The expression of AmphiTCTP, a TCTP orthologous gene in amphioxus related to the development of notochord and somites

The translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) is highly conserved and has been widely found in eukaryotic organisms. Here, we report the phylogenetic analysis and developmental expression of AmphiTCTP, a TCTP homologous gene in cephalochordate amphioxus. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that the putative protein of AmphiTCTP is close to its vertebrate orthologs. The mRNA of AmphiTCTP is found in fertilized eggs, early cleavage embryo and most of the early developmental stages by in situ hybridization and RT-PCR, but its expression is not detectable from late cleavage stage to mid-gastrula. The expression of AmphiTCTP in zygotes and early cleavage stages shows that AmphiTCTP may be a maternal gene. From the early neurula stage onward, AmphiTCTP transcript is localized in the presumptive notochord, presomitic mesoderm, and nascent somites. However, its expression is gradually down-regulated after the notochord and somites have been formed. The expression pattern of AmphiTCTP thus coincides with the differentiation of the notochord and somites, this suggests that AmphiTCTP may not be a housekeeping gene and may play an important role in mesoderm development. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Characterization of amphioxus GDF8/11 gene, an archetype of vertebrate MSTN and GDF11

MSTN, also known as growth and differentiation factor 8 (GDF8), and GDF11 are members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) subfamily. They have been thought to be derived from one ancestral gene. In the present study, we report the isolation and characterization of an invertebrate GDF8/11 homolog from the amphioxus (Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtauense). The amphioxus GDF8/11 gene consists of five exons flanked by four introns, which have two more exons and introns than that of other species. In intron III, a possible transposable element was identified. This suggested that this intron might be derived from transposon. The amphioxus GDF8/11 cDNA encodes a polypeptide of 419 amino acid residues. Phologenetic analysis shows that the GDF8/11 is at the base of vertebrate MSTNs and GDF11s. This result might prove that the GDF8/11 derived from one ancestral gene and the amphioxus GDF8/11 may be the common ancestral gene, and also the gene duplication event generating MSTN and GDF11 occurred before the divergence of vertebrates and after or at the divergence of amphioxus from vertebrates. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction results showed that the GDF8/11 gene was expressed in new fertilized cell, early gastrulation, and knife-shaped embryo, which was different from that in mammals. It suggested that the GDF8/11 gene might possess additional functions other than regulating muscle growth in amphioxus.

Cloning and expression analysis of myogenin from flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) and promoter analysis of muscle-specific expression

Myogenin is a bHLH transcription factor of the MyoD family. It plays a crucial role in myoblast differentiation and maturation. We report here the isolation of flounder myogenin gene and the characterization of its expression patterns. Sequence analysis indicated that flounder myogenin shared a similar structure and the conserved bHLH domain with other vertebrate myogenin genes. Flounder myogenin gene contains 3 exons and 2 introns. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic showed that flounder myogenin was more homologous with halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) myogenin and striped bass (Morone saxatilis) myogenin. Whole-mount embryo in situ hybridization revealed that flounder myogenin was first detected in the medial region of somites that give rise to slow muscles, and expanded later to the lateral region of the somite that become fast muscles. The levels of myogenin transcripts dropped significantly in matured somites at the trunk region. Its expression could only be detected in the caudal somites, which was consistent with the timing of somite maturation. Transient expression analysis showed that the 546 bp flounder myogenin promoter was sufficient to direct muscle-specific GFP expression in zebrafish embryos. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of hydrostatic pressure on microtubule organization and cell cycle in gynogenetically activated eggs of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

Indirect immunofluorescence staining was used to detect cytological changes of isolated blastodisks during mitosis of flounder haploid eggs treated with hydrostatic pressure. Changes in microtubule structure and expected cleavage suppression were observed from blastodisk formation to the third cell cycle, with obvious differences between treated and control eggs. In most eggs, microtubules were disassembled and the nucleation capacity of the centrosome was temporarily inhibited after pressure treatment. Within 15-20 min after treatment, the nucleation capacity of the centrosome began to gradually recover, with slow regeneration of microtubules; approximately 25 min after treatment, the nucleation capacity of the centrosome recovered completely, regenerated distinct bipolar spindles, and the first mitosis ensued. During the second cell cycle, approximately 61% of the embryos were at the two-cell stage, with a monopolar spindle in each blastomere; that treatment was effective was based on second cleavage blockage. Approximately 15% of the eggs still remained at the one-cell stage and had a monopolar spindle (treatment was effective, according to the general model of first cleavage blockage). However, treatment was ineffective in approximately 15% of the embryos (bipolar spindle in each blastomeres) and in another 8% (bipolar spindle in one of the two blastomeres and a monopolar spindle in the other; both mechanisms operating in different parts of the embryo). This is the first report elucidating mitotic gynogenetic diploid induction by hydrostatic pressure in marine fishes and provides a cytological basis for developing an efficient method of inducing mitotic gynogenesis in olive flounder. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Sequence analysis and functional study of thymidylate synthase from zebrafish, Danio rerio

