Corresponding spatial gradients of TOP molecules in the developing retina and optic tectum

The topographic map of cell position in the avian retina is inverted in its projection to the optic tectum. Dorsal retinal ganglion cell axons project to ventral tectum, and ventral retinal ganglion cells project to dorsal tectum. Topographic gradients of toponymic (TOP) cell surface molecules along the dorsoventral axes of retina and tectum also are inverted. TOP molecules are most abundant in dorsal retina and ventral tectum and least abundant in ventral retina and dorsal tectum during the period of initial retinal-tectal interaction. Thus, TOP molecules may be involved in orienting the retinotectal map.     

Control of axon branch dynamics by correlated activity in vivo

To determine how patterned visual activity regulates the development of axonal projections, we collected in vivo time-lapse images of retinal axons from albino Xenopus tadpoles in which binocular innervation of the optic tectum was induced. Axons added branch tips with nearly equal probability in all territories, but eliminated them preferentially from territory dominated by the opposite eye. This selective branch elimination was abolished by blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. These results describe a correlation-based mechanism by which visual experience directly governs axon branch dynamics that contribute to the development of topographic maps.     

Tbx5基因在漠斑牙鲆（Paralichthys olivaceus）变态前的表达

鲽形目鱼类仔鱼经过变态后形成眼睛和偶鳍等器官左右不对称的稚鱼。Tbx家族成员参与脊椎动物心脏、肢体和眼等器官的发育,而Tbx基因与鲽形目鱼类变态的关系目前尚无报道。我们运用扫描电镜和软硬骨染色等方法对出膜后2d（变态早期）和26d（变态前期）的牙鲆仔鱼的形态进行观察,牙鲆出膜后2d胸鳍原基出现,出膜后26d胸鳍发育成熟,而在出膜后26d胸鳍和腹鳍仍呈现左右对称。我们克隆了牙鲆Tbx5基因的CDS序列,该序列编码的多肽具有部分T-box保守结构域,与斑马鱼Tbx5同源性高达93%。系统进化分析显示：这段CDS序列与硬骨鱼的Tbx5基因聚为一支,但与四足动物Tbx5相分离。整体原位杂交显示出膜后26d的牙鲆仔鱼中,Tbx5基因不仅在胸鳍、眼背侧、脊柱和尿囊表达,且在胸鳍和眼背侧的表达呈现左右不对称,左侧面（有眼侧）的表达量均高于右侧面（无眼侧）的表达量。综上结果暗示,牙鲆Tbx5基因可能参与了变态过程中眼睛与胸鳍左右不对称的形成。 研究亮点： 鲽形目鱼类都经历变态发育过程,产生显著的左右不对称形态,但调控该过程的分子机制尚不清楚。本文对牙鲆变态初期仔鱼进行了形态学观察,并对牙鲆Tbx5进行克隆及其表达分析,并探讨Tbx5与牙鲆仔鱼眼睛与胸鳍不对称变态过程的关系,为进一步研究牙鲆变态机制奠定基础。     

Eye-specific retinogeniculate segregation independent of normal neuronal activity

The segregation of initially intermingled left and right eye inputs to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (DLGN) during development is thought to be in response to precise spatial and temporal patterns of spontaneous ganglion cell activity. To test this hypothesis, we disrupted the correlated activity of neighboring ganglion cells in the developing ferret retina through immunotoxin depletion of starburst amacrine cells. Despite the absence of this type of correlated activity, left and right eye inputs segregated normally in the DLGN. By contrast, when all spontaneous activity was blocked, the projections from the two eyes remained intermingled. Thus, certain features of normal neural activity patterns are not required for the formation of eye-specific projections to the DLGN.     

