西藏2种红豆杉扦插生根过程及解剖结构研究

采用幼嫩枝条扦插繁殖和石蜡切片法,对西藏分布的喜马拉雅红豆杉和云南红豆杉插穗的根部进行解剖,观察不定根的起源和发生发育过程,探讨两树种生根发生的规律,为两树种异地保护提供依据。结果表明,(1)喜马拉雅红豆杉与云南红豆杉无性繁殖过程中,其生根的外部形态相似,均为先形成愈伤组织再生根;(2)喜马拉雅红豆杉较云南红豆杉生根率高、生根快、根系发达,表现出较强的适应能力;(3)根部解剖结构显示,云南红豆杉周皮中存在一圈环状的厚壁细胞,生根时间较长可能与此有一定关系。     

Influence of the type of management system on corticosterone transfer into eggs in laying hens

The effect of free-range versus cage management system on corticosterone transfer into the eggs was studied in laying hens. Hungarian Yellow laying hens (age: 21 weeks, body weight: 2.0 +/- 0.5 kg) were divided into two groups in the spring: Group I, free-range keeping (n=15 layers, density: > 0.5 bird/m2) in outdoor runs, with continuous access to a commercial layer feed; Group II, hens kept in battery cages (n=17 layers, density: 2 birds/m2, natural light, continuous access to feed and water). Eggs were collected after a one-week adaptation period on days 2, 7 and 16. Corticosterone (CST) was extracted from homogenised egg samples using an ASE-200 Accelerated Solvent Extractor and then assayed by liquid chromatography linked with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) [Thermo Quest Surveyor high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) interfaced via Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionisation (APCI) ion source to Finnigan/Thermo Quest LCQ Deca MS/MS] using dexamethasone as internal standard with positive APCI ionisation. CST concentrations of whole eggs laid by free-range hens on days 2, 7 and 16 were 0.370 +/- 0.218, 0.259 +/- 0.066 and 0.915 +/- 0.745 ng x g(-1), respectively, while those of eggs laid by caged hens were 0.206 +/- 0.157, 0.223 +/- 0.165 and 0.184 +/- 0.110 ng x g(-1) at the above sampling times. It is concluded that in free-range laying hens the sharp changes of environmental weather conditions significantly increased the corticosterone content of eggs, while the environmentally controlled and closed battery cage management technology resulted in relatively uniform corticosterone concentrations in the whole eggs.     

Classical swine fever virus induces activation of plasmacytoid and conventional dendritic cells in tonsil, blood, and spleen of infected pigs

Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) compromises the host immune system, causing indirect leucopoenia and disruption of in vitro T cell stimulation capacity. In order to explore the potential role of dendritic cells (DC) in such phenomena, the activation of conventional DC (cDC) and plasmacytoid DC (pDC) in blood and secondary lymphoid organs of infected pigs was investigated in the early time course post-inoculation (pi), together with viral components dissemination and cytokine production in serum. Whereas CD11R1+CD172a+ cDC frequencies were markedly reduced in blood and spleen, analysis of CD4+CD172a+ pDC numbers revealed a rapid turn-over of this DC subset in tissues pi. Both subsets matured and were activated after infection, as demonstrated by down-regulation of CD1a, up-regulation of the co-stimulation molecule CD80/86 and expression of cytokines. cDC essentially expressed tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin (IL)-10, whereas pDC produced alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) and IL-12. IFN-alpha and TNF-alpha productions revealed an enhancement of innate anti-viral immune responses. Detection of antigen activated B lymphocytes in tonsil T-cell areas at 72 h pi, subsequently to the transient translocation of the viral E2 protein within germinal centres at 48 h pi, indicates the initiation of humoral response. This response was also evidenced by an important IL-10 production in serum one week pi. IL-12 expression in organs, as well as transient detection of IL-18 and IFN-gamma in serum, reflected the initiation of cellular immune responses. However, the uncommonly high levels of TNF-alpha and IFN-alpha produced by DC and measured in serum early post-infection, together with IL-10 expression in spleen, could play a role in the disruption of immune system cells, either inducing apoptosis or impairing DC functionalities themselves.     

Rate of lipid peroxidation in brain and liver tissues and the total antioxidant status of blood plasma in developing chicks

Age-related changes of tissue lipid peroxidation (LPO) of liver and brain, as well as plasma antioxidant capacity of broiler chicken cockerels were investigated. Tissue LPO was characterised by the spectrophotometric assessment of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Plasma antioxidant power was evaluated by the measurement of total antioxidant status (TAS). Newly hatched broiler chicks had similar TAS value (1.19 mmol/l) as newborns of mammalian species. Significant changes (p < 0.05) were observed in the time course of all parameters. Tissue TBARS concentration was higher in the brain than in the liver at hatching, while the latter organ was found to have more effective antioxidant defence during embryonic life. The concentration of TBARS increased up to the 10th day in the liver but only up to the 21st day in the brain, and the former was accompanied by an approximately 50% decrease of plasma antioxidant capacity. This suggests that the liver plays an important role in forming the antioxidant defence mechanisms of the blood plasma in broiler chicks.     

