Blastocyst axis is specified independently of early cell lineage but aligns with the ZP shape

The mechanisms controlling the establishment of the embryonic-abembryonic (E-Ab) axis of the mammalian blastocyst are controversial. We used in vitro time-lapse imaging and in vivo lineage labeling to provide evidence that the E-Ab axis of the mouse blastocyst is generated independently of early cell lineage. Rather, both the boundary between two-cell blastomeres and the E-Ab axis of the blastocyst align relative to the ellipsoidal shape of the zona pellucida (ZP), an extraembryonic structure. Lack of correlation between cell lineage and the E-Ab axis can be explained by the rotation of the embryo within the ZP.     

外源性雌激素对小鼠子宫b-FGF和TGF-β1表达的影响

为探明雌激素对小鼠子宫碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(b-FGF)和转化生长因子-β1(TGF-β1)表达的影响,应用免疫组化染色观察雌激素对小鼠子宫b-FGF和TGF-β1表达的影响。结果表明,随着外源性雌激素的介入,子宫基质细胞中b-FGF和TGF-β1阳性着色反应增强,腺上皮则减弱。提示外源性雌激素对小鼠子宫不同类型细胞中b-FGF和TGF-β的表达有不同的调节作用,此调节可能参与小鼠胚泡着床过程。     

程序化冷冻对小鼠胚胎发育的影响

取小鼠原核(220枚)、2～4细胞胚胎(227枚)、桑椹胚(127枚),将其分为3组,每一时期胚胎分成两半,一半取出后立即冷冻复苏并体外培养至囊胚,另一半体外培养至囊胚后冷冻复苏,子宫冲取囊胚(78枚)冷冻复苏为对照组;各组囊胚均移植至于宫,比较程序化冷冻对小鼠早期胚胎存活率的影响.结果表明:原核、2～4细胞胚胎、桑椹胚体外培养至囊胚后冷冻复苏率分别为56.4%、72.2%、81.6%,移植产仔率分别为38.1%、41.6%、56.8%,原核、2～4细胞组复苏率和产仔率极显著或显著低于对照组,桑椹胚组与对照组差异不显著,显示体外培养对早期胚胎冷冻存活有影响;原核、2～4细胞胚胎、桑椹胚冷冻后体外培养至囊胚,胚胎移植后产仔率分别为25.3%、28.2%、42.1%,与对应胚胎时期体外培养至囊胚冷冻复苏后移植产仔率相比,原核、2～4细胞组均存在显著差异,而桑椹胚组差异不显著,显示原核、2～4细胞的早期胚胎体外培养至囊胚后冷冻可提高冷冻存活率.     

Cell recognition during neuronal development

Insect embryos, with their relatively simple nervous systems, provide a model system with which to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying cell recognition during neuronal development. Such an approach can take advantage of the accessible cells of the grasshopper embryo and the accessible genes of Drosophila. The growth cones of identified neurons express selective affinities for specific axonal surfaces; such specificities give rise to the stereotyped patterns of selective fasciculation common to both species. These and other results suggest that early in development cell lineage and cell interactions lead to the differential expression of cell recognition molecules on the surfaces of small subsets of embryonic neurons whose axons selectively fasciculate with one another. Monoclonal antibodies reveal surface molecules in the Drosophila embryo whose expression correlates with this prediction. It should now be possible to isolate the genes encoding these potential cell recognition molecules and to test their function through the use of molecular genetic approaches in Drosophila.     

Composition and formation of intercellular junctions in epithelial cells

The polarized nature of epithelial cells is manifested by the nonrandom partitioning of organelles within the cells, the concentration of intercellular junctions at one pole, and the asymmetric distribution of proteins and lipids within the plasma membrane. These features allow epithelia to fulfill their specific tasks, such as targeted uptake and secretion of molecules and the segregation of different tissue compartments. The accessibility of Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans to genetic and cell biological analyses, combined with the study of mammalian cells in culture, provides an ideal basis for understanding the mechanisms that control the establishment and maintenance of epithelial cell polarity and tissue integrity. Here, we focus on some of the best-studied junctions and membrane-associated protein complexes and their relation to cell polarity. Comparisons between fly, worm, and vertebrate epithelia reveal marked similarities with respect to the molecules used, and pronounced differences in the organization of the junctions themselves.     

