Impact of Food Restriction on Ovarian Development,RFamide‐Related Peptide‐3 and the Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Ovarian Axis in Pre‐Pubertal Ewes

RFamide‐related peptide‐3 (RFRP‐3), the mammalian ortholog of gonadotropin‐inhibiting hormone, has been implicated as a mediator between reproduction and energy balance. This study aimed to investigate the physiological effects of RFRP‐3 on the process of ovarian development in food‐restricted pre‐pubertal ewes. The results showed that food restriction significantly inhibited the ovarian development and follicular growth. The data of qPCR in the hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian (HPO) axis showed that food restriction not only upregulated RFRP‐3 mRNA expression but also downregulated the mRNA expression of gonadotropin‐releasing‐hormone receptor, follicle‐stimulating hormone receptor and luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR). Immunohistochemistry of RFRP‐3 in the ovaries suggested that RFRP‐3 may regulate the follicular development. These results suggested that the changes of RFRP‐3 in response to food restriction might influence the HPO axis and inhibit ovarian development.     

The optimal immunization procedure of DNA vaccine pcDNA–TA4–IL-2 of Eimeria tenella and its cross-immunity to Eimeria necatrix and Eimeria acervulina

The immunization procedure of DNA vaccine pcDNA–TA4–IL-2 of Eimeria tenella, including route, dose, time of immunization and age of primary immunization of chicken, was optimized. The stability and the cross-species protection of the vaccine were also analyzed. Efficacy of immunization was evaluated on the basis of oocyst decrease ratio, lesion score, body-weight gain and the anti-coccidial index (ACI). Chinese Yellow chickens were randomly distributed into corresponding groups (30/group). The challenged, unchallenged and vector control groups were designed. The results illustrated that 25 μg was the optimal dose and intramuscular injection was the most effective route to induce protective immunity. There were no significant differences of ACIs between boosting and non-boosting groups. Storage time and temperature had little effect on the immunizing efficacy of the vaccine. The vaccine could provide partial cross-protection against the challenge with E. necatrix and E. acervulina, but not with E. maxima.     

放牧对青海湖北岸高寒草原植物群落特征的影响

基于青海湖北岸高寒草原连续3年放牧控制试验,研究了暖季和冷季放牧草地植物群落特征的变化。结果表明,暖季和冷季放牧草地群落地上生物量均随放牧强度的增加呈现下降趋势,禾本科地上生物量的变化趋势基本与群落地上生物量的一致;中度放牧对暖季放牧草地植被的影响程度高于冷季放牧草地;围栏封育区和冷季重度放牧草地的优势种均为紫花针茅(Stipapurpurea)和矮嵩草(Kobresia humilis),暖季放牧各放牧小区和冷季放牧草地轻度和中度放牧处理优势种均为紫花针茅和披针叶黄华(Thermopsis lanceolata);随放牧强度的增加,暖季放牧草地群落物种多样性指数和均匀度指数表现出先降低后增加的趋势,冷季放牧草地群落物种多样性指数和均匀度指数表现出增加的趋势,但是多样性指数在暖、冷季放牧草地均以重度放牧区最高。     

HPLC法测玉米蛋白粉和乳猪教槽料中色氨酸的含量

试验采用高效液相色谱法测定饲料样品中色氨酸的含量。样品经过处理后,用Agilent C18(4.6 mm×150 mm,5μm)色谱柱分离样品,以0.008 5 mol/l的乙酸钠+甲醇=95+5为流动相;检测波长280 nm,流动相流速1.0 ml/min。结果表明,色氨酸在4.656~298μg/ml范围内,峰面积与其浓度线性关系良好(r=0.999 9),最低检测限为0.033 5μg/ml,两种饲料中色氨酸含量均在国标允许的误差范围内。方法准确、简便、快速,适用于色氨酸的含量测定。     

湖南省洞庭湖区5株H6N6亚型禽流感毒株HA、NA基因的遗传进化分析

为了从分子生物学角度了解H6N6亚型禽流感病毒在湖南省洞庭湖区的变异特点和进化规律,为该地区H6N6亚型禽流感的防控提供一些理论依据,对2012年在洞庭湖区分离的H6N6亚型禽流感毒株的HA、NA基因进行扩增、克隆和测序,并对所得序列进行同源性和遗传进化分析。结果显示,本试验分离到的5株H6N6亚型禽流感毒株HA裂解位点为PQIETR↓GLF,均没有多个连续的碱性氨基酸插入,属于低致病性病毒;5株病毒的HA和NA潜在的糖基化位点有一些差别,这些差别是否会引起其毒力和致病力上的差异还有待研究;从基因遗传进化关系来看,这些毒株与我国汕头、广西分离的毒株同源性较高。     

