雄性不育对布氏田鼠交配行为和繁殖的影响

利用雄性结扎不育方法研究雄性结扎不育对布氏田鼠交配行为和繁殖的影响。结果表明：雄性结扎不育后不影响布氏田鼠雌雄两性的交配行为;不育雄性的存在对雌性的正常交配产生了干扰,降低了雌性的有效交配次数,并导致雌性怀孕率和产仔数的下降。结果一方面说明结扎不育雄性方法可用于布氏田鼠的不育控制研究,另一方面为不育后的竞争性繁殖干扰假设提供了实验证据。     

雷公藤制剂对雄性布氏田鼠的不育作用

采用强制给药和自由取食2种方式,研究了雷公藤制剂对发育期成体雄性布氏田鼠不育作用,给药剂量分别为80 mg/kg、120 mg/kg和160 mg/kg.结果表明,120 mg/kg和160 mg/kg剂量使睾丸脏器系数下降,但剂量组间差异不明显(F(3,21)=2.197, F0.05=3.07,P>0.05).不同剂量能够对附睾中精子数量和活力产生显著影响(F(3,21)=17.305, F0.05=3.07,P<0.05),且随药物剂量的升高精子密度与精子活力均呈下降趋势.精子畸形率亦随药物剂量的增加而增加.80 mg/kg及其更高的剂量使附睾出现萎缩并造成睾丸组织损伤.120 mg/kg剂量可减少布氏田鼠平均胎仔数及降低繁殖率.给药后的繁殖后代未发现畸形幼仔.雷公藤制剂的最佳使用剂量介于120～160 mg/kg.自由取食与连续强制给药两种方式对雄性布氏田鼠的作用差异不显著.     

不同剂量炔雌醚对小鼠器官鲜重、繁殖生理和肝肠CYP3A4酶含量的影响

为探究不同剂量炔雌醚对小鼠器官、激素和肝肠药解酶的影响,分别以0.008 mg/kg、0.04 mg/kg、0.2 mg/kg、1.0 mg/kg和5.0 mg/kg的炔雌醚油溶液连续3 d灌胃小鼠,首次给药7 d后解剖取材,检测其器官鲜重、雄鼠精子数量、血清中激素浓度、小肠和肝脏中CYP3A4酶含量的变化。结果发现：雌鼠肝脏鲜重随剂量增加而增大,5.0 mg/kg组比对照组增大89.7%;雌鼠小肠、肾脏和脾脏出现不同程度变化,但无明显剂量效应;0.2 mg/kg以上剂量炔雌醚导致雌鼠子宫不同程度的水肿;炔雌醚对雌鼠血清中雌二醇和促黄体素浓度无显著影响,仅1.0 mg/kg组雌鼠血清中卵泡生成素浓度较对照组显著升高;1.0 mg/kg和5.0 mg/kg组雌鼠肝脏中CYP3A4酶总含量较对照组分别显著增加59.1%和102.9%。不同剂量炔雌醚对雄鼠肝脏和脾脏鲜重影响显著,5.0 mg/kg剂量组肝脏和脾脏鲜重较对照组分别增大23.3%和130%,但小肠和肾脏无明显剂量效应;不同剂量炔雌醚对雄鼠睾丸鲜重无显著影响,附睾仅有5.0 mg/kg组较对照组显著减小;1.0 mg/kg和5.0 mg/kg组的精子密度和精子总数分别较对照组降低43.9%和70.5%;高剂量炔雌醚使血清中促黄体素和睾酮浓度均显著降低;5.0 mg/kg组雄鼠肝脏CYP3A4酶单位组织含量和总含量较对照组分别升高7.1%和30%。总之,炔雌醚对雌雄小鼠的繁殖均有抑制作用,但最低有效剂量不同,雌性有效剂量更低,而雌性肝脏及CYP3A4酶对炔雌醚的反应显著强于雄性,提示雌鼠肝脏对炔雌醚的代谢更快。     