植物硼效率差异的研究进展

综述了植物种类及不同品种间，特别是甘蓝型油菜品种间硼效率差异的生理生化机理及遗传学和分子生物学研究进展。指出，植物细胞壁果胶含量的形态及光合初产物的种类和运输形式是导致植物营养生长硼效率差异的主要原因，但是否是生殖生长硼效率差异的原因有待进一步证实 。植物硼效率是由基因控制的，应用遗传学和分子生物学技术可得到理想的硼高效品种。     

选择素及其在胚胎附植中的作用

选择素是已知的细胞黏附分子(CAMs)家族之一,共有3个成员组成,其主要生理功能是在炎症发生时介导白细胞与血管内皮细胞之间的起始黏附。近年来研究资料显示,选择素还在受精、肿瘤细胞转移和胚胎附植等过程中发挥着重要的作用,其中滋养层L-选择素介导胚泡滋养层与子宫之间的相互作用,在胚胎附植时发挥桥梁作用。     

植物远缘杂交中生殖隔离研究进展

在植物育种和种质创新过程中,远缘杂交发挥着重要的作用,创造了许多新种质和新类型。物种间远缘杂交的本质是突破物种间的生殖隔离,实现种间优良基因的重组交流。随着基因组学的发展,在生殖隔离遗传机制的解析等方面已取得了一些进展。通过对种间生殖隔离的遗传基础的阐述,总结了克服生殖隔离的途径,为基因组时代植物远缘杂交的育种提供了参考。     

胚胎干细胞体外分化研究进展

胚胎干细胞是来源于胚胎的、内细胞团的、具有多向分化潜能的细胞。随着胚胎干细胞,特别是分化机制研究的不断深入,胚胎干细胞分化为各种类型细胞的研究也取得了较大进展,从而为细胞移植、细胞治疗和组织工程等提供了一个新的途径。主要综述了小鼠和人胚胎干细胞向内、中、外三个胚层细胞类型分化的技术,以期为胚胎干细胞定向诱导分化的研究提供一些参考。     

Penetration,adhesion, and fusion in mammalian sperm-egg interaction

Fertilization is the sum of the cellular mechanisms that pass the genome from one generation to the next and initiate development of a new organism. A typical, ovulated mammalian egg is enclosed by two layers: an outer layer of approximately 5000 cumulus cells and an inner, thick extracellular matrix, the zona pellucida. To reach the egg plasma membrane, sperm must penetrate both layers in steps requiring sperm motility, sperm surface enzymes, and probably sperm-secreted enzymes. Sperm also bind transiently to the egg zona pellucida and the egg plasma membrane and then fuse. Signaling in the sperm is induced by sperm adhesion to the zona pellucida, and signaling in the egg by gamete fusion. The gamete molecules and molecular interactions with essential roles in these events are gradually being discovered.     

A systems model of signaling identifies a molecular basis set for cytokine-induced apoptosis

Signal transduction pathways control cellular responses to stimuli, but it is unclear how molecular information is processed as a network. We constructed a systems model of 7980 intracellular signaling events that directly links measurements to 1440 response outputs associated with apoptosis. The model accurately predicted multiple time-dependent apoptotic responses induced by a combination of the death-inducing cytokine tumor necrosis factor with the prosurvival factors epidermal growth factor and insulin. By capturing the role of unsuspected autocrine circuits activated by transforming growth factor-alpha and interleukin-1alpha, the model revealed new molecular mechanisms connecting signaling to apoptosis. The model derived two groupings of intracellular signals that constitute fundamental dimensions (molecular "basis axes") within the apoptotic signaling network. Projection along these axes captures the entire measured apoptotic network, suggesting that cell survival is determined by signaling through this canonical basis set.     

Teratocarcinomas and mammalian embryogenesis

In the last decade there has emerged an appreciation of the remarkable similarity between the cells that give rise to teratocarcinomas in mice and the cells that give rise to the developing mouse embryo. The resemblance is so close that in certain instances the tumor stem cells can join with their embryonic counterparts and develop into a completely normal mouse. The availability of stem cell lines isolated from mouse teratocarcinomas has made possible a number of new biochemical, immunological, and genetic approahes to the study of early mammalian development.     

附植前后兔子宫和胚胎总蛋白含量的变化

附植前后哺乳动物子宫和胚胎能分泌多种妊娠相关蛋白，这些蛋白对妊娠的建立了维持十分重要，为了从生化角度进一步研究胚泡附植的机理，从分析附植前后兔子宫和胚胎总蛋白含量着手，探讨了非妊娠和受孕不同时期的子宫和胚胎总蛋白含量的变化，结果表明，非妊娠兔比妊娠兔子宫冲洗液总蛋白含量低，妊娠组中，胚泡附植前后随着妊娠时间的延长，子宫冲洗兴中蛋白质量逐渐增加，妊娠前4d，增加幅度不大，从第4d到第6d增加幅度增大，从妊娠第6d到第9d，蛋白质增加特别明显，对于妊娠第9d胚泡液，大胚泡（直径1cm左右）中胚泡液总蛋白含量高于小胚泡（直径0．5cm左右），说明囊胚直径可以作判断胚胎发育的一个比较胡切的指标。     

A stem cell molecular signature

Mechanisms regulating self-renewal and cell fate decisions in mammalian stem cells are poorly understood. We determined global gene expression profiles for mouse and human hematopoietic stem cells and other stages of the hematopoietic hierarchy. Murine and human hematopoietic stem cells share a number of expressed gene products, which define key conserved regulatory pathways in this developmental system. Moreover, in the mouse, a portion of the genetic program of hematopoietic stem cells is shared with embryonic and neural stem cells. This overlapping set of gene products represents a molecular signature of stem cells.     

