马哈利樱桃大孢子发生和雌配子体的发育

采用石蜡切片法对马哈利樱桃大孢子发生和雌配子体发育过程进行观察研究。结果表明:(1)马哈利樱桃雌配子体发育早期,在单室子房内可以看到2个倒生胚珠,但在后期其中一个退化,另一个发育为种子;其胚珠具双珠被,为厚珠心。(2)大孢子母细胞减数分裂形成直线型四分体,功能大孢子位于合点端;胚囊发育为蓼型,成熟胚囊为七细胞八核。(3)根据不同时间花的外部形态特征与内部解剖学对比的观察结果,在陕西关中地区,三月下旬是马哈利樱桃雌性生殖细胞分化和发育的重要时期,果园在此期间应加强肥水管理。     

雌性哺乳动物生殖干细胞：在争议中前进

100多年以来,雌性哺乳动物出生后是否存在生殖干细胞的争议尚无定论．2004年,研究人员从出生后的小鼠卵巢中发现并分离到雌性生殖干细胞(female germline stem cells,FGSCs),挑战了存在近半个世纪的理论：哺乳动物出生后不会对卵母细胞库进行更新．随后很多研究不仅指出哺乳动物出生后卵巢中新生成的卵母细胞源自FGSCs,而且发现如果将FGSCs移植回受体卵巢,它们能够产生功能性的卵母细胞并由此得到健康的后代．可是,有的研究小组重复实验或者精心设计实验,却未得到相同的结果,甚至得出相反的结果．最近,有研究者从育龄女性卵巢中分离到了在体内外都能够分化出功能性卵母细胞的FGSCs,不过这些卵母细胞的受精能力还有待证实．本文回顾了哺乳动物FGSCs的研究历程,并对这一存在已久的争论以及FGSCs研究方向和将来的运用前景展开了评述．     

Differential regulation of cell death programs in males and females by Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1 and 17 β estradiol

Cell death can be divided into the anti-inflammatory process of apoptosis and the pro-inflammatory process of necrosis. Necrosis, as apoptosis, is a regulated form of cell death, and Poly-(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1 (PARP-1) and Receptor-Interacting Protein (RIP) 1/3 are major mediators. We previously showed that absence or inhibition of PARP-1 protects mice from nephritis, however only the male mice. We therefore hypothesized that there is an inherent difference in the cell death program between the sexes. We show here that in an immune-mediated nephritis model, female mice show increased apoptosis compared to male mice. Treatment of the male mice with estrogens induced apoptosis to levels similar to that in female mice and inhibited necrosis. Although PARP-1 was activated in both male and female mice, PARP-1 inhibition reduced necrosis only in the male mice. We also show that deletion of RIP-3 did not have a sex bias. We demonstrate here that male and female mice are prone to different types of cell death. Our data also suggest that estrogens and PARP-1 are two of the mediators of the sex-bias in cell death. We therefore propose that targeting cell death based on sex will lead to tailored and better treatments for each gender.     

Der Einfluß von Vitamin A und β-Carotin auf die Fruchtbarkeit bei suboptimalen und optimalen Vitamin-B-Gaben

Die vorliegenden Untersuchungen sind Bestandteil eines komplexen Forschungsprogramms zur Weiterentwicklung der energetischen Futterbewertung im Nettoenergie‐Fett‐System. Sie wurden mit dem Ziel durchgeführt, neue Ergebnisse zur Erfassung des Zusammenhanges zwischen Ort und Art der Nährstoffverdauung und der energetischen Verwertung von Rationen bei der Tierart Rind zu erarbeiten. Für 9 Rationsvarianten mit jeweils 3 Varianten der Stärkeherkunft (Gerste, Mais, Kartoffeln) und ihres Rationsanteiles (50, 25 und 10 %) wurde an weitgehend ausgewachsenen Ochsen mit Hilfe von duodenalen Brückenfisteln auf dem Ernährungsniveau 1.7 die ruminale Nährstoffverdaulichkeit gemessen. Bei Stärkeeinnahmen zwischen 484 und 2573 g je Tier und Tag wurden Mengen an ruminai und postruminal verdauter Stärke zwischen 444 und 2336 bzw. 10 und 284 g je Tier und Tag bestimmt. Für die organische Substanz, Stärke, wasserlöslichen Kohlenhydrate und N‐freien Reststoffe wurden hohe relative Anteile der ruminai verdauten an den scheinbar verdauten Nährstoffen mit Werten zwischen 78 und 88, 83 und 98, 93 und 97 bzw. 88 und 100% ermittelt.     

