Methyl donors dietary supplementation to gestating sows diet improves the growth rate of offspring and is associating with changes in expression and DNA methylation of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 gene

The study aimed to investigate the effects of maternal dietary methyl donors on the performance of sows and their offspring, and the associated hepatic insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) expression of the offspring. A total of 24 multiparous sows were randomly fed the control (CON) or the CON diet supplemented with methyl donors (MD) at 3 g/kg betaine, 15 mg/kg folic acid, 400 mg/kg choline and 150 μg/kg VB₁₂, from mating until delivery. After farrowing, sows were fed a common lactation diet through a 28‐days lactation period and six litters per treatment were selected to be fed until at approximately 110 kg BW. Maternal MD supplementation resulted in greater birthweight (p < 0.05) and increased the piglet weights (p < 0.01) and litter weights (p < 0.05) at the age of day 28, compared with that in CON group. The offspring pigs in the MD group had greater ADG (p < 0.05) and tended to lower F:G ratio (p = 0.07) compared with that of CON group from day 28 to 180 of age. The offspring pigs from MD group had greater serum IGF‐1 concentrations and expressions of hepatic IGF‐1 gene and muscular IGF‐1 receptor (IGF‐1r) protein at birth (p < 0.05), and greater hepatic IGF‐1 protein (p = 0.03) and muscular IGF‐1r gene expressions (p < 0.05) at slaughter, than that from the CON group. Moreover, the methylation at the promoter of IGF‐1 gene in the liver of newborn piglets and finishing pigs was greater in the MD group than that of the CON group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, maternal MD supplementation throughout gestation could enhance the birthweight and postnatal growth rate of offspring, associated with an increased expression of the IGF‐1 gene and IGF‐1r, as well as the altered DNA methylation of IGF‐1 gene promotor.     

Comparative expression profile of microRNAs and piRNAs in three ruminant species testes using next‐generation sequencing

microRNA (miRNA) and piwi‐interacting RNA (piRNA) are two classes small non‐coding regulatory RNAs that play crucial roles in multiple biological processes such as spermatogenesis. However, there are no published studies on conjoint analysis of miRNA and piRNA profiles among cattle, yak and their interspecies (the dzo) using sequencing technology. Next‐generation sequencing technology was used to profile miRNAs and piRNAs among those three ruminants to elucidate their functions. A total of 119, 14 and six differentially expressed miRNAs were obtained in cattle vs. dzo, cattle vs. yak and yak vs. dzo comparison groups, while there were 873, 1,065 and 1,158 differentially expressed piRNAs in those three comparison groups. The expression of three miRNAs was validated in the three ruminants, and the results suggested that the miRNA expression profiles data could represent actual miRNA expression levels. Moreover, the putative targets of differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted by their own genome, it is worth to note that both the cattle and yak genome were used for dzo, then the targets were subjected to GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis, revealing the likely roles for these differentially expressed miRNAs in spermatogenesis. In conclusion, this study provided a useful resource for further elucidation of the miRNAs and piRNAs regulatory roles in spermatogenesis. It may also facilitate the development of therapeutic strategies for dzo reproduction research.     

饲用荞麦在畜牧业中的应用与研究

荞麦(Fagopyrum esulentum)原产于中国,其栽培种甜荞和苦荞在世界各地已被广泛种植,我国西南地区蕴含着丰富的野生荞麦资源。荞麦营养丰富,除含有常见的蛋白质、纤维素和糖类外,还富含芦丁等抗氧化物质,具有耐瘠薄、抗病虫害、适应性强、生长迅速等优点,特别是一些野生种叶片大、叶量多,更适合于刈割,这些优点使其成为一种很具有发展潜力的优质牧草资源。但目前荞麦的饲用价值仍未得到充分的发掘与利用。本文着重介绍了荞麦在我国的栽培、饲用历史和现状,结合荞麦饲用于猪、反刍动物及家禽等方面的研究进展,分析了荞麦在饲用化发展中将面临的问题,并对其应用前景进行了评价与展望。     

