Effect of dietary fish oil on the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism in liver and skeletal muscle of lactating sows

This study investigated the hypothesis that dietary supplementation of fish oil as a source of n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) influences the expression of target genes of sterol regulatory element‐binding proteins (SREBP)‐1 and (SREBP)‐2 involved in triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis and fatty acid and cholesterol metabolism in the liver, and moreover activates the expression of target genes of peroxisome proliferation‐activated receptor (PPAR)‐α involved in TAG and fatty acid catabolism in liver and skeletal muscle. Twenty lactating sows were fed a control diet or a fish oil diet with either 50&nbsp;g of a mixture of palm oil and soya bean oil (4:1, w/w) or fish oil per kg. The diet of the fish oil group contained 19.1&nbsp;g of n‐3 PUFA (mainly 20:5 n‐3 and 22:6 n‐3) per 100&nbsp;g of total fatty acids, while the diet of the control group contained 2.4&nbsp;g of n‐3 PUFA (mainly 18:3 n‐3) per 100&nbsp;g of total fatty acids. The fish oil group had reduced relative mRNA concentrations of various target genes of SREBP‐1 involved in fatty acid and TAG synthesis in comparison with the control group (p&nbsp;<&nbsp;0.05). Relative mRNA concentrations of target genes of PPARα involved in fatty acid catabolism in both liver and muscle, and mRNA concentrations of target genes of SREBP‐2 involved in cholesterol synthesis and uptake were not influenced by fish oil supplementation. Concentrations of cholesterol and TAG in plasma, fat content of milk and weight gains of litters during the suckling period were not different between the two groups of sows. In conclusion, this study suggests that fish oil has only minor effects on hepatic lipid metabolism, which are non‐critical with respect to milk production in sows.     

Can breeder reproductive status,performance and egg quality be enhanced by supplementation and transition of n‐3 fatty acids?

The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effect of n‐3 fatty acid (FA) supplemented diets on breeder performance, productivity and egg quality. Breeders (n&nbsp;=&nbsp;480) were fed the supplemented diet from 18&nbsp;weeks onwards; the inclusion level of n‐3 FA was increased from 1.5% to 3.0% from 34&nbsp;weeks of age onwards until 48&nbsp;weeks of age. Ross‐308 broiler breeders (n&nbsp;=&nbsp;480) were fed one of four different diets: a basal diet rich in n‐6 FA (control diet) or one of three diets rich in n‐3 FA. For the n‐3 FA diets, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5 n‐3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n‐3) were fed to the broiler breeders at different ratios formulated to obtain EPA/DHA ratios of 1/1, 1/2 or 2/1. Differences in performance, reproduction and egg quality parameters due to n‐3 supplementation were noted more for the 1.5% followed by the 3.0% fed broilers than their 1.5% supplemented counterparts. Egg weight (p&nbsp;<&nbsp;0.001) and egg mass (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.003) were significantly lower and feed conversion (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.008) significantly higher for the n‐3 FA (at 3.0% inclusion level) fed broilers compared to the control group. For the EPA‐ and DHA‐fed breeders, a higher proportional abdominal fat percentage (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.025) and proportional albumen weight (%) (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.041) were found respectively. Dietary treatments did not affect reproduction. It can be concluded that the results of the present experiment indicate no significant differences between treatments at 1.5% inclusion levels. However, increasing this level to 3.0% is not recommended due to the rather negative effects on the measured parameters. It should be further investigated whether these adverse effects were obtained due to (i) the higher supplementation level, (ii) combining a supplementation level of 1.5% with 3% or (iii) the duration of supplementation.     

Feed intake and rumen motility in dwarf goats. Effects of some α-adrenergic agonists,prostaglandins and posterior pituitary hormones

