Acclimatization of the fowl to intermittent acute heat stress

The acclimatization of poultry to a hot, dry climate was assessed by studying changes in rectal temperature (Tr) during regular daily exposure to an ambient temperature of 38 degrees C and 26% RH. Laying hens of two strains, young chicks, growing broilers and broiler breeders were able to acclimatise, in varying degrees, to these conditions. Acclimatization was characterised by a progressive reduction in the rate of increase in Tr over the period of exposure and the ability to survive conditions that initially would have been fatal. Laying hens could acclimatise if prevented from displaying their normal postural responses to heat stress. Acclimatization was accompanied by a decrease in oxygen consumption when measured at either the acclimatization temperature or at a thermoneutral temperature.     

Effect of xylazine in heifers under thermoneutral or heat stress conditions

A study was performed to assess the effect of xylazine HCl (0.1 mg/kg of body weight, IV) in heifers maintained at thermoneutrality (18 C, 42% humidity) or under heat stress (33 C, 63% humidity) conditions. Xylazine caused 50 and 70% decreases in serum insulin concentrations in the thermoneutral and heat-stressed heifers, respectively. Xylazine-induced hypoinsulinemia was associated with hyperglycemia. In the thermoneutral group, serum glucose concentrations increased from a basal concentration of 75 mg/dl to 150 mg/dl after 15 minutes. In the heat stress group, the serum glucose concentration increased from 65 mg/dl to 105 mg/dl. Hyperglycemia peaked at 2 hours and remained high for 6 hours after xylazine administration. Heat-stressed heifers took a longer time (107 minutes) to stand than did heifers under thermoneutral conditions (41 minutes). The time to regain sensation to pain was significantly prolonged in heat-stressed heifers. Xylazine had no effect on body temperature and respiration rate in heifers under the thermoneutral condition, whereas it markedly induced hyperthermia and suppressed respiration rate in the heat-stressed heifers. Furthermore, the pulse rate was slightly decreased in thermoneutral heifers and was markedly decreased in the heat-stressed heifers.     

Effect of diurnal or nocturnal heat stress on egg formation.

1. Mature laying hens were subjected to ambient temperatures sufficient to maintain body temperature of 43 degrees C for periods of 6 to 7 h during the day (eight periods) or the night (five periods). This did not reduce total daily food consumption. 2. The effect of heat stress during the day was mostly on egg-shell quality, being adverse and significant. During the night heat stress caused a significant decrease in egg production, its effect during the day was less marked in this respect. 3. Heat stress thus seems mostly to affect the early stages of shell formation, while its effect on egg production seems to depend on the time at which it occurs in relation to ovulation. 4. These results suggest that egg production is directly affected by heat stress; prolonged heat stress probably also acts indirectly, by suppression of food intake.     

细胞工程技术选育的草地早熟禾新种质的耐热性分析

通过对离体培养的草地早熟禾丛生芽块进行高温处理,筛选出一批耐热性好的小芽。小芽成苗后移栽到花盆在自然条件下生长。半年后对这些株系和原品种的植株进行热胁迫处理,同时测定叶绿素荧光、丙二醛含量、离子渗漏率、叶绿素含量等生理指标的变化,得出细胞工程株系的植株耐热性明显较高,热胁迫处理后损伤程度小于原品种植株。表明利用细胞工程技术能有效获得耐热性显著提高的草地早熟禾植株,为选育草地早熟禾耐热新种质提供材料。     

