秦川牛 MYH8基因多态性及其与生长性状的关联分析

为研究秦川牛MYH8基因的多态性及其与秦川牛生长性状的关联性,选取163头健康的30月±2月龄秦川牛,采用DNA测序技术发现MYH8基因外显子上的SNP位点,并以PCR-RFLP技术分析秦川牛群MYH8基因型,研究其遗传多样性,再通过SPSS 19.0软件分析SNP位点与秦川牛体尺性状和胴体性状的关联性。研究结果表明,在MYH8基因第33外显子上存在3个SNP位点,分别在基因序列26 064、26 094和26 100bp 3处,且26 064bp处(TC)为同义突变,26 094bp处(TC)为错义突变,26 100bp处(CG)为错义突变。关联分析显示,C26100G突变发生在体斜长指标,表现为GG基因型个体的群体均值显著高于GC、CC基因型个体(P0.05);而其他突变中不存在显著性差异。某些基因型(T26064C突变处TC基因型和T26094C突变处CT基因型)可能为优势基因型,但还需通过更多个体验证。说明:MYH8基因对秦川肉牛生长性状存在一定影响。     

西北旱区生态服务价值时空动态研究

为探明西北旱区生态服务价值的时空差异性,以2004—2012年相关数据为基础,对其生态服务价值进行计算。结果表明:(1)2012年西北旱区的生态服务价值较2004年增加了166.1×109元,而人均生态服务价值却减少了8元,说明人口的增速比生态服务价值的增速大,应适当控制人口增长;(2)西北旱区各省区生态服务价值变化大小依次为甘肃陕西中北部新疆内蒙古中西部青海宁夏,其中宁夏和青海为负变化;(3)2004—2012年间西北旱区生态经济协调度为0.33,表明生态环境和经济发展处于轻度协调状态;(4)敏感性指数小于1,说明西北旱区生态服务价值对生态价值系数弹性较弱,本文研究结果真实可信。研究期内的土地利用变化取得了较明显的生态效益,为西北旱区的经济建设和社会发展提供了良好的环境平台。     

Endometrial expression of key genes related to fertility in repeat breeder and non-repeat breeder cows

The aim of the present study was to compare the endometrial gene expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), nodal growth differentiation factor (NODAL), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), oestrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) and progesterone receptor (PGR) in repeat breeder cows (RBC) and non-RBC during diestrus. Endometrial samples were collected by cytobrush technique and stored in RNA stabilizing solution at −20°C until RT-qPCR analysis. Differences in endometrial mRNA expression of selected genes were assessed by ANOVA and simple (r) and the partial correlations (rp) among selected genes were performed. Results demonstrated that mRNA expression of EGFR and NODAL were higher in RBC than in non-RBC (3 and 25-fold change, p < .01 and p < .01, respectively), while the mRNA expression of PTGS2 was lower (1.56-fold change, p < .01). Although there were no differences detected in the mRNA expression of ESR1 and PGR, there was a positive correlation between the expression of ESR1 and EGFR (0.84, p < .05) and a negative correlation between PGR and PTGS2 (−0.49, p < .05). In conclusion, the difference on the endometrial mRNA expression of the genes included in the study between RBC and non-RBC indicates a deregulation of important mechanisms that are vital to establish a successful pregnancy. Thus, the present study provides useful insight as a base for future studies to elucidate the causes of RBC.     

Seroprevalence of canine influenza virus (H3N8) in Iditarod racing sled dogs

We conducted a cross-sectional convenience sampling study of dogs racing in the 2010 Iditarod to determine the seroprevalence of canine influenza virus (CIV) in the sled dog population. Questionnaires were completed detailing medical and CIV vaccination history, kennel size and location, travel history, and social interactions for each team. A total of 399 dogs were tested for CIV antibodies by hemagglutination inhibition assay. None of these, including 39 samples from dogs reported as CIV vaccinated, were seropositive for CIV antibodies. All of the vaccinated dogs were also negative on virus microneutralization assay. Risk factors for CIV seropositivity could not be determined due to a lack of positive samples. This is the first published study investigating the prevalence of CIV in sled dogs and additional studies are warranted to assess CIV infection among racing sled dogs and to evaluate the ecology of CIV and the vaccine efficacy in this population of dogs.