Effects of environmental factors, age and genotype on sperm production and semen quality in Bos indicus and Bos taurus AI bulls in Brazil

The effects of ambient temperature and humidity, month, age and genotype on sperm production and semen quality in AI bulls in Brazil were evaluated. Data from two consecutive years were analyzed separately. Seven Bos indicus and 11 Bos taurus bulls from one artificial insemination (AI) center were evaluated in Year 1 and 24 B. indicus and 16 B. taurus bulls from three AI centers were evaluated in Year 2. Ambient temperature and humidity did not significantly affect sperm production and semen quality, probably because there was little variation in these variables. Month accounted for less than 2% of the variation in sperm production and semen quality. Increased bull age was associated with decreased sperm motility (P<0.10) and increased minor sperm defects (P<0.001) in Year 1. B. indicus bulls had greater (P<0.005) sperm concentration than B. taurus bulls in both years (1.7×10⁹/ml versus 1.2×10⁹/ml in Year 1 and 1.6×10⁹/ml versus 1.2×10⁹/ml in Year 2, respectively). Ejaculate volume was not significantly affected by genotype in Year 1 (6.6 ml versus 6.9 ml in B. indicus and B. taurus bulls, respectively), but B. indicus bulls had greater (P<0.05) total (11.4×10⁹ versus 8.2×10⁹) and viable (6.7×10⁹ versus 4.9×10⁹) numbers of spermatozoa in the ejaculate than B. taurus bulls. In Year 2, B. taurus bulls had greater (P<0.05) ejaculate volume than B. indicus bulls (8.2 ml versus 6.7 ml, respectively) and total and viable number of spermatozoa in the ejaculate were not significantly different between genotypes (10.3×10⁹ versus 9.1×10⁹ and 6.1×10⁹ versus 5.4×10⁹ in B. indicus and B. taurus bulls, respectively). Sperm motility was not significantly affected by genotype (mean, 59%). In Year 1, B. indicus bulls tended (P<0.10) to have more major sperm defects and had more (P<0.05) total sperm defects than B. taurus bulls (11.8% versus 8.7% and 13.6% versus 10.0%, respectively). In Year 2, B. indicus bulls tended (P<0.10) to have more total sperm defects than B. taurus bulls (16.2% versus 13.3%, respectively). In conclusion, neither ambient temperature and humidity nor month (season) significantly affected sperm production and semen quality. B. indicus bulls had significantly greater sperm concentration and B. taurus bulls had significantly fewer morphologically defective spermatozoa.     

Poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate accumulation in Nostoc muscorum and Spirulina platensis under phosphate limitation

Nostoc muscorum and Spirulina platensis were grown under phosphate deficiency in order to investigate the role of internal phosphate pool and activity of alkaline phosphatase on poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) accumulation. PHB accumulation in N. muscorum increased to 22.7% of dry weight (dw) after 4 day of phosphate deficiency, while the internal phosphate pool reduced to the level of 0.02 μM mg dw⁻¹ at a maximum APase activity of 2.57 nM PNP mg dw⁻¹ h⁻¹. In contrary, S. platensis depicted maxima of 1.39 nM PNP mg dw⁻¹ h⁻¹ on day 30 of incubation, which was about 2 fold lower than the observed value of N. muscorum. PHB content in S. platensis remained low even after prolonged phosphate starvation, and a rise only up to 3.5% of dw was recorded on day 60 of phosphate deficiency. Supplementation of NADPH exogenously to S. platensis cultures grown under phosphate deficiency favoured PHB accumulation in 10, 20 and 30 days old cultures, but not in the cultures grown under phosphate deficiency for 60 days. The possible role of phosphate limitation on PHB accumulation is discussed.     

