Effects of the sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor velagliflozin,a new drug with therapeutic potential to treat diabetes in cats

Sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are used in the treatment of human diabetics. They increase glucose excretion and correct hyperglycemia. We examined the investigational SGLT2 inhibitor velagliflozin in two groups of six neutered adult obese cats (equal gender distribution). Placebo (Pl) or drug (D; 1 mg/kg) was administered for 35 days. Routine blood examinations, fructosamine, beta‐hydroxybutyrate (BHB), nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), glucagon, adiponectin, and leptin were measured before and after treatment, also water intake, and urinary electrolytes, glucose, and volume. Indirect calorimetry, an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT; 0.8 g/kg) and insulin tolerance test (IVITT) were conducted. All cats tolerated treatment well. Significant changes with D included a decrease in the respiratory exchange ratio, an increase in cholesterol, a small increase in albumin, and a rise in BHB and NEFA. Glucose clearance was unaltered, although less insulin was secreted during the IVGTT (p = .056) suggesting improved insulin sensitivity. IVITT was unchanged. Treatment did not affect glucagon, leptin, or adiponectin. Water intake, urine output, urinary glucose excretion, and the glucose/creatinine ratio but not urinary electrolytes were significantly higher post‐D. We conclude that velagliflozin is a promising drug, which increases urinary glucose excretion in cats and could thereby be beneficial for the treatment of hyperglycemia.     

苗期耐低氮基因型苦荞的筛选及其评价指标

土壤缺氮是造成我国黄土高原冷凉地区农业低产的主要原因。为了筛选耐低氮苦荞基因型及适宜鉴定指标,采用苗期水培方式,测定9个不同基因型苦荞在不同氮水平下的农艺性状、生理特性及植株氮素利用等指标,采用隶属函数法计算各指标耐低氮指数,通过主成分分析与聚类分析评价各基因型苦荞综合耐低氮能力。结果表明,低氮胁迫下,苦荞地上部生长受抑制程度大于根系,株高、茎粗、叶面积、地上部干重、根系体积、根系表面积及根系平均直径均呈下降趋势,主根长和根冠比呈上升趋势;根系活力、根系硝酸还原酶(NR)活性及可溶性蛋白含量有所下降,而根系超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)活性、丙二醛(MDA)、可溶性糖及游离脯氨酸含量有所升高;叶片叶绿素含量、Fm和Fv/Fm降低,而Fo升高;植株全氮含量及氮积累量降低,而由于植株氮积累量降幅明显大于生物量降幅,导致氮利用效率显著升高。将25个单项指标转化为4个相互独立的综合指标(累计贡献率达87.44%),并将9个苦荞基因型划分为耐低氮型、中间型和不耐低氮型。为了预测苦荞基因型的耐低氮能力,将D值作因变量,各指标耐低氮指数作自变量进行逐步回归分析,建立最优回归方程,筛选出株高、茎粗、叶面积、根冠比、叶绿素含量、Fm、根系超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性及氮利用效率8项对苦荞耐低氮能力有显著影响的指标,并且9个苦荞基因型的苗期耐低氮能力预测值Y与D值显著相关(R2=0.998,P0.01),表明这8个指标可用于耐低氮苦荞基因型的快速鉴定。     

Differential Cl−/Salt Tolerance and NaCl‐Induced Alternations of Tissue and Cellular Ion Fluxes in Glycine max,Glycine soja and their Hybrid Seedlings

