Long-term nutritional effects on the primary liver and kidney metabolism in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). II. Adaptive response of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity to high-carbohydrate/low-protein and high-fat/non-carbohydrate diets

The influence of long-term administration of high-carbohydrate/low-protein and high-fat/non-carbohydrate diets were studied in relation to kinetic behaviour of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase in liver and kidney of rainbow trout. In all cases studied, the saturation curves of these enzyme showed typical hyperbolic kinetics without evidence of sigmoidicity. After 30 days of feeding with a high-fat diet (170 g kg^?1), there was a significant decrease in V_max and specific activity (45%) as well as catalytic efficiency (39%) without changes in K_m or activity ratio of hepatic glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase. These changes agree more with a clearly decreased cell concentration than with an inhibition of the pre-existing enzyme. The administration of a high-carbohydrate diet (60 g kg^?1), contrary to what was previously thought, decreased V_max by 21% and specific activity and catalytic efficiency by 30%, without significant changes in the other kinetic parameters of the hepatic enzyme. The kinetic behaviour under these nutritional conditons was due to the rejection of this diet by the fish and thus could be considered a low-feeding situation. On the other hand, no variations in the kinetics of renal glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase were found, clearly demonstrating that in this organ, the pentosephosphate pathway showed no adaptive response related to fattyacid and other lipid synthesis. The activity of the renal enzyme was consistently half that of the hepatic enzyme.     

不同退化程度高寒草甸植物物种多样性与生态系统多功能性关系

为探究高寒草甸不同退化程度生态系统多功能性的变化,本研究综合考虑了植物物种多样性和多种生态系统功能如生产力、养分循环和固存能力、土壤涵养水分能力等,运用降维因子分析的方法计算了生态系统多功能性,综合分析了植物物种多样性与生态系统功能和多功能性间的关系。结果表明：高寒草甸退化显著降低了Margalef指数、Shannon-weiner指数、Simpson指数和Pielou指数(P<0.05),各生态系统功能趋于恶化。高寒草甸退化导致生态系统多功能性的下降,综合统计量结果为轻度退化(21.9955)＞中度退化(8.7295)＞重度退化(—30.7245)。植物物种多样性与生态系统多功能性之间均存在正相关关系,其中Simpson指数与生态系统多功能性指数拟合的结果最好,说明高寒草甸生态系统多功能性受植物物种多样性的制约。本研究可为青藏高原草地退化及恢复的过程和机理研究提供理论依据。     

Regional distribution and integrity of equine ovarian pre‐antral follicles

The goal of this study was to determine the distribution of pre‐antral follicles in the ovarian parenchyma of mares. For Experiment 1, each ovary was cut longitudinally at the greater curvature, performing two hemiovaries. After that, six fragments from each hemiovary were obtained, resulting in 12 fragments, which were divided into the innermost region of the parenchyma, the middle region and the outermost region. All the three obtained sections were cut transversally to obtain two fragments from each one. For Experiment 2, each ovary also submitted to a longitudinal cut on the greater curvature, forming two hemiovaries. Each hemiovary was sectioned into four symmetrical fragments, resulting in eight fragments per ovary. The fragments were related as being near to or far from the ovulatory fossa. The fragments of both experiments were immediately fixed in Carnoy for 12 hr and kept in 70% ethanol for 24 hr. Follicles were classified according to the stages of development and for morphological integrity according to oocyte morphology and granulosa cells. After the histological assessment, a total of 1,130 follicles were visualized from Experiment 1, being 1,054 (93.3%) primordial follicles and 76 (4.7%) follicles in development. The innermost region had the highest percentage of pre‐antral follicles compared to the other regions (p < .05). The middle and outermost regions showed higher percentages of intact primordial and developing follicles than the innermost region (p < .05). Considering Experiment 2, 938 follicles were found, being 894 (95.3%) primordial and 44 (4.7%) follicles in development. The region near the ovulatory fossa presented higher (58.7%; 551 of 938) follicular concentration compared to the region far from the ovulatory fossa (41.3%; 387 of 938; p < .05). As a conclusion, distribution of pre‐antral follicles in the equine ovary has a specific pattern through the parenchyma. Also, the follicular integrity differed in the studied ovarian areas.     

Reducing tillage intensity affects the cumulative emergence dynamics of annual grass weeds in winter cereals

Annual grass weeds such as Apera spica‐venti and Vulpia myuros are promoted in non‐inversion tillage systems and winter cereal‐based crop rotations. Unsatisfactory weed control in these conditions is often associated with a poor understanding of the emergence pattern of these weed species. The aim of this study was to investigate, understand and model the cumulative emergence patterns of A. spica‐venti, V. myuros and Poa annua in winter cereals grown in three primary tillage regimes: (i) mouldboard ploughing, (ii) pre‐sowing tine cultivation to 8–10 cm soil depth and (iii) direct drilling. Direct drilling delayed the cumulative emergence of A. spica‐venti and V. myuros (counted together) in contrast with ploughing, while the emergence pattern of P. annua was unaffected by the type of tillage system. The total density of emerged weed seedlings varied between the tillage systems and years with a higher total emergence seen under direct drilling, followed by pre‐sowing tine cultivation and ploughing. The emergence patterns of all species were differently influenced by the tillage systems, suggesting that under direct drilling, in which these species occur simultaneously, management interventions should first and foremost consider that A. spica‐venti and V. myuros emerge over a longer period to avoid control failures.     

