Amino acid profiles of rumen undegradable protein: a comparison between forages including cereal straws and alfalfa and their respective total mixed rations

Optimizing the amino acid (AA) profile of rumen undegradable protein (RUP) can positively affect the amount of milk protein. This study was conducted to improve knowledge regarding the AA profile of rumen undegradable protein from corn stover, rice straw and alfalfa hay as well as the total mixed ratio diets (TMR) based on one of them as forage source [forage‐to‐concentrate ratio of 45:55 (30% of corn stover (CS), 30% of rice straw (RS), 23% of alfalfa hay (AH) and dry matter basis)]. The other ingredients in the three TMR diets were similar. The RUP of all the forages and diets was estimated by incubation for 16 hr in the rumen of three ruminally cannulated lactating cows. All residues were corrected for microbial colonization, which was necessary in determining the AA composition of RUP from feed samples using in situ method. Compared with their original AA composition, the AA pattern of forages and forage‐based diets changed drastically after rumen exposure. In addition, the extent of ruminal degradation of analysed AA was not constant among the forages. The greatest individual AA degradability of alfalfa hay and corn stover was Pro, but was His of rice straw. A remarkable difference was observed between microbial attachment corrected and uncorrected AA profiles of RUP, except for alfalfa hay and His in the three forages and TMR diets. The ruminal AA degradability of cereal straws was altered compared with alfalfa hay but not for the TMR diets. In summary, the AA composition of forages and TMR‐based diets changed significantly after ruminal exposure, indicating that the original AA profiles of the feed cannot represent its AA composition of RUP. The AA profile of RUP and ruminal AA degradability for corn stover and rice straw contributed to missing information in the field.     

Using the indicator amino acid oxidation technique to study threonine requirements in horses receiving a predominantly forage diet

Threonine has been reported to be the second limiting amino acid in typical equine diets, but its actual requirement has not been determined in horses. To evaluate amino acid metabolism and requirements, the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) method has been successfully used in other species. The objective of this research was to estimate threonine requirements in mature horses fed timothy hay and concentrate in 4:1 ratio using the IAAO method. Six Thoroughbred mares (579.9 ± 46.7 kg) received each of 6 levels of threonine intake, 41, 51, 61, 70, 80 and 89 mg/kg BW/day, in a randomly determined order. Each study period was 7‐day long, and on day 6, blood samples were collected before and 90 min after feeding to measure amino acid concentrations using HPLC. On day 7, horses underwent IAAO procedures, which included a 2‐hr primed, constant intravenous infusion of [¹³C]sodium bicarbonate to measure total CO₂ production and a 4‐hr primed, constant oral administration of [1‐¹³C]phenylalanine to estimate phenylalanine oxidation to CO₂. Blood and breath samples were collected to measure blood [¹³C]phenylalanine, using GC‐MS analysis and breath ¹³CO₂ enrichment, using an infrared isotope analyser. Increasing threonine intake levels did not affect plasma phenylalanine oxidation by the ANOVA test (p > 0.05) but resulted in a linear decrease in phenylalanine oxidation (p = 0.04) without a breakpoint by the orthogonal linear contrast. This study is the first attempt to evaluate threonine requirements in horses by the IAAO method; however, threonine requirements are still unknown in mature horses at this time.     

Effect of GYY4137 on cytosolic lipid decomposition in mouse primary hepatocytes

AIM: To evaluate the effect of GYY4137, a novel hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) donor, on cytosolic lipid decomposition in mouse primary steatosis hepatocytes. METHODS: Oleic acid (OA) was used to induce hepatic steatosis model in vitro. The C57BL/6 mouse primary hepatocytes isolated and cultured by 2-step in situ perfusion were divided into 4 groups:the cells in control group were incubated with normal medium for 54 h; the cells in model group were incubated with OA at 1.2 mmol/L for 48 h followed by serum-free phenol red-free RPMI-1640 for 6 h; the cells in H₂S group or DL-propar-gylglycine (PAG; an inhibitor of cystathione γ-lysase, inhibiting H₂S synthesis) group were incubated with OA at 1.2 mmol/L for 48 h followed by serum-free phenol red-free RPMI-1640 which contained 1 mmol/L GYY4137 or 200 μmol/L PAG for 6 h. The glycerin release and the protein expression of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) in the cells were mea-sured. RESULTS: Compared with model group, the glycerin release and the protein expression of phosphorylated HSL (p-HSL) in H₂S group decreased significantly, while those increased significantly in PAG group. CONCLUSION: In steatosis hepatocytes, exogenous H₂S possibly decreases cytosolic lipid decomposition by decreasing the protein level of p-HSL.     

