A Cathepsin B Inhibitor,E-64, Improves the Preimplantation Development of Bovine Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Embryos

Bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is an important and powerful tool for basic research and biomedical and agricultural applications, however, the efficiency of SCNT has remained extremely low. In this study, we investigated the effects of cathepsin B inhibitor (E-64) supplementation of culture medium on in vitro development of bovine SCNT embryos. We initially used three concentrations of E-64 (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 μm), among which 0.5 μm resulted in the highest rate of blastocysts production after in vitro fertilization (IVF), and was therefore used for further experiments. Blastocyst development of SCNT embryos in the E-64 treatment group also increased relative to the control. Moreover, the cryosurvival rates of IVF and SCNT blastocysts were increased in E-64 treatment groups when compared with the control. On the other hand, we found that IVF and SCNT blastocysts derived from E-64-treated groups had increased total cell numbers and decreased apoptotic nuclei. Furthermore, assessment of the expression of apoptosis-related genes (Bax and Bcl-xL) in bovine IVF and SCNT blastocysts treated with E-64 by real-time RT-PCR analysis revealed suppressed expression of the pro-apoptotic gene Bax and stimulated expression of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-xL. Taken together, these finding indicate that addition of E-64 to embryo culture medium may have important implications for improving developmental competence and preimplantation quality in bovine IVF and SCNT embryos.     

Infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus from salmonids cultured in Korea

Abstract. Four isolates of infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) were obtained from rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), and masu salmon, Oncorhynchus masou (Walbaum), fry during epizootics at hatcheries in Korea. The four isolates of IHNV were compared with three from salmonids in the USA (SRCV, OSV and RB-76) by analysis of virion proteins in sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and neutralization tests, with two monoclonal antibodies raised against SRCV (MAb SRCV/A4) and RB-76 (MAb RB/B5). Based on the antigenicity and the size of the structural proteins, one Korean isolate from masu salmon (SCS) is similar to RB-76 and is an electropherotype 1. The other three isolates from rainbow trout (PRT, YRT and MRT) were identical to each other in the mobilities of their virion proteins in SDS-PAGE, and although their nucleocapsid (N) proteins comigrated with that of the RB-76 isolate, they differed from RB-76 in the smaller matrix 2 (M2) protein they contained. In addition, the three Korean isolates (PRT, YRT and MRT) could be divided into two groups by reactivity with MAb RB/B5. While the YRT isolate was neutralized by this MAb, the PRT and MRT isolates were not, suggesting that there are at least two neutralizing antigenic variants of IHNV in Korea.     

Evaluation of immobilizing agents as soil quality conditioners in addition to their metal(loid) immobilizing effect

In trace metal (TM)-contaminated agricultural soils,management of TM availability is important for safe crop production.In addition,maintenance or improvement of soil quality is vital for sustainable crop cultivation.Decreased TM phytoavailability and increased soil quality can be achieved by the application of various immobilizing agents to soil,which can supply both macronutrients and organic matter.This study investigated the long-term influences of four common immobilizing agents on soil biogeochemical properties and the phytoavailability of TMs in mixed metal-contaminated soil from a cultivated upland near an abandoned mining site.Lime (L),gypsum (G),fly ash (F),and animal manure-based compost (C) were applied to pots containing contaminated soil,either individually or in combination.After incubation for three years under sequential cultivation of two crops and fallow,soil biogeochemical properties were determined,and Brassica rapa plant bioassay was performed.The phytoavailability of all TMs (both cationic metals and anionic metalloids) remained significantly lower in soils treated with immobilizing agents even after three years,when compared with the no-agent control (CK) soil.In addition,the soil quality was significantly improved by treatment with immobilizing agents.For instance,the C and L+C treatments were the most effective in improving soil physical (bulk density,porosity,and water-resistant aggregate stability),chemical (pH,organic matter,total nitrogen,cation exchange capacity,and plant-available phosphorus,magnesium,and potassium),and biological (microbial biomass carbon and dehydrogenase activity) properties.The improvement of soil properties and lowering of TM bioavailability were also consistent with the most significant increase in B.rapa biomass production observed in the C treatment,followed by the L+C,G+F,L,G,F,and L+G treatments,as compared with that in CK.These results indicate that the function of the TM-immobilizing agent as a soil quality conditioner,in addition to its TM immobilizing effect,should be considered when selecting such agents for agricultural or ecological applications.     

降雨特性的模糊理论分析

台湾雨量站的密度高居全世界前3名,然而雨量站往往由于设站时间不一致,或因天灾人祸而导致数据遗失;因此各水文观测站之降雨数据具模糊特性。降雨事件的特性,大致可区分为3个重要因子;降雨量、降雨时间及形状因子。常用之统计值为总降雨量、平均降雨量、最大降雨量、最小降雨量、中值降雨量、降雨延时、尖峰达到时间、偏态指标及峰态指标等9个物理量。研究以统计量及模糊理论为基础,分析屏东县气象局1992-2007年31个雨量站之总降雨量大于100mm,降雨延时3h以上之降雨事件(1177场)。研究结果显示:屏东县大于100mm之降雨,具长延时、高狭峰之特性;就气象站而言,气象站C0R38之暴雨事件,最接近整体降雨特性。     

Diaphragmatic rupture and biliary tract damage in a dog

A 9-month-old bitch was presented with respiratory distress 7 days after a road traffic accident. Radiographs showed a severe hydrothorax and moderate ascites. The removal of bile-stained fluid by thoracentesis reduced the dyspnoea. A diaphragmatic and a hepatic duct rupture were found and repaired at laparotomy. A biliary peritonitis and pleuritis was present. A blood bilirubin of 67 μmol/1 and elevated serum enzymes were present prior to surgery. These changes were largely reversed once the leakage was stopped.     

Dicoumarol toxicity in cattle associated with ingestion of silage containing sweet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum)

A diagnosis of dicoumarol toxicity in a herd of Friesian cattle was made following investigation of the deaths of three mature cows and eleven yearling heifers. Affected stock had been fed wrapped, bailed silage containing approximately 90% sweet vernal grass ( Anthoxanthum odoratum ). Sweet vernal grass contains coumarin, which can be converted to dicoumarol, a vitamin K antagonist, through the action of moulds. Most deaths were preceded by lethargy, severe anaemia and subcutaneous and internal haemorrhage. Dicoumarol toxicosis was suspected based on clinical signs, necropsy findings and prolonged prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times. Dicoumarol analysis of blood from affected animals and silage confirmed the diagnosis.     

抗生素FR-008基因簇上游区域的DNA序列分析

链霉菌FR-008产生一种七烯大环内酯类抗生素FR-008，对真菌具有很高的抗菌活性，并对蚊子幼虫有高毒性（袁德军和周启，1990）。负责合成FR-008的基因簇被定位（Hu et al．，1994），有21个基因（共138kb，GenBank accession number AY310323）被确认参与了抗生素FR-008的生物合成以及调节和外运（Chen et al．，2003）。然而，在FR-008基因簇最左端fscO基因上游的基因是否与FR-008抗生素生物合成相关？为此，本研究对FR-008基因簇上游区域进行了序列测定和分析。