黄缘蜾蠃营巢生物学研究

利用人工巢管（Trap-nest）对我国南方林区捕食性天敌昆虫黄缘蜾蠃Anterhynchium flavomarginatum Smith的营巢生物学进行研究,以期更好的保护和利用该蜂对农林害虫的生物防治作用。2021年4月至2022年12月在江西省选取5个典型样地放置人工巢管收集黄缘蜾蠃,野外观察并记录该蜂雌性成虫活动规律的相关数据,并通过室内解剖筑巢巢管对该蜂的巢管进行观察并测量获取巢管结构的相关数据。研究发现黄缘蜾蠃偏爱巢口朝向东南方向的巢箱筑巢,该蜂巢管内部结构由前庭（Vestibular cell）、虫室（Brood cell）和空室（Empty space）等结构组成,也观察记录了巢管内部结构的相关参数和雌蜂的筑巢行为,其中包括巢管长度、内径以及前庭、虫室、空室的数量和长度;而筑巢行为主要包括日平均出巢次数、单次捕食时间、采泥时间、处理猎物的时间以及筑巢时间。每年5月、7月和10月是黄缘蜾蠃营巢最活跃的时期。黄缘蜾蠃的筑巢习性在不同个体之间无明显差异,但后代雌雄发育情况在不同巢管结构中存在差异;雌性成虫个体较雄性大,其幼虫期所需食物更多;该蜂可能会根据虫室大小及储备食物的多少来决定后代的性别分配。     

Neuroanatomical Distribution and Variations across the Reproductive Cycle of Aromatase Activity and Aromatase-Immunoreactive Cells in the Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)

The anatomical distribution and seasonal variations in aromatase activity and in the number of aromatase-immunoreactive cells were studied in the brain of free-living male pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca). A high aromatase activity was detected in the telencephalon and diencephalon but low to negligible levels were present in the optic lobes, cerebellum, and brain stem. In the diencephalon, most aromatase-immunoreactive cells were confined to three nuclei implicated in the control of reproductive behaviors: the medial preoptic nucleus, the nucleus of the stria terminalis, and the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus. In the telencephalon, the immunopositive cells were clustered in the medial part of the neostriatum and in the hippocampus as previously described in another songbird species, the zebra finch. No immunoreactive cells could be observed in the song control nuclei. A marked drop in aromatase activity was detected in the anterior and posterior diencephalon in the early summer when the behavior of the birds had switched from defending a territory to helping the female in feeding the nestlings. This enzymatic change is presumably controlled by the drop in plasma testosterone levels observed at that stage of the reproductive cycle. No change in enzyme activity, however, was seen at that time in other brain areas. The number of aromatase-immunoreactive cells also decreased at that time in the caudal part of the medial preoptic nucleus but not in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (an increase was even observed), suggesting that differential mechanisms control the enzyme concentration and enzyme activity in the hypothalamus. Taken together, these data suggest that changes in diencephalic aromatase activity contribute to the control of seasonal variations in reproductive behavior of male pied flycatchers but the role of the telencephalic aromatase in the control of behavior remains unclear at present.     

海切叶蜂的筑巢和访花行为

【目的】研究毛乌素沙地重要野生传粉昆虫海切叶蜂Megachile maritima的筑巢和访花行为对保护其栖息环境具有重要意义。【方法】采用目测及拍照等方法对海切叶蜂的整个筑巢过程进行了连续观测;以2 m×2 m 样方的方式观测海切叶蜂的访花频率、单花停留时间及日活动规律等访花行为,其中日活动规律每天连续观测,共观测7天。【结果】海切叶蜂在沙土中筑巢,每巢只有一个巢室,其筑巢过程为：寻找合适的筑巢地点,挖巢,构建巢室,采集蜂粮,产卵,封住巢室,筑完一个巢。它连续筑完一个巢大约需要9 h。海切叶蜂构建一个巢室需要切取26～29片叶子,为每巢室采集蜂粮11～12次,每巢室内产卵1粒;在塔落岩黄芪和细叶益母草上的平均访花频率分别为（13.23±6.49）朵/min和（16.72±4.84）朵/min,平均单花停留时间分别为（3.08±2.48）s和（2.49±1.31）s。晴天,海切叶蜂在12:00～14:00期间活动较活跃。【结论】海切叶蜂不同个体之间的筑巢行为相似。该蜂在塔落岩黄芪和细叶益母草上的访花过程、访花频率及单花停留时间具有显著的差异。     

