Astaxanthin Normalizes Epigenetic Modifications of Bovine Somatic Cell Cloned Embryos and Decreases the Generation of Lipid Peroxidation

Astaxanthin is an extremely common antioxidant scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and blocking lipid peroxidation. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of astaxanthin supplementation on oocyte maturation, and development of bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos. Cumulus–oocyte complexes were cultured in maturation medium with astaxanthin (0, 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 mg/l), respectively. We found that 0.5 mg/l astaxanthin supplementation significantly increased the proportion of oocyte maturation. Oocytes cultured in 0.5 mg/l astaxanthin supplementation were used to construct SCNT embryos and further cultured with 0, 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 mg/l astaxanthin. The results showed that the supplementation of 0.5 mg/l astaxanthin significantly improved the proportions of cleavage and blastulation, as well as the total cell number in blastocysts compared with the control group, yet this influence was not concentration dependent. Chromosomal analyses revealed that more blastomeres showed a normal chromosomal complement in 0.5 mg/l astaxanthin treatment group, which was similar to that in IVF embryos. The methylation levels located on the exon 1 of the imprinted gene H19 and IGF2, pluripotent gene OCT4 were normalized, and global DNA methylation, H3K9 and H4K12 acetylation were also improved significantly, which was comparable to that in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryos. Moreover, we also found that astaxanthin supplementation significantly decreased the level of lipid peroxidation. Our findings showed that the supplementation of 0.5 mg/l astaxanthin to oocyte maturation medium and embryo culture medium improved oocyte maturation, SCNT embryo development, increased chromosomal stability and normalized the epigenetic modifications, as well as inhibited overproduction of lipid peroxidation.     

犬有"思维活动"能力吗?

当今社会,人们的认识面不断拓宽,对犬是否具有“思维活动”能力的认识和理解程度得到提高,对犬有了重新的认识。现如今,有人提出犬具有一定的与人相似的较低一级“思维活动”能力一说,在犬业界引起争议。关于这一说,笔者从以下几个方面剖析和研究后,得出的结论是——没有。一、     

制剂中大黄与山大黄的鉴别

选用企业报批的大黄末为供试品,对2010年版《中国兽药典》收载的大黄、山大黄单味制剂的鉴别和检查项目以及大黄复方制剂的检查项目进行了研究和分析,认为用纸层析、硅胶薄层鉴别的技术检查土大黄苷是制剂中大黄与山大黄鉴别的关键,建议在样品检验和标准制定时加以重视。     

Preliminary evaluation of growth and conformation traits of local goats and Nubians upgraded by a black Boer line in Taiwan

The goal of this research, conducted in the most southern part of Taiwan, was to create a new genotype: the "Hengchun Black Goat" (HB). Nubian (NU) goats were first crossed with a local breed, the Taiwan native (TN), then the F1 females were crossed with the imported black Boer (BO) bucks. The upgraded genotypes were then compared with the parental breeds and Kinmen (KM), another local breed, for growth traits and body conformation. The study concerned 1,136 kids born between 2005 and 2007. The analysed traits were body weight (BW), average daily gain and three linear measurements, namely height at withers, body length and chest girth. The results indicated that environmental factors, sex, birth and rearing type, dam parity and birth year had significant effects from birth to 6 months of age. The same differences persisted to 1 year. At 6 months of age, the least square means of BW were 16.2, 19.2, 25.1, 32.0, 23.9, 23.8, 23.0 and 23.9 kg, for KM, TN, NU, 1/2BO, 3/4BO, 7/8BO, BO and HB, respectively. These first results also indicate that the growth performances of the newly created line, Hengchun Black, were equivalent to those of Boer goats.     

关于加快我国实验室生物安保发展的几点建议

近年来,随着对病原微生物和各种传染性疾病研究的深入,我国生物实验室数量越来越多,完善实验室生物安保体系对于保护科研人员和社会安全具有重大意义。本文首先明确了实验室生物安保和实验室生物安全的区别与联系,而后指出我国存在生物安保相关法规制度不完善,实验室实施环节生物安保能力较为薄弱等问题,并借鉴WHO和部分发达国家的生物安保法规以及实施现状,提出了完善制度法规,加强实验室实施环节能力建设,强化生物安保培训,加强风险评估认识等适合我国生物安保发展现状的相关建议,以期为完善我国生物安保体系,加快生物安保发展提供参考。     

Heat stress-induced mucosal barrier dysfunction is potentially associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis in pigs

Heat stress(HS)can be detrimental to the gut health of swine.Many negative outcomes induced by HS are increasingly recognized as including modulation of intestinal microbiota.In turn,the intestinal microbiota is a unique ecosystem playing a critical role in mediating the host stress response.Therefore,we aimed to characterize gut microbiota of pigs’exposure to short-term HS,to explore a possible link between the intestinal microbiota and HS-related changes,including serum cytokines,oxidation status,and intestinal epithelial barrier function.Our findings showed that HS led to intestinal morphological and integrity changes(villus height,serum diamine oxidase[DAO],serum D-lactate and the relative expressions of tight junction proteins),reduction of serum cytokines(interleukin[IL]-8,IL-12,interferongamma[IFN-g]),and antioxidant activity(higher glutathione[GSH]and malondialdehyde[MDA]content,and lower superoxide dismutase[SOD]).Also,16S rRNA sequencing analysis revealed that although there was no difference in microbial a-diversity,some HS-associated composition differences were revealed in the ileum and cecum,which partly led to an imbalance in the production of short-chain fatty acids including propionate acid and valerate acid.Relevance networks revealed that HS-derived changes in bacterial genera and microbial metabolites,such as Chlamydia,Lactobacillus,Succinivibrio,Bifidobacterium,Lachnoclostridium,and propionic acid,were correlated with oxidative stress,intestinal barrier dysfunction,and inflammation in pigs.Collectively,our observations suggest that intestinal damage induced by HS is probably partly related to the gut microbiota dysbiosis,though the underlying mechanism remains to be fully elucidated.     

黄藤素研究进展

黄藤素是中国自行研制的纯天然植物药,主要用于治疗妇科炎症、外科感染、菌痢、肠炎、呼吸道及泌尿道感染、眼结膜炎等。作者就近年来黄藤素的提取及人工合成研究、检测方法、药理作用进行综述,以期为黄藤素作为新兽药的开发利用提供参考。     

蛋鸭“顽固性禽霍乱”的治疗

笔者在临床治疗蛋鸭禽霍乱过程中，经常遇到由于环境污染、消毒不严或用药疗程不足等原因，产生一种用抗生素治疗能很快控制症状，但一个疗程结束停药后数天又重新发病，再次用药亦是如此，反复发病，剖检和化验室检查仍为禽霍乱，笔者姑且称其为“顽固性禽霍乱”。该病往往给专业户造成严重的经济损失。近二年来，笔者采用山东华宏生物制品有限公司生产的禽霍乱蜂胶灭活苗结合抗生素治疗取得良好效果，现将有关情况报告如下： 病例１　２０００年１１月１５日，麻步镇盖竹村温 ××圈养蛋鸭 ９７０羽。１１月３日鸭群突然死亡２羽，１１月…     

犬的致命性外伤处理的经验与教训

车祸或犬之间的斗殴会威胁犬的生命,最近几年我院经常碰到这样的急救病例,其中有几例给我印象最深。病例一:张先生家养的一头成年美卡犬外