The aim of the study was to examine the effect of the beta2-adrenoceptor, clenbuterol, on the duodenal epithelium of food-restricted rats. Clenbuterol was administered as a dietary admixture (4 mg/kg diet) to three groups of male Wistar rats (n = 8) housed individually in metabolic cages and fed ad libitum for 15 days at 110% and 160% of the estimated requirement for energy maintenance. Untreated groups at each energy intake level were also included. Samples of the duodenum were examined by light microscopy. Compared with control animals, clenbuterol treatment significantly increased body mass in all diet groups, although it induced no changes in mean food intake. Gastrointestinal (GIT) dry mass was increased by clenbuterol only in the most severely-restricted-diet group. In this group, clenbuterol treatment increased GIT tissue nitrogen (23%), more than it did in the ad libitum group (13%). In all treated groups, clenbuterol induced significant hypertrophy of duodenal enterocytes and circular muscle layers, and the diameter of lymphatic vessels increased. In the clenbuterol-treated, restricted-diet groups the height of the brush borders of enterocytes increased. It is concluded that clenbuterol has a protective effect on the intestinal structure in rats on restricted as well as ad libitum diets. 相似文献
ABSTRACT Mixed infections of cucurbits by Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and potyviruses exhibit a synergistic interaction. Zucchini squash and melon plants coinfected by the potyvirus Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) and either Fny-CMV (subgroup IA) or LS-CMV (subgroup II) displayed strong synergistic pathological responses, eventually progressing to vascular wilt and plant death. Accumulation of Fny- or LS-CMV RNAs in a mixed infection with ZYMV in zucchini squash was slightly higher than infection with CMV strains alone. There was an increase in CMV (+) strand RNA levels, but no increase in CMV (-) RNA3 levels during mixed infection with ZYMV. Moreover, only the level of capsid protein from LS-CMV increased in mixed infection. ZYMV accumulated to similar levels in singly and mixed infected zucchini squash and melon plants. Coinfection of squash with the potyvirus Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) and CMV strains increased both the Fny-CMV RNA levels and the LS-CMV RNA levels. However, CMV (-) strand RNA3 levels were increased little or not at all for CMV on coinfection with WMV. Infection of CMV strains (LS and Fny) containing satellite RNAs (WL47-sat RNA and B5*-sat RNA) reduced the accumulation of the helper virus RNA, except when B5*-sat RNA was mixed with LS- CMV. However, mixed infection containing ZYMV and the CMV strains with satellites reversed the suppression effect of satellite RNAs on helper virus accumulation and increased satellite RNA accumulation. The synergistic interaction between CMV and potyviruses in cucurbits exhibited different features from that documented in tobacco, indicating there are differences in the mechanisms of potyvirus synergistic phenomena. 相似文献
Outbreaks of an epidermic disease suggesting parapox virus infections have been observed in all major herds of sheep and goats from different geographical areas of Brazil. Clinical samples (dried scabs) were collected and orf virus was isolated and characterized by electron microscopy in previous work. In order to characterize these viruses at the molecular level, a modified methodology for genomic DNA extraction directly from scabs was used and such DNA was used to derive the restriction enzyme digestion patterns for clinical samples from three distinct geographic origins. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis was used to separate restriction enzyme DNA fragments and heterogeneity among isolates from different geographic areas could be observed on stained gels. The HindIII-G DNA fragment from orf-A virus genome was cloned and hybridized to DNA of other orf virus isolates. Further heterogeneity was confirmed by these hybridizations. 相似文献
During the years 2000–2001, 7 non-lactating beef cows, 40 ewes and 40 does were managed in mixed grazing on a natural heathland vegetation plot (22 ha) with 20% improved pasture (perennial ryegrass) on a hill (1000 m a.s.l.) experimental farm located in the NW of Spain. Samples of faeces and vegetation components were collected monthly to estimate diet selection, using the alkane markers, and diet overlapping level. Animals were weighed monthly to quantify live weight changes and performance of the three livestock species during different periods (spring, summer, autumn, winter) of the grazing season.
The percentage of shrubs in the diet was significantly higher in the small ruminants (ranging between 36% and 85%) than in cows (less than 25%) in any period. Gorse (Ulex gallii) and heather (Erica spp., Calluna) percentages were always significantly higher in does than in ewes, except in autumn for heather. Herbaceous component (namely grasses) was higher in cattle (75–99%) than in small ruminants (15–64%). The lowest mean dietary overlap was found between cattle and goats (50.4%), with large differences during the grazing season, ranging between 20% and 70%.