G protein-coupled receptor-dependent development of human frontal cortex

The mammalian cerebral cortex is characterized by complex patterns of anatomical and functional areas that differ markedly between species, but the molecular basis for this functional subdivision is largely unknown. Here, we show that mutations in GPR56, which encodes an orphan G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) with a large extracellular domain, cause a human brain cortical malformation called bilateral frontoparietal polymicrogyria (BFPP). BFPP is characterized by disorganized cortical lamination that is most severe in frontal cortex. Our data suggest that GPCR signaling plays an essential role in regional development of human cerebral cortex.     

小鼠囊胚及孵化胚胎细胞计数方法的探讨

实验以ICR小鼠体外培养的囊胚及孵化胚胎为材料,比较两种方法对小鼠胚胎细胞计数的效果。方法1为采用0.5%的柠檬酸钠低渗溶液和姬姆萨染液对囊胚及孵化胚进行压片,且不同时期胚胎低渗和染色处理时间相同;方法2染色液为苏木精染液,且不同时期胚胎低渗和染色处理时间不同。结果表明,方法2小鼠囊胚及孵化胚胎细胞球轮廓清晰,细胞间隙明显可见,其观察率分别为94.7%和96.8%;而方法1胚胎细胞球间隙不明显,一些细胞轮廓模糊,其观察率分别为70.5%和69.6%。小鼠囊胚及孵化胚胎采用压片计数法,以方法2显著好于方法1(P<0.05)。     

ICR小鼠着床障碍模型的建立

为建立ICR小鼠胚泡着床障碍模型,本研究用米非司酮和吲哚美辛对妊娠ICR雌鼠进行抗着床处理,观察其对胚泡着床及子宫内膜的影响。实验分为米非司酮组和吲哚美辛组,每组设对照组。于妊娠第4天分别注射0.3、0.6、0.9、1.2 g.L-1的米非司酮0.1 mL.mouse-1,及0.12、0.13、0.14、0.15 mL吲哚美辛溶液,对照组注射二者相应的溶剂丙二醇和麻油。妊娠第5天检查子宫内膜对台盼蓝的反应点数;妊娠第8天观察胚泡着床情况,统计子宫重量,制作切片,检测子宫内膜形态结构的变化。结果表明,0.09 mg米非司酮组和0.13 mL吲哚美辛组的子宫重量、内膜容受性、发育及蜕膜化均受到明显的抑制。结果表明,米非司酮和吲哚美辛可成功建立ICR着床障碍模型,用于相关研究。     

Neocortex patterning by the secreted signaling molecule FGF8

A classic model proposes that the mammalian neocortex is divided into areas early in neurogenesis, but the molecular mechanisms that generate the area map have been elusive. Here we provide evidence that FGF8 regulates development of the map from a source in the anterior telencephalon. Using electroporation-mediated gene transfer in mouse embryos, we show that augmenting the endogenous anterior FGF8 signal shifts area boundaries posteriorly, reducing the signal shifts them anteriorly, and introducing a posterior source of FGF8 elicits partial area duplications, revealed by ectopic somatosensory barrel fields. These findings support a role for FGF signaling in specifying positional identity in the neocortex.     

植物体细胞胚胎发生及其分子调控机制研究进展

植物的每个细胞都包含着该物种的全部遗传信息,具备发育成完整植株的遗传能力,这被称为植物细胞的全能性。体细胞胚胎(体胚)发生是指在没有受精的情况下,由体细胞或营养细胞发育成胚胎,是诱导植物细胞全能性的一种形式。体胚发生在种质资源保存、种苗生产、分子育种和植物基础研究等方面都有着广泛的应用,已成为重要的植物生物技术工具和研究平台。多年来的分子遗传学研究表明:体胚发生受到由众多转录因子、激素信号途径及表观遗传修饰等构成的复杂网络的调控。本研究概述了植物体胚发生的途径,并重点综述了体胚发生关键基因的功能与调控机制、体胚发生的表观遗传修饰以及体胚发生关键基因在基因工程中的应用。随着研究的深入和新技术的出现,体胚发生过程中涉及的代谢组分动态变化、转录调控、激素信号转导与表观遗传调控等复杂生物学过程有望得到更深入地阐释,将更进一步地解析植物体胚发生的分子调控机制。此外,利用体胚发生关键基因的功能与调控机制,开发更高效的体胚诱导和遗传转化方法,有望为更多植物的基因功能研究和遗传改良提供新的思路和技术。参81     

胚胎植入的调控研究进展

激素、细胞因子、生长因子、粘附分子和细胞外基质均参与调节哺乳动物胚胎植入过程。在整个胚胎植入过程中，这些调节因素的表达、合成与分布状态沿着一定的空间和时间顺序发生变化，而且它们之间存在着广泛的联系。目前积累的资料显示，这些调节因素可能遵循一定的时空顺序组构成信号通路，协调胚胎和子宫两方面的变化，准确地调节胚胎植入过程。