一种复方避孕药物对三种野鼠的不育效果

本文首次报道一种由左炔诺孕酮和雌醚配伍制成的复方避孕药物 (代号 :EP 1 )对雌性布氏田鼠、灰仓鼠和子午沙鼠的不育效果 ,目的在于检验其能否用于野鼠的生育率控制。该不育剂的适口性为对照饵料的6 1 % ,对雌性布氏田鼠的繁殖具有明显的抑制作用 ,表现在使产仔时间延迟约 3d、产仔率降低 4 0 % - 5 0 %。两次间隔给药方式比连续给药方式的效果好。该复方避孕药物可以显著降低灰仓鼠、子午沙鼠的产仔率和产仔窝数 ,也显著降低子午沙鼠的每窝产仔数 ;对灰仓鼠、子午沙鼠不育效果可达 3个月。该复方避孕药物对灰仓鼠的不育效果优于子午沙鼠 ,对子午沙鼠尚有一定的致死作用。因此 ,EP 1在野鼠生育率控制上有一定应用潜力 ,建议采用两次间歇投饵 ,或者一次饱和投饵 (影响 2 - 3个动情周期 )为佳     

左炔诺孕酮和炔雌醚复合物(EP-1)及组分对鼠类不育效果的研究进展

由于当前传统灭杀带来的一系列问题,鼠害不育控制逐渐受到重视。自张知彬等2004年率先报道左炔诺孕酮和炔雌醚复合物(EP-1)对野生鼠类不育效果的研究以来,国内多个研究团队对EP-1及其组分的不育效果、剂量、饵料制作、环境安全性、行为与分子机理等方面开展了大量的验证和完善研究,取得了许多重要的进展。这些结果进一步说明EP-1及组分对鼠类具有很好的不育效果,并具有两性不育、高效低量、可持续、相对环保与安全、野外投放方便、经济可行等特点。EP-1或炔雌醚毒饵的不育剂量约为10-50μg/m L(0.001%-0.005%),甚至更低;其组分在土壤和水体的半衰期约为5-16 d和小于3 d。在鼠类繁殖的早期,采取野外一次饱和投放即可有效降低全年鼠类的繁殖,效果可延续至第二年。可见,EP-1及其组分有望成为鼠害控制的一个新手段。建议今后进一步加强野外不育与跨年持续效应的验证、环境安全性评价和行为生态学机制等研究工作。     

捕食风险对高原鼠兔行为的影响

我们在野外条件下利用赤狐的粪尿增加高原鼠兔的捕食风险 ,采用目标动物抽样法对高原鼠兔的 5种行为进行观察 ,分析天敌动物气味增加与天敌动物数量增加对高原鼠兔行为影响的差异 ,探讨高原鼠兔对捕食风险的权衡能力及面对不同风险的行为决策。 2 0 0 1年 ,在捕食风险处理样方中观察雄性成体 1 8只 ,雌性成体2 5只 ,雄性幼体 35只和雌性幼体 4 2只 ,在对照样方中观察雄性成体 1 4只 ,雌性成体 1 5只 ,雄性幼体 2 2只和雌性幼体 1 1只 ;2 0 0 2年 ,在捕食风险处理样方中观察雄性成体 7只 ,雌性成体 1 2只 ,在对照样方中观察雄性成体 8只 ,雌性成体 1 5只。研究结果表明 :增加赤狐的气味后 ,高原鼠兔通过改变行为策略以适应捕食风险的增加。当气味源刚放入后 ,与对照样方比较 ,高原鼠兔明显增加了观察和鸣叫的频次 ,相应减少了取食的频次 ,且随着时间的推移 ,高原鼠兔并未对气味产生适应性。当天敌动物的数量增加后 ,赤狐气味的增加对高原鼠兔行为的影响较小 ,在捕食风险超出高原鼠兔的耐受范围时 ,高原鼠兔扩散。同时 ,高原鼠兔的行为在雌雄之间、成体与幼体之间没有明显的不同 ,雌雄个体、成幼体均采用相同的行为策略减小捕食风险。以上结果表明 :捕食风险明显影响高原鼠兔的行为 ,高原鼠兔能够权衡捕食     

Effects of plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) on net ecosystem carbon exchange of grassland in the Three Rivers Headwaters region, Qinghai-Tibet, China

Background and aim

Because the indigenous burrowing lagomorph plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) is considered to have negative ecological impacts on alpine meadow steppe grasslands of the Headwaters Region of the Yellow, Yangtze and Mekong Rivers we investigated its effects on ecosystem productivity and soil properties, and especially net ecosystem carbon flux.

