Reduced high intensity training distance had no effect on VLa4 but attenuated heart rate response in 2-3-year-old Standardbred horses

Background

Training of Standardbred race horses aims to improve cardiovascular and metabolic functions but studies on the effects of different training strategies from breaking till racing are lacking. Sixteen horses with the goal to race as 3-year-olds were studied from breaking (1-year-olds) to December as 3-year-olds. Horses were allocated to either a control (C) or reduced (R) training program from 2 years of age. The aim was to evaluate the effect of reducing the distance of high intensity exercise by 30% with respect to velocity at lactate concentration 4 mmol/l (V_La4), blood lactate and cardiovascular response. All training sessions were documented and heart rate (HR) was recorded. A standardized exercise test of 1,600 m was performed 10 times and a V_La4 test was performed five times.

Results

C horses initially exercised for a longer time with a HR >180 beats per minute compared to R horses (P < 0.05) but after 6–9 months, time with HR >180 bpm decreased in C and were similar in the two groups (P > 0.05). Over the 2-year period, recovery HR after the 1,600 m-test decreased in both groups but was within 2 months lower in C than in R (P < 0.05). C horses also had lower resting HR as 3-year-olds (P < 0.01) than R horses. In C, post exercise hematocrit was higher than in R (P < 0.05). There was a tendency (P < 0.1) towards a larger aortic diameter in C as 3-year-olds (C: 1.75 ± 0.05, R: 1.70 ± 0.05 cm/100 kg BW). Left ventricle diameter and blood volume (in December as 2-year-olds) did not differ between groups. There were no differences between groups in post exercise blood lactate concentration or in V_La4. Both groups were equally successful in reaching the goal of participation in races.

Conclusions

Horses subjected to a reduced distance of high intensity training from the age of 2 showed an attenuated heart rate response, but were able to maintain the same V_La4 and race participation as horses subjected to longer training distances.     

Local pulmonary immune responses in domestic cats naturally infected with Cytauxzoon felis

Cytauxzoonosis is a hemoprotozoal disease of cats and wild felids in the South and Southeastern United States caused by Cytauxzoon felis. Although the causative agent has been recognized since the seventies, no study has examined the local immune response in affected organs, such as the lung, and compared them to the lungs of uninfected domestic cats. Previous studies have suggested that the histopathologic findings in the lungs of C. felis-infected cats are caused by the release of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines and increased production of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), by the infected macrophages. Our laboratory had previously found an upregulation of the adhesion molecule CD18, which can stimulate the release of these pro-inflammatory mediators. The objective of this study was to characterize local pulmonary immune responses in cats naturally infected with C. felis. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, iNOS, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II in 19 lungs from affected cats that died between 2005 and 2013. Results showed increased expression of all of these molecules when compared to lungs from uninfected, healthy cats. Furthermore, MHC II is expressed in the endothelium of C. felis naturally infected cats. These results support that there is a marked, local, pro-inflammatory immune response that can contribute to the pathogenesis of cytauxzoonosis in the lungs.     

Characterization of an intravenous lipopolysaccharide inflammation model in calves with respect to the acute-phase response

Our objective was to develop a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inflammation model in calves to evaluate the acute-phase response with respect to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and acute-phase proteins, fever development and sickness behaviour. Fourteen 4-week-old male Holstein Friesian calves were included and randomly assigned to a negative control group (n = 3) and an LPS-challenged group (n = 11). The latter received an intravenous bolus injection of 0.5 μg of LPS/kg body weight. Blood collection and clinical scoring were performed at 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 18, 24, 28, 32, 48, 54 and 72 h post LPS administration (p.a.). In the LPS group, the following clinical signs were observed successively: tachypnoea (on average 18 min p.a.), decubitus (29 min p.a.), general depression (1.75 h p.a.), fever (5 h p.a.) and tachycardia (5 h p.a.). Subsequent to the recovery from respiratory distress, general depression was prominent, which deteriorated when fever increased. One animal did not survive LPS administration, whereas the other animals recovered on average within 6.1 h p.a. Moreover, the challenge significantly increased plasma concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin 6, serum amyloid A and haptoglobin, with peaking levels at 1, 3.5, 24 and 18 h p.a., respectively. The present LPS model was practical and reproducible, caused obvious clinical signs related to endotoxemia and a marked change in the studied inflammatory mediators, making it a suitable model to study the immunomodulatory properties of drugs in future research.     

