by Lam Kang Yau. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 127-143). / Acknowledgements --- p.iii / Abstract --- p.iv / List of abbreviations --- p.vi / Introduction --- p.1 / Literature review / Chapter A. --- Historical background --- p.6 / Chapter B. --- Histology on the epidermis of squamate reptile --- p.8 / Chapter C. --- The effects of thyroid hormone on the integument in the vertebrate --- p.13 / Chapter D. --- Extrathyroidal conversion of T4 to T3 --- p.18 / Experiment 1. The study of epidermal cellular changes and the effect of Tx on the sloughing cycle of Elaphe taeniura / Introduction --- p.21 / Materials and methods --- p.22 / Results --- p.26 / Discussion --- p.34 / Experiment 2. To study the extrathyroidal conversion of T4 to T3 (5'-D activities) of Elaphe taeniura / Introduction --- p.47 / Materials and methods --- p.48 / Results --- p.52 / Discussion --- p.54 / Experiment 3. The study of the effects of T3 and Tx on the sloughing cycle of Elaphe taeniura and in vitro 5'-deiodinating activities / Introduction --- p.56 / Materials and methods --- p.58 / Resul ts --- p.63 / Discussion --- p.81 / Experiment 4. The study of plasma T3 and T4 levels during the sloughing cycle of Elaphe taeniura / Introduction --- p.111 / Materials and methods --- p.112 / Results --- p.114 / Discussion --- p.115 / General discussion --- p.120 / Summary and conclusions --- p.125 / References --- p.127

No description available.

Theses (M.S.)--Marshall University, 2007. / Title from document title page. Includes abstract. Includes vitae. Document formatted into pages: contains v, 75,[19] pages including illustrations. Bibliography: p. 73-75.

The Quaternary record of fossil snakes (Reptilia, Squamata) in Asia is extremely rare; any information is noteworthy. An articulated snake skeleton was recovered from the early Pleistocene (2.15–2.14 Ma) deposits in Renzidong Cave, Yangtze River Valley, east-central China. The skeleton contains about 122 nearly complete vertebrae but lacks the cranium and caudal vertebrae. Preserved vertebral characters indicate that the snake is particularly similar to the rat snake, Elaphe (Colubridae) especially with the European Elaphe praelongissima (late Miocene). We identify the specimen as cf. Elaphe sp. This genus and ‘Coluber s.l.’ are unfortunately similar and difficult to differentiate based on just vertebral comparisons of species living in Europe. Adequate comparative skeletons of living snakes of eastern Asia are noticeably absent in museums making identifications of fossil specimens less than satisfactory. Finding dated fossil remains of the snake Elaphe in Asia holds importance to the understanding of its time of dispersal between Asia, Europe and North America, but this can only be adequately examined with fossil remains accurately and satisfactorily identified.