Low levels of haptoglobin and putative amino acid sequence in Taiwanese Lanyu miniature pigs

Porcine haptoglobin (Hp) is an acute phase protein. Its plasma level increases significantly during inflammation and infection. One of the main functions of Hp is to bind free hemoglobin (Hb) and inhibit its oxidative activity. In the present report, we studied the Hp phenotype of Taiwanese Lanyu miniature pigs (TLY minipigs; n=43) and found their Hp structure to be a homodimer (beta-alpha-alpha-beta) similar to human Hp 1-1. Interestingly, Western blot and high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis showed that 25% of the TLY minipigs possessed low or no plasma Hp level (<0.05 mg/ml). The Hp cDNA of these TLY minipigs was then cloned, and the translated amino acid sequence was analyzed. No sequences were found to be deficient; they showed a 99.7% identity with domestic pigs (NP_999165). The mean overall Hp level of the TLY minipigs (0.21 +/- 0.25 mg/ml; n=43) determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was markedly lower than that of domestic pigs (0.78 +/- 0.45 mg/ml; p<0.001), while 25% of the TLY minipigs had an Hp level that was extremely low (<0.05 mg/ml). In addition, the initial recovery rate (first 40 min) in the circulation of infused fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-Hb was significantly higher in the TLY minipigs with extremely low Hp levels than those with high levels. This data suggests that the low concentration of Hp-Hb complex is responsible for the higher recovery rate of Hb in the circulation. TLY minipigs have been used as an experimental model for cardiovascular diseases; whether they can be used as a model for inflammatory diseases, with Hp as a marker, remains a topic of interest. However, since the Hp level varies significantly among individual TLY minipigs, it is necessary to prescreen the Hp levels of the animals to minimize variation in the experimental baseline. The present study may provide a reference value for future use of the TLY minipig as an animal model for inflammation-associated diseases.     

三聚氰胺对小鼠肾脏病理损伤的初步观察

为观察三聚氰胺对小鼠肾脏病理损伤情况,以浓度700、350、175mg/kg体重给28天昆明小鼠连续灌胃,玉米油做溶剂,观察肾脏组织病理学变化及细胞化学变化。结果发现,三聚氰胺可引起小鼠肾脏肾小管管腔中出现黄色或棕黄色结晶,肾小管上皮细胞变性、坏死,细胞核固缩,肾小管管腔扩张,上皮细胞脱离基底膜。试验表明高剂量的三聚氰胺可引起小鼠肾脏的严重损伤,造成肾小管上皮细胞变性、坏死,特征性的变化是肾小管管腔中三聚氰胺产物结晶沉积,此变化具有证病意义。     

牛结核分枝杆菌溶血磷脂酶真核表达载体的构建及在Hela细胞中的表达

为了研究牛结核分枝杆菌溶血磷脂酶基因(Lip)的生物学特性及其功能,试验构建了Lip-pEGFP融合基因的真核表达载体,利用脂质体(lipofectamine2000)将其转染到Hela细胞中,用荧光显微镜检测GFP在细胞中的表达情况。结果显示,重组Lip-pEGFP载体在Hela细胞中获得了高效表达,且能够稳定传代,为进一步研究Lip的生物学功能及其在牛结核分枝杆菌中的作用奠定了基础。     

转基因克隆绵羊的亲子鉴定

利用IASG上公布的绵/山羊的11个微卫星标记,鉴定转基因克隆羊与供体细胞系和代孕母羊间的亲子关系。结果表明转基因克隆羊与供体细胞系之间11个微卫星标记的基因型一致,而与代孕母羊基因型差异很大,由此确定转基因克隆羊来源于供体细胞系。     

镇海巨高长毛兔体重与产毛性能相关的研究

利用原全国家兔育种委员会2000年长毛兔性能测定数据,分析研究了镇海巨高长毛兔12月龄时体重与产毛性能的相关。结果表明:母兔的体重、标准含水率产毛量、单次产毛率和估测年产毛率均显著或极显著地高于公兔;随着体重的增加,标准含水率产毛量相应地提高,单次产毛率和估测年产毛率相应地下降;体重与标准含水率产毛量、单次产毛率的相关系数分别为0.225、-0.324(P<0.01);标准含水率产毛量与单次产毛率的相关系数为0.845(P<0.01)。     

