Influence of varying dietary electrolyte balance on broiler performance under tropical summer conditions

A 6‐week feeding trial was conducted to determine the effects of varying dietary electrolyte balance (DEB) on growth performance and physiological responses in broiler chicks reared during hot summer months (26.1–37.5 °C). The average minimum and maximum room temperatures recorded from 14 to 42 days of age were 26.1 and 37.5 °C, respectively, with relative humidity ranging from 51% to 55%. Five DEB treatments supplying 0, 50, 150, 250 and 350 (Na⁺+K⁺–Cl^?) mEq/kg of diet were prepared by adding NaHCO₃ and/or NH₄Cl to basal diet that contained 185 mEq/kg from 1 to 28 days and 172 mEq/kg from 29 to 42 days. These DEB diets were randomly offered to six experimental units of 20 chicks each. Improved 42‐day body weight gain (BWG), feed:gain (F:G) and reduced mortality was noted with DEB 50, 150 and 250 mEq/kg compared to DEB 0 and 350 mEq/kg. A quadratic effect of increasing DEB level was observed on BWG and F:G, whereas the effect was linear for feed intake, water intake and litter moisture. The DEB 50, 150 and 250 maintained better blood pH, pCO₂ and HCO₃ concentrations during acute heat stress periods than that of 0 and 350. The blood heterophil and lymphocyte percent as well as heterophil:lymphocyte were remained unaffected. The lowest DEB (0 mEq/kg) diet reduced the feed intake and promoted metabolic acidosis. At 350 mEq/kg DEB, water intake and metabolic alkalosis were promoted probably due to high levels of dietary NaHCO₃. The study concluded that overall better performance was recorded with DEB 50, 150 and 250 mEq/kg. These results indicated that single optimal DEB value could not be recommended to combat heat stress in broilers.     

Macroscopic Anatomy of the Lower Respiratory System in Mole rats (Spalax leucodon)

The morphologic and morphometric features of the lower respiratory system in mole rats were examined. It was seen that the low respiratory system of this species leading a special life under highly hypoxic/hypercapnic conditions underground is structurally similar to other mammals living on land in terms of the parts examined; trachea was formed by 29.5 ± 4 oval‐formed cartilaginous tracheals arranged backwards and became gradually more stenotic diameter from cranial to the caudal of the neck. The trachea was separated in two principal bronchus at the fourth thoracal intercostal spatium level. The angle between the two main principal bronchi was 60.5 ± 2.35°. The lung constituted 1.29 ± 0.03% of the body weight and the right lung was heavier than the left lung. Fissura inter‐lobaris was deep and separated the lung lobes wholly, and the right lung was separated in four lobes, whereas the left lung was not separated into the lobes. Also, the medial lobe of the left lung was the lightest lobe.     

Gene cloning of porcine adiponectin gene from adipose tissue and construction of its eukaryotic expression vector

To clone adiponectin (ADPN) gene from Shaziling porcine adipocyte and construct its eukaryotic expression vector, total RNA was extracted from subcutaneous fatty tissue. One pair of specific primers was designed by Primer 5.0 software according to the sequence of ADPN gene of porcine available in GenBank. The ADPN gene was amplified by PCR from cDNA and cloned into pMD18‐T vector to construct recombinant clonal vector pMD‐ADPN, sequenced and analysed. A recombinant expression plasmid pPICZaA‐ADPN was constructed by subcloning the cloned ADPN gene into the linearized pPICZaA vector. Then, the plasmid pPICZaA‐ADPN was expressed in Pichia pastoris (GS115) by electrotransformation. Western blot and Bradford analysis were used to determine the target protein induced by methanol. Results showed that the genome size of ADPN was 732 bp and encoded 244 amino acid, the nucleotide sequence of ADPN shared 100% identity with that of porcine available in GenBank. Western blot and Bradford analysis showed that the recombinant ADPN was expressed in GS115 correctly and has certain immune activity. The expression level of ADPN was 28.5 μg/ml. In conclusion, the recombinant ADPN could express in eukaryotic expression vector pPICZaA‐ADPN constructed in this study effectively.     

Expression and Hormonal Regulation of Hoxa10 in Canine Uterus During the Peri-implantation Period

Hoxa10, a homeobox gene, is necessary for endometrial receptivity to blastocyst implantation. The aim of this study was to investigate the differential expression of Hoxa10 in canine uterus during early pregnancy and its regulation under different conditions by in situ hybridization. Hoxa10 mRNA was mainly localized in glandular epithelium and myometrium in canine uterus. There was a low level of Hoxa10 expression in the glandular epithelium on days 6, 12 and 17 of pregnancy. On day 20 of pregnancy when embryo implanted, Hoxa10 mRNA was highly expressed in the glandular epithelium surrounding the embryo, but not in the luminal epithelium. The expression of Hoxa10 mRNA gradually declined from day 23 and reached a low level on day 28. In the myometrium, a low level of Hoxa10 mRNA signal was seen on days 6, 12 and 17 of pregnancy and reached a high level on day 20 of pregnancy. During the estrous cycle, a high level of Hoxa10 mRNA expression was seen in the estrous uterus. Either estrogen or progesterone significantly induced the expression of Hoxa10 mRNA in the ovariectomized canine uterus. These results suggest that Hoxa10 expression is closely related to canine embryo implantation and upregulated by estrogen and progesterone.     

