Investigations of the maintenance system of the Konik Polski horse and its effects on fecal microbiota activity during the winter and summer seasons

Gastrointestinal microbiota play a key role in the nutrients digestion and hence maintaining animal health and welfare. The diet offered to the animals in captivity may differ considerably from that on natural pastures. In a stabled maintenance system, horses have a limited choice of habitat and feed. Time spend for feeding is relevant for equine welfare because the reduction of the time devoted for foraging may be responsible for inducing gastric inflammation and ulceration. Therefore, in the present study, it was hypothesized that fecal bacterial fermentative processes differ between free-roaming and stabled Konik Polski Horses (KPHs) with respect to microbial enzymatic activity, and thus the fecal concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), which can be further utilized for assessing the feeding behavior and welfare in free-roaming versus stabled horses. The SCFA concentration and profile, as well as the extracellular and intracellular activities of selected bacterial enzymes, were characterized in horse feces collected during the winter and summer feeding seasons. The results showed higher enzymatic activity and SCFA production in the feces excreted by free-roaming versus stabled horses, especially during summer. An increase in pasture plant diversity may be beneficial for the gastrointestinal microbiota and hence for maintaining health and welfare.     

Functional response of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus robur</Emphasis> L. to taproot pruning: a 5-year case study

Key message

Quercus robur seedling mass was affected more by planting density than by taproot pruning. Root pruning enhanced stem biomass at the expense of roots in later growth stages. Alteration of biomass allocation due to nursery practices may result in greater susceptibility to injury and death of the seedlings under unfavorable environmental conditions.

Context

Plants adjust their growth and modulate the resource allocation in response to applied treatments and environmental conditions.

Aims

The aim was to examine how taproot pruning in seedlings grown at different densities affected long-term growth of Quercus robur.

Methods

Seedlings, sown as acorns at two planting densities, with or without pruned roots were harvested in the second, fourth, and fifth years of growth. The effect of root pruning on biomass allocation was determined by measuring leaf, stem, and root mass fractions; carbohydrate concentrations in the roots; and C/N ratios. Specific leaf area and root length were also determined to assess morphological adaptations to growth conditions.

Results

Total seedling mass was affected more by planting density than by taproot pruning. After 4 years of growth, root mass fractions were lower and stem mass fractions were greater in seedlings planted at a higher density. Five-year old root-pruned seedlings also had a lower root mass fraction and higher stem mass fractions than unpruned seedlings. Specific root length was not affected by root pruning or planting density.

Conclusion

Decrease of relative root biomass with simultaneous increase of stem biomass may be a long-term consequence of taproot pruning of Q. robur, and the effects may manifest years after the seedling stage.

     

Expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and vascular density in mammary adenomas and adenocarcinomas in bitches

Background

The study aimed at examining hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)1α expression in adenocarcinomas and adenomas in bitches in regard to tumour malignancy grade, proliferation, apoptosis and vascularisation. Therefore, paraffin sections of 15 adenomas and 64 adenocarcinomas sampled from 79 dogs aged 6 to 16 years were analysed.

Results

A significantly higher HIF-1α expression was noted in adenocarcinomas in comparison to adenomas (P < 0.0004). Moreover, HIF-1α expression in adenocarcinomas correlated positively with tumour malignancy grade (r = 0.59, P < 0.05), Ki-67 antigen expression (r = 0.43; P < 0.0005), TUNEL-positive cells (r = 0.62, P < 0001) and tumour vascularity measured by quantification of vessels characterized by the expression of von Willebrand Factor (r = 0.57, P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Results of this study indicate a similar biological role of HIF-1α in dogs and in humans, which may confirm suitability of the animal model in investigations on progression of tumours in humans.     

