蝙蝠在维护生态系统中的作用

蝙蝠是世界上分布最广、种群数量最多、进化最成功的哺乳动物类群之一,它们在维护生态系统中具有重要的作用：蝙蝠在生态系统中占据了独特的生存空间;蝙蝠是许多农、林及卫生害虫的天敌;蝙蝠是种子的传播者和花粉的传授者;在一定生态系统中蝙蝠可能起到关键种的作用;食虫蝙蝠粪便和酮体均是我国传统中药中的主要药材之一。研究和保护蝙蝠在维护生态环境中具有十分重要的意义。     

Diet quality and the attractiveness of male body odor

Human axillary sweat may provide information pertaining to genetic relatedness and health status. A significant contributor to good health, both in the short and longer term, is a diet rich in fruit and vegetables. In this study we tested whether dietary fruit and vegetable intake, assessed indirectly by skin spectrophotometry (assessing dietary carotenoid intakes) and subjectively by food frequency questionnaire, was associated with more pleasant smelling sweat. Male participants provided axillary sweat samples and dietary information. Female participants then evaluated these samples on several affective, qualitative and psychophysical dimensions. The skin spectrophotometry measure (CIELab b*), indicative of greater fruit and vegetable intake, was significantly associated with more pleasant smelling sweat (with more floral, fruity, sweet and medicinal qualities), independent of sweat intensity. Self-report dietary data revealed that fat, meat, egg and tofu intake was associated with more pleasant smelling sweat, and greater carbohydrate intake with stronger smelling less pleasant sweat. These data parallel facial judgments, in which yellower more carotenoid rich skin, is found to be more attractive.     

马鹿线粒体DNA研究新进展

线粒体DNA作为理想的分子遗传标记被广泛应用于马鹿进化生物学、种群遗传学和保护生物学的研究.该文阐述了mtDNA在马鹿中的研究进展,重点介绍马鹿mtDNA序列的研究概况及其多态性在马鹿物种识别、起源和进化、地理分化、遗传多样性和保护管理等方面的应用情况.     

Apoptotic effects and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase responses in liver and gill tissues of rainbow trout treated with chlorpyrifos

We investigated apoptotic effects and changes in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme activity in liver and gill tissues of fish exposed to chlorpyrifos. Three different chlorpyrifos doses (2.25, 4.5 and 6.75 μg/L) were administrated to rainbow trout at different time intervals (24, 48, 72 and 96 h). Acute exposure to chlorpyrifos showed time dependent decrease in G6PD enzyme activity at all concentrations (p < 0.05). Immunohistochemical results showed that chlorpyrifos caused mucous cell loss in gill tissue and apoptosis via caspase-3 activation in fish. The present study suggested that chlorpyrifos inhibits G6PD enzyme and causes mucous cell loss in gill and apoptosis in gill and liver tissues.     

Cytoplasmic Location of α1A Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel C-Terminal Fragment (Cav2.1-CTF) Aggregate Is Sufficient to Cause Cell Death

The human α_1A voltage-dependent calcium channel (Ca_v2.1) is a pore-forming essential subunit embedded in the plasma membrane. Its cytoplasmic carboxyl(C)-tail contains a small poly-glutamine (Q) tract, whose length is normally 4∼19 Q, but when expanded up to 20∼33Q, the tract causes an autosomal-dominant neurodegenerative disorder, spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6). A recent study has shown that a 75-kDa C-terminal fragment (CTF) containing the polyQ tract remains soluble in normal brains, but becomes insoluble mainly in the cytoplasm with additional localization to the nuclei of human SCA6 Purkinje cells. However, the mechanism by which the CTF aggregation leads to neurodegeneration is completely elusive, particularly whether the CTF exerts more toxicity in the nucleus or in the cytoplasm. We tagged recombinant (r)CTF with either nuclear-localization or nuclear-export signal, created doxycyclin-inducible rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell lines, and found that the CTF is more toxic in the cytoplasm than in the nucleus, the observations being more obvious with Q28 (disease range) than with Q13 (normal-length). Surprisingly, the CTF aggregates co-localized both with cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and phosphorylated-CREB (p-CREB) in the cytoplasm, and Western blot analysis showed that the quantity of CREB and p-CREB were both decreased in the nucleus when the rCTF formed aggregates in the cytoplasm. In human brains, polyQ aggregates also co-localized with CREB in the cytoplasm of SCA6 Purkinje cells, but not in other conditions. Collectively, the cytoplasmic Ca_v2.1-CTF aggregates are sufficient to cause cell death, and one of the pathogenic mechanisms may be abnormal CREB trafficking in the cytoplasm and reduced CREB and p-CREB levels in the nuclei.     

Evaluation of Montandoniola confusa Streito and Matocq sp. nov. and Orius insidiosus Say (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae), for control of Gynaikothrips uzeli Zimmerman (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) on Ficus benjamina

Since its discovery in Florida in 2003, the weeping fig thrips, Gynaikothrips uzeli Zimmerman has spread rapidly throughout the southeastern United States in shipments of ornamental Ficus benjamina L. Concurrently, there have been reports of an invasive anthocorid, Montandoniola confusa (=moraguesi) Streito and Matocq sp. nov., widely associated with G. uzeli populations in landscape plantings of ornamental Ficus spp. We evaluated M. confusa and a commercially available anthocorid, Orius insidiosus Say, as biological control agents of G. uzeli. Prey preference studies revealed that eggs were the numerically preferred host stage for both predator species (representing 92% and 94% of all prey taken in ‘no choice’ and ‘choice’ tests, respectively). Females of both predator species consumed significantly more eggs than males (83–91 versus 25–35 per 48 h period, respectively), and (in the absence of eggs) also more larvae (4.1–5.5 versus 2.1–2.5). Fecundity of M. confusa was significantly higher than for O. insidious, 10.6 ± 1.5 eggs per 48 h versus 5.0 ± 1.4, respectively. Greenhouse tests on heavily infested F. benjamina revealed that M. confusa was a highly effective predator of G. uzeli. Evaluations with three F. benjamina cultivars showed that M. confusa reproduced throughout the year and reduced thrips populations ⩾95% and leaf galls by up to 77% within 5 weeks. By contrast O. insidiosus did not establish or significantly reduce populations of G. uzeli inside leaf galls. Methods to monitor and protect M. confusa in urban landscapes are discussed.     

Morphology of eggs and spermatheca of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Odontotarsus purpureolineatus</Emphasis> (Heteroptera,Scutelleridae)

The morphology of the spermatheca and eggs of Odontotarsus purpureolineatus were studied by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The spherical eggs were about 1.35 mm long and 1.09 mm wide. The egg batches generally consist of 13–14 eggs. The egg surface is covered by polygonal (hexagonal and pentagonal shapes prevail) ridges and tiny chorionic tubercles. There were 8–10 aero-micropylar processes between the polygons. The spermatheca of O. purpureolineatus is characterized by a spherical spermathecal bulb, a pumping region, a flange of pump and dilation of spermathecal duct. Spermathecal processes and a median spermathecal dilation with sclerotized rod are missing. The spermathecal bulb and the pumping region possess many pores.     

6-Hydroxyflavones from Thymbra spicata

Four flavonoids, including two new compounds, were isolated from the leaf extract of Thymbra spicata. The new compounds were the 7,3′-dimethyl and 7,3′,4′-trimethyl ethers of 6-hydroxyluteolin. All the compounds were identified by spectral methods.