Sex-specific reproductive behaviours and paternity in free-ranging Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus)

In a wide variety of species, male reproductive success is determined by contest for access to females. Among multi-male primate groups, however, factors in addition to male competitive ability may also influence paternity outcome, although their exact nature and force is still largely unclear. Here, we have investigated in a group of free-ranging Barbary macaques whether paternity is determined on the pre- or postcopulatory level and how male competitive ability and female direct mate choice during the female fertile phase are related to male reproductive success. Behavioural observations were combined with faecal hormone analysis for timing of the fertile phase (13 cycles, 8 females) and genetic paternity analysis (n = 12). During the fertile phase, complete monopolisation of females did not occur. Females were consorted for only 49% of observation time, and all females had ejaculatory copulations with several males. Thus, in all cases, paternity was determined on the postcopulatory level. More than 80% of infants were sired by high-ranking males, and this reproductive skew was related to both, male competitive ability and female direct mate choice as high-ranking males spent more time in consort with females than low-ranking males, and females solicited copulations mainly from dominant males. As most ejaculatory copulations were female-initiated, female direct mate choice appeared to have the highest impact on male reproductive success. However, female preference was not directly translated into paternity, as fathers were not preferred over non-fathers in terms of solicitation, consortship and mating behaviour. Collectively, our data show that in the Barbary macaque, both sexes significantly influence male mating success, but that sperm of several males generally compete within the female reproductive tract and that therefore paternity is determined by mechanisms operating at the postcopulatory level.     

代谢活化作用对多溴代联苯类污染物类/抗甲状腺激素活性的影响

选用大鼠肝匀浆(S9)和鼠肝癌细胞(H4ⅡE)两种体系代谢活化多溴代联苯醚混标(BDEs)和十溴联苯醚(BDE209),采用重组甲状腺激素受体基因酵母检测BDEs和BDE209母体及其代谢产物的类/抗甲状腺激素效应.结果表明,BDEs和BDE209母体均不表现甲状腺激素效应(p>0.05);但是经S9和H4ⅡE细胞代谢活化后,其代谢产物表现出明显的类甲状腺激素活性和抗甲状腺激素活性(p<0.05),BDEs和BDE209的干扰甲状腺激素效应需要经过代谢活化步骤.比较不同代谢活化体系,重组酵母细胞本身的代谢活化作用并不显著,而H4ⅡE细胞和S9代谢活化体系均能够导致活性中间体.     

北京工业废水和城市污水环境激素污染状况调查

利用固相萃取前处理技术和高效液相色谱、气相色谱方法,分析研究北京地区重点污染源排水(包括工业废水和城市污水)中主要环境激素(邻苯二甲酸酯、有机氯农药、有机氮农药、有机磷农药、菊酯类农药、烷基酚和双酚A)的残留状况. 调查分析了分布在北京市10个区县的污水处理厂、化工行业、冶金焦化行业、医院及其洗涤中心、印钞行业、食品加工行业和制药行业等7类22个单位排水中的8种邻苯二甲酸酯,17种有机氯农药,7种有机氮和有机磷农药,4种菊酯类农药,4种烷基酚及双酚A共40种环境激素类物质的质量浓度. 并着重分析了污水处理厂进、出水中的环境激素的浓度水平. 结果表明,北京地区工业废水和城市污水中广泛存在着环境激素污染,但其质量浓度并未超过现行排放标准.      

植物激素对平菇茵丝生长及酶活性的影响

采用固体平板和液体摇瓶培养方法,研究了赤霉素、2,4-D、吲哚乙酸和萘乙酸4种激素对平菇- 126菌丝生长及酶活性的影响.结果表明,吲哚乙酸虽然能提高发酵液胞外蛋白的含量和过氧化物酶活性,但对菌丝的生长起抑制作用,这与吲哚乙酸能引起平菇菌丝裂解和细胞膜渗漏有关;萘乙酸、低浓度2,4-D能促进菌丝的伸长;萘乙酸、赤霉素在低浓度下也能促进菌丝的分枝,对菌丝的生长整体上起促进作用.除吲哚乙酸外,其他3种激素对平菇菌丝生长影响都有两重性:低浓度下能促进菌丝的生长,浓度过高则会对菌丝生长产生毒害作用.     

