中华鳖孵化一周胚胎的肾脏/尿生殖嵴混合组织的cDNA文库构建与特征

为克隆到与胚胎发育有关的新基因,以孵化一周的中华鳖(Trionyxsinensis)胚胎的肾脏及尿生殖嵴混合组织为原始材料,采用SMART和长距离PCR技术,构建了一个中华鳖cDNA表达文库。分析结果表明,该未扩增的cDNA文库大约含有4.134×105个克隆。任意挑取了192个克隆,提取质粒后用SfiⅠ酶切鉴定表明没有插入片段的克隆为9个,插入了cDNA片段的克隆为183个,插入的cDNA片段大小范围为0.4-3.8kb。其中,插入片段在0.4-1.0kb之间的克隆为19个,在1.1-2.0kb之间的克隆为53个,在2.1-3.0kb之间的克隆为92个,大于3.1kb的克隆为19个。另外,任意挑选45个克隆,提取质粒后,从5′端进行测序,Blast分析表明,除了21个序列在GenBank中找不到同源序列外,其余24个序列在GenBank中均被证实有各自相应的同源序列,这些序列代表6种类型的基因核糖体蛋白基因、代谢酶基因、组织特异性表达的基因、转录因子基因、受体蛋白基因及其它基因。该发育阶段特异性cDNA文库可以进一步用于中华鳖胚胎发育过程中相关基因的鉴定分离、结构功能分析、以及表达调控机制等研究。     

253 Novel polymorphic microsatellites for the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)

Genomic elucidation and mapping of novel organisms requires the generation of large genetic resources. In this study, 253 novel and polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized for the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) by constructing libraries enriched for microsatellite DNA. All markers were evaluated on animals obtained from Darwin Crocodile Farm in the Northern Territory, Australia, and are intended for future use in the construction of a genetic-linkage map for the saltwater crocodile. The 253 loci yielded an average of 4.12 alleles per locus, and those selected for mapping had an average polymorphic information content (PIC) of 0.425.     

Micronutrient input into a mangrove ecosystem in Jobos Bay,Puerto Rico, by the exotic green iguana Iguana iguana

Biological invasions are an important and growing component of global environmental change (Vitousek et al., 1996). Hundreds of billions of dollars are lost each year to invasive species damage and management(Pimentel et al., 2001).     

湖南省永州都庞岭自然保护区爬行动物群落结构的调查研究

本文报道了湖南永州都庞岭自然保护区的４１ 种爬行动物, 它们隶属２ 目,１２ 科, 其中龟鳖目３ 科（平胸龟科、龟科、鳖科） ３ 种; 有鳞目中的蜥蜴亚目５ 科（鬣蜥科、壁虎科、石龙子科、蜥蜴科、双足蜥科） ８ 种;蛇亚目４ 科（闪鳞蛇科、游蛇科、眼镜蛇科、蝰科） ３０ 种。保护区内的爬行动物有１２－２％ 属广布动物, ８７－８％ 属东洋界种类。     

江西齐云山自然保护区两栖爬行动物资源调查与区系分析

为掌握江西齐云山自然保护区野生动物资源现状,促进自然保护区的有效管理和建设,作者于2007年1月10～19日、5月16～24日、7月26日～8月8日,前后3次对该保护区两柄爬行动物资源进行了实地考察.调查结果显示,齐云山保护区现已记录72种两栖爬行动物,隶属5目18科.其中两栖纲2目7科24种,爬行纲3目11科48种.齐云山保护区动物地理区划属东洋界华中区东部丘陵平原亚区,其区系组成以60种东洋界种类占明显优势,其余12种均为广布种,无古北界物种分布.大眼斜鳞蛇福建亚种(Pseudoxenodon macrops fukienensis)和寒露林蛙(Rana hanluica)为江西省两栖爬行动物新纪录,福建钝头蛇(Pareas stanleyi)为江西省赣南地区爬行动物新纪录.齐云山保护区是海南棱蜥後(Tropidophorus hainanus)和福建华珊瑚蛇(福建丽纹蛇)(Sinomicrurus kettoggi)在江西省的第二个发现地,是海南闪鳞蛇(Xenopeltis hainanensis)在江西省的第三个采集地.通过平均动物区系相似性分析发现,齐云山地理位置独特,是华中区和华南区物种重要的扩散过渡地域.最后对齐云山保护区的保护与管理工作提出了建议.     