Methods

We measured net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE) and its components gross ecosystem productivity (GEP) and ecosystem respiration (ER) at peak aboveground biomass by the chamber method with reference to plant and soil characteristics of areas of alpine meadow steppe with different densities of pika burrows.

Results

Higher burrow density decreased NEE, GEP and ER. Above-ground biomass, species number, plant cover and leaf area index decreased with increasing pika density. Higher burrow density was associated with lower soil moisture and higher soil temperature. Responses of NEE were related to changes of abiotic and biotic factors affecting its two components. NEE was positively related to soil moisture, soil ammonium nitrogen, plant cover, leaf area index and above-ground biomass but was negatively correlated with higher soil nitrate nitrogen.

Conclusion

Decrease of NEE by plateau pika may reduce the carbon sink balance of Qinghai-Tibet plateau grassland. Such effects may be influenced by grazing pressure from domestic livestock, population levels of natural predators, and climate change.     

高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔肺细叶的结构特征

高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔是青藏高原土著动物,对低氧具有很好的适应性.为了探讨在低氧环境中两者肺细叶结构的适应特征,应用体视学方法测量了肺细叶相关指标.结果发现 :高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔肺单位面积肺泡数显著高于SD大鼠,单个肺泡面积和弹性纤维/肺实质比显著低于SD大鼠;高原鼢鼠肺泡隔厚度最厚,高原鼠兔最薄,且三种动物具显著差异; 高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔气-血屏障的算术平均厚度(Ta)和调和平均厚度(Th) 均显著低于SD 大鼠;在三个级别的微血管中,高原鼠兔中膜肌层厚度显著低于高原鼢鼠,两种高原动物均显著低于SD大鼠;高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔的微血管密度(MVD)显著高于SD大鼠.以上结果表明,高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔肺细叶结构特征表现出一定趋同,这些特征有利于在低氧条件下提高肺气体扩散容量;但是,肺泡隔厚度和微血管中膜肌层厚度/血管外径比又表现出明显的差异,可能是不同生境造成的[动物学报 54(3):531-539,2008].     

Behavioral thermoregulation in the migratory locust: a therapy to overcome fungal infection

We examined under laboratory conditions the thermopreference of the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria migratorioides, following infection by the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum and its influence on mycosis. Infected locusts raised their body temperature more frequently than healthy conspecifics through selection of high temperatures in a heat gradient. Thermoregulation did not, however, alter the frequency of feeding events nor the amount of food eaten by infected L. migratoria. A thermoregulation regime of a minimum of 4 h/day substantially increased survival of inoculated insects (by 85%). However, the therapeutic effect decreased when thermoregulation was delayed following inoculation of the pathogen. Thermoregulation reduced locust mortality but did not completely eliminate the fungus from infected hosts; the fungus grew and killed the insects when thermoregulation was interrupted. We suggest that periodic, short bouts of thermoregulation, when performed from the onset of infection and for an extended period of time, are sufficient to provide a therapeutic effect to infected hosts. Such thermoregulatory capacity of locusts may limit the potential of fungal pathogens as biological control agents under certain ecological conditions.     

Isolation and characterization of 13 microsatellite loci in the plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae)

High quality jumping microsatellite libraries of the plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) were constructed; 231 out of the 288 clones contained microsatellite repeat motif and 120 pairs of primers were designed accordingly. Polymorphism was assessed for 48 individuals. Only 13 microsatellite loci were polymorphic with high polymorphism information content (PIC) ranging from 0.598 to 0.871, a condition probably resulting from individuals used for assessment being very closely related. This degree of polymorphism, however, is sufficient to conduct parentage analysis. Expected and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.219 to 0.935 and 0.659 to 0.890, respectively. One locus was in linkage disequilibrium. This information provides efficient tools to allow future parentage studies. Ke-xin Li and Jia-ning Geng contributed equally to this paper.     

