Freezing equine semen: the effect of combinations of semen extenders and glycerol on post-thaw motility

Objective   We evaluated combinations of two commercial semen extenders and three concentrations of glycerol to determine the combination that yielded the highest post-thaw sperm motility.
Design   A randomised 2 × 3 block design was used.
Procedure   Semen was collected from four stallions (6 collections per stallion). The sample was diluted with either a dried skim-milk glucose extender (EZ Mixin Original Formula) or a chemically defined, milk-free diluent (INRA 96), and each was used in combination with 2%, 3% or 4% glycerol in standard commercial freezing medium. Sperm motility was assessed by microscopy in fresh and post-thaw semen.
Results   There was a significant difference between the two extenders in the motility of spermatozoa after cryopreservation (48.9% for INRA 96; 38.6% for EZ Mixin OF; P < 0.0001). Glycerol at 4% in freezing medium yielded the highest post-thaw motility, significantly better than 2% ( P < 0.05). Three of four stallions had significantly higher post-thaw motility using INRA 96 relative to EZ Mixin OF ( P < 0.01), and two of four stallions had significantly higher post-thaw motility using 4% glycerol ( P < 0.05). The combination of INRA 96 and 4% glycerol in freezing medium gave the highest average post-thaw motility of 51.5%.
Conclusion   In this study, INRA 96 combined with 4% glycerol yielded an average recovery of progressively motile sperm consistently above the 35% target.     

Incidence of lymphoma in a captive-bred colony of hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas)

Objective   To assess the incidence of lymphoma and wasting-related deaths in the National Baboon Colony of Australia and relate it to the presence of simian T-cell lymphotrophic virus 1 (STLV-1) infection.
Design and procedure   The records of all animals that had died since establishment of the National Baboon Colony in Australia were reviewed retrospectively. The clinical signs and histopathological findings were recorded and assessed to determine the involvement of lymphoma in the deaths. The presence of STLV-1 was recorded if known and correlated with the STLV-1 status of the colony.
Results   Of the deaths from disease or illness, 53% were diagnosed as or suspected to be lymphoma, occurring in mature animals with no sex predisposition. The most common presentation was rapidly occurring generalised lymphadenomegaly.
Conclusions   This study has described a relatively high prevalence of lymphoma in a colony of captive-bred baboons, and it is evident that STLV-1 may play a role in the disease. Management practices in baboon colonies need to take into account the possible presence of STLV-1 and aim to reduce the transmission of the virus by preventing sexual contact between positive and negative animals. Lymphoma needs to be considered as one of the more common causes of wasting and death.     

不同种植年限山银花根区土壤生物特性

[目的]探索喀斯特山区不同种植年限对山银花产地土壤生物学特性的影响,为促进贵州省山银花的高产优质栽培提供基础数据。[方法]采用野外采集和室内分析的方法,以贵州省绥阳县不同种植年限山银花根区土壤为研究对象,对比研究了不同年限土壤生物特征。[结果]随着种植年限的增加,山银花土壤微生物总数和细菌数量(B)在数值上表现为先增加后减少的趋势,放线菌数量(S)和真菌数量(F)呈不断增加的变化趋势;土壤微生物生物量碳、生物量氮和微生物量磷都表现为先增加,后持续减少的趋势;土壤过氧化氢酶和脲酶的活性均有先增加后减少的趋势,土壤磷酸酶有先减少后缓慢增加的趋势;土壤细菌和真菌数比值(B/F)呈先增加后减少趋势,放线菌数量(S)和真菌数量比(S/F)随着种植年限的增加而增加;土壤微生物的Shannon—Wiener指数随着种植年限先增大后减小,Simpson指数和Shannon均匀度指数均随着种植年限呈减少趋势。[结论]随着种植年限的增加,土壤肥力下降,根区病毒害发病率增大。     

How fast can the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) larvae cross the Atlantic Ocean?

