植物体内自由基清除剂抗坏血酸研究进展

抗坏血酸(Ascorbic Acid,AsA)作为植物体内一种重要的自由基清除剂,在减少膜脂过氧化作用对细胞造成的损伤、增强植物抵抗逆境胁迫能力等过程中起着非常重要的作用。通过分析比较AsA的生物合成途径,总结AsA参与细胞分裂与伸长、作为辅酶参与细胞壁的形成、光保护作用、作为电子传递与信号转导的载体等生理功能,系统阐述AsA在植物逆境胁迫（主要包括温度胁迫、盐胁迫、生物胁迫等）中的保护机制及功能,强调AsA研究对于了解自由基清除剂在植物抗逆性作用以及清除自由基机理方面具有重要作用。本研究提出在牧草种子劣变方面AsA研究的不足,并分析展望了AsA研究发展的趋势。     

AM菌根真菌对非生物逆境的响应及其机制

丛枝菌根真菌（arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF）广泛存在于农业生态系统中,是土壤中重要的微生物成员之一,能与宿主形成共生体,对植物具有多种有益效应。AM真菌共生体可改善土壤理化性状,改善根围微生物区系,促进植物水分和养分吸收利用,提高植物抗氧化保护酶（SOD,POD,CAT,PPO,PAL）活性和抗氧化剂（谷胱甘肽和抗坏血酸）含量,增加渗透调节物质的含量,减少超氧自由基的产生,诱导信号物质和次生代谢物质产生,诱导植物防卫基因表达,从而促进植物对非生物逆境的抗性,降低逆境胁迫对植物造成的伤害。通过总结近年来国内外有关AM真菌提高宿主植物对干旱、盐、温度、重金属等非生物逆境抗性的研究进展,阐述了AM真菌提高植物抗逆性的作用机制,同时讨论了AM真菌在植物抗生物逆境领域的前景。     

α-硫辛酸的生物学功能及其在动物生产中应用的研究进展

α-硫辛酸是一种类维生素物质,是能够高效清除活性氧自由基的天然抗氧化剂,在动植物体内广泛存在,其可有效促进动物生长性能、增强抗氧化与免疫功能,还具有螯合金属离子、减轻氧化应激、调节脂质代谢、抑制内质网应激及细胞凋亡等重要作用,在动物饲料中具有广阔发展前景.本文综述了α-硫辛酸的理化性质、生物学功能及其在动物生产中应用的...     

镉胁迫下增施氮对白三叶草生长的影响和镉毒害的缓解效应研究

为了解镉(Cd)胁迫下施加外源氮对植物生长生理的影响及解毒机理, 本研究采用盆栽试验, 以白三叶草为材料, 研究了在重金属镉(CdCl₂·2.5H₂O)胁迫下施加氮[CO(NH₂)₂]对其生长、叶绿素含量、抗氧化酶活性、镉含量、谷胱甘肽(GSH)和植物络合素(PCs)含量的影响。结果表明, 单独的Cd处理显著抑制白三叶草生长及叶绿素的合成;而镉胁迫下施加氮显著促进了白三叶草的生长, 其生物量和叶绿素含量显著提高。同时, 镉胁迫下增施氮显著提高了植株过氧化物酶(POD)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性及白三叶草植株体内镉含量。单独镉处理显著增加了PCs含量, GSH含量显著降低;而镉胁迫下增施氮使GSH和PCs含量均显著增加。由此说明, 外源氮素在植物对重金属镉的解毒过程起到了重要的作用, 缓解了镉对白三叶草的毒害。     

