The effect of acute restraint stress on regional brain neurotransmitter levels in stress-susceptible pietrain pigs

Concentrations of noradrenaline (NA), adrenaline (A), dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), the DA metabolites 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) and the main 5-HT metabolite 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) were measured using HPLC in 16 brain areas of control and immobilized Pietrain pigs. The animals were immobilized for 15, 30 and 60 min in the prone position. Control pigs showed patterns of regional distribution of brain monoamines similar to those described for rats, dogs and Duroc pigs. However, the absolute values of NA and A in the hypothalamus and preoptic area were much higher than those in rats and dogs, but similar to those in Duroc pigs. The concentrations of dopamine and its metabolites DOPAC and HVA were highest in the caudate nucleus, the nucleus accumbens, the olfactory tubercle and the ventral tegmental area. The distributions of serotonin and its metabolite 5-HIAA were similar in all examined structures. DOPAC/DA and HVA/DA ratios were higher in the cornu ammonis, the hippocampus posterior and the raphe nuclei than in other structures, which suggests brain structure-related differences in dopamine turnover. The greatest decreases in NA and A content were observed in the hypothalamus, the preoptic area and the olfactory tuberculum during the first 30 min of immobilization stress. 5-HT turnover was increased in the raphe nuclei, while DA turnover was affected in the raphe nuclei, the septum, the substantia nigra and the olfactory tubercle. We suggest that acute immobilization stress caused differences in regional patterns of brain biogenic amines, thereby maintaining adequate transmitter levels during stress in stress-susceptible pigs.     

Effect of recombinant porcine somatotropin on growth and carcass quality in growing pigs: interactions with genotype, gender and slaughter weight

Effects of recombinant porcine somatotropin (rpST) on growth, lean tissue growth, feed intake, feed conversion, lean tissue feed conversion, backfat thickness and lean percentage were examined in 96 growing pigs. The experiment used barrows and gilts from the genotypes Duroc, F1 (Dutch Yorkshire x Dutch Landrace) and Pietrain. Half the pigs received 14 mg rpST i.m. twice each week starting at 60 kg; others received a placebo. Pigs had ad libitum access to a diet containing 2,162 kcal net energy and 182 g crude protein per kilogram and were slaughtered at either 100 or 140 kg live weight. From 60 to 100 and from 100 to 140 kg, live weight responses to rpST averaged as follows: daily gain, +4.5 and +19.9%; feed intake, -4.4 and +3.5%; feed conversion, -8.4 and -13.9%; backfat thickness, -13.8 and -22.8%; lean percentage, +4.4 and +8.7%; lean tissue growth rate, +8.6 and +35.8%; and lean tissue feed conversion, -13.1 and -24.9%. No gender x rpST interaction was detected. However, a genotype x treatment interaction was significant for backfat thickness at both slaughter weights, showing a higher response to rpST in Duroc than in Pietrain and F1. Growth performance was improved more by rpST in F1 and Pietrain than in Duroc, especially at higher weights, but carcass traits were improved more by rpST in Duroc. The response to rpST in lean tissue growth rate from 60 to 100 kg was highest in fatter animals (Duroc, barrows), whereas from 100 to 140 kg, response in lean tissue growth rate to rpST was highest in leaner animals (Pietrain, F1, gilts).     

Acute immobilization stress in prone position in susceptible Pietrain and resistant Duroc pigs. II. Glycolytic metabolism in Piettrain and Duroc skeletal muscle and liver

Duroc (D) and Pietrain (P) pigs were used to study the effect of acute immobilization stress on carbohydrate metabolism. Changes in the activities of several glycolytic enzymes and the content of glycogen in longissimus dorsi muscle (LDM), glycogen content in the liver and glucose level in plasma were observed. The glycogen level in LDM of pigs was about five times higher in P pigs compared with D ones. The immobilization stress of 15 min caused a decrease of glycogen LDM content by 27% in D and by 44% in P pigs. In the liver, these changes were 75% in P pigs, but in D pigs the glycogen content was lowered during the time of experiment by 37% (control versus 60 min stress). Plasma glucose level was elevated by 118% in D and by 50.5% in P pigs after 15 min of immobilization stress. The activities of the glycolytic enzymes investigated changed in different way in LDM: the PGluM decreased by 20% in D and by 19% in P pigs; the GPI by 8.5% in both strains of pigs; the PFK and PK were higher in D than in P pigs (some statistically significant differences between PK activities of control and 15‐, 30‐ and 60‐min‐stressed animals); the ALD activity was similar in both investigated strains of pigs and LDH was lower in D than in P pigs. It can be assumed that the changes led to the new homeostasis connected with the stress to which the pigs were subjected.     

