日粮中添加β-胡萝卜素对牦牛皮下脂肪颜色及组织中维生素A含量的影响

试验旨在探究日粮中添加不同水平β-胡萝卜素（β-C）对牦牛皮下脂肪颜色及组织维生素A含量的影响。试验选取12头2~3岁牦牛为研究对象，随机分为4个组，每组3个重复。各处理组日粮分别在基础日粮中添加0（对照）、720（低剂量）、1 440（中剂量）、1 620 mg/d（高剂量）β-C，饲养90 d后，分别测定牦牛脂肪、肌肉色度、背膘厚度及不同组织中β-C和代谢产物维生素A的含量，结果表明：日粮中添加不同水平β-C，牦牛背部、胸部脂肪及半腱肌的黄度值（b^*）显著高于对照组（P<0.05），亮度值（L^*）和红度值（a^*）没有显著变化（P>0.05）；牦牛背膘厚度在中剂量组达到最大值；对照组牦牛血清中β-C及维生素A含量显著低于各试验组（P<0.05），且维生素A含量随β-C添加量的上升呈上升趋势（P<0.05）；牦牛皮下脂肪、腹腔脂肪、心脏、肝脏、脾脏、肺脏、肾脏及空肠等组织器官中β-C含量在中剂量组均达到最大值，除肝脏中维生素A含量较高外，其他组织中维生素A含量在各处理组间差异不显著（P<0.05）。综上所述，日粮添加β-C影响牦牛皮下脂肪颜色，且在中剂量组牦牛皮下脂肪、心脏、肝脏、脾脏及空肠等组织器官中β-C含量达到最大值，故推荐其最佳摄入量为1 440 mg/d；在日粮中添加β-C影响牦牛肝脏和血清中维生素A含量，对其余组织器官中维生素A含量没有影响。     

Comparison of the florfenicol metabolic rate in Portunus trituberculatus individuals with different body weights

We analysed the metabolic rate of large individuals (LIs) and small individuals (SIs) (based on body weight) of 80‐day‐old specimens of Portunus trituberculatus injected with 40 mg/kg florfenicol (FLR). The results showed that FLR contents in the gills and hepatopancreas were higher in the SIs than in the LIs. The activities of erythromycin N‐demethylase and 7‐ethoxyresorufin‐O‐deethylase related to cytochrome oxidase P450 (CYP) were induced after FLR injection and showed a size‐dependent pattern; however, no significant difference in aminopyrine N‐demethylase activity was found between the LIs and SIs. The activity of the phase II enzyme glutathione S‐transferase (GST) increased in the hepatopancreas after FLR injection, and it was higher in the SIs than the LIs. Moreover, induction of CYP2, CYP3, GST, ABCB and ABCG was observed in the first 24 hr after FLR injection. FLR caused more biomolecular damage in the SIs than the LIs, displaying an obvious body weight‐ and time‐dependent pattern. In summary, the SIs exhibited faster FLR uptake and slower depuration in this species, and FLR caused more biomolecular damage to the SIs.     

Body condition scoring (BCS) in corn snakes (Pantherophis guttatus) and comparison to pre-existing body condition index (BCI) for snakes

In the veterinary profession, the body condition score (BCS) plays an important role in the assessment of patients. It is a subjective, tactile method of evaluating body fat and muscle mass and is used in numerous species. Recognizing obesity (or the contrary, emaciation) is important for veterinarians treating reptiles and could be facilitated by a BCS. An existing form of body condition assessment already used is the body condition index (BCI), where the residuals from a regression of body mass on body length are calculated. Therefore, the goal of this study was to provide practitioners with a BCS system for corn snakes (Pantherophis guttatus) and to test it against the BCI. A total of 22 corn snakes (Pantherophis guttatus), stationed at the “Auffangstation für Reptilien” in Munich (reptile rescue centre, RRC), were subject of this study. Each had the following measurements taken: body weight (BW), snout–tail tip length (STL), snout–vent length (SVL) and circumference in the middle (C). Manual palpation of spine, area between vertebral spinous and transverse process, ribs and neck of each snake was performed by three veterinarians and assigned to specific scores by each examiner. A BCS (mean of examiners’ scores) was given to each snake according to manual palpation. The BCS system was chosen to be out of 5 in 0.5-point steps with 2.5 considered as ideal BCS. In the studied snakes, the BCS ranged from 1.5 to 3.5, with a median of 2.5. The median BW was 309 g (75–967 g), the median STL was 123 cm (79–153 cm), the median SVL was 104 cm (73–133 cm) and the median C was 7.5 cm (4.3–11 cm). BCS and BCI were positively correlated. A BCS includes a manual palpation of the animal and thus gives the examiner additional information to the objectively measured/calculated index.     

