低温暴露和恢复对棘胸蛙雌性亚成体生存力及能量物质消耗的影响

棘胸蛙(Paa spinosa)亚成体在人工驯养过程中容易出现越冬困难,非正常的冬眠可能会影响次年的繁育。以雌性棘胸蛙亚成体(1—2龄)为对象,研究该蛙在人工低温暴露(4℃保持90 d)条件下的生存力、机体能量物质消耗、肥满度、脏器系数的变化特征,以及这些参数在温度恢复至正常(由4℃缓慢升至22℃后保持7 d)后的变化情况。结果表明,该蛙在低温暴露过程中存活率逐渐降低,恢复期无死亡。肥满度(K)和体重/体长(Kwl)在低温暴露期间有逐渐升高的趋势,但两者在经历恢复期(22℃,7 d)后均恢复至初始水平(P>0.05)。胃系数和脾系数在低温暴露期呈明显的上升趋势(P<0.05),且两者在第90天均显著大于初始水平(P<0.05)。恢复期肝系数显著减小(P<0.05)。在低温暴露期各阶段肝脏和肌肉脂肪含量与初始无统计差异(P>0.05);肝脏水分在低温暴露期间呈明显下降趋势(P<0.05),而肌肉水分则与之相反;肝脏非脂肪干物质含量呈显著上升趋势(P<0.05),而肌肉非脂肪干物质则呈相反趋势。肝糖原含量随暴露时间的延长呈现显著上升趋势(P<0.05),低温暴露第60天和第90天肝糖原含量与初始相比分别增加59.4%和60.1%,而恢复期肝糖原含量则降至初始水平(P>0.05)。根据结果可以看出,在低温暴露过程中肝脏和肌肉脂肪含量变化不显著,同时肥满度、肝系数、肝脏非脂肪干物质和肝糖原含量均有不同程度的升高,而肌肉非脂肪干物质则显著减少(P<0.05),说明该蛙雌性亚成体在低温期主要消耗的能量物质不是脂肪而是肌肉非脂肪干物质,或者肌肉非脂肪干物质在组织间发生了大量转运。     

镉致黑斑蛙肝脏氧化损伤与金属硫蛋白含量的变化

为观察镉对黑斑蛙(Rana nigromaculata)肝脏脂质过氧化产物和金属硫蛋白含量的影响,将黑斑蛙暴露于10.0mg·mL-1浓度的镉溶液中30d,分别测定了黑斑蛙在暴露4、10d和30d时肝脏组织中镉(Cd)、还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)、金属硫蛋白(MT)和过氧化产物丙二醛(MDA)的含量。实验结果表明,黑斑蛙肝脏中镉的积累量、GSH和MT含量均随着镉暴露时间的延长而显著升高,具有明显的时间-效应关系;在镉暴露的第10天,肝MDA含量明显高于对照组。提示镉可对黑斑蛙肝脏造成氧化损伤,而GSH、MT含量的升高则可能是机体抗氧化损伤的机理之一。     

牛磺酸对虎纹蛙非特异性免疫及血清氧化还原状态的影响

为探讨牛磺酸在无尾两栖类免疫调节和抗氧化能力方面的功能和作用,通过灌胃方式研究了不同浓度牛磺酸对虎纹蛙(Hoplobatrachus rugulosus)脾巨噬细胞呼吸爆发、外周血吞噬活力、胃溶菌酶活力以及血清丙二醛(MDA)和谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量的影响。结果表明:连续7 d的牛磺酸灌胃可显著提高脾巨噬细胞的呼吸爆发强度和外周血细胞的吞噬活力并呈现出明显的剂量效应。当灌胃浓度达到0.8 g/L时两者均达到峰值,但高于0.8 g/L时则表现出条件毒性。胃溶菌酶活力在各浓度下无明显变化。此外,血清MDA含量随牛磺酸浓度的升高而降低,GSH含量在一定的浓度范围内呈现出明显的剂量效应,在1 g/L时达到峰值。研究结果证明牛磺酸可以明显提高虎纹蛙的非特异性免疫功能和机体氧化防御能力,但摄入过量则表现出条件毒性。基于上述指标的评估,虎纹蛙对牛磺酸的适宜需求量按体重计算约为16~20 mg/kg。     

