桑天牛雄性附腺内容物组分分析

测定桑天牛Apriona germaric(Hope)雄性附腺内容物中各组分含量及变化情况。结果表明,内容物中可溶性蛋白占总腺管鲜重的8.39%;总糖占总鲜重的4.21%;海藻糖和游离氨基酸分别占总鲜重的0.50%、0.25%。随虫龄的增大,内容物中各组分含量不断降低。交配过程中,雄性附腺内容物部分转移到雌虫,交配后附腺内容物中总糖、海藻糖、游离氨基酸等组分含量均降低,蛋白质组分含量先升高再降低,48h即恢复可到交配前水平。大、小附腺内各组分含量变化有差异。     

Seasonal sebaceous patch in the nectar-feeding bats Leptonycteris curasoae and L. yerbabuenae (Phyllostomidae: Glossophaginae): phenological, histological, and preliminary chemical characterization

Many species of bats secrete a wide variety of substances, frequently associated with olfactory communication. We characterized a seasonal phenomenon of dorsal sebaceous secretion in the Cura?aoan long-nosed bat, Leptonycteris curasoae, in Venezuela, and the lesser long-nosed bat, Leptonycteris yerbabuenae, in Mexico. The phenology of the sebaceous patch was determined, a histological analysis of the affected area was conducted using specimens of L. curasoae from Venezuela, and finally, a preliminary chemical characterization of the substance secreted was performed combining histochemical techniques with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analyses. The sebaceous patch was detected exclusively in male adult specimens. Individuals presenting it had a variable area of fur covered with a fatty and odoriferous substance at the level of the interscapular zone. Occurrence of the sebaceous patch was cyclical and coincided with the mating season in Venezuela and Mexico. The following histological changes associated with occurrence of the patch were observed: increase of epidermis thickness and decrease of dermis and hypodermis thicknesses, increase in density of sebaceous glands, increase of percentage of skin covered by sebaceous glands, increase of size of sebaceous glands previous to secretion followed, and increase of the sebum volume within sebaceous glands previous to secretion. Several compounds tentatively identified as fatty acids, cholestanes and cholesterol were present in the sebaceous secretion. Based on the evidence obtained, we hypothesize that the sebaceous patch could be involved in olfactory communication, possibly related to mating behavior in these bats.     

Fine structure of the spermatheca and of the accessory glands in Orchesella villosa (Collembola, Hexapoda)

The spermatheca and the accessory glands of the collembolan Orchesella villosa are described for the first time. Both organs exhibit ultrastructural differences, according to the time of the intermolt in which the specimens were observed. A thick cuticular layer lines the epithelial cells of the accessory glands. In the reproductive phase, they are involved in secretory activity; a moderately dense secretion found in the apical cell region opens into the gland lumen. Cells with an extracellular cistern are intermingled with the secretory cells. These cells could be involved in fluid secretion, with the secretory product opening into the cistern which is filled with an electron-transparent material. After the reproductive phase, the gland lumen becomes filled with a dense secretion. The accessory gland secretion may play a protective role towards the eggs. The spermatheca is located between the accessory glands; its epithelium is lined by a thin cuticle forming spine-like projections into the lumen and consists of cells provided with an extracellular cistern. Secretory cells, similar to those seen in the accessory glands, are missing. Cells with a cistern could be involved in the production of a fluid secretion determining sperm unrolling and sperm motility.     

Sorting of growth hormone-erythropoietin fusion proteins in rat salivary glands

Neuroendocrine and exocrine cells secrete proteins in either a constitutive manner or via the regulated secretory pathway (RSP), but the specific sorting mechanisms involved are not fully understood. After gene transfer to rat salivary glands, the transgenic model proteins human growth hormone (hGH) and erythropoietin (hEpo) are secreted primarily into saliva (RSP; exocrine) and serum (constitutive; endocrine), respectively. We hypothesized that fusion of hGH at either the C-terminus or the N-terminus of hEpo would re-direct hEpo from the bloodstream into saliva. We constructed and expressed two fusion proteins, hEpo-hGH and hGH-hEpo, using serotype 5-adenoviral vectors, and delivered them to rat submandibular glands in vivo via retroductal cannulation. Both the hEpo-hGH and hGH-hEpo fusion proteins, but not hEpo alone, were secreted primarily into saliva (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0083, respectively). These in vivo studies demonstrate for the first time that hGH, in an N- as well as C-terminal position, influences the secretion of a constitutive pathway protein.     

The secretory glands of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Asphodelus aestivus</Emphasis> flower

Various secretory glands are observed on Asphodelus aestivus flower, a common geophyte of Mediterranean type ecosystem. The floral nectary has the form of individual slits between the gynecium carpels (septal nectary). The septal slits extend downwards to the ascidiate zone of the carpels. The nectar is secreted by the epidermal cells of the slits, which differentiate into epithelial cells. The latter contain numerous organelles, among which endoplasmic reticulum elements and golgi bodies predominate. Nectar secretion results in an expansion of the space between the septa. The nectar becomes discharged through small holes on the ovary wall. Six closely packed stamens surround the ovary and bear numerous papillae at their basis. These papillae are actually osmophores, i.e. secretory structures responsible for the manufacture, secretion and dispersion of terpenic scent. A mucilage gland (obturator) exists between the lateral ovule and the ovary septa, giving a positive reaction with Schiff’s reagent. This gland secretes a mucoproteinaceous product to nourish the pollen tube and to facilitate its penetration into the ovary.     

