Cortisol Concentrations in Well‐Regulated Dogs with Hyperadrenocorticism Treated with Trilostane

Background

There are no clear treatment guidelines for dogs with clinically well‐regulated hyperadrenocorticism in which serum cortisol concentrations before and after an ACTH stimulation test performed 3–6 hours after trilostane administration are < 2.0 μg/dL.

Objective

To determine if serum cortisol concentrations measured before (Pre1) and after (Post1) ACTH stimulation at 3–6 hours after trilostane administration are significantly lower than cortisol concentrations measured before (Pre2) and after (Post2) ACTH stimulation 9–12 hours after trilostane administration, in a specific population of dogs with clinically well‐regulated hyperadrenocorticism and Pre1 and Post1 <2 μg/dL.

Animals

Thirteen client‐owned dogs with clinically well‐regulated hyperadrenocorticism and Pre1 and Post1 serum cortisol concentrations <2.0 μg/dL 3–6 hours after trilostane administration.

Methods

Prospective study. Dogs had a second ACTH stimulation test performed 9–12 hours after trilostane administration, on the same day of the first ACTH stimulation test. Cortisol concentrations before and after ACTH stimulation were compared using a paired t‐test.

Results

Cortisol concentrations before (1.4 ± 0.3 μg/dL) and after the first stimulation (1.5 ± 0.3 μg/dL, mean ± SD) were significantly lower than cortisol concentration before the second stimulation (3.3 ± 1.6 μg/dL, P = .0012 each). Cortisol concentration before the first stimulation was also significantly lower than cortisol concentration after the second stimulation (5.3 ± 2.4 μg/dL, P = .0001).

Conclusions and clinical importance

In dogs with clinically well‐regulated, trilostane‐treated, hyperadrenocorticism, and cortisol concentrations <2 μg/dL before and after the first stimulation, a second ACTH stimulation test performed 9–12 hours after treatment can result in higher cortisol concentrations that could support continued trilostane treatment.     

Effect of ovarian hormones on maturation of dendritic cells from peripheral blood monocytes in dogs

Previously, we reported that ovarian hormones affect the immune response against E. coli isolated from the dogs affected with pyometra. In order to investigate mechanisms underlying the immune modulation, we examined the effects of ovarian hormones on the generation of dendritic cells (DCs), the most potent antigen presenting cell. DCs were differentiated from peripheral blood monocytes (PBMOs) using a cytokine cocktail. Both estrogen receptor and progesterone receptors were expressed by the PBMOs and immature DCs. When various ovarian hormones were added to the culture for the DC differentiation, progesterone significantly decreased the expression of DC maturation markers, such as CD1a, CD80 and CD86, on mature DCs. Conversely, the addition of estrogen to the cultures increased the expression of CD86, but not other maturation makers. Furthermore, DCs differentiated in the presence of progesterone did not stimulate allogeneic mononuclear cells in PB. Taken together, these results indicate that progesterone diminishes the maturation of DCs, leading to decreased immune responses against invading pathogens.     

不同饲养方式对西门塔尔牛日增重及血清部分激素和神经递质水平变化的影响

试验旨在研究散栏与栓系两种饲养方式对西门塔尔牛生长过程中不同时期血清部分激素和神经递质水平变化的影响。选用50头体重相近(330kg左右)、月龄相同(12月龄)、未去势、健康无病的西门塔尔公牛,随机分为散栏组和栓系组,每组25头,分别于2012年10、11、12月及2013年1、2月进行体重及血清部分激素和神经递质水平的测定。结果表明,散栏组日增重在2012年11月显著高于栓系组(P0.05),在2012年12月及2013年2月极显著高于栓系组(P0.01)。散栏组血清部分激素水平中生长激素(GH)含量在2013年2月显著高于栓系组(P0.05);甲状腺素(T4)、睾酮(T)含量在2012年12月和2013年2月分别显著和极显著高于栓系组(P0.05;P0.01);生长抑素(SS)含量在2013年2月极显著低于栓系组(P0.01);雌二醇(E2)、促黄体素(LH)含量在2012年12月和2013年2月显著高于栓系组(P0.05)。散栏组牛血清部分神经递质中组胺(His)和5-羟色胺(5-HT)含量在2012年12月分别显著和极显著高于栓系组(P0.05;P0.01)。综上所述,随着年龄的增加,散栏饲养组牛血清中部分激素水平变化与日增重变化具有一定的相关性。与栓系饲养方式相比,散栏饲养方式较适合于提高西门塔尔牛的日增重。     

