Mitigation of N2O emissions from grassland by nitrification inhibitor and Actilith F2 applied with fertilizer and cattle slurry

Abstract. Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is involved in both ozone destruction and global warming. In agricultural soils it is produced by nitrification and denitrification mainly after fertilization. Nitrification inhibitors have been proposed as one of the management tools for the reduction of the potential hazards of fertilizer-derived N₂O. Addition of nitrification inhibitors to fertilizers maintains soil N in ammonium form, thereby gaseous N losses by nitrification and denitrification are less likely to occur and there is increased N utilization by the sward. We present a study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) and of the slurry additive Actilith F2 on N₂O emissions following application of calcium ammonium nitrate or cattle slurry to a mixed clover/ryegrass sward in the Basque Country. The results indicate that large differences in N₂O emission occur depending on fertilizer type and the presence or absence of a nitrification inhibitor. There is considerable scope for immediate reduction of emissions by applying DCD with calcium ammonium nitrate or cattle slurry. DCD, applied at 25 kg ha^–1, reduced the amount of N lost as N₂O by 60% and 42% when applied with cattle slurry and calcium ammonium nitrate, respectively. Actilith F2 did not reduce N₂O emissions and it produced a long lasting mineralization of previously immobilized added N.     

Effects of puerarin on apelin-12, angiotensin II,NO and blood pressure in renovascular hypertensive rat

AIM: To investigate the effects of puerarin on blood pressure in renovascular hypertensive rats, and to measure puerarin-induced changes of apelin-12, angiotensin II (Ang II) and nitric oxide(NO), the factors related to development of hypertension. METHODS: Sixty-five male Sprague-Dawley rats were used, of which 8 rats were randomly selected as sham operation group, and the remaining were used to make two-kidney, one-clip model. The rats that met the criterion for Goldblatt hypertensive rat model were randomly allocated into 5 groups: high-, middle- and low-dose puerarin groups, captopril group, and model group. The drugs were administered for 6 weeks. Blood pressure was measured every 2 weeks. Six weeks after treatment, all rats were sacrificed under deep anesthesia. Blood and kidney samples were collected. The level of apelin-12 in serum and kidneys was detected by ELISA. The level of Ang II in plasma and kidneys was measured by radioimmunoassay. NO level in serum was examined by nitrate reductase assay. RESULTS: Puerarin had an antihypertensive effect in a dose-dependent manner. Marked decreases in the level of serum apelin-12 in high- and middle-dose puerarin groups were observed(P<0.01). Puerarin at low dose did not cause obvious change in the content of apelin but still reached significant level (P<0.05). As the dose of puerarin went up, the level of apelin-12 in the kidneys was gradually decreased. Puerarin at high and middle doses obviously reduced the level of AngII in plasma, while purarin at low dose did not produce any significant effects. Puerarin at high and middle doses markedly increased the level of NO in serum, but puerarin at low dose did not induce any significant changes. CONCLUSION: Puerarin has an antihypertensive effect, and its mechanism may be related to inducing the changes of apelin, Ang II and NO, and regulating the balance among those factors.     

Effects of stress on endocrine and metabolic processes and redirection: cross talk between subcellular compartments

Recent advances in genome analysis and biochemical pathway mapping have advanced our understanding of how biological systems have evolved over time. Protein and DNA marker comparisons suggest that several of these systems are both ancient in origin but highly conserved into today's evolved species. However, remnants of some of the more ancient functions of these chemical systems can run in conflict with the functions that those same pathways serve in complex organisms and tissue systems today. Relevant to the present topic, nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide anion (O₂^•−), ancient cellular molecules in evolutionary terms, are recognized today as both necessary for the well-being and stable health of cells but also injurious to cells as elaborated in conjunction with the cellular stress response. Why the dichotomy? This question underlies one of the basic issues challenging researchers as well as practitioners in their approach to disease management. The fundamental proinflammatory response of the innate immune system of the host is needed for pathogen control but can be injurious to tissues from “collateral damage” from NO- and O₂^•−-derived reactive molecules capable of affecting protein function via post-translational chemical modification. This review highlights newer aspects of the biochemistry of the NO- and O₂^•−-mediated innate proinflammatory response and further show how protein and tissue damage via overproduction of reactive nitrogen and oxygen intermediary molecules such as peroxynitrite (ONOO⁻) might be targeted to specific epitopes of proteins. Changes in the regulation of metabolism in response to proinflammatory disease states are discussed for GH signal transduction and tissue specificity.     

