利用分子标记定位水稻野败型核质互作雄性不育恢复基因

以籼稻恢复系圭６３０与粳型广亲和品种０２４２８的Ｆ１代花药培养,获得８１个双单倍体（ＤＨ）,构建了有２３３个ＲＦＬＰ标记的分子图谱。用籼稻野败型不育系珍汕９７Ａ测定各ＤＨ系的恢复性,并将恢复性作为数量性状进行ＱＴＬ的区间作图分析,鉴别出８个基因座位,其中有２个基因座位,Ｒｆｉ－３和尾Ｒｆｉ－４,单个ＱＴＬ的基因贡献值分别是４９．６％和３５．４％,对育性恢复起主要作用,定为主效基因座位,位于第三和四染色体上,其它６个基因座位对育性恢复亦有一定的影响。表明野败型雄性不育恢复性是受主效基因和微效基因共同控制的性状。     

EP-1不育剂对黑线毛足鼠种群繁殖的影响

为检验EP-1 不育剂对野外鼠类的施用效果,2004 年在内蒙古锡林郭勒盟阿巴嘎旗白音图嘎800 hm² 草场进行了大田实验,并随后进行了逐月的夹线跟踪调查,分析了不育剂(EP-1) 对黑线毛足鼠种群繁殖的效应。结果表明,EP-1 不育剂对黑线毛足鼠种群繁殖的抑制效果良好,投药区与对照区相比,投药区黑线毛足鼠的子宫损伤率达到80% ,平均胎仔数下降到对照区的2 /3 水平,妊娠率也下降到对照区的20% 。但EP-1 不育剂对雄鼠睾丸下降率的作用不明显。一次性投放EP-1 不育剂,对黑线毛足鼠种群的繁殖作用时间可维持4 个月以上,基本可实现对整个繁殖期的控制成效,这可能与黑线毛足鼠具有储藏种子的习性,储藏药饵多次进食有关。     

水稻雄性不育新质源的研究──新型水稻细胞质雄性不育系马协A与野败型珍汕97A不育性的遗传学比较

采用套袋自交结实率和自然结实率为主,花粉育性和田间目测整株育性为辅的综合性状,判定新型细胞质雄性不育系马协Ａ以及它与明恢６３的杂种Ｆ１,Ｆ２和ＢＦ１的植株育性,并以野败型珍汕９７Ａ作对照,比较研究了其有性的遗传规律,结果表明,马协Ａ与珍汕９７Ａ不育性的遗传均由两对基因控制,但新型细胞质雄性不育系马协Ａ两对基因的作用方式与珍汕９７Ａ不同,前者Ｆ２群体的育性分离符合９：３：３：１的比例,ＢＦ１符合１：     

Sociobiology's relevance to modern society: commentary on two articles published here

This article looks at two articles recently published here, one by R. Hopcroft [“Sex, status, and reproductive success in the contemporary United States,” Evolution and Human Behavior 27 (2006) 104–120] the second by M. Fieder and S. Huber [“The effects of sex and childlessness on reproductive effort in modern humans,” Evolution and Human Behavior 28 (2007) 392–398]. They both report a positive relationship between male income and male fertility, which marks a real advancement in our knowledge. Hopcroft speculates at the end of her article that the father's status and female fertility will be positive, too. At this point, this will depend on her and others' reaction to the efforts of S. Huber, F. Bookstein, and M. Fiedler. (2010). Socioeconomic status, education, and reproduction in modern women: an evolutionary perspective. American Journal of Human Biology, 22, 578-587. M. Fieder and S. Huber. (2007). The effects of sex and childlessness on the association between status and reproductive output in modern society. Evolution and Human Behavior, 2, 392-398. are not explicit about this relationship; their closing lines just leave open the possibility that it might be positive. The conclusion is that sociobiology is not really relevant yet to the understanding of modern, industrial society, urban civilization in general, except to show us the various restraints imposed by inborn human nature.     

Quality of semen obtained by electroejaculation from chacma baboons (Papio ursinus)

Fifty-four baboons (Papio ursinus) were subjected to an electro-ejaculation procedure that yielded 683 usable ejaculates in 705 attempts. Quality evaluations by usual human spermiogram methods were applicable with only minor modifications to the procedures. By human criteria these wild baboons remained fertile after capture, and their use as a fertility model in pharmacological studies appeared to be appropriate.     

