A comparison of reproductive isolation between two closely related oak species in zones of recent and ancient secondary contact.

BACKGROUND: Much of the debate over the evolutionary consequences of hybridization on genetic divergence and speciation results from the breakdown or reinforcement of reproductive barriers in secondary hybrid zones. Among hybrid populations established for different lengths of time following secondary contact, stronger reproductive barriers are generally expected to occur in zones with longer contact. However, in plants no detailed investigation of recent and ancient zones of secondary contact has been conducted despite the importance of such a comparative study. Here, we compare pre- and postzygotic reproductive barriers between two closely related oak species, Quercus mongolica and Q. liaotungensis, in such a situation. RESULTS: The recorded flowering times of both species overlapped in both contact zones. The fruit set at 10 and 30 days after interspecific hand pollination was not significantly lower than that after intraspecific pollination whenever Q. mongolica or Q. liaotungensis comprised the maternal parents in both populations. These results indicated that neither prezygotic phenological barriers nor interspecific incompatibility could have resulted in the reproductive isolation between the two species in both hybrid zones. However, the proportion of hybrid seeds produced by both species in the ancient zone was significantly lower than that recorded in the recent zone of secondary contact. In addition, the proportion of hybrid seeds simulated to form, assuming both random mating and an absence of postpollination barriers, was significantly higher than that detected in the ancient contact zone but not in the recent contact zone. These results suggest stronger early-acting postzygotic isolation between the two oak species in the ancient relative to the recent contact zone. CONCLUSIONS: Our comparative study demonstrated that postzygotic barriers during seed maturity were the main contributing factor to total reproductive isolation, particularly in the ancient contact zone, which aided species delimitation. In the recently formed secondary contact zone, pre- and postzygotic barriers were not well developed, and a high frequency of natural hybridization was evident. To our knowledge this study provides the first comparison of reproductive isolation between the ancient and recent secondary contact zones in plants and helps to clarify the evolutionary consequences of hybridization in a temporal context.

Correlation between replicative senescence of endometrial gland epithelial cells in shedding and non-shedding endometria and endometriosis cyst during menstruation.

To investigate correlation between abnormal replicative senescence of endometrial gland epithelial cells (EGECs) in shedding and non-shedding endometria and endometriosis cyst during menstruation. Musashi-1 expression, ß-catenin expression, and EGECs ultrastructure in shedding and non-shedding endometrium when menstruation were observed through real-time PCR and transmission electron microscopy technologies. (1) Musashi-1 and ß-catenin exhibited a high expression in shedding and non-shedding endometria in experimental group, showing a positive correlation between each other; and were significantly higher than that in control group. However; there was no correlation between these two in control group. (2) Transmission electron microscopy results: In experimental group, organelles in EGECs in shedding endometrium obtained were abundant on the first day of menstruation, nuclei were irregular, double nucleoli could be observed, and chromatin was rich. Furthermore, morphology of EGECs in non-shedding endometrium was irregular, organelles were abundant, basement membrane was irregular with abnormal curvature, and a large amount of collagenic fibers were found in intercellular spaces. On the fifth day of menstruation, the cilia and microvilli on secretory cells in endometrium increased and prolongated, and organelles became extremely rich. EGECs have potentials of division, proliferation, invasion and migration; and is associated with formation of endometriosis cysts.

[Population dynamics of Artemisia scoparia in heterogeneous habitats in the desert steppe]. / è’æ¼ è‰åŽŸå¼‚è´¨ç”Ÿå¢ƒä¸‹çŒªæ¯›è’¿ç§ç¾¤åŠ¨æ€.

