Genetic diversity of growth hormone receptor gene in cattle

Growth hormone receptor (GHR) belongs to a member of the cytokine receptor superfamily. Polymorphism of presence or absence of an approximately 1.2 kbp LINE-1 element is observed in bovine GHR gene. The present study was carried out for estimating the genetic diversity and the origin of the LINE-1 element in 10 European, Southeastern Asian and East Asian cattle breeds or populations. Genotyping of the LINE-1 revealed predominant LINE-1 presence in European breeds (0.917∼0.991), absence in the Bos taurus indicus populations (0.000∼0.017), and intermediate presence in Northeast Asian cattle (0.417∼0.522). From genetic features of LINE families, LINE-1 of GHR could be attributed to the same origin in both European and Asian cattle, and Asian LINE-1 may not be derived from recent introgression. This result suggested that LINE-1 in bovine GHR gene could have arisen in an ancestral population of Bos taurus taurus .     

夏耕晒垡的增产作用

夏耕晒垡是我国北方产麦地区农民在长期生产实践过程中创造出来的一项恢复地力、保证小麦稳产增产的重要耕作措施.农谚:“伏里翻晒田,赛过水浇园”,正说明这一措施作用之大.为了系统总结这一经验,使之在农业生产上发挥更大的作用,于1962-1964年在陕西省武功本院试验农场,进行了初步的试验研究.     

关中红油土地区的轮作制

轮作是培养地力、提高作物产量的基本措施.我国农民素有丰富的轮作经验,陕西关中(土娄)土地区是古老农业区之一,群众经验更为成熟和完善.长期以来,采用豌豆、苜蓿与小麦轮作,对调节和增进土壤肥力,起着重要作用.任何地区的轮作制度的形成都和当地自然环境条件、耕作栽培水平有密切关系.为了更好地贯彻增产措施,促进作物大面积平衡增产,固有的轮作经验必须给予应有的重视.1952—1958年在陕西武功头道塬红油土上作了有关的试验测定,结合调查总结,取得一些资料.兹将工作结果提出,借供参考.     

An unidentified gland-like tissue near the androgenic gland of red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii

ABSTRACT:   Among all of the decapods that have been studied, only one kind of gland, the androgenic gland, has been found attached to the subterminal ejaculatory region of the vas deferens. In the present study of the red swamp crayfish, it was found that two kinds of gland-like tissues were attached to the subterminal ejaculatory region of the vas deferens. One of the tissues, which is referred to as TIB, is located inside the body cavity, whereas the other tissue, which is referred to as TIC, is inside the coxa. The characteristics of TIB resemble those of the androgenic gland of other malacostracans. The TIC cells, however, are smaller and more basophilic due to the small size and high density of their cytoplasm and nuclei. Moreover, black fibers, similar to the nerve fibers of the ganglion, were detected among the TIC cells after Bodian's stain. The conclusion is that TIC may be a newly found male sexual characteristic and further research is needed to confirm its functions.     

Colour dilution alopecia in seven Dachshunds. A clinical study and the hereditary, microscopical and ultrastructural aspect of the disease

