Differential gene expression of Eph‐ephrin A1 and LEPR‐LEP with high or low number of embryos in pigs during implantation

The objective of this study was to ascertain whether mRNA and protein expressions of implantation‐related genes (erythropoietin‐producing hepatocellular receptor–ligand A1, Eph‐ephrin A1 and leptin receptor–leptin, LEPR‐LEP) differed between pigs with high and low number of embryos, and whether these differences in gene expression might affect embryo implantation. Experimental pig groups (n = 24) for high and low number of embryos were prepared by altering the number of eggs ovulated in pre‐pubertal gilts treated with 1.5 × (High) or 1.0 × (Low) PG600 ([400 IU PMSG + 200 IU hCG]/dose, AKZO‐NOBEL). Gilts expressing oestrus were artificially inseminated twice and maintained in breeding and gestation until the reproductive tract was collected on day 22 of pregnancy. At slaughter, the reproductive tracts from each pregnant gilt from each treatment were immediately processed to collect samples for RNA and protein analysis. Within each gilt, three conceptus points were sampled, one from each horn and then a random conceptus within the tract. At each conceptus point, endometrial attachment site, chorion–allantois and embryo were collected and immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen. Number of corpus luteum (CL) (35.4 vs. 12.6) and total embryo number (18.8 vs. 10.2) were greater in the high‐embryo compared to the low‐embryo group, respectively (p < .05). Real‐time qPCR results showed that Eph‐ephrin A1 mRNA expression was less in the high‐embryo (p < .05) compared to the low‐embryo group. In addition, Western blotting analysis indicated that Eph‐ephrin A1 and LEP protein expression at endometrial attachment site in high‐embryo was less (p < .05) compared to low‐embryo group. It was also noted that mRNA expression of Eph‐ephrin A1 and LEPR‐LEP was greater in pregnant than non‐pregnant gilts (p < .05). Moreover, mRNA expression of Eph‐ephrin A1 (p < .05) and LEPR‐LEP was greatest at endometrial attachment site among all three tissues. There was a positive correlation between expressions of Eph‐ephrin A1, LEPR‐LEP and embryo length with the correlation coefficient 0.31–0.59. For Eph‐ephrin A1, the highest correlation coefficient appeared between Eph A1 expression and normal embryo number, between ephrin A1 expression and embryo length. For LEPR‐LEP, the highest correlation coefficient appeared between LEPR‐LEP expression and ovary weight (0.79 for both, p < .05), followed by embryo length and weight. The results of this study suggest that low expression of Eph‐ephrin A1 and LEPR‐LEP is somehow related to increased embryo number during implantation and that endometrial attachment site might be the main target tissue of these gene products. Yet, the increased expression of Eph‐ephrin A1 and LEPR‐LEP appeared associated with increased embryo growth (length and weight) and ovary weight, Eph‐ephrin A1 and LEPR‐LEP might play roles in the regulation of embryo implantation in pigs.     

紫茎泽兰对萨能奶山羊血常规及重要脏器病理学的影响

紫茎泽兰(Eupatorium adenophorum)在中国作为入侵物种,可造成食草动物中毒死亡,并给畜牧业带巨大的损失。为研究反刍动物采食紫茎泽兰后的中毒机理,本研究探讨了日粮中添加不同剂量的紫茎泽兰对萨能奶山羊(Saanen goat)血常规及肝、脾、肾的病理学影响。选择16只5~6月龄健康萨能奶山羊,随机分成对照组(日粮中未添加紫茎泽兰)和试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组(日粮配比中分别添加紫茎泽兰40%、60%和80%),每组4只。试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组分别饲喂含40%、60%和80%紫茎泽兰的混合日粮3个月,每两周检测一次血常规,试验末屠宰奶山羊,并观察其肝、肾、脾的病理学变化。结果表明,与对照组相比,各试验组血液中的白细胞(white blood cell,)和中性粒细胞(neutrophil,NEUT)均显著升高(P0.05),试验后期极显著高于对照组(P0.01);而各试验组血液中淋巴细胞(lymphocyte,LY)与血红蛋白(hemoglobin,HGB)均呈下降趋势,试验后期均极显著低于对照组(P0.01)。肝和脾肿大,肝组织出现淤血,肝细胞发生水泡变性及脂肪变性等,肾组织伴有出血、坏死、颗粒变性及水泡样变性的现象。因此,本研究结果说明紫茎泽兰对萨能奶山羊血液指标有显著影响,且长期摄入紫茎泽兰可引起动物肝、肾、脾等主要实质器官不同程度的损伤。     

