Cholinesterase (ChE) is one of the most ubiquitous enzymes and in addition to its well characterized catalytic function, the morphogenetic involvement of ChE has also been demonstrated in neuronal tissues and in non-neuronal tissues such as bone and cartilage. We have previously reported that during mouse tooth development, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity is dynamically localized in the dental epithelium and its derivatives whereas butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activity is localized in the dental follicles. To test the functional conservation of ChE in tooth morphogenesis among different species, we performed cholinesterase histochemistry following the use of specific inhibitors of developing molar and incisors in the hamster from embryonic day 11 (E11) to postnatal day 1 (P1). In the developing molar in hamster, the localization of ChE activity was found to be very similar to that of the mouse. At the bud stage, no ChE activity was found in the tooth buds, but was first detectable in the dental epithelium and dental follicles at the cap and bell stages. AChE activity was found to be principally localized in the dental epithelium whereas BuChE activity was observed in the dental follicle. In contrast to the ChE activity in the molars, BuChE activity was specifically observed in the secretory ameloblasts of the incisors, whilst no AChE activity was found in the dental epithelium of incisors. The subtype and localization of ChE activity in the dental epithelium of the incisor thus differed from those of the molar in hamster. In addition, these patterns also differed from the ChE activity in the mouse incisor. These results strongly suggest that ChE may play roles in the differentiation of the dental epithelium and dental follicle in hamster, and that morphogenetic subtypes of ChE may be variable among species and tooth types.

To understand the oviposition biology of arrowhead scale, Unaspis yanonensis (Kuwana) (Homoptera: Diaspididae), the longevity and fecundity of the overwintered females were examined at various temperatures (16, 20, 24, 28, and 32℃). The total fecundity increased with rising temperature, showed a maximum of 260.9 crawlers per female at 24℃, and then declined thereafter. Females showed a periodical oviposition activity. The 1st cycle fecundity was identified at all temperatures examined, and was not significantly different between 16 and 28℃. However, the 2nd cycle fecundity and later cycle fecundity were much lower at 16, 20, and 32℃ than those at 24 and 28℃. The pre-oviposition period ranged from 49.0 d at 16℃ to 19.7 d at 32℃, and was the shortest 19.4d at 28℃. The linear lines of mean development rates (1/mean pre-oviposition period) against temperatures provided the estimate of low-threshold temperature 8.7℃ for pre-oviposition stage and the thermal constant of 358.1 DD. The lower threshold temperature and thermal constant for the completion of U. yanonensis pre-oviposition period well predicted the first crawler occurrences in the fields.

Morus Folium (Sang-yeop in Korean) is one of the most important Oriental medicinal plants. In Korea, both M. alba and M. cathayana are regarded as the botanical sources for Morus Folium. In order to discriminate M. alba and M. cathayana from their adulterant, M. tricuspidata, mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 7 (nad7) intron 2 region was targeted for molecular analysis with universal primers. DNA polymorphisms, including SNP sites, insertions, and deletions, were detected among these three species sequencing data. Based on these DNA polymorphisms, specific primers were designed for the three species respectively. Multiplex PCR was conducted for molecular authentication of M. alba, M. cathayana, and M. tricuspidata with specific primers. The present results indicate that it is possible to identify Morus Folium from its adulterant using mitochondrial nad7 intron 2 region. The established multiplex-PCR system was proved to be effective for identification of Morus Folium. The results indicate that mitochondrial introns can be used for inter-specific polymorphic study, and the described method can be applied for molecular identification of medicinal materials.