可口革囊星虫受精过程及早期卵裂的细胞学变化

为探究可口革囊星虫(Phascolosoma esculenta)受精过程中精子入卵、极体排放、雌雄原核的形成与结合以及早期卵裂的特点,为胚胎发育机制研究奠定基础及指导人工育苗,显微观察了可口革囊星虫卵母细胞的形态;用荧光染色剂HOECHST33258对已固定的成熟卵及受精卵进行染色的方法,在荧光显微镜下观察了可口革囊星虫受精过程及第一与第二次卵裂的细胞学变化。成熟卵呈椭圆形,卵膜较厚,核区偏位,染色体排列整齐。在水温30℃-31℃、盐度23条件下,授精后5min-10min,精子完成入卵;授精后10min-20min,完成第一次减数分裂、释放第一极体;授精后20min-30min,完成第二次减数分裂、放出第二极体,部分受精卵的第一极体分裂为二;授精后30min-40min,雌、雄原核形成,并相互靠近向卵中央迁移;授精后40min-50min,雌、雄原核在卵中央结合成合子核;授精后50min-70min及70min-90min分别完成第一及第二次卵裂。可口革囊星虫的受精过程及早期卵裂的细胞学特点为:1)成熟卵是处在第一次减数分裂中期的初级卵母细胞,具有受精能力;2)精子入卵位点是随机的,存在多精入卵现象;3)雌、雄原核以融合方式结合成合子核;4)第一及第二次卵裂均为经裂、不等裂。     

可口革囊星虫体液细胞的显微和亚显微结构

本文利用光学显微镜和透射电镜研究了可口革囊星虫体液细胞的显微和亚显微结构。研究发现该星虫体液中含有红细胞、颗粒细胞、桑椹胚样细胞和卵母细胞。可口革囊星虫的红细胞数量较多,红细胞呈盘状,从一边或两边略凹陷,最典型的是从三边发育的二裂片内陷,直径为24μm-32μm。圆形红细胞,核位于中央,细胞内很少有细胞器,细胞质内充满嗜锇的血红蛋白。体腔液内含有两种类型的颗粒细胞。Ⅰ型细胞含有大量的小颗粒,是典型的变形细胞,细胞质里含有大量的线粒体、最典型的高尔基体、内质网和各种形状不一的小池。Ⅱ型细胞含有大量的嗜锇细胞质。在可口革囊星虫体液中含有不同发育时期的卵母细胞。     

可口革囊星虫体腔中卵细胞大小组成的周年变化

在浙江温岭沿海逐月采样,显微观察了可口革囊星虫体腔中卵细胞大小组成的周年变化。3—5月,卵径30~90μm的卵细胞占大部分。6月,卵径70~130μm的卵细胞占多数。7月,大部分卵细胞卵径达100μm以上,其中130~150μm的卵细胞约占1/3。8月,卵细胞卵径均在110μm以上,其中130~150μm的卵细胞约占2/3。9月,仍多数卵细胞卵径在110μm以上,130~150μm的卵细胞约占1/3。10月,以110~140μm的卵细胞占多,40μm以下的卵细胞较少,大卵细胞开始退化。11月至翌年2月,随着大型卵细胞的逐渐退化,小型及中型卵细胞逐渐增多,2月仍可见少量未退化的大型卵细胞。分析认为,可口革囊星虫在浙江温岭的繁殖期主要在7—9月。     

红鲫与湘江野鲤杂交的受精细胞学研究

红鲫成熟卵直径680—720μm;卵膜孔为精子入卵的唯一通道,包括前庭和精孔管两部分;精孔管内径约5μm。湘江野鲤精子头部直径约2.5μm。在通常情况下,红鲫卵为单精受精。尽管红鲫与湘江野鲤不同属,但杂交仍具有正常的受精细胞学程序。红鲫卵子处于第二次成熟分裂中期接受湘江野鲤精子入卵,精子入卵5min后,出现明显的精子星光;15min后,雄性原核及雌性原核形成;25min后,雌、雄性原核融合;30min后、开始卵裂,发现1个受精卵切片上有4个即将融合的原核,这可能是由于双精受精所致。     

