Methyl donors dietary supplementation to gestating sows diet improves the growth rate of offspring and is associating with changes in expression and DNA methylation of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 gene

The study aimed to investigate the effects of maternal dietary methyl donors on the performance of sows and their offspring, and the associated hepatic insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) expression of the offspring. A total of 24 multiparous sows were randomly fed the control (CON) or the CON diet supplemented with methyl donors (MD) at 3 g/kg betaine, 15 mg/kg folic acid, 400 mg/kg choline and 150 μg/kg VB₁₂, from mating until delivery. After farrowing, sows were fed a common lactation diet through a 28‐days lactation period and six litters per treatment were selected to be fed until at approximately 110 kg BW. Maternal MD supplementation resulted in greater birthweight (p < 0.05) and increased the piglet weights (p < 0.01) and litter weights (p < 0.05) at the age of day 28, compared with that in CON group. The offspring pigs in the MD group had greater ADG (p < 0.05) and tended to lower F:G ratio (p = 0.07) compared with that of CON group from day 28 to 180 of age. The offspring pigs from MD group had greater serum IGF‐1 concentrations and expressions of hepatic IGF‐1 gene and muscular IGF‐1 receptor (IGF‐1r) protein at birth (p < 0.05), and greater hepatic IGF‐1 protein (p = 0.03) and muscular IGF‐1r gene expressions (p < 0.05) at slaughter, than that from the CON group. Moreover, the methylation at the promoter of IGF‐1 gene in the liver of newborn piglets and finishing pigs was greater in the MD group than that of the CON group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, maternal MD supplementation throughout gestation could enhance the birthweight and postnatal growth rate of offspring, associated with an increased expression of the IGF‐1 gene and IGF‐1r, as well as the altered DNA methylation of IGF‐1 gene promotor.     

Multimarker and rare variants genomewide association studies for bone weight in Simmental cattle

Bone weight, defined as the total weight of the bones in all the forequarter and hindquarter joints, can reflect somebody conformation traits and skeletal diseases. To gain a better understanding of the genetic determinants of bone weight, we used a composite strategy including multimarker and rare‐marker association to perform genomewide association studies (GWAS) for that character in Simmental cattle. Our strategy consisted of three models: (i) A traditional linear mixed model (LMM) was applied (Q+K‐LMM); (ii) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with p‐values less than .05 from the LMM were selected to undergo the least absolute shrinkage and selector operator (Lasso) in the second stage (LMM‐Lasso); (iii) genes containing two or more rare SNPs were examined by performing the sequence kernel association test (gene‐based SKAT). A total of 1,225 cattle were genotyped with an Illumina BovineHD BeadChip containing 770,000 SNPs. After the quality‐control procedures, 1,217 individuals with 608,696 common SNPs and 105,787 rare SNPs (with 0.001 < minor allele frequency [MAF] <0.05) remained in the sample for analysis. A traditional LMM successfully mapped three genes associated with bone weight, while LMM‐Lasso identified nine genes, which included all genes found by traditional LMM. Only a single gene, EPHB3, surpassed the significance threshold after Bonferroni correction in gene‐based SKAT. In conclusion, based on functional annotation and results from previous endeavours, we believe that LCORL, RIMS2, LAP3, PRKAR2B, CHSY1, MAP2K6 and EPHB3 are candidate genes for bone weight. In general, such a comprehensive strategy for GWAS may be useful for researchers seeking to probe the full genetic architecture underlying economic traits in livestock.     

Disaccharide combinations and the expression of enolase3 and plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase isoform in sturgeon sperm cryopreservation

Acipenser sinensis and Acipenser dabryanus are critically endangered species, so germplasm conservation via cryopreservation of sperm is necessary. Disaccharides can act as membrane‐impermeable cryoprotectants, and enolase3 (ENO3) and plasma membrane Ca²⁺ ATPase isoform (PMCA2) are proteins associated with sperm quality. We considered seven characteristics of sperm quality in cultured brood stock from A. sinensis and A. dabryanus. We tested use of sucrose or trehalose alone and in combination at different concentrations for cryopreservation of A. dabryanus sperm. A low concentration of sucrose plus trehalose (S₁₅T₁₅) was optimal. Mixing of the extender with sucrose, lactose, or trehalose alone or with pairwise mixtures revealed that a mixture of lactose and trehalose (L₁₅T₁₅) gave the best results for both A. sinensis and A. dabryanus. Enolase3 and PMCA2 expression levels were measured in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm via Western blotting. Relative ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels were examined, and the relationship between disaccharide composition, sperm quality and protein expression was explored in A. sinensis. The results showed that relative ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels were the highest at L₁₅T₁₅ in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm. There were significant positive correlations between ENO3 expression and percentage membrane integrity, and between PMCA2 expression and sperm motility parameters (percentage of motile sperm, curvilinear velocity, straight‐line velocity and average path velocity; p < .05) in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm. Our results indicate the optimal disaccharide combination and concentrations for cryopreservation of A. sinensis and A. dabryanus sperm and suggest that ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels could serve as a valuable indicator of sperm quality in A. sinensis.     