AM真菌提高植物抗逆性的机制

丛枝菌根(arbuscular mycorrhizae,AM)真菌是自然界中最广泛的植物共生真菌,可以提高宿主对生物和非生物逆境的抗性。AM真菌能通过改善养分吸收、增加渗透调节物质的积累,提高抗氧化酶类活性、强化渗透调节作用并维持植物内源激素平衡,增加生长素的合成,调节碳氮代谢,刺激胁迫诱导基因表达,增强植物根系及菌丝本身对重金属元素的固持作用等提高植物对非生物逆境(如干旱、高低温、重金属、盐碱)的抗性;并能通过构建菌丝网络,形成对根部入侵病原真菌的机械屏障,增强抗病性相关酶活性,合成与抗病性相关的次生代谢产物,增强抗病、虫相关基因的表达,菌丝传递抗虫防御信号,能提高邻近植株的抗虫性,增强植物的抗病虫能力。本文归纳了近几年来国内外有关AM真菌影响植物抗逆性及其作用机理的研究进展,并对AM真菌在促进植物抗逆性方面的研究作了展望。     

bHLH转录因子的研究进展

碱性螺旋—环—螺旋(basic helix-loop-helix,bHLH)蛋白属于转录因子超家族,在真核生物中广泛分布。目前,大部分bHLH转录因子功能在动物中已明确,但在植物中的研究相对滞后。bHLH转录因子作为植物体内第二大类转录因子,其在植物的生长发育、生理代谢及逆境应答等过程中起着重要的作用,它主要通过特定的氨基酸与靶基因的相互作用,进而调节相关基因的表达。为进一步了解bHLH转录因子在植物体内的功能和特点,现对其结构特点、分类及生物学功能进行阐述,主要侧重于其在非生物胁迫下的最新研究进行综述。该综述为深入理解bHLH转录因子在逆境胁迫下的分子作用机制提供理论依据。     

谷胱甘肽对氟中毒蚕血淋巴中氧自由基和丙二醛水平的影响

一些文献曾报道动物的衰老、致癌、炎症、化学中毒、辐射损伤等生理和病理过程与氧自由基(su-peroxide anion,O2.-)引起的脂质过氧化作用有关,而丙二醛(malondialdehyde,MDA)被认为是体内脂质过氧化作用的标志产物。近年来研究发现,氟化物中毒可降低机体抗氧化作用,致使O2.-生成过多,组织脂质过氧化作用增强,从而引起各脏器的代谢障碍和损伤性变化,而动物血液中O2.-和MDA的浓度一般可以指示氟化物中毒的程度。谷胱甘肽(Glutathione,GSH)是一种由谷氨酸、半胱氨酸和甘氨酸组成的三肽化合物,是一种抗氧化剂,具有清除自由基的作用。口服G…     

谷胱甘肽生产及在水产养殖中的应用

谷胱甘肽（glutathione,GSH）是一种含有巯基的天然小分子活性肽,广泛地存在于动物、植物及微生物中,是生物体内重要的抗氧化剂、免疫增强剂和解毒剂。近些年研究发现,GSH能够促进水产养殖动物的生长,改善抗氧化能力及免疫能力,并具有较强的解毒作用。文章简述了GSH的生产及在水产养殖中的应用原理和效果,为GSH在水产养殖中的开发应用提供参考。     

Ni和Cu胁迫对骆驼蓬抗氧化酶活性的影响

采用温室盆栽法,研究Ni、Cu单一处理对金昌Ni/Cu尾矿库先锋植物骆驼蓬幼苗Ni、Cu积累、膜脂过氧化程度与抗氧化酶系统的影响。结果表明,骆驼蓬幼苗叶片及根部Ni、Cu含量随土壤介质中Ni、Cu含量的增加而增加,Ni主要富集在骆驼蓬的叶片,而Cu主要富集在骆驼蓬的根部;叶片及根部丙二醛(MDA)含量总体随Ni、Cu处理浓度升高而增加,膜脂过氧化程度加剧;Ni胁迫下,骆驼蓬叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸酶(APX)和谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性较对照均有所增强,共同组成植物体内一个有效的活性氧自由基(ROS)清除系统,根部SOD、APX和CAT活性受到抑制,POD和GR受诱导活性增强,在减轻Ni胁迫引起氧化损伤方面起重要作用;Cu胁迫下骆驼蓬叶片SOD、POD、CAT、APX及GR活性较对照均有所提高,减弱了Cu胁迫引起的氧化损伤;根部APX活性受抑制,SOD、POD、CAT及GR活性受诱导增强,在缓解Cu胁迫引起氧化损伤方面发挥重要作用。     

