中华绒螯蟹胚胎附着系统的结构和形成机制

利用透射电镜和扫描电镜技术研究了中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheir sinensis)胚胎附着系统的结构及形成机制。中华绒螯蟹受精卵附着在雌性腹肢内肢的携卵刚毛上。该附着系统由三个连续部分组成:卵膜、卵柄和被膜,后者覆盖在携卵刚毛的绒毛上。研究结果显示:中华绒螯蟹的成熟胚胎由三层明显的卵膜组成,即E1、E2和E3层,但胚胎附着系统的卵柄及被膜仅为外层(E1)。卵巢中成熟卵的卵膜仅由E1层组成,E1分为两个亚层(E1a′、E1b′)。胚胎附着系统的形成与雌蟹的行为、腹肢粘液腺分泌的粘液、卵膜的超微结构及各层的变化有关。受精卵刚从生殖孔中排出时,卵膜(E1a′、E1b′)并不能直接粘附在携卵绒毛上。产卵后不久,雌蟹腹肢粘液腺分泌粘液的量增多,E1a′、E1b′的结构发生变化,表现为边界模糊,卵膜出现很强的粘性。在产卵后约60min E1层又明显分为两个亚层(E1a、E1b),同时排卵后雌蟹腹部的携卵绒毛不断地运动,这种运动促使携卵绒毛外的被膜形成。随着E1层亚结构的变化,E2层也开始形成,当E1新的两个亚层出现时,部分区域的E1层与E2层发生分离,卵柄开始形成,并牢固地附着在携卵绒毛上。被膜、卵柄与卵膜最外层的结构相同,均由E1层构成[动物学报51(5):852-861,2005]。     

三疣梭子蟹的形态与习性

三疣梭子蟹Portunus trituberculatus(Miers)是我国北方沿海主要的经济蟹类,壳薄肉多、营养丰富、味美适口,其卵可加工为蟹子豆腐。甲壳除作饲料和肥料外,还可制成合成纤维。三疣梭子蟹属于节枝动物门、甲壳纲、软甲亚纲Malacostraca、十足目Decapoda、短尾派Brachyura、梭子蟹科Portunidae。一、外部形态蟹体前后短,两侧宽,呈梭形。体表为一层很厚的外骨骼所包被。外骨骼系由几丁质和石灰盐类所组成。雄蟹体长75—88毫米,体宽     

梭子蟹科六种海产蟹的RAPD标记

选取日本蟳(普陀、嵊泗两个自然群体)、锈斑蟳、锐齿蟳、三疣梭子蟹、红星梭子蟹、青蟹共6种海产蟹,用RAPD方法检测了其基因组DNA的多态性。在事先优化的反应条件下,用16个随机引物共扩增出123条多态性片段,片段大小在500～14000bp。在123条扩增片段中,6种蟹共享的片段有2条,3种蟳有13条,2种梭子蟹有16条;6种蟹之间随机扩增DNA片段的共享度在0．0606～0．8000,相对遗传距离指数在0．2000～0．9394。根据获得的相对遗传距离指数,用PHYLIP3．5软件包中的UPGMA和NJ方法进行聚类处理。UPGMA和NJ聚类图均显示三疣梭子蟹和红星梭子蟹先聚在一起,再和青蟹聚在一起。6种蟹的亲缘关系与传统的形态学分类结果基本一致。     

中国蟹蛛科1新纪录属及2新种记述(蛛形纲:蜘蛛目)