NO/ADMA在布鲁菌侵染小鼠机体过程中的响应特征

本试验旨在研究布鲁菌侵染小鼠过程中一氧化氮(NO)的作用,以及NO和非对称性二甲基精氨酸(ADMA)在此过程的相互作用关系。以布鲁菌标准疫苗株M5侵染小鼠,首先用小鼠的血清进行虎红平板凝集(RBPT)和试管凝集试验(SAT),再用Griess试剂法和ELISA法测定对照组和侵染组不同组织和血清中的NO和ADMA含量,对小鼠肝脏和脾脏的各个侵染时间段进行CFU计数观察。结果显示,用布鲁菌M5侵染小鼠后,RBPT和SAT在14d时检测到有阳性反应。侵染组和空白对照组NO总含量上变化不大,但侵染组血清中的NO含量随时间出现下降,而肝脾中NO含量随时间出现上升,其他各组织NO含量波动不明显。而ADMA的总趋势与NO相反。CFU计数结果显示,小鼠肝脾内布鲁菌的数量在14d时一直处于增长状态,28d时布鲁菌的数量下降,表明布鲁菌的分裂繁殖和机体NO的含量存在一定的关系。     

纳米氧化锌对肉仔鸡抗氧化性能的影响

本试验旨在研究纳米氧化锌对肉仔鸡抗氧化性能的影响.选用1日龄爱拔益加肉仔鸡192只,随机分为4个组,每个组4个重复,每个重复12只鸡.以添加硫酸锌(含锌80 mg/kg)的口粮为对照组,即A组,添加含锌40、80、120 mg/kg的3个纳米氧化锌水平组为试验组,即B、C、D组,试验期6周.试验结果表明:40 mg/kg锌添加水平的纳米氧化锌组能够显著提高(21、42 d)肉仔鸡血清中谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性(P<0.05、P<0.01),极显著提高(21、42 d)血清中总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)(P<0.01、P<0.01),减少(21 d)血清中一氧化氮(NO)生成(P<0.05).80 mg/kg锌添加水平的纳米氧化锌组能够极显著提高(42 d)肉仔鸡血清中GSH-Px活性(P<0.01),显著提高(42 d)肝组织中过氧化氢酶(CAT)和T-AOC活性(P<0.05、P<0.01),极显著提高(21 d)血清中T-AOC(P<0.01),减少(21、42 d)血清中NO生成(P<0.05、P<0.01),并能提高(42 d)血清抑制羟自由基能力(P<0.05),提高(21 d)肝组织中抗超氧阴离子自由基活性(P<0.05).由此可知,日粮添加纳米氧化锌可在一定程度上提高肉仔鸡机体的抗氧化性能,增强抗氧化酶活性,降低自由基的产生,以40、80 mg/kg添加量效果较佳.     

遮荫胁迫下外源一氧化氮对高羊茅的生理调控作用

用外源一氧化氮(NO)供体硝普钠(SNP)处理遮荫胁迫下的2个高羊茅(Festuca arundinacea)品种,探讨外源NO对遮荫胁迫下其叶绿素含量、膜透性、丙二醛(MDA)含量、抗氧化酶活性及脯氨酸(Pro)含量的影响.结果表明:外源NO可以显著提高遮荫胁迫下高羊茅叶片的叶绿素含量(P＜0.05),减弱质膜相对透性的增加,减缓膜质过氧化产物MDA含量的升高,促进Pro的积累,提高超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)的活性(P＜0.05).遮荫胁迫下高羊茅品种踏火二号的电解质渗透率、MDA含量、CAT活性和Pro含量的变化显著(P＜0.05),NO的作用效果     

Effects of intensification of pastoral farming on greenhouse gas emissions in New Zealand

Abstract

AIMS: The aims of this cross-sectional study were to investigate the herd and cow-level prevalence of bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) in dairy farms in the northern Taranaki region of New Zealand, and to identify whether there was any spatial clustering of herds with the disease.