低温胁迫下虎纹蛙的生存力及免疫和抗氧化能力

全球气候变化是造成世界范围内两栖类种群衰退和灭绝的重要因素之一。随着极端天气出现变得日趋频繁,非季节性的、短期且剧烈的气温变化可能会严重干扰两栖类动物的生存与种群稳定。监测了浙江省金华市南山野生虎纹蛙(Hoplobatrachus rugulosus)分布区冬季的环境气温,并参考监测数据在实验室条件下研究了虎纹蛙在短期梯度降温(2℃/24 h)和急性冷暴露(即冷休克)(2℃)下的生存力及冷休克对机体免疫功能和抗氧化能力的影响。结果表明,虎纹蛙在冬季(2009-12-01—2010-03-31)经历的温度范围普遍在0—14℃之间,主要遭遇的低温区间在0—4℃,主要高温区间在10—14℃。通过梯度降温实验,发现温度降至12℃累积死亡率约为28.1%,10℃为87.5%,8℃为100%。在一定温度范围内,虎纹蛙死亡率与环境温度呈显著负相关(Pearson test,r=-0.952,P<0.05)。经曲线拟合,回归方程计算可得半数致死温度为11.5℃。虎纹蛙在冷休克处理下,在第6 h累积死亡率为45%,12 h为80%,24 h达到100%。虎纹蛙死亡率与冷休克时间呈显著正相关(Pearson test,r=0.91,P<0.05),半数致死时间为7.6 h。此外,冷休克(2℃,6 h)显著抑制了虎纹蛙脾脏巨噬细胞呼吸爆发强度(t=3.827,df=6,P<0.05)、全血吞噬活性(t=5.388,df=3.037,P<0.05)及胃溶菌酶活力(t=6.37,df=6,P<0.05);肝脏(t=0.773,df=8,P>0.05)和肾脏(t=0.164,df=4.542,P>0.05)组织脂质过氧化物产物丙二醛(MDA)的含量虽无明显变化,但肝脏(t=-2.817,df=6,P<0.05)和肾脏(t=-11.302,df=6,P<0.05)组织抗氧化物谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量及肝脏(t=-3.3,df=6,P<0.05)超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性均显著升高。上述结果表明虎纹蛙对低温较为敏感,冷休克能够诱导机体的免疫抑制,并导致机体对抗氧化物质需求的增加。可以推测,当遭遇极端低温天气时,低温胁迫可能会严重干扰虎纹蛙生理机能,加大种群的生存压力和疾病感染的风险。     

低温应激对吉富罗非鱼血清生化指标及肝脏HSP70基因表达的影响

实验旨在探讨急性低温应激对吉富罗非鱼(GIFT,Oreochromis niloticus)血清生化、免疫指标以及肝脏HSP70 mRNA水平的影响。实验选取平均体重为(177±2.18)g左右的吉富罗非鱼作为实验对象,设定(25±1)℃对照组和低温(9±1)℃冷应激试验组,每组设定5个平行组,分别在0、2、6、12h随机采样,测定血清血糖(GLU)、胆固醇(CHOL) 、甘油三酯(TG)、谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、谷草转氨酶(AST)、补体3 (C3)、补体4 (C4)、溶菌酶(LSZ)、皮质醇(COR)、三碘甲腺原氨酸(T3)、甲状腺素(T4)以及肝脏HSP70mRNA水平。结果表明:与对照组相比,试验组GLU水平在冷应激后6h,TG水平在冷应激后2、6h,CHOL水平在冷应激后6、12h均有显著升高(P<0.05),ALT水平在冷应激后2、12h均有显著升高(P<0.05);试验组AST、COR、T3水平在冷应激2、6、12h时出现显著升高(P<0.05),C3、C4、LSZ水平在冷应激后2、6、12h均出现显著下降(P<0.05);与对照组相比,试验组HSP70mRNA水平在冷应激后的12h出现显著升高(P<0.05)。因此,急性低温应激可以提高吉富罗非鱼肝脏应激蛋白HSP70mRNA水平,影响该鱼的非特异免疫力和相关生理指标。     

