达氏鲟精子的主要生物学特性

达氏鲟(Acipenser dabryanus)属淡水定居性鲟鱼类,为我国特有种,主要分布在长江上游干流及金沙江下游。长期人为过度捕捞及其生存环境的持续污染和水利工程的影响,使得达氏鲟自然种群资源遭到严重破坏,其配子质量的下降己经成为限制其规模化人工繁殖成功的关键因素之一,因此为解决达氏鲟规模化人工繁殖过程中存在的关键性技术点,作者从达氏鲟精液基本特征、精浆元素组成以及不同水体和Na+、K+对达氏鲟精子活力的影响、精子超微结构方面入手,对达氏鲟精子的生理生态特性进行了研究。结果显示,达氏鲟精子平均密度为1.52×109个/ml;精浆元素以Na+含量最高,其次是K+,之后为Ca2+、Mg2+、Cu2+、Zn2+,其中Na+、K+、Zn2+在达氏鲟精浆中的含量有极显著性差异(P0.01),Ca2+、Cu2+、Mg2+差异不明显;精子在江水中的活力最高;在Na+浓度为20 mmol/L时,精子活力最高,精子快速运动时间(FT)和寿命(LT)分别为(66.7±7.1)s和(177.0±14.9)s;达氏鲟精子对K+浓度变化较为敏感,在K+浓度为0.05 mmol/L时,精子FT和LT最长,分别为(109.0±16.1)s和(189.3±12.4)s,K+浓度超过0.05 mmol/L后精子FT和LT急速下降,当K+浓度达到0.5 mmol/L以上时,精子活力立即受到抑制;达氏鲟精子细胞核长(5.67±0.20)μm,鞭毛长(63.16±2.79)μm,全长为(70.35±2.92)μm。     

保存介质和温度对西伯利亚鲟卵子短期保存的影响

研究了不同保存介质(体腔液CF、Hepes液、RMS液)、温度(4℃、16℃)和保存时间(4 h、8 h、16 h、24 h)对西伯利亚鲟卵子短期保存的影响.结果显示:保存介质、温度和时间对卵子受精率、孵化率和初孵仔鱼畸形率有显著性影响(P<0.05),受精率、孵化率均随保存时间的延长而下降,畸形率上升.16℃条件下保存卵子受精率、孵化率和畸形率均高于4℃,但4℃下卵子的保存时间较16℃下长.研究表明,采用根据西伯利亚鲟体腔液生化成分配制的Hepes液作为保存介质,于16℃下保存4 h为西伯利亚鲟卵子的最佳保存条件,此时受精率、孵化率和畸形率分别为86.36%、94.74%和0.     

紫外线辐射增加对生物的影响

因大气臭氧层的破坏引起了地表紫外线－Ｂ（ＵＶ－Ｂ）辐射增加,从而导致对各种生物产生不良影响。过量的ＵＶ－Ｂ辐射能增加人类患皮肤癌及白内障等多种疾病的机会,改变自然界某些昆虫的生活习性。同时,ＵＶ－Ｂ辐射还能抑制和破坏许多陆生和水生植物的生长,引起全球生态平衡的改变和作用生产的下降。     

不同开口饵料对西伯利亚鲟仔鱼生长、存活和体成分的影响

分别采用水丝蚓（Limnodrilus sp.）、卤虫无节幼体（Artemia nauplii）、枝角类（Moina sp.）和人工饲料饲养西伯利亚鲟仔鱼30 d,研究不同开口饵料对西伯利亚鲟仔鱼生长、存活率和体成分的影响.结果表明：卤虫无节幼体为西伯利亚鲟最适开口饵料,仔鱼的存活率最高（96.67%）; 投喂水丝蚓组生长速度最快;而人工饲料组生长速度明显低于其他组,且成活率最低.不同开口饵料组间仔鱼体成分差异显著,人工饲料组水分含量最高,且粗蛋白和粗灰分含量最低.采用卤虫无节幼体为西伯利亚鲟仔鱼开口饵料,然后采用水丝蚓进行强化培育,能获得较好的生长速度和存活率.     