Effects of five cryoprotectants on proliferation and differentiation‐related gene expression of frozen‐thawed bovine calf testicular tissue

The cryopreservation of testicular tissue is a potential method for preserving male fertility. However, the effect of cryopreservation on bovine calf testicular tissue is scarce. This study investigated the effect of different cryoprotectants on bovine calf testicular tissue at the molecular level. Testicular tissue from ten immature bovine calves (6 months) was collected after slaughter and cryopreserved in an extender containing different concentrations of the following five cryopreservation solutions (CP): bovine serum albumin (BSA) with 5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), trehalose with 5% DMSO, DMSO and glycerol and ethylene glycol (EG). After 7‐day cryopreservation, the expression levels of three spermatogonial stem cell (SSC)‐related genes, octamer‐4 (OCT4), KIT ligand (MGF/SCF) and kit oncogene (C‐KIT), were investigated by quantitative PCR (qPCR). The cell viability was highest for the tissues preserved with 30 mg/ml BSA (77.82% ± 1.22) and 40 mg/ml trehalose (74.23% ± 1.16) compared with other groups (p < 0.05), and the level of expression of the three genes was highest with 30 mg/ml BSA (p < 0.05). Compared with other CPs, the 30 mg/ml BSA and 40 mg/ml trehalose have the better cryopreserve protection. The 30 mg/ml BSA is the most viable media for the cryopreservation of testicular tissue from cattle.     

紫花苜蓿茎秆组织中木质素的分布与沉积模式

以甘农5号紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa‘Gannong No.5’)为材料,采用组织化学染色方法研究了茎秆中木质素的发生、分布与沉积规律。结果表明,苜蓿茎秆中木质素的分布与生长部位密切相关,在茎秆顶端初生维管组织中仅木质部有木质素分布,随节间下移,木质素开始在初生韧皮纤维、次生木质部和髓射线中大量沉积;茎秆中存在G、S两种木质素,S木质素的发生迟于G木质素;在维管束之间,两种木质素均以"厚角组织处维管束→厚角组织间维管束"的模式沉积,但在维管束内,木质素沉积表现出异质性,G木质素沉积模式为"初生木质部导管→初生韧皮纤维→次生木质部和髓射线";S木质素沉积模式为"初生韧皮纤维→次生木质部和髓射线→髓薄壁细胞"。分析认为,紫花苜蓿茎秆中木质素特殊的沉积模式可能是其对北温带生长环境的一种适应对策。     

磷镁促释基质养分释放特性及种植效果

选用4种促释材料(W、Y、QW、FS)对磷矿粉、轻烧氧化镁混合物进行活化处理,配制促释材料含量分别为3%、5%的Ⅰ、Ⅱ型促释磷镁草花基质,通过淋溶试验、盆栽试验研究水溶性磷、镁素释放特性以及对夏堇(Torenia fournieri)、本地长春花(Catharanthus roseus)生长及开花的影响。结果显示,促释材料W、Y、QW、FS对磷矿粉均表现出良好的促释效果,磷镁促释基质水溶性磷淋溶总量较不添加促释磷镁显著增加了15.42%~27.10%(P0.05);添加4种促释材料对水溶性镁总量释放效果均不显著(P0.05)。促释磷镁W-Ⅰ不仅增加了夏堇开花数量,同时对本地长春花的冠幅增长、分枝以及地上部生物量积累有促进作用;FS-Ⅱ则有利于夏堇地上部生物量的积累;Y-Ⅰ则对夏堇、本地长春花生长无促进作用。综合考虑,草花基质添加促释磷镁W-Ⅰ、FS-Ⅱ应用效果最好,其最适添加比例分别为3.09、3.16 kg·m-3。     

