金定鸭的性双态分化和性行为发育

金定鸭的外型分化，受自然选择和性选择的双重影响。在生长发育过程中，依羽域在适应水域环境的重要性，雌雄金定鸭的正羽都按共同的羽域顺序陆续更换生长；与此同时，一日龄外型相同的异性雏鸭，逐渐表现出性双态，包括喙色、羽色、声音、性羽、体重和行为的表型差异，以满足繁殖竞争的需要。金定鸭性行为的出现以其性双态分化为基础，而性行为的分化又是其生理成熟的前提条件。对雄鸭的观察分析结果表明，性双态分化和性行为发育速度的快慢与其生理成熟的早迟是一致的。黑色尾羽的雄鸭，体重较小，其发育速度和性成熟均快于体重较大的白喙或端白尾羽者，因此，建议将尾羽颜色、性双态分化和性行为发育速度作为雄鸭的选育指标。     

Reproductive roles predict sexual dimorphism in internal and external morphology of lake whitefish,Coregonus clupeaformis

Abstract – The different reproductive roles of the sexes can predict the direction and magnitude of sexual dimorphism of external and internal morphology. Males should have enlarged structures that enhance the acquisition of mating opportunities, whereas females are predicted to have enlarged organs that are associated with the production of eggs. We tested these predictions in male and female lake whitefish, a species in which both sexes have similar overall body size and shape. After controlling for body size, male lake whitefish had significantly longer jaws and pectoral and pelvic fins, larger hearts, and more muscle than females. Sexual dimorphism in relative muscle mass may be one of the most fundamental morphological differences between males and females. Females had relatively heavier livers than males. Because the liver is important for the breakdown of fats and vitellogenesis, selection should favour an enlarged liver in females for the processing of energy and the production of large numbers of eggs.     

Potential of sexual reproduction among host-adapted populations of Phytophthora infestans sensu lato in Ecuador

To determine the potential of sexual reproduction among host-adapted populations of Phytophthora infestans sensu lato in Ecuador, 13 A1 isolates belonging to clonal lineages US-1, EC-1 and EC-3, and 11 A2 isolates belonging to the clonal lineage EC-2, were paired on agar plates to induce crossing. In the first experiment, six A1 isolates (three US-1, two EC-1 and one EC-3) were each crossed with three A2 isolates (total = 18 crosses). Matings involving isolates of the EC-1 lineage produced more oospores of healthy appearance than did matings with isolates of US-1 or EC-3. In the second experiment, the oospores of 35 crosses (21 EC-1 × EC-2; 10 US-1 × EC-2; four EC-3 × EC-2) were dispersed on water agar to assess oospore germination. Overall, germination percentages were low. Only one cross produced enough progeny for evaluation. Twenty-three single-oospore offspring were isolated and evaluated for mating type; electrophoretic patterns of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase ( Gpi ) and peptidase ( Pep ) alloenzyme loci; mitochondrial DNA haplotype; and genomic DNA fingerprint. Multilocus genotype data indicated that all 23 isolates resulted from meiotic recombination. Four progeny with homothallic phenotype appeared to be unstable heterokaryons. Markers at several loci segregated according to simple Mendelian expectations for a diploid organism, but the ratios of three RFLP loci and the Pep locus were not consistent with Mendelian expectations. All progeny were nonpathogenic on hosts of the parental genotypes. Reduced mating success and reduced pathogenic fitness of progeny appear to be postmating mechanisms of reproductive isolation in populations of P. infestans sensu lato in Ecuador.     

双孢蘑菇性亲和性相关分子标记的初步筛选

以传统的形态，生理生化分析和最新的DCS－PDMA性亲和性测定方法为基础， 结合群体分离分析和RAPD技术来源于同一双孢蘑菇异核体菌株的12个不育同核原生质体个体进行分析，筛选与性亲和性相关的分子标记。研究结果表明，供试的12个不育同核原生质体个体被分成两大类性亲和性类型，其中一类（A^ ）包括不育同核原生质体个体B、C、D、E、F、G、H、I、J、L，另一类（A^-）则仅仅包括不育同核原生质体个体K和M，同时筛选到一个与性亲和性相关的分子标记OPA16 1500。从而为间地利用双孢蘑菇本身特有的交配型作标记来指导杂交育种工作和进一步将性亲和性基因定位分离克隆奠定了坚实的基础。     

