Epigenetic Programming of Porcine Endometrial Function and the Lactocrine Hypothesis

Epigenetic programs controlling development of the female reproductive tract (FRT) are influenced by the effects of naturally occurring bioactive agents on patterns of gene expression in FRT tissues during organizationally critical periods of foetal and perinatal life. Aberrations in such important cellular and molecular events, as may occur with exposure to natural or manmade steroid or peptide receptor-modulating agents, disrupt the developmental program and can change the developmental trajectory of FRT tissues, including the endometrium, with lasting consequences. In the pig, as in other mammals, maternal programming of FRT development begins pre-natally and is completed post-natally, when maternal effects on development can be communicated via signals transmitted in milk. Studies involving relaxin (RLX), a prototypic milk-borne morphoregulatory factor (MbF), serve as the basis for ongoing efforts to identify maternal programming events that affect uterine and cervical tissues in the neonatal pig. Data support the lactocrine hypothesis for delivery of MbFs to neonates as a specific consequence of nursing. Components of a maternally driven lactocrine mechanism for RLX-mediated signalling in neonatal FRT tissues, including evidence that milk-borne RLX is delivered into the neonatal circulation where it can act on RLX receptor (RXFP1) -positive neonatal tissues to affect their development, are in place in the pig. The fact that all newborn mammals drink milk extends the timeframe of maternal influence on neonatal development across many species. Thus, lactocrine transmission of milk-borne developmental signals is an element of the maternal epigenetic programming equation that deserves further study.     

不同日龄混合柄瘤蚜茧蜂对寄主虫龄的选择及子代蜂发育表现

对同一头混合柄瘤蚜茧蜂雌蜂连续观察5 d,比较其对蚕豆蚜若蚜和成蚜的选择,并观察了子代蜂的发育特性。结果表明:5日龄蜂对不同虫龄蚜虫的寄生率无显著差异,子代蜂羽化率和雌性比亦无显著差异,但寄生2、3龄若蚜的子代雌蜂体型显著大于寄生其他蚜虫的子代雌蜂,寄生3龄若蚜的子代雄蜂显著大于寄生成蚜的子代雄蜂。在其他日龄(1～4)蜂中,1、4日龄蜂对不同龄若蚜的寄生率无显著差异,但均高于对成蚜的寄生,2、3日龄蜂对2龄若蚜的寄生偏好显著高于对更高虫龄的寄生;3日龄蜂的子代蜂羽化率在各虫龄蚜虫之间无显著差异,其他日龄蜂寄生低龄若蚜的子代羽化率高于寄生较高虫龄蚜虫;寄生中间龄期若蚜(3、4龄)的子代蜂雌性比显著高于寄生1龄或成蚜的子代蜂;1日龄蜂子代雌蜂体型在不同虫龄蚜虫间无显著差异,但2～4日龄蜂寄生2、3龄若蚜的子代雌性体型大于寄生1龄、4龄或成蚜的子代雌蜂;1、2日龄蜂的子代雄蜂体型在各虫龄蚜虫间无显著差异,3、4日龄蜂寄生中间龄期若蚜的子代雄性体型大于寄生1龄若蚜或成蚜。根据本研究结果推测,与低龄蜂相比高龄蜂对寄主品质要求更高,其幼虫对寄主的调节能力更强。     

Development of Y‐chromosome‐Specific SCAR Markers Conserved in Taurine,Zebu and Bubaline Cattle