脐血造血细胞的体外扩增：1.生长规律的研究

考察了在添加细胞因子和未添加细胞因子培养条件下的造血细胞群体的生长和代谢,研究了长期培养条件下造血祖细胞生长规律。在静态培养条件下,脐血造血细胞群体的比生长速率为0.34d^-1,倍增时间为2d。培养后期,造血细胞消耗了大部分葡萄糖,乳酸浓度可达40 mmol/L。在造血细胞长期培养条件下,CFU-GM产出最高峰在培养第2周与第3周之间。BFU-E产出最高峰在培养第1周。每天换50%培养液,造血细胞总数扩增了14倍,CFU-GM扩增了13倍,BFU-E扩增了5倍。     

Activation of anchorage-independent growth of HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cells by dexamethasone

Anchorage independence is an important hallmark of the transformation that correlates with tumorigenicity. We have isolated a variant clone of HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cells (cl-2) that is specifically defective in anchorage-independent growth. Interestingly, 10(-7) M dexamethasone (DEX) substantially rescued the anchorage-independent growth of cl-2 cells in semisolid culture. DEX also promoted the anchorage-independent growth of parental HT1080 cells. However, the agent had no effect on the anchorage-dependent growth of cl-2 and parental cells in ordinary liquid culture. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that the population of G0/G1 cells increased, whereas that of S and G2/M cells decreased in growth-arrested cl-2 cells in suspension culture. However, such an effect of anchorage loss on cell cycle progression was alleviated by adding 10(-7) M DEX. In cl-2 cells in semisolid culture, DEX suppressed the expression of P27Kip1, whereas it stimulated the expression of cyclin A and hyperphosphorylated retinoblastoma (Rb) proteins. On the other hand, DEX had no effect on cyclin D1 and P21Cap1 expression. These effects of DEX, except for the suppression of P27Kip1, were blocked by an antimicrofilament drug, cytochalasin D. Our results suggest that the stimulation of anchorage-independent growth by DEX involves at least two regulatory mechanisms, i.e., one that leads to the suppression of P27Kip1 protein without requiring cytoskeletal integrity, and another that requires cytoskeletal integrity, leading to stimulation of cyclin A and hyperphosphorylation of Rb protein.     

Characterization of the effects of butyric acid on cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution and apoptosis

We examined concentration-dependent changes in cell cycle distribution and cell cycle-related proteins induced by butyric acid. Butyric acid enhanced or suppressed the proliferation of Jurkat human T lymphocytes depending on concentration. A low concentration of butyric acid induced a massive increase in the number of cells in S and G2/M phases, whereas a high concentration significantly increased the accumulation of cells in G2/M phase, suppressed the accumulation of cells in G0/G1 and S phases, and induced apoptosis that cell cycle-related protein expression in Jurkat cells treated with high levels of butyric acid caused a marked decrease in cyclin A, cyclin E, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), CDK4 and CDK6 protein levels in G0/G1 and S phases, with apoptosis induction, and a decrease in cyclin B, Cdc25c and p27KIP1 protein levels, as well as an increase in p21CIP1/WAF1 protein level, in the G2/M phase. Taken together, our results indicate that butyric acid has bimodal effects on cell proliferation and survival. The inhibition of cell growth followed by the increase in apoptosis induced by high levels of butyric acid were related to an increase in cell death in G0/G1 and S phases, as well as G2/M arrest of cells. Finally, these results were further substantiated by the expression profile of butyric acid-treated Jurkat cells obtained by means of cDNA array.     