GSH对铅胁迫下多年生黑麦草幼苗抗氧化系统的调控

本试验以12周龄的多年生黑麦草（Lolium perenne ‘cuttle’）幼苗为试验材料,用铅（Lead,Pb）,Pb+还原型谷胱甘肽（Glutathione,GSH）和Pb+丁硫氨酸-亚砜亚胺（L-Buthionine-sulfoximine,BSO）处理1周,研究GSH对Pb胁迫下多年生黑麦草抗氧化系统的调控机理,寻求缓解植物Pb胁迫的有效措施。结果表明：Pb胁迫下,外源GSH能够显著提高多年生黑麦草Pb的吸收和转运,增加抗氧化酶超氧化物歧化酶（Superoxide dismutase,SOD）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（Glutathione peroxidase,GPX）和谷胱甘肽还原酶（Glutathione reductase,GR）活性,显著增加抗氧化剂GSH含量及GSH/氧化型谷胱甘肽（Oxidized glutathione,GSSG）比率,提高了植物的还原力。外源GSH也能够显著降低活性氧超氧阴离子（Superoxide anion,O₂^·-）和过氧化氢（Hydrogen peroxide,H₂O₂）的产生量、膜的相对透性（Relative electric conductivity,EC）和丙二醛（Malondialdehyde,MDA）含量,保持了细胞的稳定性,减轻了膜脂的过氧化程度。外源BSO作用基本上与GSH相反。相关分析表明：GSH可通过提高SOD和GPX等抗氧化酶的活性,促进GSSG和GSH的相互转化,降低活性氧产生量,提高植物抵抗逆境胁迫的能力。     

Phase I evaluation of CCNU (lomustine) in tumor-bearing cats

1-(2-Chloroethyl)3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU) is an alkylating agent in the nitrosourea subclass. A prospective evaluation of CCNU was done to determine the maximally tolerated dosage of CCNU in tumor-bearing cats. Response data were obtained when available. Twenty-five cats were treated with CCNU at a dosage of 50-60 mg/m3 body surface area. Complete hematologic data were available for 13 cats. Neutropenia was the acute dose-limiting toxicity. The median neutrophil count at the nadir was 1,000 cells/microL (mean, 2,433 cells/microL; range, 0-9,694 cells/microL). The time of neutrophil nadir was variable, occurring 7-28 days after treatment, and counts sometimes did not return to normal for up to 14 days after the nadir. Based on these findings, a 6-week dosing interval and weekly hematologic monitoring after the 1st treatment with CCNU are recommended. The nadir of the platelet count may occur 14-21 days after treatment. The median platelet count at the nadir was 43,500 cells/microL. No gastrointestinal, renal, or hepatic toxicities were observed after a single CCNU treatment, and additional studies to evaluate the potential for cumulative toxicity should be performed. Five cats with lymphoma and 1 cat with mast cell tumor had measurable responses to CCNU. Phase II studies to evaluate antitumor activity should be completed with a dosing regimen of 50-60 mg/m3 every 6 weeks.     

Furosemide continuous rate infusion in the horse: evaluation of enhanced efficacy and reduced side effects