稻谷腹部、背部微观结构差异性分析

【目的】从微观角度对糙米腹部、背部的结构差异性进行研究,从宏观角度对糙米的三点弯曲破碎力学性能进行研究,以建立微观结构与宏观力学性能之间的相关关系,为稻谷籽粒裂纹起始于腹部建立理论依据。【方法】对两个品种糙米横截面的腹部、背部在淀粉粒和细胞层次以及糊粉层进行扫描电镜观察,采用三点弯曲法测试糙米的破碎力学性能。【结果】糙米腹部、背部微观结构在淀粉粒、细胞层次以及糊粉层均存在差异,籽粒腹部、背部微观结构的差异对其腹部、背部的结构强度产生影响,使籽粒腹部的结构强度小于背部,与力学测试性能一致,并且腹部、背部微观断裂形式亦存在差异。【结论】稻谷籽粒在解吸和吸湿条件下裂纹起始于腹部与其腹部结构强度小于背部有关。     

Retrograde axonal transport in the central nervous system

When horseradish peroxidase is injected into the optic tectum of a chick, axons of ganglion cells transport it centripetally to their cell bodies in the retina at a rate of about 72 millimeters per day. After intraocular injections in the young chick, the peroxidase is transported centripetally along efferent axons, and is concentrated in cell bodies within the isthmo-optic nucleus. This retrograde movement of protein from axon terminal to cell body suggests a possible mechanism by which neurons respond to their target areas.     

astray, a zebrafish roundabout homolog required for retinal axon guidance

As growing retinotectal axons navigate from the eye to the tectum, they sense guidance molecules distributed along the optic pathway. Mutations in the zebrafish astray gene severely disrupt retinal axon guidance, causing anterior-posterior pathfinding defects, excessive midline crossing, and defasciculation of the retinal projection. Eye transplantation experiments show that astray function is required in the eye. We identify astray as zebrafish robo2, a member of the Roundabout family of axon guidance receptors. Retinal ganglion cells express robo2 as they extend axons. Thus, robo2 is required for multiple axon guidance decisions during establishment of the vertebrate visual projection.     

Transport of protein by goldfish optic nerve fibers

After tritiated leucine was injected into the eye of goldfish, radio-active protein synthesized by the ganglion cell bodies moved down the optic axons at an average rate of 0.4 mm per day. Radioautograms of the optic tectum in which these axons end show that, as early as 24 hours after the injection, before the radioactivity in the tectal layer containing the optic axons had risen above background level, the layer containing the axon terminals was already heavily labeled. The radioactivity in the terminals reached a maximum about 48 hours after the injection and remained approximately constant for at least 23 days thereafter, whereas the radioactivity in the fiber layer increased significantly during the same interval, as the slowly moving protein component entered it. Thus there appears to be a special mechanism for rapid transport of protein from the cell body to the synaptic terminals, as well as a slower movement of protein down the axon.     

The effect of the floor plate on pattern and polarity in the developing central nervous system

The effect of floor plate on cellular differentiation in the neural tube of quail embryos was examined. In the developing neural tube the floor plate, which consists of specialized neuroepithelial cells, is located in the ventral midline of the neural tube. When Hensen's node was extirpated the floor plate and notochord did not develop, and the normal differentiation of the ventral horn motor neurons and dorsal and ventral roots did not occur. When one side of the neural tube was deprived of notochord, the ventro-dorsal differentiation took place on both sides. However, when one side of the neural tube was deprived of the floor plate, the ventral horn motor neurons and dorsal and ventral roots did not develop on that side. These observations suggest that the floor plate influences motor neuron differentiation and acts as an intrinsic organizer to establish pattern and polarity in the developing nervous system.     

不同品质籼稻胚乳糊化前后微结构差异的研究

 利用扫描电镜观察品质差异较大的 4个籼稻品种稻米糊化前后的微结构 ,发现同等条件下不同部位的糊化明显不同。背部糊化最好 ,细胞完全崩解为絮状或小块状的蓬松物质 ;腹部糊化次之 ,呈较大块状或细胞结构刚被破坏 ,有的细胞轮廓仍可见 ;中部糊化最差 ,多为完整胚乳细胞。不同品种糊化后差异明显 ,米质好的品种其背、中、腹部的糊化比米质差的品种的相应部位好 ,米质较差品种的中部明显凹陷 ,而较优品种的断面较平 ,该现象同样表现在早、晚稻的对比上。品种间背部糊化的差异小于中、腹部 ,品种内米质较优的稻米背、腹、中部的差异比米质差的小。米质较好的品种的胚乳横断面可见较多断裂的细胞 ,而米质较差的品种几乎见不到断裂的细胞 ,其数目与米质优劣有一定的正相关。米质优劣与糊化时的吸水率和延长率正相关 ,吸水率和延长率高则糊化较好     

