Major ascaroside pheromone component asc-C5 influences reproductive plasticity among isolates of the invasive species pinewood nematode

Pheromones are communication chemicals and regulatory signals used by animals and represent unique tools for organisms to mediate behaviors and make “decisions” to maximize their fitness. Phenotypic plasticity refers to the innate capacity of a species to tolerate a greater breadth of environmental conditions across which it adapts to improve its survival, reproduction, and fitness. The pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, an invasive nematode species, was accidentally introduced from North America into Japan, China, and Europe; however, few studies have investigated its pheromones and phenotypic plasticity as a natural model. Here, we demonstrated a novel phenomenon, in which nematodes under the condition of pheromone presence triggered increased reproduction in invasive strains (JP1, JP2, CN1, CN2, EU1, and EU2), while it simultaneously decreased reproduction in native strains (US1 and US2). The bidirectional effect on fecundity, mediated by presence/absence of pheromones, is henceforth termed pheromone-regulative reproductive plasticity (PRRP). We further found that synthetic ascaroside asc-C5 (ascr#9), the major pheromone component, plays a leading role in PRRP and identified 2 candidate receptor genes, Bxydaf-38 and Bxysrd-10, involved in perceiving asc-C5. These results suggest that plasticity of reproductive responses to pheromones in pinewood nematode may increase its fitness in novel environments following introduction. This opens up a new perspective for invasion biology and presents a novel strategy of invasion, suggesting that pheromones, in addition to their traditional roles in chemical signaling, can influence the reproductive phenotype among native and invasive isolates. In addition, this novel mechanism could broadly explain, through comparative studies of native and invasive populations of animals, a potential underlying factor behind of the success of other biological invasions.     

黏虫蛹性别的快速鉴别方法

根据黏虫Mythimna separata(Walker)蛹生殖孔的位置、腹部腹节的外部形态学特征、生殖孔(产卵孔)至排泄孔之间的距离,快速、准确鉴别黏虫蛹性别。雌蛹第8腹节腹面中央的生殖孔与第9腹节的产卵孔连接形成一纵裂缝,裂缝两侧平坦,无突起。生殖孔下端与第9腹节的前缘连接、产卵孔下端与第10腹节的前缘连接,形成2个明显的"人"字纹。雄蛹第8腹节无纵裂缝,在第9腹节腹面中央的生殖孔呈现的纵裂缝连接第10腹节,裂缝两边各有一个半圆形瘤状突起。雌雄蛹排泄孔均在第10腹节腹面,雌蛹产卵孔下端至排泄孔上端之间的距离为(400.85±151.10)μm,雄蛹生殖孔下端至排泄孔上端之间的距离为(178.21±93.59)μm,约为雌蛹相应距离的一半。采用该方法观察的270头羽化蛹的性别鉴别准确率100%。该方法对于快速鉴别黏虫蛹的性别、开展黏虫相关的生物学研究以及预测预报等具有重要的参考价值。     

4种不同性诱剂对玉米草地贪夜蛾诱集作用

为准确掌握草地贪夜蛾成虫发生动态,筛选对当地种群专一性强、灵敏度高的性诱剂,对深圳百乐宝生物农业科技有限公司(BLB)、宁波纽康生物技术有限公司(NK)、江苏宁录科技股份有限公司(NL)、南京新安中绿生物科技有限公司(XAZL)4个厂家生产的草地贪夜蛾性诱剂在江苏盐城市大丰区进行田间诱捕效果试验,探讨草地贪夜蛾性诱剂的使用技术。结果表明:4种不同性诱剂诱芯对草地贪夜蛾的诱集效果存在明显差异。BLB诱芯和NL诱芯可以有效监测草地贪夜蛾成虫田间发生动态,羽化高峰期明显,且峰值日期一致,NK诱芯诱集的成虫虫峰不明显,XAZL诱芯零星诱到成虫,无明显成虫高峰;BLB诱芯监测期内日均诱蛾量、最高单次诱蛾量、总诱蛾量均显著高于其他3种诱芯,其总诱蛾量达136.75头,分别是NL诱芯、NK诱芯、XAZL诱芯的1.47倍、4.76倍、10.52倍;通过对BLB诱芯进行持续30 d和持续60 d的诱捕对比试验,发现BLB诱芯1~30 d内诱捕性能稳定,诱蛾量大,31~60 d内日均诱蛾量、最高单次诱蛾量、总诱蛾量均有所下降且达显著水平,尤其是50 d后诱捕量下降明显。结果表明:BLB诱芯的诱蛾量大,能够明显反映出草地贪夜蛾的羽化高峰期,符合测报要求,更适合本地区草地贪夜蛾的监测,使用该诱芯时建议30 d更换1次。     

蜜腺发达Ogura晚抽薹不结球白菜雄性不育系的鉴定

本试验以Ogura晚抽薹不结球白菜薹ms等为材料,通过观察和比较熊蜂对不同白菜品种访花次数和访花滞留时间的差异,选择出能吸引熊蜂访花且访花滞留时间长的Ogura薹ms植株。对选择出植株的蜜腺大小和开花结实特性进行了进一步鉴定,结果表明选出的薹ms株蜜腺发达,开花结实正常,为选育优良晚抽薹胞质不结球白菜雄性不育系奠定了基础。     