激素对白三叶愈伤组织形成的影响及体细胞胚的组织学观察

以白三叶3个品种瑞文德、铺地和海法的子叶和下胚轴为外植体,采用正交设计试验研究2,4-D、6-BA和KT三种生长调节剂的不同浓度水平对白三叶愈伤组织诱导及继代的影响,筛选最佳激素组合并进行体细胞胚的组织学观察.结果表明:同一品种同一时期不同外植体愈伤诱导的最佳激素组合不相同,不同品种间也不一致;瑞文德子叶胚性愈伤诱导的最佳培养基为改良SH+2,4-D 2mg/L+6-BA 0.35mg/L+KT 0.5mg/L,下胚轴为改良SH+2,4-D 2mg/L+6-BA 0.2mg/L+KT 0.35mg/L;铺地子叶胚性愈伤诱导的最佳培养基为改良SH+2,4-D 2mg/L+6-BA 0.5mg/L+KT 0.5mg/L,下胚轴为改良SH+2,4 D 5mg/L+6-BA 0.35mg/L+KT 0.5mg/L;海法子叶胚性愈伤诱导的最佳培养基为改良SH+2,4-D 2mg/L+6-BA 0.2mg/L+KT 0.35mg/L,下胚轴为改良SH+2,4-D5mg/L+6-BA 0.5mg/L+KT 0.5mg/L.组织学观察表明,体细胞胚的发育经历球形胚、心形胚、鱼雷胚及子叶胚四个阶段后形成一个完整的体细胞胚.     

Developmental programming: the role of growth hormone

Developmental programming of the fetus has consequences for physiologic responses in the offspring as an adult and, more recently, is implicated in the expression of altered phenotypes of future generations. Some phenotypes, such as fertility, bone strength, and adiposity are highly relevant to food animal production and in utero factors that impinge on those traits are vital to understand. A key systemic regulatory hormone is growth hormone (GH), which has a developmental role in virtually all tissues and organs. This review catalogs the impact of GH on tissue programming and how perturbations early in development influence GH function.     

玉米秃尖与内源激素的关系

玉米果穗顶部不能形成种子或部分种子败育而导致秃尖,秃尖受遗传影响较大,并对光合作用的依赖性很强。本文以20个玉米杂交组合雌穗顶部穗轴为材料,对光合作用的"源"和"库"起调控作用的顶部穗轴内源激素与其秃尖长度的关系进行了研究。结果表明,在快速灌浆期,玉米雌穗顶部穗轴GA3I、AA、CTK含量较高,而ABA含量很低;ABA含量与玉米秃尖长度呈极显著的正相关;(GA3+IAA+CTK)/ABA含量与玉米秃尖长度呈极显著的负相关。说明顶部穗轴ABA含量的高低与玉米秃尖长度存在密切关系。     

防褐化处理对蒙古栎插穗生根及其生理生化的影响

研究防褐化处理对蒙古栎嫩枝扦插生根的影响。以蒙古栎3年实生苗的嫩枝为材料,分别采用乙醇、硝酸银、抗坏血酸对插穗进行防褐化处理,采用500 mg·L^-1 IBA-K浸蘸处理后扦插,并分别在扦插后0、10、20、30、40、50 d取样测定不同生根时期氧化蛋白酶活性和内源激素含量。结果表明,防褐化处理可有效提高扦插生根率,以1%乙醇1 h+500 mg·L^-1 IBA-K处理2 h最佳,生根率、根系效果指数分别为21.1%和5.713。在生根过程中,外施500 mg·L^-1 IBA-K能够提升插穗内POD、PPO的活性,降低IAAO的活性,且IAA/ABA、IAA/ZR的比值升高,有利于蒙古栎嫩枝扦插生根。由此说明1%乙醇1 h浸泡结合500 mg·L^-1 IBA-K激素处理,通过提高POD与PPO的活性,可降低IAAO的活性,增加IAA/ZR和IAA/ABA的比值,提升蒙古栎嫩枝扦插成活率。     

