池塘养殖三疣梭子蟹雄体生长和性腺发育规律

池塘养殖是三疣梭子蟹(Portunus trituberculatus)的主要养殖方式,但关于池塘养殖三疣梭子蟹雄体的生长和性腺发育规律尚不清楚。本研究通过定点连续采样,首先系统研究池塘养殖过程中三疣梭子蟹雄体的生长和成熟雄体生殖系统的外观及组成的变化,其次研究池塘养殖三疣梭子蟹雄体性腺发育过程中性腺各部分组织学特征及其指数的变化,以及不同月份雄体性腺发育的情况和比例。结果表明:(1)三疣梭子蟹雄体的体重和壳宽增长率及特定增长率均在8月份最高,且体重与壳宽呈显著正相关关系。(2)三疣梭子蟹成熟雄体的生殖系统由体外(阴茎、交接器)和体内(精巢、输精管)两部分构成。(3)根据精巢和输精管的外观、组织学特征及其指数的变化,可将三疣梭子蟹雄体性腺发育分为3期。精子发生期,即精巢内主要细胞类型是精原细胞和初级精母细胞,精巢指数为0.07%～0.16%,此时输精管呈透明状,肉眼很难发现;精荚形成期,精巢内主要细胞类型为次级精母细胞和精子细胞,精巢指数为0.10%～0.51%,输精管内有大量精荚和分泌物,输精管指数为0.01%～0.41%;成熟期,精巢内主要细胞类型是精子细胞和成熟精子,精巢指数为0.10%～0.41%,输精管进一步膨大,输精管指数为0.20%～0.65%。(4)在雄体性腺发育期间,性腺指数和输精管指数呈显著上升趋势,而精巢指数呈现先上升后下降的趋势,且统计分析发现性腺指数与肝胰腺指数无明显的相关性。(5)池塘养殖雄体性腺发育不同步,7月份主要处于精子发生期,8月底,有76%的雄体性腺发育达到精荚形成期,至9月底,达到成熟期雄体的比例为47%,此后雄体性腺发育趋于成熟,10月中下旬至12月份池塘养殖雄体均主要处于成熟期。     

Dmrt1 polymorphism covaries with sex‐determination patterns in Rana temporaria

Patterns of sex‐chromosome differentiation and gonadal development have been shown to vary among populations of Rana temporaria along a latitudinal transect in Sweden. Frogs from the northern‐boreal population of Ammarnäs displayed well‐differentiated X and Y haplotypes, early gonadal differentiation, and a perfect match between phenotypic and genotypic sex. In contrast, no differentiated Y haplotypes could be detected in the southern population of Tvedöra, where juveniles furthermore showed delayed gonadal differentiation. Here, we show that Dmrt1, a gene that plays a key role in sex determination and sexual development across all metazoans, displays significant sex differentiation in Tvedöra, with a Y‐specific haplotype distinct from Ammarnäs. The differential segment is not only much shorter in Tvedöra than in Ammarnäs, it is also less differentiated and associates with both delayed gonadal differentiation and imperfect match between phenotypic and genotypic sex. Whereas Tvedöra juveniles with a local Y haplotype tend to ultimately develop as males, those without it may nevertheless become functional XX males, but with strongly female‐biased progeny. Our findings suggest that the variance in patterns of sex determination documented in common frogs might result from a genetic polymorphism within a small genomic region that contains Dmrt1. They also substantiate the view that recurrent convergences of sex determination toward a limited set of chromosome pairs may result from the co‐option of small genomic regions that harbor key genes from the sex‐determination pathway.     

