焉耆盆地小麦地土壤重金属污染及生态风险

从新疆焉耆盆地采集35个小麦地土壤样品,测定其中As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Mn、Ni、Pb和Zn 8种重金属元素的含量,采用内梅罗污染指数(NPI)、潜在生态风险指数(RI)和生态风险预警指数(IER)对小麦地土壤重金属污染及生态风险进行评价。结果表明:焉耆盆地小麦地Cd含量平均值超出国家土壤环境质量二级标准的11.12倍,Cd、Cr、Ni、Pb和Zn含量的平均值分别超出新疆灌耕土背景值的55.58、1.32、1.48、3.21倍和4.47倍。小麦地Cd、Pb和Zn呈现重度污染,Cr和Ni轻度污染,As和Cu轻微污染,Mn无污染;研究区NPI平均值为7.93(呈现重度污染状态),RI平均值为342.95(属于较强生态风险水平),IER平均值为5.68(属于重警级别),土壤RI和IER从研究区北向南部呈现逐渐增加趋势。小麦地Ni、Pb与Zn主要受到人为污染源的影响,Cu、Mn和Cr主要受到土壤地球化学特征的控制,As和Cd可能受人为污染和自然因素共同影响。综上认为,Cd是焉耆盆地小麦地主要的污染因子和生态风险因子,对研究区耕地Cd污染应予关注。     

Prevalence of the AMHR2 mutation in Miniature Schnauzers and genetic investigation of a Belgian Malinois with persistent Müllerian duct syndrome

Persistent Müllerian duct syndrome (PMDS) is a sex‐limited disorder in which males develop portions of the female reproductive tract. Important consequences of PMDS are cryptorchidism and its sequelae of infertility and increased risk of testicular cancer. Anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) and its receptor (AMHR2) induce the regression of the Müllerian ducts in male embryos. In Miniature Schnauzer dogs, the genetic basis has been identified as an autosomal recessive nonsense mutation in AMHR2, but the allele frequency of the mutation is unknown. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of the AMHR2 mutation in North American Miniature Schnauzers, in order to ascertain the value of genetic testing in this breed. An additional objective was to determine whether mutations in AMH or AMHR2 were responsible for PMDS in a Belgian Malinois; this would aid development of a genetic test for the Belgian Malinois breed. Genomic DNA from 216 Miniature Schnauzers (including one known PMDS case) was genotyped for the AMHR2 mutation, and DNA from a single PMDS‐affected Belgian Malinois was sequenced for all coding exons of AMH and AMHR2. The Miniature Schnauzer cohort had an AMHR2 mutation allele frequency of 0.16 and a carrier genotypic frequency of 0.27. The genetic basis for PMDS in the Belgian Malinois was not determined, as no coding or splicing mutations were identified in either AMH or AMHR2. These findings support a benefit to AMHR2 mutation testing Miniature Schnauzers used for breeding or with cryptorchidism.     

Effect of housing system on reproductive behaviour and on some endocrinological and seminal parameters of donkey stallions

Reproductive management of male donkeys employed for artificial breeding has been poorly studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of housing system, with the animals grouped together in a paddock or kept in individual boxes, on sexual behaviour, cortisol and testosterone concentration and seminal characteristics of adult male donkeys. The study included four Amiata donkey jacks (stallions) from which ejaculates, saliva and blood were collected during two distinct 3 weeks periods, one in the group and one in the box housing system. Time needed for semen collection was shorter when donkeys were kept in paddocks compared to when they were kept in single boxes (14:57 ± 07:27 and 20:52 ± 09:31 min, p < .05). Native semen characteristics were not influenced by housing system, while cooled preservation in an Equitainer^® showed that sperm motility parameters were significantly higher during the paddock period compared to the box period. Salivary cortisol was influenced by housing system, both before and 60 min after ejaculation, being statistically higher when donkeys were housed in paddocks. On the contrary, overall and basal testosterone concentrations were significantly higher when animals were kept in boxes. In conclusion, in the present study, good quality semen could be successfully collected from donkeys irrespective of the housing system despite some differences in hormone concentrations.