The three animal species increased their live weight in the first grazing period (spring), when the mean sward height on the improved area was higher than 6.0 cm. However, when the sward height was lower than 3.5 cm (summer–winter), cows lost weight (− 437 g/day) while ewes and goats were still able to increase their weight (29 and 5 g/day, respectively).
Therefore, it seems that small ruminants, mainly sheep, are more suitable than cattle from the vegetation utilization and animal performance points of view, as cows were unable to maintain live weight when the preferred grass availability decreases. Goats were the species that included the highest proportion of heathland vegetation components in the diet, especially gorse, although their performance was significantly lower than in sheep. In consequence, small ruminant production systems could be more sustainable than cattle. The results indicate that mixed grazing of sheep and goats could be appropriate in these vegetation communities, allowing the development of sustainable systems, in which animal performance and the efficiency of resource use are maximized. 相似文献
The present study was conducted in order to verify the efficacy of lower doses and alternative routes of a prostaglandin F2α analogue, luprostiol (PGF), for the induction of luteolysis and the precipitation of estrus in nonlactating Nelore cows (Bos taurus indicus). A conventional dose (15 mg) of PGF was compared to doses lower than the conventional dose, which ranges from 10 to 50%, that were administered intramuscularly (IM), intravulvosubmucosally (IVSM), or in the Bai-hui acupuncture site located within the lumbosacral area. The cows were administered PGF 8 day after estrus in the presence of a corpus luteum, and randomly assigned to the following groups: G1 (positive control), 15 mg, IM (n = 23); G2, 7.5 mg, IM (n = 23); G3, 3.75 mg, IM (n = 24); G4, 7.5 mg, IVSM (n = 25); G5, 3.75 mg, Bai-hui acupoint (n = 24); and G6, 1.5 mg, Bai-hui acupoint (n = 25). The results indicated that 50% of a conventional dose of PGF (7.5 mg) resulted in a complete luteal regression (plasma progesterone <1 ng/ml) at Hour 48, and hastened estrus, regardless of whether or not PGF was administered IM or IVSM. Comparatively, 10 or 25% of the conventional dose, even when administered to the Bai-hui acupoint, resulted in an initial reduction in the concentration of progesterone at Hour 24, followed by an increase observed at Hour 48. In conclusion, 25% of a conventional PGF dose administered via the Bai-hui acupoint proved inadequate to induce a complete luteal regression, whereas 50% of a conventional dose administered IM or IVSM was found to be the minimal dose required to induce effectively a complete luteal regression, and to precipitate the onset of estrus in nonlactating Nelore cows. 相似文献
Veterinary Research Communications - This study aimed to describe the transmission of T. gondii in naturally infected goats in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil, through evaluating the... 相似文献
This paper presents empirical evidence on the impact of socio-economic factors on the adoption of agroforestry practices in
Cameroon. The analysis uses primary farm-level data collected from June to December 1996. Three major provinces of the country
were covered, namely Centre, Southwest and Northwest Several agroforestry technologies have been promoted among farmers in
the zone, including alley farming, improved fallow, live fencing, cut-and-carry fodder and apiculture. The status of adoption
of each agroforestry practice is described and factors that affect adoption identified. These are gender of farmer, household
family size, level of education, farmer’s experience, membership within farmers’ associations, contact with research and extension,
security of land tenure, agroecological zone, distance of the village from nearest town, village accessibility and income
from livestock. Research findings indicate that since factors affecting farmers’ adoption of agroforestry practices differ
across techniques, generalisation is to be avoided. 相似文献
This study examines the strategies and benefits of the taungya farming system to both the government and the rural economy
in Nigeria. An interview survey was conducted in which data were collected from 115 randomly selected farmers in five villages
in the Oluwa forest reserve, Ondo State, Nigeria. The study examines the extent of participation of rural dwellers in plantation
development through taungya farming and the degree of success of this system as an afforestation method. The farmers were
predominantly illiterate, within the age bracket of 35–54 years and with small farm holdings. Twenty nine percent relied totally
on food from the forest reserve for their livelihood, while 71% also had farm holdings in free areas. Land within the reserve
is allocated to farmers free of charge but compensation is paid to landlords on land from free areas. A statistically significant
difference was detected in income from the two sources of farmland for the households and but not in the size of land allocated
under taungya and free areas. About 184 farmers are involved in taungya annually, and 410 ha of Tectonia grandis has been established for the government of Ondo State. 相似文献