基于选择信号分析揭示猪终端父本群体间性状趋同的关键基因

【目的】试验旨在揭示终端父本皮特兰猪与杜洛克猪在人工选择作用下重要经济性状呈现出表型趋同的基因组变化特征。【方法】利用376头皮特兰猪、451头杜洛克猪品系Ⅰ、841头杜洛克猪品系Ⅱ和497头杜洛克猪品系Ⅲ群体的50K SNP芯片数据,以100 kb窗口、50 kb步长计算综合单倍型评分(iHS)和等位基因频率差(△AF),分别取前5%作为猪群体内、群体间的基因组选择信号候选区域;利用bedtools分别对iHS、△AF按照左右200 kb进行合并,每2个群体间合并后的iHS、△AF统计量的重叠区域定义为性状趋同区域,并挖掘该区域与猪重要经济性状相关的平行选择信号。【结果】iHS结果显示,在皮特兰猪和杜洛克猪4个群体内共检测到5 112个选择信号候选区域,总长约487.51 Mb。基于△AF方法,于皮特兰猪和杜洛克猪每2个群体间共检测到9 579个选择信号显著区域,总长约913.50 Mb。基于合并后的iHS和△AF,共检测到52个性状趋同区域,总长约4.67 Mb,注释到88个与猪的繁殖、胴体和肉质等性状相关的平行选择候选基因。【结论】皮特兰猪和杜洛克猪群体间存在性状趋同的基因组选择区域有52个,平行选择信号主要涉及猪的繁殖、胴体及肉质等重要经济性状,这与瘦肉型猪种相同的育种方向相关,这些关键基因的发现可为后续商业猪品种遗传改良提供参考。     

猪RYR_1基因的PCR-RFLP分析和氟烷基因利用的研究

采用ＰＣＲ－ＲＦＬＰ分析技术，以血液或猪毛提取ＤＮＡ为模板，建立了快速和简便的从分子水平上鉴别ＲＹＲ１基因型的方法，其准确率为１００％。不同品种（系）初步配套杂交结果显示：皮特兰×抗应激猪的胴体品质优于杜洛克×抗应激猪（Ｐ＜０．０５或Ｐ＜０．０１），而肉质优于皮特兰×应激群猪（Ｐ＜０．０１），并提出了氟烷基因的利用策略     

部分引进猪种α1-岩藻糖转移酶基因多态性研究

本研究采用PCR RFLP技术对4个引进猪种杜洛克、约克夏、长白猪和皮特兰共计122头猪的FUT1基因进行了多态性分析。结果表明：4个猪种在该FUT1基因座位存在多态性，但抗性基因型AA仅在杜洛克和皮特兰猪中分布。卡方检验结果表明，长白猪与皮特兰间FUT1基因基因型分布差异极显著，长白猪与杜洛克猪之间差异显著，约克夏与皮特兰间差异也显著。     

Erhualian and Pietrain pigs exhibit distinct behavioral, endocrine and biochemical responses during transport

This study describes the breed-specific coping characteristics of pigs in response to transport stress. The dynamic changes of behavior, the activities of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), as well as the plasma concentrations of stress and metabolic hormones in Erhualian (EHL) and Pietrain (PIE) pigs during 2 h transport were investigated. The majority of the behavior of EHL pigs consisted of oral/nasal/facial (ONF) and fit behaviors during the initial observations (first 15 min after start), and these behaviors were replaced by increased time sitting and lying in later observations (middle and last 15 min of transport). In contrast, PIE pigs showed high levels of ONF behaviors in initial observation, followed by high frequency and duration of standing during the middle and the last observation period. PIE pigs demonstrated significantly higher plasma CK (P < 0.01) and LDH activities (P < 0.05). There were significant effects of time and time × breed interaction (P < 0.05) on CK activities (P < 0.01) in both breeds. Plasma ACTH levels did not differ between breeds, yet a significant effect of time (P < 0.05) was shown during transport. EHL pigs exhibited consistently higher basal and stimulated plasma cortisol levels (P < 0.05). There were significant time effects on metabolic hormones (insulin, T3 and T4) (P < 0.01), whereas no significant breed effect for these hormones were found. These results indicate that different coping strategies apply in EHL pigs, as reflected by different behavioral, endocrine and biochemical responses during transport as compared with PIE pigs.     

