Studies on some enzymes of the toad (Bufo melanostictus) testis and their probable role at the time of fertilization

Summary Glycosidases like sialidase,-galactosidase, -L-fucosidase, N-acetyl hexosaminidase and proteases were detected in toad testis. Neuraminic acid aldolase activity was also detected. The enzyme activities were found to vary as production of spermatozoa varied. All enzymes, except N-acetyl glucosaminidase, were shown to decrease after injection of toad pituitary extract and they were also found to be absent from testis containing no spermatozoa. The glycosidases were found to act on toad oviduct jelly and they may therefore be involved in the degradation of the jelly after fertilization, into smaller bits, which may be utilized as nutrients by the fertilized zygote.Acknowledgment. We thank Prof. T.R. Ramaiah, Head of the Department of Biochemistry, University of Mysore, for his help. We also acknowledge the financial assistance of University Grants Commission to one of us (MS) and CSIR through a grant No. 9 (165)83/EMR-II to HSS. Please address all correspondence to H.S. Seshadri.     

Eicosapentaenoic acid in tissue lipids ofPieris brassicae

Summary Larvae of the cabbage white butterfly,Pieris brassicae, have a dietary requirement for linolenic acid (C183n3) and were found to accumulate two other members of the n-3 family, C203n3 and C205n3 (eicosapentaenoic acid) especially in testicular phospholipids. Arachidonic acid was observed in trace amounts only. During diapause the relative titer of eicosapentaenoic acid increased in testicular phospholipids to about 4.2% of the fatty acids. Eicosapentaenoic acid is a possible precursor of prostaglandins, suggesting that prostaglandins of the 3-series predominate in this insect.     

瓦氏黄颡鱼精巢发育及精子生物学研究

瓦氏黄颡鱼精巢呈栉状分支，每一分支内部结构为叶型，精巢小叶由许多壶腹状的精小囊组成，精巢发育分为精原细胞增殖期、精母细胞生长期、精母细胞成熟期、精子细胞变态期、精子成熟期和精子退化吸收期，精子的发生和形成经历了精原细胞、精母细胞、精子细胞到成熟精子的一系列过程，精巢后1／3的精巢尾区由上皮细胞构成，既无生精功能也无贮精作用，成熟精子在0.45％～0.55％盐溶液和pH7.5的弱碱性的自然河水环境中保持的活性最好，并具有相当长的寿命。     

Alternative exon usage selectively determines both tissue distribution and subcellular localization of the acyl-CoA thioesterase 7 gene products

Acyl-CoA thioesterases (ACOTs) catalyze the hydrolysis of acyl-CoAs to free fatty acids and coenzyme A. Recent studies have demonstrated that one gene named Acot7, reported to be mainly expressed in brain and testis, is transcribed in several different isoforms by alternative usage of first exons. Strongly decreased levels of ACOT7 activity and protein in both mitochondria and cytosol was reported in patients diagnosed with fatty acid oxidation defects, linking ACOT7 function to regulation of fatty acid oxidation in other tissues. In this study, we have identified five possible first exons in mouse Acot7 (Acot7a–e) and show that all five first exons are transcribed in a tissue-specific manner. Taken together, these data show that the Acot7 gene is expressed as multiple isoforms in a tissue-specific manner, and that expression in tissues other than brain and testis is likely to play important roles in fatty acid metabolism. Received 5 February 2007: received after revision 3 April 2007; accepted 19 April 2007     

小鼠睾丸发育全过程中生精细胞的自发性凋亡

 以17组出生后不同发育阶段的昆明种正常小鼠睾丸组织为材料,采用TDT原位末端标记法在其石蜡组织切片上进行凋亡细胞原位检测,探讨小鼠睾丸发育全过程中生精细胞的自发性凋亡规律.结果发现:小鼠生精细胞从生后开始就存在自发性凋亡现象,生后1~15 d,凋亡精原细胞数目不断增加;至生后第15天时达到峰值,且15 d起个别初级精母细胞也开始出现凋亡;至27 d时,极少数次级精母细胞和精子细胞出现凋亡;至30 d时凋亡细胞基本为精原细胞;而33 d时各类型生精细胞均存在凋亡现象;至36 d时凋亡细胞又重新集中于精原细胞,并延续于此后各期.上述结果表明:小鼠睾丸发育过程中凋亡细胞主要为精原细胞;自发性凋亡活跃期发生于生后1~33 d,与生精细胞的首次发育成熟过程同步.     

东方杯叶吸虫精巢和精子发生的超微结构研究

本文应用透射电镜研究了东方杯叶吸虫精巢和精子的超微结构及精子发生过程,并与体外培养成虫进行比较,提出一种精子结构模式图。精子的形成经历了由精原细胞,初级精母细胞、次级精母细胞、精子细胞和精子的发育等过程。精子细胞形成后,胞质突起形成一分化区,并发育成精子鞘,核向鞘中旋转、浓缩和迁移,两根鞭毛轴丝由鞘中基体发出;鞭毛为9+“1”结构。体外培养成虫尚有几种不正常的成熟精子,可作为体外培养的评价指标。     

The neurotrophic factors in non-neuronal tissues

Although neurotrophic factors are defined as molecules that maintain neuronal cells, they possess a range of functions outside the nervous system. For example, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor is essential for ureteric branching in kidney morphogenesis and for regulating the fate of stem cells during spermatogenesis. Leukemia inhibitory factor, a member of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) ciliary neurotrophic factor family, inhibits differentiation of embryonic stem cells, induces tubulogenesis in the embryonic kidney, and regulates sperm differentiation. Other IL-6 family members are important in cardiac differentiation and they have pleiotropic functions in the hematopoietic and immune systems. Although neurotrophin receptors have been found on a number of non-neuronal tissues, they represent mostly truncated receptor isoforms that are incapable of signal transduction and may have scavenger or dominant negative functions. However, several examples can be presented of essential non-neuronal functions played by neurotrophins in e.g., cardiac, hair follicle, and vascular differentiation, and the maintenance of immune cells.     

The effect of guanethidine treatment of testicular blood flow and testosterone production in rats

Summary Testicular blood flow was measured bymeans of Xenon-133 clearance in control rats and rats treated with guanethidine for 3 weeks. Plasma and testis testosterone concentrations were also measured, and the effect of hCG-treatment was examined. No difference in testicular blood flow between the control group and the guanethidinetreated group was found. However, in guanethidine-treated rats, plasma and testis testosterone concentrations after hCG-treatment were significantly decreased. The results may indicate that adrenergic nerves are involved in the regulation of Leydig cell function.