Expression of connexin 43 protein in testes, epididymides and prostates of stallions

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Connexin 43 (Cx43) is a ubiquitously distributed gap junction protein in testes and other reproductive tissues. Adjacent cells share ions and small metabolites through intercellular channels, which are present in gap junctions. Previously, Cx43 has not been reported in testes, epididymides and prostates either in healthy stallions or cryptorchid horses. OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the expression pattern of Cx43 in the reproductive tissues of stallions and examine whether naturally occurring bilateral cryptorchidism has any influence on distribution and expression of Cx43. METHODS: The expression and the presence of Cx43 protein were detected by means of immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis using a polyclonal rabbit anti-Cx43 antibody. RESULTS: In stallions, gap junctions appeared as structures localised to cell-cell contacts between adjacent cells. In testes, Cx43 expression was detected in the interstitial tissue and seminiferous tubules, between Leydig and Sertoli, as well as Sertoli and germ cells. In epididymides, Cx43 was localised between epithelial cells, whereas in prostates, between secretory cells of the glandular epithelium. In the cryptorchid, a clear reduction of Cx43 signal was observed in all reproductive tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Coupling of Leydig cells via gap junctions may suggest that steroidogenic function of the testis is under the influence of these intercellular channels. Within seminiferous tubules, the expression was found to be stage-specific, pointing to its role in coordinating spermatogenesis. Differential distribution of Cx43 protein in the reproductive tract of normal and cryptorchid stallions indicates that expression is clearly dependent on the physiological status of the horse. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Detection of Cx43 expression in equine testicular, epididymal, and prostatic cells is important for a better understanding of the role of intercellular membrane channels in direct cell communication within the reproductive tract of stallions.     

Anti-oxidative/oxidative status of rat liver after ovariectomy

The lack of protective action of oestrogens which appears during menopausal period may be the reason of serious metabolic disturbances including oxidative stress. The hypothesis was stated that ovariectomy may induce the variations of antioxidant/oxidant status which can be detected in rat liver. A total of 102 healthy Wistar female rats were included in the experiment and divided into control (CON; n = 6), sham-operated (SHO; n = 48) and ovariectomized (OVX; n = 48) groups. Animals from SHO (n = 6) and OVX (n = 6) groups were killed every week during 8 weeks of experiment to detect dynamic changes in examined parameters. Anti-oxidative enzyme activities [glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px); superoxide dismutase (SOD)] as well as total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and the intensity of lipid peroxidation, measured by the concentration of N,N,diethyl-p-phenylene diamine (DEPPD) radical, were determined in liver homogenates by the use of spectrophotometric methods. Wave-like patterns of examined parameters within 8 weeks of experiment were detected. GSH-Px activity tended to be higher in OVX animals and was significantly lower at 8th week when compared with 1st week of experiment. SOD activity was higher in SHO animals and showed significant differences between 3rd, 4th, 7th and 1st week. TAC values were significantly higher in OVX when compared with SHO groups in 2nd, 4th, 5th week and significantly lower in 3rd, 6th and 7th week of the experiment. The concentration of DEPPD radicals tended to increase in OVX group. In conclusion, ovariectomy which leads to oestrogen insufficiency is reflected as well in variation of anti-oxidative/oxidative parameters in rat liver homogenates.     

Comparison of water status indicators for young peach trees

We measured a series of physiological and physical indicators and compared them to xylem sap flow, to identify the most sensitive and reliable plant water status indicator. In the growing season of 1998, 4-year-old peach trees (Prunus persica Batsch cv. 'Suncrest', grafted on 'GF 677' rootstock) were studied under two irrigation treatments, 25 l day^у and no irrigation, and during recovery. Trials were conducted near Pisa (Italy) in a peach orchard situated on a medium clay loam soil and equipped with a drip-irrigation system (four 4 l h^у drippers per tree). Measurements of leaf water potential (ƒ_W), stem water potential (ƒ_S), and leaf temperature (T_l) were taken over 5 days (from dawn to sunset) and analyzed in conjunction with climatic data, sap flow (SF), trunk diameter fluctuation (TDF) and soil water content (SWC). Physiological indicators showed substantial differences in sensitivity. The first indication of changes in water status was the decrease of stem radial growth. TDF and SF revealed significant differences between the two irrigation treatments even in the absence of differences in pre-dawn leaf water potential (pdƒ_W), up until now widely accepted as the benchmark of water status indicators. Irrigated trees showed a typical trend in SF rate during the day, while in non-irrigated plants the maximum peak of transpiration was anticipated. Measurements of water potential showed ƒ_S to be a better indicator of tree water status than ƒ_W. T_l was found to have poor sensitivity. In conclusion, we found the sensitivity of the indicators from the most to the least was: TDF >SF rate >SF cumulated = pdƒ_W=ƒ_S>mdƒ_W>T_l.     

