Genome‐Wide Identification of MicroRNAs Responsive to High Temperature in Rice (Oryza sativa) by High‐Throughput Deep Sequencing

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to play important roles in plant growth and stress response. Heat stress is a severe abiotic stresses by adversely affecting plant growth and yield. To identify heat‐responsive miRNAs at the genome‐wide level in rice (Oryza sativa), we constructed two small RNA libraries from young panicles treated or not with heat conditions. Ion torrent sequencing of the two libraries identified 294 known miRNAs and 539 novel miRNAs. Differential expression analysis showed that 26 miRNAs were downregulated and 21 miRNAs were upregulated in response to heat stress. Among them, five heat‐responsive miRNAs, including miR162b, miR529a‐p5, PC‐5P‐62245‐9, miR171b and miR169n, were validated by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. A total of 44 target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted. These target genes are most significantly overrepresented in the cell growth process. The results demonstrated that rice miRNAs play critical roles in the heat stress response. This study opens up a new avenue for understanding the regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs involvement in the heat stress response in rice.     

饲粮代谢能水平对14～17周龄不同性别北京油鸡育肥期生长性能、屠宰性能、肉品质及血清生化指标的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮代谢能水平对14～17周龄不同性别北京油鸡育肥期生长性能、屠宰性能、肉品质及血清生化指标的影响，为确定北京油鸡适宜饲粮代谢能水平提供依据。本试验严格按照完全随机区组试验设计进行。选取13周龄北京油鸡600只，公母各占1/2，根据体重一致原则随机分为6组，其中3个组均为公鸡，另外3个组均为母鸡，每组5个重复，每个重复20只。3个组分别为低代谢能组（饲粮代谢能水平为12.20 MJ/kg）、中代谢能组（饲粮代谢能水平为12.64 MJ/kg）、高代谢能组（饲粮代谢能水平为13.08 MJ/kg）。预试期1周，正试期4周（14～17周龄）。结果显示：1）高代谢能组公鸡和母鸡的平均日增重显著高于其他2组（P <0.05），且高代谢能组母鸡的料重比显著低于其他2组（P <0.05），饲粮代谢能水平为13.08 MJ/kg时公鸡和母鸡有较好的生长性能。2）公鸡方面，低代谢能组的腿肌率显著高于其他2组（P<0.05）；母鸡方面，低代谢能组的全净膛率显著高于高代谢能组（P<0.05），翅膀率显著低于高代谢能组（P <0.05）。低代谢能组公鸡和母鸡的皮脂...     

银杏-杜仲叶发酵物对脂多糖应激肉仔鸡的肠道功能和免疫反应的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮中添加银杏-杜仲叶发酵物（FGEL）对脂多糖（LPS）应激肉仔鸡的生长性能、肠道结构、消化吸收功能和免疫反应的影响，并与未发酵银杏-杜仲叶（GEL）进行比较。采用2×3双因子试验设计，即2种免疫应激处理（腹腔注射LPS或注射等量生理盐水）和3种饲粮处理（基础饲粮及在基础饲粮中添加0.40%GEL或0.40%FGEL的试验饲粮）。选取1日龄健康爱拔益加（AA）肉仔鸡360只，随机分为6个处理，每个处理均设6个重复，每个重复10只鸡。试验期为21 d。在试验第13、15、17、19和21天，3个应激处理的试鸡腹腔注射500μg/kg BW的LPS，其他3个处理注射等量的生理盐水。在试验第21天最后1次注射后2～4 h进行屠宰取样。结果表明：1）与对照饲粮相比，饲粮添加FGEL的肉仔鸡料重比（F/G）有显著改善（P=0.024），饲粮添加FGEL显著缓解了LPS应激肉仔鸡平均日增重（ADG）(P=0.023)和血清D-木糖的含量（P=0.011）的降低。2）与对照饲粮相比，饲粮添加FGEL显著缓解了LPS应激肉仔鸡十二指肠（P=0.011）和空肠（P=0.030）的相对重量...     

Effects of Lactic Acid Bacteria and Fructooligosaccharides on Growth Performance,Nutrient Digestibility and Serum Biochemical Indices of Arctic Foxes (Alopex lagopus) during Early Growth Period北大核心CSCD

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of dietary lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and fructooligosaccharides (FOS) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and serum biochemical indices of Arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) during early growth period. Sixty male post-litter Arctic foxes with the average body weight of (1.16±0.15) kg and at the age of (45±3) days were randomly assigned to 4 groups with 3 replicates per group and 5 foxes per replicate. The foxes were fed the following diets, respectively: basal diet (control group), basal diet+3×109 CFU / kg LAB (LAB group), basal diet+5 g / kg FOS (FOS group) and basal diet+3×109 CFU / kg LAB+5 g / kg FOS (LAB+FOS group). The experiment lasted for 30 days. The results showed as follows: 1) on the days 1 to 15, the diarrhea rate of foxes in the LAB group and LAB+FOS group was significantly lower than that in the control group and FOS group (P<0.05). On the days 16 to 30, the average daily gain of foxes in the LAB+FOS group was significantly higher than that in the control group and FOS group (P<0.05), but had no significant difference with LAB group (P>0.05); the diarrhea rate of foxes in the LAB+FOS group was significantly lower than that in the control group and FOS group (P<0.05), but had no significant difference with LAB group (P>0.05); compared with the FOS group, the feed to gain ratio of foxes in the LAB+FOS group was significantly decreased (P<0.05). 2) The dry matter digestibility of foxes in the LAB + FOS group was significantly higher than that in the control group and FOS group (P < 0.05), but had no significant difference with LAB group (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in nitrogen intake, fecal nitrogen, urine nitrogen, nitrogen deposition, net protein utilization and protein biological value among all groups (P>0.05). 3) Serum total protein (TP) content of foxes in the LAB+FOS group was significantly higher than that in the FOS group (P<0.05), but had no significant difference with control group and LAB group (P>0.05). Serum albumin (ALB) content of foxes in the LAB group was significantly higher than that in the control group and FOS group (P<0.05), but had no significant difference with LAB+ FOS group (P>0.05). Serum urea nitrogen (UN) content of foxes in the LAB+FOS group was significantly decreased compared with the control group (P < 0. 05). In conclusion, the combined supplementation of 3 × 109 CFU / kg LAB and 5 g / kg FOS in the diet is beneficial to reduce diarrhea rate, improve dry matter digestibility, improve body immune level, and promote the growth of Arctic foxes during early growth period. © 2023 Chinese Journal of Urology. All rights reserved.     

