Distribution of androgen receptor in the porcine uterus throughout pregnancy.

The uterus is a well-known target of endocrine, paracrine and autocrine acting molecules among which steroid hormones (oestrogens, androgens and progesterone) are of special importance. The uterine tissues (endometrium and myometrium) undergo morphological and physiological changes which are associated with changes in expression of steroid hormone receptors. Androgen receptors (AR) that mediate the action of androgens have already been detected in porcine uteri during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy. To evaluate the role of AR in uterine physiology, the presence of ARmRNA and AR protein localization in the porcine uterus from day 10 to day 90 of pregnancy and in the uterus from the foetus of day 90 postcoitum (p.c.) and from the neonatal 1-day-old piglet was studied. ARmRNA was detected in the porcine endometrium up to day 18 p.c., while AR protein was detectable in glandular epithelium and stromal cells as through day 90 of pregnancy. AR was also detected in the myometrium on all investigated days of pregnancy; however, on day 90, the immunostaining was present only in a limited number of cells. AR immunostaining was clearly demonstrated in the uterus of the female foetuses on day 90 as well as in the uterus of 1-day-old piglets. The physiological relevance of this finding needs further elucidation.     

The genetic characterization of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis,the causal agent of walnut blight in Poland

Leaves and fruits of walnut trees exhibiting symptoms of bacterial blight were collected from six locations in Poland. Isolations on agar media resulted in 18 bacterial isolates with colony morphology resembling that of the Xanthomonas genus. PCR using X1 and X2 primers specific for Xanthomonas confirmed that all isolates belonged to this genus. In pathogenicity tests on unripe walnut fruits, all isolates caused typical black necrotic lesions covering almost the entire pericarp. Results of selected phenotypic tests indicated that characteristics of all isolates were the same as described for the type strain of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis. Genetic analyses (PCR MP, ERIC‐, BOX‐PCR and MLSA) showed similarities between the studied isolates and the reference strain of X. arboricola pv. juglandis CFBP 7179 originating from France. However, reference strains I‐391 from Portugal and LMG 746 from the UK were different. MLSA analysis of partial sequences of the fyuA, gyrB and rpoD genes of studied isolates and respective sequences from GenBank of pathotype strains of other pathovars of X. arboricola showed that the X. arboricola pv. juglandis isolates consisted of different phylogenetic lineages. An incongruence among MLSA gene phylogenies and traces of intergenic recombination events were proved. These data suggest that the sequence analysis of several housekeeping genes is necessary for proper identification of X. arboricola pathovars.     

The effect of age,size and digestive tract development on burbot,Lota lota (L.), larvae weaning effectiveness

The effect of burbot weight (BW) and length (TL) on the efficiency of weaning under controlled conditions was investigated. Growth, survival rate, cannibalism and histological analysis of digestive tract were examined. The experiment lasted 49 days (40–89 days post hatch [DPH]). The fish (BW 0.12 g; TL 14.1 mm) were divided into four groups: a control group (C) exclusively fed Artemia sp. nauplii and groups F40, F47 and F54 that were weaned to dry feed on 40, 47 and 54 DPH, respectively. The highest survival rate was observed in groups C (78%) and F54 (58%). In group F54, similar TL (53.8 mm) and higher BW (1.36 g) at the end of experiment, in comparison with group C (43.9 mm, 0.84 g for TL and BW, respectively), were obtained. At the end of the experiment, the length of enterocytes in groups C and F54 was at a similar level (over 23 μm), whereas in group F47 was significantly lower (approximately 20 μm; P < 0.05). This study for the first time presents successful weaning of the burbot. The data indicate that live food should be offered until the fish reach 25 mm and 0.20 g.     

Effect of albumin and casein supplementation on the common carp Cyprinus carpio L. sperm motility parameters measured by CASA

Adhesion of sperm to a glass surface can be manifested by the low percentage of motile spermatozoa and lower speed. This crucial factor could disprove the sperm quality prediction from computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) results. In our study, this was particularly observed when solution L was used. However, protein supplementation was effective in the reduction in sperm adhesion. We found that albumin increased the sperm motility at concentrations of 0.25 % in solution L and 0.5 % in solution P. Casein was effective in both solutions at 0.25 % concentration. However, in solution L, the motility was lower than that measured in solutions P and L with the supplementation of BSA at 0.25 and 0.5 %. BSA supplementation was especially beneficial in terms of higher speed values regardless of an activation solution. Casein used with solution P allows us to obtain similar results as in the samples activated with BSA supplementation. Casein supplementation to solution L did not increase CASA results to the level observed in the samples activated with BSA added to the solution L. Our data suggest that the selection of an activation solution is one of the most crucial steps in the experiments requiring CASA data. Depending on the composition, different protein supplements should be used to reduce adhesion of sperm to a glass surface. We recommend the use of BSA at the 0.5–1 % concentration because at this level we obtained the highest CASA parameters in both activation media.     