西伯利亚鲟幼鱼骨骼系统解剖研究

为了解西伯利亚鲟(Acipenser baeri)骨骼系统的形态特征, 采用传统的解剖法和透明骨法对西伯利亚鲟幼鱼进行解剖观察, 为西伯利亚鲟在形态学和分类学的研究提供基础资料。结果表明: 西伯利亚鲟幼鱼骨骼系统由主轴骨骼和附肢骨骼两部分构成, 主轴骨骼包括头骨、脊柱和肋骨, 附肢骨骼由鳍条、支鳍骨骼和带骨构成。对比分析发现, 西伯利亚鲟和施氏鲟骨骼系统的组成与构造较为相似, 其原因可能是其对高纬度低水温环境长期适应的结果。     

西伯利亚鲟、施氏鲟及其杂交种(西伯利亚鲟♀×施氏鲟♂)的形态差异分析

采用形态学和多变量形态度量方法, 对西伯利亚鲟(Acipenser baerii)、施氏鲟(Acipenser schrenckii)及其杂交种(西伯利亚鲟♀×施氏鲟♂)的形态异同进行了分析, 以鉴别区分三者的形态特征。结果发现, 西伯利亚鲟、施氏鲟及其杂交种的可数性状中鳃耙数和背鳍数均具有显著差异; 可量性状的多重比较分析显示杂交种的眼间距/全长显著小于西伯利亚鲟和施氏鲟, 三者的吻长/全长均具有显著差异; 主成分分析提取的前三个主成分对变异的累积贡献率为65.68%; 判别分析构建了西伯利亚鲟、施氏鲟及其杂交种的判别公式, 判别公式预测分类总体准确率为85.6%。分析结果表明, 西伯利亚鲟、施氏鲟及其杂交种间的形态差异主要体现在头部及尾柄。     

紫外线辐射增加对大豆光合作用和生长的影响

通过模拟南京地区自然光中有效紫外线Ｂ和紫外线Ａ辐射,增大辐射剂量对大豆光合作用,生长及生物量形成的影响迸行了研究。３个加强的ＵＶ辐射（０．１５,０．３５,０．７０Ｗ·ｍ－２）处理均使大豆植株矮化,抑制根、茎、叶的生长及干物质的积累。在３个ＵＶ处理中,生物效应以０．７０Ｗ·ｍ－２处理力最大,０．１５Ｗ·ｍ－２处理影响最小。ＵＶ辐射匀能使大豆叶片光合作用下降。下降幅度随ＵＶ辐射强度的增大而增大,本文还对ＵＶ影响大豆生长的可能机制进行了探讨。     

西伯利亚鲟侧线神经丘发育过程的观察

研究对西伯利亚鲟(Acipenser baerii)的胚后幼鱼进行石蜡切片HE染色,同时利用荧光染料DiA[4-(4-Diethylaminostyryl)-1-methylpyridinium iodide]对侧线管中侧线神经丘毛细胞特异性标记的特点,示踪了西伯利亚鲟胚后仔鱼各个时期侧线神经丘分化发育的过程。结果显示,西伯利亚鲟侧线管内侧线神经丘毛细胞如纤毛状,呈竖立紧密排列。出膜3d仔鱼眼眶后神经基板发育分化活动剧烈,出膜10d的仔鱼眼眶后方的神经基板分化出眼眶上下侧线神经丘的两个分支,同时眼眶后神经基板进一步向后分化发育在眼眶后部形成躯干侧线神经丘,但整个侧线神经丘还未完全发育完成,待出膜15d时,眼眶上下和躯干侧线神经丘已基本发育完全,出膜22d的仔鱼侧线神经丘发育基本完成。研究为今后深入研究西伯利亚鲟侧线发育过程中的神经分化发育、细胞迁移奠定了初步形态学基础。     

西伯利亚鲟Tbx3基因的克隆和表达分析

Tbx3基因是一类重要的转录因子,在形态发生和器官形成中发挥着重要作用。该文克隆了西伯利亚鲟Tbx3基因(AbTbx3)cDNA的全长序列,该cDNA全长2908bp,包含一个2166bp的开放阅读框,编码721个氨基酸的多肽。分析表明:AbTbx3和人Tbx3的T-box结构域蛋白序列同源性达到95.2%,三维结构也具有高度的相似性。系统进化分析表明:AbTbx3与其他物种的Tbx3聚为一支,并在一个大的分支上与Tbx2聚类。半定量RT-PCR显示,AbTbx3基因从西伯利亚鲟囊胚早期即开始表达,且随着发育表达渐强,至尾芽早期表达量达到最大,随后稍有下降;在成体的眼、脑、鳃、肠、胸鳍和腹鳍中有表达,在肝、血液、心脏、肾和肌肉中均未检测到其表达。整体原位杂交表明,在37期和43期仔鱼的耳泡、后脑、松果体和后部脊索中表达量较高,同时在背鳍芽中也有表达。综上结果表明:西伯利亚鲟Tbx3与人Tbx3在结构上高度同源,在胚胎、仔鱼和成体中呈时空特异性表达。     

