Increased Inflammatory Mediators in Horses Naturally Infected with Trypanosoma vivax. A Preliminary Study

The aim of this study was to measure the levels of inflammatory mediators in serum from horses naturally infected with Trypanosoma vivax. Banked serum samples collected during a previously reported T. vivax natural infection were used to analyze proinflammatory cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 (IL-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and nitrite/nitrate (NO_x) levels. We evaluated 12 serum samples from horses from a farm in southern Brazil, four of which had parasitological and molecular diagnoses for T. vivax and presented with clinical signs of disease. Cytokines were assessed by quantitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and NO_x was measured using the modified Griess method. Levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, and NO_x were increased in serum of infected animals compared to that in noninfected animals. Therefore, infection with T. vivax caused an increase in proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide content.     

Role of estrogen receptor-α (ESR1) and the type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGFR1) in estradiol-stimulated proliferation of cultured bovine satellite cells

Although the exact mechanism(s) by which estradiol (E₂) enhances muscle growth in a number of species, including humans and cattle, is not known, E₂ treatment has been shown to stimulate proliferation of cultured bovine satellite cells (BSCs). This is particularly significant because satellite cells are the source of nuclei needed to support postnatal muscle fiber hypertrophy and are thus crucial in determining the rate and extent of muscle growth. The objective of this study was to assess the role of estrogen receptor-α (ESR1) and the type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGFR1) in E₂-stimulated proliferation of cultured BSCs. To accomplish this, we have used small interfering RNA (siRNA) to silence expression of ESR1 or IGFR1 and assessed the effects on E₂-stimulated proliferation in BSC cultures. In BSCs treated with nonspecific siRNA, E₂ significantly (P < 0.05) stimulates proliferation under conditions in which neither IGF-1 nor IGF-2 expression is increased; however, treatment of ESR1- or IGFR1-silenced cells with E₂ does not significantly stimulate proliferation. These results indicate that both ESR1 and IGFR1 are required for E₂ to stimulate proliferation in BSC cultures. The fact that this occurs under culture conditions in which neither IGF-1 nor IGF-2 mRNA expression is increased strongly suggests that E₂ activates IGFR1 via a mechanism that does not involve increased IGF-1 or IGF-2 binding to the receptor.     

Chlamydia infection in cats in New Zealand

Conjunctival swabs collected in 1991-92 from 333 pedigree and non-pedigree cats were tested for the presence of Chlamydia spp. antigen using an ELISA antigen kit. Forty (18.4%) of the 217 samples from cats with conjunctivitis were positive. Seven (6%) of 116 samples from cats which were in contact with cats with conjunctivitis but which showed no clinical signs at the time of sample collection were positive. Positive-testing cats were frequently from multi-cat households. Chlamydia spp. is present and associated with conjunctivitis in cats in New Zealand. Infection may occur concurrently with viral diseases. Feline calicivirus was recovered from 27 (21 with conjunctivitis) of 37 cats tested in five catteries. Four cats (with conjunctivitis) were FIV-positive.     

Pregnancy recognition signaling mechanisms in ruminants and pigs

Maternal recognition of pregnancy refers to the requirement for the conceptus（embryo and its associated extraembryonic membranes） to produce a hormone that acts on the uterus and/or corpus luteum（CL） to ensure maintenance of a functional CL for production of progesterone;the hormone required for pregnancy in most mammals.The pregnancy recognition signal in primates is chorionic gonadotrophin which acts directly on the CL via luteinizing hormone receptors to ensure maintenance of functional CL during pregnancy.In ruminants,interferon tau（IFNT） is the pregnancy recognition signal.IFNT is secreted during the peri-implantation period of pregnancy and acts on uterine epithelia to silence expression of estrogen receptor alpha and oxytocin receptor which abrogates the oxytocin-dependent release of luteolytic pulses of prostaglandin F2-alpha（PGF） by uterine epithelia;therefore,the CL continues to produce progesterone required for pregnancy.Pig conceptuses secrete interferon delta and interferon gamma during the peri-implantation period of pregnancy,but there is no evidence that they are involved in pregnancy recognition signaling.Rather,pig conceptuses secrete abundant amounts of estrogens between Days 11 to 15 of pregnancy required for maternal recognition of pregnancy.Estrogen,likely in concert with prolactin,prevents secretion of PGF into the uterine venous drainage（endocrine secretion）,but maintains secretion of PGF into the uterine lumen（exocrine secretion） where it is metabolized to a form that is not luteolytic.Since PGF is sequestered within the uterine lumen and unavailable to induce luteolysis,functional CL are maintained for production of progesterone.In addition to effects of chorionic gonadotrophin,IFNT and estrogens to signal pregnancy recognition,these hormones act on uterine epithelia to enhance expression of genes critical for growth and development of the conceptus.     

