中华鲟外周血细胞组成及形态观察

利用光镜和透射电镜技术对北京海洋馆养殖的40尾中华鲟(Acipenser sinensis)(介于4—30龄以上, 包括野生、子一代和子二代共7个龄组)外周血细胞组成、大小、显微和超微结构进行研究。结果表明, 在外周血细胞中可区分出以下六类细胞。形态结果: 红细胞卵圆形, 胞质内可见少量线粒体; 淋巴细胞多圆形, 有明显伪足样或指状胞凸, 核质比大, 可明显分为大淋巴和小淋巴; 嗜中性粒细胞核型多样, 胞质细胞器丰富, 含有大小不等的特殊颗粒; 嗜酸性粒细胞多为规则圆形, 表面大量细小指状突起, 胞质细胞器丰富, 含有大量个体较大的嗜酸性颗粒; 单核细胞变形现象多, 胞质内大量空泡, 核型多样; 血栓细胞形状多样, 胞质内大量小的空泡, 散布或成团出现, 常见直接分裂现象。各类血细胞从大到小依次为: 单核细胞、嗜中性粒细胞、嗜酸性粒细胞、大淋巴细胞、红细胞、血栓细胞和小淋巴细胞, 各龄组间无显著差异。外周血红细胞总数(RBC)平均为(5.56±1.19)×108/mL, 18龄和11龄与其他龄组之间存在显著性差异(P<0.05); 白细胞总数(WBC)平均为(16.53±4.94)×106/mL, 18龄与4龄间存在显著差异, 且分别与其他龄组间存在显著性差异(P<0.05); 血栓细胞总数(15.53±15.82)×106/mL。白细胞分类计数(DLC)中大淋巴细胞、小淋巴细胞、嗜中性粒细胞、嗜酸性粒细胞和单核细胞所占百分比分别为: (5.26±3.95)%、(77.74±11.73)%、(9.40±7.98)%、(1.90±2.06)%、(5.50±4.00)%, >30龄和4龄间显著差异, 且分别与其他龄组间存在显著性差异( P<0.05)。结论认为中华鲟血细胞进化地位低, 免疫系统为淋巴细胞系为主, 主要包括淋巴细胞、粒细胞和单核细胞, 结果对中华鲟的健康评价与保育研究有重要的参考意义。     

Reduction of diffusion barriers in isolated rat islets improves survival, but not insulin secretion or transplantation outcome

For people with type 1 diabetes and severe hypoglycemic unawareness, islet transplants offer hope for improving the quality of life. However, islet cell death occurs quickly during or after transplantation, requiring large quantities of islets per transplant. The purpose of this study was to determine whether poor function demonstrated in large islets was a result of diffusion barriers and if removing those barriers could improve function and transplantation outcomes. Islets were isolated from male DA rats and measured for cell viability, islet survival, glucose diffusion and insulin secretion. Modeling of diffusion barriers was completed using dynamic partial differential equations for a sphere. Core cell death occurred in 100% of the large islets (diameter >150 μm), resulting in poor survival within 7 days after isolation. In contrast, small islets (diameter <100 μm) exhibited good survival rates in culture (91%). Glucose diffusion into islets was tracked with 2-NBDG; 4.2 μm/min in small islets and 2.8 μm/min in large islets. 2-NBDG never permeated to the core cells of islets larger than 150 μm diameter. Reducing the diffusion barrier in large islets improved their immediate and long-term viability in culture. However, reduction of the diffusion barrier in large islets failed to improve their inferior in vitro insulin secretion compared to small islets, and did not return glucose control to diabetic animals following transplantation. Thus, diffusion barriers lead to low viability and poor survival for large islets, but are not solely responsible for the inferior insulin secretion or poor transplantation outcomes of large versus small islets.     

