Disaccharide combinations and the expression of enolase3 and plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase isoform in sturgeon sperm cryopreservation

Acipenser sinensis and Acipenser dabryanus are critically endangered species, so germplasm conservation via cryopreservation of sperm is necessary. Disaccharides can act as membrane‐impermeable cryoprotectants, and enolase3 (ENO3) and plasma membrane Ca²⁺ ATPase isoform (PMCA2) are proteins associated with sperm quality. We considered seven characteristics of sperm quality in cultured brood stock from A. sinensis and A. dabryanus. We tested use of sucrose or trehalose alone and in combination at different concentrations for cryopreservation of A. dabryanus sperm. A low concentration of sucrose plus trehalose (S₁₅T₁₅) was optimal. Mixing of the extender with sucrose, lactose, or trehalose alone or with pairwise mixtures revealed that a mixture of lactose and trehalose (L₁₅T₁₅) gave the best results for both A. sinensis and A. dabryanus. Enolase3 and PMCA2 expression levels were measured in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm via Western blotting. Relative ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels were examined, and the relationship between disaccharide composition, sperm quality and protein expression was explored in A. sinensis. The results showed that relative ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels were the highest at L₁₅T₁₅ in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm. There were significant positive correlations between ENO3 expression and percentage membrane integrity, and between PMCA2 expression and sperm motility parameters (percentage of motile sperm, curvilinear velocity, straight‐line velocity and average path velocity; p < .05) in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm. Our results indicate the optimal disaccharide combination and concentrations for cryopreservation of A. sinensis and A. dabryanus sperm and suggest that ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels could serve as a valuable indicator of sperm quality in A. sinensis.     

Organic zinc and copper supplementation on antioxidant protective mechanism and their correlation with sperm functional characteristics in goats

Trace minerals feeding had significant effects on sperm production and fertility with better absorption and proper utilization within the body for optimum reproductive function. Several studies have shown that more influenced trace elements in the diets of animals are copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). Bucks showing deficiency of this mineral might affect the quality of semen production which in turn would affect the fertility. This experiment was thus designed to test the effects of organic Cu and Zn supplementation on antioxidants enzyme activities and sperm functional attributes in fresh semen of bucks. Forty bucks (n = 40, Aged 5 months) were assigned to ten groups of four animals in each group, supplemented (for a period of 8 months) with different levels of organic Zn: 20 mg (T2), 40 mg (T3) and 60 mg (T4), organic Cu: 12.5 mg (T5), 25 mg (T6), 37.5 mg (T7) and combined organic Zn and Cu: 20 + 12.5 mg (T8), 40 + 25 mg (T9), 60 + 37.5 mg (T10), respectively, per kg dry matter and no additional mineral diet (control; T1). One hundred and sixty semen samples were collected through electro‐ejaculator and analysed for sperm quantity, quality, acrosome intactness and plasma membrane integrity and correlated with the catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase enzyme activities in seminal plasma. The results indicated organic Cu and zinc supplemented bucks produced more sperm cells, had higher sperm concentrations, maintained higher (p < .01) sperm livability, plasma membrane and acrosome integrities, more motility and velocity. The increased antioxidant enzyme activities, reduced oxidative stress and lowered lipid peroxidation were positively correlated (p < .05) with the sperm functional attributes. In conclusion, organic Cu and Zn supplement to male goats showed protective roles against oxidative damage and maintained better fresh semen characteristics.     

Caecal intussusceptions and typhlocolitis in horses with severe Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus infestation

The intestinal trematode Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus (G. aegyptiacus) has been recognised in equids around the world for many years, but its pathogenicity is yet to be confirmed. This report describes seven cases of severe G. aegyptiacus infestation, including six cases of caecal intussusception.     

Acupuncture and traditional Chinese veterinary medicine for treatment of a mare with rectal paralysis

An 8‐year‐old Appaloosa mare with rectal paralysis due to a cosmetic ethanol ‘tail block’ was treated with traditional Chinese veterinary medicine treatments including acupuncture and herbal medicine. Her rectal and tail tone gradually improved after the treatment. At 4 months after initial presentation, the mare was able to produce faecal piles on a regular basis, and manual evacuations were no longer needed. Significant improvement was within 30 days of beginning treatment. At 8 months, the owner indicated that the mare had normal defaecation, was able to swish the tail from side to side and lift the tail to urinate, and had no evidence of straining to defaecate or colic.     

气候变化对通辽草甸草原草本植物物候期的影响

植物物候期的变化直接反映气候变化,并成为全球变化研究的重点。基于通辽市巴雅尔吐胡硕牧业气象试验站1981-2016年主要植物羊草(Leymus chinensis)、冰草(Agropyron cristatum)、委陵菜(Potentilla chinensis)、车前(Plantago asiatica)物候观测数据和同期气象观测数据,研究了气候变化对草本植物返青期、黄枯期和生长季的影响,结果表明:1)研究区近36年来年均气温上升0.35℃·10 a-1(P0.01),年均降水量减少22.73 mm·10 a-1,气候暖干化特征明显。2)草本植物返青期呈一致性延迟趋势,平均每10年延迟1.16~7.60 d。羊草、车前返青推迟主要受2-3月累计降水量减少的影响,冰草、委陵菜返青推迟主要受2-4月、3-4月累计降水量减少的影响。3)草本植物黄枯期变化趋势不同,羊草、冰草黄枯期延迟主要受夏季、初秋累计降水量影响,委陵菜黄枯期提前主要受夏季、初秋的累计降水量和日照时数共同影响,车前草黄枯期延迟主要受夏季、初秋平均气温影响。4)草本植物生长季长度主要受气温和降水量影响。气候变暖后,研究区夏季、生长季平均气温显著上升,降水量逐渐减少,导致羊草、冰草、委陵菜生长季缩短;而车前对气温反应比较敏感,气温升高有利于车前生长季延长。     