左炔诺孕酮和炔雌醚复合不育剂（EP-1）对雌性东方田鼠生殖的影响

  本文在实验室条件下通过一次性灌胃的方式研究了左炔诺孕酮-炔雌醚复合不育剂（EP-1）对雌性东方田鼠激素、生殖系统、胎仔数、受孕率的影响及药效持续时间,旨在检验其应用于野外东方田鼠不育控制的价值。结果表明,各浓度EP-1灌胃均能显著提高雌性东方田鼠的子宫系数,使子宫形态发生变化,对卵巢组织造成损伤,影响卵泡和黄体的发育,但是对雌二醇含量和子宫长度没有明显影响;60mg/kg EP-1灌胃能显著提高促卵泡刺激素含量和卵巢系数,而10mg/kg、30mg/kg EP-1灌胃对二者没有明显影响。室内繁殖实验表明,各浓度EP-1灌胃均能不同程度延迟初次怀孕时间,并降低试鼠的怀孕率和胎仔数,但抗生育作用具有可逆性且与药物浓度相关,10mg/kg、30mg/kg和60mg/kg剂量组生殖系统恢复时间分别为16 d、38 d和52 d。     

炔雌醚对雄性长爪沙鼠不育效果及其可逆性

为探讨炔雌醚对雄性长爪沙鼠生殖器官及繁殖的影响,将试鼠随机分为多剂量组、单剂量组和对照组.多剂量组以每次3.5 m/kg·BW(5次/周,2周)、单剂量组以35 mg/kg·BW炔雌醚灌胃.处理后15 d、30 d、60d、90d剖检,观察性腺系数、精子质量和繁殖率等指标,H·E染色观察附睾组织病理学变化.结果表明:与对照相比,炔雌醚处理后15 d、30 d给药组试鼠睾丸、附睾及精囊腺极度萎缩(P＜0.01),精子密度、精子活力和活精子百分率明显下降(P＜0.01),精子畸形率显著上升(P＜0.01),附睾管腔内充满大量发育异常的精子细胞,繁殖率显著下降;与单次给药相比,多次连续给药对试鼠生殖器官影响更严重.处理后60d,除多剂量组附睾外,各组性腺基本恢复至对照水平,单剂量组、多剂量组精子质量及繁殖率与对照仍有极显著差异(P＜0.01).90d后试鼠各项指标及繁殖率均恢复正常,表现为可逆性.结果表明:该药对长爪沙鼠不育效果明显;多次低剂量给药较单次高剂量给药不育效果更好;90d后,炔雌醚对生殖器官和繁殖的影响能够恢复正常.     

四氧嘧啶诱发糖尿病模型效果的性别差异

目的了解性别因素对四氧嘧啶诱发糖尿病动物模型的影响,为提高动物模型的复制效率提供实验依据。方法分别给雌、雄比格犬和昆明小鼠注射不同剂量的四氧嘧啶,药后3、7、14、21 d测定血糖值,同时统计实验期间动物的死亡情况。结果给予同等剂量的四氧嘧啶,雌性比雄性动物的血糖升高更快,浓度更高。雌性犬四氧嘧啶的最适造模剂量为40 mg/kg,而雄性犬在此剂量下的模型成功率只有40%,二者差异极显著（70%VS40%,P〈0.01）;雄性犬的最适使用剂量为50 mg/kg,但在此剂量下有高达30%的雌性犬因高血糖而死亡。四氧嘧啶对小鼠的影响与犬基本一致,雌雄鼠的最佳剂量分别为200 mg/kg和250 mg/kg。结论雌性动物对四氧嘧啶的敏感性较雄性动物高,雄性动物在使用四氧嘧啶复制糖尿病模型时,其剂量通常需要较雌性动物高20%左右。     