Social and ecological influences on dispersal and philopatry in the plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae)

Benefits and costs of dispersal and philopatry of the socialplateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) were studied on the Tibetanplateau for 3 years. Although short-lived, plateau pikas livein cohesive family groups that occupy burrow systems in sedgemeadow habitat Most (57.8%) plateau pikas were philopatric,and dispersal movements were extremely restricted. No juvenilefemales or adult pikas moved more than two family ranges betweenyears; the greatest observed dispersal distances were by twojuvenile males that moved five family ranges from the familyof their birth. Traversing unfamiliar habitat was not a costof pika dispersal because most dispersers settled in familiesthat they could easily visit before dispersal. Dispersal movementsappeared to result in equalization of density among pika families,an expected result if competition for environmental resourcesinfluenced dispersal. Males did not disperse to gain advantagesin competition for mates, as evidenced by their moving to familieswith significantly fewer females. Females, however, moved tofamilies with significantly more males. Males provide abundantpaternal care, and significantly more offspring per female survivedto become adults from families with more adult males per adultfemale. Evidence concerning the influence of inbreeding avoidanceon natal dispersal was indirect. Some males exhibited natalphilopatry; thus some families had opportunity for dose inbreeding.Males and females that dispersed had no opposite-sex relativesin their new families. Philopatric pikas may have benefitedby remaining in families that exhibited low local densities,and philopatric females might have benefited from social cooperationwith relatives.     

Life history of the plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) in alpine meadows of the Tibetan Plateau

The life history of a species is a result of natural selection and reflects how the species is adapted to its environment. Knowledge of life history is crucial for further ecological studies and conservation management. This paper presents aspects of the life history of the plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae), a small mammal native to alpine meadows of the Tibetan Plateau. The mean lifespan of juveniles from first litters was longer than the mean lifespan of juveniles from second litters. The population consisted of more juveniles than adults (over-wintered animals) in August and these juveniles came primarily from the first litter of the year. The sex ratio of juveniles was female-biased even though the sex ratio of adults did not differ from 1:1. The mortality rate of juveniles and adults during the warm season (May–August) was greater than the mortality rate of these groups during the cold season (September–April). Mean juvenile growth rate during the warm season was 1.4 g/d and the growth rate of the first litters was remarkably slower than that of the second litters.     

Clonal and genetic diversity of Carex moorcroftii on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau

Carex moorcroftii Falc. ex Boott is a rhizomatous clonal sedge dominating vast alpine steppe and meadow vegetations in the hinterland of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. To reveal the genetic and clonal structure of this species, nine populations were investigated using ten inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. As compared to other rhizomatous Carex species, C. moorcroftii had lower genetic diversity (H_s = 0.10) at population level and higher genetic differentiation (G_st = 0.66) and lower gene flow (N_m = 0.26) between populations. Clonal diversity in C. moorcroftii in terms of Simpson index (D = 0.65) was comparable to that in other clonal species while lower than that in Carex species from the arctic and subarctic areas. The ratio of clonal diversity to genetic variation in C. moorcroftii was closely correlated with latitude, enabling a speculation about the northern migration of this species on this plateau.     

炔雌醚对雄性长爪沙鼠不育效果及其可逆性

为探讨炔雌醚对雄性长爪沙鼠生殖器官及繁殖的影响,将试鼠随机分为多剂量组、单剂量组和对照组.多剂量组以每次3.5 m/kg·BW(5次/周,2周)、单剂量组以35 mg/kg·BW炔雌醚灌胃.处理后15 d、30 d、60d、90d剖检,观察性腺系数、精子质量和繁殖率等指标,H·E染色观察附睾组织病理学变化.结果表明:与对照相比,炔雌醚处理后15 d、30 d给药组试鼠睾丸、附睾及精囊腺极度萎缩(P＜0.01),精子密度、精子活力和活精子百分率明显下降(P＜0.01),精子畸形率显著上升(P＜0.01),附睾管腔内充满大量发育异常的精子细胞,繁殖率显著下降;与单次给药相比,多次连续给药对试鼠生殖器官影响更严重.处理后60d,除多剂量组附睾外,各组性腺基本恢复至对照水平,单剂量组、多剂量组精子质量及繁殖率与对照仍有极显著差异(P＜0.01).90d后试鼠各项指标及繁殖率均恢复正常,表现为可逆性.结果表明:该药对长爪沙鼠不育效果明显;多次低剂量给药较单次高剂量给药不育效果更好;90d后,炔雌醚对生殖器官和繁殖的影响能够恢复正常.     