Rapamycin administration during an acute heat stress challenge in growing pigs

Study objectives were to determine the effects of rapamycin (Rapa) on biomarkers of metabolism and inflammation during acute heat stress (HS) in growing pigs. Crossbred barrows (n = 32; 63.5 ± 7.2 kg body weight [BW]) were blocked by initial BW and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 environmental-therapeutic treatments: 1) thermoneutral (TN) control (n = 8; TNCon), 2) TN and Rapa (n = 8; TNRapa), 3) HS control (n = 8; HSCon), or 4) HS and Rapa (n = 8; HSRapa). Following 6 d of acclimation to individual pens, pigs were enrolled in two experimental periods (P). During P1 (10 d), pigs were fed ad libitum and housed in TN conditions (21.3 ± 0.2°C). During P2 (24 h), HSCon and HSRapa pigs were exposed to constant HS (35.5 ± 0.4°C), while TNCon and TNRapa pigs remained in TN conditions. Rapamycin (0.15 mg/kg BW) was orally administered twice daily (0700 and 1800 hours) during both P1 and P2. HS increased rectal temperature and respiration rate compared to TN treatments (1.3°C and 87 breaths/min, respectively; P < 0.01). Feed intake (FI) markedly decreased in HS relative to TN treatments (64%; P < 0.01). Additionally, pigs exposed to HS lost BW (4 kg; P < 0.01), while TN pigs gained BW (0.7 kg; P < 0.01). Despite marked changes in phenotypic parameters caused by HS, circulating glucose and blood urea nitrogen did not differ among treatments (P > 0.10). However, the insulin:FI increased in HS relative to TN treatments (P = 0.04). Plasma nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) increased in HS relative to TN treatments; although this difference was driven by increased NEFA in HSCon compared to TN and HSRapa pigs (P < 0.01). Overall, circulating white blood cells, lymphocytes, and monocytes decreased in HS compared to TN pigs (19%, 23%, and 33%, respectively; P ≤ 0.05). However, circulating neutrophils were similar across treatments (P > 0.31). The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was increased in HS relative to TN pigs (P = 0.02); however, a tendency for reduced NLR was observed in HSRapa compared to HSCon pigs (21%; P = 0.06). Plasma C-reactive protein tended to differ across treatments (P = 0.06) and was increased in HSRapa relative to HSCon pigs (46%; P = 0.03). Circulating haptoglobin was similar between groups. In summary, pigs exposed to HS had altered phenotypic, metabolic, and leukocyte responses; however, Rapa administration had limited impact on outcomes measured herein.     

鸡热应激与热应激蛋白的作用机理研究

高温导致畜禽热应激问题的危害正日益突出并倍受关注。针对这些问题本刊推出“热应激专栏”,目的是为缓解夏季普遍存在的畜禽热应激提供理论和技术支持,使从业者能通过一些技术手段来规避热应激带来的损失。由于时间的仓促,本期组织的稿件内容覆盖面不是很全,但是以后会陆续推出有关内容,希望大家能继续关注。同时我们也希望专家、学者能踊跃地发表真知灼见与广大读者分享,把热应激理论、防制调控推到一个更高的阶段。     

甜菜碱在急性热应激下对肉鸡血清离子浓度的影响

1 前言 　热应激是指动物受到超过自身体温调节能力的过高温度刺激时所引起的非特异性应答反应.热应激会造成动物体内血液电解质和酸碱平衡失调,在热刺激下出现热喘息、呼吸次数增加、血中CO2排出过多、pH值升高.为了保持平衡,通过肾排出血液中Na^＋、K^＋等离子来降低血液pH值,引起血中钠、钾离子水平下降,导致血浆渗透压降低,肾上腺皮质分泌醛固酮增加。     