The thymidylate synthase (TS), an important target for many anticancer drugs, has been cloned from different species. But the cDNA property and function of TS in zebrafish are not well documented. In order to use zebrafish as an animal model for screening novel anticancer agents, we isolated TS cDNA from zebrafish and compared its sequence with those from other species. The open reading frame (ORF) of zebrafish TS cDNA sequence was 954 nucleotides, encoding a 318-amino acid protein with a calculated molecular mass of 36.15 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence of zebrafish TS was similar to those from other organisms, including rat, mouse and humans. The zebrafish TS protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. The purified zebrafish TS showed maximal activity at 28 degrees C with similar K-m value to human TS. Western immunoblot assay confirmed that TS was expressed in all the developmental stages of zebrafish with a high level of expression at the 1-4 cell stages. To study the function of TS in zebrafish embryo development, a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression vector, pSilencer 4.1-CMV/TS, was constructed which targeted the protein-coding region of zebrafish TS mRNA. Significant change in the development of tail and epiboly was found in zebrafish embryos microinjected pSilencer4.1-CMV/TS siRNA expression vector.

真鲷（Pagrus major）胚胎超低温损伤机理研究

鱼类胚胎由于其自身结构特征：体积大、含水量高、多室结构等，迄今超低温保存尚未成功。超低温保存过程中所造成的冷冻损伤是制约鱼类胚胎超低温保存成功与否的关键，具体表现为渗透压影响、抗冻剂毒性、冰晶损伤等。系统研究并阐明鱼类胚胎冷冻损伤机理，是成功建立鱼类胚胎超低温保存技术的基础。本论文主要针对胚胎对渗透压的耐受性、抗冻剂对胚胎的渗透性、降温速率对胚胎内外冰晶形成温度的影响等冷冻损伤机理进行了系统研究，主要研究结果如下： 1.通过检测胚胎在不同浓度人工海水（0%、25%、50%、75%、1×、2×、3×、4×，渗透压范围0~3740 mOsm/kg）中的孵化率，确定了真鲷不同发育时期胚胎对渗透压的耐受范围，以及心跳期胚胎浸泡不同时间对渗透压的耐受范围。结果显示：①真鲷2-4细胞期、原肠期、10-14体节期胚胎、心跳期和出膜前期胚胎孵化率>50%时渗透压的范围依次为：919~1391 mOsm/kg、919~1391 mOsm/kg、462 ~1391 mOsm/kg、232~1878 mOsm/kg和692~1391 mOsm/kg，表明心跳期胚胎对渗透压变化的耐受范围最广；②在不同浓度人工海水中分别浸泡10 min、30 min、1 h、5 h和10 h后，真鲷胚胎孵化率无显著变化的渗透压范围分别为0~2804 mOsm/kg、0~1878 mOsm/kg、232~1391 mOsm/kg、232~1391 mOsm/kg和919~1391 mOsm/kg；结果表明心跳期胚胎对渗透压的耐受范围随浸泡时间的延长而减小。 2.采用毛细管电泳技术检测胚胎内部DMSO的浓度，并且分析了胚胎孵化率和胚胎内部DMSO的浓度随浸泡时间变化与外部抗冻剂的关系。结果表明胚胎孵化率随胚胎外部抗冻剂溶液浓度和浸泡时间的增加而降低；胚胎内部DMSO浓度随胚胎外部抗冻剂溶液浓度和浸泡时间的增加而增加。对胚胎孵化率（y1）随抗冻剂溶液浓度（x）的变化进行一元三次多项式回归，当浸泡时间分别为10 min、30 min和60 min时，回归方程依次为：y1 = -2832.7x3 + 575.01x2 - 37.011x + 99.641（R2 = 0.9722）；y1 = 30288x3 - 16322x2 + 2077.3x + 27.603（R2 = 0.9876）；y1 = 16052x3 - 5985.2x2 - 32.696x + 119.6（R2 = 0.9124）。对胚胎内部DMSO浓度（y2）随抗冻剂溶液浓度（x）的变化进行回归，当浸泡时间分别为10 min、30 min和60 min时，回归方程依次为：y2 = 0.2584e6.7294x（R2 = 0.9876）；y2 = 0.2521e10.964x（R2 = 0.9644）；y2 = 0.4054e10.95x（R2 = 0.8954）。 3. 利用低温显微镜观察了不同降温速率（20、40、60、80、100、120℃/min）对胚胎内外冰晶形成温度的影响。胚胎外部冰晶形成温度（TEIF）随降温速率的增加显著下降，在降温速率大于80℃/min之后，TEIF随降温速率增加而降低的幅度减小；胚胎内部冰晶形成温度（TIIF）在降温速率小于80℃/min 时随降温速率的升高而降低，在降温速率大于80℃/min 时随降温速率的升高而升高；胚胎内外冰晶形成温度差值（TEIF - TIIF）在降温速率小于80℃/min时随降温速率的升高而增大，在降温速率大于80℃/min时随降温速率的升高而减小。 4. 在低温显微镜下观察了真鲷胚胎低温保存中有复活胚胎记录的保存方法在冷冻解冻过程中的冰晶形成过程，结果表明：①在冷冻过程中，玻璃化法冷冻的胚胎的内部冰晶形成温度（-53.70，-64.33℃）显著低于程序降温法（-17.51，-21.40℃）；而且在玻璃化法冷冻的胚胎内部冰晶形成温度高于外部冰晶后形成（-70.30℃），程序降温法中则相反，胚胎内部冰晶形成温度显著低于外部冰晶形成温度（-4.93，-5.00℃）；玻璃化法中，40%PG冷冻的胚胎外部溶液出现玻璃化现象，其他组均未出现；②在解冻过程中，各组均出现重结晶现象；解冻后，玻璃化法的胚胎完整率（62.82%）远高于程序降温法（9.21%）。

