Feasibility of computed tomography in awake dogs with traumatic pelvic fracture

In veterinary medicine, general anesthesia or sedation is generally required to immobilize patients during computed tomography (CT) scanning. This may not be suitable in all patients because of risks of anesthesia. We evaluated the feasibility of pelvic CT examination in 14 awake animals with pelvic trauma. Physical restraint was applied by wrapping the patient in a towel and then taping to the CT table or by directly taping the patient to the CT table. The effect of patient positioning, cooperation on the CT table, preparation time for scanning, scanning time, frequency of repeat scans, image quality, and complications related to physical restraint were evaluated. Fractures were recorded and compared between radiography and CT. Ten of 14 dogs were scanned in lateral recumbency and four in sternal recumbency. All patients were cooperative with the exception of one that moved slightly during the scan. Both physical restraint methods were adequate for CT scanning. Patient preparation took less than 5 min while the scan time was typically less than 1 min. No repeat scans were required in any patient. The transverse CT image quality was good (10/14) or fair (4/14) for interpretation. When comparing the CT images to radiographs, more pelvic fractures were identified with CT than with radiography and a few patients were overdiagnosed based on radiographs. No complications or additional injuries associated with physical restraint were noticed.     

Glutathione supplementation to semen extender improves the quality of frozen-thawed canine spermatozoa for transcervical insemination

The present study was conducted to evaluate whether supplementation of semen extender with glutathione (GSH) can maintain the quality of frozen-thawed canine spermatozoa. Eighteen ejaculates were obtained from 5 dogs and placed in extender (20% egg yolk, Tris, citric acid, lactose, raffinose, antibiotics and 6.5% glycerol) containing 0 (control), 2.5, 5, 7.5 or 10 mM GSH. The samples were cooled to 4 C and then frozen in liquid nitrogen vapor. Motility parameters of the sperm were evaluated at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 12 and 24 h after thawing. Sperm motility was higher in the 5 mM GSH group than in the control or 2.5 and 10 mM GSH groups; this effect was observed at 1 to 24 h after thawing (P < 0.05). The 5 mM GSH group had a higher sperm viability index at 12 and 24 h after thawing compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). Acrosome integrity, evaluated at 4 h after thawing, was greater in two of the GSH-treated groups (5 and 10 mM) compared with the control. Lipid peroxidation (LP) levels immediately after thawing were lower in the 5 and 10 mM GSH groups compared with the control, while those at 12 h after thawing did not differ significantly. Frozen-thawed semen in the 5 mM GSH group was used for transcervical insemination of 4 bitches, resulting in delivery of 5 puppies from 2 bitches. These results indicate that supplementation of semen extender with 5 mM GSH was effective in improving motility, longevity and acrosomal integrity and inhibiting LP levels in post-thaw canine spermatozoa, without any adverse impacts on full-term development after transcervical insemination.     

半干旱区不同土层深度土壤有机碳变化

选择内蒙古自治区赤峰市敖汉旗黄花甸子流域为研究对象,运用地统计学与ArcGIS空间分析工具相结合的方法研究了不同土层深度土壤有机碳含量、密度以及储量的变化情况。结果表明,不同土层有机碳含量与密度由高到低均表现为:表层(0—20cm)中层(20—60cm)底层(60—100cm)。表层土壤碳密度随海拔高度的增加而下降,有机碳含量呈现先增加后降低的趋势;底层土壤有机碳含量随海拔高度的改变无明显变化。同时海拔高度对土壤有机碳的影响也随土壤深度的增加而减小。研究区有机碳总储量为2.04×105 t,不同土层有机碳储量由高到低表现为:中层(8.56×104 t)底层(6.41×104 t)表层(5.47×104 t)。土壤有机碳储量与其对应海拔高度下面积的大小具有显著相关性。     

Relationship between nocturnal serotonin surge and melatonin onset in rodent pineal gland

Background  

We have recently reported dynamic circadian rhythms of serotonin (5-HT, 5-hydroxytryptamine) output in the pineal gland of rat, which precedes the onset of N-acetylserotonin (NAS) and melatonin secretion at night. The present study was aimed at investigating in detail the relationship between 5-HT onset (5HT-on) and melatonin onset (MT-on) in multiple strains of rats and comparing them with those of hamsters.     

奶山羊产奶性状相关基因的筛选与功能研究进展

奶山羊作为乳用品种的山羊,因其具有奶质优良、产奶性能稳定、乳汁营养丰富等特点,逐渐成为畜牧业发展的一大亮点。经过多年的选种选育,我国现已拥有了多个地方奶山羊品种。随着分子育种技术的发展,对于奶山羊产奶性状相关基因的研究越来越多。对奶山羊产奶性状相关基因的研究进展进行综述,以期为奶山羊优秀基因资源的研究、保护和利用提供理论依据。     

Relationships among muscle fiber type composition,fiber diameter and MRF gene expression in different skeletal muscles of naturally grazing Wuzhumuqin sheep during postnatal development

The aim of this study was to determine the relationships among muscle fiber‐type composition, fiber diameter, and myogenic regulatory factor (MRF) gene expression in different skeletal muscles during development in naturally grazing Wuzhumuqin sheep. Three major muscles (i.e. the Longissimus dorsi (LD), Biceps femoris (BF) and Triceps brachii (TB)) were obtained from 20 Wuzhumuqin sheep and 20 castrated rams at each of the following ages: 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months. Muscle fiber‐type composition and fiber diameter were measured using histochemistry and morphological analysis, and MRF gene expression levels were determined using real‐time PCR. In the LD muscle, changes in the proportion of each of different types of fiber (I, IIA and IIB) were relatively small. In the BF muscle, a higher proportion of type I and a 6.19‐fold lower proportion of type IIA fibers were observed (P < 0.05). In addition, the compositions of type I and IIA fibers continuously changed in the TB muscle (P < 0.05). Moreover, muscle diameter gradually increased throughout development (P < 0.05). Almost no significant difference was found in MRF gene expression patterns, which appeared to be relatively stable. These results suggest that changes in fiber‐type composition and increases in fiber size may be mutually interacting processes during muscle development.     

