甘草总黄酮对高脂条件下罗非鱼肝损伤的保护作用

为了研究甘草总黄酮对高脂饲料造成的罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)脂肪肝损伤是否具有保护作用,随机将180尾健康无伤罗非鱼分成6组,即对照组、高脂饲料模型组和4个不同浓度甘草总黄酮组(0.05、0.10、0.50、1.00 g·kg^-1甘草总黄酮),每组30尾。饲喂90 d后,采集罗非鱼各实验组肝,测定肝匀浆中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)活性、丙二醛(MDA)含量、甘油三酯(TG)含量、总胆固醇(TC)含量、总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)水平,Western blotting法检测肝中核转录因子-κB P65(NF-κB P65)和核转录因子-κB C-Rel (NF-κB C-Rel)蛋白表达水平,RT-PCR法测定肝中微粒体甘油三酸酯转移蛋白(MTTP)和载脂蛋白B100(ApoB100)基因表达情况。结果表明:与对照组相比,高脂饲料模型组罗非鱼肝匀浆中TG、TC、MDA含量极显著(P<0.01)升高,GSH活性、SOD活性、T-AOC水平均极显著(P<0.01)降低;MTTP和ApoB100 mRNA表达水平降低(P<0.01或P<0.05);Western blotting结果显示,NF-κB P 65和C-Rel蛋白表达水平升高。饲料中加入甘草总黄酮后,与高脂饲料模型组相比,罗非鱼肝中GSH活性、SOD活性、T-AOC水平不同程度提高,TC、TG、MDA含量和NF-κB P65、C-Rel蛋白表达水平不同程度降低,MTTP和ApoB100的mRNA表达水平升高,以0.50 g·kg^-1甘草总黄酮组效果较好。说明甘草总黄酮对于罗非鱼脂肪肝损伤具有一定的保护作用,可以缓解高脂饲料造成的脂肪肝损伤。     

Is the Production of Embryos in Small‐Scale Farming an Economically Feasible Enterprise?

The present assay attempts to evaluate the feasibility of using embryo transfer in small community farmers by in vivo study and by modelling the results obtained. From the total of 59 donor cows, 62.7% responded to treatment, with a significant difference (p = 0.002) in the percentage of the response between breeds, being 90.5% (19/21) in Holstein and 47.4% (18/38) in Brahman. A total of 283 embryos were graded as transferable, while 141 as non‐transferable, without difference in the percentage of transferable embryo by breed (p = 0.18). The mean of transferable embryos graded as class I and II was not different between Holstein and Brahman (p = 0.96 and p = 0.92, respectively); besides, no differences were observed in the other grades (non‐transferable). The highest difference in costs, regardless of its quality by breed, was seen in the lower levels of probable fertility of the embryo transferred, even reaching several hundred dollars. When modelling the expected costs for embryo produced and transferred, values can reach nearly $2000.00 when the probable fertility is only 10%. However, when the probable fertility was 60%, embryo cost was close to $300.00. This technology seems to be viable on average or high‐scale systems, having a superovulatory response between 60 and 80% with 4–6 transferrable embryos. Yet, in small‐scale farming, due to the reduced number of donors and/or recipients, the costs surpass the economical feasibility of the technique.     

Molecular genetic structure and relationship of Chinese and Hungarian common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) strains based on mitochondrial sequence

China and Hungary are major providers of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) in East Asia and Europe respectively. However, the genetic variation and relationship of this species in the two countries have been poorly understood. In this study, mitochondrial COII‐tRNA^Lys and D‐loop sequences were analysed to investigate the genetic structure and relationships of the representative wild and domesticated common carps distributed in China and Hungary. The results indicated that the genetic diversities of the Chinese common carps are higher than those of Hungarian common carps, and the diversities of the wild common carps are higher than those of domesticated common carps in both the countries. Analysis of molecular variance and pairwise F_ST demonstrated a significant genetic divergence between the Chinese and the Hungarian common carps, and between the wild and the domesticated common carps. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis and statistical parsimony network showed an obvious genetic differentiation between the Chinese and the Hungarian common carps, between the wild and the domesticated common carps. However, a few specimens and haplotypes from the Chinese wild common carps appeared in the Hungarian common carps, demonstrating that there was no absolutely isolated and possible genetic linker between the Chinese and the Hungarian common carps.     