大西洋庸鲽Hippoglossus hippoglossus和大西洋鲑Salmo salar配子质量研究

种质问题是养殖健康发展的基础。在鱼类养殖中，卵子和精子的质量直接关系到受精、胚胎发育，仔稚鱼发育以及幼鱼生长等一系列过程。本论文针对大西洋庸鲽和大西洋鲑的配子质量进行研究。研究内容涉及大西洋庸鲽精子冷冻保存方法；促性腺激素释放激素类似物（GnRHa）使用对其精子冷冻保存效果、以及脂肪酸组成的影响；野生和驯养大西洋鲑卵子在脂肪酸、类胡萝卜素、矿物盐方面的差异比较。 精子冷冻保存通过提高对精子的利用效率，进而对于种质改良，推进鱼类养殖科研和生产具有重要意义。本实验建立了大西洋庸鲽精子大容量冷冻保存方法。八种抗冻剂冷冻保存实验结果表明：10% 及15% DMSO配以 HBSS 或KS 的抗冻剂组合冷冻保存效果最佳，4 mL体积冷冻保存可获得与1.6 mL同样的保存效果。 在繁殖季节后期注射GnRHa激素缓释剂，可获得质量稳定的大西洋庸鲽精液，将激素注射方法与精子冷冻保存方法相结合对于提高雄鱼利用率，扩大生产规模具有重要实用价值。本项研究分三个时间采集注射GnRHa激素后的雄鱼精子以及同期未注射激素的雄鱼精子，对所有精子样品使用同样的方法进行冷冻保存，检测冷冻保存后解冻精子的受精率与活力。结果表明，激素注射与否对于冷冻保存后精子的受精率和活力无显著影响，两类冷冻精液均达到鲜精水平。实验结果还表明，注射激素14天后的精子的密度显著的降低。说明GnRHa激素的使用可以显著降低精子密度，但不会影响精子的冷冻保存效果。 本相研究同时对注射GnRHa 缓释激素和未注射GnRHa 缓释激素的大西洋庸鲽精液脂肪酸成分进行分析，以检测该激素使用对精子生化组分的影响。结果表明激素的使用对在DHA (22:6n-3,二十二碳六烯酸)、EPA(20:5n-3,二十碳五烯酸)、AA(20:4n-6，花生四烯酸)等重要脂肪酸，不饱和脂肪酸、饱和脂肪酸以及n-3、n-6等重要种类的脂肪酸总量及其比例没有显著影响。精液脂肪酸中DHA含量最高，约占25%；PUFA约为44%。 作为世界性的重要养殖品种，野生和驯养大西洋鲑在形态、生化组成以及遗传 等方面表现出的差异被广泛关注。本论文，对野生和驯养大西洋鲑受精卵关键生化成分进行分析，通过与野生受精卵比较阐明驯养受精卵的质量状况，为亲鱼营养需求提供指导依据。本实验中野生配子和驯养配子的受精率没有显著差异，但重要脂肪酸组成、类胡萝卜素以及矿物盐含量都存在多方面显著差异。两类受精卵脂肪酸中含量最高的依次为18:1n-9（油酸）、DHA（二十二碳六烯酸）、16:0（棕榈酸）、EPA（二十碳五烯酸）。野生受精卵的单不饱和脂肪酸总量显著高于驯养受精卵，而多不饱和脂肪酸（PUFA）比例显著低于驯养的受精卵。在主要必需不饱和脂肪酸（EFA）中，DHA和EPA在野生受精卵中的比例高于驯养受精卵，AA（花生四烯酸）低于驯养受精卵。野生受精卵虾青素（Ax）的含量低于驯养受精卵而鸡油菌素（Cx）含量高于驯养受精卵。野生受精卵中多种矿物盐的含量（铝、铜、铁、硒和锌）含量显著高于驯养的受精卵。差别最大的为铜。诸多方面的差异表明，野生亲鱼与驯养亲鱼产出的卵子确实存在显著差异，因此关注亲鱼的营养极为重要。