不同剂量炔雌醚对雄性小鼠繁殖生理的作用

为探究不同剂量炔雌醚作用于雄性昆明小鼠时,对小鼠的繁殖生理指标的影响,现将18只雄性昆明小鼠分为3组:对照组(C组)、10 mg/kg给药组(E10组)、20 mg/kg给药组(E20组)进行实验。在给药后第6天进行剖检,测量其繁殖器官重量及血清睾酮浓度,观察其睾丸组织形态切片。结果发现,两给药组繁殖器官重量与对照组相比无明显差异;(E10组)血清睾酮浓度有所上升,(E20组)无明显变化;(E20组)曲细精管受到一定程度的损伤,而(E10组)的损伤不明显。因此,高浓度的炔雌醚可能对雄性昆明小鼠有更好的抗生育作用。本研究为进一步明确炔雌醚对鼠类不育控制的最佳浓度提供了一定的理论依据。     

雷公藤甲素对雄性布氏田鼠繁殖力的抑制效果

为评价植物源鼠类不育剂雷公藤甲素对雄性布氏田鼠的不育效果,本研究采用每千克体重0 mg、0.1 mg、0.2 mg、0.4 mg的雷公藤甲素溶液对雄鼠进行连续7 d灌胃处理,并在停药2周和4周后检测其体重、性腺重、精子密度及配对雌鼠怀孕率与胎仔数。结果表明,雷公藤甲素处理未显著降低雄性布氏田鼠的体重、性腺相对重量、附睾尾精子密度,以及停药4周组配对雌鼠的怀孕率与胚胎数;但停药2周低剂量（0.1 mg）处理组配对雌鼠的怀孕率和胎仔数出现显著降低,怀孕率与对照组（100%）相比下降66.7%,胎仔数与对照组（8.3）相比下降了72.3%。这说明,雷公藤甲素对雄性布氏田鼠繁殖力的抑制作用主要表现在受孕阶段,但其不育效果未呈现剂量效应,反而在低浓度表现出更好效果。雷公藤甲素对附睾功能和精子动力学参数的影响可能是其不育效果的主要原因,但是仍需深入研究不同剂量的作用机制,为其合理施用提供理论依据。     

复合不育剂EP-1对小鼠空间记忆与焦虑行为的影响

EP-1是由炔雌醚和左炔诺孕酮按照1∶2的比例配制而成的一种用于鼠类不育控制的激素类复合不育剂,对鼠类的繁殖及繁殖行为等有一定影响,但对鼠类空间学习与记忆、焦虑行为等非繁殖行为的影响还没有报道。为此,用0(对照)、1.0、2.0、3.0 mg/kg剂量的EP-1对昆明小鼠(Mus musculus)进行灌胃处理,然后用Morris水迷宫和高架十字迷宫分别测定其空间记忆、焦虑行为。结果发现灌胃后15 d,剂量为2.0 mg/kg的EP-1使小鼠空间记忆能力显著下降,但30 d后其空间记忆能力有所恢复,表明2.0 mg/kg剂量的EP-1可以在一定时间范围内降低小鼠的空间记忆能力。但不同剂量的EP-1对小鼠焦虑行为无显著影响。该结果可以为从对非繁殖行为的影响的角度研究EP-1对鼠类的作用提供一定启示。     

炔雌醚对小鼠空间记忆力及情绪的作用

为检测炔雌醚对雄性昆明小鼠空间记忆力和抑郁水平的作用,我们将18只雄性昆明小鼠分为3组:对照组、10 mg/kg组和20 mg/kg组,通过Y迷宫、强迫游泳和悬尾3组实验,检测炔雌醚对其空间记忆力及抑郁水平的作用。结果发现:(1)两个实验组小鼠的空间记忆力与对照组相比并无显著变化;(2)10 mg/kg实验组小鼠的抑郁水平较对照组有所降低,但是20 mg/kg炔雌醚对小鼠的抑郁水平没有产生显著变化。由此我们得出结论:经过炔雌醚处理的小鼠,空间记忆力没有发生变化,也不会导致小鼠抑郁水平上升,表明炔雌醚不会对小鼠的生存能力造成明显的影响。本研究为进一步明确不育剂对鼠类的作用提供了一定的理论依据。     

