Steroidogenesis during induced oocyte maturation and ovulation in the African catfish,Clarias gariepinus

Changes in ovarian steroidogenesis accompanying oocyte maturation and ovulation were studied in the African catfish,Clarias gariepinus. Laboratory-reared females with postvitellogenic ovaries were treated with pimozide and LHRH-analogue. The plasma gonadotropin levels were determined by means of a homologous radioimmunoassay, the condition of the ovaries was studied by histological examination of the follicles, and the steroidogenetic capacity of the ovaries was analyzed byin vitro incubation of tissue fragments for 3 h with [³H]-pregnenolone and [³H]androstenedione as precursors. Data were collected at regular intervals between 0 and 16 h after pimozide-LHRH analogue administration.Until 4 h after the beginning of the experiments the plasma gonadotropin levels did not rise above 25 ng/ml, the ovaries remained in the stage of postvitellogenesis, and testosterone was the main end product of steroidogenesis. Four hours later the gonadotropin concentration in the blood had risen to more than 150 ng/ml, and the ovaries had entered the stage of germinal vesicle migration. At the same time steroidogenesis shifted towards the production of 17,20-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one, 5-pregnane-3, 17-diol-20-one, 5-pregnane-3,6,17-triol-20-one, 5-pregnane-3,17,20-triol and 5-pregnane-3,6,17,20-tetrol. During the subsequent stage of germinal vesicle breakdown the plasma gonadotropin level remained high, and the synthesis of the C₂₁-steroids showed a further increase. Simultaneously, the production of some C₁₉-steroid glucuronides was enhanced. The preovulation and especially the postovulation stages were accompanied by a gradual decrease in steroidogenic capacity of the ovaries, even though the plasma gonadotropin level remained high. It is concluded that the prematuration surge of gonadotropin influences the activity of enzymes involved in steroidogenesis, leading to a reduced C_17,20-lyase and to an augmented activity of the enzymes 20-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD), 5-reductase, 3-HSD, 6-hydroxylase and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase. During ovulation the activity of all steroidogenic enzymes, including such key enzymes as 3-HSD and 17-hydroxylase, gradually decreases.Not only 17,20-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one, but also the 5-reduced pregnanes may be involved in inducing oocyte maturation and/or ovulation. The very polar triol and tetrol products may function, together with the steroid glucuronides as sex pheromones.A preliminary account of these results was presented at the XIII Conference of European Comparative Endocrinologists, Belgrade, September 7–12, 1986     

受精液中添加β-ME、BSA和咖啡因对猪卵母细胞体外受精后早期发育的影响

进行受精液中添加不同浓度的β-ME、BSA和咖啡因对猪卵母细胞体外受精及其早期发育的影响试验。结果表明,在受精液中添加β-ME(2、10、50μmol/L)对猪卵母细胞体外受精后的早期发育无显著促进作用,当添加浓度过高(250μmol/L)时对早期胚胎发育反而不利;在受精液中添加咖啡因(1、2、4mmol/L)对猪卵母细胞体外受精后的早期发育无显著的促进作用;在受精液中添加BSA(0.1%、0.2%、0.4%、0.8%)对猪卵母细胞体外受精后的早期发育有一定的促进作用,并以添加0.4%BSA的效果最好。     

Life-history variation in perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) in five neighbouring Norwegian lakes

Abstract – We have studied the population dynamics and reproductive biology of perch ( Perca fluviatilis L.) from five neighbouring lakes in Norway. The lakes vary in water quality, varying from strongly acidified (pH≤5.0) to not acidified (pH≥6.0). Estimated annual survival rates did not differ among populations. There was no strong relationship between age at maturity in female perch and acidification. However, age at maturity was lower for female perch from the most acidic lake ( c . 2 years) compared with perch in the four other lakes (2.5–3.5 years). There was no relationship between acidification level and size-adjusted egg size, fecundity or reproductive investment (Gonadosomatic index – GSI). Perch in the most acidified lake showed large variation in egg size, the lowest length-specific fecundity, the highest GSI, and the lowest age at maturity. Environmental stress, such as acidification, induces a number of changes to a lake community. It is therefore difficult to predict how acidification will influence the population dynamics and reproductive biology of a perch population.     

