Abnormal development of genital organs in offspring male mice exposed to finasteride during pregnancy

AIM: To investigate the effects of finasteride exposure during pregnancy on the development of reproductive organs in offspring male mice. METHODS: CD-1 mice were treated with finasteride from 0 to 17 d after conception. The development of reproductive organs in the offspring male mice were observed by macroscopy, anatomical analysis and histological staining. The spermatogenesis was analyzed by immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: Macroscopic observation showed that fenasteride exposure during pregnancy resulted in external genital malformations in the offspring male mice, which were manifested as incomplete scrotal fusion and penile malformation. In addition, the anogenital distance was significantly shortened (P<0.01). Histological staining showed that the length of penis at each stage was significantly shortened (P<0.01), the density of seminiferous tubules in testis and mature spermatozoa in seminiferous tubules were significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the luminal space size of seminiferous tubules and interstitial space size of testises were significantly increased (P<0.01). Immunofluorescence staining showed that the densities of Sertoli cells, Leydig cells and spermatogonium in testis were significantly reduced (P<0.01), and the fluorescence intensity of caspase-3 in spermatogenic tubule cells was increased significantly (P<0.01). However, the fluorescence intensity of Ki67 and desert hedgehog (Dhh) was decreased significantly (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Finasteride exposure during pregnancy results in abnormal development of reproductive organs in offspring male mice and affects spermatogenesis.     

Selective inhibition of endothelin receptor A improves white matter lesions in hypertensive rats

AIM:To observe whether selective inhibition of endothelin receptor A (ETRA) improves white matter lesions (WMLs), and explore the mechanism. METHODS:Sprague-Dawley rats (n=33) were randomly divided into sham operation group (n=9), treatment group[stroke-prone renovascular hypertensive rats-modified 2 vessel occlusion (RHRSP-modified 2VO) + ambrisentan (n=12)] and placebo group[RHRSP-modified 2VO + vehicle (n=12)]. Drug and vehicle administration was performed from 17th to 20th week and monitoring of systolic arterial pressure was performed weekly. Morris water maze test was conducted to evaluate the function of cognition. The protein levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the cortex, corpus callosum and caudate putamen were quantitatively analyzed respectively. The severity of WMLs and the relationship between ET-1 and vessels were observed by the method of histopathology. RESULTS:The difference of systolic arterial pressure between treatment group and placebo group was not significant. The animals in treatment group exhibited shorter escape latency (P<0.05), more times of crossing platform (P<0.05), lower level of ET-1 in corpus callosum and caudate putamen (P<0.05), respectively, improved WMLs severity (P<0.05) and lower binding level of ET-1 to vessels compared with the placebo group. CONCLUSION:Selective inhibition of endothelin receptor A improves the severity of WMLs and ameliorates the cognitive function.     

The Use of a Metabolic Disorder Index as a Predictor for Metabolic Eliminations in Endurance Horses

The equine endurance race involves both aerobic and anaerobic metabolisms of the horse. The intense physical activity over an extended period often causes susceptible horses to develop metabolic signs or problems resulting in elimination from races. Thus, the objective of this study was to develop a method for prediction and validation of a metabolic disorder index (MDI) to be used before endurance races. Three hundred seventy-five Arabian (n = 152) and Arabian cross (n = 223) endurance horses aged from 6 to 15 years and weighing between 350 and 450 kg were selected for the study in Malaysia. Blood samples were collected at pre- and post-race periods. The significant (P < .05) findings in horses with metabolic disorder were packed cell volume (0.50 ± 0.06 LL−1), creatine kinase (1,275.89 ± 121.45 UL−1), interleukin-6 (2.01 ± 0.89 ng/mL), decreased glutathione reductase (26.57 ± 3.95 ng/mL), and chloride (94.98 ± 8.12 mmol/L). A new method called MDI was developed as a predictor for horses with the potential to develop metabolic disorders in endurance races. The MDI indicated a higher value greater than 5.5 for those eliminated and lower value below 5.5 for those that completed the race successfully, this proved to be accurate in the prediction of metabolic disorder in endurance horses. The MDI is an innovative and simple method used as a prediction method that will assist the equine endurance society to reduce the rate of elimination and to safeguard against serious medical problems during endurance races in the tropics.     

