Microsporogenesis and microgametogenesis of Excentrodendron hsienmu (Malvaceae s.l.) and their systematic implications

Flowers, microsporogenesis and microgametogenesis of Excentrodendron hsienmu in opening-functional flowers and non-opening flowers were studied to investigate the evolutionary relationships of Excentrodendron . E. hsienmu is a dioecious species that blossoms every 3–4 years, although large numbers of flower buds develop every year. The anther is tetrasporangiate, the tapetum is of the secretory type, the microspore tetrads are mainly tetrahedral, and the pollen grains are two-celled when shed. Four to six microsporocytes are seen on the transverse section of the anthers, and cytokinesis is simultaneous. The development of the anther wall conforms to the basic type and the anther wall is five or six cells thick, with a fibrous endothecium. The difference between the opening-functional and the non-opening flowers is mainly in the thickness of the anther wall. Early megasporogenesis in staminate flowers up to megaspore mother cell or megaspore tetrads has been observed. Excentrodendron shares with Dombeyeae only plesiomorphic features, but differs in anther wall development type and thickness. Most features of Excentrodendron are shared with Pterospermum , including such synapomorphic features as basic type of anther wall development, five- to six-cell-thick anther wall, biseriate tapetum at some places, and degeneration of microsporocytes, suggesting placement near Pterospermum .   © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 150 , 447–457.     

KILLER WHALE (ORCINUS ORCA) AUDITORY EVOKED POTENTIALS TO RHYTHMIC CLICKS

Temporal auditory mechanisms were measured in killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) by recording auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) to clicks. Clicks were presented at rates from 10/sec to 1,600/sec. At low rates, clicks evoked an AEP similar to the auditory brainstem response (ABR) of other odontocetes; however, peak latencies of the main waves were 3–3.7 msec longer than in bottlenose dolphins. Fourier analysis of the ABR showed a prominent peak at 300–400 Hz and a smaller one at 800–1,200 Hz. High-rate click presentation (more than 100/sec) evoked a rate-following response (RFR). The RFR amplitude depended little on rate up to 400/sec, decreased at higher rates and became undetectable at 1,120/sec. Fourier analysis showed that RFR fundamental amplitude dependence on frequency closely resembled the ABR spectrum. The fundamental could follow clicks to around 1,000/sec, although higher harmonics of lower rates could arise at frequencies as high as 1,200 Hz. Both RFR fundamental phase dependence on frequency and the response lag after a click train indicated an RFR group delay of around 7.5 msec. This corresponds to the latency of ABR waves PIII-NIV, which indicates the RFR originates as a rhythmic, overlapping ABR sequence. The data suggest the killer whale auditory system can follow high click rates, an ability that may have been selected for as a function of high-frequency hearing and the use of rapid clicks in echolocation.     

Eight polymorphic microsatellite loci for the critically endangered crested ibis,Nipponia nippon (Ciconiiformes: Threskiornithidae)

The Chinese crested ibis, Nipponia nippon, is a critically endangered bird. The current population of this species has developed from four wild individuals rediscovered in 1981. Given its conservation status, there is considerable interest in assessing the genetic diversity and individual relatedness in this species. For this purpose, a set of eight polymorphic di‐ or trinucleotide microsatellite loci was developed for the crested ibis. The expected heterozygosity at these loci ranges from 0.01 to 0.50, with less than four alleles being observed at individual loci, a reflection of the serious population bottleneck experienced by this species.     

血清NGF、BDNF、GFAP水平与老年血管性痴呆严重程度的相关性分析

目的:探讨血清神经生长因子(Nerve Growth Factor,NGF)、脑源性神经营养因子(Brain Derived Neural Nutrition Factor, BDNF)、胶质纤维酸性蛋白(Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein,GFAP)水平与老年血管性痴呆严重程度的相关性。方法:选择我院2016年1月至2018年12月收治的81例老年血管性痴呆患者,根据简易精神状态检查表(MMES)评分将其分为三组,以MMSE评分21～26分者为轻度组(26例),10～20分者为中度组(28例),0～9分者为重度组(27例),同时选择来院体检的50例健康者作为对照组,检测和比较各组的血清NGF、BDNF、GFAP水平,分析血清NGF、BDNF、GFAP水平与老年血管性痴呆患者MMSE分值的相关性。结果:老年血管性痴呆者的血清NGF、GFAP水平明显高于对照组(P0.05),血清BDNF水平明显低于对照组(P0.05)。轻度组、中度组、重度组的血清NGF、GFAP、BDNF水平对比差异均有统计学意义(P0.05):NGF水平:轻度组中度组重度组,BDNF水平:轻度组中度组重度组;GFAP水平:轻度组中度组重度组。血清NGF、BDNF水平与MMSE分值评分呈显著正相关(r_1=0.652,r_2=0.671,P0.05),血清GFAP水平与MMSE分值呈显著负相关(r3=-0.681,P0.05)。结论:血清NGF、BDNF、GFAP水平均与老年血管性痴呆的严重程度密切相关,可能用于评估老年血管性痴呆病情的严重程度。     

ARP2/3 complex‐mediated actin dynamics is required for hydrogen peroxide‐induced stomatal closure in Arabidopsis

