Culture and Identification of Myoblasts Isolated from Duck Embryos

Using embryonic myoblasts to research the formation and de-velopmental mechanisms of skeletal muscle is becoming a research hotspot. This study aimed to establish a method of isolation, culture and identification of my-oblasts in duck embryos. [Method] Pectoral and leg muscle samples were isolated from the embryos of Gaoyou duck at 13 d of hatching, then disassociated with col-lagenase and trypsin and purified via differential adhesion. The isolated cells were cultured in vitro and detected for the expression of Pax7 protein using immunofluo-rescence technique. [Result] Myoblasts were obtained successful y both from pectoral and leg muscles in duck embryos and these cells proliferated strongly and differen-tiated wel . Immunofluorescence staining showed that more than 95% cells could express Pax7 protein. [Conclusion] In summary, we report the successful establish-ment of a complete system for the isolation, purification, identification and culture of myoblasts from duck embryos.     

日本米虾胚胎发育及离体孵化

本研究采用自制离体孵化装置，对日本米虾(Caridina japonica)不同发育期胚胎进行离体孵化研究，结果显示，水温为25.5℃时，日本米虾受精卵孵化大约需要25 d，发育积温为637.5℃。胚胎发育历经受精卵、卵裂期、囊胚期、原肠胚期、前无节幼体期、后无幼体期、前溞状幼体期和膜内溞状幼体期8个时期。各期离体胚胎均能孵化出幼体，膜内溞状幼体期离体胚胎孵化率最高，为(80.7±2.4)%，非离体孵化的对照组为(79.1±4.9)%，二者差异不显著；卵裂期离体胚胎孵化率最低，为(28.2±2.6)%，与对照组差异显著。各组离体胚胎所孵化出的Ⅰ期(ZⅠ)和Ⅱ期溞状幼体(ZⅡ)的变态率无显著差异。温度对日本米虾前溞状幼体期胚胎离体孵化影响显著，在15.0℃~32.5℃范围内，随水温升高孵化时间逐渐缩短，15.0℃时，前溞状幼体离体孵化时间为(436.8±124.8) h，32.5℃时缩短至(228.0±88.8) h，但温度高于29.0℃时，孵化出的幼体变态率开始下降。本研究可为日本米虾繁殖生物学及甲壳动物胚胎离体孵化技术研究提供参考。     

不同贮藏年限老芒麦种胚线粒体抗氧化功能的变化规律

种子在自然贮藏过程中常常伴随着内部生理机能的恶化，线粒体作为种子内活性氧（reactive oxide species，ROS）产生的主要位点是最先遭到破坏的细胞器。为探讨不同贮藏年限对老芒麦种胚线粒体抗氧化功能的影响，本试验以室温贮藏0～4年的老芒麦种子为材料，分析比较其老化规律及种胚线粒体抗氧化特性的变化规律。结果表明：随着贮藏年限的延长，老芒麦种子发芽势、发芽率和种苗鲜重逐渐下降，死种子逐渐增多，种胚线粒体苹果酸脱氢酶（mitochondria malate dehydrogenase，MDH）、谷胱甘肽还原酶（glutathione reductase，GR）、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶（monodehydroascorbate reductase，MDHAR）活性逐渐下降，但在死种子中超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase，SOD）活性显著升高。此外，在贮藏过程中老芒麦种胚线粒体O₂^·-产生速率不断上升，而H₂O₂含量则呈现逐渐降低的趋势，表明线粒体中O₂^·-的积累与细胞氧化损伤密切相关。     

Na?ve-like conversion enhances the difference in innate in vitro differentiation capacity between rabbit ES cells and iPS cells

Quality evaluation of pluripotent stem cells using appropriate animal models needs to be improved for human regenerative medicine. Previously, we demonstrated that although the in vitro neural differentiating capacity of rabbit induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be mitigated by improving their baseline level of pluripotency, i.e., by converting them into the so-called “naïve-like” state, the effect after such conversion of rabbit embryonic stem cells (ESCs) remains to be elucidated. Here we found that naïve-like conversion enhanced the differences in innate in vitro differentiation capacity between ESCs and iPSCs. Naïve-like rabbit ESCs exhibited several features indicating pluripotency, including the capacity for teratoma formation. They differentiated into mature oligodendrocytes much more effectively (3.3–7.2 times) than naïve-like iPSCs. This suggests an inherent variation in differentiation potential in vitro among PSC lines. When naïve-like ESCs were injected into preimplantation rabbit embryos, although they contributed efficiently to forming the inner cell mass of blastocysts, no chimeric pups were obtained. Thus, in vitro neural differentiation following naïve-like conversion is a promising option for determining the quality of PSCs without the need to demonstrate chimeric contribution. These results provide an opportunity to evaluate which pluripotent stem cells or treatments are best suited for therapeutic use.     