The salt‐sensitive Glycine max N23674 cultivar, the salt‐born Glycine soja BB52 population, and their hybrid 4076 strain (F₅) selected for salt tolerance generation by generation were used as the experimental materials in this study. First, the effects of NaCl stress on seed germination, tissue damage, and time‐course ionic absorption and transportation were compared. When qualitatively compared with seed germination appearance in culture dishes, and tissue damages on roots or leaves of seedlings, or quantitatively compared with the relative salt injury rate, the inhibition on N23674 was all the most remarkable. After the exposure of 140 mm NaCl for 1 h, 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 2 days and 4 days, the content of Cl^? gradually increased in the roots and leaves of seedlings of BB52, 4076 and 23674. Interestingly, the extents of the Cl^? rise in roots of the three experimental soybean materials were BB52 > 4076 > N23674, whereas those in leaves were just on the contrary. Secondly, by using the scanning ion‐selective electrode technique (SIET), fluxes of Na⁺ and Cl^? in roots and protoplasts isolated from roots and leaves were also investigated among the three experimental soybean materials. After 140 mm NaCl stress for 2, 4 and 6 days, and when compared with N23674, slighter net Cl^? influxes were observed in root tissue and protoplasts of roots and leaves of BB52 and 4076 seedlings, especially at the cellular protoplast level. The results indicate that with regard to the ionic effect of NaCl stress, Cl^? was the main determinant salt ion for salt tolerance in G. soja, G. max and their hybrid, and the difference in their Cl^?/salt tolerance is mainly attributed to the capacity of Cl^? restriction to the plant above‐ground parts such as leaves.     

Evaluation of Cold Tolerance in NERICAs Compared with Japanese Standard Rice Varieties at the Reproductive Stage

New Rice for Africa (NERICA) is a general name for interspecific rice varieties derived from a cross between the high‐yielding Asian rice (Oryza sativa L.) between locally adapted African rice (Oryza glaberrima Steud.). Eight NERICAs were evaluated for cold tolerance (CT) at the reproductive stage and compared with their O. sativa parents and three Japanese standard rice varieties over 3 years. Cold tolerance was evaluated based on the filled grain ratio (FGR) after cold water irrigation. The FGR was greatly reduced by cold water irrigation. NERICA 1, 2 and 7 had higher FGR (51.9–57.9 %), while NERICA 6, 15 and 16 had lower FGR (6.2–14.5 %). NERICA 1, 2 and 7 were less affected by cold stress, with a 31 % mean reduction in FGR, while NERICA 6, 15 and 16 were greatly affected, with their FGRs being reduced by more than 80 %. NERICA 3 and 4 were moderately affected by cold stress, with about 45 % reduction rate in FGR. FGR significantly influenced the grain weights of the varieties with strong positive correlations (r = 0.83–0.91; P < 0.001), and thus, similar trends in grain weights were observed. Grain weights were reduced by 61.7–96.4 % under cold stress. NERICA 1, 2 and 7 showed significantly better performance than NERICA 3 and 4, while NERICA 6, 15 and 16 performed poorly under cold water irrigation. The Japanese varieties Koshihikari (very tolerant) and Ozora (moderately tolerant) were more affected by cold water irrigation than NERICA 1, 2 and 7. On the basis of the mean reduction rate (%) in FGR under cold stress, the varieties were classified as follows: NERICA 1, 2 and 7 as tolerant; NERICA 3 and 4 as moderately tolerant; and NERICA 6, 15 and 16 as susceptible to cold stress. However, NERICA 7 grain yields were lower under cold stress due to both greatly reduced number of panicles per plant and number of spikelets per panicle. Therefore, NERICA 1 and 2 are suitable candidates for production in the highland regions of East Africa and should be promoted for production.     

低氮胁迫对谷子苗期性状的影响和耐低氮品种的筛选

筛选和培育耐低氮能力强的作物品种,是提高作物氮素利用效率,减少氮肥施用量,降低环境污染的有效措施。本研究以45份谷子品种为试材,采用水培的方法,在低氮(0.1mmol·L~(-1))和正常氮(5mmol·L~(-1))条件下,测定苗高、根长和根数等22个氮效率相关指标,采用综合耐低氮系数法以及基于主成分分析的隶属函数法评价参试谷子品种的耐低氮性。结果表明,与正常氮条件相比,低氮胁迫下,谷子苗期根长、根冠比、地上部氮素生理效率、地下部氮素生理效率、单株氮素生理效率有不同程度提高,其余17个指标都有不同程度降低。两种评价方法均根据45个谷子品种的耐低氮能力将其划分为强耐低氮型、耐低氮型、中间型、较敏感型和敏感型5类。筛选出耐低氮性较强的品种5份,编号分别为11、14、17、35和39。利用GGE双标图对品种-耐低氮相关指标的分析表明,编号39和14的耐低氮品种主要耐低氮性状为地下部干重、地下部鲜重、根长;编号为11、35和17的耐低氮品种主要耐低氮性状为地上部鲜重、叶片数、叶宽、叶长、单株氮累积量、地上部氮累积量、单株干质量、地上部干重、地下部氮累积量、根数、苗高和SPAD。可见不同谷子品种的耐低氮机制存在一定差异,研究结果可为谷子耐低氮品种的选育提供材料基础。     