Extramedullary plasmacytoma of the third eyelid gland in a dog

A case of extramedullary plasmacytoma of the third eyelid gland in a 7-year-old American Cocker Spaniel is reported. An enlargement of the third eyelid gland, abundant mucopurulent discharge, mild hyperemia and corneal pigmentation in the OD was present. Excisional biopsy of the mass revealed the gland was infiltrated and partially destroyed by a uniform population of neoplastic plasma cells. The neoplastic cells were positive for CD138, Ki-67 and λ light chain. CD20, CD3, κ light chain and cytokeratin were negative. Twelve months following surgery, no recurrence was observed. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first extramedullary plasmacytoma of the third eyelid gland reported in dogs.     

Trichostatin A and nuclear reprogramming of cloned rabbit embryos

To investigate the influence of histone deacetylases on nuclear reprogramming after nuclear transfer, we treated the cloned embryos with a histone deacetylase inhibitor, Trichostatin A (TSA). In the present study, global changes in acetylation of histone H3-lysine 14, histone H4-lysine 12, and histone H4-lysine 5 were studied in rabbit in vivo fertilized embryos, somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos, and TSA-treated SCNT embryos. From the pronuclear to the morula stage, the deacetylation-reacetylation changes in acetylation of histone H3-lysine 14 and histone H4-lysine 12 occurred in both fertilized embryos and TSA-treated cloned embryos; however, the distribution pattern in untreated cloned embryos failed to display such changes. More interesting, the signal of acetylation of histone H4-lysine 12 in cloned embryos was detected in both the inner cell mass and the trophectoderm, whereas TSA-treated cloned embryos showed the same staining pattern as fertilized embryos and the staining was limited to the inner cell mass. The histone acetylation pattern of TSA-treated SCNT embryos appeared to be more similar to that of normal embryos, indicating that TSA could improve nuclear reprogramming after nuclear transfer.     

Physiological properties and classification of strains of Treponema sp. isolated from pigs in poland

Fifty-one treponemas were isolated from pigs. Twenty-three isolates with typical morphology and growth characteristic were beta hemolytic, enteropathogenic, produced indole and with exception of three strains did not ferment fructose. These strains were classified as typical T. hyodysenteriae and were usually isolated from pigs with symptoms of mucohemorrhagic diarrhoea. The seventeen other isolates were weakly beta hemolytic after 48 h incubation, enteropathogenic, 12 out of 17 produced indole, 10 out 17 fermented fructose. These strains were usually isolated from pigs with symptoms of gray-green diarrhoea and classified as T. hyodysenteriae 2 biotype or intermediate type. They may be compared with Treponema sp. isolated by Taylor et al. Eleven non enteropathogenic strains showed typical characteristic for T. innocens. Gas chromatography analysis of the fatty acids production from glucose, showed that all isolated treponemas produced acetate and butyrate. Typical T. hyodysenteriae produced additionally propionate. Strains of T. hyodysenteriae biotype 2 produced propionate or isobutyrate as well.     

Research on the Effect of Plant Combination Types on the Shear Strength of the Root-soil Composite System of Alpine Grassland in the Source Region of the Yellow River北大核心CSCD

In this study,an alpine grassland in Henan County,Qinghai Province,in the source region of the Yellow River,was selected as the study area. The shear strength of root-soil composite system characteristics of 6 different plant combination types of grassland were explored by field investigation and sampling and indoor tests,which aimed to provide a theoretical basis for preventing and controlling soil erosion and shallow landslide caused by grassland degradation. The test results showed that the shear strength of root-soil composite system of 6 different combinations was a increasing trend with the decrease of altitude. Namely,the shear strength of the root-soil composite system of Stipa purpurea Griseb. + Kobresia pygmaea C. B. Clarke at the top of the sunny slope was 27.76 kPa and the value of Elymus nutans Griseb. at the bottom of the sunny slope was 37.53 kPa. The reasons why the shear strength of 6 kinds of combinations varied from large to small with the decrease of altitude were related to their density,moisture content,root content and dry weight of roots in the root-soil composite system samples. That is,the root content of composite system at the top,middle and bottom of the sunny slope were 6.2%,5.5% and 16.2%,respectively. The values at the top,middle and bottom of the shady slope were 8.0%,11.4% and 31.6%,respectively. © 2019 China Agricultural University. All rights reserved.