Effects of music stimulus on behavior response,cortisol level,and horizontal immunity of growing pigs

An enriched environment is widely used to improve domestic animals’ welfare and promote their natural behaviors. Music can reduce abnormal behavior in humans, nonhuman primates, and rodents. However, little is known about the effects of music on pigs. This study aims to explore the effects of repeated music stimulation on the behavior, physiology, and immunity of growing pigs. A total of 72 hybrid piglets (Large White × Duroc × Minpig) were randomly divided into three groups, including music (Mozart K.448, 60 to 70 dB), noise (recorded mechanical noise, 80 to 85 dB), and control (natural background sound, <40 dB), and 6 h sound stimulation was given per day (1000 to 1600 hours) from 40 to 100 d of age. The behavioral activities of the pigs were observed during the music stimulation, and their serum cortisol, salivary cortisol, and serum immune indices were also measured. Compared with the control group, the music group and noise group increased activity but decreased lying of pigs (P < 0.05). A significant increase in tail-wagging, playing, and exploring behaviors of pigs was found in the music group (P < 0.05), and the noise significantly increased the aggressive behavior of the pigs (P < 0.05). Tail-wagging, playing, exploring, manipulating, and aggressive behaviors decreased over time. Short-term (8 d) music stimulus had a lower cortisol level than that of the noise and control groups (P < 0.05), whereas long-term (60 d) music stimulus increased immunoglobulin G (IgG), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels (P < 0.05) and decreased interleukin-4 (IL-4) level (P < 0.05). Long-term noise stimulus significantly reduced the level of IgG (P < 0.05) but did not affect the level of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ levels (P > 0.05). In conclusion, short-term music stimulus (8 d) reduced the stress response, whereas long-term music stimulus (60 d) enhanced the immune responses. In addition, the noise increased the aggressive behavior, and long-term noise reduced the immunity of the growing pigs.     

Endogenous hydrogen sulfide regulates oxidant/antioxidant balance in rat with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

AIM: To investigate the role of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) in the protection against oxidative stress in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).METHODS: The rat model of COPD was established by cigarette smoking (CS) combined with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) instillation. Thirty-two healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group, CS+LPS group, CS+LPS+NaHS (H₂S donor) group and CS+LPS+PPG (DL-propargylglycine, an inhibitor of cystathionine-γ-lyase) group. After 30 days, the lung functions of the rats were measured, the histological changes of lungs were observed under light microscope and the pathological scores were calculated. The H₂S level in plasma and the protein expression of cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) in the lung tissues were measured. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were detected to reflect oxidative stress.RESULTS: Compared with control group, the peak expiratory flow (PEF) decreased by 24% and intra-pressure (IP) increased by 66% in CS+LPS group. The pathological scores of the lung tissues also increased. Compared with CS+LPS group, no change in the lung function was observed after given NaHS or PPG, but the pathological scores decreased in CS+ LPS+ NaHS group. Compared with control group, the content of H₂S in plasma was increased by 26% on day 16. Compared with CS+LPS group, the content of H₂S in plasma of CS+LPS+PPG group was decreased by 22% after 30 days. Compared with control group, the protein expression of CSE increased, and no statistical difference among CS+LPS group, CS+ LPS+ NaHS group and CS+LPS+PPG group was observed. Compared with control group, MDA content in the lung tissues was increased by 24% in CS+LPS group, the activity of SOD was increased by 47% and the activity of CAT was increased by 52%. Compared with CS+LPS group, the MDA content in CS+LPS+NaHS group was decreased by 21%, and no statistical difference in the activity of SOD and CAT was observed. The activity of SOD decreased by 33% after given PPG.CONCLUSION: H₂S plays a role as anti-oxidant in the rats with COPD. The CSE/ H₂S pathway may be involved in the development of COPD.     

热应激绍兴鸭不同组织HSP70基因mRNA表达研究

研究蛋鸭热应激条件下不同组织中热休克蛋白70(HSP70)基因mRNA表达规律,为揭示蛋鸭热应激反应机理提供参考。60只绍兴蛋鸭25℃饲养20d,其中30只进行40℃热应激处理1h,采取荧光定量PCR方法分别测定不同组织中HSP70mRNA的表达水平。试验组与对照组相比,肝脏、脾脏和胰腺组织HSP70mRNA表达差异不显著,其他6种组织HSP70基因表达量均有不同程度的增加,试验组心脏、腿肌、垂体、下丘脑、胸肌、肾脏中HSP70基因表达量分别高于对照组3.6倍、2.8倍、2.7倍、2.4倍、2.2倍和1.57倍。     

月季在城市园林绿化中的应用前景

目的探索外施水杨酸和茉莉酸甲酯对盐胁迫下月季品种月月粉生理特性的影响。方法采用水培方法,对月月粉幼苗进行高盐胁迫处理、外源激素处理以及盐与激素共处理,测定处理组和对照组的叶绿素、脯氨酸和丙二醛含量以及过氧化物酶、过氧化氢酶和超氧化物歧化酶活性。结果相较于单独盐胁迫,盐胁迫下外施水杨酸和茉莉酸甲酯使月月粉叶片叶绿素含量分别提高了98.03%和80.05%,叶片中脯氨酸含量分别提高了57.23%和49.72%,根系中脯氨酸含量分别提高了56.75%和89.31%,叶片中丙二醛含量分别降低了29.92%和16.79%,根系中丙二醛含量分别降低了28.62%和20.52%。结论外施水杨酸和茉莉酸甲酯处理均可缓解盐胁迫对月月粉的伤害,且茉莉酸甲酯的缓解效果优于水杨酸。     