钙和钾对延胡索幼苗镉毒害的缓解作用

通过探讨外源钙(Ca²⁺)、钾(K⁺)对重金属镉(Cd) (0~25 mg/kg)胁迫下延胡索幼苗的缓解作用,为延胡索经济高效优质高产的栽培模式提供理论依据和实践指导。以大叶延胡索为材料,采用土培法,研究外源Ca²⁺、K⁺处理对不同浓度Cd胁迫下延胡索幼苗株高、生物量、生理特征、重金属含量及药用品质的变化。结果表明,各浓度Cd胁迫下外源Ca²⁺、K⁺处理的最适缓解浓度分别为100和200 mg/kg,在该浓度下Ca²⁺、K⁺能明显缓解Cd对延胡索幼苗的抑制作用。在低浓度Cd胁迫下,添加最适浓度的外源Ca²⁺处理后幼苗可溶性糖、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性相比未添加外源Ca²⁺处理的对照组升高,而丙二醛(MDA)含量低于对照。添加最适浓度的外源K⁺处理后幼苗上述各指标无明显变化。高浓度Cd胁迫下,添加最适浓度的外源Ca²⁺处理后幼苗可溶性糖、SOD、POD和CAT活性显著高于对照,MDA含量显著降低。在各浓度Cd胁迫下,添加最适浓度的外源Ca²⁺、K⁺处理后幼苗根部细胞微核率降低,从而缓解了Cd对延胡索幼苗的毒害。因此,在Cd胁迫(尤其是25 mg/kg浓度Cd胁迫)下,外源Ca²⁺、K⁺通过提高延胡索幼苗的抗氧化能力来缓解Cd对幼苗毒害和细胞染色体损伤。此外,外源Ca²⁺、K⁺影响Cd胁迫下延胡索幼苗地上及地下部分Cd的积累,其影响机制比较复杂。25 mg/kg Cd胁迫下添加Ca²⁺能够显著改善延胡索的药用品质,延胡索乙素比25 mg/kg Cd胁迫下增加了27.52%。在Cd污染的土壤上种植延胡索,可加入适量的外源Ca²⁺通过改变延胡索幼苗的抗氧化酶活性等方式达到缓解Cd毒害,降低块茎中Cd含量,改善药用品质。     

Lack of peripheral sympathetic control of uterine blood flow during acute heat stress

Peripheral alpha- and beta-adrenergic control of uterine blood flow (UBF) during acute heat stress of the gravid ewe was investigated. An electromagnetic blood flow probe was surgically implanted around the left miduterine artery and catheters inserted in the left carotid artery and right jugular vein in ewes between d 120 and 130 of gestation. Four or more days postsurgery, ewes were fitted with instruments to measure rectal temperature (Tr), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), blood pressure (BP) and UBF. One-half hour after instrument calibration, a 15-min thermoneutral control period was initiated with carotid artery blood samples taken at 5-min intervals for pH and PCO2 determinations. Ewes were then subjected to a heat challenge that reached 40 C at 2 h. All physiological data were recorded every 5 min as 1-min mean values. In seven experiments on five ewes, an alpha-adrenergic blocking drug, phenoxybenzamine (PB) was infused at 1 mg/min for 15 min subsequent to maximum depression of UBF. A beta-adrenergic blocking drug, propranolol (PR) was infused at .35 mg/min for 15 min in eight experiments on five ewes. Analysis of variance comparisons were made between the control period and heat stress infusion periods within the PB and PR experiments. Further comparisons were made between the start and 5, 10 or 15 min of PB or PR infusion in order to test drug effects during an acute heat stress. Rectal temperature HR, RR and arterial pH were higher (P less than .05) at the start of PR and PB infusions than during the thermoneutral control period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Beating heat stress by choosing the right sow

猪母系的繁殖性能受多种因素的影响,母猪繁殖力上的差异(表现为各养猪场月平均值间的差异)仅1％～3％和与配公猪有关,大约8％由遗传因素引起.此外,由胎次、哺乳期长短和营养状况引发的影响也应考虑入内.Topigs公司发现,约10％的繁殖力差异受与猪场管理和季节等气候条件有关的环境因素影响.     

