细胞周期素家族基因在家蚕4龄幼虫蜕皮过程中的转录特征

细胞周期蛋白(cyclin)是真核生物细胞有丝分裂的重要调节蛋白,家蚕具有5种类型细胞周期蛋白基因。以4龄将眠蚕、4龄眠蚕和5龄起蚕为材料,采用定量PCR方法分析5种细胞周期蛋白基因在4龄幼虫蜕皮过程的组织表达特征为:5种类型cyclin基因在生殖腺中都高表达,其中cyclinE在眠中表达量最高,其它4种类型cyclin基因在将眠时表达量最高,证实4龄眠期是家蚕生殖腺细胞发生有丝分裂的重要时期;5种类型cyclin基因在马氏管中都有表达,其中cyclinA和cyclinB3在4龄将眠蚕的马氏管中存在表达高峰,推测和马氏管内表皮更新相关;除cyclinL1在眠蚕丝腺的表达量很低外,cyclinA、cyclinB、cyclinB3和cyclinE在眠蚕丝腺中都存在表达高峰,可能和丝腺的内表皮更新相关;cyclinA、cyclinB、cyclinB3在脂肪体中的表达量较高,且在将眠时或眠中存在表达高峰,推测和脂肪体中能量物质的积累相关;5种类型cyclin基因在脑、血液和中肠的表达量都很低,且蜕皮前后的变化规律不明显。研究结果提示:在家蚕4龄幼虫蜕皮过程中,cyclin基因的转录特征不仅和来源于外胚层组织的表皮更新相关,还和生殖腺的发育及脂肪体中能量物质的积累存在相关性。     

Lepidoptera larvae as food for capercaillie chick (tetrao urogallus): A field experiment

Lepidoptera larvae are important prey for capercaillie chicks {Tetrao urogallus), but utilization varies among habitats. This field experiment investigates the effects of larval feeding behaviour, abundance and the density of bilberry (Vacciniwn myrtillus) on utilization of larvae by a group of four capercaille chicks and also tests whether chick utilization differs between wet and dry coniferous forest. In fenced plots, four hand‐raised chicks were released for a 15 min feeding period. Reduction of geometrid larvae was correlated positively with their abundance but correlated negatively with bilberry density. Geometrids had a much higher predation risk than pyralids and tortricids, probably because they are exposed while feeding, in contrast to pyralids and tortricids. Total reduction of lepidoptera was higher in wet than dry forest, probably due to a higher proportion of geometrid larvae, and lower density of bilberry in the wet forest. The manner of insect feeding and habitat type (e.g. wet and dry forest), which influence bilberry density, therefore may be important factors to consider when assessing or managing habitat quality for capercaillie chicks.     

Thyroid Hormone-disrupting Effects and the Amphibian Metamorphosis Assay

There are continued concerns about endocrine-disrupting chemical effects, and appropriate vertebrate models for assessment of risk are a high priority. Frog tadpoles are very sensitive to environmental substances because of their habitat and the complex processes of metamorphosis regulated by the endocrine system, mainly thyroid hormones. During metamorphosis, marked alteration in hormonal factors occurs, as well as dramatic structural and functional changes in larval tissues. There are a variety of mechanisms determining thyroid hormone balance or disruption directly or indirectly. Direct-acting agents can cause changes in thyroxine synthesis and/or secretion in thyroid through effects on peroxidases, thyroidal iodide uptake, deiodinase, and proteolysis. At the same time, indirect action may result from biochemical processes such as sulfation, deiodination and glucuronidation. Because their potential to disrupt thyroid hormones has been identified as an important consideration for the regulation of chemicals, the OECD and the EPA have each established guidelines that make use of larval African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) and frog metamorphosis for screening and testing of potential endocrine disrupters. The guidelines are based on evaluation of alteration in the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis. One of the primary endpoints is thyroid gland histopathology. Others are mortality, developmental stage, hind limb length, snout-vent length and wet body weight. Regarding histopathological features, the guidelines include core criteria and additional qualitative parameters along with grading. Taking into account the difficulties in evaluating amphibian thyroid glands, which change continuously throughout metamorphosis, histopathological examination has been shown to be a very sensitive approach.     