内蒙古地区草地类型分布格局变化及气候原因分析

利用内蒙古自治区48个气象观测站点50a（1962-2011）的月平均气温和降水量观测数据,基于Holdridge模型计算内蒙古气候区划指标划分不同类型草原区,模拟内蒙古草地类型50a的变化趋势。结合实际草地类型分布图,分析不同草原区1962-2011年的气候变化特征,并探讨气候变化对草地类型分布的影响。结果表明:内蒙古典型草原区的东部区域、荒漠草原区和草原荒漠区均属高温地带,而森林草原区和典型草原区的大部分区域属低温地带。50a间内蒙古草原区气温具有显著上升趋势（P<0.05）,各类型草地区的年平均气温均在1990年左右发生突变,同年呈显著升高趋势,而生长季气温在1995年左右发生突变,并于2a后呈显著升高趋势。内蒙古草原区降水分布格局具有明显的地带性,由西至东降水量递增且梯度差异明显。年降水量变化趋势表现为,森林草原区自1997年开始显著增加,至2002年回落;典型草原区自1992年开始年降水量显著增加,至2006年回落（P<0.05）;荒漠草原和草原荒漠区年降水量变化趋势不显著。生长季降水量的变化则表现为,森林草原和典型草原区在研究期内呈小幅减少-小幅增加-小幅减少趋势,其它类型草地降水变化与年降水量趋势一致。总体上,内蒙古草原区的降水变化,森林草原和典型草原区具有较大波动性,荒漠草原区于近年产生少许变动,而草原荒漠区相对较稳定。1962-2011年气温和降水量变化导致森林草原区面积在前30a呈增加趋势,后20a呈减少趋势;荒漠草原和草原荒漠区的边界逐渐向东扩展,典型草原区也将扩展至部分森林草原区域。总之,研究期内内蒙古草原区降水量在后期减少、气温持续升高,由于蒸散量加大可能导致土壤干旱,从而影响内蒙古草地生态系统分布格局的变化。     

高静压与к-卡拉胶对低脂猪肉凝胶保水和质构的影响

高静压处理与添加水溶性多糖是改善肉制品质构、保水性等品质的重要手段。本研究侧重调查100～300 MPa压力、0～1.0% к-卡拉胶添加水平对猪肉糜凝胶保水、质构的影响。试验结果表明，添加0.5%的к-卡拉胶可显著降低猪肉凝胶的蒸煮损失，提高总持水性及凝胶硬度(P＜0.05)；200 MPa以上的高静压不仅可以显著降低肉糜的蒸煮损失，而且也能够显著提高凝胶的硬度、黏结性与咀嚼性(P＜0.05)；但100～300 MPa的高静压对1.0%卡拉胶水平的凝胶弹性影响不明显(P＞0.05)。此外，对于肉制品保水性的评价，应注意选择合适的评价方法，尤其是蒸煮损失差异较大的肉制品样本，评价方法选择的合理性将直接影响评价的结果。     

高压处理对肌球蛋白质的影响

从牛骨骼肌中提取肌球蛋白质后进行纯化,并用不同程度的压力(100,200,300,400 MPa)进行处理,再与未处理样品进行比较。采用SDS—PAGE分析了解压力对肌球蛋白的影响。从SDS—PAGE可观察到,随着压力的升高,肌球蛋白质条带逐渐变淡,压力为400 MPa时,13.8 kDa的肌球蛋白轻链几乎已经消失,而200 kDa的肌球蛋白重链下方出现了一条比较模糊的其他蛋白质条带。     

Immunological characterization of peripheral blood leukocytes using vaccine for mycoplasmal pneumonia of swine (MPS) in swine line selected for resistance to MPS

This study was conducted to evaluate immunological changes in peripheral blood leukocytes in pigs that were genetically selected for their improved resistance to mycoplasmal pneumonia of swine (MPS), using MPS vaccine as an antigen. Twelve castrated MPS‐selected Landrace pigs were compared with the same number of pigs from a nonselected line by using a time‐course analysis at the hematological level. After the second sensitization with MPS vaccine, the percentages of B cells, CD4⁺ T cells, and natural killer (NK) cells in total leukocytes were lower in the selected line than in the nonselected line, whereas the percentage of granulocytes in total leukocytes increased in the MPS‐selected line. We also assessed the proliferative ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) stimulated with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, lipopolysaccharide or concanavalin A, and found that although the proliferative ability of the PBMC was not different between the two lines at a steady state, the nonselected line showed a significantly higher proliferative ability after sensitization with MPS vaccine than the selected line regardless of antigens used. These results thus indicate that the selection of pigs on the basis of MPS resistance changes their immunophenotype, and would give us beneficial information for the prevention of MPS infection.