Ontogenetic variation and craniometric sexual dimorphism in the social giant mole-rat,Fukomys mechowii (Rodentia: Bathyergidae), from Zambia

The degree of maxillary molar tooth-row eruption and wear were used to assign samples of the social giant mole-rat, Fukomys mechowii, from Zambia, into nine relative age classes in order to assess ontogenetic (age) variation and craniometric sexual dimorphism, with reference to body mass. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses showed craniometric differences between age classes 1–3 and age classes 5–9, with age class 4 being intermediate between these two age class groupings. This suggests that age class 4 lies at a point on a hypothetical growth curve where growth begins to stabilize. The intermediate placement of age class 4 in multivariate space broadly coincided with body mass categorizations into juveniles (age classes 1–3; <100 g), subadults (age class 4; c. 100–150 g), and adults (age classes 5–9; >150 g). The analyses also revealed the absence of sexual dimorphism in the relatively younger age classes 1–4 but its presence in the relatively older age classes 5–9, and these results are supported by data on body mass. These results may have implications in our understanding of the population and social structures, and reproductive strategies in this little-studied giant mole-rat.     

猪子宫内膜肥大细胞消涨规律初探

雌性小型猪１５头，分为二月龄、间情期、民情前期、发情期、妊娠期等六组。颈动脉放血处死，取子宫组织，经甲苯胺改良法和免疫组化法染色，观察肥大细胞的动态变化。子宫内膜肥大细胞的数量随个体的生长而增加。在发情周期中肥大细胞的数量呈规律性的变化：在民情前期一时性地剧增，至发情期陡然降至显著低于间情期的水平，在妊娠期也维持低于间情期的水平。本实验的结果提示，子宫内膜肥大细胞的数量可能反映子宫局部的免疫水平。     

松嫩平原碱化草甸朝鲜碱茅种群生殖特性的定量分析

通过对朝鲜碱茅单化群落独立株丛的大样本取样和对正常花序随机取样的调查与测定，定量分析了松嫩平原碱化草甸朝鲜碱茅种群的生殖特性。朝鲜碱茅种群话营养繁殖数量性状之间有较强的规律性。丛分蘖数、丛地上生物量、丛生殖枝数和丛生殖技重分别与丛径之间，以及丛生殖枝重与丛生殖枝数之间均为线性正相关，丛生物量随着丛分蘖数的增加呈幂函数增加。朝鲜碱茅种群在整个生殖生长发育过程中具有较强的有序性。圆锥花序各节位上的小穗数量呈伽玛分布。各节位上的小花数量随着节位的增高呈Logistic曲线形式减少。小穗数和小花数均随着节位的增加呈y＝ae(－b／x)饱和型指数曲线形式累积增长。     

毛叶秋海棠的杂交遗传特性

 采用毛叶秋海棠与云南野生秋海棠, 以及国外毛叶秋海棠的园艺品种进行正反交试验, 观测各杂交F1 代群体叶片斑纹、茎的类型、植株抗寒能力等主要性状的表现及其遗传特性; 通过F1 代自交, 对F2 代群体叶片斑纹的观测统计, 研究银绿斑性状的分离规律。试验结果表明: 毛叶秋海棠银绿斑与无斑是一对相对性状, 银绿斑对无斑是显性, 无斑对银绿斑是隐性, 其遗传杂交符合孟德尔的分离规律; B . rex ×B . longialata F1 代植株银绿斑性状的持续表现受光照强度的影响较大, 生长2 年后需要增加约2000 lx 的光照才能保持原有的银绿斑色彩; 毛叶秋海棠根状茎性状的遗传特性极为稳定, 遗传保持率90 %; 杂交F1 代在抗寒性方面表现了明显的杂种优势。     

温度湿度及种球茎大小对花魔芋有性繁殖的影响

有性繁殖是促进魔芋种植业发展和品种改良的有效途径，引起了极大的兴趣。本文研究117个花魔芋（Amorphophallus konjac K. Coch)单株花粉成熟后连续5d的温度、湿度以及花芽种球茎对其有性繁殖的影响，结果表明：授粉期间的温度和湿度对其自花授粉结实影响大，结实株花粉成熟后连续5d的平均温度和湿度分别为24℃和64%，均显著高于不实株，高温高湿有利于散粉和花粉的萌发从而完成受精；花芽种球茎大小对有性繁殖也有影响，结实株平均种球茎重显著高于不实株，且与单株结实浆果数呈极显著的正相关（r=0.6096, N=29），因此，宜选用花芽球茎大的用于魔芋有性繁殖。     

Microconidia act the role as spermatia in the sexual reproduction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Botrytis cinerea</Emphasis>

In the sexual reproductive cycle of Botrytis cinerea, large numbers of microconidia were observed in all the crosses that formed sexual bodies. To clarify the role of the microconidia in sexual reproduction, they were separated using a sucrose density gradient and then used in crossing tests with fungal sclerotia. Sexual bodies were formed in all the crosses in the five mating combinations, demonstrating that microconidia are able to function as spermatia during sexual reproduction of B. cinerea.     