Sex‐dependent responses of perch to changes in water clarity and temperature

Rising temperatures and decreasing water transparency of lakes have strong wide ranging effects on fish. Fish responses to various changes in the environment are usually species‐dependent, but responses may also vary within species. In general, large individuals are considered to be more sensitive to environmental variation due to higher energy demand, than smaller individuals. Similarly, large individuals require more food to maintain bodily functions and are thus more sensitive to resource and food scarcity. These size‐specific responses to environmental gradients are also sex‐dependent in species that exhibit sexual size dimorphism (SSD). We studied in enclosures with short‐term experiments how rising temperatures and decreasing water transparency regulate the feeding rates of female and male European perch (Perca fluviatilis L.). To explore experimental results, we calculated perch SSD in nine lakes with varying environmental conditions using previously collected field data. The results of the experiments revealed that the combined effect of water transparency and temperature on the feeding rate of fish is gender‐dependent: feeding rate of females decreased more than that of males. The experimental results were also supported by field data that revealed a negative relation between water transparency and the magnitude of SSD in perch. Our results suggest that rising temperatures and decreasing water transparency may potentially decrease fish size in a sex‐dependent manner. As female size is one of the main demographic traits determining the reproductive success of a fish population, changing environments may have unexpected and far‐reaching consequences on fish population dynamics.     

Assessment of age-related morphological changes in the testes of post-hatch light ecotype Nigerian indigenous chicken

The age-related morphological changes of the testes in light ecotype Nigerian indigenous chicken were evaluated in this study using gross anatomical, histological and histomorphometric techniques. The results showed that the testes of 3- to 9-month-old birds were light pink while testes of sexually mature chicken were creamy white in colour. The left and right testicular weight, length, diameter, circumference and the organosomatic indices increased significantly (p < .05) with increasing age across the groups. Although the mean tubular diameter and epithelial height of the left and right seminiferous tubules increased significantly (p < .05) with age, the tubular diameter, epithelial height and luminal diameter did not vary significantly (p > .05) between the left and right testes of all the groups. The one-cell layer thick germinal epithelium of the left testes at 3 to 6 months old showed islands of cell proliferation that contained spermatogonia and spermatocytes. At 6 to 9 months, the left testes exhibited numerous early spermatids with occasional occurrence of late stage spermatids while the right testes showed scanty early stage spermatids. At 12 to 18 months, the germinal epithelia of both left and right testes were characterized by the presence of Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, numerous early and late stage spermatids as well as spermatozoa. In conclusion, the morphological features highlighted in the present study show that at pre-pubertal periods, the left testes may develop faster than the right testes. However, both left and right testes may participate actively in the production of spermatozoa during the post-pubertal life.     

NPFFR1基因对鹅卵泡颗粒细胞激素分泌和细胞凋亡的影响研究

神经相关肽受体（RFamide-related peptide receptor,NPFFR1）是促性腺激素抑制激素的主要亲和受体,它在调控动物繁殖方面起着重要作用。为了解NPFFR1对鹅卵巢卵泡发育的作用,本研究以42周龄健康产蛋四川白鹅为试验材料（n=9）,利用RT-qPCR法检测NPFFR1基因在等级前和等级卵泡颗粒细胞中的mRNA表达规律;在颗粒细胞中过表达NPFFR1基因,酶联免疫吸附法检测颗粒细胞上清液（n=9）中雌二醇（estradiol,E2）、孕酮（progesterone,P4）和抗缪勒管激素（anti-Mullerian hormone,AMH）的浓度变化,剩余贴壁细胞作一步法TUNEL检测细胞凋亡情况;转录组测序方法筛选大黄卵泡（8~10 mm）颗粒细胞过表达NPFFR1前后表达差异显著基因,并对差异表达基因进行功能聚类分析。结果显示,除F1等级外,其余等级卵泡颗粒细胞NPFFR1表达量均极显著高于等级前卵泡（P<0.01）;过表达NPFFR1后,等级颗粒细胞上清液中的E2和等级前颗粒细胞上清液AMH的含量显著（P<0.05）降低,但孕酮P4含量变化不显著（P>0.05）;转录组测序共筛选到267个差异表达基因（119个下调,148个上调）,这些基因主要富集在生物节律过程、繁殖进程等生物学过程中;同时,与对照组相比,差异基因AMH显著下调表达（P<0.05）,Clock（clock circadian regulator）、FOS（proto-oncogene,AP-1 trans-cription factor subunit）、Per（period circadian regulator）和ANTXR2（cell adhesion molecule 2）分别极显著（P<0.01）或显著（P<0.05）上调表达。上述试验结果提示,NPFFR1可从激素、细胞凋亡和生物节律等多个环节影响卵泡颗粒细胞,参与调控卵泡的时序等级发育。     

