Digital preparation of a probable neoceratopsian preserved within an egg, with comments on microstructural anatomy of ornithischian eggshells

We describe the first known embryo of a neoceratopsian dinosaur, perhaps the most ubiquitous Laurasian group of Cretaceous dinosaurs, which is preserved completely enclosed within an egg. This specimen was collected from Late Cretaceous beds of southern Mongolia, which commonly preserve fossils of the neoceratopsian, Yamaceratops dorngobiensis. The small egg was scanned using high-resolution X-ray computed tomography and digitally prepared from the matrix. The preserved and imaged elements support a diagnosis of the embryo to Neoceratopsia and allow preliminary observations of ontogenetic transformations within this group. The addition of an embryo also adds another important data point to the already impressive postnatal ontogenetic series that are available for this clade.     

检测致突变(致癌)物质的简易法

螺胚以羟基脲处理使其大多数细胞分裂同步后,以各种化学品或药物处理之,然后测定螺胚增长与对照组比较,凡能损伤DNA的物质均使螺胚增长放慢.此法能检测环境中各类物质的致突变性(致癌性).     

1,2,4-三氯苯对斑马鱼生殖和胚胎发育毒性效应

采用斑马鱼胚胎早期发育技术研究了1,2,4-三氯苯(1,2,4-TCB)对成年斑马鱼(Danio retio)和斑马鱼受精卵染毒后胚胎生命早期阶段生长发育的影响.结果发现,大于5mg/L 剂量的1,2,4-TCB有明显发育毒性,会导致胚胎致畸,引起胚胎凝集或死亡.1,2,4-TCB对成年斑马鱼和斑马鱼受精卵染毒后,胚胎的致死率均与1,2,4-TCB处理之间呈现时间-效应和剂量-效应关系.高浓度的(15 mg/L) 1,2,4-TCB对成年斑马鱼的染毒,其平均产卵量和受精率均降低.成年斑马鱼或者受精卵接触1,2,4-TCB后,胚胎发育中典型的非致死效应—心包囊水肿和脊柱畸形的比例均随着1,2,4-TCB的浓度升高而逐渐升高.同浓度1,2,4-TCB处理后,斑马鱼胚胎直接染毒造成的非致死毒性效应更强.结果表明,水体中残留的1,2,4-TCB对于鱼类的生殖和发育具有潜在的危害.     

双酚A和四溴双酚A对大型和斑马鱼的毒性

采用静态生物急性试验的方法,研究了双酚A和四溴双酚A对大型和斑马鱼的急性毒性和生命早期阶段的生长发育影响.结果表明,大型的幼接触不同浓度的双酚A和四溴双酚A,活动会受到抑制,甚至死亡,48 h的EC₅₀分别为8.91和0.69 mg·L^-1;对斑马鱼也有明显的毒性作用,其96 h的LC₅₀分别为9.06和1.78 mg·L^-1.根据化学物质对鱼类和类的毒性评价标准,这2个化合物都属于高毒物质.双酚A和四溴双酚A对斑马鱼生命早期阶段毒性影响的研究结果表明,对斑马鱼胚胎发育有明显抑制作用,可以造成胚胎发育畸形甚至死亡,斑马鱼胚胎72 h孵化畸形是双酚A的最敏感指标,EC₅₀为2.90 mg·L^-1,72 h未孵化是四溴双酚A的最敏感指标,EC₅₀为0.14 mg·L^-1.双酚A和四溴双酚A对鱼卵发育有显著影响,双酚A对鱼卵有致畸作用,四溴双酚A抑制了鱼卵孵化.     

