Glucose transport and milk secretion during manipulated plasma insulin and glucose concentrations and during LPS‐induced mastitis in dairy cows

In dairy cows, glucose is essential as energy source and substrate for milk constituents. The objective of this study was to investigate effects of long‐term manipulated glucose and insulin concentrations in combination with a LPS‐induced mastitis on mRNA abundance of glucose transporters and factors involved in milk composition. Focusing on direct effects of insulin and glucose without influence of periparturient endocrine adaptations, 18 dairy cows (28 ± 6 weeks of lactation) were randomly assigned to one of three infusion treatments for 56 h (six animals each). Treatments included a hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemic clamp (HypoG), a hyperinsulinemic euglycaemic clamp (EuG) and a control group (NaCl). After 48 h of infusions, an intramammary challenge with LPS from E. coli was performed and infusions continued for additional 8 h. Mammary gland biopsies were taken before, at 48 (before LPS challenge) and at 56 h (after LPS challenge) of infusion, and mRNA abundance of genes involved in mammary gland metabolism was measured by RT‐qPCR. During the 48 h of infusions, mRNA abundance of glucose transporters GLUT1, 3, 4, 8, 12, SGLT1, 2) was not affected in HypoG, while they were downregulated in EuG. The mRNA abundance of alpha‐lactalbumin, insulin‐induced gene 1, κ‐casein and acetyl‐CoA carboxylase was downregulated in HypoG, but not affected in EuG. Contrary during the intramammary LPS challenge, most of the glucose transporters were downregulated in NaCl and HypoG, but not in EuG. The mRNA abundance of glucose transporters in the mammary gland seems not to be affected by a shortage of glucose, while enzymes and milk constituents directly depending on glucose as a substrate are immediately downregulated. During LPS‐induced mastitis in combination with hypoglycaemia, mammary gland metabolism was more aligned to save glucose for the immune system compared to a situation without limited glucose availability during EuG.     

播期和播量对橘园间作下山黧豆产量及农艺性状的影响

在橘园间作条件下,采用裂区试验设计,经连续两年试验,研究了不同播种期、播种量对豆科绿肥山黧豆(Lath yrus sativus)鲜草产量、种子产量及农艺性状的影响.结果表明,1)播期、播量对山黧豆鲜草和种子产量均有显著影响(P＜0.05),播量影响大于播期;2)山黧豆的鲜草和种子产量随播期推迟显著降低(P＜0.05),9月20日播种的鲜草产量最高,达29 406.0 kg·hm-2,种子产量则以9月30日播种的最高,为1 616.1 kg·hm-2.早播(9月播种)时,株高、单株分枝数、单株根瘤数、结实率和千粒重等农艺性状均优于晚播(10月播种);3)播量为45.0 kg·hm-2时,其鲜草和种子产量均最高,拯种量过大对产量和农艺性状均有负向作用.综上,山黧豆在四川西充与橘园间作下的适宜播种期在9月,最佳播种量为45.0 kg·hm-2.     

Identification of novel tumour‐associated antigens in canine mammary gland tumour

Canine mammary gland tumour (MGT) is the most common neoplasm in female dogs and has similar biological characteristics to human MGT. Spontaneous canine MGT is a more attractive clinical model in oncological research than that of the murine experimental model. Tumour‐associated antigens (TAAs), which are produced in tumour cells, are applied as tumour markers, tumour vaccine antigens and molecular targets of therapeutic drugs. In this study, we have primarily identified 13 different TAAs of canine MGT by serological immunoscreening of cDNA expression library. The results of serological mini‐arrays of identified antigens showed that CCDC41 antigen specially reacted with 35% of sera from MGT‐dogs and did not react with control sera. We also found that HSPH1 mRNA expression levels increased significantly in MGT tissues. These findings will contribute to the development of diagnostic technologies and translational target therapies for dogs. Clinical relevance : HSPH1, which is strongly expressed in the tumour tissue, will be a possible vaccine antigen of canine MGT.     

Localization of putative pituitary stem/progenitor cells in female dairy cattle

Research on sex-determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2)-positive pituitary stem/progenitor cells, as a source of hormone-producing cells, is progressing rapidly in rodents. However, the stem/progenitor cells supplying hormone-producing cells that are essential for growth, reproduction, and lactation in bovines have not yet been identified. In this study, we characterized SOX2-positive cells in the pituitary gland of dairy cattle (Holstein heifers) after sexual maturity. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that the localization pattern of SOX2-positive cells in the dairy cattle pituitary gland was similar to that observed in the rodent pituitary gland; the marginal cell layer (MCL), dense cell clusters, and single cells scattered in the parenchyma of the anterior lobe. Furthermore, most of the SOX2-positive cells were positive for the pituitary stem/progenitor cell niche markers E-cadherin and cytokeratin 8+18, which have been reported in rodents. In addition, in the MCL of the anterior lobe, there was a subpopulation of SOX2-positive cells positive for paired-related homeobox 1 and 2, whereas negative for S100β. Moreover, in the parenchyma of the anterior lobe, co-localization of SOX2 and pituitary hormones was infrequent. In summary, this study reveals the localization of putative pituitary stem/progenitor cells positive for SOX2 in dairy cattle. These results provide valuable information to support further investigation of cell supply in the dairy cattle pituitary gland.     

