Improving crustacean aquaculture production efficiencies through androgenic gland manipulation

The investigation of androgenic gland manipulations a mean for creating an all female P monodon populations.

Inhibitory effects of the androgenic gland on ovarian development in the mud crab Scylla paramamosain

Isolation and characterization of androgenic hormone in decapod crustaceans depend on an effective bioassay of its action. In the present study, the effect of androgenic gland on ovarian development in the mud crab Scylla paramamosain was investigated with a view to develop a bioassay for androgenic hormone. Ovarian regression with degeneration of oocytes occurred in some female crabs implanted with androgenic gland in vivo. In vitro incubation of ovarian tissues at secondary vitellogenesis in extract of androgenic gland resulted in a significant decrease in amino acid uptake by the tissues. We propose that this inhibitory effect could be established as an effective bioassay for the isolation of androgenic hormone in the mud crab. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier Inc.

对虾性别分化、性腺发育中若干关键问题的研究

利用扫描电镜和组织学研究相结合的方法研究了中国对虾早期的性别分化。扫描电镜观察的结果表明，中国对虾外部性征的性别分化是在变为仔是后第35天开始的，而内部性征则是在变为仔虾后的第76天观察到生殖腺原基向精巢和卵巢的分化。促雄腺(Androgenic gland)是控制甲壳动物性别分化的一个重要器官。到目前为止，已在软甲类的多数目中报道了促雄腺的存在。不同种类促雄腺的分布位置不同，外部形态也有很大差别。中国对虾的促雄腺位于第五对步足基部的肌肉间，于片状覆盖在精荚囊与射精管连接处。当用苏木精染色时，由于其嗜碱性比较强，整个腺体被染成深蓝色。扫描电镜观察可见，中国对虾的促雄腺具有葡萄串状的外形，它是由许多葡萄形的亚单位组成的，这些亚单位的大小、形态各异组织学观察的结果表明，中国对虾的促雄腺由两种类型的细胞组成。第一类细胞，数量少，核的嗜碱性很强，被苏木精染成深蓝色，核仁不易分辨；第二类细胞，数量大，核比较膨大，嗜碱性较弱，核质疏松，具有明显可见的核仁。不同大小的虾中，腺细胞的排列方式不同。随着对虾的发育成熟，腺细胞逐渐由索状排列变为成团排列，说明促雄腺的形成存在一个逐渐发育的过程。利用手术破坏促雄腺或用促雄腺匀浆液浸泡仔虾的方法研究了中国对虾促雄腺的功能，中国对虾促雄腺的存在与否对于雄性外部性征的发育和维持起着重要作用。破坏促雄腺的雄虾的交接器的发育明显受到抑制。但是，未观察到促雄腺对对虾内部性征发育的影响，这可能与进行手术时对虾所处的发育期有关。利用促雄腺的匀浆液浸泡仔虾，对雄虾交接器的发育有一定促进作用。高温处理对中国对虾受精卵孵化率的影响随处理温度及处理时间的改变而发生变化。用热处理方法成功地诱导了中国对虾三倍体，最高诱导率达75%，并对三倍体群体的生物学特性进行了研究。在中国对虾三倍体的群体中，雌体的巢存在两种类型：一种类型卵巢，生殖细胞停留在卵原细胞阶段，没有进一步发育；另一种类型的卵巢，生殖细胞由卵原细胞发育为初级卵母细胞，发育情况与对虾的类似。对卵巢处于发育的第II或第III期的中国对虾以及卵巢发育处在第I、II、III期的几纳对虾的血液和卵巢中法呢烯酸甲酯（MF）含量进行了研究，结果表明，中国对虾和凡纳对虾中均存在MF。凡纳对虾血液和卵巢发育具有明显的刺激作用，这种刺激作用是通过血液中法呢烯酸甲酯含量的提高来实现的。这一研究结果进一步说明了法呢烯酸甲酯与甲壳动物繁殖之间的关系。

Histological, Histochemical and Biochemical characterisation of male morphotypes of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man)