紫花苜蓿9个盐响应相关基因表达模式

紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa)是世界上种植面积最大、应用最广泛的豆科牧草。由于其耐盐性中等,其在我国北方地区的产量和种植受到土壤盐渍化的限制。因此提高紫花苜蓿的耐盐性具有重要的科学和生产意义。为此,以龙牧801紫花苜蓿(M.sativa‘Longmu 801’)为试验材料,采用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析了不同浓度NaCl胁迫下9个盐胁迫蛋白质组筛选出的盐响应相关基因的表达模式。结果显示,处理时间和处理浓度对9个基因的相对表达量均有显著性影响,表明这9个基因均在紫花苜蓿盐胁迫应答中发挥着一定作用。处理1h时,G6PI、ABP19a、Trx-h1、PR bet 1、FBPA、6PGDH和ALDH这7个基因的相对表达量在不同NaCl胁迫浓度处理的紫花苜蓿中均显著上调,RRM和GDPD在NaCl处理2h后开始上调。除G6PI基因,其他8个基因在0.4%NaCl处理下相对表达量显著高于0.2%和0.8%NaCl处理。这些基因参与糖代谢、信号转导和胁迫响应。以上结果表明,紫花苜蓿的耐盐性极其复杂,涉及到多基因的表达和代谢通路的调控。研究结果有助于全面研究并了解紫花苜蓿的盐响应相关基因的表达模式,促进紫花苜蓿耐盐分子育种。     

湖南长沙市病死畜禽无害化处理监管分析

为做好病死畜禽无害化处理工作,长沙市全面开展动物无害化处理体系建设,加强信息化监管平台建设,积极推动地方立法,严厉打击违法行为,探索建立病死动物无害化处理长效监管机制。本文通过概述长沙市病死畜禽无害化处理工作现状,分析了长沙市现有动物无害化处理体系建设情况,包括动物无害化处理中心、收集转运中心、收集暂存点和无害化处理点等。指出了当前存在的监管难度大,养殖保险未全覆盖,补助机制不完善,相关法律法规不健全等问题,由此提出加大财政支持力度,实现养殖保险全覆盖,完善无害化处理补助机制,推动出台相关法律法规,厘清责任分工等思考建议。     

Improvements of TKC Technology Accelerate Isolation of Transgene-Free CRISPR/Cas9-Edited Rice Plants

Elimination of the CRISPR/Cas9 constructs in edited plants is a prerequisite for assessing genetic stability, conducting phenotypic characterization, and applying for commercialization of the plants. However, removal of the CRISPR/Cas9 transgenes by genetic segregation and by backcross is laborious and time consuming. We previously reported the development of the transgene killer CRISPR (TKC) technology that uses a pair of suicide genes to trigger self-elimination of the transgenes without compromising gene editing efficiency. The TKC technology enables isolation of transgene-free CRISPR-edited plants within a single generation, greatly accelerating crop improvements. Here, we presented two new TKC vectors that show great efficiency in both editing the target gene and in undergoing self-elimination of the transgenes. The new vectors replaced the CaMV35S promoter used in our previous TKC vector with two rice promoters to drive one of the suicide genes, providing advantages over our previous TKC vector under certain conditions. The vectors reported here offered more options and flexibility to conduct gene editing experiments in rice.     

