Reproductive roles predict sexual dimorphism in internal and external morphology of lake whitefish,Coregonus clupeaformis

Abstract – The different reproductive roles of the sexes can predict the direction and magnitude of sexual dimorphism of external and internal morphology. Males should have enlarged structures that enhance the acquisition of mating opportunities, whereas females are predicted to have enlarged organs that are associated with the production of eggs. We tested these predictions in male and female lake whitefish, a species in which both sexes have similar overall body size and shape. After controlling for body size, male lake whitefish had significantly longer jaws and pectoral and pelvic fins, larger hearts, and more muscle than females. Sexual dimorphism in relative muscle mass may be one of the most fundamental morphological differences between males and females. Females had relatively heavier livers than males. Because the liver is important for the breakdown of fats and vitellogenesis, selection should favour an enlarged liver in females for the processing of energy and the production of large numbers of eggs.     

Reproductive biology of the female Japanese mantis shrimp Oratosquilla oratoria (Stomatopoda) in relation to changes in the seasonal pattern of larval occurrence in Tokyo Bay, Japan

ABSTRACT:   The reproductive traits and the monthly larval abundance of the mantis shrimp Oratosquilla oratoria were investigated in Tokyo Bay, Japan, in 2002. The goal of the study was to elucidate the cause of changes in the monthly pattern of larval abundance from the 1980s to the 1990s as these changes relate to variation in the stock size of the adult shrimp. Oogenesis was divided into 10 stages by histological observation. The developmental stage of oocytes in an individual's ovary was synchronous, suggesting that almost all the oocytes in an ovary are spawned at the same time. The size at first maturity was estimated to be 7 ≤ body length ( BL ) < 8 cm. Fecundity was expressed as a function of BL , ranging from 19 300 eggs for 8 cm BL to 92 100 eggs for 14 cm BL . Small female shrimps (<10 cm BL ) spawned around August. Most large female shrimps (≥10 cm BL ) spawned around May, and some large female shrimps also spawned until September. Although most large female shrimps spawned in spring, the larval abundance was low before July and high from August onwards. The results suggest that a substantial decrease in the stock size of large individuals causes the low larval abundance before July.     

玉蜀黍赤霉有性重组体的诱导及其生物学特性

 本研究以硝酸盐营养缺陷型突变体(nit)和多菌灵抗性为遗传标记,在5个所选菌株中设计了3个玉蜀黍赤霉病菌Gibberella zeae的杂交组合,使各菌株之间进行杂交,从而诱导有性重组体。从各杂交组合的后代中任意挑选出3个有性重组体,比较了这些有性重组体与其亲本在无性和有性阶段的主要生物学性状。结果表明,玉蜀黍赤霉中的nit基因及对杀菌剂多菌灵的抗药性基因可以通过有性杂交的方式重组,即发生了有性重组。有性重组体与其亲本在菌落生长、培养性状和致病性方面没有显著差异;但某些有性重组体中,产孢量和产子囊壳能力方面存在一定差异。总体看来,有性重组体仍然保持了较高的适合度。因此,可以认为有性重组在玉蜀黍赤霉群体对多菌灵抗药性发生发展以及群体遗传进化中可能起着重要的作用。     

牛卵丘细胞对卵母细胞体外成熟与孤雌发育的影响

试验以牛卵泡内卵丘-卵母细胞复合体(COCs)为材料,探讨了牛卵丘细胞包裹程度对卵母细胞体外成熟(IVM)和孤雌胚胎(PAEs)发育的影响。试验1,将COCs随机分为2组,在开展IVM前,将其中一组COCs的卵丘细胞机械吹打去除成为机械裸卵(DOs),研究卵丘细胞层存在与否对卵母细胞体外核成熟(排出第一极体)和孤雌激活后发育能力的影响;试验2,根据COCs卵丘细胞包裹层数将COCs分为3组,即卵丘细胞层少(1～4层)的COCs为A组、卵丘细胞层多(5层以上)的COCs为B组及包裹5层以上卵丘细胞且附带卵泡壁颗粒细胞层(FSP)的COCs为C组,研究卵丘细胞层包裹程度对卵母细胞的体外核成熟和孤雌激活后胚胎发育能力的影响。结果表明:卵丘细胞的存在更有利于卵母细胞体外成熟和孤雌胚胎发育;COCs中卵丘细胞包裹层数对卵母细胞体外核成熟率没有显著影响,但包裹卵丘细胞层数多且附带FSP的卵母细胞,其PAEs的囊胚率显著高于包裹卵丘细胞少的卵母细胞PAEs。     