Impact of heat stress,nutritional restriction and combined stresses (heat and nutritional) on growth and reproductive performance of Malpura rams under semi‐arid tropical environment

A study was conducted to assess the combined effect of heat stress and nutritional restriction on growth and reproductive performances in Malpura rams. Twenty‐eight adult Malpura rams (average body weight (BW) 66.0 kg) were used in this study. The rams were divided into four groups: CON (n = 7; control), HES (n = 7; heat stress), NUS (n = 7; nutritional stress) and COS (n = 7; combined stress). The study was conducted for a period of 2 months. CON and HES rams had ad libitum access to their feed while NUS and COS rams were under restricted feed (30% intake of CON rams) to induce nutritional stress. The HES and COS rams were kept in climatic chamber at 42 °C and 55% relative humidity for 6 h a day between 10 : 00 h and 16 : 00 h to induce heat stress. Body weight increased significantly (p < 0.05) in CON as compared to NUS and COS. When compared within groups, scrotal width morning, scrotal width afternoon, scrotal circumference morning and scrotal circumference afternoon were significantly (p < 0.05) larger in CON while smaller in COS rams. The higher testicular length was recorded both during morning (p < 0.05) and afternoon (p < 0.01) in COS rams while the lowest in NUS rams. The highest plasma testosterone concentration was recorded in CON and lowest in COS rams. Semen volume and mass motility also differed significantly (p < 0.05) between the groups. The highest semen volume and mass motility was recorded in CON and NUS while lowest in both HES and COS rams. It can be concluded from this study that when two stressors occur simultaneously, they may have severe impact on reproductive performance of rams.     

虎皮鹦鹉发声行为学比较研究

为了解虎皮鹦鹉发声行为的性别差异,采用计算机鸣声分析技术对虎皮鹦鹉的鸣叫行为做了研究,结果表明,雄性虎皮鹦鹉的叫声明显比雌鸟的复杂多变,但是鸣声幅度比雌鸟的小;随着虎皮鹦鹉的成长,雌雄鸟的叫声越来越复杂,幅度越来越高。说明虎皮鹦鹉的叫声具有明显的性双态性,并且叫声随着年龄的增大越来越成熟,30日龄虎皮鹦鹉的鸣声复杂程度已接近成鸟水平。     

羔羊期和性成熟期奶山羊下丘脑中催产素的表达

采用免疫组化链霉素抗生物素蛋白-过氧化物酶法(SP法),检测羔羊期和性成熟期雌性奶山羊下丘脑中催产素表达的变化规律.结果显示,催产素免疫反应阳性神经元在羔羊和性成熟羊的视上核、室旁核、乳头体内侧核等核团均有分布,在羔羊的室周核、视前内侧核等核团广泛分布,但在性成熟羊的这些核团却未见分布.在视上核、室旁核、乳头体内侧核等核团的催产素免疫阳性神经元数量,性成熟羊显著高于羔羊(P＜0.01);这些核团中催产素免疫阳性产物的平均灰度值,羔羊显著低于性成熟羊(P＜0.01),在其他核团则羔羊高于性成熟羊,且大部分差异明显(P＜0.01).结果提示,性成熟羊下丘脑中除室周核、视前内侧核等核团外,室旁核、视上核、乳头体内侧核、乳头体后核等核团,催产素的表达高于羔羊,说明这些核团对生殖系统的发育成熟可能有重要作用.