生命起源问题的现状

每一个人,即便是一个不懂科学的人,也会有意无意地思索着生命起源的问题,思索着在地球上最初生物是怎样出现的。不能回答这个问题,就不可能有任何的,那怕是最起码的世界观。自古以来,生命起源问题就一直在吸引着人们的注意力,也曾有许多卓越的思想家和学者在这方面付     

影响淋巴循环的因素

关于影响淋巴循环因素的问题许多年来一直是学者们热烈争论的对象。由于它是一个性质很复杂的问题,因此引起学者们很大的兴趣,提出许多有关的学说,现在我们就来谈谈这个问题。什么叫做淋巴循环呢?那就是由组织来的液体不间断地进入淋巴系的始部,并向心流动,沿着淋巴毛细管、淋巴管到淋巴干,最后经胸导管及右淋巴总管进入静脉。淋巴循环是机体内进行新陈代谢的必要条件。影响淋巴循环的因素是很复杂的,现在我们从淋巴生成、淋巴系结构、机体及器官的运动三方面来讲。     

鱼类染色体BSG-G显带法

鱼类染色体多重带技术的应用,对鱼类遗传变异、分类进化、基因定位、基因表达与调控等问题的深入研究,显得日益重要。然而,鱼类染色体的多重带显带一直是个尚未过关的技术难题。近年来,许多学者尤其是国内学者在这个领域中进行了很多探索,并已取得一定进展。鉴于鱼类染色体短小,中期染色体螺旋     

澳大利亚土著来源之谜──最早的移民来自何方(一)

一澳大利亚土著居民从何而来 ,这是一个有趣的问题。关于这个问题 ,许多学者发表过许多文章 ,进行了热烈的探讨 ,以求解开这个难解之谜。下面我们介绍几种观点。有的学者著文认为 ,在最后一次冰河期间的旧石器时代晚期 ,人类就来到了澳洲大陆。当时澳洲大陆南边和塔斯马尼亚相连 ,北边和新西内亚接壤。考古学的证据表明 :在两万年前 ,人类就从大澳大利亚湾进入纳勒博内陆平原上的科那达地区 ,并且还到达了新南威尔士州西部的梅宁迪湖。未来的发掘可能会证明 ,人类到达澳洲的时间还要早得多。Ｇ·Ｈ·劳顿认为 ,土著居民必定要越过亚洲和澳洲…     

调节膦对花生开花与生长的影响

花期长、花量多,但结果少、饱果率低,这是花生当前产量不高的重要原因。不少人认为,提高花生的结实率与饱果率是今后研究的方向。而减少无效的后期花,无疑是解决这个问题的一个重要方面。近年来,国内外不少学者曾进行过这方面的探索,并且,     

放射線手術刀

苏联的学者在研究工作中逐年的越来越广泛地应用着示踪原子的方法。藉助於示踪原子在技术部门中以及自然科学的各种不同的部门中,而首先是在生物学中已经得到了许多重要的发现。在研究动物有机体的最复杂的和最精密的机能中,证明这个方法是极其有效的。学者们成功地确定     

再论分子生物学——科学的革命

1985年我写的“论分子生物学”一文“武汉大学自然科学学报第三期1985”发表后,听到许多不同的反映。由于分子生物学不是一门学科,并且有人认为分子生物学的兴起是当代重要智力的和科学的运动之一,换句话说,是一场科学的革命。因此,我的粗浅论点引起分子生物学者和其它有关学者的议论不是意外的事。人们把分子生物学的理解一时放在这个方面,一时又放在另一个方面,因而给分子生物学下一个确切的定义     

三种家蚕蛾的卵壳斑纹比较观察

在1946年祝汝佐教授调查我国境内的桑树害虫,在家蚕蛾科方面,到目前为止,仅仅发见家蚕(Bombyx mori L.)桑蚕(Theophila mandari-na M.)和桑螨(Rodentia menciana M.)三种,它们在分类学上是同属这一科的,所以性状亦很相近,以前许多学者将这科昆虫的形态与生活史研究得很详细,但是在卵壳方面只有家蚕有人观察过,家蚕卵壳的外面,具有特殊的斑纹,那末桑蚕与桑螨的卵壳斑纹是什么形状的呢?这个     

