Effect of testicular tissue lysate on developmental competence of porcine oocytes matured and fertilized in vitro

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of testicular tissue lysate (TTL) on developmental competence of germinal vesicle (GV) stage porcine oocytes. Two types of TTL were prepared through repeated freeze–thaw in liquid nitrogen, one from whole testicular tissue (wTTL) and other from either of four different sections of testes, namely just beneath the tunica albuginea (TA), from the transitional area between the seminiferous cord/tubules and the mediastinum testis (TR) and from the intermediate area (parenchymal tissue origin) and CE (cauda epididymis origin). The whole or section‐wise TTL treatments were given for 44 hr during in vitro maturation (IVM). Oocyte maturation was done in either of the two media, namely defined (high‐performance basic medium for porcine oocyte maturation, commercially available) and serum containing (TCM199). After maturation, oocytes were co‐incubated with fresh spermatozoa for 6 hr and then transferred to embryo culture media. Treatment of GV stage oocytes with wTTL (1 mg/ml) increased the cleavage and morula percentage rate (69.23 ± 6.23 and 48.15 ± 6.77, respectively) than that of their control (58.33 ± 8.08 and 32.54 ± 5.53, respectively) in defined media, and in serum‐containing media, cleavage and morula percentage rate were almost equal in both treatment (54.56 ± 7.79 and 34.70 ± 6.78, respectively) and control (59.52 ± 8.21 and 38.52 ± 6.54, respectively). However, effect of wTTL was not significant. In case of section‐wise TTL supplements, TR section significantly (p < .01) improved cleavage and morula rate (58.43 ± 7.98 and 36.14 ± 6.89, respectively) followed by TA. In conclusion, present study indicates that IVM, in vitro fertilization and in vitro culture of embryo are improved in the presence of TTL, particularly its TR section. Further study is expected to reveal the principal components of TTL which may prove useful for IVM.     

Epidemiological and clinical investigations into big liver and spleen disease of broiler breeder hens

SUMMARY The epidemiological and clinical features of big liver and spleen disease (BLS) in flocks on two broiler breeder farms were investigated by serology and gross pathology. The most common necropsy findings on farm 1 were splenomegaly and hepatomegaly, with kidney enlargement in some birds. In one flock (farm 1), a decline in egg production began at 40 weeks of age and lasted for 9 weeks. Seroconversion to BLS antigen was first detected at 45 weeks (3.1% of birds) and increased to 72% at 50 weeks, which coincided with clinical recovery in the flock. Antigen was detected before antibody at 44 weeks and persisted at low incidence (<15%). Farm egg production statistics and serology indicated that the disease affected all flocks on the farm. In three of eight flocks, seroconversion was detected in birds before peak production. The birds in the remaining sheds did not seroconvert or become sick until after peak production. On the second farm, sampling began within a flock already experiencing BLS. Clinical signs and pathology were similar to those seen in flocks on farm 1. However, the lesions that were seen in the pancreas in 15% of birds have not been reported previously. BLS antibody was detected in 78%, and circulating antigen in 14%, of sick birds.     

Signalling Events and Associated Pathways Related to the Mammalian Sperm Capacitation

Capacitation is a biological phenomenon occurring prior to fertilization and is a multiple event process. Many physiological and biochemical changes takes place during the process; these changes are related to lipid composition of membrane, intracellular modulation of ion concentration, protein phosphorylation, sperm movement and membrane permeability. These events occur when the sperm is exposed to the new environment of ion concentration in the female reproductive tract. Ions such as bicarbonate and calcium facilitate capacitation by activating adenylyl cyclase, thus initiating protein kinase A (PKA) signalling cascade. Extracellular‐regulated kinase pathway is activated by ligand binding to the membrane receptors and intracellular activation by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Activation of these pathways leads to the phosphorylation of different proteins, which is associated with events such as capacitation, hyperactivation and acrosome reaction that are essential for successful fertilization. Extensive studies were carried out on protein phosphorylation in relation to capacitation, but its role still remains ambiguous.     

不同来源大豆品种籽粒品质的比较研究

以辽宁20年代、辽宁当代以及与辽宁近纬度的美国俄亥俄州当代育成的亚有限结荚习性大豆品种各4个为试材,研究了不同来源大豆品种籽粒品质的差异,以及不同磷酸二铵施肥水平对大豆籽粒品质的影响.结果表明:就试验采用的品种而言,俄亥俄州立大学更注重籽粒脂肪含量的改良,而且遗传获得较大,而辽宁省育成的新品种其脂肪含量也比老品种稍高一些,蛋白质含量则有所下降.就品种来说,老品种Mukden的品质最好,蛋脂总含量高达64.7%,辽宁新品种中辽豆12号最好,俄亥俄新品种中OhioFG1最好.蛋白质含量以Mukden含量最高,达44.85%,脂肪含量以Darby含量最高,为21.39%.与不施肥相比,150 kg/hm2、300 kg/hm2磷酸二铵施肥处理会使各品种的蛋白质含量得到提高,脂肪含量有所降低,从不同来源品种组平均值来看,施用磷酸二铵300 kg/hm2的处理,大豆籽粒的蛋白质含量高于150 kg/hm2处理,脂肪含量则与之相反.     

In vivo degradation and stimulating effect of phaseolin on nitrogen secretion in rats

In short-term feeding experiments, about 78% of the phaseolin administered to rats was degraded regardless of the amounts of phaseolin intubated. In contrast, the total N found in the feces increased rapidly and exceeded the original administered amounts. The bulk of N output was not immunologically related to the glycoprotein. The effects of phaseolin on the stimulation of endogenous N secretion in the small intestine were confirmed from the results of acute experiments. Phaseolin fragments, derived from the breakdown of the native protein, when reapplied intragastrically to rats, were broken down further and to a similar extent as the original glycoprotein and were even more potent related to stimulation of N secretion. It is suggested that this secretagogue biological activity of phaseolin and not its resistance to gut proteolysis, is the main reason for the poor nutritional value of this glycoprotein.