Mapping genomic regions for reproductive traits in beef cattle: Inclusion of the X chromosome

Although the second largest chromosome of the genome, the X chromosome is usually excluded from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Considering the presence and importance of genes on this chromosome that are involved in reproduction, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of its inclusion in GWAS on reproductive traits (scrotal circumference [SC], early pregnancy [P16] and age at first calving [AFC]) in a Nelore herd. Genotype data from 3,263 animals with the above-mentioned phenotypes were used. The results showed an increase in the variances explained by the autosomal markers for all traits when the X chromosome was not included. For SC, there was an increase of more than 10% for the windows on chromosomes 2 and 6. For P16, the effect was increased by almost 20% for windows on chromosome 5. The same pattern was found for AFC, with an increase of more than 10% for the most important windows. The results indicate that the noninclusion of the X chromosome can overestimate the effects of autosomes on SC, P16 and AFC not only because of the additive effect of the X chromosome itself but also because of its epistatic effect on autosomal genes.     

西部退耕还林还草的序量问题探讨

针对目前退耕还林还革存在的严重盲动性和炒作性,认为西部生态建设要走"种树更要种草,还草先于还林,建立林草一体化产业"的发展模式,并从实现第三步战略目标对西部种草养畜发展畜牧业的要求和西部生态"先天性基因缺损"的规律等方面进行了详尽的论述,提出了退耕还林还革、建立林草一体化产业的对策措施.     

奶牛杂交群体及其遗传评估的模拟研究

为验证在奶牛杂交群体中将品种组成和杂合度作为协变量的遗传评估理论,为奶牛杂交模式选择和杂交群体遗传评估等实际问题提供理论依据,结合我国奶业现状,本研究模拟了在低产荷斯坦牛群引入法系蒙贝利亚牛、德系西门塔尔牛进行杂交,采用随机交配和三品种轮回杂交模式、群体世代重叠17年的繁育过程.群体杂合度在第7年后趋于平衡,轮回杂交模式的群体杂合度高于随机交配.经过杂交,原中低产荷斯坦牛群体在产奶性能、生长性能方面都有进展,轮回杂交提高幅度相对略高.此外,利用品种效应和杂合度效应剖分杂种优势,采用单性状和多性状动物模型对模拟群体进行遗传评估,效果基本一致,都可以很好地用于杂交群体的遗传评估.结果表明,对荷斯坦牛中低产群体进行杂交,可实现生产性能和效益的提高,回归模型可用于多元群体的遗传评估.     

Murine xenograft model demonstrates significant radio-sensitising effect of liposomal doxorubicin in a combination therapy for Feline Injection Site Sarcoma

Therapy of cats suffering from feline injection site sarcomas (FISS) is still a challenging problem, as the recurrence rate after surgery is up to 70%. Four FISS-derived primary tumour cell lines and corresponding xenograft tumour mouse models were established to evaluate the efficacy of a concomitant chemo-/radiation therapy with doxorubicin. In vitro, strongly depending upon the timing of administration, pre-treatment with 0.25 µmol doxorubicin resulted in a significant enhancement of radiation-induced (3.5 Gy) tumour cell death. This result was confirmed in vivo, where only the combined chemo-/radiation therapy resulted in a significant reduction in tumour growth compared to the respective mono-therapies with either doxorubicin or radiation. These results support the use of the concomitant chemo-/radiation therapy for adjuvant treatment of FISS, particularly in advanced or recurrent disease where surgery alone is no longer feasible.     

