Effects of Estradiol and Testosterone on the Expression of Growth‐related Genes in Female and Male Nile Tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus

Nile tilapia exhibits strong sexual growth dimorphism. The potential role of sex steroid hormones in sexual growth dimorphism is not fully understood. We investigated the effects of estradiol (E₂) and testosterone (T) on growth rate, plasma sex hormones, and expression of growth hormone (GH)‐insulin‐like growth factor (IGF) axis genes and muscle regulatory factor (MRF) genes in female and male Nile tilapia. The results revealed that serum concentrations of E₂ and T were significantly higher after correlative injection (P < 0.05). Compared to male fish, female fish had lower growth rates. E₂ increased growth performance in females with no significant effects on males, whereas T significantly increased growth performance in males, with no significant effects on females. In females, E₂ significantly increased expression of ghr1, ghr2, igf1, and igf2, while T decreased igf2 and increased ghr1 and ghr2 expression. In males, T increased expression of igf1, igf2, ghr1, and ghr2, and E₂ decreased expression of igf1, ghr1, and ghr2. Additionally, E₂ and T enhanced the expression of MRF genes (myod1, myod2, myog, and myf5) in female and male fish, respectively. The results suggest that sex steroid hormones play a role in sexual growth dimorphism by regulating the expression of GH‐IGF axis and MRF genes.     

液体悬浮法生产猪苓有效成分的初步研究

以甾体含量为主要指标,以菌丝体生长量及多糖含量为辅助指标,对液体悬浮法生产猪苓甾体所需的培养条件进行了初步研究,结果表明:适合猪苓菌丝甾体化合物积累的最佳液体培养条件为:葡萄糖28.0 g.L-1,酵母膏4.0 g.L-1,磷酸二氢钾1.00 g.L-1,硫酸镁1.00 g.L-1,维生素VB10.1 g.L-1,1%羟甲基纤维素钠10 mL.L-1;在此培养基中每瓶所得菌丝体干重得率为2.050 g,干菌丝体及发酵液中甾体含量分别达到3.864 mg.g-1和37.68 mg.L-1;同时在此培养条件下,菌丝体和发酵液的猪苓多糖含量分别为11.542 mg.g-1和58.85 mg.L-1。     

不同温度下雌激素对施氏鲟早期性腺发育及血清性激素的影响

在不同养殖温度下注射外源雌激素后对孵化后90日龄的施氏鲟性未分化的仔鱼进行培育,研究早期性腺发育过程中组织结构和血清性激素含量的变化,以了解温度和外源雌激素对施氏鲟幼鱼性分化和性别比率的影响,探讨施氏鲟的早期性别控制方法和机制。在不同试验温度下,注射外源雌激素-17β-estradiol(E2)30 d后,使施氏鲟幼鱼的卵巢分化提前,但未能改变施氏鲟雌雄1∶1的性别比率。注射24 h后各温度组血浆T含量下降到0 ng.mL-1,显著低于对照组0.46 ng.mL-1的水平(P<0.05)。注射30 d后,血浆T含量有所回升,但以高温组21、24和27℃组的血浆T含量开始回升,27℃组回升幅度最大,与处理前水平无显著差异(P>0.05)。注射后24 h,各温度组血浆E2含量显著升高(P<0.05),7 d后开始缓慢降低,15 d后降到最低值后开始回升,30 d时血浆E2含量与对照组差异不显著(P>0.05)。与注射后血清T含量一样,以温度高组回升快,最快组为21℃组。结果表明,注射17β-E2不能改变施氏鲟的性别比率,但对施氏鲟血浆T和E2含量具有一定影响作用。     

Density and distribution of the endemic Seram cockatoo Cacatua moluccensis in relation to land use patterns

The endemic Seram cockatoo, Cacatua moluccensis, was placed on Appendix I of CITES in response to declining trade statistics but in the absence of population data. We conducted population surveys and collected data on habitat structure at seven sites on Seram in 1998. Cockatoo densities ranged from 0.93 to 17.25 birds/km² and averaged 7.9 birds/km² across sites. We classified habitat into three types but found that cockatoo densities did not correspond closely to habitat differences across sites. Cockatoo abundance was significantly associated with presence of potential nest trees and strangling figs. Analysis of forest cover and landuse indicates that while most of the island is still covered in lowland forest, only 14% of these forests are protected and almost half the island is classified as logging concession. Conservation recommendations include better information and enforcement of laws protecting Seram cockatoos and resolution of boundary conflicts between parks and logging concessions.     

3β,5α,6β-三羟基-16-孕甾烯酮的生物合成及晶体结构分析

利用绿色木霉对5,6α-环氧-3β-羟基-5α-孕甾-16-稀-20-酮进行生物转化得到3β,5α,6β-三羟基孕甾-16-烯-20-酮和3β,5α,6β,15β-四羟基孕甾-16-稀-20-酮。利用IR、MS和2D-NMR实验技术等波谱方法对生物转化产物的结构进行了详细研究,运用X-射线单晶衍射方法确定3β,5α,6β-三羟基孕甾-16-烯-20-酮的空间构型,并进行了晶体结构分析。     

Chalinulasterol, a chlorinated steroid disulfate from the Caribbean sponge Chalinula molitba. Evaluation of its role as PXR receptor modulator

Chalinulasterol (1) a new chlorinated sterol disulfate was isolated from the Caribbean sponge Chalinula molitba. Its structure was elucidated using mass spectrometry and NMR experiments. The possible role of chalinulasterol as modulator of the PXR nuclear receptor was investigated but, in spite of the close structural relationship with the PXR agonist solomonsterol A (2), it showed no activity. The structural requirements for the PXR nuclear receptor activity were discussed.     