Reduction of diffusion barriers in isolated rat islets improves survival,but not insulin secretion or transplantation outcome

For people with type 1 diabetes and severe hypoglycemic unawareness, islet transplants offer hope for improving the quality of life. However, islet cell death occurs quickly during or after transplantation, requiring large quantities of islets per transplant. The purpose of this study was to determine whether poor function demonstrated in large islets was a result of diffusion barriers and if removing those barriers could improve function and transplantation outcomes. Islets were isolated from male DA rats and measured for cell viability, islet survival, glucose diffusion and insulin secretion. Modeling of diffusion barriers was completed using dynamic partial differential equations for a sphere. Core cell death occurred in 100% of the large islets (diameter > 150 μm), resulting in poor survival within 7 days after isolation. In contrast, small islets (diameter &lt; 100 μm) exhibited good survival rates in culture (91%). Glucose diffusion into islets was tracked with 2-NBDG; 4.2 μm/min in small islets and 2.8 μm/min in large islets. 2-NBDG never permeated to the core cells of islets larger than 150μm diameter. Reducing the diffusion barrier in large islets improved their immediate and long-term viability in culture. However, reduction of the diffusion barrier in large islets failed to improve their inferior in vitro insulin secretion compared to small islets, and did not return glucose control to diabetic animals following transplantation. Thus, diffusion barriers lead to low viability and poor survival for large islets, but are not solely responsible for the inferior insulin secretion or poor transplantation outcomes of large versus small islets.     

Expression of keratinocyte biomarkers is governed by environmental biomechanics

In solid body tissues, environmental biomechanics is indispensable for tissue homeostasis. While characteristics of homeostasis include morphogenesis, proliferation and differentiation, the influences through biomechanics in corneal keratinocytes are poorly understood. Here we show for the first time that corneal keratinocytes, established in a defined biomechanical microenvironment of micropatterned soft pillars, exhibit favoritism of late and terminal differentiation at large pillar patterns of 11 μm with matched small 5 μm arrays. At 11 μm, epithelial cells expressed decreased levels of early differentiation marker cytokeratin 19 (KRT19), which was antagonized by an increase in biomarkers of late and terminal differentiation, i.e. cytokeratin 12 (KRT12), involucrin and filaggrin. Keratinocytes showed proper morphogenesis on 5 μm arrays, whereas 11 μm yielded in morphological disorders. While the propensity of keratinocyte proliferation appeared attenuated at large pillar patterns, stem cell marker ABCG2 was weak though homogeneous at 5 μm, but strong at 11 μm. Thus, corneal keratinocytes reveal interference of biomarker expression, morphogenesis and proliferation, which are at least in part characteristics of tissue homeostasis by mechanisms, depending on environmental biomechanics of micropattern-allocated cell adhesion points in vitro.     

Prediction of maturational competence of feline oocytes using supravital staining of cumulus cells by propidium iodide

We examined the relationship between integrity of cumulus cells and nuclear maturation rate after in vitro culture to determine a non-invasive prediction of the maturational competence of feline oocytes. Feline cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were collected from either small (400-800 μm) or large (≥800 μm) follicles. Immediately after collection, cumulus cells were evaluated morphologically (thickness of cumulus cell layers) and stained with propidium iodide (PI), which penetrates only non-viable cells. Cumulus cells without PI staining were judged as having good membrane integrity. After evaluation, COCs were cultured for 30 h and their nuclear maturation rate was determined. The nuclear maturation rate of oocytes derived from large follicles (89.8%) was higher (p < 0.05) than that from small follicles (60.8%). There was no difference in the maturation rate of oocytes from follicles with the same size regardless of cumulus morphology. In contrast, oocytes that had cumulus cells with good membrane integrity showed a higher maturation rate (93.8%) than oocytes with poor cumulus integrity (76.9%) in large follicles (p < 0.05). We conclude that evaluation of membrane integrity of cumulus cells by propidium iodide staining can be used to predict the maturational competence of oocytes.     

