Effects of music stimulus on behavior response,cortisol level,and horizontal immunity of growing pigs

An enriched environment is widely used to improve domestic animals’ welfare and promote their natural behaviors. Music can reduce abnormal behavior in humans, nonhuman primates, and rodents. However, little is known about the effects of music on pigs. This study aims to explore the effects of repeated music stimulation on the behavior, physiology, and immunity of growing pigs. A total of 72 hybrid piglets (Large White × Duroc × Minpig) were randomly divided into three groups, including music (Mozart K.448, 60 to 70 dB), noise (recorded mechanical noise, 80 to 85 dB), and control (natural background sound, <40 dB), and 6 h sound stimulation was given per day (1000 to 1600 hours) from 40 to 100 d of age. The behavioral activities of the pigs were observed during the music stimulation, and their serum cortisol, salivary cortisol, and serum immune indices were also measured. Compared with the control group, the music group and noise group increased activity but decreased lying of pigs (P < 0.05). A significant increase in tail-wagging, playing, and exploring behaviors of pigs was found in the music group (P < 0.05), and the noise significantly increased the aggressive behavior of the pigs (P < 0.05). Tail-wagging, playing, exploring, manipulating, and aggressive behaviors decreased over time. Short-term (8 d) music stimulus had a lower cortisol level than that of the noise and control groups (P < 0.05), whereas long-term (60 d) music stimulus increased immunoglobulin G (IgG), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels (P < 0.05) and decreased interleukin-4 (IL-4) level (P < 0.05). Long-term noise stimulus significantly reduced the level of IgG (P < 0.05) but did not affect the level of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ levels (P > 0.05). In conclusion, short-term music stimulus (8 d) reduced the stress response, whereas long-term music stimulus (60 d) enhanced the immune responses. In addition, the noise increased the aggressive behavior, and long-term noise reduced the immunity of the growing pigs.     

芸薹属及其他异源多倍体植物的基因表达特征研究进展

远缘杂交及异源多倍化导致许多重要作物的起源与进化，而芸薹属栽培异源四倍种是研究作物异源多倍化的模式系统之一。异源多倍体是如何调控及协调来自不同二倍体祖先的不同基因组的遗传行为及基因表达，是过去二十年间的研究热点和重要的生物学问题。利用不断发展的分子生物学技术，一方面揭示出芸薹属及其他多倍体物种基因组表现出动态性质，即在形成初期及长期进化过程中持续发生遗传及表观遗传的变化；另一方面发现异源多倍化过程中伴随着大量的基因表达模式改变，包括非加性表达、超亲表达、表达水平显性、部分同源偏向表达、基因剂量平衡效应等现象。上述基因组结构、表观遗传改变以及基因表达模式的调控，使新产生的多倍体得以成功进化为新物种。     

外源NO及反向调控PEG胁迫下苜蓿萌发种子抗氧化酶及其同工酶动态的研究

以紫花苜蓿为材料,用一氧化氮供体硝普钠(SNP)及一氧化氮清除剂c-PTIO对苜蓿种子进行浸种处理,采用分光光度法和同工酶电泳技术来研究外源NO及反向调控对PEG胁迫下紫花苜蓿抗氧化酶活性及其同工酶的影响,并探讨NO调控苜蓿种子耐旱性的生理机制。结果表明:PEG胁迫下外施0.1 mmol·L^-1 SNP,第6天时较PEG处理POD活性降低了32.72%;第4天时SOD、CAT活性较PEG处理升高了10.48%、23.60%,有效缓解了PEG对紫花苜蓿萌发中种子的氧化损伤,提高其抗氧化能力。PEG胁迫下添加 c-PTIO抑制了苜蓿萌发期的抗氧化系统活性。从同工酶的谱带数量和强弱来看,POD同工酶各区带活力均随PEG胁迫时间的延长而增加,在第2天酶带只有1条,而第4天酶带呈现9条;SOD和CAT同工酶表达量变化不显著,但酶带强弱有一定变化,S3酶带随处理时间的延长表达量逐渐减弱;CAT同工酶谱带则一直保持2条带,无明显强弱变化。因此,外源NO在PEG胁迫下紫花苜蓿萌发中抗氧化酶快速响应并在维护氧自由基代谢平衡中起重要保护作用。     

Public perceptions of ecosystem services and preferences for design scenarios of the flooded bank along the Three Gorges Reservoir: Implications for sustainable management of novel ecosystems

The newly formed extensive flooded land associated with the Three Gorges Reservoir hold great potentials to provide ecosystem services (ESs) for surrounding cities and communities. Conflicting values and conventional management strategies may complicate and inhibit broad-scale decision-making for this novel ecosystem. Public attitudes are a crucial influence in the way this process plays out. This study was conducted to assess how the reservoir bank is perceived by the general public of Chongqing Municipality in terms of importance of riparian ESs, and preference for corresponding landscape design styles through photo-questionnaire interviewing. Although Chongqing citizens know little of the “ecosystem services” concept, they do recognise riparian environmental and ecological benefits especially the bank protection and pollution interception functions, while benefits of habitats for wildlife and flood attenuation were of less concern. Recreational values were least appreciated, which is inconsistent with other studies. This may be attributed to a wider, intensive environmental education in various social media in today’s China. But publicity has been dominated by toxic air, water and soil pollution control rather than the benefits of nature conservation and personal contact with nature. In line with recognition of ESs, there is quite strong preference for the forested design scenario and particularly vegetation components across the socio-demographic spectrum. Overall, socio-demographic variables have very low explanatory power for the perceptual responses. Our study also revealed misunderstandings around riparian functions and a gap between public expectations and special abiotic and biotic prerequisites in restoring novel ecosystems. Finally, we discuss the relevance of this research to urban novel ecosystems in general, and implications for raising public awareness, engaging appropriate public values in sustainable design and management of such ecosystems.     

