Artificial Insemination of Swine: Fecundity of Boar Semen Stored in Beltsville TS (BTS), Modified Modena (MM), or MR-A and Inseminated on One,Three and Four Days After Collection12

Contents: A field trial was conducted on 1,463 farms in The Netherlands to compare the fertilizing capacity of boar spermatozoa extended in Beltsville TS (BTS), Modified (MM), or MR-A, and inseminated in 2896 sows and gilts on the first, third or fourth day following collection. Semen was collected, extended, and stored at 18°C at six different AI centers and inseminated by inseminators on their regular routes. Sows inseminated with BTS and MR-A extended semen had higher farrowing rates than MM (79.3, 77.6 us 50.4, P <.0001), higher total pigs per litter (11.4, 11.1 vs 10.0, P <.0001) and higher total pigs born alive (10.7, 10.5 vs 9.4, P <. 0001). The farrowing rate of gilts inseminated with BTS extended semen was superior to MM (73.5 vs. 50.2%, P <.004), while MR-A gave farrowing rates greater than MM (64.1 vs 50.2%, P =.06). There was no difference in litter data for gilts. Farrowing rates for 1 and 4 day semen were superior to 3 day semen (73.2, 73.8 vs 60.3, P <.0001). The semen inseminated on day 4 contained 6 billion sperm per dose rather than the 3 billion per dose for 1 and 3 day semen. Based on the results of this study, BTS and MR-A are effective diluents for extension and storage of boar semen for use within the same week of collection. In addition, semen extended in either BTS of MR-A and stored and inseminated on the fourth day after collection can give fertility equal to first day insemination if the sperm per insemination dose is doubled. Inhalt: Künstliche Besamung beim Schwein: Fruchtbarkeitsergebnisse von Ebersamen nach Flussigkonservierung mit BTS, MR-A oder modifiziertem Modena-Verdünner (MM) und Besamung am ersten, dritten und vierten Tag nach Samengewinnung In einem in den Niederlanden durchgeführten Feldversuch wurden 3 verschiedene Verdünner-Medien für Ebersamen in vivo verglichen. Die Medien waren Beltsville TS (BTS), modifizierter Modena-Verdünner (MM) und das spanische MR-A-Medium. Insgesamt wurden 2896 Jung- und Altsauen in 1463 Herden mit 1, 3 oder 4 Tage altem Sperma besamt. Der Versuch wurde als “split-sample”-Versuch an 6 Eberstationen durchgeführt, der verdunnte Samen bei + 18°Cgelagert und von den Besamungsbeauftragten im Rahmen ihrer regulären Fahrten eingesetzt. BTS- und MR-A-konserviertes Sperma gab bei Altsauen gegenüber MM höhere Abferkelraten (79,3, 77,6 vs 50,4%, P < 0.0001), eine höhere totale Wurfzahl (11,4, 11,1 vs 10,0, P < 0.0001) und eine höhere Anzahl lebendgeborener Ferkel)10,7, 10,5 vs 9,4, P < 0.0001). Die mit BTS-uerdünntem Samen inseminierten Jungsauen wiesen gegenüber MM höhere Abferkelraten auf(73.5 vs 50,2%, P < 0.004). MR-A-Sperma lag ebenfalls hüher als MM-Samen (641 vs 50,2%, P=0.06). Die Wurfgröβen der Jungsauen reigten keine Unterschiede. Die Abferkelergebnisse nach Besamung mit 1 und 4 Tage altem Samen lagen höher als die des 3 rage alten Spermas (73,2, 73,8 vs 60,3%; P < 0.0001). Die am Tag 4 verwendeten Samenportionen enthielten 6 Milliarden Spermien gegenüber 3 Milliarden der nach 1 bzw. 3 Tagen inseminierten Portionen. Die Ergebnkse dieses Versuches zeigen, daβ BTS und MR-A effektive Verdünnermedien sind und die Lagerung von Eberfrischsperma zum Einsatz innerhalb der Entnahmewoche ermoglichen. Darüber hinaus können mit BTS oder MR-A verdünntes und am Tag 4 nach Gewinnung eingesetrtes Sperma Fruchtbarkeitsergebnisse erzielt werden, die ebenso gut sind wie nach Verwendung des 1-Tage-Spermas, wenn die Spermienzahl pro Besamungsdosis verdoppelt wird.     