Sex pre‐selection of bovine offsprings has commercial relevance for cattle breeders and several methods have been used for embryo sex determination. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has proven to be a reliable procedure for accomplishing embryo sexing. To date, most of the PCR‐specific primers are derived from the few single‐copy Y‐chromosome‐specific gene sequences already identified in bovines. Their detection demands higher amounts of embryonic genomic material or a nested amplification reaction. In order to circumvent this, limitation we searched for new male‐specific sequences potentially useful in embryo sexing using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay reproducibility problems can be overcome by its conversion into Sequence Characterized Amplified Region (SCAR) markers. In this work, we describe the identification of two bovine male‐specific markers (OPC16₃₂₃ and OPF10₁₁₆₈) by means of RAPD. These markers were successfully converted into SCARs (OPC16₇₂₆ and OPF10₉₈₄) using two pairs of specific primers.Furthermore, inverse PCR (iPCR) methodology was successfully applied to elongate OPC16₃₂₃ marker in 159% (from 323 to 837 bp). Both markers are shown to be highly conserved (similarity ≥95%) among bovine zebu and taurine cattle; OPC16₃₂₃ is also highly similar to a bubaline Y‐chromosome‐specific sequence. The primers derived from the two Y‐chromosome‐specific conserved sequences described in this article showed 100% accuracy when used for identifying male and female bovine genomic DNA, thereby proving their potential usefulness for bovine embryo sexing.     

Effect of Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin on Plasma Concentrations of Insulin‐like Growth Factor I,Insulin and Membrane Integrity of Bull Spermatozoa

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the exogenous recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) on plasma concentrations of insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I), insulin and semen quality of bulls. Twenty bulls (Aberdeen Angus and Brangus) were divided by breed into two groups. Placebo group was injected with NaCl 0.9% (s.c.) and treatment group with rbST (s.c., 500 mg) at days 0 and 14 of the experiment. Immediately after semen collection, blood samples were taken on days 0, 14, 28, 42 and 56 of the experiment. Semen was also collected on day 70 of the experiment. Evaluation of sperm motility was performed at pre‐freezing and post‐thawing stage, whereas assessment of sperm membrane integrity was performed after freezing and thawing. Analysis of data revealed that the effect of treatment and treatment‐by‐collection day on plasma concentrations of IGF‐I and insulin was not significant. However, mean plasma concentrations of IGF‐I and insulin were affected (p < 0.0001) by days of blood sampling. Effect of treatment and treatment‐by‐collection day on motility of spermatozoa was similar (p > 0.05) at pre‐freezing and post‐thawing stage. Intactness of plasmalemma and tail membrane of spermatozoa at post‐thawing stage was higher (p < 0.05) in rbST‐treated group than in control. In conclusion, rbST did not affect plasma concentrations of IGF‐I and insulin, however, it did improve post‐thaw sperm membrane integrity.     

绥化市北林区农机化发展经验探讨

绥化市北林区农机事业在黑龙江省起步比较早,与全省其他市县一道,通过近两代农机人的共同努力,积累了丰富的工作经验。为此,对改革开放以来北林区农机工作进行较系统的总结,旨在为今后优化农机化发展决策提供参考.     

长沙市1997～2010年土地利用总体规划实施可持续利用评价

以长沙市为例,运用生态足迹的方法对长沙市上轮土地利用总体规划的可持续利用情况进行了全面评价,为更好地修编新一轮土地利用总体规划提供依据,同时提出保持土地可持续利用应采取的措施。     

Iron and zinc absorption from two bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes in young women

Extrinsic and intrinsic iron and zinc labels were used to test iron and zinc absorption from two bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) genotypes, containing normal (common beans, CB) or higher (HFeZnB) iron and zinc concentrations, fed in single meals to young women with low iron reserves. The women were divided into two groups, with one receiving a CB test meal (n = 12) and the other, an HFeZnB test meal (n = 11). The beans were intrinsically labeled hydroponically with (55)Fe (CB and HFeZnB) and with (70)Zn (HFeZnB). Concentrations of zinc and iron were 98 and 65% higher, respectively, in HFeZnB as compared to CB, but phytic acid contents were similar. Extrinsic labels were (59)Fe (CB and HFeZnB), (67)Zn (CB), and (68)Zn (HFeZnB). Iron and zinc percent absorption levels were calculated from radio-iron activity in red blood cells and from urinary excretion of zinc isotopes. Intrinsic and extrinsic iron absorption measures were highly correlated (R (2) = 0.986) (average extrinsic/intrinsic ratio was 1.00). Iron absorption was low (geometric mean < 2%) in both bean types, and total iron absorbed was not different between types. Intrinsic zinc absorption from the HFeZn beans was higher than extrinsic absorption (15.2% vs 13.4%, p < 0.05) (average extrinsic/intrinsic was 0.90). The correlation between intrinsic and extrinsic zinc measures was not as high as that for iron (R (2) = 0.719). Percent zinc absorption levels were similar in both bean types, but total extrinsic zinc absorbed was 90% higher (p < 0.05) from the HFeZnB meal. Thus, the less expensive and time-consuming extrinsic labeling may be used to screen various varieties of beans for iron bioavailability in humans, but it underestimates zinc absorption by approximately 10%. Selective breeding for high-zinc bean genotypes may improve zinc status. However, high-iron genotypes appear to have little effect on iron status when fed alone in single meals to women with low iron reserves.     

