ABSTRACT
The ontogeny of photosensitivity has been studied in a holometabolous insect, the midge Chironomus ramosus. The life cycle of midges shifts from an aquatic environment to a non-aquatic environment. Extracellular electrical activity of photoreceptor organs was recorded at larval and adult stages. We found an increase in photosensitivity as the larva metamorphosed to the adult stage. This is the first report of changes in photosensitivity during the development of any insect described in an ecological context.
Subject(s)
Animals , Chironomidae , Ecology , Electrophysiology , Female , Life Cycle Stages , Light , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Cardiovascular autonomic functions were studied in 32 patients of lepromatous leprosy, including 12 patients of lepra reaction. Fifty age and sex matched healthy subjects served as controls. Variable degree of autonomic dysfunction was observed in the study group. The derangement of autonomic functions in patients of leprosy can be explained on the basis of neurotrophic action of lepra bacilli that infiltrate the sympathetic and the parasympathetic fibres.
Subject(s)
Adult , Autonomic Nervous System Diseases/complications , Cardiovascular Diseases/complications , Female , Heart/physiopathology , Hemodynamics , Humans , Leprosy/complications , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
The biosynthesis of fatty acids from [1-14C]-acetate in the chicken liver slices in vitro was inhibited by cAMP, adenosine, 5'-AMP, 3'-AMP, ATP, NAD and FAD but not by adenine, guanine or inosine. The minimum structural requirement for inhibition appears to be adenosine. The inhibitory action of adenosine, 5'-AMP and NAD on fatty acid synthesis is likely to be mediated by adenosine or its metabolites since adenosine deaminase reverses the inhibition while it has no effect on the inhibition by cAMP; thus, the inhibitory effect of cAMP is probably not mediated through its hydrolysis products, 5'-AMP, or adenosine.