高体重布氏田鼠产仔数较多但繁殖输出及氧化损伤不受影响

体重可影响动物几乎所有的生物学变量。高体重双亲通常产生较大胎仔数。繁殖过程代价很高,可能伴随着氧化损伤。为比较双亲体重对繁殖期能量学特征、繁殖输出和氧化损伤的影响,检测了高体重组(雌性:51. 5 g ± 1. 6 g;雄性:60. 4 g ±2. 5 g)和低体重组(雌性:35. 5 g ± 1. 2 g;雄性:49. 6 g ± 2. 8 g)布氏田鼠繁殖过程中母体的体重和摄食量,分娩时的胎仔数和胎仔总重,及后代断乳时母体的身体成分、激素含量(血清瘦素和催乳素)和氧化损伤(血清丙二醛、蛋白质羰基和肝脏丙二醛含量)。结果显示:(1)高体重组妊娠末期的母体体重增量显著高于低体重组;(2)高体重组母体的出生胎仔数显著高于低体重组,但出生及断乳时的平均胎仔重、胎仔总重和母体繁殖期间的能量摄入无显著差异; (3)血清激素含量、身体成分、身体脂肪重量及氧化损伤指标均无组间差异。结果表明,高体重布氏田鼠可产生较多的出生胎仔数,但母体并不通过摄入更多的能量来保证其繁殖输出,对氧化损伤也没有影响。这些结果对于理解不同体重的动物在繁殖期间的能量策略以及繁殖与生存之间的权衡等生活史理论具有重要意义。     

雌性布氏田鼠对不同共居时间雄性气味的识别与记忆

啮齿动物的社会识别包括对化学信号的辨别、学习和记忆。田鼠属动物雌雄成年个体共居一定时间后,可以利用气味信号来识别配偶。本研究将成年雌雄布氏田鼠配对饲养12 h、18 h、24 h,确认发生交配行为形成配对关系后,分开单独饲养6 h,取配偶雄鼠和陌生雄鼠巢垫物作为个体气味,在气味选择箱中观察雌鼠对配偶雄鼠和陌生雄鼠气味信号的探究和选择行为,从而探讨不同共居时间雌性布氏田鼠对配偶气味信号的识别与记忆的影响。研究结果表明:共居时间影响雌性布氏田鼠对配偶气味的识别与记忆;共居时间越长,雌鼠在气味探究和选择时间上对配偶气味偏好越明显;共居24 h 后,雌性布氏田鼠能够识别出配偶雄鼠的气味信号并形成记忆,这样的记忆维持时间至少是6 h。     

Determinants of reproductive success in voles: space use in relation to food and litter size manipulation

Spacing behaviour of female mammals is suggested to depend on the distribution and abundance of food. In addition, food limitation has been found to constrain the reproductive success of females. However, whether females maximize their reproductive success by adjusting space use in relation to current food availability and reproductive effort (e.g. litter size) has not been experimentally studied. We examined these questions by manipulating simultaneously food resources (control vs. food supplementation) and litter sizes (control vs. plus two pups) of territorial female bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) in large outdoor enclosures. Females with supplementary food had smaller home ranges (foraging area) and home range overlaps than control females, whereas litter size manipulation had no effect on space use. In contrast, the size of territory (exclusive area) was not affected by food supplementation or litter size manipulation. As we have previously shown elsewhere, extra food increases the reproductive success of bank vole females in terms of size and proportion of weaned offspring. According to the present data, greater overlap of female home ranges had a negative effect on reproductive success of females, particularly on survival of offspring. We conclude that higher food availability increases the reproductive success of bank vole females, and this effect may be mediated through lower vulnerability of offspring to direct killing and/or detrimental effects from other females in the population. Moreover, it seems that when density of conspecifics is controlled for, home range sizes of females, but not territoriality, is related to food resources in Clethrionomys voles.     