Seed germinating characteristics of 54 gramineous species in the alpine meadow on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet plateau

The germination experiment was started on March 3,2004,and seeds were collected from July to October in 2003.We analyzed the percentage of germination,days to first germination,germination period and days to 50% germination.Among the 54 examined species,26 species exceeded 80% germination,11 species exceeded 60%-80% germination,8 exceeded 40%-0%,5 exceeded20%-40%,and 4 showed less than 20%.A principalcomponent analysis revealed that the species were distributed along two statistically independent axes,the first primarily represented the germination rate and the second represented the time of germination process.Based on scores of germination characteristics,duster analysis of the 54 gramineous species could be divided into 4 distinct groups:rapid,slow,intermediate germinating (germination percentage＞ 50%),and low germinating (germination percentage＜ 50%).The meaning of different groups to the vegetation regeneration was discussed.     

Genetic diversity of five Kobresia species along the eastern Qinghai-Tibet plateau in China

Plants of the genus Kobresia are alpine grass species of high ecological and economic importance. Vegetative growth is the dominant means of reproduction for the Kobresia. Studies suggest that substantial vegetative growth can reduce genetic diversity and renders populations less able to buffer changing and extreme conditions. Kobresia are dominant species in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau in China where they face harsh conditions and frequent disturbance. The genetic diversity of five Kobresia species (K. humilis, K. royleana, K. kansuensis , K. tibetica and K. setchwanensis) from the Qinghai-Tibet plateau was assessed. The results reveal high genetic diversity at the population level for all of the species and there does not appear to be a relationship between altitude and genetic diversity. AMOVA analysis shows that most genetic variability resides among individuals within populations, whereas only a minor portion is found among populations. Of the five species, K. royleana and K. kansuensis have the highest levels of gene flow and the lowest genetic differentiation. While K. setchwanensis has the lowest gene flow and the greatest genetic differentiation. The level of gene flow between populations and the mating system play a critical role in the genetic structure of these Kobresia populations. Despite the predominance of vegetative growth enough sexual reproduction occurs to maintain the relatively high genetic diversity in Kobresia populations.     

Effect of antibodies to human seminal plasma inhibin on spermatogenesis and sperm agglutination in adult male rats

In vitro incubation of rat epididymal sperm with antiserum to human seminal plasma inhibin (As hSPI) caused agglutination of the sperm. In vivo administration of As hSPI to adult male rats resulted in a significant decrease in testicular as well as epididymal sperm counts. Furthermore, the majority (almost 90%) of the epididymal sperm were agglutinated. When these animals were mated with normal cycling females, significant reduction in fertility was observed.     

Community-wide germination strategies in an alpine meadow on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet plateau: phylogenetic and life-history correlates

In this study, we built up a database of 633 species (48 families, 205 genera) from an alpine meadow on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet plateau. Our objective was to assess the effects of phylogenetic and life-history (life form, perenniality, seed size, dispersal strategy and period) background on the community-wide germination strategies. We found that the seeds of shrubs, perennials, and well-dispersed plants, and the smaller seeds germinated more and comparatively earlier. In one-way ANOVAs, phylogenetic groups explained 12% of the variance in GT (mean germination time for all seeds germinated of each species); life-history attributes, such as seed size, dispersal strategy, perenniality and life form explained 10%, 7%, 5%, and 1% respectively, and dispersal period had no significant effect on GT. Multifactorial ANOVAs revealed that the three major factors contributing to differences in GT were phylogenetic relatedness, seed size and dispersal strategy (explained 4%, 5% and 4% of the interspecific variation independently, respectively). Thus, seeds germination strategies were significantly correlated with phylogenetic and life-history relatedness. In addition, phylogenetic relatedness had close associations and interactions with seed size and dispersal strategy. Then, we think phylogeny and life-history attributes could not be considered mutual exclusively. Seed germination, like any other trait, is shaped by the natural history of the species and by the evolutionary history of the lineage. And a large percentage of the variance remained unexplained by our model, which suggested important selective factors or parameters may have been left out of this analysis. Electronic Supplementary Material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Molecular insights into the causes of male infertility

