Pathogenicity of emerging Japanese type 1 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in experimentally infected pigs

To clarify the pathogenicity of Japanese type 1 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) isolate in experimentally infected pigs, we evaluated clinical signs and monitored viremia for 21 days post-inoculation (dpi). Lungs were mottled, tanned and reddish in appearance; had lesions predominantly in the cranial, middle and accessory lobes; and failed to collapse at 10 dpi. Although microscopic lesions of lungs were reproduced using the Japanese emerging type 1 PRRSV isolate under experimental conditions, no significant differences were noted between the challenge and control groups regarding mean rectal temperature and daily weight gain. These results provide useful insights into the limited pathogenicity of single infection with the Japanese type 1 PRRSV isolate in piglets, which differ from findings in reported field cases.     

Downregulation of the expression of inhibin α subunit and betaglycan in porcine cystic follicles

Inhibins, as members of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) superfamily, downregulate the synthesis and secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in an endocrine manner. The role of inhibin/betaglycan in the ovary regulation recently gained attention. To date, no data exist on the function of inhibin α subunit and betaglycan in cystic follicles. In this study, the expressions of inhibin α subunit and betaglycan in cystic follicles were investigated using immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. Both inhibin α subunit and betaglycan immunoreactivities were mainly localized in the granulosa cells of follicles. Expression of inhibin α subunit and betaglycan was inferior in cystic follicles compared with that in normal large follicles. However, the result of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed no significant difference in the decreasing in concentration of inhibin α subunit in cystic follicular fluid compared with the control (P>0.05). In this study, we explored the effects of FSH on betaglycan expression in granulosa cells in vitro. As expected, a significant increase in the expressions of betaglycan mRNA and protein in granulosa cells was observed in response to exogenous FSH (30 ng/ml) (P<0.05) compared with the control. Consequently, this study provides evidence that the expressions of inhibin α subunit and betaglycan are inferior in cystic follicles, and this may be caused by the decrease in FSH in the presence of a cystic follicle.     

Effect of dietary Schizochytrium microalga oil and fish oil on plasma cholesterol level in rats

The purpose of the study was to test the hypothesis that the dietary oils with different content of n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) affect plasma lipid level in rats in a different degree. The diets with 6% of fish oil (FO) and Schizochytrium microalga oil (SchO; EPA+DHA content in the diets 9.5 + 12.3 and 2.6 + 29.5% of the sum of total fatty acids, respectively) were used; the diet with 6% of safflower oil (high content of n‐6 PUFA linoleic acid, 65.5%; EPA+DHA content 0.7 + 0.9%) was used as a control. The difference between FO and SchO was established only in the case of plasma triacylglycerol (TAG) level: plasma TAG of the FO‐fed rats did not differ from the control rats (p > 0.05), while SchO decreased (p < 0.05) plasma TAG to 46% of the control. On the other hand, FO and SchO decreased (p < 0.05) total plasma cholesterol (TC) in rats in the same extent, to 73% of the control. Regarding the underlying mechanisms for the TC decrease, both SchO and FO up‐regulated hepatic Insig‐1 gene (181 and 133% of the control; p < 0.05), which tended (p = 0.15 and p = 0.19 respectively) to decrease the amount of hepatic nSREBP‐2 protein (61 and 66% of the control). However, neither SchO nor FO influenced hepatic 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methyl‐glutaryl‐CoA reductase gene expression (p > 0.05); SchO (but not FO) increased (p < 0.05) low‐density lipoprotein receptor mRNA in the liver. It was concluded that the decrease of total plasma cholesterol might be caused by an increased cholesterol uptake from plasma into the cells (in the case of SchO), but also by other (in the present study not tested) mechanisms.     

Regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase 3/1 activity during meiosis resumption in mammals

In vivo, resumption of oocyte meiosis occurs in large ovarian follicles after the preovulatory surge of luteinizing hormone (LH). The LH surge leads to the activation of a broad signaling network in mural granulosa cells equipped with LH receptors. The signals generated in the mural granulosa cells are further augmented by locally produced peptides or steroids and transferred to the cumulus cell compartment and the oocyte itself. Over the last decade, essential progress has been made in the identification of molecular events associated with the final maturation and ovulation of mammalian oocytes. All new evidence argues for a multiple roles of mitogen-activated protein kinase 3/1 (MAPK3/1) in the gonadotropin-induced ovulation processes. However, the knowledge of gonadotropin-induced signaling pathways leading to MAPK3/1 activation in follicular cells seems limited. To date, only the LH-induced transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor/MAPK3/1 pathway has been described in granulosa/cumulus cells even though other mechanisms of MAPK3/1 activation have been detected in other types of cells. In this review, we aimed to summarize recent advances in the elucidation of gonadotropin-induced mechanisms leading to the activation of MAPK3/1 in preovulatory follicles and cultured cumulus-oocyte complexes and to point out a specific role of this kinase in the processes accompanying final maturation of the mammalian oocyte.     

