中国鲤科鱼类嗅觉器官的研究

为探究不同鱼类嗅觉器官组成差异及V1Rs基因的进化规律,实验采用组织形态学方法比较了9种鱼类的嗅囊结构特征,并通过比较基因组学和生物信息学手段对V1Rs基因家族进行鉴定、序列结构及进化分析;利用实时荧光定量PCR (qRT-PCR)对泥鳅V1Rs基因的组织表达模式进行分析。结果显示,6种鲤形目鱼类的嗅基板类型均为G型,鲇形目为 H 型,而鲈形目则有F型和G型两种,嗅基板数量在 9 种鱼类中差异较大,其中大口黑鲈的嗅基板数量最少,只有 7 个,黄颡鱼最多, 有 80 个。研究共鉴定出58个完整的V1Rs基因,这些基因属于G蛋白偶联受体家族。V1Rs基因分为6个亚型 (V1R1、V1R2、V1R3、V1R4、V1R5、V1R6),9 种鱼类基因组中均有 1 个 V1R1 和 V1R2 基因,但翘嘴鲌基因组中缺少 V1R3 和 V1R4 基因,鳜缺少 V1R5 基因,而团头鲂、黄颡鱼和翘嘴鲌各有 2 个 V1R5 基因。qRT-PCR结果显示,与对照组相比 (肌肉组织),除V1R3b外,泥鳅V1Rs基因均在雌、雄嗅囊中显著高表达 ,但在脑和触须中的表达量较低,在性腺组织中,雌、雄泥鳅V1Rs基因表达量存在明显差异,其中,V1R1、V1R4、V1R5、V1R6在精巢中的表达量显著高于卵巢,而V1R3b基因在雌性泥鳅性腺中显著高于雄性,V1R2和V1R3a在雌、雄泥鳅中则没有显著性差异。本研究不仅阐明了不同鱼类嗅囊组织结构和V1Rs基因拷贝数、进化差异,结果也为后续深入探究鱼类异性识别的嗅觉分子基础和V1Rs基因在繁殖中作用机制奠定基础。

     

Size-dependent predator–prey relationships between pikeperch and their prey fish

Abstract –  Predator–prey interactions in aquatic food webs depend on the sizes of both predator and prey. In the present study, size-dependent interactions between >70 mm total length pikeperch Sander lucioperca (L.) and four different prey species in the biomanipulated Bautzen Reservoir were investigated. Gape widths of 597 pikeperch were measured, and the stomach contents of 806 specimens were analysed. Additionally, total lengths (TL) and body depths of 1448 prey fish were determined. The highest prey length to predator length ratio (PPR) was 0.63. Total lengths of piscivorous pikeperch and total lengths of prey fish [pikeperch, ruffe Gymnocephalus cernuus (L.) and roach Rutilus rutilus (L.)] were positively and linearly related. This was not the case for prey perch ( Perca fluviatilis L.) as all size groups of pikeperch fed strongly on age-0 perch. This study coupled with results of previous studies suggests that predation by pikeperch can have a major impact on the population dynamics of especially perch.     

Effects of Pressurized Low Polarity Water Extraction Parameters on Antioxidant Properties and Composition of Cow Cockle Seed Extracts

Antioxidant activity of pressurized low polarity water (PLPW) extracts of cow cockle seed and extraction residues were determined using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. The effect of extraction conditions (temperature (125, 150 and 175 °C) and time) on the antioxidant activity and the relationship amongst the antioxidant activity and extract composition (total phenolics and saponin content) were determined. The antioxidant activity of PLPW extracts increased with extraction temperature. Increasing activity with time was also observed at 175 °C. PLPW extraction residues had the highest activity suggesting antioxidant compounds were not completely extracted by PLPW. Antioxidant activity correlated well with total phenolics content of samples (R ² ≥ 0.94), however no correlation was observed with the saponin content. A strong correlation was observed between the antioxidant activity values obtained using different methods (R ² ≥ 0.94). These results point to the potential of PLPW extraction as a method to modify the activity of biological materials for the production of customized extracts.     

Efficient inhibition of the Alzheimer's disease beta-secretase by membrane targeting

beta-Secretase plays a critical role in beta-amyloid formation and thus provides a therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease. Inhibitor design has usually focused on active-site binding, neglecting the subcellular localization of active enzyme. We have addressed this issue by synthesizing a membrane-anchored version of a beta-secretase transition-state inhibitor by linking it to a sterol moiety. Thus, we targeted the inhibitor to active beta-secretase found in endosomes and also reduced the dimensionality of the inhibitor, increasing its local membrane concentration. This inhibitor reduced enzyme activity much more efficiently than did the free inhibitor in cultured cells and in vivo. In addition to effectively targeting beta-secretase, this strategy could also be used in designing potent drugs against other membrane protein targets.     

