Glutathione content of in vivo and in vitro matured canine oocytes collected from different reproductive stages

Glutathione (GSH) concentrations of oocytes are considered as an important marker of the cytoplasmic maturation. The present study was designed to compare GSH concentrations of in vivo and in vitro matured canine oocytes. In vivo matured oocytes were collected 72 hr after ovulation by flushing fallopian tubes after laparotomy. Ovaries were collected from bitches with different reproductive stages, and collected oocytes were divided into 2 groups according to the size viz. < 120 microm and > 120 microm in diameter and cultured for 72 hr in Tissue Culture Medium-199 supplemented with 10% FBS, 2.2 mg/ml sodium bicarbonate, 2.0 microg/ml estrogen, 0.5 microg/ml FSH, 0.03 IU/ml hCG, and 1% penicillin-streptomycin solution in the presence or absence of 50 microM beta-mercaptoethanol. GSH concentrations were determined by the dithionitrobenzoic acid-glutathione disulfide (DTNB-GSSG) reductase recycling assay. GSH concentrations of immature canine oocytes were 2.9 and 3.8, 3.5 and 6.8, and 3.1 and 6.5 pM/oocyte for < 120 microm and > 120 microm in diameter oocyte groups at anestrous, follicular and luteal stage, respectively (P<0.05). In vivo matured oocytes had significantly higher GSH concentrations compared with in vitro matured oocytes. The GSH content was 19.2 pM/oocyte for in vivo matured oocytes, while 4.1 to 8.1 and 5.7 to 13.2 pM/oocyte for in vitro matured oocytes cultured in the absence or presence of beta-mercaptoethanol, respectively (P<0.05). Presence of beta-mercaptoethanol increased GSH synthesis in canine oocytes cultured in vitro, and oocytes collected from follicular and luteal stage was superior to anestrus oocytes.     

Sacrocaudal agenesis in a Korean native calf (Bos Taurus Coreanae)

A male deformed Korean native calf was examined macroscopically. The deformed calf had no caudal vertebral columns from 5th lumbar vertebra, sacrum and coccygeal vertebrae. The spinal cord was terminated in the vertebral foramen of the 3rd lumbar vertebra. The cervical vertebrae had scoliosis and the 3rd and 4th cervical vertebrae were fused. The 2nd and 3rd lumbar vertebrae were fused and the left and right transverse processes of the 4th lumbar vertebra articulated with ala of the ilium. The rectum was greatly expanded by the imperforate anus and a rectourethral fistula was formed between the rectum and urethra. The deformed calf was recorded as a first documentation of sacrocaudal agenesis confirmed in a Korean native calf.     

不同基因型大麦苗期对干旱胁迫的响应及HvPIPs基因表达特征分析

为研究不同基因型大麦苗期对干旱胁迫的响应,挖掘优质抗旱的大麦种质资源,以4份不同基因型大麦(2个高抗品种ZDM5430和ZDM5458,2个干旱敏感型品种7DCADA和IL-12)为材料,利用聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)模拟干旱条件,综合分析不同品种大麦的苗期抗旱性差异;并通过对不同品种根系进行PIPs实时定量分析,研究水通道蛋白AQPs基因与干旱胁迫之间的应答关系。结果表明,持续干旱胁迫会使大麦生长变缓,各处理苗长、根长、叶含水量和根含水量都呈下降趋势,其中,4个品种的大麦叶含水量在干旱胁迫14 d时下降最为显著,与对照相比,其降幅分别为29.14%、52.64%、21.67%和72.15%。干旱胁迫对大麦苗期干物质积累量和根冠比的影响较小,各处理间差异不显著;但持续干旱后,抗旱品种ZDM5430的根冠比呈上升趋势,在胁迫7、14、21 d时较CK分别增加了4.92%、42.86%和21.05%。随着胁迫时间的延长,大麦旗叶叶绿素含量和根系活力也呈下降趋势,其中ZDM5430和ZDM5458较对照组降幅较小,说明抗旱品种的形态指标、叶绿素含量及根系活力受干旱胁迫的影响较小。通过PIP...     

苹果树种植对黄土旱塬土壤蒸发的影响

以陕西长武旱塬为例,分别对研究区农地和5个不同林龄(9、12、16、19 a和23 a)苹果园的土壤剖面氢氧稳定同位素进行测定,利用Craig-Gordon模型定量估算其土壤平均蒸发量,并基于“空间换时间”方法分析果园种植及生长对土壤蒸发的影响。结果表明：农地及9、12、16、19、23 a林龄苹果园的土壤蒸发量均随苹果树的种植及生长呈现先减少再增大的趋势,年均蒸发量分别为129、104、89、119、128、136 mm;苹果园的土壤蒸发量变化与叶面积指数呈显著负相关(R=-0.713);苹果园种植的前中期(9～12 a)土壤蒸发量随叶面积指数增加逐渐减小,而在中后期(12～23 a)深层土壤水被大量消耗造成的干旱胁迫使得果树叶面积减少,从而导致林下土壤蒸发量又逐渐增大。     

Role of social structure in establishment of an invasive large mammal after translocation

Background

Data on the movement behavior of translocated wild pigs is needed to develop appropriate response strategies for containing and eliminating new source populations following translocation events. We conducted experimental trials to compare the home range establishment and space-use metrics, including the number of days and distance traveled before becoming range residents, for wild pigs translocated with their social group and individually.

Results

We found wild pigs translocated with their social group made less extensive movements away from the release location and established a stable home range ~5 days faster than those translocated individually. We also examined how habitat quality impacted the home range sizes of translocated wild pigs and found wild pigs maintained larger ranges in areas with higher proportion of low-quality habitat.

Conclusion

Collectively, our findings suggest translocations of invasive wild pigs have a greater probability of establishing a viable population near the release site when habitat quality is high and when released with members of their social unit compared to individuals moved independent of their social group or to low-quality habitat. However, all wild pigs translocated in our study made extensive movements from their release location, highlighting the potential for single translocation events of either individuals or groups to have far-reaching consequences within a much broader landscape beyond the location where they are released. These results highlight the challenges associated with containing populations in areas where illegal introduction of wild pigs occurs, and the need for rapid response once releases are identified. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.