Interaction between a picornavirus and a wild population ofDrosophila melanogaster

Summary Drosophila C virus (DCV) has a considerable impact on ovarian morphogenesis inDrosophila melanogaster host populations. This virus also affects the developmental time and the fresh weight of infected females. In order to investigate the hypothesis that DCV may play a role in the dynamics ofDrosophila populations, the fertility and embryonic and larvo-pupal death rates of a host population and that of five DCV-free populations were determined. A comparison of two populations, one of them DCV-free, the other infected, suggested that the fertility of the DCV-infected flies was higher than that of uninfected flies, despite a greater larvo-pupal death rate. Fertility of the infected flies was greater among the infected population than for the DCV-free populations. The DCV-free populations originated from five different localities. The virus clearly does have an impact on the biotic potential of its host population. This paper reports for the first time a positive interaction between a viral population and a host population as it increases certain parameters of host population dynamics.     

Interaction between the inducible 70-kDa heat shock protein and autophagy: effects on fertility and pregnancy

A consequence of hsp70 (HSPA1A) induction is the inhibition of autophagy. Evidence of autophagy involvement in all aspects of the reproductive process is reviewed, and possible consequences of hsp70 induction at each developmental stage are postulated. It is proposed that aberrant external or internal stimuli that result in high levels of hsp70 production interfere with normal autophagy-related functions and lead to a decrease in the number of functional ova and spermatozoa, impaired pre- and post-implantation embryo development, and increased susceptibility to premature labor and delivery. The purpose of this review is to increase understanding of hsp70-autophagy interactions during reproduction. Interventions to modulate this interaction will lead to development of novel protocols to improve fertility and pregnancy outcome.     

Disease and fertility: Evidence from the 1918–19 influenza pandemic in Sweden

What are the consequences of a severe health shock like an influenza pandemic on fertility? Using rich administrative data and a difference-in-differences approach, we evaluate fertility responses to the 1918–19 influenza pandemic in Sweden. We find evidence of a small baby boom following the end of the pandemic, but we show that this effect is second-order compared to a strong long-term negative fertility effect. Within this net fertility decline there are compositional effects: we observe a relative increase in births to married women and to better-off families. Several factors – including disruptions to the marriage market and income effects – contribute to the long-term fertility reduction. The results are consistent with studies that find a positive fertility response following natural disasters, but we show that this effect is short-lived.     

Influence of season and microclimate on fertility of dairy cows in a hot-arid environment

Records were obtained over a 3 year period from six Holstein dairy farms of 300 to 500 cows each in the Phoenix, Ariz. area. Dairies were selected on the basis of similar management practices, herd size, milk production and facilities (with the exception of cooling systems). Microclimatic modifications (two dairies each) were shade only (approximately 3.7 m²/cow), evaporative-cooled shades and low-pressure water foggers under the shades. Data were categorized by season of calving (spring, Feb.–May; summer, June–Sept.; and fall, Oct.–Jan.). Traits evaluated were calving interval, days open and services/conception. Calving interval was shortest for cows calving in the spring (378 days), intermediate in fall (382 days) and longest in summer (396 days). Similar seasonal trends were observed for days open (103, 103 and 119 days, respectively) and services/conception (1.54, 1.81 and 1.93, respectively). All differences between spring and summer were significant (P < 0.05). Calving interval and days open were less for evaporative-cooled groups (374 and 98 days, respectively), with no difference between shade only and foggers (391 and 392 days, 112 and 116 days, respectively). Services/conception were similar for all groups (1.72 to 1.79). A significant interaction between microclimate and season for services/conception could be interpreted as (i) smaller season differences for evaporative-cooled groups than for shade or foggers, or (ii) a change in the ranking of control and fogger groups during summer versus fall. Evaporative cooling was more effective than fogging for reducing the detrimental effects of seasonal high temperatures on fertility.     

Microorganisms in the healthy upper reproductive tract: from denial to beneficial assignments for reproductive biology

Contrary to the traditional assumption of a sterile uterus, the number of studies characterizing microbial entities in the healthy upper reproductive tract (endometrial cavity, including follicular fluid and placenta) have been on the increase. Substantial data has been accumulated correlating microbial composition with fertility outcome. In this context, the presence of certain taxa was associated to an improved reproductive success. A summarization for the evidence of these molecular mechanisms through which bacteria may affect developmental processes during pregnancy is presented and discussed with special focus placed upon the immunological aspects.