Sex differences in population genetics, home range size and habitat use of the parti-colored bat (Vespertilio murinus, Linnaeus 1758) in Switzerland and their consequences for conservation

When habitats are declining, niche segregation by demographic groups, such as the two sexes, can have a profound impact on the extinction risk of a species as a whole. Thus, differences in the requirements of demographic groups are of importance in conservation. We combined behavioural and genetic data to investigate whether the sexually segregated parti-colored bat (Vespertilio murinus) exhibits sex-specific niche partitioning. We use our data to evaluate implications for conservation of this potentially vulnerable species in Switzerland, the western boundary of its range. Using radio-telemetry, we found sex-specific differences in habitat use. Foraging females strongly relied on lakes while foraging males displayed more flexibility in their habitat use. Moreover, males covered significantly larger foraging areas than females. Sequencing 341 base pairs of the mitochondrial D-loop of 247 individuals revealed sex-specific differences in the genetic structure of colonies, but no such difference was observed for three nuclear micro-satellite markers. We found high mtDNA diversity in two Swiss male colonies and one German female colony, but low mtDNA diversity in two Swiss female colonies. Our genetic data suggest that considerable gene flow occurs via male dispersal and mating. At the same time immigration of females into the existing female colonies in Switzerland is rare compared to the immigration of new males into male colonies. Since we found the sexes in Vespertilio murinus to differ markedly in their ecology, population genetics, and behaviour, we conclude that sex-specific conservation plans are required to protect this species efficiently.     

出雏不同时间雏鸡性比例变化规律的研究

本试验研究了出雏不同时间雏鸡性比例的变化规律。结果表明,出雏的不同时间,雏鸡性比例存在显著(P<0.05)、极显著(P<0.01)的差异,并呈现明显的规律性。20天时,母鸡最多,公母比值为0.350±0.030。至21天3小时,公鸡最多,公母比值为1.792±0.080。扫盘出雏结束时,公母比值为1.330±0.050。     

Abnormal development of genital organs in offspring male mice exposed to finasteride during pregnancy

AIM: To investigate the effects of finasteride exposure during pregnancy on the development of reproductive organs in offspring male mice. METHODS: CD-1 mice were treated with finasteride from 0 to 17 d after conception. The development of reproductive organs in the offspring male mice were observed by macroscopy, anatomical analysis and histological staining. The spermatogenesis was analyzed by immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: Macroscopic observation showed that fenasteride exposure during pregnancy resulted in external genital malformations in the offspring male mice, which were manifested as incomplete scrotal fusion and penile malformation. In addition, the anogenital distance was significantly shortened (P<0.01). Histological staining showed that the length of penis at each stage was significantly shortened (P<0.01), the density of seminiferous tubules in testis and mature spermatozoa in seminiferous tubules were significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the luminal space size of seminiferous tubules and interstitial space size of testises were significantly increased (P<0.01). Immunofluorescence staining showed that the densities of Sertoli cells, Leydig cells and spermatogonium in testis were significantly reduced (P<0.01), and the fluorescence intensity of caspase-3 in spermatogenic tubule cells was increased significantly (P<0.01). However, the fluorescence intensity of Ki67 and desert hedgehog (Dhh) was decreased significantly (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Finasteride exposure during pregnancy results in abnormal development of reproductive organs in offspring male mice and affects spermatogenesis.     

抗除草剂转基因油菜向杂草诸葛菜的潜在基因漂移

以抗除草剂草甘膦和草丁膦转基因油菜为父本 ,诸葛菜为母本 ,在人工授粉条件下研究抗性基因向诸葛菜的潜在基因漂移。采用荧光显微镜观察转基因油菜花粉在诸葛菜柱头上的萌发生长情况 ,并与诸葛菜自花授粉的情况进行比较。结果显示 2种转基因油菜花粉在诸葛菜柱头上的萌发生长情况类似。花粉粘合的数量比自交时显著减少 ,出现粘合延迟现象 ;花粉在柱头上不能正常萌发生长 ,有的呈现明显的畸形 ,花粉管不能穿过乳突细胞 ,更不能进入花柱和胚囊发生受精 ,这些结果表明两者的亲和性较差。授转基因油菜的花粉后诸葛菜不能结实也进一步证明了两者的亲和性较差。上述结果表明抗除草剂转基因油菜的抗性基因向诸葛菜漂移的可能性较小。