不同年限封育对黄土高原典型草原地上植被的影响

为了揭示自然恢复过程中植被动态变化规律,以黄土高原典型草原为研究对象,采用野外调查与室内分析相结合的方法,分析不同年限封育(0、5、15、23和32年)对草地植被特征、物种多样性和群落演替动态变化的影响。结果表明,随着封育年限的增加,枯落物量和厚度呈递增趋势,群落盖度呈先增加后降低趋势,群落密度呈递减趋势,地上生物量和禾草地上生物量均呈先增加后降低的趋势,且均在封育23年草地达到了峰值。不同年限的封育对Simpson多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数影响不显著(P0.05)。地上植被的物种丰富度呈先增加后降低趋势,且在封育15年达到峰值。地上植被群落封育演替的一般模式为杂类草生长阶段→本氏针茅(Stipa bungeana)逐渐占优势阶段→本氏针茅稳定发展阶段。     

青藏高原垂穗披碱草种质资源遗传多样性的SSR分析

采用SSR分子标记技术,对采自青藏高原的30份野生垂穗披碱草(Elymus nutans)种质进行遗传多样性分析。结果表明,1)筛选出的16对引物共获得了116个等位基因位点,92个多态性位点,多态性位点率(PPB)为79.75%,多态性信息(PIC)含量为0.063~0.325,平均值为0.188,材料间遗传相似系数(GS)介于0.692~0.976,平均值为0.828。2)聚类分析表明,在遗传相似系数0.804处,30份供试材料可聚为四大类,单独聚为一类的09-214表现出与其他材料较远的亲缘关系,主成分分析结果与UPGMA结果基本一致。群体遗传结构分析显示,大部分材料的遗传背景较为单一,群体划分的结果与聚类分析的结果部分保持一致。研究显示,供试种质材料间存在较大的差异,部分材料表现出相对独立的特性,遗传多样性较丰富,可为垂穗披碱草的保护利用、新品种的选育及优良基因的挖掘提供参考依据。     

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。     

不同盐胁迫水平下硅对高羊茅幼苗生物量、酶活性和渗透调节物质的影响

采用盆栽试验研究了高羊茅(Festuca arundinacea)幼苗在不同盐浓度胁迫下生物量、抗氧化酶活性和渗透调节物质对硅的响应。结果显示,随盐浓度增加高羊茅生物量逐渐降低,而盐浓度小于50 mmol·L~(-1)或大于250mmol·L~(-1)时,硅对高羊茅生物量没有明显影响,盐浓度介于50到250mmol·L~(-1),硅显著提高了高羊茅生物量(P0.05)。随着盐浓度增加过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性呈上升趋势,过氧化物酶(POD)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性先上升后下降,添加硅虽然提高了POD、SOD和CAT活性,但不同酶显著增加时盐浓度存在一定的差异。可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量随着盐浓度的增加呈先上升后下降的趋势,丙二醛含量呈上升趋势,盐浓度为200和250mmol·L~(-1)时,可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量达到峰值,添加硅均降低了高羊茅体内可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白和丙二醛含量。上述结果表明,硅对高羊茅适应盐胁迫能力的影响在盐浓度间存在分异,过低或过高盐浓度时,硅对高羊茅适应性没有显著影响,中盐浓度时,硅能通过增强高羊茅体内的抗氧化酶活性、改善渗透调节过程和降低膜质氧化来增强其对盐胁迫的适应性。     

病死和病害动物无害化处理方法探讨

病死和病害动物无害化处理工作关乎动物养殖和公共卫生安全。本文从工艺流程、适用对象、处理周期与成本、残渣再利用和污染环境情况等方面,对焚烧法、化制法、高温法、深埋法和硫酸分解法等5种无害化处理方法的优缺点进行了对比分析。结果表明,焚烧法周期最短,深埋法周期最长;焚烧法和深埋法处理成本最低;高温法最有利于环保。     

新疆阿勒泰垦区规模化羊群弓形虫病血清流行病学调查

为摸清新疆阿勒泰垦区兵团第十师北屯市规模化羊群的弓形虫感染情况,采用间接血凝试验(IHA),对采集自第十师所属7个团场的890份羊血清进行了弓形虫血清抗体检测。结果显示:该地区规模化羊群的弓形虫血清抗体平均阳性率为6.18%(55/890);不同羊群均有感染,表明感染分布广泛;母羊群感染率较高,为9.36%;羊群感染率随羊年龄增加而升高。这些情况需引起足够重视。