Use of serum amyloid A in equine medicine and surgery

Serum amyloid A (SAA) has become an indispensable part of the management of equine patients in general practice and specialized hospital settings. Although several proteins possess acute phase properties in horses, the usefulness of SAA exceeds that of other acute phase proteins. This is due to the highly desirable kinetics of the equine SAA response. SAA concentrations exhibit a rapid and pronounced increase in response to inflammation and a rapid decline after the resolution of inflammation. This facilitates the detection of inflammatory disease and real-time monitoring of inflammatory activity. SAA may be used in all stages of patient management: (1) before diagnosis (to rule in/rule out inflammatory disease), (2) at the time of diagnosis (to assess the severity of inflammation and assist in prognostication), and (3) after diagnosis (to monitor changes in inflammatory activity in response to therapy, with relapse of disease, or with infectious/inflammatory complications). By assessing other acute phase reactants in addition to SAA, clinicians can succinctly stage inflammation. White blood cell counts and serum iron concentration change within hours of an inflammatory insult, SAA within a day, and fibrinogen within 2–3 days; the interrelationship of these markers thus indicates the duration and activity of the inflammatory condition. Much research on the equine SAA response and clinical use has been conducted in the last decade. This is the prerequisite for the evidence-based use of this analyte. However, still today, most published studies involve a fairly low number of horses. To obtain solid evidence for use of SAA, future studies should be designed with larger sample sizes.     

褪黑素的生物合成及对繁殖性能的影响

褪黑素是一种广泛存在于动物体内的激素,不仅能够调节动物昼夜节律,还能够从多方面影响动物的繁殖性能,对于季节性繁殖动物,褪黑素根据日照时长的变化表现出抑制或促进繁殖性能的作用。对于幼年动物,褪黑素表现出抑制发情的作用,体成熟后则表现促进发情的作用。褪黑素主要通过下丘脑-垂体-性腺轴调控动物繁殖活动,除此之外,褪黑素还能够直接作用于生殖系统甚至早期胚胎,通过提高组织及细胞抗炎及抗氧化功能来改善动物繁殖性能。目前,褪黑素能够用于治疗精神疾病及炎症、促进畜禽繁殖和调节昼夜节律,是相关研究领域的热门话题。本文详细描述了褪黑素的生物合成以及分泌调控,并结合褪黑素的生理功能,阐述了对动物繁殖性能以及辅助生殖的影响。     

不同栽培模式西番莲的光响应特性

以黄果西番莲Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa Degener和紫果西番莲P. edulis Sims为实验材料,采用Li-6400便携式光合测定仪测定露地及设施栽培模式两种西番莲的光合参数,非直角双曲线模型进行拟合,分析不同栽培模式对两种西番莲叶绿素及光合参数的影响。结果表明,与露地栽培相比,设施栽培模式黄果西番莲的叶绿素含量、表观量子效率（AQY）、光补偿点（Ic）和暗呼吸速率（Rd）无显著变化,最大净光合速率（Pnmax）和光饱和点（Isat）显著降低。紫果西番莲叶绿素含量显著增加,AQY、Pnmax和Isat无显著变化,Ic与Rd降幅较大。两种西番莲叶绿素a/b（Chl a/b）值均显著降低。说明黄果西番莲和紫果西番莲分别在露地栽培模式和设施栽培模式的光合效率更高,能积累更多的光合产物。     

