Effect of a single injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on testicular blood flow measured by color doppler ultrasonography in male Shiba goats

Although color Doppler ultrasonography has been used to evaluate testicular blood flow in many species, very little has been done in goat. Eight male Shiba goats were exposed to a single intramuscular injection of either gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH group; 1 µg/kg BW) or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG group; 25 IU/kg BW). Plasma testosterone (T), estradiol (E2) and inhibin (INH) were measured just before (0 hr) and at different intervals post injection by radioimmunoassay. Testis volume (TV) and Doppler indices, such as resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) of the supratesticular artery, were measured by B-mode and color Doppler ultrasonography, respectively. The results indicated an increase in testicular blood flow in both groups, as RI and PI decreased significantly (P<0.05), but this increase was significant higher and earlier in hCG group (1 hr) than in the GnRH group (2 hr). A high correlation was found for RI and PI with both T (RI, r= −0.862; PI, r= −0.707) and INH in the GnRH group (RI, r=0.661; PI, r=0.701). However, a significant (P<0.05) correlation was found between E2 and both RI (r= −0.610) and PI (r= −0.763) in hCG group. In addition, TV significantly increased and was highly correlated with RI in both groups (GnRH, r= −0.718; hCG, r= −0.779). In conclusion, hCG and GnRH may improve testicular blood flow and TV in Shiba goats.     

Identification of irisin immunoreactivity in porcupine (Hystrix cristata) adrenal glands and kidneys

Irisin, a novel peptide, was initially been shown to be expressed explicitly in the muscle tissues. We studied the presence of irisin immunoreactivity in porcupine adrenal glands and kidneys. Immunocytochemistry showed that irisin was localised both in the adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla. In organs, irisin immunoreactivity was found in the tubular and collecting system of the nephron. The functional role of irisin in the adrenal gland and kidney has not been precisely yet. However, irisin might have a paracrine and autocrine function as do other locally produced peptides.     

甘蔗组培裸根苗小拱棚大田移栽技术试验报告

为了提高甘蔗组培裸根苗在不同季节的大田移栽成活率,通过搭建小拱棚对‘新台糖22号’甘蔗脱毒组培裸根苗进行栽培。比较不同增殖苗处理方式和小拱棚顶部不同透气孔的设置、不同假植天数及不同季节对甘蔗组培裸根苗大田移栽成活生长的影响。研究缩短甘蔗组培苗育苗周期的同时又能提高甘蔗组培苗的大田移栽成活率及生长速度的方法。结果表明：不同增殖苗处理方式之间的成活生长差异不显著;移栽当天在小拱棚顶部设置直径1~2 cm的透气孔,裸根苗移栽成活率可高达93.5%,与对照差异达到极显著水平;假植天数为20~40天,每年的2月至10月均适合运用小拱棚进行甘蔗组培裸根苗的大田移栽。从根本上达到了缩短育苗周期,减少中间生产环节,降低育苗成本的目的。     

短蛸(Amphioctopus fangsiao)幼体摄食行为和不同饵料对其生长、存活的影响

为了研究短蛸(Amphioctopus fangsiao)不同生长阶段的饵料需求,本研究采用刚孵化的短蛸幼体作为实验材料,首先观察不同环境条件下短蛸幼体的摄食行为,然后通过投喂不同的饵料,对短蛸幼体的生长过程进行研究。结果显示,卤虫无节幼体密度从0.1个/ml上升至1个/ml的过程中,密度在0.1个/ml时短蛸初孵幼体摄食量高;1–2 d龄幼体和2–3 d龄幼体有较为强烈的摄食行为,因此,需要从孵化第2天开始重视短蛸幼体的饵料情况。晚上是初孵幼体的摄食活跃阶段,在室内光和黑暗条件下均表现出高摄食量。投喂混合饵料时,短蛸幼体有较高的存活率和增长率;初孵幼体(0.03 g)培育过程中,卤虫无节幼体是关键饵料;当幼体开始附底(0.1 g)时,应及时进行饵料转换,虾苗和贝肉是附底幼体的重要饵料。该研究结果对短蛸规模化苗种繁育具有重要实用价值。     

恩施烟区土壤磷素与烤烟磷含量的关系

分析了湖北省恩施烟区土壤磷素与烤烟磷含量的状况及其相互关系,结果表明:恩施烟区土壤磷素含量偏低,全磷和速效磷含量分别为(0.63±0.23)gkg-1和(16.88±12.73)mgkg-1,二者之间存在极显著的正相关,相关系数为0.6353**。土壤全磷和速效磷含量在不同海拔高度、土层深度之间差异显著,海拔之间表现为:高海拔中海拔低海拔;土层之间表现为:0～20cm20～40cm40～60cm。烤烟磷素含量较低,平均为(1.68±0.32)gkg-1,在不同品种、海拔之间差异显著,品种之间表现为:云烟87K326云烟85,海拔之间表现为:高海拔中海拔低海拔。烤烟磷素含量在等级之间差异不显著,但随着叶位的升高,烤烟磷含量有升高的趋势。烤烟磷含量(y)与土壤速效磷含量(x)之间存在极显著的回归关系,y=0.1224+0.0026x,相关系数r=0.8582**。土壤速效磷含量分组后,随着土壤速效磷含量升高,烤烟磷含量也呈现出升高趋势。     