急性热应激对西伯利亚鲟HSP70 mRNA表达、血清皮质醇和非特异性免疫的影响

为研究西伯利亚鲟(Acipenser baerii)对急性热应激的抗逆机理, 将体质量为(155.4719.50) g的鱼从17.5 ℃迅速转至27.5 ℃水中, 在1h和3h取样测定HSP70 mRNA表达变化、血清皮质醇和非特异性免疫指标。结果显示: 急性热应激时鳃、脾和脑的HSP70 mRNA表达量升高, 具有组织特异性, 热应激1h时鳃的表达量升高最快(P0.05), 3h时保持1h时的表达水平; 脾和脑热应激1h时表达量变化不显著, 在1h至3h时升高较快, 并且脑组织的表达量升高最快(P0.05)。热应激1h时血清皮质醇(Cortisol)含量迅速升高(P0.05), 之后快速回落。脾脏巨噬细胞呼吸暴发在热应激1h时显著升高(P0.05), 3h时降低。血清补体C3在1h时略有升高, 3h时显著性降低(P0.05)。血清溶菌酶活性(LZM activity)先升高后降低差异不显著。血清超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活力随热应激时间延长逐渐降低, 3h时显著降低(P0.05)。血清丙二醛(MDA)含量随热应激时间延长逐渐降低, 差异不显著。以上结果表明: 1h的短暂急性应激增强了西伯利亚鲟的非特异性免疫, 3h的应激使免疫力和抗氧化能力显著下降; 在热应激过程中, HSP70表达升高, 其中鳃组织最快, 起到应激保护作用, 提高了机体热耐受力。       

棘胸蛙的性腺分化及温度对其性别决定的影响

单性养殖在棘胸蛙(Quasipaa spinosa)养殖中意义显著。为了了解棘胸蛙性腺分化,并探讨在不同的培育温度条件下性腺分化的差异。通过组织切片观察了棘胸蛙原始性腺的形成和性腺分化。棘胸蛙的性腺分化有其特殊性:生殖嵴形成时,其中既有体细胞,又有原始生殖细胞(PGCs);无论原始性腺是分化成为精巢还是卵巢,其中都出现一个带有单层扁平上皮初生性腔,当单层扁平上皮逐渐消失后形成次生性腔。性腔周围的PGCs开始长大2—3倍时,性腺将分化成为卵巢;体细胞渗入性腔中,使腔隙变小直至消失,这种原始性腺分化成为精巢。棘胸蛙蝌蚪孵化后的l7—80 d(Gosner 25—26期)为性腺分化的敏感时期。实验选取同一批次刚孵出蝌蚪(Gosner 24期),分别用不同水温(16±1)℃、(27±1)℃、(31±1)℃3组实验组及自然水温(23±1)℃对照组条件下的培育蝌蚪。结果显示,对照组的雌、雄性比为26∶24,雄性率接近50%;(16±1)℃实验组的雌、雄比例为33∶17,雄性率仅34%(P0.05);从(27±1)℃实验组起,雄性率提高,(31±1)℃实验组的雄性率达70%(P0.05)。棘胸蛙的性别分化属于温度依赖型性决定(TSD)。较高的培育温度可使棘胸蛙蝌蚪性别分化趋向雄性,而较低的培育温度则使蝌蚪雌性化。     

野生棘胸蛙消化器官蛋白酶的分布及酶活力

本研究在不同p H和温度条件下以离体方式对野生棘胸蛙(Quasipaa spinosa)不同消化器官的蛋白酶活力进行了分析。结果表明,食道、胃、胰的蛋白酶活力受到酶体系p H的显著影响(P0.05),且随p H升高呈现典型的单峰型活力曲线。食道和胃的蛋白酶活力在p H为1.5时达到峰值,胰的酶活力在p H为9.6时达到峰值,而肠道酶活力在p H为7.4时达到峰值。各消化器官蛋白酶活力具有明显的温度依赖性(P0.05),酶活力随温度升高也均呈典型的单峰型活力曲线,不同消化器官的最大酶活力温度分别为,食道50℃、胃50℃、胰45℃、前肠45℃、后肠45℃、直肠45℃。在最大酶活力的p H和30℃条件下,各消化器官蛋白酶活力由高到低依次为胰、食道、胃、直肠、前肠、后肠。由此可见,蛋白酶在棘胸蛙消化系统的分布具有明确的规律性,且不同来源的蛋白酶需要在特定p H和温度下才能表现出最大的反应活性。     

双团棘胸蛙与棘腹蛙酯酶同工酶的比较研究

采用垂直聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳技术,对六盘水境内的双团棘胸蛙Paa yunnanensis与棘腹蛙P.boulengeri的肝、肠、胃、肺等4种组织中的酯酶(EST)同工酶进行了研究.结果 显示:两种蛙酯酶同工酶共有10条带,其中双团棘胸蛙EST同工酶有9条带,棘腹蛙EST同工酶有7条带,两种蛙EST同工酶存在较大的种间差异,同种蛙不同组织的酯酶(EST)同工酶迁移率、表达强度也不同.双团棘胸蛙酯酶同工酶酶谱较棘腹蛙的复杂.     