14-3-3蛋程中的互作靶蛋白鉴定及其对外源激素的响应

【目的】籽粒灌浆对水稻产量及品质的形成至关重要。14-3-3蛋白是一种信号转导调节因子,在植物生长发育中发挥着重要调控作用。本研究通过分析14-3-3蛋白家族在籽粒灌浆过程中的基因表达模式及其互作靶蛋白,从而揭示其在籽粒灌浆过程中的功能。【方法】利用实时荧光定量PCR（qRT-PCR）技术分析水稻14-3-3基因家族在籽粒灌浆过程中的表达变化模式,并从中选取GF14b及GF14e进行后续的蛋白功能分析。利用KEGG数据库对GF14b及GF14e蛋白功能motif位点进行分析;构建GST-GF14b及GST-GF14e表达载体,利用亲和层析技术分别钓取籽粒中与GF14b及GF14e互作的靶蛋白,并借助LC-MS/MS对靶蛋白进行鉴定。采用GST pull-down方法验证靶蛋白与GF14b及GF14e间的蛋白互作关系。利用Kinasephos在线程序对靶蛋白的Ser和Thr磷酸化位点进行预测;采用MapMan 3.6.0软件对靶蛋白的功能及参与的代谢过程进行分析。在籽粒灌浆期（花后15 d）,分别喷施25×10^-6mol·L^-1 ABA,10×10^-6mol·L^-1 IAA,100×10^-6mol·L^-1 GA,50×10^-6mol·L^-1 ZR和 2×10^-4mol·L^-1 BR,研究外源激素处理对籽粒灌浆过程中GF14b,GF14e及其互作靶基因表达的影响。【结果】14-3-3家族基因中,除GF14h外,其余7个家族成员在水稻籽粒中均有表达,其中GF14b及GF14e在籽粒灌浆过程中的表达水平较高且变化幅度较大。通过蛋白序列分析发现,GF14b与GF14e间具有3个相同,2个差异的motif功能位点。通过亲和层析试验,在籽粒中共鉴定到59个与GF14b和72个与GF14e互作的靶蛋白,其中有43个靶蛋白与2个成员均有互作,分别有16个和29个靶蛋白与GF14b和GF14e特异结合。随机选取2个靶蛋白进行体外蛋白互作验证,结果表明靶蛋白SUS3与GF14b和GF14e均存在互作关系,而靶蛋白PSA仅与GF14e有相互作用关系,验证了亲和层析结果的准确性。蛋白功能的分析表明,GF14b和GF14e通过与靶蛋白的结合,共同参与了籽粒灌浆过程中蔗糖转化、淀粉合成、糖酵解、TCA循环等碳代谢途径。同时,GF14b及GF14e还具有特异的调控功能,其中GF14b与核酸代谢及物质转运密切相关,而GF14e与C1代谢中的关键蛋白存在互作。此外,大部分靶蛋白均鉴定到具有潜在的Ser和Thr磷酸化位点。外源激素处理下,籽粒中GF14b和GF14e上调表达,而与淀粉合成代谢相关的靶基因（SUS2、 AGPS、AGPL、PPDK2、SBE）大部分呈下调表达的趋势。【结论】14-3-3基因家族成员GF14b和GF14e在水稻籽粒灌浆过程中的表达变化幅度较大,且会响应激素浓度的改变,并通过蛋白互作的形式负调控淀粉合成代谢相关基因的表达,从而对水稻籽粒淀粉的合成起到重要的调控作用。     

Source–sink relations and responses to sink–source manipulations during grain filling in wheat

The source–sink ratio during grain filling is a critical factor that affects crop yield in wheat, and the main objective of this study was to determine the source–sink relations at both the canopy scale and the individual culm level under two nitrogen (N) levels at the post-jointing stage.  Nine widely-used cultivars were chosen for analyzing source–sink relations in southwestern China; and three typical cultivars of different plant types were subjected to artificial manipulation of the grain-filling source–sink ratio to supplement crop growth measurements.  A field experiment was conducted over two consecutive seasons under two N rates (N+, 150 kg ha^–1; N–, 60 kg ha^–1), and three manipulations were imposed after anthesis: control (Ct), removal of flag and penultimate leaves (Lr) and removal of spikelets on one side of each spike (Sr).  The results showed that the single grain weights in the three cultivars were significantly decreased by Lr and increased by Sr, which demonstrated that wheat grain yield potential seems more source-limited than sink-limited during grain filling, but the source–sink balance was obviously changed by climatic variations and N deficient environments.  Grain yield was highly associated with sink capacity (SICA), grain number, biomass, SPAD values, and leaf area index during grain filling, indicating a higher degree of source limitation with an increase in sink capacity.  Therefore, source limitation should be taken into account by breeders when SICA is increased, especially under non-limiting conditions.  Chuanmai 104, a half-compact type with a mid-sized spike and a long narrow upper leaf, showed relatively better performance in source–sink relations.  Since this cultivar showed the characteristics of a lower reduction in grain weight after Lr, a larger increase after Sr, and a lower reduction in post-anthesis dry matter accumulation, then the greater current photosynthesis during grain filling contributed to the grain after source and sink manipulation.      

干旱胁迫对栀子内源激素含量的影响

为了探明栀子（Gardenia jasminoides Ellis）响应干旱胁迫过程中内源激素含量的变化,采用5%、10%和20%的聚乙二醇（PEG-6000）模拟轻度、中度与重度干旱胁迫,在胁迫开始的第5、10、15 d利用酶联免疫吸附法对栀子幼苗叶片4种内源激素的含量进行测定。结果表明:相较于对照处理,随着干旱胁迫时间的延长,轻度与中度干旱胁迫下栀子叶片脱落酸（abscisic acid,ABA）含量逐渐上升,重度胁迫下ABA含量先上升后下降;吲哚乙酸（indoleacetic acid,IAA）与赤霉素（gibberellic acid,GA）含量均先上升后下降;玉米素核苷（zeatin ribiside,ZR）含量呈现高-低-高的变化趋势;IAA/ABA、GA/ABA值逐渐下降,并且下降幅度较大;ZR/ABA、IAA/GA、IAA/ZR、GA/ZR值发生不同波动。综合分析,在遭受干旱胁迫后,栀子将会通过调节自身内源激素含量及比例来抵御干旱。