凡纳对虾小触角表面结构的显微观察

应用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜观察了凡纳对虾小触角的表面结构。结果发现：小触角上广泛着生着700根以上的羽状刚毛；外鞭片状隆起腹面平均约具280根无顶孔但有细分支的化感刚毛，这类有分支的化感刚毛在其它十足目种类上未见有报道，而且其刚毛数也较其它种类少；内侧附肢前端与柄节上直立的羽状刚毛毛簇顶相接触，推测该结构可能对相邻的复眼具某种作用。     

Divided by cytochrome oxidase: a map of the projections from V1 to V2 in macaques

Current models partition the primate visual system into dorsal (magno) and ventral (parvo, konio) streams. Perhaps the strongest evidence for this idea has come from the pattern of projections between the primary visual area (V1) and the second visual area (V2). Prior studies describe three distinct pathways: magno to thick stripes, parvo to pale stripes, and konio to thin stripes. We now demonstrate that V1 output arises from just two sources: patch columns and interpatch columns. Patch columns project to thin stripes and interpatch columns project to pale and thick stripes. Projection of interpatches to common V2 stripe types (pale and thick) merges parvo and magno inputs, making it likely that these functional channels are distributed strongly to both dorsal and ventral streams.     

Early forebrain wiring: genetic dissection using conditional Celsr3 mutant mice

Development of axonal tracts requires interactions between growth cones and the environment. Tracts such as the anterior commissure and internal capsule are defective in mice with null mutation of Celsr3. We generated a conditional Celsr3 allele, allowing regional inactivation. Inactivation in telencephalon, ventral forebrain, or cortex demonstrated essential roles for Celsr3 in neurons that project axons to the anterior commissure and subcerebral targets, as well as in cells that guide axons through the internal capsule. When Celsr3 was inactivated in cortex, subcerebral projections failed to grow, yet corticothalamic axons developed normally, indicating that besides guidepost cells, additional Celsr3-independent cues can assist their progression. These observations provide in vivo evidence that Celsr3-mediated interactions between axons and guidepost cells govern axonal tract formation in mammals.     

Microscopic Structures of Endosperms Before and After Gelatinization in Rice Varieties with Varied Grain Quality

The microscopic structures of the endosperm of indica rice varieties with different quality be-fore and after gelatinization were observed using scanning electron microscope. The results showed that the de-gree of gelatinization varied in different parts of the grain and in different varieties under the same experimen-tal conditions. The gelatinization of dorsal side was the most complete. Its cells were decomposed totally intopuff-like or flocculent materials. The ventral side gelatinized less thoroughly, appearing agglomerate and somecell frames were still visible. The middle part gelatinized most incompletely and the cells were still integrated.Evident differences in gelatinization were observed among different varieties, the dorsal, ventral and middleparts of high quality varieties gelatinized more thoroughly than those of the corresponding parts of low qualityvarieties respectively. An obvious concavity often appeared in the middle of the cross-section of the low qualitygrains while the cross-section of high quality grains was normally flat. The same phenomenon was noted whencomparing the early maturing indica rice and the late maturing indica rice. Varietal difference of gelatiniza-tion in dorsal sides was not as distinct as in middle parts and ventral sides. The difference among dorsal side,middle part and ventral side in gelatinization was greater in low quality grains than that of high quality grains.In addition, a lot of ruptured cells were observed in the cross-section of high quality rice, while few of themcould be found in the low quality rice. Apparently, the number of ruptured cells is positively correlated withrice quality. Quality of rice grain also has positive correlation with the rate of water absorption and extension. Highrates of water absorption and extension lead to better gelatinization of rice grain, and hence indicate good quality.     