The migration duration of European eel ( Anguilla anguilla ) larvae (leptocephali) from the spawning areas in the Sargasso Sea to the European continental shelf remains highly controversial, with estimates varying from 6 months to more than 2 yr. We estimated the fastest migration period and the shortest distance travelled by eel larvae by simulating Lagrangian particles released in the Sargasso Sea and by simulating a range of larval behaviours (fixed-depth drift, vertical diurnal migration and active-depth selection to maximize current velocity). This enabled us to compute (i) a passive drift speed, and (ii) a hypothetic swimming speed needed for European eel larvae to cross the Atlantic in 6 months (i.e., the migration duration estimated from otolith daily growth increments). Our results show that the minimum travel time for an eel larva that is passively drifting was 10 months and 3 days. Active behaviours (vertical diurnal migration and rheotaxis) paradoxically increased the migration period. We found that for leptocephali to cross the Atlantic Ocean in 6 months, they would need to swim a minimum of 3.4 body lengths per second for 8200 km. No larvae have been observed with such swimming capabilities. These results provide evidence that leptocephali cannot cross the Atlantic in 6 months.     

Effects of protein hydrolysate in weaning diets for Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) and Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.)

The study aims to test whether predigested dietary protein enhances the utilization of formulated diets at weaning, and also whether it stimulates intestinal maturation. In this study, Atlantic cod [ Gadus morhua L.; 41 days posthatch (dph)] and Atlantic halibut [ Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.; 63 days postfirst feeding (dpff)] were weaned onto diets with graded levels of protein hydrolysate. By increasing the inclusion of dietary protein as hydrolysate from 0 to 400 g kg⁻¹, cod increased the rate of survival from 7 ± 1% to 18 ± 2% (82 dph; regression, P =  4*10⁻⁷). In halibut, the survival rate decreased from 57 ± 9% to 22 ± 7% as the inclusion of protein in the form of hydrolysate increased from 0 to 450 g kg⁻¹ (119 dpff; regression, P =  8*10⁻⁵). Growth was not affected in any of the species. Results in specific activities of the intestinal enzymes leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) and alkaline phospatase (AP) supported the results in survival in halibut and partly also in cod, by showing increased activities in groups with increased survival ( anova , P <  0.05). The lower optimal level of hydrolysed protein in halibut than in cod is suggested mainly because of a slower feeding practice in halibut, which allows more extensive nutrient leaching before ingestion.     

P-selectin on activated platelets promotes hematogenous metastasis of primary lung cancer via P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1

AIM: To investigate the relationship between platelets/P-selectin on activated platelets and clinico-pathological features, hematogenous metastasis and prognosis of lung cancer, and to explore the effect of P-selectin and P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) interaction on the hematogenous metastasis-related integrin β3 (ITGB3). METHODS: The expression of P-selectin on activated platelets was detected by flow cytometry, and its effects on lung cancer and the risk of hematogenous metastasis were analyzed. The expression of PSGL-1 in different types of lung cancer tissues and cell lines was determined by Western blot. By co-culturing platelets and lung cancer cells in vitro, the effects of up- and down-regulation of PSGL-1 on invasion and migration abilities of lung cancer cells were observed. RESULTS: The peripheral blood platelet counts and P-selectin expression on activated platelets in the patients with lung cancer were significantly increased (P<0.05). The P-selectin expression on activated platelets was significantly associated with hematogenous metastasis of lung cancer (r=0.256, P<0.05). The strongest expression of PSGL-1 was found in the lung adenocarcinoma samples, next in the lung squamous-cell carcinoma samples, and the weakest in small-cell lung cancer samples. P-selectin promoted transmembrane invasion of lung cancer cells. Inhibition of P-selectin and its ligand PSGL-1 reduced ITGB3 expression, invasion and migration of lung cancer cells. CONCLUSION: The P-selectin level on activated platelets is significantly associated with hematogenous metastasis of lung cancer, which is related to the binding of P-selectin and its ligand PSGL-1. Up-regulation of ITGB3 level after their binding might be one of the mechanisms of the remodeling of extracellular matrix to facilitate hematogenous metastasis of lung cancer.     