印楝素乳油对蜀柏毒蛾的防治效果研究

采用室内浸渍和室外喷雾的方法研究了不同浓度0.25%印楝素乳油对蜀柏毒蛾的防治效果。结果表明:室内药效测定600倍和900倍浓度处理36h之后幼虫的死亡率均达到100%,1 100倍溶液在48h后死亡率达到100%;林间喷药试验中,600倍液、900倍液、1 100倍液在72h后的幼虫死亡率分别为100%、90%和85%。因此,采用0.25%印楝素乳油防治蜀柏毒蛾,其浓度以900～1 100倍液为宜。     

Adverse Effect of Antifouling Compounds on the Reproductive Mechanisms of the Ascidian Ciona intestinalis

Fertilization and embryo development that occur in sea water are sensitive to xenobiotics from anthropogenic sources. In this work, we evaluated the influence of two antifouling biocides, tributyltin (TBT) and diuron, on the reproductive mechanisms of the marine invertebrate Ciona intestinalis. By using electrophysiological techniques, we examined the impact of these compounds on the electrical properties of the mature oocytes and of events occurring at fertilization. With different toxicity assays, we studied the effect of the two biocides on the gametes by evaluating fertilization rate and embryo development. Results show that sodium (Na⁺) currents were significantly reduced by either of the two biocides, whereas conductance was significantly increased. The fertilization current frequency and amplitude, fertilization rate and larval development were affected only by TBT. This study suggests that: (i) the two biocides affect either the electrical properties of the oocyte plasma membrane and the reproductive success representing a risk factor for the survival of the species exposed to environmental pollution; (ii) the ascidian Ciona intestinalis may represent a good model organism to test toxicity of marine pollutants. Possible mechanisms of action of the two biocides are discussed.     

Has the optimum time for faecal nematode egg count reduction testing in sheep in New Zealand changed?

Abstract

AIM: To determine what, if any, changes have taken place in the optimum time, for undertaking faecal egg count reduction tests (FECRT) in sheep in New Zealand.

METHODS: A comparison was made between the numbers and types of nematode genera adequately represented for testing purposes (faecal nematode egg count (FEC) of >50 epg) in initial FECRT case submissions to a veterinary laboratory in New Zealand, during two 4-year periods, in 1992–1995 and 2006–2009.

RESULTS: Although there were some minor differences between them, the seasonal patterns of occurrence remained basically the same for all parasite genera in both datasets, with their individual peak periods of representation occurring during February to May in all instances. Not surprisingly, this period of maximum seasonal occurrence for each parasite genus also coincided with those months of the year when the greatest numbers of worm genera were adequately represented for faecal nematode egg count reduction (FECR) testing.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that the optimum time for conducting FECRT in sheep in New Zealand continues to be during the late summer-autumn months of February to May. However, they also reaffirmed that even during this optimal period there are still likely to be many occasions when relatively few nematode genera may be sufficiently well represented for satisfactory FECR testing. Accordingly, veterinary practitioners ought to be aware that, in order to obtain a complete picture of the resistance status of all worm genera on a particular property, such testing may need to be carried out on more than one occasion.     

Field studies investigating anthelmintic resistance in young cattle on five farms in New Zealand

AIM: To investigate the efficacy of pour-on anthelmintics against field strains of parasitic nematodes in young cattle on five farms in New Zealand.

METHODS: Faecal nematode egg count (FEC) reduction (FECR) tests were carried out on five calf-rearing farms using pour-on formulations of levamisole, ivermectin, eprinomectin, and the simultaneous administration of levamisole and ivermec- tin. Faecal samples were collected per rectum before treatment and about 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after treatment, for FEC and faecal nematode larval culture.

