Responses of carbon metabolism and antioxidant system of summer maize to waterlogging at different stages

A field experiment was performed to explore responses of carbon metabolism, antioxidant system and endogenous hormone content of summer maize hybrids DengHai605 (DH605) and ZhengDan958 (ZD958) to waterlogging at the third leaf stage (V3), the sixth leaf stage (V6) and the 10th day after the tasselling stage (10VT). Results showed that waterlogging significantly decreased the contents of zeatin riboside (ZR), indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellic acid (GA), compared to those of CK. However, leaf abscisic acid (ABA) content was significantly increased by waterlogging at different stages, with the most significant increase was found in the treatment of waterlogging at V3 (V3‐W), with an increase of 30% and 29% for DH605 and ZD958, respectively. Waterlogging significantly decreased antioxidative enzyme activities, accelerating leaf senescence, resulted in the disorder of leaf gas exchange parameters and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. In addition, waterlogging decreased key enzyme activities of carbon metabolism (ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase), with the most significant reduction in V3‐W, with a decrease of 46% and 49% for DH605, and 53% and 55% for ZD958, respectively. Visibly, waterlogging disturbed carbon metabolism, affected plant endogenous hormone content, accelerated leaf senescence and eventually resulted in a significant reduction in photosynthetic characteristic and grain yield. V3 was most susceptible to waterlogging, followed by V6 and 10VT.     

Influence of Aguamiel (Agave atrovirens) as a Natural Feed Additive on Cecal Fermentation Kinetics of Some Forage Species in Horse Feeding

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different dose levels of aguamiel (Agave atrovirens) on in vitro cecal gas, methane (CH₄), and carbon dioxide (CO₂) productions of five forage species (Avena sativa [hay]), Moringa oleifera, Caesalpinia coriacea, Salix babylonica, and Eichhornia crassipes using inocula from the horse. The forage samples were incubated with three doses of aguamiel: 0, 34, and 68 μg of aguamiel/g dry matter (DM) of substrate. Cecal inocula were collected from four adult female Criolla horses (3–4 years of age and weighing 300 ± 15.0 kg) grazed on native grasses for about 8 hours without supplementation. Forage type affected (P < .001) cecal asymptotic, rate and lag time of gas, CH₄ and CO₂ productions (mL/g DM), pH and DM degradability. Aguamiel dose had linear and quadratic effects (P < .05) on the asymptotic and rate of CH₄ productions and rate and lag time of CO₂ productions (mL/g DM). Forage type × aguamiel dose interactions were significant (P < .05) for asymptotic, rate and lag time of gas, and CH₄ and CO₂ productions (mL/g DM). Forage species effects were pronounced (P < .05) on CH₄ and CO₂ productions (mL/g incubated and degraded DM) and proportional CH₄ production at all hours of incubation, except for CO₂ production (mL/g incubated DM). Aguamiel dose affected (P < .05) CO₂ production (mL/g incubated DM) and proportional CO₂ production at the incubated hours. Forage type × aguamiel dose interactions were observed (P < .05) for CO₂ production (mL/g incubated DM) and proportional CO₂ production at the incubated hours but had no impact on CH₄ production. It is concluded that addition of aguamiel to five forage species affected fermentation kinetics of gas production resulting in different in vitro cecal gas, CH₄ and CO₂ productions from these substrates.     

温阳复方对肥胖大鼠模型糖代谢的影响

为考察温阳为主中药复方对肥胖大鼠糖代谢的影响，采用高脂饲料喂养12周建立肥胖大鼠模型，将造模成功的 SD 肥胖大鼠随机分成3组，分别为模型组、二甲双胍组、温阳复方组，并设正常对照组。连续灌胃8周，在给药第4、8周测其空腹血糖，给药 8周后测口服糖耐量与肌糖原、肝糖原、糖化血红蛋白含量。结果显示，给药 8周后，温阳复方组空腹血糖和糖化血红蛋白含量降低，肌糖原、肝糖原含量升高。结果表明，温阳复方能够明显纠正肥胖大鼠糖代谢紊乱，有效预防和延缓早期糖尿病的发生。     

