Effects of a high milk intake during the pre‐weaning period on nutrient metabolism and growth rate in Japanese Black cattle

This study aimed to determine the effects of feeding an increased volume of high‐fat milk during the early post‐natal life on metabolite concentrations in the blood, the expression of key genes regulating intermediary metabolism in the skeletal muscles, and the rate of growth of Japanese Black cattle. All calves were fed a high‐fat milk replacer (crude protein, 26%; crude fat, 25.5%; total dissolved nitrogen, 116%). Control calves (n = 4) were nursed with 500 g milk replacer until 3 months of age, whereas calves in the experimental group (n = 4) were nursed with 1800 g milk replacer until 3 months, and then the volume was gradually reduced until 5 months. Body weight was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group at 7 months. Plasma glucose concentrations were significantly lower in the experimental group. Expression of glucose‐transporter‐4 messenger RNA (mRNA) was lower, whereas that of glucose transporter 1, cluster of differentiation 36, and carnitine palmitoyltransferase‐1b mRNA was significantly higher in the Longissimus thoracis of the experimental group. Nutritional status during early post‐natal life appears to strongly influence the growth rate and glucose and lipid metabolism in Japanese Black cattle.     

Effects of butafosfan with or without cyanocobalamin on the metabolism of early lactating cows with subclinical ketosis

Fifty‐one dairy cows with subclinical ketosis were used to investigate the effects of butafosfan alone or in combination with cyanocobalamin on metabolism. Treatments included i.v. injection of 10 ml/100 kg of body weight with butafosfan (BUT) or combined cyanocobalamin with butafosfan (BUTCO) at a similar concentration as in Catosal^®. Control cows (CON) received a 0.9% saline solution. Cows were injected on days 1–3 at 22.3 ± 0.7 days post‐partum. Milk production and composition were not affected by the treatments. In plasma, CON cows had a significantly higher plasma NEFA concentration (0.59 ± 0.03 mm ) across the study period than BUTCO cows (p < 0.05; 0.42 ± 0.03 mm ), whereas the plasma NEFA concentration of BUT was intermediate (0.52 ± 0.03 mm ) but not significantly different from CON. Both BUTCO and BUT cows had lower (p < 0.05) plasma BHBA concentrations (1.02 ± 0.06 mm and 1.21 ± 0.06 mm , respectively) across the study period than CON (1.34 ± 0.06 mm ). Plasma glucose was not different between treatments, but plasma glucagon concentrations were consistently high in BUT compared to BUTCO and CON. Lowest post‐treatment glucagon levels were observed in BUTCO. Hepatic mRNA abundance of liver X receptor α, a nuclear receptor protein involved in lipid metabolism, was higher in BUTCO compared to BUT and CON (p < 0.05) on day 7. Furthermore, on day 7, the mRNA abundance of beta‐hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase 2 was higher in BUTCO compared to BUT and CON (p < 0.01). In conclusion, injections of combined cyanocobalamin with butafosfan post‐partum in early lactation ketotic dairy cows act on lipid metabolism with effects on plasma metabolites, most likely mediated via modified activity of key factors in the liver. Results indicate that the application of butafosfan only in combination with cyanocobalamin exhibits the expected positive effects on metabolism.     

Evidence that oxidative stress is higher in replacement gilts than in multiparous sows

The recent success obtained in term of increasing the litter size of sows has not correlated with a reduction of replacement rate. There is thus an increased economic demand for gilts with optimal reproductive potential and longevity. Unfortunately, replacement gilts are known to be more susceptible to diseases and less productive than multiparous sows. Interestingly, reproductive performance, resistance to diseases and longevity could all be largely affected by oxidative stress. To investigate whether oxidative stress conditions could account for the poor longevity of gilts, three distinct groups of conventional Yorkshire × Landrace sows were formed based on their similar age and parity (gilts, second parity sows as well as fourth to fifth parity sows). All animals were slaughtered during the post‐ovulatory period, and blood as well as tissue samples were collected. Biomarkers of oxidative damage to proteins (carbonyls) and DNA (8‐OHdG) were analysed in samples. Specific mRNA expression of major antioxidants such as glutathione peroxidases 1, 3 and 4 (GPx1, GPx3, GPx4) as well as superoxide dismutases 1 and 2 (Sod1, Sod2) were monitored in liver and kidney samples by quantitative RT‐PCR. Specific enzymatic activities of both GPx and SOD were measured by spectrophotometric assays. The plasma concentration of protein carbonyls was significantly different between the three groups with the highest concentration being observed in gilts (p ≤ 0.001). The mRNA expression levels of GPx1 and GPx4 were also significantly increased in the liver of gilts when compared to multiparous sows (p ≤ 0.05). SOD2 enzymatic activity was found to be higher in the liver of gilts than multiparous sows (p ≤ 0.05). Taken together, these results indicate that replacement gilts sustain significantly higher oxidative conditions than multiparous sows. Current findings may contribute to the design of nutritional regimens that will increase the productivity of gilts by counteracting oxidative stress.     

