Advances in Holding and Cryopreservation of Equine Oocytes and Embryos

Methods for holding of oocytes and embryos during shipment as well as for their cryopreservation can greatly aid equine reproductive management. Oocytes can be held at room temperature overnight or at cooler temperatures for two nights without affecting maturation or embryo development after intracytoplasmic sperm injection. In contrast, methods for cryopreservation of equine oocytes that support high rates of embryo development have not yet been established. Equine embryos may be held overnight at temperatures from 5°C to 19°C without reduction in viability, but longer holding periods, or higher holding temperatures, may be detrimental. Small equine embryos (<300 μm), either in vivo derived or in vitro produced, can be slow frozen or vitrified successfully. In the last decade, methods have been developed to allow in vivo–derived expanded blastocysts, up to Day 8, to be vitrified successfully after blastocoele collapse. These methods of shipment and preservation allow mare owners in remote locations to have access to sophisticated assisted reproductive technologies.     

玉米受精和早期子粒发育过程及逆境胁迫对其影响

玉米受精及子粒发育早期是决定穗粒数及粒重的重要时期,也是对环境变化相对较敏感的阶段。受精极核需要经历游离核、细胞化和细胞分化3个阶段形成胚乳,受精卵同样需要一系列的分裂分化形成最终的胚。玉米受精前极易遭受不良环境的影响,导致性器官发育不正常,影响花粉或花丝活力间接影响玉米受精过程。受精过程中的环境胁迫会通过阻碍花粉与花丝的识别、减缓花粉管在花丝中的延伸速率影响受精过程。子粒发育早期主要是受精极核分裂分化形成胚乳、受精卵分裂分化形成胚的过程,该阶段遭受环境胁迫下,胚乳细胞分裂受阻影响子粒库容。研究表明,逆境胁迫条件下,玉米的受精及子粒早期发育过程与碳水化合物的代谢以及激素的合成密切相关。     

Somatic embryo culture for propagation,artificial seed production,and conservation of sawara cypress (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chamaecyparis pisifera</Emphasis> Sieb. et Zucc.)

 Somatic embryogenesis in Chamaecyparis pisifera Sieb. et Zucc. was initiated from immature seeds collected from the end of June to early July. Mass propagation through adventitious shoot bud production from somatic embryo culture on Woody Plant (WP) medium and artificial seed production using sodium alginate was achieved. A high bud forming index value (25.8) was obtained on medium supplemented with 1 μM 6-benzylaminopurine. The conversion rates from artificial seeds under aseptic and nonaseptic conditions were 60%–100% and 10%–12%, respectively. For germplasm conservation, somatic embryos and embryogenic cells were successfully stored at 4°C (medium-term storage) and in liquid nitrogen for long-term storage. Received: December 21, 2001 / Accepted: August 1, 2002 Acknowledgments This work was supported in part by the Japan Science and Technology Corporation and in part by a Grant for Research for the Future Program from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Correspondence to:E. Maruyama     

枣授粉受精及胚胎发育研究

The processes about pollination, fertilization and embryo development of Chinese Date ‘Wu-he-zao‘ (ziziphus jujuba) were observed by means of lightmicrocope combining histochemical dyeing and fluorescent technique. The results were summarized as follows:The pollen grains germinated on the stigma at the 4th hour after pollination. On the 5th day after pollination,the primary endosperm nucleus formed, and the zygote formed on the 6th day. The double fertilization of Wu-he-zao was the type premitotic syngamy. The first division of the zygote took place after a dormancy for about 6 - 7 days. The proembryonal development of Wu-he-zao belonged to the Solanad type. The development of the endosperm belonged to the nuclear type.     

Factors Affecting Recipients' Pregnancy,Pregnancy Loss,and Foaling Rates in a Commercial Equine Embryo Transfer Program

During 11 breeding seasons, 351 7- to 10-day-old horse embryos were nonsurgically transferred into recipients that ovulated between 3 and 10 days earlier. Pregnancy rates at 14 and 40 days and foaling rates were 77.8% (273/351), 69.2% (243/351), and 64.4% (226/351), respectively. Pregnancy loss between 14 and 40 days was 11% and between 40 days and delivery was 7%. The transfer of quality grade 3 to 4 embryos resulted in a significantly lower pregnancy rate at 14 days compared with the transfer of grade 1 to 2 embryos (46.2% vs. 79%; P < .05). Eight-day-old embryos resulted in significantly lower pregnancy losses than day 9 or 10 embryos, as occurred for embryos between 400 and 1200 μm compared with embryos <400 μm. Embryos recovered from mares >20 years resulted in a significantly higher pregnancy loss rate than those recovered from younger mares. The same happened for embryos coming from mares affected by reproductive pathologies compared with healthy mares performing sport activity. None of the evaluated parameters influenced recipients' foaling rate significantly.     

