Mouse parthenogenetic embryos (PEs) are developmentally arrested until embryo day (E) 9.5 because of genomic imprinting. However, we have shown that embryos containing genomes from non-growing (ng) and fully grown (fg) oocytes, i.e. ng wt /fg wt PE (wt, wild type), developed to E13.5. Moreover, parthenogenetic development could be extended to term by further regulation of Igf2 and H19 expression using mice with deletion of the H19 transcription unit (H19D13) together with its differentially unit (DMR). To gain an insight into the extended development of the parthenotes to term, we have here investigated the expression levels of paternally imprinted genes in ng H19D13 /fg wt PE throughout their development. In ng H19D13 /fg wt Pes that died soon after recovery, the expression of Igf2 and H19 was restored to the appropriate levels except for low Igf2 expression in the liver after E15.5. Further, the paternally expressed Dlk1 and Dio3 were repressed, while the expression levels of the maternal Gtl2 and Mirg were twice those of the controls. However, the above-mentioned four genes showed almost normal expression in the surviving ng H19D13 /fg wt PEs. The methylation analysis revealed that the intragenic DMR of the Dlk1-Gtl2 domain was hypermethylated in the ng H19D13 /fg wt PEs that survived, but not in the PEs that died soon after recovery. The present study suggests that two sets of co-ordinately regulated but oppositely expressed genes, Igf2-H19 and Dlk1-Gtl2, act as a critical barrier to parthenogenetic development in order to render a paternal contribution obligatory for descendants in mammals.
Summary — In 3 consecutive years (1990)(1991)(1992) drones of Apis cerana japonica were observed pursuing queen dummies in a comet-shaped swarm above prominent trees (Zelkova serrata) at a shrine in Morioka, northern Japan. The height of the Zelkova tree was between 17.2 and 22.5 m. Thus, drones of A c japonica aggregate at landmark mating areas like tree tops. Drones were marked at their colonies and some were recaptured at the drone congregation area at a distance of 500 m from their colonies.Apis cerana japonica / drone congregation area / tree topping / Zelkova serrata / reproductive behavior
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