本文记述了壮蟹蛛属Stiphropus和斜蟹蛛属Loxobates蜘蛛2新种,分别命名为镰壮蟹蛛,新种Stiphropus falciformus sp.nov.和刺斜蟹蛛,新种Loxobates spiniformis sp.nov..壮蟹蛛属Stiphropus在我国尚属首次记述.壮蟹蛛属Stiphropus Gerst(a)cker,1873新纪录属Stiphropus Gerst(a)cker,1873479;Ono,198059模式种Stiphropus lugubris Gerst(a)cker,1873 鉴别特征本属与革蟹蛛属Coriarachne Thorell,1870(Song & Zhu,1997,61)在体型上非常相似,但具以下区别头 胸部长大于宽,而不是宽大于长;步足和触肢具许多羽状毛(plumose hairs)(figs.1 C～D),但后者无;雄蛛插入器大,小刀状(cultrate)或acerate,后者小而呈刺状;雌蛛外雌器中隔骨化强烈,而后者不明显.镰壮蟹蛛,新种Stiphropus falciformus sp.nov.正模♂大理市凤仪镇公山,25°35'N,100°18'E,2002年5月21日,杨自忠采;副模1♀,地点同前,2002年6月29日,杨自忠采;3♂,元谋县元马镇,25°42'N,101°53'E,2005年9月12日,李巧采;1♂,元谋县老城乡,25°37'N,101°54'E,2005年9月10日,李巧采.词源学本新种种名根据插入器的形状而拟定.鉴别特征本新种与眼斑壮蟹蛛Stiphropus ocellatus Thorell,1887(Ono,1980 b64,flgs.12～27)相似,但具以下区别插入器比后者长而宽;外侧突比后者短而宽.斜蟹蛛属Loxobates Thorell,1877 Loxobates Thorell,1877495;Song & Zhu,199740;Song,Zhu & Chen,1999481模式种Loxobates ephippiatus Thorell,1877刺斜蟹蛛,新种Loxobates spiniformis sp.nov.正模♂云南省大理市点苍山,25°58'N,99°52'E,2002年6月9日;副模1♀,4 ♂,地点同前,2004年5月22日,海拔2 300～2 500 m,杨自忠采;副模3♀,8♂,地点同前,2005年5月31日,杨自忠、杨飞采.词源学本新种名根据雄蛛触肢胫节外侧突起的形状而拟定.鉴别特征本新种雄蛛的插入器形状与小斜蟹蛛Loxobates minorOno,2001(p.208,figs.6～8)相似,但具以下区别胫节外侧突基部螺旋状,端部刺状(figs.2.D～E),后者小而呈指状;腹侧突腹面观指状而不呈钝齿状.雌蛛与大东斜蟹蛛L.daitoensis Ono,1988(p.43,figs.27～33)相似,外雌器近"U"字形、交配管长而不同于后者.     

三疣梭子蟹蜕壳周期肝胰腺、外壳和鳃中钙含量的变化

研究测定了三疣梭子蟹蜕壳周期肝胰腺、鳃和外壳中的钙含量。结果显示,在不同时间,鳃中钙含量变化较小,各时间点差异不显著;蜕壳前期至蜕壳刚完成阶段三疣梭子蟹(软壳蟹)肝胰腺中钙含量最高,蜕壳后第4 d肝胰腺中钙含量最低。三疣梭子蟹外壳中钙含量随着外壳的硬化(钙化)逐渐增加,完全硬化后外壳中钙含量达到最高。研究表明,蜕壳后三疣梭子蟹肝胰腺中钙含量的降低与外壳的钙化之间具有关联性,肝胰腺在三疣梭子蟹蜕壳后钙的储存中起着重要作用,而鳃在钙离子储存中所起的作用可能小于钙转移的作用。     

蟹类精子超微结构的比较研究

应用光镜和电镜,比较研究了三疣梭子蟹,中华绒螯蟹和长江华溪蟹的成熟精子。揭示３种蟹精子都是不能游动的无鞭毛精子,呈球形,前后略扁,精子前端出现一光滑的小圆面,圆面四周有内陷的沟环。沟环之后,精子表面凹凸不平,并伸出多数辐射臂。３种蟹精子均为高度特化的细胞,外被质膜,内含细胞核,顶体及退化的细胞质。     

三疣梭子蟹PtToll-1受体的原核表达及组织、细胞分布研究

为深入研究三疣梭子蟹Toll受体的功能, 在前期工作的基础上构建了PtToll-1胞外结构域原核表达载体, 并成功获得其重组蛋白。将获得的重组蛋白免疫小鼠获得抗此重组蛋白免疫抗血清用于后续研究。SDS-PAGE结果表明, 体外诱导表达重组蛋白rPtToll-1以包涵体的形式出现在大肠杆菌裂解液的沉淀中, 分子量大小约为87.18 kD; Western-Blot分析表明, 小鼠抗血清能与rPtToll-1特异性结合。利用免疫荧光及细胞免疫化学方法对三疣梭子蟹PtToll-1在消化道、肝胰腺、鳃、心脏和肌肉等组织及血淋巴细胞中的分布进行研究。此外成功构建PtToll-1完整蛋白的真核表达载体pEGFP-N2-PtToll-1, 并转染HEK293T细胞研究其在哺乳动物细胞HEK293中的表达。组织免疫荧光结果显示, PtToll-1在三疣梭子蟹消化道、肝胰腺、鳃、心脏及肌肉等组织中均有分布, 但在鳃及消化道的组织结构中表达较强; 细胞免疫荧光及免疫化学结果均表明PtToll-1主要分布在血淋巴的细胞膜上; 激光共聚焦显微技术观察发现, pEGFP-PtToll-1融合蛋白也主要在HEK-293T细胞膜上表达。研究结果将为三疣梭子蟹Toll受体蛋白的免疫学功能的研究奠定基础。     

