宁夏枸杞果实与种子形态发育初探

研究了宁夏枸杞不同发育时期果实和种子形态的变化特征及种子内胚的变化.结果表明:宁夏枸杞果实的生长发育曲线为花后8d以前为其第一次快速生长期,花后8～24 d为缓慢生长期,花后24～34 d是第二次快速生长期,属于典型的双“S”型.宁夏枸杞种子的生长曲线既不属于单“S”型,也不属于双“S”型,表现为果实的第一次快速生长期同样也是种子的快速生长期,但种子完成的生长比例快于果实完成的生长比例,此期种子内的胚乳生长快;当果实进入缓慢生长期,种子也表现出缓慢生长的特性,且种子长度和宽度的增加速率均显著低于果实第一次快速生长期种子的生长速率,此期种子主要进行胚的分化;在果实的第二次快速生长期,果实体积和重量迅速增加,而种子的长度和宽度增加很少,此期种子内仅胚进一步增大,从而反映出宁夏枸杞果实的发育与种子发育有一定的相关性.     

小叶丁香引种栽培条件下种子败育的解剖学研究

为探讨小叶丁香在北京栽培条件下种子败育的问题,对其胚胎发育过程进行了解剖学观察研究。结果显示:(1)小叶丁香人工异花授粉坐果率为20.37%,天然授粉坐果率为9.13%,人工自花授粉以及去雄套袋授粉均未坐果;各种授粉方式结实率均为0。(2)小叶丁香花药壁发育为基本型,腺质绒毡层,胞质分裂为同时型,小孢子四分体排列方式以四面体型为主,2-胞成熟花粉;倒生胚珠,单珠被,薄珠心,直线型大孢子四分体,胚囊发育为蓼型,核型胚乳,胚发育为紫菀型,先后形成球形胚、心形胚、鱼雷形胚和子叶胚;9月1日以后,子叶胚发育停滞,细胞逐渐降解。研究表明,栽培条件下,小叶丁香为异花授粉植物,人工异花授粉可提高植株坐果率,但未获得种子;其大小孢子及雌雄配子体发育、传粉受精过程、胚胎发育初期均正常,但后期发育停止,是小叶丁香引种栽培条件下种子败育的关键环节。     

鹤顶兰胚囊发育的超微结构观察

运用电子显微镜技术对鹤顶兰(Phaius tankervilliae(Aiton)BI.)胚囊发育过程中功能大孢子、二核胚囊、四核胚囊、成熟胚囊的超微结构进行观察,捕捉到了功能大孢子的三个阶段、成熟胚囊的两个阶段,进一步积累了鹤顶兰生殖生物学研究的基础资料.在功能大孢子、四核胚囊时期的合点端壁上可观察到胞间连丝,与体细胞间有物质及信息的交换,胚囊发育并非处于完全“隔离”状态.功能大孢子早期可见明显大液泡,随后进入第一次有丝分裂时大液泡消失,移向两极的染色体之间可见大量体积较小的液泡,成熟胚囊前期助细胞及卵细胞内也可见明显液泡,但当助细胞解体时,卵细胞内的大液泡也消失,液泡形态的变化可能是细胞生理状态发生改变的结果.     

顺式CA1P对肿瘤细胞增殖和血管生成的影响

目的:研究顺式考布他汀二磷酸四钠(cis-CA1P)对体外培养肿瘤细胞增殖的作用,以及对鸡胚尿囊膜血管和离体培养的大鼠主动脉环血管生成的影响。方法:通过测定MTT评价药物对体外培养肿瘤细胞的作用;建立培养鸡胚尿囊膜模型、离体培养大鼠动脉环,研究顺式CA1P对血管生成的影响。结果:顺式CA1P对MGC-803人胃癌细胞、U937人急性髓系白血病细胞、A375人黑色素瘤细胞、HCT116人结肠癌细胞、MDA-MB-231人乳腺癌细胞、K562人白血病细胞具有显著的生长抑制作用,且呈明显的浓度依赖性;顺式CA1P呈剂量依赖性抑制鸡胚尿囊膜血管及离体培养的大鼠主动脉环血管生成,并可以抑制血管内皮细胞的运动及血管网络状结构形成。结论:顺式CA1P具有抑制肿瘤细胞增殖和抗血管生成的作用。     

经程序化冷冻的小鼠休眠胚胎的基因表达谱差异分析

目的探讨小鼠休眠胚胎经程序化冷冻后基因表达谱的变化及相关信号通路的改变趋势。方法采用Affymetrix基因芯片检测小鼠正常休眠胚胎和经程序化冷冻后的休眠胚胎的差异表达基因;采用GO分析和Pathway分析等生物信息学方法进一步了解相关信号通路的改变。结果经程序化冷冻后的小鼠休眠胚胎与正常休眠胚胎相比,存在228个差异表达基因,其中50个基因表达上调,178个基因表达下调。Pathway分析显示黏着斑通路、细胞外基质受体相互作用通路、肌动蛋白细胞骨架调节通路、细胞凋亡通路、细胞通讯通路、泛素介导的蛋白质水解通路、甘油磷脂代谢通路、小细胞肺癌通路、TGF-β信号通路、MAPK信号通路等基因差异表达变化趋势明显。结论小鼠休眠胚胎经程序化冷冻后会导致一系列基因调控变化,并可能影响多条信号通路的协同变化。     

