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.     

Potential of sexual reproduction among host-adapted populations of Phytophthora infestans sensu lato in Ecuador

To determine the potential of sexual reproduction among host-adapted populations of Phytophthora infestans sensu lato in Ecuador, 13 A1 isolates belonging to clonal lineages US-1, EC-1 and EC-3, and 11 A2 isolates belonging to the clonal lineage EC-2, were paired on agar plates to induce crossing. In the first experiment, six A1 isolates (three US-1, two EC-1 and one EC-3) were each crossed with three A2 isolates (total = 18 crosses). Matings involving isolates of the EC-1 lineage produced more oospores of healthy appearance than did matings with isolates of US-1 or EC-3. In the second experiment, the oospores of 35 crosses (21 EC-1 × EC-2; 10 US-1 × EC-2; four EC-3 × EC-2) were dispersed on water agar to assess oospore germination. Overall, germination percentages were low. Only one cross produced enough progeny for evaluation. Twenty-three single-oospore offspring were isolated and evaluated for mating type; electrophoretic patterns of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase ( Gpi ) and peptidase ( Pep ) alloenzyme loci; mitochondrial DNA haplotype; and genomic DNA fingerprint. Multilocus genotype data indicated that all 23 isolates resulted from meiotic recombination. Four progeny with homothallic phenotype appeared to be unstable heterokaryons. Markers at several loci segregated according to simple Mendelian expectations for a diploid organism, but the ratios of three RFLP loci and the Pep locus were not consistent with Mendelian expectations. All progeny were nonpathogenic on hosts of the parental genotypes. Reduced mating success and reduced pathogenic fitness of progeny appear to be postmating mechanisms of reproductive isolation in populations of P. infestans sensu lato in Ecuador.     

双孢蘑菇性亲和性相关分子标记的初步筛选

以传统的形态，生理生化分析和最新的DCS－PDMA性亲和性测定方法为基础， 结合群体分离分析和RAPD技术来源于同一双孢蘑菇异核体菌株的12个不育同核原生质体个体进行分析，筛选与性亲和性相关的分子标记。研究结果表明，供试的12个不育同核原生质体个体被分成两大类性亲和性类型，其中一类（A^ ）包括不育同核原生质体个体B、C、D、E、F、G、H、I、J、L，另一类（A^-）则仅仅包括不育同核原生质体个体K和M，同时筛选到一个与性亲和性相关的分子标记OPA16 1500。从而为间地利用双孢蘑菇本身特有的交配型作标记来指导杂交育种工作和进一步将性亲和性基因定位分离克隆奠定了坚实的基础。     

Sex‐dependent responses of perch to changes in water clarity and temperature

Rising temperatures and decreasing water transparency of lakes have strong wide ranging effects on fish. Fish responses to various changes in the environment are usually species‐dependent, but responses may also vary within species. In general, large individuals are considered to be more sensitive to environmental variation due to higher energy demand, than smaller individuals. Similarly, large individuals require more food to maintain bodily functions and are thus more sensitive to resource and food scarcity. These size‐specific responses to environmental gradients are also sex‐dependent in species that exhibit sexual size dimorphism (SSD). We studied in enclosures with short‐term experiments how rising temperatures and decreasing water transparency regulate the feeding rates of female and male European perch (Perca fluviatilis L.). To explore experimental results, we calculated perch SSD in nine lakes with varying environmental conditions using previously collected field data. The results of the experiments revealed that the combined effect of water transparency and temperature on the feeding rate of fish is gender‐dependent: feeding rate of females decreased more than that of males. The experimental results were also supported by field data that revealed a negative relation between water transparency and the magnitude of SSD in perch. Our results suggest that rising temperatures and decreasing water transparency may potentially decrease fish size in a sex‐dependent manner. As female size is one of the main demographic traits determining the reproductive success of a fish population, changing environments may have unexpected and far‐reaching consequences on fish population dynamics.     

Effect of Human Menopausal Gonadotropin,17β-estradiol and Epidermal Growth Factor on the Quality of in vitro Maturation Bovine Oocytes

For optimizing in vitro maturation system of bovine oocytes,we firstly examined the influence of four different hormonal regimes(FSH+LH,HMG,FSH+LH+E₂ and HMG+E₂) on oocyte maturation rates.Then we studied the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the above defined medium on bovine oocyte maturation,in vitro development and quality of parthenogenetic embryos.The cell apoptotic index of parthenogenetic blastocysts was detected by TUNEL.No significant difference was observed in maturation rates in four groups supplemented with different hormones.However,human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) provided steady maturation results in replicates.Maturation of oocytes was promoted by supplementation with 17β-estradiol (E₂).Combination of HMG and E₂ gave rise to steady and efficient mature results.The presence of EGF at 30 ng/mL concentration significantly increased maturation rate and blastocyst rate and reduced apoptotic cells in parthenogenetic blastocysts.Therefore,the optimal oocyte maturation solution could be supplemented with 0.075 IU/mL HMG,1 μg/mL E₂ and 30 ng/mL EGF.     

