Differential Expression and Function Prediction of miR-383 in Yak and Cattle-yak Testis

The aim of this study was to detect the differential expression of miR-383 in yak and cattle-yak testis,and explore the important roles of miR-383 in spermatogenesis.Using the testis tissue of mature yak and cattle-yak as experimental material,Real-time PCR was performed to detect the miR-383 expression.miR-383 targets were obtained using TargetScan and miRanda database,and biological functions of these target genes were predicted by David and Gene Ontology online softwares.The miR-383 had significantly differential expression in F₁ testis tissue between yak and cattle-yak(P<0.05),and it had the highest expression level in yak testis tissues.131 target genes were obtained by target gene prediction which involved in cell proliferation,apoptosis,regulation of nucleic acid synthesis and other processes by GO analysis and KEGG pathway analysis.The results showed that miR-383 might participate in the regulation of germ cell differentiation and spermatogenesis,which would provide clues and theoretical basis for studying the function and regulation mechanism of miR-383 in cattle-yak germ cell.     

Effects of immunization against α-inhibin using two adjuvants on daily sperm production and hormone concentrations in ram lambs

Twenty-five ram lambs were immunized against α-inhibin peptide emulsified in Freund's adjuvant (FRA), Emulsigen (EML) containing an oligodeoxynucleotide as an immunostimulant, or adjuvant without α-inhibin antigen (control). Four immunizations were administered during an 85-d period, after which testes were obtained for determination of daily sperm production (DSP) and histological evaluation. α-Inhibin antibody (Ab) titers were 70-fold greater in lambs treated with FRA than in EML-treated ram lambs. α-Inhibin immunization had no effect on testes weight or on plasma concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone. Mean DSP/g tended (P = 0.1) to be greater in α-inhibin–immunized (EML = 17.6 × 10⁶; FRA = 15.8 × 10⁶) ram lambs than in control animals (14.4 × 10⁶). One of the 8 control ram lambs had an elevated DSP/g, which was a statistical outlier. Without data from this lamb, DSP/g was increased (P < 0.01) in α-inhibin–immunized ram lambs by 28% over controls. No association was found between the titer of α-inhibin Ab developed and DSP/g. Histologically, the percentage of testicular area occupied by seminiferous tubules differed (P = 0.01) by treatment and was greatest (82%) in EML-treated ram α-inhibin–immunized lambs and lowest (74%) in control animals. Percentage tubular area and DSP/g were correlated (r = 0.57, P = 0.003). Findings show that (1) the extent of the increase in DSP/g is not dependent on the titer of α-inhibin Ab; (2) the increase in DSP/g is achieved through an increase in the mass of seminiferous tubules; and (3) FRA elicits a greater α-inhibin Ab titer than EML containing an oligodeoxynucleotide.     

Postnatal testicular development and actin appearance in the seminiferous epithelium of the Habu,Trimeresurus flavoviridis

The postnatal testicular development and actin distribution in the seminiferous epithelium were examined by light microscopy, using the testes of the Habu (Trimeresurus flavoviridis; snake) from 0-year-old to 3-year-old. At 0-year-old (about 1 month after birth), the testis was quite small in size, and the seminiferous epithelium was composed of only Sertoli cells and large spermatogonia. Actin immunoreactivity was observed in the peritubular myoid cells, but could not be detected in the seminiferous epithelium. At 1-year-old (about 10 months after birth), the testicular size increased to a great degree. In the seminiferous epithelium, spermatocytes newly appeared. Actin could still not be detected in the seminiferous epithelium. At 2-year-old (about 1 year and 10 months after birth), the testes continued to develop in size. In the seminiferous epithelium, elongate spermatids and round spermatids were frequently seen, in addition to Sertoli cells, spermatogonia and spermatocytes. Thus, active spermatogenesis was clearly recognized at this age. Moreover, the actin distribution in the seminiferous epithelium was observed at the site between Sertoli cells and spermatids, as well as that at adult stage. The immunoreactivity of actin in the peritubular myoid cells gradually increased from 0-year-old to 2-year-old. Conclusively, it seems likely that spermatogenesis in the Habu initiates at 2-year-old, accompanying with the appearance of actin in the seminiferous epithelium.     

