Effect of exogenous progesterone administration on luteal sensitivity to PGF during the early development of the corpus luteum in mares and cows

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of exogenous progesterone administration at ovulation and during the early development of the CL, on its future sensitivity to a single administration of PGF2a in mares and cows. Horse Retrospective reproductive data from an equine clinic in the UK during three breeding seasons were used. Mares were divided into: control group, cycles with single ovulations; double ovulation group cycles with asynchronous double ovulations; and PRID group: cycles with single ovulations and treatment with intravaginal progesterone device (CIDR) immediately after the ovulation. All mares were treated with d‐cloprostenol (PGF) at either: (i) 88 hr; (ii) 96 hr; (iii) 104 hr; or (iv) 112 hr after the last ovulation. Cattle A total of nine non‐lactating Holstein cows were used. All cows were administered PGF14 d apart and allocated to one of two groups control group GnRH was administered 56 hr after the second PGF administration. CIDR group CIDR was inserted at the same time of GnRH administration. All cows were administered PGF at 120 hr post‐ovulation. The complete luteolysis rate of mares with double ovulation (66.7%) and those treated with exogenous progesterone (68.4%) was significantly higher than the rate of mares with single ovulation (35.6%) at 104 hr. In the cow, however, the treatment with CIDR did not increase the luteolytic response in cows treated at 120 hr post‐ovulation. In conclusion, the degree of complete luteolysis can be influenced by increasing the concentration of progesterone during the early luteal development in mares.     

Effect of chicken egg yolk immunoglobulins on serum biochemical profiles and intestinal bacterial populations in early‐weaned piglets

This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that dietary supplementation with anti‐E. coli, chicken egg yolk immunoglobulins (IgY), may affect early weaned piglet (EWP) intestinal functions and enteric micro‐organisms. One hundred and forty‐eight ([Landrace × Yorkshire] × Duroc) piglets, weaned at age day 21, were randomly assigned to receive one of three diets for 14 days. Treatment group one (control group) was fed the base diet. Treatment group two (antibiotics group) was fed the base diet which was supplemented with 100 ppm colistin sulphate and 15 ppm enramycin; treatment group three (IgY group) was fed the base diet which was supplemented with 500 mg/kg anti‐E. coli IgY. The study evaluated the effects on EWPs of IgY on growth, serum biochemical, inflammatory profiles and also digestion content intestinal bacterial populations. Results showed no significant difference in diarrhoea rates between IgY‐fed EWPs and antibiotic‐treated EWPs. Serum biochemical analysis showed that EWPs fed an IgY‐containing diet had both lower (p < 0.05) cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein compared to antibiotic‐treated EWPs. Escherichia coli populations measured in IgY‐fed EWP ileal contents, compared to the control group, were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Clostridium and Bifidobacterium populations were unaffected by the IgY treatment. Larger (p < 0.05) Enterococcus populations and lower (p < 0.05) expression levels of heat‐stable enterotoxin b (STb) were observed in IgY‐fed EWP caecal digesta compared to the control group. Enteric Lactobacillus significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in EWPs fed antibiotics while it was unaffected by IgY treatment. Dietary supplementation with anti‐E. coli IgY has the potential to suppress enteric E. coli growth, but not Lactobacillus, Clostridium and Bifidobacterium. This promotes and maintains a healthy EWP intestinal environment. These findings suggest that IgY may be used as an alternative to antibiotics in EWP diets.     

Real-time PCR genotyping assay for feline erythrocyte pyruvate kinase deficiency and mutant allele frequency in purebred cats in Japan

Erythrocyte pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency is an inherited glycolytic erythroenzymopathy caused by mutations of the PKLR gene. A causative mutation of the feline PKLR gene was originally identified in Abyssinian and Somali cats in the U.S.A. In the present study, a TaqMan probe-based real-time PCR genotyping assay was developed and evaluated for rapid genotyping and large-scale screening for this mutation. Furthermore, a genotyping survey was carried out in a population of four popular purebred cats in Japan to determine the current mutant allele frequency. The assay clearly displayed all genotypes of feline PK deficiency, indicating its suitability for large-scale survey as well as diagnosis. The survey demonstrated that the mutant allele frequency in Abyssinian and Somali cats was high enough to warrant measures to control and prevent the disease. The mutant allele frequency was relatively low in Bengal and American Shorthair cats; however, the testing should still be carried out to prevent the spread of the disease. In addition, PK deficiency should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of anemia in purebred cats in Japan as well as worldwide.     

