AR regulates porcine immature Sertoli cell growth via binding to RNF4 and miR-124a

Sertoli cells are the only somatic cells in the seminiferous epithelium which directly contact with germ cells. Sertoli cells exhibit polarized alignment at the basal membrane of seminiferous tubules to maintain the microenvironment for growth and development of germ cells, and therefore play a crucial role in spermatogenesis. Androgens exert their action through androgen receptor (AR) and AR signalling in the testis is essential for maintenance of spermatogonial numbers, blood–testis barrier integrity, completion of meiosis, adhesion of spermatids and spermiation. In the present study, we demonstrated that AR gene could promote the proliferation of immature porcine Sertoli cells (ST cells) and the cell cycle procession, and accelerate the transition from G1 phase into S phase in ST cells. Meanwhile, miR-124a could affect the proliferation and cell cycle procession of ST cells by targeting 3′-UTR of AR gene. Furthermore, AR bound to the RNF4 via AR DNA-binding domain (DBD) and we verified that RNF4 was necessary for AR to regulate the growth of ST cells. Above all, this study suggests that AR regulates ST cell growth via binding to RNF4 and miR-124a, which may help us to further understand the function of AR in spermatogenesis.     

CD8+T细胞在不同年龄家兔胃肠道的分布规律

探讨不同年龄组家兔胃肠道各段CD8⁺T细胞的分布特征,为进一步研究CD8⁺T细胞的作用奠定形态学基础。采用免疫组织化学技术对不同年龄组(幼年组、青年组、老年组)家兔胃肠道内CD8⁺T细胞进行染色、观察及统计分析。结果显示,家兔的CD8⁺T细胞多呈圆形、椭圆形或呈不规则形。在不同年龄组家兔,胃肠不同部位的分布有如下特点:家兔的CD8⁺T细胞主要分布于胃肠道的固有层中;青年组CD8⁺T细胞的分布数量显著高于幼年组和老年组;各肠段之间CD8⁺T细胞分布的数量差异不显著,但其分布的总量按照小肠、大肠、胃的顺序依次降低。研究结果显示,CD8⁺T细胞在家兔小肠的分布最多,并且其数量随着年龄的增长呈现先上升后下降的趋势,青年家兔胃肠的分布最为丰富。     

Improvement of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for equine herpesvirus type 4 by using a synthetic-peptide 24-mer repeat sequence of glycoprotein G as an antigen

To increase the sensitivity of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for equine herpesvirus type 4 (EHV-4) that uses a 12-mer peptide of glycoprotein G (gG4-12-mer: MKNNPIYSEGSL) [4], we used a longer peptide consisting of a 24-mer repeat sequence (gG4-24-mer: MKNNPIYSEGSLMLNVQHDDSIHT) as an antigen. Sera of horses experimentally infected with EHV-4 reacted much more strongly to the gG4-24-mer peptide than to the gG4-12-mer peptide. We used peptide ELISAs to test paired sera from horses naturally infected with EHV-4 (n=40). gG4-24-mer ELISA detected 37 positive samples (92.5%), whereas gG4-12-mer ELISA detected only 28 (70.0%). gG4-24-mer ELISA was much more sensitive than gG4-12-mer ELISA.     

Effects of different dl‐selenomethionine and sodium selenite levels on growth performance,immune functions and serum thyroid hormones concentrations in broilers

This trial was conducted in a 2 × 3 + 1 factorial arrangement based on a completely randomized design to evaluate the effects of different dl ‐selenomethionine (dl ‐Se‐Met) and sodium selenite (SS) levels on growth performance, immune functions and serum thyroid hormones concentrations in broilers. A total of 840 Ross 308 broilers (7 days old) were allocated by body weight to seven treatments (three replicates of 40 birds each treatment) including (1) basal diet (containing 0.04 mg of selenium (Se)/kg; control) without supplementary Se; (2, 3 and 4) basal diet + 0.05, 0.15 or 0.25 mg/kg Se as SS; (5, 6 and 7) basal diet + 0.05, 0.15 or 0.25 mg/kg Se as dl ‐Se‐Met. The experiment lasted 42 days. The results revealed that dietary Se supplementation improved (p < 0.05) average daily gain, feed efficiency, immune organ index, serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM) and triiodothyronine (T₃) concentrations and decreased (p < 0.01) thyroxine (T₄)/T₃ ratio in serum compared with the control. Broilers receiving the dl ‐Se‐Met‐supplemented diets had higher (p < 0.05) feed efficiency, thymus index, the amounts of IgA, IgG, IgM and T₃ as well as lower (p < 0.05) serum T₄ concentrations and T₄/T₃ ratio than those consuming the SS‐supplemented diets. Serum IgA and IgM levels of broilers fed 0.15 mg Se/kg were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those of broilers fed 0.05 or 0.25 mg Se/kg. In summary, we concluded that dl ‐Se‐Met is more effective than SS in increasing immunity and promoting conversion of T₄ to T₃, thus providing an effective way to improve the growth performance of broilers. Besides, based on a consideration of all experiment indices, 0.15 mg Se/kg was suggested to be the optimal level of Se supplementation under the conditions of this study.     