夏季蛋鸡热应激的综合防治措施

每年6-9月份的高温高湿季节．对蛋鸡来讲是一种环境应激．高温已成为蛋鸡生产中最为严重的应激危害因素。高温应激严重破坏蛋鸡内环境稳定，导致机体热衰竭、营养代谢障碍、酸碱平衡紊乱、免疫功能低下、组织细胞损伤、产蛋性能下降、死淘率增高以及种鸡受精率、孵化率、健雏率降低，给蛋鸡场尤其是饲养设备简陋、饲养管理水平差的养鸡户造成巨大经济损失。     

Response of Thawed Epidi dymal Red Deer Spermatozoa to Increasing Concentrations of Hydrogen Peroxide,and Importance of Individual Male Variability

Oxidative stress represents a challenge during sperm manipulation. We have tested the effect of increasing hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) levels on red deer spermatozoa after cryopreservation, and the role of male‐to‐male variation in that response. In a first experiment, eight thawed samples were submitted to 0, 25, 50, 100 and 200 μm H₂O₂ for 2 h at 37°C. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (H₂DCFDA‐CM) increased with H₂O₂ concentration, but we only detected a decrease in sperm function (motility by CASA and chromatin damage by sperm chromatin structure assay) with 200 μm . Lipoperoxidation assessed by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) method increased slightly with 50 μm H₂O₂ and above. In a second experiment, samples from seven males were submitted to 0 and 200 μm H₂O₂ for 2 h, triplicating the experiment within each male. Males differed at thawing and regarding their response to incubation and H₂O₂ presence. We found that the kinematic parameters reflected male‐to‐male variability, whereas the response of the different males was similar for lipid peroxidation and viability. A multiparametric analysis showed that males grouped differently if samples were assessed after thawing, after incubation without H₂O₂ or after incubation with H₂O₂. Red deer spermatozoa are relatively resilient to H₂O₂ after thawing, but it seems to be a great male‐to‐male variability regarding the response to oxidative stress. The acknowledgement of this individual variability might improve the development of optimized sperm work protocols.     

Is the Production of Embryos in Small‐Scale Farming an Economically Feasible Enterprise?

The present assay attempts to evaluate the feasibility of using embryo transfer in small community farmers by in vivo study and by modelling the results obtained. From the total of 59 donor cows, 62.7% responded to treatment, with a significant difference (p = 0.002) in the percentage of the response between breeds, being 90.5% (19/21) in Holstein and 47.4% (18/38) in Brahman. A total of 283 embryos were graded as transferable, while 141 as non‐transferable, without difference in the percentage of transferable embryo by breed (p = 0.18). The mean of transferable embryos graded as class I and II was not different between Holstein and Brahman (p = 0.96 and p = 0.92, respectively); besides, no differences were observed in the other grades (non‐transferable). The highest difference in costs, regardless of its quality by breed, was seen in the lower levels of probable fertility of the embryo transferred, even reaching several hundred dollars. When modelling the expected costs for embryo produced and transferred, values can reach nearly $2000.00 when the probable fertility is only 10%. However, when the probable fertility was 60%, embryo cost was close to $300.00. This technology seems to be viable on average or high‐scale systems, having a superovulatory response between 60 and 80% with 4–6 transferrable embryos. Yet, in small‐scale farming, due to the reduced number of donors and/or recipients, the costs surpass the economical feasibility of the technique.     

Unilateral scrotal pyocele in ram caused by Staphylococcus capitis

A massive unilateral scrotal pyocele caused by Staphylococcus capitis in a 6‐year‐old ram is reported. Ultrasound examination of the right hemiscrotum showed an irregular hyperechoic mass in an anechoic fluid. A dense exudate was collected from the scrotum for microbiological analysis. Grossly, there was an extensive greenish purulent exudate and a completely atrophied right testis. Coagulase‐negative S. capitis was isolated in pure culture. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of genital infection by S. capitis in rams. This microorganism should be included in the differential diagnosis of ovine genital infections.