Genome-Wide Analysis and Expression Patterns of the YUCCA Genes in Maize

<正>Auxin plays important roles in various aspects of plant growth and development(Zhao,2010).In Arabidopsis,a number of YUCCA(YUC)genes,which are involved in auxin biosynthesis,have been identified(Zhao et al.,2001;Woodward et al.,2005;Cheng et al.,2006,2007;Kim et al.,2007;Chen et al.,2014).YUC genes encode flavin monooxygenases(FMOs)that convert indole-3-pyruvate(IPA)to indole-3-acetic acid(IAA)(Zhao,2012).The Arabidopsis YUC family is comprised of 11 members(Zhao et al.,2001;     

神农架川金丝猴初产雌性妊娠期异亲哺乳

<正>灵长类动物生长发育过程中,雌性往往承担着主要的育幼责任,因此,母亲是帮助灵长类婴儿尽早适应环境并独立生活的重要角色(F?rster and Cords, 2002; Xi et al., 2008; Briga et al., 2012)。对大多数群居型灵长类动物而言,母亲以外的成员也常常参与照料婴猴,该现象普遍存在于旧大陆猴中,     

神农架川金丝猴捕食矛纹草鹛雏鸟简报

目前,捕食脊椎动物的现象在非人灵长类动物中多有报道,如卷尾猴(Cebus capucinus,Rose,1996)、东非狒狒(Papio anubis,Harding,1973;Strum,1975)、猕猴(Macaca arctoides,Estrada and Estrada,1977;Macaca sylvanus,Young et al.,2012)、西黑冠长臂猿(Nomascus concolor jingdongensis,Fan and Jiang,2009)、苏门答腊猩猩(Pongo abelii, Hardus et al.,2012)和黑握握^抓加尽-lodytes, Gilby et al., 2006;Newton-Fisher, 2014)等。     

A new record of the capped langur (Trachypithecus pileatus) in China

DEAR EDITOR, The distribution of the capped langur (Trachypithecus pileatus)in China has become controversial since Shortridge's langur (Trachypithecus shortridgei) was upgraded to a full species.The capped langur is considered to be distributed in northeast India,Bangladesh,Bhutan,and northwest Myanmar only (Brandon-Jones et al.,2004;Choudhury,2008,2014;Das et al.,2008;Groves,2001).In our field survey,however,we obtained photos of the capped langur,demonstrating its existence in China. Following the species promotion of Shortridge's langur (Brandon-Jones et al.,2004;Groves,2001) and the delimiting of its distribution range to northwestern Yunnan in China and northeastern Myanmar (Brandon-Jones et al.,2004;Cui et al.,2016;Das et al.,2008;Groves,2001;Htun et al.,2008),with a new record in southeastern Tibet (Wu et al.,2016),the capped langur has been deleted from the checklist of mammals in China (Jiang et al.,2015).Despite this,Dr.George Schaller has suggested that capped langurs might exist in the northeastern section of the Yarlung-Zangbo River (Choudhury,2008).     

Structural basis of AimP signaling molecule recognition by AimR in Spbeta group of bacteriophages

Dear Editor,Quorum sensing(QS)is a widespread phenomenon in bacteria which enables them to participate in cell-to-cell communication by producing and responding to small signal molecules,thus synchronously altering their behavior depending on population density(Singh et al.,2000;Miller and Bassler,2001).Through QS,bacteria coordinate processes such as expression of virulenee factors(Slamti and Lereclus,2002),biofilm formation(Parashar et al.,2011),sporulation(Perego et al.,1996),conjugation(Kozlowicz et al.,2006),antibiotic synthesis(Miller and Bassler,2001;Whiteley et al.,2017)etc.     

圈养金钱豹尿液中的挥发性成分分析

<正>哺乳动物的尿液挥发性成分被认为是同哺乳动物信息激素一样重要的物质,迄今报道的野生动物尿液挥发性成分研究的有狮(Panthera leo)(Andersen and Vulpius,1999)、山猫(Lynx rufus)(Mattina et al.,1991)、土狼(Canis lupus)(Raymer et al.,1986)、郊狼(Canis latrans)(Schultz,1988)、红狐(Vulpes vulpe)(Jorgensen et al.,1978)以及鼬科物种(Zhang et al.,2005)。Robert和Joseph(1991)利用山猫和土狼尿液气味抑制白尾鹿(Odocoileus leucurus)对日本     

Engrafted newborn neurons could functionally integrate into the host neuronal network

The limited capability to regenerate new neurons following injuries of the central neural system (CNS) still remains a major challenge for basic and clinical neuroscience.Neural stem cells (NSCs) could nearly have the potential to differentiate into all kinds of neural cells in vitro.Previous studies verified that exogenous transplanted NSCs are capable of differentiating into neurons and projecting onto the host neurons in the rat brain (Tabar et al.,2005;Dong JR et al.,2012),which could lead to behavioral recovery from neuronal damages such as spinal cord injury (McDonald et al.,1999),Parkinson's disease (Gonzalez et al.,2015;Kim et al.,2002;Lindvall,2001),and stroke (Zhang et al.,2016).     

