Physiological studies on the effects of hormonal imbalance on the central nervous system

The acetylcholinesterase activity, RNA levels, total free amino acids and magnesium content in fore-, mid- and hind-brain were determined in the normal and hypophysectomised frogs (Rana cyanophlyctus). Hypophysectomy results in a marked decrease in the freea−a and in Mg. RNA also decreases significantly, but not to the same degree as thea−a and Mg. But AchE levels do not change significantly although there is a general decrease. It is suggested that the decrease in Mg is a reflection of the ionic imbalance resulting from hormonal imbalance. Hypophysectomy also results in reduced protein synthesis (and/or turnover) in the CNS as indicated by reduced RNA anda−a

Effects of thermal acclimation on lipid metabolism in the earthworm Lampito mauritii

Changes in the total lipid and phospholipid content, the degree of unsatn. of lipids, the lipase activity, the levels of oxaloacetic, acetic, and formic acids, the ketone bodies, and cholesterol content, on thermal acclimation of the tropical earthworm, L. mauritii, were studied. The total fat content, the formic and oxaloacetic acid levels decreased significantly on acclimation to a decreasing temp. The unsatn. of lipids, the lipase activity, the levels of acetic, β-​hydroxybutyric, and acetoacetic acids and cholesterol showed a significant increase on cold temp. adaptation. The t values were 5.947, 5.917, 3.297, 8.354, 3.015, and 12.70, resp. The percentage increase in the levels of phospholipids and acetone on acclimation to cold temp. was +10.9 and +75.8, resp. The adaptive significance of the constituents studied is discussed

Enteropneusta from the east coast of India, with a note on the probable course of distribution of Ptychodera flava

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Correlation between neurosecretion and some physiological functions of the scorpion Heterometrus swammerdami

The diverse types of neurosecretory cells located in the brain and suboesophageal ganglion of the scorpion Heterometrus have shown morphological evidence of activity in relation to diverse physiological functions. Some of the functions investigated were the process of delivery of the young, apolysis, ecdysis, growth, maturation, water relations, diurnal rhythms of locomotor activity and temperature adaptation. Continuous light and continuous darkness reflected change in the activity of specific groups of neurosecretory cells. In this Arachnid also, neurosecretion seems to play a central role in the regulation of many physiological activities as in insects and other organisms

State determined system of a circadian rhythm in scorpion

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Physiology of low temperature acclimation in tropical poikilotherms. III. Quantitative changes in the bound and free amino acids in the earthworm, Lampito mauritii

This article does not have an abstract

Physiological studies on the effects of hormonal imbalance on the central nervous system. I. Effects of hypophysectomy on certain biochemical parameters in the brain of frog

Hypophysectomy resulted in a marked decrease in the free amino acid and Mg contents of fore-​, mid-​, and hindbrain segments. RNA levels and acetylcholinesterase activity decreased to a lesser extent

Physiology of low temperature acclimation in tropical poikilotherms. IV. Quantitative changes in the nucleic acid content of the tissues of the freshwater mussel, Lamellidens marginalis

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Some aspects of the biochemical basis of metabolic adaptation

1. In cold-acclimated animals the free amino acids in body fluids decrease, while the bound amino acids and the total protein within cells and tissues increase. 2. A parallel increase in RNA content is noticed, along with an increase in the rate of protein synthesis. A number of dehydrogenases and other enzymes as well as cytochrome c increase during cold acclimation. 3. There is a shift in the carbohydrate metabolism, resulting in the predominance of the HMP pathway. Ascorbic acid level and tissue glycogen increase during cold acclimation. 4. Cold acclimation furthermore results in an increase of calcium, potassium, and sodium in blood and body fluids while magnesium, sulphate and chloride show a significant decrease. These changes may result in increased muscle metabolism permitting increased activity of the organism. 5. The unsaturation of lipids (iodine number) increases, indicating preferential mobilization of saturated triglycerides in cold acclimation. Lipase activity increases greatly. Phospholipids, which help in regard to the structural integrity of mitochondria, also show an increase. Ketone bodies and cholesterol increase significantly. 6. Factors contained in body fluids or nerve tissue extracts of acclimated earthworms, scorpions or fish have direct effect on the respiration of tissues of normal organisms in vitro (Rao 1962, Rao & Saroja 1963). The sterol fraction of such extracts appears to contain the active principle. 7. It is indicated that hormone or hormone-like substances released into the "milieu interieur", during acclimation, trigger and control a series of changes leading to the biochemical alterations summarized above. 8. Similar changes, but in the opposite direction, occur in slowing down metabolism during the aestivation of the snail Pila globosa. The switching down of metabolic rate, in this case as well, is triggered by a sterol fraction obtainable from the central nervous system. 9. Considering the biochemical mechanisms in acclimation to be similar in different organisms, three possible modes of triggering and control are suggested, namely, direct effects of temperature, effects of the nervous system and, most important of all, regulation through the release of hormones or hormone-like substances

Physiology of acclimation to low temperature in poikilotherms

Potassium, sodium, and calcium increase and chloride, magnesium, and free amino acids decrease in cold acclimated fresh-water mussels and earthworms. Increased protein synthesis occurs. Neurosecretory cells of cold earthworms exhibit increased activity. Addition of cold worm body fluid stimulates increased O2 consumption by normal tissues, indicating that a hormonal agent triggers the sequence of changes