生物钟基因在绒山羊皮肤中表达模式的比较

文章旨在研究绒山羊皮肤生物钟基因clock、tim、per1和cry1的表达模式,进而分析其在绒山羊皮肤组织中的作用及相互关系。生物钟基因形成一个转录-翻译反馈环,通过钟基因在绒山羊皮肤生长周期进行高表达,激活per1和cry1基因的转录-转化过程,从而在mRNA和蛋白水平的调控下进行有节律的表达。结果表明,这些生物钟基因在绒山羊皮肤中的表达量依次为:clocktimper1cry1;皮肤次级毛囊兴盛期,高振幅clock、per1、tim、cry1的节律表达分别出现在一天中的04∶00、08∶00、08∶00、16∶00;皮肤次级毛囊休止期,这些基因的高振幅节律表达分别出现在一天中的08∶00、04∶00、04∶00、16∶00。另外,cry1、per1基因的表达在生物钟基因正反馈循环中被激活,tim基因的表达在生物钟基因的负反馈循环中被激活。因此,clock、tim、per1和cry1调控下运行的钟基因反馈环是绒毛生长呈周期性现象的基础。     

Expression of Proton-dependent Oligopeptide Transporters (POTs) in Calves' Tissues

This test was designed to study the expression of POTs (PepT1, PepT2, PHT1 and PHT2) mRNA in calves'tissues.Tissue-specific expression of the mRNA corresponding to peptide transporter protein in four 3-month-old Chinese Holstein calves was examined by relative quantitative RT-PCR analysis.The results showed that the expression of PepT1 mRNA in the rumen was extremely significantly higher than that in the heart and muscle (P<0.01);The expression of PepT2 mRNA in the liver and kidney was extremely significantly higher than that in the heart, spleen, thymus, muscle, rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum (P<0.01);The expression of PHT1 mRNA in the lung and spleen was extremely significantly higher than that in the heart and muscle (P<0.01);The expression of PHT2 mRNA in the lung and thymus was significantly higher than that in the heart, liver, kidney, spleen, muscle, rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum (P<0.05).The results indicated that PepT1, PepT2, PHT1 and PHT2 mRNA were respectively abundantly expressed in rumen, kidney and liver, spleen and lung, lung and thymus.     

绵羊多羔主效基因BMPR1B的研究进展

骨形态发生蛋白受体1B(Bone morphogenetic protein receptor 1B,BMPR1B)是一种重要的跨膜受体蛋白,主要参与转化生长因子β(TGF-β)通路,其在调控成骨分化、细胞扩散以及卵巢卵泡发育等过程中起重要作用,并直接影响如绵羊等动物的繁殖性状。绵羊BMPR1B基因发生A746G突变(命名为FecB突变),导致第249位氨基酸由谷氨酰胺(Q)转变为精氨酸(R),进而使得绵羊排卵数和产羔数显著增加,因此BMPR1B成为目前最受关注的绵羊多羔主效基因。论文就绵羊BMPR1B基因定位、功能机制研究进展及其对高繁殖力绵羊的影响进行了综述,同时也对BMPR1B功能研究中一些亟待解决的问题展开了讨论。     

Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Outbreak Investigation: Application of the FAO‐OIE‐WHO Four‐way Linking Framework in Indonesia

WHO, FAO and OIE developed a ‘four‐way linking’ framework to enhance the cross‐sectoral sharing of epidemiological and virological information in responding to zoonotic disease outbreaks. In Indonesia, outbreak response challenges include completeness of data shared between human and animal health authorities. The four‐way linking framework (human health laboratory/epidemiology and animal health laboratory/epidemiology) was applied in the investigation of the 193rd human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection. As recommended by the framework, outbreak investigation and risk assessment findings were shared. On 18 June 2013, a hospital in West Java Province reported a suspect H5N1 case in a 2‐year‐old male. The case was laboratory‐confirmed that evening, and the information was immediately shared with the Ministry of Agriculture. The human health epidemiology/laboratory team investigated the outbreak and conducted an initial risk assessment on 19 June. The likelihood of secondary cases was deemed low as none of the case contacts were sick. By 3 July, no secondary cases associated with the outbreak were identified. The animal health epidemiology/laboratory investigation was conducted on 19–25 June and found that a live bird market visited by the case was positive for H5N1 virus. Once both human and market virus isolates were sequenced, a second risk assessment was conducted jointly by the human health and animal health epidemiology/laboratory teams. This assessment concluded that the likelihood of additional human cases associated with this outbreak was low but that future sporadic human infections could not be ruled out because of challenges in controlling H5N1 virus contamination in markets. Findings from the outbreak investigation and risk assessments were shared with stakeholders at both Ministries. The four‐way linking framework clarified the type of data to be shared. Both human health and animal health teams made ample data available, and there was cooperation to achieve risk assessment objectives.     

抗寒桑树种质1—脱氧野尻霉素含量测定与分析

为了筛选和鉴定适合寒冷地区药食用途开发的桑树品种,以河北省承德医学院蚕业研究所保存的57份桑树种质资源为材料,采用高效液相色谱法,对各桑树品种(种质)叶片新梢中的1-脱氧野尻霉素(DNJ)含量进行了测定。研究结果表明,不同桑树种质资源桑叶中DNJ含量差异显著,质量比多分布在2.5~4.0 mg/g之间。其中白桑种的家桑、条墩桑的DNJ质量比较高,分别为5.183 mg/g、5.020 mg/g,禾桑含量最低(1.288 mg/g)。测定种质资源以白桑种、鲁桑种居多,且大部分来自河北省地方品种(系),以及辽宁、山东等地的部分品种,少数为南方品种,来源地区不同其DNJ含量也存在一定差异性。