假俭草体细胞抗寒突变体的获得及其SRAP分子鉴定

假俭草抗寒性差是限制其广泛应用的主要因素之一。本研究目标是以优良假俭草选系E-126为材料,经低温诱导和筛选获得体细胞抗寒突变体。结果表明,假俭草种子诱导的愈伤组织在继代培养的过程中,经0℃的低温条件下培养26 d,获得了2块存活的愈伤组织,该愈伤组织经过继代增殖后,进行分化、生根和移栽,获得株系1和株系2。苗期外部形态观察结果表明,假俭草低温诱导的株系1、株系2和对照在叶色、叶毛、叶长和叶宽上均没有显著性差异。半致死温度分析结果表明,株系1、株系2以及对照叶片半致死温度(LT₅₀)分别为-6.646,-6.546和-5.351℃,处理与对照之间差异显著,且都低于对照,但株系1和株系2之间无显著性差异。SRAP的结果表明,假俭草低温诱导的株系1和株系2在110,230以及240 bp处均存在相同特征带,表明假俭草体细胞突变体植株的变异稳定且在分子水平与对照存在差异,但株系1和株系2无差异。因此,株系1和株系2可作为同一体细胞抗寒突变体株系加以利用。     

家兔BMP7成熟肽编码区克隆及BMP7、BMP4基因组织表达谱分析

用RT-PCR方法克隆家兔BMP 7基因成熟肽编码区cDNA序列,并对2月龄家兔BMP 7和BMP 4基因的组织表达谱进行半定量分析。结果表明,家兔BMP 7成熟肽编码序列长414 bp,与人、小鼠BMP 7的同源性分别为91.89%、89.32%,三者的同源性为94.98%。在家兔心、肝、脾、肺、肾、脑、脊髓、小肠8种组织中检测到BMP 7和BMP 4基因表达。BMP 7基因在心、脾组织以低丰度表达,在肺、脊髓、十二指肠以中等丰度表达,在肝、肾、脑中以高丰度表达;BMP 4基因在脊髓以低丰度表达,在脑、心、脾、小肠等器官组织中呈中等丰度表达,在肝、肺、肾中以高丰度表达。因此,家兔BMP 7基因成熟肽编码区在进化过程中高度保守。BMP 7和BMP 4具有广泛的组织表达谱和组织表达特异性。     

Surveillance and Early Warning of West Nile Virus Lineage 2 Using Backyard Chickens and Correlation to Human Neuroinvasive Cases

In 2010, a West Nile virus (WNV) epidemic was reported in Central Macedonia, Northern Greece, with 197 neuroinvasive disease (WNND) cases in humans. The following 3 years, WNV spreads to new areas of Greece and human cases reoccurred during the transmission periods. After the initial outbreak, a WNV surveillance system using juvenile backyard chickens was established in Central Macedonia (after the 2011 outbreak) and Eastern Macedonia‐Thrace (after the 2012 outbreak). Sera were screened for the presence of antibodies against WNV using cELISA and serum neutralization test, to monitor the spread of WNV and to assess the correlation between the WNV point seroprevalence in chickens and the incidence rates of human WNND cases in the aforementioned areas. WNV seroprevalence in chickens was 10.4% (95% CI: 7–15) in Central Macedonia (2011) and 18.1% (95% CI: 14–23) in Eastern Macedonia‐Thrace (2012). Seroprevalence in chickens and incidence rates of human WNND cases in Eastern Macedonia‐Thrace were strongly positively correlated (ρ = 0.98, P = 0.005) at the regional unit level, with the incidence of WNND in humans increasing with increasing WNV point seroprevalence in chickens. In Central Macedonia, the correlation was weaker (ρ = 0.68, P = 0.20), apparently due to small number of reported human WNND cases. Another study was also conducted using juvenile backyard chickens in Central Macedonia, aiming to detect early WNV enzootic circulation, before the onset of human cases during 2011 and 2013. The first seroconverted chickens were detected about 1.5 months before the laboratory diagnosis of any human WNND cases in Central Macedonia, for both years. WNV surveillance, using juvenile backyard chickens, was reliable for the identification of areas with WNV enzootic and silent transmission, and for early warning. Timely diffusion of information to public health authorities facilitated the successful implementation of preparedness plans to protect public health.     

