High‐level exogenous trans10, cis12 conjugated linoleic acid plays an anti‐lipogenesis role in bovine mammary epithelial cells

Primary bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) were treated by 0, 37.5, 75, 112.5, 150 μmol/L trans10, cis12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) to evaluate the effects of different level trans10, cis12 CLA on lipogenesis in BMEC. Addition of 75–150 μmol/L trans10, cis12 CLA reduced significantly the triacylglycerol (TAG) content (P < 0.05), but did not have inhibiting action on cell proliferation (P > 0.05). Treatment with 150 μmol/L trans10, cis12 CLA for 48 h resulted in a 17.1% reduction (P < 0.0001) of medium chain fatty acids (MCFA, C14 < C < C16), a 26.5% reduction (P < 0.0001) of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) and a corresponding reduction of the mRNA abundance of acetyl coenzyme A (acetylCoA) carboxylase (ACC) (P = 0.046), fatty acid synthase (FAS) (P = 0.017) and stearoylCoA desaturase1 (SCD1) (P = 0.002). Another finding was that trans10, cis12 CLA elevated expression of diacylglycerol acyltransferase2 (DGAT2) (P = 0.020) and long chain acylCoA synthetases (ACSL) (P = 0.032). In conclusion, higher trans10, cis12 CLA, not low trans10, cis12 CLA, inhibited milk fat synthesis and changed fatty acid composition by regulating the expression of FAS, ACC, SCD1, DGAT2 and ACSL.     

A retrospective analysis of radiation therapy for the treatment of feline vaccine‐associated sarcoma*

We retrospectively evaluated predictive prognostic factors in 73 cats with vaccine‐associated sarcoma given postsurgical curative (n = 46, most with clean margins) or coarse fractionated radiotherapy (n = 27, most with either macroscopic disease or dirty margins). The former animals displayed a median survival of 43 months and a median progression free interval (PFI) of 37 months, the latter reached a median survival of 24 months and a median PFI of 10 months. In cats undergoing coarse fractionated therapy, factors predictive of a better outcome included lack of visible mass (n = 10) as opposed to macroscopic disease (n = 17, survival: 30 versus 7 months, P = 0.025; PFI: 20 versus 4 months, P = 0.01), adjuvant chemotherapy for gross disease (n = 5/17, survival: 29 versus 5 months, P = 0.04) and a smaller number of surgeries preceding radiation therapy (coeff = 0.41, P = 0.03). The Ki67 index was not predictive for survival. We concluded that postsurgical curative and coarse fractionated radiotherapy are effective legitimate options for managing vaccine‐associated sarcomas.     

Suspected venous air embolism in three horses

Venous air embolism was suspected in 3 hospitalised horses on the basis of an inadvertently open jugular venous line. Subsequently the 3 horses developed clinical signs including cardiovascular collapse, cardiac dysrhythmia, pulmonary oedema, behavioural abnormalities and neurological signs consistent with central nervous system injury. Treatment included intranasal oxygen therapy, i.v. fluid administration and anti‐inflammatory therapy. Specific therapy aimed at treating air embolism in man is reviewed, with pertinent therapy potentially applicable to horses emphasised.     

Bone strength of laying hens kept in an alternative system, compared with hens in cages and on deep-litter

1. Observations of vigorous wing movements and measurements of bone strength were compared in two experiments with birds in three different housing systems: a semi-intensive alternative system under development, a battery cage system and a deep-litter system. 2. A significant effect of housing system on the frequency of vigorous wing movements was found. The highest frequency was seen in the deep-litter system, about half this number in the alternative system, while in the battery cages they were never observed. 3. Corresponding to this a reduction in humerus strength of 9% was found in hens from the alternative system and of 45% in hens from cages, compared with deep-litter. A reduction in tibial breaking strength was also found in caged hens, when compared to deep-litter hens. 4. Keeping hens in cages thus restricts their movements, especially wing movements, to the degree that bone strength is greatly reduced. 5. This has welfare implications, for hens with low bone breaking strength risk a possibility of breakage, especially when handled and transported. When alternative systems are designed opportunities for movement in the three dimensions should be considered.     