Assessment of the impact of climate change on the latency period of leaf rust on triticale in Poland

ABSTRACT

Disease development in plants is strongly dependent on weather conditions, with temperature playing a particularly significant role by influencing latency period duration. Using two models describing the relationship between latency period and temperature, we performed simulations aimed at predicting changes in the latency period of leaf rust (Puccina recondita f. sp. tritici) on triticale in response to expected climate change. The simulations were based on meteorological data recorded in the period 1986–2005 at locations representing 16 provinces in Poland and based on values obtained after transformation of the observed data to reflect temperature changes under four scenarios (RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP6.0 and RCP8.5) according to the giss_e2_r climate model. In all scenarios, the results for the two triticale cultivars studied, Witon (vulnerable to P. recondita) and Gniewko (less susceptible), showed a threat of faster development (shorter leaf rust latency period) on triticale triggered by climate change in south-east and south-central Poland than in other regions. The results also showed an increased probability of future regional diversification of leaf rust latency period duration on vulnerable triticale cultivars, opportunities for earlier start of leaf rust epidemics on triticale in Poland and an increase in ?nal disease severity in comparison with 1986–2005.     

An Aeroplysinin-1 Specific Nitrile Hydratase Isolated from the Marine Sponge Aplysina cavernicola

A nitrile hydratase (NHase) that specifically accepts the nitrile aeroplysinin-1 (1) as a substrate and converts it into the dienone amide verongiaquinol (7) was isolated, partially purified and characterized from the Mediterranean sponge Aplysina cavernicola; although it is currently not known whether the enzyme is of sponge origin or produced by its symbiotic microorganisms. The formation of aeroplysinin-1 and of the corresponding dienone amide is part of the chemical defence system of A. cavernicola. The latter two compounds that show strong antibiotic activity originate from brominated isoxazoline alkaloids that are thought to protect the sponges from invasion of bacterial pathogens. The sponge was shown to contain at least two NHases as two excised protein bands from a non denaturating Blue Native gel showed nitrile hydratase activity, which was not observed for control samples. The enzymes were shown to be manganese dependent, although cobalt and nickel ions were also able to recover the activity of the nitrile hydratases. The temperature and pH optimum of the studied enzymes were found at 41 °C and pH 7.8. The enzymes showed high substrate specificity towards the physiological substrate aeroplysinin-1 (1) since none of the substrate analogues that were prepared either by partial or by total synthesis were converted in an in vitro assay. Moreover de-novo sequencing by mass spectrometry was employed to obtain information about the primary structure of the studied NHases, which did not reveal any homology to known NHases.     

Modulatory effects of chitosan adipate on the T and B lymphocyte subsets in mice

This study examined the subsets of T lymphocytes in the thymus, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes as well as the subsets of B lymphocytes in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes in mice administered chitosan adipate (20 mg/kg) intraperitoneally once or four times at 24 h intervals. The results showed that chitosan adipate decreased the percentage of immature CD4⁺CD8⁺ thymic T cells and increased the percentage of mature CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ thymocytes. The most significant stimulating effect was observed after four injections. A single exposure to chitosan adipate increased the percentage of CD4⁺ mesenteric lymph node cells, but four injections of the drug increased the percentage of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ mesenteric lymph node cells. Chitosan adipate had no effect on the subset of splenic T cells. In contrast, chitosan adipate administered either once or four times increased the percentage of CD19⁺ splenocytes but had no effect on the percentage of CD19⁺ mesenteric lymph node cells. Overall, chitosan adipate induces the maturation and differentiation of thymocytes, and regulates the number of B splenic cells and lymph node T cells irrespective of the number of doses.     

Polyphenol oxidase, tannase and proteolytic activity in relation to tannin concentration in the soil organic horizon under silver birch and Norway spruce