To understand the intra- and inter-annual population dynamics of Artemisia scoparia in the desert steppe, we set up three treatments, i.e., increasing the precipitation by 30%, reducing the precipitation by 30%, and the control (CK) in each soil habitat of aeolian sandy soil, sierozem soil, and bedrock weathered sedimentary soil. We drew up the dynamic life table to produce population survival and death curves and analyzed the population dynamics of A. scoparia in different habitats. Results showed that the survival curve of A. scoparia was approached to Deevey-1type. The survival rate was high in the early growth stage and tended to be relatively stable. The mortality rate maintained at a low level, but rose fast at the end of the growth stage. The individual survival number of A. scoparia in all habitats fluctuated at the early stage and declined at the later stage. The mortality rates of A. scoparia in habitats of both aeolian sandy soil and sierozem soil fluctuated greatly. There was no significant difference in the effects of increased and decreased precipitation treatments on the mortality rate of A. scoparia. Soil types had significant effects on all parameters, including the plant height, crown width, density, cover, and biomass of A. scoparia. Precipitation treatments had significant impacts on plant height, crown width and coverage of A. scoparia, and had no significant effect on plant density and biomass. The interactions between soil type and precipitation treatments had only a significant impact on plant height and crown width. The plasticity index of biomass in the habitat of bedrock weathered sedimentary soil was significantly higher than that in habitats of aeolian sandy soil and sierozem soil, while the plasticity index of plant coverage in the habitats of both sierozem soil and bedrock weathered sedimentary soil were significantly higher than that in the habitat of aeolian sandy soil. The density plasticity index of increased precipitation treatment was significantly higher than those of CK and the decreased precipitation treatments. The plasticity index of plant height and crown width were higher than other parameters, indicating that A. scoparia could respond to habitat changes by giving priority to these two parameters under different habitat pressures.

Systems Pharmacology and Microbiome Dissection of Shen Ling Bai Zhu San Reveal Multiscale Treatment Strategy for IBD.

Generally, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be caused by psychology, genes, environment, and gut microbiota. Therefore, IBD therapy should be improved to utilize multiple strategies. Shen Ling Bai Zhu San (SLBZS) adheres to the aim of combating complex diseases from an integrative and holistic perspective, which is effective for IBD therapy. Herein, a systems pharmacology and microbiota approach was developed for these molecular mechanisms exemplified by SLBZS. First, by systematic absorption-distribution-metabolism-excretion (ADME) analysis, potential active compounds and their corresponding direct targets were retrieved. Then, the network relationships among the active compounds, targets, and disease were built to deduce the pharmacological actions of the drug. Finally, an "IBD pathway" consisting of several regulatory modules was proposed to dissect the therapeutic effects of SLBZS. In addition, the effects of SLBZS on gut microbiota were evaluated through analysis of the V3-V4 region and multivariate statistical methods. SLBZS significantly shifted the gut microbiota structure in a rat model. Taken together, we found that SLBZS has multidimensionality in the regulation of IBD-related physiological processes, which provides new sights into herbal medicine for the treatment of IBD.

The Gut Microbiome Modulates the Changes in Liver Metabolism and in Inflammatory Processes in the Brain of Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress Rats.

Generally, depression is the result of complex gene-environment interactions. Recent studies have showed that the gut microbiota can affect brain function through the microbiota-gut-brain axis. However, the underlying mechanism of the microbiota and potential influence of depression remain elusive. We aimed to determine how gut microbiome contributes to the process of depression and further influences the host. Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) is used to establish a depression model. Fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is applied to illustrate that depression can be transmitted via microbiota, and metabolism of liver analysis is applied to demonstrate further influence to the liver. We also analyzed the astrocyte activation in the brain by immunofluorescence (IF). Here, we show that the structure of the gut microbiome changes markedly after rats undergo CUMS. Notably, we found that the ratio of Lactobacillus to Clostridium can be a vital index for the development of depression. Depression-like behavior can be duplicated through FMT. Moreover, increased zonulin and fatty acid binding protein-2 indicates that gut barrier integrity is broken after FMT. Subsequently, metabolomics shows that liver metabolic disorder occurs and leads to liver coagulative necrosis. In addition, increased inflammatory cytokine expression and higher astrocyte activation indicate an inflammatory process in the brain. These findings suggest that dysbiosis gut microbiome contributes to development of depression and further causes liver metabolic disorders in a way that may be relevant to the Lactobacillus to Clostridium ratio.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Ochetobius elongatus (Cyprinidae, Leuciscinae).

