全氟辛烷磺酰基化合物对剑尾鱼肝脏抗氧化物酶活性的影响

目的研究全氟辛烷磺酰基化合物(PFOS)暴露对剑尾鱼(Xiphophorus helleri Heckel)抗氧化物酶活性的影响,探讨PFOS对鱼类的致毒机理。方法使用浸润法以3.5、7.0、14.0和28.0 mg/L四个PFOS浓度为剑尾鱼染毒,定量测定了96 h内肝脏组织中的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-PX)活性及丙二醛(MDA)含量的变化。结果 PFOS暴露12 h后,除28.0 mg/L组SOD活性被显著性抑制外,其余各组与对照组均无显著性差异(P>0.05);7.0 mg/L组和14.0 mg/L组在24 h被极显著诱导(P<0.01),并且一直保持至96 h。CAT活性随PFOS浓度的升高而降低,12 h时,除3.5 mg/L组外,其余各组CAT活性被显著或极显著抑制,至24 h时,各组CAT活性有上升趋势,但48 h后,各组呈不断下降趋势持续至96 h,其CAT活性恢复到12 h水平。GSH-PX活性变化与CAT活性变化趋势相似,其中28.0 mg/L组在不同时间均被显著性抑制,并在96 h时抑制率达到最高值64.8%。MDA含量在12 h时呈小幅下降趋势,但随着暴露时间的延长,各处理组MDA含量呈连续上升趋势,并在96 h时达到最高点,诱导率分别为71.2%、70.1%和85.1%。结论结果表明,SOD的高活性是由于机体中超氧阴离子的存在,而高浓度的超氧阴离子能够灭活CAT和GSH-PX活性,因此,CAT和GSH-PX活性始终低于对照组。GSH-PX对PFOS的敏感性高于CAT。MDA含量持续升高反映出细胞组织已经遭受到氧化损伤。剑尾鱼活体的实验表明,PFOS能够诱导肝脏氧化应激反应,氧化损伤是PFOS致毒的主要途径之一。     

17β-雌二醇对剑尾鱼卵黄蛋白原的诱导研究

目的研究17β-雌二醇(E2)暴露对雄性剑尾鱼(Xiphophorus helleri)卵黄蛋白原(vitellogenin,Vtg)诱导作用作为环境风险评价(ERA)的有效生物学标记的可行性。方法以E2诱导的剑尾鱼雄性个体的整体匀浆液为材料,采用Sephacryl S-300凝胶过滤层析柱和QSepharose阴离子交换柱从剑尾鱼体内提纯Vtg。结果确定了被纯化的剑尾鱼Vtg在4%~7.5%Native PAGE电泳中相对分子质量为540×103。4%~7.5%Native PAGE电泳后的凝胶分别利用苏丹黑B进行脂蛋白染色、高碘酸-Schiff试剂进行糖蛋白染色和甲基绿进行磷蛋白染色,表明剑尾鱼Vtg是一种富含糖、脂、磷的蛋白。结论表明雄性剑尾鱼卵黄蛋白原的诱导变化可作为环境风险评价(ERA)的有效生物学标记。     

Microsatellites in the genus Xiphophorus,developed in Xiphophorus montezumae

Species of the genus Xiphophorus (swordtails and platies) are of great interest for the study of evolution of sexually selected traits like the sword, which is an elongation of ventral fin rays of the male caudal fin, that has evolved in several species within this genus. The detection of 10 microsatellites within the genus Xiphophorus will enable studies about the correlation of this trait with sexual reproductive success of males possessing swords of different lengths. These microsatellites will also be useful in determining population structure and enable paternity analysis in these species, where sperm storage is widespread.     

Sex‐specific plasticity and genotype × sex interactions for age and size of maturity in the sheepshead swordtail,Xiphophorus birchmanni

Responses to sexually antagonistic selection are thought to be constrained by the shared genetic architecture of homologous male and female traits. Accordingly, adaptive sexual dimorphism depends on mechanisms such as genotype‐by‐sex interaction (G×S) and sex‐specific plasticity to alleviate this constraint. We tested these mechanisms in a population of Xiphophorus birchmanni (sheepshead swordtail), where the intensity of male competition is expected to mediate intersexual conflict over age and size at maturity. Combining quantitative genetics with density manipulations and analysis of sex ratio variation, we confirm that maturation traits are dimorphic and heritable, but also subject to large G×S. Although cross‐sex genetic correlations are close to zero, suggesting sex‐linked genes with important effects on growth and maturation are likely segregating in this population, we found less evidence of sex‐specific adaptive plasticity. At high density, there was a weak trend towards later and smaller maturation in both sexes. Effects of sex ratio were stronger and putatively adaptive in males but not in females. Males delay maturation in the presence of mature rivals, resulting in larger adult size with subsequent benefit to competitive ability. However, females also delay maturation in male‐biased groups, incurring a loss of reproductive lifespan without apparent benefit. Thus, in highly competitive environments, female fitness may be limited by the lack of sex‐specific plasticity. More generally, assuming that selection does act antagonistically on male and female maturation traits in the wild, our results demonstrate that genetic architecture of homologous traits can ease a major constraint on the evolution of adaptive dimorphism.     