Humoral and cell-mediated immune response and performance of weaned pigs fed four supplemental vitamin E levels and housed at two nursery temperatures

Three trials using 80 Yorkshire x Hampshire x Duroc crossbred pigs (avg initial wt, 6.9 kg) were conducted to determine the effects of four dietary vitamin E levels (11, 110, 220 and 550 IU/kg of feed) on the humoral and cell-mediated immune response and performance of 4-wk-old weanling pigs housed at two nursery temperatures (19 or 30 degrees C). Interactive effects of temperature and vitamin E were not observed for any measurements. Serum and liver vitamin E levels increased linearly with increasing level of dietary vitamin E, but performance, cortisol, antibody levels and mitogen-induced stimulation indices were not affected by supplemental levels of vitamin E. Average daily gain and feed intake were higher (P less than .01) for pigs housed at 19 degrees C than for pigs housed at 30 degrees C, but feed:gain ratios, mitogen stimulation index of white blood cells, plasma cortisol levels and antibody titers were not altered. Although supplemental vitamin E above the NRC estimated requirement increased serum and liver vitamin E concentrations, no differences were observed in humoral and cell-mediated immune response, cortisol levels or performance for weanling pigs housed at either 19 or 30 degrees C temperatures.     

Effects of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin on secretion of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and prolactin in ovariectomized, pituitary stalk-transected ewes

Two experiments were conducted in ovariectomized, pituitary stalk-transected ewes to determine if dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE) or serotonin (5-HT) alter secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin (PRL). In experiment 1, ewes were infused (iv) with saline (control), DA (66 micrograms/kg/min), NE (6.6 micrograms/kg/min) or 5-HT (6.6 micrograms/kg/min). Treatments did not alter pulse frequency, but 5-HT increased (P less than .05) amplitude of pulses of LH and mean concentrations of LH, DA and NE were without effect on basal secretion of LH. DA but not NE or 5-HT decreased (P less than .05) the release of LH in response to gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone (GnRH, 25 micrograms, im). Concentrations of FSH were not affected by treatments. Secretion of PRL was reduced (P less than .05) by treatment with DA and NE but not 5-HT. Each amine reduced (P less than .05) the release of PRL in response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH; 3 micrograms, im). In experiment 2, ewes were given DA at doses of 0, 0.66, 6.6 or 66.0 micrograms/kg/min, iv. No dose altered basal LH, but each dose reduced (P less than .05) basal and TRH-induced release of PRL. Key findings from these studies include direct pituitary action for: (1) 5-HT enhanced basal secretion of LH, (2) suppression of GnRH-induced secretion of LH by DA. (3) DA and NE inhibition of PRL secretion, and (4) DA, NE and 5-HT inhibition of release of PRL in response to TRH.     

SNaPshot based genotyping of the RYR1 mutation in Portuguese breeds of pigs

The porcine stress syndrome or malignant hyperthermia is an inherited autosomic recessive disease, which results in neuromuscular disorders leading to death in homozygous individuals and is associated with deterioration of meat quality. The defect in susceptible animals results from modifications in the calcium release channel or Ryanodine Receptor (RYR1), with a mutation leading to a C to T transition in nucleotide 1843 of the gene. The objective of this work was to develop a method based on analysis of SNPs to detect the mutation described in the RYR1 locus in pigs, and study polymorphisms of the gene in four exotic (Large White, Landrace, Duroc and Pietrain) and three native (Bísaro, Alentejano and Malhado de Alcobaça) breeds of pigs in Portugal. The method was successful in identifying the mutation by analysis of SNPs, and results indicate a high incidence of the mutant allele in Pietrain (0.75) and, to a lesser degree, in Malhado de Alcobaça (0.34) and Landrace (0.28); frequencies in Alentejano, Bísaro and Large White ranged between 0.04 and 0.09. These results suggest the need to establish breeding programs aimed at eliminating the susceptibility allele from those populations.     

Effects of induced fescue toxicosis on plasma and tissue catecholamine concentrations in sheep

Sixteen crossbred wethers were distributed among four treatments and fed a control ration based on annual rye-orchardgrass (R-O) for 8 days. Indwelling jugular cannulae were installed and experimental regimes begun the following day (experimental day 1). One-half of the wethers were fed a ration based on endophyte-infected Kentucky-31 fescue while the remainder continued to receive the R-O control diet for 10 days. Spiperone, a dopamine antogonist, was administered to one-half of the wethers receiving each ration on days 8 and 9. Plasma prolactin (PRL), dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) were measured in jugular venous blood on days 1, 3, 5 and 7-10 of the trial. On day 10, the animals were decapitated; and DA, NE, E and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and monoamine oxidase (MAO) were determined in hypothalamic and pituitary tissue. Plasma DA was elevated (P less than .05) following day 8 in wethers fed infected fescue over those fed (R-O), while plasma PRL was reduced (P = .08). Wethers receiving Spiperone had lowered (P less than .05) plasma DA and elevated (P less than .01) plasma PRL. Plasma DA was negatively correlated (P less than .01) with plasma PRL (r = -0.50) following day 8. Plasma NE and E levels and NE, E, DA and DOPAC tissue concentrations were not affected by Spiperone administration or diet. MAO levels in pituitaries were higher (P less than .01) for Spiperone-treated wethers. Wethers receiving the toxic fescue ration exhibited elevated plasma DA concentrations which was associated with depressed prolactin secretion in wethers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Anaesthesia of pigs sensitive to malignant hyperthermia.

