Effect of dietary nutmeg oil on heat‐stress tolerance‐related parameters in Korean native chicken reared under hot temperature

This study investigated the effect of dietary nutmeg oil (NO) on growth performance, blood parameters, lipid peroxidation and heat shock protein (HSP) 70 expression in Korean native chicken (KNC) reared under hot temperature. We allocated 273 meat‐type KNCs (Hanhyup‐3, 4‐week‐old, body weight [BW] = 539.93 ± 1.75 g) to the following three treatments with seven replicate pens (13 birds/pen) per treatment. Three treatment diets were as follows: (a) Control, basal diet without NO supplementation; (b) NO 250; and (c) NO 500, basal diet supplemented with 250 and 500 ppm NO respectively. Diets and water were provided ad libitum throughout the 6‐week feeding trial. During overall period (0–6 weeks), no differences (p > 0.05) were observed in BW gain (BWG), feed intake (FI) and feed conversion rate (FCR) among treatments. However, the FI at 0–3 weeks decreased (p < 0.05) quadratically with increasing NO levels. Most blood parameters did not differ (p > 0.05) among treatments, although the monocyte level of the NO 500 group was considerably lower (p > 0.05) than that of the other groups. Furthermore, dietary NO did not affect serum triglyceride, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, calcium, phosphorus and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels (p > 0.05); however, it linearly decreased serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level (p < 0.05). Additionally, serum malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration decreased (p < 0.05) and heart MDA concentration was lower (p = 0.08) with increasing dietary NO supplementation. After a 3‐hr heat (35°C) challenge, the rectal temperature (RT) reduced (p < 0.05) linearly with increasing NO levels. Dietary NO did not affect liver HSP70 (p > 0.05) gene expression. In conclusion, NO potentially enhanced the ability of chickens to alleviate heat stress. Furthermore, our findings suggest that lipid oxidation inhibition by dietary NO likely mediated the enhanced heat‐stress tolerance of the chickens.     

Protective influence of rosiglitazone against time‐dependent deterioration of boar spermatozoa preserved at 17°C

Spermatozoa are highly specialized cells, and energy metabolism plays an important role in modulating sperm viability and function. Rosiglitazone is an antidiabetic drug in the thiazolidinedione class that regulates metabolic flexibility and glucose uptake in various cell types, but its effects on boar sperm metabolism are unknown. In this study, we investigated the potential effect of rosiglitazone against time‐dependent deterioration of boar spermatozoa during liquid preservation at 17°C. Freshly ejaculated semen was diluted with Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS) containing different concentrations of rosiglitazone, and the motility, membrane and acrosome integrity of sperm were detected. Besides, we measured glucose uptake capacity, l ‐lactate production level, mitochondrial membrane potential, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) production of sperm after boar semen had been incubated with or without rosiglitazone, iodoacetate (glycolysis inhibitor) and rotenone (electron transport chain inhibitor) for 5 days. The addition of rosiglitazone significantly enhanced sperm quality and had a strong protective effect on the sperm membrane and acrosome integrity during storage. BTS containing 50 μM rosiglitazone maintained the total motility of liquid‐preserved sperm above 60% for 7 days. Rosiglitazone improved sperm quality by regulating energy metabolism manner of preserved sperm, protected the sperm mitochondrial membrane potential, enhanced sperm ATP production and in the meanwhile reduced mROS through enhancing glycolysis but not oxidative phosphorylation. The data suggested the practical feasibility of using rosiglitazone for improving boar spermatozoa quality during semen preservation.     

Effect of nicotinic acid on the plasma membrane function and polyunsaturated fatty acids composition during cryopreservation in boar sperm

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of nicotinic acid on plasma membrane integrity and fatty acid composition in frozen–thawed boar sperm. Boar semen was cryopreserved using freezing extender containing nicotinic acid (NA), then plasma membrane integrity, osmotic equilibration, lipid peroxidation and fatty acid were analysed. The plasma membrane integrity of frozen–thawed sperm was significantly higher in the 10 mM NA than in the 0 and 20 mM NA treatment groups (p < 0.05). Additionally, the osmotic equilibration ability was not different in treatment groups, but lipid peroxidation was significantly decreased in the 10 mM NA treatment group (p < 0.05). The saturated fatty acids were significantly decreased in the 10 mM NA treatment group, and C18:1n‐9, C18:2n‐6, C20:4n‐6, C22:5n‐6 and C22:6n‐3, and total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were significantly increased in the 10 mM NA treatment groups (p < 0.05). In summary, 10 mM NA improved plasma membrane integrity, inhibited lipid peroxidation and increased PUFAs in frozen–thawed boar sperm. These results suggest that NA may be useful to protect the plasma membrane and inhibit the loss of PUFAs for sperm cryopreservation in pigs.     