Our aim was to compare enzyme activities (tannase, polyphenol oxidase and protease) with concentrations of tannins and their ability to precipitate proteins in the litter layer and the humus layer under silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies L.). We also estimated the influence of these enzymes on protein-tannin complexes and the influence of tannins on proteolytic activity. The study site was a tree species experiment in Eno, middle-eastern Finland, having three replicated plots dominated by 42-year-old silver birch and Norway spruce. Our hypotheses were (1) tree species and soil layer have an influence on tannin concentrations and enzyme activities, (2) that tannin and protein concentrations in soil organic horizon are positively correlated with enzyme activities and (3) that the enzymes studied have the ability to degrade tannin-protein complexes and that tannins can inhibit proteolytic activity. Concentrations of total tannins and hydrolysable tannins, and tannase and proteolytic activities were higher in the humus layer than in the litter layer. In general the highest values of concentrations of total tannins and hydrolysable tannins and enzyme activities were obtained for the birch humus layer, but the concentrations of condensed tannins and proteins were highest in the litter layer and under spruce. A strong correlation between substrate concentration and enzyme activity was found between hydrolysable tannins and tannase activity. Polyphenol oxidase showed similar activities in both layers. To study the influence of enzymes on protein-tannin complex we synthesized such complexes using bovine serum albumin and either condensed tannins from silver birch and Norway spruce needles or a hydrolysable tannin, tannic acid. Studies with commercial enzymes and enzymes extracted from the soil showed some decrease in tannin concentration of the tannin-protein complex over time, but surprisingly, only a negligible decrease in protein concentration. Complexes of protein with condensed tannins were more recalcitrant than tannic acid-protein complexes. Tannins, depending on the concentration and chemical structure, tended to inhibit proteolytic activity. Our results indicate that protein-tannin complexes are relatively recalcitrant since the enzymes studied here do not effectively release protein from the complexes. Also proteolytic activity and the concentration of extractable proteins seem to be low in soil. However, tannin-degrading enzymes showed high activities.     

Morphometric and molecular characterisation of Cyprinus carpio × Carassius auratus hybrids

Among members of the Cyprinidae family, hybridisation is more widespread than in any other group of freshwater fish. Therefore, the aim of this work has been to use two different approaches, biometric and genetic, to assess differences between common carp (Cyprinus carpio) × goldfish (Carassius auratus) hybrids and their parents. Twenty-three length measurements of 10 fish from each group have been performed. Statistical analyses of results were conducted using Levene’s, ANOVA, NIR and Kruskal–Wallis tests. Genetic analysis has been conducted by means of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique. The AFLP allowed us to distinguish groups of fish and showed that hybrids had more in common with C. auratus than with C. carpio.     

Soil properties and not high CO2 affect CH4 production and uptake in periodically waterlogged arable soils

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Several studies related to CH4 cycling focus on the effect of elevated atmospheric CO2 levels on soil methanogenesis and methanotrophy. However, periodically...     

The Activity and Localization of 3β-hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase/Δ5-Δ4 Isomerase and Release of Androstenedione and Progesterone by Uterine Tissues During Early Pregnancy and the Estrous Cycle in Pigs

Steroid hormones are produced by the porcine uterus. We hypothesized that the uterus in pigs possesses active 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ⁵-Δ⁴ isomerase (3β-HSD) responsible for progesterone and androstenedione production, that uterine steroids may supplement the amount of steroid hormones produced by embryos and corpus luteum and that these steroids are necessary for maintenance of pregnancy. In this study, we examined 1) endometrial and myometrial expression of 3β-HSD mRNA, 2) uterine 3β-HSD protein activity and 3) in vitro production of A₄ and P₄ by uterine slices harvested from pigs on days 10 to 11, 12 to 13 and 15 to 16 of pregnancy and the estrous cycle. The expression of 3β-HSD and the presence and activity of 3β-HSD protein were different in the endometrium and the myometrium during the examined periods of pregnancy and the estrous cycle. Production of A₄ by the endometrium and myometrium was highest on days 12 to 13 of pregnancy and the estrous cycle. Endometrial secretion of P₄ did not differ in the course of early pregnancy and on the respective days of the estrous cycle. The gravid myometrium was the highest source of P₄ in pregnant pigs on days 12 to 13. The release of P₄ by the cyclic myometrium rose during the examined days of the estrous cycle. The steroidogenic activity of the uterus, as described in this study, may support early pregnancy or the luteal phase of the estrous cycle in pigs.