Multiple cellular events like dynamic actin reorganization and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) production were demonstrated to be involved in abscisic acid (ABA)‐induced stomatal closure. However, the relationship between them as well as the underlying mechanisms remains poorly understood. Here, we showed that H₂O₂ generation is indispensable for ABA induction of actin reorganization in guard cells of Arabidopsis that requires the presence of ARP2/3 complex. H₂O₂‐induced stomatal closure was delayed in the mutants of arpc4 and arpc5, and the rate of actin reorganization was slowed down in arpc4 and arpc5 in response to H₂O₂, suggesting that ARP2/3‐mediated actin nucleation is required for H₂O₂‐induced actin cytoskeleton remodelling. Furthermore, the expression of H₂O₂ biosynthetic related gene AtrbohD and the accumulation of H₂O₂ was delayed in response to ABA in arpc4 and arpc5, demonstrating that misregulated actin dynamics affects H₂O₂ production upon ABA treatment. These results support a possible causal relation between the production of H₂O₂ and actin dynamics in ABA‐mediated guard cell signalling: ABA triggers H₂O₂ generation that causes the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton partially mediated by ARP2/3 complex, and ARP2/3 complex‐mediated actin dynamics may feedback regulate H₂O₂ production.     

The localization of CD3, CD79a,CD68 and S100 protein immunoreactive cells in hemal nodes of Saanen goat (Capra hircus)

We investigated the structure of hemal nodes in Saanen goats using immunohistochemical staining. We examined the distribution of CD3 positive T lymphocytes, CD79a positive B lymphocytes, CD68 positive macrophages and S100 protein positive follicular dendritic cells. Hemal nodes of six healty adult female goats were used. Hemal nodes were removed from the thoracic and abdominal cavities. The oval to round hemal nodes were observed especially between the abdominal aorta and vena cava, and near the kidneys and adrenal glands. Tissue sections were stained with Crossmon’s modified triple stain to demonstrate general histological structure. The avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique using anti-CD3, anti-CD79a, anti-CD68 and anti-S100 primary antibodies was used for immunohistochemistry. Many CD3 positive T lymphocytes were found in the germinal center of the lymph follicles and in the lymphatic cords of hemal nodes; CD3 positive cells also were observed in the sinuses. CD79a and CD68 positive cells were found at the germinal center of the lymph follicles. In the lymph follicles near the subcapsular sinuses, CD79a and CD68 positive cells were found especially in e areas bordering the mantle zone. S100 positive cells were found in the lymph follicles, lymphatic cords and sinuses.     

A Pin gene families encoding components of auxin efflux carriers in Brassica juncea

Based on the sequence information of Arabidopsis PIN1, two cDNAs encoding PIN homologues from Brassica juncea, Bjpin2 and Bjpin3, were isolated through cDNA library screening. Bjpin2 and Bjpin3 encoded proteins containing 640 and 635 amino acid residues, respectively, which shared 97.5% identities with each other and were highly homologous to Arabidopsis PIN1, PIN2 and other putative PIN proteins. BJPIN2 and BjPIN3 had similar structures as AtPIN proteins. Northern blot analysis indicated that Bjpin2 was expressed in stem, leaf and floral tissues, while Bjpin3 was expressed predominantly in stem and hypocotyls. Two promoter fragments of pin genes, Bjpin-X and Bjpin-Z, were isolated by 'genome walking' technique using primers at 5'-end of pin cDNA. Promoter-gus fusion studies revealed the GUS activities driven by Bjpin-X were at internal side of xylem and petal; while those driven by Bjpin-Z were detected at leaf vein, epidermal cell and cortex of stem, vascular tissues and anther. Results of the pin gene     

水稻不同生育期茎秆生化成分的变化及其与抗倒伏能力的关系

以抗倒伏品种‘南粳44’、‘武运粳7号’与不抗倒伏品系‘宁7412’为试验材料,通过对水稻不同生育期茎秆硅、钾、钙、镁含量及可溶性糖含量的测定,结合氮钾肥配比试验,研究了水稻不同生育期茎秆硅、钾、钙、镁含量及可溶性糖含量的变化及其与茎秆抗倒伏能力的关系。结果表明：水稻茎秆的硅、钙、镁含量及可溶性糖含量随生育进程呈上升趋势,而茎秆的钾含量呈现先降后升的趋势。在不同施肥水平条件下,水稻茎秆的硅、钾、钙、镁含量及可溶性糖含量存在一定的差异。抗倒伏品种‘南粳44’和‘武运粳7号’茎秆基部抗折力较强,施肥对水稻茎秆基部抗折力有一定的影响。水稻生殖生育期茎秆的硅含量、可溶性糖含量与茎秆基部抗折力呈极显著正相关（P〈0.01）,与水稻抗倒伏能力的强弱有一定的关系。     

高危型HPV和L1壳蛋白与宫颈病变关系的研究进展

宫颈病变是女性最常见的疾病之一,是多种因素共同作用的结果。宫颈癌及癌前病变的发生、发展是一个多因素、多步骤的复杂过程,多种基因的改变引发细胞的增殖失控。大量资料表明高危型人乳头瘤病毒(HPV)感染是宫颈病变的主要危险因素,其中HPV16、18型感染占了绝大部分。HPV整合状态与宫颈病变程度密切相关,人乳头瘤病毒(HPV)L1壳蛋白为免疫杀伤HPV病毒的主要靶位,L1蛋白的表达有利于激发人体细胞免疫,清除感染的细胞。HPV感染机体且病毒处于复制阶段时L蛋白才在机体中表达,但是当HPV病毒DNA与宿主细胞基因整合后,L1壳蛋白将不表达,无法形成一系列免疫反应,引发宫颈癌。HPV L1壳蛋白的表达缺失与宫颈病变的进展密切相关。本文对高危型HPV与HPV L1壳蛋白在宫颈病变中的研究进展作一综述。