The effect of dietary tryptophan levels on oxidative stress of liver induced by diquat in weaned piglets

Oxidative stress can induce abnormal tryptophan metabolism. The present study was mainly conducted to determine the effect of dietary tryptophan levels on oxidative stress in the liver of weaned pigs challenged by diquat. A total of 36 PIC piglets weaned at 21 days of age were randomly allotted to 1 of 3 diets containing dietary tryptophan levels of 0.18, 0.30, and 0.45% for 14 d. On day 8, the piglets were injected intraperitoneally with sterile 0.9% NaCl solution or diquat (10 mg/kg body weight). During the first 7 d of trial, increasing dietary tryptophan levels enhanced average daily gain (P = 0.09) and average daily feed intake (P = 0.08), and decreased the feed efficiency (P < 0.05) of piglets. The growth performance was decreased by diquat injection (P < 0.05). Diquat injection also decreased the activities of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the plasma and liver (P < 0.05), increased plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) (P < 0.05) and urea nitrogen (P < 0.05) concentrations, and enhanced MDA concentration (P = 0.09) and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) activity (P = 0.07) in liver of piglets. Increasing dietary tryptophan levels could attenuate the effects of diquat injection on the MDA (P = 0.06) concentration and the activities of SOD (P = 0.09) and GPx (P = 0.05) of the liver, and plasma urea nitrogen (P = 0.06) concentration in the piglet. There was a synergistic role for increasing TDO activity in the liver between dietary tryptophan levels and diquat injection (P < 0.05). These results suggest that increasing dietary tryptophan levels could attenuate the oxidative stress of the liver in weaned piglets intraperitoneally injected with diquat via enhancing the antioxidant capacity.     

钙离子浓度对日本沼虾感光细胞内可溶性Gq蛋白α亚基含量的影响

研究了钙离子浓度对日本沼虾(Macrobrachium nipponense)感光细胞中可溶性Gq蛋白α亚基含量的影响.以暗适应状态日本沼虾的复眼视网膜为材料,分别用高钙溶液、生理溶液、低钙溶液进行孵育,应用SDS-PAGE及免疫印迹技术对其可溶性蛋白粗提取液进行分离和鉴定,并利用Tanon GIS凝胶图像处理系统对蛋白条带的含量进行分析,结果显示:不同钙离子浓度中孵育的日本沼虾感光细胞蛋白的条带数量和分子量大小基本相同.兔抗Gqα多克隆抗体在高钙溶液、生理溶液及低钙溶液处理的日本沼虾感光细胞中均识别了可溶性Gq蛋白α亚基,分子量为42 ku,可溶性Gq蛋白α亚基的含量分别是8.6%、8.4%和7.2%.在暗适应条件下,细胞中可溶性Gq蛋白α亚基的含量与钙离子浓度成正比,这表明钙离子浓度的升高可促进膜结合的Gq蛋白α亚基转化为可溶性的Gq蛋白α亚基.     

Characterization of the DNA nucleotide sequences in the genome of red sea bream iridoviruses isolated in Korea

The nucleotide sequences of DNA fragments amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from four different genomic regions of nine red sea bream iridoviruses (RSIVs) isolated from different species of fish, different areas and in different years in Korea were compared with the reported reference sequences. One isolate, RSIV Namhae, showed 100% homology to the reference sequences, while the other eight isolates, which appeared to contain identical nucleotide sequences, showed 96.6–98.9% homology with reference sequences depending upon the target regions of PCR gene amplification. However, differences in nucleotide sequences were not apparent between the RSIVs isolated in different locations, in different years or in different host species. We also cloned and sequenced the 3′ end flanking region (K1) of the DNA polymerase (DPOL) gene using the cassette ligation-mediated PCR method. This sequence was 4436-bp long and possessed two open reading frames (ORF-1 and ORF-2) oriented in opposite directions. The putative proteins encoded by these two ORFs could not be characterized by comparison with the proteins of other species in the data banks. The presence of the ribonucleotide reductase small subunit (RNRS) gene at the 3′ end of the K1 region allowed us to determine that these two genes, RNRS and DPOL, are separated 5508 bp and oriented in the same direction in the genome of RSIV. Moreover, it is of interest that a PstI-restriction fragment, of which the sequence but not the location within the RSIV genome had previously been reported, is located at nucleotide positions from 1096 to 2054, extending from within the ORF-1 region, spanning the intervening sequence between ORF-1 and ORF-2, and extending into the ORF-2 region. Various repeating sequences up to 86 bp were present at the 3′ ends of ORFs, especially within the nucleotide sequences at the 3′ terminus of ORF-2. No similarities were detected when the DNA sequences of the K1 region were compared to the DNA sequences of a repetitive element in the genome of other iridoviruses.     

Complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of the Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus

ABSTRACT: The complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome for the Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus (Teleostei: Clupeiformes) was determined. The entire genome was purified by gene amplification using the long polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, and products were subsequently used as templates for PCR with 56 fish-versatile primers that amplify contiguous, overlapping segments of the entire genome. Direct sequencing of the PCR products demonstrated that the genome (16 675 base pairs [bp]) contained the same 37 mitochondrial genes (two ribosomal RNA, 22 transfer RNA and 13 protein-coding genes) as those found in other vertebrates, with the gene order being identical to that in typical vertebrates. A major non-coding region between the tRNA^Pro and tRNA^Phe genes (1024 bp) was considered to be the control (D-loop) region, as it has several conservative blocks characteristic to this region.     

Breaking seasonal limitation: year-round sporogenesis in the brown alga Laminaria saccharina by blocking the transport of putative sporulation inhibitors

Year-round induction of sporogenesis of Laminaria saccharina was performed by mechanically blocking the transport of the putative sporulation inhibitors produced by the blade meristem and culturing the plants in constant short days. Sporogenesis was successfully induced by removal of the blade meristem, either by cultivating distal blade fragments or by performing a transverse cut in the frond. The earliest sorus formation after artificial induction was 10 days. The age of the sporophytes used for induction was 6–11 months or 2 years in tank-grown or field-collected sporophytes, respectively. Zoospores were successfully released in all cases. Thus, by year-round artificial induction of sporogenesis, (1) sporeling production of L. saccharina and thereafter sporophyte cultivation could be achieved without seasonal limitation, and (2) the life cycle of L. saccharina (from spore to spore) could be completed within 8 months under controlled conditions.     

Immune responses of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), after oral or intraperitoneal vaccination with particulate or soluble Edwardsiella ictaluri antigen

Abstract. Groups of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque). were administered Edwardsiella ictaluri twice in the form of whole outer membrane proteins (OMP) or heat-inactivated whole bacteria (IWB) orally or IWB intraperitoneally. Antibody titres and lysozyme concentrations were determined in serum, mucus, gut contents and gut washings taken 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after the second antigen administration. Bacterial killing by anterior kidney neutrophils was determined 7, 14 and 21 days after the second antigen administration. Enhanced killing of tumour targets by nonspecific cytotoxic cells (NCC) was determined 7 days after the second antigen administration. Serum antibody titres of all treatment groups were significantly increased above those of the control group throughout all sampling periods. Fish receiving oral administration of OMP or IWB exhibited maximum serum antibody titres on day 21 or 28. Antibody titres were also detected in mucus, gut washings and gut contents, but did not reach the level of those in the serum. Bacterial killing was significantly increased only on day 7, and could not be correlated to antibody titre or lysozyme concentration. Bacterial killing was found to be the result of a heat-labile serum factor. NCC activity of fish vaccinated with IWB orally was significantly higher than that of fish vaccinated with OMP orally or controls. Although intraperitoneal vaccination consistently produces higher titre antisera, the results of this study support the idea that oral vaccination can induce antibody systhesis.     

