Larval development of Micippa platipes Ruppell, 1930, reared under laboratory conditions (Crustacea, Decapoda, Majidae)

The ovigerous female of Micippa platipes Ruppell, 1830, captured from Buleji (Karachi, Pakistan) on February 7, 1993 and was kept under the laboratory conditions. On February 27, 1993 larvae were hatched in prezoeal stage. The presoeal stage of M. platipes passed through two zoeal stages within three to five days at room temperature (17-20C). The larvae are described, illustrated and compared with the larval account of Micippa thalia (Herbst, 1803) given by Kurata, 1969.

Laboratory culture of Moina with organic ana inorganic fertilizers

An experiment was conducted in the laboratory condition to determine the effect of organic (poultry drop, cow dung and mustard oil cake) and inorganic fertilizer (urea) on production, reproduction rate and maturation time of Moina species. Production rate was also determined in both aerated and non-aerated system in plastic containers with carrying capacity of 2.5-liter each. Total production was significantly higher in both aerated (2475 individuals/2.5 l water) and non-aerated (3253 individuals/2.5 l water) containers using poultry manure compared to other fertilizers. Moreover, the reproduction rate and maturation time in poultry drops showed distinct efficacy in Moina species. Reproduction rate of 11 individuals was the maximal while lowest maturation time was found 78 hours. Reproduction and maturation were induced surprisingly in test tube where the aeration system was absent.

Larval development of a semi terrestrial mangrove sesarmine crab Chasmagnathus convexus (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Grapsidae) reared in laboratory

Four zoeal stages and one megalopal stage were identified in laboratory reared semiterrestrial mangrove sesarmine crab Chasmagnathus convexus. At an average salinity and temperature of 20±1% and 19.2±0.2°C, the megalopa was attained 24 days after hatching. Morphologically, the first zoae of C. convexz1s is very similar to those of other species of the genus Chasmagnathus as well as species of the genus Helice, in that view all share the following characteristics: lateral spine on the carapace, three pairs of setae on the posterior margin of the telson furca, one plus five setae on the endopod of the maxillule, and two plus two setae on the endopod of the maxilla. The differences between the first zoea and megalopa of and those of its congeners are discussed.

Prolonged cardiac allograft survival in presensitized rats after a high activity Yunnan-cobra venom factor therapy

Complement-dependent antibody-mediated acute humoral rejection is the major obstacle of clinical transplantation across ABO incompatibility and human leukocyte antigen presensitization. We previously demonstrated that Yunnan-cobra venom factor (Y-CVF) cou

A nerve growth factor from the venom of Chinese cobra (Naja naja atra) and its effects on male reproductive system in rats

A nerve growth factor (NGF) was isolated from the venom of Chinese cobra (Naja naja ntr a) by ion exchange chromatography, gel filtration and fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC). The N-terminal sequence of 22 amino acid residues was identical with other NGFs previously purified from the venom of the same genus. The NGF monomer molecular weight was estimated to be 13 500 by reducing SDS-PAGE and the isoelectric point was determined to be 7.2 by isoelectric focusing electrophoresis. NGF improved the epididymal sperm motility of male rats and increased the pregnancy rate and fetus number of mated female rats. The serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) of male rats administrated NGF + gossypol was lower than that of male rats administrated gossypol. Histological sections of testes and epididymides showed that NGF reduced the destructive effects of gossypol on rat testes. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.

Composition and evolution of the V2r vorneronasal receptor gene repertoire in mice and rats

Pheromones are chemicals produced and detected by conspecifics to elicit social/sexual physiological and behavioral responses, and they are perceived primarily by the vomeronasal organ (VNO) in terrestrial vertebrates. Two large superfamilies of G protein-coupled receptors, V1rs and V2rs, have been identified as pheromone receptors in vomeronasal sensory neurons. Based on a computational analysis of the mouse and rat genome sequences, we report the first global draft of the V2r gene repertoire, composed of similar to 200 genes and pseudogenes. Rodent V2rs are subject to rapid gene births/deaths and accelerated amino acid substitutions, likely reflecting the species-specific nature of pheromones. Vertebrate V2rs appear to have originated twice prior to the emergence of the VNO in ancestral tetrapods, explaining seemingly inconsistent observations among different V2rs. The identification of the entire V2r repertoire opens the door to genomic-level studies of the structure, function, and evolution of this diverse group of sensory receptors. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

On the occurrence of mature penaeid prawn Penaeus merguensis in a shallow solar salt works reservoir along the Okhamandal Coast of Gulf of Kutch and its spawning in laboratory

Penaeus merguensis is so far reported to attain complete maturity and spawn in the sea or deep culture ponds only. Mature specimens of stage III to V collected from a shallow reservoir of solar saltworks were studied and spawned in laboratory. A comparison of spawning of spawner from sea and reservoir is also reported.

