Extrapituitary and Pituitary Pathological Findings in Horses with Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction: A Retrospective Study

The objective of this study was to describe the histopathologic changes observed in extrapituitary organs as well as the pituitary glands of horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). Adrenal gland, thyroid gland, liver, lung, kidney, heart, and pituitary gland from 32 horses with clinical and histologic evidence of PPID and 20 control horses were reviewed histologically. Ten of the control horses were aged animals (≥15 years), allowing those changes attributed to age to be identified. In addition to previously reported changes in adrenal gland and liver, an association was established between PPID and several extrapituitary histopathologic changes, namely bronchiolitis, proliferative glomerulopathy, and myocardial lipofuscinosis and fibrosis. The potential biologic significance of these changes is discussed and, although the retrospective design of the current study precludes establishment of causal relationships between the observed extrapituitary changes and PPID, these findings suggest that further investigations are warranted.     

Redox profile in liver of Leporinus macrocephalus exposed to different dissolved oxygen levels

Aquatic organisms are continuously exposed to environmental variations, which can lead to physiological and biochemical alterations. Leporinus macrocephalus, known as piavu?u, is a migratory species that may be exposed to variations in dissolved oxygen levels. Studies evaluating oxidative changes undergone by this species in these conditions are scarce. Therefore, this investigation aimed at evaluating oxidative alterations in L. macrocephalus exposed to different oxygen levels for 96?h: 6.12?±?0.18, 3.99?±?0.17, 3.22?±?0.17, 2.47?±?0.30 and 0.710?±?0.07?mg?L(-1). At the end of the experimental period, fish were euthanized and livers used to determine lipid hydroperoxides, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, superoxide dismutase and thiol groups, which are an indirect measure of reduced glutathione. Results indicated a decrease in the studied parameters in hypoxic situations, suggesting a possible metabolic depression.     

Partial replacement of fish meal by cottonseed meal and soybean meal with iron and phytase supplementation for parrot fish Oplegnathus fasciatus

Two consecutive feeding trials were conducted to determine the optimum dietary level of the cottonseed and soybean meal (CS) for replacement of fish meal (FM) in diets for juvenile and ongrowing parrot fish with or without iron and phytase. In experiment I, juvenile parrot fish (BW: 3.17 g) were fed one of six experimental diets for 12 weeks which were formulated to replace FM protein by equal proportion (1:1, w:w) of CS at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50% (designated as CS0, CS10, CS20, CS30, CS40, or CS50, respectively). In experiment II, ongrowing parrot fish (BW: 55 g) were fed one of five experimental diets for 9 weeks. The experimental diets were formulated to replace FM protein by CS at 0, 20, or 30% (designated as CS0, CS20, or CS30, respectively) and to include ferrous sulfate (0.1 and 0.2%) and phytase into the CS20 and CS30 diets (CS20 + Fe&P and CS30 +Fe&P, respectively). Results from the two feeding trials indicated that the CS could replace up to 20% FM protein in diets for juvenile parrot fish (3–22 g) and up to 30% in ongrowing (55–120 g) parrot fish. The supplemental effect of iron and phytase was not significant on growth performance. Total or each gossypol enantiomer concentration in the liver increased as the level of dietary cottonseed meal increased. However, gossypol in the liver of fish fed diets supplemented with iron was not detected. The dietary supplementation of CS significantly reduced the levels of plasma triacyglycerols and total cholesterol. The present study indicates that plant protein sources are better utilized in larger fish, and that up to approximately 30% FM protein could be replaced by CS with iron and phytase in the presence of supplemental lysine and methionine.     

Microtubule distribution in somatic cell nuclear transfer bovine embryos following control of nuclear remodeling type

This study was conducted to evaluate the microtubule distribution following control of nuclear remodeling by treatment of bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos with caffeine or roscovitine. Bovine somatic cells were fused to enucleated oocytes treated with either 5 mM caffeine or 150 µM roscovitine to control the type of nuclear remodeling. The proportion of embryos that underwent premature chromosome condensation (PCC) was increased by caffeine treatment but was reduced by roscovitine treatment (p < 0.05). The microtubule organization was examined by immunostaining β- and γ-tubulins at 15 min, 3 h, and 20 h of fusion using laser scanning confocal microscopy. The γ-tubulin foci inherited from the donor centrosome were observed in most of the SCNT embryos at 15 min of fusion (91.3%) and most of them did not disappear until 3 h after fusion, regardless of treatment (82.9-87.2%). A significantly high proportion of embryos showing an abnormal chromosome or microtubule distribution was observed in the roscovitine-treated group (40.0%, p < 0.05) compared to the caffeine-treated group (22.1%). In conclusion, PCC is a favorable condition for the normal organization of microtubules, and inhibition of PCC can cause abnormal mitotic division of bovine SCNT embryos by causing microtubule dysfunction.     

Venus: detailed mapping of maxwell montes region

From October 1983 to July 1984, the north hemisphere of Venus, from latitude 30 degrees to latitude 90 degrees , was mapped by means of the radar imagers and altimeters of the spacecraft Venera 15 and Venera 16. This report presents the results of the radar mapping of the Maxwell Montes region, one of the most interesting features of Venus' surface. A radar mosaic map and contour map have been compiled.     

NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY IN UPLAND RICE GENOTYPES

Nitrogen (N) deficiency is one of the most yield-limiting nutrients in upland rice growing regions word wide. A greenhouse experiment was conducted with the objective to evaluate nineteen upland rice (Oryza sativa. L.) genotypes for N use efficiency. The soil used in the experiment was an Oxisol and two N levels used were without N application (low level) and an application of 400 mg N kg^?1 of soil (high level). Grain yield and yield components and N uptake parameters were significantly affected by N and genotype treatments. Regression analysis showed that plant height, shoot dry weight, number of panicles per pot, number of grains per panicle, grain harvest index, N uptake in shoot and grain were having significant positive relation with grain yield. Nitrogen concentration of 6.4 g kg^?1 in the shoot is established as deficient level and 9.5 g kg^?1 as sufficient level at harvest. Agronomic efficiency of N (grain yield/unit of N applied) and N utilization efficiency (physiological efficiency X apparent recovery efficiency) were significantly different among genotypes. These two N use efficiencies were having significant quadratic relationship with grain yield. Soil pH, exchangeable soil Ca and base saturation were having significantly positive association with grain yield. However, soil extractable phosphorus (P), potassium (K), hydrogen (H⁺), aluminum (Al) and cation exchange capacity were having significantly negative association with grain yield.     

防病促生枯萎病拮抗菌“98-Ⅰ”对4种枯萎病防治效果研究

经 8年系统试验研究从 330个细菌菌株中筛选出 1株防病促生枯萎病拮抗菌“98 Ⅰ” ,经鉴定属蜡质芽孢杆菌。该菌对黄瓜枯萎病、西瓜枯萎病、青椒枯萎病和番茄枯萎病 4种土传病害均有显著防治效果 ,其平皿孢子萌发抑制率分别为 79 2 %、75 1%、72 3%和 95 7% ,且该菌对多种蔬菜有促生和促进种子发芽功效。