中华鳖GHITM cDNA基因克隆及表达分析

为研究GHITM基因在中华鳖(Trionyx sinensis)胚胎发育及生长中的作用，本研究通过RT-PCR和RACE方法获得了中华鳖GHITM全长cDNA序列；采用实时荧光定量PCR对GHITM mRNA组织表达及不同温度孵化胚胎发育过程中的表达特性进行分析。结果显示，中华鳖GHITM cDNA序列长度为2650 bp，开放阅读框为1050 bp，5?非编码区为123 bp，3?非编码区为1477 bp，编码349个氨基酸，编码蛋白的等电点为10.01，分子量为37.12 kDa。GHITM编码氨基酸序列由胞外区、跨膜区和胞内区组成，7个跨膜域组成跨膜区。GHITM编码氨基酸序列的同源性分析显示，中华鳖与锦龟(Chrysemys picta bellii)和绿海龟(Chelonia mydas)同属一个分支，3种鳄鱼构成一个分支，7种鸟类形成一个分支。实时荧光定量检测显示，GHITM基因在肝脏、肌肉和脑垂体中的表达水平较高，显著高于心脏、性腺、肠、肾脏和脾脏组织(P<0.05)；50 g左右和500 g左右雄性个体肝脏中的GHITM基因表达量显著高于雌性个体(P<0.05)；低温胁迫孵化能显著抑制胚胎肝脏中GHITM基因的表达(P<0.05)。上述研究结果表明，GHITM基因与中华鳖生长和胚胎发育密切相关，其在中华鳖胚胎中的表达受孵化温度调节。本研究为探讨中华鳖胚胎发育和生长提供理论依据。     

Construction of mouse ESC line stably expressing Pdx1 by Tet-On system

AIM To construct the mouse embryonic stem cell （ESC） line with stable pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 （Pdx1） expression by Tet-On system, which may lay a foundation for further research on the differentiation of Pdx1⁺ definitive endoderm cells into pancreatic cells. METHODS The Pdx1-overexpressing lentiviral vector with green fluorescent protein marker and puromycin resistance was constructed by Tet-On system and was used to infect the mouse ESC. The cells were divided into 3 groups： blank control group （ESC group）, empty lentivirus control group （PDX1^- ESC group） and Pdx1 lentivirus transfection group （PDX1⁺ ESC group）. Flow cytometry was used to detect the transfected cells after screening by doxycycline （DOX）. The function of Tet-On system and the expression of Pdx1 gene were detected. The transfected cells in PDX1^- ESC group and PDX1⁺ ESC group were sorted by flow cytometry, and constructed ESC line with stable expression of Pdx1 and negative control ESC line were verified. RESULTS （1） The positive rates of transfected cells in PDX1^- ESC group and PDX1⁺ ESC group were 90.72% and 94.01% after screening by DOX, respectively. The positive rates of transfected cells in PDX1^- ESC group and PDX1⁺ ESC group was 97.84% and 98.13% after sorting by flow cytometry, respectively. （2） With DOX, green fluorescence was observed in PDX1^- ESC group and PDX1⁺ ESC group. The mRNA and protein expression of Pdx1 was significantly increased in PDX1⁺ ESC group （P<0.05）. Without DOX, no green fluorescence was observed in the cells of the 3 groups, and no significant difference in the mRNA and protein expression of Pdx1 was observed （P>0.05）. （3） After 3 months of cryopreservation, the cell lines still survived in resuscitation culture and were regulated by DOX. CONCLUSION Using Tet-On system, the mouse ESC line with inducible Pdx1 expression were successfully established and could be used as an effective cell model to research the differentiation of Pdx1⁺ definitive endoderm cells into pancreatic cells.     