中华绒螯蟹正常附着胚胎与流产胚胎的结构特点

用扫描电镜技术观察了中华绒螯蟹正常附着胚胎及流产胚胎的结构特点。结果表明,受精卵从生殖孔排出15min后,孵化室中的孵化液体积增大,使胚胎浸没在孵化液中,胚胎表面具有粘性;产卵后30min．卵柄初步形成;80～140min后卵柄完全形成,胚胎牢固地粘附在携卵绒毛上。正常胚胎的卵柄高度扭曲,上有很多毛状物,同时携卵刚毛上有很多粘液;流产胚胎的卵柄上无毛状物,但卵柄及胚胎表面有许多寄生物附着。携卵刚毛上的粘液及卵柄上的毛状物可能和胚胎附着有关;而胚胎表面寄生物的活动,可能使胚胎外被、卵柄以及卵索的结构发生变化,增加了胚胎之间的摩擦,进而胚胎呼吸困难,以致死亡和流产。     

三疣梭子蟹Na+/H+-exchanger基因克隆鉴定及在盐度胁迫下的表达分析

为研究Na+/H+-exchanger基因在三疣梭子蟹（Portunus trituberculatus）盐度胁迫过程中的功能作用,克隆了三疣梭子蟹Na+/H+-exchanger基因并进行表达分析。结果显示,Na+/H+-exchanger基因（GenBank:KU519329）全长4233 bp,5和3非编码区（UTR）长分别为519和753 bp,开放阅读框（ORF）长2961 bp。编码986个氨基酸,预测蛋白质分子量和等电点分别为110.8 kD和7.42,具有信号肽和典型的Na+/H+-exchanger蛋白结构域,含12个跨膜螺旋;三疣梭子蟹Na+/H+-exchanger基因与普通滨蟹（Carcinus maenas）同源性最高,达到87.2%,系统进化分析也显示该序列与普通滨蟹聚为一支;表达分析显示,三疣梭子蟹Na+/H+-exchanger基因在鳃中表达量最高;在低盐（盐度5、10和20）胁迫过程中,Na+/H+-exchanger基因在0-12h上调表达明显,在24-168h间表达量呈下降趋势;在高盐（盐度50）胁迫初期（0-12h）,该基因表达量相对稳定,之后（24-168h）显著下调表达。研究表明低盐显著诱导Na+/H+-exchanger基因的高表达,推测三疣梭子蟹Na+/H+-exchanger基因在低盐环境下发挥重要的渗透调节功能。     

低盐胁迫对三疣梭子蟹组织中抗氧化酶和 AT P 酶活力的影响

设定半致死低盐试验组(盐度 7)和正常对照组(盐度 28)对三疣梭子蟹进行 48h 的胁迫, 检测半致死盐度胁迫下不同时间点三疣梭子蟹组织中抗氧化酶和 ATP 酶活力的变化。结果显示, 随着低盐处理时间的延长, 三疣梭子蟹肝胰腺、鳃、肌肉中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活力均呈下降趋势, 极显著低于对照组(P<0.01), 各组织中 SOD、 CAT 活力大小顺序为肌肉 >肝胰腺>鳃; 肝胰腺、鳃中谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPX)、谷胱甘肽转硫酶(GST)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)、Na+/K+-ATPase 酶和 Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase 酶活力也都被抑制, 活力极显著下降(P<0.01); 而对照组在试验期间各组织酶活均较 平稳, 变化不大。试验结论表明 , 当盐度下降剧烈, 超出机体耐受范围时, 三疣梭子蟹生理机能被抑制, 酶活力反而下降。     

Epifauna associated with the northern stone crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lithodes maia</Emphasis> in the Barents Sea

Species composition, prevalence, and intensities of species colonizing the northern stone crab Lithodes maia in Dalnezelenetskaya Bay (Barents Sea) were examined. Sixteen species attached to the body surface or the host gills were identified. The most common associates were hydrozoans (100.0%), especially Obelia longissima, and the amphipods Ischyrocerus commensalis (93.8%). Species composition of the stone crab epifauna was similar to that observed for the Lithodid crab Paralithodes camtschaticus, except that tubular polychaetes Pomatoceros triqueter and Placostegus tridentatus were found only on the surface of the stone crab, while fish leeches Johanssonia arctica occurred on the red king crabs. Differences in percentage of infested hosts, and mean intensities of some associates are influenced by the conditions of carapace structure and size of both crab species.     