GMP玻璃化冷冻未成熟牛卵母细胞核成熟及冷冻损伤试验

本试验通过荧光染色的方法建立了未成熟牛卵母细胞在体外培养过程中第1次减数分裂的各个阶段的参考判定图谱;根据这个标准来观察毛细玻璃管(GMP)玻璃化冷冻对卵母细胞核成熟和冷冻损伤的影响。结果表明,从屠宰场废弃的卵巢表面卵泡内抽取的COCs,70%处于生发泡期,12.5%生发泡开始破裂,7.5%已开始浓缩,这说明从屠宰场获得的COCs有较高的异质性;卵母细胞在成熟培养22h时收获排出第一极体的卵母细胞,可得到丰度较高的极体-胞质染色体对称、紧密相邻的成熟卵母细胞;GMP玻璃化冷冻损伤主要有2种表现形式,首先,直接影响膜结构的完整性,包括细胞膜和核膜,这可从退化的细胞比例看出(8～24h,有21.9%～27.2%的细胞处于该阶段),其次,影响CONDENSED向MⅠ期的过渡,这可从处于CONDENSED卵母细胞的比例看出(8～24h,有24.1%～34.3%的细胞处于该阶段)。     

吉林省半干旱区45年气候变化及基于Hybrid-Maize的玉米品种熟期选择

本研究分析吉林省西部半干旱地区1971~2015年气候要素变化特征,用Hybrid-Maize模型估算该区域品种熟期(GDD)不同玉米品种的产量潜力。结果表明,该区域近45年温度、降水和日照时数年均变化与玉米生长季变化趋势类似,但生长季变幅与年均值变幅差异较大,且生长季时间序列上突变点明显不同,温度和降水具有滞后性,日照时数具有超前性,其中,生长季温度增幅高于全年温度增幅,但突变时间滞后10年;长期年均降水波动性大,而生长季降水较全年呈现明显上升趋势,且2010年以来生长季均为较湿润阶段。生长季日照时数减少比年均减少趋势慢,为其下降速率的40%。以4月30日为适播期,种植密度60 000株/hm~2时,乾安、洮南、前郭推荐熟期相对较长品种(GDD=1656-1672),扶余、镇赉推荐熟期相对较短品种(GDD为1606和1500)。洮南、扶余、前郭玉米R/V值接近1.0,乾安和镇赉R/V超过1.15,利于获得较高产量。     

小麦籽粒成熟与萌发期间LOX的动态变化

为了解小麦籽粒中脂肪氧化酶(LOX)同工酶的代谢过程,选用4个小麦品种(鲁麦22、中优9507、内乡188、蒿优9409)为材料,采用薄层等电聚焦电泳(IEF)活性染色法检测和分析了小麦在籽粒成熟与种子萌发期间LOX同工酶酶谱的变化,并采用分光光度计法测定其活性.结果表明,在籽粒成熟期间,中优9507、内乡188、蒿优9409含有5条不同的同工酶条带,鲁麦22含有8条不同的LOX同工酶条带;随籽粒成熟度的增加,酸性和中性部分的LOX同工酶的合成与含量逐渐减少,碱性部分的LOX同工酶的合成与含量缓慢增加,说明成熟末期小麦籽粒主要积累碱性LOX;4个品种的LOX活性随籽粒成熟均呈现先逐渐降低至最低点后轻微反弹的变化趋势.在种子萌发期间,4个小麦品种都含有7条LOX同工酶条带,除萌发第一天外,随种子萌发的进行,酸性部分的LOX同工酶合成与含量减少,碱性和中性部分的LOX同工酶合成与含量缓慢增加,说明小麦种子在萌发过程中主要积累碱性LOX;4个品种的LOX活性均呈先保持一恒定高值后迅速下降至一恒定低值的变化趋势.无论是籽粒成熟期间还是种子萌发期间,影响小麦籽粒或种子中LOX酶活性大小的主要是酸性的LOX同工酶.     