家具检测用环境舱恒温恒湿系统方案改进

对所研制的第一代环境舱恒温恒湿系统进行实验及分析,分析环境舱内壁结霜凝水以及检测甲醛和TVOC不够准确等问题产生的原因,并提出具有针对性的改进方案。实验表明,改进后的系统可有效解决上述问题,能够精确控制环境舱内部温湿度的恒定,从而保证环境舱在工作过程中对样品分析结果的准确性。     

荒漠植物白刺对模拟增雨的光合响应机制

【目的】研究不同增雨条件下白刺叶片的光合作用和叶绿素荧光特性,从光合生理角度探讨白刺对增雨的响应机制。【方法】以乌兰布和沙漠东缘地区典型荒漠植物白刺为研究对象,设置不同的增雨梯度(增加年均降水量的0,25%,50%,75%和100%),对自然生长的白刺沙包进行人工模拟增雨,利用 Li－6400xt便携式光合测定系统分析仪(USA,LI-COR)测定不同增雨条件下白刺叶片净光合速率(Pn)日动态变化、光响应曲线、CO2响应曲线以及叶绿素荧光参数,并根据 Pn 日变化曲线和响应曲线计算叶片日光合总量(∑Pn )以及各光合生理参数。【结果】1)75%和100%增雨对日均 Pn 和∑Pn 影响显著,日均 Pn 比 CK分别高32.74%和37.64%,∑Pn 比 CK 分别高32.01%和38.43%,说明增雨使白刺光合能力增强,日光合产物的积累增加。2)增雨使白刺表观量子效率( AQY)和光饱和点( LSP)升高,25%,50%,75%和100%增雨的 AQY 比 CK 分别高17.24%,31.03%,37.93%和24.14%,LSP比 CK分别高14.6%,6.0%,3.0%,26.1%,说明白刺叶片利用弱光的能力增强,对强光的利用范围增加,光能转化效率提高,有利于光合作用的高效进行。3)随着增雨量的增加,羧化效率(CE)呈现出逐渐增加的趋势,其中,100%增雨的 CE比 CK高5.73%;增雨使 CO2饱和点( CSP)升高,50%,75%和100%增雨的 CSP 显著高于 CK,分别比 CK高23.67%,28.35%和29.13%,说明白刺叶片 RuBP羧化酶和光合碳循环酶的活性增强,对高CO2浓度的利用范围增加。4)增雨使白刺叶片的原初光化学量子效率( Fv/Fm )、实际光化学量子效率(ФPSⅡ)、电子传递速率( ETR)和光化学猝灭系数( qP )提高,说明增雨有利于白刺叶片PSⅡ反应中心活性增强、开放比例提高,有利于叶片把所捕获的光能转化为生物化学能,并将更多的光能用于推动光合电子传递。【结论】白刺能够调节光合机构的功能、改变自身生理特性、增强对环境资源的利用能力来适应增雨的变化。     

用星点设计-效应面法优化锥栗总黄酮超声提取工艺

为了优选锥栗中总黄酮的超声提取工艺条件,以乙醇体积分数、提取时间、液固比为试验因素,以锥栗总黄酮的提取率为考察指标,在单因素试验的基础上,采用星点设计–效应面法(CCD-RSM),对锥栗总黄酮的提取工艺条件进行了优化试验。结果表明,锥栗总黄酮的最佳提取工艺条件为:80%乙醇,超声提取20min,固液比为24,提取温度为50℃。按此工艺提取,总黄酮的提取率为0.0685%;且此方法操作简便,结果稳定,预测性良好。     

森林认证的发展及其对中国森林经营的影响

介绍森林认证的由来、目标、体系。阐述中国森林认证发展历程,分析森林认证在森林可持续经营,森林资源经营管理水平、科技含量、经济、社会和生态效益,生态环境保护,经营方案编制,经营活动监测,人工林经营和管理等方面的重要促进作用,藉此提出我国森林可持续经营建议。