妊娠小鼠子宫对2,3,7,8-四氯苯二噁英毒性的敏感性研究

对妊娠早期小鼠用不同剂量的TCDD进行处理，妊娠第9天采集血清、肝、肾、脑、脂肪、子宫和胎儿等样品，利用酵母报道基因系统进行组织中TCDD含量检测，结果发现脂肪中TCDD含量最高，其次是肝脏、子宫和胎儿．由于TCDD的毒性需通过体内包括细胞色素P4501A2在内的代谢酶的活化，采用免疫组化的方法对TCDD诱导的该酶的表达水平进行了检测，发现肝脏和子宫的阳性反应最强，并且所需剂量很低，肾脏和脂肪组织在较高剂量出现阳性反应，而脑组织则仅在更大剂量时出现微弱的阳性信号．此现象说明子宫和肝脏一样，可以通过芳香烃类受体诱导细胞色素P4501A2酶的产生，活化TCDD，引起对细胞的毒性并产生对胚胎的毒性．在低剂量时观察到的强烈的生殖毒性应该和TCDD在子宫的蓄积和子宫内敏感的细胞色素P4501A诱导能力有关．     

氨氮对稀有鮈鲫胚胎及卵黄囊期仔鱼的毒性效应研究

为探究氨氮溶液暴露对鱼类早期发育阶段产生的毒性,本研究选取中国特有种稀有鮈鲫为试验材料,观察并记录了胚胎至卵黄囊期仔鱼发育过程中一些具代表性的毒理学终点,同时选取了氨转运体蛋白Rhbg基因作为毒性指标,反映暴露在氨氮溶液中的稀有鮈鲫胚胎的Rhbg基因表达变化情况.结果表明,本研究所选取的氨氮溶液暴露影响了胚胎及仔鱼的孵化率、死亡率、心率减缓和心律不齐、未形成功能性的鳔、体长体重的降低以及心包、卵黄囊水肿的发生等多种毒性效应,对其它毒理学终点有较为微弱的影响.氨氮溶液的暴露影响了氨转运体蛋白Rhbg基因的表达变化,特别是在72 h时显著性影响了Rhbg基因的表达变化,Rhbg基因在稀有鮈鲫胚胎时期氨氮转运方面可能有着重要的功能.     

稀有鮈鲫在鱼类胚胎急性毒性试验中的适用性研究

为了验证我国本土鱼种稀有鮈鲫（Gobiocypris rarus）在鱼类胚胎急性毒性试验的适用性，评价其在鱼类替代试验中的应用潜力，选取3，4-二氯苯胺和五水硫酸铜，按照《OECD化学品测试准则No.236鱼类胚胎急性毒性试验》，分别开展6次稀有鮈鲫胚胎急性毒性试验，通过评价试验结果的重复性，验证稀有鮈鲫是否适用于鱼类胚胎急性毒性试验.结果表明:3，4-二氯苯胺和五水硫酸铜对稀有鮈鲫胚胎的96 h LC₅₀（96 h半数致死浓度）平均值（x）分别为12.8和1.76 mg/L，标准差（s）分别为1.70和0.197 mg/L；变异系数（CV）分别为13.3%和11.2%，均小于30%；两种化学品6次试验的96 h LC₅₀均在各自x±2s范围内.研究显示，稀有鮈鲫胚胎的形态特征、发育过程及孵化时间等生物学特征均与斑马鱼类似，3，4-二氯苯胺和五水硫酸铜这两种化学品的胚胎急性毒性试验结果具有良好的重复性，其敏感性也与成鱼类似.因此，稀有鮈鲫作为一种我国本土的标准试验鱼种，具有鱼类胚胎急性毒性试验的应用潜力.      

First-trimester prenatal diagnosis in quintuplets: A practical approach using step-by-step embryo reduction

A multiple pregnancy of high rank may occur in a couple at risk for a Mendelian disorder. Prenatal diagnosis is hampered by the difficulty of (1) obtaining chorionic villi from each zygote arid (2) unequivocally relating each sample to the corresponding embryo. The calculation of the genetic risk according to the number of zygotes led us to propose a diagnostic strategy based on embryo reduction, a technique initially designed to improve the perinatal outcome of multiple pregnancies with normal embryos. We report a case in which this approach allowed rational use of first-trimester chorionic villus sampling in a quintuplet pregnancy at risk for non-ketotic hyperglycinaemia, resulting in the selective birth of unaffected twins.     

