Spermatozoa in triploids of the rosy bitterling Rhodeus ocellatus ocellatus

Artificially induced triploid male Rhodeus ocellatus ocellatus showed typical nuptial colorations, irrespective of spermiation. In milt from triploids, abnormal spermatozoa (malformation of the head and mitochondrion, excessive formation of the head, mitochondrion and flagellum, and no flagellum) occurred at 78°4% frequency. Spermatozoa with multiflagella were most common, often with a saccate-like organ. Many triploid spermatozoa moved actively as long as those of diploids (10·92±0·91 min=mean±S.D., P >0·05), but did not advance like diploids, spinning around until movement ceased. The sperm density in triploids was < 2% of that from diploids. In triploid testes, deformed and variously sized spermatids were often observed, and normal spermatids and spermatozoa were seldom recognized. The DNA content of triploid spermatozoa varied greatly, compared with that of diploids. Peak of sperm DNA content differed slightly between two triploid samples with two peaks at 1·5 n and 1·9 n ( P <0·0001 in both), respectively. Triploids had the greatest average sperm head diameter of 2·25±0·67 μm (mean±S.D.), while that of diploids was 1·83±0·15 μm ( P =0·002). In the fertilization test using the eggs of diploids ( n =1500, 30 trials), only one egg developed. The embryo chromosome number was 60 (2·5 n) and the ploidy of spermatozoa contributing to fertilization appears to be 1·5 n. The extremely low fertility of triploid R. o. ocellatus spermatozoa seems to be caused by the reduced motility and large head size of spermatozoa, and the low sperm density of the milt. The ploidy of spermatozoa that are successful in fertilization is likely to be related to the distribution pattern in the DNA content of cells.     

Recombination Landscape Divergence Between Populations is Marked by Larger Low-Recombining Regions in Domesticated Rye

The genomic landscape of recombination plays an essential role in evolution. Patterns of recombination are highly variable along chromosomes, between sexes, individuals, populations, and species. In many eukaryotes, recombination rates are elevated in sub-telomeric regions and drastically reduced near centromeres, resulting in large low-recombining (LR) regions. The processes of recombination are influenced by genetic factors, such as different alleles of genes involved in meiosis and chromatin structure, as well as external environmental stimuli like temperature and overall stress. In this work, we focused on the genomic landscapes of recombination in a collection of 916 rye (Secale cereale) individuals. By analyzing population structure among individuals of different domestication status and geographic origin, we detected high levels of admixture, reflecting the reproductive biology of a self-incompatible, wind-pollinating grass species. We then analyzed patterns of recombination in overlapping subpopulations, which revealed substantial variation in the physical size of LR regions, with a tendency for larger LR regions in domesticated subpopulations. Genome-wide association scans (GWAS) for LR region size revealed a major quantitative-trait-locus (QTL) at which, among 18 annotated genes, an ortholog of histone H4 acetyltransferase ESA1 was located. Rye individuals belonging to domesticated subpopulations showed increased synaptonemal complex length, but no difference in crossover frequency, indicating that only the recombination landscape is different. Furthermore, the genomic region harboring rye ScESA1 showed moderate patterns of selection in domesticated subpopulations, suggesting that larger LR regions were indirectly selected during domestication to achieve more homogeneous populations for agricultural use.     

六种蝽象的染色体研究（半翅目：蝽科）

研究了6种蝽象的核型和减数分裂行为。结果表明：6个种的染色体组成均为2n(♂)=14, 具有X-Y性别决定机制;减数分裂行为比较一致,但在中期-Ⅰ常染色体和性染色体的排列方式具有种的特异性,可为蝽科昆虫的形态分类及系统发育提供有用的证据。     