旱、盐胁迫下黄芪种子萌发及其对水杨酸的响应

通过测定不同浓度聚乙二醇(PEG)和NaCl胁迫下膜荚黄芪(Astragalus membranaceus)和蒙古黄芪(A.membranaceus var.mongholicus)种子的最终发芽率、发芽势、简化活力指数、苗长、根长、苗干重、根干重等指标,以及不同施用方式和浓度的水杨酸(SA)对重度PEG和NaCl胁迫下两种黄芪种子最终发芽率的影响,旨在研究两种黄芪种子对PEG和NaCl胁迫响应方式的异同及SA对两种黄芪种子在重度PEG和NaCl胁迫下保护效果的差异。结果表明,低浓度PEG和NaCl只能促进膜荚黄芪种子萌发。在-0.5 MPa PEG和-0.7 MPa NaCl处理下,蒙古黄芪种子的活力指数显著优于膜荚黄芪种子(P0.05)。SA浸种能促进重度PEG和NaCl胁迫下两种黄芪种子的最终发芽率。蒙古黄芪种子的耐胁迫性高于膜荚黄芪种子。两种黄芪种子对SA的响应方式有区别。SA浸种处理优于拌种处理。     

饲用荞麦在畜牧业中的应用与研究

荞麦(Fagopyrum esulentum)原产于中国,其栽培种甜荞和苦荞在世界各地已被广泛种植,我国西南地区蕴含着丰富的野生荞麦资源。荞麦营养丰富,除含有常见的蛋白质、纤维素和糖类外,还富含芦丁等抗氧化物质,具有耐瘠薄、抗病虫害、适应性强、生长迅速等优点,特别是一些野生种叶片大、叶量多,更适合于刈割,这些优点使其成为一种很具有发展潜力的优质牧草资源。但目前荞麦的饲用价值仍未得到充分的发掘与利用。本文着重介绍了荞麦在我国的栽培、饲用历史和现状,结合荞麦饲用于猪、反刍动物及家禽等方面的研究进展,分析了荞麦在饲用化发展中将面临的问题,并对其应用前景进行了评价与展望。     

化学法和生物法制备巨菌草腐植酸的比较

对化学方法和生物方法制备巨菌草(Pennisetum sp.)腐植酸和黄腐酸进行分析比较。结果表明,硝酸、盐酸、乙酸、草酸、氨水均能降解纤维素、半纤维素或木质素从而生产腐植酸和黄腐酸,其中10.0%氨水提取巨菌草得到的腐植酸含量最高,其次为37.5%硝酸和37.5%盐酸,草酸和乙酸提取得到的腐植酸含量最低。枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)、毛霉(Mucor)、根霉(Rhizopus)、青霉(Penicillium)在巨菌草腐殖质的形成中均起到了积极作用,其中根霉对木质素的降解程度最高,生成总腐植酸的含量最高。根霉发酵制备得到的总腐植酸含量是10.0%氨水提取得到的总腐植酸含量的1.45倍,毛霉发酵制备得到的总腐植酸含量是10.0%氨水提取得到的总腐植酸含量的1.29倍,而枯草芽孢杆菌和青霉发酵制备得到的总腐植酸含量比10%氨水提取得到的总腐植酸含量低。37.5%硝酸提取得到的黄腐酸含量是毛霉发酵制备得到的黄腐酸含量的1.79倍,22.5%盐酸提取得到的黄腐酸含量是毛霉发酵制备得到的黄腐酸含量的1.98倍。综上可知,生物发酵法制备得到的总腐植酸含量比化学法提取得到的总腐植酸含量要高,而化学方法提取得到的黄腐酸含量比生物发酵法制备得到的黄腐酸含量要高。     

基于冗余分析的高寒草原土壤与草地退化关系

在高寒草原退化草地设置研究样地,观测植物群落特征、采集土壤样品、分析土壤物理化学性质,依据数量生态学基本原理,探讨高寒草原退化草地与土壤因子间关系。结果表明:不同退化程度样地沿冗余分析排序图第一排序轴分布,第一排序轴反映草地退化程度的变化;草地植物群落中与第一排序轴负相关且按相关程度大小排序的指标为盖度>地上生物量>地下生物量;第一、第二排序轴能够解释97.1%的土壤因子与草地退化关系;土壤沙砾、p H与第一排序轴正相关,土壤有机碳、土壤含水量、容重、全氮、有效氮与第一排序轴负相关;第一排序轴及所有排序轴所反映的土壤因子均与草地退化之间呈极显著相关关系(P<0.01);不同土壤因子与草地退化之间相关程度不同,土壤有机碳(r=-0.890)、土壤含水量(r=-0.864)、容重(r=-0.847)、全氮(r=-0.836)、有效氮(r=-0.821)等与高寒草原退化相关程度更高且相关关系极显著(P<0.01)。利用退化草地群落特征和土壤因子数据矩阵进行冗余分析能够较好地综合反映土壤因子与草地退化之间的关系及相关程度,土壤有机碳、土壤含水量、容重、全氮、有效氮是反映高寒草原退化的重要土壤指标。