Differential gene expression of Eph‐ephrin A1 and LEPR‐LEP with high or low number of embryos in pigs during implantation

The objective of this study was to ascertain whether mRNA and protein expressions of implantation‐related genes (erythropoietin‐producing hepatocellular receptor–ligand A1, Eph‐ephrin A1 and leptin receptor–leptin, LEPR‐LEP) differed between pigs with high and low number of embryos, and whether these differences in gene expression might affect embryo implantation. Experimental pig groups (n = 24) for high and low number of embryos were prepared by altering the number of eggs ovulated in pre‐pubertal gilts treated with 1.5 × (High) or 1.0 × (Low) PG600 ([400 IU PMSG + 200 IU hCG]/dose, AKZO‐NOBEL). Gilts expressing oestrus were artificially inseminated twice and maintained in breeding and gestation until the reproductive tract was collected on day 22 of pregnancy. At slaughter, the reproductive tracts from each pregnant gilt from each treatment were immediately processed to collect samples for RNA and protein analysis. Within each gilt, three conceptus points were sampled, one from each horn and then a random conceptus within the tract. At each conceptus point, endometrial attachment site, chorion–allantois and embryo were collected and immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen. Number of corpus luteum (CL) (35.4 vs. 12.6) and total embryo number (18.8 vs. 10.2) were greater in the high‐embryo compared to the low‐embryo group, respectively (p < .05). Real‐time qPCR results showed that Eph‐ephrin A1 mRNA expression was less in the high‐embryo (p < .05) compared to the low‐embryo group. In addition, Western blotting analysis indicated that Eph‐ephrin A1 and LEP protein expression at endometrial attachment site in high‐embryo was less (p < .05) compared to low‐embryo group. It was also noted that mRNA expression of Eph‐ephrin A1 and LEPR‐LEP was greater in pregnant than non‐pregnant gilts (p < .05). Moreover, mRNA expression of Eph‐ephrin A1 (p < .05) and LEPR‐LEP was greatest at endometrial attachment site among all three tissues. There was a positive correlation between expressions of Eph‐ephrin A1, LEPR‐LEP and embryo length with the correlation coefficient 0.31–0.59. For Eph‐ephrin A1, the highest correlation coefficient appeared between Eph A1 expression and normal embryo number, between ephrin A1 expression and embryo length. For LEPR‐LEP, the highest correlation coefficient appeared between LEPR‐LEP expression and ovary weight (0.79 for both, p < .05), followed by embryo length and weight. The results of this study suggest that low expression of Eph‐ephrin A1 and LEPR‐LEP is somehow related to increased embryo number during implantation and that endometrial attachment site might be the main target tissue of these gene products. Yet, the increased expression of Eph‐ephrin A1 and LEPR‐LEP appeared associated with increased embryo growth (length and weight) and ovary weight, Eph‐ephrin A1 and LEPR‐LEP might play roles in the regulation of embryo implantation in pigs.     

紫茎泽兰对萨能奶山羊血常规及重要脏器病理学的影响

紫茎泽兰(Eupatorium adenophorum)在中国作为入侵物种,可造成食草动物中毒死亡,并给畜牧业带巨大的损失。为研究反刍动物采食紫茎泽兰后的中毒机理,本研究探讨了日粮中添加不同剂量的紫茎泽兰对萨能奶山羊(Saanen goat)血常规及肝、脾、肾的病理学影响。选择16只5~6月龄健康萨能奶山羊,随机分成对照组(日粮中未添加紫茎泽兰)和试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组(日粮配比中分别添加紫茎泽兰40%、60%和80%),每组4只。试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组分别饲喂含40%、60%和80%紫茎泽兰的混合日粮3个月,每两周检测一次血常规,试验末屠宰奶山羊,并观察其肝、肾、脾的病理学变化。结果表明,与对照组相比,各试验组血液中的白细胞(white blood cell,)和中性粒细胞(neutrophil,NEUT)均显著升高(P0.05),试验后期极显著高于对照组(P0.01);而各试验组血液中淋巴细胞(lymphocyte,LY)与血红蛋白(hemoglobin,HGB)均呈下降趋势,试验后期均极显著低于对照组(P0.01)。肝和脾肿大,肝组织出现淤血,肝细胞发生水泡变性及脂肪变性等,肾组织伴有出血、坏死、颗粒变性及水泡样变性的现象。因此,本研究结果说明紫茎泽兰对萨能奶山羊血液指标有显著影响,且长期摄入紫茎泽兰可引起动物肝、肾、脾等主要实质器官不同程度的损伤。     