The effect of photoperiod and melatonin on plasma prolactin concentrations in female guanaco (Lama guanicoe) in captivity

The present study examined the effects of different photoperiods and melatonin treatment on plasma prolactin concentrations in guanacos, a South American camelid, in captivity. Fourteen adult female guanacos, not gestating or lactating and isolated from males, were studied. The control group was exposed to natural daylight, during short days (N = 7, 10L:14D) and long days (N = 7, 16L:8D). The treatment group (N = 7, 10L:14D) received melatonin implants every 23 days for 6 weeks during long days. Blood samples were taken at intervals of 1 week for 3 weeks, starting the third week of treatment. Prolactin concentrations were measured using competitive ELISA. Plasma concentrations of prolactin in non-lactating female guanacos have seasonal changes, with a higher concentration (p < .001) in short days (3.50 ± 2.24 ng/ml) than long days (1.10 ± 0.91 ng/ml). Melatonin treatment significantly decreases (p < .05) plasma concentrations of prolactin on the 21st day after the treatment. These findings are the first report of an endogenous circannual rhythm of plasma prolactin concentration and the action of melatonin treatment on prolactin secretion in this wild camelid.     

Free-range system and supplementation of 25-hydroxicholecalciferol increases the performance and serum vitamin levels in mixed-parity sows

Improvements in sow productivity have raised questions regarding dietary vitamin D recommendations. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of the housing system with access to sunlight exposure and supplementation of 25-hydroxicholecalciferol on performance and serum levels of 25(OH)D₃ in sows during gestation and lactation. Sows were distributed in an experimental design with two housing systems: gestation crates or gestation free-range system with external area for sunlight exposure; and two diets: 0 or 50 μg of 25-hydroxicholecalciferol kg⁻¹. The use of 25-hydroxicholecalciferol tended (P = 0.052) to improve total born and influenced (P = 0.046) on number of born alive. Litter weight at birth was also increased (P = 0.01) by 25-hydroxicholecalciferol supplementation; 25-hydroxicholecalciferol supplementation and housing system (free-range with sunlight exposure) tended to increase weaning weight (P = 0.07) and litter daily gain (P = 0.051) during lactation. Exposure to sunlight and 25-hydroxicholecalciferol supplementation increased 25(OH)D₃ serum levels when compared with control treatment during gestation (136.95 vs. 113.92 ng mL⁻¹; P = 0.035) and lactation (120.29 vs. 88.93 ng mL⁻¹; P = 0.026). In conclusion, the association of 25-hydroxicholecalciferol supplementation with exposure to sunlight during gestation improved significantly 25(OH)D₃ serum levels and consequently performance traits in gestation and lactation.     

Definition and clinical evaluation of a recruiting airway pressure based on the specific lung elastance in anesthetized dogs

ObjectiveTo determine the specific lung elastance (SE_L) in anesthetized dogs and to evaluate the efficacy of a SE_L-based recruiting airway pressure (RP_aw) at improving global and regional lung aeration.Study designRetrospective and prospective clinical study.AnimalsA total of 28 adult dogs were included in the retrospective study and six adult dogs in the prospective study.MethodsRetrospective study: SE_L and SE_L-based RP_aw were determined using previously published data. In mechanically ventilated dogs undergoing thoracic computed tomography (CT), SE_L was calculated as ΔP_L/(V_T/EELV), where ΔP_L is the driving transpulmonary pressure, V_T is the tidal volume and EELV is the end-expiratory lung volume. The ratio of lung to respiratory system elastance (E_L/E_rs) was determined. SE_L and E_L/E_rs were used to calculate the SE_L-based RP_aw. Prospective study: dogs underwent thoracic CT at end-expiration and at end-inspiration using the SE_L-based RP_aw, and global and regional aeration was determined. For analysis of regional aeration, lungs were divided into cranial, intermediate and caudal regions. Regional compliance was also calculated. A p value <0.05 was considered significant.ResultsThe SE_L and E_L/E_rs were 12.7 ± 3.1 cmH₂O and 0.54 ± 0.07, respectively. The SE_L-based RP_aw was 29.1 ± 7.6 cmH₂O. In the prospective study, the RP_aw was 28.2 ± 1.3 cmH₂O. During RP_aw, hyperinflation increased (p = 0.0003) whereas poorly aerated (p < 0.0001) and nonaerated (p = 0.01) tissue decreased. Normally aerated tissue did not change (p = 0.265). Regional compliance was higher in the intermediate (p = 0.0003) and caudal (p = 0.034) regions compared with the cranial region. Aeration did not differ between regions (p > 0.05).Conclusions and clinical relevanceAn SE_L-based RP_aw reduces poorly and nonaerated lung tissue in anesthetized dogs. In nonsurgical anesthetized dogs, an RP_aw near 30 cmH₂O is effective at improving lung aeration.