热应激下鸡肝脏SFRP1和PDK4基因表达水平研究

为研究热应激条件下,鸡SFRP1和PDK4两个与代谢相关的基因在鸡肝脏组织中的差异表达,选取12只60日龄体重相近的黄羽肉母鸡,分为正常对照组(CL)、热应激反应组(HS)和热应激反应后的降温组(HF)3个处理组,并对这两个基因在三组肝脏组织中的表达水平进行荧光定量表达分析。结果表明,在热应激状态下,SFRP1和PDK4基因在肝脏中的表达均上调,且PDK4在对照组和热应激组间差异显著(P<0.05)。本研究结果还表明,当热应激反应后温度重新降至(25±1)℃时,SFRP1和PDK4在肝脏中的相对表达量均有不同程度的恢复,进一步说明这两个基因在热应激中发挥的作用。本研究为从分子机制分析热应激提供了相应的参考。     

虎杖提取物对CCl4诱导建鲤损伤肝细胞生化指标的影响

为探明虎杖对鱼类损伤肝细胞是否具有修复作用，分离建鲤肝细胞，设6个试验组：I组(空白对照组)；II组(CCl4模型组)；III组(800 μg/mL虎杖提取物对照组)；IV组(造模前200、400、800 μg/mL虎杖提取物处理组)；V组(造模后200、400、800 μg/mL虎杖提取物处理组)；VI组(造模前、后200、400、800 μg/mL虎杖提取物处理组)。各组细胞经处理后继续培养12 h，收集肝细胞培养液，检测上清培养液中丙氨酸转氨酶(GPT)、天冬氨酸转氨酶(GOT)、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)等酶活性，丙二醛(MDA)含量及肝细胞的存活率。结果表明：III组肝细胞培养液中GOT、GPT、LDH、SOD、MDA值及细胞存活率与I组相比无明显变化(P＞0.05)，说明800 μg/mL虎杖提取物没有细胞毒性，可用于后续试验；与II组相比，IV组中800 μg/mL虎杖提取物处理组的效果优于其他2个浓度组，可以极显著降低培养液中GOT值(P<0.01)，显著降低培养液中GPT、LDH值(P<0.05)，显著提高肝细胞的存活率(P<0.05)，而MDA含量和SOD值差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05)；与II组相比，V组中400 μg/mL虎杖提取物效果优于其他2个浓度组，可以极显著降低培养液中GOT值(P<0.01)，显著降低培养液中LDH值(P<0.05)，显著提高肝细胞的存活率(P<0.05)，但GPT值、MDA含量、SOD的差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05)；与II组相比，VI组中800 μg/mL虎杖提取物效果优于其他2个浓度组，能极显著降低培养液中GOT、GPT、LDH在肝细胞中的释放(P<0.01)，显著降低培养液中MDA含量(P<0.05)，显著提高肝细胞的存活率(P<0.05)。综合以上结果，以VI组中800 μg/mL的虎杖提取物效果最好，能有效抑制CCl4所造成的肝细胞损伤，其机制可能与其抗氧化作用有关。     

用2,4-D处理获得可育甘薯组种间杂种

用50mg/L 2,4-D处理杂交不亲和组合甘薯(Ipomoea batatas (L.)Lam.)品种徐薯18(2n＝6x＝90)×L.lacunosa(2n＝2x＝30)以及I.trifida(2n＝4x＝60)×L triloba(2n＝2x＝30)的母本花器,获得了可育种间杂种植株,并对种间杂种进行了过氧化物酶同工酶分析和细胞学观察.特别是徐薯18×I.lacunosa的杂种后代具有明显的结薯性,这是首次报道获得具有结薯性的甘薯品种和第Ⅱ群近缘野生种种间杂种.     

过表达NR4A1促进山羊皮下脂肪细胞分化

旨在克隆山羊NR4A1基因的CDS区序列,明确其组织和细胞表达模式,以及探究过表达NR4A1基因对山羊皮下脂肪细胞分化的影响。本试验利用双酶切法构建山羊过表达载体pcDNA3.1-NR4A1。以1周岁简州大耳羊（n=5）为试验动物。利用RT-PCR方法和实时荧光定量PCR（real-time quantitative PCR, qPCR）技术克隆NR4A1基因编码区序列并明确其时空表达特性,再将山羊pcDNA3.1-NR4A1载体转染皮下脂肪细胞使NR4A1过表达,利用形态学方法检测过表达后脂滴聚集的变化,同时采用qPCR方法检测脂肪分化标志基因相对表达水平的变化。结果获得山羊NR4A1基因的编码区序列是1 797 bp,编码598个氨基酸;NR4A1在山羊各组织中广泛表达,且在山羊背最长肌中的相对表达水平最高（P<0.01）,在山羊皮下脂肪细胞分化60 h表达量最高（P<0.01）;过表达NR4A1基因显著促进山羊皮下脂肪细胞的脂滴积累,并且显著提高C/EBPα、C/EBPβ、PPARγ、LPL、SREBP1和AP2的相对表达水平（P<0.05）。NR4A1基因可能是山羊皮下脂肪细胞分化的正调控因子,且可能是协同脂肪分化标志基因的表达量来实现的。     

