Protective influence of rosiglitazone against time‐dependent deterioration of boar spermatozoa preserved at 17°C

Spermatozoa are highly specialized cells, and energy metabolism plays an important role in modulating sperm viability and function. Rosiglitazone is an antidiabetic drug in the thiazolidinedione class that regulates metabolic flexibility and glucose uptake in various cell types, but its effects on boar sperm metabolism are unknown. In this study, we investigated the potential effect of rosiglitazone against time‐dependent deterioration of boar spermatozoa during liquid preservation at 17°C. Freshly ejaculated semen was diluted with Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS) containing different concentrations of rosiglitazone, and the motility, membrane and acrosome integrity of sperm were detected. Besides, we measured glucose uptake capacity, l ‐lactate production level, mitochondrial membrane potential, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) production of sperm after boar semen had been incubated with or without rosiglitazone, iodoacetate (glycolysis inhibitor) and rotenone (electron transport chain inhibitor) for 5 days. The addition of rosiglitazone significantly enhanced sperm quality and had a strong protective effect on the sperm membrane and acrosome integrity during storage. BTS containing 50 μM rosiglitazone maintained the total motility of liquid‐preserved sperm above 60% for 7 days. Rosiglitazone improved sperm quality by regulating energy metabolism manner of preserved sperm, protected the sperm mitochondrial membrane potential, enhanced sperm ATP production and in the meanwhile reduced mROS through enhancing glycolysis but not oxidative phosphorylation. The data suggested the practical feasibility of using rosiglitazone for improving boar spermatozoa quality during semen preservation.     

苜蓿种质资源对锈病的抗性研究

为获得优良苜蓿(Medicago)抗锈病种质,在实验室条件下,用喷洒夏孢子悬浮液的方法对国内外85份(国内54份、国外31份)苜蓿种质材料进行人工接种,并根据病情指数对其苗期抗锈性进行筛选和评价。结果表明:不同苜蓿种质材料间对苜蓿锈病的抗病性存在较大差异,病情指数变化范围在29.25%~70.65%;没有对苜蓿锈病免疫的种质;丹麦的‘庞迪苜蓿’抗锈性最强;中抗材料10份,其中国内4份,国外6份;中感材料55份;高感材料19份,其中感锈性最强的是‘陇东’天蓝苜蓿。从46份苜蓿种质材料中筛选出了过敏反应型抗锈单株,不同种质中抗锈单株的过敏反应等级不同。     

通过日粮调控降低犬排泄物中的臭气

随着人们的物质生活水平的不断提高,精神生活也丰富多彩,饲养犬的人也越来越多,从而带动了犬业蓬勃发展。同时犬的排泄物也给环境及家庭带来了很大的影响。如犬随地大小便,会造成环境的污染及影响城市形象。排泄物得不到很好的处理,则会侵蚀土壤、污染水质、特别是一些有机质在     

Effect of dexamethasone on gonadotrophin secretion in the gonadectomized sow and boar.

Saline solution or dexamethasone (DXM, 35 micrograms/kg bodyweight) was injected intramuscularly twice daily for four days into five ovariectomized sows and five castrated boars. Blood samples from an indwelling jugular vein catheter were taken at 15 min intervals for 12 h prior to DXM injection and on the fourth day of treatment in order to compare the effect on variables describing the pulsatile secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Dexamethasone treatment caused a decrease (p less than 0.05) in the number of pulsatile episodes of LH secretion in both gonadectomized boars and sows resulting in a significant decrease in mean concentrations. Follicle stimulating hormone secretion parameters appeared to be unaffected by DXM injection in both groups of animals. It is concluded that previously described differences in LH suppression in boars and sows given glucocorticoids may be attributed to the influence of gonadal hormones.     