小麦肽对受环磷酰胺免疫抑制小鼠的免疫调节及抗氧化功能

本研究旨在分析小麦蛋白活性肽对免疫抑制小鼠免疫功能和抗氧化功能的调节作用。小鼠灌胃小麦肽10d,第8天用环磷酰胺诱导免疫抑制,测定血清溶血素、抗体生成细胞含量、脾细胞增殖、体外腹腔巨噬细胞吞噬能力、肝脏抗氧化酶活性和丙二醛(MDA)含量以及血清清除DPPH和·OH的能力。实验结果表明,环磷酰胺处理显著的降低了小鼠血清中抗SRBC抗体(溶血素HC50)水平和腹腔巨噬细胞的吞噬能力;同时伴随着肝脏超氧化物歧化酶活性(SOD)、过氧化氢酶活力(CAT)、总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)的降低和MDA含量的提高。给小鼠灌胃小麦肽可以恢复HC50和脾细胞增殖,显著提高抗体生成细胞含量和腹腔巨噬细胞吞噬能力;此外,小麦肽增强了小鼠血清清除DPPH和清除·OH的能力。以上结果表明,小麦肽可以调节应激状态引起的机体抗氧化体系紊乱及免疫功能的降低。这可能与小麦肽缓冲自由基生成、激活腹腔巨噬细胞和脾淋巴细胞活性有关。     

Foreign exploration for Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and associated natural enemies on avocado (Persea americana Miller)

Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara was discovered attacking avocados in California, USA, in 1996. Host plant surveys in California indicated that S. perseae has a highly restricted host range with larvae being found only on avocados, while adults were collected from 11 different plant species. As part of a management program for this pest, a “classical” biological control program was initiated and foreign exploration was conducted to delineate the home range of S. perseae, to survey for associated natural enemies and inventory other species of phytophagous thrips on avocados grown in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, and Brazil. Foreign exploration efforts indicate that S. perseae occurs on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1500 m) from Uruapan in Mexico south to areas around Guatemala City in Guatemala. In Costa Rica, S. perseae is replaced by an undescribed congener as the dominant phytophagous thrips on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1300 m). No species of Scirtothrips were found on avocados in the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, or Brazil. In total, 2136 phytophagous thrips were collected and identified, representing over 47 identified species from at least 19 genera. The significance of these species records is discussed. Of collected material 4% were potential thrips biological control agents. Natural enemies were dominated by six genera of predatory thrips (Aeolothrips, Aleurodothrips, Franklinothrips, Leptothrips, Scolothrips, and Karnyothrips). One genus each of parasitoid (Ceranisus) and predatory mite (Balaustium) were found. Based on the results of our sampling techniques, prospects for the importation of thrips natural enemies for use in a “classical” biological control program in California against S. perseae are not promising.     

Taxonomic status of the species of the green algal genusNeochloris

Komárek has recently reviewed the various species assigned to the green algal genusNeochloris Starr (Chlorococcales, Chlorococcaceae) and removed those with uninucleate vegetative cells to a new genus,Ettlia. Watanabe & Floyd, unaware ofKomárek's work, also reviewed the species ofNeochloris and distributed them among three genera—Neochloris, Chlorococcopsis gen. nov., andParietochloris gen. nov.—on the basis of details of the covering of the zoospore and the arrangement of the basal bodies of the flagellar apparatus. This paper reconciles these two treatments and makes additional recommendations at the ranks of genus, family, order, and class.     

Die GattungKarschia — Bindeglied zwischen bitunicaten Ascomyceten und lecanoralen Flechtenpilzen?

The genusKarschia, in the earlier sense, including saprophytes and parasites on lichens, has been thought to be a non-lichenized parallel genus of the lichen genusBuellia. Modern workers included it on the one hand inBuellia, on the other hand combined it with bitunicate ascomycetes. It is now proved thatKarschia is heterogeneous and contains but superficially similar members both of the genusBuellia of theLecanorales and of typical or masked bitunicateAscomycetes. Therefore, it can not be regarded as a link betweenLecanorales andDothideales. The type species ofKarschia belongs to theDothideales.

