Taxonomy, biology and abundance of icefishes, or noodlefishes (Salangidae), in the Yellow River estuary of the Bohai Sea, China

Four species of icefishes were sampled in the Yellow River estuary of the Bohai Sea from April 1984 to April 1985 and from February 1988 to June 1989. Morphological analysis showed that they belonged to three subfamilies of Salangidae: one species from Protosalangicae, Protosalanx chinensis ; two species from Salanginae, Salanx ariakensis and Salanx prognathus ; and one species, Neosalanx andersoni , from Salangichthyinae, a new subfamily. External morphological characteristics, population composition, growth, maturity, food habits, longevity, fecundity, abundance and distribution of these icefishes are described. Based on these analyses, a clear outline of taxonomy, zoogeography aod biology of icefishes in the Yellow River estuary of the Bohai Sea was established.     

Notch signaling in ocular vasculature development and diseases

Ocular angiogenesis, characterized by the formation of new blood vessels in the avascular area in eyes, is a highly coordinated process involved in retinal vasculature formation and several ocular diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, proliferative diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity. This process is orchestrated by complicated cellular interactions and vascular growth factors, during which endothelial cells acquire heterogeneous phenotypes and distinct cellular destinations. To date, while the vascular endothelial growth factor has been identified as the most critical angiogenic agent with a remarkable therapeutic value, the Notch signaling pathway appears to be a similarly important regulator in several angiogenic steps. Recent progress has highlighted the involvement, mechanisms and therapeutic potential of Notch signaling in retinal vasculature development and pathological angiogenesis-related eye disorders, which may cause irreversible blindness.     

骨髓间充质干细胞分化为胰岛细胞治疗糖尿病

糖尿病已成为严重危害人类健康的疾病之一。目前,移植胰岛治疗糖尿病已初见疗效,但由于胰岛来源匮乏和免疫排斥反应而受阻。骨髓间充质干细胞(bonemarrowmesenchymalstemcells,BMMSCs)取材方便,容易进行体外分离、培养和纯化,且具有跨越分化潜能。若将自体BMMSCs诱导分化为胰岛细胞,可望解决细胞来源和免疫排除问题,实现糖尿病的自体细胞治疗。现对体外诱导BMMSCs分化为胰岛细胞治疗糖尿病的研究进展进行综述,并指出了存在问题和今后的研究方向。     

嗜热四膜虫的着丝粒蛋白检查

目前国际上的着丝粒蛋白研究工作几乎全是以酵母和高等生物为材料进行的,为了从起源与进化的角度考察着丝粒蛋白。我们以人喉癌培养细胞ＨｅｐＩＩ作为对照材料,以两种ＡＣＡ血清和ＣＥＮＰ－Ｂ单抗,多抗以及ＣＨＯ动粒蛋白单抗为探针,用间接免疫荧光和免疫印迹技术对嗜热四膜虫作检查,免疫荧光结果表明,ＨｅｐＩＩ细胞的着丝粒抗原间期核中呈点状分布;与ＨｅｐＩＩ细胞的不同,嗜热四膜虫的着丝粒抗原在间期核中的分布不规则     

吉林省黄泥河林区东北马鹿野外放归成效评估

野外放归是维系濒危物种野生种群长期续存的重要途径,对放归成效的监测研究有利于濒危动物种群科学有效的管理。采用非损伤性标志重捕法评估了吉林省张广才岭南部黄泥河林区东北马鹿的种群数量与分布;利用粪便DNA信息,从亲权鉴定和遗传多样性方面对其放归成效进行了评估。结果显示:(1)黄泥河林区马鹿种群数量平均90(68-124)只,密度0.045(0.034-0.063)只/km²,主要分布于林区北部,呈现一定程度的地理隔离;(2)性别鉴定显示,野生种群的雌雄性比1.71 ∶ 1,放归后雌雄性比1.83 ∶ 1,放归提高了种群的可繁殖概率;(3)亲权鉴定检测到,放归个体(R3)与野生个体在野外成功繁殖,并产下子代;(4)野外放归向野生种群引入了平均2.9个"新"的等位基因,提高了其遗传多样性水平。在种群密度、可繁殖率、遗传多样性方面对马鹿放归的有效性进行了证实,但建议进一步在行为节律、家域和生境选择等方面开展研究,系统性评估马鹿种群的放归成效。     

Regulation of myostatin expression is associated with growth and muscle development in commercial broiler and DMC muscle

Myostatin is a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth. Muscle tissue is the largest tissue in the body and influences body growth. Commercial Avian broiler chickens are selected for high growth rate and muscularity. Daweishan mini chickens are a slow growing small-sized chicken breed. We investigated the relations between muscle (breast and leg) myostatin mRNA expression and body and muscle growth. Twenty chickens per breed were slaughtered at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 days of age. Body and muscle weights were higher at all times in Avian chickens. Breast muscle myostatin expression was higher in Avian chickens than in Daweishan mini chickens at day 30. Myostatin expression peaked at day 60 in Daweishan mini chickens and expression remained higher in breast muscle. Daweishan mini chickens myostatin expression correlated positively with carcass weight, breast and leg muscle weight from day 0 to 60, and correlated negatively with body weight from day 90 to 150, while myostatin expression in Avian chickens was negatively correlated with carcass and muscle weight from day 90 to 150. The results suggest that myostatin expression is related to regulation of body growth and muscle development, with two different regulatory mechanisms that switch between days 30 and 60.