荧光定量PCR检测洪湖碘泡虫寄生异育银鲫组织器官的偏好

为了阐明洪湖碘泡虫(Myxobolus honghuensis)在隐性感染异育银鲫(Carassius auratus gibelio, Bloch)不同组织器官中的分布情况, 本研究采集曾发生过喉孢子虫病养殖池塘的 2 龄健康异育银鲫的鳃(丝)、伪鳃、中肾、头肾、 肌肉、脾脏、肝脏、卵巢、血液等 9 个组织器官, 采用荧光定量 PCR 检测分析了不同组织器官的感染率和相对感染强度。结果显示, 所采集的 30 尾异育银鲫都没有明显临床症状, 但鱼体的洪湖碘泡虫感染率为 100%, 均为隐性感染个体; 各组织器官间的感染率存在较大差异, 除肌肉未检出外, 感染率从高到低依次为: 伪鳃(100.0%)、卵巢 (83.3%)、鳃(73.3%)、脾脏(70.0%)、中肾(36.7%)、头肾(23.3%)、肝脏(10.0%)、血液(6.7%)、肌肉(0)。不同组织器官的相对感染强度由高到低依次为: 伪鳃(14.4349±70.0529)、卵巢(0.9556±1.5627)、脾脏(0.3644±0.7854)、鳃 (0.3339±0.2682)、头肾(0.2722±0.3761)、中肾(0.0379±0.1055)、肝脏(0.0019±0.0022)、血液(0.0012±0.0011)。研究表明, 洪湖碘泡虫可系统感染异育银鲫多个组织器官, 其中, 伪鳃感染率和感染强度最高, 可以作为该病早期检测和疫病监测的首选组织器官。     

人工诱导池塘养殖鳗鲡成熟产卵以及胚胎和仔鱼发育

降海鳗鲡一直是作为研究鳗鲡人工繁殖的材料,由于降海鳗鲡的资源衰退,选用池塘养殖鳗鲡作为亲本的研究成为热点。尽管人工诱导野生降海鳗鲡获得的胚胎发育过程的研究已报道,但人工诱导池塘养殖鳗鲡的胚胎及仔鱼早期发育未见报道。本文应用池塘养殖日本鳗鲡取代野生降海日本鳗鲡进行人工繁殖,2002年的孵化批次共80次,其中大部分为人工授精卵(60次),一部分(20次)为自然产卵。受精率为(44.03±21.99)%,孵化率为(65.76±19.48)%,共计获得苗种349.9万尾。连续记录了鳗鲡的胚胎和早期仔鱼的发育过程。在水温为20.5℃时,胚胎发育需要时间为49h,所需积温1005℃.h;在水温为22.5℃时,胚胎发育需要时间为39h,所需积温878℃.h;在水温为24.5℃时,胚胎发育需要时间为34h,所需积温833℃.h。     

龙眼成龄树树形的研究

通过对“早熟一号”龙眼不同树形盛果期成龄树进行试验,发现开心形树形在光合生理指标、叶绿素含量和叶片N、P、K含量、果实产量和品种等方面都显著优于对照圆头形树形,也明显优于纺锤形树形。     

怀头鲇、鲇及其杂交F↓（1）肝、胰脏胚后发育及卵黄吸收方式

利用形态学和组织连续切片技术,对怀头鲇（Silurus soldatovi）、鲇（Silurus asotus）及其杂交F1的肝、胰脏胚后发育和卵黄吸收方式进行对比观察.结果表明,3种鲇出膜后约2天在心脏后方有一肝细胞团,3天后肝细胞团逐步增大,4天后肝分叶.以后随着各种鲇生长速度不同肝、胰脏发育程度也不同.3种鲇的胰脏均为紧凑型,卵黄囊依照先卵黄球、后脂肪的顺序被吸收,3种鲇只有怀头鲇和杂交F1代卵黄吸收方式相同.出膜后4天,各鲇的卵黄均被全部吸收,腹腔上部大部分空间为肝脏占有,同时腹腔内出现结构简单的胃及肠.研究还发现肝脏的发育与卵黄囊密切有关.[中国水产科学,2006,13（3）：460-465]