Effect of immature wheat flour on nutritional and technological quality of sourdough bread

In this study, the effect of immature wheat flour (IWF) on the fermentation activity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and on the nutritional quality properties of bread were evaluated. IWF was added in the as the ratio of 10g/100g in sourdough fermentation medium, and the fermentation activity (total LAB, pH, titration acidity (TA), and total reducing sugar (TRS)) of LAB cultures was monitored. Additionally, some physical quality characteristics (specific volume, texture profile and colour value), estimated glycaemic index (eGI), rapidly digestible starch (RDS), slowly digestible starch (SDS), and the total dietary fibre content of sourdough bread were determined. According to the statistical test, it was revealed that the IWF addition stimulated LAB growth and increased their fermentation activity. The pH of the fermentation medium decreased from 6.57 to 3.50, and TA raised from 0.13% to 1.2% in 48 h. The highest TRS content was determined in IWF enriched sourdough samples, and as a result of this, the eGI of sourdough bread increased. Compared to the control sample, the SDS and total dietary fibre content were higher in IWF added sourdough bread, and a positive correlation was noted between these two components. IWF utilisation of sourdough bread formulation increased the hardness value by nearly 50%.     

黄条鰤仔稚幼鱼消化酶活性变化研究

为了解黄条鰤(Seriola aureovittata)早期发育阶段的消化生理特性，测定了黄条鰤胚胎、仔稚幼鱼阶段脂肪酶、淀粉酶、胰蛋白酶和碱性磷酸酶活性变化。结果显示，在黄条鰤仔鱼出膜前胚胎阶段，即能检测到脂肪酶、淀粉酶和碱性磷酸酶活性；初孵仔鱼体内(1 d)初次检测出胰蛋白酶的活性。脂肪酶和碱性磷酸酶比活力在仔鱼孵化后迅速增强(P<0.05)，在4 d开口时，2种酶比活力达最高值；淀粉酶比活力在7 d时达最大值；胰蛋白酶比活力在仔鱼阶段缓慢上升，15 d时比活力最大。稚鱼阶段内脏团中脂肪酶、碱性磷酸酶和胰蛋白酶活性基本维持稳定，幼鱼阶段内脏团脂肪酶、碱性磷酸酶和胰蛋白酶活性都呈现上升趋势；稚鱼和幼鱼阶段内脏团中淀粉酶活性下降并基本稳定于较低水平。研究表明，黄条鰤仔稚幼鱼发育过程中，各种消化酶活性变化明显，且与其发育阶段和食性密切相关。在尚未摄食饵料的早期仔鱼体内已存在消化酶，认为其是母源传递而来，不是由外源性饵料所致；幼鱼阶段内脏团脂肪酶、碱性磷酸酶和胰蛋白酶比活力明显提高，这反映出随苗种生长发育，其肠道结构和消化机能逐渐完善，并且对脂肪、蛋白质的需求逐渐增强。     

冰草属植物组织培养再生体系的建立

以适宜西北地区种植的优质牧草冰草属(AgropyronGaertn)中的三个不同种———蒙古冰草新品系(A.mongolicumKeng)、航道冰草(A.cristatumcv.Fairway)、诺丹冰草(A.desertorumcv.Nordan)和一个种间杂种冰草———蒙农杂种冰草(A.cristatum×A.desertorumcv.Mengnong)为材料,分别以幼穗为外植体建立了冰草组织培养再生体系。诱导愈伤组织的培养基为改良MS+2,4 D2.0mg/L,分化培养基为MS(无附加成分),在1/2MS培养基上生根后得到完整小植株。结果表明在本试验条件下,不同长度的幼穗在培养时,其愈伤组织发生的部位及其增殖速度不同;4种材料愈伤组织诱导率和分化率无明显差异,均可有效诱导愈伤组织并分化成再生植株,再生植株的产生主要通过直接器官发生途径。