Analysis of genetic variants of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 gene in breast cancer in French patients

Previous studies have provided evidence for an association between exposure to high levels of air pollution and increased DNA damage in human sperm. In these studies DNA damage was measured using the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) wherein the percentage of sperm with abnormal chromatin/fragmented DNA is determined and expressed as % DNA fragmentation index (%DFI). Here we extend these observations to address the following hypothesis: men who are homozygous null for glutathione-S-transferase M1 (GSTM1−) are less able to detoxify reactive metabolites of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (c-PAHs) found in air pollution. Consequently they are more susceptible to the effects of air pollution on sperm chromatin. Using a longitudinal study design in which men provided semen samples during periods of both low (baseline) and episodically high air pollution, this study revealed a statistically significant association between GSTM1 null genotype and increased SCSA-defined %DFI (beta = 0.309; 95% CI: 0.129, 0.489). Furthermore, GSTM1 null men also showed higher %DFI in response to exposure to intermittent air pollution (beta = 0.487; 95% CI: 0.243, 0.731). This study thus provides novel evidence for a gene–environment interaction between GSTM1 and air pollution (presumably c-PAHs). The significance of the findings in this study with respect to fertility status is unknown. However, it is biologically plausible that increases in %DFI induced by such exposures could impact the risk of male sub/infertility, especially in men who naturally exhibit high levels of %DFI.     

Egg cell-secreted aspartic proteases ECS1/2 promote gamete attachment to prioritize the fertilization of egg cells over central cells in Arabidopsis

Double fertilization is an innovative phenomenon in angiosperms, in which one sperm cell first fuses with the egg cell to produce the embryo, and then the other sperm fuses with the central cell to produce the endosperm. However, the molecular mechanism of the preferential fertilization of egg cells is poorly understood. In this study, we report that two egg cell-secreted aspartic proteases, ECS1 and ECS2, play an important role in promoting preferential fertilization of egg cells in Arabidopsis. We show that simultaneous loss of ECS1 and ECS2 function resulted in an approximately 20% reduction in fertility, which can be complemented by the full-length ECS1/2 but not by corresponding active site mutants or by secretion-defective versions of ECS1/2. Detailed phenotypic analysis revealed that the egg cell–sperm cell attachment was compromised in ecs1 ecs2 siliques. Limited pollination assays with cyclin-dependent kinase a1 (cdka;1) pollen showed that preferential egg cell fertilization was impaired in the ecs1 ecs2 mutant. Taken together, these results demonstrate that egg cells secret two aspartic proteases, ECS1 and ECS2, to facilitate the attachment of sperm cells to egg cells so that preferential fertilization of egg cells is achieved. This study reveals the molecular mechanism of preferential fertilization in Arabidopsis thaliana.     

镉对小鼠精子蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化修饰的影响及EGTA的保护作用

采用体外培养的方法,利用精子活力分析软件(CASA)、蛋白免疫印迹(WB)及免疫荧光技术, 探讨镉(Cd)对小鼠精子活力参数、蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化修饰的影响,并对小鼠精子酪氨酸磷酸化蛋白进行细胞亚组分定位. 结果表明: Cd对小鼠精子活力具有明显抑制作用,且随着Cd浓度的增加抑制作用增强,当Cd浓度达到1.0 μmol·L^-1时, 小鼠精子活力(MOT)显著低于对照组;同时,Cd促进小鼠精子蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化,当浓度≥1.0 μmol·L^-1时,尤其分子量约为55 kDa的蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化程度显著增强,且免疫荧光结果显示主要集中在小鼠精子中段;当用30 μmol·L^-1 乙二醇二乙醚二胺四乙酸(EGTA)和10 μmol·L^-1 Cd同时培养时,55 kDa蛋白并未发生明显的酪氨酸磷酸化修饰,而且小鼠精子活力变化不显著. 表明Cd可能是通过诱导中段55 kDa蛋白发生酪氨酸磷酸化修饰从而抑制精子活力,EGTA能螯合Cd离子并有效防止其毒性作用. 研究证实,Cd诱导精子特异性蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化增强,进而抑制精子活力. EGTA可以用于体外控制Cd进入细胞的阻断剂,为Cd繁殖毒性分子机制的研究提供了研究手段.     

