Developmental competence of heat stressed oocytes from Holstein and Limousine cows matured in vitro

The negative effects of heat stress on dairy cattle's fertility have been extensively studied, but the relevant knowledge for beef cattle is rather limited. The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of HS during in vitro maturation on the developmental potential of oocytes derived from Limousine and Holstein cows and to estimate the effect of the differential gene expression of important genes in oocytes, cumulus cells and blastocysts in the growth competence between the breeds. In seven replicates, cumulus oocyte complexes from Holstein and Limousine cows were matured for 24 hr at 39°C (controls C; Hol_39, Lim_39) or at 41°C from hour 2 to hour 8 of IVM (treated T; Hol_41, Lim_41), fertilized, and presumptive zygotes were cultured for 9 days at 39°C. Cleavage and embryo formation rates were evaluated 48 hr post-insemination and on days 7, 8 and 9, respectively. From all groups, subsets of cumulus cells, oocytes and blastocysts were analysed for the relative expression of genes related to metabolism, stress, apoptosis and placentation. No difference was detected in cleavage rate or in blastocyst formation rate among the control groups. In both breeds, heat stress reduced blastocyst yield, but at all days the suppression was higher in Limousines. In Holsteins, altered gene expression was detected in cumulus cells (G6PD, GLUT1) and blastocysts (PLAC8), while in Limousines, differences were found in oocytes (G6PD, HSP90AA1), in cumulus cells (CPT1B, HSP90AA1, SOD2) and blastocysts (DNMT, HSP90AA1, SOD2). It appears that Holstein COCs are more tolerant than Limousine COCs, possibly due to compulsory, production driven selection.     

Ultrasonographic findings of the corpus luteum and the gravid uterus during heat stress in dairy cattle

The objectives of this study were to assess alterations in, echogenic appearance, size and blood flow in the corpus luteum, the placentomes and the blood flow in umbilical and uterine arteries that heat stress can cause in cooled pregnant dairy cows. Pregnant cows were allocated in two groups and the gravid uteri, along with the ipsilateral corpora lutea were examined during the winter (group W, n = 9) or the summer (group S, n = 10). The grey-scale ultrasound and colour flow imaging of the corpus luteum and placentome were performed. In addition, the umbilical and uterine artery diameters and haemodynamic parameters in the vessels were calculated. At the time of ultrasonographic examination, cortisol concentrations were higher, and progesterone levels tended to be lower in group S compared to group W. The grey-scale ultrasound evaluation of corpora lutea and placentomes was lower in group S compared to group W. The diameter of umbilical artery and the blood volume in the vessel were less in group S than in group W. We infer that heat stress affects foetal blood supply and possibly the structure of placentomes and corpora lutea, but it differently affects the blood flow characteristics in the umbilical and uterine arteries.     

地衣芽孢杆菌对热应激公兔甲状腺和甲状旁腺组织的影响

将成年塞北兔公兔随机分成3组:常温组、热应激组(基础日粮)和地衣芽孢杆菌组(基础日粮+1000 mg/kg地衣芽孢杆菌),常温组温度为20~25℃,其他2个组人工模拟夏季温度。在试验期间测定血浆皮质醇含量。试验结束后测定甲状腺质量,计算甲状腺指数;观察光镜下甲状腺组织、透射电镜下甲状腺滤泡上皮细胞和甲状旁腺嗜酸性细胞变化。结果显示,地衣芽孢杆菌可极显著降低热应激公兔皮质醇含量,提高热应激15 d后公兔甲状腺质量和指数(P<0.01);明显改善甲状腺滤泡结构,膜结构较为清晰,降低细胞核萎缩和胞质内细胞器损伤;降低甲状旁腺嗜酸性细胞中线粒体空泡化程度。结果表明,在塞北兔公兔日粮中添加1000 mg/kg地衣芽孢杆菌可有效降低热应激公兔血浆皮质醇含量,缓解对甲状腺和甲状旁腺的损伤,对保证塞北兔公兔正常生殖机能具有重要作用。     

