笼养褐马鸡繁殖期与非繁殖期行为观察与比较

2014年4—10月,利用焦点个体取样法与连续记录法对北京市野生动物救护繁育中心饲养的褐马鸡Crossoptilon mantchuricum繁殖期以及非繁殖期的行为时间分配和活动节律进行了研究。统计了不同性别与不同季节的行为时间分配差异。在繁殖期,雌性褐马鸡的取食时间大于雄性,而雄性褐马鸡的移动、警戒行为时间大于雌性。在非繁殖期,雌雄褐马鸡行为差异变小,但雄性褐马鸡的警戒行为仍然较多。     

MTNR1a和MTNR1b基因在繁殖期与非繁殖期雄性高原鼢鼠HPG轴上的表达

高原鼢鼠 (Eospalax baileyi) 终年营地下生活,感光受洞道限制,但褪黑素 (Melatonin) 分泌水平仍存有季节差异,为探明褪黑素对高原鼢鼠季节性繁殖的调控作用,研究利用q?PCR技术检测雄性高原鼢鼠繁殖期 (5月) 和非繁殖期 (9月) 下丘脑、垂体及睾丸中褪黑素受体1a (Melatonin receptor 1a, MTNR1a) 和褪黑素受体1b (Melatonin receptor 1b, MTNR1b) 基因mRNA的相对表达量,通过免疫组织化学技术对MTNR1a和MTNR1b在睾丸中定位,并采用Image Pro Plus软件进行免疫组化阳性评价。结果发现,高原鼢鼠繁殖期下丘脑和垂体中MTNR1a基因的相对表达量显著高于非繁殖期的相对表达量 (P < 0.05),MTNR1b基因的相对表达量在不同时期无显著差异 (P > 0.05),但非繁殖期睾丸中MTNR1a和MTNR1b基因的相对表达量均显著高于繁殖期 (P < 0.01);繁殖期除长形精子外的所有类型细胞以及非繁殖期的间质细胞、支持细胞和精原细胞中均观察到MTNR1a的阳性信号,繁殖期除精原细胞和长形精子细胞外的所有类型细胞,以及非繁殖期间质细胞和支持细胞中均观察到MTNR1b的阳性信号,且非繁殖期MTNR1a和MTNR1b的平均光密度值均显著高于繁殖期 (P < 0.01)。MTNR1a和MTNR1b基因在雄性高原鼢鼠HPG轴上的表达模式,提示了褪黑素在其季节性繁殖调控中的潜在作用。     

繁殖期不同时段赤腹松鼠巢域的变化

繁殖期巢域的研究对了解繁殖期间动物的社群关系、种群动态、繁殖策略等有重要作用。2009 年3 ～12月和2010 年3 ～9 月对洪雅县赤腹松鼠的巢域面积变化进行观察。使用最小凸多边形(Minimum convex polygon,MCP)法计算赤腹松鼠各时期的巢域面积,结果显示: (1)整个繁殖期,雄性赤腹松鼠的巢域面积为1.34 ±0. 34 hm² ,显著大于雌性的巢域面积(0.60 ± 0. 08 hm² ); (2)雄性赤腹松鼠在求偶交配期主动增加其巢域面积,可能会增加雄性与雌性的遇见率,从而增加与雌性的交配数量;雌性赤腹松鼠在求偶交配期不主动增加巢域面积,而是具有较为稳定的活动范围。在妊娠育幼期雌性的巢域面积会减小,这可能是雌性为提高后代的成活率,在增加能量和降低捕食风险两者间做出的权衡;(3)整个繁殖期,雌性赤腹松鼠间无巢域重叠现象,而雄性间存在巢域重叠。两性之间仅在求偶交配期存在巢域重叠现象,因此,雌性赤腹松鼠在繁殖期有较强的领域性。     

麝鼠香腺发育与活体取香的初步研究

根据麝鼠香腺的形态发育,将其划分为非泌香期、香腺发育期、泌香盛期和泌香持续期４个时期．通过对１９２只成年雄性麝鼠分另进行５次活体取香,每只取香量累计达２．６５±０．３２ｇ。非泌香期肌注丙酸睾丸素５ｍｇ／ｋｇ。可诱导雄麝鼠香腺的发育和泌香。通过饲养繁殖观察,证明雄体取香对配偶雌体繁殖无不良影响。     