长木蜂的筑巢和采粉贮粮行为

【目的】通过研究长木蜂Xylocopa tranquebarorum筑巢和贮粮行为, 为进一步查明独栖性蜂类行为特点、开发新的蜂类资源提供依据。【方法】采用目测和拍照等方法对长木蜂的整个筑巢过程进行了连续观察, 用游标卡尺对巢口大小进行测量, 采用室内解剖巢室对长木蜂贮蜂粮的大小和数量进行观测。【结果】长木蜂主要在竹子上筑巢, 偶尔也发现在芦苇上筑巢。最喜欢选择竹节直径1.2～2.5 cm的孝顺竹Bambusa multiplex和刚竹属 Phyllostachys的竹种上筑巢。其筑巢过程为：雌蜂寻找合适的筑巢地点, 咬巢口, 清理巢室, 采集花粉蜜制作蜂粮, 在蜂粮上产卵, 制作巢室隔板。筑巢地点主要位于离旧巢1 m以内的位置。雌蜂啃咬巢口平均用时（292±29）min, 制作一块蜂粮需采集粉蜜22～40次, 采集粉蜜平均用时（17.31±0.52）min/次, 携粉蜜回巢滞留时间平均为（16.45±1.08）min/次;巢中卸落粉蜜平均用时为（15.29±1.03）min/次, 一生贮蜂粮平均6块左右;蜂粮近长方形, 长12～18 mm, 宽6～10 mm, 平均重量（0.7140±0.0269）g。【结论】长木蜂雌蜂不同个体之间筑巢行为相似, 而采集粉蜜的次数和贮蜂粮所用时间均有显著差异。     

春砂仁的访花昆虫种类及其访花和筑巢行为

阳春砂仁(Amomum villosumLour.)是我国四大南药之一,但花的形态结构较特殊,不易自然授粉。通过野外调查,在3个砂仁种植场共采集到砂仁的访花昆虫21种,其中蜜蜂类11种,蚂蚁类10种。蜜蜂类中,以黄绿彩带蜂Nomia strigataSmith和东方蜜蜂中华亚种Apis(Siamatapis)cerana ceranaFabricius较常见;蚂蚁类中,以细纹小家蚁Monomorium destructor(Jerdon)和黑头酸臭蚁Tapinomamelanocephalum(Fabricius)较常见。此外,还观察记录了黄绿彩带蜂、东方蜜蜂和蚂蚁的访花行为,以及黄绿彩带蜂的筑巢行为。     

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 induces expression of statin during differentiation of human promonocytic leukemia cells.

Transforming growth factor-Beta (TGF-beta) is a potent growth inhibitor for several cell types including epithelial cells and hematopoietic progenitor cells. Using a human promonocytic leukemia cell line, THP-1, we have shown that TGF-beta inhibits their proliferation and promotes differentiation into cells exhibiting macrophage-like properties. Therefore, a key question is whether TGF-beta influences the expression of genes associated with proliferation and/or growth inhibition. TGF-beta treatment of THP-1 cells results in downregulation of expression of c-myc. We also observe that TGF-beta 1-treated cells express reduced levels of the cell cycle regulated histone, H2B, but express elevated levels of an RNA splicing variant of this histone that has been observed to be upregulated in growth inhibited and terminally differentiated cells. In addition, a nuclear protein associated with senescence and withdrawal of cells from the cell cycle, statin, is also expressed by THP-1 cells in response to TGF-beta 1 treatment. These results suggest that TGF-beta 1 is capable of inducing expression of specific nuclear proteins associated with differentiation and/or cessation of proliferation that may result in changes in nuclear organization and altered gene expression. Such changes in nuclear organization may be incompatible with continued proliferation of the cells.