外源脱落酸和冠菌素对小麦籽粒萌芽的影响

[目的]通过研究外源脱落酸(ABA)和冠菌素(COR)对小麦籽粒萌芽的影响,探索COR用于防治小麦收获期穗发芽的可行性。[方法]以易穗发芽的白皮小麦品种济麦22和抗穗发芽的红皮小麦品种扬麦16为材料,以不同浓度ABA和COR处理两品种小麦籽粒后进行萌芽,测定萌芽率、芽长以及萌芽过程中的α-淀粉酶活性。[结果]38μmol/L以上浓度的ABA处理和0.05μmol/L以上浓度的COR处理均对两品种籽粒的萌发及芽的生长表现出显著的抑制作用,且COR抑制小麦种子萌发的生物活性约为ABA的200～1 500倍;浓度高于76μmol/L的ABA和0.05μmol/L的COR对两品种小麦籽粒萌发过程中的α-淀粉酶活性有抑制作用,且浓度越高抑制程度越大。[结论]ABA和COR可能通过抑制α-淀粉酶活性来抑制小麦籽粒的萌发和芽的生长;同浓度同一抑制剂处理下,白皮的济麦22萌芽及α-淀粉酶活性受抑制的程度显著高于扬麦16。该研究为COR用作控制大田小麦收获期穗发芽的可行性提供理论依据。     

水稻α-淀粉酶基因的表达模式与颖花开放的关系

【目的】淀粉降解与水稻浆片膨大和颖花开放过程密切相关,探究α-淀粉酶基因在颖花开放过程中的作用,为杂交水稻制种效率及产量的提高提供理论依据。【方法】在水稻扬花时,利用稀释碱性品红溶液进行离体穗子吸水试验,观察碱性品红在颖花中残留的组织,通过碘-碘化钾染色法确定11—14期（依据雄蕊发育分期）淀粉粒的分布变化,并通过RT-PCR、RT-qPCR和GUS报告基因检测多个α-淀粉酶基因在此期间的时空表达模式。【结果】水稻颖花开放前,内外稃片通过相互嵌合的钩合槽（marginal tissues of palea,mtp）将浆片和雌雄蕊封闭在内。当颖花开放时,浆片快速膨大,使得内外稃片的钩合点松开。扬花期间,离体穗子在稀释碱性品红溶液中吸水后,碱性品红染料主要残留在内外稃片钩合槽和浆片相连处组织以及花丝中。碘染试验显示,在12期（颖花开放前）,淀粉粒主要分布在雄蕊和内外稃片钩合槽,浆片中也有少量淀粉粒,在13—14期（颖花开放中）,内外稃片钩合槽和浆片中的淀粉粒均降解。RT-PCR分析发现OsRAmy2A和OsRAmy3D的表达量从12期开始上升,至13—14期表达量显著增强,到受精后1 d(...     