Continuous rate infusion (CRI) of furosemide in humans is considered superior to intermittent administration (IA). This study examined whether furosemide CRI, compared with IA, would increase diuretic efficacy with decreased fluid and electrolyte fluctuations and activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in the horse. Five mares were used in a crossover-design study. During a 24-hour period, each horse received a total of 3 mg/kg furosemide by either CRI (0.12 mg/kg/h preceded by a loading dose of 0.12 mg/kg IV) or IA (1 mg/kg IV q8h). There was not a statistically significant difference in urine volume over 24 hours between methods; however, urine volume was significantly greater after CRI compared with IA during the first 8 hours ([median 25th percentile, 75th percentile]: 9.6 L [8.9, 14.4] for CRI versus 5.9 L [5.3, 6.0] for IA). CRI produced a more uniform urine flow, decreased fluctuations in plasma volume, and suppressed renal concentrating ability throughout the infusion period. Potassium, Ca, and Cl excretion was greater during CRI than IA (1,133 mmol [1.110, 1,229] versus 764 mmol [709, 904], 102.7 mmol [96.0, 117.2] versus 73.3 mmol [65.0, 73.5], and 1,776 mmol [1,657, 2.378] versus 1,596 mmol [1,457, 1,767], respectively). Elimination half-lives of furosemide were 1.35 and 0.47 hours for CRI and IA, respectively. The area under the excretion rate curve was 1,285.7 and 184.2 mL x mg/mL for CRI and IA, respectively. Furosemide CRI (0.12 mg/kg/h) for 8 hours, preceded by a loading dose (0.12 mg/kg), is recommended when profound diuresis is needed acutely in horses.     

Prevalence of gastric lesions in racing Alaskan sled dogs

Human and equine athletes are reported to have a high prevalence of gastric disease, and anecdotal evidence suggests a similar phenomenon applies to racing sled dogs. To investigate the prevalence of gastric disease in racing sled dogs, we conducted 2 gastroscopy studies on dogs competing in the annual Iditarod Sled Dog Race. A pilot study of dogs that were either dropped from the 2000 Iditarod Sled Dog Race because of illness or that finished the race indicated that, approximately 5 days after competing, 10 of 28 dogs (35%) had endoscopic evidence of gastric ulceration, erosion, or hemorrhage. The next year, an endoscopic study of 73 dogs participating in the 2001 Iditarod race was performed in order to evaluate a larger population of dogs. Data from 70 of these dogs could be used; 34 (48.5%) had ulceration, erosion, gastric hemorrhage, or some combination of these findings. When this group of 70 dogs was compared retrospectively to a control group of 87 dogs presented to the Texas A&M University (TAMU) Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, the Iditarod sled dogs had a significantly higher prevalence (P = .049) of gastric lesions. These findings suggest that, similar to athletes of other species, elite canine athletes have an increased prevalence of gastric disease compared to the canine population at large.     

Internal Parasites and Haematological Values in Cattle Slaughtered in Buea Subdivision of Cameroon

Tropical Animal Health and Production -     

The Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Nematodes of Dairy Cattle in Central Kenya

The epidemiology of H. placei and of other gastrointestinal nematodes in yearling dairy cattle was examined on two farms in Kiambu District, central Kenya during each of 13 one-month periods from April 1993 to April 1994. On each farm, 32 newly weaned dairy calves were given a single dose of albendazole and then placed on experimental pastures. Twelve of the animals were designated for bi-monthly slaughter (n = 2) and analysis of worm population characteristics and 20 were designated for blood and faecal collection and for weighing. Two parasite-free tracer calves were grazed alongside the weaner calves each month throughout the study period and were also slaughtered for analysis of worm populations. Faecal egg counts, haematological and serum pepsinogen determinations, herbage larval counts, and animal live weight changes were recorded monthly. The study revealed that Haemonchus placei, Trichostrongylus axei, Cooperia spp. and Oesophagostomum radiatum were responsible for parasitic gastroenteritis and that H. placei was the predominant nematode present in the young cattle on both farms. Faecal egg counts from resident cattle and necropsy worm counts revealed that pasture larval levels were directly related to the amount of rainfall. The total worm burdens in the animals were highest during the rainy season (March–June and October–December) and lowest during the dry seasons (July–September and January–February). The very low recovery of immature larvae of H. placei from the tracer calves indicated that arrested development is not a feature of the life cycle of this parasite in central Kenya. The maintenance of the parasite population depended on continuous cycling of infection between the host and the pasture. The agroclimatic conditions of the study area were such that, in general, favourable weather conditions for the development and survival of the free-living stages of gastrointestinal nematodes existed all year round.     

