Homeopathic complex increases survival without affecting the performance of Nile tilapia during masculinization

During the masculinization of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, the effect of a homeopathic complex (containing Chamomilla, Quina, and sulphur) was evaluated based on survival, performance, gills and liver integrity, and parasitism. Group fed with basal diet + 17 alpha-methyltestosterone (control) showed low survival (40.02%), while the group that additionally received homeopathy and the group that received sucrose (vehicle) showed 73.7% and 87.7% survival, respectively. The growth performance of the group that received homeopathic and the control group was significantly higher than that of the group that received only sucrose. Still, fish that received the homeopathic complex showed higher branchial and hepatic integrity as compared to the other groups. The homeopathic complex contributes to a greater survival of fish in addition to maintaining satisfactory growth. Furthermore, homeopathy contributes to the improvement in gill and liver integrity of the Nile tilapia larvae.     

雄激素和氢化可的松对山羊附睾头上皮细胞增殖的影响

为研究雄激素和氢化可的松对山羊附睾上皮细胞生长的作用模式,本研究利用酶标仪检测附睾头部上皮细胞增殖情况,实时荧光定量PCR及ELISA检测雄激素受体(AR)的表达,检测睾酮与氢化可的松对山羊附睾上皮细胞体外增殖的作用以及对AR表达的影响。结果表明:100nmol/L睾酮对附睾头上皮细胞增殖的促进效应最高且与对照组差异极显著(P0.01),200nmol/L氢化可的松促进附睾头上皮细胞增殖效应最佳并与对照组差异显著(P0.05),前者的效应明显且可以被AR阻断剂阻断;睾酮和氢化可的松对附睾头上皮细胞增殖表现为协同作用;100nmol/L睾酮与200nmol/L氢化可的松均使附睾头上皮细胞的AR mRNA和蛋白表达量上调,与对照组差异显著(P0.05),且二者共存时附睾头上皮细胞的AR mRNA和蛋白表达量极显著高于对照组(P0.01)。本研究表明睾酮和氢化可的松对附睾头上皮细胞体外增殖均有促进作用,呈明显的浓度依赖性,且二者之间存在协同作用,这为进一步研究附睾上皮细胞增殖及功能的调节机理提供了基础。     

基于核酸适配体的阳离子聚合物聚集纳米金比色法检测水中睾酮

利用核酸适配体对睾酮特异性识别功能以及阳离子聚合物PDDA(poly dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride,PDDA)聚集纳米金特性,建立了一种高灵敏度、高特异性测定睾酮的定量方法。在最优实验条件[10 mmol/L PB缓冲溶液(pH 7.4),孵育温度25℃,6nmol/L PDDA,6nmol/L睾酮核酸适配体]下,体系吸光度比值A_(650)/A_(520)与睾酮浓度C呈良好的线性关系,决定系数R2为0.995。该方法可检测睾酮浓度范围为2.27nmol/L~1.8μmol/L,最低检测限为2.27nmol/L,将本方法应用于检测自来水睾酮含量,加标回收率为99.81%~105.04%。本方法具有检测范围广、成本低、操作简便、检测灵敏等优点,具有良好实际应用前景。     

Efficacy of 17 α‐methyl testosterone and letrozole on sex reversal of protogynous grouper,Epinephelus tauvina (Forskal, 1775) and spawning performance of sex‐reversed males

This study aimed to test the efficacy of 17 α‐methyl testosterone (17 α‐MT) alone and in combination with letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor, for the induction of sex reversal in protogynous greasy grouper, Epinephelus tauvina. Further, the long‐lasting effects of these treatments and spawning performance of sex‐reversed males were also investigated. Greasy grouper with oocytes in the perinucleolus stage were implanted with 5 mg 17 α‐MT kg^?1 body weight (T₁), 5 mg 17 α‐MT and 0.2 mg letrozole kg^?1 body weight (T₂) and 5 mg 17 α‐MT with 0.4 mg letrozole kg^?1 body weight (T₃) and no androgens/enzyme inhibitor implanted (C). The 17 α‐MT alone and in combination of letrozole‐induced sex reversal in greasy grouper, whereas untreated control fish (C) showed normal ovarian development. However, T₂ and T₃ group showed 100% sex reversal and completion of spermatogenesis up to functional male phase in 2 and 3 months, respectively, whereas T₁ group resulted in only 66.67% functional male with motile spermatozoa after 4 months. Sex‐reversed males successfully fertilized the eggs during induced spawning. There were significant differences on fertilization and hatching rates between T₂ group (79.00 ± 4.36%; 77.67 ± 2.87%, respectively) and T₁ group (57.67 ± 3.17%; 63.87 ± 2.91%, respectively). The result suggested that 17 α‐MT (5.0 mg kg^?1 BW) in combination with letrozole (0.2 mg kg^?1 BW) has the potential to produce 100% sex‐reversed male in short period in greasy grouper, which might greatly help in seed production of greasy grouper.     