Controlled water table management as a strategy for reducing salt loads from subsurface drainage under perennial agriculture in semi-arid Australia

Recent community based actions to ensure the sustainability of irrigation and protection of associated ecosystems in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA) of Australia has seen the implementation of a regional Land and Water Management Plan. This aims to improve land and water management within the irrigation area and minimise downstream impacts associated with irrigation. One of the plan objectives is to decrease current salt loads generated from subsurface drainage in perennial horticulture within the area from 20 000 tonnes/year to 17 000 tonnes/year. In order to meet such objectives Controlled Water table Management (CWM) is being investigated as a possible ‘Best Management Practice’, to reduce drainage volumes and salt loads.During 2000–2002 a trial was conducted on a 15 ha subsurface drained vineyard. This compared a traditional unmanaged subsurface drainage system with a controlled drainage system utilizing weirs to maintain water tables and changes in irrigation scheduling to maximize the potential crop use of a shallow water table. Drainage volumes, salt loads and water table elevations throughout the field were monitored to investigate the effects of controlled drainage on drain flows and salt loads.Results from the experiment showed that controlled drainage significantly reduced drainage volumes and salt loads compared to unmanaged systems. However, there were marked increases in soil salinity which will need to be carefully monitored and managed.     

Potato evapotranspiration and yield under different drip irrigation regimes

A field experiment comparing different irrigation frequencies and soil matric potential thresholds on potato evapotranspiration (ET), yield (Y) and water-use efficiency (WUE) was carried out in a loam soil. The experiment included five treatments for soil matric potential: F1 (-15 kPa), F2 (-25 kPa), F3 (-35 kPa), F4 (-45 kPa) and F5 (-55 kPa) and six treatments for irrigation frequency: N1 (once every day), N2 (once every 2 days), N3 (once every 3 days), N4 (once every 4 days), N6 (once every 6 days) and N8 (once every 8 days). Results indicate that both soil matric potential and drip irrigation frequency influenced potato ET, Y and WUE. Potato ET increased as irrigation frequency and soil matric potential increased. Comparing soil water potential, the highest ET was 63.4 mm (32.1%) more than the lowest value. Based on irrigation frequency treatments, the highest ET was 36.7 mm (19.2%) more than the lowest value. Potato Y and WUE were also found to increase as irrigation frequency increased. Potato Y increased with an increase in soil water potential then started to decrease. The highest Y and WUE values were achieved with a soil matric potential threshold of -25 kPa and an irrigation frequency of once a day.Communicated by J. Ayars     

The culturable leaf mycobiome of Viscum album subsp. austriacum

In Poland's pine forests, mistletoe (Viscum album subsp. austriacum) abundance has increased over the past 20 years. This mistletoe infestation has decreased the growth and vigour of Scots pine trees. In this study, we surveyed the culturable fungi from healthy and diseased V. album subsp. austriacum leaves from two stands in Poland. In total, 63 distinct species were identified, 99.8% of which belonged to the phylum Ascomycota. The community compositions of fungi in mistletoe leaves were similar in healthy and diseased leaves as Alternaria alternata, Aureobasidium pullulans, Botryosphaeria visci, Fusarium paeoniae and Microsphaeropsis olivacea were consistently found in leaves of all symptom types. The most frequently isolated fungus from asymptomatic leaves was M. olivacea, followed by A. alternata, A. pullulans and Hypoxylon rubiginosum. In comparison, the most frequently isolated fungi from leaves with rusty-brown necrotic spots were (in decreasing order) M. olivacea, B. visci, F. paeoniae and A. alternata, while the most frequently isolated fungi from leaves with black or dark brown spots were M. olivacea, A. alternata, A. pullulans, Epicoccum layuense and F. paeoniae. This study was the first comprehensive report showing that certain fungal species may be pathogens of V. album subsp. austriacum in Poland. This study was also the first report of F. paeoniae, F. juglandicola, Diaporthe vacuae and Heterotruncatella spartii from V. album, and the first report of D. vacuae and H. spartii in Poland.     