氯苯和间甲酚对斑马鱼胚胎和仔鱼联合毒理效应研究

方法:采用斑马鱼胚胎和仔鱼发育技术,分别用不同浓度的氯苯和间甲酚混合液对斑马鱼胚胎和仔鱼进行暴露试验。结果:两种受试物联合对斑马鱼胚胎和仔鱼发育表现不同的联合毒性。0hpf染毒主要表现为:对24 h胚胎尾部延展为拮抗作用,48 h水肿、72 h孵化和畸形均为协同作用;48 h对仔鱼毒性为由相加作用向拮抗作用的转变,在24 h、72 h和96 h联合毒性均为协同作用。结论:氯苯和间甲酚联合作用对斑马鱼胚胎和仔鱼存在毒性。     

PFOS/PFOA对斑马鱼(Danio rerio)胚胎致毒效应研究

采用斑马鱼胚胎毒性测试方法,研究了PFOA/PFOS对斑马鱼的急性毒性和生命早期阶段生长发育的影响.结果表明,PFOS/PFOA对斑马鱼有明显毒性作用,LC50(48 h)分别为1 005 mg/L和107 mg/L,LC50(96 h)分别为499 mg/L和71 mg/L.PFOS/PFOA抑制斑马鱼胚胎发育,可导致胚胎发育畸形,甚至死亡,高浓度(>240 mg/L)PFOS损伤细胞膜,导致胚胎分裂中的细胞发生自溶而卵凝结死亡,抑制胚胎原肠胚的形成.在各种亚致死效应中,脊柱畸形对PFOS暴露最敏感,其EC50=9.14 mg/L,PFOA暴露最敏感亚致死性毒理学终点为96 h孵化,对应EC50=328.0 mg/L.PFOA/PFOS导致胚胎发育延迟,具有发育毒性.     

Mosaicism of autosomes and sex chromosomes in morphologically normal,monospermic preimplantation human embryos

We have previously detected chromosome abnormalities in human embryos whilst identifying the sex for preimplantation diagnosis of X-linked disease. In this study we assess the incidence of these abnormalities, both for sex chromosomes and autosomes 1 and 17, using dual fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Sixty-nine normally fertilized embryos of good morphology at the 6–10 cell stage (day 3 post-insemination) were examined. The embryos were spread whole using HCl and Tween 20 to dissolve the cytoplasm. Thirty-four embryos were analysed for the sex chromosomes and 35 for autosomes 1 and 17. All probes were directly labelled with fluorochromes allowing analysis in 2 h. Control lymphocytes demonstrated that the probes were of high specificity. For the sex chromosomes, five embryos were mosaic (15 per cent) with the remaining 29 being uniformly XX or XY. In no case was an XX nucleus found in an otherwise XY embryo, indicating that even though mosaicism for the sex chromosomes is present, such abnormalities would not lead to a misdiagnosis of sex. For the autosomes, 16 embryos were abnormal (46 per cent); one embryo was triploid, one was monosomic for chromosome 1, and ten others were diploid mosaics (three diploid/aneuploid, three diploid/polyploid, and four diploid/haploid). A further four embryos had variable chromosome numbers in the majority of nuclei which appeared to be the result of uncontrolled mitotic division. The presence of haploidy or double monosomy, which occurred in 15 per cent of nuclei, has important implications for the diagnosis of trisomies and dominant disorders.     

