Growth promoting effects of prebiotic yeast cell wall products in starter broilers under an immune stress and Clostridium perfringens challenge

This study was designed to investigate the growth promoting effects of supplementing different sources and concentrations of prebiotic yeast cell wall (YCW) products containing mannanoligosaccharides in starter broilers under an immune stress andClostridium perfringens challenge. Through a series of 6 individual studies either 240 or 288 newly hatched chicks were randomly distributed to specific dietary treatments. All birds received a commercial infectious bursa disease vaccine at 10 or 15 d age followed by an orally administeredClostridium perfringens challenge on d 15, 16, and 17; or 18, 19, and 20. Weekly BW, feed consumption, and daily mortality were recorded per pen. Each study was terminated after 21 d. Pooled data analysis of all studies revealed no effect between different product sources of YCW. Products from both sources produced a significant improvement in growth rate compared to control birds fed no YCW. However, a blend of two YCW products showed an approximate 15% improvement in growth rate and a 10% reduction in FCR. The optimum dose of any YCW product among those tested was determined to be approximately 250 ppm. Prebiotic YCW additives increased BW and improved feed conversion and may be considered as alternative growth promoters for starting broilers.     

Differentiation of canine bone marrow stromal cells into voltage- and glutamate-responsive neuron-like cells by basic fibroblast growth factor

We investigated the in vitro differentiation of canine bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) into voltage- and glutamate-responsive neuron-like cells. BMSCs were obtained from the bone marrow of healthy beagle dogs. Canine BMSCs were incubated with the basal medium for neurons containing recombinant human basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF; 100 ng/ml). The viability of the bFGF-treated cells was assessed by a trypan blue exclusion assay, and the morphology was monitored. Real-time RT-PCR was performed to evaluate mRNA expression of neuronal, neural stem cell and glial markers. Western blotting and immunocytochemical analysis for the neuronal markers were performed to evaluate the protein expression and localization. The Ca²⁺ mobilization of the cells was evaluated using the Ca²⁺ indicator Fluo3 to monitor Ca²⁺ influx. To investigate the mechanism of bFGF-induced neuronal differentiation, the fibroblast growth factor receptor inhibitor, the phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor or the Akt inhibitor was tested. The bFGF treatment resulted in the maintenance of the viability of canine BMSCs for 10 days, in the expression of neuronal marker mRNAs and proteins and in the manifestation of neuron-like morphology. Furthermore, in the bFGF-treated BMSCs, a high concentration of KCl and L-glutamate induced an increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ levels. Each inhibitor significantly attenuated the bFGF-induced increase in neuronal marker mRNA expression. These results suggest that bFGF contributes to the differentiation of canine BMSCs into voltage- and glutamate-responsive neuron-like cells and may lead to the development of new cell-based treatments for neuronal diseases.     

Effect of different levels of raw and heated grass pea seed (Lathyrus sativus) on nutrient digestibility,intestinal villus morphology and growth performance of broiler chicks

This study aimed to investigate chemical composition and effect of different levels (0%, 10% and 20%) of raw grass pea (RGP) and heat‐treated (120 °C for 30 min) grass pea seed (HGP) on nutrient digestibility, dressing percentage, relative internal organ weights, intestinal villous morphology and broiler chicks' performance. A total number of 200 day‐old male chicks were raised under similar condition for 10 days. On day 11, chicks were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments and four replicates of 10 birds each. The result of chemical analysis indicated that Iranian grass pea seed has low levels of total and condensed tannin, and it may be considered as a good source of protein (36.1%) and energy (17.09 kJ GE/g). Heat treatment reduced (p < 0.05) the total and condensed tannin to 21% and 78% respectively. Grass peas seed had higher levels of nitrogen‐free extract, P, Na, Mg and Zn than soya bean meal. The apparent digestibility of gross energy and lipid was affected (p < 0.01) by the treatment diets, and it was the lowest after feeding 20% of HGP (p < 0.05). The relative weight of breast and pancreas (p < 0.05) was affected by treatments. Percentage weight of breast and pancreas increased (p < 0.05) after feeding high levels (20%) of RGP and HGP. Substitution of 20% of RGP and HGP increased the duodenal crypt depth (p < 0.05); however, it had no suppressive effect on villus height as the absorptive surface of intestine. The feed conversion ratio was not affected by the treatments in the total experimental period. This study showed that, although the high level of grass pea seed caused a remarkable increase in the relative weight of pancreas and decreased the apparent digestibility of gross energy and lipid, it had beneficial effect on breast relative weight. It seems that heat processing is not effective method for improving quality of Iranian grass pea seed.     

