Changes in tissue lipid levels in the freshwater catfishClarias batrachus associated with the reproductive cycle

The levels of free fatty acid (FFA), monoglyceride (MG), diglyceride (DG), triglyceride (TG), phospholipid (PL), free cholesterol (CF) and esterified cholesterol (CE) were measured in the liver, plasma, ovary, abdominal fat and muscle during different phases of the annual reproductive cycle in femaleClarias batrachus. During the preparatory phase, hepatic lipogenic activity predominated over mobilization and consumption. In the prespawning season, an increased hepatic lipogenic activity was maintained, but lipids were transferred from the liver to the ovary. In the spawning phase, the diminished food intake, and enhanced caloric demand for spawning behaviour and activity limited hepatic lipogenic activity, and TG lypolysis was increased as was the production of more FFA. Maximum accumulation of vitellogenin, as reflected by maximum rise in ovarian PL titre was characteristic of this phase. Marked reductions in ovarian lipid occurred during the postspawning phase. In the resting phase, there was a recovery of lipogenic activity, but PL synthesis was still inhibited. In contrast to other investigated teleosts, there were extremely high level of FFA in liver, plasma, ovary and muscle throughout the annual reproductive cycle inC. batrachus. FFA appears to be the main lipid metabolite which had a very high turnover. As evidenced by the high TG content, abdominal fat seems to be the main fat depot, not the liver and muscle.Correspondent author     

Evaluation of cholesterol additions to a soyabean meal-based diet for juvenile Pacific white shrimp, Penaeus vannamei (Boone), in an outdoor growth trial

Cholesterol is considered a required nutrient for penaeid shrimps, but an optimal level has not been defined. A 68-day grow-out trial was conducted in 1300-L outdoor tanks in Hawaii, USA, to determine the cholesterol level required in a soyabean meal-based diet for juvenile Pacific white shrimp, Penaeus vannamei (Boone). Test feeds were prepared by adding six cholesterol levels (1.0-10.2 g kg^?1, as-fed basis) to a standard diet high in plant-protein meals, starch and flour. These feeds were provided to the shrimp three times daily. Harvest weights and weekly growth increments varied significantly among diets. The 2.3 g kg^?1 and 4.2 g kg^?1 cholesterol diets yielded better growth than the 1.0 g kg^?1 and 10.2 g kg^?1 diets. Survival and feed conversion ratios did not vary significantly among diets. Significant dietary cholesterol effects on growth of P. vannamei in conditions resembling commercial grow-out indicate that its inclusion in practical diets at more accurately defined levels is necessary. Optimal cholesterol levels for juvenile shrimp may be lower than those now utilized, and may vary relative to the contribution of free sterols from natural foods in shrimp ponds.     

Effect of a seaweed mixture on serum lipid level and platelet aggregation in rats

ABSTRACT:   To assess the effect of a seaweed mixture on lipid levels in serum as well as platelet aggregation in rats, Eisenia bicyclis ('Arame'), Hizikia fusiformis ('Hijiki') and Undaria pinnatifida sporophylls ('Mekabu'), all brown seaweeds, and Porphyra yezoensis ('Susabinori'), a red seaweed, were powdered and mixed in a ratio of 45:30:20:5 (w/w). When rats were fed a cholesterol-rich diet containing this mixture of seaweeds (9–10% w/w) for 28 days, serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, free cholesterol, and triglyceride levels declined significantly to 49.7%, 48.1%, 49.0% and 74.8%, respectively, of those of the control. Serum HDL-cholesterol, however, was unchanged. Though activated partial thromboplatin time, prothrombin time, antithrombin III activity, and fibrinogen levels in plasma were unchanged, the maximal ADP- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation decreased significantly to 89.0% and 85.5% control levels, respectively. These results indicate that this mixture of E. bicyclis , H. fusiformis , U. pinnatifida sporophylls, and P. yezoensis , is useful for the prevention of hyperlipidemia and thrombosis in rats.     

Effect of inclusion of cashew globulin (Anacardium occidentale) to a casein diet on lipid parameters in rats

The effect of inclusion of cashew globulin to a casein diet on lipid metabolism was studied in rats fed diets with two levels of cashew globulin meal. Inclusion of cashew globulin to a casein diet produced lower levels of total cholesterol, triacylglycerol and phospholipids in the serum and tissues and lower levels of serum lipoprotein cholesterol. There was decreased cholesterogenesis in the liver as evidenced by decreased activity of HMG CoA reductase and decreased release of lipoproteins into circulation. Rats fed cashew globulin along with casein also showed higher activity of LPL in the heart and adipose tissue and higher activity of LCAT. Increased hepatic diversion of cholesterol to bile acid synthesis and increased excretion of bile acids and sterols were also observed in these groups. Activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and malic enzyme was decreased in rats fed cashew globulin along with casein. This study demonstrates that cashew globulins included in the diet of rats are able to alter lipid metabolism which results in lower levels of lipid parameters in the serum and tissues.     