生殖细胞早期发生与减数分裂启动调节机制的研究进展

卵巢性生殖疾病发生的主要原因之一是卵子发生过程中减数分裂发生或染色体分离异常。为了更好地进行这些生殖疾病的诊断和治疗,需要充分地了解个体发育的生物学过程中及关键时间点。鉴于此,本文主要阐述了哺乳动物生殖细胞早期发生和减数分裂启动的生理过程,介绍生殖细胞的出现、迁移、性别分化和减数分裂的整个过程。深入了解卵母细胞发生过程将为利用体外发育来源的卵母细胞治疗卵巢性生殖疾病,克服女性不孕、卵巢早衰等重大疾病提供一定的理论支持。     

Effect of feed restriction on dairy cow milk production: a review

In the dairy cow, negative energy balance affects milk yield and composition as well as animal health. Studying the effects of negative energy balance on dairy cow milk production is thus essential. Feed restriction (FR) experiments attempting to reproduce negative energy balance by reducing the quantity or quality of the diet were conducted in order to better describe the animal physiology changes. The study of FR is also of interest since with climate change issues, cows may be increasingly faced with periods of drought leading to a shortage of forages. The aim of this article is to review the effects of FR during lactation in dairy cows to obtain a better understanding of metabolism changes and how it affects mammary gland activity and milk production and composition. A total of 41 papers studying FR in lactating cows were used to investigate physiological changes induced by these protocols. FR protocols affect the entire animal metabolism as indicated by changes in blood metabolites such as a decrease in glucose concentration and an increase in non-esterified fatty acid or β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations; hormonal regulations such as a decrease in insulin and insulin-like growth factor I or an increase in growth hormone concentrations. These variations indicated a mobilization of body reserve in most studies. FR also affects mammary gland activity through changes in gene expression and could affect mammary cell turnover through cell apoptosis, cell proliferation, and exfoliation of mammary epithelial cells into milk. Because of modifications of the mammary gland and general metabolism, FR decreases milk production and can affect milk composition with decreased lactose and protein concentrations and increased fat concentration. These effects, however, can vary widely depending on the type of restriction, its duration and intensity, or the stage of lactation in which it takes place. Finally, to avoid yield loss and metabolic disorders, it is important to identify reliable biomarkers to monitor energy balance.     

New technique of sex preselection for increasing female ratio in boar sperm model

In this study, we tried to optimize the porcine semen extender conditions to maximize the differences between live X chromosome-bearing (X) spermatozoa and to Y chromosome-bearing (Y) spermatozoa without a decline in the fertility rate at different pH conditions during storage. We observed the viability of X and Y boar spermatozoa in acidic (pH 6.2), original (pH 7.2), and alkaline condition (pH 8.2) for 5 days to investigate the effect of storage conditions on the X to Y spermatozoa ratio. The functional parameters of spermatozoa were also examined to evaluate sperm quality. Sperm motility was preserved at pH 7.2 and pH 6.2 for 3 days, while sperm motility at pH 8.2 decreased significantly after 2 days. Non-capacitated spermatozoa increased while capacitated spermatozoa decreased during storage. Sperm viability decreased significantly duration-dependent under all pH conditions, but there was no significant difference during storage at pH 6.2 and 7.2. The X: Y ratio of live spermatozoa in acidic condition was maximized (1.2:1) without affecting the sperm function and fertility-related protein expression after 2 days compared to original conditions. Moreover, insemination of sows using acidic extender increased the number of female pups on days 1 and 2 of preservation. These results indicate that the production of female offspring may increase when acidic BTS is used for 2 days without affecting the success rate of AI. Above all, this method is simple and economical compared to other methods.     

Diagnosis and treatment of mastitis in mares

Infection and inflammation of the udder (mastitis) is a common condition affecting all domestic mammals, but it appears to be less prevalent in mares than in dairy cows and dairy goats. The seemingly reduced incidence of mastitis in mares can be partially explained by the smaller size and relatively concealed location of the mare’s udder, coupled with a smaller storage capacity than cows and goats. Mastitis can affect lactating, peripartum, dry mares, mares at dry-off or prepubertal foals. Common clinical signs include swollen mammary tissue, abnormal mammary gland secretion, fever and anorexia; less common signs are hindlimb lameness and a swollen mammary vein. On rare occasions, mastitis pathogens can severely affect the nursing foal and mares may develop fibrotic tissue and consequent agalactia in the side(s) or quarter(s) affected. Based on the clinical presentation, mastitis can be classified as acute or chronic, and clinical or subclinical. Diagnosis is based on the clinical signs aided with aerobic culture and cytological evaluation of the gland secretion. In addition, these ancillary tests can also be used to assess prognosis and duration of treatment. Mares suffering from mastitis may present neutrophilia and hyperfibrinogenaemia. Treatment for mastitis includes antimicrobial therapy (systemic and/or locally), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, frequent milking and cold hosing with/without hot-packing applied on the gland. While the frequent monitoring of mares after weaning and reducing food intake should be part of common practices at weaning, cleaning of the udder, control of insect populations and frequent milking of mares with a foal unable to nurse can also aid in preventing mastitis.