The intravenous bile Acid loading test in the goat: determination of a procedural protocol and reference values

An intravenous bile acid loading test was performed on 16 goats using various dosages and sampling protocols. A recently developed enzymatic bile acid assay provided an economical and technologically simple method for bile acid analysis. Intravenous injection of bile salts into goats was well tolerated. Clearance times were rapid. A protocol for performance of the test was suggested and a practical reference range for T 1/2 clearance of 4+/-1 minute was determined. Further investigations of this test in the assessment of liver function in the ruminant appear warranted.     

Detection and characterization of phytoplasmas in diseased stone fruits and pear by PCR-RFLP analysis in Turkey

During the late summer-early autumn of 2002, surveys were carried out in Turkey to determine the presence of phytoplasma diseases in fruit trees. Phytoplasmas were detected and characterized by PCR-RFLP analysis and TEM technique in stone fruit and pear trees in the eastern Mediterranean region of the country. Six out of 24 samples, including almond, apricot, peach, pear and plum, gave positive results in PCR assays. RFLP analysis usingSspI andBsaAI enzymes of PCR products obtained with primer pair f01/r01 enabled identification of the phytoplasmas involved in the diseases. Stone fruit trees, including a local apricot variety (‘Sakıt’) and a pear sample, were found to be infected with European stone fruit yellows (ESFY, 16SrX-B) and pear decline (PD, 16SrX-C) phytoplasmas, respectively. This is the first report in Turkey of PD phytoplasma infecting pear and of ESFY phytoplasma infecting almond, apricot, myrobalan plum and peach; ESFY phytoplasma infecting Japanese plum was previously reported. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting July 21, 2005.     

Molecular genetics of behaviour: research strategies and perspectives for animal production

Genetic factors are undoubtedly involved in inter-individual variability of the behaviours that may be important for livestock production, as shown by pedigree studies, comparison of genetic stocks raised in the same environment, and selection experiments. The knowledge of gene polymorphisms responsible for genetic variability would increase the efficiency of selection, as shown for instance by the identification of the ryanodine receptor gene that harbours the mutations responsible for the porcine stress syndrome, that allows the eradication of the susceptibility allele. One strategy is to screen systematically the genes that are known to be involved in regulation of behaviour (functional candidate genes). This strategy is however very difficult for most behavioural traits, since behaviour is an emerging function from the whole brain/body and the molecular pathways involved in genetic variability are very poorly understood. Another strategy is to investigate linkage between trait variation and genetic markers in a segregating population (usually an intercross or backcross between two strains or breeds contrasting for the trait under study). It allows the detection of genomic regions influencing that trait (quantitative trait loci or QTL), and further investigation aims at the identification of the gene(s) located in each of these regions and the molecular polymorphisms involved in phenotypic variation. Although many QTL have been published for behavioural traits in experimental animals, very few examples are available where strong candidate genes have been identified. Further progress will be very much dependent upon the careful definition of behavioural traits to be studied (including their importance for animal production), on the reliability of their measurement in a large number of animals and on the efficient mastering of environmental factors of variability. The fast increase in the knowledge of genome sequence in several species will undoubtedly facilitate the application to farm animal species of the knowledge obtained in model organisms, as well as the use of model organisms to explore candidate genes detected by QTL studies in farm animals.     

Association of polymorphism of Fc receptor γ chain gene at position-29 in promoter with the susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus in southern Chinese

AIM:To detect the association between the polymorphism of Fc receptor γ chain gene at position-29 in promoter and systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).METHODS:The genotypes at position -29 in promoter of Fc receptor γ chain gene were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method in 180 patients with SLE and 140 ethnically matched controls in southern China.RESULTS:The frequencies of TT genotype(33.3%) and T allele (54.4%) at position -29 in patients with SLE were significantly higher than those in controls (17.2% and 42.9%, respectively), whereas, the frequencies of GG genotype (24.4%) and G allele (45.6%) in patients with SLE were remarkably lower than those in controls (31.4% and 57.1%, respectively) (P＜0.05). The TT genotype and T allele at position -29 were not associated with lupus nephritis in SLE patients (P＞0.05).CONCLUSION:Our results indicate that the T allele at position -29 in promoter of Fc receptor gene probably contributes to the susceptibility to SLE, but does not play a role in the occurrence of lupus nephritis.     

