Effects of music stimulus on behavior response,cortisol level,and horizontal immunity of growing pigs

An enriched environment is widely used to improve domestic animals’ welfare and promote their natural behaviors. Music can reduce abnormal behavior in humans, nonhuman primates, and rodents. However, little is known about the effects of music on pigs. This study aims to explore the effects of repeated music stimulation on the behavior, physiology, and immunity of growing pigs. A total of 72 hybrid piglets (Large White × Duroc × Minpig) were randomly divided into three groups, including music (Mozart K.448, 60 to 70 dB), noise (recorded mechanical noise, 80 to 85 dB), and control (natural background sound, <40 dB), and 6 h sound stimulation was given per day (1000 to 1600 hours) from 40 to 100 d of age. The behavioral activities of the pigs were observed during the music stimulation, and their serum cortisol, salivary cortisol, and serum immune indices were also measured. Compared with the control group, the music group and noise group increased activity but decreased lying of pigs (P < 0.05). A significant increase in tail-wagging, playing, and exploring behaviors of pigs was found in the music group (P < 0.05), and the noise significantly increased the aggressive behavior of the pigs (P < 0.05). Tail-wagging, playing, exploring, manipulating, and aggressive behaviors decreased over time. Short-term (8 d) music stimulus had a lower cortisol level than that of the noise and control groups (P < 0.05), whereas long-term (60 d) music stimulus increased immunoglobulin G (IgG), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels (P < 0.05) and decreased interleukin-4 (IL-4) level (P < 0.05). Long-term noise stimulus significantly reduced the level of IgG (P < 0.05) but did not affect the level of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ levels (P > 0.05). In conclusion, short-term music stimulus (8 d) reduced the stress response, whereas long-term music stimulus (60 d) enhanced the immune responses. In addition, the noise increased the aggressive behavior, and long-term noise reduced the immunity of the growing pigs.     

外源硅调控葡萄生理特性对低温胁迫的响应

本研究以大田葡萄品种‘梅鹿辄’为试材,采用大田喷施硅酸钾与室内低温处理相结合的方法,测定不同温度下葡萄叶片生理指标的变化,研究外源硅酸钾调控葡萄生理特性对低温胁迫的响应,探讨其提高葡萄抗寒性可能的作用机制。结果表明:低温胁迫下葡萄Inv活性被抑制,而其它指标则升高;喷施硅酸钾可显著降低低温胁迫下葡萄叶片的MDA含量,且当硅酸钾浓度为0.75%时对低温的损伤缓解作用最大;而脯氨酸、可溶性蛋白和可溶性糖含量、Inv、SPS活性及SS净活性均随硅酸钾浓度的升高而显著提高,但是可溶性蛋白含量在硅酸钾浓度为0.50%时最大,其它指标均在浓度为0.75%时最大;通过葡萄叶片各抗寒指标的隶属度值与综合评价指标看出,始花期0.75%的硅酸钾处理后葡萄抗寒性最强。综合分析,喷施硅酸钾可提高低温胁迫下葡萄叶片渗透调节物质含量,加快蔗糖转运及代谢速率,缓解活性氧累积,增强其耐寒性。     

红枣提取物对虹鳟血清指标和头肾免疫相关基因表达的影响

为了探讨添加红枣提取物对促进虹鳟(Oncorhynchus mykiss)机体健康的可能性,选取体长为7.2~8.4 cm的健康虹鳟,随机分成4个试验组,分别投喂红枣提取物添加量为0%(对照组)、0.25%、0.50%和1.00%的等氮等脂饲料,饲养56 d,养殖结束后测定12项血清生化指标和头肾的6个免疫相关基因mRNA表达量。结果显示:与对照组相比较,血清中肌酐(CREA)和尿素氮(BUN)含量三个红枣提取物组均出现极显著下降;谷丙转氨酶(GPT)活性在0.50%和1.00%组极显著下降,谷草转氨酶(GOT)活性也在0.50%和1.00%组出现了一定程度下降,但差异不显著;酸性磷酸酶(ACP)和碱性磷酸酶(AKP)活性无显著变化;总蛋白(TP)和白介素6(IL-6)含量在0.25%组出现显著增加;溶菌酶(LZM)活性三个红枣提取物组均显著升高;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性在0.50%组极显著增加;补体4(C4)和肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-α)含量在0.25%和0.50%组均极显著增加。在头肾中,与对照组相比,SOD、白介素1β(IL-1β)和补体3(C3)基因表达量在0.50%和1.00%组均为显著或极显著上调;Factor H基因表达量在0.50%组显著上调;过氧化氢酶(CAT)和LZM基因表达量在0.50%和1.00%组仅出现差异不显著上调。上述结果表明,在虹鳟饲料中添加一定量的红枣提取物,可以起到促进肾功能,保护肝脏和提高其非特异性免疫功能的作用。     