双酚A暴露对哺乳动物精子蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化的影响

双酚A(BPA)是一种人工合成的雌激素性化合物,广泛存在于环境中,对哺乳动物内分泌有干扰作用,影响雄性生殖系统功能。本研究以新鲜猪精子、17 ℃保存猪精子以及小鼠精子为对象,采用体外培养方法,利用蛋白免疫印迹(WB)和免疫荧光技术,分析不同浓度BPA(0、0.1、1、10、100 μmol·L^-1)暴露对哺乳动物精子蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化的影响及分子机制。结果表明: 低中浓度(0.1、1 μmol·L^-1)BPA暴露对新鲜猪获能精子蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化具有显著促进作用,但在高浓度(10、100 μmol·L^-1)BPA暴露下,猪获能精子蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化呈现降低趋势。BPA暴露下,小鼠获能精子蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化随BPA浓度的增加而增强,并且BPA影响猪和小鼠精子获能相关酪氨酸磷酸化修饰的蛋白种类不同。表明BPA暴露对哺乳动物精子的影响具有物种特异性。免疫荧光结果显示BPA对精子蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化的影响主要发生在鞭毛的中段和主段。     

Evidence for the presence of sexual pheromones in free-spawning starfish

Filtered natural seawater passed through a tank containing ripe female starfish of the forcipulate species Asterias forbesi (Desor 1848) and Orthasterias koehleri (de Loriol 1897) contains low concentrations of a substance which attracts the sperm of these species. Release of this substance is sex specific in at least one species, O. koehleri. Immature females apparently do not release the sperm attractant. Daily testing for sperm attractant in seawater in the Friday Harbor Laboratories' aquarium system, Washington, U.S.A., in the spring and summer of 1986 indicates that incursions of sperm attractant-bearing water occur frequently during the starfish reproductive season. Testing of seawater taken directly from the San Juan Channel in the summer of 1987 reveals that sperm attractant is also present at irregular intervals in natural seawater. There is a definite correlation between the sperm attractant incursions in the laboratory seawater and initiation of spawning of starfish in the laboratory. The periodic presence of a long-lived bio-active sex-specific substance in natural seawater during the reproductive season of starfish suggests that benthic invertebrates may communicate sexual identity and readiness to spawn by means of waterborne pheromones.     

环境因子及超低温冻存对黄姑鱼精子活力的影响

通过测定精子的激活率、运动时间及寿命研究了环境因子变化对黄姑鱼精子活力的影响及超低温冻存后黄姑鱼精子的活力。结果表明,黄姑鱼精子激活与运动的适宜盐度为25～35、适宜pH为7.5～8.5。在pH 8.0～8.5、盐度25条件下,精子激活率达(85.33±2.52)%,运动时间及寿命分别为(336±14.02)s及(405.33±12.22)s。精子激活与运动的适宜NaCl、KCl、MgCl₂及葡萄糖溶液浓度分别为300～500 mmol·L^-1、600 mmol·L^-1、800～1000 mmol·L^-1及900mmol·L^-1;精子在缺少HCO₃^-的人工海水中未能被激活;精子在无Ca²⁺或无Mg²⁺的人工海水中激活率均大于80%,但运动时间及寿命均有所缩短。以Cortland及HBSS溶液为稀释液、10%EG为抗冻剂冻存黄姑鱼精子,冻精激活率>80%,运动时间均超过200s。     

黑曲霉解磷能力的影响因素及培养条件优化

本文探讨了培养条件下黑曲霉解磷能力的主要影响因素。通过单孢株筛选得到解磷能力较强的菌株Xj-2,其在液体培养基中的解磷能力达到539.90 mg·L^-1。解磷发酵动力学模型模拟发现,其解磷能力在培养的第4 天达到平稳,可作为终止发酵时间。不同磷源培养液中菌株Xj-2的解磷量依次为磷酸钙(539.90 mg·L^-1)>磷酸锌(238.45 mg·L^-1)>磷酸铁(182.64 mg·L^-1)>磷矿粉(71.80 mg·L^-1)>磷酸铝(24.40 mg·L^-1)。通过单因素试验并结合响应面优化,研究了其解磷最佳条件。结果表明: 碳源对Xj-2的解磷能力影响最大,其次是菌群密度和培养液pH。当培养温度35 ℃、转速160 r·min^-1、培养液pH 6.0、氮源(尿素)浓度0.79 g·L^-1、碳源(葡萄糖)浓度10.00 g·L^-1、菌群密度3.8%、培养时间为4 d时,Xj-2的解磷能力最高,为616.81 mg·L^-1。     