湖羊在西北寒旱地区行为学和生理指标的观测

为了研究西北寒冷干旱气候条件下湖羊的行为和生理指标变化,进而为西北地区湖羊引种提供数据支持和理论依据,本试验选用12只(公、母各半)舍饲周岁湖羊,通过近红外摄像技术研究了不同季节(A因子,A₁夏季,A₂冬季)、性别(B因子,B₁♂,B₂♀)和不同时段(C因子,C₁昼,C₂夜)条件下湖羊的采食、饮水、反刍、卧息等行为。结果表明,季节因子(A因子)对湖羊采食、卧息、反刍等行为均有极显著影响(P<0.01);性别因子(B因子)仅对湖羊采食和卧息行为有显著影响(P<0.05);昼夜因子(C因子)对湖羊的卧息行为有显著影响(P<0.05),对其采食和反刍行为有极显著影响(P<0.01)。季节和性别的交互作用对湖羊采食行为有显著影响(P<0.05),对反刍行为有极显著影响(P<0.01)。其余因子间交互作用对湖羊行为学无显著影响。试验羊体温、心跳、呼吸频率和血常规等生理指标均在正常范围内。以上结果说明湖羊在当地表现出了良好的适应性,在西北地区引种湖羊可行。     

Resting metabolic rates increase with elevation in a mountain‐dwelling lizard

Individuals that inhabit broad elevational ranges may experience unique environmental challenges. Because temperature decreases with increased elevation, the ectotherms living at high elevations have to manage limited activity time and high thermoregulatory effort. The resting metabolic rate (RMR) of a postabsorptive animal is related to its total energy requirements as well as many other fitness traits. Mesquite lizards (Sceloporus grammicus) living on La Malinche Volcano, Mexico, inhabit a wide elevational range with some populations apparently thriving above the tree line. We measured the RMR of lizards from different elevations (i.e., 2,600, 3,200, and 4,100 m) at four ecologically relevant temperatures (i.e., 15, 25, 30, and 35 °C) and found that RMR of mesquite lizards increased with temperature and body mass. More importantly, lizards from the high‐elevation population had mass specific RMR that was higher at all temperatures. While the higher RMRs of high‐elevation populations imply higher metabolic costs at a given temperature these lizards were also smaller. Both of these traits may allow these high elevation populations to thrive in the face of the thermal challenges imposed by their environment.     

云南景东县豆科固氮树种及根瘤菌资源调查

对云南景东县豆科固氮树种进行调查采集与鉴定,确认并记录70种与相应的根瘤菌(菌株)共生的豆科固氮树种.其中,云实亚科1属1种,含羞草亚科6属20种,蝶形花亚科23属49种.根瘤大小不一,形状各异,有球形、椭圆形、棒状、珊瑚状;表面颜色有浅黄色、棕黑色、棕色或黑色.对以活体保存的材料进行根瘤菌的分离、鉴定,获得并保存了分别与其中38种豆科树种相共生的根瘤菌菌株147株.调查表明,在景东县及云南南亚热带区域和热带区域,不仅拥有可供在多方面开发利用的豆科固氮树种,且具有丰富的可供科研和开发利用的根瘤菌资源.     

Comparison of media used for the primary isolation of Mycobacteriurm bovis by veterinary and medical diagnostic laboratories

Veterinary and medical laboratories engaged in the cultural diagnosis of bovine or human tuberculosis were requested to supply samples of the media that they routinely use for the primary isolation of M. bovis. Fourteen laboratories supplied 7 basic media types; these were Lowenstein-Jensen, Stonebrink's, modified Middlebrook 7H11 agar, tuberculosis bovine blood agar, egg yolk agar, Gerloff's egg and Herrold's egg yolk. Two strains of M. bovis were used to test the media, strain AN5, a glycerol-tolerant laboratory strain and M86/90 a glycerol-sensitive wildtype strain. AN5 grew well on all media with the exception of Herrold's and strain M86/90 did not grow on media containing glycerol and grew poorly on Herrold's medium. It is recommended that Lowenstein-Jensen with pyruvate (but without glycerol), Stonebrink's, modified Middlebrook 7H11 and tuberculosis bovine blood agar should be considered the media of choice for the primary isolation of M. bovis. Egg yolk agar also proved adequate for this purpose in the trial. This medium may be suitable for routine use but to date experience with its use is limited.