小肽营养素对奶牛泌乳性能的影响

试验选择泌乳期中国荷斯坦奶牛32头,随机分为4组,A组(对照组)为基础精料日粮组;B、C、D组分别为基础精料日粮 0.1%、0.3%、0.5%小肽营养素。正试期28d。结果表明,添加0.1%、0.3%、0.5%小肽营养素后,奶牛头日平均产奶量分别提高1.67kg(6.38%)(P<0.05)、1.75kg(6.69%)(P<0.05)和1.64kg(6.27%)(P<0.05)。添加小肽营养素后,乳蛋白和乳脂率均有所提高,其趋势随小肽营养素添加量的增加而提高。添加0.1%、0.3%、0.5%小肽营养素后,奶牛头日净增效益3.52元、3.40元、2.86元。综合生产性能和经济效益,以添加0.1%-0.3%小肽营养素为适宜。     

封闭群实验小鼠的生产管理要点

实验小鼠来源于野生小家鼠,大约在19世纪开始用于遗传学研究,经过长期人工饲养、选育,目前已培育成500多个独立的近交系和远交群,是当今世界上研究最详尽、用量最大、用途最广、品种最多的一种实验动物。由于小鼠体型小,易于控制,生长繁殖快,产仔多,易饲养管理,质量标准明确,品种、品系多,在生物医学研究的各个领域中得到了广泛的应用     

Experimental studies with foot-and-mouth disease virus type Asia-1, responsible for the 2005 epidemic in China

This study was carried out to investigate the biological characteristics of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus strain Asia-1 China/2005, which is responsible for the 2005 epidemic in China. The result showed that this strain is not host restricted, and could not only cause FMD in cattle and sheep but also in pigs by either inoculation or direct contact.     

Genetic (co)variances and breeding value estimation of Gompertz growth curve parameters in Finnish Yorkshire boars, gilts and barrows.

This paper's objectives were to estimate the genetic (co)variance components of the Gompertz growth curve parameters and to evaluate the relationship of estimated breeding values (EBV) based on average daily gain (ADG) and Gompertz growth curves. Finnish Yorkshire central test station performance data was obtained from the Faba Breeding (Vantaa, Finland). The final data set included 121,488 weight records from 10,111 pigs. Heritability estimates for the Gompertz growth parameters mature weight (alpha), logarithm of mature weight to birth weight ratio (beta) and maturation rate (kappa) were 0.44, 0.55 and 0.31, respectively. Genotypic and phenotypic correlations between the growth curve parameters were high and mainly negative. The only positive relationship was found between alpha and beta. Pearson and Spearman rank correlation coefficients between EBV for ADG and daily gain calculated from Gompertz growth curves were 0.79. The Spearman rank correlation between the sire EBV for ADG and Gompertz growth curve parameter-based ADG for all sires with at least 15 progeny was 0.86. Growth curves differ significantly between individuals and this information could be utilized for selection purposes when improving growth rate in pigs.     

哺乳动物卵母细胞孤雌激活研究进展

孤雌激活是指处于第2次减数分裂中期卵母细胞不经过雄性配子的作用,而在某些理化因素的刺激下恢复并完成减数分裂,进行有丝分裂发育到胚胎的过程.卵母细胞的激活是以Ca2+为第二信使,成熟促进因子(MPF)、细胞分裂素活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)、细胞静止因子(CSF)等细胞因子综合作用的结果.卵母细胞激活是核移植的关键技术,也是研究哺乳动物受精机制及发育机理的有效方法.现介绍卵母细胞孤雌激活的机制以及卵母细胞孤雌生殖激活方法.     

多重PCR诊断猪细小病毒、伪狂犬病毒和圆环病毒Ⅱ型方法的建立和应用

根据GenBank中已发表的猪细小病毒(PPV)、猪伪狂犬病毒(PRV)和猪圆环病毒Ⅱ型(PCV2)等3种病毒基因序列,对各病毒基因区进行同源性分析,确定PPV VP2、PRV gB、PCV2 ORF1基因的保守区为各病毒的诊断靶序列.在建立各病毒单重PCR技术的基础上,优化多重PCR反应条件,建立了三种病毒的多重PCR技术.用78份临床病料对本研究多重PCR技术和单重PCR技术进行对比验证,结果显示,总符合率为97.4%以上.该方法特异性强、敏感性高,为PPV、PRV和PCV2临床诊断和流行病学调查等研究提供了新手段.