Rapid microfluorimetry of enzyme reactions in single living cells

An optimized photon counting technique allows the microfluorimetric study of NAD⁺ (or NADP⁺) reduction-reoxidation transients in single living cells with a time resolution in the range of 1/50-1/100 sec. The transients resulting from the micro-electrophoretic addition of metabolites (e.g. Glc-6-P or Glc-1-P) can be analyzed in terms of early parameters (e.g. initial lag, rise half time or full rise time) and overall parameters (time of rise and half decay, amplitude, reoxidation time). Both the initial lag and rise half time are considerably longer with Glc-1-P than with Glc-6-P, possibly due to control at the phosphoglucomutase or compartmentation of glycolytic phosphate esters. While glycolytic NAD⁺ (or NADP⁺) reduction proceeds adequately in aerobic EL2 and EAT ascites cells (although ΔNADH/Δt is higher at anaerobiosis), it is critically dependent upon anaerobiosis in L and astrocytoma cells. Thus by rapid microfluorimetry it is possible to resolve the rising phase or other segments of the fluorescence transients into components each corresponding to a particular step in the sequence of intracellular events or control states.     

The Fluorescent Dye 3, 3' Dihexyloxacarbocyanine Iodide Selectively Stains the Midpiece and Apical Region of the Heads of Murid Rodent Spermatozoa

Fluorescence microscopy of caudal epididymal spermatozoa stained with 3, 3' dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide (DiOC₆(3)) showed intense fluorescence along the concave surface of the apical hook of spermatozoa of Rattus species and along the upper concave margin of the sperm head in Mus musculus In the spermatozoa of Hydromys chrysogaster, Melomys cervinipes, and Pseudomys australis, the two ventral processes also fluoresced brightly. In P. australis, fluorescence in the apical hook of sperm heads was largely localized to its upper and lower surfaces. The sperm of N. alexis did not show consistent positive fluorescence. The localization of fluorescence in these spermatozoa after staining with DiOC₆(3) was mainly restricted to regions where a large accumulation of perinuclear theca material lies beneath the plasmalemma. The reason for this remains to be determined, but DiOC₆(3) may be useful for quickly demonstrating areas of abundant perinuclear thecal material in sperm heads of eutherian mammals by light microscopy.     

Staining Rickettsiae in Yolk-Sac Cultures

Rickettsiae in yolk sacs are not stained well by the Macchiavello technique, and experiments were undertaken to understand the mechanisms involved. It was found that the citric acid destaining step was not effective and that most of the basic fuchsin was lost from the rickettsiae during the application of methylene blue, another basic dye. A staining technique was then evolved with carbol basic fuchsin in pH 7.45 phosphate buffer (0.4% dye, 0.4% phenol, 0.07 M buffer), followed directly by 0.8% aqueous malachite green oxalate. This technique worked well for R. mooseri, R. prowazeki, R. rickettsii, R. akari, and R. buretii, but for R. tsutsugumushi a modification was needed, whereby 4% aqueous Fe(NO₃)₃·9H₂O was used as destaining solution, and 0.5% aqueous fast green as the counter-stain.     