Studies on the Minimum Reproducible Unit of Staphylococcal L-Forms

The minimum size of a reproducible unit of staphylococcal L-forms was determined by filtration and electron microscopic methods. Ultrathin sections of an induced strain of Staphylococcal L-forms (STA-EMT-1) in liquid medium revealed several types of structures, all of which were bound by a single membrane and most of which possessed ribosome-like granules. Many of the small granules were less than 0.3 μm and were attached to the membrane of the large bodies. Using a serial filtration method, it was observed that viable L-forms were still detected in 0.22 μm filtrate, but the viable cell count of L-forms decreased in number with the decrease in pore size of membrane filters. A fractionation technique, using L-forms filtered through a membrane filter with a 0.45 μm pore size, revealed that there were three classes of small bodies but only the first class with ribosome-like granules over approximately 0.2 μm in diameter seems to be able to reproduce.     

Cryopreservation of pluripotent stem cell aggregates in defined protein‐free formulation

Cultivation of undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) as aggregates has emerged as an efficient culture configuration, enabling rapid and controlled large scale expansion. Aggregate‐based PSC cryopreservation facilitates the integrated process of cell expansion and cryopreservation, but its feasibility has not been demonstrated. The goals of current study are to assess the suitability of cryopreserving intact mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) aggregates and investigate the effects of aggregate size and the formulation of cryopreservation solution on mESC survival and recovery. The results demonstrated the size‐dependent cell survival and recovery of intact aggregates. In particular, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and caspase activation were reduced for small aggregates (109 ± 55 μm) compared to medium (245 ± 77 μm) and large (365 ± 141 μm) ones, leading to the improved cell recovery. In addition, a defined protein‐free formulation was tested and found to promote the aggregate survival, eliminating the cell exposure to animal serum. The cryopreserved aggregates also maintained the pluripotent markers and the differentiation capacity into three‐germ layers after thawing. In summary, the cryopreservation of small PSC aggregates in a defined protein‐free formulation was shown to be a suitable approach toward a fully integrated expansion and cryopreservation process at large scale. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2013     

Quantitative investigations of spinal motoneurons and their synaptic structures in a teleost: A morphometrical analysis with special reference to axosomatic synapses

The ultrastructural and morphometrical synaptology of the spinal motoneurons in Carassius auratus (goldfish) was analyzed based on profiles of 23 photomontages of large motoneurons and 25 putative small motoneurons with a semiautomatic digitizing system connected with a computer. In the 23 large motoneurons (mean circumference, 142.45 ± 39.76 μm) the total linear perikaryal circumference was 3,276.28 μm, of which 1,548.9 μm (46.1 ± 13.9%) was covered by terminal boutons. In contrast, a total linear perikaryal circumference of 1,375.24 μm (55.01 ± 14.34 μm) of the 25 putative small motoneurons was covered with terminal boutons only occupying a length of 287.45 μm (19.8 ± 11.9%). There were a total of 1,045 boutons on the large motoneurons and 204 on the small ones. The distribution of S- and F-type boutons may reflect excitatory and inhibitory synapses. The relative number of S-type boutons (58%) was larger than that of F-type boutons (42%) in the large neurons and showed similar values (S-type, 57%; F type, 43%) in the small ones. This is in contrast to mammalian spinal motoneurons in which F-type boutons are more prevalent than the S-type. The total numbers of the axosomatic boutons in large and small neurons were estimated, based on geometrical assumptions and found to differ substantially (840 vs. 59). This indicates large quantitative differences in the total number of synaptic inputs with the large motoneurons having a greater more axo-somatic bouton density. No large M- and C-type boutons occur on the spinal motoneurons of goldfish, suggesting a synaptic organization which is simple compared to that of terrestrial vertebrates. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

MORPHOLOGICAL VARIABILITIES OF THREE CLOSELY RELATED MATING GROUPS OF CLOSTERIUM EHRENBERGII MENEGHINI (CHLOROPHYTA)1

The ranges of morphological variabilities in vegetative cells of three closely related mating groups of Closterium ehrenbergii Meneghini were statistically analyzed, having been grown under standard and uniform culture conditions, using Group A clones from Japan and Australia, Group B clones from Japan and Taiwan and Group H clones from Nepal. Significant differences in the morphological characters were not recognized between the two complementary mating types in any of the three groups. It has been shown that cells of Group A are smallest (mean width 50 μm and mean length 250 μm) and cells of Group B are largest (mean width 67 μm and mean length 404 μm), while cells of Group H are intermediate (mean width 57 μm and mean length 333 μm). There are considerable differences in the mean cell size between the three mating groups, although some intergrading clones were recognized. Degrees of the intergrading overlap were shown to be small between the sympatric groups (A and B) and large between the two pairs of allopatric groups (A and H & B and H). It has been shown that cells of Group A are shorter and much more curved than cells of the other two mating groups. Cells of Groups B and H are slender and less curved. It has also been shown that the ranges in cell size of each mating group are smaller than those currently accepted for C. ehrenbergii.     