Larval development of the pedunculate barnacles Octolasmis angulata Aurivillius 1894 and Octolasmis cor Aurivillius 1892 (Cirripedia: Thoracica: Poecilasmatidae) from the gills of the mud crab,Scylla tranquebarica Fabricius, 1798

Detailed studies of larval development of Octolasmis angulata and Octolasmis cor are pivotal in understanding the larval morphological evolution as well as enhancing the functional ecology. Six planktotrophic naupliar stages and one non-feeding cyprid stage are documented in details for the first time for the two species of Octolasmis. Morphologically, the larvae of O. angulata and O. cor are similar in body size, setation patterns on the naupliar appendages, labrum, dorsal setae-pores, frontal horns, cyprid carapace, fronto-lateral gland pores, and lattice organs. Numbers of peculiarities were observed on the gnathobases of the antennae and mandible throughout the naupliar life-cycle. The setation pattern on the naupliar appendages are classified based on the segmentation on the naupliar appendages. The nauplius VI of both species undergoes a conspicuous change before metamorphosis into cyprid stage. The cyprid structures begin to form and modify beneath the naupliar body towards the end of stage VI. This study emphasises the importance of the pedunculate barnacle larval developmental studies not only to comprehend the larval morphological evolution but also to fill in the gaps in understanding the modification of the naupliar structures to adapt into the cyprid life-style.     

Parasitic crustaceans as vectors of viruses, with an emphasis on three penaeid viruses

Parasitic crustaceans serve as both hosts and vectors of viruses as well as of parasites and other microbial pathogenic agents. Few of the presumably numerous associations are known, but many can be anticipated. Recently, branchiurans and gnathiid isopods have been documented to host helminths and blood parasites. Because the agents can be observed readily with a microscope, these are better recognized than are the smaller viral, bacterial, and fungal agents. Some agents are harmful to the host of the crustacean parasite and others are not. Viruses probably fit both these categories, since viruses that do not appear pathogenic are often seen in ultrastructural images from a range of invertebrate hosts, including crustaceans. Some viruses have been implicated in causing disease in the host, at least under appropriate conditions. For example, lymphocystis virus may possibly be transmitted to the dermis of its fish hosts by copepods and to the visceral organs by a cymothoid isopod. Similarly, argulid branchiurans seem to transmit the viral agent of spring viremia of carp as well as carp pox, and copepods have been implicated in transmitting infectious hematopoietic necrosis, infectious salmon anemia, and infectious pancreatic necrosis to salmon. Other viruses can be vectored to their hosts through an additional animal. We exposed three viruses, Taura syndrome virus (TSV), white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), and yellowhead virus (YHV), all of which cause mortalities in wild and cultured penaeid shrimps, to crustacean parasites on fish and crabs. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis, we show that TSV in the cyclopoid copepod Ergasilus manicatus on the gill filaments of the Gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis, the acorn barnacle Chelonibia patula on the carapace of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, and gooseneck barnacle Octolasmis muelleri on the gills of C. sapidus, can replicate for at least 2 weeks and establish what should be an infective dose. This result was additionally supported by positive in situ hybridization reactions. All three parasites are the first known non-penaeid hosts in which replication occurs. The mean log copy number of WSSV also suggested that replication occurred in E. manicatus. The mean log copy number of YHV gradually decreased in all three parasites and both hosts over the 2-week period. The vector relationships indicate an additional potential means of transmitting and disseminating the disease-causing agents to the highly susceptible and economically valuable penaeid shrimp hosts.     

Diverse adaptations of an ancestral gill: a common evolutionary origin for wings,breathing organs,and spinnerets

Changing conditions of life impose new requirements on the morphology and physiology of an organism. One of these changes is the evolutionary transition from aquatic to terrestrial life, leading to adaptations in locomotion, breathing, reproduction, and mechanisms for food capture. We have shown previously that insects' wings most likely originated from one of the gills of ancestral aquatic arthropods during their transition to life on land. Here we investigate the fate of these ancestral gills during the evolution of another major arthropod group, the chelicerates. We examine the expression of two developmental genes, pdm/nubbin and apterous, that participate in the specification of insects' wings and are expressed in particular crustacean epipods/gills. In the horseshoe crab, a primitively aquatic chelicerate, pdm/nubbin is specifically expressed in opisthosomal appendages that give rise to respiratory organs called book gills. In spiders (terrestrial chelicerates), pdm/nubbin and apterous are expressed in successive segmental primordia that give rise to book lungs, lateral tubular tracheae, and spinnerets, novel structures that are used by spiders to breathe on land and to spin their webs. Combined with morphological and palaeontological evidence, these observations suggest that fundamentally different new organs (wings, air-breathing organs, and spinnerets) evolved from the same ancestral structure (gills) in parallel instances of terrestrialization.     