通过选育合适的母猪来应对热应激

虽然现代能繁母猪具有较高的生产性能,但是仍有获得更好繁殖成绩的潜力。这些目标可以通过选择一些特别优秀的且在各种环境条件下能够表现良好的品系来实现。     

Regulation of gene expression in chickens by heat stress

High ambient temperatures are a critical chal enge in the poultry industry which is a key producer of the animal-based food. To evaluate heat stress levels, various parameters have been used, including growth rates, blood metabolites, and hormones. The most recent advances have explored expression profiling of genes that may play vital roles under stress. A high ambient temperature adversely affects nutrient uptake and is known to modulate the expression of genes encoding for sodium-dependent glucose transporters, glucose transporters, excitatory amino acid transporters, and fatty acidbinding proteins which are responsible for the absorption of macronutrients in the intestine. Various defensive activities are stimulated to protect the cel of different tissues from the heat-generated stress, including expression of early stress response genes coding for heat shock protein(HSP), c-FOS like protein, brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF), and neuronal nitric oxide synthase(n NOS); antioxidant enzyme genes such as superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase(CAT), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase(NOX4); and immune-related genes such as cytokines and tol-like receptors(TLRs). The potential role of HSPs in protecting the cel from stress and their presence in several tissues make them suitable markers to be evaluated under heat stress. BDNF and c-FOS genes expressed in the hypothalamus help cel s to adapt to an adverse environment. Heat causes damage to the cel by generating reactive oxygen species(ROS).The NOX4 gene is the inducer of ROS under heat stress, which is in turns control ed by antioxidant enzymes such as SOD and CAT. TLRs are responsible for protecting against pathogenic attacks arising from enhanced membrane permeability,and cytokines help in control ing the pathogen and maintaining homeostasis. Thus, the evaluation of nutrient transporters and defense mechanisms using the latest molecular biology tools has made it possible to shed light on the complex cel ular mechanism of heat-stressed chickens. As the impacts of heat stress on the above-mentioned aspects are beyond the extent to which the reduced growth performance could be explained, heat stress has more specific effects on the regulation of these genes than previously thought.     

Whole-blood concentrations of glutathione in cattle exposed to heat stress or a combination of heat stress and endophyte-infected tall fescue toxins in controlled environmental conditions

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether cattle exposed to heat stress alone or heat stress while consuming endophyte-infected fescue (EIF) have lower whole-blood (WB) concentrations of glutathione (GSH). ANIMALS: 10 Simmental cows. PROCEDURE: Cows were sequentially exposed to thermoneutral (TN; 2 weeks; 18 C, 50% relative humidity [RH]), heat stress (HS; 2 weeks; alternating 4-hour intervals at 26 and 33 C; 50% RH), and heat stress while consuming EIF (10 microg of ergovaline/kg/d; 2 weeks, HS + EIF). Blood samples were collected after each period and tested for GSH and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) concentrations. RESULTS: Feed consumption was similar when data were analyzed for time points at which WB concentrations of GSH or GSSG were determined. However, significant effects of treatment, cow, days exposed to heat, cow-by-treatment interaction, and treatment-by-days exposed to heat interaction were detected when data were considered simultaneously. Mean +/- SD hematocrit for TN, HS, and HS + EIF were 35.3+/-3, 33.3+/-2, and 37.1+/-3%, respectively. Mean WBGSH concentrations for TN, HS, and HS + EIF were 3.2+/-0.65, 2.7+/-0.62, and 2.4+/-0.56 mmol/L of RBC, respectively. Reduced WBGSH concentrations were associated with reduced feed intake during the later part of each heat period. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Decreased GSH and increased GSSG concentrations were evident during heat stress, especially when cattle consumed EIF These were associated with reduced feed intake during heat stress. Heat stress, reductions in feed intake, and thermoregulatory effects of EIF may induce oxidative stress in cattle.     

Effect of acute heat stress on heat shock protein 70 messenger RNA and on heat shock protein expression in the liver of broilers

1. The synthesis of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) mRNA and the expression of Hsp70 in the liver of broiler chickens submitted to acute heat stress (35°C for 5 h) was investigated.

2. Hsp70 expression was detected by SDS‐PAGE and Western blot analysis using a polyclonal antiserum against Hsp70 of Blastocladiella emersonii. The specific signal of Hsp70 mRNA was analysed by Northern blot using as probe a Hsp70 cDNA of B. emersonii.

3. An increase in the amount of Hsp70 was detected from the first up to the fifth hour of acute heat exposure. This increase in the amount of Hsp70 was accompanied by an increase in Hsp70 mRNA which peaked at 3 h.

4. This study shows that the heat induced increase in Hsp70 mRNA and protein in broiler liver, in vivo, are time dependent, similar to that in mammals.     