Comparisons of physiological and biochemical responses between milkfish (Chanos chanos) and grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) to cold shock

Temporal changes in physiological parameters and enzyme activities related to carbohydrate metabolism in the milkfish (Chanos chanos) and the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) under cold shock at 15 °C were examined in order to better understand thermal compensation mechanisms of teleosts with different cold tolerances. The plasma glucose, lactate, and lipid contents as well as enzyme activities of citrate synthase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, phosphorylase a, and lactate dehydrogenase at varying time intervals were monitored. The results show that changes in plasma glucose and lipid contents of the milkfish were more notable than those of the grass carp, but the elevation in plasma lactate contents in the grass carp occurred earlier and was much greater than that in the milkfish. Furthermore, changes in plasma glucose contents in the milkfish were correlated with the enzyme activities of phosphorylase a and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, but in the grass carp they were correlated with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase activities instead. In addition, the change in lactate dehydrogenase activity in the grass carp was more notable than those of other enzymes, but lactate dehydrogenase activities in the milkfish steadily decreased during cold compensation. The results demonstrate that the two species (milkfish and grass carp) respond quite differently to cold shock, and this may be related to their differences in cold tolerance.     

Expression of an extended HMW subunit in transgenic wheat and the effect on dough mixing properties

Wheat line L88-31 was transformed with a gene encoding an extended form of subunit 1Dx5 to study the relationship between subunit size and the effect on dough mixing properties. Four transgenic lines were recovered, one of which expressed a truncated form of the protein with mobility between those of the wild type and extended subunits. Comparison of the Mixograph profiles and gluten protein compositions with those of the control lines and a line expressing the wild type subunit 1Dx5 transgene showed that two of the transgenic lines had poor mixing properties and that this was associated with co-suppression of HMW subunit gene expression. The other two transgenic lines had improved mixing properties (measured as increased mixing time) and this was associated with increased proportions of large glutenin polymers. None of the transgenic lines expressing the extended form of the 1Dx5 subunit showed the ‘overstrong’ mixing properties exhibited by transgenic lines expressing the wild type 1Dx5 transgene.     

Se-containing spirulina phycocyanin attenuated liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride in mice

AIM:To investigate the effect of Se-containing spirulina phycocyanin (Se-SPC) on liver injury of mice induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). METHODS:The mouse model was conducted by intragastric feeding with 2% CCl₄ oil for three times, meanwhile Se-SPC, spirulina phycocyanin (SPC) and Na₂SeO₃ were injected (ip) to various groups for 7 days. Then selenium (Se), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), malondiaoldehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in blood and liver were measured. RESULTS:The level of Se,GPx and SOD activities were obviously higher(P<0.05)but ALT activity,MDA and NO₂^-/NO₃^- levels were remarkably lower(P<0.05)in Se-SPC treated groups than those in CCl₄ groups,and effects of high dose Se-SPC on Se,GPx,MDA and NO₂^-/NO₃^- were even more significant(P<0.01).Under the same dose of Se or protein,effects of all selected targets in Se-SPC groups were more efficient than those in SPC groups and inorganic-Se groups.Furthermore,Se levels had a positive correlation with GPx activity(r=01705),which had negative correlation with levels of MDA,NO₂^-/NO₃^- and ALT(r=-0.629,r=-0.336,r=-0.457,respectively), and positive correlations between ALT activity and MDA or NO₂^-/NO₃^- level were found (r=0.519,r=0.641). CONCLUSION:These results indicated that Se-SPC may attenuate liver injury of mice induced by CCl₄ through its anti-inflammatory action and enhancing selenoenzyme expression.     

Characteristics in the secretion of liver TNF-α induced by infusion of LPS into veins in goats

AIM: To study the role of liver in immune regulation in experimental endotoxemia. METHODS: 17 castrated male goats were subjected to simultaneously installing catheters in jugular, hepatic and portal veins by surgery. Four days later, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was infused in term of three groups as followings: In group ①, LPS of 20 EU (endotoxin unit, EU)·kg^-1 was infused into portal vein; In group ②, LPS of 20 EU·kg^-1 was infused into jugular vein and LPS of 1 500 EU·kg^-1 infused into jugular vein in group ③. Before and after infusion, blood samples were collected from the three veins through the catheters for 8 h.The plasma levels of TNF-α were measured by RIA. RESULTS: In group ①, the plasma TNF-α levels of hepatic and portal vein rose to peak value at 5 h, but that of the jugular vein did not changed. In group ②, the plasma TNF-α levels in hepatic vein rose to peak value at 3 h. The TNF-α levels of jugular vein rose to peak value at 1 h and the one in portal vein enhanced continuously between 0-8 h. In group ③, the plasma TNF-α levels in jugular, hepatic and portal vein rose to significant peaks at 1 h simultaneously. CONCLUSION: During experimental endotoxemia,liver showed different dynamic characteristics in TNF-α secretion according to the pathway and doses of LPS delivery.