Expression pattern of vasa in gonads of sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus during gametogenesis and reproductive cycle

The vasa gene is a reliable germline marker to study the origin and development of germ cells and gonads, although the gene product (mRNA or protein) varies between different species. However, there has been little study on vasa genes in holothuroids to date. Here we determined the expression characteristics of the Apostichopus japonicus vasa gene (Aj-vasa) during gametogenesis in the ovary and testis using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. During oogenesis, the expression pattern of Aj-vasa coincided at the mRNA and protein levels. Intensive signals in oogonia decreased gradually with the development of oocytes. Interestingly, the pattern was different during spermatogenesis. The Aj-vasa mRNA level was the highest in spermatogonia, reduced in spermatocytes, low in spermatids and absent in spermatozoa, but the Aj-VASA protein was restricted to spermatogonia and early spermatocytes. These expression characteristics of Aj-vasa persisted in both male and female gonads throughout the reproductive cycle. Our findings show that Aj-vasa mRNA is a good marker for studying the origin and migration of germline cells; moreover, Aj-VASA is a useful tool to identify spermatogonia in A. japonicus. Our findings indicate that Aj-vasa is vital in the development and differentiation of germ cells.     

The reproductive biology of closely related coral species: gametogenesis in<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Madracis</Emphasis> from the southern Caribbean

Reproductive patterns were studied in closely related coral species of the genus Madracis on Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles. Gonadal development of six sympatric species was examined over a 13-month period. Reproductive differences among Madracis species are small. All species are hermaphroditic brooders and show similar patterns in gamete development. Timing of gamete maturation is positively correlated with seawater temperature in all species. Oocyte development typically begins in June and precedes the development of spermaries. Mature gametes, male and female, are present from August to November when seawater temperatures reach their yearly maximum. Developmental pathways for male and female gametes are identical among species. Interspecific differences exist in the number and size of oocytes. Our data indicates that differences in gametogenic development between closely related, but ecologically different subspecies are small or absent and do not necessarily match with species separations based on morphological criteria.Communicated by Topic Editor D. Barnes     

Antimicrobial proteins in chicken reproductive system

Antimicrobial activity was detected in the ovary and oviduct tissues of healthy mature White Leghorn hens, Gallus gallus. Two antimicrobial proteins were purified to homogeneity using acid extraction followed by multiple steps of chromatography and the pure proteins were further characterized biochemically. Peptide mixtures obtained after enzymatic digestion of the chicken antimicrobial proteins were analyzed using peptide mass fingerprinting and partial sequencing by tandem nanoelectrospray mass spectrometry and the proteins were identified as histones H1 and H2B. Chicken histone antimicrobial proteins were active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The abundance of these proteins in the reproductive tissues and their broad-spectrum antimicrobial nature may indicate their defensive role against pathogens during the follicle development in the ovary and egg formation in the oviduct. The discovery of antimicrobial histones in chicken reproductive system provides further evidence that histones may play a role in innate immunity against microorganisms in a wide range of animal species.     

The proteome of gastric lymph in normal and nematode infected sheep

Lymph node cannulation allows the collection of lymph draining from a defined anatomical region. Proteomic analysis of that lymph offers a potentially valuable insight into the immunoinflammatory response of that particular region. In this study, ovine gastric lymph has been used to monitor the proteomic changes occurring in the tissue fluid of the abomasum, in response to infection with the parasitic nematode, Teladorsagia circumcincta. Lymph, collected temporally over an experimental infection period, was analysed by means of 2-DE and subsequent gel analysis using densitometry software. In addition, the composition of the lymphatic proteome was further explored by means of MALDI-TOF and MS/MS analyses. The concentration of gelsolin, alpha-1 beta glycoprotein and haemopexin were altered significantly (p<0.05) with infection.     

"The nuclear envelope,a meiotic jack-of-all-trades"

The nucleus is one of the membrane-bound organelles that are a distinguishing feature between eukaryotes and prokaryotes. During meiosis, the nuclear envelope takes on functions beyond separating the nucleoplasm from the cytoplasm. These include associations with meiotic chromosomes to mediate pairing, being a sensor for recombination progression, and supportive of enormous nuclear growth during oocyte formation. In this review, we highlight recent results that have contributed to our understanding of meiotic nuclear envelope function and dynamics.     