Dorsal laminectomy for caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy: postoperative recovery and long-term follow-up in 20 dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the postoperative morbidity and long-term outcome of dogs after dorsal laminectomy for caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy (CCSM). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Twenty dogs with CCSM. METHODS: Medical records of dogs treated by dorsal laminectomy for CCSM at North Carolina State University and Colorado State University between 1989 and 1999 were reviewed. Information on signalment, onset, progression and duration of clinical signs, diagnostic testing, sites of dorsal laminectomy, postoperative complications, length of hospitalization, and the ambulatory status on discharge was recorded. A minimum follow-up of 7 months was required for inclusion in the study. Neurologic status was graded (0 to 5) preoperatively, 2 days after surgery, and at the time of the study (final score). Improvement or worsening of the neurologic status was assessed by comparison of different scores for each dog. Additional follow-up information was obtained by means of a detailed telephone questionnaire directed at both the owner and referring veterinarian. RESULTS: Mean duration of clinical signs before surgery was 4.9 months. At admission, 15 dogs were ambulatory and 5 were nonambulatory. Neurologic status worsened in 70% of dogs 2 days after surgery but improved in all but 1 dog over the long term. Mean time to optimal recovery was 3.6 months. Long-term follow-up ranged from 7 months to 9 years (mean +/- SD, 3.2 +/- 2.4 years). Four dogs had confirmed recurrence; 2 other dogs may have had recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Dorsal cervical laminectomy is an effective treatment for CCSM in those dogs with dorsal compression or multiple sites of involvement. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although most dogs' neurologic status transiently worsened after surgery, long-term outcome and recurrence rates were comparable to those seen with other surgical techniques for CCSM.     

A low-selenium diet increases thyroxine and decreases 3,5,3'triiodothyronine in the plasma of kittens

The effect of a low-selenium diet on thyroid hormone metabolism was investigated in growing kittens. Twelve specific-pathogen-free kittens with ages ranging from 16 to 18 weeks were divided into two groups of equal number with equal sex distribution in each group. One group was fed a yeast-based low-selenium diet (0.02 mg Se/kg diet) while the other group was fed the same diet supplemented with Na₂SeO₃ at 0.4 mg Se/kg diet for 8 weeks. Food intake, body weight and body weight gain were not affected by the low-Se diet during the study period. However, kittens given the low-Se diet had significantly reduced plasma selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity. Plasma total thyroxine (T4) increased and total 3,5,3'triiodothyronine (T3) decreased significantly in kittens fed the low-Se diet at the end of the study. These results suggest that type I deiodinase in cats is a selenoprotein- or a selenium-dependent enzyme.     

基于粮食安全的重庆市耕地保护

耕地资源关系到一个国家或地区经济发展、社会稳定和粮食安全。文中通过对1997-2005年重庆市粮食产量和耕地面积的统计数据进行分析,发现耕地面积不断减少、粮食产量以2001年为分界点出现逐年减产和增产的现象,并提出基于粮食安全的重庆市耕地保护对策。     

兔支气管败血波氏杆菌的分离鉴定及其免疫原性检测

2004年,山东省某一大型养兔场的20~30日龄幼兔突然大批发病死亡。病兔早期精神不振,多数病兔鼻腔流出脓性鼻液,随着病程的延长逐渐表现为呼吸困难,并出现鼻鼾声,以体况瘦弱,腹泻为主要症状。从中主要分离到4株细菌,根据其形态学特性、培养特性、生化特性、血清学反应特性等将分离菌鉴定为兔支气管败血波氏杆菌。然后对所分离到的兔支气管败血波氏杆菌菌株进行(G+C)mol%含量的测定以及16SrRNA的扩增,结果(G+C)mol%含量为61.7%~62.4%,与Kersters K结果相符(61.6%~62.6%);而该菌16SrRNA核苷酸序列与GenBank中收录的AF177666株禽波氏杆菌核苷酸序列同源性为82.7%,与本实验室保存的禽波氏杆菌及兔败血波氏杆菌参考菌株S80103株同源性高,分别为99.7%和99.9%。利用所分离到的兔支气管败血波氏杆菌菌株制备免疫原,通过免疫孕前母兔,使仔兔获得母源抗体,而使幼仔兔获得早期保护,效果较好。     

Fatal infection in human flora-associated piglets caused by the opportunistic pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae from an apparently healthy human donor

Seventeen out of 24 human flora-associated (HFA) piglets died after oral administration of whole fecal flora from an apparently healthy human donor. The bacteria isolated from the organs of the infected piglets were identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae by bacteriological and biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The identical K. pneumoniae strain was also isolated from the donor's fecal flora. All three neonatal piglets inoculated with K. pneumoniae from the donor's fecal flora developed severe diarrhea, with 2 eventually dying. This strongly suggests that the opportunistic pathogen K. pneumoniae from the human donor caused the fatal infection in the HFA piglets. The results underscore the importance of safety evaluation of the human donor's fecal flora for HFA piglet development.