中华卤虫滞育卵发育和重金属刺激相关蛋白质组学研究

卤虫(Artemia)是一种广温、耐高盐的小型甲壳动物，广泛分布于内陆盐湖和沿海盐田中。卤虫的无节幼体作为重要的蛋白优质饵料，被广泛的应用于水产养殖生产。卤虫具有特殊的生物学特性，是研究甲壳动物胚胎发育的良好的实验材料，同时也是一种研究动物抗逆机制的模式动物。卤虫有卵生和卵胎生两种繁殖后代的方式，当环境条件适宜时，卤虫倾向于采取卵胎生方式，即直接产生无节幼体；而在恶劣的环境条件下，卵生方式占主要地位，产生处于滞育状态的、具有复杂外壳的休眠卵。卤虫的滞育卵具有独特的生物学特性和特殊的生理生化特点。其发育停滞，细胞分裂停止，酶活力下降，代谢活动受到抑制并可耐受各种极端恶劣环境，如缺氧、低温、紫外线、干燥等。即使在最适的环境中滞育卵的孵化率也很低，只有受到某些特定的非生物信号的刺激才自能终止这种滞育状态，恢复生理代谢；当环境条件适宜时，能够继续发育孵化成无节幼体。因此，卤虫的滞育卵在卤虫的整个生活史中占有重要的地位。另一方面，卤虫是极端环境生物，能够抵抗各种恶劣环境胁迫刺激，因此是研究抗逆机理的良好的实验动物。 本论文利用蛋白质组学技术，研究了卤虫滞育卵及滞育卵发育过程中的蛋白质组表达情况，并研究了卤虫幼体在重金属刺激后蛋白表达的变化情况。得到如下结果： 建立了中华卤虫滞育卵可溶性总蛋白的双向凝胶电泳对照图谱。在pH 4–7、分子量10-100 kDa范围内，检测到约 233个蛋白点，并利用高效液相色谱-质谱联用（LC-ESI-MS/MS）技术鉴定了其中的48个丰度较大及感兴趣的蛋白点，根据这些蛋白的生物学功能进行分类，功能类别包括细胞防御蛋白、抗氧化蛋白、细胞骨架蛋白、代谢相关蛋白等。在卤虫滞育卵中共分离鉴定到6个分子量和等电点存在差异的小热休克蛋白p26的异构体，生物信息学分析表明该蛋白有三种不同的功能位点，分别是蛋白激酶C磷酸化位点，Casein 激酶II磷酸化位点及 N-myristoylation 位点。 采用低温脱水的方法对滞育卵进行激活刺激，并对活化卵和滞育卵蛋白表达图谱进行了对比分析。结果表明对卤虫滞育卵的激活刺激引起了其蛋白表达的明显变化。活化卵图谱中蛋白点总数比滞育卵中明显增多，特别是在pI<5.5范围内。约70个蛋白点在激活刺激后上调表达，包括部分只在激活卵中表达的蛋白；25个下调表达，包括部分只在滞育卵中表达的蛋白；其余约60％（占滞育卵蛋白点数目百分比）的蛋白点表达量基本恒定。热休克蛋白家族、抗氧化蛋白家族成员等蛋白变化明显，小热休克蛋白p26、小热休克蛋白ArHsp21蛋白以及过氧化物还原酶异构体在激活卵中特异表达。 活化卵孵化过程中不同发育时期的蛋白表达又呈现出不同的特点，分别在孵化后6h、12h、18h和24h的蛋白质组学图谱上检测到267、285、195和210个蛋白点。孵化后6h和12h休眠卵蛋白表达个数相对较多，与胚胎发育过程中的器官发生和剧烈的形态变化相适应；孵化后18h和24h休眠卵蛋白表达明显下降，部分蛋白的表达关闭，部分蛋白开始富集表达。 利用双向凝胶电泳技术分析了中华卤虫幼体受到急性硫酸铜刺激后的蛋白表达变化情况。通过图谱对比分析，检测到了5mM硫酸铜刺激24h后，卤虫幼体中14个差异表达的蛋白点。利用LC-ESI-MS/MS技术鉴定了其中的7个蛋白，其中3个蛋白上调表达，分别是热休克蛋白70（7.5倍）, 肌动蛋白（2.3倍）和伴侣分子亚基1（3.0倍）。3个蛋白下调表达，分别是：精氨酸激酶（2.8倍）, 延伸因子2 (2.0倍） 和富含甘氨酸蛋白(2.0倍）。硫酸铜刺激后特异表达的一个蛋白被鉴定为过氧化物还原酶(Peroxiredoxin，Prx)。根据质谱检测提供的蛋白肽段信息和其他生物过氧化物还原酶保守氨基酸序列设计简并引物，结合RACE技术，从中华卤虫幼体中克隆到了过氧化物还原酶基因，该基因的cDNA全长为756个碱基，其中开放阅读框为594个碱基，编码198个氨基酸，其蛋白理论分子量为22.0 kDa，理论等电点为6.98。多序列比对结果显示中华卤虫Prx基因的推导氨基酸序列与美国卤虫和中国对虾的同源性高达98%和94%。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示，硫酸铜刺激后，该基因在卤虫无节幼体中的转录水平明显升高，在24h达到正常水平的3.0倍。