Trans-epidermal Transport and Storage of Calcium in Holthuisana transversa (Brachyura; Sundathelphusidae) During Premoult

Holthuisana transversa reabsorbs much of its exoskeletal calcium in the last 3 days before ecdysis and stores it in circulating granules in the haemocoel and in non-circulating granules in the subepidermal connective tissue. Calcium enters the epidermal cells from the moulting fluid, probably through their apical microvilli and is either incorporated into intracellular calcium granules or exits the cell via the basolateral membranes to be used in formation of two other granule types. Intracellular granules (0.4–2 μm long) form in large masses in the apical cytoplasm of the epidermal cells. They are formed as membrane-bound vesicles by the Golgi, and calcium and organic matrix material are added from the surrounding cytoplasm. As development proceeds, lamellae appear and calcium carbonate is deposited in the matrix. Granule masses move basally and are stored in the connective tissue. Calcium is also incorporated into extracellular large granules (0.8–3.8 μm long) which are formed in narrow intercellular channels between epidermal cells. A third granule type (small granules, 0.26 μm diameter) is formed in subepidermal connective tissue cells and released into the haemolymph in very large numbers. Calcium was identified in the two larger granule types using X-ray microanalysis and significant amounts of phosphorus and potassium were also present in the large granules. A model for ion cycling between the exoskeleton and granules is presented.     

Hypotonic Ca2+ signaling and volume regulation in proliferating and quiescent cells from multicellular spheroids

Hypotonicity-induced Ca²⁺ signals and volume regulation were studied in proliferating and quiescent subpopulations of multicellular prostate cancer spheroids. Enzymatic dissociation of multicellular spheroids 100 ± 19 μm in diameter, which are entirely proliferative, yielded a population of cells with a mean cell diameter of 17.5 ± 1.4 μm. After dissociation of spheroids in a size class of 200 ± 30, 300 ± 60, and 400 ± 65 μm in diameter, two subpopulations of cells with mean cell diameters corresponding to 12.9 ± 1.9 μm and 16.7 ± 2 μm were discriminated. The subpopulation of large cells was shown to be proliferative by positive Ki-67 antibody staining; the subpopulation of small cells was Ki-67 negative, indicating cell quiescence. In a spheroid size class of 100 ± 19 μm, a distinct subpopulation of quiescent cells was absent. Superfusion by hypotonic solutions revealed that only the proliferating cell fraction showed a regulatory volume decrease (RVD) and a [Ca²⁺]_i transient. Both effects were absent in the quiescent cell population. The [Ca²⁺]_i transient persisted in low (10 nM) Ca²⁺ solution and in the presence of 4 mM extracellular Ni²⁺ but was abolished in the presence of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺-ATPase blocker 2,5-di-tert-butylhydrochinone (t-BHQ). The t-BHQ likewise inhibited RVD, indicating that Ca²⁺ release from intracellular stores was necessary for RVD. Moreover, [Ca²⁺]_i and RVD were dependent on an intact microfilament cytoskeleton because after 30 min of preincubation with cytochalasin B the [Ca²⁺]_i transient was significantly reduced and RVD was abolished. The absence of RVD and [Ca²⁺]_i transient in quiescent cells may be due to differences in the amount and the cytosolic arrangement of F-actin observed in quiescent cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 175:129–140, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Observations on preadipocytes and their distribution patterns in rat adipose tissue