大豆α-生育酚的遗传与QTL分析

【目的】 通过对大豆α-生育酚进行遗传和QTL分析,研究其遗传机制,定位其主效QTL,为高α-生育酚含量的大豆品种选育奠定遗传学基础。【方法】 以栽培大豆晋豆23为母本、山西农家品种大豆灰布支黑豆（ZDD02315）为父本杂交衍生的447个RIL作为供试群体构建遗传图谱,试验群体及亲本分别于2011年、2012年和2015年夏季在河南省农业科学院原阳试验基地种植,冬季在海南省三亚南繁基地种植。田间试验采取随机区组设计,2次重复。从6个环境中每个家系选取15.00 g籽粒饱满,大小一致的大豆种子,利用高效液相色谱法定性、定量测定样品中的α-生育酚含量。采用主基因+多基因混合遗传分离分析法和WinQTLCart 2.5复合区间作图法,对大豆α-生育酚含量进行主基因+多基因混合遗传分析和QTL定位。【结果】 基于主基因+多基因混合遗传分离分析法,α-生育酚受4对主基因控制,遗传基因分布在双亲中。4对主基因间加性效应值中3对为正值,表明这些基因来源于母本晋豆23;1对为负值,表明该对基因来源于父本灰布支黑豆;4对主基因之间相互作用的上位性效应表现为正值和负值的各有3对,说明不同基因间上位性效应对α-TOC的影响方向并不完全一致。环境因素引起的变异为0.13%—4.05%。表明α-TOC主要受4对主基因影响,受环境因素影响较小。采用WinQTLCart 2.5复合区间作图（CIM）共检测到17个影响α-生育酚的QTL,分布于第1、2、5、6、8、14、16、17共8条染色体中,单个QTL的贡献率8.35%—35.78%,QTL主要表现为加性效应。qα-D1a-1同时在2011年原阳、2012年原阳和三亚、2015年原阳4个环境下检测到,且均定位在第1染色体Satt320—Satt254标记区间19.79 cM处,解释的表型变异分别为12.55%、12.01%和11.89%、12.61%,加性效应值0.119-0.132,增加α-TOC含量的等位基因来自母本晋豆23;qα-A2-1同时在2011年原阳和三亚、2015年原阳3个环境下检测到,且均定位在第8染色体Sat_129—Satt377标记区间44.53 cM处,解释的表型变异分别为23.18%和22.56%、23.01%,加性效应值-0.195—-0.180,增加α-TOC含量的等位基因来自父本灰布支黑豆。qα-D1a-1和qα-A2-1 2个QTL能够稳定遗传。【结果】 α-生育酚最适遗传模型符合4MG-AI,即4对具有加性上位性效应的主基因遗传模型。其遗传主要受4对主基因影响,受环境因素影响较小。检测到α-生育酚的2个稳定主效QTL,Satt320—Satt254和Sat_129—Satt377是共位标记区间。     

饲粮α-亚麻酸水平对意大利蜜蜂工蜂幼虫生理机能的影响

【目的】探究饲粮中α-亚麻酸的添加水平对意大利蜜蜂（Apis mellifera ligustica）工蜂幼虫抗氧化活性和免疫能力的影响。【方法】移取1日龄意大利蜜蜂工蜂幼虫1 200只,随机分为5组,每组5个重复,每个重复48只;其中1组为对照组,饲喂不添加α-亚麻酸的基础饲粮,4组为处理组,分别饲喂α-亚麻酸添加水平为0.02%、0.04%、0.06%和0.08%的饲粮。按照室内蜜蜂幼虫饲养方法,将1日龄幼虫用移虫针移至温度适宜的加入200 μL饲粮的24孔细胞培养板内,培养板置于恒温培养箱中（温度33℃,相对湿度55%）,试验期间每天更换饲粮。饲养至第6天末或第7天初,幼虫开始有直立或排便现象时,将幼虫转移至提前铺好灭菌纸的24孔细胞培养板内准备化蛹。从饲养第1天开始,每天检查并记录幼虫和蛹的死亡数量,并将死亡个体及时移除,直至未死亡的蛹全部羽化新蜂,记录成功化蛹和羽化新蜂个体数量,统计幼虫化蛹率和羽化率。各组分别取5、6和7日龄幼虫测定抗氧化、免疫、脂质代谢指标及相关基因表达量。【结果】饲粮中α-亚麻酸的添加水平为0.02%和0.04%时,化蛹率和羽化率显著高于与其他处理组（P＜0.05）,而工蜂幼虫血淋巴中甘油三酯（TG）、总胆固醇（TC）和低密度脂蛋白（LDL）含量显著低于对照组,高密度脂蛋白（HDL）的含量却显著高于对照组（P＜0.05）。饲粮中α-亚麻酸的添加水平为0.04%时,工蜂幼虫超氧化物歧化酶（T-SOD）的活性较对照组显著增加,丙二醛（MDA）的含量显著降低（P＜0.05）。饲粮中α-亚麻酸的添加水平为0.02%、0.04%和0.06%时,6日龄工蜂幼虫的溶菌酶（lysozyme）和酚氧化酶（PO）活性显著高于对照组（P＜0.05）。饲粮中α-亚麻酸添加水平为0.04%时,6日龄工蜂幼虫脂肪酸合成酶（FAS）和乙酰辅酶A羧化酶（ACC）活性显著低于对照组（P＜0.05）。饲粮中α-亚麻酸添加水平为0.04%时,5和7日龄工蜂幼虫lysozyme和PO相对表达量显著高于对照组,但饲粮中α-亚麻酸添加水平为0.08%时,lysozyme相对表达量会显著降低（P＜0.05）。【结论】α-亚麻酸对意大利蜜蜂工蜂幼虫抗氧化活性和免疫能力有一定影响,幼虫饲粮中α-亚麻酸适宜添加水平为0.02%—0.04%。     