三种海水经济鱼类早期发育生物学的研究

海水经济鱼类的养殖在我国已经形成第四次海水养殖浪潮，经济效益显著，有力地推动了我国海水养殖的产业结构调整和可持续发展。然而在海水养殖发展过程中也存在着诸多问题，尤其是早期发育阶段的高死亡率，严重制约了我国海水养殖产业的稳定和健康发展。 海水鱼类养殖的关键为高质量，高存活率苗种的生产和培育，由于鱼类种类繁多，生物多样性丰富，对应实际的繁育技术，尤其是新品种的开发，必须要做出相应的调整。这就要求我们必须对每一种鱼类早期发育有所了解，并将形态和组织上的数据用于指导生产。 本文通过显微观察和组织学研究，主要描述和研究了我国北方三种重要的海水经济鱼类(条斑星鲽、杂交鲆、条石鲷)的早期发育生物学，并结合实际生产进一步阐明关键期的产生原因，机理以及采用相应的对策。具体结果如下： 1.条斑星鲽：作为冷温性鲆鲽鱼类，条斑星鲽早期发育过程的特征主要有： ① 条斑星鲽受精卵无油球，卵子呈半浮性；不同步卵裂现象提前，发生在第三次卵裂；卵裂期裂球大小差异大。孵化过程较长，在水温8 ± 0.3℃，盐度33的条件下，经9 d孵化。条斑星鲽胚胎发育的不同时期对温度的敏感性不同，其中原肠期对温度比较敏感。 ②在8-10℃，盐度33的条件下，8-9 dph开口摄食。且开口时，其吻前端出现有一点状黑褐色素，构成了条斑星鲽仔鱼“开口期”的重要标志。卵黄囊于消失。在后期仔鱼末期，背鳍和臀鳍上形成特有的黑褐色条斑带。 ③杯状细胞首先出现在咽腔后部和食道前段，胃腺和幽门盲囊出现于29 dph，变态期始于30dph。在条斑星鲽早期发育过程中，观察到其直肠粘膜层细胞质出现大量嗜伊红颗粒，为仔鱼肠道上皮吸收的蛋白质。 ④首先淋巴化的免疫器官是头肾，然后是胸腺和脾脏，这与大部分硬骨鱼类不同。条斑星鲽除头肾和脾脏外，胸腺实质也形成MMCs。其中以脾脏形成MMCs最为丰富，形态多样。 2. 杂交鲆：为同属的牙鲆和夏鲆间的远缘杂交种，其发育过程的特点为： ① 在温度为15.4～16.0℃，杂交鲆胚胎从受精到孵化所需的时间为76 h左右，胚孔关闭前期，胚胎先出现视囊及克氏囊，而后形成体节。孵出前胚体在卵膜内环绕不到1周。 ② 孵化后消失。杂交鲆群体变态间隔长(34-60 dph)，且变态高峰期出现的冠状幼鳍不明显(与母本牙鲆相比)，数量为7-8根。 ③组织学观察发现，其消化系统中胃腺出现较晚，且胃腺发育过程缓慢(与母本牙鲆相比)。甲状腺滤泡增生不明显，颜色较浅，数量较少。杂交鲆在早期发育过程中，并没有出现鳔原基。 3. 条石鲷作为岩礁性的暖水性鱼类，早期发育过程也较为特殊，包括外形以及内部的器官结构。主要特点有： ① 受精卵：受精卵卵黄上具有龟裂结构，为鱼卵的分类特征之一。 ② 初孵仔鱼：初孵仔鱼背鳍膜上的黑色素，从体背面向背鳍膜边缘移动，到3dph仔鱼基本消失，此为本种仔鱼发育所特有的特点。 ③ 后期仔鱼和稚鱼：肠道肌肉层加厚明显，仔稚鱼胃肠排空率急剧上升，死亡率增加，通过改善常规的投饵方式部分解决了这个死亡高峰的问题。在幼鱼初期，牙齿融合为骨喙，为石鲷科鱼类的特征。 ④胸腺上皮分泌细胞：类似的现象同样在虹鳟鱼中发现，但是虹鳟鱼胸腺上皮分泌细胞不如条石鲷的丰富，同样也不如条石鲷的排列整齐，而是零星分布在胸腺上皮与咽腔接触的表面。除了正常的造血器官—脾脏和头肾外，肝脏、胰腺和鳔等多种组织等也出现MMCs，此现象在硬骨鱼类不多见，一般发生在软骨鱼类。

