Effects of the sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor velagliflozin,a new drug with therapeutic potential to treat diabetes in cats

Sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are used in the treatment of human diabetics. They increase glucose excretion and correct hyperglycemia. We examined the investigational SGLT2 inhibitor velagliflozin in two groups of six neutered adult obese cats (equal gender distribution). Placebo (Pl) or drug (D; 1 mg/kg) was administered for 35 days. Routine blood examinations, fructosamine, beta‐hydroxybutyrate (BHB), nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), glucagon, adiponectin, and leptin were measured before and after treatment, also water intake, and urinary electrolytes, glucose, and volume. Indirect calorimetry, an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT; 0.8 g/kg) and insulin tolerance test (IVITT) were conducted. All cats tolerated treatment well. Significant changes with D included a decrease in the respiratory exchange ratio, an increase in cholesterol, a small increase in albumin, and a rise in BHB and NEFA. Glucose clearance was unaltered, although less insulin was secreted during the IVGTT (p = .056) suggesting improved insulin sensitivity. IVITT was unchanged. Treatment did not affect glucagon, leptin, or adiponectin. Water intake, urine output, urinary glucose excretion, and the glucose/creatinine ratio but not urinary electrolytes were significantly higher post‐D. We conclude that velagliflozin is a promising drug, which increases urinary glucose excretion in cats and could thereby be beneficial for the treatment of hyperglycemia.     

Effects of concentrate‐to‐forage ratios and 2‐methylbutyrate supplementation on ruminal fermentation,bacteria abundance and urinary excretion of purine derivatives in Chinese Simmental steers

This study evaluated the effects of dietary concentrate levels and 2‐methylbutyrate (2MB ) supplementation on performance, ruminal fermentation, bacteria abundance, microbial enzyme activity and urinary excretion of purine derivatives (PD ) in steers. Eight ruminally cannulated Simmental steers (12 months of age; 389 ± 3.7 kg of body weight) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Moderate‐concentrate (400 g/kg diet [MC ]) or high‐concentrate (600 g/kg diet [HC ]) diets were fed with or without 2MB (0 g/day [2MB ?] or 15.0 g/day [2MB +]). Dry matter intake and average daily gain increased, but feed conversion ratio decreased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Ruminal pH decreased, but total volatile fatty acid increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Molar proportion of acetate and acetate‐to‐propionate ratio decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. Propionate molar proportion and ruminal NH ₃‐N content increased with the HC diet, but decreased with 2MB supplementation. Neutral detergent fibre degradability decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. Crude protein degradability increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Abundance of Ruminococcus albus , Ruminococcus flavefaciens , Fibrobacter succinogenes and Bufyrivibrio fibrisolvens as well as activities of carboxymethyl cellulase, cellobiase, xylanase and pectinase decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. However, abundance of Prevotella ruminicola and Ruminobacter amylophilus as well as activities of α‐amylase and protease increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Total PD excretion also increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. The results suggested that growth performance, ruminal fermentation, CP degradability and total PD excretion increased with increasing dietary concentrate level from 40% to 60% or 2MB supplementation. The observed diet × 2MB interaction indicated that supplementation of 2MB was more efficacious for improving growth performance, ruminal fermentation and total PD excretion with promoted ruminal bacteria abundance and enzyme activity in the MC diet than in the HC diet.     

Disaccharide combinations and the expression of enolase3 and plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase isoform in sturgeon sperm cryopreservation

Acipenser sinensis and Acipenser dabryanus are critically endangered species, so germplasm conservation via cryopreservation of sperm is necessary. Disaccharides can act as membrane‐impermeable cryoprotectants, and enolase3 (ENO3) and plasma membrane Ca²⁺ ATPase isoform (PMCA2) are proteins associated with sperm quality. We considered seven characteristics of sperm quality in cultured brood stock from A. sinensis and A. dabryanus. We tested use of sucrose or trehalose alone and in combination at different concentrations for cryopreservation of A. dabryanus sperm. A low concentration of sucrose plus trehalose (S₁₅T₁₅) was optimal. Mixing of the extender with sucrose, lactose, or trehalose alone or with pairwise mixtures revealed that a mixture of lactose and trehalose (L₁₅T₁₅) gave the best results for both A. sinensis and A. dabryanus. Enolase3 and PMCA2 expression levels were measured in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm via Western blotting. Relative ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels were examined, and the relationship between disaccharide composition, sperm quality and protein expression was explored in A. sinensis. The results showed that relative ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels were the highest at L₁₅T₁₅ in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm. There were significant positive correlations between ENO3 expression and percentage membrane integrity, and between PMCA2 expression and sperm motility parameters (percentage of motile sperm, curvilinear velocity, straight‐line velocity and average path velocity; p < .05) in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm. Our results indicate the optimal disaccharide combination and concentrations for cryopreservation of A. sinensis and A. dabryanus sperm and suggest that ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels could serve as a valuable indicator of sperm quality in A. sinensis.     

