柞蚕幼虫期神经系统一氧化氮合酶的NADPH-d组织化学

运用NADPH-d组织化学整体染色方法研究柞蚕Antheraea pernyi Gu rin-Meneville幼虫神经系统中一氧化氮合酶阳性细胞的分布、数量及形态特征。结果表明,柞蚕各龄期幼虫中枢神经的脑及各神经节中都有一氧化氮合酶阳性反应,阳性神经元根据其形态大小和染色特性可分为A,B,C3种类型:A型细胞沿神经节中线分布,阳性反应较强,胞体长径约30~70μm,各神经节中的数量恒定。B型细胞多分布于神经节周边部分,阳性反应较弱,胞体长径约8~20μm,各神经节中的数量变化较大,随着龄期增加有减少的趋势。C型细胞分布于咽下神经节和第8腹神经节,在3种细胞中阳性反应最强,胞体长径约16~50μm。     

柞蚕蛹卵巢细胞的初代培养

采用MGM-448加20％胎牛血清作培养基对柞蚕蛹卵巢进行组织块培养,细胞可维持良好的生长状态达2个月之久。在此期间,细胞形态不一,且细胞聚集产生分化现象。本研究证明MGM—448培养基对柞蚕细胞原代培养来说是比较理想的培养基。     

Characterization of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase from silkmoth (Antheraea pernyi) and pesticidal drug design based on the baculovirus-expressed enzyme

Arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT; EC 2.3.1.87) catalyzes the N-acetylation of arylalkylamines. A cDNA encoding AANAT (ApAANAT) was cloned from Antheraea pernyi by PCR. The cDNA of 1966 bp encodes a 261 amino acid protein. The amino acid sequence was found to have a high homology with Bombyx mori AANAT (BmNAT) but had very low homology with vertebrate AANATs. Amino acid sequence analysis revealed that four insect AANATs cloned from three species including ApAANAT formed a distinct cluster from the vertebrate group. A recombinant ApAANAT protein was expressed in Sf9 cells using a baculovirus expression system, having AANAT activity. The transformed cell extract acetylated tryptamine, serotonin, dopamine, tyramine, octopamine and norepinephrine. The AANAT activity was inhibited at over 0.03 mM tryptamine. Although insect AANATs have been considered as a target of insecticide, this type of insecticide has never been developed. Screening a chemical library of Otsuka Chemical Co., Ltd., we found a novel compound and its derivatives that inhibited the AANAT activity of ApAANAT. This may facilitate investigation of the monoamine metabolic pathway in insects and the development of new types of insecticides and inhibitors of AANATs.     

Contrasting Patterns of Demography and Population Viability Among Gopher Tortoise Populations in Alabama

Population viability analyses are useful tools to predict abundance and extinction risk for imperiled species. In southeastern North America, the federally threatened gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is a keystone species in the diverse and imperiled longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) ecosystem, and researchers have suggested that tortoise populations are declining and characterized by high extinction risk. We report results from a 30-year demographic study of gopher tortoises in southern Alabama (1991–2020), where 3 populations have been stable and 3 others have declined. To better understand the demographic vital rates associated with stable and declining tortoise populations, we used a multi-state hierarchical mark-recapture model to estimate sex- and stage-specific patterns of demographic vital rates at each population. We then built a predictive population model to project population dynamics and evaluate extinction risk in a population viability context. Population structure did not change significantly in stable populations, but juveniles became less abundant in declining populations over 30 years. Apparent survival varied by age, sex, and site; adults had higher survival than juveniles, but female survival was substantially lower in declining populations than in stable ones. Using simulations, we predicted that stable populations with high female survival would persist over the next 100 years but sites with lower female survival would decline, become male-biased, and be at high risk of extirpation. Stable populations were most sensitive to changes in apparent survival of adult females. Because local populations varied greatly in vital rates, our analysis improves upon previous demographic models for northern populations of gopher tortoises by accounting for population-level variation in demographic patterns and, counter to previous model predictions, suggests that small tortoise populations can persist when habitat is managed effectively. © 2021 The Wildlife Society.     