真鲷(Pagrosomus major)胚胎冷冻保存损伤机理及冷冻精子遗传物质稳定性研究

本文对真鲷心跳期胚胎对5种常用渗透性抗冻剂（DMSO、甘油、甲醇、丙二醇、乙二醇）和3种非渗透性抗冻剂（PVP、PEG-8000、蔗糖）的耐受性进行了研究。渗透性抗冻剂分6个浓度梯度（5%；10%；15%；20%；25%；30%）和3个时间组（10min；30min；1h）。非渗透性抗冻剂中，PVP、PEG-8000分3个浓度梯度（5%、10%、15%）和2个时间组（10min、30min），蔗糖为4个浓度梯度（5%、10%、15%、20%）和2个时间组（10min、30min）。实验结果表明，在渗透性抗冻剂组中，浓度为5%的处理组的孵化率（>90%）与对照组差异均不显著，随着抗冻剂浓度增大及处理时间的延长，真鲷心跳期胚胎的孵化率显著下降（P<0.05），在最高浓度的最长处理时间中胚胎孵化率均降到了0。总体上，真鲷心跳期胚胎对五种渗透性抗冻剂的耐受性从小到大依次为：甲醇 < 甘油 < 乙二醇 < DMSO < 丙二醇。对影响胚胎孵化率的三个因素（抗冻剂、浓度、时间）进行的因素效应分析结果表明，三种因素对孵化率的影响显著（P<0.05），并且浓度效应 > 时间效应 > 抗冻剂效应。在非渗透性抗冻剂组中，蔗糖组胚胎孵化率未呈显著变化；PVP组随着浓度及时间的增大，孵化率显著下降（P<0.05）；PEG-8000组随着浓度增大孵化率显著下降（P<0.05），但在两个时间组间差异不显著。相同处理情况下PEG-8000对真鲷心跳期胚胎的毒性要小于PVP。因素效应分析比较结果表明仅时间效应不显著，且抗冻剂效应 > 浓度效应 > 时间效应。 对所用各种抗冻剂进行了渗透压测量，实验中使用的渗透性抗冻剂（5%-30%）的渗透压值在959-7980mOsm/kg之间，均高于使用海水的渗透压值（919mOsm/kg）；使用的非渗透性抗冻剂的渗透压值在316-1040mOsm/kg之间，除20%蔗糖渗透压值（1040mOsm/kg）高于海水外，其他非渗透性抗冻剂的渗透压值均要低于海水。对孵化率与相应的溶液渗透压值进行相关回归分析结果表明，渗透性抗冻剂的渗透压与孵化率呈显著的负相关（P<0.05），而非渗透性抗冻剂的渗透压与孵化率相关不显著。渗透性抗冻剂组的回归分析结果表明，二次方程的曲线拟合度最高，得到的回归方程分别为：Y10min = -2×10-8X2 10min - 6×10-5 X 10min + 1.5635 （R2 = 0.713），Y30min= 5×10-8X2 30min－0.0007 X 30min + 2.097（R2 = 0.681），Y1h = 7×10-8X2 1h－0.0008 X 1h+ 2.0397（R2= 0.725）。 在真鲷胚胎对抗冻剂耐受性实验的基础上，挑选五种抗冻剂--10%DMSO、5%甘油、10%甲醇、20%丙二醇、10%乙二醇，浸泡真鲷心跳期胚胎30min后，分别以超速（130℃/min）、快速（20℃/min）、慢速（3℃/min）的速度降温并使用低温显微镜进行观察，依次记录Toif（油球结冰）、Teif（胚胎外部结冰）、Tiif（胚胎内部结冰）等结冰点，Toif值在-9~-23℃之间；Teif值在-21~-35℃之间；Tiif值在-21~-52℃之间。结冰顺序为先油球结冰，然后胚胎外部结冰随之内部马上瞬间变黑形成内部冰晶。随着降温速度的提高，各结冰温度值显著下降。各抗冻剂之间的Teif及Tiif值不同，Toif值之间没有显著差异。对两种玻璃化冷冻方法进行模拟观察，发现胚胎冰晶形成的顺序与非玻璃化过程不同--先内部结冰然后逐渐蔓延至外部形成外部冰晶，而且模拟玻璃化的内部结冰温度Tiif值（-52.56℃）显著（P<0.05）低于使用低浓度的同种抗冻剂超速降温组的Tiif值（-40.11℃）。在快速及慢速降温组中，20%丙二醇组的Tiif要显著的低于其他组（P<0.05）；在超速降温中，甲醇组的Tiif值要显著的低于其他组（P<0.05）。在Tiif小于30℃的实验组中获得形态完整胚胎的比例平均仅有30.77%；在Tiif大于30℃的实验组中获得形态完整胚胎的平均比例高达70.37%，模拟玻璃化组达到100%。各抗冻剂之间，复温后胚胎形态完整率10%甲醇组最高（77.78%）；其次依次为10%乙二醇（66.67%）、20%丙二醇（55.56%）和10%DMSO（55.56%）；5%甘油组最低（11.11%）；推测甲醇的对胚胎的渗透效果要好于其他组。综上推测：使用丙二醇、甲醇作为抗冻剂以及玻璃化冷冻保存方法对真鲷心跳期胚胎超低温保存也许较为合适。 我们对低温保存的真鲷精子核DNA损伤进行了研究以期为下一步胚胎遗传物质稳定性研究提供参考依据。研究方法为单细胞凝胶电泳（SCGE），针对研究对象，在实验过程中对传统的碱性单细胞凝胶电泳在铺胶方法、电泳条件等进行了改进。对精子细胞进行预处理，在碱性电泳液中使核DNA双链解链变性后电泳，EB染色lOmin后，在荧光显微镜下观察，每次随机观察50个左右的核DNA。结果表明，对荧光显微镜下观察到的精子核按彗尾长度及荧光强度划分等级，出现损伤的精子核DNA的损伤程度主要为轻度损伤和中度损伤，很少见有完全损伤的真鲷精子核。经5%、10%、18%、20%、25%、30%DMSO冷冻保存后的精子彗星率分别为33.47％ ± 8.95％; 35.91％ ± 19.44％; 48.95％ ± 8.90％; 43.33％ ± 11.19％; 55.80％ ± 38.94％。鲜精彗星率为31.43 ％ ± 2.68％。对比真鲷冷冻精液与新鲜精液的精子DNA的损伤状况，表明仅用30％ DMSO冷冻精子DNA损伤状况与鲜精差异显著(P<0.05)。 综上所述，渗透性抗冻剂对胚胎的毒性与其渗透压值呈显著的负相关关系。丙二醇对真鲷心跳期胚胎毒性最小，甲醇较其他抗冻剂能更好的渗透入胚胎；玻璃化方法能显著降低Tiif值并能更好的保持超低温保存后胚胎的形态完整性，因此，使用丙二醇、甲醇作为抗冻剂以及玻璃化冷冻保存方法对真鲷心跳期胚胎超低温保存也许较为合适。常规使用的用于超低温保存真鲷精子的DMSO（浓度<15%）不会对精子核物质稳定性造成明显影响。由于胚胎较精子结构要复杂许多，对于真鲷胚胎损伤机理的研究还有大量工作可以开展。

