A comparative study of the temporal bone in three populations of man

A comparative study was made to determine race and sex differences in the temporal bone, to investigate growth relationships, and to establish a basis for phylogenetic studies of the temporal bone and the temporal lobe of the brain. Data on Eskimo, Indian, and white crania were collected from radiographs and directly from the skulls. Of the 25 variables studied, only the minimum diameter of porus failed to demonstrate some difference among the races. Variation between sexes was found for all measurements except the cranial base angle (of deflection) and three angles related to the petrous pyramids. Correlation coefficients indicated that none of the angles are related in any consistent manner to the other variables studied. This is interpreted as further evidence of cranial base stability. The Indians have the lowest, longest squamae, differing most from the whites. The position of squama is more anterior in the Eskimos. Females of each race possess more anteriorly positioned squamae than males. When the squama is more anteriorly located, the porus is in a more posterior position within the squama itself. Strong race variation exists in the shape of porus. In order to establish a basis for phylogenetic studies of the temporal lobe of the brain better reference points for reflecting its size and shape must be found.     

Local cold exposure of Andean Indians during normal and simulated activities.

Thermal resonses of Andean Indians were measured during several customary tasks associated with cold exposure in the highlands of southern Peru. These included surface temperature measurements of women while they washed clothing in the river and similar measurements of men while they constructed a diversion channel in the same river. A third test measured the effects of alcohol consumption on body temperatures during light activity. Women maintained slightly warmer hand than foot temperatures. Men maintained nearly equal hand and foot temperatures during the exposure period. Among male subjects the foot rewarmed at a faster rate than the hand. The results from the field studies compared favorably with results from earlier laboratory exposure tests. Comparisons between the river water exposure tests for males and females showed a consistent pattern where females maintained warmer hand and foot temperatures than males. These findings were in accord with previous laboratory studies among Quechua Indians and with the findings reported for other ethnic groups who experience natural cold stress. Alcohol ingestion appeared to have minimal effect in mitigating cold stress response during light activity. This finding was counter to earlier laboratory tests of resting subjects.     

The sex difference in dimensional communalities in Macaca nemestrina.

Intr-individual correlations for cranial, mandibular and dental measurements made on lateral skull radiographs of Macaca nemestrina were systematically higher in 30 adult females than in 31 adult males by an average of 0.11 to 0.15, depending upon method of computation. Clearly, for the adult pig-tailed monkey as in Homo during both prenatal and postnatal life, developmental and dimensional communalities are systematically higher in the female indicating a general principle or trend.     

温度对鲫鱼性腺分化的影响

鱼类的性腺分化受各种环境因素的影响,而温度的影响是重要因素之一.本文通过组织学方法观察了鲫鱼(Carassius auratus)原生殖细胞的迁移、生殖嵴形成和性腺分化,并探讨温度对性腺分化的影响.孵化后12～40 d是鲫鱼性腺分化的敏感期.从第12 d起,仔鱼分成7组,每组分别用下列7种水温中的一种培育28 d:(16±1)℃、(20±1)℃、23～25℃、(27±1)℃、(30±1)℃、(32±1)℃、(34±1)℃.其中23～25℃组是对照组.结果显示,对照组幼鱼的雌雄比例大致是1:1(1:1.07).(20±1)℃组的幼鱼雌雄比例也接近1:1(1.09:1).在(27±1)℃组,雌性率上升,为55.3%(P<0.05).在低温组(16±1)℃,雌雄比例是1:1.45,雌性率达40.8%.然而,在高温组(30±1)℃、(32±1)℃、(34±1)℃中,雌雄比例分别是6.14:1、2.51:1和2.14:1.其中(30±1)℃实验组的雌性率最高,达到86.0%(P<0.01),性腺分化趋向雌性化.研究提示,鲫鱼的性别分化属于温度依赖型.当前全球性气候变暖,以及各种环境因素所产生的温室效应,有可能对鲫鱼的性别平衡产生影响.     

