MECHANISMS OF AVIAN IMPRINTING: A REVIEW

Filial imprinting is the process through which early social preferences become restricted to a particular object or class of objects. Evidence is presented showing that filial preferences are formed not only as a result of learning through exposure to an object, but also under the influence of visual and auditory predispositions. The development of these predispositions is dependent upon certain non-specific experience. There is little evidence for an endogenously affected sensitive period for imprinting. It is more likely that the end of sensitivity is a result of the imprinting process itself. Similarly, it is now firmly established that filial and sexual preferences are reversible. Evidence suggests, however, that the first stimulus to which the young animal is exposed may exert a greater influence on filial preferences than subsequent stimuli. The learning process of imprinting is often regarded as being different from conventional associative learning. However, the imprinting object itself can function as a reinforcer. Recent studies have attempted to test predictions from an interpretation of filial imprinting as a form of associative learning. The first results suggest that ‘blocking’ may occur in imprinting, whilst there is no evidence for ‘overshadowing’. Social interactions with siblings and parent(-surrogates) have been shown to affect the formation of filial and sexual preferences. The influence of these interactions is particularly prominent in sexual imprinting, making earlier claims about naive species-specific biases unlikely. Although auditory stimuli play an important role in the formation of social attachments, there is little evidence for auditory imprinting per se. Auditory preferences formed as a result of mere (pre- or postnatal) exposure are relatively weak and short-lasting. Exposure to visual stimuli during auditory training significantly improves auditory learning, possibly through a process of reinforcement. It is becoming increasingly clear that filial and sexual imprinting are two different (although perhaps analogous) processes. Different mechanisms are likely to underlie the two processes, although there is evidence to suggest that the same brain region is involved in recognition of familiar stimuli in both filial and sexual imprinting. There is little evidence for a direct role of hormones in the learning process of imprinting. Androgen metabolism may be a factor constraining the development of a predisposition in the chick. Research into the neural mechanism of filial imprinting in the chick has revealed that a restricted part of the forebrain (IMHV) is likely to be a site of memory storage. Changes in synapse morphology and in the number of NMDA receptors have been found, limited to this region, and correlated with the strength of preference.     

病原弧菌的致病机理

由弧菌属细菌 (Vibriospp.)引起的弧菌病 (Vibriosis)是在世界各地海水养殖鱼、虾、贝类等动物中普遍流行、危害最大的细菌性疾病。在已知的弧菌中,有 10多种是海洋养殖动物的病原菌。长期以来,人们对病原弧菌的致病性研究一直是利用分离菌株对养殖动物进行各种方式的人工感染,通过观察实验动物是否发病来判断病原弧菌的致病性,而对弧菌病的发生、发展等过程缺乏深入的了解。由于对病原弧菌致病机理的研究最终将会为弧菌病的防治提供可靠的科学依据,近十年来,对病原弧菌的致病机理研究已成为对弧菌病研究的重点和最活跃的研究领域,研究工作主要包括对常见的病原弧菌在养殖动物体内外环境中的生