猪食欲肽2受体突变体真核表达载体的构建及其对cAMP信号通路的影响

试验旨在构建猪食欲肽2受体（porcine orexin 2 receptor,pOX2R）突变体的真核表达载体,探究其野生型与突变体的基础药理学活性差异。以pcDNA3.1（+）-myc/pOX2R野生型质粒为模板,设计特异性引物单点突变构建4种突变体：pcDNA3.1（+）-myc/pOX2R-P10S、pcDNA3.1（+）-myc/pOX2R-P11T、pcDNA3.1（+）-myc/pOX2R-V308I和pcDNA3.1（+）-myc/pOX2R-T401I,将pcDNA3.1（+）-myc/pOX2R野生型和4种突变体分别瞬时转染HEK293T细胞,利用双荧光素酶报告基因检测法测定pOX2R野生型及突变体的基础活性,并检测不同浓度激动剂作用下细胞内cAMP水平,随后用内源性激动剂食欲肽A （OXA）及食欲肽B （OXB）分别对野生型及突变体进行刺激。结果显示,4个突变体构建成功,pOX2R的第10、11、308和401位氨基酸分别突变为丝氨酸、苏氨酸、异亮氨酸和缬氨酸。将pOX2R的野生型及4个突变体瞬时转染HEK293T细胞后,野生型与突变体的基础活性值无显著差异（P>0.05）,表明这4个位点的氨基酸突变对其受体的基础表达信号无显著影响。与野生型受体相比,突变型受体对激动剂OXB的响应无显著差异（P>0.05）,而突变体P10S、P11T和T401I对激动剂OXA的响应EC₅₀显著降低（P<0.05）,其R_max无显著差异（P>0.05）。推测第10、11和401位点的氨基酸突变可能影响了激动剂OXA与受体的结合,降低了激动剂的激动效应。本研究结果为进一步体外研究pOX2R的功能奠定了基础。     

伪狂犬病病毒Bartha株TK-/LacZ+突变株的构建及其生物学特性研究

本研究将伪狂犬病病毒Bartha株基因组与含有LacZ标志基因的TK基因转移质料pUEKPZ共转染猪肾传代细胞PK－5，细胞出现病变后，反复冻融3次收毒，按1：5稀释接种于IBRS－2细胞。在X－gal存在下挑取蓝斑，蓝斑筛选3次，再进行空斑试验，同时用PCR扩增LacZ基因，经3次空斑纯化，随机挑取的空斑均能扩增出LacZ基因，证实所获得的重组病毒为伪狂犬病病毒Bartha株TK^-/LacZ^ 突变株。TCID50试验表明，TK失活对Bartha株在细胞上增殖无影响；Balb/C小鼠试验表明，该突变对Balb/C小鼠的安全性明显高于Bartha亲本毒株。     

雌激素及其受体调控卵母细胞成熟的研究进展

目前很多女性受到不孕不育、自然流产和出生缺陷等诸多生殖相关疾病的困扰,其主要原因为生殖细胞减数分裂异常和卵母细胞质量下降。雌激素不仅参与调控哺乳动物的发情和性行为,也参与调控卵母细胞的生长发育。雌激素受体作为类固醇激素受体的一种,在介导雌激素发挥基因组效应和非基因组效应中有着重要的作用。目前关于雌激素受体调控卵母细胞成熟的报道多集中于硬骨鱼类,特别是新型膜受体GPR30,而在哺乳动物方面的研究鲜有报道。因此作者介绍了雌激素核受体ERα、ERβ与新型膜受体GPR30的结构与分布,简述了膜受体GPR30的不同类型配体的研究进展,综述了雌激素受体在调控卵母细胞发育中的相互作用,发现雌激素的核受体与膜受体在卵母细胞成熟的过程中可能发挥不同的调控作用,并进一步阐述了雌激素及其受体在卵母细胞成熟过程中的潜在调控机制。     

强制补饲对早期断奶仔猪腹泻及消化道的影响

选用二元杂交仔猪10窝,随机分为对照组和试验组,8日龄时开始补饲,对照组自由采食,试验组在自由采食基础上,增加强制补饲至21日龄.结果表明,强制补饲可明显增加28日龄断奶仔猪断奶前的饲粮采食量:试验组(600.6±29.97)g,对照组(202.6±16.59)g(P<0.01);断奶前后日增重显著提高(P<0.01);断奶后仔猪腹泻频率显著降低:试验组(14.78±2.13)%,对照组(45.75±6.26)%(P<0.01);28日龄胃内pH值低于4,显著低于对照组(P<0.05);肠道内大肠杆菌数量显著低于对照组(P<0.01);35日龄时,试验组胃质量显著大于对照组(P<0.05),胃和十二指肠黏膜绒毛显著高于对照组(P<0.05).