Age changes in extramural digestive glands of sheep and rabbits in the postembryonic period

Background:The study of the peculiarities of the anatomy of sheep and rabbits’ digestive systems is an important way to improve the efficiency of these animals’ breeding.Aim:The aim of the presented research was to study structural changes of such digestive glands as the liver and the pancreas which occur in the process of ontogenesis in sheep and rabbits.Methods:Sheep of the “Kazakh fat-tailed semi-coarse-wooled” breed (n = 8) raised in the “Sayan” private peasant agriculture and rabbits of the “Grey Giant” breed (n = 8), raised on the mini rabbit farm of the Agriculture Faculty of Shakarim University were used in the research.Two experimental animal groups were formed (of sheep, “Kazakh fat-tailed semi-coarse-wooled” breed, n = 8; rabbits, “Grey Giant” breed, n = 8). The liver and pancreas’ ontogenesis development has been studied in these animals.Results:The study presents a holistic view of the macro-microscopic structure of the liver and the pancreas of animals in crucial age periods, stages, and phases of postembryonic ontogenesis (by the example of sheep and rabbits). The authors have traced age stages of adaptive change and structural-functional change of stromal-parenchymatous structures of the liver in sheep and rabbits taking into account stages and crucial phases of development.Conclusion:Development of the liver and the pancreas are characterized by discontinuous growth in the process of postnatal ontogenesis. A crucially important period is the first months after birth, during which the weight and functionality of these organs grow rapidly.     

小麦赤霉病防治研究进展

综述了小麦赤霉病防治研究的国内外发展概况、发展趋势,阐明了小麦赤霉病的发生特点、状况以及综合治理现状,分析在小麦赤霉病防治中存在的问题,并提出了治理策略,明确了针对小麦赤霉病防治的具体措施及未来展望。     

Fish-based methods for assessing European running waters: a synthesis

Abstract  The European Union, Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires monitoring of riverine fish fauna. When the WFD came into force in 2000, most of the EU member states did not have fish-based assessment methods compliant to WFD requirements. Therefore, the objectives of FAME ( http://fame.boku.ac.at ), a project under the fifth R&D Framework Programme of the European Commission were to develop, evaluate and implement a standardised fish-based method for assessing the ecological status of European running waters. This paper synthesises the outputs of FAME and defines future research needs. Two different methodologies were used: the so-called spatially based modelling and the site-specific modelling, the latter leading to the European Fish Index (EFI). The advantage of the EFI is that, despite being a single index, it is applicable to a wide range of environmental conditions across Europe precluding the need for inter-calibration. The EFI will support the WFD towards harmonised/standardised assessment and management of running waters in Europe, thus enabling comparative analyses of the ecological status of running waters across Europe.     

Non-specific immunity parameters and the formation of advanced glycosylation end-products (AGE) in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), fed high levels of dietary carbohydrates

The effects of long-term hyperglycaemia (5 months), through feeding high levels of dietary carbohydrates, on the non-specific immunity parameters of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), was assessed. Fish were fed one of three diets composed of a basal diet containing ≈ 14% digestible carbohydrate which was progressively diluted with gelatinized potato starch in the following ratios of basal diet to supplemental carbohydrate (gelatinized potato starch): 65:00, 65:20, 65:35. The three diets were pair-fed based on the feed intake of the fish fed the diet containing the highest level of starch (65:35) and representing 100% intake. The other diets were then fed at different levels in a manner that allowed all the groups of fish in the same block to receive the same amount of the basal diet [e.g. the basal diet (undiluted, 65:00) was fed at 65% of the dietary intake of the 65:35 diet]. Blood glucose concentrations and relative liver-to-body size increased with increased dietary carbohydrate intake. Feeding supplemental carbohydrates resulted in a small increase in weight gain of the fish at both supplemental levels. Pronephros tissue lysozyme activity and pronephros macrophage superoxide production were not affected by the dietary treatments. The results suggest the presence of advanced glycosylation end-products in muscle tissue collagen, but were not significantly different between treatments. No substantial effect of long-term feeding of a high carbohydrate diet on the non-specific immunity of rainbow trout was observed. However, the results suggest that dietary carbohydrates may have a slight stimulatory effect on phagocytosis at low–moderate levels.     

Fucose-Rich Sulfated Polysaccharides from Two Vietnamese Sea Cucumbers Bohadschia argus and Holothuria (Theelothuria) spinifera: Structures and Anticoagulant Activity

Fucosylated chondroitin sulfates (FCSs) FCS-BA and FCS-HS, as well as fucan sulfates (FSs) FS-BA-AT and FS-HS-AT were isolated from the sea cucumbers Bohadschia argus and Holothuria (Theelothuria) spinifera, respectively. Purification of the polysaccharides was carried out by anion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel column. Structural characterization of polysaccharides was performed in terms of monosaccharide and sulfate content, as well as using a series of non-destructive NMR spectroscopic methods. Both FCSs were shown to contain a chondroitin core [→3)-β-d-GalNAc-(1→4)-β-d-GlcA-(1→]_n bearing sulfated fucosyl branches at O-3 of every GlcA residue in the chain. These fucosyl residues were different in pattern of sulfation: FCS-BA contained Fuc2S4S, Fuc3S4S and Fuc4S at a ratio of 1:8:2, while FCS-HS contained these residues at a ratio of 2:2:1. Polysaccharides differed also in content of GalNAc4S6S and GalNAc4S units, the ratios being 14:1 for FCS-BA and 4:1 for FCS-HS. Both FCSs demonstrated significant anticoagulant activity in clotting time assay and potentiated inhibition of thrombin, but not of factor Xa. FS-BA-AT was shown to be a regular linear polymer of 4-linked α-L-fucopyranose 3-sulfate, the structure being confirmed by NMR spectra of desulfated polysaccharide. In spite of considerable sulfate content, FS-BA-AT was practically devoid of anticoagulant activity. FS-HS-AT cannot be purified completely from contamination of some FCS. Its structure was tentatively represented as a mixture of chains identical with FS-BA-AT and other chains built up of randomly sulfated alternating 4- and 3-linked α-L-fucopyranose residues.