可口革囊星虫的精子发生及精子结构

为了探究可口革囊星虫(Phascolosoma esculenta)精子发生过程及结构上的特殊性,用显微及亚显微技术研究了可口革囊星虫的精子发生和精子结构。可口革囊星虫的精巢位于收吻肌基部,为一曲折的带状组织。成熟精巢内可观察到精原细胞、精母细胞以及精细胞等各阶段的生精细胞。在精子形成早期,很多精细胞脱离精巢,以精细胞团的形式掉落到体腔中。精细胞团内的精细胞同步发育为精子后,脱离精子团进入肾管。成熟精子由头部和尾部组成。头部由钟形顶体与鼓形细胞核构成。顶体后段下包于精核的前端。顶体分内、中、外三层,外层有横隔;顶体下腔内有颗粒状物质不均匀分布,中央有一束丝状纤维组成的顶体棒。核物质电子密度高,核内含空泡。无核前窝,具浅的核后窝。尾部分中段和末段,中段由6个(偶见5个或7个)线粒体围绕近、远端中心粒构成;末段细长鞭状,由轴丝及包绕轴丝的质膜组成,轴丝为典型的"9 2"结构。分析认为:可口革囊星虫精子发生过程以及超微结构上存在特殊的结构与机制:①精细胞团保证了精子形成的同步性;②顶体后段下包于精核的前端使精子头部小而灵巧,利于快速运动;③顶体的横隔使精子顶体的牢固性增强,确保受精时顶体反应的正常进行;④中段较多的线粒体使精子具有更强的环境适应性,有利于有效的受精。     

文蛤受精及早期胚胎发育过程的细胞学观察

用普通光镜、荧光显微镜技术和石蜡切片技术三种方法,对文蛤卵在受精及早期胚胎发育过程中的外形和核相变化进行了详细观察。结果表明:文蛤成熟未受精卵呈圆球形,直径90.06μm±5.59μm,核相处于第一次成熟分裂中期;精子为鞭毛型,全长48.05μm±1.60μm,头部呈狭茧形,长度为3.06μm±0.17μm;精卵混合后,精子迅速附着于卵子表面,受精后5min-10min,精子进入卵内并明显膨胀,激活卵子启动两次成熟分裂;分别在受精后20min、30min,受精卵完成第一次和第二次成熟分裂,先后排出第一、第二极体;成熟分裂完成之后,精、卵核体积迅速膨胀到最大,核膜重新出现,形成弥散状的雌、雄原核;受精后35min左右,雌、雄原核在卵子中央发生染色体联合,共同排列在纺锤体的赤道板上,形成第一次有丝分裂的中期分裂相;受精后40min-45min,在纺锤丝的牵引下染色体被拉向两极,结果形成2个大小不等的卵裂球;受精后55min-60min,第二次卵裂结束,形成1大3小4个卵裂球,卵裂过程中的核相变化与第一次卵裂基本相同,只是卵裂方向是与第一次卵裂的卵裂沟呈基本垂直的纵裂;受精后80min-90min,第三次卵裂完成,仍为不等全裂,但自此次起开始进行螺旋分裂。此外,实验中也发现了少量的多精入卵、多极分离和天然三倍体等异常现象。     