内共生菌Buchnera协助蚜虫抑制寄主植物的防御反应

为明确蚜虫内共生细菌Buchnera能否协助蚜虫抑制植物的防御反应,采用混合抗生素除去瓜蚜Aphis gossypii体内的Buchnera,采用刺吸电位技术和生命表方法比较除菌瓜蚜和正常瓜蚜在黄瓜上的适合度,并测定被除菌瓜蚜和正常瓜蚜预侵染黄瓜叶片中H₂O₂、茉莉酸和水杨酸的含量变化以及抗蚜特性变化。结果表明,除菌瓜蚜体重较正常瓜蚜极显著下降了71.15%,净增殖率极显著下降了95.60%,但寿命延长了2.34倍;刺吸电位图谱显示除菌瓜蚜几乎不产生代表唾液分泌的E1波和韧皮部被动吸食的E2波。在黄瓜叶片中,除菌瓜蚜比正常瓜蚜能激发产生更高水平的H₂O₂;在为期14 d的侵染中,除菌瓜蚜侵染诱发总茉莉酸含量持续升高、总水杨酸含量持续下降,而正常瓜蚜侵染诱发总茉莉酸含量先升高后降低、总水杨酸含量先降低后升高。在被除菌瓜蚜预侵染黄瓜上,瓜蚜进入稳定取食的时间显著滞后于正常瓜蚜预侵染处理,且前3 d的产蚜量显著低于正常瓜蚜预侵染处理。表明Buchnera除了可为蚜虫提供必需的营养外,还有调控和抑制寄主植物防御反应的功能。     

微型草坪对室内微环境的生态调节作用

室内微型草坪是一种新型的室内绿化产品,具有关化居住环境、改善室内空气质量的作用。通过对比试验研究了微型草坪对模拟空间的湿度,甲醛和细菌含量等的调节应用,及其在不同室内环境下的固碳释氧能力。结果显示室内微型草坪可以吸收室内空气中的甲醛、杀灭细菌提高空气温度,24h后甲醛浓度由初始0．61mg／m^3下降到0．08mg／m^3;空气中的细菌含量降低90％以上;室内空气湿度提高509,6;室内的光照强度和光照时间与微型草坪的固碳释氧量呈正相关。表明微型草坪可以有效地改善室内环境。     

Tubuloside B rescues the PC12 neuronal cells from H2O2-induced apoptosis

AIM:To investigate the neuroprotective effect of tubuloside B, one of the phenylethanoids isolated from the stems of Cistanche salsa, on H₂O₂-induced injury in PC12 cells.METHODS:PC12 cells were exposed to various doses of tubuloside B for 12 h, then treated with H₂O₂ at concentration of 100 μmol/L for 24 h. The cell viability was observed with MTT assay. Reactive oxygen species and the mitochondrial membrane potential were measured with laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). The DNA content and percentage of apoptosis were assayed by DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry. The activation of caspase-3 was detected with the caspase-3 activity assay kit. RESULTS:Following treatment with H₂O₂ for 24 h, H₂O₂ induced a significant decrease in cell viability; DNA ladder was observed and apoptosis percentage was as high as 48.0%. Accumulation of intracellular ROS, increase in caspase-3 activity and the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential as indicated with the decrease of red/green ratios (from 5.97 to 0.41) were detected. However, pretreatment with tubuloside B (1, 10 or 100 mg·L^-1) for 12 h exhibited cytoprotective effects in a dose-dependent manner. Tubuloside B obviously enhanced the cell viability, reduced formation of the DNA ladder, and significantly reduced the number of cells labeled with Annexin-V. The percentage of apoptosis/necrosis neurons was significantly decreased to 30.9%, 18.3% and 6.2%, respectively. LSCM showed that the tubuloside B attenuated the accumulation of ROS and the H₂O₂-induced collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential in PC12 cells. The significant decrease in caspase-3 activity was detected, compared to the H₂O₂-treated cells at the same time point. CONCLUSION:Tubuloside B has the neuroprotective capacity to antagonize H₂O₂-induced apoptosis and injury in PC12 cells, indicating it may be useful for treating some neurodegenerative diseases.     