Notes on the pigmentation pattern in the larval developmental stages of laboratory-reared milkfish

Milkfish fry were artificially bred and reared in the laboratory and the pigmentation pattern of the different developmental stages of the larvae are described in detail, with illustrations.

Dynamic changes in orbitofrontal neuronal activity in rats during opiate administration and withdrawal

The orbitofrontal cortex is involved in the reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse. However, how the dynamic activity in OFC changes during opiate administration and withdrawal period has not been investigated. We first tested the effects of opiates and dr

Synchronization in a pair of thermally coupled rotating baroclinic annuli: understanding atmospheric teleconnections in the laboratory.

Synchronization phenomena in a fluid dynamical analogue of atmospheric circulation is studied experimentally by investigating the dynamics of a pair of thermally coupled, rotating baroclinic annulus systems. The coupling between the systems is in the well-known master-slave configuration in both periodic and chaotic regimes. Synchronization tools such as phase dynamics analysis are used to study the dynamics of the coupled system and demonstrate phase synchronization and imperfect phase synchronization, depending upon the coupling strength and parameter mismatch.

Influence of dietary proteins on cholesterol levels in albino rats

Six groups of albino rats were fed identical diets, differing in their protein sources for sixty days. The protein sources used were fat free casein, defatted groundnut cake, and defatted fish powders from three species of fishes, namely, the fresh water fish Labeo rohita, the marine fishes, Rastrelliger kanagurta and Otolithus argenteus and marine prawns, Parapenaeopsis stylifera. After sixty days, the levels of cholesterol in the serum, liver and heart of the rats were estimated. The casein group recorded the highest level of cholesterol. Compared to casein, the groundnut protein was distinctly hypocholesterolemic. The fish proteins had a still greater cholesterol lowering ability. Of the proteins used in this study, the proteins of prawns had the maximum hypocholesterolemic effect. An attempt is made to correlate the behaviour of the proteins in this respect, with their respective amino acid compositions.

Effect of stocking density on survival and growth of mud crablings, Scylla sp. in laboratory conditions

Mud crablings, Scylla sp. were reared, for a period of six weeks in fiberglass aquarium under laboratory conditions, to determine the effect of four different stocking densities of 1, 2, 3 and 4 crabling/l of water on their survival and growth. Salinity of water was maintained at 25 ppt throughout the rearing period. Stocking rates of 1, 2, and 3 crabling/l resulted in a similar (p>0.05) survival rates of 75, 74, and 83.5%, respectively, that of 4 crabling/l resulted in significantly lower (p<0.05) survival rate of 56%. No significant difference was observed among different stocking densities in average growth of carapace length (CL), carapace width (CW) and body weight (BW).

Delta EEG Activity in Left Orbitofrontal Cortex in Rats Related to Food Reward and Craving

眶额叶皮质与中脑边缘多巴胺奖赏系统有着复杂的相互纤维联系.先前的研究探讨了药物成瘾过程中眶额叶皮质的脑电活动.在本实验中,将探讨食物奖赏和渴求过程中该皮质的脑电活动.实验采用了两个环境:对照环境和食物刺激相关的环境.首先,训练大鼠在食物刺激相关的环境中吃巧克力花生豆,而后在该环境中设置两种不同的刺激方式:能看到和闻到但不能吃到(渴求实验),或者仍旧可以吃到巧克力花生豆(奖赏实验):同时进行左侧眶额叶皮质的脑电记录.结果发现,在食物刺激相关的环境中大鼠Delta频段(2-4Hz)的脑电活动与食物刺激显著相关,此外,与在对照环境中相比,其相对功率在食物渴求时下降而在食物奖赏时升高.本实验表明,食物相关的奖励可以改变大鼠眶额叶皮质的脑电活动,而且,Delta频段的脑电活动能够作为监测该奖励的一个指标.