Dynamic distribution of epidermal growth factor during mouse embryo peri-implantation

Embryo implantation depends on the synchronized development of the blastocyst and the endometrium. This process is highly controlled by the coordinated action of the steroid hormones: estrogen and progesterone. By autocrine, paracrine or juxtacrine routes, some growth factors or cytokines are involved in this steroidal regulation pathway. Here we report the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on embryo implantation in the mouse, the expression and distribution patterns of EGF protein in the mouse blastocyst, ectoplacental cone (EPC) and peri-implantation uterus on days 1-8 of gestation.By RT-PCR and dot blot, we found that EGF and its receptor (EGFR) are co-expressed in the blastocyst and peri-implantational uteri of pregnant days 2-8 (D2-D8) mice. Injection of EGF antibody into a uterine horn on the third day of pregnancy (D3) significantly reduced the number of mouse embryos that implanted on D8, indicating EGF have a function in the mouse embryo implantation.Further investigation by using indirect immunofluorescence and confocal microscope was made to trace EGF and EGFR protein localization during the mouse embryo implantation. EGF and EGFR are co-localized in the blastocyst, and in the secondary trophoblastic giant cells (SGC) of the EPC. At the pre-implantation stage, the distribution of EGF protein in the mouse uterus changes from epithelium to stroma. On D1 of pregnancy, EGF is mainly distributed in uterine stroma and myometrium. On D2, it is present in the uterine epithelium. On D3, it changes again from the uterine epithelium to the stroma. By D4, EGF is predominantly in the stroma. This dynamic distribution correlates with the proliferation activity of uterine cells at each period. On D6-D8 of embryo implantation, EGF 3 protein accumulates at the uterine mesometrial pole, a region that contributes to the trophoblastic invasiveness and placentation.This temporal and spatial localization of EGF protein in the mouse uterus implicates the cytokine in the regulation of trophoblastic invasiveness and uterine receptiveness.     

Accelerating regrowth of temperate‐maritime forests due to environmental change

To understand how environmental changes have influenced forest productivity, stemwood biomass (B) dynamics were analyzed at 1267 permanent inventory plots, covering a combined 209 ha area of unmanaged temperate‐maritime forest in southwest British Columbia, Canada. Net stemwood production (ΔB) was derived from periodic remeasurements of B collected over a 40‐year measurement period (1959–1998) in stands ranging from 20 to 150 years old. Comparison between the integrated age response of net stemwood production, ΔB(A), and the age response of stemwood biomass, B(A), suggested a 58 ± 11% increase in ΔB between the first 40 years of the chronosequence period (1859–1898) and the measurement period. To estimate extrinsic forcing on ΔB, several different candidate models were developed to remove variation explained by intrinsic factors. All models exhibited temporal bias, with positive trends in (observed minus predicted) residual ΔB ranging between of 0.40 and 0.64% yr^?1. Applying the same methods to stemwood growth (G) indicated residual increases ranging from 0.43 and 0.67% yr^?1. Higher trend estimates corresponded with models that included site index (SI) as a predictor, which may reflect exaggeration of the age‐decline in SI tables. Choosing a model that excluded SI, suggested that ΔB increased by 0.40 ± 0.18% yr^?1, while G increased by 0.43 ± 0.12% yr^?1 over the measurement period. Residual G was significantly correlated with atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂), temperature (T), and climate moisture index (CMI). However, models driven with climate and CO₂, alone, could not simultaneously explain long‐term and measurement‐period trends without additional representation of indirect effects, perhaps reflecting compound interest on direct physiological responses to environmental change. Evidence of accelerating forest regrowth highlights the value of permanent inventories to detect and understand systematic changes in forest productivity caused by environmental change.     

施氮对木荷3个种源幼苗根系发育和氮磷效率的影响

以浙北、闽北和赣南3个木荷有代表性的种源作为试验材料,通过人工控制施氮来研究氮沉降对林地贫瘠土壤上木荷幼苗生长和氮磷效率的影响.实验分为4个处理组,分别人工喷施NH4NO3溶液0、50、100和200 kg N hm-2·a-1.结果表明:氮沉降对木荷幼苗生长产生了不同程度的促进作用.木荷幼苗根系干物质重、总长、平均直径、根总表面积和总体积增加了33％-73％,其中＞0.5mm直径的根系生长最为显著,根系呈粗壮舒张型.随氮水平的提高,氮磷吸收效率与根系总长、根系体积、根系平均直径和总表面积相关性增强.在中氮水平下,木荷幼苗根系氮吸收效率受＞0.5mm根长的作用显著,而磷吸收效率与≤0.5mm,0.5-1.0mm和≥1.0mm 3种直径根系根长均显著相关.木荷种源间差异显著,福建建瓯种源根系发达,氮磷的利用效率更高,低氮水平对其根系生长促进作用显著;浙江杭州种源在低氮水平下,地上部分生长促进作用显著,苗高和地径较对照分别增长34％和26％,而根系生长发育迟缓,对氮素响应迟钝;低氮促进江西信丰种源整体增长,但随氮水平提高,地下部生长抑制加强.     