电生功能水对葡萄光合作用的影响

以"夏黑""金手指""红富士""比昂扣"等4个鲜食葡萄品种为试验对象,采用只喷酸性电生功能水(AEW)、先喷酸性电生功能水后喷碱性电生功能水(AEW/BEW)、先喷碱性电生功能水后喷酸性电生功能水(BEW/AEW)3种不同的处理方式,以只喷自来水(TW)为对照,研究了叶片在酸性环境中光合性能的变化,以期为电生功能水在植物中的应用提供参考依据,拓展其应用范围。结果表明:通过分析葡萄叶片光合响应生理参数,发现不同喷施方式对葡萄光合作用影响不相同。AEW处理后,4个葡萄品种的表观量子效率α和最大净光合速率Pmax均大于其它处理组,说明葡萄叶面对强光的利用效率得到提高;光饱和点(LSP)略低,说明AEW会降低叶面对强光的适应能力;光补偿点(LCP)要高于其它处理组,说明叶面对弱光的适应能力得到提高;暗呼吸速率Rd值略高,说明叶面的消耗提高。而AEW/BEW与TW处理后各生理参数相当,BEW/AEW处理后的生理参数低于其它处理组。试验表明,AEW处理不仅具有灭菌功效,也具有促进植物叶面光合作用的影响,BEW/AEW处理不能提高植物叶面的光合作用,AEW/BEW处理还会抑制叶面的光合作用。AEW处理提高植物叶面的光合作用效率的机理有待进一步研究。     

青海省棘球蚴病（包虫病）防控工作调查

为了解青海省棘球蚴病(包虫病)现状及流行特点,在果洛州和海北州开展了棘球蚴病宣传干预调查。调查发现,青海省棘球蚴病流行范围广、流行强度大,类型多样,泡型和囊型均有。目前青海省政府特别重视对该病防控知识的宣传教育,狠抓传染源控制。但仍存在一些问题,如专业技术人员缺乏、防治经费投入不足、流浪犬管理难等。提议政府统一部署流浪犬的管理工作,继续加强防控知识的宣传教育和专业技术培训,加大对棘球蚴病防治的经费投入,充分发挥动物防疫部门的作用。     

High‐Level Ciprofloxacin‐Resistant Campylobacter jejuni Isolates Circulating in Humans and Animals in Incheon,Republic of Korea

Campylobacter jejuni is one of the major causative pathogens of outbreaks or sporadic cases of diarrhoeal diseases worldwide. In this study, we compared the phenotypic and genetic characteristics of C. jejuni isolates of human and food‐producing animal origins in Korea and examined the genetic relatedness between these two groups of isolates. Regardless of isolation source, all C. jejuni isolates harboured four virulence genes, cadF, cdtB, ciaB and racR, whereas the wlaN and virB11 genes were more frequently observed in human isolates. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that the majority of C. jejuni isolates displayed high‐level resistance to fluoroquinolone (95.2%) or tetracycline (76.2%) antibiotics, and 12.4% of isolates exhibited multidrug resistance (more than three classes of antibiotics tested). Pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of all Campylobacter isolates revealed 51 different SmaI‐PFGE patterns and six major clusters containing both human and animal isolates. These results indicate that genetically diverse strains of C. jejuni with antimicrobial drug‐resistance and virulence properties have prevailed in Incheon. Nevertheless, some particular populations continue to circulate within the community, providing the evidence for an epidemiological link of C. jejuni infections between humans and food‐producing animals. Therefore, the continued monitoring and surveillance of C. jejuni isolates of human and food‐producing animal origins are required for public health and food safety.     

兰州银滩黄河湿地4种植物的光合特性

本研究以兰州银滩黄河湿地自然生长的千屈菜(Lythrum salicaria)、芦苇(Phragnites awstralis)、藨草(Scirpus triqueter)、菖蒲(Acorus calamus)为研究对象,对4种典型植物生长季不同阶段的光合特性及其与环境因子间的关系进行比较分析,探讨了4种植物对湿地的适应特性和机制。结果表明,1)5月11日千屈菜、芦苇的净光合速率(P_n)呈不明显的双峰曲线,藨草和菖蒲的Pn变化较为平稳,日均P_n表现为芦苇千屈菜菖蒲藨草;8月19日,千屈菜、芦苇、藨草的Pn呈双峰曲线,光合"午休"现象明显,菖蒲为单峰曲线,日均Pn表现为芦苇菖蒲千屈菜藨草。2)5月11日,光合有效辐射(PAR)、大气温度(Ta)、大气CO_2浓度(C_a)、相对湿度(RH)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、气孔导度(G_s)、胞间CO_2浓度(C_i)、水分利用效率(WUE)与4种植物P_n的日变化存在不显著、显著(P0.05)或极显著(P0.01,P0.001)的正相关关系;8月19日,PAR、C_a、T_r、G_s、WUE、土壤湿度(SM)与4种植物P_n的日变化存在不显著、显著或极显著的正相关关系;3)5月11日,PAR、C_a、T_a、RH对4种植物的P_n影响较大,是主要的环境生理影响因子;8月19日,PAR、T_r对千屈菜、藨草的Pn影响最大,PAR、WUE对芦苇、菖蒲的P_n影响较大,是主要的环境生理影响因子。尽管各因子对4种植物的光合速率均有不同影响,但PAR是对植物光合生理特性产生影响的根本原因。