苦瓜种子大小和单粒质量的遗传分析

以苦瓜自交系K7-359(P_1)和K7-422(P_2)分别作为母本和父本,通过杂交获得F_1,F_1自交获得F_2群体,采用主基因+多基因混合遗传模型分析苦瓜种子长度、宽度和单粒质量的遗传规律。结果表明,苦瓜种子长度和单粒质量的遗传均符合加性-显性-上位性多基因遗传模型(C-0模型),多基因遗传率分别为84.91%和76.55%,说明对苦瓜种子长度和单粒质量的选择宜在高世代进行;苦瓜种子宽度的遗传符合1对加性-显性主基因+加性-显性-上位性多基因模型(D-0模型),主基因和多基因遗传率分别为79.30%和3.86%,主基因遗传效应主要以加性效应为主,说明对种子宽度的改良可以采用组合育种的策略,且适宜在早期世代进行选择。     

Root architecture of sorghum genotypes differing in root angles under different water regimes

Plant root architecture offers the potential for increasing soil water accessibility, particularly under water-limited conditions. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the root architecture in two genotypes of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) differing in root angles and to assess the influence of different deficit irrigation regimes on root architecture. The response of two sorghum genotypes, ‘Early Hegari-Sart’ (EH; steep root angle) and ‘Bk7’ (shallow root angle) to four irrigation treatments was investigated in two replicated outdoor studies using large pots. The results indicated that EH possessed steeper brace and crown root angles, fewer brace roots, greater root biomass, and root length density than Bk7 at deeper soil depths (i.e., 15–30 and 30–45 cm) compared with a shallower depth (i.e., 0–15 cm). Across the soil profile, EH had greater root length density and length of roots of small diameter (<1 mm) than Bk7. Accordingly, EH showed more rapid soil-water capture than Bk7. Different levels of irrigation input greatly affected root architecture. Severe deficit irrigation (25% of full crop transpiration throughout the season) increased the angle and number of crown roots, root biomass, and root length density compared with 75 and 100% of full crop transpiration treatments. Consequently, root system architecture can be effectively manipulated through both genotypic selection and irrigation management to ensure optimal performance under different levels of soil available water.     

Effects of starvation,subsequent feeding and photoperiod on flesh quality in farmed cod (Gadus morhua)

The study was designed to investigate the effect of four cycles of 5 weeks starvation followed by 10‐week refeeding compared with daily feeding under either natural photoperiod or continuous light (LL) regime on body composition and flesh quality in Atlantic cod in sea cages, northern Norway. The fish were sampled for body composition and flesh quality parameters at the start of the trial, twice at the end of a 10‐week feeding period and twice at the end of a 5‐week starvation period. There was effect of both feeding and light regime on growth, the two starving groups losing weight during starvation and regaining weight during refeeding, and the group under LL being heavier. But, the mean overall growth did not vary between groups. Starvation/refeeding regime resulted in higher slaughter yield, but no overall effect was seen on hepatosomatic index, water content, water holding capacity (WHC), muscle pH, hardness or flesh colour compared with control groups. Continuous light increased gutted weight and slaughter yield, lowered WHC and depressed maturation compared with fish under natural light regime. Increased growth rate resulted in softer fillets and lower muscle pH.     