大米草中耐盐乳酸菌的分离鉴定及对大米草青贮品质的影响

本试验旨在研究大米草（Spartina anglica Hubb.）中耐盐乳酸菌的分离鉴定及对大米草青贮品质的影响，以期为大米草青贮利用提供技术支持和理论依据。试验采用传统培养法筛选出耐盐浓度为10%的乳酸菌菌株，通过生理生化及16S rDNA序列分析法综合鉴定筛选的菌株，并将其添加到大米草原料中进行青贮效果观察。结果表明：分离获得的42株乳酸菌菌株，耐盐溶度最高为10%的4株乳酸菌均为同型发酵的植物乳杆菌（Lactobacillus plantarum），命名为C1、C2、C3和C4。4株乳酸菌均能提高大米草的青贮发酵品质，其中C4显著提高青贮料的可溶性碳水化合物和粗脂肪含量（P<0.05），显著降低青贮料的氨态氮含量（P<0.05）；另外，C4处理组的干物质含量和乳酸含量显著高于其他3个菌株处理组（P<0.05），中性洗涤纤维、酸性洗涤纤维、半纤维素和丁酸含量显著（P<0.05）低于其他3个菌株处理组，青贮效果最佳。     

套袋对鸭梨果实香气及糖酸组分的影响

采用静态顶空和气相色谱-质谱联用技术、高效液相色谱技术,研究了生长期套袋对鸭梨果实挥发性成分、糖酸组分等风味物质的组成和含量的影响。结果表明:套袋导致鸭梨香气物质种类减少和相对百分含量降低。套袋鸭梨采收时测定的香气成分有3类18种,其中酯类15种、烯类2种、醇类1种;不套袋鸭梨采收时测定的香气成分有3类26种,其中酯类23种、烯类2种、醇类1种。鸭梨的主要香气成分是乙酸己酯、己酸乙酯、丁酸乙酯。套袋和不套袋鸭梨均检测到3种糖、4种有机酸组分,其中糖组分主要为果糖,其次为蔗糖、葡萄糖,有机酸组分主要为苹果酸,其次为乙酸、柠檬酸、草酸,但不同处理间含量存在差异。     

Identification of organic acid-related genes and their expression profiles in two pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) cultivars with difference in predominant acid type at fruit ripening stage

‘Yandangxueli’ is a pear cultivar with predominant citric acid in the ripe fruit, different from most of pear cultivars such as ‘Gengtouqing’ in which malic acid is the predominant acid type. It was found that ‘Yandangxueli’ accumulated citric acid for three times against that in ‘Gengtouqing’ at fruit ripening stage. To investigate the mechanism of citric acid accumulation in ‘Yandangxueli’, organic acids content, gene expression and enzyme activity were studied in both cultivars. Five genes, Pp:mtCs, Pp:cyAco, Pp:cyIdh, Pp:mtMdh and Pp:cyMe which encoded citric synthase (CS), cytosolic aconitase (cyACO), NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP-IDH), NAD-dependent malate dehydrogenase (NAD-MDH) and NADP-dependent malic enzyme (NADP-ME) respectively, were identified from pear fruit. Their expression profiles and the corresponding enzyme activities were determined throughout fruit development in both cultivars. Results from these enzymes indicated that there were no strict relationship between gene expression, enzyme activity and citric acid accumulation. Expression analysis for two Py:vVAtp genes encoding vacuolar H⁺-ATPase A subunit and one Py:vVpp gene encoding Vacuolar H⁺-pyrophosphatase showed that they were all with up-regulated expression at the later development stage of ‘Yandangxueli’ but with down-regulated expression in ‘Gengtouqing’. Therefore, it is concluded that the different ability in citric acid transportation and storage might be involved in the high citric acid content in ‘Yandangxueli’.     

重庆市涪陵区近10年酸雨变化特征分析

为了解重庆市涪陵区的酸雨变化特征及降水对酸雨pH值的影响，本研究采用2005—2014年涪陵区的酸雨和降水数据，应用统计学方法分析降水与酸雨pH值月、季、年变化的相关性。结果表明：涪陵区酸性降水频率为42.13%，以弱酸性降水为主，自2011年起几乎无强酸性降水发生；酸雨pH值秋季最小、冬季最大，6月最小，7月最大。降水总量、有效降水日数和大量级降水占比都会影响酸雨的月、季、年变化，并不能单独由一个指标来说明酸雨的变化规律；其中，大量级降水占比对酸雨pH值影响最大。上述结果表明，了解降水与酸雨pH值的变化规律为有效防治酸雨和减少酸雨的危害提供了一定的依据。     

Volatile profile,fatty acids composition and total phenolics content of brewers' spent grain by-product with potential use in the development of new functional foods

Brewers' spent grain (BSG) is the insoluble residue generated from the production of wort in the brewing industry. This plant-derived by-product is known to contain significant amounts of valuable components, which remain unexploited in the brewing processes. Therefore, it is essential to develop a more detailed characterization of BSG in order to highlight its potential in developing new value-added products and simultaneously solve the environmental problems related to its discharge. The content of BSG in several biologically active compounds (fatty acids, polyphenols, flavonoids, antioxidant capacity) as well as its volatile fingerprint were assessed and compared with the composition of barley, malt and wheat flour samples. The obtained results emphasized the importance and the opportunities of the re-use of this agro-industrial by-product.     

Research Progress of Effect of Oxidative Stress on Broiler and its Mitigation Technology

Oxidative stress is ubiquitous in livestock and poultry production.When the body is in the situation of harmful stimulation in vitro or in vivo,the oxidation system and antioxidant system are in a state of imbalance,leading to metabolic disorders,which depresses the growth and development of animals,decreases disease resistance and quality of livestock products seriously,and has a negative impact on the production and health of livestock and poultry.So it is important to find an effective measure to alleviate the health of livestock and poultry.Lipoic acid,tea polyphenol,VE and other antioxidants play significant roles in reducing oxidative stress.In this paper,the effects of oxidative stress on broiler and mitigation technology research were outlined.