斑马鱼卵母细胞的体外成熟及成熟卵的受精发育

采用体外培养的方法,研究斑马鱼卵母细胞的成熟过程。Ⅳ时相初级卵母细胞在o．5μg／m1 17a－羟基孕酮的EM－199培养液中,80％氧气,25℃的体外培养条件下,在40min内,胚泡(GV)逐渐由卵母细胞中央至动物极边缘l／2处移到动物极边缘,进八V时相卵母细胞。30min后胚泡破裂(GVBD),胚泡破裂率为59％。此种卵母细胞继续培养2h才完全成熟。成熟卵不能从滤泡膜中自然排出。冷开水中剥离其外边的滤泡膜后加入具有受精能力的精子,即能使成熟卵受精,受精膜举起,胚盘在动物极形成。其后受精卵的分裂、发育等与自然成熟受精卵相同。以发育至囊胚为受精标准,这种体外成熟卵受精率为78％。这是斑马鱼卵母细胞体外培养成熟的首例报道。鱼类卵母细胞体外成熟技术的建立,为外源基因卵母细胞胚泡内转移奠定了基础。     

点带石斑鱼的亲鱼培育、产卵受精和胚胎发育

在水泥池人工养殖条件下,对人工诱导性逆转的“功能性雄性”、天然雄性及天然雌性点带石斑鱼(Epinephelus malabaricus)亲鱼进行强化培育,自然产卵受精。2002年繁殖季节,共获3cm以上的点带石斑鱼苗145万尾。亲鱼培育、产卵受精和胚胎发育的程序：(1)经过强化培育的亲鱼,自然产卵受精,受精率平均81％,最高97％;(2)成熟的“人工变性雄鱼”的精子头部呈球型,精子头径约3．7—6．1gm,尾长12．4～44．5μm;在水温26℃、盐度3％、pH7．9条件下,精子游动时间最长超过58min,精液中90％精子在31min停止游动,与天然雄亲鱼的精子无异,可作为生产雄亲鱼的来源;(3)在东山岛,产卵期由4月初持续到11月中旬,产卵高潮集中在4月底至5月底、9月底至10月初。在24h内,自然产卵通常从16：30持续到次日1：30;(4)产卵适宜水温为23．5—28．6℃,最适产卵水温为25．5—26．5℃;(5)水温26℃时,受精卵在盐度2．82％～2．96％,的海水中呈悬浮状态,盐度2．82％以下时下沉,盐度2．96％以上时上浮;(6)在水温24．9—27．6℃、盐度3％—3．3％、pH7．6—8．2的情况下,胚胎发育时间为21h。     

大竹蛏胚胎发生及稚贝发育基本特征

在人工培育条件下,对大竹蛏(Solen grandis)胚胎发生及稚贝发育进行显微观察,探究大竹蛏胚胎及幼虫发育规律。结果表明,大竹蛏胚胎及幼虫发育过程为:受精卵、卵裂、囊胚期、原肠期、担轮幼虫、D形幼虫、稚贝。在日平均水温为22.4℃时,受精后20～24 h发育成D形幼虫,5～7 d变态为稚贝,38 d稚贝已具备成贝形态,壳长壳高比为2.60。从受精卵到附着所需积温为3 088.79～5 005.19℃.h。稚贝先形成出水管,后形成进水管,最终形成"一管双孔"。壳长与壳高关系式为y=150.37e0.002 7 x,x为壳高(μm),y为壳长(μm),R2=0.985 5,P0.01;壳长与日龄关系式为y=143.38e0.091 6 x,x为日龄(d),y为壳长(μm),R2=0.979 5,P0.01;壳高与日龄关系式为y=33.979 x-15.450,x为日龄(d),y为壳高(μm),R2=0.987 3,P0.01。     

温度和盐度对蒙古裸腹Sou种群内禀增长能力的影响

报道了蒙古裸腹Sou(Moina mongolica)在20℃-33℃温度和5－40ppt盐度条件下和种群内禀增长率（rm),结果表明,20℃-30℃范围内蒙古裸腹Sourm随温度升高,超过30℃后继续升高,rm显著降低,在低盐度下蒙古裸腹Sou的种群增长能力相对较强,盐度为10ppt时rm最高,20－40ppt范围内Sou的rm差别不明显,本实验表明,25℃-30℃和10ppt分别是蒙古裸腹Sou种群增长较快的温度和盐度条件,在海水中长期培养对蒙古裸腹Sou的种群增长能力不会产生明显的不良影响。     