Effect of l‐ascorbyl‐2‐polyphosphate supplementation on growth performance,body composition,antioxidative capacity and salinity stress tolerance of juvenile Pacific white shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of ascorbic acid (AsA), in the form of l ‐ascorbyl‐2‐polyphosphate (LAPP) on growth performance, body composition, antioxidative capacity and salinity stress tolerance of juvenile Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. Five practical diets (46% crude protein and 7.6% lipid) supplemented with graded levels of AsA (14.64, 48.55, 84.98, 308.36 and 639.27 mg kg^?1 diet) were fed to five replicate groups of L. vannamei (mean initial wet weight 0.57 g). No significant differences were found on growth performance among all treatments. However, whole body lipid content significantly decreased with dietary AsA levels increasing. Activities of total antioxidant capacity, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly affected by dietary AsA levels. Shrimp fed LAPP‐free diet had higher malondialdehyde content than those fed the diets supplemented with LAPP. Dietary AsA levels higher than 308.36 mg kg^?1 diet increased the survival of shrimps after 1, 2 and 3 h of acute salinity change. Broken‐line regression analysis on survival after 3 h of salinity stress and second‐degree polynomial regression analysis on glutathione reductase data indicated that the optimal dietary AsA requirement of L. vannamei was estimated to be 306.39, 319.75 mg kg^?1 diet respectively.     

MITFa及TYR基因在红色锦鲤体色发生不同阶段的表达分析

本研究描述了红色锦鲤从出膜到体色形成的过程,总结和归纳不同发育阶段体色变化异同点,筛选出6个体色变化较显著时期,分别为1、2、3、4、12、48日龄。利用荧光定量PCR分析MITFa及TYR基因在红色锦鲤6个体色变化时期的表达情况。结果显示,MITFa基因在1日龄时表达量最高,显著高于48日龄时(P0.05),极显著高于其他4个时期(P0.01)。48日龄时表达量次之,亦极显著高于2、3、4、12日龄4个时期(P0.01)。2、3、4、12日龄4个时期MITFa基因表达量较低且不存在显著差异(P0.05)。TYR基因在1日龄时表达量最高(P0.01),4日龄时表达量显著高于12、48日龄(P0.05),与2、3日龄不存在显著差异(P0.05)。TYR基因表达量在2、3、12、48日龄4个时期差异不显著(P0.05)。MITFa和TYR基因在红色锦鲤体色形成过程中,表达水平整体呈现降低的趋势,其中MITFa基因表达量表现为先降后升,TYR基因则先降后升再降。以上结果显示MITFa、TYR基因与锦鲤体色形成具有一定相关性,但MITFa和TYR基因在体色发生中的相互作用还有待进一步研究证实。     

Effects of dietary protein and lipid levels with different protein‐to‐energy ratios on growth performance,feed utilization and body composition of juvenile red‐spotted grouper,Epinephelus akaara

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to assess dietary protein and lipid levels on growth performance, feed utilization and body composition of juvenile red‐spotted grouper (7.85 ± 0.03 g fish^?1). Nine semi‐purified diets were formulated containing varying protein levels (440–520 g kg^?1, dry matter) and lipid levels (60–120 g kg^?1, dry matter). The weight gain of juvenile Epinephelus akaara was affected by dietary protein (p = .005) and its interaction with dietary lipid (p = .020). Viscerosomatic index, intraperitoneal fat ratio and whole‐body lipid level increased with increasing dietary lipid level (p < .001). Nitrogen retention was not affected by dietary protein and lipid, while lipid retention decreased with increasing dietary lipid level (p < .001). The plasma blood urea nitrogen increased with increasing dietary protein level (p = .003). This study showed that diet with 520 g kg^?1 protein and 60 g kg^?1 lipid with 30.58 mg kJ^?1 P:E provided a maximal growth for this species. Moreover, an increase in dietary lipid levels (from 60 to 90 g kg^?1) could reduce the protein requirement (from 520 to 480 g kg^?1) without affecting the growth performance, while higher fat deposition was observed in fish fed high‐lipid diets.