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Cryopreservation of few spermatozoa is still a major challenge for male fertility preservation. This study reports use a new micro-straw (LSL straw) for freezing few spermatozoa for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Semen samples from 22 fertile donors were collected, and each semen sample was diluted and mixed with cryoprotectant in a ratio of 1:1, and then frozen using three different straws such as LSL straw (50–100 μl), traditional 0.25 ml and 0.5 ml straws. For freezing, all straws were fumigated with liquid nitrogen, with temperature directly reducing to −130–−140°C. Sperm concentration, progressive motility, morphology, acrosome integrity, and DNA fragmentation index were evaluated before and after freezing. After freezing-thawing, LSL straw group had significantly higher percentage of sperm motility than traditional 0.25 ml and 0.5 ml straw groups (38.5% vs 27.4% and 25.6%, P < 0.003). Sperm motility and acrosomal integrity after freezing-thawing were significantly lower than that of before freezing. However, there was no significant difference in morphology, acrosome, and DNA integrity between the three types of straws (P > 0.05). As LSL straws were thinner and hold very small volume, the freezing rate of LSL straw was obviously faster than 0.25 ml straw and 0.5 ml straws. In conclusion, LSL micro-straws may be useful to store few motile spermatozoa with good recovery of motility for patients undergoing ICSI treatment.

Ceramidases (CDases) are vital enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of sphingolipids, which are essential components of eukaryotic membranes. The function of these enzymes in insects, however, is poorly understood. We identified a neutral ceramidase (NlnCDase) from the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens, one of the most destructive hemipteran pests of rice. The C12-ceramide was the most preferred substrate for the NlnCDase enzyme. The activity of the NlnCDase enzyme was highest in the neutral-pH range (pH 6.0). It was inhibited by EGTA, Cs+ and Fe2+, while stimulated by EDTA and Ca2+. Moreover, the NlnCDase has higher transcript level and activity in adults than in eggs and nymphs, and in the reproductive organs (ovaries and spermaries) than in other tissues (i.e. heads, thorax, legs, midguts), which suggested that the NlnCDase might be elevated to mediate developmental process. In addition, transcripts and activity of the NlnCDase were up-regulated under abiotic stresses including starvation, abnormal temperature, and insecticides, and biotic stress of resistant rice varieties. Knocking down NlnCDase by RNA interference increased female survival under starvation and temperature stresses, suggesting that NlnCDase might be involved in the stress response in N. lugens.

The T(PEAK) of propofol measured by the A-line auditory-evoked potential monitor is different from that measured by the Aspect A-2000 bispectral index monitor. The T(PEAK)s of propofol from auditory-evoked potential index and bispectral index, and the values of k(e0) calculated based on T(PEAK)s are different from previous reports and appear to be not affected by age. Further studies need to be taken to validate clinically the k(e0) values of propofol.

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Sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs) play an especially important role in insect pheromone communication. However, the SNMPs for the Asiatic rice borer, Chilo suppressalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), a notorious rice pest, remain uncharacterized. Here we report the cloning and characterization of two novel SNMPs from the C. suppressalis, CsupSNMP1 and CsupSNMP2. The CsupSNMP1 and CsupSNMP2 cDNAs contained open reading frames (ORFs) of 1,572 and 1,569 bp, encoding proteins of 523 and 522 amino acid residues, respectively. The amino acid identity between the two deduced CsupSNMPs was low (30% identity), but they shared a high degree of similarity to previously characterized SNMP1s or SNMP2s from other moth species, which is consistent with phylogenetic analysis in which CsupSNMP1 and CsupSNMP2 are clustered into two distinct groups based on their amino acid sequences. The expression patterns of CsupSNMPs in various adult tissues and in different developmental stages were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that both CsupSNMP1 and CsupSNMP2 were abundantly expressed in the male and female antennae, reaching their maximum in the adult stage, suggesting the two genes are involved in the process of olfaction. Low levels of CsupSNMP2 also were expressed in nonolfactory tissues such as legs and wings, implying possible gustatory roles of the protein in the moth.

Xylanase inhibitor TAXI-I gene was cloned from wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and then TAXI-