饲料中n-3 HUFA含量对花尾胡椒鲷亲鱼的生殖性能及血浆性类固醇激素水平季节变化的影响

以n-3 HUFA含量为0．16％、1．27％、2．36％和3．47％的4种人工配合饲料(D1～D4)及天然饲料(冰鲜杂鱼,D5)饲养花尾胡椒鲷(Plectorhynchus cinctus)雌亲鱼一周年,通过比较各饲料组亲鱼的产卵量、卵和仔鱼质量以及各月份的血浆性类固醇激素水平,研究n-3 HUFA对生殖性能及性类固醇激素水平季节性变化的影响。平均每kg雌鱼的产卵量、卵受精率、仔鱼存活率、开口仔鱼体长等,D2和D3组与D5组相近,但D1和D4组显著低于D5组;饲料中n-3 HUFA含量对血浆17β-雌二醇(E2)和睾酮(T)水平的季节性变化规律无明显影响,但亲鱼性腺发育与成熟时期的E2和T水平．D1和D4组较D5组显著降低。n-3 HUFA含量对亲鱼离体卵泡E2和T的分泌也有一定影响：D4组卵泡E2的基础分泌很少;绒毛膜促性腺激素(HCG,100IU／mL)可刺激D2-D5组卵泡分泌E2和T,但D1组卵泡对HCG无反应。结果提示,花尾胡椒鲷亲鱼饲料中n-3 HUFA的适宜含量为1．27％-2．36％,不足或过高对亲鱼的生殖性能均有不利影响;通过影响性类固醇激素的产生可能是饲料中n-3 HUFA含量影响鱼类生殖性能的机制之一。     

鱼类性别与性别鉴定

性别分化和性别决定相互联系又有所区别,具双向潜力的未分化性腺经过程序性发生的一系列事件,发育成精巢或卵巢,并出现第二性征的过程称为性别分化,而性别决定则是确定性分化方向的方式。       

果蝇求偶行为分子调控机制的研究进展

果蝇(Drosophila)的求偶行为受多个基因调控,例如fruitless(fru)、dissatisfaction(dsf)和retained(retn)等。它们通过不同的剪切方式产生特异性产物,利用这些产物来控制雌雄果蝇的求偶行为,它们的剪切方式是雌雄果蝇求偶行为和性别决定所必需的。主要阐述了这些基因在果蝇求偶行为方面的分子调控机制,为进一步研究果蝇的求偶行为和性别决定提供理论依据。     

雄性棉铃虫和烟青虫对雌性信息素的触角电生理反应

利用触角电位图(Electroantennogram,EAG)技术,比较研究了二近缘种棉铃虫、烟青虫对其性信息素主要成分Z—11—16：Ald、Z—9—16：Ald的触角电生理反应。剂量反应曲线表明,对Z—11—16：Ald,棉铃虫和烟青虫均有明显的EAG反应,且随浓度的增加而增强,但棉铃虫比烟青虫的反应较强;对Z—9—16：Ald,烟青虫有很强的EAG反应,棉铃虫的反应则很弱;对Z—11—16：Ald和Z—9—16：Ald以97：3和7：93比例形成的混合物,棉铃虫、烟青虫均有EAG反应,但二者之间没有显著差异[动物学报49(6)：795～799,2003]。     

Sex-specific differences in nutrient regulation in a capital breeding caterpillar, Spodoptera litura (Fabricius)

Nutrient requirements by male and female insects are likely to differ, but relatively little is known regarding how sexes differ in their regulation of macronutrient acquisition. The present study reports the results from a laboratory experiment in which behavioural and physiological components of nutrient regulation were compared between male and female caterpillars of Spodoptera litura (Fabricius). When provided with choices between two nutritionally complementary foods (one is a protein-biased diet and the other a carbohydrate-biased diet), both males and females adjusted their food selection to defend an intake target. However, the composition of diet preferred by the two differed, with females selecting significantly more protein than males with no difference in carbohydrate intake between the two. When confined to single diets with varying mixtures of protein and carbohydrate [P:C ratios, expressed as the percentage of diet by dry mass: protein 42%:carbohydrate 0% (p42:c0), p35:c7, p28:c14, p21:c21, p14:c28, p7:c35], females consumed more macronutrients than did males across on all P:C diets except the extremely carbohydrate-biased diet (p7:c35). Under both choice and no-choice feeding condition, such sex differences in nutrient intake were not expressed until late in the feeding stage of the final stadium. Sexes also differed in post-ingestive utilization of ingested nutrients. Females utilized ingested protein for body growth with greater efficiency compared to males, presumably reflecting provisioning their adult needs for protein to develop eggs, whereas males were more efficient at depositing lipids from carbohydrate intake than females.