两个宁夏枸杞品种的耐渗透胁迫和耐盐特征比较

以宁夏枸杞(Lycium barbarum)中的两个品种扁果枸杞和宁杞0702为材料,对比二者在渗透胁迫、盐处理以及渗透胁迫和盐处理互作条件下的生长特征、叶组织含水量以及各器官Na~+、K~+积累量分析。结果表明,与对照相比,-0.5 MPa渗透胁迫下,扁果枸杞和宁杞0702的生长均受到抑制,其鲜重分别降低了34%和38%,根长分别降低了32%和17%;与对照相比,50mmol·L~(-1) NaCl使扁果枸杞幼苗的鲜重显著增加了38%(P0.05),干重、株高和根长均不受影响,但宁杞0702幼苗鲜重、干重、株高和根长分别显著降低了27%、34%、44%和14%(P0.05);渗透胁迫~+盐处理下,扁果枸杞幼苗与对照组差异不显著(P0.05),而宁杞0702幼苗的鲜重、干重、株高和根长分别显著降低了37%、28%、44%和13%。与对照相比,渗透胁迫下,扁果枸杞叶组织含水量维持稳定,而宁杞0702显著降低了12%(P0.05);在盐处理下,扁果枸杞和宁杞0702叶组织含水量分别显著增加了25%和18%(P0.05),在渗透胁迫~+盐处理下二者均维持稳定。在扁果枸杞中,鲜重和叶组织含水量与叶、茎中Na~+浓度呈极显著正相关(P0.01),而在宁杞0702中,鲜重仅与叶中的K~+浓度极显著正相关(P0.01),与茎中的Na~+则呈显著负相关(P0.05),叶组织含水量则与各器官中的Na~+、K~+浓度均不相关。与对照相比,扁果枸杞在渗透胁迫和盐处理下ST值分别显著增加了84%和43%(P0.05),而宁杞0702则分别显著降低了63%和47%(P0.05)。上述结果表明,扁果枸杞能通过体内积累适量的Na~+,调控体内Na~+、K~+平衡,改善体内的水分状况,维持其正常的生长,具有盐生植物的特点;宁杞0702则不具备这些特征。     

Phenotypic Changes in Grain Sorghum Over the Last Five Decades

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is a drought‐tolerant crop, and its productivity in rain fed environments has increased since the 1950s. This increase is due to changes in agronomic practices and hybrid improvement. The objective of this study was to determine what aspects of grain sorghum morphology, physiology and water use have changed with hybrid improvement and might have contributed to this yield increase. A 2‐year greenhouse experiment was conducted with one hybrid from each of the past five decades. The hybrids were studied in well‐watered and pre‐ and post‐flowering water deficit conditions. Total water use, transpiration, stomatal conductance and photosynthesis were measured during the growing period. Biomass and biomass components were measured at harvest. There was no consistent change in the leaf physiological parameters resulting from hybrid advancement. In contrast, total water use increased in rate of 8.5 cm³ kg soil^?1 year^?1 from old to new hybrids in the well‐watered treatments. Root biomass also increased in rate of 0.2 g plant^?1 year^?1. Leaf biomass and panicle length also was greater for the newest compared with the older hybrids. Hybrid advancement was related to increase in panicle length but decrease in peduncle length. Results indicated that hybrid development programmes created hybrids with improved drought avoidance, due to better root density of newly released hybrids, or hybrids with better resource use which ultimately increased yield under rain fed conditions.     