Plant and spider communities benefit differently from the presence of planted hedgerows in highway verges

Road verges should play a crucial role as a refuge for native flora and fauna in human dominated landscapes. However, the influence of construction choices, such as plantation of woody species, on the biodiversity supported by roadsides has received little attention, although the presence of hedgerows in roadsides is likely to enhance their role as a refuge, notably for woodland species. Using standardised methods, we assessed the impact of planted hedgerows on two taxonomic groups (plants and spiders) inhabiting highway verges within an intensive agricultural landscape. We examined community richness, taxonomic and functional composition in sites with and without planted hedgerows. At the site level, the response of plant and spider communities to the presence of planted hedgerows differed markedly: hedgerows were associated with significantly higher plant richness (higher α-diversity), but similar spider richness. Plant communities in sites without hedgerows appeared as a subset of communities in sites with hedgerows, whereas spider communities in non-planted sites were complementary to that of planted sites (increased β-diversity). The presence of planted hedgerows was also associated with increased taxonomic and functional trait diversity at the landscape level (γ-diversity), through an increased β-diversity in both plants and spiders. Our results thus suggest that a mosaic of planted hedgerows and grassland habitats is crucial for the maintenance of biodiversity at a landscape scale. By providing information for road practitioners and policy makers regarding their potential impact on biodiversity, these results have important direct implications for the management of road networks.     

伊犁马对补喂α-酮异己酸的吸收及其某些相关代谢的研究

为探究伊犁马对补喂不同水平α-酮异己酸的吸收及其某些相关代谢,采取单因素多水平试验设计方法,选取20匹年龄为1岁,体重(295.25±25.15)kg的伊犁马,分成4组,每组5匹。试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组分别补喂6、12、18 gα-酮异己酸,进行为期25 d的试验。在试验第25天采集血液样品。结果表明:(1)随着α-酮异己酸补喂水平的增加,血浆中α-酮异己酸浓度的变化呈先上升后下降的趋势。与对照组相比,补喂α-酮异己酸1 h后各试验组血浆α-酮异己酸浓度分别提高了11.2%、7.86%和21.51%,且均达到了峰值(P>0.05);(2)随着α-酮异己酸补喂水平的增加,血浆中β-羟基-β-甲基丁酸浓度的变化呈先下降后上升再下降的趋势。与对照组相比,各试验组补喂前0 h血浆β-羟基-β-甲基丁酸浓度呈下降趋势,补喂后1、2、4 h血浆β-羟基-β-甲基丁酸浓度均有所升高(P>0.05);(3)与对照组相比,各试验组血浆α-酮异己酸和β-羟基-β-甲基丁酸浓度均差异不显著(P>0.05);试验Ⅱ组和试验Ⅲ组血浆亮氨酸浓度分别提高了22.40%和22.24%(P>0.05);试验Ⅰ组和试验Ⅲ组血浆异亮氨酸浓度极显著降低(P<0.01);血浆缬氨酸浓度显著降低(P<0.05);试验Ⅲ组血浆赖氨酸、甲硫氨酸、精氨酸和谷氨酰胺浓度均显著降低(P<0.05);各试验组血浆5-羟色胺浓度极显著降低(P<0.01);试验Ⅲ组血浆三甲基组氨酸浓度降低了18.74%(P>0.05)。补喂α-酮异己酸提高了伊犁马血浆α-酮异己酸浓度,且各试验组均在补喂后1 h达到峰值;提高了血浆β-羟基-β-甲基丁酸和亮氨酸的浓度。通过补喂不同水平的α-酮异己酸,改变了伊犁马对某些氨基酸的吸收利用。