Associations between Theileria orientalis Ikeda type infection and the growth rates and haematocrit of suckled beef calves in the North Island of New Zealand

AIMS: The principle aim of this study was to examine the association between infection with Theileria orientalis Ikeda type and growth rates of suckled beef calves on four beef farms. In addition, associations between calf sex, sampling time, and individual farm and T. orientalis Ikeda type infection intensity and haematocrit (HCT) were investigated.

METHODS: The study was a prospective longitudinal study in which 240 calves from four purposively selected beef farms in the North Island of New Zealand were blood sampled and weighed in late spring, mid-summer and early autumn. Two farms were from high-risk (A and B) and two from low-risk (C and D) tick areas. Blood samples were analysed to determine HCT, and the number of T. orientalis Ikeda type organisms/µL of blood (infection intensity) using a quantitative PCR assay. A calf was defined as infected if >415 organisms/µL were detected in a blood sample. Linear mixed models were used to examine associations between infection intensity, mean daily liveweight gain (MDG), HCT, calf sex and time of sampling on the four farms.

RESULTS: On Farms A and B nearly all calves were infected at each sampling time, on Farm C <30% were infected at any sampling and on Farm D infection prevalence increased from 32 to 79% between late spring and early autumn. On Farms C and D, from mid-summer to early autumn, mean MDG was 0.127 (95% CI=0.072–0.183) kg/day less for infected than uninfected calves (p<0.001). On all farms MDG was negatively associated with infection intensity for mid-summer and early autumn sampling times (p=0.037). The relationship between time of sampling and infection intensity varied between farms (p<0.001), and between male and female calves (p=0.018). Females had a higher infection intensity than males at the mid-summer and early autumn samplings. The association between HCT and infection intensity varied with sampling time and farm (p=0.018). There was a strong negative association between infection intensity and HCT at the late spring sampling, but in mid-summer there was no association, and in early autumn only a weak association.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study has shown that beef farmers in the North Island of New Zealand should be concerned about the welfare effects and economic impacts of T. orientalis Ikeda type infection in suckled beef calves.     

Importance of oil overlay for production of porcine embryos in vitro

Technologies to edit the zygote genome have revolutionized biomedical research not only for the creation of animal models for the study of human disease but also for the generation of functional human cells and tissues through interspecies blastocyst complementation technology. The pig is the ideal species for these purposes due to its great similarity in anatomy and physiology to humans. Emerging biotechnologies require the use of oocytes and/or embryos of good quality, which might be obtained using in vitro production (IVP) techniques. However, the current porcine embryo IVP systems are still suboptimal and result in low monospermic fertilization and blastocyst formation rates and poor embryo quality. During recent years, intensive investigations have been performed to evaluate the influence of specific compounds on gametes and embryos and to avoid the use of undefined supplements (serum and serum derivate) in the incubation media. However, little consideration has been given to the use of the mineral oil (MO) to overlay incubation droplets, which, albeit being a routine component of the IVP systems, is a totally undefined and thus problematic product for the safety of gametes and embryos. In this review, we provide an overview on the advantages and disadvantages of using MO to cover the incubation media. We also review one important concern in IVP laboratories: the use of oils containing undetected contamination. Finally, we discuss the effects of different types of oils on the in vitro embryo production outcomes and the transfer of compounds from oil into the culture media.