微小亚历山大藻对黑鲷早期生长发育的毒性效应

通过微小亚历山大藻（Alexandrium minutum）对黑鲷（Sparus macrocephalus）胚胎及仔鱼的急性和亚急性毒性的实验,研究了微小亚历山大藻其藻细胞液和细胞破碎液对黑鲷幼体的生物毒性效应.结果表明,微小亚历山大藻对黑鲷胚胎的孵化产生不利影响,影响程度随藻细胞浓度的增加而增加.在仔鱼96h的急性毒性实验中,微小亚历山大藻对仔鱼的96h理论半致死浓度分别为1.0×105 cell·mL-1 (藻细胞破碎液)、8.0×104 cell·mL-1 (藻细胞液),而在7d的亚急性实验中,高浓度藻细胞液对仔鱼的生长发育有一定的抑制作用,且相同浓度下,藻细胞液产生的毒性较藻细胞破碎液大.     

酚类及重金属对大鳞副泥鳅胚胎和鱼苗阶段的毒性研究

用酚?对硝基酚?铜?汞?锌等化学物在软水条件下对人工催产的大鳞副泥鳅的胚胎和鱼苗阶段进行毒性试验?鱼苗48hLC50值测定结果表明:除酚以外,其他4种化学物质的敏感性与别的鱼类相接近?这5种化学物质均表现为鱼苗阶段比鱼卵阶段更为敏感?以鱼苗存活时间为标准,这5种化学物质的NOEC及LOEC依次为:3.01～6.0,0.56～0.8,0.0041～0.0087,0.0975～0.0141,0.53～1.09mg/L?表明,泥鳅对酚类的敏感性与其他鱼类相似,但对重金属的敏感性则因金属种类的不同而不尽相同?使用这种材料的优点是只需要一尾母鱼就可以取得数量充足及受精良好的鱼卵,从而避免了SIS方法中要从多尾母鱼身上取卵造成实验上的差异。      

Aspects of biopsy procedures prior to preimplantation genetic diagnosis

Today, preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is offered in over 40 centres worldwide for an expanded range of genetic defects causing disease. This very early form of prenatal diagnosis involves the detection of affected embryos by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) (sex determination or chromosomal defects) or by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (monogenic diseases) prior to implantation. Genetic analysis of the embryos involves the removal of some cellular mass from the embryos (one or two blastomeres at cleavage-stage or some extra-embryonic trophectoderm cells at the blastocyst stage) by means of an embryo biopsy procedure. Genetic analysis can also be performed preconceptionally by removal of the first polar body. However, additional information is then often gained by removal of the second polar body and/or a blastomere from the embryo. Removal of polar bodies or cellular material from embryos requires an opening in the zona pellucida, which can be created in a mechanical way (partial zona dissection) or chemical way (acidic Tyrode's solution). However, the more recent introduction of laser technology has facilitated this step enormously. Different biopsy procedures at different preimplantation stages are reviewed here, including their pros and cons and their clinical applications. The following aspects will also be discussed: safety of zona drilling by laser, use of Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺-free medium for decompaction, and removal of one or two cells from cleavage-stage embryos. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

久效磷对细小色矛线虫胚胎发育和繁殖的影响

采用平板静态毒性实验方法,研究了久效磷对细小色矛线虫(Chromadorina germanica)的急性毒性及胚胎发育和繁殖的影响,并探讨了其毒性作用机制.结果表明,久效磷对C. germanica 的24,48,96h的LC50分别为66.42,36.94,16.03 μmol/L.对C. germanica繁殖具有显著的抑制作用:1.0μmol/L久效磷暴露组子一代的数量急剧减少,仅为对照组的52.9%,10μmol/L暴露组则完全抑制了产卵和子一代的产生.对C.germanica的胚胎毒性主要表现为胚胎发育时间的延迟:0.1,1.0,10.0μmol/L久效磷暴露组胚胎发育持续时间比对照组的17.05h分别延长了1.24,1.92,1.96h,呈剂量-效应关系,且10.0μmol/L久效磷完全抑制了卵的孵化.久效磷对C. germanica精巢和卵巢超微结构的损伤,导致了精子和卵子质量下降.因此,久效磷导致C.germanica的胚胎发育持续时间的延长和精子、卵子质量下降是其子一代数量急剧减少的主要原因之一.     