Reproductive investment under fluctuating predation risk: Microtine rodents and small mustelids

Summary We studied the reproductive investment of microtine rodents (bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus),Microtus epiroticus andMicrotus agrestis) in western Finland under predation risk from small mustelids. During 1984–1992, the yearly mean litter size of overwintered bank voles was smaller at high least weasel and stoat densities than at low densities (close to 3 versus 4–5). In addition, the annual mean litter size of young bank voles was negatively correlated to the least weasel density. In youngM. agrestis voles, the yearly late summer litter size was negatively associated with the autumn density of small mustelids. In the crash phase of the vole cycle (1989 and 1992), we removed small mustelids (mainly least weasels) from four unfenced areas in late April to late May and studied the reproduction of voles in four removal and comparable control areas (each 2–4 km²). Reduction of small mustelids significantly increased the proportion of pregnant bank vole females, but not that of pregnantMicrotus vole females. We conclude that predation risk apparently reduced reproductive investment of free-living bank vole females; these voles appear to trade their current parental investment against future survival and reproductive prospects. Accordingly, the presence of small mustelids (or their scent) may slow down the reproductive rate of voles. As antipredatory behaviours occurred on a large scale, our results add evidence to the hypothesis that crashes in multiannual vole cycles are driven by small mustelid predators.     

Effect of polygyny on female reproductive success in the mandarin vole, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Microtus mandarinus</Emphasis> (Rodentia,Arvicolinae)

Indices of reproductive success were compared in monogamous and polygynous groups (MGs and PGs) of female mandarin voles kept under different laboratory conditions: in small cages, with frequent handling disturbance (30 MGs and 15 PGs), and in large glass tunnel systems, without disturbance (20 MGs and 16 PGs). MGs consisted of unrelated male-female pairs, and PGs consisted of two female sibs and an unrelated male each. No reproductive skew was observed within PGs; moreover, there was a positive correlation between the sibling females in the presence/absence of offspring, its total size, and the number of litters produced over 90 days. Regardless of keeping conditions, the proportion of parous females recorded over 45 days and the number of successfully reared offspring per female were greater in MGs than in PGs. Among groups kept in cages, reproductive success in PGs was lower because of a delay in breeding, reduced size of the first litter, and increased pup mortality during the first days of life. Observations on voles in tunnel systems were performed to quantify aggressive interactions and reveal the causes of pup mortality. In general, the level of aggression in both types of groups was low, but the frequency of female-female conflicts in PGs drastically increased during several days before and after the birth of the litter. Nevertheless, the sibling females in PGs used the common breeding nest and regularly fed reach other’s offspring. The causes of high pup mortality in PGs and probable advantages of communal breeding in mandarin voles are discussed.     

The effects of mate removal on pregnancy success in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) and meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus).

The effects of removing the stud male have not been controlled in many studies relating pregnancy block to the presence of an unfamiliar male. We examined the effects of removing the male on pregnancy success in prairie voles and meadow voles, two species that differ in degree of paternal investment. Whereas prairie vole males provide extensive care to offspring and accelerate pup development, meadow vole males display little or no care and delay development of pups. We predicted that removal of the stud male would decrease pregnancy success in prairie voles and either have no effect or increase success in meadow voles. In experiment 1, females were in male-induced estrus, and their mates were either left with them or were removed 4 h, 1 day, 2 days, or 8 days after mating. In experiment 2, females were in postpartum estrus, and their mates were either left with them or were removed 1 day, 2 days, or 8 days after birth of their first litter. Removal of the male soon after mating in postpartum estrus decreased pregnancy success in prairie voles and increased success in meadow voles. Thus, although removal of the stud male influenced litter production, the direction of the effect varied with species.