禽腺病毒血清4型感染鸡组织中NLRP3基因转录水平的实时荧光定量PCR分析

旨在分析禽腺病毒血清4型（FAdV-4）感染鸡组织中NLRP3基因的转录水平,本研究设计鸡NLRP3特异性引物,利用RT-PCR扩增NLRP3基因180 bp片段并克隆至pMD-18T载体,制备重组质粒pMD-18T-NLRP3。以pMD-18T-NLRP3质粒作为标准品进行荧光定量PCR并建立标准曲线。通过反应条件优化,成功建立了检测NLRP3基因的实时荧光定量PCR方法,并利用该方法对致病性FAdV-4感染鸡组织中NLRP3基因的转录水平进行了分析。结果显示,所设计的NLRP3引物可特异性扩增鸡NLRP3基因,建立的实时荧光定量PCR对鸡NLRP3标准质粒的扩增曲线良好,标准品的拷贝数与Cq值呈现良好的线性关系。与对照组相比,NLRP3分子在FAdV-4感染鸡肝和脾中的转录水平极显著高于对照组（P<0.001）,在盲肠扁桃体和法氏囊的表达显著高于对照组（P<0.01）。本研究所建立的鸡NLRP3基因SYBR Green Ⅰ实时荧光定量PCR可以检测FAdV-4感染鸡不同组织中NLRP3的转录水平;致病性FAdV-4感染所造成的组织炎症损伤与NLRP3分子密切相关。     

microRNA-146a通过靶向MAPK4和Myosin Va基因调控羊驼黑色素细胞增殖、迁移

旨在研究microRNA-146a(miR-146a)对羊驼黑色素细胞增殖和迁移的调控及其分子机制。本研究使用双荧光素酶试验验证MAPK4和Myosin Va是miR-146a的靶基因;利用荧光定量PCR和蛋白质免疫印迹试验检测在羊驼黑色素细胞中过表达miR-146a对相关下游基因表达的影响;利用CCK8和Transwell检测miR-146a过表达对羊驼黑色素细胞增殖和迁移的影响。结果显示,与对照组相比,将miR-146a和MAPK4或Myosin Va共转染293T细胞,双荧光素酶活性分别极显著下降36%和30%(P<0.001);MAPK4和Myosin Va基因转录水平分别极显著下调67%和47%(P<0.001,P<0.01);蛋白质水平的表达量分别显著或极显著下调38%和69%(P<0.05,P<0.01);增殖和迁移相关的基因CREB、MITF、MLPH和Rab27a在转录水平和蛋白水平的表达均极显著下调(P<0.01,P<0.001);CCK8和Transwell结果显示,过表达miR-146a使羊驼黑色素细胞的增殖和迁移能力极显著下调(P<0.01)。综上所述,miR-146a通过靶向调控MAPK4和Myosin Va,使增殖和迁移相关的基因MEK1、CREB、MITF、MLPH和Rab27a的表达下调,从而对羊驼黑色素细胞的增殖和迁移起抑制作用。     

AR regulates porcine immature Sertoli cell growth via binding to RNF4 and miR-124a

Sertoli cells are the only somatic cells in the seminiferous epithelium which directly contact with germ cells. Sertoli cells exhibit polarized alignment at the basal membrane of seminiferous tubules to maintain the microenvironment for growth and development of germ cells, and therefore play a crucial role in spermatogenesis. Androgens exert their action through androgen receptor (AR) and AR signalling in the testis is essential for maintenance of spermatogonial numbers, blood–testis barrier integrity, completion of meiosis, adhesion of spermatids and spermiation. In the present study, we demonstrated that AR gene could promote the proliferation of immature porcine Sertoli cells (ST cells) and the cell cycle procession, and accelerate the transition from G1 phase into S phase in ST cells. Meanwhile, miR-124a could affect the proliferation and cell cycle procession of ST cells by targeting 3′-UTR of AR gene. Furthermore, AR bound to the RNF4 via AR DNA-binding domain (DBD) and we verified that RNF4 was necessary for AR to regulate the growth of ST cells. Above all, this study suggests that AR regulates ST cell growth via binding to RNF4 and miR-124a, which may help us to further understand the function of AR in spermatogenesis.     