During general anaesthesia some pigs develop a hyperthermic response which is often fatal. The syndrome is most common in pigs which are susceptible to stress and have a low proportion of body fat. On the basis of an experimental investigation in Pietrain pigs recommendations are presented for the clinical management and treatment of susceptible animals.     

不同猪种ESR基因多态性的PCR-RFLP分析

运用PCR-RFLP方法,检测了杜洛克、约克夏、长白猪、皮特兰、梅山猪、二花脸猪、枫泾猪、荣昌猪、苏太猪等9个国内外猪种的ESR基因PvuⅡ位点多态性。结果表明,在约克夏猪、二花脸猪、枫泾猪和苏太猪中检测到了AA、AB、BB 3种基因型,在杜洛克猪、皮特兰猪中检测到AB、BB 2种基因型,在长白猪、梅山猪、荣昌猪中只检测到了AB基因型。在本研究中不同品种的A、B基因频率差异显著,总体上在国外猪群体中A等位基因为优势等位基因,而地方猪种中B等位基因为优势等位基因。     

不同品种猪α1-岩藻糖转移酶基因遗传变异初析

本实验采用PCR RFLP方法对 5个瘦肉型猪种杜洛克、长白猪、大白猪、汉普夏猪和皮特兰猪共计 2 5 0头猪的α1 岩藻糖转移酶基因 (FUT1)进行多态性分析。结果表明 :本研究中的 5个猪种在该FUT1基因座位存在多态性 ,均分布着三种基因型 (AA ,AG和GG) ,抗性基因型AA分布频率为 0 .0 2 8,易感基因型AG与GG分布频率分别为0 .2 4 4和 0 .72 8。卡方检验结果表明 ,长白猪与大白猪基因型频率差异极显著 (P <0 .0 1) ,与皮特兰猪之间差异显著(P <0 .0 5 ) ,其它猪种之间差异均不显著。     

Evaluation of Duroc- vs. Pietrain-sired pigs for carcass and meat quality measures

Crossbred progeny sired by either Duroc or Pietrain boars, normal for the ryanodine receptor gene, were evaluated for carcass composition and meat quality. Boars from each breed were mated to Yorkshire or F1 Yorkshire-Landrace females. A total of 162 off-spring was evaluated for carcass and meat quality traits at a common age (approximately 26 wk of age). Duroc-sired progeny had heavier (108.0 vs. 103.0 kg, P < 0.001) and longer carcasses (86.9 vs. 84.8 cm, P < 0.01), whereas Pietrain-sired pigs had less backfat at the first rib (44.6 vs. 47.7 mm, P < 0.01), last lumbar vertebrae (20.9 vs. 23.0 mm, P < 0.05), and 10th rib (23.0 vs. 25.5 mm, P < 0.01). No difference between Pietrain and Duroc progeny was detected for fat depth at the last rib (27.8 vs. 28.8 mm, respectively). Pietrain progeny had a higher percentage of lean at slaughter (52.6 vs. 50.7, P < 0.05) and higher dressing percentage (74.0 vs. 73.1, P < 0.01). Primal cut weights were collected with Pietrain progeny having a greater percentage of carcass as ham (23.0 vs. 22.4, P < 0.01) and loin (21.6 vs. 21.2, P < 0.05), whereas Duroc progeny had a higher percentage of belly weight (12.0 vs. 11.7, P < 0.05). Percentages of Boston butt (8.8 vs. 9.0) and picnic shoulder (9.9 vs. 9.9) were similar for Duroc vs. Pietrain progeny. Total weight of these five primal cuts, as a percentage of carcass weight, was higher for Pietrain progeny (75.2 vs. 74.3, P < 0.01). With heavier carcass weight, Duroc progeny had greater primal cut weights as a function of age. Subjective meat quality scores for color, marbling, and firmness (1 to 5 scale) were more favorable for Duroc-sired progeny. Furthermore, chops from Duroc progeny had higher 24-h pH (5.53 vs. 5.48, P < 0.001) and Minolta a* (17.33 vs. 17.04, P < 0.05) with less percentage drip loss (2.88 vs. 3.80, P < 0.001). No differences were detected between Duroc- and Pietrain-sired progeny for Minolta L* (54.77 vs. 55.37) or b* (7.58 vs. 7.58) objective color scores, percentage cooking loss (28.63 vs. 29.23), or Warner-Bratzler shear force (6.94 vs. 7.11 kg). Both sire breeds have beneficial traits that can be utilized in commercial pork production and merit further study.     

