Organotypic suprachiasmatic nuclei cultures of adult voles reflect locomotor behavior: differences in number of vasopressin cells

This study is the first to demonstrate organotypic culturing of adult suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN). This approach was used to obtain organotypic SCN cultures from adult vole brain with a previously determined state of behavioral circadian rhythmicity. We examined vasopressin (AVP) immunoreactivity in these organotypic slice cultures. AVP is one of the major neuropeptides produced by the SCN, the main mammalian circadian pacemaker. AVP immunoreactivity in the SCN of adult common voles in vivo has been shown to correlate with the variability in expression of circadian wheel-running behavior. Here, cultures prepared from circadian rhythmic and nonrhythmic voles were processed immunocytochemically for AVP. Whereas in all cultures AVP could be observed, AVP immunoreactivity differed considerably between vole SCN cultures. SCN cultures from rhythmic voles contained significantly lower numbers of AVP immunoreactive (AVPir) cells per surface area than cultures from nonrhythmic voles. The correlation between timing of behavior and AVP immunoreactivity in vitro is similar to the correlation found earlier in vivo. Apparently, such correlation depends on intrinsic AVP regulation mechanisms of SCN tissue, and not on neural or hormonal input from the environment, as present in intact brain.     

农田周围生态保留带中普通田鼠的种群生态学：种群数量动态及结构

于2003年5月~2004年11月,采用标志重捕法对栖息在生态保留带的普通田鼠种群结构和数量动态进行了跟踪研究。结果表明,两年中种群密度夏季最大分别达到410个体/hm2和641个体/hm2,春季最少分别达到166个体/hm2和153个体/hm2,种群数量从7月份开始增长,8月份种群密度减少并于11月份开始重新增长。种群中雌性个体数量比较多,雌性在种群中的居留时间较长,同时存活率比雄性高,这导致种群数量的季节变化。种群周转率比较高,在两个捕鼠期间种群中的80%个体被更新,这表明普通田鼠在生态保留带中的活动非常频繁,不断与周围的其他种群进行交流,提高了种群对环境的适应能力。种群中雌雄个体的巢区之间没有年间变化,活动巢区比较小,巢区长度2003年平均为11 m,最长为37.5 m,2004年平均为13 m,最长为52 m。Pearson相关指数表明种群数量和生态保留带年龄、覆盖率和高度之间没有相关性。     

瑞士西部农田周围生态保留带中小型兽类种群结构特征及数量动态的初步研究

为了评价生态保留带对小型兽类种群的影响,2003年7月至2004年6月在瑞士西部Salavaux,chevmux和Montbrelloz 3个地区采用标志重捕方法对小型兽类种群进行了研究。在3个生态保留带中,共发现6种1206只小型兽类,其中普通田鼠、小林姬鼠、中麝晌捕获数量多。普通田鼠为优势种。普通田鼠的种群数量在生态保留带间有差异,但具有相同的季节性波动趋势,一般种群数量随着植被覆盖度和食物丰富度的增加,春季末开始出现增加,仲夏达到最高水平。种群中雌雄个体年龄结构之间有明显的差异,成体和亚成体的数量比幼体多,雄性亚成体的数量比雌性多,雌性成体数量比雄性多（X^2=44．09,df=10,P〈0．001,N=203）。普通田鼠种群中雌雄个体体重之间有明显的差异,雄性的体重比雌性大（t一检验：t=5．011,df=162,P〈0．05,N=213）。种群性比之间有明显的月间变化,雌性的捕获次数比雄性大。普通田鼠只在短距离范围内活动,在生态保留带中的巢区为350～400m^2,雌雄个体的巢区大小之间没有显著性差异。     

布氏田鼠社会行为对光周期的适应格局

对实验室内不同光周期条件下的布氏田鼠陌生成体—亚成体间社会行为模式的初步研究显示:不同光周期下成体对亚成体（特别是对雄性亚成体）的行为反应具性二型特征,长光照周期下（light:dark,14L:10D)成体与亚成体同性组合间的争斗较异性组合间的明显,容忍性低,其中成体雄对亚成体雄尤甚。短光照周期下（light:dark,10L:14D）成体雄对亚成体雄、成体雌对亚成体雌及亚成体雄的相容性均较成体雄对亚成体雌的容忍性低,尤成体雌对亚成体雄的排斥表现更为突出,其容忍性也较长光照条件下对应组的低。结果表明,不同光周期条件下布氏田鼠成体与亚成体间的社会行为模式不同。在自然条件下,这些行为模式是其对环境季节变化的一种有效适应,它影响种群中未成年个体存活、补充、扩散重组以及社群结构、种群空间格局季节变化,对该鼠的生存和繁殖有利。     

多位点DNA指纹技术在保加利亚普通田鼠中的应用探讨

DNA指纹是一种重要的现代分子遗传学标记技术（Jeffreys et al．,1985）,它所揭示的是生物体大量的、无遗传编码信息的、具有高度多态性的卫星DNA（Chen,1996）。这些DNA序列往往占据了生物体基因组总量的80％以上,由于它不编码蛋白基因,在系统发育过程中,通常不被自然选择和人工选择,使得生物变异积累形成个体基因组间的巨大差异。因此,DNA指纹受到生物学家的青睐,以用于生物个体和群体的基因组分析（Burke and Bruford,1987;Buitmap et al．,1991;Weising et al．,1995）。     

The suprachiasmatic nucleus of the mink (Mustela vison): apparent absence of vasopressin-immunoreactive neurons

The hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus is centrally involved in generation of several circadian rhythms. Neurons of the mammalian suprachiasmatic nucleus express a number of neuropeptides including vasopressin. The suprachiasmatic nucleus of the mink (Mustela vison) is easily distinguished from neighbouring hypothalamic areas and the underlying optic chiasm as a small nucleus containing densely packed parvocellular neurons. A dorsal and ventral subdivision were clearly recognized within the midportion and caudal part of the nuclcus. Using immunohistochemistry, we have identified vasopressin-, neurophysin-, and vasoactive intestinal peptide-immunoreactive neuronal elements in the hypothalamus of the mink. Vasoactive intestinal peptide-immunoreactive neurons can be observed in the ventral aspect of the suprachiasmatic nucleus, but to our surprise, no vasopressin immunoreactive perikarya are found within the suprachiasmatic nucleus, this absence being independent of the experienced annual cycle. The hypothalamic paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei contain large numbers of vasopressin-, neurophysin-and vasoactive intestinal peptide-immunoreactive magnocellular neurons with extensive projections towards the infundibulum and neurohypophysis. A comparative analysis of the distribution of vasopressin-immunoreactive elements in a number of conventional laboratory animals has demonstrated that, in contrast to the rat, golden hamster and Mongolian gerbil, neither vasopressin-containing perikarya in the suprachiasmatic nucleus nor fine calibered immunoreactive fibres entering the adjacent subparaventricular zone are present in the mink. The mink is a photodependent seasonal breeder, and thus vasopressin-immunoreactive neurons in the suprachiasmatic nuclei may not be essential for the photoperiodic regulation of reproduction and seasonal events experienced by this species.