一株高效溶磷伯克霍尔德菌的筛选鉴定及对马尾松幼苗的促生作用

采用标准稀释平板法从马尾松根际土中分离溶磷细菌,利用钼锑抗比色法测定溶磷细菌的溶磷特性;通过分析溶磷菌的溶磷能力与发酵液pH的关系,以及液相色谱-质谱 (HPLC-MS)联用对发酵液中有机酸的测定,探究其溶磷机制;通过对接种溶磷菌马尾松盆栽苗生长、生理、土壤养分和土壤酶活性的测定,明确溶磷菌对马尾松生长和生理的影响。结果表明: 由马尾松根际土壤中共筛选到溶磷细菌16株,其中菌株WJ27溶磷效果最优,液体培养5 d时的溶磷量达411.98 mg·L^-1。经过表型观察、生理生化鉴定和系统发育树分析,发现菌株WJ27属于伯克霍尔德菌属;其对不同磷源的溶磷特性存在差异,溶磷能力依次为: Ca₃(PO₄)₂(220.85 mg·L^-1)＞AlPO₄(182.33 mg·L^-1)＞FePO₄·2H₂O(129.19 mg·L^-1)＞CaHPO₄·2H₂O (115.23 mg·L^-1)。胞外有机酸测定结果表明,该菌株通过分泌柠檬酸、丙二酸等有机酸降低发酵液中pH,进而发挥溶磷作用;盆栽试验结果表明,接种菌株WJ27对马尾松幼苗生长、生理、土壤养分和土壤酶活性有积极作用。与对照相比,接种WJ27的马尾松的苗高、主根长、侧根数量、地上部(茎、枝、叶)鲜重、干重和根系鲜重、干重分别增加了14.3%、36.9%、56.1%、44.7%、60.0%、158.3%和100.0%;叶绿素b、总叶绿素、地上部可溶性蛋白和可溶性糖、根系活力和根系可溶性蛋白分别增加了145.8%、45.2%、206.3%、59.4%、80.5%和260.0%;根系超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶和地上部过氧化氢酶的活性分别提高了71.2%、197.5%和36.6%;根际土壤中速效氮、速效钾、速效磷含量和土壤脲酶、过氧化氢酶、磷酸酶活性分别较对照土壤显著增加18.1%、17.0%、11.9%和34.3%、45.5%、62.6%。说明接种WJ27可以改善土壤养分和土壤酶活性,进而促进马尾松幼苗的生长。     

黄土高原天然和人工油松林根际土壤解磷细菌群落特征及其功能

为了揭示油松-根系微生物的互作关系及其对油松林分稳定性的影响,本研究选择陕西省黄龙县天然和人工油松林,采集油松根际与非根际土壤,测定非根际土壤化学特性,分离纯化根际土壤解磷(有机磷和无机磷)细菌,通过DNA基因测序鉴定解磷细菌,并测定解磷细菌的解磷能力。结果表明: 天然油松林非根际土壤中全碳(TC)、全氮(TN)含量以及C/N、N/P极显著高于人工油松林。2种油松根际土壤中共鉴定出20属65种解磷细菌,其中以芽孢杆菌属、链霉菌属和假单胞菌属为优势菌群;天然油松林根际解磷细菌多样性、丰富度和均匀度指数均高于人工油松林,而优势度指数低于人工油松林。链霉菌属与非根际土壤TC、TN和C/N、N/P呈正相关,而芽孢杆菌属和假单胞菌属与非根际土壤硝态氮、铵态氮、有效磷及全磷含量呈正相关。2种油松林根际土壤不同解磷细菌的解磷能力存在差异,其中天然和人工油松林根际共有的解磷细菌为假单胞菌Pseudomonas sp.34-5,其对磷酸钙的解磷能力最高,为11.40 μg·mL^-1;天然油松林根际独有的解磷细菌蕈状芽胞杆菌BF1-5对卵磷脂的解磷能力最高,为4.58 μg·mL^-1。该林区2种油松林根际解磷细菌菌群结构存在显著差异。与人工油松林相比,天然油松林根际土壤解磷细菌群落多样性更丰富且分布更均匀,解磷能力普遍高于人工林。     

Procedural improvements for in vitro production of viable uterine stage caprine embryos

