TFPI from erythroblasts drives heme production in central macrophages promoting erythropoiesis in polycythemia.

Bleeding and thrombosis are known as common complications of polycythemia for a long time. However, the role of coagulation system in erythropoiesis is unclear. Here, we discover that an anticoagulant protein tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) plays an essential role in erythropoiesis via the control of heme biosynthesis in central macrophages.

Functional and hepatic metabolite changes in aquatic turtle hatchlings exposed to the anti-androgenic fungicide vinclozolin.

Many man-made chemicals that are released into water bodies in agricultural landscapes have been identified as endocrine disruptors and can cause serious impacts on the growth and survival of aquatic species living in these environments. However, very little attention has been paid to their toxicological effects in cultured non-fish species, such as aquatic turtles. We exposed hatchlings of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) to different concentrations of vinclozolin (0, 5, 50 and 500 μg/L) for 60 days to assess physiological and metabolic impacts of this fungicide.

Molecular cloning, the characterization of metallothionein and catalase, and the evaluation of testicular toxicity of Cd in the Chinese fire-bellied newt (Cynops orientalis).

Cadmium (Cd) is an environmental toxicant and a nonessential metal. Cd can attack a wide range of organs, such as the liver, kidney, lung, ovary, testis, brain, and muscle in vertebrates. Among these organs, the testis might be the most sensitive organ to Cd toxicity.

Gene expression pattern of KIFC3 during spermatogenesis of the skink Eumeces chinensis.

Kinesin superfamily is a class of microtubule-dependent motors that play crucial roles in acrosome biogenesis, nuclear reshaping and flagellum formation during spermiogenesis. We have cloned kinesin-like gene kifc3 (termed ec-kifc3) from the total RNA of the testis of the skink Eumeces chinensis. The cDNA sequence of ec-kifc3 had a full-length of 3033bp, including a 260bp 5'-untranslated region (5'UTR), a 445bp 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR) and an open reading frame that encoded a 775-amino-acid protein.

Molecular characterization and expression analysis of a KIFC1-like kinesin gene in the testis of Eumeces chinensis.

The member of the kinesin-14 subfamily, KIFC1, is a carboxyl-terminal motor protein that plays an important role in the elongation of nucleus and acrosome biogenesis during the spermiogenesis of mammals. Here, we had cloned and sequenced the cDNA of a mammalian KIFC1 homologue (termed ec-KIFC1) from the total RNA of the testis of the reptile Eumeces chinensis. The full-length sequence was 2,339 bp that contained a 216 bp 5'-untranslated region (5'UTR), a 194 bp 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR) and a 1,929 bp open reading frame that encoded a special protein of 643 amino acids (aa).

The apoptotic function analysis of p53, Apaf1, Caspase3 and Caspase7 during the spermatogenesis of the Chinese fire-bellied newt Cynops orientalis.

Background: Spontaneous and stress-induced germ cell apoptosis during spermatogenesis of multicellular organisms have been investigated broadly in mammals. Spermatogenetic process in urodele amphibians was essentially like that in mammals in spite of morphological differences; however, the mechanism of germ cell apoptosis in urodele amphibians remains unknown. The Chinese fire-belly newt, Cynops orientalis, was an excellent organism for studying germ cell apoptosis due to its sensitiveness to temperature, strong endurance of starvation, and sensitive skin to heavy metal exposure.

Molecular characterization of a KIF3A-like kinesin gene in the testis of the Chinese fire-bellied newt Cynops orientalis.

KIF3A, the subunit within the kinesin-2 superfamily, is a typically N-terminal motor protein, which is involved in membranous organelle and intraflagellar transport. During spermatogenesis, KIF3A plays a critical role in the formation of flagella and cilia. KIF3A is also related to the left-right asymmetry, the signal pathway, DNA damage and tumorigenesis.

[The effects of hypoxia during pregnancy on sexual behavior of male offspring].

Objective: To investigate the effects of hypoxia during the prenatal period and its later repercussions on sexual behavior and the sex hormone secretion of male rats.

Methods: Experimental animals were divided into three groups randomly: control group, which was kept at normal atmospheric pressure, and two stress groups exposed to a simulated altitude equivalent to 3000 m and 5000 m, respectively. Stress groups were exposed to hypoxic circumstance at their final week of gestation in animal decompression chamber.

[Establishment of loop-mediated isothermal amplification for detection of Vibrio alginolyticus].

Vibrio alginolyticus is the main Vibrio pathogen in aquaculture in the south of China. A one step loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was developed for detection of Vibrio alginolyticus. A set of primers were designed from the OmpK sequence of Vibrio alginolyticus.

[Pattern of plasma sex steroid hormone levels during the breeding season of male and female skink: Eumeces chinensis].

Changes in gonadal activity and plasma sex steroid hormone levels in male and female Eumece chinensis during the breeding season were described. The results showed that: The vitellogensis of follicles of female Eumeces chinensis needed the stimulation of 17beta-estradiol (E2). As ovary masses reached peak values between late April and mid-May, E2 levels rose to the top value by late March, and then sharply declined but went up again before preovulation; The physiological functions of plasma progesterone (P) consisted in its oviductal egg retention, embryo development, and eggshell formation.