Comparison of flagellin and an oil-emulsion adjuvant in inactivated Newcastle disease vaccine in stimulation of immunogenic parameters

The present study was designed to investigate the potential application of native (N) and recombinant (truncated modified [tmFliC] and full-length [flFliC]) flagellin proteins along with inactivated Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Fifty six SPF chickens were immunized twice with PBS (control), inactivated NDV (Ag), inactivated NDV/flFliC (AgF), inactivated NDV/tmFliC (AgT), inactivated NDV/N (AgN), commercial vaccine containing Montanide (Vac) and Vac/N (VacN), with a two-week interval. Blood was collected weekly and spleens were harvested after chickens were sacrificed. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrotic factor-α (TNF-α) gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed by Real-Time PCR. Antibody response was assessed by haemagglutination inhibition (HI). Cellular activity was quantified by MTT assay. Results showed that the most IL-6 and TNF-α gene expression was observed in AgF group (P < 0.01). The lowest gene expression among vaccinated groups was observed in Ag group for IL-6 and Ag and Vac group for TNF-α. The highest HI titer was observed in Vac, VacN, AgF and AgT groups. The AgF group showed the highest cellular activity (P < 0.01). In conclusion, flagellin-adjuvanted groups showed a pro-inflammatory effect and acted similarly to or better than the Vac group. Hence, flagellin can be proposed as a potential adjuvant for ND vaccine.     

Comparative effect of advanced soy products or corn protein concentrate with porcine meal on growth,body composition,and distal intestine histology of Florida pompano,Trachinotus carolinus

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of diets containing advanced soy products (enzyme‐treated soy and fermented soy) or corn protein concentrate (CPC) in combination with porcine meal (PM) to completely replace poultry byproduct meal (PBM) on growth performance, body composition, and distal intestine histology of Florida pompano, Trachinotus carolinus. Four experimental diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isolipidic, to contain 400 g/kg crude protein and 80 g/kg lipid. A reference diet (PBM diet [PBMD]) contained 150 g/kg PBM and 495 g/kg soybean meal (SBM), and three test diets were formulated replacing PBM with 15 g/kg of CPC (CPC diet [CPCD]) or replacing all SBM and PBM with 535 g/kg fermented soy (fermented soybean meal diet [FSBMD]) or 451.3 g/kg enzyme‐treated soy (enzyme‐treated soybean meal diet [ESBMD]). All three test diets were supplemented with 38 g/kg of PM. Diets were fed based on a percentage of bodyweight adjusted after sampling the fish every 2 weeks to triplicate groups of Florida pompano juveniles (mean weight 8.06 ± 0.22 g). After 8 weeks of feeding, fish fed CPCD and ESBMD performed equally well in terms of final body weight, thermal growth coefficient, and percentage weight gain in comparison to fish fed PBMD. In all cases, feeding FSBMD resulted in poor feed conversion and lower feed intake compared to other treatments. Protein retention efficiency, whole‐body proximate composition, phosphorus, sulfur, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, and zinc contents were not significantly influenced by the dietary treatments. The results obtained in the present histological study showed no significant differences in the thickness of serous layer, muscular layer, and submucosal layer of the intestine among treatments. Fish fed CPCD showed a significant widening of the lamina propria with an increase of cellular infiltration and higher presence of goblet cells compared to other dietary treatment. Based on these results, 451 g/kg ESBM or combination of 150 g/kg of CPC and 495 g/kg SBM supplemented with 38 g/kg PM can be utilized to develop a practical diet for juvenile Florida pompano without impacting growth, nutritive parameters, and several distal intestine health parameters.     

种植年限对设施蔬菜土壤养分和环境的影响

为了给设施蔬菜地合理施肥提供依据,研究了不同种植年限设施蔬菜地土壤理化性质、微生物数量及酶活性变化,以露地土壤为对照(CK),采集种植1 a(年)、3 a、5 a、7 a、9 a、11 a、13 a、15 a、17 a、20 a以及20 a以上的0~20 cm设施蔬菜土壤样品,采用常规土壤理化性质检测方法测定了土壤理化性质和酶活性,采用平板计数法,分析土壤微生物数量。结果表明,设施菜地种植年限与土壤容重呈正相关,与土壤孔隙度呈负相关;设施菜地土壤pH值随种植年限的增加逐年降低,两者呈显著的负相关性;土壤EC值、土壤有机质和速效磷含量都随种植年限的增加而逐年增高,并与种植年限呈显著的正相关性;与CK相比,种植13 a的蔬菜样地土壤全氮和速效钾含量均显著地增加;连续种植20 a以上,设施蔬菜土壤含盐量比对照土壤显著地增加了486.49%。土壤细菌和放线菌数量、过氧化氢酶和碱性磷酸酶活性呈现出先增加后减少的趋势,且都在种植年限为11~13 a时达到最大;真菌数量随着种植年限的增加而增加,而土壤脲酶活性则随种植年限的增加呈下降趋势;转化酶活性随着种植年限的增加保持不变。土壤微生物数量与酶活性之间存在一定程度的相关关系,其中土壤真菌数量与土壤酶活性之间的相关性最为显著。综上所述,种植年限不同的设施菜地,土壤养分失衡,呈现酸化趋势,盐分含量逐年增加,土传真菌病害潜在发生,对设施蔬菜生产不利。     