METHODS: A survey of 224 dairy farms in the northern Taranaki region of New Zealand was undertaken from September 2014 to February 2015. Following training in robust criteria to confirm BDD visually, a technician inspected the rear feet of every milking cow on the farms during milking. The identity of cows with lesions and the feet involved were recorded. The proportion of cows affected among the inspected population (cow-level prevalence), the proportion of a herd affected (farm-level prevalence), and proportion of farms with ≥1 cow with lesions, were calculated. A bivariate K function analysis was then used to assess whether farms with ≥1 cow with lesions were clustered, after accounting for the distribution of the farms involved in the study.

RESULTS: Bovine digital dermatitis lesions were observed on 143/224 (63.8 (95% CI=57.5–70.1)%) farms. Within-farm prevalence was 0% on 81 (36.2%) farms, between >0 and <3% on 120 (53.5%) farms, with a maximum prevalence of 12.7% on one farm. Overall, cow-level prevalence was 707/60,455 (1.2 (95% CI=0.9–3.0)%), and on affected farms was 707/41,116 (1.7 (95% CI=1.4–2.1)%). In affected cows, 268/707 (37.9%) had a lesion on left foot only, 262/707 (37.1%) on the right foot only and 177/707 (25.0%) on both feet. The K function analysis showed no evidence of clustering of farms with BDD.

CONCLUSIONS: Bovine digital dermatitis was widespread among the survey farms, but there was no evidence that there was any clustering of herds with BDD. The cow-level prevalence on affected farms was much lower than reported elsewhere.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although the prevalence at the cow level was low, if these data are representative of other regions of New Zealand, BDD could easily become a major problem on dairy farms in New Zealand, as has been observed in other countries.     

外源NO对NaCl胁迫下燕麦幼苗氧化损伤的缓解效应

以加燕2号为试验材料,用一氧化氮（NO）供体硝普钠（SNP）、NO清除剂牛血红蛋白（Hb）及SNP类似物亚铁氰化钠处理燕麦植株,研究NO对NaCl胁迫下燕麦幼苗生长和氧化损伤的缓解效应。结果表明,NaCl胁迫下添加外源NO提高了燕麦幼苗的株高,提高了SOD、POD、CAT和APX活性,降低自由基含量和膜脂过氧化程度,表明外源NO能缓解NaCl胁迫诱导的氧化损伤,增强植株的耐盐性。NO供体SNP的类似物亚铁氰化钠（不产生NO）对NaCl胁迫燕麦植株的株高和氧化伤害无缓解效应;施用Hb提高了自由基含量,降低了抗氧化酶活性,而添加外源NO能缓解Hb对燕麦生长的抑制,表明内源NO也可能参与燕麦幼苗耐盐性的调节。     

NO在雏鸡球虫感染过程中的作用

研究以腹腔注射途径给予试验雏鸡cNOS抑制剂L－NAME、L－NA以及iNOS抑制剂L－AG，通过测定血浆NO2^-水平、肠道粘膜NOS活性、雏鸡日增重以及肠道病变计分、肠道组织切片中球虫数量、O.P.G值、异常粪便百分率等指标，研究了NO在雏鸡感染E.tenella或E.acervulina过程中的作用。试验结果表明，在雏鸡感染E.tenella或E.acervulina后，每日连续给予L－AG或L－NAME，不但加重了雏鸡的肠道组织显微病变，而且使肠道组织切片中的球虫数量增多。此外L－AG或L－NAME处理还使感染雏鸡的O.P.G值和肠道病变记分等指标出现不同程度的升高，但与感染对照组的相比未见显著性影响。另外，无论是NO2^-测定结果，还是NOS活性测定结果均表明，3种NOS抑制剂对感染E.acervulina雏鸡体内NO的生成均有较好的抑制作用，其中以L－AG的抑制作用最为理想，L－AG处理组雏鸡血浆NO2^-水平或肠道粘膜NOS活性值均与给予的L－AG剂量之间呈现较好的剂量依赖性递减关系。结果提示，在雏鸡感染球虫过程中，体内大量生成的NO对球虫具有一定的毒性作用。NO可能是在雏鸡E.tenella和E.acervulina感染过程中发挥作用的一种效应分子。