Mating behaviour and parapatry in two species of Australian reptile tick

Summary Few quantitative studies have examined the ecological consequences of similarities and/or differences in mating behaviour of parapatric species. Reproductive interference occurs between several parapatric species of Australian reptile tick, due to similarities in their mating behaviour (Andrews et al. 1982a). Attempts to determine whether reproductive interference serves to maintain parapatry between Amblyomma limbatum and Aponomma hydrosauri have been hindered because of difficulties in providing conditions conducive to conspecific mating in Amb. limbatum. The present study examined whether off-host and/or onhost temperature influenced the subsequent mating behaviour (i.e. the proportion of females that mate and the time when mating occurs) of these two species. Irrespective of the temperature experienced by ticks prior to host attachment, specific on-host temperatures were needed to induce mating in Amb. limbatum (i.e. host cloacal temperatures >32° C prior to the time of peak mating activity). Significantly more Amb. limbatum females were mated and the time taken by females to mate decreased with increasing on-host temperatures. mating in Ap. hydrosauri occurred over a wider range of on-host temperatures and the time when mating occurred did not alter at different on-host temperatures. In addition, significantly more Ap. hydrosauri males moved and each male made more moves on hosts than did Amb. limbatum males. It is suggested that Ap. hydrosauri may in consequence have a competitive mating advantage over Amb. limbatum at a boundary. Similarities in mating behaviour, on the other hand, increase the probability of reproductive interference, hence reduce the reproductive fitness of colonizing females of both species. We propose that similarities and differences in mating behaviour could play a critical role in the maintenance of parapatric boundaries.     

Organization of ascending spinal projections in Caiman crocodilus

Summary Ascending spinal projections in the caiman (Caiman crocodilus) were demonstrated with Nauta and Fink-Heimer methods following hemisections of the third spinal segment in a series of twelve animals. These results were compared with earlier data in the literature obtained from a turtle, a snake, and a lizard using the same experimental and histological procedures. The results show remarkable similarities considering that each species represents a different reptilian order with different evolutionary history and habitat. However, the caiman displays several important peculiarities.Although the dorsal funiculus of the caiman contains the largest number of ascending spinal projections of the four species examined, this funiculus has not differentiated into cuneate and gracile fasciculi as is the case in the tegu lizard. The ventro-lateral ascending spinal projections follow a fundamentally similar general morphologic pattern in the four species with only minor variations. The anatomical arrangement in the caiman and tegu lizard appears most similar in the high cervical and the medullary regions; however, this is not the case in midbrain and thalamic regions where considerably more extensive projections are seen in the caiman. In the caiman an extensive spinal connection to the ventro-lateral nucleus of the dorsal thalamus is present; this connection is reminiscent of the mammalian spinal projection to the ventro-basal complex. The caiman has in common with the other three reptilian species a small projection to another dorsal thalamic region that is apparently homologous to the mammalian intralaminar nuclei, which are the destination of the mammalian paleospinothalamic tract.     

Effect of methallibure (ICI 33,828) on the pituitary-gonad and the pituitary-thyroid axes of the Indian garden lizard,Calotes versicolor (Daudin)

Summary The effect of methallibure (ICI 33,828) on the pituitary-gonad and the pituitary-thyroid axes of the Indian garden lizard, Calotes versicolor was studied. Following administration of methallibure B₂ (FSH) and B₃ (ICSH) cells of the pars distalis exhibited significant alterations with concomitant changes in the seminiferous tubules, and in the interstitial cells and epididymis respectively. B₁ (TSH) cells exhibited conspicuous hypertrophy and degranulation which was reflected in dramatic changes in thyroid morphology. The caudally localized acidophilic A₁ (PRL) cells also showed hypertrophy, hyperplasia and intense granulation. The rostrally located A₂ (STH) acidophils and the B₄ (ACTH) cells were unaffected by the treatment. The possible mode of action of this drug is discussed in the light of available literature.Supported by a grant from the University Grants Commission of India. The generous supply of methallibure by Dr. A.L. Walpole of the Imperial Chemical Industries Limited, England, through Professor C.J. Dominic, Banaras Hindu University, is gratefully acknowledged