Glycine max and Glycine soja are capable of cold acclimation

Soybean has been considered a cold intolerant species; based largely upon seed germination and soil emergent evaluations. This study reports a distinct acquisition of cold tolerance, in seedlings, following short acclimation periods. Diversity in cold responses was assessed in eight cultivars of Glycine max and six accessions of G. soja. All varieties of soybean significantly increased in freezing tolerance following acclimation. This study indicates soybean seedlings are indeed capable of sensing cold and acquiring cold tolerance. Germination rates after cold imbibition were negatively correlated with maturity group, but positively correlated with cold acclimation potential in G. soja. Seed fatty acid composition was varied between the species, with Glycine soja accessions containing about 2‐times more linolenic acid (18:3) than G. max. Furthermore, high levels of linoleic acid (18:2) in seeds were positively correlated with germination rates following cold imbibition in G. soja only. We suggest that domestication has not impacted the overall ability of soybean to cold acclimate at the seedling stage and that there is little variation within the domesticated species for ability to cold acclimate. Thus, this brief comparative study reduces the enthusiasm for the “wild” species as an additional source of genetic diversity for cold tolerance.     

Evaluation on Tolerance of Montmorillonite as a Mycotoxin Adsorbent

In order to study the tolerance dose of Kunming mice to montmorillonite as a mycotoxin adsorbent in diets,the experiment selected 60 healthy male Kunming mice with initial average body weight of (17±0.12)g,randomly divided them into 5 treatments with two replicates per group and 6 mice per replicate.Five experimental diets were added to 0 (control group),0.5%,1%,2% and 5% montmorillonite,respectively.After 30 days,the growth performance,nutrients apparent digestibility,serum biochemical indices and internal organization were tested to determine the tolerance dose of montmorillonite for Kunming mice.The results showed that the ADFI was significantly increased in 0.5% group (P< 0.05),while there were no significant differences in ADFI and ADG between 1% group and control group (P> 0.05),then the ADFI was significantly decreased with the increasing of montmorillonite supplemental level (P< 0.05).The ADG in 2% group had no significant difference when compared with the control group (P> 0.05),while significantly lower than that in 0.5% and 1% groups (P< 0.05).The apparent digestibility of DM,CP and EE showed no significant effect at any level of montmorillonite (P> 0.05).Serum ALT,AST activities and MDA content were gradually increased with the montmorillonite supplemental level increasing,and that in 1%,2% and 5% groups were significantly higher than that in control group (P< 0.05),but there were no significant differences between 0.5% group and control group (P> 0.05).Tissue sections showed that mice livers were damaged in varying degrees when the montmorillonite supplemental level was 5%.In conclusion,based on a comprehensive consideration of all indexes,it could be seen that the tolerance dose of the tested montmorillonite for Kunming mice was between 0.5% and 2% when mycotoxin contents in diets were in security range.     

Morphological and Physiological Responses of Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) and Chicory (Cichorium intybus) to Water Stress and Defoliation Frequency

Plants are often subjected to periods of water stress. There are little data examining the effect of water stress on the forage species Plantago lanceolata and Cichorium intybus. In two pot experiments with P. lanceolata and C. intybus, morphological responses under optimum, dry, and very‐dry water treatments with weekly, fortnightly and 3‐weekly defoliation intervals and physiological responses under optimum and very‐dry water treatments were measured. A third experiment compared the rooting depths of P. lanceolata and C. intybus under field conditions. These findings suggest that both P. lanceolata and C. intybus can survive and continue to grow under water stress conditions with the main differences between the two species being attributable to morphological characteristics (root mass, taproot diameter and shoot mass fraction) rather than differences at a physiological level. Overall, the results suggest plantain may be more productive under moderate drought due to its greater shoot mass fraction, whereas chicory may be more productive and persistent under severe drought due to its greater root mass, taproot diameter and root depth under field conditions.