Microscopic examination of adipocytes isolated from adult rat epididymal adipose tissue revealed numerous small cells (< 10 μm) morphologically similar to larger adipocytes. These small adipocytes appear identical to a new classification of adipose cells termed preadipocytes. Electron micrographs of these preadipocytes revealed examples of cells < 10 μm in diameter in various stages of maturation and lipid accumulation. The percent distribution pattern of these small adipocytes was not significantly altered by exercise although exercise shifted the distribution patterns of the larger cells (> 30 μm) toward a smaller mean cell size. The quantitative significance of preadipocytes is not established but these preliminary observations indicate that adipocytes < 10 μm in diameter may account for a numerically greater proportion of the total adipocytes observed in collagenase isolated preparations than heretofore recognized, although their contribution to total adipose mass is probably negligible.     

红螯光壳螯虾白斑综合症血液病理学研究

采用Wright-Geimsa染色法和电镜技术对人工感染的红螯光壳螯虾(Cherax quadricarinatus)白斑综合症(White spot syndrome,WSS)血液病理学进行了研究。结果显示:患病螯虾血细胞总数、透明细胞(AH)数量极显著减少(P<0.01),大颗粒细胞(LGH)极显著增加(P<0.01);病毒感染后3种血细胞大小均有增加趋势,透明细胞和大颗粒细胞的核质比(NP)较感染病毒前极显著下降(P<0.01)。显微病理学变化主要表现为血涂片中血细胞明显减少,病变、破损或解体的细胞增多,至濒死期螯虾血液呈典型的溶血状态。超微病理学变化表现为血细胞受到了损伤。高尔基体变形、线粒体结构模糊破损;核膜变形核固缩、细胞核高度异染色质化;濒临死亡的螯虾血细胞细胞器和染色质溶解,胞浆水肿,细胞溶解坏死。在患病螯虾的血细胞核中清晰可见WSSV粒子。     

MORPHOLOGY AND ULTRASTRUCTURE OF EMBRYOGENIC CELL SUSPENSION CULTURES OF PANICUM MAXIMUM (GUINEA GRASS) AND PENNISETUM PURPUREUM (NAPIER GRASS)

Morphological and ultrastructural changes during the growth of embryogenic cell suspension cultures of Panicum maximum and Pennisetum purpureum have been studied. The suspensions consist almost entirely of cell aggregates of 50–75 embryogenic cells. The cell aggregates vary in size from 90–400 μm in P. maximum and from 70–340 μm in P. purpureum. Following the period of exponential growth starch grains gradually disappear and vacuolation increases. Ten to 16 days after subculture, P. maximum cells enlarge and separate from each other, and organized embryo-like structures appear. Ultrastructural studies show that the cell aggregates are made up of discrete, individual groups of 2–6 cells each. Each cell group appears to arise from a single cell and breaks away from the ‘mother group’ as cell divisions continue. The embryogenic cells are small (20 μm), isodiametric with many starch grains and contain a large nucleus with a prominent nucleolus. Extensive profiles of endoplasmic reticulum, many small peripheral vacuoles, and several amyloplasts are present. Plasmodesmatal connections exist only between cells within a cell group but not between cells of different cell groups in the large cell aggregates.     

白蜡虫七种寄主植物枝条树皮比较解剖研究

采用常规石蜡切片法解剖观察了白蜡虫7种寄主植物一年生枝条树皮横切面结构特征,结果表明:白蜡虫7种寄主植物一年生枝条树皮从内到外由次生韧皮部、初生韧皮部纤维束、皮层和周皮组成;次生韧皮部横向系统均由筛管、伴胞和薄壁细胞组成;轴向系统由射线组成。木栓层以美国白蜡和流苏细胞层数最多,达10～12层;华南小蜡、紫药女贞和白枪杆次之,为5～8层;女贞和白蜡树最少,分别为2～3和3～4层。初生韧皮部纤维束排列整齐连接为带状或分散,女贞属纤维连接成带状,白蜡属和流苏属纤维分散。带状纤维层厚薄不均,厚度在26.93±13～59.15±7μm之间,以白枪杆纤维层最厚,为59.15±7μm;美洲白蜡次之,为50.05±7μm;白蜡树最薄,为26.93±13μm。分散型纤维束直径在25.12±13～76.15±36μm之间,纤维束直径大小顺序为:流苏(76.15±36μm)>紫药女贞(43.44±10μm)>女贞(25.12±13μm)。女贞、紫药女贞和流苏纤维束间距分别为78.53±39μm、149.78±27μm和212.02±95μm。次生韧皮部厚度在48.52±12～377.44±24μm之间,以女贞的次生韧皮部最厚,达377.44±24μm,华南小蜡最薄,为48.52±12μm。树皮次生韧皮部厚、木栓层数少和纤维束直径小为白蜡虫优良寄主植物的显著特征。     