The purpose of the present investigation was to test the hypothesis that drug-induced changes in rumen contractions influence feed intake in dwarf goats. Intravenous (i.v.) administration of clonidine (1 ntent/u210j19681n38446/xxlarge956.gif" alt="mgr" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">g kg^-1 min^-1 for 10 min), xylazine (1 ntent/u210j19681n38446/xxlarge956.gif" alt="mgr" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">g kg^-1 min^-1 for 10 min), and PGF-2ntent/u210j19681n38446/xxlarge945.gif" alt="agr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0"> (10 ntent/u210j19681n38446/xxlarge956.gif" alt="mgr" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">g kg^-1 min^-1 for 15 min) caused bradycardia and inhibition of rumen contractions. However, no appetite-stimulating effect of these drugs was observed. Other clinical changes induced by the ntent/u210j19681n38446/xxlarge945.gif" alt="agr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">₂-adrenergic agonists included slight sedation and a decrease in body temperature; all clinical effects of clonidine and xylazine were partly antagonized by tolazoline pretreatment (10 ntent/u210j19681n38446/xxlarge956.gif" alt="mgr" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">g kg^-1 min^-1 for 30 min). These results suggest that the CNS control of feeding differs in ruminants and monogastric species.In dwarf goats fasted for 2 h, i.v. administration of oxytocin (0.01 IU kg^-1 min^-1 for 15 min), vasopressin (0.01 IU kg^-1 min^-1 for 15 min), octapressin (0.003 IU kg^-1 min^-1 for 15 min) or PGE (0.8 ntent/u210j19681n38446/xxlarge956.gif" alt="mgr" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">g kg^-1 min^-1 for 15 min) did not change feeding behaviour during the two observation periods (0–30 min and 180–210 min after drug infusion, respectively). In previous studies, similar doses of these drugs induced changes in heart rate and inhibition of rumen contraction in goats. These findings demonstrate that drug-induced changes in forestomach contractions do not simply cause changes in feeding behaviour. The i.v. infusion of the PGF_{2ntent/u210j19681n38446/xxlarge945.gif" alt="agr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">} analogues etiproston (10 ntent/u210j19681n38446/xxlarge956.gif" alt="mgr" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">g kg^-1 min^-1 for 15 min), luprostiol (30 ntent/u210j19681n38446/xxlarge956.gif" alt="mgr" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">g kg^-1 min^-1 for 15 min), cloprostenol (1 ntent/u210j19681n38446/xxlarge956.gif" alt="mgr" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">g kg^-1 min^-1 for 15 min) and tiaprost (1 ntent/u210j19681n38446/xxlarge956.gif" alt="mgr" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">g kg^-1 min^-1 for 15 min) induced hypophagic effects and stimulated intestinal propulsion.     

The effect of pomegranate seed oil and grapeseed oil on cis‐9, trans‐11 CLA (rumenic acid), n‐3 and n‐6 fatty acids deposition in selected tissues of chickens

The aim of this study was to determine whether diet modification with different doses of grapeseed oil or pomegranate seed oil will improve the nutritive value of poultry meat in terms of n‐3 and n‐6 fatty acids, as well as rumenic acid (cis‐9, trans‐11 conjugated linoleic acid) content in tissues diversified in lipid composition and roles in lipid metabolism. To evaluate the influence of applied diet modification comprehensively, two chemometric methods were used. Results of cluster analysis demonstrated that pomegranate seed oil modifies fatty acids profile in the most potent way, mainly by an increase in rumenic acid content. Principal component analysis showed that regardless of type of tissue first principal component is strongly associated with type of deposited fatty acid, while second principal component enables identification of place of deposition—type of tissue. Pomegranate seed oil seems to be a valuable feed additive in chickens’ feeding.     

秋水仙素处理后‘无核丰’枣的减数分裂行为及2n花粉的形成

运用压片法对秋水仙素滴注处理后的‘无核丰’枣小孢子母细胞减数分裂行为及其与花蕾外部形态变化的相关性进行了研究,并测定了2n花粉的比例。结果表明:秋水仙素处理后枣小孢子母细胞第一次减数分裂正常;在减数分裂前期Ⅱ观察到胞质分裂异常现象;中期Ⅱ纺锤体主要有4种类型:平行型、垂直型、八字型和融合型,分别占27.31%、19.35%、45.27%和8.06%;四分体时期观察到二分体、三分体、四分体,分别占6.00%、43.04%、50.96%;定位异常纺锤体八字型与融合型分别与三分体、二分体呈正相关;秋水仙素处理后‘无核丰’枣2n花粉的形成受胞质分裂异常、纺锤体定位异常两种机制控制,因纺锤体定位异常而产生的2n花粉占2n花粉总数的96.97%,遗传上等同于FDR(第1次分裂重组)型配子,因胞质分裂异常产生的2n花粉在遗传上等同于SDR(第2次分裂重组)型配子;秋水仙素处理后‘无核丰’枣2n花粉绝大多数为FDR型,因而在枣有性多倍化中具有重要的利用价值。小孢子母细胞减数分裂进程与花蕾外部形态变化具有对应关系,花蕾直径达到1.34 mm时,小孢子母细胞开始进入减数分裂;达到1.68 mm时,小孢子母细胞进入四分体时期;超过1.92 mm时,减数分裂结束,且有大量花粉粒形成。2n花粉诱导最佳的秋水仙素滴注时期为细线期末期,即花蕾直径在1.34~1.42 mm时,诱导后‘无核丰’枣2n花粉发生比例为17.36%。     

n阶非线性时滞微分方程的振动性与渐近性

研究了具有强迫项的ｎ项非线性时滞微分方程的解的振动性与渐近性，获得了某些充分条件，在这些条件下，如ｎ为偶数，方程的所有解振动：如ｎ为奇数，方程的每个解或者振动，或者趋于零，对文（１－２）中的定理作了较大的改进。     

