Effect of Sperm Cryopreservation on the European Eel Sperm Viability and Spermatozoa Morphology

The main objective of the present work was to study the effect of cryopreservation of European eel sperm both on the sperm viability and the spermatozoa head morphology. Spermatozoa morphology was evaluated with computer-assisted morphology analysis after collection in fresh samples, after adding the freezing medium containing dimethyl sulfoxide as cryoprotectant and, finally, after the cryopreservation process and thawing. Cell viability was assessed, in both fresh and thawed samples, by Hoechst 33258 staining. Computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) was used to determine the percentage of motile cells and to measure motility parameters in sperm samples. A significant decrease of head perimeter (12.56%) and area (17.90%) was detected from spermatozoa in fresh to thawed samples, indicating that cells do not recover the original size after the cryopreservation process. CASA was used to measure the percentage of motile cells (51.9%) and spermatozoa motility parameters such as curvilinear, straight line and angular path velocities, as well as beating cross frequency. This technique was employed in the fresh sperm samples but proteins present at the freezing medium (L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine) made impossible to use this last technique in thawed samples. When sperm viability was assessed by Hoechst staining, a significant decrease of approximately 15% (73.10 vs 58.26%) of alive spermatozoa was registered from fresh to thawed samples. The percentage of motile cells measured by CASA in fresh samples (51.9%) was lower than the percentage of alive cells determined by Hoechst stainning, suggesting the existence of different batches of spermatozoa in different stages of development, even during the eight to tenth weeks of treatment, when the highest sperm quality was found.     

Characterization of a novel potyvirus isolated from maize in Israel

A potyvirus (proposed name of Zea mosaic virus [ZeMV]) isolated from maize in Israel was analyzed by serology, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of capsid proteins, symptomatology, and sequencing. Parts of the nuclear inclusion b, coat protein, and 3' regions were sequenced; the amino acid sequence of ZeMV capsid was determined by time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS). The results of these analyses were compared with those of similar analyses of the following potyviruses: Maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV), Sugarcane mosaic virus strain MDB (SCMV-MDB), Johnsongrass mosaic virus(JGMV), Sorghum mosaic virus (SrMV), and an isolate of MDMV from Israel. Indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using ZeMV antiserum detected only ZeMV, and reciprocal tests using MDMV, JGMV, or SrMV antisera failed to detect ZeMV. ZeMV cross-reacted weakly when SCMV-MDB antiserum was used. The mass of ZeMV capsid was determined to be 36,810 Da by SDS-PAGE and 34,216 Da by TOFMS. The ZeMV systemically infected johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense), but did not infect oat (Avena sativa), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), or rye (Secale cereale). Necrosis was caused in 19 sorghum lines by SrMV, in 15 by ZeMV, in 14 by MDMV, and in 5 by JGMV and SCMV-MDB. The nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of ZeMV clearly showed that it is not a strain of JGMV, MDMV, SCMV, or SrMV.     

Genetic diversity in European accessions of the Barley Core Collection as detected by isozyme electrophoresis

Genetic diversity in 79 European accessions of the Barley Core Collections was surveyed using isozyme electrophoresis. A total of 26 alleles were observed at the ten isozyme loci. All loci were polymorphic except Pgd-1 which was monomorphic. The comparison of the results with those of previous studies indicates that most of the alleles occurring in the European Barley are also observed in this set of the European Barley Core Collections. Only five alleles (Est-1 Al; Est-5 Ag, Te; Pgi-1 C and Ndh-2 B) were absent. Nine of 26 alleles were rare alleles, which were detected only in one or two accessions. Moreover, most of rare alleles were detected in 6-rowed winter barley. It is very important to include rare alleles for maximising the genetic variations in core collections. In the set of European Barley Core Collection, 6-rowed barley contained larger diversity than 2-rowed barley; winter type contained larger diversity than spring type. The cluster analysis separated 79 accessions into three major groups. Group I is more complex and comprised 2-rowed spring, 2-rowed winter and 6-rowed winter barley. In this group, 18 accessions in the cluster A and 14 accessions in the cluster B possessed identical genotypes as judged from the ten isozyme data. Principal coordinate analysis could not clearly separate the spring cultivars from the winter barley lines, as well as not separate 2-rowed from 6-rowed barley.     

谷子新品种朝谷11号特征特性及高产栽培技术

朝谷 1 1号由辽宁省水土保持研究所选育 ,于1 997年经辽宁省品种审定委员会审定通过。1 998年被列为省重点农技推广项目 ,计划在 1 998～ 2 0 0 0年在辽宁省朝阳市、阜新市、葫芦岛市的 8县 2区及赤峰市的宁城县推广 6.7万ｈｍ2 。1　朝谷 11号主要特征特性1 .1　农艺性状朝谷 1 1号的叶片、成株茎均为绿色 ,苗期生长快 ,株型紧凑整齐 ,株高 1 65ｃｍ左右 ,穗长 2 3～ 2 5ｃｍ ,单穗粒重 1 4～ 1 6ｇ ,籽粒圆形、黄色 ,出谷率 83%～ 84%,谷草比 1∶1 .3。1 .2　生育期及抗性朝谷 1 1号为中早熟品种 ,生育期 1 0 4～ 1 1 4ｄ ,4月下旬至 5月…     

NEAR's flyby of 253 mathilde: images of a C asteroid

On 27 June 1997, the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft flew within 1212 kilometers of asteroid 253 Mathilde. Mathilde is an irregular, heavily cratered body measuring 66 kilometers by 48 kilometers by 46 kilometers. The asteroid's surface is dark (estimated albedo between 0.035 and 0.050) and similar in color to some CM carbonaceous chondrites. No albedo or color variations were detected. The volume derived from the images and the mass from Doppler tracking of the spacecraft yield a mean density of 1.3 +/- 0.2 grams per cubic centimeter, about half that of CM chondrites, indicating a porous interior structure.     

Lectin Histochemistry as a Tool to Identify Apoptotic Cells in the Seminiferous Epithelium of Syrian Hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) Subjected to Short Photoperiod

Lectins have been widely used to study the pattern of cellular glycoconjugates in numerous species. In the process of cellular apoptosis, it has been observed that changes occur in the membrane sugar sequences of these apoptotic cells. The aim of our work was to identify which lectins, out of an extensive battery of the same (PNA, SBA, HPA, LTA, Con‐A, UEA‐I, WGA, DBA, MAA, GNA, AAA, SNA), show affinity for germinal cells in apoptosis, at what stage of cell death they do so and in which germinal cell types they can be detected. For this, we studied testis sections during testicular regression in Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) subjected to short photoperiod. Several lectins showed an affinity for the glycoconjugate residues of germ cells in apoptosis: Gal β1,3‐GalNAcα1, α‐d ‐mannose, N‐acetylgalactosamine and l ‐fucose. Furthermore, lectin specificity was observed for some specific germinal cells and in certain stages of apoptosis. It was also observed that one of these lectins (PNA) showed affinity for Sertoli cells undergoing apoptosis. Therefore, we conclude that the use of lectin histochemistry could be a very useful tool for studying apoptosis in the seminiferous epithelium because of the specificity shown towards germinal cells in pathological or experimentally induced epithelial depletion models.