Genetic parameters for litter size,piglet growth and sow's early growth and body composition in the Chinese–European line Tai Zumu

Genetics of piglet growth in association with sow's early growth and body composition were estimated in the Tai Zumu line. Piglet and sow's litter growth traits were calculated from individual weights collected at birth and at 3 weeks of age. Sow's litter traits included the number of piglets born alive (NBA), the mean piglet weight (MW) and the standard deviation of weights within the litter (SDW). Sow's early growth was measured by the age at 100 kg (A₁₀₀), and body composition included backfat thickness (BF₁₀₀). A main objective of this study was to estimate separately the direct genetic effect (d) and the maternal genetic effect (m) on piglet weight and daily weight gain during lactation. Variance components were estimated using the restricted maximum likelihood methodology based on animal models. The heritability estimates were 0.19 for NBA, 0.15 and 0.26 for SDW and MW at 3 weeks and 0.42 and 0.70 for A₁₀₀ and BF₁₀₀. The NBA was almost independent from SDW. Conversely, the A₁₀₀ and BF₁₀₀ were correlated unfavourably with SDW (r_g<−0.24, SE<0.12). A stronger selection for litter size should have little effect on litter homogeneity in weights. Selection for lean growth rate tends to favour heterogeneity in weights. The direct effect on piglet weight at birth and daily weight gain accounted for 12% (h² (d) = 0.02) and 50% (h² (d) = 0.11) of the genetic variance, respectively. The association between d and m for piglet weight was not different from zero at birth (r_g = 0.19, SE = 0.27), but a strong antagonism between d and m for daily weight gain from birth to 3 weeks was found (r_g = −0.41, SE = 0.17). Substantial direct and maternal genetic effects influenced piglet growth until weaning in opposite way.     

PEG与低温对法国百里香种子萌发的影响

以法国百里香(Thymus vulgaris)为材料,研究了PEG模拟干旱胁迫和低温对种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响,旨在探索进口百里香种子播种育苗的适宜条件。结果表明,温度、干旱及其互作对法国百里香种子萌发和幼苗生长均有显著影响。0~10%PEG-6000水分条件下,8~24℃下法国百里香种子均能良好萌发,其中在10~12℃时发芽率最高,达79.3%,显著高于其余各处理(P0.05)。当PEG-6000达15%时显著抑制其萌发,至30%PEG-6000时仅在22~24℃下少量萌发。萌发后,当温度为22~24℃,根长、茎长均显著高于其他处理。种子和幼苗生长均表现出对PEG模拟干旱胁迫和低温不同的响应。     

不同种植密度条件下单混种作物的生长曲线

代谢比例理论(Metabolic Scaling Theory)认为,植物小个体或幼苗的生物量和物质能量代谢速率之间的异速生长指数为1,而随着植物个体的逐渐增大,其代谢异速生长指数逐渐趋近于3/4。2012年,Deng等基于代谢比例理论建立了植物小个体的动态生长模型。然而,对于受到种内或种间不同竞争压力的植物个体来说,其生长过程无疑将受到邻体竞争的影响,他们是否仍然遵循上述植物小个体的动态生长模型尚不得而知。本研究针对此科学问题选取了春小麦(Triticum aestivum)、胡麻(Linum usitisimum)、玉米(Zea mays)3种作物分别进行两两组合混合种植以及单独种植,种植密度分别为高、中、低3种不同密度梯度;在作物出苗至成熟期间,分别对株高、基茎、冠幅、生物量、以及不同时期样方植物密度共进行6次跟踪测定。通过对Deng等建立的植物小个体动态生长模型的拟合分析,发现在种植密度梯度下不论单种还是混种,其植物个体的生长曲线均符合植物小个体动态生长模型,且具有相似生态位的物种混种条件下的个体生长状况要好于单种条件下的个体生长状况,而低密度条件下的生长状况亦显著优于中、高密度个体生长状况。总之,不同竞争压力下的植物个体,其生长速率和成熟大小虽有所变化,但其生长曲线均符合上述生长模型的预测。该研究不但对植物小个体生长模型和代谢理论的可靠性进行了进一步的验证,而且还使该理论的应用与发展得到进一步的完善。     

干热河谷冲沟侵蚀劣地不同坡位草被生长和土壤水分关系研究

金沙江干热河谷区冲沟侵蚀极为发育,形成大量侵蚀劣地,对该区域侵蚀劣地不同坡位草被生长特征和土壤水分状况进行了调查分析。结果表明,1)侵蚀劣地不同坡位草被生长差异较大,草被盖度和地上生物量大小均表现为:坡上部坡中部坡下部,且坡下部与坡上部和坡中部之间草被生长状况存在极显著差异(P0.01);2)同等降雨状况下,不同坡位土壤水分含量随时间延长均呈现指数递减趋势,但其衰减速率不同,导致土壤水分含量存在差异,衰减速率表现为:坡上部坡中部坡下部,土壤水分含量表现为相反顺序;3)监测时段内土壤水分(土壤平均含水量和末次土壤含水量)与草被覆盖度和生物量之间均呈现极显著正相关关系(P0.01),说明侵蚀劣地不同坡位下土壤水分差异是决定草被生长差异的关键因素。