弄岗黑叶猴旱季食物营养组分及其对食物选择的影响

正蛋白质与纤维素的比值以及能量高低是影响灵长类动物食物选择的重要因素(Oftedal,1991;Waterman and Kool,1994;Chapman and Chapman,2002;Wasserman and Chapman,2003;Hanya et al.,2007;Huang et al.,2010),但它们是否影响疣猴的食物选择目前尚具有较大的争议。Waterman     

圈养条件下亚成体雌性金钱豹肺微血管铸型的扫描电镜观察

<正>金钱豹(Panthera pardus)属国家一级重点保护野生动物。关于人(Homo sapiens,真炳攸等,1990)、鼠(Ferrieira et al.,2001)、家兔(俞诗源和李重阳,1995)、牦牛(Bos grunniens,柳东阳,2007)、绵羊(Schraufnagel et al.,1995)、川金丝猴(Rhinopithecus roxellanae,俞诗源,1997)和双峰驼(Camelus bactrianus,Yu et al.,2004;Zhao et al.,2005)等动物肺的微血管构成情况已有报道。金钱豹作为大型食肉兽,体格强健,行动敏捷,能跳善爬,其肺应具有更加完善的结构特征     

SOCS-3 contributes to bisphenol a exposure-induced insulin resistance in hepatocytes

<正>Dear Editor,Bisphenol A (BPA), a common and widely used monomer in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resin,(Healy et al., 2015; De Filippis et al., 2018) has been defined as an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) associated with the etiology of insulin resistance (IR)(Gioiosa et al., 2015;Wei et al., 2017) and metabolic disorders (Padmanabhan et al., 2010; Fang et al., 2015; Balistrieri et al., 2018). However,     

Non-invasive repeated measurement of urinary progesterone, 17beta-estradiol, and testosterone in developing, cycling, pregnant, and postpartum female mice

Excretory samples from adult female mice were collected non-invasively during development, estrous cycling, pregnancy, and postpartum. In initial studies, urinary measures were statistically more dynamic over days than were fecal measures; thus subsequent studies focused on urine. Higher 17beta-estradiol levels were present in isolated females than in those exposed to males. In cycling females, urinary 17beta-estradiol was more variable than were measures of testosterone or progesterone, showing peaks with an approximate 5-day periodicity. When urinary estradiol and progesterone were monitored in conjunction with vaginal smear cell counts, patterns were idiosyncratic; most females showed distinct peaks in urinary steroids, not in clear synchrony with vaginal cell cornification. Levels of progesterone rose markedly during the first 10 days of pregnancy, then declined before birth. Estradiol showed a substantial peak on days 7-8 of gestation in all females measured. Urinary testosterone was not dynamic during pregnancy, but rose in immediate prenatal and postpartum measures. During post-weaning, pre-pubertal development, urinary levels of progesterone remained constant but levels of estradiol rose substantially over time.     

Physiological and analytical validations of fecal steroid hormone measures in black howler monkeys

The measurement of hormones in fecal samples allows for the noninvasive assessment of the endocrine status of free-ranging primates. However, procedures and techniques for hormone analysis in feces must be validated, both analytically and physiologically. Few studies have addressed the endocrinology of black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra). Due to its conservation status, direct handling of individuals from this species and invasive sample collection are highly regulated, and therefore traditional methods for the validation of hormone assays, such as pharmacological challenges, are not allowed. As a consequence, sometimes studies of the fecal hormones of free-ranging black howler monkeys do not report physiological validations and therefore the biological reliability of such measurements cannot be assessed. In order to stimulate future research with this species, the present study aimed at providing methodological bases for fecal endocrine monitoring. Specifically, we compared the validity of two immunoassays (radioimmunoassays, RIA; solid-phase chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay, SPCEI) performed with commercial kits to measure cortisol, testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone; and demonstrate how the physiological functions of these steroid hormones can be determined through non-pharmacological validations. We found no differences between the analytical validity of RIA and SPCEI assays to measure cortisol and testosterone, whereas for estradiol and progesterone RIA showed better results. Concerning the physiological validation of our assays, we demonstrated that: (1) comparisons between pre- and post-stress situations may be used to assess cortisol response, (2) comparisons between females and males may be used to assess variation in testosterone levels, and (3) comparisons between pregnant and non-pregnant females may be used to determine variation in estradiol and progesterone activity. The analytical and physiological validations that we performed demonstrate that there are currently commercial kits that allow for correct endocrine monitoring of this species, and that there are non-pharmacological alternatives to assess the biological validity of hormone measurements.     

