Chromosomal localization of ribosomal DNA sequences in an apple rootstock using a digoxygenin detection system

A 6kb rDNA probe comprising the 18S coding plus spacer sequences has been hybridized to the metaphase chromosomes of apple rootstock cultivar MM106 demonstrating the localization of ribosomal gene arrays in the vicinity of the telomeric regions of the short arms of chromosomes 6 and 14.The in situ results using digoxygenin labelling coupled to an alkaline phosphatase immunoassay were confirmed by silver staining for NORs and nucleoli.This study demonstrates the feasibility of molecular cytogenetic analysis of very small chromosomes(1.0-2.7μm） of apple.     

复合四倍体异育银鲫两种不同生殖方式的细胞学观察

在复合四倍体异育银鲫（）×银鲫（）的受精过程中,精子入卵后经过解凝、核化,最终形成雄性原核,并可与卵子的雌性原核融合,证明了复合四倍体异育银鲫卵子具有与两性融合生殖极为相似的拟两性融合生殖的能力;而在复合四倍体异育银鲫（）×兴国红鲤（）的组合中,精子入卵后以固缩状态存在,又表现出典型的雌核发育型生殖行为。因此我们认为复合四倍体异育银鲫具有两种不同的生殖发育机制。此外,我们还观察到在第一次有丝分裂中期有核物质被排斥到纺锤体之外的现象。本文就复合四倍体异育银鲫生殖发育的机制进行了初步的探讨。     

Induced diploid gynogenesis and polyploidy in the ornamental (koi) carp Cyprinus carpio L.

The results of a series of experiments conducted in our laboratory on the ornamental common carp (koi), aimed at optimizing heat-shock chromosome-set manipulation procedures, are described. The timing of heat-shock initiation was expressed in the relative unit of embryological age (₀) in order to standardize this parameter, the absolute time for heat-shock initiation being calculated from duration of one ₀ at two different pre-treatment water temperatures. Heat shocks were applied within the periods of 0.05–0.60 ₀ and 1.20–2.20 ₀ which, respectively, cover the successive phases of the 2nd meiotic division and the 1st cleavage. The highest production of diploid gynogenetic offspring was observed when heat shocks were initiated at 0.15–0.25 ₀ and at 1.5 ₀, after insemination, corresponding to anaphase of meiosis-II, and metaphase of the 1st cleavage, respectively. Similar results were obtained irrespective of the different pre-treatment water temperatures, thus confirming the possibility of standardizing heat-shock timing by ₀.     

Selective Axonal Argentaffin Staining in Rat Central Nervous System after Protein Mercuration

The mercury-silver (Hg-Ag) argentaffin technique, known to stain specifically proteins in the lateral components of triads/diads in striated muscle cells, was applied to the central nervous system of adult rats. Following fixation in glutaraldehyde, axons in white and gray matter were selectively stained, but not perikarya or their proximal axon and dendrites. Neural tissues were postfixed 24 hr in 5% (w/v) mercuric acetate in 2% (v/v) acetic acid in distilled water, stained for 12-24 hr in darkness at 37-43 C with ammoniacal silver nitrate solution, freshly prepared by adding concentrated ammonia to 60% (w/v) silver nitrate solution until a small amount of silver oxide precipitate remained undissolved. Samples were then washed with freshly prepared 5% (w/v) sodium sulfite and distilled water. All steps were carried out using dark-colored glass flasks. Samples were dehydrated with ethanol and embedded in Paraplast or Poly Bed. Electron microscopy showed the silver-reducing protein inside the axons. Methylation abolished Hg-Ag axonal reactivity indicating that carboxyl groups were necessary for silver staining. Proteins with solubility properties characteristic of neurofilament proteins were involved in Hg-Ag staining. In the cerebellum the plexus of parallel fibers in the molecular layer were not stained, while basket cell axonal processes reacted intensely. The method appears to distinguish neuronal protein variants related to cytotypic differences in cytoskeletal neurofilaments.     

Enhanced Staining of Bacterial Flagella Using Aged Mordant in the Silver Stain

Intensity of bacterial flagella staining using a modified silver stain was increased by aging the mordant for one week at room temperature. The use of aged mordant increased the apparent diameters of stained flagella and resulted in a darker stain. The mordant remained stable for at least four months at room temperature. The staining protocol presented allows application to liquid or solid cultures.     