猪大脑皮质十字前回和后回的传入联系

用辣根过氧化物酶法研究了４只仔猪大脑皮质十字前回和后回传入神经的来源，将ＨＲＰ注入十字前回，在蓝斑，中缝背核，中脑中央灰质，丘脑背内侧核，腹前核，腹外侧核和板内核，十字前回和薛氏回等诸多结构内出现标记细胞。将ＨＲＰ注入十字后回，在蓝斑，中脑中央灰质，中缝背核，丘脑外侧核群，背内侧核，板内核，十字前回和后回，冠状回和扣带回等处出现标记细胞，结果表明，此二回均接受广泛的传入纤维，在丘脑皮质联系中，十字     

Nerve growth factor attenuates neurotoxic effects of taxol on spinal cord-ganglion explants from fetal mice

Most neurons in organotypic cultures of dorsal root ganglia from 13-day-old fetal mice require high concentrations of nerve growth factor for survival during the first week after explanation. These nerve growth factor-enhanced sensory neurons mature and innervate the dorsal regions of attached spinal cord tissue even after the removal of exogenous growth factor after 4 days. In cultures exposed for 4 days to nerve growth factor and taxol (a plant alkaloid that promotes the assembly of microtubules) and returned to medium without growth factor, greater than 95 percent of the ganglionic neurons degenerated and the spinal cord tissues were reduced almost to monolayers. In contrast, when the recovery medium was supplemented with nerve growth factor, the ganglionic neurons and dorsal (but not ventral) cord tissue survived remarkably well. Dorsal cord neurons do not normally require an input from dorsal root ganglia for long-term maintenance in vitro, but during and after taxol exposure they become dependent for survival and recovery on the presence of neurite projections from nerve growth-factor-enhanced dorsal root ganglia.     

山白树属雄蕊数目和形态的变异及其系统学意义？

该文利用扫描电镜法（SEM）研究了山白树属雄蕊的形态学特征,主要观察结果如下：多数情况下,雄蕊为5枚,其成熟花药有背腹之分,花药侧面纵向延伸的缝线在两端发生分叉;此外,还观察到4枚及6枚雄蕊的情况,有的雄蕊的花药在形态上没有背腹之分,呈四方柱状或扁平状,其侧面纵向延伸的缝线在两端不发生分又或者仅在基部的一侧发生分叉。研究结果,山白树属雄蕊在形态分化上处于不稳定的过渡阶段,表现出和“高等金缕梅类”的联系。     

Shadows cast by retinal blood vessels mapped in primary visual cortex

The mammalian eye is a remarkable optical device, but its design is not perfect. The blood vessels that supply the inner retina are located in front of the photoreceptor layer, blocking access to light. Their shadows create a pattern of blindness in the field of vision that corresponds precisely to the location of the largest vessels in the eye. We show here that in squirrel monkeys, focal deprivation by blood vessels leads to rewiring of the eye's geniculocortical projections, imprinting an image of the retinal vascular tree onto the primary visual cortex. This process illustrates vividly that local imbalances in neuronal activity can influence column formation during normal development.     

Reorganization of retinotopic cortical maps in adult mammals after lesions of the retina

The organization of the visual cortex has been considered to be highly stable in adult mammals. However, 5 degrees to 10 degrees lesions of the retina in the contralateral eye markedly altered the systematic representations of the retina in primary and secondary visual cortex when matched inputs from the ipsilateral eye were also removed. Cortical neurons that normally have receptive fields in the lesioned region of the retina acquired new receptive fields in portions of the retina surrounding the lesions. The capacity for such changes may be important for normal adjustments of sensory systems to environmental contingencies and for recoveries from brain damage.     

Evidence That Cut Optic Nerve Fibers in a Frog Regenerate to Their Proper Places in the Tectum

The frog's retina projects into the superficial neuropil of the opposite tectum in four functionally different layers of terminals. Each layer displays a continuous map of the retina in terms of its particular function. The four maps are in register. The fourth-dimensional order is reconstituted after section and regeneration of the optic fibers.