Seasonal peculiarities of female hormonal response of females to conspecific chemical signals of the male in two species of the genus Phodopus

Changes in diestrous female blood plasma progesterone, estradiol, and cortisol in response to odors of urine and midventral gland secretion (MVGS) of conspecific males during different seasons have been studied in the desert hamster (Phodopus roborowskii and Djungarian hamster (P. sungorus). In desert hamster females, a statistically significant (p ?? 0.05) increase in the plasma hormonal level was observed: for progesterone in response to conspecific male MGVS in all seasons except winter, and to conspecific male urine in spring and summer; for cortisol in response to male MVGS and urine in all seasons except spring; and for estradiol in response to male MGVS in autumn. Djungarian hamster females demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the plasma progesterone level in response to conspecific male MVGS and urine in winter and summer, and no response to the estradiol and cortisol level for both odors in all seasons. The results showed important differences in the physiological response to odors of conspecific males between females of two species of dwarf hamsters.     

Radioimmunological Quantification of C21, C19 and C18 Steroids in Haemolymph of the Insect Locusta migratoria

Summary

Titers of pregnenolone, progesterone, testosterone, 5α-dihydrotestosterone, estrone and estradiol were measured by radioimmunoassay in purified haemolymph extracts of larval and adult male and female Locusta migratoria. They varied between following values (in pg/ml): pregnenolone: 467–757; progesterone: 37–119; testosterone: 11–54; 5α-dihydrotestosterone: 13–41; estrone: 25–1392; estradiol: 12–26. Titers of pregnenolone progesterone, testosterone, 5α-dihydrotestosterone and estradiol did not substantially fluctuate among the developmental stages we examined. Peaks of estrone were found in males and females in the middle of the fifth larval instar and in 3 week old adult males. The titers of most of the above six steroids are about 5 to 10 times lower than the concentrations found in purified extracts of several tissues of this insect.     

Mouse epidermal growth factor concentrations are altered by gonadectomy and treatments with estradiol and progesterone

In adult male and female mice we compared the epidermal growth factor (EGF) concentrations after gonadectomy and studied the effects of postgonadectomy treatments with estradiol and progesterone. In gonadectomized mice the mean concentration of EGF in the submandibular salivary gland (SMG) was (7-fold) higher in the females than the males. In the kidneys the males had (1.3-fold) higher levels of EGF than the females. Yet, gonadectomized males had higher plasma EGF levels and females higher urinary EGF concentrations. Estradiol treatment clearly decreased the EGF concentration in the SMG and increased it in urine and kidneys. Progesterone decreased male kidney EGF. Combined treatment with estradiol and progesterone increased the EGF concentration in the male urine and SMG, and decreased it in male kidneys.     

Exposure to developing females induces polyuria, polydipsia, and altered urinary levels of creatinine, 17β-estradiol, and testosterone in adult male mice (Mus musculus)

Novel male mice can accelerate reproductive maturation in proximal developing females, an effect mediated by the chemistry of the males' urine. Exogenous estrogens can similarly accelerate female sexual development. In Experiment 1, adult male mice were housed across wire grid from either empty compartments or those containing post-weanling females. Proximity of females caused males to urinate more, progressively over days of exposure, with most urination directed towards females' compartments. Male urine collected after 5 days in these conditions was analyzed by enzyme immunoassay for 17β-estradiol, testosterone, and creatinine. Urinary creatinine of isolated males significantly exceeded that of female-exposed males. Unadjusted urinary steroids also trended toward higher levels in isolates, but creatinine-adjusted estradiol and testosterone of female-exposed males significantly exceeded that of isolated males. In Experiment 2, measurement of water consumption indicated significantly greater drinking by female-exposed as opposed to isolated males. In Experiment 3, males were housed in isolation or beside post-weanling intact (sham-operated) females, ovariectomized females, or intact (sham-operated) males. Male water consumption was elevated in all conditions involving social contact. Urinary creatinine was significantly lower in female-exposed males compared to isolated controls, while unadjusted testosterone was significantly lower in males in all social conditions. Again, creatinine-adjusted estradiol in female-exposed males significantly exceeded that of isolates. These data indicate that adult males drink and urinate more, have more dilute urine, and have a higher ratio of estradiol to creatinine when they are near developing females. These dynamics increase females' exposure to urinary steroids and other urinary constituents that can hasten sexual maturity.     

