Harmful effects of pyrethroid ester insecticide on the male reproductive system mainly through affecting testicular function and inflammatory markers

Pyrethroid esters are widely used as insecticides worldwide. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the harmful effect of deltamethrin on the male reproductive system through the assessment of reproductive hormones, inflammatory markers, and testicular function. To achieve our aim, eighty male 7-9-week-old, Wistar rats were taken, weighed, and divided into four experimental groups. The first group was kept as a control group, and the other three groups were given deltamethrin orally at different concentrations (0.87, 8.7, and 17.4 mg/kg body weight) for nine weeks. The results indicated that deltamethrin administration associated with a significant decrease in reproductive hormones, especially FSH, LH, and significant elevation in the interleukin 2 (IL2), interleukin 6 (IL6), histamine, and cortisol levels. Also, the significance of inhibition of sperm motility and viability, decreased testis weights, sperm count, and fructose in semen were noted. These findings clarify the harmful effect of deltamethrin on the male reproductive system by producing a significant alteration in reproductive hormones, inflammatory markers as well as testicular function.     

Cytological Observations and Bulked-Segregant Analysis Coupled Global Genome Sequencing Reveal Two Genes Associated with Pollen Fertility in Tetraploid Rice

Neo-tetraploid rice with high fertility is a useful germplasm for polyploid rice breeding, which was developed from the crossing of different autotetraploid rice lines. However, little information is available on the molecular mechanism underlying the fertility of neo-tetraploid rice. Here, two contrasting populations of tetraploid rice, including one with high fertility (hereafter referred to as JG) and another with low fertility (hereafter referred to as JD), were generated by crossing Huaduo 3 (H3), a high fertility neo-tetraploid rice that was developed by crossing Jackson-4x with 96025-4x, and Huajingxian74-4x (T452), a low fertility autotetraploid rice parent. Cytological, global genome sequencing-based bulked-segregant (BSA-seq) and CRISPR/Cas9 technology were employed to study the genes associated with pollen fertility in neo-tetraploid rice. The embryo sacs of JG and JD lines were normal; however, pollen fertility was low in JD, which led to scarce fertilization and low seed setting. Cytological observations displayed low pollen fertility (25.1%) and approximately 31.3 and 27.2% chromosome lagging at metaphase I and II, and 28.8 and 24.8% chromosome straggling at anaphase I and II in JD, respectively. BSA-seq of F_2–3 generations and RNA-seq of F₄ generation detected a common fragment, i.e., 18,915,234–19,500,000, at chromosome 7, which was comprised of 78 genes associated with fertility. Among 78 genes, 9 genes had been known to be involved in meiosis and pollen development. Two mutants ny1 (LOC_Os07g32406) and ny2 (LOC_Os07g32040) were generated by CRISPR/Cas9 knockout in neo-tetraploid rice, and which exhibited low pollen fertility and abnormal chromosome behavior. Our study revealed that two unknown genes, LOC_Os07g32406 (NY1) and LOC_Os07g32040 (NY2) play an important role in pollen development of neo-tetraploid rice and provides a new perspective about the genetic mechanisms of fertility in polyploid rice.     

甜菜雄性不育系及保持系花期蛋白差异分析

为揭示甜菜雄性不育的原因,从蛋白质组学角度对甜菜细胞质雄性不育进行研究,利用双向电泳与MALDI-TOF-MS方法,对Owen型甜菜质核互作型雄性不育系DY5-CMS及同型保持系DY5-O花粉发育3个阶段(雄蕊原基分化期、四分体时期和单核时期)的花蕾蛋白差异表达进行研究．结果表明： 在雄蕊原基分化期花蕾中鉴定出6个差异蛋白,在四分体时期鉴定出4个差异蛋白,这些蛋白多数与呼吸和能量代谢有关,推测甜菜细胞质雄性不育可能是花粉发育早期(雄蕊原基分化期和四分体时期)与能量和呼吸代谢有关的蛋白表达上调导致呼吸和能量代谢紊乱造成的;在花粉发育的单核时期鉴定出6个差异蛋白,这些蛋白主要与植物的光合作用有关,推测到花粉发育后期雄性不育性状已形成,雄性不育导致植物光合机能下降．     

一类双线性SEIQS模型的定性分析

对一类具有双线性传染率的SEIQS模型进行了研究,得到了系统的基本再生数R0.结果表明:R0≤1时疾病消失,无病平衡点全局渐近稳定;当R01时病毒持续存在,系统存在唯一的地方病平衡点并且全局渐近稳定.最后通过仿真验证了系统极限环的存在性.     

Reproductive and neurobehavioural effects of thiabendazole administered to mice in the diet

Thiabendazole was given in the diet to provide levels of 0 (control), 0.031, 0.125, and 0.5% from 5 weeks of age of the F₀ generation to 9 weeks of age of the F₁ generation in mice, and selected reproductive and neurobehavioural parameters were measured. The average litter size and weight were significantly reduced in the high-dose group at birth. No adverse effects were observed in the sex ratio at birth. The average body weight of offspring was significantly increased in the low-dose group during the late lactation period, and was significantly reduced in the high-dose group during the lactation period. In the assessment of neurobehavioural parameters, surface righting at postnatal day (PND) 7 was significantly delayed in a dose-related manner in both sexes. Swimming limb movement at PND 14 and olfactory orientation at PND 14 were significantly depressed in the high-dose group in both sexes. In movement activity at 3 weeks of age in the F₁ generation, vertical time and number of defaecations were significantly decreased in the high-dose group in female offspring. Several adverse effects on reproductive and neurobehavioural parameters were produced at the highest dose level of thiabendazole used in the present study (equivalent to 700-1800mg/kg bw/day). Slight, dose-related delays were also seen in surface-righting ability at the two lower dose levels. The lowest dose level (equivalent to 50-180mg/kg bw/day) is 500     