鳢肠对棉铃虫生长发育的影响

通过饲料混毒法测定鳢肠对棉铃虫生长发育的影响。结果表明,随饲料中鳢肠比例的加大和棉铃虫幼虫取食时间的延长,鳢肠对棉铃虫幼虫的生长发育具有明显的抑制作用。幼虫取食鳢肠比例高的饲料后,棉铃虫蛹质量显著降低,但羽化率和单雌日均产卵量与对照处理差异不显著;给棉铃虫幼虫饲喂鳢肠明显延长了幼虫和成虫历期,但对蛹历期的影响较小。     

南方地区高水分玉米安全度夏技术探讨

根据水分的高低,对新收购的高水分玉米分别储存在露天囤和高大平房仓中,将露天囤里的玉米通风降水后转入高大平房仓储存,再对玉米通风降温,并采取仓房密封、悬挂防晒网、空调控温等配套措施控制粮温,期间采取磷化铝多次补药熏蒸杀灭粮堆内害虫及霉菌,使玉米安全度夏。     

水稻根系育种研究进展

水稻（Oryza sativa L.）根系对水稻的生长发育及产量形成具有至关重要的作用。根据目前水稻根系育种的研究现状，分析了水稻根系育种对提高产量、改变形态特征和生理特性的重要性，并对其研究前景进行了分析和展望。     

基于机器视觉的玉米秸秆行实时定位机器人设计

为了实现机器人玉米秸秆行的精确定位,对耕作玉米机器人的结构进行了改进,并提出了一种基于泰勒级数展开式的RSSI定位方法,提高了机器人玉米秸秆行的定位精度。定位系统使用高清晰度的摄像机采集图像,并采用PID闭环反馈的方式控制机器人的位移,利用PC主控端图像处理,实现了实时定位功能。为了验证机器人玉米秸秆行定位的可靠性,采用田间试验的方法对机器人的性能进行了测试。结果表明:RSSI定位方法的定位精度较高,且图像处理系统可以准确地标定玉米秸秆行,实现机器人在玉米田中的精确定位,避免了机器人在作业过程中对农作物造成损害。     

心房钠尿肽基因敲除小鼠的鉴定

研究心房钠尿肽基因敲除小鼠(ANP-/-小鼠)的生物学及病理学特性。ANP-/-小鼠与C57BL/6小鼠饲养于SPF级环境中,观察小鼠的繁育状况及其生物学特性,选取合适时间处死小鼠,通过HE染色观察脏器形态及组织结构。ANP-/-小鼠的繁殖周期比C57BL/6长,产仔率较低;ANP-/-小鼠肝脏、肺脏、脾脏较C57BL/6小鼠的有明显炎症反应,但是C57BL/6小鼠未见明显的病理改变。提示ANP基因的缺失可能与炎症发生有关。说明ANP-/-小鼠繁殖较慢、产仔率低,且正常繁殖的普通小鼠不会引起器官的病理学改变。但作为一种在心血管、代谢疾病上的动物模型,并与炎症甚至肿瘤有可能的未知联系的转基因动物,其很有研究和探索价值。     

后备公猪的科学选育与利用

后备公猪的科学选育及利用直接影响猪场制种效果和经济效益,同时也能体现规模化猪场的制种技术与水平。文章针对后备公猪选育的基本环节和操作要点,从如何选种选育、科学饲养管理、合理配种利用等方面进行系统阐述,为规模化猪场后备公猪生产提供技术指导和参考依据。