Gonadal hormones modulate sex differences in judgments of relative numerousness in meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus

Animals in a variety of taxa discriminate between a greater quantity and a lesser quantity of the same object, an ability that is referred to as relative numerousness judgment. For example, meadow voles can distinguish between areas containing more over-marks by one opposite-sex scent donor and fewer over-marks by another opposite-sex scent donor. Females appear to be able to make better discriminations between more or less over-marks than do males. In that gonadal hormones have been implicated in modulating cognitive function associated with spatial tasks, we tested the hypothesis that high titers of testosterone and estradiol are necessary for male and female voles, respectively, to distinguish between the top- and bottom-scent donors in an area containing mixed over-marks. We gonadectomized voles, giving them either gonadal hormone replacement (testosterone for males and estradiol for females) or no hormone replacement, and tested their spontaneous judgments of distinguishing between the top- and bottom-scent donors in an area containing mixed over-marks; a task involving judgments of relative numerousness. Female voles given replacement estradiol performed better than did female voles not given replacement estradiol in determining the top-scent and bottom-scent males in areas containing mixed over-marks. In contrast, males not treated with replacement testosterone performed better than did males treated with testosterone in determining the top-scent and bottom-scent males in areas containing mixed over-marks. Thus, high titers of estradiol and low titers of testosterone are associated with better performance on tasks involving relative numerousness in female and male voles, respectively. The results of this task on relative numerousness judgments are discussed in relation to the effects of gonadal steroid hormone on spatial ability, a closely related cognitive domain, and the social biology of meadow voles.     

A patched1 gene homologue participates in female differentiation of Cynoglossus semilaevis

Patched (Ptch) is a receptor in the hedgehog signaling pathway, essential for animal development. Our previous study showed that ptch1 gene participates in the maintenance of the male germline and spermatogenesis in Cynoglossus semilaevis (csptch1). In this study, we identified a patched1 gene homolog (csptch1 x1). The csptch1 x1 gene is 5761 bp long, with a 4638 bp coding sequence that encodes 1545 amino acids. The Csptch1 x1 protein has 12 transmembrane regions and sterol-sensing domains and is highly homologous to the csptch1 (91 amino acids difference). Expression pattern analysis showed that csptch1 x1 is expressed in eight different tissues of adult tongue sole, and the expression is significantly higher in tissues of female than that in male tissues. The expression pattern in developmental stages was also analyzed. csptch1 x1 could be detected at the 1-cell stage and was highly expressed at the blastocyst, somite, and blastopore closing stages, implying that it participates in cell differentiation. In ovarian development, the expression of csptch1 x1 was initiated at 20 days after hatching (dah) and was significantly high at 35–50 and 95–150 dah. In situ hybridization showed that csptch1 x1 was predominantly expressed in primordial germ cells, oocytes, and follicular cells, but the expression of the gene was lower in the testis. These results suggest that csptch1 x1 may be mainly involved in female differentiation and ovarian development, different from the role of csptch1 in spermatogenesis.     

Post-castration rebound of an androgen regulated prostatic gene

Summary After castration, the rat dorsolateral prostate M-40 mRNA initially decreased then rebounded to precastrated levels. The cellular site of M-40 expression and its renewed expression after castration was defined by in situ hybridization histochemistry. In situ hybridization with either a ³²P-labeled or biotin-labeled M-40 cDNA probe demonstrated that M-40 mRNA levels were higher in the lateral than dorsal prostate. A second androgen regulated gene, RWB, also was highly expressed in the lateral prostate. The biotinylated cDNA probes provided microscopic resolution of the expressing cells, revealing two distinct morphologies of lateral epithelium which expressed both the M-40 and RWB mRNA. These morphologies appeared in ducts which contained either epithelial cell sheets that were highly convoluted or thinner epithelial cells with a minimal degree of convolution. The RWB mRNA decreased in both cell populations in response to androgen withdrawal. The decline and reappearance of M-40 mRNA also appeared in both epithelial cell types. These data demonstrated that after castration the M-40 mRNA initially decreased as expected for an androgen sensitive gene and then progressed to a fully inducible state. The mechanism of this progression remains to be elucidated.     