高原鼢鼠繁殖期和非繁殖期的行为比较

本文在室内饲养条件下对高原鼢鼠（Myospalax baileyi）非繁殖期和繁殖期的行为进行了观察,定性、定量地对16中行为进行了描述和分析。结果表明,这两个时期的行为基本没有变化,但行为发生的频次和持续时间有极大的不同。个中行为的时间的分配在24小时内及其在两个不同时期之间均有一定的差异,而每小时内动物的主要行为表现为睡眠和休息、移动、取食、挖掘、相互接触。繁殖期,动物的活动时间增加,表现为挖掘活动和接触时间的加长,动物社会行为发生的频次和持续时间高于非繁殖期。     

河川沙塘鳢繁殖期与非繁殖期种群形态差异、雌雄个体差异及遗传多样性分析

本研究利用传统形态性状测量及框架性状分析方法研究了江苏省河川沙塘鳢繁殖期与非繁殖期种群形态特征及雌雄个体差异。结果显示，河川沙塘鳢存在形态特征的季节差异，繁殖期个体拥有相对较大的眼径、眼间距，推测与食物资源的季节性变化有关；另外，背鳍前距和胸鳍基长较长，可能因性腺发育饱满导致该时期个体腹腔容积变大。在两性特征中，两性异形指数为-0.013，表明雄鱼个体较大。雄性在尾柄高、尾鳍长等方面显著大于雌性，以此来增加竞争能力以及对后代的保护能力。雌性个体具有较大的腹腔容量，增加了繁殖输出，提高繁殖适合度。另外，本研究基于线粒体cyt b基因，84个个体共识别出17个单倍型，整体表现出具有较高的遗传多样性（h=0.892，π=0.508%），表明江苏省河川沙塘鳢群体存在丰富的线粒体DNA多态性。     

麝鼠香腺发育及腺细胞培养分离的初步研究

目前麝鼠香是麝香最好的天然替代物,麝鼠香来源于麝鼠生殖系统中的香腺,已发现其香腺中分泌细胞和支持细胞是麝鼠泌香的关键。本研究通过组织形态、HE染色、免疫组织化学染色及免疫荧光鉴定方法,初步描述了麝鼠香腺的发育过程。麝鼠香腺的形态结构显示其由小到大再至非泌香期萎缩;HE染色及组化结果显示,香腺在发育初期富含颗粒饱满的腺泡,雄激素分泌处于较低水平,分泌细胞数量较少,随着进一步发育,雄激素水平及分泌细胞数量逐渐升高,在两个月时达到最高,腺泡逐渐变大成熟并开始释放麝鼠香等分泌物;在泌香末期,腺泡逐渐被结缔组织取代。以上结果将有助于麝鼠香腺发育及分泌机制的研究,为提高麝香产量及实现体外泌香建立基础。另外,我们成功分离并鉴定了分泌细胞和支持细胞,以期为后续建立体外泌香体系奠定基础。     

小黄黝鱼繁殖期与非繁殖期的两性异形

两性异形可能在促进入侵种成功入侵过程中扮演重要角色而促使研究者进行广泛的探讨。本文利用传统形态性状测量及框架性状分析方法定量研究了滇池流域典型入侵鱼类小黄黝鱼Micropercops swinhonis繁殖期与非繁殖期的两性异形特征,为系统研究小黄黝鱼的繁殖生态与入侵机制的关系奠定基础。研究结果显示,小黄黝鱼种群在5—6月出现世代交替,可以划分出5月前的世代Ⅰ和6月后新成熟的世代Ⅱ2个繁殖群体。这2个繁殖群体繁殖期雄鱼体长均显著大于雌鱼,提示小黄黝鱼是偏向于大个体雄性的两性异形物种。非繁殖期,小黄黝鱼雌雄体长差异无统计学意义。单因素方差分析显示,小黄黝鱼雌雄个体无论繁殖期还是非繁殖期均在多个测量参数中呈现显著差异。主成分分析显示,世代Ⅰ繁殖群体繁殖期雌雄鱼在第二主成分PC2轴上显著分离,尾柄高/体高、腹鳍起点-臀鳍起点/体长等是导致两性形态差异的主要指标,提示雄鱼尾柄增大及雌鱼腹腔增大以提高两性的繁殖成功率等策略是促使两性异形的重要因素;世代Ⅱ繁殖群体在第一主成分PC1轴上显著分离,全长、体长、尾柄长/头长、尾柄高/体长、头宽/体长、胸鳍起点-臀鳍起点/体长等与生长及腹腔增大有关的指标是导致两者形态差异的主要因素;非繁殖期雌雄鱼形态性状差异不明显。判别分析结果则进一步支持了雌雄鱼形态性状差异繁殖期明显、非繁殖期不明显的结论。小黄黝鱼两性异形与提高其繁殖输出及后代早期存活率密切相关,对其入侵与种群扩张有积极意义。     