Waif Gopher Tortoise Survival and Site Fidelity Following Translocation

Gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) are among the most commonly translocated reptiles. Waif tortoises are animals frequently of unknown origin that have been displaced from the wild and often held in human possession for various reasons and durations. Although there are risks associated with any translocation, waif tortoises are generally excluded from translocation projects because of heightened concerns of introducing pathogens and uncertainty about the post-release survival of these individuals. If these risks could be managed, waif tortoises could have conservation value because they can provide the needed numbers to stabilize populations. In the early 1990s, the discovery of an isolated population of gopher tortoises (≤15 individuals) near Aiken, South Carolina, USA, prioritized establishment of the Aiken Gopher Tortoise Heritage Preserve (AGTHP). Because of the population's need for augmentation and the site's isolation from other tortoise populations, the AGTHP provided the opportunity to evaluate the post-release survival of translocated waif tortoises without compromising a viable population. Since 2006, >260 waif tortoises have been introduced to the preserve. Using a Cormack-Jolly-Seber modeling framework to analyze release records and capture histories from trapping efforts in 2017 and 2018, we estimated the long-term apparent survival and site fidelity of this population composed largely of waif tortoises. We estimated annual apparent survival probabilities to be high (≥0.90) for subadult, adult male, and adult female tortoises, and these rates were similar to those reported for wild-to-wild translocated gopher tortoises and those from unmanipulated populations. Of the tortoises recaptured within the boundaries of the preserve, 75% were located within 400 m of their release location. These results suggest that waif tortoises could be an important resource in reducing the extirpation risk of isolated populations. © 2021 The Wildlife Society.     

柞蚕小热休克蛋白20.1的基因鉴定及免疫功能研究

热休克蛋白(HSP)是一类广泛存在于各类生物中的具有分子伴侣功能的蛋白质。近年来研究发现HSP与机体许多功能如免疫、凋亡、衰老等密切相关。柞蚕(Antheraea pernyi)小热休克蛋白20.1(Aphsp20.1)基因的开放读码框长度为534bp,编码178个氨基酸。序列比对结果表明,柞蚕小热休克蛋白20.1属于HSP20家族。组织定量显示这Aphsp20.1在中肠和脂肪体分布较高。此外用大肠杆菌Escherichia coli及Micrococcus luteus病原微生物注射入5龄3天柞蚕幼虫后,发现Aphsp20.1的基因表达菌明显上调。另外体外抑菌试验结果发现纯化后的蛋白也具有一定的抑菌作用。该研究表明ApHSP20.1在柞蚕的免疫功能中具有重要作用,该研究不仅为我们进一步了解更加复杂的高等生物天然免疫反应提供一些相关的研究线索;而且对柞蚕天然免疫的研究有利于更好地理解昆虫自身的免疫系统,为保护益虫防治害虫提供重要依据。     

Changes in brain monoamine contents in diapause pupae of Antheraea pernyi when activated under long-day and by chilling

The contents of biogenic monoamines in the brain-subesophageal ganglion complex were measured in both bivoltine and univoltine strains of the Chinese oak silkmoth, Antheraea pernyi using HPLC-ECD. The contents in the bivoltine strain were monitored every five days under LD 12:12 and 16:8, photoperiods maintaining and terminating diapause, respectively at 25°C. The univoltine strain was chilled at 2°C and the monoamine contents were measured at 10-day intervals. Dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine-like peaks were detected from the crude homogenate and the eluate from the alumina oxide column. The contents of both dopamine and epinephrine-like compounds dropped significantly before the ecdysteroid surge at LD 16:8 and steadily decreased during cold storage. In contrast, 5-HT increased sharply in parallel with the surge of ecdysteroid. Cold storage also strongly affected indolamine metabolism. After cold storage, 5-HT was more predominantly metabolized by N-acetyltransferase than by monoamine oxidase, since 5-HIAA dropped significantly, while N-acetylserotonin increased during cold storage. A dual regulatory system consisting of the ecdysiotropin inhibitory pathway by catecholamaine metabolism and the ecdysiotropin stimulatory pathway by indolamine metabolism is proposed for the regulation of pupal diapause in this species.     

Green colouration of cocoons in Antheraea yamamai (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae): light-induced production of blue bilin in the larval haemolymph

When the larvae of a saturniid silkmoth, Antheraea yamamai, are maintained under high intensity light (5000 lux), they produce green cocoons whereas the cocoons produced under light of low intensity (e.g., 50 lux) or in darkness are yellow. The green colour of the cocoon is due to the presence of a blue bilin pigment in combination with yellow pigment, and light stimulates the accumulation of blue bilin. In the present study, we show that two blue bilins, with similar characteristics to the sarpedobilin in the green cocoon, can be induced in larval haemolymph both in vivo and in vitro. In both conditions, the amount of these bilins increased with increasing intensity or duration of light exposure. Induction also occurred at 0 degrees C. In contrast, the chromophore of the constitutive biliprotein of the haemolymph did not change depending on light conditions. Size fractionation of the haemolymph indicates that the precursor of the blue bilins induced by light is bound to a protein with a molecular mass of 5000 Da or more. Thus, in these insects, the blue bilin responsible for green colouration is facultative under photochemical stimulation.