奶牛乳蛋白产量的营养调节效应与乳腺真核起始因子-2(eIF2)和核糖体s6(S6)激酶-1(S6K1)的磷酸化有关

日粮蛋白质和能量同时影响泌乳动物乳蛋白的产量,必需氨基酸单独不能完全解释营养素对乳蛋白产量的影响。生长动物组织中,营养素对蛋白质合成受哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶点(mTOR)和整合应激网络(ISR)的调控。本试验旨在探讨乳腺内营养素信号是否也通过mTOR和ISR网络调控乳蛋白的合成。泌乳奶牛饥饿22 h后,静脉内分别灌注必需氨基酸(EAA)和葡萄糖混合物,葡萄糖、l-Met+l-Lys、l-His或l-Leu 9 h。结果表明,EAA和葡萄糖混合物或葡萄糖能分别提高乳蛋白产量的33%和27%。Met+Lys或His产生的效应分别是EAA和葡萄糖混合物效应的35%和41%。乳腺组织中,EAA和葡萄糖混合物降低了ISR靶点eIF2的磷酸化,但增强了mTOR靶点S6K1和S6的磷酸化,同时刺激了乳蛋白的合成。葡萄糖提高了乳腺内S6K1的磷酸化(P0.05),降低了eIF2磷酸化62%,暗示着ISR网络在刺激乳蛋白产量中的作用。与此相反,EAA提高或趋向于(P0.1)提高乳腺内mTOR的活性(P0.05),但His,如葡萄糖一样降低了eIF2磷酸化62%。尽管EAA和葡萄糖混合物激活了乳蛋白合成信号的活性83%到127%,但EAA产生的效应还不到EAA和葡萄糖混合物效应的50%。因此,本试验结果表明,ISR和mTOR网络在调控乳蛋白产量中只起着部分的作用。     

Adrenocortical response to ACTH in Angora and Spanish goat wethers.

Angora goats do not cope well with stress compared with goats of other breeds. Our hypothesis that this involves subclinical primary hypoadrenocorticism associated with low cortisol release in response to ACTH stimulation was tested by measuring adrenocortical response (plasma cortisol) in six Spanish (37 +/- 2 kg BW) and six Angora wethers (39 +/- 3 kg BW) under simulated acute and chronic ACTH challenges. In Exp. 1 (acute ACTH challenge), wethers were dosed i.v. with high (2.5 IU/kg BW) or low (.4 IU/kg BW) quantities of ACTH. In Exp. 2 (chronic ACTH challenge), ACTH at the rate of .015 IU/(kg BW x min) or saline (.15 M NaCl) was infused i.v. at 15 mL/h for 6 h. The mean baseline plasma cortisol concentration before ACTH stimulation was similar (P > .05) between Angora and Spanish goats in Exp. 1 (averaged over days) and in Exp. 2. The cortisol concentration response area (ng/ (mL x min) x 10(-3)) above the baseline was similar (P > .05) between Angora and Spanish goats during low (7.6 +/- .5 and 9.0 +/- 1.7, respectively) and high (12.8 +/- 1.0 and 16.0 +/- 1.8, respectively) levels of acute ACTH challenge (Exp. 1) and during chronic ACTH challenge (45.1 +/- 5.9 and 41.8 +/- 7.3, respectively; Exp. 2). In conclusion, these data indicate that, under the conditions of this study, adrenocortical responsiveness to ACTH stimulation is not different between Angora and Spanish goat wethers and, thus, may not contribute to stress susceptibility in Angora goats.     

The Metotic Cartilage and the Metotic Fissure in the Penguin

Cliff-nesting pale-winged starlings (Onychognathus nabouroup) gather on the cliff tops to perform Group Displays which include both aggressive and courtship elements: Hopping, Wing Stretching, Wing Drooping, Wing Flicking, Staring, Head Forward Threat and Butterfly Fluttering. These displays occur throughout the year, most frequently in the late afternoon. We suggest that this behaviour may be important in pair formation, and in establishing dominance relationships between birds breeding at the same site.     

Energy expenditure of Angora bucks in peak breeding season estimated with the doubly-labeled water technique

We used the doubly-labeled water (DLW; 2H2(18)O) method to compare total energy expenditure (TEE) of Angora bucks and wethers over a 15-d period during peak breeding season. Four bucks (57+/-3 kg) and four wethers (45+/-2 kg) were fitted with marking harnesses to measure sexual activity and allocated pairwise to one of four breeding groups (n = 30 does/group). Subjects were infused i.v. with 2H2(18O) that provided 200 mg 2H2O and 250 mg H2(18)O/kg BW. Blood samples were collected over a 15-d period, with 3- to 4-d intervals for isotope enrichment measurements. Total DLW-derived energy expenditure (TEE) was similar (P = .55) between bucks and wethers (2,578 vs 2,365; SE 239 kcal/d). Large variation was observed among wethers in TEE, courtship, and attempted mountings. Total energy expended corrected for that in mohair production (CTEE) tended (P = .09) to be greater in sexually active wethers (133+/-8 kcal ME/[kg BW.75 x d(-1)]; n = 3) than in bucks (110+/-7 kcal ME/[kg BW.75 x d(-1)]; n = 4). Energy expended on activity (EEa) by these wethers was highly correlated (r = .98) with the number of does marked, which may explain high variability among wethers in EEa. Bucks marked more does (18+/-1; P < .05) than wethers (8+/-3), but a weak relationship (r = .36) existed between number of does marked and EEa, suggesting individuality in style and persistence while courting. In Angora bucks, CTEE during the breeding season was 9% greater than the maintenance energy requirement. In conclusion, breeding activities in single-buck breeding groups did not markedly increase energy requirements of Angora bucks.     

Morphological and Experimental Studies on the Development of the Posterior Wall of the Avian Foramen Magnum

In embryos of Gallus, Anas and Sphentscus the posterior wall of the foramen magnum (tectum synoticum) is formed by the fusion of the two independently developing supra-occipital cartilages. Fusion of the supraoccipital cartilage with the ear capsule precedes that between the supraoccipital cartilage and the occipital process. The supraoccipital cartilage intervenes between the occipital process and the ear capsule before fusion of these elements occurs. In Gallus the tectum synoticum is secondarily fused to the supracapsular cartilage.