杂色山雀繁殖期与非繁殖期食物组成及利用

食物资源是动物赖以生存的重要物质基础和能量来源。研究鸟类不同时期的食物选择和利用对于了解该物种取食行为的可塑性和生态适应性将具有重要意义。本文于2012年4月至2013年10月,通过取食行为观察、育雏分析和投食实验来研究杂色山雀(Parus varius)繁殖期与非繁殖的食物组成及利用的差别。结果发现,杂色山雀繁殖期与非繁殖期存在显著的食物差别,繁殖期完全取食动物性食物,而非繁殖期则以植物性食物为主,兼食少量昆虫。繁殖期成鸟取食的食物主要为鳞翅目、蜘蛛目、鞘翅目、双翅目以及少量的直翅目、异翅亚目以及膜翅目动物,育雏的食物资源主要为鳞翅目幼虫(67.86%),其次为蜘蛛目、鳞翅目成虫、膜翅目以及鞘翅目幼虫和少量直翅目,但与成鸟的食物存在显著区别,特别是鳞翅目幼虫的比例极高。非繁殖期的食物主要以植物种子(48.91%)和浆果为主(51.09%),其中,浆果的比例较高,对16种潜在食物资源的取食选择也证明对浆果类食物具有较明显的偏爱。杂色山雀不同时期的食物差别和食性的可塑性可能是由于食物供给和能量需求的季节性变化造成的,但对于自然生境中各种食物资源丰富度的季节性变化,及对杂色山雀取食选择的影响还需进一步研究。     

大鵟繁殖期的行为及时间分配

2015年4～9月,采用焦点动物取样法,通过人工观察及监控设备记录,在青海省祁连县研究了2窝在人工巢中繁殖的大(鵟)(Buteo hemilasius)行为.构建了大(鵟)亲鸟及雏鸟在繁殖期的行为谱,将亲鸟繁殖期内的行为划分为12项30种,将雏鸟的行为划分为9项25种.研究发现,大(鵟)繁殖期开始于4月中下旬,持续至8月中旬结束,平均(112.0±2.0)d(n=2);将繁殖期划分为孵卵前期、孵卵期、育雏期及雏鸟成熟期.利用单因素方差分析(One-way ANOVA)比对了雌雄亲鸟之间,以及不同时期间亲鸟、雏鸟的行为时间分配.结果显示,(1)雌雄大(鵟)之间的行为时间分配在孵卵前期及孵卵期差异不显著(P＞0.05),在育雏期及雏鸟成熟期差异显著(P＜0.05).在这两个时期,雌性栖停行为所占比例显著高于雄性(P＜0.01),而捕食行为占比显著低于雄性(P＜ 0.01).(2)雌性大(鵟)行为时间分配在不同时期均变化显著(P＜ 0.05),雄性大(鵟)行为时间分配在育雏期与雏鸟成熟期间差异不显著,其余各个时期间差异显著(P＜ 0.05).(3)大(鵟)雏鸟行为时间分配在育雏期与成熟期之间差异显著(P＜0.05).     

Effects of male accessory sex gland secretions on early embryonic development in the golden hamster

The ventral prostates, dorsolateral prostates, coagulating glands, seminal vesicles and/or ampullary glands were bilaterally removed from adult male hamsters. Removal of these glands did not affect the fertilization rate and cleavage of the embryos at 48 h post coitum (p.c.). Air-dried preparations of the embryos showed a delay in cleavage at 72 h p.c. and a significant number of degenerated embryos was also found in females mated with males from which all the male accessory sex glands had been removed. A significant implantation loss was also observed at 122 h p.c. The results suggest that, in the golden hamster, removal of the male accessory sex gland causes a slower cleavage rate in embryonic development and a significant embryonic loss during pregnancy.     