Changes in Testicular Development, Ultrasonographic and Histological Appearance of the Testis in Buck Kids Immunized Against LHRH Using Recombinant LHRH Fusion Protein

This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of recombinant Ovalbumin-LHRL (OL) immunization on changes in testicular size, histological appearance and testosterone production in buck kids. Thirty native buck kids at 18 weeks of age were divided into three groups, control (n = 10), immunization (n = 10) and castration (n = 10) groups. Immunized animals received OL protein generated by recombinant DNA technology. Ultrasonographic and histological examinations of the testes were performed. Animals were slaughtered at 44 weeks of age. Semen and epididymides were evaluated for the presence of sperm cells. Immunized animals generated anti-LHRH antibodies. Testosterone production, testicular and accessory glands development and sperm production were suppressed in the immunized animals (p < 0.01). Semineferous tubule diameters decreased (p < 0.01), basal membrane of the tubule was thickened and hyalinized in immunized kids. Immunization affected ultrasonographic appearance of the testes drastically. While testes of control animals gained their normal ultrasonographic appearance as the age increased, immunized animals had uniform hypoechogenic testicular structure as observed at 18 weeks of age until slaughter. Simultaneous histological and ultrasonographic evaluations indicated that the changes in testicular histology could partly be monitored via ultrasonographic imaging; nevertheless, it is difficult to claim that ultrasonographic image reflects the exact changes in such instances. In conclusion, these results indicate that recombinant OL fusion protein is effective in immunocastration in buck kids and has a potential to be used as an alternative to physical castration. Further researches should be conducted to help assessing reproductive status of testes from ultrasound images.     

The problem of the use of urea in feeding swine]

For a period of 9 days growing fattening pigs (with liveweights ranging from 40 to 50 kgs were fed a ration of autumn barley, dried skim mild and wheat gluten supplemented with 0.5% of 15N labelled urea (12.5% of the total N). The N balance and the rate of 15N protein retention as well as the rates of protein and amino acid synthesis in the different organs and tissues of the carcasses were estimated by emission spectrometry after amino acid fractionation. On an average, 19.3% of the ingested urea were retained, while only 4% N were retained in the essential amino acids found in the carcasses. This proportion will, to a large extent, result from transamination processes and, to a lesser extent, from microbia synthesis. From this it may be concluded that urea N does not induce any appreciable synthesis of amino acids in pigs so that urea cannot be regarded as a suitable substitute for protein feeds in the feeding of monogastric animals.     

Detection of prion gene promoter and intron1 indel polymorphisms in Anatolian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a fatal disease caused by miss folded prion protein. Studies in the cattle, comparing genetic data from BSE diseased and healthy animals have shown that indel polymorphisms in the promoter and intron 1 of PRNP gene were associated with disease susceptibility. Several studies were conducted to find out allele and genotypic frequencies of indel polymorphisms in promoter and intron 1 of the cattle PRNP gene. Unlike domestic cattle and bison, no indel polymorphisms of the PRNP promoter and intron 1 were examined in any population of the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Aim of this study was to analyse frequencies of allele, genotype, and haplotype of the indel polymorphisms (23 bp indel in promoter and 12 bp indel in intron 1) in prion protein coding gene (PRNP) of water buffalo. Therefore a PCR based procedure, previously used in cattle to detect indel polymorphisms of PRNP promoter and intron 1 locus, was applied to 106 Anatolian water buffalo DNAs. Our results have revealed high frequency of in variants and in23/in12 haplotype for PRNP promoter and intron 1 indel polymorphisms in water buffalo. The results of the study have demonstrated that frequencies of allele, genotype, and haplotype of the indel polymorphisms in PRNP gene of the Anatolian water buffalo are significantly different those from cattle and bison PRNP indel polymorphisms.     

Assessment of the posterior segment of the cat eye by optical coherence tomography (OCT)

OBJECTIVES: To assess the feasibility of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for examining the cat ocular fundus, to provide normative data on retinal thickness in different fundus regions, and to demonstrate selected surgically induced vitreoretinal pathologies in the cat. ANIMAL STUDIED: Forty-five eyes of 28 healthy domestic cats and two eyes of domestic cats that had undergone subretinal implantation surgery for a visual prosthesis were examined. PROCEDURES: An optical coherence tomograph (Zeiss-Humphrey) was used to examine the anesthetized animals. At least five vertical and five horizontal scans in regular distribution were recorded for each cat including (1) the peripapillary region, (2) the area centralis, and (3) the peripheral retina. Thickness was measured manually at five locations in each scan. Retinal thickness was compared in the three above-mentioned fundus regions, between eyes and between vertical and horizontal scans. OCT was additionally performed in animals with retinal detachment and a subretinal visual prosthesis. RESULTS: OCT measurements required only minimal adjustments of human settings and yielded high quality images. In comparison to humans intraretinal layers were more difficult to differentiate. Retinal thickness was highest in the peripapillary region (245 +/- 21 microm), followed by the peripheral retina (204 +/- 11 microm) and the area centralis (182 +/- 11 microm; all P < 0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference between right and left eye or between vertical and horizontal scans. OCT demonstrated retinal detachment, an iatrogenic break and a subretinal prosthetic device in high detail. CONCLUSIONS: Retinal thickness was measurable with high precision; values compare well to older histologic studies. OCT bears significant advantages over histology in enabling one to repeat measurements in living animals and thus allowing longitudinal studies. Various vitreoretinal pathologies common in feline eyes are detectable and quantifiable by OCT.