Effect of osmotic immobilization on refrigerated storage and cryopreservation of sperm from a viviparous fish, the green swordtail Xiphophorus helleri

In this study, refrigerated storage and cryopreservation of sperm from the green swordtail Xiphophorus helleri were investigated. Previous cryopreservation research in this species utilized motile sperm because unlike in most fish species, Xiphophorus sperm can remain continuously motile after collection for a week with refrigerated storage. However, this species reproduces by internal fertilization, and given the significant requirements for motility within the female reproductive tract and potential limitations on sperm energetic capacities, immobilization of sperm prior to insemination could be used to improve fertilization success. Thus, the goal in this study was to use osmotic pressure to inhibit the motility of sperm after collection from X. helleri, and to test the effect of immobilization on refrigerated storage and cryopreservation. The objectives were to: (1) estimate the motility of sperm at different osmotic pressures, and determine an osmotic pressure suitable for immobilization; (2) cryopreserve the immobilized sperm, and estimate the motility after thawing with or without dilution, and (3) compare motility of non-immobilized and immobilized sperm after thawing, centrifugation, and washing to remove cryoprotectant. Motility was determined when sperm were suspended in 11 different osmotic pressures (24-500 mOsmol/kg) of Hanks' balanced salt solution (HBSS). Motility was observed between 116 and 425 mOsmol/kg. Sperm were not motile when the osmolality was lower than 116 or higher than 425 mOsmol/kg. Motility of the immobilized (non-motile) sperm could be activated by changing the osmotic pressure to 291-316 mOsmol/kg, and motility of immobilized sperm from hypertonic HBSS (425 mOsmol/kg) was significantly higher than that from hypotonic HBSS (145 mOsmol/kg) after 48 h of storage. At an osmolality of 500 mOsmol/kg, HBSS was used as extender to maintain immobilized sperm during cryopreservation with glycerol as the cryoprotectant. High motility (approximately 55%) was obtained in sperm after thawing when cryopreserved with 10-15% glycerol, and dilution of thawed sperm in fresh HBSS (1:4; V:V) was found to decrease the motility significantly. No difference was found in the motility of thawed sperm cryopreserved with 14% glycerol and extended in 310 and 500 mOsmol/kg HBSS. Washing by centrifugation prolonged the motility of thawed sperm from 24 to 72 h in HBSS at 310 and 500 mOsmol/kg. This study showed that sperm from X. helleri could be immobilized by use of specific osmotic pressures, and that the immobilization did not affect sperm motility after thawing. The immobilization of sperm by osmotic pressure could minimize reduction of the energetic capacities necessary for insemination, traversal, and residence within the female reproductive tract, and fertilization.     

Pseudocopulatory pollination in lepanthes (orchidaceae: pleurothallidinae) by fungus gnats

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Lepanthes is one of the largest angiosperm genera (>800 species). Their non-rewarding, tiny and colourful flowers are structurally complex. Their pollination mechanism has hitherto remained unknown, but has been subject of ample speculation; the function of the minuscule labellum appendix is especially puzzling. Here, the pollination of L. glicensteinii by sexually deceived male fungus gnats is described and illustrated. METHODS: Visitors to flowers of L. glicensteinii were photographed and their behaviour documented; some were captured for identification. Occasional visits to flowers of L. helleri, L. stenorhyncha and L. turialvae were also observed. Structural features of flowers and pollinators were studied with SEM. KEY RESULTS: Sexually aroused males of the fungus gnat Bradysia floribunda (Diptera: Sciaridae) were the only visitors and pollinators of L. glicensteinii. The initial long-distance attractant seems to be olfactory. Upon finding a flower, the fly curls his abdomen under the labellum and grabs the appendix with his genitalic claspers, then dismounts the flower and turns around to face away from it. The pollinarium attaches to his abdomen during this pivoting manoeuvre. Pollinia are deposited on the stigma during a subsequent flower visit. The flies appear to ejaculate during pseudocopulation. The visitors of L. helleri, L. stenorhyncha and L. turialvae are different species of fungus gnats that display a similar behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: Lepanthes glicensteinii has genitalic pseudocopulatory pollination, the first case reported outside of the Australian orchid genus Cryptostylis. Since most species of Lepanthes have the same unusual flower structure, it is predicted that pollination by sexual deception is prevalent in the genus. Several morphological and phenological traits in Lepanthes seem well suited for exploiting male fungus gnats as pollinators. Correspondingly, some demographic trends common in Lepanthes are consistent with patterns of male sciarid behaviour.