两系杂交油菜早中熟组合精量直播栽培性状比较研究

开展优质核不育两系杂交油菜早中熟新组合比较试验,结果表明:2种熟期类型杂交组合间产量差异明显,中熟组合单位面积产量极显著高于早熟组合,对比分析产量构成因子,主要是平均角粒数多和千粒重重,2种熟期类型组合间株高和一次分枝数差异较小,油菜菌核病感病程度中熟组合相对较轻。因此,油菜生产不可一味选择和使用早熟类型品种或组合,不然将较难获得理想产量和生产效益。     

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)。     

Assessment of age-related morphological changes in the testes of post-hatch light ecotype Nigerian indigenous chicken

The age-related morphological changes of the testes in light ecotype Nigerian indigenous chicken were evaluated in this study using gross anatomical, histological and histomorphometric techniques. The results showed that the testes of 3- to 9-month-old birds were light pink while testes of sexually mature chicken were creamy white in colour. The left and right testicular weight, length, diameter, circumference and the organosomatic indices increased significantly (p < .05) with increasing age across the groups. Although the mean tubular diameter and epithelial height of the left and right seminiferous tubules increased significantly (p < .05) with age, the tubular diameter, epithelial height and luminal diameter did not vary significantly (p > .05) between the left and right testes of all the groups. The one-cell layer thick germinal epithelium of the left testes at 3 to 6 months old showed islands of cell proliferation that contained spermatogonia and spermatocytes. At 6 to 9 months, the left testes exhibited numerous early spermatids with occasional occurrence of late stage spermatids while the right testes showed scanty early stage spermatids. At 12 to 18 months, the germinal epithelia of both left and right testes were characterized by the presence of Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, numerous early and late stage spermatids as well as spermatozoa. In conclusion, the morphological features highlighted in the present study show that at pre-pubertal periods, the left testes may develop faster than the right testes. However, both left and right testes may participate actively in the production of spermatozoa during the post-pubertal life.     

NPFFR1基因对鹅卵泡颗粒细胞激素分泌和细胞凋亡的影响研究

神经相关肽受体（RFamide-related peptide receptor,NPFFR1）是促性腺激素抑制激素的主要亲和受体,它在调控动物繁殖方面起着重要作用。为了解NPFFR1对鹅卵巢卵泡发育的作用,本研究以42周龄健康产蛋四川白鹅为试验材料（n=9）,利用RT-qPCR法检测NPFFR1基因在等级前和等级卵泡颗粒细胞中的mRNA表达规律;在颗粒细胞中过表达NPFFR1基因,酶联免疫吸附法检测颗粒细胞上清液（n=9）中雌二醇（estradiol,E2）、孕酮（progesterone,P4）和抗缪勒管激素（anti-Mullerian hormone,AMH）的浓度变化,剩余贴壁细胞作一步法TUNEL检测细胞凋亡情况;转录组测序方法筛选大黄卵泡（8~10 mm）颗粒细胞过表达NPFFR1前后表达差异显著基因,并对差异表达基因进行功能聚类分析。结果显示,除F1等级外,其余等级卵泡颗粒细胞NPFFR1表达量均极显著高于等级前卵泡（P<0.01）;过表达NPFFR1后,等级颗粒细胞上清液中的E2和等级前颗粒细胞上清液AMH的含量显著（P<0.05）降低,但孕酮P4含量变化不显著（P>0.05）;转录组测序共筛选到267个差异表达基因（119个下调,148个上调）,这些基因主要富集在生物节律过程、繁殖进程等生物学过程中;同时,与对照组相比,差异基因AMH显著下调表达（P<0.05）,Clock（clock circadian regulator）、FOS（proto-oncogene,AP-1 trans-cription factor subunit）、Per（period circadian regulator）和ANTXR2（cell adhesion molecule 2）分别极显著（P<0.01）或显著（P<0.05）上调表达。上述试验结果提示,NPFFR1可从激素、细胞凋亡和生物节律等多个环节影响卵泡颗粒细胞,参与调控卵泡的时序等级发育。