Changes in starch,oil, protein and amino acids in developing seeds of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench)

The okra seeds of variety Pusa sawani were analysed for protein, non-protein nitrogen, total free amino acids, lysine, and tryptophan from the 7th day to the 42nd day after flowering. Starch, total sugars and oil percent were also estimated in these seeds. During the early stages of maturation, the soluble components (non-protein nitrogen, free amino acids and total sugars) were found in higher quantities than in the later stages. Protein, oil and starch contents increased gradually from day 7 to day 42. The rate of accumulation of oil was found to be at the highest level between 21–28 days after flowering, while the rate of protein deposition was greatest between days 35–42. Inditiation of seed maturation seems to start 21 days after flowering in okra seeds.     

第二信使因子对牛卵母细胞体外成熟的影响

本研究旨在确定第二信使因子对牛卵母细胞体外成熟的影响，并探讨通过添加双丁酰ｃＡＭＰ及其激活剂、延长成熟时间，以提高卵母细胞胞质成熟质量的可行性。成熟液添加０．１ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ的ｄｂｃＣＭＰ对牛卵母细胞成熟后的囊胚发育率有促进作用（４６．５％比３８．５％，Ｐ〈０．０８）。当成熟培养时间为２２ｈ时，０．１ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ的ｄｂｃＡＭＰ或ｄｂｃＧＭＰ对卵母细胞的分裂率、囊胚发育率及其囊胚的孵化率均无明显影响（     

Optimization of in vitro embryo production and zygote vitrification for the indigenous Vietnamese Ban pig: The effects of different in vitro oocyte maturation systems

The Vietnamese Ban pig is a precious genetic resource that needs to be preserved. In vitro embryo production from in vitro matured (IVM) oocytes is an important tool for the utilization of cryopreserved porcine sperm. The aim of this study was to compare two media for the IVM of Ban pig oocytes. Immature oocytes were subjected to IVM either in a non‐defined (TCM‐199 + pig follicular fluid) or in a defined base medium (POM + epidermal growth factor). At the end of IVM, the oocytes were in vitro fertilized (IVF) with frozen Ban sperm. Ten hours after IVF, the oocytes were either subjected to orcein staining to check fertilization and maturation status or cultured in vitro for 7 days. There was no difference between the two IVM media in terms of percentages of oocyte maturation and blastocyst production. However, the percentage of male pronuclear formation after IVF and the total cell numbers in blastocysts were higher with the defined system. Zygotes obtained by the two IVM systems survived vitrification at similar rates. In conclusion, the two IVM systems were both effective for the production of Ban pig embryos; however, better embryo quality was achieved with the defined one.     

Effects of melatonin on maturation,histone acetylation,autophagy of porcine oocytes and subsequent embryonic development

Melatonin (MLT) is an endogenous hormone with roles in animal germ cell development. However, the effect of MLT on porcine oocyte maturation and its underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of exogenous MLT on oocyte maturation, histone acetylation, autophagy and subsequent embryonic development. We found that 1 nmol/L MLT supplemented in maturation medium was the optimal concentration to promote porcine oocyte maturation and subsequent developmental competence and quality of parthenogenetic embryos. Interestingly, the beneficial effects of 1 nmol/L MLT treatment on porcine oocyte maturation and embryo development were mainly attributed to the first half period of in vitro maturation. Simultaneously, MLT treatment could also improve maturation of small follicle‐derived oocytes, morphologically poor (cumulus cell layer ≤1) and even artificially denuded oocytes and their subsequent embryo development. Furthermore, MLT treatment not only could decrease the levels of H3K27ac and H4K16ac in metaphase II (MII) oocytes, but also could increase the expression abundances of genes associated with cumulus cell expansion, meiotic maturation, histone acetylation and autophagy in cumulus cells or MII oocytes. These results indicate that MLT treatment can facilitate porcine oocyte maturation and subsequent embryonic development probably, through improvements in histone acetylation and autophagy in oocytes.