Responses of growth of four desert species to different N addition levels

Aims The increase in atmospheric N deposition has accelerated N cycling of ecosystems, thus altering the structure and function of ecosystems, especially in those limited by N availability. Studies on the response of plant growth to artificial N addition could provide basic data for a better understanding of how the structure of grasslands in northern China responds to increasing N deposition. Methods We investigated the seasonal dynamics of plant growth of four species after 2-year multi-level N addition in a field experiment conducted in a desert steppe of Ningxia in 2011. Plant biomass and the relative growth rate (RGR) of the studied species were measured and their relationships with C:N:P ratios of plants (community and leaf levels) and soils were analyzed. Important findings Results in 2012 showed that 2-year N addition promoted the growth of the four species and the effects were different among growth forms and were species-specific. In general, the plant biomass of the studied species was significantly correlated with leaf N concentration, leaf N:P ratio, community N pool, soil total N content and soil N:P ratio, while only weak relationships were observed between plant biomass and C:N and C:P ratios of plants and soils. In contrast, there was a significant linear relationship between RGR and N:P ratios both of plants and soils.Our results suggest that short-term N addition promoted the accumulation of plant biomass, and the species-specific responses to stimulated N addition can directly affect the structure of the desert steppe ecosystem. Plant N:P ratio and soil N:P ratio could indicate nutrient limitation of plant growth to a certain extent: N addition increased soil N content and N:P ratio, and thus relieved N limitation gradually. Once more N is available to plants, the growth of plants and the accumulation of community N was stimulated in turn.     

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis with Arundo donax Decreases Root Respiration and Increases Both Photosynthesis and Plant Biomass Accumulation

The effect of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbiosis on plant growth is associated with the balance between costs and benefits. A feedback regulation loop has been described in which the higher carbohydrate cost to plants for AM symbiosis is compensated by increases in their photosynthetic rates. Nevertheless, plant carbon balance depends both on photosynthetic carbon uptake and respiratory carbon consumption. The hypothesis behind this research was that the role of respiration in plant growth under AM symbiosis may be as important as that of photosynthesis. This hypothesis was tested in Arundo donax L. plantlets inoculated with Rhizophagus irregularis and Funneliformis mosseae. We tested the effects of AM inoculation on both photosynthetic capacity and in vivo leaf and root respiration. Additionally, analyses of the primary metabolism and ion content were performed in both leaves and roots. AM inoculation increased photosynthesis through increased CO₂ diffusion and electron transport in the chloroplast. Moreover, respiration decreased only in AM roots via the cytochrome oxidase pathway (COP) as measured by the oxygen isotope technique. This decline in the COP can be related to the reduced respiratory metabolism and substrates (sugars and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates) observed in roots.     

福建省火炬松生长与环境因子的典型相关分析

运用典型相关分析等多元统计方法对福建省火炬松（Pinus taeda Linn.)人工林的生长与环境因子间的相互关系进行分析。结果表明,对地处亚热带的福建省而言,火炬松的生长性状除了与年龄、密度有关外,与年均温、≥10℃积温呈正相关,与年降水量呈负相关,从而为火炬松的栽培区划和生产力评价提供科学依据。     

大口黑鲈的卵巢发育周年变化及反季节繁殖研究

文章研究了华中地区池塘养殖大口黑鲈(Micropterus salmoides)卵巢的发育规律, 分析了水温与光照条件变化对卵巢发育的影响, 探究了大口黑鲈反季节繁殖的方法, 旨在充分利用本地区的气候条件, 化劣势为优势, 从根本上解决本地大口黑鲈产业所面临的问题。实验采用形态学、组织学等方法比较分析了大口黑鲈卵巢发育特征, 采用人工控温和人工促熟的方法探究了温度和性激素对大口黑鲈性腺启动发育的影响。研究发现, 华中地区大口黑鲈雌鱼性腺指数(GSI)周年变化在0.63%—7.95%, 10月中旬至12月初水温由20.6℃降至11.0℃期间, 卵巢开始发育至Ⅲ期, 并以Ⅲ期越冬, 至4月中旬繁殖产卵, 5月底结束, 繁殖前约80%的雌鱼绝对繁殖力在4.5万—6.5万粒, 但受水温升高的影响, 卵巢中15%成熟卵母细胞未能产出而逐步退化, 产卵结束时仍有一半以上卵未产出(GSI为4.6%); 雌鱼GSI与肠系膜脂肪系数(MFI)、肝体比(HSI)在10月份至次年4月份呈显著负相关(P<0.05), 表明在此期间, 机体储存的营养物质部分转移至性腺, 优先保证性腺发育。在大口黑鲈反季节繁殖实验中, 采用井水[水温(20±1)℃]降温和控温处理的方法能够促进大口黑鲈性腺的启动发育, 经过3个月处理, 控温组雌鱼卵巢发育至Ⅳ期末, GSI达到4.06%, 而对照组雌鱼卵巢处于Ⅲ期, GSI为2.52%, 两组差异显著(P<0.05), 两组雄鱼精巢均发育至Ⅳ期末, 控温组GSI达0.89%, 对照组为0.73%, 这表明可以通过温度处理来调控大口黑鲈性腺的发育。最后针对反季节繁殖中亲本的培育方法和处理时间等进行了总结, 以期为后续培育反季节大口黑鲈提供依据。