环境激素的危害与防治研究

环境激素是继臭氧层破坏、温室效应之后的又一全球性环境问题,对环境激素污染问题的认识、研究与防治已经开始受到全球的重视。环境激素直接影响生物多样性,危及生物安全,对人类未来构成潜在威胁。环境激素发挥着类似激素的作用,它们进入体内,扰乱了激素的正常分泌,使人和动物的生理程序发生紊乱,导致生殖、免疫等功能发生障碍,对机体、后代或种群引起可逆性或不可逆性生物学效应。本文就环境激素的种类、作用机理、防治对策等方面进行了综述。     

UV-B辐射胁迫对大豆幼苗内源激素的影响

为了探索UV-B辐射胁迫对大豆幼苗内源激素的影响,试验以大豆幼苗为材料,采用水培实验的方法研究了UV-B辐射胁迫对大豆幼苗生长素(IAA)、生长素氧化酶(IAAO)、脱落酸(ABA)、赤霉素(GA)的影响.结果表明,UV-B辐射(T1:0.15W.m-2和T2:0.45 W.m-2)胁迫下,大豆幼苗IAAI、AAO、ABA、GA含量在胁迫期(1~5 d)和恢复期(6~11 d)分别呈现"先下降后有所回升"、"先升后降再升"、"先升后降"、"下降"趋势.进而从内源激素层面表明了UV-B辐射伤害大豆幼苗的机理效应。     

非洲爪蟾在生态毒理学研究中的应用(Ⅱ):甲状腺干扰作用评价

甲状腺干扰物是目前生态毒理学和环境毒理学研究的一个热点.本文介绍了非洲爪蟾作为评价甲状腺干扰作用的模型动物的理论基础,从变态速度/时间、甲状腺发育、甲状腺激素信号途径、促甲状腺激素表达等几个方面,综述了目前非洲爪蟾用于评价甲状腺干扰作用的方法学及其应用的进展,最后探讨了非洲爪蟾用于甲状腺干扰作用评价存在的问题和今后的发展趋势.     

HPLC/MSn法鉴定环境激素邻苯二甲酸丁基苄酯在小鼠尿中的代谢产物

应用HPLC-MSⁿ方法,研究了邻苯二甲酸丁基苄酯在小鼠尿液中的代谢产物,并对尿中推测的代谢物和标准品分别进行HPLC-UV和二级全扫描质谱（MS²）分析,结果在尿中发现了6个代谢产物,分别为邻苯二甲酸、马脲酸、邻苯二甲酸单丁酯、邻苯二甲酸苄酯、邻苯二甲酸单丁酯葡萄糖醛酸结合物及邻苯二甲酸苄酯葡萄糖醛酸结合物.推断环境激素邻苯二甲酸丁基苄酯在小鼠体内的代谢途径为原形首先水解生成邻苯二甲酸单丁酯、邻苯二甲酸苄酯、邻苯二甲酸,部分邻苯二甲酸发生脱羧反应生成苯甲酸,苯甲酸再与内源性物质甘氨酸结合成马脲酸,邻苯二甲酸单丁酯、邻苯二甲酸苄酯和内源性β-D-葡萄糖醛酸结合,生成水溶性较大的邻苯二甲酸单丁酯葡萄糖醛酸结合物和邻苯二甲酸苄酯葡萄糖醛酸结合物.     

The effects of bisphenol A on sex hormone levels of F0 female rats and F1 male rats during weaning period

The effects of bisphenol A (BPA) were examined on sex hormones of F1 generation male rats during weaning period. Female rats were exposed to BPA from day 0 after pregnancy to the weaning period at doses of 50, 100, or 200 mg kg^?1. The sex hormone levels of F1 generation male rats were determined. This study shows that F0 generation female rats fed with 200 mg kg^?1 BPA had a significantly higher serum prolactin (PRL) levels at the end of weaning. Significantly higher levels of serum estradiol (E₂) were also found in female rats fed 100 or 200 mg kg^?1 BPA. Serum levels of E₂ in F1 male generation rats were higher in treatment groups compared to control groups while serum testosterone (T) levels were lower. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in F1 generation rats fed 200 mg kg^?1 was markedly decreased. The relative testicular weights were significantly less in 100 and 200 mg kg^?1 BPA groups. BPA was found to alter the sex hormone levels in F1 male rats during weaning period and thus disrupted endocrine functions.     

Time-dependent effects of pentabrominated diphenyl ethers on gonadal hormone and genital system histology in male rats

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of pentabrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) on gonadal hormone levels and histology in male rats. Rats in treatment groups were orally gavaged with PBDE-99 at a dose of 120 mg?kg^?1 for 5, 15, 30, or 45 days, while controls received equal volume of corn oil. In the treated groups, changes were not found on day 5. On day 15, testicular weight increased, serum levels of estradiol (E₂) decreased, proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positive expression was reduced, and sperms within the seminiferous tubules were damaged. On day 30, testicular weight was further increased, serum levels of testosterone (T) and E₂ decreased, PCNA positive expression was further reduced, some primary spermatocytes cells did not express, and seminiferous epithelium was degenerated. At 45 days, testicular weight decreased, levels of T, E₂ concentrations were lower, histopathologic examination revealed severe degeneration of seminiferous epithelium, and only a part of spermatogonial cells were expressed. The earliest alterations occurred at 15 days. PBDE-99 produced time-dependent reduction of gonadal hormone levels and degeneration of gonadal system histology.