Correlated evolution between male ejaculate allocation and female remating behaviour in seed beetles (Bruchidae)

Sperm competition theory suggests that female remating rate determines the selective regime that dictates the evolution of male ejaculate allocation. To test for correlated evolution between female remating behaviour and male ejaculate traits, we subjected detailed experimental data on female and male reproductive traits in seven-seed beetle species to phylogenetic comparative analyses. The evolution of a larger first ejaculate was positively correlated with the evolution of a more rapid decline in ejaculate size over successive matings. Further, as predicted by theory, an increase in female remating rate correlated with the evolution of larger male testes but smaller ejaculates. However, an increase in female remating was associated with the evolution of a less even allocation of ejaculate resources over successive matings, contrary to classic sperm competition theory. We failed to find any evidence for coevolution between the pattern of male ejaculate allocation and variation in female quality and we conclude that some patterns of correlated evolution are congruent with current theory, whereas some are not. We suggest that this may reflect the fact that much sperm competition theory does not fully incorporate other factors that may affect the evolution of male and female traits, such as trade-offs between ejaculate expenditure and other competing demands and the evolution of resource acquisition.     

Accessory gland size influences time to sexual maturity and mating frequency in the stalk-eyed fly, Cyrtodiopsis dalmanni

Age at first reproduction is an extremely important life-historytrait. Several factors such as nutritional state and age-specificfecundity have been shown to influence time to sexual maturity;however, little work has been done in insects. We addressedthis in a stalk-eyed fly (Cyrtodiopsis dalmanni), by testingthe hypothesis that time to sexual maturity is associated withthe development of male internal reproductive structures. Wefound that sexual maturity was attained after an increased rateof growth in the accessory glands, several days after maturesperm bundles, and motile sperm were observed in the testes.Although testis development is essential, the results suggestthat accessory gland growth is more closely associated withthe time taken to reach sexual maturity than is testis growth.When we manipulated the growth of testes and accessory glandsvia a dietary manipulation, we found that delayed growth ratesincreased the time taken to reach sexual maturity. Among thedelayed individuals, sexually mature males had larger accessoryglands, but not testes, than did immature males. In adult males,mating frequency was significantly positively correlated withaccessory gland size, but not with testis length or body size.We conclude that accessory gland size is a critical determinantof sexual maturity and male mating frequency in this species.     

扩张莫尼茨绦虫(圆叶目:裸头科)节间腺的超微结构及组织化学

用光学显微镜和透射电子显微镜观察了扩张莫尼茨绦虫节间腺形成过程的精细结构及一些组化变化。结果表明：节间腺是扩张莫尼茨绦虫皮层的特化部分,由节片后缘的皮层及其邻近细胞体向绦虫实质组织中陷入开始其形成过程,随着虫体发育的进行,新的陷入不断形成,原陷入的部分不断脱离皮层形成簇状腺体结构。节间腺的数目随着体节的发育不断增加,幼节中仅有少数几个(6～9个),而远端的孕节中多于100个。电镜下可见腺细胞体由细胞质管与腺皮层相联,簇状腺体结构为一合胞体形态,腺细胞体围绕并开口于椭球体或不规则形状的皮层腔中。离腺皮层远的腺细胞体电子密度高并含有与腺皮层相应的典型分泌颗粒,而靠近腺皮层的腺细胞体电子密度低,所含分泌颗粒较少。扩张莫尼茨绦虫节间腺的组化性质尚不完全清楚。糖与蛋白质等组化结果不稳定,随染液pH值及染色时间的变化等多种因素而改变。基于我们的研究及其他研究者的观察表明,节间腺可能参与外源基质形成虫卵的转运,同时他们可能在虫体节片脱落及虫卵溢出时起作用。     

Relationships between otolith microstructure, otolith growth, somatic growth and ontogenetic transitions in two cohorts of windowpane

Otolith increments in larval and juvenile windowpane Scophthalmus aquosus can provide an estimate of daily age for spring-spawned individuals held under summer conditions. Otolith increments for spring- and autumn-spawned individuals occurred at intervals >1 day under winter conditions. A significant decrease in the slope of the linear relationship between otolith size and somatic size at 40 mm L_S coincided with significant habitat, morphological and behavioural transitions. In smaller, field-captured windowpane belonging to spring- and autumn-spawned cohorts, the formation of accessory growth centres coincided with a transitional settlement period and the completion of eye migration (c. 8–20 mm L_S). Back-calculated growth rate estimates for spring-spawned windowpane were significantly faster than those for autumn-spawned windowpane and these differences could produce differential rates of survival for the two cohorts during the first year of life.