Response of tubers of five potato cultivars to co-inoculation with US-1 and US-8 genotypes ofPhytophthora infestans

Summary The severity of late blight tuber rot in five potato cultivars (Green Mountain, Sebago, Dorita, AC Brador and Island Sunshine) resulting from inoculation with US-1/US-8 combinations of Canadian isolates ofPhytophthora infestans was evaluated. In addition, the potential for mixed (A1∶A2) inoculations to result in oospore formation was examined. In studies conducted in 1996 and 1997, cv. Dorita (and Island Sunshine in 1997) developed the least amount of surface or internal necrosis relative to the other cultivars following co-inoculation with US-1 and US-8 isolates ofP. infestans. Differences also were revealed among isolate combinations used for inoculation. The combination of a US-1 isolate from Prince Edward Island with a US-8 isolate from New Brunswick consistently produced the least amount of necrosis in tubers of the various cultivars. There was no evidence of oospore production in any of the tubers examined. AAFC Contribution No. 919     

虎皮鹦鹉发声行为学比较研究

为了解虎皮鹦鹉发声行为的性别差异,采用计算机鸣声分析技术对虎皮鹦鹉的鸣叫行为做了研究,结果表明,雄性虎皮鹦鹉的叫声明显比雌鸟的复杂多变,但是鸣声幅度比雌鸟的小;随着虎皮鹦鹉的成长,雌雄鸟的叫声越来越复杂,幅度越来越高。说明虎皮鹦鹉的叫声具有明显的性双态性,并且叫声随着年龄的增大越来越成熟,30日龄虎皮鹦鹉的鸣声复杂程度已接近成鸟水平。     

出雏时间与雏鸡性别比例关系的研究

以尼克红商品蛋鸡鸡胚和出壳雏鸡为材料 ,分析了不同出雏时间雏鸡性比例的变化 ,旨在探讨出雏时间与雏鸡性别的关系及鸡胚在孵化期不同性别生长发育的规律 ,为精细调控孵化条件和制定鸡苗销售计划提供依据。结果表明 ,不同时间出壳的雏鸡 ,性比例存在明显差异 (P<0 .0 5或 P<0 .0 1 ) ,并呈现出明显的规律性。在 2 0 d 1 2 h之前出壳的母雏比公雏多 ,2 0 d时母雏比例最高 (公母性比值为 0 .2 68± 0 .0 54) ;其后公雏比例增加 ,到 2 1 d时公雏比例最高 (公母性比值为 2 .1 84± 0 .0 90 ) ;此后 ,母雏比例又逐渐增加。到 2 1 d1 6h时公母比例降低到 1 .453± 0 .0 99;但接近出雏结束时 ,公雏比例又有所回升 ,至出雏结束时 ,公母比例上升为 1 .75± 0 .0 57     

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.     

磷脂氢谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶在精子发育中的作用研究进展

磷脂氢谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(PHGPx)是广泛存在于哺乳动物细胞内唯一能够物接还原生物膜上脂类过氧化物的一类含硒酶.该酶在保护细胞膜完整、维持细胞的正常功能中发挥着重要作用;同时PHGPx还作为精子的结构物质,在精子的发育和成熟过程中发挥着重要作用;精液中PHGPx活性是评价精液品质的重要参数之一.对PHGPx的基因结构、体内分布以及与精子发育与成熟相关的生物学特性和功能等研究进展进行了总结.