Metanephric cell microenvironment induces embryonic stem cells to differentiate toward renal cells

AIM: To explore the effects of metanephric cell microenvironment on inducing embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to differentiate toward renal cells.METHODS: Embryoid bodies (EBs) of D3 mouse embryonic stem cells were prepared by hanging drop culture, and the EBs were co-cultured indirectly with metanephric cells derived from E12.5 d mouse embryo. The EBs cell with spontaneous differentiation was used as the control. The proteins of Pax2 and WT-1 were analyzed by immunofluorescence assay. The mRNA expression of Pax2, WT-1, Lim1, Sall1, Emx2, GDNF, Wnt4, BMP7, Nephl, Nephrin, KSP and CD24 genes was detected by RT- PCR.RESULTS: The genes related to kidney development were expressed in the EBs cells after co-culture on day 3, and the mRNA expression of Pax2, WT-1, Emx2, GDNF, Nephl, Nephrin, KSP and CD24 was stronger than those in control group. Pax2 positive cells were found on day 3 in the co-cultured EBs cells, and the positive cells increased on day 5 and day 7. WT-1 protein positive cells were found in the co-cultured EBs cells on day 5. No Pax2 or WT-1 positive cell was observed in control group.CONCLUSION: Metanephric cell microenvironment promotes ESCs differentiation toward renal cells.     

Supportive effects of human AGM region and fetal liver stromal cells on differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells into hematopoietic stem cells and in vivo hematopoietic reconstitution

AIM: To investigate the differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) by the supportive effects of human aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) region and fetal liver (FL) stromal cells.METHODS: E14 ESCs were induced into embryoid body (EB) first. Then the cells from EB were further co-cultured with human AGM region and FL stromal cells in non-contact system. On day 6, the cells derived from EB were collected for Sca-1⁺c-Kit⁺ cell analysis by flow cytometry, colony forming unit (CFU) assay and teratoma formation checking. BALB/c female mice conditioned with lethal dose of γ-ray irradiation were transplanted with EB cells from different culture systems. The survival rates, engraftment of donor cells, reconstitution of hematopoietic were monitored.RESULTS: Sca-1⁺c-Kit⁺ cells in EB cells co-cultured with human AGM region and FL stromal cells had the value of (21.96±2.54)%, and the total CFU was as (520±52)/10⁵ cells, which were statistically greater than those in EB cells only cultured with human AGM region stromal cells (P＜0.05). No teratoma was found in NOD-SCID mice after subcutaneous injection of EB cells co-cultured with human AGM region and FL stromal cells. In BALB/c female mice transplanted of EB cells co-cultured with human AGM region and FL stromal cells, the survival rate was 77.8%, and the peripheral blood cell count was obviously improved on day 14. PCR results showed the recipients all had sry gene copies from donor in bone marrow. The recipient mice transplanted with EB cells only cultured with human AGM region stromal cells all died within 15 days.CONCLUSION: Stromal cells from human AGM region and FL enhance the directed differentiation of ESCs into HSCs which can reconstruct hematopoiesis in vivo.     

Low reproductive success of leatherback turtles, Dermochelys coriacea, is due to high embryonic mortality

We examined the mechanism responsible for low reproductive success in leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) at Playa Grande, Costa Rica: low egg fertilization versus high rates of embryonic death. Leatherbacks at this beach had a high rate of fertility (=93.3%±2.5%, n=819). We incubated 10 eggs from every clutch encountered of 19 females during 3 months of the 1998-1999 nesting season. Fertility rate of some females decreased during the nesting season, but overall was high. Detection of fertility was difficult using standard methods because fertility rates cannot be determined accurately from nests excavated after hatching because of egg decomposition. Removal and incubation of eggs from nests provided a better estimate. Embryonic death, particularly in the beginning of incubation before embryos are visible to the unaided eye, was the cause of low hatching success in this population. Hatching success increased with increasing fertility and differed between females, with some mothers having 71-81% success and others 23-32%. Embryonic death and not low egg fertility drives poor recruitment at Playa Grande. Improved conservation of this species at Playa Grande will require a better understanding of the mechanism behind embryonic death.     

木薯非胚性与胚性组织蛋白质双向电泳差异初步分析

以木薯体非胚性和胚性组织为材料研究胚发生的蛋白表达机制,利用IEF/SDS-PAGE凝胶电泳技术,对其蛋白质特异性进行了比较分析,分别得到470和344个清晰的蛋白点。结果表明非胚性组织蛋白质谱和胚性组织蛋白质表达量上存在一定的差异。对其中5个区域中的39个差异显著的点进行分析发现,差异表达上调和下调在2倍以下的蛋白点有6个,上调或下调2倍以上的蛋白点有22个,非胚性组织中特异存在的蛋白点有5个,而胚性组织中特异存在的蛋白点有6个。