Acute immobilization stress in prone position in susceptible Pietrain and resistant Duroc pigs. I: comparison of protein degradation in Duroc and Pietrain pigs' skeletal muscle and liver

The experiment was conducted to determine the relationship between lysosomal proteinase activities in skeletal muscle and liver of stressed pigs. Six‐month‐old Duroc (D) and Pietrain (P) pigs were randomly assigned to either control (group I) or stressed groups (5 min of stress, group II; 15 min of stress, group III; 30 min of stress, group IV; 60 min of stress, group V). At slaughter, the longissimus dorsi muscle and the liver were taken. The tissues were analysed for cathepsin D, acid autolytic activities without and with pepstatin (inhibitor of cathepsin D) and leupeptin (inhibitor of cysteine proteinases). Both tissues were also analysed for RNA, DNA and protein content. The acute immobilization stress in the prone position caused changes in longissimus dorsi muscle in DNA (26% decrease in D and 35% increase in P pigs), functional cell size, protein/10³DNA (FCS) (34% increase in D and 25% decrease in P pigs), increase in acid autolytic activity (AAA) (by 48.3%), pepstatin insensitive acid autolytic activity (PIA) (by 111.8%), leupeptin insensitive acid autolytic activity (LIA) (by 35.8%) in D, but in P pigs by 13.5%, 16.6% and 54%, respectively. The interaction between strain of pigs and stress was also observed, mostly in DNA and AAA's. In the liver, RNA was decreased by 10% in D and by 12.3% in P pigs, DNA by 13% and 24% in D and P pigs, FCS was increased by 13.2% in D and by 22.7% in P pigs; the activity of cathepsin D (CatD) and pepstatin sensitive cathepsin D (PSCatD) increased after 15 min of stress by 9.2% and 9.3% and LIA by 13.7% in D pigs but in P pigs the maximal increase was after 15 min of stress in AAA by 10.3%, in PIA by 13.6% and in LIA by 3.2%. The experiment showed that the proteinase activities in the two different strains of pigs were different. The highest changes were in AAA's in the longissimus dorsi muscle and in CatD and PSCatD in the liver. There was more CatD in the longissimus dorsi muscle and liver of D than P pigs. Although it should be taken with caution, this suggests that other proteinases may be also responsible for the catabolism of proteins.     

Catecholamines in ovarian follicles during the ovulatory cycle of White Leghorn hens

Dopamine (DA) concentrations in the largest ovarian follicle (F1) showed significant decrease at 12 and 8 h prior to ovulation. Nor-epinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) concentrations in the F1, sampled at different times of the ovulatory cycle, were found to increase with the approach of ovulation time. However, the concentration of epinephrine in the F1 was low just after oviposition compared with the immediate two previous stages investigated. The concentrations of DA, NE and E in the second largest follicles (F2) did not vary significantly during the ovulatory cycle. Average concentration of DA was low and that of NE and E high in the F1 compared with the respective concentrations in the F2.     

Identification of serum stress biomarkers in pigs housed at different stocking densities

Eight Duroc×(Landrace×Large White) male pigs housed at a stocking rate of 0.50m(2)/pig were subjected to a higher stocking rate of 0.25m(2)/pig (higher density, HD) for two 4-day periods over 26 days. Using biochemical and proteomic techniques serum and plasma samples were examined to identify potential biomarkers for monitoring stress due to HD housing. HD housed pigs showed significant differences (P<0.001) in total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein-associated cholesterol, as well as in concentrations of the pig-major acute phase protein (Pig-MAP) (P=0.002). No differences were observed in serum cortisol or other acute phase proteins such as haptoglobin, C-reactive protein or apolipoprotein A-I. HD-individuals also showed an imbalance in redox homeostasis, detected as an increase in the level of oxidized proteins measured as the total plasma carbonyl protein content (P<0.001) with a compensatory increase in the activity of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (P=0.012). Comparison of the serum proteome yielded a new potential stress biomarker, identified as actin by mass spectrometry. Cluster analysis of the results indicated that individuals segregated into two groups, with different response patterns, suggesting that the stress response depended on individual susceptibility.