旱、盐胁迫下黄芪种子萌发及其对水杨酸的响应

通过测定不同浓度聚乙二醇(PEG)和NaCl胁迫下膜荚黄芪(Astragalus membranaceus)和蒙古黄芪(A.membranaceus var.mongholicus)种子的最终发芽率、发芽势、简化活力指数、苗长、根长、苗干重、根干重等指标,以及不同施用方式和浓度的水杨酸(SA)对重度PEG和NaCl胁迫下两种黄芪种子最终发芽率的影响,旨在研究两种黄芪种子对PEG和NaCl胁迫响应方式的异同及SA对两种黄芪种子在重度PEG和NaCl胁迫下保护效果的差异。结果表明,低浓度PEG和NaCl只能促进膜荚黄芪种子萌发。在-0.5 MPa PEG和-0.7 MPa NaCl处理下,蒙古黄芪种子的活力指数显著优于膜荚黄芪种子(P0.05)。SA浸种能促进重度PEG和NaCl胁迫下两种黄芪种子的最终发芽率。蒙古黄芪种子的耐胁迫性高于膜荚黄芪种子。两种黄芪种子对SA的响应方式有区别。SA浸种处理优于拌种处理。     

黄花苜蓿花药培养再生体系的建立与单倍体鉴定

花药组织培养再生体系的构建是单倍体育种的重要途径之一。本研究对呼伦贝尔黄花苜蓿(Medicago falcate‘Hulunbeier’)进行了花药组织培养研究并建立了花药组培再生体系。结果显示,液体悬浮培养基比固体培养基更适合呼伦贝尔黄花苜蓿花药愈伤组织的培养,其愈伤形成的培养条件为B5培养基+0.5 mg·L~(-1) 2,4-D+0.25 mg·L~(-1) 6-BA+0.4mg·L~(-1) NAA+3.0mg·L~(-1) KT;分化培养基为MS+1.0mg·L~(-1) 2,4-D+0.5mg·L~(-1) 6-BA+2%蔗糖+0.7%琼脂;生根培养基为1/2MS+0.1mg·L~(-1) NAA+2%蔗糖+0.7%琼脂;获得的再生植株经流式细胞仪鉴定,其单倍体比例高达27%。     

过量表达甘菊CBF1基因提高拟南芥抗旱耐盐能力

CBF是一类植物特异性、具有多种功能的转录因子。本研究将从甘菊(Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium)中分离的ClCBF1基因构建到植物表达载体pBI121上,并采用农杆菌介导的花序浸染法对拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)进行遗传转化,共获得4个转基因株系经过抗性筛选和RT-PCR验证,对其中表达量较高的3个转基因株系进行研究,结果表明:在150mmol·L~(-1)甘露醇培养基中转基因拟南芥的种子萌发率和根长平均为野生型的2.0倍和1.2倍,在150mmol·L~(-1) NaCl培养基中转基因拟南芥种子萌发率和根长平均为野生型的1.1倍和1.4倍;在干旱和盐胁迫条件下,转基因拟南芥幼苗的成活率高于野生型,并且超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性显著高于野生型(P0.05),丙二醛(MDA)含量及相对电导率显著低于野生型植株(P0.05)。说明ClCBF1基因在拟南芥受到干旱和盐胁迫过程中发挥一定作用。     

陕西省榆林市某鸡场家禽H7N9流感紧急流行病学调查

2017年5月21日,陕西省榆林市某养殖场的蛋鸡出现异常死亡。经国家参考实验室确诊,该起疫情为H7N9流感疫情。为找出引发疫情的可能原因,采用描述性流行病学方法,描述疫情的三间分布,分析发病的风险因素。调查结果显示:该场饲养规模较大,共有8栋鸡舍,饲养4.5万只蛋鸡;疫情暴发突然,病程仅为5 d;蛋鸡死亡2.2万只,死亡率为48.9%;疫情具有明显的场内传播规律,从靠近鸡场入口的鸡舍逐渐向内蔓延;产蛋高峰期蛋鸡的发病风险是雏鸡的37.458倍,差异显著(P0.05);所分离毒株的HA基因裂解位点有4个氨基酸插入,为变异株;该起疫情可能是通过运输淘汰蛋鸡的车辆、野鸟、饲料和饮水,以及调入雏鸡等途径引入的。疫情发生后,当地政府按照《高致病性禽流感防治技术规范》,发布了封锁令,划定了疫点、疫区和受威胁区;在疫区采取了扑杀、无害化处理、关闭疫区内所有禽类产品交易市场等控制措施。采取以上处置措施后,疫情得以快速有效控制。