大豆抗菌核病的全基因组关联研究

找到大豆与抗菌核病强关联的候选位点或候选基因,为抗病基因克隆和抗病分子标记开发提供借鉴,服务大豆抗菌核病育种。对126个加拿大大豆品种的基因组DNA用ApekⅠ酶消化后Illumina Hiseq2000平台测序进行基因分型,供试的126个材料用棉垫接种核盘菌菌丝体进行表型鉴定。采用Structure 2.3.4、SPSS 20.0、TASSEL 5.0和PLINKv 1.07软件分别模拟群体遗传结构、二元主成分分析、邻接法聚类,进行SNP-phenotype和Haplotype-phenotype的关联分析(只考虑加性效应)。最小等位基因频率0.01过滤,得到30 125个SNPs。主成分及群体结构聚类结果中度一致,将126个供试材料划分为2个组群,Kappa聚类一致度检验K=0.44。邻接法(The neighbor-joining algorithm,NJ)聚为3个组群。α≤0.05时,在单个SNP-phenotype的关联研究中,最强关联在3号染色体物理位置34387780、34387823和34387841处(P值都为8.669E-7),可分别解释表型变异的17.80%,其次在20,1,4,17号染色体上。Haplotype-phenotype的关联分析中,最强关联在17号染色体物理位置5575883/5647814/5648648/5734897处(P值为1.038E-6),可解释表型变异的17.56%。200 kb范围内,3号染色体上的候选基因有Glma.03g129100、Glma.03g129200、Glma.03g129300、Glma.03g129500、Glma.03g129800、Glma.03g129900。17号染色体上为Glma.17g071300、Glma.17g072200、Glma.17g073300。     

Quality aspect of fish sauce prepared from underutilized fatty Japanese anchovy and rabbit fish

ABSTRACT:   To explore the potential utility of underutilized fish in the fish sauce industry, fish sauces were prepared from both raw and heat-induced meat of Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonica and rabbit fish Siganus fuscescens using wheat malt, and their quality aspects and sensory properties were assessed. Proximate composition of the fish meat represents protein as the major component (16.0–17.8%), other than moisture. Analyses of free amino acids, peptides including oligopeptides, and organic acids contents in fish sauces revealed suitability of both raw and heat-induced meat of the selected species in commercial fish sauce production. The variations in taste of raw meat fish sauces were species-specific, but the taste of fish sauces from heat-induced meat were similar.     

Lethal effects caused by suspended particles and sediment load on zoospores and gametophytes of the brown alga <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eisenia bicyclis</Emphasis>

ABSTRACT:   The effects caused by suspended particles in seawater and sediment cover of the substrate on the attachment to the substrate of zoospores, and on the subsequent growth and survival of gametophytes of the brown alga Eisenia bicyclis were examined in the laboratory. The attachment rate to the substrate of the zoospores was remarkably reduced by the sediment cover on the substrate, and it decreased to 3.8% of the no-sediment control by a slight sediment cover of 3.0 mg/cm² (0.048 mm in thickness). The growth of gametophytes was not inhibited at 10 mg/cm² or less of sediment cover, though it was stopped at 30 mg/cm². The survival rate of gametophytes became 39.4% at 5 mg/cm² on the substrate, and gametophytes were all blighted at 30 mg/cm². The ratio of male to female of the surviving gametophytes became 81.5:18.5, when the sediment cover was 10 mg/cm². The rate of total loss ( TL [%]) of zoospores and gametophytes of Eisenia bicyclis was obtained from the following equation: TL  = 100 (1 − exp[−0.0339  C ] exp[−1.24  Q ]), where, C (mg/L) and Q (mg/cm²) indicate the concentration of suspended particles in seawater and the sediment on the substrate, respectively.