The effect of late season damage on the apical bud development of Scots pine seedlings

The effect of Lygus rugulipennis Popp. feeding and artificial damage on the apical bud of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) late in the growing season was studied on two-year-old seedlings. Lygus feeding in late July and August caused inhibition of bud formation in the subsequent year's shoots, which led to loss of apical dominance and formation of interfascicular buds. Mechanical damage caused by piercing the apical bud with a needle in July, August and October produced scars and malformations on subsequent year's shoots and buds, but did not inhibit bud formation. Damage to the apical meristem could not be detected visually on the dormant bud before shoot elongation.     

Uneven ripening in ‘Bangalore blue’ grape (Vitis vinifera × Vitis labrusca) berries in India is linked to seed viability

Uneven ripening (UR) is a physiological disorder of unknown origin in ‘Bangalore blue’ grape (Vitis vinifera × Vitis labrusca) leading to wine of inferior quality. A preliminary study found wide variations in total dehydrogenase activity (TDH) of seeds from unevenly ripe berries. In our experiments, gibberellin (GA₃) applied to young grapes increased seed TDH activity and reduced the incidence of uneven ripening to 2% compared with 35% in the control. In contrast, paclobutrazol (PBZ) decreased TDH activity and increased the incidence of the disorder to 58%. GA₃-treated berries had higher concentrations of sucrose and TDH activity in seed representing mature seeds with high viability. In contrast, PBZ-treated and control berries had higher concentrations of glucose and lower TDH activity, indicating immature seeds with low viability. These results suggested that competition among developing berries can lead to differences in seed gibberellin content, seed viability and the rate of berry growth resulting in green, purple, and black berries at harvest. The study established the role of seed viability in uneven ripening and demonstrated that the incidence of the disorder is reduced by the application of GA₃ to immature berries.     

Genetic variation in bitter pit and fruit calcium concentrations within a diverse apple germplasm collection

Summary Genetic variability in the apple [Malus] fruit disorder bitter pit and fruit calcium concentrations ([Ca]) was determined in 25 seedling families at each of two sites from 1999 to 2000 and again for one site, in 2001. Most trees were free of pit or had low pit incidence, which could be approximated by an over-dispersed binomial distribution. A genetic component to external and internal pit incidence was found across both sites and all years. This effect was irrespective of the use of several cropping factors, average fruit weight or fruit mineral concentrations as covariates in the analyses. Year and/or site always had substantial effects on pit incidence. Interactions of genetic effects with site or year were also detected with large differences in mean pit incidence between sites or years for some families but not others. No relationship was found between mean family pit incidence and mean family [Ca] or mean family harvest date. However fruit [Ca] and harvest date were usually important predictors of within-family variation in pit incidence. For any one seedling, family had the largest effect on bitter pit incidence followed by site and [Ca] and the smallest effect was that of harvest date. [Ca] showed a strong genetic component and estimated family means of [Ca] were consistent at different sites and years. These results suggest that susceptibility of apple genotypes to bitter pit in breeding programmes may be best assessed through screening across multiple sites and seasons. Fruit [Ca] might be useful as an indirect selection index for bitter pit within, but not among families.     

Progress in the Development and Control of Physiological Disorders of Citrus Peel

This is a brief introduction to physiological disorders of citrus peel, these disorders include chilling injury, pitting, oleocellesis, peteca, etc. The authors not only introduce the symptoms both pre - and postharvest, physiological mechanisms, influencing factors and controlling methods of these disorders, but also discuss the connection between them. It is useful for defining physiological disorders on citrus peel and enhancing knowledge of the fundamental causes of these disorders.     

奶牛繁殖障碍性疾病防控技术探讨

引起奶牛繁殖障碍的因素很多,有先天性的,也有后天性的,而感染外源性疾病是后天性繁殖障碍中最常见的因素。除了常见的产科疾病以外,引起奶牛繁殖障碍的疾病还包括牛布鲁菌病、牛沙门氏菌病、牛传染性鼻气管炎、牛胎毛滴虫病、牛新孢子虫病、牛病毒性腹泻（牛黏膜病）等。在奶牛生产中,要根据实际发病情况,查明发生原因,采取相应措施,科学处置和防控。     

消除高职学生学习高等数学的心理障碍的途径

就高职院校高等数学课程教学改革作了一些探讨，针对高职院校的现状，分析了高职学生学习高等数学的心里障碍成因，并提出分层次教学、概念教学以及改变考核方式等途径的解决方法。