牦牛远缘杂交后代减数分裂与雄性不育关系的研究

采用改进的界面铺展－－硝酸杂色技术，对公犏牛及公尕里嘏牛的减数分及联会复合体进行观察，发现Ｆ１、Ｆ２代杂发牛的部分精母细胞能够完成九分裂的全过程，址对出现了。但是，Ｆ２代减数分裂和精子发生状况较Ｆ１代有所改善。杂交后代个体间的可育程度存在差异。有一头Ｆ３公牛的生精机能扫近正常。     

醋酸铅对小鼠精子发生毒性研究

采用腹腔注射染毒法,将体重(16±1)g的性成熟期公鼠随机分为高剂量(1/10LD50)、中剂量(1/50LD50)、低剂量(1/250LD50)染毒组和溶剂对照组,每组10只,高、中、低剂量染毒组于试验的第0,3,6,9和12天以0.01mL/g注射量,分别腹腔注射1.20,0.24,0.048g/L的醋酸铅[Pb(CH3COO)2·3H2O]溶液,对照组注射灭菌蒸馏水。30d后,处死小鼠,采集输精管精子,研究醋酸铅对小鼠精子的发生毒性。结果表明:(1)各试验组公鼠的睾丸、附睾湿重及其与体重的比值均无明显差异(P>0.05);(2)采用输精管精子进行精子发生毒性检验是可行的;(3)各试验组公鼠精子相对密度及精子活力无统计学差异(P>0.05);(4)各染毒组公鼠畸形精子比率显著高于对照组(P<0.01);(5)高剂量和中剂量试验公鼠输精管顶体异常精子比率与对照组之间差异显著(P<0.05)。说明本试验所用醋酸铅剂量未明显影响性成熟期公鼠的性腺发育及精子密度和活力,各剂量醋酸铅染毒显著影响了精子的形态发生和顶体形成。     

17α-甲基睾酮对赤点石斑鱼性逆转的影响

赤点石斑鱼Epinephelus akaara(Temminck et Schlegel)是我国名贵海产经济鱼类。近几年来,因盲目钩捕,在东南沿海资源日益减少。因此,国内外一些学者对赤点石斑鱼性腺发育进行周年研究,并开展了人工繁殖和育苗试验。然而,由于此鱼雌雄同体,雌性先熟,在六龄鱼才转变为雄鱼。由此常见因缺少雄鱼无法开展人工繁殖。所以,作者在非繁殖季节,试图用外源性雄激素拌入饵料中,喂低龄和高龄赤点石斑鱼,目的在于诱发其性逆转,现已取得显著的效果,这对于解决雄鱼困难,提供科学依据。     

Cortisol effects on the testicular androgen synthesizing capacity in common carp, Cyprinus carpio L.

Our previous studies on the effect of stress on pubertal development in carp have shown that repeated temperature changes caused an increase in cortisol levels and a retardation of the first waves of spermatogenesis. Identical effects, accompanied by a decrease in 11-ketotestosterone (11KT) plasma levels and the gonadosomatic index (GSI) were induced by cortisol administration via cortisol containing food pellets. The decrease in plasma 11KT is caused by a direct effect of cortisol on the steroid producing capacity of the testis, independent of luteinizing hormone (LH) levels. However, the mechanism through which cortisol interferes with testicular steroidogenesis is unknown. In the present study, we showed that in vitro physiological levels of cortisol can inhibit the conversion of 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (OHA) into androstenetrione (OA), which is the precursor of 11KT, possibly by competing for the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD). The same mechanism may occur in vivo. However, our results demonstrate that an elevation of plasma cortisol levels during acute cortisol treatment did not result in lower plasma levels of OA and 11KT, but we did observe an accumulation of OHA. We suggest that the previously observed decrease in 11-oxygenated androgens, as an effect of long-term cortisol treatment, is caused by a retardation of testicular development. This results in a lower steroid synthesizing capacity of the testis as a whole. Although the in vitro observed cortisol inhibition of the conversion of OHA into 11KT plays a role in the accumulation of OHA, it apparently has no effect on the final 11KT plasma concentration. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.