Diversity of Ectoparasites in Sheep Flocks in Sa~o Paulo,Brazil

The occurrence of ectoparasites in sheep flocks is frequently reported but seldom quantified. Sheep production used to be a predominantly family activity in the state of Sa~o Paulo (Brazil), but it began to become a commercial activity in the past decade. Thus, information about the ectoparasites existing in sheep flocks has become necessary. The present data were obtained by means of questionnaires sent to all sheep breeders belonging to the `Associaça~o Paulista de Criadores de Ovinos' (ASPACO; Sa~o Paulo State Association of Sheep Breeders). Response reliability was tested by means of random visits paid to 10.6% of the respondents. Most of the properties (89.5%) reported the presence of one or more ectoparasites. Screw-worm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) was the most frequent ectoparasite (72.5%), followed by bot fly larvae (Dermatobia hominis, 45.0%), ticks (Amblyomma cajennense) and Boophilus microplus, 31.3%) and finally lice (Damalinia ovis, 13.8%). Combined infestations also occurred, the most common one being screw-worm with bot fly larvae (36.0%) followed by bot fly larvae with ticks (13.9%), screw-worm with ticks (9.3%), bot fly larvae with lice (6.9%), and ticks with lice (5.0%). The most common triple combination was screw-worm, bot fly larvae and ticks (12.8%). Breeds raised for meat or wool were attacked by bot fly larvae and ticks more often than other breeds. Lice were only absent from animals of indigenous breeds. The relationships among these ectoparasites are discussed in terms of sheep breeds, flock size, seasonality and the ectoparasitic combinations on the host.     

Chemotaxis of macrophage in inflammation

Our particular attention in this article was given to natural mediators for macrophages isolated from the sites of tissue injury. A number of chemotactic factors, which may satisfy many criteria making them acceptable as inflammatory leucocyte chemotactic factors, has been separated. Among them, our laboratory has isolated three macrophage (monocyte) chemotactic factors (MCF-a, -b and -c). Their purification, characterization and functional specificity are discussed.     

Evaluation of biohydrogenation rate of canola vs. soya bean seeds as unsaturated fatty acids sources for ruminants in situ

An experiment was conducted to study disappearance of C14 to C18 fatty acids, lag times and biohydrogenation (BH) rates of C18 fatty acids of ground soya bean and canola seeds in situ. Three ruminally fistulated Dallagh sheep were used to determine ruminal BH of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs). Differences in the disappearance of fatty acids through the bags and lag times were observed between the oilseeds. We saw that the longer the incubation time of the oilseeds in the rumen, the lower the content of C18:2 and C18:3. Significantly higher lag times for both C18:2 and C18:3 were observed in ground canola compared to ground soya bean. BH rates of C18:2 and C18:3 fatty acids in soya bean were three times higher than those of canola. These results suggest that the fatty acid profile of fat source can affect the BH of UFAs by rumen micro‐organisms. So that UFAs of canola had higher ability to escape from ruminal BH. It seems that fatty acid profile of ruminant products is more affected by canola seed compared to soya bean seed.     

Serum biochemical values and mineral element contents of tissues in yaks

Serum biochemical values and the wet weight to dry weight ratios of tissues were determined in yaks in Shandan county of Gansu province. The liver, kidney, heart and muscle contents of seven elements in yaks were also analysed. Most serum biochemical values were similar to those of cattle, camels and sheep, but the calcium concentration was considerably above the normal range for other ruminants. The liver contained the highest concentrations of copper, manganese and cobalt and the kidney of selenium, iron and calcium.Abbreviations Alb albumin - ALT alanine aminotransferase - AST aspartate aminotransferase - BUN blood urea nitrogen - Chol cholesterol - Glob globulin - -GT -glutamyl transpeptidase - IP inorganic phosphorus - TP total protein