MicroRNA in cell differentiation and development

The regulation of gene expression by microRNAs (miRNAs) is a recently discovered pattern of gene regulation in animals and plants. MiRNAs have been implicated in various aspects of animal development and cell differentiation, such as early embryonic development, neuronal development, muscle development, and lymphocyte development, by the analysis of genetic deletions of individual miRNAs in mammals. These studies show that miRNAs are key regulators in animal development and are potential causes of human diseases. Here we review some recent discoveries about the functions of miRNAs in cell differentiation and development. Supported by National Key Basic Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2005CB724602) and Knowledge Innovation Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant Nos. KSCX2-YW-R-096, KSCX1-YW-R-64)     

In vitro cultivation of Fasciola hepatica metacercariae and of partially developed flukes recovered from mice

Attempts were made to culture the metacercariae of Fasciola hepatica under a wide variety of conditions. Of the media tested, the most successful was NCTC 135 plus 50% heat inactivated chick serum and sheep red blood cells at 37°–38°C. In this medium, somatic development of newly excysted juveniles was similar to that of flukes recovered from the liver of a mouse 11 days post-infection. There was, however, no corresponding development of the genital rudiment. Various supplements, such as liver extract, bile, yeast extract, embryo extract, egg products, monolayer cells and diphasic media were tested, but none enhanced development. The effects of various physical parameters on growth and development in vitro were examined. Cultured metacercariae appeared to be in a state of ‘suspended animation’; when injected intraperitoneally into mice they developed into egg-producing adults. Flukes recovered from the abdomen and liver of mice continued their somatic growth in vitro but their genitalia failed to develop further.     

Conserving global biological diversity by encouraging alternative development paths: can development coexist with diversity?

The conservation of biological diversity concerns the management of the development process, not only at the national but also at the global level. Individual countries have made their development choices independently but relatedly, too often following the precise form of the choices of other countries preceding them in the development process. Development via imitation is pursuing the form, rather than the substance of a successful development strategy. Countries should instead be developing upon a base of assets that provides them with a relatively unique set of goods and services to place upon global markets. When the first countries developed, this criterion indicated that they should convert their countries to new forms of production; when the last countries are developing, relatively unique goods and services flow from their lands as they stand. What is required is the development of global institutions that encourage countries to see that their best development opportunities lie down these alternative development pathways, based upon their already-existing but relatively unique national assets.     

Characterization of Sgo1 expression in developing and adult mouse

SGO1 has been characterized in its function in correct cell division and its role in centrosome cohesion in the nucleus. However, its organ-specific maturation-related expression pattern in vivo remains largely uncharacterized. Here, we show clear SGO1 expression in post-developmental neuronal cells and cytoplasmic localisation in nucleated cells with a transgenic mice model and immunohistochemistry of wild type mice. We demonstrate extranuclear expression of Sgo1 in the developing heart and gut, which have been shown to be dysregulated in humans with homozygous SGO1 mutation. Additionally, we show Sgo1 expression in select population of retinal cells in developing and post-developmental retina. Our expression analysis strongly suggests that the function of SGO1 goes beyond its well characterized role in cell division.     