中国美利奴羊不同MHC-DRB1/DQB1单倍型个体感染细粒棘球绦虫的免疫应答分析

为探讨中国美利奴羊(新疆军垦型)不同单倍型个体感染细粒棘球绦虫的免疫应答变化。将8只抗性单倍型绵羊设为抗性组,8只非抗性单倍型绵羊设为对照组,在相同的饲养条件下进行人工感染攻虫。分别在攻虫前7d(-7d)、攻虫当天(0d)、攻虫后第7、21、30、60天用流式细胞仪分析外周血中CD4+T、CD8+T、B淋巴细胞亚群的变化,同时用ELISA方法定量分析血清中IgG、IgM、IgE、IFN-γ水平并进行粒细胞计数。结果表明,抗性组绵羊的发病率显著低于对照组(P=0.019);CD4+T细胞2组之间差异不显著(P0.05),CD8+T细胞在攻虫后第7天抗性组显著高于对照组(P0.05);IgG水平在攻虫后第7天2组均显著高于攻虫前7d(P0.05)。攻虫后第30天抗性组IgM和IFN-γ水平均显著高于对照组(P0.05)。抗性组的白细胞、淋巴细胞分别在攻虫后第7和21天显著高于对照组(P0.05),嗜中性粒细胞和总蛋白在攻虫后第21天抗性组极显著低于对照组(P0.01)。结果显示,抗性单倍型绵羊对细粒棘球绦虫的抵抗力显著高于非抗性绵羊;抗性组绵羊体内的CD8+T细胞、IgM、IFN-γ和白细胞、淋巴细胞水平在攻虫后不同时期显著高于非抗性组绵羊。     

Intra-arterial delivery of triolein emulsion increases vascular permeability in skeletal muscles of rabbits

Background

To test the hypothesis that triolein emulsion will increase vascular permeability of skeletal muscle.

Methods

Triolein emulsion was infused into the superficial femoral artery in rabbits (triolein group, n = 12). As a control, saline was infused (saline group, n = 18). Pre- and post-contrast T1-weighted MR images were obtained two hours after infusion. The MR images were qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated by assessing the contrast enhancement of the ipsilateral muscles. Histologic examination was performed in all rabbits.

Results

The ipsilateral muscles of the rabbits in the triolein group showed contrast enhancement, as opposed to in the ipsilateral muscles of the rabbits in the saline group. The contrast enhancement of the lesions was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Histologic findings showed that most examination areas of the triolein and saline groups had a normal appearance.

Conclusion

Rabbit thigh muscle revealed significantly increased vascular permeability with triolein emulsion; this was clearly demonstrated on the postcontrast MR images.     

New technique of sex preselection for increasing female ratio in boar sperm model

In this study, we tried to optimize the porcine semen extender conditions to maximize the differences between live X chromosome-bearing (X) spermatozoa and to Y chromosome-bearing (Y) spermatozoa without a decline in the fertility rate at different pH conditions during storage. We observed the viability of X and Y boar spermatozoa in acidic (pH 6.2), original (pH 7.2), and alkaline condition (pH 8.2) for 5 days to investigate the effect of storage conditions on the X to Y spermatozoa ratio. The functional parameters of spermatozoa were also examined to evaluate sperm quality. Sperm motility was preserved at pH 7.2 and pH 6.2 for 3 days, while sperm motility at pH 8.2 decreased significantly after 2 days. Non-capacitated spermatozoa increased while capacitated spermatozoa decreased during storage. Sperm viability decreased significantly duration-dependent under all pH conditions, but there was no significant difference during storage at pH 6.2 and 7.2. The X: Y ratio of live spermatozoa in acidic condition was maximized (1.2:1) without affecting the sperm function and fertility-related protein expression after 2 days compared to original conditions. Moreover, insemination of sows using acidic extender increased the number of female pups on days 1 and 2 of preservation. These results indicate that the production of female offspring may increase when acidic BTS is used for 2 days without affecting the success rate of AI. Above all, this method is simple and economical compared to other methods.     

Effect of follistatin on pre‐implantational development of pig parthenogenetic embryos

The present study was designed to explore effects of follistatin (FST) on pre‐implantational development of parthenogenetically activated embryos (PAEs) in pigs. First, we investigated the FST messenger RNA expression level and dynamic FST protein expression patterns in porcine oocytes and PAEs. Then, PAEs were placed in embryo culture medium supplemented with 10 ng/mL of FST‐288, FST‐300, and FST‐315. Next, PAEs were cultured with 0, 1, 10 and 100 ng/mL of FST‐315 protein throughout the in vitro culture (IVC) duration. Further, 10 ng/mL of FST‐300 was added from the start of IVC in which PAEs were treated for 30, 48 and 60 h. The results showed that 1 ng/mL FST‐315 could significantly increase the total cell numbers of blastocyst and trophectoderm cell number in PAEs. Exogenous FST‐300 supplementation could significantly promote the early cleavage divisions and improve the blastocyst formation rate of porcine embryos. FST‐300 appeared to affect early embryonic development before activation of the embryonic genome. In all, the study confirmed for the first time that FST plays a role in promoting early embryonic development in pigs, which differed with different FST subtypes. FST‐300 could facilitate the initial cleavage time and improve the blastocyst formation rate, and FST‐315 could improve the blastocyst quality.