Sex steroid effects on the development and functioning of the growth hormone axis

Summary 1. The secretory pattern of growth hormone (GH) is sexually dimorphic in the adult rat. However, this difference between the sexes does not become apparent until after the onset of puberty, suggesting that pubertal sex steroids play an important role in the manifestation of this phenomenon.2. We have addressed the question as to whether there exists a sexual dimorphism in the hypothalamic neuropeptides that regulate GH release from the anterior pituitary,i.e., somatostatin (SS) and growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). In addition, we have investigated whether the developmental changes in the GH secretory pattern are correlated with changes in these neuropeptides. The effect of testosterone treatment on SS and GHRH neurons during both the neonatal period and adulthood have also been studied.3. We have found that the synthetic capacity, as reflected in relative messenger RNA (mRNA) levels, of both SS and GHRH neurons changes throughout development in both male and female rats. These mRNA levels are sexually dimorphic at certain times during maturation and can be modulated by changes in testosterone levels, suggesting that sex steroid modulation of these two neuropeptide systems could at least partially account for the sexual dimorphism seen in the adult GH secretory pattern.4. The neonatal steroid environment has also been suggested to be involved in the generation of the final adult GH secretory pattern, although the mechanisms underlying this effect are even less well understood. In support of the hypothesis that the neonatal steroid environment plays an important role in organizing the GH axis, we have found that the number of GHRH neurons in the adult brain, as well as their sensitivity to adult steroids, is modulated by neotatal testosterone treatment. The number of SS neurons in the periventricular and paraventricular nuclei were not modulated by neonatal steroids; however, the synthetic capacity of these neurons does appear to be influenced by the neonatal steroid environment.5. These studies suggest that both the neonatal and adult sex steroid environments influence the adult GH secretory pattern by modulating GHRH and SS neurons.     

Temperature and host effects on key morphological characters of Hemisarcoptes cooremani and Hemisarcoptes malus (Acari: Hemisarcoptidae)

We investigated the influence of temperature and resources on six morphological characters thought to distinguish two North American species of Hemisarcoptes (H. malus and H. cooremani). We raised mites at three temperatures (15, 24 or 30°C) and on two different scale insect prey (Aspidiotus nerii or Aonidiella aurantii) which were cultured on two different substrates (potato tubers and lemon fruit). In general, the temperature had more of an influence on the character variation than did the host and the highest temperature resulted in the smallest mean body size. The two species did not respond to changes in the temperature or host in a symmetrical fashion. The temperature significantly influenced the lengths of the external scapular setae (sce) of H. malus and the sce and first coxal setae (1a) of H. cooremani. The relative lengths of the setae sce and 1a of H. cooremani were significantly influenced by the temperature, while the host type significantly influenced the paraproctal setae (ps ₂). Major-axis regressions indicated that H. cooremani had an absolutely longer mean setal length for 1a and for ps ₂, than H. malus, but a relatively shorter sce. An ANOVA of the size-adjusted shield characters of H. malus resulted in non-significant effects of the temperature or host on either the prodorsal shield area or and area in H. cooremani. Regressions of the shield area (size) on body length, resulted in two clear groupings by species. Hemisarcoptes cooremani had an absolutely larger shield area and increased circumference (complexity), as compared to H. malus. A plot of the shield circumference in relation to the shield area, however, resulted in a single trajectory, indicating that shield complexity is an allometric consequence of an increase in body size in both species. Though characters can be influenced significantly by environmental parameters, the species-specific patterns of some characters of North American Hemisarcoptes are distinctive enough to allow diagnosis and identification.     

中国沿海代表性河口地区鳗苗群体形态特征的比较研究

本文报道了１９９２—１９９４年连续３年采自海南至辽宁（包括台湾）沿海７个代表性河口地区鳗苗群体的主要形态特征比较研究结果。４项计数性状和３项度量性状,差异系数分析结果未达到亚种差异水平;判别函数显示,大多数群体间存在显著差异,这种差异应源于遗传变异。各年差异变化无规律,可能与鳗苗漂游分布的随机性有关。     

The empirical question of thresholds and mechanisms of mate choice

Summary Theoretical discussions concerning how animals might best sample and select mates have suggested that individuals could base decisions either on a sample of mates (sampled-based decisions) or on a threshold of comparison (threshold-based decisions). Recent theoretical work demonstrates that threshold-based mating decisions generate higher expected fitness than sample-based mating decisions when search costs exist. Empirical results from most unmanipulated systems, however, either conclude that females make sample-based decisions or are inconclusive. A few experimental studies designed to detect mating thresholds purport to demonstrate threshold-based choice but an examination of these studies indicates such conclusions were premature. We believe that few examples of threshold-based choice exist because protocols designed to identify mating thresholds were often inconsistent with models of threshold choice. We suggest that future empirical work strive not to document mating thresholdsper se. Rather, future work might best reveal decision rules by manipulating the distribution of quality among potential mates; such manipulations predict uniquely how females using sample-based and threshold-based decision rules should behave.     