Comparison of sampling sites and detection methods for Haemophilus parasuis

Objective To improve the isolation rate and identification procedures for Haemophilus parasuis from pig tissues. Design Thirteen sampling sites and up to three methods were used to confirm the presence of H. parasuis in pigs after experimental challenge. Procedure Colostrum‐deprived, naturally farrowed pigs were challenged intratracheally with H parasuis serovar 12 or 4. Samples taken during necropsy were either inoculated onto culture plates, processed directly for PCR or enriched prior to being processed for PCR. The recovery of H parasuis from different sampling sites and using different sampling methods was compared for each serovar. Results H parasuis was recovered from several sample sites for all serovar 12 challenged pigs, while the trachea was the only positive site for all pigs following serovar 4 challenge. The method of solid medium culture of swabs, and confirmation of the identity of cultured bacteria by PCR, resulted in 38% and 14% more positive results on a site basis for serovars 12 and 4, retrospectively, than direct PCR on the swabs. This difference was significant in the serovar 12 challenge. Conclusion Conventional culture proved to be more effective in detecting H parasuis than direct PCR or PCR on enrichment broths. For subacute (serovar 4) infections, the most successful sites for culture or direct PCR were pleural fluid, peritoneal fibrin and fluid, lung and pericardial fluid. For acute (serovar 12) infections, the best sites were lung, heart blood, affected joints and brain. The methodologies and key sampling sites identified in this study will enable improved isolation of H parasuis and aid the diagnosis of Glässer's disease.     

褐飞虱自噬相关基因NlATG4的表达与功能

ATG4是一种半胱氨酸蛋白酶,负责ATG8蛋白羧基末端的切割,在自噬体形成过程中发挥重要作用。本研究克隆得到褐飞虱ATG4基因（NlATG4）的cDNA全长序列（GenBank登录号:MF062502.1）。RT-qPCR分析结果表明,NlATG4基因在褐飞虱的若虫和成虫时期均有表达,1～2龄若虫的表达量最高,在其他发育阶段的表达量稍低。RNAi结果显示,在dsRNA注射后的第4 d,靶标基因NlATG4的表达量显著下降（仅为dsGFP对照组的22%）,同时,NlATG4的RNA干扰导致虫体ATP含量显著降低,仅为1.0 μmol/(L·mg蛋白^-1),为对照组的25%;在注射后的第6 d,dsNlATG4处理组的褐飞虱存活率出现显著降低,其脂肪体组织变得松散,大型脂滴（直径≥5.0 μm）数量增多,类酵母共生菌周围泡状结构的界限基本消失;在注射后的第8 d,dsNlATG4处理的褐飞虱的存活率下降为36.7%,比dsGFP对照组的存活率下降53.3%。本研究表明靶向NlATG4基因的RNA干扰会破坏褐飞虱脂肪体的结构完整性和类酵母共生菌的微环境,影响脂类物质代谢和ATP含量,并导致褐飞虱存活率降低。因此,NlATG4基因在褐飞虱正常生长发育中发挥重要作用,在褐飞虱防治中具有一定的潜力。     

生物刺激素协同对草莓炭疽病防治及其生长发育的影响

草莓炭疽病是草莓定植时期最易造成死苗的真菌病害。本文研究了生物刺激素（木霉菌、海藻酸、聚谷氨酸）协同灌根对草莓炭疽病的防治以及促生作用。结果表明,与对照相比,木霉菌、海藻酸、聚谷氨酸单剂灌根和木霉菌+海藻酸、木霉菌+聚谷氨酸的协同灌根处理均能显著降低炭疽病造成的死苗率,其中木霉菌+海藻酸的防效最高,可达78.26%。相比对照,所有处理均能显著提高净光合速率、1,5-二磷酸核酮糖羧化酶活性和加氧酶活性等光合指标,以及土壤脲酶活性。协同灌根处理显著提高草莓株高、根茎粗、叶柄长、叶面积等生长指标达15.62%～47.00%。其中木霉菌+海藻酸处理的净光合速率、土壤脲酶活性最高。综合而言,木霉菌与海藻酸协同灌根在促进生长、促进光合、提高土壤供氮水平以及防控草莓炭疽病方面均表现出显著的增效作用,可作为生物防治的一种有效手段