Asian J. Exp. Sci., Vol. 3, No. 1, 1987; 1-9
 

Food and Feeding Habits of Rana limnocharis Wiegmann, the Common Frog Species of Meghalaya, India

Debjani Roy
Institute of Self Organising Systems and Biophysics,
North-Eastern Hill University, Bijni Complex,
Bhagyakul, Shillong-793003, India.

The diet of Rana limnocharis Wiegmann, the streaked frog, commonly available at Shillong (1515m a.s.l., 90º7’E ; 24°0’N) and neighbouring north-eastern hills of India has been investigated. The volume of food intake fluctuates between 0.10 ml to 0.60 ml in males and 0.25 ml to 0.80 ml in females during the year, minimum being in January and February, due to hibernation. Ants (Formicoidea) formed the highest food percentage recorded throughout the year. A 12-month analysis was also done. It was noted that this frog has food intake even during hibernation, although volume remains minimum. Percentage of Formicoidea remarkably high during hibernation.

Asian J. Exp. Sci, Vol. 3, No. 1, 1987, 10-14
 

Histochemical Observations on the Corpus Allatum of Adult Female Sphaerodema rusticum FAB. (Belostomatidae: Heteroptera)

S. C. Pathak
Rani Durgawati University, Jabalpur-482001 (M.P.)
Department of Biological Sciences

The corpus allatum of adult female Sphaerodema rusticum has been tested for proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids. It is noticed that the secretory cells of the active gland have a rich amount of protein, but are very rich in lipids. A fair amount of glycoproteins is also present in the cytoplasm of these cells. RNA content is very high, particularly in the nucleolus and nucleolar extrusions, the latter having been noted within the nucleus, on the nuclear membrane, and even in the cytoplasm, close to the nuclear membrane in the active stages. These histochemical and cytochemical observations have been discussed with reference to the nature of the secretory product of the gland.

Asian J. Exp. Sci, Vol. 3, No. 1, 1987, 15-22
 

Limnological Factors Affecting Distributional Pattern of Fredericella sultana (Ectoprocta: Phylactolaemata)

Pradeep Shrivastava1 and Arun Raghuwanshi²
1. Department of Limnology,
Bhopal University, Bhopal
2. Department of Biosciences,
Bhopal University, Bhopal

The seasonal distribution of a freshwater bryozoa, Fredericella sultana was studied. The study included a river and 8 lentic water bodies of varying ecological conditions. Year round observations were made to study variation in temperature, turbidity and growth characteristic of the species of bryozoa. Turbidity was calculated in terms of transparency with a Secchi disk. Both the physical factors, temperature and turbidity increased as the summer approached. Biomass in terms of g.m.-2 was calculated by using a 1 m.sq. quadrate. Wet weight of the colonies, collected, was obtained to know biomass. The biomass decreased towards summer to finally disappear completely at the end of summer. The growth increased as the temperature went down in winter.

Asian J. Exp. Sci, Vol. 3, No. 1, 1987, 23-26
 

Occurrence of Paraganglion Cells in the Cardiovascular System of Lower Vertebrate

Santosh Kumar
Department of Biosciences
Bhopal University, Bhopal (M. P.)

The blood vessels and heart of Fish and Amphibia have been studied with the help of varieties of neurological techniques. The present study reveals that various layers of the blood vessels and heart are provided with nerve plexuses and ganglion cells. The nuclei of these nerve cells are spherical and eccentrically positioned within the cell. Close to these cells are present paraganglion cells. These cells have argentophilic granules. The ultrastructure of the cell shows that it has dense homogeneous content which is surrounded by a clear limiting membrane is separated by a clear zone. The argent-affinity of granular contents is accompanied with chromaffinity and it is suggested that granules release catecholamines. These paraganglion cells have been migrated from the sympathetic ganglia through nerves.

Asian J. Exp. Sci, Vol. 3, No. 1, 1987, 27-36
 

Some Observations on the Caudal Neurosecretory Motoneurons of Anurans

Rajendra Chapra
Department of Zoology,
Govt. Science College, Jabalpur - 482001 (M.P.)