关于物种形成问题的讨论

李森科对物种形成问题的观点遭到许多苏联生物学者的反驳,因为这些观点与近百年在分类学,形态学,胚胎学,生物地理学方面所累積的大量资料不相符合。李森科关于从一个物种到另一个物种飞躍式转化的观念是以有限的事实为依据的,而这些事实不足以作为物种形成问题上一般的理论依据。另一方面,达尔文的物种形成理论是以大量符合于事实的材料为依据,这种理论近百年来不断地为B.O.与A.O.科瓦列夫斯基,梅契尼科夫,A.H.谢维尔曹夫,季米里亚捷夫,米丘林.可马洛夫和其他学者的许多著作所证实。很顯然李森科在证明他自己对物种形成问题的观点所引用的全部事实,不过证明了旧的     

利用转基因小鼠及转染色体小鼠产生人抗体的研究进展

自单克隆抗体（mAb)技术问世以来,解决了生命科学的许多重要问题,但其鼠源生导致的HAMA反应在大大限制了它在人体治疗中的应用,因此,制备人抗体成了亟待解决的难题,转入Ig基因组小鼠与转梁色体小鼠 的构建成功为解决这一难题提供了可行途径,本文就这两条小鼠的构建及其在制备人抗体中的应用进展作一综述。     

革胡子鲇原始生殖细胞的起源、迁移及性腺分化

革胡子鲇又称埃及胡子鲇,是一种多次产卵类型的硬骨鱼。作者用组织学、组织化学、电子显微镜等方法对革胡子鲇的原始生殖细胞(Primordial germ cells,PGCs)的起源、特征、迁移方式和性腺分化进行了研究。实验结果:PGCs来源于内胚层;PGCs的细胞质中存在着一种与生殖细胞有关的电子致密物--生殖质(Germ plasm);PGCs在迁移过程中有主动迁移的能力;PGCs到达生殖嵴的部位后,与生殖上皮细胞(Epithelisl cells)一起共同形成原始性腺;原始性腺分别逐步向精巢和卵巢分化;生殖质与性腺的分化有密切关系;卵巢的分化比精巢早。       

Retinoic Acid signalling and the control of meiotic entry in the human fetal gonad

The development of mammalian fetal germ cells along oogenic or spermatogenic fate trajectories is dictated by signals from the surrounding gonadal environment. Germ cells in the fetal testis enter mitotic arrest, whilst those in the fetal ovary undergo sex-specific entry into meiosis, the initiation of which is thought to be mediated by selective exposure of fetal ovarian germ cells to mesonephros-derived retinoic acid (RA). Aspects of this model are hard to reconcile with the spatiotemporal pattern of germ cell differentiation in the human fetal ovary, however. We have therefore examined the expression of components of the RA synthesis, metabolism and signalling pathways, and their downstream effectors and inhibitors in germ cells around the time of the initiation of meiosis in the human fetal gonad. Expression of the three RA-synthesising enzymes, ALDH1A1, 2 and 3 in the fetal ovary and testis was equal to or greater than that in the mesonephros at 8-9 weeks gestation, indicating an intrinsic capacity within the gonad to synthesise RA. Using immunohistochemistry to detect RA receptors RARα, β and RXRα, we find germ cells to be the predominant target of RA signalling in the fetal human ovary, but also reveal widespread receptor nuclear localization indicative of signalling in the testis, suggesting that human fetal testicular germ cells are not efficiently shielded from RA by the action of the RA-metabolising enzyme CYP26B1. Consistent with this, expression of CYP26B1 was greater in the human fetal ovary than testis, although the sexually-dimorphic expression patterns of the germ cell-intrinsic regulators of meiotic initiation, STRA8 and NANOS2, appear conserved. Finally, we demonstrate that RA induces a two-fold increase in STRA8 expression in cultures of human fetal testis, but is not sufficient to cause widespread meiosis-associated gene expression. Together, these data indicate that while local production of RA within the fetal ovary may be important in regulating the onset of meiosis in the human fetal ovary, mechanisms other than CYP26B1-mediated metabolism of RA may exist to inhibit the entry of germ cells into meiosis in the human fetal testis.     