In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Ochetobius elongatus was first sequenced and annotated. The entire mitogenome is 16 613 bp in length and has a typical vertebrate mitochondrial genetic trait, consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and a control region. The overall nucleotide composition of O. elongatus mt genome is A: 30.96%, T: 25.38%, G: 16.26% and C: 27.40%, with the A + T content of 56.34%, showing an obvious anti-G bias. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that Leuciscinae formed a clade first and then clustered with Cultrinae. The complete mitochondrial genome of O. elongatus will benefit to a better understanding of population genetics, molecular systematics and stock evaluation, further serving the germplasm resources conservation and management of O. elongatus.

Transfection of colorectal cancer cells with chemokine MCP-3 (monocyte chemotactic protein-3) gene retards tumor growth and inhibits tumor metastasis.

AIM: To evaluate the possibility of the induction of anti-tumor immune response by transfecting the colorectal cancer cells with chemokine MCP-3 gene. METHODS: Mouse MCP-3 gene was transduced into mouse colorectal cancer cells CMT93 by using of Liposome. G418-resistant clones were selected and the MCP-3 mRNA expression was detected by RT-PCR. The chemotactic activity of MCP-3 in the cell culture supernatant was detected by Chemotaxis assay. The tumorigenicity of wild type CMT93 and CMT93 gene transfectants were detected by in vivo experiments. The immune cell infiltrations in tumor tissue and tumor metastasis were detected histopathologically. RESULTS: MCP-3 mRNA expression was detected by RT-PCR in gene-transfected cells (CMT93/MCP-3), but not in control groups. And MCP-3 secreted in the cell culture supernatant possessed chemotatic activity. The results from in vivo experiments showed that the tumorigenicity of CMT93/MCP-3 had not decreased, but the tumors derived from CMT93/MCP-3 cells grew more slowly than those from CMT93 cells (1.021+/-0.253) cm(2) vs (1.769+/-0.371) cm(2), P<0.05) or CMT93/mock cells (1.021+/-0.253) cm(2) vs (1.680 +/-0.643)cm(2), P<0.05). Histophathological results showed few immune cells infiltrating in the tumor tissue derived from the controls. In the tumor tissue derived from CMT93/MCP-3, infiltrating immune cells increased. In addition, no tumor metastasis was found in all mice inoculated with CMT93/MCP-3 tumor cells. But all mice had tumor metastasis in CMT93 controls and 4 in 5 mice had tumor metastasis in CMT93/mock controls. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that the transfection of chemokine MCP-3 gene could promote the induction of anti-colorectal cancer immunity, but the tumor growth could not be inhibited completely by merely MCP-3 gene transfection.

[Temporal and spatial variations of total nitrogen and total phosphorus in the typical reaches of Qinhuai River].

The year-round concentrations of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were monitored from June 2010 to May 2011 in the typical reaches of the Qinhuai River. The spatial and temporal variations in TN and TP concentrations and the pollution status of the river water were investigated using typical statistics analysis. Results showed that the river water was seriously polluted in terms of TN and TP, and that the concentrations of both TN and TP showed high spatial and temporal variations. The average TN concentrations of the river water in the traditionally managed agricultural area, intensively managed agricultural area, and urban area were 1.80, 3.97 and 9.25 mg L(-1), respectively; The corresponding average TP concentrations were 0.03, 0.11 and 0.50 mg L(-1), respectively, showing similar spatial patterns with those of TN. The spatial variations in TN and TP concentrations in river water indicated that the urban area and intensively managed agricultural area, rather than the traditionally managed agricultural area, were the major sources for TN and TP in the river water. The average TN concentrations of river water during the wet season and dry season were 1.89 and 4.58 mg x L(-1), respectively; and the corresponding average TP concentrations were 0.11 and 0.14 mg x L(-1), respectively. The temporal variations indicated that the pollution status of the river water was more serious during the dry season than that during the wet season. Assessment results of eutrophication indicated that the majority of Qinhuai River reaches were in the stage of eutrophication, thus deserving immediate controlling measures.