Determination of the optimal feeding rate and light regime conditions in juvenile burbot, Lota lota (L.), under intensive aquaculture

The aim of the study was to optimize burbot juveniles rearing in recirculating aquaculture system. In experiment 1 (17 °C, photoperiod 24L:0D), the fish (initial: body weight [W] = 15.36 ± 3.72 g, standard length [SL] = 12.48 ± 1.09 cm) were divided into four groups (I, II, III and IV). Different feeding levels were applied: 1, 2, 3 and 4 % of biomass daily (counted based on dry feed weight). The feed conversion ratio (FCR) and specific growth rate (SGR) were recorded. In experiment 2 (17 °C, feeding level of 2 % of biomass day^?1), fish (W = 5.24 ± 2.43 g and SL = 8.54 ± 1.24 cm) were divided into two groups where different light conditions were applied (I: 24 h light [1,800 lx] and II: 24 h darkness [4 lx]). In experiment 1, the highest SGR was recorded in group II (1.93 % day^?1), whereas the lowest SGR (1.27 % day^?1) and final W (P < 0.05) was in I group. The lowest (P < 0.05) FCR (0.63) was in group II. In the remaining groups, FCR was similar (0.68–0.70, P > 0.05). The feed consumption in group I reached 100 %, in group II, it was 71.3 % (P < 0.05) and it was the lowest in groups III (39.26 %) and IV (36.93 %). In experiment 2 no differences in the growth and survival rate were recorded (final SL between 14.16 and 14.19 cm, P > 0.05; W between 23.33–23.35 g; P > 0.05). The results from experiment 1 indicate that the feeding 2 % of biomass day^?1 was the most efficient. Also, it was proven, for the first time, that there was no effect of using different constant light conditions.     

Changing Phenology of Potato and of the Treatment for its Major Pest (Colorado Potato Beetle) – A Long-term Analysis

Potato Solanum tuberosum is one of the world’s four most important crops. Its cultivation is steadily increasing in response to the need to feed a growing world population. The yield of potato is influenced inter alia by both climate and pests. The main defoliator pest of potato is Colorado potato beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata. Using data from a long-term experiment (1958–2013) in western Poland, we show that increasing temperature has affected the trophic relationship between potato and Colorado potato beetle. The planting, leafing, flowering and harvest dates for potato were advanced, after controlling for different cultivars, by 2.00 days, 3.04 days, 3.80 days and 3.42 days respectively for every 1 °C increase in temperature. In contrast, first treatment against Colorado potato beetle advanced by 4.66 days for every 1 °C increase in temperature, and, furthermore, the number of treatments against the beetle increased by 0.204 per 1 °C increase in temperature. This suggests that the beetle responds faster to increasing temperature than the plant does, but both parts of the system are probably greatly modified by farming practices.     

Impact of inducing general anesthesia with Propiscin (etomidate) on the physiology and health of European perch (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Perca fluviatilis</Emphasis> L.)

The aim of the study was to describe the course and timing of the different stages of anesthesia induced with Propiscin (etomidate) on juvenile European perch (experiment I) and to describe the effect of immersing specimens of this species had on selected hematological and biochemical parameters (experiment II). The study was conducted on material with body weights (BW) of 162.98 (experiment I) and 171.60 g (experiment II). In experiment I, general anesthesia was induced with two different anesthetic concentrations (1 or 2 ml l^?1; anesthesia time 10 min). In experiment II, blood was drawn for hematological and biochemical analyses from the fish that had been exposed to anesthetic immersion baths with two different concentrations of Propiscin (1 and 2 ml l^?1) and for different exposure times (3 and 10 min). Blood samples were collected immediately following immersion (0 h) and 24 h later (24 h). Specimens that were immersed at the higher concentration of anesthetic achieved subsequent stages of general anesthesia two times faster (P ≤ 0.05). However, during recovery, some statistically significant differences were observed, but these lasted only until stage I was achieved. Among the hematological parameters (0 h), significant differences were observed in hematocrit (HCT) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV), while among the biochemical determinations (0 h), statistically significant differences were noted in the concentrations of glucose, calcium, lactate, and ammonia. After 24 h, the levels of these parameters in all fish groups returned to initial values. The hematological and biochemical tests conducted permit concluding that the anesthetic tested, at the concentrations (1 and 2 ml l^?1) and the exposure times of up to 10 min at which it was tested, is safe and can be used successfully to induce general anesthesia in perch.