Localization of nitric oxide synthase in the developing gonads of amphioxus Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtauense

The localization of nitric oxide synthases （NOS） is dealed with in the developing gonads of amphioxus Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtauense. It was found by NADPH-diaphorase staining that （1） NOS activity was present in the nuclear membranes of germinal vesicles during the entire period ofoocyte development; （2） NOS was localized in both the nuclear membranes and the perinuclear region of cytoplasm in the vitellogenetic oocytes; （3） NOS was relocated in the cortical layer in the mature egg; （4） NOS activity was present in spermatocytes, but not in the spermatogonia in the middle of October; （5） NOS was detected in both spermatozoa and spermatids as well as spermatocytes during the breeding season. This is the first report on the distribution pattern of NOS in the developing gonads in protochordates. These results suggest a role for NOS in the functioning of the nuclear membranes and yolk synthesis during oogenesis and in cell division and differentiation during spermatogenesis.

In vitro acute cytotoxicity of the neonicotinoid insecticide acetamiprid to FG cells, the gill cell line of flounder Paralichthy olivaceus

The in vitro acute cytotoxicity of the neonicotinoid insecticide acetamiprid to FG cell line, derived from the gill of flounder Paralichthys olizaceus, was tested by the three widely used endpoint bioassays-neutral red （NR） assay, tetrazolium （MTT） assay and cell protein assay. It was found that acetamiprid was increasingly toxic to FG cells at concentrations of 1 μg/cm^3 or above, and the inhibitory concentration 50% values for NR, MTF, and cell protein assays were 38.38, 36.27 and 32.03 μg/cm^3, respectively. This appeared to be the first report on the in vitro cytotoxicity of acetamiprid to non-mammalian vertebrate cells. Ultrastructural examination revealed that for the cells exposed to 60 μg/cm^3 acetamiprid for 48 h, their mitochondria were severely damaged with the cristae swelled up or disrupted, while their nuclei and rough endoplasmic reticlum （RER） appeared to be still normal. This suggests that mitochondria are possibly the primary target of acetamiprid.

Expression, purification and polyclonal antibody generation of p23, an Hsp90 cochaperone, in the amphioxus Branchiostoma belcheri

The cDNA of amphioxus p23, a highly conserved co-chaperone for Hsp90, was cloned into a bacterial expression vector pGEX - 6P - 1 and the GST-tagged fusion protein was produced in Eschherichia coli cells. The recombinant p23 was purified by affinity purification, and its molecular mass was estimated to be approximately 22 kDa by sodium dedecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrephoresis. The N-terminus of purified p23 was sequenced, and the resulting amino acid sequence matches exactly the predicted residues deduced from the amphioxus p23 gene. Besides, pelyclonal antibodies against the recombinant p23 were generated, and these antibodies not only recognized specifically the fusion protein GST - p23 from induced E. coli cells, purified GST - p23 and p23 protein, but also reacted with the total protein extracted fi＇om the adult amphioxus and formed a single positive band. These results pave the way for identifying its tissue and subcellular localization, and may open the door to clarifying its structure and mechanisms of biological role.

Cryopreservation of amphioxus (Branchiostoma belcheri) spermatozoa

Amphioxus, Branchiostoma belcheri, a closest relative of vertebrates, is at a high risk of extinction due to a combination of low effective population size, altered native habitats and environmental pollution, yet little is known about cryopreservation of its gametes. This study deals with the cryopreservation of amphioxus senlen. The main findings are that （1） the extender of Yao et al. is the best one among the four extenders examined; （2） the appropriate ratio of semen to extender of Yao et al. plus cryoprotectant is from 1：5 to 1：7; （3） dimethyl sulfoxide （DMSO） and methanol are the better cryoprotectants than glycerol, with DMSO giving the best results; （4） the eggs fertilized with post-thaw spermatozoa are capable of developing to at least hatching stage, and the highest hatching rate is （12.4±3.0）%. This is the first report on freezing and thawing of amphioxus spermatozoa, providing a simple and practical protocol for cryopreservation of amphioxus spermatozoa and laying a foundation for safeguarding this endangered species.