Caudal neurosecretory system was studied in three frogs-Rana limnocharis, Rana cyanophlyctis and Rana tigrina, a toad Bufo melanostictus and a tree frog Microhyla ornata. Urophysis and Dahlgren cells as seen in fishes were not noticed. Giant motoneurons were present in the ventro-lateral grey of spinal cord, from 5th to 9th vertebra level. A clear secretory activity along with nucleolar extrusions, followed by active par­ticipation of Golgi apparatus was seen in their cyton. Secretory granules are transmitted through the axons directly in the blood. Venous pathway passes through gonado- renal junction and this has not been reported earlier. It appears that the evolution towards terrestrial mode of life leads to respective reduction in the number of motoneurons, reduction in their area of distribution and change of position from fishes to frog to tree frog. It is suggested that the Dahlgren cells of fishes get modified into motoneurons of amphibians and they act both as neurosecretory as well as neurotransmitter neurons. More than one hormone appears to be secreted by these motoneurons as suggested by the presence of three tinctorial types and three secretory zones.

Asian J. Exp. Sci, Vol. 3, No. 1, 1987, 37-44
 

Beryllium Induced Glycogen Mobilization in Albino Rats

Seema Mathur, Shashi Sharma, Anand O. Prakash and R. Mathur
School of Studies in Zoology,
Jiwaji University, Gwalior-474011.

Effect of beryllium nitrate on the glycogen content of various of adult female albino rats has been studied through two different routes. Intravenous administration of beryllium nitrate at a dose of 0.316 mg/kg body weight and intramuscular injection at ?? mg/kg. body weight decrease the glycogen content of various organs significantly after 2, 10 and 30 days of dose administration. Intravenous administration induces toxic effects at shorter durations whereas intramuscular route evokes toxic effects slowly and gradually which persist for longer duration. It has also been observed that toxicity caused through intravenous route is comparatively higher to that of intramuscular route. It has been suggested that intramuscular administration of beryllium nitrate has depot effect in the muscles from which it is released gradually to induce toxic effects which are retained for longer duration.

Asian J. Exp. Sci, Vol. 3, No. 1, 1987, 45-55
 

Structural Changes in Response to Increased Environmental Salinities in the Corpuscles of Stannius of Notopterus Notopterus (Pallas)

Usha Narwariya and O. P. Gupta
Department of Zoology,
Dr. Harisingh Gour Vislzwavidyalas
Sagar  - 470003 (M.P.)

Environmental adjustment also involves corpuscles of stannius in teleosts. Secretion of these endocrines appears to be specially important in the maintenance of homeostasis in fish adapted to different salinities. Our cytophysiological observations showed that corpuscles of stannius in saline medium become hypertrophied and highly active due to stress of transfer from fresh water to saline solution, calcium contents of the external medium and also an imbalance in the production and secretion of a number of hormones. The other probable reasons have also been discussed.

Asian J. Exp. Sci, Vol. 3, No. 1, 1987, 56-64
 

Frequency Distribution of the Oral Sucker and Ventral Suckers of Spinometra gigantica (Plagiorchiidae : Trematoda); their Relative Growth Rates and Comparison with that of the Body Wall through Correlation and Regression

Deepa Dwivedi and Santosh Kumar
Department of Biosciences,
Bhopal University, Bhopal (M.P.)

PThe Frequency distribution (FD) of oral sucker (OS) and ventral suckers (VS) have been worked out in 79 specimens of Spinometra gigantica collected from the intestine of Kachuga kachuga. In the present study FD have been found to obey the Quetelets principle. The middle class is modal hence the distribution is of Normal type which is also evident from histograms and frequency polygons. Scatter diagrams between OS, VS; BL, OS and BL, VS indicate positive correlation. Coefficient of rank correlation (r’) between these variaties show linear correlation. The values of coefficient of correlation (r) between these sets of variates indicate positive correlation (+0.952, +0.963 and +0.971) which has also been indicated by the values of PE. The r>6 PE therefore r is definitely significant. Coefficient of regression (byx and bxy) have been computed which indicate that the growth rate of VS is faster than that of the OS. Regression lines have also been drawn to show regression of one variate upon another.

Asian J. Exp. Sci, Vol. 3, No. 1, 1987, 65-70
 

A Method for Localizing and Studying the Conducting System in Malformed Cattle Hearts on Behalf of Human Cardiosurgery (An Animal Friendly Model)

C.J. van Nie DVM
Retired co-laborator of the Department of Anatomy and Embryology,
Medical Faculty, Free University,
Amsterdam, The Netherlands,
 

Correspondance address: Loevestein 15, 2352 KN,
Leiderdrop, The Netherlands

The macroscopical and microscopical techniques deseribed for studying the location and structure of the conducting system in cases of a persistent common atrioventricular canal in hearts derived from sacrificed or slaughtered cattle might be used in a comparative morphological animal friendly model for the study of the condition in question in human hearts.