A freeze-fracture study of the digestive tract of the parasitic nematode Trichinella

Freeze-fracture preparations of the esophagus and intestine of larvae and adults of the nematode Trichinella spiralis illustrate the distribution of intramembranous particles in membranes of a number of cell types, and several specializations were found. Esophageal glands are prominently linked by gap junctions, but gap junctions were not found between intestinal cells. Muscle cells of the esophagus have rectilinear arrays of particles, thought to be points of adherence of the muscles to the esophageal epithelium. Clusters of particles are associated with these arrays and particle-free areas (probably Z bodies) also occur. Intestinal cells have small particles in their microvilli, large particles in the cells' apical membranes, and intermediate size particles, similar to membranes of other cells, in the lateral and basal membranes. Apical smooth septate junctions and tricellular junctions occur between intestinal cells.     

The effects of prostomium and proventriculus removal on sex determination and gametogenesis inTyposyllis pulchra (Polychaeta: Syllidae)

Summary The prostomium alone or the prostomium and proventriculus of reproductiveTyposyllis pulchra were periodically removed at known stages of oogenesis and the gametes were examined by transmission electron microscopy. If the proventriculus and prostomium were simultaneously removed prior to day 3 of the stolonization sequence, before gonial differentiation, the time reruired for stolon formation and concomitant gametogenesis was shortened; the animals, all of which had previously reproduced as females, produced only ultrastructurally normal sperm. Spermatogenesis in these induced males began earlier in the stolonization period than in normal males. However, the cytological events of spermatogenesis were not accelerated. When the same operation was performed after differentiated oocytes were present, gamete cytodifferentiation and development time did not appear to be affected and the animals remained female. Removal of the prostomium alone, formerly thought to have no effect, caused high mortality and if removed prior to day 3 appeared to prevent both stolonization and gametogenesis. Ultrastructural investigation of these animals shows that gonads are maintained, but that gonial cells fail to differentiate or produce gametes. The subsequent removal of the proventriculus and regenerating prostomium from these animals allows them to mature as induced males. This suggests a prostomial role in regulating the endocrine activity of the proventriculus during the reproductive cycle.     

瘤背石磺产卵前后生殖系统的组织学变化

瘤背石磺(Onchidium struma)是雌雄同体、异体交配的腹足纲贝类,其生殖系统较为复杂,通过解剖学和组织切片技术对成体瘤背石磺的生殖系统及产卵前后的组织学变化进行了系统的研究.结果表明:(1)雄性生殖系统主要南阴茎囊、阴茎、雄性附性腺、两性腺(早期主要产生精于)和储精囊等部分组成,而雌性生殖系统则由两性腺(后期主要产生卵子)、生殖细胞输送管、蛋白腺、黏液腺、受精囊和阴道等组成;(2)雄性生殖系统的组织学结构在产卵前后变化较小,但两性腺、卵蛋白腺和黏液腺的组织学在产卵前后变化显著;(3)产卵后的两性腺由于成熟卵子的排放,整体结构松散,部分腺泡中有少量未排出的成熟卵细胞和卵黄合成早期的卵母细胞;(4)产卵前的卵蛋白腺中含有许多强嗜碱性的小颗粒(组织学结构类似于卵鞘中的胚胎外周蛋白),产卵后腺体中的颗粒相对较大,且呈嗜酸性;(5)产卵前的黏液腺中存在嗜碱性区、嗜酸性区和混杂区三种区域,但是产卵前黏液腺以嗜酸性细胞为主,而产卵后的黏液腺中以嗜碱性细胞区域为主,且分泌管道中有一些嗜碱性物质.由此可见,卵蛋白腺的主要功能是分泌卵蛋白包裹受精卵形成卵外周蛋白层,而黏液腺则在产卵过程中分泌黏液物质形成卵鞘结构及链状的卵带.