Immunogene expression in head kidney and spleen of common carp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyprinus carpio</Emphasis> L.) following thermal stress and challenge with Gram-negative bacterium, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aeromonas hydrophila</Emphasis>

To evaluate the effect of thermal and microbial stress on the immune response of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), relative mRNA expression level of pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-1β] and other genes related to immune or stress response [inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), superoxide dismutase one (SOD1), and glucocorticoid receptor (GR)] was measured by quantitative PCR (qPCR). In addition, total protein and total immunoglobulin level in blood plasma of experimental common carp was also assayed. All the above parameters were estimated 24 h post-challenge with Gram-negative bacterium, Aeromonas hydrophila. Common carp (54.89?±?6.90 g) were initially exposed to 20 °C (control group) and 30 °C (thermal stress group) water temperature for 30 days, followed by experimental challenge with 2.29?×?10⁸ colony forming unit/mL (CFU/mL; LD₅₀ dose) of A. hydrophila. Exposure of fish to thermal stress and subsequently challenge with A. hydrophila significantly (P?<?0.05) increases the IL-1β mRNA expression in head kidney and spleen of common carp by ~?39.94 and ~?4.11-fold, respectively. However, TNF-α mRNA expression in spleen decreased ~?5.63-fold in control fish challenged with A. hydrophila. Thermal stress and challenge with bacterium suppresses the iNOS and GR mRNA expression in spleen of common carp. Moreover, significant (P?<?0.05) increase in total protein content of blood plasma (~?43 mg/g) was evident in fish exposed to thermal stress and challenged with A. hydrophila. In conclusion, our study highlights the importance of elevated temperature stress and microbial infection in differential regulation of expression of several immunogenes in common carp.     

Features of accumulation,migration, and transformation of benzo[a]pyrene in soil-plant system in a model condition of soil contamination

Journal of Soils and Sediments - The investigation of accumulation, migration, and transformation features of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in a soil-plant system by using new ecologically friendly...     

Effect of protein supplementation on reproductive and productive performance in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bos indicus</Emphasis> × <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bos taurus</Emphasis> heifers raised in the humid tropics of Costa Rica

In order to evaluate the effect of protein supplementation on the productive and reproductive performance of heifers, 45 Bos indicus × Bos taurus heifers, 673 ± 146 days of age and weighing about 340 kg, were divided into two groups. The control group (n = 23) continued without supplementation, but the supplemented group (SG; n = 22) received concentrate at a rate of 1% BW kg per day. Animals were adapted to the concentrate over a 15-day period and then supplemented for 30 days, after which estrus was synchronized using a progesterone implant. Back fat thickness (BFT) was assessed by ultrasound. The SG had better average daily weight gain than the nonsupplemented group (0.63 ± 0.16 vs. 0.51 ± 0.13 kg/day, P < 0.05) and tended to show a better percentage ovulation (P < 0.10, 77% vs. 57%, respectively). However, this tendency was not reflected in the final pregnancy rates. No differences were observed between groups in dry matter intake and body condition scores. SG with a high BFT (>0.70 cm) showed a better ovulation percentage than those with low BFT (<0.69 cm; P < 0.01). Additionally, the pregnancy rate of supplemented heifers with high BFT tended to be better than heifers with low BFT in this same group (67% vs. 30%, respectively, P < 0.10). It is concluded that protein supplementation improved reproductive performance and that ultrasonography to measure BFT may be used to estimate reproductive performance.     

A comparison of alternative modelling approaches to evaluate the European forest carbon fluxes

The European forest carbon balance studied by various methods shows different results. We compared the regional and national net primary production (NPP) estimated by the forest inventory-based model EFISCEN and the climate-based terrestrial ecosystem models (TEMs: BIOME-BGC, ORCHIDEE, and JULES), and single forests NPP derived from the international network of eddy-covariance towers (FLUXNET). In addition, the paper presents the net ecosystem production (NEP) and the net biome production (NBP) calculated with EFISCEN and discusses the influence of forest management onto carbon fluxes. We aimed to better understand the variance between EFISCEN and TEMs NPP estimates, and to improve the assessment of European forest mitigation potential for the year 2005.     

Plant contamination by heavy metals in the impact zone of Novocherkassk Power Station in the south of Russia

Journal of Soils and Sediments - The aim of this study is the assessment of Ni, Mn, Cd, Cu, Pb, Cr and Zn accumulation by different herbaceous species and soils on the technogenic areas around...