黑玛丽精子包特性及pH和温度对其精子活力的影响

通过研究黑玛丽Poecilia latipinna精子包破裂的过程和影响因素、精子运动的情况及影响因素,结果发现,当精液用Hank’s平衡盐溶液(HBSS)稀释约5 min后精子包开始破裂,约12 min后全部破裂。释放出的精子暂时处于休眠状态,约50 min后,处于HBSS稀释液中的精子会被激活。应用计算机辅助精子分析系统对黑玛丽精子在不同pH和不同温度下HBSS中的精子运动百分数、运动时间和平均运动速率进行观察。在pH7~8的中性或弱碱性溶液中,精子运动活力较强;而在酸性(pH<7)或碱性较强(pH>9)的溶液中,精子的运动活力都会降低。在不同温度下的HBSS中精子的活力不同,精子在低温(4℃)条件下的运动时间显著长于在室温(20℃)条件下,但运动速度较慢。本研究初步探讨了黑玛丽的精子包特性以及pH和温度对精子运动活力的影响,旨在对黑玛丽等卵胎生鱼类的人工授精,以及生殖生物学特性等的研究提供更丰富的基础资料。     

Objective analysis of stallion sperm motility

An image-analysis system utilizing a microcomputer and CellSoft computer-assisted semen analysis software package was evaluated to assess stallion sperm motility characteristics. Analyses were performed at 37°C on a 6 μl drop of diluted semen placed on a glass slide and covered with an 18 mm² coverslip. Four groups of 25 cells each per slide, four slides per ejaculate and four ejaculates from each of three stallions were analyzed in a nested model. The percentage of motile sperm cells, mean velocity (μm/sec), mean linearity, and mean angular head displacement (μm) were measured. Statistical analysis of variance components showed that within ejaculates, more variation was accounted for in the differences among groups of 25 cells than among slides. Predicted standard deviations calculated for combinations of slides and groups of cells showed that a combination of two slides from which a total of 400 cells were analyzed resulted in a mean intra-assay coefficient of variation (CV) of 5.7% for the four measured variables. The following are individual coefficients of variation: percentage of motile cells (7.8%), mean velocity (6.4%), mean linearity (1.9%) and mean angular head displacement (6.6%). When ejaculate differences were included in the model and predicted standard deviations were calculated for a single ejaculate, the mean inter-assay CV was 9.2%. Mean velocity (6.4%) and mean linearity (4.7%) were more repeatable among ejaculates than either the percentage of motile sperm (14.4%) or angular head displacement (11.2%). It was concluded that this system is precise enough to determine differences in motility characteristics of stallion semen samples.     

Sperm motility in the horseshoe crab. III. Isolation and characterization of a sperm motility initiating peptide

Sperm motility in Limulus is initiated by a sperm motility initiating factor (SMI) that emanates from Limulus eggs. This report describes the partial purification of SMI (greater than 230-fold purification with respect to protein content) with 40% recovery. SMI appears to be a hydrophobic peptide of 500–2,000 MW. Although probably not purified to homogeneity, SMI is estimated to be active at a concentration of less than 0.2 μM.     

Cholesterol and phospholipid levels of washed and percoll gradient centrifuged mouse sperm: Presence of lipids possessing inhibitory effects on sperm motility

Levels of DNA, cholesterol, and phospholipids of mouse caudal epididymal and vas deferens sperm that were processed through simple washing and Percoll gradient centrifugation were measured. The DNA and cholesterol contents of washed sperm and Percoll gradient centrifuged (PGC) sperm (DNA = 3.6 ± 0.3 pg/sperm and 3.4 ± 0.3 pg/sperm, respectively; cholesterol = 0.219 ± 0.057 nmole/μg DNA and 0.224 ± 0.030 nmole/μg DNA, respectively, for washed and PGC sperm) were not significantly different from each other; however, the phospholipid level of PGC sperm was only one half of that of washed sperm (0.315 ± 0.071 nmole/μg DNA versus 0.720 ± 0.075 nmole/μg DNA, respectively). The presence of 0.3% bovine serum albumin (BSA) in the culture medium used in sperm washing did not change the cholesterol and phospholipid contents of washed sperm. Similarly, the cholesterol and phospholipid levels of washed sperm and PGC sperm that were further incubated in BSA-containing medium for 30 min remained the same. Interestingly, substantial amounts of lipids, as determined by the cholesterol and phospholipid levels, were released into the supernatants of the sperm washes, and sperm needed to be washed at least twice to ensure their stable levels of cholesterol and phospholipids. The lipid mixture in the first sperm wash supernatant was shown to have inhibitory effects on PGC sperm motility. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Effect of overdose zinc on mouse testis and its relation with sperm count and motility

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of excessive zinc intake on the testes and on sperm count and motility in mice. Thirty Balb c mice were divided randomly into 3 groups of 10 animals in each. Group I acted as controls; group II was supplied with drinking water containing 1.5 g/100 mL Zn, and group III was supplied with drinking water containing 2.5 g/100 mL Zn. The animals were sacrificed after 3 wk supplementation and the epididymis and testis were quickly excised. A negative correlation between Zn dose and sperm count and motility was found. The sperm count in group III was significantly lower than in groups II and I (p<0.05). The sperm motility in group III was significantly lower than in the controls (p<0.05). Degenerative changes, including spermatic arrest, degeneration of seminiferous tubules, and fibrosis in interstitial tissue, were observed in group III animals. These results show that high doses of zinc significantly alter sperm motility.     

