The origin of the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) neurons in newts (Cynops pyrrhogaster): the effect of olfactory placode ablation

Summary Neurons containing luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) are first detected in newt embryos (Cynops pyrrhogaster) in the olfactory epithelium and ventromedial portion of the olfactory nerve, after which they sequentially appear in the intracerebral course of the terminal nerve at prometamorphosis, and in the septo-preoptic area at postmetamorphosis. In adults, however, LHRH-immunoreactive cells are rarely seen in the nasal region, and their distribution shifts into the brain, suggesting their migration. In order to ascertain the origin and possible migration route of these neurons in newt larvae, the effect of unilateral or bilateral olfactory placodectomy on the LHRH neuronal system has been studied. Removal of the olfactory placode results in the absence of LHRH-immunoreactive cells in the nasal and brain regions of the operated side, whereas the subsequent growth and the LHRH-immunoreactive cellular distribution in the contralateral side are identical to those of normal larvae. Following bilateral placodectomy, no LHRH immunoreactivity is detected on either side of the olfactory-brain axis. These results suggest that LHRH neurons of the newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster, originate in the olfactory placode and then migrate into the brain during embryonic development.     

内吞作用与胚胎诱导

在两柄类胚胎初级诱导的研究中,诱导物质如何进入反应细胞是一个受到重视(Grunzand Staubach,1979;Toivonen,1979)、但是仍未能解决的问题。为了对这一问题有所阐明,进行了离体诱导实验和电镜的观察。东方蝾螈(Cynops orientalis)早期原肠胚的外胚层块用豚鼠骨髓粗提液(BME)——有效的中胚层诱导物(Toivonen,1953)——处     

Entrainment of the circadian locomotor activity rhythm in the Japanese newt by melatonin injections

We examined whether melatonin can act as a synchronizing agent within the circadian system of amphibians by testing the ability of melatonin injections to entrain the circadian locomotor activity rhythm of a newt (Cynops pyrrhogaster). Under constant darkness, all newts (13 cases) showing the free-running rhythms were subcutaneously injected with 10 g melatonin at the same time every other day for at least 30 days. Subsequently, they were injected with vehicle (1% ethanolic saline) instead of melatonin for at least another 30 days. In 10 of the 13 newts, the locomotor activity rhythms could be entrained to a period of 24 h by melatonin injections but not by vehicle injections. During the entrained steady-state, the active phase of an activity-rest cycle preceded the time of melatonin injections as previously reported in other diurnal species. These results suggest that the endogenous circadian rhythm of melatonin concentration may be involved in synchronizing circadian oscillator(s) within the newt's circadian system.     

Comparative study of sequential expression of the organizer-related genes in normal Cynops pyrrhogaster embryos and mesodermalized ectoderm

An artificially mesodermalized ectoderm (mE) of early Cynops pyrrhogaster gastrula acquires the organizer property; the mE is able to induce the secondary axis. The expression of organizer-related genes was investigated during the mesodermalizing process of the mE. The expression of C. pyrrhogaster organizer-related genes, such as bra, gsc, lim-1, chd and noggin, were analyzed. Cynops pyrrhogaster shh expression was also investigated. The organizer-related genes were activated by 12 h after the mesoderm-inducing stimulus. It was noted that there was a temporal gap in the expression of each gene. The expression of bra and gsc seemed to be more quickly activated during the mesodermalizing process. While expression of lim-1 and noggin was activated later than that of bra and gsc, lim-1 expression was earlier than chd and noggin expression. Shh expression was activated later than lim-1/noggin. The present study suggests the possibility that the bra/gsc, lim-1, chd, noggin and shh genes are expressed one by one in that order during the mesodermalizing of the presumptive ectoderm. It also indicates that the sequence is not always consistent with that of the whole embryo during normal embryogenesis. The meaning of the discrepancy will be discussed in connection with the cascade of certain genes expressed during the mesodermalizing process.     

东方蝾螈原肠形成期瓶状细胞的结构及其对胚胎发育的影响

以１００只东方蝾螈早期胚胎为材料,用ＳＥＭ和ＴＥＭ对瓶状细胞形态结构和除去瓶状细胞的胚胎进行观察,去除瓶状细胞后,胚胎的原肠形成不会中断,外包和内卷仍能正常进行,并可以发育成幼螈,但有部分胚胎原肠前端缺失,长期培养的蝾螈胚对针刺激有反应,幼虫阶段中自由活动,我们的结论是：１）东方蝾螈原肠胚的瓶状细胞除了原肠前端存在外,还有部分瓶状细胞与原肠长轴垂直,从力学角度推断瓶状细胞在原肠形成过程中不起主要作     

我国特有种滇螈的绝灭及其原因分析

滇螈是中国特有的两栖类,是云南省二级保护珍稀动物,生活于云南高原淡水湖泊滇池。已于20世纪70年代末绝迹。绝迹原因主要是“围湖造田”,湖水严重污染,大搞建筑设施,水生生物严重减少以及外来引种,使它们的栖息环境、食物、繁殖都受到严重影响,导致最后绝种。它的绝种却为我国珍稀野生动物,特别是两栖爬行动物的保护,提供十分有益的经验教训。     

东方蝾螈肝脏形态学与组织学观察

对东方蝾螈Synops orientalis的肝脏进行了组织学观察.结果 如下:东方蝾螈肝脏分为5叶,每叶由许多肝小叶组成.中央静脉位于小叶中央,肝细胞排列成肝细胞索(肝板),以中央静脉为中心向周围呈放射状排列.肝细胞索或肝细胞团之间的间隙为形状不规则、大小不等的肝血窦,窦壁由一层内皮细胞构成,间有枯否氏细胞,其核为细长状,有数目不等突起.肝细胞间有狄氏间隙,肝细胞呈多边形,胞核为圆形或卵圆形.肝实质内有大量色素沉着.并将东方蝾螈肝脏和其他动物肝脏进行了比较.     

蝾螈胚胎表皮细胞膜的静息电位,输入电阻与其兴奋性的关系

用微电极细胞内记录技术研究了东方蝾螈胚胎表皮细胞膜的静电位、输入电阻与其兴奋性的关系,在兴奋性形成期间正常胚胎表皮细胞的静息膜电位逐渐增大,膜的输入电阻逐渐减小。与不显示兴奋性的离体非典型胚胎表皮细胞相比,显示兴奋性的膜电位较高,膜电阻较低。用葡萄糖处理非典型表皮,在兴奋性出现同时,细胞膜超极化,膜电阻减小。用哇巴因处理表皮囊泡,在兴奋性消失同时,细胞膜去极化。结果表明,细胞能量供应不足所造成的膜     

潮汕蝾螈的求偶行为

潮汕蝾螈(Cynops orphicus)是我国特有的濒危有尾两栖类,繁殖季节始于5月中旬。对其求偶行为观察发现,该螈求偶模式表现出与东方蝾螈(C.orientalis)相似的特点,但雄性扇尾和潜行时间(25~37 s)较东方蝾螈(10~20 s)更长;雄性在一次求偶中多次排精,雌性亦可多次纳精,精子囊形态与东方蝾螈类同;雌性纳精后,雄性反转咬住其腹部,被咬雌性呈现植物态。纳精过后,雌性出现暂时的冷漠或恐惧,不再接受雄性求偶。该螈成功纳精在累次求偶行为中占比不高(2.7%),但较东方蝾螈(1.1%)成功率高。雄性之间存在求偶过程中的竞争和干扰行为。