A test of the production line hypothesis of mammalian oogenesis

Summary Germ cells in female mammals become committed to meiosis and enter its prophase sequentially in fetal life and, according to the Production Line Hypothesis, the oocytes thus generated are released after puberty as mature ova in the same sequence as that of meiotic entry in fetu. This hypothesis in its original and complete form has a subordinate proposition that concerns chiasma (Xma) frequency; it postulates that Xma number would decrease with fetal age. Consequently, univalents would increase, leading to errors of chromosome disjunction at the first meiotic division (MI), and thus to maternal age-dependent numerical chromosome anomalies. By using an in vitro/in vivo approach, we radioactively labelled the DNA of germ cells at premeiotic synthesis as they sequentially entered meiosis, while the fetal ovaries were in culture. At the end of this in vitro phase, pachytene/diplotene (P/D) stages were studied to determine their labelled fraction. The ovaries were then transplanted to spayed females and, after the in vivo phase, mature ova were harvested and the proportion of labelled first and second meiotic metaphases (MI/MII) determined. By marking the germ cells with label while in vitro during periods equivalent to early and late gestation, and by comparing the observed proportions of labelled MI/MII with those of oocytes labelled at P/D, we concluded that, in the mouse, ova do not mature at random for release, but are formed according to a production line system in which the time of release after puberty is related to the time of entry into meiosis in fetu.     

大鼠睾丸间质组织内的生殖细胞

在本实验中,光镜和电镜观察发现,在一例正常大鼠的局部睾丸的间质组织中,存在着不同发育时期的生殖细胞,同时还见支持细胞。上述各类细胞的超微结构同精细管内的无明显差别;但在位置上,它们却是分散于间质组织内,或者同间质细胞紧密相靠排列,或者分布于血管周围。本事实表明,在大鼠睾丸的间质组织中,可能也存在着生殖细胞赖以生存、发育和分化的环境条件。本文对这一现象的意义作了讨论。     

FORMATION OF GERM CELL-LIKE CELLS IN THE PERITONEAL EPITHELIUM OF THE TESTES OF ESTROGEN-TREATED ADULT MALES OF THE JAPANESE RED-BELLIED NEWT, CYNOPS PYRRHOGASTER PYRRHOGASTER

Columnar cells of the peritoneal epithelium in slender cords of the testes were examined in normal and estradiol benzoate-treated Japanese red-bellied newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster pyrrhogaster, by light and electron microscopy. In normal newts, the peritoneal epithelium covering the slender cord consists of columnar cells, which contain extraordinarily large, oval or spindle-shaped nuclei with conspicuous indentations. The nucleus contains chromatin granules and the cytoplasm is filled with numerous tonofilaments. The primordial germ cells are scattered throughout the slender cord, and each cell is surrounded by a few follicle cells. Between the germ cells and follicle cells there are microvilli-like processes. The nucleus of primordial germ cells is multilobate and has electron lucent areas, dispersed chromatin and several electron-dense nucleoli. In the lighter cytoplasm, the nuage material is found very near to nuclear pores, and is frequently seen among the mitochondria. The nucleolus-like body is not associated with other organelles. The primary spermatogonia have bilobate nuclei. It is remarkable that most of the cytoplasmic organelles are found in the deep nuclear indentations. The nuage material and nucleolus-like body are well developed in the cytoplasm. After treatment of newts with estradiol benzoate for one year, four types of cells can be distinguished in the peritoneal epithelium. One type is quite different from the columnar cells. These newly appeared cells are large and light in appearance. Their nucleus is highly lobate, and contains dispersed chromatin and several nucleoli with compact electron dense material in its periphery. The cells are characterized by the presence of nuage material and nucleolus-like bodies in the cytoplasm. There are microvilli-like processes between these cells and adjacent elongated cells. These ultrastructural characteristics of the light cells are very similar to those of primordial germ cells and/or primary spermatogonia in normal testes. These findings suggest that the light cells which appear in the peritoneal epithelium of the testes on administration of estrogen may be germ line cells.     