After nasopharyngeal infection,foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype A RNA is shed in bovine milk without associated mastitis

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious aphthoviral infection of cloven-hoofed animals, inducing vesiculopustular stomatitis, pododermatitis, and thelitis. Vesicular fluid represents a major pathway of virus excretion, but bovine milk is another important source of virus shedding. We describe here the time course of FMD virus (FMDV) excretion in the milk and characterize associated lesions in the mammary gland. Three dairy cows were infected by nasopharyngeal instillation of FMDV and monitored over 12 d. Autopsy was performed at the end of the study, and specimens were collected for histopathology, IHC, and RT-qPCR. All 3 cows developed fever, drooling, vesiculopustular stomatitis, interdigital dermatitis, and thelitis. FMDV RNA was detectable in whole milk until the end of the trial, but only transiently in saliva, nasal secretions, and blood serum. Although histology confirmed vesiculopustular lesions in the oral and epidermal specimens, the mammary glands did not have unequivocal evidence of FMDV-induced inflammation. FMDV antigen was detectable in skin and oral mucosa, but not in the mammary gland, and FMDV RNA was detectable in 9 of 29 samples of squamous epithelia but only in 1 of 12 samples of mammary gland.     

绿肥翻压与氮肥减施对水稻产量、品质及土壤肥力的影响

为探明绿肥山黧豆种植翻压下减量施用化学氮肥的潜力,通过3年田间定位试验,设置冬闲+100% N肥（常规施肥,CK）、山黧豆+60% N肥（GM+N60）、山黧豆+70% N肥（GM+N70）、山黧豆+80% N肥（GM+N80）、山黧豆+不施肥（GM）和冬闲+不施肥（NF）共6个处理,研究不同处理对水稻产量、品质及土壤肥力的影响。结果表明,与CK相比,山黧豆与氮肥减量配施能提高水稻产量,GM+N70和GM+N80处理显著提高水稻产量,分别增产13.84%和7.25%;且能提高稻米糙米率、精米率、整精米率和蛋白质含量,降低垩白度及垩白粒率和直链淀粉含量。其中,GM+N70处理的整精米率最高,为78.02%,垩白粒率最低,为18.11%;GM+N80处理的直链淀粉含量最低,为14.26%。山黧豆与氮肥减量配施能明显提高土壤有机质、全氮、碱解氮和速效钾含量,对土壤有效磷含量无显著影响。综上,种植翻压山黧豆与氮肥减量20%~30%配施有利于提高水稻产量、品质及土壤肥力,为构建四川稻区山黧豆种植翻压还田后科学施用氮肥提供理论依据。     

Molecular cloning of the cDNA encoding the β subunit of thyrotropin and regulation of its gene expression by thyroid hormones in the goldfish, Carassius auratus

A cDNA encoding the subunit of thyrotropin (TSH) was isolated from a goldfish (Carassius auratus) pituitary gland cDNA library. By comparing the sequence with other teleost TSHs, a signal peptide of 19 amino acids and a mature hormone of 131 amino acids were predicted for goldfish TSH subunits. The resulting putative mature hormone of 131 amino acids had well-conserved cysteine positions and a putative N-linked glycosylation site; homology was 51–67% with TSHs from other teleosts, 38–43% with tetrapod TSHs, but only 27 and 29% with goldfish GTH-I and -II, respectively. We also examined the effects of thyroid hormones (TH) and thiourea (TU, an inhibitor of TH production) treatments on TSH and GTH subunit gene expressions in the goldfish pituitary gland. After thyroxine (T₄) treatment, circulating T₄ concentration increased and TSH mRNA level decreased. Supressing the amount of circulating T₄ and triiodothyronine (T₃) by TU treatment increased the TSH mRNA level. Moreover, T₄ replacement therapy (simultaneous treatment of both TU and T₄) caused a high level of circulating T₄ and a low level of circulating T₃, and a decrease in the TSH mRNA level. Thus, changing levels of circulating TH exert a negative feedback on the level of TSH subunit mRNA in goldfish in vivo. On the other hand, GTH subunit mRNA levels were not affected by changes in the levels of circulating TH.     

锯缘青蟹促雄腺发育的组织学研究

采用组织切片技术，以OlympusBH-2型显微镜对锯缘青蟹(Scylla serrata)促雄腺的发育进行观察。结果显示，促雄腺附着于射精管近末端，发育过程可分为4期：Ⅰ期促雄腺短小，腺细胞数量少；Ⅱ期促雄腺呈明显的索状；Ⅲ期促雄腺体积达到最大，一些部位膨大增生；Ⅳ期促雄腺不再生长，腺体急剧退化。腺细胞具有2种类型：A型细胞，核圆、异染色质少、胞质染色浅；B型细胞，核扁平、异染色质多，细胞染色深、界限不清晰，有时细胞质消失。促雄腺发育过程中，A、B型细胞数量、比例发生变化。B型细胞为A型细胞完成分泌后的存在形式，B型细胞比例反映了促雄腺分泌活动的状况。锯缘青蟹促雄腺发育和精巢成熟具有一定的相关性。