Immunolocalization of androgen receptor, aromatase cytochrome P450, estrogen receptor alpha and estrogen receptor beta proteins during the breeding season in scent glands of muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus)

Aromatase cytochrome P450 (P450arom) is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of androgen to estrogen. Expression of P450arom in extra-gonadal sites and locally-synthesized estrogen play an important role in physiological conditions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cellular immunolocalization of androgen receptor (AR), P450arom, estrogen receptor alpha (ERa) and estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) in muskrat scent glands during the breeding season. Histological observation and immunohistochemistry of AR, P450arom, ERa and ERβ were performed in the muskrat scent glands. In addition, total proteins were extracted from scent glandular tissues in the breeding season and were used for Western blotting analysis for AR, P450arom, ERα and ERβ. Histologically, glandular cells, interstitial cells, epithelial cells of the excretory duct and the excretory tubules were identified in the muskrat scent glands during the breeding season. AR was only observed in glandular cells of scent glands; P450arom was expressed in glandular cells and epithelial cells of the excretory duct; ERα was found in glandular cells, interstitial cells and epithelial cells of the excretory duct, whereas ERβ was present in glandular cells and epithelial cells of the excretory duct. Also, the positive signals of AR, P450arom, ERα and ERβ by Western blotting were all observed in scent glandular tissues. These results suggested that the scent gland is the target organ of androgens and estrogens, and that estrogens may play an important autocrine or paracrine role in glandular function of the muskrats.     

水稻雄性不育突变体ms102的鉴定和基因定位

水稻(Oryza sativa)隐性核雄性不育突变体是第三代杂交水稻技术的核心。为了挖掘优质雄性不育突变体, 该研究通过筛选优质籼稻黄华占(HHZ)的甲基磺酸乙酯(EMS)诱变突变体库, 获得1个雄性不育突变体ms102 (male sterility mutant 102)。该突变体营养生长正常, 但花药不开裂, 花粉败育。细胞学分析表明, 突变体花药绒毡层不能正常降解, 导致小孢子发育异常; 遗传分析表明, 该突变体的不育表型由1个已报道编码酰基转移酶的DPW2基因突变造成。研究获得了1个隐性核雄性不育突变体, 进一步证实了DPW2基因在水稻花药发育中的功能。     

Earthworms (Clitellata, Acanthodrilidae) of the mountains of Eastern Jamaica

Fourteen species new to science are described from material collected at several sites in the Blue Mountains and the John Crow Mountains of eastern Jamaica, doubling the known endemic Jamaican earthworm fauna. New data on Dichogaster montecyanensis (Sims) are provided. All species are placed in the genus Dichogaster Beddard, which is here treated sensu lato, i.e. including Eutrigaster Cognetti. Eight of the new species have lost the posterior pair of prostates and the seminal grooves of the male field. These are D. bromeliocola, D. crossleyi, D. davidi, D. garciai, D. harperi, D. haruvi, D. hendrixi, and D. johnsoni. D. sydneyi n. sp. has independently lost the posterior prostates but not the seminal grooves. The new species D. altissima and D. manleyi have the conventional dichogastrine prostatic battery and male field characteristics. Three species described here, D. farri, D. garrawayi, and D. marleyi, all have a third pair of prostates in the 20th segment, no seminal grooves, dorsal paired intestinal caeca in segment lxv, and lack penial setae.     

The influence of aging on androgen dynamics in the male rat

Androgen assimilation was investigated in a variety of accessory sex organs (seminal vesicles and anterior, dorsal, lateral, and ventral prostates) and in several nonaccessory sex organs in male Wistar rats. After administration of a pulse dose of [³H]testosterone in vivo to intact young (3–4 months old) rats, [³H]testosterone was the primary radioactive steroid recovered from most organs examined, except for the secondary sex glands where the reduced metabolites, [³H]5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and [³H]5α-androstanediol(s), predominated. At longer postinjection times, [³H]DHT was preferentially retained in the accessory sex glands, presumably reflecting intracellular metabolism of [³H]testosterone to this compound and subsequent specific binding of [³H]DHT to receptor proteins. At the longest postinjection interval investigated, the ventral prostate retained greater concentrations of [³H]DHT than the lateral prostate which in turn had a higher [³H]DHT concentration than the seminal vesicles or anterior or dorsal prostates. The latter three glands retained approximately equal concentrations of [³H]DHT. Scatchard plot analyses of cytosol binding in 24-h castrates indicated that with one exception, the level of high affinity DHT binding sites was generally correlated with the retention of [³H]DHT in vivo in intact rats. Specifically, while the affinity for DHT binding in all accessory sex organs was the same, the number of high affinity binding sites per mg wet tissue weight was on the order of ventral prostate > anterior prostate ≥ seminal vesicles ≥ dorsal prostate > lateral prostate. Studies of the influence of aging to 22–26 months revealed no apparent differences in the affinity of the DHT receptor for its ligand in any of the accessory sex glands from 24-h castrates when the receptors were present in levels sufficiently high to quantify. The concentration of available DHT receptors with advancing age remained constant in the anterior and dorsal prostates, increased in the seminal vesicles, and declined in the ventral and lateral prostates. The decreases observed in the ventral prostate were only partial, but the receptors of the lateral prostate declined to nondetectable levels.     