Barbronia weberi (Clitellata,Hirudinida, Salifidae) has ovary cords of the Erpobdella type

The organization of the ovaries in representative of the Salifidae (Hirudinida, Erpobdelliformes) was studied at the ultrastructural level for the first time. Like in other leeches, the ovaries of Barbronia weberi are composed of an outer envelope (i.e., an ovisac made up of two coelomic epithelia, muscle cells, and connective tissue) and several internal units, which are broadly similar to the ovary cords found in representatives of the Erpobdellidae. There are usually 6–8 ovary cords that are twisted or cambered with a narrow apical part and a broader, irregularly shaped distal end in each ovisac of B. weberi. Each ovary cord is built from somatic and germ‐line cells and the latter tend to form multicellular cysts that are equipped with a central cytoplasmic core (cytophore). There are two morphologically different subpopulations of germ‐line cells: oocytes and more numerous nurse cells. Growing oocytes form protuberances on the ovary cord surface and eventually detach from the cord and float freely in the ovisac lumen, whereas the other components of germ‐line cysts (i.e., nurse cells and cytophore) degenerate. It should be pointed out that there is a prominent gradient of germ‐cell development along the long axis of the cord. The somatic cells form the ovary cord envelope (the so‐called spongiosa cells) and also penetrate the spaces between germ‐line cells. Both kinds of the somatic cells, that is, those forming the cord envelope and the somatic cells that are associated with oocytes (follicular cells) have a well‐developed system of intercellular channels. Additionally, one prominent somatic cell, the apical cell, was found at the apical tip of each ovary cord. Because the aforementioned features of ovary cords found in B. weberi are very similar (with a few minor exceptions) to the ovary cords that have been described in Erpobdella octoculata and E. johanssoni, we propose the term “ovary cords of the Erpobdella type” for them. Our results support a close phylogenetic relationship between Salifidae and Erpobdellidae. J. Morphol. 275:479–488, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Ovary organization and oogenesis in two species of Lumbriculida (Annelida,Clitellata)

The aim of the present study is to describe the organization of the ovary and mode of oogenesis at the ultrastructural level in two representatives of Lumbriculida – Lumbriculus variegatus and Stylodrilus heringianus. In both species studied, the ovaries are small and conically shaped structures that are attached to the intersegmental septum via a thin ligament. The ovaries are composed of germline cysts formed by germ cells interconnected by stable cytoplasmic bridges. As a rule, the cyst center is occupied by a poorly developed anuclear cytoplasmic mass, termed a cytophore, whereas the germ cells are located at the periphery of the cyst. Germline cysts are enveloped by somatic cells. The ovaries of the species studied are polarized, i.e., along the long axis of the ovary there is an evident gradient of germ cell development. The data obtained suggest ovary meroism, i.e., two categories of germ cells were found: oocytes, which continue meiosis, gather nutrients, grow and protrude into the body cavity, and nurse cells, which do not grow and are supposed to supply oocytes with cell organelles and macromolecules via the cytophore. The ovary structure and mode of oogenesis in the species studied were compared with those of other clitellate annelids. As a rule, in all clitellates studied to date, the ovaries are composed of germline cysts equipped with a cytophore and associated with somatic cells; however, the ovary morphology differs between taxa regarding several quantitative and qualitative features. The ovary organization and mode of oogenesis in L. variegatus and S. heringianus strongly resemble those found in Tubificinae and Branchiobdellida studied to date. Our results also support a sister-group relationship between Lumbriculida and a clade comprising ectoparasitic clitellates (i.e., Branchiobdellida, Acanthobdellida and Hirudinida) with Branchiobdellida as a plesiomorphic sister group to Acanthobdellida and Hirudinida.     