有机硅助剂Breakthru S240对大型溞的毒性研究

参照OECD推荐的化学品对水生生物的标准试验方法,测定了有机硅助剂Breakthru S240对大型溞Daphnia magna的急性、慢性毒性和胚胎毒性,以期综合评价有机硅助剂对大型溞的毒性效应.结果表明:有机硅助剂对大型溞的48h-LC50值为1.218mg/L,为中毒.21d慢性毒性结果显示,有机硅助剂对大型溞的产溞量、产溞胎数、21d体长和蜕皮次数都有显著的影响,且随着处理浓度的增大而更加明显.母溞暴露Breakthru S240后,对F1(1st)代的生长和繁殖没有显著影响,但F1(3rd)代的恢复比F1(1st)代差,虽然Breakthru S240对F1(3rd)代生长影响不大,但对其繁殖有显著影响.这可能与母溞的暴露时间有关.另外,高浓度有机硅助剂对大型溞胚胎发育也存在一定的威胁,孵化抑制率高达68.50%.     

Type II single umbilical artery (persistent vitelline artery) in an otherwise normal fetus

A single umbilical artery resulting from absence of the umbilical arteries and persistence of the vitelline artery that arises directly from the abdominal aorta has been described only in malformed fetuses with sirenomelia or caudal regression. Such an aberrant artery was suggested to be the etiology of sirenomelia caused by a ‘steal’ mechanism of blood flow from the caudal end of the embryo. We present a case in which prenatal ultrasound showed a similar aberrant single artery arising from the abdominal aorta in an otherwise normal fetus with a normal course of pregnancy. This vessel, a continuation of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), corresponds to a persistent vitelline artery assuming the function of the umbilical arteries. The etiology of such a finding and its possible consequences are discussed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Twelve years of assessing the quality of preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders

Objective

Genomics Quality Assessment has provided external quality assessments (EQAs) for preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for 12 years for eight monogenic diseases to identify sub-optimal PGT strategies, testing and reporting of results, which can be shared with the genomics community to aid optimised standards of PGT services for couples.

Method

The EQAs were provided in two stages to mimic end-to-end protocols. Stage 1 involved DNA feasibility testing of a couple undergoing PGT and affected proband. Participants were required to report genotyping results and outline their embryo testing strategy. Lymphoblasts were distributed for mock embryo testing for stage 2. Submitted clinical reports and haplotyping results were assessed against peer-ratified criteria. Performance was monitored to identify poor performance.

Results

The most common testing methodology was short tandem repeat linkage analysis (59%); however, the adoption of single nucleotide polymorphism-based platforms was observed and a move from blastomere to trophectoderm testing. There was a variation in testing strategies, assigning marker informativity and understanding test limitations, some clinically unsafe. Critical errors were reported for genotyping and interpretation.

Conclusion

EQA provides an overview of the standard of preimplantation genetic testing-M clinical testing and identifies areas of improvement for accurate detection of high-risk embryos.     

Effects of rare earth elements La and Yb on the morphological and functional development of zebrafish embryos

In recent years, with the wide applications and mineral exploitation of rare earth elements, their potential environmental and health effects have caused increasing public concern. Effect of rare earth elements La and Yb on the morphological and functional development of zebrafish embryos were studied. The embryos were exposed to La³⁺ or Yb³⁺ at 0, 0.01, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 1.0 mmol/L, respectively. Early life stage parameters such as egg and embryo mortality, gastrula development, tail detachment, eyes, somite formation, circulatory system, pigmentation, malformations, hatching rate, length of larvae and mortality were investigated. The results showed La³⁺ and Yb³⁺ delayed zebrafish embryo and larval development, decreased survival and hatching rates, and caused tail malformation in a concentration-dependent way. Moreover, heavy rare-earth ytterbium led to more severe acute toxicity of zebrafish embryo than light rare-earth lanthanum.