Variations in parameters of liver function and plasma progesterone related to underfeeding and ketosis in a dairy herd

Twenty-eight Norwegian Red Cattle dairy cows were fed silage ad libitum and restricted amounts of concentrates. Blood samples were collected before morning feeding, once or twice weekly, from 2 weeks before to 12 weeks after calving. Parameters of liver function, carbohydrate status and fertility were recorded in order to assess their interrelationships. Eight cows were treated for clinical ketosis. Four of these had to be treated 2 or 3 times. Aspartate aminotransferase and bilirubin showed the highest within-animal coefficients of correlation with acetoacetate. Analysis of variance revealed a significant effect of carbohydrate status (indicated by plasma acetoacetate levels) on the levels of aspartate aminotransferase, glutamate dehydrogenase and sorbitol dehydrogenase, though only a small part of the total variation was explained by this factor. The estimated volume density of liver fat in the 4th week of lactation averaged 6.0 +/- 6.4% (+/- SD) ranging from 0.1-25.1%. Liver fat content at this stage of lactation was not significantly correlated with other indicators of liver function or carbohydrate status. Cows treated for clinical ketosis had significantly lower plasma progesterone values at the time of first ketosis treatment than untreated multiparous cows. The frequency of high progesterone values (greater than 3 ng/ml) being significantly lower in treated than in untreated cows during the period from 3-5 weeks post partum, though not at later stages. In conclusion, the results revealed a significant relationship between carbohydrate status and liver function, and also between clinical ketosis and luteal function.     

Critical Observations on BSE Control in Italy

Eleven native sheep, 1–2 years old, of both sexes were randomly divided into two groups, 6 sheep being allocated to the experimental group and 5 serving as controls. The sheep in the experimental group were fed 80% Tribulus terrestris and 20% alfalfa hay and wheat straw, while the control sheep were given a mixture of 40% alfalfa hay and 60% wheat straw. Clinical signs of hepatogenous photosensitivity were observed from day 11, including reddening and crust formation on the muzzle, nose, ears and eyelids, depression, weight loss, icterus, conjunctivitis, and yellow discoloration of the urine. Laboratory findings on weekly samples indicated significant differences (p<0.05) in white blood cell count, total plasma protein and fibrinogen, total and direct bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine concentrations, and aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities. There were no significant differences in the packed cell volume, in the neutrophil, lymphocyte or eosinophil counts, or in the serum calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium or chloride concentrations. At necropsy of the experimental animals, there were various degrees of generalized icterus and the livers were swollen and discolored by bile pigment. Histopathological examination revealed varying amounts of crystalloid material in the bile ducts and renal tubules, hepatocellular degeneration, biliary fibrosis and proliferation, renal tubular necrosis and focal necrosis of cardiac muscle.     

N-甲基D,L-天冬氨酸对肥育猪生长性能和胴体品质的影响

本试验以杜长大肥育猪为试验对象 ,研究了N 甲基D ,L 天冬氨酸对其生长性能和胴体品质的影响。结果表明 ,在日粮中添加 50mg/kgN 甲基D ,L 天冬氨酸使肥育猪 ( 1 )日增重提高 9.31 % (P <0 .0 1 ) ,饲料转化率提高 7.1 6 % (P <0 .0 2 ) ;( 2 )胴体瘦肉率提高 6 .53% (P <0 .0 1 ) ,脂肪比率降低 1 1 .76 %(P <0 .0 1 ) ,背膘厚降低 1 9.72 % (P <0 .0 1 ) ,眼肌面积提高 2 1 .0 1 % (P <0 .0 4 ) ;( 3)背最长肌、股二头肌和半膜肌重量分别增加 1 1 .3% (P <0 .0 1 )、1 0 .0 9% (P <0 .0 1 )和 1 4 .4 4% (P <0 .0 1 )。     

慢性乙型肝炎患者血清胆碱酯酶水平与肝组织炎症关系的研究

目的：探讨慢性乙型肝炎患者血清胆碱脂酶（CHE）活性水平与肝组织炎症病理分级（G）的关系。方法：采用RI-1000TM全自动生化分析仪检测106例经病理证实的慢性乙型肝炎患者血清胆碱脂酶（CHE）．丙氨酸转氨酶（ALT）和天冬氨酸转氨酶（AST）活性水平．统计分析血清ALT、AST、CHE水平与肝组织病理炎症分级（G0～G4）的关系。结采：血清CHE水平随着肝组织炎症活动度增高而降低,而ALT、AST水平随着肝组织炎症活动度增高而升高;G4级患者的血清CHE水平明显低于G1、G2、G3级患者,G3级低于G1、G2级．差异有显著性（P〈0．05或0．01）。G4级患者的血清AST水平明显高于G1、G2、G3级患者．但G1、G2、G3级患者AST水平以及各炎症分级之间ALT水平差异无显著性（P〉0．05）。结论：CHE比ALT、AST更能反映肝损害的严重程度、是一项有意义的无创性指标。     

Involvement of ATP‐sensitive K+ channels in the peripheral antinociceptive effect induced by ketamine