Distribution of oviposition times of hens in continuous darkness or continuous illumination

The pattern of oviposition in continuous illumination or continuous darkness was investigated. In continuous darkness the mean time of all ovipositions was at 05.00 h and the mean time of the first oviposition of a sequence (C1) was 01.00 h. There was considerable variation and some ovipositions occurred throughout the 24 h. In contrast, the mean time of all ovipositions under continuous illumination was at 15.00 h and the mean time of C1 ovipositions was 12.30 h. When a diurnal rhythm of bird noise was audible during the light period (photoperiod 06.00 to 18.00 h or 18.00 to 06.00 h) in adjoining rooms, the birds in continuous illumination showed a mean time of oviposition at 09.30 h with mean time of C1 ovipositions at 06.30 h. For birds in continuous dark the corresponding mean values for the two treatments were 04.00 and 03.00 h for all ovipositions and 00.30 and 23.00 h for the first oviposition of a sequence. When continuous illumination was changed to continuous darkness and vice versa and the 12L:12D lighting treatments in the adjoining rooms were correspondingly reversed, the mean times of oviposition under continuous darkness occurred at 05.00 and 06.30 h, which was earlier by 3 and 4.5 h than the mean time of oviposition at 09.30 h under continuous lighting. The tendency of birds kept in constant darkness to lay eggs in the early morning hours was found to be persistent and repeatable. It is concluded that the findings are best explained by the entrainment of the circadian rhythm to an unidentified synchronising Zeitgeber, but only in continuous darkness.     

不同温度热应激对肉鸡血液生化指标及肉品质的影响

研究不同温度热应激对肉鸡感官性状及血液生化指标的影响。将80只30日龄的AA肉鸡随机分为4组,每组20羽。对照组环境温度为(25±1)℃,其他3组受试鸡的环境温度迅速上升至(33±1)℃、(37±1)℃、(41±1)℃,并分别持续4h的热应激处理。宰杀后测定鸡胸肉的pH、滴水损失、肉色和剪切力,利用临床血液病理学的方法,检测宰前不同强度热应激对肉鸡血液生化指标的影响。结果显示,宰前热应激明显降低宰后肉鸡胸肉的pH30min、pH24h和a*值,明显提高宰后肉鸡滴水损失、L*值和剪切力值;随热应激温度升高,血清中肌酸激酶(CK)、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)和丙二醛(MDA)活性逐渐升高,碱性磷酸酶(AKP)活性逐渐降低。     

Effects of intravenous tryptophan infusion on thermoregulation in steers exposed to acute heat stress

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of tryptophan (TRP) supply on the thermoregulatory responses via brain serotonin (5‐HT) in cattle. In period 1, 12 Holstein steers were kept under a constant room temperature (22°C) and were administered the intravenous (i.v.) infusion of saline or TRP (38.5 mg/kg/2 h). Changes in rectal temperature (RT), 5‐HT concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and other factors involved in thermoregulation were measured. In period 2, the steers received the same treatments as in period 1; however, the room temperature was elevated from 22°C to 33°C during i.v. infusion and maintained at 33°C for 3 h. 5‐HT concentration in CSF increased following TRP infusion in both periods, and RT significantly decreased following TRP infusion only in period 2. The effect of TRP on respiration rate and plasma prolactin and total triiodothyronine concentrations was not significant. These results suggest that increase in TRP supply can attenuate increase in RT in response to acute heat stress through the increase in brain 5‐HT, followed by presumable increase in evaporative heat loss from the skin surface in cattle. It is possible that the increase in peripheral blood TRP metabolites could also participate in the hypothermic effect of TRP.     

热应激对小鼠附植前早期胚胎HSP70的诱导表达

选择超数排卵后怀孕昆明小鼠75只,以注射人绒毛膜促性腺激素(hCG)后的胚胎发育阶段为标准,分别在合子、2细胞、4细胞、8~16细胞和囊胚期对孕鼠进行了37℃、39℃、41℃和43℃热应激4 h。热应激后取胚,用免疫荧光细胞化学法检验胚胎热休克蛋白70(HSP70)的诱导表达。结果表明,HSP70在4细胞以上胚胎内呈阳性表达,相对高温时其表达量增加,囊胚时最显著。可见,附植前早期胚胎HSP70的热诱导表达与细胞期和温度密切相关。