Establishment of a comprehensive indicator system for the assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem services

Context

Common indicators are needed to monitor biodiversity loss and the implications for the sustainable provision of ecosystem services (ES). A plethora of different sets of indicators may hinder the identification of major endpoints for large-scale assessments of biodiversity and ecosystem services (BES).

Objectives

We aim to describe the main challenges of indicators for BES assessment and provide suggestions for establishing a comprehensive indicator system.

Methods

An extensive literature review was conducted in this study. We review the main challenges of indicators for BES assessment and propose corresponding improvements from our perspectives of theory and practical applications.

Results

The main theoretical challenges of existing indicators include inconsistent definitions and classifications of ES, misunderstanding of linkages among biodiversity, ecosystem structure, functions and services, and practical problems relate to such issues as indicator representativeness, data availability, and uncertainty. Our suggested improvements include clarifying the main terms, concepts and classification of indicators, establishing a robust conceptual framework with clear interactions among different components and indicators, selecting indicators based on ecosystem properties, streaming existing data into one platform, and strengthening validation of proxies. The steps for constructing a comprehensive indicator system for BES assessment are summarized.

Conclusions

Clear definitions of key terms are indispensable to classify indicators and construct a conceptual framework. Improved understanding of the relations among indicators of biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and ES across multiple scales can guide the development of the indicator system. The integrated indicator system is an important tool for BES assessment to support decision making for sustainable development.

     

不同施肥处理对青萝卜产量和品质的影响

以"绿翡翠"青萝卜为试材,采用田间试验方法,研究了不同施肥处理对青萝卜肉质根长度和粗度、叶绿素含量、净光合速率、产量、品质及经济效益指标的影响,以期筛选出冀西北坝上地区青萝卜生产中适宜的施肥量.结果 表明:各施肥处理均能促进青萝卜根的生长,但以处理3、处理4的效果更明显;收获时,处理3、处理4的根鲜质量明显高于CK,二者的根干质量较CK分别增加了25.67％、24.75％,叶绿素含量和净光合速率较CK分别提高了12.64％、11.68％和16.23％、12.59％,二者之间没有显著差异.处理4的生物产量、经济产量和经济效益较CK分别提高了15.00％、15.74％和20.31％;以处理4的维生素C、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白质含量最高,较CK分别提高了16.20％,27.27％和6.98％,处理4肉质根中亚硝酸盐含量则较CK降低了22.26％;处理3的经济产量、经济效益略高于处理4,二者差异也不明显.综上,在冀西北坝上地区青萝卜生产中,处理4能够达到促进青萝卜生长、增强光合作用、提高青萝卜产量和经济效益、改善青萝卜品质的目的 ,因此,处理4是适合冀西北坝上地区青萝卜的施肥方案.     

宁夏玉米营养成分近红外分析模型建立与应用

研究采集宁夏区内各市县(固原、海原、同心、中卫、中宁、永宁、平罗)抽取玉米样品120批,用近红外分析仪扫描定标样品集获得玉米近红外光谱图,利用偏最小二乘法建立模型,并分别经过无预处理、均值中心化、标准正态变量转换、一阶导数、标准正态变量转换结合去趋势校正(SNV+D)预处理光谱,获得水分、粗蛋白、粗脂肪、粗纤维预测模型,分别是经过MC、SNV+D、SNV+D、SNV+D光谱预处理后效果最好。预测决定系数R² _p分别为0.951、0.976、0.728、0.897,相对分析误差RPD除粗脂肪为2.62外,其他均大于3的近红外预测模型,通过预测模型验证集验证后,并对模型预测值与实测值进行U检验,结果为差异不显著(P>0.05)。该近红外预测模型对玉米中水分、粗蛋白、粗纤维具有较佳预测效果,粗脂肪的预测精度有待进一步提高。