Improvement of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for equine herpesvirus type 4 by using a synthetic-peptide 24-mer repeat sequence of glycoprotein G as an antigen

To increase the sensitivity of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for equine herpesvirus type 4 (EHV-4) that uses a 12-mer peptide of glycoprotein G (gG4-12-mer: MKNNPIYSEGSL) [4], we used a longer peptide consisting of a 24-mer repeat sequence (gG4-24-mer: MKNNPIYSEGSLMLNVQHDDSIHT) as an antigen. Sera of horses experimentally infected with EHV-4 reacted much more strongly to the gG4-24-mer peptide than to the gG4-12-mer peptide. We used peptide ELISAs to test paired sera from horses naturally infected with EHV-4 (n=40). gG4-24-mer ELISA detected 37 positive samples (92.5%), whereas gG4-12-mer ELISA detected only 28 (70.0%). gG4-24-mer ELISA was much more sensitive than gG4-12-mer ELISA.     

Effects of different dl‐selenomethionine and sodium selenite levels on growth performance,immune functions and serum thyroid hormones concentrations in broilers

This trial was conducted in a 2 × 3 + 1 factorial arrangement based on a completely randomized design to evaluate the effects of different dl ‐selenomethionine (dl ‐Se‐Met) and sodium selenite (SS) levels on growth performance, immune functions and serum thyroid hormones concentrations in broilers. A total of 840 Ross 308 broilers (7 days old) were allocated by body weight to seven treatments (three replicates of 40 birds each treatment) including (1) basal diet (containing 0.04 mg of selenium (Se)/kg; control) without supplementary Se; (2, 3 and 4) basal diet + 0.05, 0.15 or 0.25 mg/kg Se as SS; (5, 6 and 7) basal diet + 0.05, 0.15 or 0.25 mg/kg Se as dl ‐Se‐Met. The experiment lasted 42 days. The results revealed that dietary Se supplementation improved (p < 0.05) average daily gain, feed efficiency, immune organ index, serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM) and triiodothyronine (T₃) concentrations and decreased (p < 0.01) thyroxine (T₄)/T₃ ratio in serum compared with the control. Broilers receiving the dl ‐Se‐Met‐supplemented diets had higher (p < 0.05) feed efficiency, thymus index, the amounts of IgA, IgG, IgM and T₃ as well as lower (p < 0.05) serum T₄ concentrations and T₄/T₃ ratio than those consuming the SS‐supplemented diets. Serum IgA and IgM levels of broilers fed 0.15 mg Se/kg were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those of broilers fed 0.05 or 0.25 mg Se/kg. In summary, we concluded that dl ‐Se‐Met is more effective than SS in increasing immunity and promoting conversion of T₄ to T₃, thus providing an effective way to improve the growth performance of broilers. Besides, based on a consideration of all experiment indices, 0.15 mg Se/kg was suggested to be the optimal level of Se supplementation under the conditions of this study.     

Comparison of sampling sites and detection methods for Haemophilus parasuis

Objective To improve the isolation rate and identification procedures for Haemophilus parasuis from pig tissues. Design Thirteen sampling sites and up to three methods were used to confirm the presence of H. parasuis in pigs after experimental challenge. Procedure Colostrum‐deprived, naturally farrowed pigs were challenged intratracheally with H parasuis serovar 12 or 4. Samples taken during necropsy were either inoculated onto culture plates, processed directly for PCR or enriched prior to being processed for PCR. The recovery of H parasuis from different sampling sites and using different sampling methods was compared for each serovar. Results H parasuis was recovered from several sample sites for all serovar 12 challenged pigs, while the trachea was the only positive site for all pigs following serovar 4 challenge. The method of solid medium culture of swabs, and confirmation of the identity of cultured bacteria by PCR, resulted in 38% and 14% more positive results on a site basis for serovars 12 and 4, retrospectively, than direct PCR on the swabs. This difference was significant in the serovar 12 challenge. Conclusion Conventional culture proved to be more effective in detecting H parasuis than direct PCR or PCR on enrichment broths. For subacute (serovar 4) infections, the most successful sites for culture or direct PCR were pleural fluid, peritoneal fibrin and fluid, lung and pericardial fluid. For acute (serovar 12) infections, the best sites were lung, heart blood, affected joints and brain. The methodologies and key sampling sites identified in this study will enable improved isolation of H parasuis and aid the diagnosis of Glässer's disease.