葫芦砧木低温处理鉴定方法研究

对2个具有低温抗性差异的葫芦砧木A12、A05及西瓜TRM进行低温处理,试验结果表明,葫芦幼苗(0.43~0.71)的低温抗性显著高于西瓜(1.0),4℃条件下A12的耐低温性高于A05,6℃条件下相反;3叶期2个砧木间冷害指数差异显著,且叶绿素含量变化均达极显著,叶绿素含量变化程度与冷害指数具有显著正相关(R2=0.65),因此,叶绿素含量可以作为耐低温葫芦砧木材料选择的一个标准,且3叶1心期6℃为相对较好的低温处理条件。     

Transient hyperammonemia due to urea cycle enzyme deficiency in Irish wolfhounds

BACKGROUND: Irish Wolfhounds frequently have a congenital portosystemic shunt, but a considerable proportion of the 6- to 8-wk-old pups has hyperammonemia in the absence of portosystemic shunting. This hyperammonemia causes no signs and is transient, normalizing at the age of 3-4 months. HYPOTHESIS: Transient hyperammonemia has a metabolic basis in Irish Wolfhounds. ANIMALS: Two related (same sire) litters of Irish Wolfhounds (17 pups) and their parents were studied. METHODS: Integrity of the portal circulation was examined by ultrasonography and scintigraphy. Absence of parenchymal liver disease was verified by liver biopsy. Amino acid profiles were measured in 4 pups and repeated in 2 of these pups when ammonia concentrations had normalized. The amino acid profiles were compared with those of healthy Irish Wolfhound pups. RESULTS: Fasting venous ammonia concentrations were high (113-622 microg/dL, 65-345 micromol/L) in all pups, whereas bile acids were within reference range in all but 1. The ammonia and bile acid concentrations from all parents were within reference range. Portosystemic shunting was excluded in all but 1 pup. Liver biopsy excluded significant lesions in all 10 pups examined. Hypercitrullinemia was found and persisted even when ammonia had normalized, at the expense of an increase in glutamine and asparagine. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Citrulline concentrations are controlled by the urea cycle enzymes argininosuccinase and argininosuccinate synthetase, and a defect in either of these enzymes may be responsible for the transient hyperammonemia in Irish Wolfhounds. Resolution of the hyperammonemia is associated with increased activity of alternative metabolic pathways forming glutamine and asparagine. Confirmation requires measurement of enzyme activities in liver tissue.     

水分胁迫和复水对紫花苜蓿幼苗叶绿素荧光特性的影响

利用PEG-6000模拟水分胁迫(ψs=-0.2MPa,胁迫时间:48 h,复水48 h),研究了紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa L)品种陇东苜蓿和阿尔冈金叶片叶绿素荧光特性和光合色素含量的变化,旨在探讨紫花苜蓿水分胁迫条件下的光合反应机制.结果表明:光化学淬灭系数(qP)和PSII线性电子传递的有效量子产额(YIELD)以及非光化学淬灭系数(qN)和表观光合电子传递效率(ETR)在胁迫前后随光合有效辐射(PAR)的变化规律分别可用公式:Y=aLn(X) b(Y:qP或YIELD,X:PAR,X≠0)和Y=aX2 bX c(Y:qN或ETR,X:PAR)来表示;在受到干旱胁迫后,PSII最大光能转化效率(Fv/Fm)、PSII潜在活性(Fv/Fo)和光合色素含量均明显低于对照,在任意光强下的qP、YIELD和ETR值也极显著低于对照的相应值,qN值则极显著高于对照的相应值;同时,和对照相比,qN和ETR光响应曲线顶点所对应的光强值在受到胁迫后亦明显下降,表明光抑制初始点的降低和最大光保护能力的减弱,甚至光抑制的提前到来.干旱胁迫使得PSⅡ反应中心结构和功能遭到破坏而部分关闭,光合电子传递受阻,光能利用与光化学转化与能力下降,吸收的光能更多的以热能形式耗散.复水后,虽然有光保护机制的存在,但除陇东苜蓿光合色素含量及阿尔冈金类胡萝卜素外,各参数均未能恢复到对照水平,因此旱后复水不能完全解除干旱对PSII反应中心所带来的伤害.紫花苜蓿幼苗对干旱胁迫较为敏感.供试品种相比,陇东苜蓿耐旱性优于阿尔冈金.     

铁皮石斛在人工光型密闭式植物工厂的适宜光照强度

人工光型密闭式植物工厂适于高附加值植物尤其是珍贵药用植物的大规模/低成本化生产,其环境调控对珍贵药用植物的产量和质量有重要影响。笔者研究探索在控制温度、湿度、CO2浓度和光周期的条件下,光照强度对铁皮石斛(Dendrobium officinale)组培苗生长发育的影响,以期找到铁皮石斛组培阶段在人工光可控环境下的适宜光照环境。鲜重约300mg的铁皮石斛单腋芽作为外植体在温度24±1℃、湿度65±5%、光周期12h/d、及光期CO2浓度800±50μmol/mol的环境条件下,设置光照强度为37、68、92、120μmol/(m2·s)的4组试验区,并使用容积为380mL的方型聚碳酸酯组培容器在人工光型密闭式植物工厂中培育92d。组培容器的顶部留2个直径为10mm的圆孔覆盖高分子透气膜用来与容器外进行气体交换。铁皮石斛组培苗的生长发育和生理活性在光照强度为68μmol/(m2·s)时最佳,超过92μmol/(m2·s)时呈现明显的光抑制;多糖含量随着光照强度的增强而增加,超过92μmol/(m2·s)时呈下降趋势,但是68和92μmol/(m2·s)光照强度试验区的多糖含量没有显著性差异。因此,铁皮石斛组培苗在人工光型密闭式植物工厂内培育的适宜光照强度为60￣70μmol/(m2·s)。