Familial Congenital Methemoglobinemia in Pomeranian Dogs Caused by a Missense Variant in the NADH‐Cytochrome B5 Reductase Gene

Background

In veterinary medicine, congenital methemoglobinemia associated with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)‐cytochrome b5 reductase (b5R) deficiency is rare. It has been reported in several breeds of dogs, but little information is available about its etiology.

Objectives

To analyze the NADH‐cytochrome b5 reductase gene, CYB5R3, in a Pomeranian dog family with methemoglobinemia suspected to be caused by congenital b5R deficiency.

Animals

Three Pomeranian dogs from a family with methemoglobinemia were analyzed. Five healthy beagles and 5 nonrelated Pomeranian dogs without methemoglobinemia were used as controls.

Methods

Methemoglobin concentration, b5R activity, and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration were measured, and a turbidity index was used to evaluate Heinz body formation. The CYB5R3 genes of the affected dog and healthy dogs were analyzed by direct sequencing.

Results

Methemoglobin concentrations in erythrocytes of the affected dogs were remarkably higher than those of the control dogs. The b5R activity of the affected dogs was notably lower than that of the control dogs. DNA sequencing indicated that this Pomeranian family carried a CYB5R3 gene missense variant (ATC→CTC at codon 194) that resulted in the replacement of isoleucine (Ile) by leucine (Leu).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

This dog family had familial congenital methemoglobinemia caused by b5R deficiency, which resulted from a nonsynonymous variant in the CYB5R3 gene. This variation (c.580A>C) led to an amino acid substitution (p.Ile194Leu), and Ile194 was located in the proximal region of the NADH‐binding motif. Our data suggested that this variant in the canine CYB5R3 gene would affect function of the b5R in erythrocytes.     

小黑麦与黑麦花序结构和籽粒特性比较

植物的花序结构及其形态特征是影响种子生产性能的重要因素。对于禾本科植物而言,其花序大小、小穗数、小花数及小花的外稃、内稃和芒的性状特征直接影响种子形成和产量。本研究通过测定小黑麦品系C2、C35和黑麦品系C13、C33的花序结构特征,得到以下结果:小黑麦花序[(14.30±0.52) cm×(1.24±0.09) cm]明显大于黑麦[(13.20±0.35) cm×(0.82±0.02) cm],小黑麦花序长而粗,黑麦花序短而细;小黑麦花序的小穗数[(21.35±1.47)个]少于黑麦[(30.20±0.79)个];小黑麦每个小穗的小花数较多,为3~4朵,黑麦的小花数趋于稳定,每个小穗有2朵小花。从花序中部小穗的小花结构看,小黑麦下位护颖长[(1.27±0.11) cm]和宽[(0.26±0.03) cm]、上位护颖长[(1.30±0.09) cm]和宽[(0.23±0.04) cm]均显著大于黑麦下位护颖长[(1.04±0.05) cm]和宽[(0.08±0.01) cm]、上位护颖长[(0.94±0.10) cm]和宽[(0.06±0.01) cm];小黑麦中部小穗第1小花的外稃宽[(0.32±0.03) cm]、外稃高[(0.24±0.03) cm]和芒长[(8.35±0.51) cm]、第2小花的外稃宽[(0.35±0.04) cm]、外稃高[(0.25±0.05) cm]和芒长[(8.37±1.19) cm]极显著大于黑麦相应值[(0.26±0.01),(0.15±0.01),(5.50±0.19),(0.25±0.01),(0.17±0.01)和(5.18±0.23) cm];第1和第2小花的外稃长[(1.35±0.06),(1.37±0.06) cm]和内稃长[(0.84±0.04),(1.41±0.06) cm]均小于黑麦的外稃长[(1.49±0.05),(1.47±0.05) cm]和内稃长[(1.45±0.05),(1.47±0.04) cm]。小黑麦的穗粒数[(52.50±1.80)粒]显著低于黑麦[(58.50±2.50)粒] (P<0.05),但其穗粒重[(2.08±0.04) g]、粒重[(0.04±0.00) g]和籽粒宽[(3.04±0.32) mm]均极显著高于黑麦 (P<0.01),每个花序的籽粒不仅体积大,而且质量较重,其籽粒的生产性能高于黑麦。小黑麦籽粒呈椭圆形或长卵圆形,浅黄色,表皮皱缩,饱满度差;黑麦籽粒呈窄纺锤形,青灰色,表皮光滑,籽粒饱满。小黑麦和黑麦花序结构与籽粒性状的Pearson相关分析表明,小黑麦花序宽和花序基部小穗数与籽粒长显著正相关(P<0.05),花序长与籽粒宽极显著正相关(P<0.01),花序中部小穗的下、上位护颖宽分别与穗粒重和穗粒数极显著正相关(P<0.01);黑麦花序中部小穗第2小花的内稃长与籽粒长显著正相关(P<0.05),外稃高与穗粒数极显著负相关(P<0.01)。研究小黑麦和黑麦的花序结构和籽粒特征,对正确区分二者和了解其籽粒的生产性能具有重要意义,同时有利于小黑麦的示范推广。     