RESULTS: Resistance (i.e. <95% reduction in FEC) of Cooperia oncophora to ivermectin and eprinomectin was identified on all five farms. There was limited evidence of possible emerging resistance in Ostertagia spp to ivermectin but not eprinomectin, in short-tailed larvae of Cooperia spp to ivermectin and eprinomec- tin, and in Trichostrongylus spp to ivermectin, eprinomectin and levamisole used separately. Levamisole was effective against C. oncophora, but had variable efficacy against Ostertagia spp in the calves in this study. Simultaneous treatment with levamisole and ivermectin pour-on formulations were effective against all genera on all farms.

CONCLUSIONS: To effectively manage roundworm parasites in their calves farmers need to be aware of the resistance status of the parasites on their farms. Levamisole is likely to be an effective anthelmintic on most farms at times of the year when the impact of Ostertagia spp is not high. Simultaneous administration of levamisole and ivermectin pour-on anthelmintics to cattle is likely to control both ML-resistant C. oncophora and stages of Ostertagia spp that are not controlled by levamisole alone.     

密度对甜菜夜蛾幼虫色型分化的影响

为明确田间甜菜夜蛾Spodoptera exigua幼虫产生绿色型和黑化型的色型分化原因,在田间系统调查黑化型幼虫所占比例及其与虫口密度的关系,在室内测定不同饲养密度对甜菜夜蛾幼虫色型分化的影响和色型分化敏感龄期,以及视觉、嗅觉和触觉对幼虫色型分化的影响。结果表明,田间甜菜夜蛾1~3龄幼虫均为绿色型,4~5龄幼虫同时存在绿色型和黑化型;在甘蓝上,4龄幼虫中黑化型个体所占比例为21.14%,5龄幼虫中黑色型个体所占比例为28.53%,在辣椒上,4龄幼虫中黑化型个体所占比例为20.54%,5龄幼虫中黑色型个体所占比例为33.88%。随着百株虫量的增加,甘蓝和辣椒上黑化型幼虫所占比例呈现升高趋势。室内研究发现,随着甜菜夜蛾幼虫饲养密度的增加,黑化型幼虫占比显著升高,当饲养密度达到5头/盒时趋于稳定,体色等级指数为3.47; 3龄是甜菜夜蛾幼虫色型分化的敏感龄期;视觉和嗅觉刺激对甜菜夜蛾幼虫黑化无显著影响,而触觉刺激显著促进幼虫黑化,甘蓝叶片碎片和白色聚酯纤维的摩擦处理导致幼虫体色等级指数分别显著升高68.59%和71.79%,表明触觉刺激信号对甜菜夜蛾的密度依赖性黑化有显著促进作用。     

棉钤虫某些生物学特性与滞育诱导关系的研究

利用人工诱那导滞育的方法,研究了棉铃虫幼虫历期及性别与蛹滞育率的关系。结果表明,棉铃虫三龄后幼虫历期越长蛹滞育率越高,而雌、雄蛹间滞育率无显著差异。     

挪威春季产卵的大西洋鲱仔稚鱼年孵化量的估算方法

１９８６～１９９０年间,挪威卑尔根海洋研究所每年都对挪威西海岸春季产卵的大西洋鲱仔稚鱼的分布区进行一次综合性调查,每年在大西洋鲱的孵化期,都在Ｓｕｎｎｍｒｅ近岸和Ｂｕａｇｒｕｎｎｅｎ的两个小区重复取样（通常每周２次）,并用覆盖整个孵化区的综合调查所得的资料计算出仔稚鱼日孵化量,用两个小区所得的资料作孵化曲线,从而得出在孵化期内仔稚鱼孵化量占年总孵化量的百分比。１９８６～１９９０年间仔稚鱼年孵化量分别是１．７×１０１２、３．９×１０１２、３５．４×１０１２、７２．８×１０１２和９９．１×１０１２尾。