《宠物外科手术学》教学模式改革与探讨

《宠物外科手术学》是一门实践性很强的学科,与其他专业相比,更强调能力的培养,强调实验技能和临床技能的训练,是宠物相关专业技能培养的重要组成部分。该课程对培养学生的临床思维能力、合理运用手术基本操作技术能力、学生对宠物外科手术技能综合运用能力、学生的社会就业方向等有着积极而重要的作用。为此,如何给学生更好地传授理论知识,提供更多临床实践和动手能力的机会,需要学校和教师在人才培养方面不断思索和改革。通过多年的临床教学经验,对该课程进行了一些教学改革尝试,旨在更好地培养学生宠物外科手术的实践能力,以适应社会的需要与发展。     

绵羊实验性硒过多症的研究Ⅰ.硒过多症动物模型的建立

对14只绵羊以0.1％亚硒酸钠液肌肉注射,逐渐增加剂量,历时3～4个月,复制出了慢性硒过多症动物模型。此动物模型是随着硒在体内的不断累积,呈现起病、中毒和致死三个不同的效应阶段,血硒水平在0.30、0.50、及1.00μg/ml以上,依次分别作为三个效应阶段的临界值。     

Ultra‐frequent HRAS p.Q61R somatic mutation in canine acanthomatous ameloblastoma reveals pathogenic similarities with human ameloblastoma

Ameloblastoma is a locally aggressive odontogenic tumour that occurs in humans and dogs. Most ameloblastomas (AM) in humans harbour mutually‐exclusive driving mutations in BRAF, HRAS, KRAS, NRAS or FGFR2 that activate MAPK signalling, and in SMO that activates Hedgehog signalling. The remarkable clinical and histological similarities between canine acanthomatous ameloblastoma (CAA) and AM suggest they may harbour similar driving mutations. In this study, aimed at characterizing the mutational status of SMO, BRAF, HRAS, KRAS, NRAS and FGFR2 in CAA, we used RNA sequencing, Sanger sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphism assays to demonstrate that 94% of CAA (n = 16) harbour a somatic HRAS p.Q61R mutation. The similarities in MAPK‐activating mutational profiles between CAA and AM implicate conserved molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis, thus, qualifying the dog as a potentially useful model of disease. Given the relevance of RAS mutations in the pathogenesis of odontogenic tumours and other types of cancer, the results of this study are of comparative, translational, and veterinary value.     

Genetic parameters for abnormal sucking traits in Austrian Fleckvieh heifers

Cross‐sucking and intersucking are considered abnormal behaviours in cattle and constitute a common problem in dairy farming. Cross‐sucking in calves is defined as sucking any body parts of another calf whereas intersucking in heifers and cows is defined as sucking the udder or udder area. The aim of this study was to determine the genetic variability for abnormal sucking behaviour by estimating genetic parameters and examining individual differences between sires with large progeny groups. By means of a questionnaire, cattle breeders in the federal state Lower Austria were requested to identify all currently kept animals which are known of either inter‐ or cross‐sucking (both defined as the same binary trait ‘sucking’ with 0 and 1 referring to the absence and presence of this abnormal behaviour) or allowing sucking (also treated as a binary trait, scored as 1 if an animal was known of allowing herd mates to suck and 0 otherwise). Records of 1222 farms and 13 332 dual purpose Simmental females aged between 21 and 700 days were investigated applying a linear animal model with fixed herd × year × season and random genetic animal effect and a threshold sire model with the herd × year × season effect being treated as random. In total, 8.6% and 4.1% of all calves/heifers were observed sucking and allowing sucking, respectively. Heritabilities of 0.040 ± 0.014 and 0.007 ± 0.006 (linear animal model) and 0.116 ± 0.041 and 0.026 ± 0.024 (threshold model) were found for the traits sucking and allowing sucking, respectively. Breeding values were estimated applying the same models for the trait sucking. Taking all 254 sires into account, the Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients between breeding values estimated by linear animal and sire threshold model were 0.86 and 0.80. Thus, little difference was observed between the two methods.     

草地生态系统安全及其评价研究

探讨了草地生态安全及其评价的概念与内涵,认为草地生态系统安全判断与度量准则应该是草地生态系统健康、草地生态系统服务功能及生态风险与管理的科学统一。同时尝试提出了草地生态系统安全评价的"健康-服务功能-风险与管理(health-service-risk and management,HSRM)"模型,构建了HSRM评价模型的指标体系,提出草地生态安全评价中草地生态安全度计算公式和安全状态分级标准。