Affecting Lipid Metabolism Salivary MicroRNAs Expressions in Arabian Racehorses Before and After the Race

The active roles of microribonucleic acids (miRNAs) in gene regulation have made miRNAs a key point for the scientific world in the study of physiological processes. Although saliva includes the largest number of miRNAs, there is no miRNA study in saliva on horses has been found. Our study is the first study on miRNAs isolation from saliva in horses. In the present study, saliva was studied in Arabian racehorses to better understand the molecular mechanisms of expression levels that are effective in lipid metabolism of miRNAs and their target genes during the race. Identification of lipid metabolism of miRNAs and their target genes is an opportunity to provide information about biomarkers in Arabian racehorses on energy supply for race performance. Arabian racehorses have low glycogen content and high triglyceride storage capability, thanks to the high amount of oxidative type I fiber in their muscle tissue. Therefore, Arabian racehorses can provide higher levels of energy using more fat. The aim of this study is to determine the prerace and postrace expression levels of eight miRNAs in saliva that are known to affect lipid metabolism in Arabian racehorses. The expression level of eca-miR-33a was found to be statistically significant (P < .05). Target genes of eca-miR-33a have been copredicted as ABCA1, CROT, ABHD2, and SATB2, with three validated databases and other analysis tools. In conclusion, these findings revealed that both eca-miR-33a and its target genes could be potential core genes that play important roles in lipid metabolism in Arabian racehorses to provide energy during the race.     

乐都紫皮大蒜叶片生长发育与果聚糖代谢的关系

为了探讨高原大蒜生长特性及其果聚糖代谢规律,分析叶片生长发育与果聚糖代谢的关系,本研究以"乐都紫皮大蒜"为材料,对不同发育期的大蒜叶片生长情况、生理指标及其果聚糖代谢关键基因的表达特征进行了解析。结果表明:随着生育期的延续,大蒜植株的最大叶长、最大叶宽和单株叶片数均稳步增加。叶片生理指标呈现先升高后降低的趋势,总叶绿素含量在花芽分化之前快速上升,在抽薹期达到最大值2.32 mg/g FW;组织含水量在鳞茎膨大初期达到最大值89.06%,随后急剧降低。在整个发育过程中,大蒜叶片蔗糖:蔗糖1-果糖基转移酶基因(1-SST)和果聚糖外切水解酶基因(1-FEH)表达量存在显著差异,从幼苗期至鳞茎膨大初期,1-SST基因表达量显著高于1-FEH。1-SST的表达在全生育期表现为"升高-降低"的趋势,在抽薹期,1-SST的表达量达到峰值,比幼苗期提高了17.51倍;1-FEH在全生育期的表达量均较低,呈现起伏波动的趋势,在收获期表达量最高,是苗期的2.41倍。综合分析说明,大蒜叶片叶绿素和果聚糖的合成高峰主要在抽薹期,抽薹期是大蒜叶片生长发育和果聚糖代谢的关键时期,大蒜可通过叶绿素的合成以及1-SST和1-FEH的差异表达进一步影响鳞茎果聚糖的累积。     