Mutual Wattle Ornaments in the South Island Saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus) Function as Armaments

Many birds have ornamental traits that are expressed in both sexes. Wattles—colorful fleshy structures that hang from the lower bill—are frequent among birds, but remain poorly understood and are generally presumed to be under sexual selection. The South Island saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus) is an endangered bird endemic to New Zealand in which both males and females possess wattles. We used behavioral observations, morphological measures, and a playback experiment to investigate the role of wattles in saddlebacks during territorial encounters. Wattles were monomorphic when controlled for body mass, and became engorged with blood in both sexes during visual displays. In a playback experiment using male song, wattle engorgement was significantly associated with territorial intrusions in males but not in females. However, female wattle engorgement was significantly more likely during playback experiments in the absence of their mate, suggesting wattles are used in territorial defense by both sexes. The markedly similar use of wattles by both males and females in visual displays as a response to territorial intrusions supports the hypothesis that these elaborate structures function in part as armaments.     

外源激素对马尾松花芽分化及内源物质的影响

为探讨马尾松球花形成与植物激素水平的关系,该研究对贵州省都匀无性系种子园11年生马尾松进行不同浓度的 IAA、IBA、GA3、BAP等植物激素处理,采用考马斯亮蓝G-250染色法、蒽酮法分别对不同浓度不同激素处理后的枝条上针叶中的可溶性蛋白质和可溶性糖含量变化进行测定,并在第二年开花时对试验枝条的开花情况进行了调查。结果表明：在8－11月份,进行500 mg·L-1的BAP 处理有利于马尾松雌球花和雄球花的形成,100 mg·L-1的GA3处理有利于马尾松雌球花的形成;而GA3250 mg·L-1和GA3500 mg·L-1处理有利于马尾松雄球花的形成,IAA 250 mg·L-1对马尾松雌雄球花同枝的数量有提高作用。在10－11月份,对马尾松进行500 mg·L-1的BAP、IAA、GA3处理后,马尾松针叶内蛋白质含量变化有显著影响;在10月份时,进行BAP 100 mg·L-1处理后,其可溶性糖含量及可溶性蛋白含量均可达到极显著水平。而在8月份与10月份时,分别进行IBA 100 mg·L-1与IBA 250 mg·L-1处理后,其可溶性蛋白含量与其对照差异处于极显著水平;在11月份时,进行GA3100 mg·L-1处理后,其可溶性蛋白含量与其对照差异处于极显著水平;而在11月份时,进行IBA 500 mg·L-1处理后,其可溶性蛋白含量与对照差异处于显著水平。     

Early constraints in sexual dimorphism: survival benefits of feminized phenotypes

Sexual dimorphism (SD) has evolved in response to selection pressures that differ between sexes. Since such pressures change across an individual's life, SD may vary within age classes. Yet, little is known about how selection on early phenotypes may drive the final SD observed in adults. In many dimorphic species, juveniles resemble adult females rather than adult males, meaning that out of the selective pressures established by sexual selection feminized phenotypes may be adaptive. If true, fitness benefits of early female‐like phenotypes may constrain the expression of male phenotypes in adulthood. Using the common kestrel Falco tinnunculus as a study model, we evaluated the fitness advantages of expressing more feminized phenotypes at youth. Although more similar to adult females than to adult males, common kestrel fledglings are still sexually dimorphic in size and coloration. Integrating morphological and chromatic variables, we analysed the phenotypic divergence between sexes as a measure of how much each individual looks like the sex to which it belongs (phenotypic sexual resemblance, PSR). We then tested the fitness benefits associated with PSR by means of the probability of recruitment in the population. We found a significant interaction between PSR and sex, showing that in both sexes more feminized phenotypes recruited more into the population than less feminized phenotypes. Moreover, males showed lower PSR than females and a higher proportion of incorrect sex classifications. These findings suggest that the mechanisms in males devoted to resembling female phenotypes in youth, due to a trend to increase fitness through more feminized phenotypes, may provide a mechanism to constrain the SD in adulthood.     