Betaine Alleviates Heat Stress-Induced Hepatic and Mitochondrial Oxidative Damage in Broilers

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary betaine (BET) on growth performance, redox state, and related gene expression in broilers under heat stress (HS). A total of 144 21-day-old male broiler chickens with similar body weights were assigned randomly to three treatments with six replicates (eight chickens per replicate cage). Broilers in the control (CON) group were kept at thermoneutral (TN, 22±1°C) conditions and fed a basal diet until they were 42 days of age. Broilers in the other two groups (defined as HS and HS + BET) were exposed to HS (34±1°C, 8 h/day) and fed the basal diet without or with 1000 mg/kg BET, respectively. Rectal and cockscomb temperature of broilers was increased (P<0.05) in HS and HS + BET groups compared with the CON group, whereas there was no difference between HS and HS + BET groups. Dietary BET supplementation restored (P<0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of broilers and reversed (P<0.05) the increase in serum alanine transaminase (ALT) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the liver tissue of broilers under HS. The HS + BET group had higher (P<0.05) activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in the liver tissue and mitochondria than the HS group, and the same pattern was observed for glutathione (GSH) and GSH/glutathione disulphide (GSSG) in the liver tissue. The decreased mRNA levels of GPX1 and uncoupling protein (UCP) in the liver induced by HS were restored by BET supplementation. In conclusion, dietary BET supplementation can alleviate HS-induced hepatic and mitochondrial oxidative damage of broilers by regulating mRNA expressions of GPX1 and UCP.     

Single nucleotide polymorphism in avian uncoupling protein gene is associated with thermoregulation in chicks

Avian uncoupling protein (av-UCP) is a key protein for thermoregulation in poultry. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the av-UCP gene has been reported in chickens. The purpose of the current study was to clarify the association between this av-UCP gene mutation and thermoregulation in chickens. Wild and mutant type chicks for the av-UCP gene SNP (g. 1270 of the av-UCP gene exon 3 with C to T substitution and amino acid substitution) were exposed to high ambient temperature. Rectal temperature, radiation temperature on the body surface, and the expression of heat dissipation behavior (wing drooping and panting) during heat exposure were measured. In addition, oxygen consumption rate in the thermoneutral zone in wild and mutant type chicks was measured. Changes in wing temperature during heat exposure in wild-type chicks were lower than those in mutants. The latency of continuous wing drooping during heat exposure in wild-type chicks was shorter than in mutant chicks. It was also found that the SNP in the av-UCP gene caused reduced oxygen consumption. These results suggest that the av-UCP gene mutation affects thermoregulation, especially heat production, in chickens.     

保温型刚性护面渠道设计

在刚性面层下设置一道性能良好的保温层来防止基土冻结,可以从根本上解决冻胀破坏的问题。这种带保温层的刚性护面渠道称为保温型刚性护面渠道,根据热工原理,提出了保温型刚性护面渠道横断面设计在构造方面的要求,进一步推导出计算保温层厚度的有关公式,并给出算例,还指出了需要进一步研究和探讨的问题。     

离心泵蜗壳八个断面的设计研究

通过对离心泵蜗壳流道八个过水断面几何形状分析，建立了各过水断面几何尺寸的数学模型，采用计算机辅助设计，从而设计出优秀的泵蜗壳水力模型，提高了泵的效率指标，为泵蜗壳八个过水断面的设计提供了理论依据     

离心泵叶轮出口宽度对泵腔内压力脉动分布的影响

在试验和数值模拟相互验证的基础上,开展叶轮出口宽度对离心泵泵腔内压力脉动分布影响的研究．通过试验和数值计算获得离心泵的外特性、泵腔内静压分布、泵腔内压力脉动分布及泵体表面的压力脉动幅值分布,并进行对比分析,结果表明：前泵腔内静压和压力脉动幅值随出口宽度的增大而增大,随半径的减小而增大;后泵腔内静压和压力脉动随出口宽度和半径的变化不十分明显．综合考虑外特性和压力脉动,在比转数 ns ＝97时叶轮出口宽度与叶轮出口直径之比应小于0.06;为了使压力脉动在泵腔内有效地衰减,出口宽度与前腔间隙的比值在1.81附近时最佳．研究结果可用于指导离心泵叶轮的优化设计．     