一个茄次碱苷的结构表征

首次从太白米大鳞茎中分离得到茄次碱-3-O-α-L-吡喃鼠李糖-(1→2)-[β-D-吡喃葡萄糖-(1→4)]-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷。通过对该化合物的IR,FABMS,SIMS,1H-NMR,13C-NMR,DEPT,HMQC,HMBC,1H-1HCOSY和NOSEY谱的综合解析确定了其结构,并对有关文献中的错误进行了更正。     

Effect of cortisol on the metabolism of 17-hydroxyprogesterone by Arctic charr and rainbow trout embryos

The effect of cortisol on the in vitro metabolism of [³H]17-hydroxyprogesterone ([³H]17OHP) was studied during embryonic development of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). In the absence of cortisol, rainbow trout embryos metabolized [³H]17OHP largely to androstenedione (A₄) and androstenetrione (11-KA) with a minor conversion to 17,20ß-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20P). In the presence of cortisol, this biosynthesis was inhibited. On the other hand, cortisol had no apparent inhibitory effect on the nature of metabolism of [³H]17OHP by Arctic charr embryos. In these embryos [³H]17OHP was metabolized mainly to 17,20P with a minor conversion to A₄ and without the formation of 11-KA that was seen in rainbow trout.When incubated in the presence of [³H]cortisol both Arctic charr and rainbow trout embryos produced 11ß-hydroxyandrostenedione (11ß-OHA) as the major metabolite, with a minor conversion to an unknown steroid. The catabolism of the cortisol by salmonid embryos may reflect the ability of the embryo to inactivate or detoxify cortisol to protect itself from the adverse effects of this biologically potent steroid hormone The study indicates the existence of species-specific differences in the nature of metabolism of [³H]17OHP and the inhibitory effect of cortisol on this metabolism.     

Differentiation and development of Leydig cell, and induction of spermatogenesis during testicular differentiation in the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica

The initial appearance and the development of Leydig cells (LCs), the sites of steroid hormone production in the testis, were investigated ultrastructurally during testicular differentiation in the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica. In addition, the effects of a single injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG; 5 IU g body weight^-1) on histological changes of the testes and serum 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) were examined at various stages (15–18, 20–23, 26–29, 32–35, 38–41 and 46–50 cm body length (BL)) of testicular differentiation. Testicular differentiation was morphologically characterized by the development of loose connective tissue on the medial side in animals 18–29 cm in BL. Ultrastructurally, LCs were first identified in the loose connective tissue of the testis of the 23 cm fish. In the testes of fish over 32 cm, clusters of LCs were distributed throughout the interstitial region accompanying the increase in number of spermatogonia. In fish larger than 32 cm, spermatogenesis was induced by administration of HCG; serum 11-KT levels were also raised. On the other hand, there was no effect on spermatogenesis or serum 11-KT levels in fish less than 29 cm, or in the controls. These result suggests that morphological differentiation of LCs occurs in testis of the 23 cm eel, and subsequently, the testes of eels of BL more than 32 cm acquire the capability to produce steroid hormones.     

Evidence that 17α,20β,21-trihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one is a maturation-inducing steroid in spotted seatrout

Ovarian steroidogenesis during final oocyte maturation (FOM) in the spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) was investigated by incubating ovarian fragments with tritiated pregnenolone, followed by chromatographic separation of the radioactive products. The major tritiated steroid produced during FOM comigrated with 17α,20β,21-trihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (20β-dihydro-11-deoxycortisol, 20β-S) on HPLC and TLC. Only minor amounts of radioactive material coeluted with 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17α,20β-P), 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC), estradiol-17β and testosterone standards in the HPLC system. Additional chromatography by TLC confirmed the presence of radioactive estradiol-17β and testosterone but not 17α,20β-P and DOC. All the ovarian steroids producedin vitro during FOM were assayed for their ability to induce germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) of spotted seatrout oocytes. Twenty grams of ovarian tissue were incubated with human chorionic gonadotropin and exogenous pregnenolone. The steroidal products were purified by HPLC and TLC. Most of the maturation-inducing activity was confined to steroidal material which comigrated in these systems with 20β-S. This material was active at a concentration of 1 ng steroid/ml medium in the GVBD assay. Smaller amounts of material which coeluted with 11-deoxycortisol, DOC, 17α,20β-P and several minor unidentified fractions induced GVBD at concentrations of 10 ng steroid(s)/ml. The structure-activity relationships of authentic steroids in inducing GVBD of spotted seatrout oocytes was investigated. Hydroxylation at the 17α, 20β or 21 positions increased potency to induce GVBD. Steroids with multiple hydroxyl groups at the 17α and 20β positions (17α, 20β-P) and at the 17α, 20β, and 21 positions (20β-S) had maximum biological activity in the GVBD bioassay. The results suggest that 20β-S is a major maturation-inducing steroid in spotted seatrout.