Altered sperm tsRNAs in aged male contribute to anxiety‐like behavior in offspring

Parental age at first pregnancy is increasing worldwide. The offspring of aged father has been associated with higher risk of several neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and autism, but the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here we report that advanced paternal age in mice alters the profile of transfer RNA‐derived small RNAs (tsRNAs). Injection of sperm tsRNAs from aged male mice into zygotes induced anxiety‐like behaviors in F1 males. RNA sequencing of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of those F1 male mice altered the gene expression of dopaminergic synapse and neurotrophin. tsRNAs from aged male mice injection also altered the neuropsychiatry‐related gene expression in two‐cell and blastocyst stage embryos. More importantly, the sperm tsRNA profile changes significantly during aging in human. The up‐regulated sperm tsRNA target genes were involved in neurogenesis and nervous system development. These results suggest that aging‐related changes of sperm tsRNA may contribute to the intergenerational transmission of behavioral traits.     

Study of properties of cholinephosphotransferase from fetal guinea pig lung mitochondria and microsomes

Summary We have reported earlier that cholinephosphotransferase (EC 2.7.8.2) is present in both mitochondria and microsomes of fetal guinea pig lung. This study was designed to compare the properties of mitochondrial and microsomal cholinephosphotransferase in fetal guinea pig lung. Various parameters, such as substrate specificity, K_m values, sensitivity to N-ethylmaleimide, dithiothreitol and trypsin were measured. Both showed significant preference for unsaturated diacylglycerols over saturated diacylglycerols. Data on K_m and V_max indicate that the affinity of this enzyme for different diacylglycerols varies between the two forms. The ID₅₀ values for N-ethylmaleimide were 20 mM and 12.5 mM for the mitochondrial and microsomal form of the enzyme, respectively. Dithiothreitol showed an inhibitory effect on both; however, the mitochondrial form was inhibited less than the microsomal form. The effects of N-ethylmaleimide and dithiothreitol on both forms of enzyme indicated that the microsomal cholinephosphotransferase requires a higher concentration of -SH for its activity than the mitochondrial enzyme does. The enzyme was inhibited by trypsin in both mitochondria and microsome under isotonic condition suggesting that this enzyme is on the outside of the membrane in both endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria.     

Increasing in vitro germination of Musa balbisiana seed

Seeds of Musa balbisiana were soaked in water for five days prior to excision of embryos. Embryos with their longitudinal axis laid flat and half-way embedded on agar-solidified medium produced the highest germination and the most desirable plantlet characteristics. Germination in vitro was 94% within 7 days compared to 50% after 54 days for greenhouse-sown seeds.     

秦巴山区野生百合(Lilium spp.)的育种应用研究

为探索秦巴山区野生百合资源在百合育种中的应用方向及途径, 获得具有其独特遗传背景的育种材料,将秦巴山区野生百合的抗病毒及独特观赏特性等优良遗传性状逐渐渗到栽培品种中去。该研究借助切割柱头杂交及胚抢救技术,选取6种秦巴山区野生百合［岷江百合(Lilium gegale)、宜昌百合(L. leucanthum)、山丹（L. pumilum）、野百合（L. brownii）、宝兴百合（L. duchartrei）、川百合（L. davidii）］以及亚洲百合（Asiatic hybrids,AA）品种‘Elite’、东方百合（Oriental hybrids,OO）品种‘Sorbonne’、‘Siberia’和‘Marlon’、OT百合（Oriental × Trumpet hybrids,OT）品种‘Yelloween’、‘Serano’、‘Corel′door’进行了32组共计263朵花的（品）种间杂交,并针对膨大变软的果实剥离可供离体培养的胚及胚囊进行胚抢救。结果表明：（1）不同杂交组合坐果率、胚获得及萌发率呈现出较大差异,综合坐果率为11.4%,对30个膨大的果实中共计38个可供离体培养的胚及胚囊进行胚抢救,有7株最终萌发。（2）以野生百合为父母本的12组杂交组合中,6组获得了膨大果实,得到6株杂交后代。（3）栽培百合做母本,野生百合做父本的20组杂交组合中,共9组获得了膨大果实,除‘Elite’ × 山丹可直接收获种子外,共得到1株杂交后代。（4）以岷江百合及宜昌百合为亲本的远缘杂交TT × AA及回交OT × TT成功获得杂种后代。（5）秦巴山区6种野生百合在远缘杂交中获得育种后代的几率存在较大差异,宜昌百合和岷江百合获得后代几率较高,宝兴百合获得后代几率较低,野百合未获得后代。以上结果表明,岷江百合和宜昌百合为母本的TT × AA杂交和宝兴百合为父本的TT × AA杂交以及岷江百合和宜昌百合为父本的OT回交,为三种百合的育种利用提供了新途径,野百合的育种应用途径需要继续探索。     