草鱼、鲤、鲢、鳙和尼罗罗非鱼肝胰脏和肠道蛋白酶活性的初步探讨

草鱼、鲤、鲢、鳙肝胰脏和肠蛋白酶的最适pH值分别为8.7、8.7、7.6、7.6和8.4、8.7、8.0、8.4。草鱼、鲤和尼罗罗非鱼的肝胰脏蛋白酶活性比肠的高;鲢和鳙的肝胰脏蛋白酶的活性却比肠的低;尼罗罗非鱼胃的蛋白酶活性明显高于肝胰脏和肠的。草鱼、鲤和尼罗罗非鱼的肝胰脏蛋白酶活性明显高于鲢和鳙的;5种鱼的肠蛋白酶活性,鲤最高,尼罗罗非鱼最低,草鱼、鲢、鳙和尼罗罗非鱼间蛋白酶活性无明显差异。草鱼、鲤、鲢和尼罗罗非鱼的肠蛋白酶活性由前向后递减,而鳙的则以中肠活性最高。     

Control of eutrophication by silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) in the tropical Paranoá Reservoir (Brasília,Brazil): a mesocosm experiment

A mesocosm experiment was conducted to assess the impact of moderate silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) biomass (41 g m^–3 or 850 kg ha^–1) on the plankton community and water quality of eutrophic Paranoá Reservoir (Brasília, Brazil). Microzooplankton (copepod nauplii and rotifers <200 m), netphytoplankton (> 20 m), total phytoplankton biomass (expressed as chlorophyll-a) and net primary productivity were significantly reduced by silver carp. Apart from increased nitrogen in the sediment, nutrients and chemical properties of the water were not affected by fish presence. The observed improvements in water quality suggest that stocking silver carp in Paranoá Reservoir to control blue-green algae is a promising biomanipulation practice.     

Intermediate stages in the disassembly of synaptic ribbons in cone photoreceptors of the crucian carp,Carassius carassius

Synaptic ribbons are trilaminated plate-shaped presynaptic densities of certain types of receptor cells and neurons. In cone photoreceptors, these structures dissassemble and reassemble in response to light and to a variety of other stimuli. We used the lithium-ionenhanced disassembly and reassembly of synaptic ribbons to characterize structural intermediates in these cyclic changes. A few minutes after exposure of isolated retinas from the crucian carp (Carassius carassius) to lithium, ribbons fragmented into 50-nm-sized dense globular structures. These small spheres were concentrically surrounded by synaptic vesicles attached to them by stalk-like fine bridging filaments. Disassembly always started at the free cytoplasmic edges of the ribbons and proceeded toward the membrane-associated edges. As the disassembly process never started at the membraneanchored site, synaptic ribbons appeared to be polarized structures with functionally different ends. Spheres were subjected to further depolymerization. They disintegrated into clusters of small granular material and disappeared after ca. 45 min of lithium treatment. Spheres were not observed during the reassembly of synaptic ribbons, indicating that the assembly of synaptic ribbons proceeds via smaller subunits.     

复合四倍体异育银鲫个体间遗传异质性的研究

用聚丙烯酰胺梯度凝胶电泳,分析比较了４个不同的银鲫雌核发育系,红鲤和复合四倍体异育银鲫鳍的５种不同的同工酶及蛋白表型的差异,表明复合四倍体异育银鲫表型上的差异主要是来自银鲫种内的遗传差异（不同的雌核发育系）。来源于同一个银鲫雌核发育系的复合四倍体异育银鲫,个体间的ＥＳＴ同工酶出现差异,并与父体红鲤的ＥＳＴ同工酶的多态性相关,因此,复合四倍体异育银鲫个体间的异质性也包含了来自父本的遗传影响。在所检测     

Nano-biotechnology in tumour and cancerous disease: A perspective review

In recent years, drug manufacturers and researchers have begun to consider the nanobiotechnology approach to improve the drug delivery system for tumour and cancer diseases. In this article, we review current strategies to improve tumour and cancer drug delivery, which mainly focuses on sustaining biocompatibility, biodistribution, and active targeting. The conventional therapy using cornerstone drugs such as fludarabine, cisplatin etoposide, and paclitaxel has its own challenges especially not being able to discriminate between tumour versus normal cells which eventually led to toxicity and side effects in the patients. In contrast to the conventional approach, nanoparticle-based drug delivery provides target-specific delivery and controlled release of the drug, which provides a better therapeutic window for treatment options by focusing on the eradication of diseased cells via active targeting and sparing normal cells via passive targeting. Additionally, treatment of tumours associated with the brain is hampered by the impermeability of the blood–brain barriers to the drugs, which eventually led to poor survival in the patients. Nanoparticle-based therapy offers superior delivery of drugs to the target by breaching the blood–brain barriers. Herein, we provide an overview of the properties of nanoparticles that are crucial for nanotechnology applications. We address the potential future applications of nanobiotechnology targeting specific or desired areas. In particular, the use of nanomaterials, biostructures, and drug delivery methods for the targeted treatment of tumours and cancer are explored.