Change in the concentrations of iron in different size fractions during a phytoplankton bloom in controlled ecosystem enclosures

To observe micronutrient dynamics in the plankton ecosystem, controlled ecosystem enclosure (CEE) experiments were conducted in Saanich Inlet, B.C., Canada. Two CEEs (2.5 m in diameter, 16 m in length, one for Fe studies and the other for biological studies) were launched for the period 22 July to 5 August 1996 and enriched with 10 μM nitrate and 5.2 nM Fe (13% of total Fe) on day 1. Sampling from three integrated depths, intervals 0-4, 4-8 and 8-12 m, was performed on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 11. Iron concentrations were measured for five size fractions: >25 μm particles, 2-25 μm particles, 0.2-2 μm particles, 0.2 μm-200 kDa small colloidal particles and <200 kDa soluble species. The sediment in the Fe enclosure was also collected on every sampling day after day 2 and its Fe was determined. Size-fractionated particulate organic carbon and total chlorophyll-a were also analyzed.The Fe in small colloidal particles (200 kDa-0.2 μm) comprised 78% of the traditionally defined dissolved phase (<0.2 μm) on day 1. Of all the size fractions of Fe, the small colloidal particulate fraction decreased most significantly during the phytoplankton bloom. In the dissolved fraction (<0.2 μm), the small colloidal particle fraction comprised 79% of the decrease. The decrease in concentration of Fe in small colloidal particles was larger than that of total Fe from day 1 to day 4. In contrast, the >25 μm Fe particles increased over the same period. These results suggest that Fe in small colloidal particles changed to >25 μm Fe particles during phytoplankton growth. A large amount of Fe was kept in the surface layer with the phytoplankton, and transported to the deep layer by phytoplankton sedimentation, at the end of the bloom. From these results, the small colloidal particulate Fe seems to be the most dynamic size fraction and a high percentage of Fe in small colloidal particles changed to large particles due to chemical/physical aggregation and/or physical adsorption to suspended particles such as phytoplankton cells.     

Ultrastructure of the Malpighian Tubule Cells in the Mosquito Larvae, Anopheles sinesis

Ultrastructure of epithelial cells constituting the Malpighian tubule of Anopheles sinesis last instar larvae was observed with electron microscope. Malpighian tubule consists of four long and narrow tubule structures with principal cells in typical absorptive cells and regenerative cells forming the simple epithelium. Apical plasma membrane of the principal cell is differentiated into microvilli with one mitochondrion in each microvilli. Basal plasma membrane had extreme infolding to form a canaliculi and a well developed mitochondria was attached in the infoldings. And, rER, ribosomes, and vacuoles were well developed inside the cells. However, there were two main cell types depending on the differentiation of cell organelles. Type 1 cell was cubic, forming the distal portion of Malpighian tubule. The length of microvilli was approximately 4 μm and the basal infoldings were introjected to the depth of 2 μm inside the cell. On the other hand, Type II cell that formed the main proxinal portion was a low squamous type cells with shorter 2 μm of microvilli and the basal infoldings were introjected to the depths of 4 μm inside the cell. As for vacuoles scattered inside the cells, they were regularly observed in both Type I and II and the Type II cells had better developed cellular organelles. Although regenerative cells were extremely small, their cellular organelles were developed and their overall electron density was high that they appeared darker than the principal cells.     

