Effects of short-term infusion with propionate on the mRNA expression of a putative G-protein coupled receptor 41 (GPR41) in adipose tissue of goats

Short chain fatty acids (SCFA) represent the main source for energy supply in ruminants. Propionate up-regulates leptin synthesis through the G protein-coupled receptor 41 (GPR41) in mice but the importance of the GPR41 in ruminants is not yet clarified. Here we characterise the short-term effects of intravenously infused propionate on a putative GPR41 mRNA in goat adipose tissue. Castrated male goats (Capra hircus) received propionate infusion or NaCl solution with equivalent sodium content for 260 min. A putative GPR41 mRNA was quantified in subcutaneous and perirenal adipose tissue by real-time RT-PCR. The mRNA concentration of the putative GPR41 mRNA increased (p = 0.029) in subcutaneous but not in perirenal adipose tissue (p = 0.756) of propionate-infused animals versus the NaCl group. We hypothesise that the differential response of the putative GPR41 mRNA in subcutaneous versus perirenal adipose tissue towards short-term propionate infusion could be involved in a differential nutrient sensing of SCFA in the two adipose depots of goats.     

Effect of Legume Management on Forage Production and Residual Effects on Upland Rice

An experiment was conducted over the period 1995–96 in a warm-temperate environment in Nepal to investigate the effect of cutting frequency on forage yields of three temperate legume species, grown during the winter season, and the residual treatment effects on a subsequent upland rice crop. The three species, Persian clover ( Trifolium resupinatum ), white clover ( Trifolium repens ) and vetch ( Vicia benghalensis ), proved to be well adapted to the winter growing conditions and produced cumulative forage yields between 6.8 t DM ha⁻¹ (vetch) and 9.2 t DM ha⁻¹ (Persian clover). Vetch grew vigorously throughout the winter months and provided reasonable forage yields between December and February, whereas the clovers provided green fodder up to July. These species may therefore make a substantial contribution to alleviating the severe shortage of quality feed during the winter months. Grain yields of the subsequent rice crop ranged from 3.6 to 7.3 t ha⁻¹. Rice yields were greatly affected by the previous legume species and forage management practices. In general, the removal of legume forage greatly reduced the residual effect, and farmers will have to seek a compromise between maximizing green fodder production and the immediate beneficial residual effect of the legume crop on rice yield.     

Genotypic variation in drought response of silver birch (Betula pendula): leaf water status and carbon gain

To assess genotypic variation in drought response of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth), we studied the plasticity of 16 physiological traits in response to a 12-14-week summer drought imposed on four clones in two consecutive years. In a common garden experiment, 1-year-old clonal trees from regions with low (550 mm year(-1)) to high rainfall (1270 mm year(-1)) were grown in 45-l pots, and leaf gas exchange parameters, leaf water potentials, leaf osmotic potentials and leaf carbon isotope signatures were repeatedly measured. There were no clonal differences in leaf water potential, but stomatal conductance (gs), net photosynthesis at ambient carbon dioxide concentration, photosynthetic water-use efficiency, leaf carbon isotope composition (delta13C) and leaf osmotic potentials at saturation (Pi0) and at incipient plasmolysis (Pip) were markedly influenced by genotype, especially gs and osmotic adjustment. Genotypes of low-rainfall origin displayed larger osmotic adjustment than genotypes of high-rainfall origin, although their Pi0 and Pip values were similar or higher with ample water supply. Genotypes of low-rainfall origin had higher gs than genotypes of high-rainfall origin under both ample and limited water supply, indicating a higher water consumption that might increase competitiveness in drought-prone habitats. Although most parameters tested were significantly influenced by genotype and treatment, the genotype x treatment interactions were not significant. The genotypes differed in plasticity of the tested parameters and in their apparent adaptation to drought; however, among genotypes, physiological plasticity and drought adaptation were not related to each other. Reduction of gs was the first and most plastic response to drought in all genotypes, and allowed the maintenance of high predawn leaf water potentials during the drought. None of the clones exhibited non-stomatal limitation of photosynthesis. Leaf gs, photosynthetic capacity, magnitude of osmotic adjustment and delta13C were all markedly lower in 2000 than in 1999, indicating root limitation in the containers in the second year.     

Development options of natural habitats in a post‐mining landscape

Rehabilitation of the post‐mining landscape of Lower Lusatia (Brandenburg, Germany) represents a complex problem: 85 per cent of this area is currently being recultivated for forests or agriculture and 15 per cent is reserved for nature development. After mining, soil conditions are dry, acidic and nutrient poor. The ‘LENAB’ project aimed at conservation strategies and management options for natural habitats. Two competing basic motives of nature conservation on a small or medium scale were defined: (1) close‐to‐naturalness (allowing natural dynamics to take place without human interference) and (2) biodiversity (selective species and habitat protection). An overall strategy for sustainability of a cultural landscape can only be applied to the entire post‐mining landscape. The application of the two basic motives leads to different management options; this is illustrated by two important vegetation types. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.