ObjectiveTo investigate the contribution of K⁺ channels on peripheral antinociception induced by ketamine.Study designProspective experimental study.Animals110 male Wistar rats weighing 160–200 g.MethodsThe paw pressure required to elicit limb flexion was designated as the nociceptive threshold. Hyperalgesia was induced by intraplantar injection of prostaglandin E₂. All drugs were administered locally into the right hind paw of rats. Ketamine was administered into the right hind paw 2 hours and 55 minutes after local injection of PGE₂. Tetraethylammonium was administered 30 minutes prior to ketamine and the other K⁺ channel blockers, glibenclamide, dequalinium and paxilline, were administered 5 minutes prior to ketamine.ResultsProstaglandin E₂ (2 μg per paw) induced hyperalgesia. Ketamine (10, 20, 40 and 80 μg per paw) elicited a local peripheral antinociceptive effect that was antagonized by a specific blocker of ATP‐sensitive K⁺ channels, glibenclamide (20, 40 and 80 μg per paw). In another experiment, the non‐selective voltage‐dependent K⁺ channel blocker tetraethylammonium (30 μg per paw) and small and large conductance blockers of Ca²⁺‐activated K⁺ channels, dequalinium (50 μg per paw) and paxilline (20 μg per paw), were ineffective at blocking the effect of a local ketamine injection.Conclusions and clinical relevanceAnalysis of these results provides evidence that ketamine, may in part, induce peripheral antinociceptive effects by ATP‐sensitive K⁺ channel pathway activation.     

Assessment of Lactate Dehydrogenase,Alkaline Phosphatase and Aspartate Aminotransferase Activities in Cow’s Milk as an Indicator of Subclinical Mastitis

This study examined the activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the milk of lactating Holstein cows in association with subclinical mastitis (SCM). A total of 94 milk samples were collected from 58 lactating dairy cows representing stages of lactation from the second to the tenth week after calving. Those which were classified as positive by California mastitis test (CMT) were deemed to have subclinical mastitis. All the milk samples were skimmed by centrifugation at 10 000g at 0 degrees C and were used for enzyme activities estimations. The mean activities of LDH and ALP were higher in the milk from udders with SCM than in the milk from healthy udders (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in AST values. The maximum agreement rates between the CMT results and LDH and ALP values were seen at thresholds of > 180 IU/L and > 40 IU/L respectively (kappa values 0.65 and 0.79, respectively). However, the sensitivity of the tests for identifying SCM at these thresholds was higher for ALP (96.4%) than for LDH (68.5%). In this study, LDH and ALP tests were standardized for cow's milk and results showed that only the ALP test was reliable in the early diagnosis of subclinical mastitis.     

天冬氨酸转氨酶在中慢生根瘤菌MAFF303099共生固氮中的作用

为寻找根瘤菌中与共生固氮相关的调控基因,采用同源重组法,分别敲除中慢生根瘤菌MAFF303099在与豆科植物百脉根共生固氮过程上调表达的10个基因,研究它们对共生固氮的影响。结果显示:Δmlr5883敲除突变体相比于野生型MAFF303099,其固氮酶活性下降40%,侵染细胞形态未发生显著改变,对Δmlr5883回补可恢复固氮酶活性;预测mlr5883编码天冬氨酸氨基转移酶,体外检测该酶的天冬氨酸转氨酶活性为16.67 U/mg。该基因的突变会影响固氮效率,推测其可能参与对植物供给碳源的代谢过程。     

中国明对虾天门冬氨酸转氨酶基因的克隆及氨氮胁迫对其时空表达的影响

利用RACE技术克隆获得中国明对虾(Fenneropenaeus chinensis)天门冬氨酸转氨酶GOT基因(FcGOT)。FcGOT 基因cDNA全长为1 910 bp, 其中, 开放阅读框1 284 bp, 编码427个氨基酸。同源性分析表明, 中国明对虾天门冬氨酸转氨酶GOT氨基酸序列与其他节肢动物高度保守, 与克氏原螯虾(Procambarus clarkii) 和桔粉蚧壳虫 (Planococcus citri) 的同源性分别为78%和73%。系统进化分析表明, FcGOT基因氨基酸序列与克氏原螯虾GOT聚为一支。组织表达分析发现FcGOT基因在肝胰腺、鳃、血细胞、肌肉、心脏、淋巴中均有表达, 其中肝胰腺中表达量最高。氨氮胁迫后, 荧光定量PCR分析结果表明, FcGOT基因在肝胰腺和鳃组织中的表达与对照组相比具有显著差异(P<0.05), 表明FcGOT基因在氨氮代谢方面具有重要的作用, 参与了中国明对虾机体的急性氨氮胁迫应答反应。

     

Increased β‐cyanoalanine synthase and asparaginase activity in nitrogen‐deprived wheat exposed to cyanide

The β‐cyanoalanine pathway in plants detoxifies cyanide by assimilating this metabolic poison. Given the possibility that cyanide in soil could serve as an alternate source of nitrogen for plant nutrition, this study investigated whether nitrogen deprivation of wheat seedlings altered the activity of the first enzyme of the pathway (β‐cyanoalanine synthase) or asparaginase. The results suggest that ambient, nontoxic concentrations of soil cyanide may serve as an alternate source of nitrogen for plants under nitrogen‐limiting conditions.     

玉米不同氮素水平下产量与zmAspAT基因表达分析

研究不同氮素水平下导入系L18和Y478产量及相关性状的差异以及与zmAspAT基因表达模式的关系。考察L18和Y478在低氮和正常供氮条件下的产量及相关性状,利用实时定量PCR技术分析zmAspAT基因的表达变化。在正常供氮条件下L18的单穗产量比Y478高17.21%,显著增加,行粒数极显著增加,百粒重显著减小;低氮条件下,L18单穗粒重比轮回亲本Y478显著减少,达到20.64%,行粒数显著增加,百粒重极显著减小。在低氮胁迫条件下,zmAspAT基因在L18中下调表达,在Y478则上调表达,表达模式不同。L18是氮低效的导入系,由于zmAspAT基因在L18与Y478表达模式不同,导致了L18较低的氮素利用效率和产量,zmAspAT是重要的玉米氮利用效率基因。