Effect of cryoprotectants on hatching rate of red seabream (Pagrus major) embryos

The objectives were to investigate the effect of cryoprotectants on the hatching rate of red seabream embryos. Heart-beat embryos were immersed in: five permeable cryoprotectants, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), glycerol (Gly), methanol (MeOH), 1,2-propylene glycol (PG), and ethylene glycol (EG). in concentrations of 5-30% for 10, 30, or 60 min; and two non-permeable cryoprotectants: polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and sucrose (in concentrations of 5-20% for 10 or 30 min). The embryos were then washed and incubated in filtered seawater until hatching occurred. The hatching rate of the embryos treated with permeable cryoprotectants decreased (P < 0.05) with increased concentration and duration of exposure. In addition, PG was the least toxic permeable cryoprotectant, followed by DMSO and EG, whereas Gly and MeOH were the most toxic. At a concentration of 15% and 30 min exposure, the hatching rate of the embryos immersed in PG was 93.3 +/- 7.0% (mean +/- S.D.), however. in DMSO. EG, Gly. and MeOH, it was 82.7 +/- 10.4, 22.0 +/- 5.7, 0.0 +/- 0.0, and 0.0 +/- 0.0%, respectively. Hatching rate of embryos treated with PVP decreased (P < 0.05) with the increase of concentration and exposure time, whereas for embryos treated with sucrose, there was no significant decrease in comparison with the control at the concentrations used. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Preliminary studies on the vitrification of red sea bream (Pagrus major) embryos