Cuticular Hydrocarbons Provide Reliable Cues of Fertility in the Ant Gnamptogenys striatula

In ca. 150 species of queenless ants, a specialized queen caste is rare or absent, and mated workers take over the role of the queen in some or all of the colonies. Previously, it has been shown that reproduction in queenless ants is regulated by a combination of dominance behavior and chemical fertility signaling. It is unknown, however, whether chemical signals alone can sufficiently regulate reproduction. To investigate this possibility, we studied reproductive regulation in the facultatively queenless ant Gnamptogenys striatula, a species where dominance behavior is rare or absent. Active egg layers and infertile workers showed qualitative and quantitative differences in their cuticular hydrocarbon profile. Five long-chain methyl alkanes, 3,13- and 3,15-dimethyl pentriacontane, 3,13- and 3,15-dimethyl heptentriacontane, and 3,11,15-trimethyl heptentriacontane occurred only on the cuticles of virgin and mated egg layers. Pronounced quantitative differences were found in a further 27 alkenes; alkanes; and mono-, di-, and trimethyl alkanes. Workers that had recently stopped laying eggs had profiles similar to infertile workers, and mating status did not affect this chemical pattern. We conclude that the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of G. striatula workers provide reliable information about their current fertility. In the interest of colony productivity, this allows reproduction to be regulated without the use of aggression.     

纳米银敷料无菌检查方法

依据《中国药典》2005年版二部附录无菌检查法进行试验,建立适合于纳米银敷料的无菌检查方法。采用直接接种法,对14批纳米银敷料进行无菌方法学验证,结果表明使用规格40mL的培养基、每管培养基接种量为1cm×3cm时,纳米银敷料无明显抑菌作用,可按此方法进行无菌检查。     

高致病性猪繁殖与呼吸系统综合症病毒荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立

为了对当前爆发流行的高致病性猪繁殖与呼吸系统综合症病毒建立快速准确的检测方法,根据该类病毒在Nsp2基因1594-1680处缺失87个碱基的特点,设计了一对特异性引物和一个Taqman探针,通过对反应条件的优化,建立了荧光定量PCR检测方法.该方法特异性强,灵敏度高,能很好地区分高致病性猪繁殖与呼吸系统综合症病毒和其它病毒,没有发现假阳性和假阴性现象,检测病毒滴度达到1TCID50.用该法对38份疑似样本进行检测,阳性率60.5%,与常规PCR法符合率100%.     

日本の寒地，北海道における2030年代の水稲生育への温暖化の影響予測とその対応(日语原文)

北海道では1980年代から2010年代まで，水稲圃場栽培期間である5–9月の気温は年代とともに上昇した。そこで，直近の2010年代（2010—2019年平均）と比べて， 2つの2030年代の予測気象から，既報の関係式より水稲生育を予測した。その結果，2030年代では2010年代に比べ，限界移植日（移植早限）が水稲栽培17地域の平均で8～9日早い。また，早限出穂期が1～5日早く，晩限出穂期が1～5日遅く，安全出穂期間が2～10日長い。出穂期は1～3日早い。出穂期から晩限出穂まで2～9日長いため，遅延型冷害の発生がやや少ない。生育期別気象は，出穂前24日以降30日間では生育が早いため平均気温が同じかやや低い。出穂前10日以降40日間および出穂期以降40日間では平均気温がやや高く，日射量はやや少ない。そのため，玄米収量は96～98％とやや低く，潜在収量性を示す気候登熟量示数は同じである。障害不稔発生に関係する穂ばらみ期冷害危険期の平均気温はわずかに低いかほぼ同じであるため，冷害発生の危険性は残る。一方，不稔発生をもたらす低温域の出現頻度には，地域間で差異がある。精米蛋白質含有率は同じであるが，アミロース含有率はやや低く，やや良食味である。米粒外観品質では被害粒歩合と着色粒歩合は一定の傾向がなく，未熟粒歩合はやや高い。精米白度は同じであるが，玄米白度はやや高い。以上の予測に対する技術的対応方向を示した。     

Challenges and Costs of Asexuality: Variation in Premeiotic Genome Duplication in Gynogenetic Hybrids from Cobitis taenia Complex

The transition from sexual reproduction to asexuality is often triggered by hybridization. The gametogenesis of many hybrid asexuals involves premeiotic genome endoreplication leading to bypass hybrid sterility and forming clonal gametes. However, it is still not clear when endoreplication occurs, how many gonial cells it affects and whether its rate differs among clonal lineages. Here, we investigated meiotic and premeiotic cells of diploid and triploid hybrids of spined loaches (Cypriniformes: Cobitis) that reproduce by gynogenesis. We found that in naturally and experimentally produced F1 hybrids asexuality is achieved by genome endoreplication, which occurs in gonocytes just before entering meiosis or, rarely, one or a few divisions before meiosis. However, genome endoreplication was observed only in a minor fraction of the hybrid’s gonocytes, while the vast majority of gonocytes were unable to duplicate their genomes and consequently could not proceed beyond pachytene due to defects in bivalent formation. We also noted that the rate of endoreplication was significantly higher among gonocytes of hybrids from natural clones than of experimentally produced F1 hybrids. Thus, asexuality and hybrid sterility are intimately related phenomena and the transition from sexual reproduction to asexuality must overcome significant problems with genome incompatibilities with a possible impact on reproductive potential.