Feeding activity rhythm in Japanese sea catfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plotosus japonicus</Emphasis>

To examine the feeding activity characteristics of Japanese sea catfish Plotosus japonicus, access to feed box (feeding activity) and the number of food pellets consumed (food intake) were recorded under laboratory conditions. When fed ad libitum under a 12:12 h light–dark (LD) cycle, all fish exhibited feeding activity and consumed food during the dark period. Feeding activity increased in the presence of food, and this increased activity level continued for several days after food removal. During restricted food availability within the light period of the LD cycle, seven of nine fish exhibited food-anticipatory activity (FAA) both before and after the 12:00 food-restricted time. This FAA persisted under constant light conditions (in nine of nine fish). The average circadian free-running period was 24 h. These results suggest that P. japonicus exhibits a nocturnal feeding activity rhythm, which may be synchronized by a food-restricted time.     

The process of decline of an endangered tree species,Pinus armandii Franch. var.amamiana (Koidz.) Hatusima, on the southern slope of Mt. Hasa-dake in Yaku-shima Island

The process of decline of an endangered tree species,Pinus armandii var.amamiana, was monitored on the southern slope of Mt. Hasa-dake in Yaku-shima Island from 1994 to 1998. There are 163 trees ofP. armandii var.amamiana over 1.3 m in height. They are distributed on steep ridges and rocks with a thin soil layer mostly consisting of friable granite. During the monitoring period, 21 trees ofP. armandii var.amamiana died and the mortality rate was 12.9%. Dead trees were categorized into three types: standing, uprooted and landslide. The uprooted- and landslide-typed dead trees were found only after a severe typhoon struck Yaku-shima Island. This suggests that the combination of fragile site conditions and severe typhoons play an important role in the process of decline ofP. armandii var.amamiana. The standing-typed dead trees were presumed to have been killed by pine wilt disease, accounting for 71.4% of the dead trees. However,Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, the cause of pine wilt disease, was not detected from any of the wood chips or branch samples from the standing-typed dead trees ofP. armandii var.amamiana. This might indicate that some factor(s) other than pine wilt disease could be responsible for the standing-typed death ofP. armandii var.amamiana in natural habitats. A part of this paper was presented at the 109th Meeting of the Japanese Forestry Society.     

神经元特异性烯醇化酶在大鼠动情周期子宫中的分布

选择健康、未产、体重220-250g成年雌性SD大鼠，采用阴道涂片方法鉴定其动情周期，并采用免疫组织化学SP法研究了神经元特异性烯醇化酶（NSE）在大鼠动情周期子宫内分布的变化规律。结果显示，子宫各层均有不同程度NSE免疫阳性产物分布，并随动情周期的变化表现出一定的规律：各期子宫内膜黏膜上皮细胞、腺上皮细胞、基质细胞、血管内皮细胞及肥大细胞等NSE免疫阳性细胞数量变化不大，但着色深浅有一定差别，动情期着色最深，动情后期、动情间期、动情前期着色依次减弱；肌层和子宫外膜中，动情期着色最深，动情后期着色最浅，动情间期表达量明显回升，动情前期比动情期着色稍浅。表明，NSE在子宫中的分布可能受性类固醇激素的调节。     

起垄栽培对苹果根系构型的影响

以9年生寒富/山定子为试材,研究砂土地和粘土地起垄栽培对苹果根系构型的影响。结果表明,无论砂土地还是粘土地进行起垄栽培,根系主要分布于垄台空间以内;垂直深扎根系较少;整个空间内根系分布比较均匀,没有明显的层次;骨干根数量增多,毛细根量大。骨干根粗度一般在3 cm左右,很少发生5 cm以上的大型骨干根;根系分支级数下降,一般在3级左右;大部分骨干根上直接着生小型根组,毛细根与骨干根之间运输距离缩短。地上部表现树势强健,叶片肥大明亮,果实分布均匀。     

A multichannel automated chamber system for continuous measurement of forest soil CO2 efflux

We developed a fast-response multi-chamber system for measuring soil-surface CO2 efflux (Fc). The chambers (90 x 90 x 50 cm, L x W x H) had lids that opened and closed automatically, and were connected in parallel to a single CO2 analyzer equipped with a 16-channel gas sampler. Between measurements the chamber lids were raised to allow precipitation and leaf litter to reach the enclosed soil surface. When a chamber was closed, it was ventilated with well-buffered ambient air (125 l min-1) that entered by an inlet on one chamber sidewall and exited through a large vent on the opposite sidewall. The pressure difference between the inside and outside of the chamber was less than 0.22 Pa. Two additional mixing fans maintained an air speed of 0.3 +/- 0.1 m s-1 at 20 cm above the soil surface. Air was withdrawn continuously from the inlets and outlets of each chamber, and fed sequentially to an infrared CO2 analyzer. With this system, we measured Fc in a 40-year-old temperate Pinus densiflora Sieb. & Zucc. forest from February 8 to May 30, 2001. Mean Fc increased steadily from 0.9 micro mol m-2 s-1 at the beginning of February to 4.6 micro mol m-2 s-1 by the end of May. There was a statistically significant correlation between Fc and surface soil temperature (r = 0.896; P < 0.0001), and the Q10 value was 2.8. Spatial variation of Fc was higher in the non-growing season than in the growing season. Measurements were not interrupted by either rain or snow.