Bamboo NiR gene is associated with regeneration capacity

It was reported that the activity of NiR (nitrite reductase) enzyme encoded by the NiR gene was correlated with the regeneration ability in rice. To testify the function of NiR gene in bamboo, seven bamboo species whose calli had different differentiation rate were chosen to analyse their NiR enzyme activity. The results showed that bamboo NiR enzymatic activity had a certain correlation with the regeneration capacity. A NiR gene named DhNiR from Dendrocalamus hamiltonii with high regeneration capacity was cloned. Sequence analysis revealed that the ORF of DhNiR was 1779bp encoding 592 amino acids. Overexpression of DhNiR in rice reduced the time of shoot differentiation and increased the transformation rate, suggesting that DhNiR might play an important role in the regeneration ability of bamboo, and can be applied in regeneration and gene transformation of bamboo and other plant species.     

Effect of transferring lignocellulose-degrading bacteria from termite to rumen fluid of sheep on in vitro gas production,fermentation parameters,microbial populations and enzyme activity

The digestive tract of termite(Microcerotermes diversus) contains a variety of lignocellulose-degrading bacteria with exocellulases enzyme activity, not found in the rumen, which could potentially improve fiber degradation in the rumen. The objectives of the current study were to determine the effect of inoculation of rumen fluid(RF) with three species of bacteria isolated from termite digestive tract, Bacillus licheniformis, Ochrobactrum intermedium, and Microbacterium paludicola, on in vitro gas production(IVGP), fermentation parameters, nutrient disappearance, microbial populations, and hydrolytic enzyme activities with fibrous wheat straw(WS) and date leaf(DL) as incubation substrate. Inoculation of RF with either of three termite bacteria increased(P0.05) ammonia-N concentration compared with the control group(free of termite gut bacteria). Termite bacteria inoculation had no effect(P0.05) on gas production characteristics, dry matter, organic matter and neutral detergent fiber disappearance, pH, and concentration and composition of volatile fatty acids. Population of proteolytic bacteria and protozoa, but not cellulolytic bacteria, were increased(P0.05) when RF was inoculated with termite bacteria with both WS and DL substrates. Inoculation of RF with termite bacteria increased protease activity, while activities of carboxymethyl-cellulase, microcrystalline-cellulase, α-amylase and filter paper degrading activity remained unchanged(P0.05). Overall, the results of this study indicated that transferring lignocellulose-degrading bacteria, isolated from digestive tract of termite, to rumen liquid increased protozoa and proteolytic bacteria population and consequently increased protease activity and ammonia-N concentration in vitro, however, no effect on fermentation and fiber degradation parameters were detected. These results suggest that the termite bacteria might be rapidly lysed by the rumen microbes before beneficial effects on the rumen fermentation process could occur.     

动物细胞因子研究进展

细胞因子是免疫活性细胞和其它细胞分泌的具有多种生物活性的多肽或蛋白质 ,这些细胞因子是重要的信息传递物质 ,特别在免疫、炎症和造血系统等生物学反应过程中具有重要的作用。近几年 ,细胞因子的研究已成为生物学研究中最活跃的领域之一。新的细胞因子不断被发现 ,大量的细胞因子正在或将要应用于医学临床。细胞因子的研究带动了整个免疫学的发展。其应用展现出广阔的前景。文章简要介绍了动物细胞因子的作用及其应用前景 ,包括细胞因子与免疫抑制的关系、细胞因子在免疫增强剂和免疫治疗剂、构建新型基因工程苗以及细胞因子对于蛋白质、脂肪和葡萄糖代谢的调控作用等方面的主要研究进展     

茶多酚(TP)对家禽免疫功能的研究

选用14日龄健康的海佩科内用仔鸡48羽,随机分成试验(24羽)和对照(24羽)两组.试验组在饲粮中添加0.25％的茶多酚(TP),研究TP对鸡免疫功能的作用.试验结果表明,TP对自然感染法氏囊病鸡,有明显提高(p<0.05)鸡血液中红细胞C_(3b)受体和免疫复合物的含量及保护鸡脾脏正常的免疫功能,同时也发现TP对公母鸡法氏囊的重量有不同影响.本试验表明,TP具有提高家禽免疫功能的作用.