     

Systematic significance of mature embryo of bamboos

The mature embryo of seven species belonging to five genera of Indian bamboos is described. In all these the basic pattern of embryo organisation is same: the scutellar and coleoptilar bundles are not separated by an internode, the epiblast is absent, the lower portion of the scutellum and the coleorhiza are separated by a cleft and the margins of embryonic leaves overlap. The features unique to fleshy fruited bamboos are: presence of a massive scutellum, the juxtaposition of plumule and radicle and the occurrence of a bud in the axil of the coleoptile. The fleshy fruit bearing bamboos should be classified into one group, the tribeMelocanneae. Evidence is provided to recognise additional groups in the subfamilyBambusoideae.     

Phylogeny of cardinalfishes (Teleostei: Gobiiformes: Apogonidae) and the evolution of visceral bioluminescence

The cardinalfishes (Apogonidae) are a diverse clade of small, mostly reef-dwelling fishes, for which a variety of morphological data have not yielded a consistent phylogeny. We use DNA sequence to hypothesize phylogenetic relationships within Apogonidae and among apogonids and other acanthomorph families, to examine patterns of evolution including the distribution of a visceral bioluminescence system. In conformance with previous studies, Apogonidae is placed in a clade with Pempheridae, Kurtidae, Leiognathidae, and Gobioidei. The apogonid genus Pseudamia is recovered outside the remainder of the family, not as sister to the superficially similar genus Gymnapogon. Species sampled from the Caribbean and Western Atlantic (Phaeoptyx, Astrapogon, and some Apogon species) form a clade, as do the larger-bodied Glossamia and Cheilodipterus. Incidence of visceral bioluminescence is found scattered throughout the phylogeny, independently for each group in which it is present. Examination of the fine structure of the visceral bioluminescence system through histology shows that light organs exhibit a range of morphologies, with some composed of complex masses of tubules (Siphamia, Pempheris, Parapriacanthus) and others lacking tubules but containing chambers formed by folds of the visceral epithelium (Acropoma, Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia). Light organs in Siphamia, Acropoma, Pempheris and Parapriacanthus are distinct from but connected to the gut; those in Archamia, Jaydia, and Rhabdamia are simply portions of the intestinal tract, and are little differentiated from the surrounding tissues. The presence or absence of symbiotic luminescent bacteria does not correlate with light organ structure; the tubular light organs of Siphamia and chambered tubes of Acropoma house bacteria, those in Pempheridae and the other Apogonidae do not.     

Biological control of three floating water weeds,<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eichhornia crassipes,Pistia stratiotes</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salviniamolesta</Emphasis> in the Republic of Congo

Since 1999, four specific weevils (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) were released in the Republic of Congo against three exotic floating water weeds: Neochetina eichhorniae Warner and N. bruchi Hustache against water hyacinth, Neohydronomus affinis Hustache against water lettuce, and Cyrtobagous salviniae Calder and Sands against water fern. Recoveries of exotic weevils were made from all 24 release sites except one, and all four species have established and spread (up to 800 km for water hyacinth weevils). Within a few years of releases, control of water fern and water lettuce was such that fishing and navigation could be resumed, while reductions of water hyacinth populations were only beginning.     

A molecular phylogeny of Hebeloma species from Europe

In order to widen the scope of existing phylogenies of the ectomycorrhizal agaric genus Hebeloma a total of 53 new rDNA ITS sequences from that genus was generated, augmented by sequences retrieved from GenBank, and analysed using Bayesian, strict consensus and neighbour joining methods. The lignicolous Hebelomina neerlandica, Gymnopilus penetrans, and two species of Galerina served as outgroup taxa. Anamika indica, as well as representatives of the genera Hymenogaster and Naucoria, were included to test the monophyly of Hebeloma, which is confirmed by the results. Hebeloma, Naucoria, Hymenogaster and Anamika indica cluster in a strongly supported monophyletic hebelomatoid clade. All trees largely reflect the current infrageneric classification within Hebeloma, and divide the genus into mostly well-supported monophyletic groups surrounding H. crustuliniforme, H. velutipes, H. sacchariolens, H. sinapizans, and H. radicosum, with H. sarcophyllum being shown at an independent position; however this is not well supported. The section Indusiata divides with strong support into three groups, the position of the pleurocystidiate Hebeloma cistophilum suggests the possible existence of a third subsection within sect. Indusiata. Subsection Sacchariolentia is raised to the rank of section.