北庭故城遗址区种子植物区系研究

通过野外调查，采集植物标本和查阅相关文献资料，对北庭故城遗址区及临近区域种子植物区系进行了分析。结果表明：北庭故城遗址区及临近区域共有种子植物122种，隶属于105属37科。科的组成中，属和种都是以单属科和单种科为主体；属的组成中，单种属和寡种属构成属的结构主体。Drude生活型中以草本植物为主，共102种，占总种数的83．60％。在水分生态类型中，以中生植物和旱生植物为主，其中中生植物共73种，占总种数的59．84％；旱生植物33种，占总种数的27．04％。种子植物区系成分在科的水平上以世界分布为主；属的分布区类型中，温带成分占绝对优势，其中北温带分布属是植物区系的核心。在区域气候环境的长期影响下，植物区系表现出典型的温带性质，没有中国特有分布科属。     

丝角叶蜂属一新种(膜翅目:叶蜂科)

本文记述叶蜂科、丝角叶蜂亚科一新种——杏丝角叶蜂Ｎｅｍａｔｕｓｐｒｕｎｉｖｏｒｏｕｓ。本种在浙江省淳安县严重危害杏树。     

Role of caffeic glucoside esters in defense-repair processing of trees II: Synthesis of 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-ethyl 3-α-L-rhamnopyranosylβ-D-glucopyranoside

The reference compound (9), with a partial structure of acteoside, was synthesized to elucidate the relation between structural features and the precipitation or solubility of the oxidation products of acteoside: 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-ethyl 3-O-(ntent/n17811811834448u/xxlarge945.gif" alt="agr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-ntent/n17811811834448u/xxlarge946.gif" alt="beta" align="MIDDLE" BORDER="0">-D-glucopyranoside (9). The glycosyl acceptor 2-O-benzoyl-3-O-(2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-ntent/n17811811834448u/xxlarge945.gif" alt="agr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-4,6-O-benzylidene-ntent/n17811811834448u/xxlarge945.gif" alt="agr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-D-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (7) was prepared from allyl 2-O-benzoyl-3-O-(2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-ntent/n17811811834448u/xxlarge945.gif" alt="agr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-4,6-O-benzylidene-ntent/n17811811834448u/xxlarge945.gif" alt="agr" align="BASELINE" BORDER="0">-D-glucopyranoside (4) via isomerization of the allyl group with an iridium complex to the 1-propenyl group and its hydrolysis with HgCl₂lHgO, followed by treatment with CCl₃CN and DBU in a 65.5% overall yield. The glycosyl acceptor 3,4-diacetoxyphenethyl alcohol (16) was prepared from homoveratric acid via demethylation with 57% HI and its acetylation with Ac₂O and 85% H₃PO₄, followed by selective reduction of the carboxyl group to the alcohol with a borane-tetrahydrofurane complex in a 61% overall yield. The glycosylation of7 with16 in dichloromethane promoted by BF₃-Et₂O gave a 74.3% yield of8. Hydrolysis of8 with 90% CF₃COOH gave the debenzylidenated product, which was treated with NaOMe to afford a 32% overall yield of the desired compound9. This compound9 was identical with the natural specimen.This study was presented in part at the 46th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Kumamoto, April 3–5, 1996     

Phenology and pollination of Manilkara zapota in forest and homegardens

Knowledge on reproductive phenology and pollination biology are basic elements that should be considered in the management and exploitation of plant species that offer non-timber products. The tropical tree Manilkara zapota is a species from which non-timber products have been obtained for centuries by Mayan communities in Mexico. Nevertheless, there are no quantitative reports on its reproductive biology and the factors that limit fruit production. The present study describes the reproductive phenology, breeding system and pollination of this species in two contrasting environments: medium-height, subdeciduous forest, and homegardens (“solares”) in a Mayan community in the state of Yucatan. Significant differences were found between environments both in the temporal distribution of flower and mature fruit production, as well as in the proportion of mature fruits. Homegarden trees showed the greatest fruit production, although flower production did not differ between environments. Mature fruits were of better quality (i.e., greater fresh weight) in homegardens. Hand pollination experiments showed that M. zapota is self-compatible, and that there is pollinator limitation for fruit production in trees that grow in homegardens. We propose that water and soil nutrients are the main factors limiting M. zapota fruit production in forests, while in homegardens the main factor appears to be pollinator availability.