Managing anabolic steroids in pre-hibernating Arctic ground squirrels: obtaining their benefits and avoiding their costs

Androgens have benefits, such as promoting muscle growth, but also significant costs, including suppression of immune function. In many species, these trade-offs in androgen action are reflected in regulated androgen production, which is typically highest only in reproductive males. However, all non-reproductive Arctic ground squirrels, irrespective of age and sex, have high levels of androgens prior to hibernating at sub-zero temperatures. Androgens appear to be required to make muscle in summer, which, together with lipid, is then catabolized during overwinter. By contrast, most hibernating mammals catabolize only lipid. We tested the hypothesis that androgen action is selectively enhanced in Arctic ground squirrel muscle because of an upregulation of androgen receptors (ARs). Using Western blot analysis, we found that Arctic ground squirrels have AR in skeletal muscle more than four times that of Columbian ground squirrels, a related southern species that overwinters at approximately 0°C and has low pre-hibernation androgen levels. By contrast, AR in lymph nodes was equivalent in both species. Brain AR was also modestly but significantly increased in Arctic ground squirrel relative to Columbian ground squirrel. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that tissue-specific AR regulation prior to hibernation provides a mechanism whereby Arctic ground squirrels obtain the life-history benefits and mitigate the costs associated with high androgen production.     

环境雄激素的危害、来源与环境行为

内分泌干扰物(EDCs)因低剂量即可导致严重的生理效应而成为研究的热点,环境雄激素就是典型的内分泌干扰物之一,它主要来源于畜禽粪尿的排放以及造纸厂和城市污水处理厂处理不彻底的废水排放,污染源的连续性排放致使环境雄激素物质在各类环境介质中被不断检出,并导致一些地区出现鱼类的雄性化现象,对环境健康和生态安全构成严重威胁。综述了环境雄激素的暴露危害、主要来源以及环境雄激素在不同环境中的浓度水平和分布特征,介绍了环境雄激素的分析检测手段,阐述了环境雄激素在环境中的迁移、吸附、降解等过程,并对环境雄激素的研究进行了展望。     

Gonadal sex differentiation in Alligator mississippiensis,a species with temperature-dependent sex determination

Temperature of egg incubation determines sex in Alligator mississippiensis hatchlings. To define the timing and morphology of sexual differentiation, alligator gonads were examined histologically and ultrastructurally throughout embryogenesis. At the male-producing temperature (33° C), the onset of testis differentiation occurred in most embryos during developmental stages 21–22, when a number of somatic cells in the medulla of the gonad became enlarged, forming presumptive Sertoli cells. Some enlarged somatic cells were also observed at the female-producing temperature (30° C) during gonadogenesis, but they were less widespread than at 33° C. Ovarian differentiation at 30° C began slighlty later, during stage 22–23, and was characterised by proliferation of germs cells in the cortex of the gonad. Testis formation in alligators may depend upon presumptive Sertoli cells differentiating prior to a critical event in embryogenesis, such as germ cell proliferation and meiosis. If follows that ovary formation occurs if this requirement is not met, as at lower incubation temperatures.     

Sex differences in adrenocortical structure and function

Summary Adrenal glands of adult female rats are heavier than the glands of corresponding male rats. Postpubertal orchiectomy increases the adrenal weight, an effect restored by testosterone replacement. Under the same conditions ovariectomy of 8 weeks duration does not change the adrenal weight while estradiol replacement enhances the relative adrenal weight.Karyometric studies have shown that nuclei in the female zona fasciculata cells are larger (app. 18%) than those of the male. Similar but only slight differences (2%) were observed in the zona reticularis. Orchiectomy results in enlargement of cell nuclei within all zones of the adrenal cortex; testosterone replacement has the opposite effect. Ovariectomy of 8 weeks duration slightly enhances the volume of nuclei of the zona glomerulosa cells, has no effect on the nuclei of the zona fasciculata and reduces the volume of nuclei in the zona reticularis. Estradiol replacement reduces the volume of nuclei of the zona glomerulosa cells but increases nuclear volume in the zona fasciculata and in the zona reticularis.Thus testosterone has an inhibitory effect on the adrenal cortex of the rat while the physiologic effect of estradiol on the morphology of this gland, particularly on the zona fasciculata cells is rather dubious.The author wishes to thank Mrs. B. Westerska and Miss K. Siejak for excellent technical assistance.This research was supported in part by a grant from the Zoological Committee, 2nd Department, Polish Academy of Sciences.This paper is dedicated to the memory of late Kazimierz Mietkiewski, M.D., Ph.D. whose encouragements and suggestions were most stimulating for my work.