Decreased fructose concentrations in coagulating glands of prepuberal rats treated with testosterone and LH

Doses of testosterone propionate from 2.5 to 320 microgram and doses of LH from 2 to 360 microgram given over 1--3 days generally decreased fructose/body weight ratios in the coagulating glands of late prepuberal rats. The ratios of testes, seminal vesicles, coagulating glands and ventral prostates to body weight were increased after different treatment regimes with testosterone propionate. These changes in the variables measured could be detected by computer analysis in spite of the rapid growth rates of organs of rats of this age. LH increased the weights of only the seminal vesicles and coagulating glands, and then, only at the highest doses given.     

The reproductive tract of the male spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus) and coagulation studies with other species

The testes of the spiny mice showed asymmetry, the left being significantly heavier than the right (P = 0.025). Histological studies indicated that spermatozoa were first present in the testes of animals 35--45 days of age but the maturation of the accessory glands, especially the lateral prostates and coagulating glands, occurred later. The highest fructose concentration in the adult was in the lateral prostates (126.97 +/- 22.23 mg fructose/100 g, n = 5) and coagulating glands (99.38 +/- 17.65 mg fructose/100 g gland weight, n = 5). Coagulation tests of mixtures of extracts of seminal vesicles and coagulating glands from spiny mice and rats indicated that the vesiculase of the spiny mouse was active on rat substrates and vice versa. Cross-reactions of extracts of house mouse (Mus musculus), hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus), and guinea-pig (Cavia porcellus) seminal vesicles (substrate) and coagulating glands (vesiculase) with those of rats and spiny mice showed that although the substrates of rat and spiny mouse were readily coagulated by vesiculase from all the other species, rat and spiny mouse vesiculase were not equally active on substrates of the other species.     

Localization,metabolism, and binding of estrogens in the male rat

Estrogen assimilation by male Wistar rats was examined in these studies in several accessory sex organs (seminal vesicles and anterior, dorsal, lateral, and ventral prostates) as well as in a variety of nonaccessory sex organs. When [³H]estradiol was injected into intact 3- to 4-month-old rats in a pulse dose, no selective accumulation of radioactivity recovered as estradiol was found in the accessory sex glands when compared to other organs. This was due at least in part to the metabolism of estradiol to estrone and to the relatively low concentration of high affinity estrophilic molecules in the accessory sex organs. The order for the rate of formation of estrone from estradiol in tissues obtained from intact animals was ventral prostate > lateral and dorsal prostate > anterior prostate and seminal vesicles. Steroid specificity studies for cytosol estradiol binding by the ventral prostate and seminal vesicles revealed that estrophilic molecules exist in these organs. Based on Scatchard plot analyses in 24-h castrates, the number of available estradiol binding sites was too low in the ventral prostate to quantify accurately, but the seminal vesicles contained distinctly more estrophilic activity than the ventral prostate. The affinity for the seminal vesicle cytosol estradiol-estrophile binding exceeded that quantified for the seminal vesicle dihydrotestosterone-androphile reaction while the number of estradiol binding sites was less than that quantified for dihydrotestosterone. In relation to the accessory sex organs of other species, the rat seminal vesicles have a relatively small amount of cytosol estrophile. The findings that the seminal vesicles catabolize less estradiol and contain significantly more estrophilic activity than the ventral prostate is consistent with and offers insight into the noted estrogenic sensitivity of the seminal vesicles and lack thereof in the rat ventral prostate. With aging of the rat from 3–4 months to 22–26 months, the affinity of the seminal vesicle estradiol-estrophile interaction was unchanged but the number of binding sites increased significantly.     

Hormonal control of scent marking in the Indian musk shrew, Suncus murinus viridescens (Blyth)

The musk shrew, Suncus murinus viridescens, marks objects in the environment employing secretions of specialized skin glands and by urination and defecation. Diverse types of scent marking exhibited a significant decline after castration. Both methyltestosterone and ethinyloestradiol have been shown to reactivate the scent marking of castrate male shrews. Ethinyloestradiol effected an immediate elevation of marking pattern of castrate males.