Epimorphin acts extracellularly to promote cell sorting and aggregation during the condensation of vertebral cartilage

Formation of vertebrae occurs via endochondral ossification, a process involving condensation of precartilaginous cells. Here, we provide the first molecular evidence of mechanism that underlies initiation of this process by showing that the extracellular factor, Epimorphin, plays a role during early steps in vertebral cartilage condensation. Epimorphin mRNA is predominantly localized in the vertebral primordium. When provided exogenously in ovo, it causes precocious differentiation of chondrocytes, resulting in the formation of supernumerary vertebral cartilage in chicken embryos. To further analyze its mode of action, we used an in vitro co-culture system in which labeled 10T1/2 or sclerotomal prechondrogenic cells were co-cultured with unlabeled Epimorphin-producing cells. In the presence of Epimorphin, the labeled cells formed tightly packed aggregates, and sclerotomal cells displayed augmented accumulation of NCAM and other early markers of chondrocyte differentiation. Finally, we found that the Epimorphin expression is initiated during vertebrogenesis by Sonic hedgehog from the notochord mediated by Sox 9. We present a model in which successive action of Epimorphin in recruiting and stacking sclerotomal cells leads to a sequential elongation of a vertebral primordium.     

Molecular mechanisms underlying inner ear patterning defects in kreisler mutants

Prior studies have shown that kreisler mutants display early inner ear defects that are related to abnormal hindbrain development and signaling. These defects in kreisler mice have been linked to mutation of the kr/mafB gene. To investigate potential relevance of kr/mafB and abnormal hindbrain development in inner ear patterning, we analyzed the ear morphogenesis in kreisler mice using a paint-fill technique. We also examined the expression patterns of a battery of genes important for normal inner ear patterning and development. Our results indicate that the loss of dorsal otic structures such as the endolymphatic duct and sac is attributable to the downregulation of Gbx2, Dlx5 and Wnt2b in the dorsal region of the otocyst. In contrast, the expanded expression domain of Otx2 in the ventral otic region likely contributes to the cochlear phenotype seen in kreisler mutants. Sensory organ development is also markedly disrupted in kreisler mutants. This pattern of defects and gene expression changes is remarkably similar to that observed in Gbx2 mutants. Taken together, the data show an important role for hindbrain cues, and indirectly, kr/mafB, in guiding inner ear morphogenesis. The data also identify Gbx2, Dlx5, Wnt2b and Otx2 as key otic genes ultimately affected by perturbation of the kr/mafB-hindbrain pathway.     

Multidrug resistance associated protein 1 protects against bilirubin-induced cytotoxicity

We have shown that multidrug resistance associated protein 1 (MRP1) mediates ATP-dependent extrusion of bilirubin, possibly limiting its potentially toxic accumulation in cells. To determine directly if Mrp1 protects cells against unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) toxicity, mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEF) were isolated from Mrp1 knockout (-/-) mice and their wild type (WT) (+/+) littermates. Compared to WT cells, cultured MEF (-/-) cells exposed to 40-140 nM unbound [H3]-bilirubin accumulated twice as much [H3]-bilirubin (P<0.01). This was associated with greater, dose-related cytotoxicity, assessed by the methylthiazoletetrazolium test, lactate dehydrogenase release and cellular ATP content. The data confirm that Mrp1 limits intracellular accumulation of UCB and thus decreases its cytotoxicity.     

Continuous delivery of a monoclonal antibody against Reissner’s fiber into CSF reveals CSF-soluble material immunorelated to the subcommissural organ in early chick embryos

The subcommissural organ (SCO) is an ependymal differentiation located in the dorsal midline of the caudal diencephalon under the posterior commissure. SCO cells synthesize and release glycoproteins into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) forming a threadlike structure known as Reissner’s fiber (RF), which runs caudally along the ventricular cavities and the central canal of the spinal cord. Numerous monoclonal antibodies have been raised against bovine RF and the secretory material of the SCO. For this study, we selected the 4F7 monoclonal antibody based on its cross-reactivity with chick embryo SCO glycoproteins in vivo. E4 chick embryos were injected with 4F7 hybridoma cells or with the purified monoclonal antibody into the ventricular cavity of the optic tectum. The hybridoma cells survived, synthesized and released antibody into the CSF for at least 13 days after the injection. E5 embryos injected with 4F7 antibody displayed precipitates in the CSF comprising both the monoclonal antibody and anti-RF-positive material. Such aggregates were never observed in control embryos injected with other monoclonal antibodies used as controls. Western blot analysis of CSF from E4-E6 embryos revealed several immunoreactive bands to anti-RF (AFRU) antibody. We also found AFRU-positive material bound to the apical surface of the choroid plexus primordia in E5 embryos. These and other ultrastructural evidence suggest the existence of soluble SCO-related molecules in the CSF of early chick embryos.C. Hoyo-Becerra and M.D. López-ávalos contributed equally to this study and should be considered as first authors. C. Hoyo-Becerra was the recipient of a predoctoral fellowship (PFPI) from the Ministerio de Educacion y Cultura (Spain). This work was supported by grants from DGICYT (BFI2003-03348; Spain) and FIS (01/0948; Spain), FIS (01-0948, PI021517; Spain) and ISCIII (red CIEN, nodo Fundación Carlos Haya).