Analysis of regional variation of height growth and slenderness in populations of six urban tree species using a quantile regression approach

Inventory data of six urban tree species from seven cities across Germany were used to model regional variation of height growth, allometric scaling, and slenderness over a wide range of size and age using a quantile regression approach. Variation within and between species and cities was large. Height did not reach an asymptote but declined at higher ages, presumably because of reduction cuts. Allometric scaling and slenderness varied with wind climate, modulus of elasticity, and coefficient of drag. Our data do not support the use of a threshold value of slenderness in tree risk assessment.     

白牦牛早期胚胎发育条件的初步研究

研究了卵母细胞质量和体外受精卵培养温度对白牦牛早期胚胎发育的影响。结果表明:白牦牛体外受精时要选择A级质量的卵母细胞,体外受精胚胎发育的最适温度为38℃。为完善白牦牛胚胎的体外生产体系提供了实验依据。     

Biochemical and histological effects of gibberellic acid on Locusta migratoria migratoria fifth instar larvae

Experiments were conducted to assess the effect of gibberellic acid (GA₃), a plant growth regulator, on Locusta migratoria migratoria fifth instar larvae. Newly emerged larvae were exposed to various concentrations of GA₃ administered by topical application or by forced ingestion. Results showed that treated insects exhibited toxic symptoms with a dose-dependent mortality. GA₃ toxicity was also demonstrated by perturbation of the moult processes. In fact, we noted that treated insects present exuviations difficulties due to the impossibility to reject the old integuments causing mortality in the 5th instar larvae. Histological study of proventriculus revealed alterations in the epithelial cells and absence of apolysis phenomenon. Data also showed that GA₃ induced significant quantitative variation of haemolymph metabolites. These changes result in a significant decrease in the total concentration of proteins and carbohydrates and an increase in the total concentration of haemolymph lipids.     

Coccygeal muscle injury in English Pointers (limber tail)

A condition colloquially referred to as "limber tail" and "cold tail" is familiar to people working with hunting dogs, primarily Pointers and Labrador Retrievers. The typical case consists of an adult dog that suddenly develops a flaccid tail. The tail either hangs down from the tail base or is held out horizontally for several inches from the tail base and then hangs straight down or at some degree below horizontal. Initially, the hair on the dorsal aspect of the proximal tail may be raised and dogs may resent palpation of the area 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) from the tail base. Most dogs recover spontaneously within a few days to weeks. Anecdotal reports suggest that anti-inflammatory drugs administered within 24 hours after onset hasten recovery. Less than one half of affected dogs experience a recurrence. Affected Pointers almost always have a history of prolonged cage transport, a hard workout the previous day, or exposure to cold or wet weather Most owners and trainers familiar with the condition do not seek veterinary assistance. In cases where people are not familiar with this disease, other conditions such as a fracture, spinal cord disease, impacted anal glands, or prostatic disease have been incorrectly diagnosed. We examined 4 affected Pointers and found evidence of coccygeal muscle damage, which included mild elevation of creatine kinase early after onset of clinical signs, needle electromyographic examination showing abnormal spontaneous discharges restricted to the coccygeal muscles several days after onset, and histopathologic evidence of muscle fiber damage. Specific muscle groups, namely the laterally positioned intertransversarius ventralis caudalis muscles, were affected most severely. Abnormal findings on thermography and scintigraphy further supported the diagnosis.     

Microscopic examination of the intestinal wall and selected organs of minipigs orally supplemented with humic acids

Humic acids are used to prophylactically treat intestinal diseases in a wide number of species, yet the mechanism of action remains unknown. The general assumption has been that humic acids act locally; however studies using young piglets show orally supplemented humic acids can penetrate the intestinal wall, and thus potentially act systemically. The objective of this study was to determine if humic acids could also cross the intestinal barrier in adult pigs and be detected in other organs. Adult minipigs (>18 months old) orally received either 1 g humic acids/kg body weight (verum, n = 3) or placebo (control, n = 3), for 2 weeks. At the end of the feeding period tissue samples were harvested from the intestine, various glands and organs. Unstained tissue samples were examined by light microscopy for the presence of humic acid particles. No humic acid particles were detected in any of the unstained tissues from verum or control pigs.     

