The RNA interference

The phenomenon of RNA interference (RNAi) is highly conserved mechanism in the organism evolution. As a immune system, RNAi is a ubiquitous mechanism against invading microorganism in plant and animal cells. Recently, it has been found that RNAi is the process by which double-strand RNA(dsRNA) directs sequence-specific degradation of messenger RNA and the mediations of sequence specific messenger RNA degradation are 21-and 23-nucleotide small interfering RNAs that generate by ribonuclease from endogenous longer dsRNA or by transfectious technics from heterologous dsRNA. Over the past few years, the way in which cells respond to dsRNA by silencing homologous genes has revealed a new regulating paradigm in biology.     

The physical appearance of the vulva in ureaplasma infected ewes

The vulvar labia of ewes naturally infected with ureaplasma were significantly more swollen and red than those of uninfected ewes. Similar changes were observed following experimental infection of previously uninfected ewes. These differences, although statistically significant, were not sufficiently marked to be useful in diagnosing infection by clinical examination.     

The effects of experimentally induced fever on the estimated blood flow to and oxygen utilization by the liver and the viscera drained by the portal vein in sheep

Intrajugular injection of a purified E. coli lipopolysaccharide induced a biphasic fever in sheep after a latent period of 12 to 20 min. The changes in the blood flow from the liver and from the viscera drained by the portal vein were: (a) in the latent period, decreases in total hepatic blood flow (THF) due to decreased portal venous blood flow (PVF); (b) during the first febrile phase, increases in THF due to increased hepatic arterial blood flow and, (c) in the second febrile phase, increases in THF due to decreased PVF. Although there were large variations in the oxygen supply to the viscera drained by the portal vein and to the liver, there were relatively small or no changes in their oxygen consumption.     

提高波尔山羊繁殖效率的意义与方法

波尔山羊为季节性多次发情品种 ,产羔率较低 ,但肉用性能好 ,与国内多个品种杂种对生长速度和肉用性能有良好的杂种优势。为了提高肉羊生产经济效益 ,提高波尔羊繁殖效率具有重要意义。季节、光照和温度以及饲养管理等因素对波尔羊繁殖力有影响。加强选育和饲养管理 ,诱导青年羊发情排卵 ,缩短成年羊产羔间隔 ,提高窝产羔数 ,合理应用胚胎移植技术 ,提高公羊性欲和精液品质及保存效果等 ,均可提高波尔羊的繁殖力。