Effect of Se and VE Supplement on Semen Quality,Antioxidant Enzyme Activities and Heat Shock Protein Expression of Goat in High Temperature Season

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of selenium and vitamin E supplement on semen quality, antioxidant enzyme activities and heat shock protein expression of goat in Hainan high temperature season.16 adult Hainan Black goat with good health and approximate weight were randomly divided into 4 groups, fed with basal diet(control group), basal diet+0.5 mg/kg Se(Se group), basal diet+100 mg/kg VE(VE group), and basal diet+0.5 mg/kg Se+100 mg/kg VE(Se+VE group), respectively.The experimental period was 93 d.Semen samples were collected in the last week of the experiment on two consecutive days.The semen quality, antioxidant enzyme activities and heat shock protein expression were analyzed.The results showed that compared with control group, the ejaculate volume was not significantly affected by Se or VE supplement(P>0.05).Sperm density and sperm motility were increased significantly by Se and VE supplement(P<0.05), and the abnormal rate was decreased extremely significantly(P<0.01).The goats fed with Se and VE also had higher activities of GSH-Px(P<0.01), SOD(P<0.05), CAT(P<0.05) and T-AOC(P<0.01), and lower MDA concentration in seminal plasma(P<0.05).The relative expression levels of HSP70 and HSP90 mRNA in supplement groups were decreased extremely significantly(P<0.01).However, there were some certain differences between the Se and VE supplement groups on semen quality and heat shock protein expression.In conclusion, the supplementation of Se and VE could help to improve goat semen quality by increasing the sperm density, sperm motility, the antioxidant enzyme activities, and decreasing the abnormal rate in hot season of Hainan.Finally, Se and VE supplement had good effects on relieving the environment heat stress.     

Assessment of interactions between glutamine and glucose on meat quality,AMPK, and glutamine concentrations in pectoralis major meat of broilers under acute heat stress

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of dietary glutamine and glucose on pectoralis major meat quality in broilers under acute heat stress. Three hundred 35-day-old male broilers (Arbor Acres) were randomly divided into 5 groups. Broilers in the positive control group were kept in a thermoneutral environment (23 ± 1°C, RH 45%–55%) and fed a basic diet, whereas the experimental (2 × 2) group was exposed to acute heat stress (34 ± 1°C, RH 65%–75%) for 12 h and fed the basic diet that contained glutamine (0 and 10 g/kg) and glucose (0 and 10 g/kg). Compared with the positive control group, acute heat stress without glutamine and glucose supplementation increased (P < 0.05) drip loss, L* values, and AMPK concentrations, but it decreased (P < 0.05) water-holding capacity, moisture, pH, a* values, b* values, and glutamine concentrations in pectoralis major meat of chickens. However, dietary glutamine (10 g/kg) increased (P < 0.05) water-holding capacity, moisture, pH, a* values, b* values, and glutamine concentrations, while it decreased (P < 0.05) drip loss, L* values, and AMPK concentrations in heat-stressed chicken pectoralis major meat. Dietary glucose (10 g/kg) increased (P < 0.05) water-holding capacity, moisture, pH, and a* and b* values, while it decreased (P < 0.05) L* values and AMPK concentrations of pectoralis major meat in chickens exposed to acute high temperature. There were significant interactions between glutamine and glucose in the water-holding capacity, pH values, AMPK, and glutamine levels of pectoralis major meat in the heat-stressed chickens. The above results suggest that the addition of glutamine and glucose in the diet is necessary for broilers during acute heat stress condition.