Effects of oocyte-derived growth factors on the growth of porcine oocytes and oocyte–cumulus cell complexes in vitro

During oocyte growth and follicle development, oocytes closely communicate with cumulus cells. We examined the effects of oocyte-derived growth factors, growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15), on the growth and acquisition of meiotic competence of porcine oocytes collected from early antral follicles (1.2–1.5 mm). First, we confirmed that GDF9 and BMP15 mRNAs were expressed almost exclusively in the oocytes. Oocyte–cumulus cell complexes (OCCs) collected from early antral follicles were cultured in growth medium supplemented with 0–100 ng/ml of GDF9 or BMP15 for 5 days. GDF9 dose-dependently increased the OCC diameter, while BMP15 did not. GDF9 and BMP15 had no significant effects on oocyte growth (P > 0.05). When OCCs that had been cultured with 50 and 100 ng/ml BMP15 were subjected to a subsequent maturation culture, they expanded fully by gonadotropic stimulation and 49% and 61% of oocytes matured to metaphase II (MII), respectively. In contrast, GDF9 did not promote cumulus expansion, and < 10% of oocytes matured to MII. Based on the difference in cumulus expansion, we compared the expression of luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) and follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) mRNAs in cumulus cells. The level of LHCGR mRNA was increased in cumulus cells of the BMP15 group, although there were no significant differences in FSHR mRNA levels among the groups. These results suggest that GDF9 promotes the growth of OCCs and that BMP15 promotes LHCGR mRNA expression in cumulus cells during oocyte growth culture, which may contribute to cumulus expansion and oocyte maturation.     

卵母细胞激活的信号机制

本文主要阐述精子与卵母细胞质膜相互作用的信号转变,特别是精子启动这些信号途径的机制,并讨论与精子诱导的Ca2 振荡发生反应并在卵母细胞激活中起重要作用的下游信号分子。     

东北虎主要消化腺的组织学研究

通过光镜对东北虎主要几种消化腺的H.E染色石蜡切片进行观察,结果表明,东北虎肝小叶间的结缔组织不发达,小叶的界限不清晰,肝细胞体积较大,核位于细胞一侧,肝细胞多呈索状排列,窦状隙不明显;胰腺外分泌部由腺泡和导管组成,腺泡形状不一,由单层锥状腺上皮细胞组成,胰岛是一些大小不等的细胞团和细胞索,分散于外分泌部之间,胞质染色较外分泌部浅;腮腺为纯浆液腺泡,胞质着色呈嗜酸性,颌下腺是以黏液性细胞为主,含少量的浆液性细胞半月。     

雁鹅羽毛毛囊形态结构与分布特点研究

雁鹅羽毛毛囊形态结构和分布特点与其羽绒性能密切相关。本试验采用组织切片技术和光学显微方法观察成年雁鹅羽毛毛囊形态结构和分布特点,用最小二乘均数法对胸、腹和背部羽区的毛囊密度、毛囊直径和S/P值的变化进行分析,以及性别因素对毛囊性状的影响进行研究。结果显示,雁鹅羽毛初级毛囊和次级毛囊均属有髓毛囊,二者独立发生发育并独立分布。鹅的次级毛囊显微形态结构与初级毛囊基本相似,但次级毛囊的羽嵴于羽髓周围呈放射状均匀分布,没有凸出的脊柱状较大嵴突存在。成年雌性雁鹅在其胸、腹、背部羽区的初级和次级毛囊密度均显著高于雄性雁鹅(P＜0.05),雁鹅胸、腹部羽区的次级毛囊密度和S/P值均显著高于背部的毛囊密度和S/P值(P＜0.05)。次级毛囊直径因性别差异变化较大,雄鹅胸、背部羽区的次级毛囊直径显著大于雌鹅(P＜0.05);且雄雌鹅腹部次级毛囊直径均显著小于其背部的次级毛囊直径(P＜0.05)。