Interaction between the sequence of feeding of hay and concentrate,and boiling of barley on feed intake,the activity of hydrolytic enzymes and fermentation in the hindgut of Arabian mares

The interaction between the sequence of feeding of hay and concentrate and the hydrothermal processing of barley in alleviating concentrate effects on intake, and hindgut fermentation in horses was tested. Six Arabian mares (4–10 years of age, 410 ± 35 kg body weight) were used to evaluate the effects of feeding sequence (FS) and type of barley (TB) on intake, and faecal volatile fatty acids (VFA), activities of α‐amylase (AA: EC 3.2.1.1), carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase: EC 3.2.1.4), microcrystalline cellulase (MCCase: EC 3.2.1.91) and general filter paper degrading activity (FPD). Mares were offered a ration of air‐dried alfalfa and concentrate (70:30 as‐fed) in four subsequent periods of 14 days including 8 days of adaptation and 6 days of sampling. In each period and each meal, mares received concentrate either 30 min after (HC) or 30 min before (CH) alfalfa hay. Barley was either milled or boiled in water. Rectal samples were grabbed directly from rectum once per period. Mares subjected to CH had higher dry matter intakes than mares under HC regime. The acetate:propionate ratio (A:P ratio) in rectal content was higher with CH than HC. The AA activity was higher under CH than under HC. Mares fed boiled barley had lower rectal concentrations of VFA and propionate and a higher A:P ratio than mares fed milled barley. Furthermore, the rectal content showed a higher MCCase activity but a lower AA activity when mares were fed boiled compared with milled barley. Interactions between FS and TB were observed with respect to CMCase activity, and concentrations of propionate and valerate. In conclusion, the present results suggest that both, feeding concentrate before hay and boiling the barley, might improve the hindgut environment in Arabian mares, and that the two measures were mostly additive and sometimes even synergistic.     

β‐hydroxy‐β‐methyl butyrate promotes leucine metabolism and improves muscle fibre composition in growing pigs

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of excess leucine (Leu) vs. its metabolites α‐ketoisocaproate (KIC) and β‐hydroxy‐β‐methyl butyrate (HMB) on Leu metabolism, muscle fibre composition and muscle growth in growing pigs. Thirty‐two pigs with a similar initial weight (9.55 ± 0.19 kg) were fed 1 of 4 diets for 45 days: basal diet, basal diet + 1.25% L‐Leu, basal diet + 1.25% KIC‐Ca, basal diet + 0.62% HMB‐Ca. Results indicated that relative to the basal diet and HMB groups, Leu and KIC groups exhibited increased Leu concentrations and decreased concentrations of isoleucine, valine and EAAs in selected muscle (p < 0.05) and had lower mRNA levels of MyHC I and higher expression of MyHC IIx/IIb (p < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the basal and HMB‐supplemented groups. Moreover, the mRNA expression levels of AMPKα and UCP3 were higher but the myostatin mRNA levels were lower in the soleus muscle of the HMB group than those from other groups (p < 0.05). These findings demonstrated that doubling dietary Leu content exerted growth‐depressing effects in growing pigs; dietary KIC supplementation induced muscular branched‐chain amino acid imbalance and promoted muscle toward a more glycolytic phenotype; while dietary HMB supplementation promoted the generation of more oxidative muscle types and increased muscle growth specially in oxidative skeletal muscle, and these effects of HMB might be associated with the AMPKα‐Sirt1‐PGC‐1α axis and mitochondrial biogenesis.     

Disaccharide combinations and the expression of enolase3 and plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase isoform in sturgeon sperm cryopreservation

Acipenser sinensis and Acipenser dabryanus are critically endangered species, so germplasm conservation via cryopreservation of sperm is necessary. Disaccharides can act as membrane‐impermeable cryoprotectants, and enolase3 (ENO3) and plasma membrane Ca²⁺ ATPase isoform (PMCA2) are proteins associated with sperm quality. We considered seven characteristics of sperm quality in cultured brood stock from A. sinensis and A. dabryanus. We tested use of sucrose or trehalose alone and in combination at different concentrations for cryopreservation of A. dabryanus sperm. A low concentration of sucrose plus trehalose (S₁₅T₁₅) was optimal. Mixing of the extender with sucrose, lactose, or trehalose alone or with pairwise mixtures revealed that a mixture of lactose and trehalose (L₁₅T₁₅) gave the best results for both A. sinensis and A. dabryanus. Enolase3 and PMCA2 expression levels were measured in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm via Western blotting. Relative ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels were examined, and the relationship between disaccharide composition, sperm quality and protein expression was explored in A. sinensis. The results showed that relative ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels were the highest at L₁₅T₁₅ in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm. There were significant positive correlations between ENO3 expression and percentage membrane integrity, and between PMCA2 expression and sperm motility parameters (percentage of motile sperm, curvilinear velocity, straight‐line velocity and average path velocity; p < .05) in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm. Our results indicate the optimal disaccharide combination and concentrations for cryopreservation of A. sinensis and A. dabryanus sperm and suggest that ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels could serve as a valuable indicator of sperm quality in A. sinensis.     