The objective was to identify an appropriate cryoprotectant and protocol for vitrification of red sea bream (Pagrus major) embryos. The toxicity of five single-agent cryoprotectants, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), propylene glycol (PG), ethylene glycol (EG), glycerol (GLY), and methyl alcohol (MeOH), as well as nine cryoprotectant mixtures, were investigated by comparing post-thaw hatching rates. Two vitrifying protocols, a straw method and a solid surface vitrification method (copper floating over liquid nitrogen), were evaluated on the basis of post-thaw embryo morphology. Exposure to single-agent cryoprotectants (10% concentration for 15 min) was not toxic to embryos, whereas for higher concentrations (20 and 30%) and a longer duration of exposure (30 min), DMSO and PG were better tolerated than the other cryoprotectants. Among nine cryoprotectant mixtures, the combination of 20% DMSO + 10% PG + 10% MeOH had the lowest toxicity after exposure for 10 min or 15 min. High percentages of morphologically intact embryos, 50.6 +/- 16.7% (mean +/- S.D.) and 77.8 +/- 15.5%, were achieved by the straw vitrifying method (20.5% DMSO + 15.5% acetamide + 10% PG, thawing at 43 degrees C and washing in 0.5 M sucrose solution for 5 min) and by the solid surface vitrification method (40% GLY, thawing at 22 degrees C and washing in 0.5 M sucrose solution for 5 min). After thawing, morphological changes in the degenerated embryos included shrunken yolks and ruptured chorions. Furthermore, thawed embryos that were morphologically intact did not consistently survive incubation. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Embryology of Swertia cincta (Gentianaceae) and Its Systematic Value

This paper reports the mega-, micro-sporogenesis and female-, male-gametogenesis of Swertia cincta for the first time, with the aim of discussing the systematic position of section Platynema and section Ophelia of Swertia. Anthers are tetrasporangiate. The development of anther walls conforms to the dicotyledonous type. The tapetum cells have dual origin and are similar to the glandular type. There are two middle layers. The endothecium and epidermis persist. Cytokinesis in the microsporrocyte meiosis is simultaneous type and the microscpore teads are tetrahedral. Pollen grains are 3-celled. The ovary is bicarpellum and unilocular. The placentation is of suparietal placentation with 12 series of ovules. The ovules. The ovule is unitegmic, tenuinucellar and ana-campylotropous, The embryo sac orignates from the single-archesporial cell. The one chalazal megaspore in lienar tetrad become the functional megasore. The development of embryo sac is of the polygonum type. Before fertilization, two polar nuclei fuse into one secondary nucleus. Three antipodal cells persisted and divided into 5-8 cells. A comparison between two sections indicates that section Plathnema is better treated as distinct section and is more advanced than section Ophelia according to the evolutionary trends of embryological characters.

Embryology of Swertia (Gentianaceae) relative to taxonomy

The embryological features of three species of Swertia (s.l.) - S. erythrosticta, S. franchetiana, and S. tetraptera were characterized, and the observations were used, together with previously gathered data on other species, to evaluate a recently proposed polyphyly, based on molecular data, of Swertia s.l. Comparisons of species within the genus showed that they have diversified embryologically, and there are significant between-species differences. Notable features that vary between species include the number of cell layers that form the anther locule wall, the construction of the wall of the mature anther, tapetum origin, the cell number in mature pollen grains, the structure of the fused margins of the two carpels, the ovule numbers in placental cross-sections, the shape of the mature embryo sac, the degree of ovule curvature, antipodal variation and the presence of a hypostase, and seed appendages. They share characters that are widely distributed in the tribe Gentianeae, such as a dicotyledonous type of anther wall formation, a glandular tapetum with uninucleate cells, simultaneous cytokinesis following the meiosis of the microsporocytes, tetrahedral microspore tetrads, superior, bicarpellary and unilocular ovaries, unitegmic and tenuinucellar ovules, Polygonum-type megagametophytes, progamous fertilization, nuclear endosperm, and Solanad-type embryogeny. The presence of variation in embryological characters amongst the species of Swertia s.l. strongly supports the view that Swertia s.l. is not a monophyletic group. Frasera is better separated from Swertia s.l. as an independent genus, and is only distantly related to Swertia s. s. judging from the numerous differences in embryology. Swertia tetraptera is very closely related to Halenia, as they show identical embryology. (C) 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007, 155, 383-400.

Embryology of Crawfurdia delavayi (Gentianaceae) and its systematic value

The embryological characters of Crawfurdia delavayi Frabnch. are described and the systematic relationships of Crawfurdia discussed. Anthers are tetrasporangiate. The development of anther walls conforms to the Dicotyledonous type. The tapetum is of single origin. The development of the tapetum with uninucleate cells is of the glandular type. The tapetal cells on the connective side show radial elongation or periclinal division and intrude into the anther locule. The epidermis of anther walls persists and its cells become pillar and fibrous, and the endothecium degenerates. The ovary is bicarpellary and unilocular. The placentation is typically parietal with 8 rows of anatropous ovules. The development of embryo sac is of the polygonum type. Before fertilization, two polar nuclei fuse into a secondary nucleus. Three antipodal cells persist. Flowers are protandrous. Fertilization is porogamous. The development of the endosperm is of the nuclear type. The embryogeny corresponds to the solanad type physalis II variation. The embryological data indicate that it is better to separate Crawfurdia from Gentiana as an independent genus.