Involvement of host recognition by oncomiracidia and post-larval survivability in the host specificity of Heterobothrium okamotoi (Monogenea: Diclidophoridae)

Heterobothrium okamotoi, a monogenean gill parasite, shows high host specificity for tiger puffer, Takifugu rubripes. In the present study, in vivo and in vitro experimental infections were conducted using various fish species, including T. rubripes, to understand the mechanisms of specificity. In in vivo experiments, T. rubripes, grass puffer, Takifugu niphobles, olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, and red sea bream, Pagrus major, were exposed to oncomiracidia of H. okamotoi labelled with a fluorescent dye, 5- (and -6) carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester, and the numbers of parasites on the gills and skin were recorded at intervals. Oncomiracidia were attached to gills and skin of all the experimental fish species immediately after exposure, and the infection intensity on T. rubripes was higher than that on T. niphobles and much higher than those on the other two species. After 2 days, the attached parasites remained on the gills of T. rubripes, but disappeared from the other hosts. During in vitro experiments, gill filaments excised from seven different fish species (four fish species used in the in vivo experiments and panther puffer, Takifugu pardalis, southern flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma and spotted halibut, Verasper variegates) were exposed to oncomiracidia and the attachment to each fish species and subsequent larval behaviour was observed. The percentage of post-larvae that attached to T. rubripes was slightly higher than those which attached to congeneric fish species and much higher than those of non-tetraodontid fish species. In vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that oncomiracidia of H. okamotoi have an affinity for their natural host, T. rubripes, and congeneric fish species. The disappearance of attached post-larvae from 'alien' hosts within 2 days during in vivo experiments suggested that host recognition by oncomiracidia and subsequent post-larval survivability are involved in the host specificity of H. okamotoi.     

Structural elements of the gills of the shore crabCarcinus mediterraneus

Fine structural studies were conducted on the gills of the shore crabCarcinus mediterraneus using scanning electron microscopic techniques. The results obtained show the structural organization of crab gills from whole gills including spiny elements over the 150 lamellae to lamellar components such as cuticles, median shaft, marginal canal, afferent and efferent lamellar vessels and hemolymph cells. Enormous surface enlargement is accomplished by a variety of structural elements which allow rapid circulation of hemolymph. In the form of a relatively small organ, the gills fulfill all the necessary exchanges of specific molecules between the crab and its environment. Aggregations of ca 1-μm particles covering the outer cuticular surfaces are considered to be bacterial colonies of unknown properties and functions.     

Morphology and development of the haptors among the Monocotylidae (Monogenea)

Monocotylid monogeneans inhabit a wide diversity of sites on their chondrichthyan hosts including the skin, gills, nasal fossae, urogenital system and coelom. The large variation in the morphology of the haptor appears to reflect this diversity in attachment sites. We demonstrate that the complexity of the haptor can be related to the habitat of the parasite. Generally, those parasites which live in habitats subject to strong water currents such as the gills and dorsal skin surface have more complex haptors than those in environments exposed to weaker or no water currents including the nasal fossae, urogenital system and body cavity. However, there can be considerable variation in haptoral components, even among congeners, living on the ‘gills’ of their hosts. The microhabitat was determined for Monocotyle helicophallus and M. spiremae, both from the gills of the pink whipray, Himantura fai, and M. corali from the gills of the cowtail ray, Pastinachus sephen. We demonstrate that differences in the morphology of the hamuli and the number and morphology of septal sclerites and marginal papillae among these species of Monocotyle can be related directly to their microhabitat. It also appears that different haptoral structures are important for attachment to the host at different stages in the development of the parasite, based on studies on the development and distribution of Neoheterocotyle rhinobatidis from the gills of the common shovelnose ray Rhinobatos typus. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Aufwuchs Protozoa and Bacteria on the Gills of the Rock Crab,Cancer irroratus Say: A Survey by Light and Electron Microscopy1

Histological examination of gills of the rock crab (Cancer irroratus Say, 1917) taken from specimens collected in polluted and nonpolluted areas indicated that gill discoloration was not directly related to the degree of microbial fouling. Light microscope studies demonstrated that bacteria, peritrich and suctorian ciliates, and some naviculoid diatoms were the principal members of the fouling community. Examination of the bacteria by electron microscopy showed that several distinct types were present, and that some of these were attached to the gill by holdfast structures while others were enmeshed in a filamentous slime layer. An unusual small marine flagellate and an unidentified amoeba were also examined ultrastructurally.