雌激素和雄激素对鸡成骨细胞增殖、凋亡、细胞周期及其受体mRNA转录的影响

为探讨雌激素和雄激素对鸡胚额骨成骨细胞(OB)增殖、凋亡、细胞周期及其受体mRNA转录的影响,用雌激素(17β雌二醇)和雄激素(十一酸睾酮)单独以及联合处理鸡胚额骨成骨细胞,MTT法测定细胞增殖率,流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡和细胞周期的变化,荧光定量PCR检测成骨细胞中雌激素受体(ER)及雄激素受体(AR)mRNA的转录。结果显示:一定浓度的雌激素或雄激素在24h内均能促进成骨细胞的增殖,促进成骨细胞的细胞周期进程,但对细胞凋亡无明显作用。雌激素单独或联合雄激素作用能上调ERmRNA的转录,对ARmRNA的转录无明显作用。     

Role of ghrelin in regulating rabbit ovarian function and the response to LH and IGF-I

The aim of these in vivo and in vitro studies was to examine the role of ghrelin in the control of plasma hormone concentrations, the proliferation, apoptosis and secretory activity of ovarian granulosa cells and the response of these cells to hormonal treatments. Female rabbits were injected with ghrelin (10 μg/animal/day for one week before ovulation induced by 25 IU PMSG and 0.25 IU LHRH). On the day of ovulation, blood samples were collected and analyzed for concentrations of progesterone (P₄), testosterone (T), estradiol (E₂), estrone-sulphate (ES), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and leptin (L) by RIA. Some control and ghrelin-treated animals were killed in the periovulatory period, their ovaries were weighed and granulosa cells were isolated and cultured for 2 d. Cell proliferation (expression of PCNA) and apoptosis (expression of TdT) were evaluated by immunocytochemistry and TUNEL respectively. Secretion of P₄, T, E₂, IGF-I, and prostaglandin F (PGF) by granulosa cells cultured with and without LH or IGF-I (1, 10 or 100 ng/ml medium) was assessed by RIA. The remaining control and treated animals were kept until parturition, while the number, viability and body weight of pups were recorded.     

水牛卵泡液中雌二醇和睾酮水平变化的初步研究

试验采用ELISA法对离体水牛卵巢不同大小卵泡液中的雌二醇(E2)和睾酮(T3)水平进行了定量分析.结果表明:较大卵泡(直径≥6 mm)液中雌二醇的平均浓度是中小卵泡(直径为2～5 mm)液中的8.5倍;而中小卵泡液中睾酮的平均浓度则是较大卵泡液中的3.3倍;较大卵泡液中雌二醇与睾酮比值显著高于中小卵泡.试验结果说明高浓度的雌激素对卵泡的发育有促进作用,而高浓度的雄激素则发挥抑制作用.     

Using a GnRH agonist to obtain an index of testosterone secretory capacity in the cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) and sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)

Objective   Validation of a stimulation test for determining the steroidogenic capacity of the parrot testis. The major aim was to characterise testosterone secretion after injection of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa), then use the test to investigate seasonal reproduction in the male cockatiel.
Procedure   A synthetic GnRHa (buserelin; 8.0 µg of peptide/kg bodyweight) was injected IM into male cockatiels (n = 7) and sulphur-crested cockatoos (n = 3) and serial blood samples collected at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after administration. Once validated, the technique was subsequently used to examine seasonal changes (23 months) in the testosterone profile of a captive cockatiel population.
Results   Injection of buserelin resulted in a significant increase in the testosterone concentration of cockatiel plasma, with maximal concentrations occurring at approximately 60 (1.33 ± 0.08 ng/mL) to 90 min (1.22 ± 0.08 ng/mL) after injection. Although no clear pattern of seasonal variation in testosterone secretion was detected in cockatiel plasma, samples taken 60 and 90 min after administration showed a significant increase in all seasons. Injection of buserelin in the sulphur-crested cockatoo also resulted in increased testosterone secretion, with maximal concentrations obtained after 90 min.
Conclusion   Buserelin can be used to obtain a reliable index of the prevailing testosterone capacity of the cockatiel and cockatoo testis. With further studies, this test may be incorporated into clinical assessment of reproductive status.     

口服鲨烯对大鼠Leptin、体脂沉积和繁殖的影响

将22日龄Wistar雄鼠32只,分对照组(饲料中不含鲨烯)和试验组(每千克饲料中含鲨烯1 000mg),宰杀后测定血Leptin、血糖、胆固醇、甘油三酯和睾酮水平及体重脂肪指数和体重睾丸指数,同时,各组留6只与雌鼠交配,待观察产仔数.结果显示,对照组和试验组饲料消耗没有差异,但试验组大鼠体重、体重脂肪指数、血Leptin、血糖、胆固醇和甘油三酯水平显著比对照组低,而试验组大鼠的体重睾丸指数、血睾酮水平和产仔数显著比对照组高.提示口服鲨烯可防止正常鼠体重和体脂肪增加并可降低肥胖鼠体重脂肪指数及降低血Leptin、血糖、胆固醇和甘油三酯的水平;同时,鲨烯可促进睾丸生长发育和睾酮分泌,增加产仔数.     

Effects of Castration at 6 Months Old on Growth Performance,Testosterone and Growth Hormone Levels in Blood of Yanbian Cattle

In order to study the effect of castration at 6 months old on growth performance and blood hormones of Yanbian cattle at 6 to 18 months of age, 20 Yanbian cattle that were 6 months old with similar body weight and body size indexes were randomly divided into 2 groups. The cattle in test group was castrated at 6 months old,and that in control group did not do any treatment,and the test period was 12 months. At the 12th of 6,8,10,12,14,16 and 18 months old,the body weight and body size indexes were measured,and the fasting blood sample were collected the day before 12th to detect the serum testosterone and growth hormone. The results showed that the body weight of the test group was lower than that of the control group,and there was a significant difference at 8 months old (P < 0.05). The body height,body length and chest circumference of the test group were lower than that of control group(P>0.05),and the increase of body height of test group was significantly lower than that of control group at the age of 6 to 8 months old (P < 0.05),while that was significant higher than control group at 12 to 14 months old (P < 0.05). The level of serum testosterone in the test group was extremely significantly or significantly lower than that in the control group after castration (P < 0.01;P < 0.05), and the level of serum growth hormone in Yanbian cattle was significantly lower than that in the control group at 8 months old (P < 0.05). In summary,the castration at 6 months old could reduce the growth of body weight,serum testosterone and growth hormone levels of Yanbian cattle,but had little effect on the body size.