Abstract Seven Dachshunds from five different families were studied for late-onset alopecia. All were born blue and tan in litters containing unaffected wild boar coated animals. Six of the seven dogs changed their colour during the first months of their life from blue and tan to ‘deadleaf’ or grey and tan. Histopathology, light microscopy of hairs and scanning electron microscopy of the hairs showed similarities with those previously described in blue Doberman Pinschers and confirmed the diagnosis of colour dilution alopecia (CDA). Transmission electron microscopy of cross-sectioned hairs showed vacuoles containing melanin granules of different size in medullary, subcortical and intracortical areas. Some opened at the hair surface and released melanin granules. Study of the pedigree proved autosomal recessive inheritance. Résumé— 7 teckels de 5 families ont fait l'objet de cette étude. Tous sont nés bleu et feu et proviennent de portées comprenant des chiots sains couleur sanglier. Six de ces chiens ont changé leur couleur durant les premiers mois de leur vie, passant ainsi du bleu et feu à‘feuilles mortes’ ou gris et feu. Histologiquement, l'examen microscopique des poils et l'examen ultrastructural à balayage montrent des lésions similaires à celles décrites chez les Dobermanns Pinschers bleus, et confirment le diagnostic d'Alopécie des Robes Diluées (ARD). La microscopie électronique à transmission des poils sectionnés montre des vacuoles contenant des grains de mélanine dans les régions médullaires, subcorticales, et intracorticales des poils. Quelques poils montrent la sortie des granules de mélanine à la surface du poil. L'étude des pédigrés prouve un mode de transmission autosomal récessif de cette maladie. [Beco, L., Fontaine, J., Gross, T.L., Charlier, G. Colour dilution alopecia in seven Dachshunds. A clinical study and the hereditary, microscopical and ultrastructural aspects of the disease (Alopécie des Robes Diluées chez 7 teckels: étude clinique et aspects héréditaires, microscopiques et ultrastructuraux). Veterinary Dermatology 1996; 7 : 91–97.] Resumen Se estudió la alopecia de aparición tardía en siete perros Dashshund de cinco familias diferentes. Todos los cachorros nacieron de color azul y canela en camadas que contenían animates con pelaje jabalí, sin afectación. Seis de los siete perros cambiaron su color durante los primeros meses de vida de azul y canela a ‘hoja seca’ o gris y canela. La histopatologia, la microscopía óptica de los pelos y la microscopía electrónica de barrido de los pelos mostraron similitudes con los previamente descritos en los Doberman Pinscher azules y confirmaron el diagnóstico de alopecia de color diluido (ACD). La microscopia electrónica de transmisión de cortes transversales del pelo mostraron vacuolas que contenían gránulos de melanina de tamaño variable en las zonas medular, subcortical e intracortical. Algunos se abrían a la superficie del pelo y liberaban gránulos de melanina. El estudio del pedigree reveló una forma de herenicia autosómica recesiva. [Beco, L., Fontaine, J., Gross, T.L., Charlier, G. Colour dilution alopecia in seven Dachshunds. A clinical study and the hereditary, microscopical and ultrastructural aspects of the disease (Alopecia de color diluido en siete Dachshunds. Estudio clinico y aspectos hereditarios, microscopicos y ultraestructurales de la enfermedad). Veterinary Dermatology 1996; 7 : 91–97.] Zusammenfassung— Sieben Dackel aus fünf verschiedenen Familien wurden wegen Alopezie mit spätem Beginn untersucht. Alle wurden als ‘blau und tan’ in Würfen geboren, die gesunde saufarbene aufwiesen. Sechs der sieben Hunde änderten ihre Farbe während der ersten Lebensmonate von ‘blau und tan’ nach ‘dürrlaub’ oder ‘grau und tan’. Histopathologisch zeigten Lichtmikroskopie der Haare und Elektronen-mikroskopabtastung der Haare Ähnlichkeiten mit denen früher beschriebener Veränderungen beim blauen Dobermann, und bestätigten die Diagnose Farbverdünnungsalopezie (CDA). Die Transmissionselek-tronenmikroscopie von quergeschnittenen Haaren zeigte Vakuolen, die Melaningranula verschiedener Größe in medullären, subkortikalen und intrakortikalen Zonen enthielten. Einige öffneten sich hin zur Haarober fläche und entließen die Melaningranula. Die Untersuchung der Abstammung zeigte eine autosomal rezessive Erblichkeit. [Beco, L., Fontaine, J., Gross, T. L., Charlier, G. Colour dilution alopecia in seven dachschunds. A clinical study and the hereditary microscopical and ultrastructural aspects of the disease (Farbverdünnungsalopezie bei sieben Dackeln. Eine klinische Studie über erbliche, mikroskopische und ultrastrukturelle Aspekte dieser Erkrankung). Veterinary Dermatology 1996; 7 : 91–97.]     

Comparing recombinant MPB70/SahH and native 20-kDa protein for detecting bovine tuberculosis using ELISA

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a zoonosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis. Test-and-cull protocols and gross pathological examinations of abattoir animals as well as milk pasteurization have been implemented to prevent the spread of tuberculosis from animals to humans worldwide. Despite the importance of precise and rapid diagnostic tests, conventional methods including intradermal skin tests and γ-interferon assays are limited by the high rate of false-negative results for cattle in the late infectious stage and due to laborious and time-consuming procedures. Therefore, antibody detection methods such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) are urgently needed to supplement the established approaches and expand the diagnostic window. This study was conducted to develop a bTB ELISA by evaluating recombinant and native proteins and various assay parameters. We produced recombinant MPB70 and SahH (M70S) and a native 20-kDa protein (20K) and optimized the ELISA protocol. The 20K ELISA showed 94.4% sensitivity and 98.2% specificity with an optimal sample-to-positive ratio cut-off of 0.531. The sensitivity and specificity of M70S ELISA were 94.4% and 97.3%, respectively, with an optimal sample-to-negative ratio cut-off of 1.696. Both assays showed acceptable diagnostic efficiency and could be used for bTB diagnosis in combination with established methods for herd screening and to expand the diagnostic window.     

Soil compression influences the avoidance behavior of Allonychiurus kimi (Collembola) to cadmium and copper

The behavior of soil organisms inhabiting soil pore spaces can be influenced by soil compression, which can affect their avoidance behavior to pollutants. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of soil compression on the avoidance behavior of Allonychiurus kimi (Collembola) to heavy metals cadmium and copper. Initially, to assess the applicability of the avoidance test guideline of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) developed for Folsomia candida, we investigated the avoidance behavior of A. kimi to cadmium and copper in an artificial soil with a loose structure (bulk density of 0.25 g cm-3), the porous texture of which was sufficiently loose to enable A. kimi to move between pore spaces. The effect of soil compression on the avoidance behavior of A. kimi to both metals was evaluated in compressed soil (bulk density of 0.64 g cm^-3) with a uniformly compressed soil surface, and avoidance behavior was investigated at 24-h intervals over a 120-h period. Given that A. kimi is unable to burrow into compressed soil, the compressed soil test can minimize the effects of differences in soil factors, such as soil porosity and bulk density, on the behavior of this collembolan. In the artificial soil, a statistically significant avoidance behavior of A. kimi was observed at cadmium and copper concentrations greater than 50 and 200 mg kg^-1, respectively, thereby indicating the applicability of the ISO avoidance test guidelines for A. kimi. When compared at the same exposure time point, the avoidance response to both metals in compressed soil was less sensitive than that in uncompressed soil. In addition, we observed differences in the effects of metals on avoidance response in the compressed soil over time, with the effect of cadmium increasing with time and the effect of copper showing the opposite trend. Overall, we found that soil compression can affect the avoidance behavior of A. kimi to cadmium and copper, and we discussed the advantages and limitations of using compressed soil for assessments of pollutant toxicity.