Behavioural discrimination among chromosomal races of the house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus)

This work is concerned with the extent of behavioural discrimination between three chromosomal races of the house mouse (the standard 40-chromosome race and a 32- and 36-chromosome races) found in the vicinity of a hybrid zone in northern Scotland. Mice were investigated for several elements of their social behaviour. Within-population dyadic encounters did not show consistent behavioural differences attributable to karyotype among five populations (two standard race, two 36-chromosome race, one 32-chromosome race). Between-population dyadic encounters revealed significant differences between three populations. The standard population examined appeared to be the most “open” to foreigners, the 32-chromosome population the most “closed” while the 36-chromosome mice displayed an intermediate response. Differences in behaviour displayed during between-population as compared to within-population dyadic encounters revealed the occurrence of behavioural discrimination between populations. The implication of these results on the dynamics of the hybrid zone are discussed.     

小鼠精母细胞联会复合体RNA组分的电镜研究

本文运用常规染色和Bernhard染色方法对切片标本中小鼠粗线期精母细胞联会复合体(SC)的超微结构和电镜细胞化学特点进行了研究。经常规染色后,可见SC由侧生组分(LE)、中央组分(CE)和L-C纤维组成;SC宽约210nm,LE宽约60nm,中央间隔区宽约90nm。在Bernhard染色标本中,SC的LE、CE和L-C纤维着色较深,说明其中含有RNA;SC各结构组分的宽度和形态特点与常规染色标本中的基本一致。本文讨论了SC中存在有RNA等问题。     

Counterselection on sex chromosomes in the Mus musculus European hybrid zone

The extent to which alleles can disperse across a hybrid zone depends on the selection they are subjected to in the hybrid genetic background or, for those that are selectively neutral, on their ability to escape from the unfavourable environment by recombination. Three markers spanning a 45 cM segment in the center of the X chromosome were used to investigate the degree to which selection against X chromosome linked genes helps to maintain the barrier to gene flow in the hybrid zone between Mus musculus domesticus and M. m. musculus in Denmark. The introgression of all the sex chromosome specific markers was more limited than that of the autosomal enzymes (Idh1, Amy, Gpd1, Pgm1, Es1, Es2, Mpi, Np1, Es10, Sod1) and the mitochondrial DNA. The cline for DXPas2, which is in the center of the X chromosome, is extremely steep and shows that certain genes located in this region are strongly selected against in the hybrid background. The clines of the other two X-linked markers, Hprt and DXPas1, and of the Y chromosome are not as abrupt and all three have similar asymmetric introgression patterns. Although the musculus variants appear to behave in much the same way as those of the autosomal genes, the domesticus variants do not introgress. The results show that X-linked and to a lesser extent Y-linked genes are more strongly selected against in the hybrid genome than the mitochondrial genome or the different autosomal loci. This suggests that co-adapted gene systems involving the sex chromosomes may play an important role in the hybrid breakdown between the two subspecies.     

Origin and radiation of the house mouse: clues from nuclear genes

Although quite a lot is known about the genetic structure of the polytypic species Mus musculus at the periphery of its range, the centre of origin and dispersion of the species remains unknown. To investigate the amount of genetic subdivision that occurs in the central parts of its range, we analysed the genetic variation in four new samples of mice coming from Iran, Pakistan, northern and southern India using 35 autosomal protein loci and restriction fragment length polymorphisms of three genes of the Vβ gene complex of the immune system. The variation was then compared with that found in the subspecies occupying the peripheral regions of the species range. The two samples from the northern part of the Indian subcontinent were shown to be more heterozygous than the samples from any of the other regions. They also contain the majority of the alleles that exist in the differentiated subspecies at the periphery of the species range. A neighbour-joining analysis on Nei's genetic distances and a factorial analysis of correspondences on the allelic composition of each sample both place the Pakistani and Indian populations in a phylogenetically and genetically central position compared to the peripheral subspecies. These results suggest that the populations in this geographically central area have retained most of the ancestral polymorphisms, which in turn indicates that the Indian subcontinent is probably the cradle of the species. The nature of the genetic relationships between the various populations throughout the species range and the possibility that they form an incipient ring species are also discussed. Our results are in agreement with the classical model of geographic differentiation where genetic divergence in allopatry is considered to be the prime cause of subspecies formation that may eventually lead to partial reproductive isolation on secondary contact.     