EVOLUTIONARILY STABLE SIZE OF A MEGAGAMETOPHYTE: EVOLUTION OF TINY MEGAGAMETOPHYTES OF ANGIOSPERMS FROM LARGE ONES OF GYMNOSPERMS

To examine the factors favoring large megagametophytes of gymnosperms and tiny ones of angiosperms, a game model for seed production was developed in which megagametophytes growing in the same female parent compete for resources provided by the parent. In the model, megagametophytes may continue to grow until seed completion or may cease to grow at a certain time and regrow at pollination or fertilization. Autonomous abortion of unpollinated or unfertilized megagametophytes may occur either at pollination or fertilization. Those megagametophytes absorb a certain amount of resources before abortion, due to constraints in the signal process, in addition to the resources absorbed before pollination or fertilization. It was found that both growth habits can be the ESS: megagametophytes continue to grow without cessation and monopolize resources, such as gymnosperms, or cease to grow until fertilization to reduce the loss of resources due to autonomous abortion, such as angiosperms. The former and the latter are the ESS if the time interval between pollination and fertilization is long and short, respectively. Thus, the fertilization interval may be a critical factor selecting for large megagametophytes of gymnosperms or tiny ones of angiosperms.     

小鼠胚胎与子宫单层上皮细胞共培养的研究

本文报道建立了小鼠胚胎与小鼠子宫单层上皮细胞体外共培养系统。结果揭示;小鼠胚胎与 子宫单层上皮细胞共培养可以促进胚胎的发育、粘附和扩展;如果培养液中加入 ３、６７ × １０－６ｍｏｌ／Ｌ １７β－雌二醇,可以显著提高胚胎在共培养系统中的发育率、粘附率和扩展率。以上结果表明：小鼠 胚胎与小鼠子宫单层上皮细胞共培养系统是研究胚泡着床机理较理想的研究手段。     

长期施用猪粪红壤稻田土壤Cu、Zn累积规律

为揭示长期施用猪粪红壤稻田土壤Cu、Zn累积规律,以设立于1981年的红壤稻田有机肥定位试验为载体,选取PM1(早稻施猪粪和紫云英)、PM2(早稻施紫云英+晚稻施猪粪)、GMS(早稻施紫云英+晚稻秸秆还田)和NPK(早稻施化肥)等处理为对象,分析了不同试验年限土壤全量和有效态Cu、Zn含量。结果表明:长期施用猪粪显著提高了土壤Cu、Zn含量;连续施用猪粪30 a后,土壤全量Cu、Zn含量分别增加了7.69—9.52 mg/kg和22.42—35.46 mg/kg;生物有效性显著增加,有效态Cu、Zn含量占全量Cu、Zn的比例分别由15%和5%增加到51%和27%。猪粪年度内的施用时间对土壤Cu的累积没有显著影响,早稻施用猪粪加剧了土壤Zn的累积。土壤铜、锌累积分为两个差异显著的阶段,1981—2002年为缓慢增长期,2002—2010年为快速增长期,这可能与2002年后施用的猪粪中Cu、Zn含量增高有关。以研究的结果推算,红壤稻田鲜猪粪施用量在9.5 t hm-2a-1以下,50 a内不会造成土壤Cu、Zn含量超标。