con A (Canavalia ensiformis), the ameloblasts (late bell stage) show granular supranuclear positivity and also at the Golgi zone and on their tomes process. Reactivity also appears at the apical surface of the odontoblasts and odontoblastic process. With WGA (Triticum vulgaris), the tooth germs (late bell stage) show cytoplasmatic granular positivity in the ameloblast cells, Golgi regions, and in a lesser extent of the cytoplasm. Also, the apical surface and the odontoblastic process react. WGA reaction is depressed following sialidase treatment.The significance in tooth germs of α-D-mannose, α-D-glucose as well as β-D-N-acetylglucosamine and sialic acid is difficult to ascertain. These oligosaccharides may have some significance in odontogenesis. In fact, Con A-HRP- and WGA-HRP-binding components in ameloblasts and odontoblasts may be functionally related to molecules that are thought to contribute to odontogenesis in lizards. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: PtK2 cells of exceptionally large size were microinjected with fluorescently labeled probes for actin, myosin, filamin, and talin in order to follow the assembly of the contractile proteins into the cleavage furrows. Whereas in cells of normal size, there is usually a diffuse pattern of localization of proteins in the cleavage furrow, in these large, flat cells the labeled proteins localized in fibers in the cleavage furrow. Often, the fibers were striated in a pattern comparable to that measured in the stress fibers of the same cell type. The presence of talin in discrete plaques along fibers in the cleavage furrows of the large cells suggests a further similarity between cleavage furrow and stress fiber structure. The presence of filamin in the cleavage furrows also suggests the possibility of an overlapping mechanism in addition to that of a talin mediated mechanism for the attachment of actin filaments to the cell surfaces in the cleavage furrow. A model is presented that emphasizes the interrelationships between stress fibers, myofibrils, and cleavage furrows. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Notes: Bundles of native microtubules isolated from the ovarioles of hemipteran insects are seen to shimmer when observed using dark-field microscopy. This novel form of microtubule motility becomes even more obvious when the isolated bundles are detergent-extracted and reactivated. We have studied the nucleotide-specificity and the drug-sensitivity of microtubule shimmering in order to obtain information regarding the nature of the motor protein responsible, and to compare its properties with those of previously characterised microtubule motors. The involvement of structural MAPs in the shimmering and in maintenance of microtubule bundles in this system has also been investigated. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.