Dog feeding test for assessing the nutritional adequacy of practical diets

The nutritive value of dog foods declared by the manufacturer as nutritionally complete and balanced can be best assessed by feeding trials with dogs. A protocol of a feeding trial has been developed and tested with working dogs fed two different commercial complete and balanced diets for 8 weeks. The parameters used for evaluating the effect of diets were general health status, body and hair coat condition, change of body weight, haematological parameters (white blood cell (WBC) count, red blood cell (RBC) count, haemoglobin, packed cell volume), and biochemical parameters in blood serum (alanine aminotransferase, urea, albumin). The trial protocol proved to be appropriate to monitor the dogs' nutritional status and to reveal differences between diets. This method of evaluation is recommended for use in supporting the nutritional claims (labelling) of dog foods.     

A previously unknown maltose transporter essential for starch degradation in leaves

A previously unknown maltose transporter is essential for the conversion of starch to sucrose in Arabidopsis leaves at night. The transporter was identified by isolating two allelic mutants with high starch levels and very high maltose, an intermediate of starch breakdown. The mutations affect a gene of previously unknown function, MEX1. We show that MEX1is a maltose transporter that is unrelated to other sugar transporters. The severe mex1 phenotype demonstrates that MEX1is the predominant route of carbohydrate export from chloroplasts at night. Homologous genes in plants including rice and potato indicate that maltose export is of widespread significance.     

西藏羊蜱蝇中巴尔通体检测及gltA基因序列分析

为了明确西藏部分地区绵羊体外寄生羊蜱蝇携带病原巴尔通体的感染情况,作者于2019年1-9月采集了西藏林芝、日喀则、那曲地区绵羊体外寄生羊蜱蝇298只,通过形态学鉴定、PCR扩增羊蜱蝇18S rRNA基因进行虫体鉴定,并对病原巴尔通体的gltA基因进行检测,将部分阳性PCR产物连接pMD^TM-18T后转入DH5α感受态细胞,将阳性结果进行测序并进行遗传进化分析。结果显示,雌性阳性率49.8%（113/227）,雄性阳性率42.3%（30/71）,雌雄之间差异不显著（χ²=0.944,P=0.267）;羊蜱蝇携带病原巴尔通体的总感染率为48.0%（143/298）,林芝极显著高于日喀则、那曲地区（χ²=13.801,P<0.01;χ²=17.067,P<0.01）,日喀则和那曲地区无显著差异（χ²=0.084,P=0.771）;散养模式羊蜱蝇携带阳性率44.3%（102/230）,圈养阳性率85.0%（34/40）,屠宰场阳性率23.3%（7/30）,宿主散养和圈养、屠宰场存在极显著差异（χ²=20.929,P<0.01;χ²=24.38,P<0.01）,宿主散养和屠宰场存在显著差异（χ²=3.989,P=0.046）;将测序结果上传GenBank数据库获得3个巴尔通体gltA基因登录号（MN623006、MN623007、MN623008）;序列比对表明和云南、新疆巴尔通体相似性为99.6%~100%。本次研究首次检测出西藏羊蜱蝇携带病原巴尔通体,为了解西藏绵羊体外寄生虫携带病原巴尔通体和病原防控提供依据。     

What are the limits of the drilosphere? An incubation experiment using Metaphire posthuma

The near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) method was used in the present study to compare earthworm-made soil aggregates to aggregates found in the surrounding bulk soil. After initially assessing the daily cast production of Metaphire posthuma, boxes with soil incubated with M. posthuma and control soils were subjected to wetting in order to reorganize the soil structure. After two months of incubation, soil aggregates produced by earthworms (casts and burrows), soil aggregates that were appeared to be unaffected by earthworms (bulk soil without visible trace of earthworm bioturbation from the earthworm treatment) and soil aggregates that were entirely unaffected by earthworms (control – no earthworm – treatment) were sampled and their chemical signatures analyzed by NIRS. The production of below-ground and surface casts reached 14.9 g soil g worm^?1 d^?1 and 1.4 g soil g worm^?1 d^?1, respectively. Soil aggregates from the control soils had a significantly different NIRS signature from those sampled from boxes with earthworms. However, within the earthworm incubation boxes the NIRS signature was similar between cast and burrow aggregates and soil aggregates from the surrounding bulk soil. We conclude that the high cast production by M. posthuma and the regular reorganization of the soil structure by water flow in and through the soil lead to a relatively homogenous soil structure. Given these results, we question the relevance of considering the bulk soil that has no visible activity of earthworm activity as a control to determine the effect of earthworms on soil functioning.