This thesis entitled “Histological ,Histochemical and biochemical characterisation of male morphotypes of macrobrachium rosenbergii(De Man). The giant fresh water prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man) is emerging as a prime candidate species in fresh water aquaculture as a global basis and therefore, receiving much attention in recent years.the present work was aimed at to study the histological variations, if any, in the reproductive system viz. testes, vas deferens including androgenic gland, hepatopancreas and the neurosecretory system viz. eye stalk, brain and thoracic ganglion among the male morphotypes and their transitional stages of M.rosenbergii from growouts. This study was also aimed at to bring out the histochemical variations, if any, in the reproductive system comprising of testes, vas deferens including androgenic gland and the hepatopancreas among the male morphotypes and their transitional stages collected from growouts. Biochemical characterisation of various male morphotyes and their transitional stages have also been attempted in order to find out biochemical evidence, if any, in the morphotypic transformation.Histological study of the testes of three male morphotypes viz., SM, SOC and SBC and their 'transitional stages viz., WOC, tSOC, WBC and OBC have been carried out with a view to unravel the structural and functional differences of the testes, if any, of these morphotypes. Studies on the lipid components viz., cholesterol, phospholipid and triglyceride In the muscle tissue and hepatopancreas have been carried out.

Caracterização estrutural do sistema reprodutor masculino e do hepatotâncreas dos diferentes morfotipos de Macrobrachium amazonicum

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Effects of tributyltin exposure in hermit crabs: Clibanarius vittatus as a model

Tributyltin (TBT) contamination affects the reproductive system of many species of invertebrates worldwide. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of exposure to TBT pollution on the reproduction of the hermit crab Clibanarius vittatus. An orthogonal experiment was designed with two treatments: contamination (with or without TBT in the food) and crab sex (males and females). The animals were reared in the laboratory for nine months, and macroscopic and histological analyses of reproductive organs were carried out after the end of the experiment. Tributyltin was recorded in exposed crabs, but no morphological alterations were detected in the gonads of males, regardless of whether they were exposed to TBT. In contrast, females exposed to TBT displayed disorganization and atrophy of their ovaries, thus directly affecting reproduction in this hermit crab species. This effect observed in female hermit crabs may harm populations located in harbor regions, where TBT concentration is high, even after the worldwide TBT ban.

Chronic caffeine intake increases androgenic stimuli, epithelial cell proliferation and hyperplasia in rat ventral prostate

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Testosterone Promotes an Anabolic Increase in the Rat Female Prostate (Skene's Paraurethral Gland) Which Acquires a Male Ventral Prostate Phenotype

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Prostate gland and extra-capsular tissue 3D reconstruction and measurement

Currently there are little objective parameters that can quantify the success of one form of prostate surgical removal over another. Accordingly, at Old Dominion University (ODU) we have been developing a process resulting in the use of software algorithms to assess the coverage and depth of extra-capsular soft tissue removed with the prostate by the various surgical approaches. Parameters such as the percent of capsule that is bare of soft tissue and where present the depth and extent of coverage have been assessed. First, visualization methods and tools are developed for images of prostate slices that are provided to ODU by the Pathology Department at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS). The visualization tools interpolate and present 3D models of the prostates. Measurement algorithms are then applied to determine statistics about extra-capsular tissue coverage. This paper addresses the modeling, visualization, and analysis of prostate gland tissue to aid in quantifying prostate surgery success. Particular attention is directed towards the accuracy of these measurements and is addressed in the analysis discussions.

Roles of the matrix metalloproteinases in mammary gland development and cancer

Tissue remodeling is a key process involved in normal development, wound healing, bone remodeling, and embryonic implantation, as well as pathological conditions such as tumor invasion and metastasis, and angiogenesis. The degradation of the extracellular matrix that is associated with those processes is mediated by a number of families of extracellular proteinases. These families include the serine proteinases, such as the plasminogen-urokinase plasminogen activator system and leukocyte elastases, the cysteine proteinases, like cathepsin D and L, and the zinc-dependent matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Accumulating evidence has highlighted the central role of MMP-driven extracellular matrix remodeling in mammary gland development and breast cancer.

Molecular profiling of human mammary gland links breast cancer risk to a p27(+) cell population with progenitor characteristics

Early full-term pregnancy is one of the most effective natural protections against breast cancer. To investigate this effect, we have characterized the global gene expression and epigenetic profiles of multiple cell types from normal breast tissue of nulliparous and parous women and carriers of BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. We found significant differences in CD44+ progenitor cells, where the levels of many stem cell-related genes and pathways, including the cell-cycle regulator p27, are lower in parous women without BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations. We also noted a significant reduction in the frequency of CD44+p27+ cells in parous women and showed, using explant cultures, that parity-related signaling pathways play a role in regulating the number of p27+ cells and their proliferation. Our results suggest that pathways controlling p27+ mammary epithelial cells and the numbers of these cells relate to breast cancer risk and can be explored for cancer risk assessment and prevention.