Breeding Soundness Evaluation and Semen Analysis for Predicting Bull Fertility

Bull fertility is influenced by numerous factors. Although 20–40% of bulls in an unselected population may have reduced fertility, few are completely sterile. Breeding soundness refers to a bull's ability to get cows pregnant. A standard breeding soundness evaluation identifies bulls with substantial deficits in fertility, but does not consistently identify sub-fertile bulls. In this regard, the use of frozen-thawed semen (from bulls in commercial AI centres) that meets minimum quality standards can result in pregnancy rates that differ by 20–25 percentage points. Although no single diagnostic test can accurately predict variations in fertility among bulls that are producing apparently normal semen, recent studies suggested that a combination of laboratory tests were predictive of fertility. This review is focused on recent developments in prediction of bull fertility, based on assessments at the molecular, cellular and whole-animal levels.     

Bovine thyroglobulin gene polymorphisms and their association with sexual precocity in Guzerat bulls

Puberty is a stage of sexual development determined by the interaction of environmental factors and genetic mechanisms. Among them, thyroid function plays a key role in sexual development and spermatogenic function and is under the control of several genes, including the well‐described thyroglobulin gene (TG). Previous reports have shown genetic association between thyroid function and selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in taurine cattle. Therefore, the identification of genetic mechanisms involved in the regulation of this trait can assist with the selection for early pubertal bulls, thus improving genetic progress in livestock breeding. The aim of this study was to validate the association between TG SNPs and age at puberty in zebuine bulls. Three SNPs (rs110406764, rs109662686, rs109057985) were genotyped in 159 Guzerat animals using SEQUENOM technology. Results showed a significant association (p < .05) between the studied SNPs and puberty age, in agreement with our previous reports in a taurine breed. Interestingly, allele frequencies were different from those already reported, being GAT the most favourable allele for age at puberty in Guzerat (94.4 days lower). Overall, our findings corroborate previous reports and reinforce the importance of genetic influence in the regulation of sexual development and puberty through a thyroid pathway in zebuine cattle.     

Effects of l-Ascorbic Acid, α-Tocopherol and Co-culture on In Vitro Developmental Potential of Porcine Cumulus Cells Free Oocytes

The maturation and developmental potential on cumulus-cell-free oocytes is of great importance theoretically and practically. The present study was to investigate the effects of l -ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol and co-culture on in vitro developmental potential of porcine denuded oocytes (DOs). Porcine DOs were cultured in maturation medium supplemented with vitamin C (0, 50, 100, 250, 500, 750 μM) and vitamin E (0, 10, 20, 50, 100, 250 μ m ), respectively. And they were also co-cultured with dispersed cumulus cells (group CCscoculture), intact cumulus cells oocyte complexes (COCs) (group COCscoculture), and COCs whose oocytes were removed (group OOXcoculture), respectively. After 44 h incubation, the maturation rates, cleavage rates and blastocyst rates after parthenogenetic activation in three experiments mentioned above were collected and analysed, respectively. L -Ascorbic acid promoted porcine DOs in vitro maturation and blastocyt development after parthenogenetic activation while α-tocopherol did not increase the in vitro maturation rates, but improved the blastocyst rate. None of the three co-culture manner promoted the in vitro maturation and the cleavage of porcine DOs after parthenogenetic activation, but all the co-culture manners improved the blastocyst rates. Both Vitamin C and E enhance the in vitro developmental potential of porcine DOs. Co-culture increases the developmental potential of porcine DOs.     

密闭容器中玉米秆粉粒体的本构方程

该文用试验的方法研究了在密闭容器中玉米秆粉粒体的本构方程 ,并应用增量理论和全量理论对本构方程进行了理论探讨 .结果表明 ,理论计算值与实验结果比较一致 ,而且该本构方程适合于描述植物粉粒体力学性能     

Novel genotypes of the subtropical grass Eragrostis curvula for the study of apomixis (diplospory)

The aim of this work was to obtain a series of genetically related lines of Eragrostis curvula with different ploidy levels and reproductive modes, which can be used for the discovery of genes associated to diplospory. E. curvula is a widely cultivated forage grass native to Southern Africa that reproduces naturally by obligate diplosporous apomixis (asexual reproduction by seeds) of the Antennaria type. In vitro culture of immature inflorescences of the apomictic cultivar Tanganyika led to the regeneration of a diploid plant with a particular morphology (plant UNST1122). Embryo sac analysis and progeny tests determined that plant UNST1122 reproduces by sexuality. UNST1122 was cloned by dividing its tillers and a R ₁ generation was obtained from seeds after open pollination among the diploid clones. A set of 500 seeds from a diploid R ₁ plant was treated with colchicine and two plants showing a duplicated chromosome number (2n = 4x = 40) were obtained (plants UNST1112 and UNST1131). Progeny tests using RAPDs indicated that these plants reproduce also by sexuality. The availability of sexual tetraploid genotypes of E. curvula will allow the production of hybrids with new interesting combinations of agronomic traits and the developing of mapping populations segregating for diplospory. Besides, these genetically related plants with different reproduction modes constitutes an excellent model for the identification of gen(es) involved in diplosporous apomixis by mRNA profiling as well as to study the genomic rearrangements and gene expression alterations associated to changes at ploidy levels.     

Primary anconeal fracture in a boxer

A 14-month-old speyed female Boxer was presented with acute non-weight-bearing lameness in the right forelimb. Radiography revealed separation of the anconeal process, which was thence surgically removed. Histological examination of the anconeal process confirmed a primary fracture. Isolated unilateral anconeal process fracture in the dog is rare and this report includes histopathological findings of a primary anconeal fracture.     

辣椒SSR标记的开发和高密度遗传连锁图谱的构建

为了方便辣椒的标记辅助育种和遗传分析,我们利用辣椒基因组富集文库和公共数据库辣椒的cDNA序列,从中开发了一批非冗余的、具有2～3个碱基基序的SSR(simple sequence repeat)标记。SSR富集文库由三种限制性内切酶(AluI、HaeⅢ、RsaI)和两种生物素标记的寡核苷酸探针b(GA)15和b(CA)15共同构建而成。从6528个克隆开发了1736个基因组SSR标记,从13003个序列中获得了1344个cDNA序列来源的SSR标记。利用自交系K9-11和MZC-180的种内杂交种(K9-11×MZC-180)获得了双单倍体分离群体,并用于遗传作图。将597个标记定位到该连锁图上,其中包括265个新开发的SSR标记。将该遗传图谱命名为KL-DH,它包括12个连锁群,覆盖了2028cM的遗传距离,标记间的平均距离少于4cM。将KL-DH图谱的框架结构与已发表的COSⅡ图谱进行了比较,并利用番茄的基因组序列来整合两个图谱。COSⅡ图谱是由C.frutescens×C.annuum种间杂种的F2分离群体构建而成。本研究所建立的种内杂交KL-DH图谱和种间杂交COSⅡ图谱在图谱长度和标记分布上比较相似,表明KL-DH图谱几乎覆盖了整个辣椒基因组。