淀粉与油脂对妊娠母猪糖脂代谢及其繁殖性能影响的研究进展

妊娠后期随着胎儿生长速度和乳腺发育加快，母猪机体代谢强度逐渐增加，机体糖脂代谢失衡，出现代谢紊乱。能量占整个日粮成分的70%以上，选择适当的日粮能量来源以调节糖脂代谢的平衡是提高母猪繁殖效率的有效方法。淀粉与油脂作为母猪日粮主要能量来源，均可显著影响后备母猪的初情期启动或经产母猪的繁殖性能，但以母猪本身的糖脂代谢特征为出发点，评述不同来源与水平的淀粉或油脂对母猪繁殖性能的影响鲜有总结报道。文章首先综述了母猪妊娠期糖脂代谢特点和代谢机制，简述了妊娠期代谢紊乱对母猪繁殖性能的不良影响，介绍了淀粉与油脂在母体的吸收及代谢特点，对比分析了不同水平与来源的淀粉和油脂对母猪产仔性能和泌乳性能的影响。最后，为最大化提高猪场经济效益，根据实际生产目的，总结了选择合适能量来源的依据。该综述旨在选择日粮适宜水平和来源的淀粉和油脂以期为提高母猪繁殖效率提供数据支持和理论指导。     

耕作方式及秸秆还田对土壤性质、微生物碳源代谢及小麦产量的影响

以小麦品种济麦22为试验材料,采用裂区试验设计,耕作方式为主区,分别设常规翻耕(C)、深松(S)、旋耕(R)处理,副区为秸秆还田量,分别设秸秆全还田(P)和秸秆不还田(A)处理,采用Biolog Eco技术测定土壤微生物碳源代谢功能,并分析土壤基本理化性质和作物产量。结果显示:深松与秸秆还田均有利于土壤含水量和有机碳含量的提高,0～15 cm土层分别提高了9.78%和24.00%,15～30 cm土层分别提高了7.08%和15.81%;深松提高了15～30 cm土层的pH值6.67%,秸秆还田提高了0～15 cm土层的pH值4.32%。深松和秸秆还田均有利于代谢多样性(丰富度指数、香浓多样性指数)、碳源代谢强度的提高,0～15 cm土层分别提高了26.84%、3.84%和38.02%,15～30 cm土层分别提高了11.87%、 3.63%和14.74%。主成分分析表明常规翻耕秸秆不还田和旋耕耕作秸秆不还田碳源代谢功能相近,15～30 cm层次内常规翻耕秸秆全还田碳源代谢功能和深松耕作秸秆全还田处理相近。深松和秸秆还田平均提高了小麦产量5.82%,微生物碳源代谢功能与小麦产量具有极显著的相关性。     

Dynamics of Bt cotton Cry1Ac protein content under an alternating high temperature regime and effects on nitrogen metabolism

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of alternating high temperature on Cry1Ac protein content on Bt cotton cultivars Sikang 1(SK-1,a conventional cultivar)and Sikang 3(SK-3,a hybrid cultivar).In 2011 and 2012,cotton plants were subjected to high temperature treatments ranging from 32 to 40℃ in climate chambers to investigate the effects of high temperature on boll shell insecticidal protein expression.The experiments showed that significant decline of the boll shell insecticidal protein was detected at temperatures higher than 38℃ after 24 h.Based on the results,the cotton plants were treated with the threshold temperature of 38℃ from 6:00 a.m.to 6:00 p.m.followed by a normal temperature of 27℃ during the remaining night hours(DH/NN)in 2012 and 2013.These treatments were conducted at peak boll growth stage for both cultivars in study periods of 0,4,7,and 10 d.Temperature treatment of 32℃ from 6:00 a.m.to 6:00 p.m.and 27℃ in the remaining hours was set as control.The results showed that,compared with the control,after the DH/NN stress treatment applied for 7 d,the boll shell Cry1Ac protein content level was significantly decreased by 19.1 and 17.5% for SK-1 and by 15.3 and 13.7% for SK-3 in 2012 and 2013,respectively.Further analysis of nitrogen metabolic physiology under DH/NN showed that the soluble protein content and the glutamic pyruvic transaminase(GPT)activities decreased slightly after 4 d,and then decreased sharply after 7 d.The free amino acid content and the protease content increased sharply after 7 d.The changes in SK-1 were greater than those in SK-3.These results suggest that under DH/NN stress,boll shell Cry1Ac protein content decline was delayed.Reduced protein synthesis and increased protein degradation in the boll shell decreased protein content,including Bt protein,which may reduce resistance to the cotton bollworm.