MicroRNA与动物发育

MicroRNA(miRNA)是一类约22nt大小的内源性非编码RNA,它们通过剪切靶基因的转录产物或者抑制转录产物的翻译从而起到转录后调控靶基因表达的作用。在动物体内,通过基因敲除等方法所进行的大量研究表明了miRNA参与了胚胎早期发育、脑及神经发育、心脏发育、肌肉及骨骼发育等动物发育的各个方面。miRNA是动物发生发育过程中重要的调控因子。主要介绍了近年来miRNA在动物生长发育过程中的研究进展。     

A requirement for Fgfr2 in middle ear development

The skeletal structure of the mammalian middle ear, which is composed of three endochondral ossicles suspended within a membranous air‐filled capsule, plays a critical role in conducting sound. Gene mutations that alter skeletal development in the middle ear result in auditory impairment. Mutations in fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2), an important regulator of endochondral and intramembranous bone formation, cause a spectrum of congenital skeletal disorders featuring conductive hearing loss. Although the middle ear malformations in multiple FGFR2 gain‐of‐function disorders are clinically characterized, those in the FGFR2 loss‐of‐function disorder lacrimo‐auriculo‐dento‐digital (LADD) syndrome are relatively undescribed. To better understand conductive hearing loss in LADD, we examined the middle ear skeleton of mice with conditional loss of Fgfr2. We find that decreased auditory function in Fgfr2 mutant mice correlates with hypoplasia of the auditory bulla and ectopic bone growth at sites of tendon/ligament attachment. We show that ectopic bone associated with the intra‐articular ligaments of the incudomalleal joint is derived from Scx‐expressing cells and preceded by decreased expression of the joint progenitor marker Gdf5. Together, these results identify a role for Fgfr2 in development of the middle ear skeletal tissues and suggest potential causes for conductive hearing loss in LADD syndrome.     

The role of oxygen availability in the embryonation of Heterakis gallinarum eggs.

The importance of oxygen availability in the embryonation of the infective egg stages of the gastrointestinal nematode parasite Heterakis gallinarum was studied in the laboratory. Unembryonated H. gallinarum eggs were kept under either aerobic conditions by gassing with oxygen, or anaerobic conditions by gassing with the inert gas nitrogen, under a range of constant temperatures. Oxygenated eggs embryonated at a rate influenced by temperature. Conversely, eggs treated with nitrogen showed no embryonation although when these eggs were transferred from nitrogen to oxygen gas after 60 days of treatment, embryonation occurred. This demonstrated that oxygen is an essential requirement for H. gallinarum egg development, although undeveloped eggs remain viable, even after 60 days in low oxygen conditions. The effects of climate on the biology of free-living stages studied under constant laboratory conditions cannot be applied directly to the field where climatic factors exhibit daily cycles. The effect of fluctuating temperature on development was investigated by including an additional temperature group in which H. gallinarum eggs were kept under daily temperature cycles between 12 and 22°C. Cycles caused eggs to develop significantly earlier than those in the constant mean cycle temperature, 17°C, but significantly slower than those in constant 22°C suggesting that daily temperature cycles had an accelerating effect on H. gallinarum egg embryonation but did not accelerate to the higher temperature. These results suggest that daily fluctuations in temperature influence development of the free-living stages and so development cannot be accurately predicted on the basis of constant temperature culture.     

Perinatal dental development in the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)

The synthesis of both ontogenetic and phylogenetic data should provide the ideal explanation of morphologic variation, but for the primate dentition, this has not yet occurred. Information concerning growth and development of primate teeth is lacking, in part because of the paucity of specimens. We have therefore examined the deciduous second molars (dm2) and tooth buds of the permanent first molar (M1) of 12 chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), aged 6.5 months of gestation to 4 postnatal months. The ordering of cusp calcification was identical to that of other primates. By regression analysis, correlations of mesial and distal widths with buccal, lingual, and mesiodistal lengths were low, most probably because of decreased rates of change (slopes) and the relatively small sample size. Correlations were, however, greater for mandibular than for maxillary dentition and higher for age than for body weight; for both the dm2 and M1, distal moieties increased faster and were more highly correlated with other dental variables and age than were mesial ones. Comparison with data from humans revealed both differences and similarities in the absolute size and growth rate of dental moieties during the perinatal period. As the reasons for ontogenetic variation become understood for individuals, species, and higher taxa, the phylogenetic implications of differential growth should become clearer as well.