木立芦荟小孢子母细胞减数分裂与花粉育性关系的初步研究

文章从减数分裂过程、小孢子发育两方面,探讨了木立芦荟（Aloe arboresens Mill.）花粉败育的原因。木立芦荟花粉母细胞染色体数目为2n=14,由四对长染色体和三对短染色体组成,属二型性核型。其减数分裂异常,发现存在单价体和多价体、染色体桥、落后染色体、不均等分离、微核等。同时观察到木立芦荟染色体具有极度的粘质性,使减数分裂各阶段的染色体不易散开。统计各种异常现象出现的频率并分析了这些异常现象形成的可能机制及对正常小孢子形成的影响,推测染色体间的丝状粘连可能是木立芦荟小孢子母细胞减数分裂异常并导致败育花粉产生的主要因素。成熟花粉粒中90%以上为败育花粉,属碘败型。     

The maize desynaptic1 mutation disrupts meiotic chromosome synapsis

In most eukaryotes, homologous chromosomes undergo synapsis during the first meiotic prophase. A consequence of mutations that interfere with the fidelity or completeness of synapsis can be failure in the formation or maintenance of bivalents, resulting in univalent formation at diakinesis and production of unbalanced spores or gametes. Such mutations, termed desynaptic mutations, can result in complete or partial sterility. We have examined the effect of the maize desynaptic1-9101 mutation on synapsis, using the nuclear spread technique and electron microscopy to examine microsporocytes ranging from early pachytene until the diplotene stage of prophase I. Throughout the pachytene stage, there was an average of about 10 sites of lateral element divergence (indicating nonhomologous synapsis), and during middle and late pachytene, an average of two and three sites of foldback (intrachromosomal) synapsis, per mutant nucleus, respectively. By the diplotene stage, the number of sites of lateral element divergence had decreased to seven, and there was an average of one foldback synapsis site per nucleus. Lateral element divergence and foldback synapsis were not found in spread pachytene nuclei from normal plants. These results imply that the normal expression of the dsy1 gene is essential for the restriction of chromosome synapsis to homologues. The abundance of nonhomologous synapsis and the persistence of extended stretches of unsynapsed axial elements throughout the pachytene stage of dsy1–9101 meiocytes suggests that this mutation disrupts both the fidelity of homology search and the forward course of the synaptic process. This mutation may identify a maize mismatch repair gene. Dev. Genet. 21:146–159, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Meiotic study of hybrids in the genus Eulemur and taxonomic considerations

A reproductive study was conducted on seven hybrids of Eulemur showing chromosomal multivalents involving at least four chromosomes at the pachytene stage. Three individuals were infertile hybrids and one presented a reduced spermatogenesis. In three out of these four hybrids, multivalents were associated with the sex bivalent in a large number of spermatocytes (23%). The relative importance of the reduction of fertility in males linked to chromosomal multivalent formation as well as the genetic background is discussed with regard to the use of cytogenetic data for systematics. Our findings argue for the classification of Eulemur fulvus collaris and E. f. albocollaris in two separate species. In regard to their repartition area, their separation along a linear north-south axis in Madagascar is discussed. Am. J. Primatol. 42:235–245, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Meiosis reinitiation of mussel oocytes involves L-type voltage-gated calcium channel

In the present work we assessed the involvement of L-type voltage opening Ca²⁺ channels in KCl-induced meiosis reinitiation of metaphase-arrested blue mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) oocytes by performing binding assays with a tritiated dihydropyridine analog (+)PN 200110. Our data reveal the existence of a single class of dihydropyridine receptors in plasma membrane-enriched rough microsome preparations of mussel oocytes. The apparent affinity (K_d) of characterized receptors equals 1.32 ± 0.21 μM while their maximal binding capacity (B_max) is 620 ± 150 pmol/mg protein. The comparison of the rank order of potency of analogs tested to: 1) inhibit [(+)-l³H]PN 200110 specific binding and 2) block KCl-induced meiosis reinitiation pointed to the pharmacological profile similar to but not identical with those previously described for mammalian dihydropyridine receptors. The efficiencies of all antagonists tested are linearly related (r = 0.995) in binding- (inhibition of [(+)-l³H]PN 200110 specific binding) and biological (inhibition of meiosis reinitiation) assays thus arguing for functional involvement of L-type Ca²⁺ channels in oocyte activation. Reversibility of antagonist actions on meiosis reinitiation and dependence of receptor binding characteristics on a membrane polarization state further suggested such a role. J. Cell. Biochem. 64:152–160. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.