The response of rhesus monkey sperm motility to cervical mucus and solid surfaces

Movement characteristics of rhesus monkey spermatozoa were analyzed using high-speed cinemicrography. In the first experiment, spermatozoa were studied at 100 frames/sec in diluted semen near a surface, and after entering ovulatory cervical mucus from a bonnet monkey. In mucus, the spermatozoa swam more slowly, with reduced flagellar beat frequencies. The beat shape was altered, and there was less lateral yawing of the sperm head. In the second experiment, spermatozoa in diluted semen were studied at 500 frames/sec in deep preparations, while swimming near a surface or when in the midplane of these preparations. Those sperm in the midplane swam faster, but with lower beat frequencies than those near the surface, and exhibited much more pronounced yawing motions. Such distinctions in sperm motion are probably hydromechanical in origin and may be significant during transport in the female.     

Effect of cryopreservation on phosphorylation state of proteins involved in sperm motility initiation in sea bream

We have previously demonstrated that in sea bream Sparus aurata motility initiation determined changes in the phosphorylation state of some proteins. This paper describes an investigation of the effect of a freezing-thawing procedure on the protein phosphorylation/dephosphorylation pattern. Proteins extracted from fresh and cryopreserved spermatozoa (before and after motility activation) were separated on SDS-PAGE, blotted on nitrocellulose membrane and treated with anti-phosphotyrosine, anti-phosphothreonine, or anti-phosphoserine antibodies. The results obtained demonstrate that the cryopreservation protocol has a strong effect on the phosphorylation state of proteins. In general, compared to fresh sperm, phosphorylated proteins are most numerous in both activated and non-activated cryopreserved sperm, and in particular we observed a dramatic increase in threonine phosphorylation. However, frozen-thawed sperm showed a minor number of proteins that changed their phosphorylation state after motility activation. Among these, we identified the acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase that plays a role in sperm motility initiation in both fresh and cryopreserved sperm.     

Raman spectroscopic analysis of the effect of ultraviolet irradiation on calf thymus DNA

Raman spectroscopy was used for the first time to detect the effect of independent UVA (ultraviolet-A: 320-400nm) and UVB (ultraviolet-B: 280-320 nm) irradiation on the calf thymus DNA in aqueous solution. After both UVA and UVB irradiation for 1h or 3h, the damage to the conformation of DNA was moderate, but the reduction of the B-form DNA component was obvious. Both UVA and UVB caused significant damage to the deoxyribose moiety and bases, among which the pyrimidine base pairs were more seriously affected. There appeared to be preferential damaging sites on DNA molecules caused by UVA and UVB irradiation. UVA irradiation caused more damage to the deoxyribose than UVB irradiation, while UVB irradiation caused more significant damage to the pyrimidine moiety than UVA irradiation. After UVB irradiation for 3h, unstacking of the AT base pairs and the cytosine ring took place, severe damage to the thymine moiety occurred, and some base pairs were modified. Moreover, with either UVA or UVB irradiation for 3h,the photoreactivation of DNA occurred. The damage to the DNA caused by UVB was immediate, while the damage caused by UVA was proportional to the irradiation duration. The experimental results partly indicate the formation of some cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and (6-4) photoproducts.     

Characterization of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) sperm motility: duration of movement, effects of cations, pH and gossypol

We have examined effects of time after activation, pH, sodium and potassium, and gossypol concentrations on sperm motility of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha). Zebra mussel spermatozoa appeared to have remarkable viability in the fresh water in comparison with freshwater fish sperm. Duration of sperm motility in fresh water is possibly one of the longest among freshwater animals, since it was not significantly changed 3 h after incubation at room temperature (20 °C) or 24 h of incubation at ±0 °C. High osmotic pressure suppresses sperm motility and effects of sodium and potassium are similar. Spermatozoa were inactive at acid pH and became gradually motile when exposed to pH 6.0–9.0. Gossypol appeared to be a very potent spermicidal agent and inhibited motility. This compound also inhibited fertilization. We observed some differences in gossypol effects on spermatozoa between North American and European zebra mussels. These data on zebra mussel sperm biology may be useful for better handling of gametes under laboratory conditions.