A Cytochenfical Study of Acid Phosphatas in the Mycorrhizal Cells of Gastrodia elata Seedling

A cytochemical study has been made to examine the activity of acid β-glycerophosphatase in the mycorrhizal cells of the seedling of Gastrodia elata BI. using thin sectioning technique in which sections were embedded in glycol mathacrylate (GMA). After the seedling was invaded by the hyphae of Mycena osmundicola Lange, two different kinds of infected cells were formed in its root cortex.the outer 1–2 cell layers namely the hyphae-containing cells (or host cells) contained many coiled hyphae pelotons; the inner comparativly large cell layer or fungus-digesting cells contained a few straight hyphae. Localization of acid phosphatase in hyphae-containing cells showed that only a few senescent hyphae retained the enzyme activity and the plant cells did not release hydrolytic enzyme. So it is considered that the hyphal lysis in hyphae-containing cell may be due to autolysis. In contrast, higher acid phosphatase activity was visualized in many vesicles and small vacuoles of the fungus-digesting cells. When a hypha entered a fungus-digesting cell through a hyphae-containing cell, a number of enzyme granules (i. e, enzymecontaining vesicles) gathered around it. Later on the enzyme granules expanded gradually and became small enzyme vacuoles of 1.6–2.0 μm in diameter. Still later the small enzyme vacuoles fused with each other to form a large vacuole in which a part of an invading hypha was enclosed and gradually digested by hydrolytic enzymes. Finally,the digesting vacuole changed into a residual body containing some metabolic waste. The above results suggest that fungus-digesting cells can actively release hydrolytic enzymes by lysosomal vesicles to digest the invading hyphae, but such function is not present in the hyphae-containing cells,the role of which may be attributed to attracting and controling the invading hyphae.     

Effects of different states of sheep fetal fibroblasts as donor cells on the early development in vitro of reconstructed sheep embryos

To investigate the effects of different states of donor cells on the development of reconstructed sheep embryos, we designed five treatments of donor cells, including cell passage, cell size, serum starvation,colchicine treatment and gene transfection. Results are as follows: ( Ⅰ ) Compared with 16-18 passage cells, the morula/blastocyst rate of 5-7 passage cells as donor nuclei was significantly higher (17.3%vs. 4.9%, P＜0.05), suggesting the advantage of short-time cultured cells in supporting the development of reconstructed embryos. (Ⅱ) The morula/blastocyst rate of reconstructed embryos derived from medium cells (15-25 μm) as donor nuclei was higher than that from large cells (25-33 μm) and small cells (8-15 μm)( 20.0% vs. 8.0%, 9.7%), indicating that reconstructed embryos from medium cells had a greater potentiality to develop into morula/blastocysts than those from small or large ones. (Ⅲ) The morula/blastocyst rate of reconstructed embryos from donor cells of SS (serum starvation) was lower than that from donor cells of NSS (non-serum starvation), but no significant difference was detected between SS and NSS( 11.8% vs. 18.6%, P＞0.05). (Ⅳ) Fetal fibroblasts treated with 0.05 μmol/L colchicine exhibited a higher morula/blastocyst rate of reconstructed embryos than those treated with 0.10 μmol/L colchicine and untreated ones (27.5% vs. 12.1%, 17.1%), however, no significant difference among the three treatments was detected (P＞0.05). (Ⅴ) The morula/blastocyst rate of reconstructed embryos from fetal fibroblasts transfected with GFP gene only was 3.1%, significantly lower than that from non-transgenic cells (3.1% vs. 20.4%, P＜0.05). In conclusion, our results demonstrated that fetal fibroblasts of fewer passages, medium size could ensure a higher morula/blastocyst rate of reconstructed embryos. Serum starvation of donor cells might be unnecessary to the development of reconstructed embryos. Donor cells treated with 0.05 μmol/L colchicine could facilitate the development of reconstructed embryos. Additionally, as cells transfected with GFP gene were used as donor nuclei, adverse effect on the development of reconstructed embryos was observed. Therefore, the developmental efficiency of reconstructed embryos could be improved if proper treatments to donor cells were used.