Sperm cryopreservation of the noble Scallop Chlamys nobilis by a programmable freezing method: Effect of cryoprotectant

A study on Chlamys nobilis sperm cryopreservation by a programmable freezing method was conducted under laboratory condition. Four cryoprotectant agents (dimethyl sulfoxide [DMSO], methanol [MET], propanediol[PG] and ethylene glycol [EG]) and four concentrations (5%, 10%, 20% and 30%) were evaluated for their ability to retain sperm motility, movement characteristics and fertility. Results showed that cryopreserved sperm total motility produced by DMSO and MET at 5%, 10% and 20% were higher than other cryoprotectant treatment groups (CPA groups), as well as rapid sperm percentage. The curvilinear (VCL) and straight line (VSL) velocity produced by DMSO at 5% significantly higher than other CPA groups (p < 0.05), while no significant differences were found for average path (VAP) velocity. The lateral head displacement (ALH) in all CPA groups was similar and without significant difference (p > 0.05), as well as the beat‐cross frequency (BCF). A significant higher fertilization rate was produced in DMSO than that in MET at same concentration (p < 0.05), and no significant differences were found for differing concentrations of the same cryoprotectant (p > 0.05). Overall, 5%‐20% DMSO was more suitable for Chlamys nobilis sperm programmable cryopreservation when the calcium‐free Hanks’ balanced salt solution was used as the extender, and 10°C/min from 0°C to ?80°C was used as freezing rate. The findings presented in this study will benefit conservation programs for Chlamys nobilis.     

海贝柱自动晾晒设备设计

针对当前传统人工晾晒海贝柱效率低下、容易造成污染等问题。设计了海贝柱自动晾晒机械,采用阶梯式晾晒生产线对湿海贝柱分级晾晒,多条晾晒生产线分时、高效的工作,机器上方设有遮板以保证晾晒作业不被污染而且不受天气条件的影响。整机采用stm32单片机、传感器等技术实现自动化作业,机器控制系统监测到生产线发生故障或海贝柱出现堆积时会立即停止工作以便于检查故障、减少损失。试验结果表明:机械晾晒不会造成海贝柱内的营养成分的流失,机械晾晒海贝柱的干基含水率达到30%仅需12h,机械晾晒海贝柱能节省大量的干燥时间,显著的提高了晾晒效率,避免了人工晾晒过程导致的二次污染和损失。该研究为海贝柱自动晾晒机械的研制提供了技术参考。     

暗纹东方鲀冻藏品质劣化的原因解析

通过比较冰晶、内源蛋白酶以及氧化对冻藏暗纹东方鲀(Takifugu obscurus)品质的影响，确定冻藏暗纹东方鲀品质劣化的关键因素。实验通过液氮浸渍快速冻结抑制鱼肉组织中冰晶增长、碘乙酸浸泡前处理抑制鱼肉内源蛋白酶活性、复合抗氧化剂浸泡前处理抑制蛋白/脂质氧化作用的设计，区分冰晶、内源蛋白酶和氧化3种因素对冻藏鱼肉品质的影响；并以硬度、解冻流失率、蒸煮损失率、挥发性盐基氮含量、K值、Ca2+-ATPase活性、肌原纤维小片化指数和肌纤维长度作为鱼肉品质的评价指标。结果显示，冻结过程中控制冰晶增长对暗纹东方鲀冻藏品质的改善作用最大，冻藏24周后，速冻组的硬度比内源蛋白酶抑制组和氧化抑制组分别提高了26.8%和20.5%，解冻流失率分别降低了44.2%和44.8%，且该处理组TVB-N、K值和Ca2+-ATPase活性变化更慢，24周后分别为10.5 mg/100 g、6.8%和1.43 μmol Pi/mg/10 min。综合各项指标发现，冰晶、内源蛋白酶和氧化对冻藏暗纹东方鲀品质劣化均有影响；其中，冰晶作用是导致暗纹东方鲀在冻藏过程中品质下降的最主要影响因素，内源蛋白酶和氧化对冻藏暗纹东方鲀品质的影响次之，且二者对品质影响无显著性差异。     

国家奶牛良种补贴项目在泾阳县实施的成效与启示

为今后奶牛改良工作成果的巩固和推广提供依据,对国家奶牛良种补贴项目在泾阳实施的效果与措施进行总结.结果表明:累计使用良种冷冻精液细管23.7万支,生产改良奶牛3.15万头,且已有1.1万头的优质母牛已正式进入产奶阶段.良种补贴后代奶牛的头胎日产奶量达到27 kg左右,比同期母亲日产奶量高2 kg～3 kg;生奶平均乳...     