Idiopathic eosinophilic colitis lesions of the equine small (descending) colon

Five horses with a primary surgical lesion of the small (descending) colon were diagnosed with eosinophilic colitis based on visual and histopathological examination. These were evident as visibly striking, hyperaemic, focal lesions of the small colon, with serosal petechiation, oedema and marked thickening of the intestinal wall at the site. Areas of focal necrosis were also evident. The gross appearance of the lesions were considered to be sufficiently severe in all cases to merit resection, due to concerns about intestinal necrosis and septic peritonitis. An inability to fully exteriorise the affected portion of intestine to perform a resection and anastomosis necessitated intraoperative euthanasia of one horse. A total of three horses survived to hospital discharge. Eosinophilic colitis lesions are a rare cause of severe small colon disease, but should be considered in cases with similar visual characteristics.     

改性尿素对土壤N2O排放的影响

N2O是仅次于CO2和CH4的第三种温室气体,改性尿素是减少农田N2O排放的一种重要途径。通过室内瓶培养试验,研究几种改性尿素对旱田和稻田土壤N2O排放的影响,结果表明:当旱田土壤含水量较低(23%)时,NI(尿素 硝化抑制剂)的N2O减排效果最好,其次为FL(尿素 HQ DCD)。当旱田土壤含水量较高(34%)时,FL的N2O减排效果最好,其次为NI。当稻田土壤处于淹水状态时,MEI(包被尿素)的N2O减排效果最好,其次为FL。结果对农田选用优良改性尿素、环境保护和可持续发展具有指导意义。     

植物Ca2+信号的研究进展

在植物的生长发育过程中,为了适应环境,调节自身代谢和生长,需要对各种外界环境刺激以及植物内部生理信息做出反应,因此,植物产生了自己的信号系统。Ca2 作为一种信号分子在植物细胞信号系统中起着举足轻重的作用。针对国内外对植物Ca2 信号的研究情况,综述了Ca2 信号的产生、Ca2 信号参与的各种植物生理过程、Ca2 信号的检测以及其研究的最新进展。     

三叶木通栽培条件下的生长结果习性

三叶木通[Akebia trifoliata(Thunb)Koidz]是木通科木通属的一种营养价值较高的半落叶藤本野生果树。果实是一种品质优良的野生鲜食水果,但其种子多,果肉少,可食率较低,需要经过驯化选育栽培加以利用。从2005年起搜集野生三叶木通进行人工驯化栽培,观察其生长结果习性。结果:在人工栽培条件下果实最大单果重313.5 g、最小97.7 g、平均单果重78.1~244.1 g,并初步掌握了其生长结果习性,为进一步生产栽培及育种打下了基础。     

紧凑型杂交玉米新品种毕玉2号的选育与应用

毕玉2号系毕节地区种子站用自选系苏110作母本,自选系毕106作父本育成的白粒紧凑型玉米杂交种,2000年11月通过贵州省毕节地区农作物品种审定委员会审定,具有较强的耐旱耐瘠能力和品质优良等特点,适宜在毕节地区海拔1 800 m以下及其他气候相似地区的旱坡地及肥水条件好的坝地种植,目前正在生产上大面积推广应用。     

高坡猪GH基因不同基因型对其部分生产性能的影响

采用PCR-RFLP-ApaⅠ方法检测高坡猪GH基因-119~ 486 bp片段的多态性,探讨了不同基因型对其部分生产性能的影响。结果表明:产生2个等位基因A(449 bp)和B(316 133 bp),其频率分别为0.54和0.46;3种基因型:AA、AB和BB,其频率分别为0.26、0.56和0.18;除6月龄腹围和背膘厚外,其余指标值均以BB基因型最高,AA基因型的6月龄腹围和瘦肉率与BB基因型相比差异显著(P<0.05),其他指标在各基因型间差异均不显著(P>0.05)。表明,A可能是小型猪的有利等位基因,B则可能是大型猪的有利等位基因。