Efforts to improve proportions of caprine immature oocytes developing into viable uterine-stage embryos in vitro involved study of 1924 oocytes in experiments designed to examine influences of fertilization media, sperm incubation temperatures, sperm treatment procedures, different protein supplementations, and different insemination intervals. Oocytecumulus complexes (OCCs) were matured during 27 h in TCM-199 supplemented with 20% FBS, 100 μg LH ml⁻¹, 0.5 μg FSH ml⁻¹, and 1 μg Estradiol-17-β ml⁻¹at 38.5 °C in a humidified 5% CO₂, 5% O₂, and 90% N₂ atmosphere. Freshly collected sperm were washed and incubated at either 22 °C or 38.5 °C for 5 h and then treated with either 0.1 μM calcium ionophore A23187 for 1 min, or with 7.35 mM calcium lactate in the presence of oocytes during the insemination interval, or with 100 μg heparin +2 mM caffeine ml⁻¹ for 15 min. The interval for insemination was experimentally varied i.e. 14 or 24 h. Results showed that: (a) when used as a fertilization medium mDM supported more blastocyst development than TALP (10.5% vs. 0%, P < 0.05); (b) incubation temperatures of 22 °C or 38.5 °C prepared goat spermatozoa equally for capacitation in mDM containing 20% FBS; (c) when oocytes were inseminated with sperm incubated in mDM with 20% FBS and capacitated with calcium lactate more embryos reached the blastocyst stage (P < 0.05) than after incubation in the same conditions but after sperm capacitation with heparin, and A23187 (31.8% vs. 24.2% and 10.2%, respectively; (d) a 24 h insemination interval was not superior to 14 h when sperm were incubated with either 20% FBS or 6 mg BSA ml⁻¹ and capacitated with calcium lactate (P > 0.05). Three morulae resulting from the best conditions in this work (FBS, calcium lactate, 14 h insemination) were transferred into the uterine horn ipsilateral to the corpus luteum of a recipient and two normal female kids were born after normal gestation. This is the first report in which it has been possible to consistently take caprine development to the blastocyst stage in vitro, and to obtain offspring following uterine transfer. Methodology reported here should facilitate implementation of new reproductive and genetic strategies in goat breeding.     

Increased enantioselectivity in the enzymatic hydrolysis of amino acid esters in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium tetrafluoroborate

The initial rate and enantioselectivity of enzymatic asymmetric hydrolysis of amino acid esters were examined in methylimidazolium-based ionic liquids with anions including tetrafluoroborate, chloride, bromide and bisulfate and in typical organic solvents. Papain displayed much higher enantioselectivity but lower activity in phosphate buffer solution of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate BMIM·BF₄ than in other media tested (i.e. E=100, V ₀=0.21 mM min^-1 in BMIM·BF₄, E=2, V ₀=0.43 mM min^-1 in phosphate buffer, E=14-92, V ₀=0.22-0.25 mM min^-1 in organic solvents for D,L-phenylglycine methyl ester). The influence of BMIM·BF₄ on enzyme activity and enantioselectivity also varied with the substrate and the enzyme used. All of the enzymes assayed showed no activity or low enantioselectivity in the ILs with anions including chloride, bromide and bisulfate.     

Ternary complexes in solution with hydrogen phosphate and methyl phosphate as ligands

The stability constants of the 1:1 complexes formed between Cu(Arm)²⁺, where Arm = 2,2′-bipyridyl or 1,10-phenanthroline, and methyl phosphate, CH₃OPO₃²⁻, or hydrogen phosphate, HOPO₃²⁻, were determined by potentiometric pH titration in aqueous solution (25°C; l = 0.1 M, NaNO₃). On the basis of previously established log K versus pK_a straight-line plots (D. Chen et al., J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans. (1993) 1537–1546) for the complexes of simple phosphate monoesters and phosphonate derivatives, R-PO₃²⁻, where R is a non-coordinating residue, it is shown that the stabilities of the Cu(Arm) (CH₃OPO₃) complexes are solely determined by the basicity of the -PO₃²⁻ residue. In contrast, the Cu(Arm) (HOPO₃) complexes are slightly more stable (on average by 0.15 log unit) than expected on the basicity of HPO₄²⁻; this is possibly due to a more effective solvation including hydrogen bonding, an interaction not possible with coordinated CH₃OPO₃²⁻ species. Regarding biological systems the observation that HOPO₃²⁻ is somewhat favored over R-PO₃²⁻ species in metal ion interactions is meaningful.     

