Effects of a juvenile hormone mimetic,fenoxycarb, on post-embryonic development of the European corn borer,Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn.

Summary The effect of a juvenile hormone mimetic, fenoxycarb, Ro 13-5223, was tested on the larval instars of the European corn borer,Ostrinia nubilalis, by dipping or topical application. When larvae were treated in instars 2, 3 or 4, the duration of the fifth instar was modified. More permanent and fewer supernumerary larvae were obtained when treatment occurred in the early instars. This non-neurotoxic compound exhibited a strong dose-dependent juvenile hormone type of activity when it was applied to last instar larvae. Fenoxycarb prevented the onset of pupation and produced supernumerary larvae and intermediates. Permanent larvae were obtained if fenoxycarb was applied on day 0 or day 1 of the last instar. The use of such a JH mimetic in the understanding of endocrine control of diapause is discussed.     

Sex chromosomes and sex-determining genes: insights from marsupials and monotremes

Comparative studies of the genes involved in sex determination in the three extant classes of mammals, and other vertebrates, has allowed us to identify genes that are highly conserved in vertebrate sex determination and those that have recently evolved roles in one lineage. Analysis of the conservation and function of candidate genes in different vertebrate groups has been crucial to our understanding of their function and positioning in a conserved vertebrate sex-determining pathway. Here we review comparisons between genes in the sex-determining pathway in different vertebrates, and ask how these comparisons affect our views on the role of each gene in vertebrate sex determination.     

Phosphoramidon enhances allatostatin-mediated inhibition of juvenile hormone biosynthesis in the corpora allta of the cockroach,Diploptera punctata

Use of the enkephalinase inhibitor phosphoramidon in the in vitro radiochemical assay for juvenile hormone biosynthesis enhanced allatostatin-mediated inhibition of hormone production by corpora allata of the cockroach,Diploptera punctata. Significant increases in inhibition in day 2 virgin female CA by AST 1 (at 10^–7 M) and AST 4 (10^–8–10^–7 M) were observed in the presence of phosphoramidon (10^–5M or greater). No significant increases in inhibition were seen in CA from day 6 mated females with AST 4 (10^–9–10^–7M) and phosphoramidon combined. Phosphoramidon alone had no effect on JH biosynthesis. Analysis of allatostatin content of the CA, as determined by ELISA, revealed that addition of phosphoramidon to the medium increased the endogenous allatostatin conten in CA of virgin and mated females. The similarity in primary structure between allatostatins and enkephalin-like peptides and their similar distribution makes it probable that phosphoramidon acts by preventing breakdown of allatostatins within the CA.     

草鱼生长激素基因的克隆及原核表达研究

应用RT-PCR技术从草鱼脑垂体总RNA中克隆草鱼生长激素cDNA(cGH)，全长669bp，含开放阅读框633bp，编码210个氨基酸，分子量为23．6kDa，等电点为6．28；与已报道的草鱼GH有12个碱基、3个氨基酸残基的差异，同源性为98％．将草鱼cDNA定向插入原核表达载体pGEX-4T-1，构建了重组草鱼GH基因质粒pGEX-GcGH，经IPTG诱导，pGEX-GcGH在大肠杆菌中可表达49．6kDa的融合蛋白．     

An overview of factors influencing sex determination and gonadal development in birds

The morphological development of the embryonic gonads is very similar in birds and mammals, and recent evidence suggests that the genes involved in this process are conserved between these classes of vertebrates. The genetic mechanism by which sex is determined in birds remains to be elucidated, although recent studies have reinforced the contention that steroids may play an important role in the structural development of the testes and ovaries in birds. So far, few genes have been assigned to the avian sex chromosomes, but it is known that the Z and W chromosomes do not share significant homology with the mammalian X and Y chromosomes. The commercial importance of poultry breeding has motivated considerable investment in developing physical and genetic maps of the chicken genome. These efforts, in combination with modern molecular approaches to analyzing gene expression, should help to elucidate the sex-determining mechanism in birds in the near future.     

高师外语教育性别失衡的成因、影响及对策

受生理差异、性格差异、性别角色、语言观、职业期待、教师社会和经济地位的影响,报考外语专业的男生人数逐年减少,高师外语教育性别比例失衡日趋严重。这不仅导致基础教育英语教师性别失衡,还影响教育教学活动的开展及学生性格的培养。因此,探索有效的策略阻止这种趋势的发展显得十分必要。     

稚鳖的性别鉴定

实验通过对稚鳖外形特征(尾的长短、形状、尾是否超出裙边和泄殖腔孔的位置)和生殖器官(生殖腺的形状、生殖腺与生殖导管的位置关系、外生殖器和生殖腺组织切片)的比较,确定了以外形特征为依据鉴定稚鳖性别的标准.雄性稚鳖尾长、呈锥形,且超出裙边,泄殖腔孔近尾中部;雌性稚鳖尾宽短,未超出裙边,末端骤然变细且呈结节状,泄殖腔孔近尾基部.     

Alzheimer’s disease: the impact of age-related changes in reproductive hormones

Recent findings from the Womens Health Initiative (WHI) have raised considerable concern over prolonged use of opposed and unopposed oral conjugated equine estrogen (CEE), given the increased risk of serious adverse effects, including stroke and venous thromboembolic complications. Furthermore, results from the WHI Memory Study (WHIMS) indicated that over 5 years of therapy with Prempro impaired performance on global cognitive tests and nearly doubled the risk of dementia. These surprising findings were contradictory to cumulative evidence from basic science, epidemiological and some intervention studies suggesting hormone therapy was cardioprotective and could potentially reduce the risk of dementia. This review paper focuses on the neurobiology of estrogen, summarizing the clinical evidence for neuroprotective and cognition-enhancing efficacy of estrogen. Further, the paper briefly discusses variables that may account for the unexpected findings of WHIMS, and offers suggestions for future research.