Research Progress on Technique of Frozen Embryo Transfer in Sheep

The paper introduced the research progress on the technique of frozen embryo transfer in sheep,illustrated selection of donors and receptors,superovulation,synchronization of estrus,embryo cryopreservation and embryo transplantation. Frozen embryo transfer in sheep is another breakthrough in the high-quality sheep raising,and this technique in China is in its infancy recommendation stage,but it will be comprehensively popularized in the future.     

Post-thawing Sperm Quality in Chilean Purebred Stallions: Effect of Age and Seasonality

In this work, we investigated the influence of age and seasonality on sperm motility and DNA fragmentation in post-thawing semen from Chilean Purebred Stallions (CPS), a horse breed presenting the oldest genealogy record in South America with an interesting reproductive industry. Despite that semen from aged CPS is frozen all year round, there is a lack of studies characterizing the breed semen freezability in accordance with age and seasonality. Twenty fertile CPS were grouped into the young group, the middle group, and the aged group. Ten ejaculates from each stallion were obtained by using an artificial vagina during summer (December) and winter (July) and directly frozen. Subsequently, the frozen semen was thawed and analyzed by a computer-assisted semen analysis and flow cytometer assessing progressive motility, mean velocity, and DNA fragmentation spermatozoa. Kruskal–Wallis test and Pearson’s correlation were used to determine statistical differences among groups and correlation among variables (P ≤ .05). Both spermatozoa motility traits decreased progressively in accordance with age and seasonality, showing the lowest values in the aged group during winter and the highest values in the young group during summer. Deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation increased significantly in accordance with age and seasonality being highest in the aged group during winter and lowest in the young group during summer. Post-thawing sperm quality showed a negative correlation with the age of the stallions and a positive correlation with the normal sperm morphology before freezing. These results allow the conclusion that age and seasonality are important factors that need to be considered during the selection of CPS for reproductive programs.     

6个蓝莓品种受低温冻害影响分析

[目的]对昆明6个蓝莓品种进行了冻害情况调查,为该地区蓝莓引种及防寒工作提供参考。[方法]调查研究南高丛蓝莓品种(奥尼尔、夏普蓝、密斯黛)和兔眼蓝莓品种(顶峰、灿烂、梯芙蓝)共6个蓝莓品种受低温冻害的情况。[结果]3个南高丛蓝莓品种冻害率均达到100%,3个兔眼蓝莓品种中,灿烂冻害率高达75.0%,梯芙蓝冻害率仅为16.7%,顶峰植株未遭冻害。奥尼尔和灿烂品种受冻害的器官主要为花和果,其余3个品种受低温冻害的器官不同。[结论]不同蓝莓品种具有不同的抗寒力,露天栽培中可优先考虑顶峰和梯芙蓝品种。     

Crosses between two subspecies of bay scallop Argopecten irradians and heterosis for yield traits at harvest

In order to improve the yield of bay scallop Argopecten irradians by exploiting geographic subspecies heterosis, crosses between and within two subspecies, the northern A. i. irradians (Lamarck) and the southern A. i. concentricus (Say), were created and the offspring were cultured under the same environmental conditions. The two parental populations were collected from Bohai Bay in northern China and Beibu Bay in southern China, which were distinct in particular shell colours. The results indicated that the shell colour of bay scallop was inheritable and could be used as a morphological mark to distinguish hybrid and purebred individuals. At harvest, hybrid offspring always produced a significantly higher yield than purebred offspring. Positive heterosis was achieved for shell length, shell height, shell width, total weight and adductor weight, which was 5.02, 5.22, 3.88, 7.53 and 9.47 respectively. Hybrid gain was 10.86% for shell length, 10.48% for shell height, 9.77% for shell width, 34.90% for total weight and 41.69% for adductor weight, respectively, and all were significantly >5%. The present study reveals that it is effective for improving yield by hybridization between different geographic subspecies in the bay scallop.     

Effect of emerged shipment on the physiological condition of the adductor muscle in adult giant lion's paw scallop Nodipecten subnodosus (Sowerby 1835)

Currently, there is an increasing interest in shipping live adult scallops to markets and broodstock to hatcheries; nevertheless, information about the shipping effect on live scallops physiology is very scarce. In a previous study, a method in emersion was developed to ship scallop seed out of water, but it was not known whether this method is useful to transport adult organisms. As a consequence, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of transportation by the emersion method on the physiological status of the adductor muscle of adult giant lion's paw scallop. Live specimens were packaged in a container and transported in emersion for 11 h. Six scallops were frozen in a farm and a similar number were frozen as soon as they arrived to the laboratory. Physiological indices were determined in each lot and the survival was estimated 24 h after re‐immersion. As a result of the transportation, a significant loss (P<0.05) of total carbohydrates, glycogen, adenosine 5′‐triphosphate and adenilated energetic charge, and a significant increase (P<0.05) in the free amino acids concentration were observed. Eighty‐eight per cent survival was achieved; therefore, we conclude that this method is appropriate for shipping live adult scallops of Nodipecten subnodosus.