A dicopper complex of N,N′-bis[2,2-dimethyl-4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-aza-3-buten] oxamide. Structure and magnetic behaviour of the mono hydrated form

The ligand N, N′-bis[2,2-dimethyl-4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-aza-3-buten] oxamide with two identical coordination sites reacts with copper ions in its tetradeprotonated form to yield the dinuclear complex [Cu₂(C₂₄H₂₆N₄O₄)]·H₂O. The structure of this compound has been determined by the X-ray diffraction method. The crystals are orthorhombic with a = 11.744(1), B = 16.369(2), C = 26.340(3) Å, V = 5064(1) ų, Z = 8, space group Pbca. The oxamide is in a trans conformation with two different environments for the copper centres, a (4 + 1) coordination mode for the first one and a square planar environment for the other one. The water molecule is not directly bound to a copper centre, but involved in hydrogen bonding with the two oxygen atoms of an N₂O₂ coordination site. Indeed, extra coordination comes from a phenolic oxygen atom belonging to an adjacent dinuclear unit. Static susceptibility measurements point to a strong intrapair antiferromagnetic exchange interaction of 2J = −520(±4) cm⁻¹ and possibly an interpair ferromagnetic exchange interaction of 10(±5) cm⁻¹.     

Feeding on dinoflagellates by intermediate and late stage crab zoeae raised in the laboratory and collected from the field

Hatching stage crab larvae will ingest algae, including non-toxic and toxic dinoflagellates. We determined that later zoeal stages, obtained from both laboratory-raised larvae and natural assemblages, also ingest dinoflagellates and we measured the effects of prey density, prior feeding history and time of exposure to prey on incidence of ingestion. Both stage 1 and later stage larvae exposed to algal prey were examined using epifluorescence for the presence of chl a. Both stage 1 and stage 3 laboratory-raised Cancer oregonensis (Dana) and Hemigrapsus nudus (Dana) ingested both the non-toxic dinoflagellate Prorocentrum micans Ehrenberg and the toxic Alexandrium andersoni Balech, with no difference between the stages. Both species showed higher ingestion of P. micans than A. andersoni. Ingestion of both prey types occurred at prey densities as low as 200 cell ml^− 1 in C. oregonensis and 50 cells ml^− 1 in H. nudus. Samples collected in summer, 2004, provided both stage 1 and late stage Lophopanopeus bellus (Stimpson); stage 1, intermediate, and late stage Fabia subquadrata Dana; and an unidentified porcellanid. Stage 1 L. bellus ingested both prey, while late stage zoeae did not, although the latter apparently were not actively feeding. F. subquadrata fed on both prey, with no difference between early and late larvae. Both stages ingested P. micans more readily than A. andersoni. First evidence of ingestion of P. micans at 600 cells ml^− 1 occurred after only 0.5 h, while it took 2 h for ingestion at 50 cells ml^− 1. The model of larval feeding involving both omnivory and prey discrimination described previously for the hatching stage is sustained throughout zoeal development and is, perhaps, an adaptation to an uncertain prey environment, one that trades opportunism for inefficiency.     

卵孢金孢藻对不同磷化合物的利用及生长响应

为了解水华蓝藻卵孢金孢藻对水体不同磷化合物的利用能力,试验以磷酸氢二钾为对照,通过室内模拟的方法探究不同磷基质条件下卵孢金孢藻的生长响应.结果表明: 卵孢金孢藻能直接利用三聚磷酸钠和十水焦磷酸钠,且对三聚磷酸钠有极高的利用率.15天后,三聚磷酸钠处理组的藻细胞生物量和叶绿素a浓度最高,分别达到(426.96±47.42) mg·L^-1和(1852.34±116.60) μg·L^-1.2-氨基乙基膦酸和五水β-甘油磷酸钠处理组生物量与对照无明显差异,可溶性无机磷变化特征响应了碱性磷酸酶活性大小,表明卵孢金孢藻能通过酶水解利用这两种有机磷.而整个培养过程中,草甘膦处理组可溶性无机磷浓度趋近于0 mg·L^-1,藻细胞生物量、比生长速率、叶绿素a浓度及光合活力均显著低于对照,表明草甘膦不仅不利于藻细胞摄取磷,还对其生长产生抑制作用.本研究结果为了解卵孢金孢藻向不同水生态系统的扩散机理提供了新的思路,对我国新型蓝藻水华的防治具有一定的理论参考价值.