干旱胁迫下外源油菜素内酯对玉米幼苗光合作用和D1蛋白的调控效应

为了揭示干旱胁迫下外源油菜素内酯对玉米幼苗光合作用的保护机制,采用溶液培养的方法,以驻玉309为试验材料,研究外源油菜素内酯(BR)预处理及20% PEG-6000模拟干旱胁迫后玉米幼苗的生长参数、叶绿素含量、光合参数、叶绿素荧光参数及D1蛋白含量的变化。结果表明,与干旱胁迫处理(PEG)相比,BR+PEG处理的玉米苗株高增加45.87%,根长增加20.56%,总干物质积累增加8.01%,叶片相对含水量提高4.50%,叶绿素a含量增加26.32%,光合参数(Pn、Gs、Ci、Tr)分别提高9.57%,38.23%,30.19%,28.12%,光合系统Ⅱ(ΦPSⅡ)活性提高了20.48%,最大光化学效率提高了0.66%,光合系统Ⅱ绝对电子传递速率(ETR(Ⅱ)和相对电子传递速率r ETR(Ⅱ))分别提高20.40%和31.02%;D1蛋白含量增加37.34%(P0.05)。说明在干旱胁迫条件下叶片喷施BR可以改善玉米幼苗的生长发育,减缓光合系统的损伤,促进D1蛋白质的稳定,从而提高玉米幼苗对干旱胁迫的适应性。     

三维CAD技术在机械设计中的应用

现代计算机在技术和性能上越发成熟,再加之网络的普及和信息的智能化处理技术的提高,三维CAD技术本身也正逐步成熟,因此,正确地把握CAD技术的发展趋势对我国机械工程中的设计工作具有深远的意义.     

滴灌水肥一体化下施氮量对小麦氮素吸收及土壤硝态氮含量的影响

为探明华北地区山前平原水肥一体化条件下小麦合理的氮肥运筹。于2013-2015年2个小麦生长季,设置4个滴灌施氮量(N0-不施氮、N1-120 kg/hm~2、N2-240 kg/hm~2、N3-360 kg/hm~2)处理,研究滴灌水肥一体化下施氮量对小麦氮素吸收积累和土壤硝态氮含量的影响。结果表明:施氮量N1、N2和N3处理的小麦干质量及产量较处理N0显著增加,N1、N2和N3处理间无显著差异;施氮量对小麦茎秆的氮含量影响较大,但对籽粒氮含量的影响差异不显著;处理N3的小麦总吸氮量分别显著高于处理N0、N1和N2,但处理N1和N2之间无显著差异;氮肥收获指数以N2处理最高,氮肥当季回收利用率、氮肥农学效率、氮肥生产效率和氮肥利用效率均表现出随施氮量增加而降低的趋势;施氮量超过240 kg/hm~2,土壤硝态氮含量增加,且随种植年限的延长更加明显。采用一元二次方程拟合,获得小麦最高产量的施氮量为238.46~250.78 kg/hm~2,经济施氮量为174.28~207.18 kg/hm~2。综合考虑经济效益和生态效益,该条件下小麦滴灌经济施氮量以174~207 kg/hm~2为宜。     

苎麻C3H基因的克隆、生物信息学分析及表达分析

旨在为后期验证C3H基因编码蛋白功能并最终实现低木质素优良苎麻品种的基因工程育种奠定基础。基于苎麻高通量测序信息,利用RACE技术克隆C3H基因全长序列,对其进行生物信息学分析;并利用荧光定量技术对苎麻C3H的表达模式进行研究。获得了全长为1940 bp的苎麻C3H基因c DNA序列Bn C3H-1(Gen Bank登录号为KY078743)。Bn C3H-1基因编码蛋白理化性质和结构的分析表明,该基因编码一个含511个氨基酸,分子量为57.80 k D的亲水性蛋白,它可能定位在内质网上。氨基酸序列和结构分析显示Bn C3H-1有一个保守区域,即P450结构域。系统进化分析表明,该基因与巨桉和苦荞C3H基因具有很高的同源性。