Infertility is a reproductive health problem that affects many couples in the human population. About 13–18% of couple suffers from it and approximately one-half of all cases can be traced to either partner. Regardless of whether it is primary or secondary infertility, affected couples suffer from enormous emotional and psychological trauma and it can constitute a major life crisis in the social context. Many cases of idiopathic infertility have a genetic or molecular basis. The knowledge of the molecular genetics of male infertility is developing rapidly, new “spermatogenic genes” are being discovered and molecular diagnostic approaches (DNA chips) established. This will immensely help diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to alleviate human infertility. The present review provides an overview of the causes of human infertility, particularly the molecular basis of male infertility and its implications for clinical practice.     

Behavioral neuroendocrinology in nontraditional species of mammals: things the 'knockout' mouse CAN'T tell us

The exploration of many of the fundamental features of mammalian behavioral neuroendocrinology has benefited greatly throughout the short history of the discipline from the study of highly inbred, genetically characterized rodents and several other "traditional" exemplars. More recently, the impact of genomic variation in the determination of complex neuroendocrine and behavioral systems has advanced through the use of single and multiple gene knockouts or knockins. In our essay, we argue that the study of nontraditional mammals is an essential approach that complements these methodologies by taking advantage of allelic variation produced by natural selection. Current and future research will continue to exploit these systems to great advantage and will bring new techniques developed in more traditional laboratory animals to bear on problems that can only be addressed with nontraditional species. We highlight our points by discussing advances in our understanding of neuroendocrine and behavioral systems in phenomena of widely differing time scales. These examples include neuroendocrine variation in the regulation of reproduction across seasons in Peromyscus, variation in parental care by biparental male rodents and primates within a single infant rearing attempt, and circadian variation in the regulation of the substrates underlying mating in diurnal vs. nocturnal rodents. Our essay reveals both important divergences in neuroendocrine systems in our nontraditional model species, and important commonalities in these systems.     

Opposing effects of heat stress on male versus female reproductive success in Bicyclus anynana butterflies

In ectothermic organisms, reproductive success and survival are vitally affected by temperature. Here, we analyzed the effects of a short-time exposure to heat stress (1 h at 40 °C versus controls) on reproductive success and longevity in Bicyclus anynana butterflies. After having applied heat stress or a control treatment, individuals were mated in all four possible sexes by treatment combinations. Heat exposure of females caused a subsequent reduction in longevity, fecundity, egg size and concomitantly reproductive investment. Heat exposure of males also reduced longevity, but had in general little effect on the reproduction of female mates. However, females having mated with heat-stressed males showed surprisingly an increased rather than decreased early fecundity, which may indicate an increased investment in current reproduction in stressful environments. Heat stress had no significant effect on egg hatching success, time to copulation and copulation duration. Our results suggest that a short period of heat stress may substantially reduce longevity and reproductive output, with striking differences among sexes. We found no evidence for males being more strongly affected by heat stress than females.     

Postnatal ontogenetic size and shape changes in the craniums of plateau pika and woolly hare(Mammalia: Lagomorpha)

In the present study, postnatal ontogenetic size and shape changes in the cranium of two lagomorph species, the plateau pika(Ochotona curzoniae) and woolly hare(Lepus oiostolus), were investigated by geometric morphometrics. The ontogenetic size and shape changes of their cranium exhibited different growth patterns in response to similar environmental pressures on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The overall size change in the cranium of the plateau pika was slower than that of the woolly hare. The percentage of ontogenetic shape variance explained by size in the woolly hare was greater than that in the plateau pika. The overall shape of the cranium was narrowed in both species, and morphological components in relation to neural maturity showed negative allometry, while those responsible for muscular development showed isometric or positive allometry. The most remarkable shape variations in the plateau pika were associated with food acquisition(temporalis development), though other remarkable shape variations in the incisive and palatal foramen in the ventral view were also observed. The most important shape change in the woolly hare was demonstrated by the elongation of the nasal bones, expansion of the supra-orbital process and shape variation of the neurocranium.