Expression of galectin-3 in human coronary artery and its correlation with plaque structural stability

AIM To investigate the relationship between the expression level of galectin-3 and the stability of plaque structure in human atherosclerotic plaques. METHODS The coronary specimens from autopsy cases （n=84） were collected. Among them, 22 cases had coronary atherosclerotic lesions without sudden death of coronary heart disease （A1 group）, 20 cases were sudden death of coronary heart disease without secondary lesions （A2 group）, 24 cases were sudden death of coronary heart disease with secondary lesions （A3 group）, and 18 cases without heart disease were used as normal control group （control group）. The intimal thickness, necrotic lesion thickness, fibrous cap thickness and the degree of lumen stenosis were measured by routine HE staining in all coronary arteries. The foam cells in the lesion were marked by CD68 and counted. The expression of galectin-3, CD68 and matrix metalloproteinase-2 （MMP-2） in coronary artery intima was detected by immunohistochemical staining, Western blot and RT-qPCR. The correlation between above factors and the structural stability of atherosclerotic plaques was also analyzed. RESULTS Compared with control group, the intima and necrotic lesions were thickened, the fiber cap was thinned, and the degree of lumen stenosis were increased in A1~3 groups （P<0.05）. The number of foam cells in the atherosclerotic focus was increased （P<0.05）. The protein and mRNA levels of galectin-3, CD68 and MMP-2 in the lesions showed an increasing trend from normal group to A1~3 groups （P<0.05）. The expression of galectin-3, CD68 and MMP-2 in atherosclerotic lesions was positively correlated with intimal thickness and necrotic lesion thickness, and negatively correlated with fibrous cap thickness. CONCLUSION The expression of galectin-3 in human coronary atherosclerotic lesions is increased, which is related to the stability of atherosclerotic plaques.     

The problem of meeting dietary protein requirements in intensive aquaculture of marine fish larvae, with emphasis on Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.)

Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) achieve a mature gastrointestinal tract approximately 2 months after first feeding (12 °C). The immature digestion may be the reason that compound diets fail to sustain growth and survival in first feeding halibut larvae and in larvae of other marine fish species. On the other hand, larvae fed with live feeds are capable of extraction of sufficient quantities of nutrients to sustain high growth rates. A lower availability of the protein in formulated diets compared with live prey is considered to be an important reason for the low performance of formulated diets. One approach to increase dietary protein availability is supplementation of pre‐digested proteins. Experiments using tube fed individual larvae show that halibut larvae are able to utilize hydrolysed protein more efficiently than intact protein. However, Atlantic halibut in culture did not respond well to dietary supplementation of hydrolysed protein, in contrast to some other species. One reason may be extensive leaching of pre‐hydrolysed proteins from the microparticulate feed. Atlantic halibut are slow feeders and may thus suffer more from nutrient leaching than species eating more rapidly. Feed formulation techniques affect dietary protein leaching, and in this paper, different techniques and their impact on feed properties are described. Microbound diets are most widely used in larval rearing, but show high rates of nutrient leaching. Lipid‐based capsules seem to have the best potential to prevent leaching, however, they are not able to deliver a complete diet. The high need for improvements in larval feed formulation techniques are clearly stated, and some suggestions are given. Among these are production of complex particles, where small lipid‐based capsules or liposomes containing the low molecular weight water‐soluble nutrients are embedded. In such feed particles the water‐soluble molecules are protected from leaching. Techniques for delivery of water‐soluble nutrients that are needed in large quantities, i.e. free amino acids or hydrolysed and water‐soluble protein, remain to be developed.     

廊坊温室春茬番茄生长与温度的关系及室温调控措施*

以番茄“MEISHUAI”品种为试验材料,研究了河北省廊坊市春茬番茄温室内气温的影响因素、番茄生长与气温的关系及温室管理措施。结果表明：温室内日平均气温与温室内日平均10cm土壤温度、日平均光合有效辐射及温室外日平均气温均存在极显著相关关系,相关系数分别0.693、0.432和0.759；番茄的茎粗、株高和果实橫纵径的生长量与积温成显著或极显著正相关；针对温室内温度过高的问题,提出了具体的室外气温调控指标和调控措施。     

转基因抗病棉花品系密度与肥料互作效应研究

在田间试验条件下 ,研究了转基因抗病棉品系 960 9不同密度与不同肥料的互作效应。结果表明 :以N2 62 D1 65处理时叶面积系数变化合理 ,单株干物质积累增加 ,并利于向生殖器官的分配 ,产量高 ;同一施肥水平 ,密度的增产效应为 3 .8%～ 1 9.8% ,同一密度下 ,肥料的增产效应为 5.2 %～ 3 1 .5% ,肥料的增产效应大于密度的增产效应。