Management of interactions between endangered species using habitat restoration

Commonly used conservation strategies may be insufficient when deleterious interactions between co-habiting endemic species occur. The decline in the population size of the endangered Leon Springs pupfish, Cyprinodon bovinus, in Diamond Y Spring, Texas has been partially attributed to egg-predation by the endangered Pecos gambusia, Gambusia nobilis. This interaction is related to changes in habitat availability; therefore, we aim to manage the conflict via restoration of the breeding habitat. We hypothesized that altering the habitat to expand shallow breeding areas would result in a decrease in the number of gambusia preying on the eggs of spawning pupfish pairs and an increase in the number of males defending territories. In 2 years following the habitat modification, we observed resurgence in the pupfish breeding population and a decrease in egg-predation pressure around spawning pupfish pairs. Additionally, after altering the habitat, gambusia were more dispersed throughout the habitat, as the low numbers of gambusia in a territory were stable regardless of spawning or aggressive behaviors by pupfish. To our knowledge, this is the first empirical example of effective management of deleterious interactions between two endangered species by means of habitat restoration.     

对推行兽药GMP工作的思考

对推行实施兽药GMP工作中存在的问题进行了分析,提出了建议和对策,并指出兽药行业的规范化管理,除了要推行实施兽药GMP外,还应加快对兽药的经营、使用、研发、临床试验等各环节的立法,建立健全机构,加强队伍建设,特别是要尽快推行兽药经营质量管理规范(GSP),否则兽药GMP将很难长期坚持下去.     

Influence of Ovulation Status,Seasonality and Embryo Transfer Method on Development of Cloned Porcine Embryos

To improve pig cloning efficiency, the present study evaluated the effect of ovulation status, seasonality and embryo transfer (ET) method on in vivo development of cloned porcine embryos. Cloned embryos were transferred to surrogate mothers on the same day of somatic cell nuclear transfer. In pre‐ovulation stage (PO), pregnancy rate (PR) and delivery rate (DR) were 36.3% and 9.4%, respectively. In post‐ovulation stage, 22.7% PR and 2.1% DR were recorded (both PR and DR are significantly higher in PO). When ET was performed during winter (December–February), spring (March–May), summer (June–August) and autumn (September–November), the PRs were 13.4%, 37.3%, 24.6% and 51.0%, while DRs were 0%, 12.7%, 4.3% and 7.8%, respectively. The highest PRs were recorded in autumn groups. However, DRs were significantly lower in autumn (7.8%) group compared with spring (12.7%) group. The PR was the lowest and no piglets were born in winter group, which might be because of the effect of low temperature during ET. To overcome the low PR in winter group, 0.25 ml straws were used for ET to minimize exposure time of embryos to ambient temperature. The straw ET group showed significantly higher PR in the winter group (23. 9%) compared with the conventional catheter‐loading group (7.7%). We suggest that using PO recipient and ET in spring is the best condition for pig cloning. In addition, alternative method to reduce cold shock during ET in winter is necessary.     

Characterization of Transgenic Pigs That Express Human Decay Accelerating Factor and Cell Membrane‐tethered Human Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor

The expression of human complement regulatory proteins (hCRP; hDAF, hCD59, and hMCP) in pig tissues has been suggested as one of strategies to overcome the hyperacute rejection (HAR) in pig‐to‐human transplantation. Expression of human tissue factor pathway inhibitor (hTFPI) in porcine endothelial cells has been suggested as a remedy to overcome microvascular thrombosis. To investigate the effects of these combined transgenes, we established transformed pig cells expressing human decay accelerating factor (hDAF) under the control of enhancer promoter (5′LTR‐PCMVIE), and the fusion protein (hTFPI/hCD4) consisting of the functional domains (K1 and K2) of hTFPI and membrane‐tethering domains (D3 and D4) of hCD4 under the control of PCMVIE. Transgenic pigs were generated with the transformed porcine cells through somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technology. Analysis of quantitative PCR and real‐time quantitative RT‐PCR showed that four copies of hDAF were integrated and 391 copies of hDAF mRNA expressed in the cells of the transgenic pig. The enhancing activity of 5′LTR was approximately 2 fold compared to CMVIE promoter only. The cell viability test showed that more than 80% of ear cells were viable in the presence of 50% human serum. The chromogenic substrate assay and immunocytochemical staining with tail cells showed that the TFPI activity of fusion protein was observed on the cell membrane. The membrane localization of hDAF and hTFPI proteins was observed by immunocytochemical staining, and the expression of transgenes in heart and liver tissues was also confirmed by immunohistochemistry.     

Complex Shear Wave Velocity Structure Imaged Beneath Africa and Iceland

A model of three-dimensional shear wave velocity variations in the mantle reveals a tilted low velocity anomaly extending from the core-mantle boundary (CMB) region beneath the southeastern Atlantic Ocean into the upper mantle beneath eastern Africa. This anomaly suggests that Cenozoic flood basalt volcanism in the Afar region and active rifting beneath the East African Rift is linked to an extensive thermal anomaly at the CMB more than 45 degrees away. In contrast, a low velocity anomaly beneath Iceland is confined to the upper mantle.