Effect of 2450 MHz microwave exposure on behavioural thermoregulation in mice

1. 1.|The purpose of this study was to determine the threshold specific absorption rate (SAR) during exposure to 2450 MHz continuous wave (CW) microwaves that affected thermoregulatory behaviour in mice.

2. 2.|A Plexiglas shuttle box was placed inside a waveguide imposed with a temperature gradient. The temperature gradient allowed the mice to select a particular section of the shuttle box which was, presumably, related to their state of thermal comfort. Exposing the mice to 2450 MHz inside the waveguide at SARs of 0–5.3 W kg⁻¹ for 1 h caused no significant change in their preferred ambient temperature.

3. 3.|Increasing SAR from 5.3 to 18.1 W kg⁻¹ caused the animals to shift their position to the cooler end of the shuttle box.

4. 4.|Following termination of microwave exposure animals that had selected a cool ambient temperature returned to the warm side of the shuttle box.

5. 5.|It is concluded that for mice exposed to radiation at 2450 MHz the thermoregulatory behaviour is significantly affected at SARs of 5.3 to 9.9 W kg⁻¹.

Regulated temporal and spatial expression of the calcium-binding proteins calcyclin and OPN (osteopontin) in mouse tissues during pregnancy.

In situ hybridization and northern/slot blot analyses were used to quantify the expression of calcyclin (2A9, 5B10), osteopontin (opn, secreted phosphoprotein, 2ar) and calmodulin mRNAs in mouse tissues that support pregnancy. High-to-moderate levels of the mRNAs of all three genes were detected at discrete locations in the uterus, decidua and placenta as a function of gestation time. Calmodulin expression was constant in these tissues; calcyclin mRNA was high during early pregnancy and declined after day 8-9 of gestation; and opn mRNA was undetectable before day 7, with maximal levels on days 9-12 in each of these tissues. Calcyclin, but not opn, expression was also observed in the chorioamnion after day 12. Calcyclin was expressed throughout the decidua on day 8 but became restricted to the primary (antimesometrial) decidual zone and decidua lateralis on day 9, and the decidua capsularis after day 9. By contrast, opn mRNA was localized on day 9 to the mesometrial triangle, which contains a large population of granulated metrial gland cells, and to the decidua basalis. These two genes may serve as markers for the two types of decidual tissue. We suggest that one function of OPN, which may be an indicator of cells in the decidua that have a bone marrow genealogy, is to mediate the flux of calcium from the maternal circulation to the developing embryo.     

中国地鼠线粒体DNA 16S rRNA基因序列分析及分子系统发育研究

目的通过克隆分析中国地鼠16S基因的部分序列,对中国地鼠16S基因的结构和功能进行初步探索和揭示。方法从GenBank中已报道的啮齿动物16S基因保守区设计一对引物,进行PCR扩增,测序。用Blastn与GenBank中七种啮齿类动物的16S基因进行序列比较,分析其碱基组成及变异情况,并用邻接法(NJ)、非加权组平均法(UPGMA)构建分子系统树,在分子水平上探讨中国地鼠和其他啮齿类动物的进化关系,对中国地鼠的种属地位进行了进一步验证。结果获得了中国地鼠线粒体16S基因的部分序列,其碱基组成A、T、C、G分别为40.5%、24.5%、18.7%、16.3%,与其他七种啮齿类动物的碱基含量相比,各碱基含量基本相似。NJ进化树表明,中国地鼠、金黄地鼠与欧洲仓鼠先聚为一支,小鼠与大鼠先聚为一支,东方田鼠、台湾田鼠与东欧田鼠先聚为一支。结论中国地鼠和金黄地鼠的亲缘关系最近,与传统的分类地位基本吻合。     