Food habits of sika deer on the Boso Peninsula,central japan

The rumen contents of sika deer (Cervus nippon Temminck) on the Boso Peninsula, central Japan, were analyzed to identify local, sexual and age-specific differences in food habits. Graminoids and woody plants were the primary foods throughout the year. In winter, the use of evergreen broad leaves increased. The food habits of sika deer on Boso Peninsula were intermediate between those of populations inhabiting northern and southern Japan. Acorns, mainlyLithocarpus edulis Nakai, were consumed in fall and winter with a peak in October. Since the availability of acorns is not influenced by foraging in previous years, it can be regarded as a stable food supply and hence may be important for deer on the Boso Peninsula. The local difference between the Amatsukominato (AT) area, having a large plantation ofLithocarpus producing acrons, and the Kamogawa-Katsuura (KK) area, having a small plantation ofLithocarpus, was recognized; seeds and fruit were consumed more in AT than in KK in fall and winter. Males consumed more seeds and fruit than females at both sites in fall. This can be attributed to sexual differences in nutritional requirement.     

尖三刺角蝉的核型与性二型现象：同翅目：角蝉科

尖三刺角蝉Ｔｈｉｃｅｎｔｒｕｓａｃｕｔｉｃｏｒｎｉｓ的雌雄均只有１０条染色体,性别决定为ＸＹ型,是角蝉科已知最为独特的核型特征,该种具有明显的性二型现象,由于雄性不具有上肩角,极易被误认为是秃角蝉属ＣｅｎｔｒｏｔｏｓｃｅｌｌｕｓＦｕｎｋｈｏｕｓｅｒ的种类。本文根据染色体特征,首次确定了该种的雄性,并对其形态特征进行了描述。     

凤凰木种子蛋白的分离提纯和生化性质

研究了植物凤凰木种子中的蛋白质成分,试图分离出新的核糖体失活蛋白凤凰木种子经磷酸盐缓冲液抽提,硫酸铵分级盐析,分子筛和阴离子交换剂等多次柱层析,分离出三种组分ＤｒⅠ、ＤｒⅡ和ＤｒⅢ．ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ和ＩＥＦ实验表明这三种蛋白质均达到单一纯,而ＨＰＬＣ实验则表明它们的纯度不低于９０％。它们的分子量据ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ和ＨＰＬＣ实验分别约２３５００、２６０００、２８５００．ＩＥＦ实验测得三者的等电点均为５．２左右。测定了组分ＤｒⅠ的蛙卵泡裂解活性,其毒性约为天花粉蛋白的１／４０．分析了它们的氨基酸组成。估算了三种蛋白质的二级结构含量,结果表明三者均富含β折叠结构。已有的实验事实表明这三种蛋白质的生化行为明显异于核糖体失活蛋白,因而很可能不属于这一蛋白质家族。     

北京鸭红细胞铜锌超氧化物歧化酶电荷异构体的分离和某些性质

等电聚焦表明,北京鸭红细胞铜锌超氧化物歧化酶由等电点分别为５．０,５．３,５．９,６．１和６．５的五个主要的活性组分（电荷异构体）构成,利用分析型聚丙烯酰胺凝胶等电聚焦电泳进行电荷异构体的制备级分离,采用三氯乙酸沉淀法快速确定蛋白条带的位置,电渗洗脱法回收蛋白,获得其中两个电荷异构体,对比研究结果表明电荷异构体的活性,氨基酸组成,二级结构等性质无明显差异。     

Vertical bars on male Xiphophorus multilineatus: a signal that deters rival males and attracts females

We examined the function of the vertical bar pattern on maleswordtails (Xiphophorus multilinneatus) as a signal in bothmale-male competition and female choice. This pattern had previouslybeen described as an aggressive signal because males intensifiedthe bars during male-male encounters in the laboratory. Ourfield observations supported this observation and also showedthat bars intensified when males courted females. The intensityof bars was correlated with access to females in the field.Within the size range of males that have bars, however, neitherbar number nor male size appeared to influence access to females.We used freeze-branding to remove the bars from males in thelaboratory so that we could control for characters correlatedwith bar intensity, and tested males and females separatelyso that we could separate the influence of these two componentsof sexual selection. We compared the responses of males andfemales to males that had their bars removed and control malesfreeze-branded between the bars. Test males responded more aggressivelyto males without bars as compared to control males. In addition,females showed a preference for control males over males thathad their bars removed. These results suggest that the barsmay function as a signal that deters rival males and attractsfemales.     

Floral evolution and male reproductive success: Optimal dispensing schedules for pollen dispersal by animal-pollinated plants

Summary Selection favouring an outcrossing plant's ability to sire seeds generally promotes floral characters that increase (1) the frequency of pollinator visits, (2) the number of pollen grains dispersed to other plants by each pollinator and (3) the probability of a pollen grain successfully fertilizing an ovule after reaching a stigma. Flowers influence pollen dispersal and fertilization probabilities by determining the pattern of pollen removal during a series of visits (dispensing schedule). We model male reproductive success to identify optimal dispensing schedules, which characteristically involve monotonic increases in the proportion of remaining pollen removed during successive visits. These schedules balance the benefits of restricted removal, which counteracts the diminishing returns associated with animal pollination (e.g. pollinator grooming, local mate competition), with the advantages of increased removal to avoid time-dependent losses in fertilization ability (e.g. pollen precedence, declining viability). Because pollinator availability mediates this balance, the most effective dispensing schedule allows dynamic adjustment of removal to the prevailing frequency of visits experienced by individual plants. As an example of such dynamic removal we demonstrate that the dispensing mechanism ofLupinus sericeus flowers allows facultative adjustment of removal to the interval between visits. Because optimal control of pollen removal can increase a plant's mating opportunities by an order of magnitude, dispensing mechanisms should be a common component of floral design.