Estradiol is responsible for reduced renal prostaglandin dehydrogenase activity in female rats

The contribution of sex steroids to sex-related differences in renal prostaglandin dehydrogenase activity and urinary prostaglandin excretion was examined in 7-8-week-old male and female rats subjected to sham-operation or gonadectomy at 3 weeks of age. Rats were injected subcutaneously twice over a 6-day interval with vehicle (peanut oil, 0.5 mg/kg) or with depot forms of testosterone (10 mg/kg), estradiol (0.1 mg/kg), progesterone (5 mg/kg), or with estradiol and progesterone combined (0.1 and 5 mg/kg). After the second injection, 24-h urine samples were collected for prostaglandin measurement by radioimmunoassay; the rats were killed, and renal and pulmonary prostaglandin dehydrogenase activities were determined by radiochemical assay. Renal prostaglandin dehydrogenase activity was 10-times higher in intact male rats than in intact females. Gonadectomy increased renal prostaglandin dehydrogenase activity 4-fold in females, but had no effect in males; estradiol, alone or combined with progesterone, markedly suppressed renal prostaglandin dehydrogenase activity in both sexes, while testosterone or progesterone alone had no effect. Pulmonary prostaglandin dehydrogenase did not differ between the sexes and was unaffected by gonadectomy or sex-steroid treatment. Intact female sham-operated rats excreted 70-100% more prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin F2 alpha, and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha in urine than did males; gonadectomy abolished the difference in urinary prostaglandin E2 excretion. Estradiol decreased urinary prostaglandin E2 in females but not in males; treatment with other sex steroids did not alter urinary prostaglandin excretion.     

Endocrine events associated with spawning behavior in the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus)

Levels of estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone were determined in plasma of sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) undergoing certain behaviors associated with spawning in natural and artificial stream environments. Significantly higher levels of estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone were found in males than in females. In the artificial spawning channel, levels of estradiol were significantly higher in females exhibiting resting and swimming behaviors than in fanning, nest building, and spawning behaviors. No significant correlation was found with either progesterone or testosterone levels and the various reproductive behaviors. The data presented are the first experimental evidence that suggest gonadal steroids may be correlated with certain reproductive behaviors in the sea lamprey.     

Anuran gender identification by fecal steroid analysis

This study tested the hypothesis that steroid hormone metabolites can be measured in anuran feces and their concentrations used to identify the sex of adults. Fecal samples from American toads, Bufo americanus, and boreal toads, B. boreas boreas, were extracted using ethyl acetate, and the concentrations of estradiol, progesterone and testosterone metabolites were measured by enzyme immunoassays with antibodies commonly used to evaluate steroid hormone concentrations in mammalian species. In American toads, mean testosterone metabolite concentrations (P<0.05) between males (224.3±15.5 ng/g feces) and females (80.7±10.6 ng/g), but estradiol and progesterone metabolite concentrations did not. In contrast, estradiol immunoreactivity differed (P<0.05) between male (19.0±1.8 ng/g) and female (48.3±6.3 ng/g) boreal toads. Progesterone and testosterone metabolite concentrations did not differ. Fecal hormone metabolite analysis offers a promising noninvasive approach to gender identification in anuran amphibians. However, the group of metabolites differentiating gender may not be consistent among species. Zoo Biol 0:1–12, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Cues that Elicit Ultrasounds from Adult Male Mice

Adult male mice (Mus musculus) which have a prior history ofexperience with other adult male and adult female mice readilyproduce 70 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations in the presence of urinefrom adult females but not in the presence of urine from adultmales. Urine from immatures of either sex does not elicit ultrasoundsfrom socially experienced adult males. The ultrasound elicitingpotency of adult male urine was not improved substantially followingcastration of adult males, injection of testosterone propionateto castrated adult males, administration of estradiol benzoateto castrated adult males, or neonatal castration. Ovarian hormonesdo not appear to be necessary for either the appearance at puberty,or the maintenance during adulthood, of the ultrasound elicitingcues of female urine. Stage of estrus did not have a major modulatingeffect on urinary cues eliciling male ultrasounds. Treatmentsthat did not substantially reduce the signal value of adultfemale urine include ovariectomy before or after puberty, ovariectomywith adrenalectomy, and neonatal administration of testosterone.The administration of testosterone to ovariectomized adult females,and hypophyseclomy, virtually eliminated the ability of urinefrom adult females to elicit ultrasounds from socially experiencedadult males. The implication of pituitary hormones in the modulationof female urinary cues thai elicit ultrasounds is particularlyinteresting since pituitary factors are also implicated in theproximal causation of postparturient maternal aggression, whichadult male ultrasounds may function to moderate.