A sharp incisor tool for predator house mice back to the wild

The house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus), as a successful invasive species worldwide, has to forage a variety of resources. Subantarctic mice display among the most notable diet shift from the usual omnivorous–granivorous diet, relying on a larger proportion of terrestrial animal prey. In agreement, a recent study of their mandible morphology evidenced an evolution of their mandible shape to optimize incisor biting and hence seize preys. Here, the incisors themselves are the focus of a morphometric analysis combined with a 3D study of their internal structure, aiming at a comparison between subantarctic populations (Guillou island, Kerguelen archipelago) with a range of western European continental, commensal mice. The predatory foraging behavior of Guillou mice was indeed associated with a sharper bevel of the lower incisor, which appears as an efficient morphology for piercing prey. The incisor of these mice also displays a reduced pulp cavity, suggesting slower eruption counterbalancing a reduced abrasion on such soft food material. The dynamics of the ever‐growing incisor may thus allow adaptive incisor sculpting and participate to the success of mice in foraging diverse resources.     

Genetic analysis of autosomal and X-linked markers across a mouse hybrid zone

In this paper, we present results of the first comprehensive study of the introgression of both autosomal and sex-chromosome markers across the central European portion of the hybrid zone between two house mouse subspecies, Mus musculus musculus and M. m. domesticus. More than 1800 individuals sampled from 105 sites were analyzed with a set of allozyme loci (hopefully representing neutral or nearly neutral markers) and X-linked loci (which are assumed to be under selection). The zone center is best modeled as a single straight line independent of fine-scale local geographic or climatic conditions, being maintained by a balance between dispersal and selection against hybrids. The width (w) of the multilocus autosomal cline was estimated as 9.6 km whereas the estimate for the compound X-chromosome cline was about 4.6 km only. As the former estimate is comparable to that of the Danish portion of the zone (assumed to be much younger than the central European one), zone width does not appear to be related to its age. The strength (B) of the central barrier was estimated as about 20 km; with dispersal (sigma) of about 1 km/gen(1/2), this means effective selection (s*) is approximately 0.06-0.09 for autosomal loci and about 0.25 for X-linked loci. The number of loci under selection was estimated as N= 56-99 for autosomes and about 380 for X-linked loci. Finally, we highlight some potential pitfalls in hybrid zone analyses and in comparisons of different transects. We suggest that conclusions about parts of the mouse genome involved in reproductive isolation and speciation should be drawn with caution and that analytical approaches always providing some estimates should not be used without due care regarding the support or confidence of such estimates, especially if conclusions are based on the difference between these estimates. Finally, we recommend that analysis in two-dimensional space, dense sampling, and rigorous treatment of data, including inspection of likelihood profiles, are essential for hybrid zone studies.     

Genetic differentiation of house mice in the fauna of the former U.S.S.R.: results of cytogenetic studies

A cytogenic study of nearly 200 house mice (Mus musculus sensu stneto) and aboriginal mice (Mus hortulanus, Mus abbotti) of the subgenus Mus was carried out. Mice were sampled from most localities in the former U.S.S.R., from the western borders to the Far East, and it was shown that it is possible to use cytogenetic markers to classify the species and rare subspecies of the subgenus. Such markers included the characteristic morphology of the sex chromosomes and the pattern of distribution of the C-heterochromatin in the karyotype. Thus, the aboriginal mice, together with M. spretus , are characterized by a significant reduction in the size of the Y chromosome. In addition, the variant of the X chromosome (so called 'molossinus' lype) previously only observed in Japanese M. in. molossinus was found in all the Mus musculus sampled from the fauna of the former U.S.S.R. Another type, the so called 'domeslicus' is a plesiomorphic variant of the X chromosome which is normally found in M. domestuus. M. hortulanus, M. abbotti and possibly in M. spretus. The presence of the common variant X chromosome in the house mice of the various subspecies in the fauna of the former U.S.S.R., Mongolia (raddei) and Japan (molossinus) provides the basis for the integration of Asian house mice into the one species, At. musculus sensu stricto. The problems of morphology, ecology and systematics of the mouse fauna of the former U.S.S.R. are also discussed with special attention being paid to the studies of the so called 'wagnen' form.