Gonadal morphogenesis and sex differentiation in intraovarian embryos of the viviparous fish Zoarces viviparus (Teleostei, Perciformes, Zoarcidae): a histological and ultrastructural study

It is essential to know the timing and process of normal gonadal differentiation and development in the specific species being investigated in order to evaluate the effect of exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals on these processes. In the present study gonadal sex differentiation and development were investigated in embryos of a viviparous species of marine fish, the eelpout, Zoarces viviparus, during their intraovarian development (early September to January) using light and electron microscopy. In both sexes of the embryos at the time of hatching (September 20) the initially undifferentiated paired bilobed gonad contains primordial germ cells. In the female embryos, ovarian differentiation, initiated 14 days posthatch (dph), is characterized by the initial formation of the endoovarian cavity of the single ovary as well as by the presence of some early meiotic oocytes in a chromatin-nucleolus stage. By 30 dph, the endoovarian cavity has formed. By 44 dph and onward, the ovary and the oocytes grow in size and at 134 dph, just prior to birth, the majority of the oocytes are at the perinucleolar stage of primary growth and definitive follicles have formed. In the presumptive bilobed testis of the male embryos, the germ cells (spermatogonia), in contrast to the germ cells of the ovary, remain quiescent and do not enter meiosis during intraovarian development. However, other structural (somatic) changes, such as the initial formation of the sperm duct (30 dph), the presence of blood vessels in the stromal areas of the testis (30 dph), and the appearance of developing testicular lobules (102 dph), indicate testicular differentiation. Ultrastructually, the features of the primordial germ cells, oogonia, and spermatogonia are similar, including nuage, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi complexes.     

An ultrastructural study of the ovary cord organization and oogenesis in the amphibian leech Batracobdella algira (Annelida,Clitellata, Hirudinida)

This study reveals the ovary micromorphology and the course of oogenesis in the leech Batracobdella algira (Glossiphoniidae). Using light, fluorescence, and electron microscopies, the paired ovaries were analyzed. At the beginning of the breeding season, the ovaries were small, but as oogenesis progressed, they increased in size significantly, broadened, and elongated. A single convoluted ovary cord was located inside each ovary. The ovary cord was composed of numerous germ cells gathered into syncytial groups, which are called germ-line cysts. During oogenesis, the clustering germ cells differentiated into two functional categories, i.e., nurse cells and oocytes, and therefore, this oogenesis was recognized as being meroistic. As a rule, each clustering germ cell had one connection in the form of a broad cytoplasmic channel (intercellular bridge) that connected it to the cytophore. There was a synchrony in the development of the clustering germ cells in the whole ovary cord. In the immature leeches, the ovary cords contained undifferentiated germ cells exclusively, from which, previtellogenic oocytes and nurse cells differentiated as the breeding season progressed. Only the oocytes grew considerably, gathered nutritive material, and protruded at the ovary cord surface. The vitellogenic oocytes subsequently detached from the cord and filled tightly the ovary sac, while the nurse cells and the cytophore degenerated. Ripe eggs were finally deposited into the cocoons. A comparison of the ovary structure and oogenesis revealed that almost all of the features that are described in the studied species were similar to those that are known from other representatives of Glossiphoniidae, which indicates their evolutionary conservatism within this family.

     

Marker genes identify three somatic cell types in the fetal mouse ovary

The two main functions of the ovary are the production of oocytes, which allows the continuation of the species, and secretion of female sex hormones, which control many aspects of female development and physiology. Normal development of the ovaries during embryogenesis is critical for their function and the health of the individual in later life. Although the adult ovary has been investigated in great detail, we are only starting to understand the cellular and molecular biology of early ovarian development. Here we show that the adult stem cell marker Lgr5 is expressed in the cortical region of the fetal ovary and this expression is mutually exclusive to FOXL2. Strikingly, a third somatic cell population can be identified, marked by the expression of NR2F2, which is expressed in LGR5- and FOXL2 double-negative ovarian somatic cells. Together, these three marker genes label distinct ovarian somatic cell types. Using lineage tracing in mice, we show that Lgr5-positive cells give rise to adult cortical granulosa cells, which form the follicles of the definitive reserve. Moreover, LGR5 is required for correct timing of germ cell differentiation as evidenced by a delay of entry into meiosis in Lgr5 loss-of-function mutants, demonstrating a key role for LGR5 in the differentiation of pre-granulosa cells, which ensure the differentiation of oogonia, the formation of the definitive follicle reserve, and long-term female fertility.