固始鸡孵化期间蛋黄胆固醇、粗脂肪和锌含量分析

对固始鸡种蛋孵化期间蛋黄中胆固醇、粗脂肪和锌含量的测定表明,胆固醇含量0～6胚龄明显升高,以后出现阶段性降低;粗脂肪含量0～6胚龄无明显变化,6胚龄以后逐渐降低;锌含量0～3胚龄和6～12胚龄明显升高,3～6胚龄和12～21胚龄降低.     

细胞凋亡抑制因子6(Api6)在高脂肺损伤中的作用研究

目的:了解单纯高脂饮食对小鼠肺组织形态学的影响及细胞凋亡抑制因子6(Api6)的表达情况.方法:将8周龄雄性C57BL/6小鼠随机分为2组,分别饲以普通饮食和高脂饮食,14周后获得上述2组小鼠的肺部组织切片,进行油红O染色、HE染色和免疫组化实验,观察单纯高脂饮食对小鼠肺组织形态学的影响;提取小鼠肺组织RNA,检测Api6在病变小鼠肺组织中的表达.结果:与普通饮食组小鼠肺组织相比,油红O染色可见高脂饮食组小鼠肺组织有明显的脂质沉积;HE染色和增殖期细胞核抗原(PCNA)免疫组织化学染色可见高脂饮食组肺组织肺泡间隔增宽,肺组织炎性细胞浸润,同时增殖期细胞明显增多;Api6在高脂饮食组小鼠肺组织中的表达明显升高.结论:高脂饮食可直接导致小鼠肺组织脂质蓄积和炎性损伤,Api6可能在其发病机制中发挥一定的作用.     

利用猪1.4M高密度SNP芯片检测巴马香猪全基因组拷贝数变异

旨在检测巴马香猪基因组上的拷贝数变异（CNV）,并探究标记密度对于CNV检测效率和准确率的影响。本研究利用319头巴马香猪（其中阉公猪160头和母猪159头）1.4M高密度SNP芯片的数据,采用PennCNV和R-Gada两种软件进行CNVs检测;然后通过重叠CNV融合法,构建拷贝数变异区域（CNVR）,并用全基因组关联分析（GWAS）对频率大于5%的CNVR进行验证;最后根据不同的标记密度,均匀抽取一定数目的SNPs来探究标记密度对CNV检测效率和准确性的影响。结果,PennCNV和R-Gada软件分别检测到6 327和3 489个CNVs,分别构成795和340个CNVRs,其中226个为共同CNVRs。在这226个共同CNVRs中,最短的为3.98 kb,最长的为1 297.78 kb,总长度为33.27 Mb,其中102个（45%）与前人报道的CNVRs重叠。在PennCNV检出的795个CNVRs中,有135个频率大于5%,其中20个得到GWAS验证,验证率为15%。随着SNP密度的逐渐增加,CNV的检测效率和检测准确性不断提高,尤其是小片段CNVs的检测效率。本研究利用1.4M SNP芯片的数据,通过PennCNV和R-Gada软件绘制巴马香猪CNVR的草图,为将来鉴别与重要经济性状相关的CNVRs奠定了基础。同时,揭示了标记密度对CNV检测效率和准确性有正面影响,为后续CNV研究选择合适的标记密度提供了一定的参考。     

METFORMIN短期内对蛋鸡体AMPK活性的影响

选用日龄、体重及产蛋率相近的产蛋高峰期的新罗曼蛋鸡20只,按两两配对的原则,分为2个处理组,每个处理5个重复,每个重复2只鸡;其中实验组蛋鸡日粮中含有0．8％浓度的Metformin;配对组蛋鸡采食日粮除不合Metformin外,日粮成分与实验组相同,并按实验组前1d的采食量供给;正式实验期为5d。实验组与配对组相比,实验组蚤鸡肝脏中AMPK活性提高了24．82％（P〈0．3）,而卵巢中AMPK活性仅提高了10．13％（P〈0．6）;实验组蛋鸡肝脏中TG下降了13．61％（P〈0．1）;血清中VLDL—C含量下降了12．66％（P〈0．6）,同时在直径分别为2,1,0．5cm的卵泡中,卵黄胆固醇含量分别下降了9．18％（P〈0．01）,9．72％（P〈0．01）,17．04％（P〈0．05）。实验结果表明Metformin提高了蛋鸡体内AMPK的活性,并降低了蛋鸡体内脂质的合成及卵黄中胆固醇的含量。