Advances in Comparative and Environmental Physiology

1 Factors Influencing Motile Activities of Fish Chromatophores.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Chromatophores.- 3 Effects of Light on Chromatophores.- 4 Effects of Other Physical Factors on Chromatophores.- 5 Effects of Chemical Substances on Chromatophores.- 6 Effects of Lesions in the Nervous System.- 7 Ecological and Ethological Factors Influencing Chromatophores.- 8 Conclusions and Perspectives.- References.- 2 Epithelial Transport of Heavy Metals.- 1 Introduction.- 2 General Problems.- 3 Metal Transport in Intestine.- 4 Metal Transport by Renal Epithelium.- 5 Metal Transport by Pulmonary Epithelium.- 6 Activity of Some Other Epithelial Tissues.- References.- 3 Heavy Metal Cytotoxicity in Marine Organisms: Effects of Ca2+ Homeostasis and Possible Alteration of Signal Transduction Pathways.- Summary.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Effects on Plasma Membranes.- 3 Effects on the Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+ Stores.- 4 Effects on Mitochondria.- 5 GSH and Metallothioneins in Preventing or Reducing Heavy Metal Cytotoxicity.- 6 Effects on Cytosolic Free Ca2+.- 7 Heavy Metal Effects on Signal Transduction.- References.- 4 Comparative Pulmonary Morphology and Morphometry: The Functional Design of Respiratory Systems.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Metabolic Determinants.- 3 Symmorphosis.- 4 Water versus Air as Respiratory Media.- 5 Evolution of Aerial Breathing.- 6 Transition from Aquatic to Terrestrial Life.- 7 Endothermy.- 8 Design Characteristics of Respiratory Organs.- 9 Gas Exchange Models.- 10 General Respiratory Sites.- 11 Bimodal Breathers.- 12 Invertebrate Air-Breathers.- 13 Vertebrate Air-Breathers.- 14 Conclusions.- References.- 5 Molecular Adaptations in Resistance to Penicillins and Other ?-Lactam Antibiotics.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Peptidoglycan Structure and Biosynthesis.- 3 The Targets:Transpeptidases and Penicillin-Binding Proteins.- 4 Resistance Mechanisms.- 5 Permeability.- 6 Target Sensitivity.- 7 ?-Lactamases.- 8 Integrated Models.- 9 Glycopeptide Antibiotic Resistance.- 10 Conclusions.-