Identification of ALS inhibitor‐resistant Amaranthus biotypes using polymerase chain reaction amplification of specific alleles

Summary Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of specific alleles (PASA) was adapted as a molecular marker‐based method for the rapid detection of point mutations in Amaranthus retroflexus and Amaranthus rudis leading to ALS inhibitor resistance. Two pairs of primers were designed for the specific amplification of alleles of the ALS gene of susceptible and resistant biotypes. The allele‐specific primer matched the desired allele, but mismatched the different allele at its 3′ end. Differentiation was carried out by comparison of the amplified DNA fragments in gel electrophoresis after PASA‐PCR. In A. rudis, differentiation was possible with one PCR and genomic DNA as probe. A ‘nested’ PCR was necessary for the differentiation of sensitive and resistant A. retroflexus. PASA is useful for the identification of resistant weed biotypes and also as a monitoring tool to map resistance occurrence and distribution. Advantages include the fast and clear separation of those plants with and without mutations at an early stage of development, its easy and consistent performance and quick results compared with existing resistance detection tests. These advantages, when combined with management strategies, enable further activities to reduce herbicide resistance.     

昆虫病原线虫rDNA多态性分析

本文对国内外昆虫病原线虫斯氏属和异小杆属的47个品系进行rDNA—ITS PCR—RFLP分析，研究其DNA多态性，并构建了分子系统发育树状图。各品系的ITS区无明显的长度差异，PCR—RFLP分析将47个品系分为斯氏属和异小杆属两大类，两属线虫又分别分为11组和4组。所得结果丰富了ITS PCR—RFLP图谱库，为弄清我国的昆虫病原线虫与国外种类的分子系统发育关系及未定名线虫的鉴定提供重要依据，同时为筛选适合的线虫种类防治害虫奠定基础。     

缺铁胁迫下4种野生梨砧木介质pH值及根系Fe~(3+)还原酶活性的变化

以川梨、砂梨、豆梨和杜梨为材料,研究了在缺铁胁迫下培养介质的pH值和根系Fe3+还原酶活性的变化。结果表明,缺铁胁迫使4种砧木的介质pH值于处理的第2天就迅速降低,并且一直低于低铁和正常供铁处理;而低铁处理下,介质pH值在最初几天内反而高于正常处理,至4～5d之后才逐渐低于正常供铁处理;同时,NH4+-N对降低介质pH值和缓解缺铁症状有利。4种砧木的根系Fe3+还原酶活性都随供铁浓度的增加而不同程度的增大:无铁处理下,砂梨根系Fe3+的还原能力最小、杜梨最大;而在低铁和正常供铁条件下,砂梨和川梨的还原能力最强,杜梨次之,豆梨最小。还原酶大小与症状表现之间具有一致性。     

Effect of YIGU capsule on IGF-I mRNA and protein expression in rat osteoblasts in vitro

AIM: The effects of YIGU capsule on proliferation and IGF-I mRNA protein expressions in osteoblasts were studied. METHODS: (1) Forty 12-month old Sprague-Dawley female rats were divided randomly into four groups (YIGU capsule high dose group, medium dose group and low dose group; saline group), the drug-containing serum and control serum were prepared. (2) The new-born Sprague-Dawley rat osteoblasts were cultured with different YIGU capsule drug-containing serum at different concentrations and different exposure time. MTT method was used to observe proliferation of osteoblasts. (3) RT-PCR method was used to measure the relative IGF-I mRNA levels and ELISA method was used to measure IGF-I secretion at different exposure time. (4) ELISA method was used to measure IGF-I secretion at different exposure time. RESULTS: (1) Proliferation of osteoblasts was more than the control groups after 48, 72 and 96 h, respectively (P<0.01); (2) The relative IGF-I mRNA levels and IGF-I protein expression were higher than those in control group after 48, 72 and 96 h, respectively (P<0.01 or P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It was suggested that YIGU capsule drug-containing serum promoted proliferation, IGF-I mRNA and protein expression. These results may be parts of the mechanisms of YIGU capsule to prevent and treat osteoporosis.     

新扬州鸡IGF-1基因多态性与早期生长速度关系的研究

以150只非同胞新扬州鸡为材料，采用PCR—RFLP法检测了该基因5’调控区DNA序列多态性，并运用线性模型统计方法分析了多态性与初生重和12周龄体重的关系。结果显示：新扬州鸡IGF-1基因5、调控区自然存在两种不同DNA序列，经。PstⅠ酶切后出现3种基因型(“-／-”、“-／ ”、“ ／ ”)，基因型分布符合哈代一温伯格定律。各基因型个体的初生重、12周龄体重的最小二乘均数存在“-／-”＞“ ／-”＞“ ／ ”的趋势，且“-／-”型个体的12周龄体重显著高于“ ／ ”型个体(P＜0．05)。     

三江白猪线粒体DNA-RFLP的分析

采用22种限制性内切酶分析了三江白猪线粒体DNA的多态性。结果表明：在60头个体中检出30种限制性态型．归结为7种基因单倍型；其间的差异来自少数限制性位点的突变。单倍型间平均遗传距离为0．35%，群体遗传多态程度为0．044％。三江白猪遗传多样性非常贫乏，说明三江白猪与地方种猪起源于一个共同祖先，在品种形成早期受到创立者效应的制约。