One size fits all? Determinants of sperm transfer in a highly dimorphic orb‐web spider

The evolutionary significance of widespread hypo‐allometric scaling of genital traits in combination with rapid interspecific genital trait divergence has been of key interest to evolutionary biologists for many years and remains poorly understood. Here, we provide a detailed assessment of quantitative genital trait variation in males and females of the sexually highly dimorphic and cannibalistic orb‐weaving spider Argiope aurantia. We then test how this trait variation relates to sperm transfer success. In particular, we test specific predictions of the one‐size‐fits‐all and lock‐and‐key hypotheses for the evolution of genital characters. We use video‐taped staged matings in a controlled environment with subsequent morphological microdissections and sperm count analyses. We find little support for the prediction of the one‐size‐fits‐all hypothesis for the evolution of hypo‐allometric scaling of genital traits, namely that intermediate trait dimensions confer highest sperm transfer success. Likewise, our findings do not support the prediction of the lock‐and‐key hypothesis that a tight fit of male and female genital traits mediates highest sperm transfer success. We do, however, detect directional effects of a number of male and female genital characters on sperm transfer, suggesting that genital trait dimensions are commonly under selection in nature. Importantly, even though females are much larger than males, spermatheca size limits the number of sperm transferred, contradicting a previous hypothesis about the evolutionary consequences of genital size dimorphism in extremely size‐dimorphic taxa. We also find strong positive effects of male body size and copulation duration on the probability of sperm transfer and the number of sperm transferred, with implications for the evolution of extreme sexual size dimorphism and sexual cannibalism in orb weavers.     

Mate choice and the operational sex ratio: an experimental test with robotic crabs

The operational sex ratio (OSR: sexually active males: receptive females) predicts the intensity of competition for mates. It is less clear, however, under what circumstances, the OSR predicts the strength of sexual selection – that is, the extent to which variation in mating success is attributable to traits that increase the bearer's attractiveness and/or fighting ability. To establish causality, experiments that manipulate the OSR are required. Furthermore, if it is possible to control for any OSR‐dependent changes in the chosen sex (e.g. changes in male courtship), we can directly test whether the OSR affects the behaviour of the choosing sex (e.g. female choice decisions). We conducted female mate choice experiments in the field using robotic models of male fiddler crabs (Uca mjoebergi). We used a novel design with two females tested sequentially per trial. As in nature, the choice of the first female to mate therefore affected the mates available to the next female. In general, we detected significant sexual selection due to female choice for ‘males’ with larger claws. Importantly, the strength of sexual selection did not vary across five different OSR/density treatments. However, as the OSR decreased (hence the number of available males declined), females chose the ‘males’ with the largest claws available significantly more often than expected by chance. Possible reasons for this mismatch between the expected and observed effects of the OSR on the strength of sexual selection are discussed.     

Female behaviour and the interaction of male and female genital traits mediate sperm transfer during mating

Natural selection and post‐copulatory sexual selection, including sexual conflict, contribute to genital diversification. Fundamental first steps in understanding how these processes shape the evolution of specific genital traits are to determine their function experimentally and to understand the interactions between female and male genitalia during copulation. Our experimental manipulations of male and female genitalia in red‐sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) reveal that copulation duration and copulatory plug deposition, as well as total and oviductal/vaginal sperm counts, are influenced by the interaction between male and female genital traits and female behaviour during copulation. By mating females with anesthetized cloacae to males with spine‐ablated hemipenes using a fully factorial design, we identified significant female–male copulatory trait interactions and found that females prevent sperm from entering their oviducts by contracting their vaginal pouch. Furthermore, these muscular contractions limit copulatory plug size, whereas the basal spine of the male hemipene aids in sperm and plug transfer. Our results are consistent with a role of sexual conflict in mating interactions and highlight the evolutionary importance of female resistance to reproductive outcomes.