盐胁迫和干旱胁迫对蓝花子种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

将蓝花子培养在含有不同浓度的NaCl和甘露醇的MS培养基上,研究蓝花子在不同浓度的NaCl和甘露醇处理下的发芽势、发芽率、相对发芽率、叶绿素含量以及过氧化物酶活性等,揭示蓝花子对盐胁迫和干旱胁迫的耐受能力。结果表明:蓝花子的发芽率、株高、根长、叶绿素以及过氧化物酶活性都随NaCl浓度的升高而显著下降;在甘露醇胁迫时,蓝花子幼苗的根长、叶绿素含量以及POD酶活性都随甘露醇浓度的升高表现为先升高后降低的趋势。说明同十字花科其它植物相比蓝花子对盐胁迫十分敏感,而对干旱胁迫却能表现出比较明显的耐受性。     

递增注射脂多糖诱导慢性免疫应激对仔猪生长性能的影响

本试验旨在研究递增30%注射脂多糖(LPS)诱导仔猪慢性免疫应激的效果及对仔猪生长性能、营养物质表观消化率的影响。选取16头断奶仔猪,随机分为2组(对照组、LPS组),单笼饲养。LPS组隔天静脉注射LPS,初始注射剂量80μg/kg BW,随后逐次递增30%,对照组注射相应剂量的生理盐水,试验期15 d。研究发现:仔猪注射LPS第1、5天血浆白细胞介素-1β和皮质醇含量极显著高于对照组(P0.01),第9天血浆皮质醇有高于对照组的趋势(P=0.10),整个试验期内血浆结合珠蛋白含量显著高于对照组(P0.05)。与对照组相比,注射LPS仔猪在试验的3个阶段(1~4 d、5~8 d和9~15 d)平均日增重分别降低了40.00%(P0.01)、29.52%(P0.05)和19.30%(P0.05),平均日采食量分别降低了25.09%(P=0.01)、23.15%(P0.05)和19.47%(P0.05),增重耗料比与对照组无显著差异(P0.05)。与对照组相比,注射LPS仔猪饲粮干物质表观消化率下降了5.43%(P0.05),能量表观消化率有降低的趋势(P=0.06),粗脂肪和粗蛋白质表观消化率略有降低(P0.10)。试验结果表明,递增30%注射LPS成功诱导仔猪慢性免疫应激,降低了仔猪平均日采食量和营养物质表观消化率,抑制了仔猪生长。     

盐胁迫下NO对玉米幼苗生理特性的影响

为探讨外源一氧化氮(NO)供体和清除剂对玉米幼苗抗盐性的影响,用50 mmol/L的NaCl浇灌4叶期的玉米幼苗造成盐害,同时加入10～100 μmol/L的NO生成剂硝普钠(SNP)或清除剂CPTIO.试验结果表明,加入NO供体SNP可以提高玉米叶片中NO的含量,降低超氧阴离子的产生速率,降低叶片脂氧合酶活性(LOX)、丙二醛(MDA)含量和相对电导率,提高叶片相对含水量、延缓叶绿素的降解和提高植株干重;在SNP不同的使用浓度中,以40 μmol/L的SNP效果最好,当SNP浓度过低和过高时均达不到理想的效果.当NO被CPTIO清除后则加速玉米的受害程度.因此适当浓度NO能够减轻玉米受盐胁迫的伤害.     

烯效唑浸种对盐胁迫下糜子萌发和幼苗质量的调控效应

试验研究了烯效唑浸种对盐胁迫下不同糜子品种萌发和幼苗质量的影响。结果表明:与不浸种(CK1)和蒸馏水浸种(CK2)相比,烯效唑浸种显著提高了盐胁迫下粘丰5号的发芽势和发芽率,而对齐黍1号的作用不显著,且高浓度浸种起抑制作用;烯效唑浸种处理明显抑制了盐胁迫下两个供试品种糜子幼苗株高,并且抑制作用随浸种浓度的提高而加重;除粘丰5号的T5处理外,其它浸种处理均显著或极显著地提高了盐胁迫下两个供试品种幼苗侧根数和侧根总长;不同浓度浸种处理均对盐胁迫下粘丰5号主根长起抑制作用,而高浓度烯效唑浸种处理(T4和T5)则对齐黍1号主根长起促进作用;不同浓度烯效唑浸种处理对盐胁迫下粘丰5号叶和齐黍1号叶、根中SOD活性起抑制作用,而T1和T2对粘丰5号根中SOD活性起一定促进作用,而适当浓度烯效唑浸种(25~100 mg·L-1)可有效提高两个供试品种叶和根的APX活性。综合分析可知,T3处理(100 mg·L-1)虽对盐胁迫下两个供试糜子品种萌发的促进作用不是最显著,甚至起到抑制作用,但可明显促进幼苗重量、侧根发育、保护酶活性,在实际生产中可通过加大播种量的方法保证苗齐、苗壮。     

PEG胁迫对尖叶胡枝子幼苗SOD和POD同工酶的影响

利用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳技术研究不同浓度PEG处理尖叶胡枝子幼苗叶片SOD和POD同工酶及酶活性的变化。结果表明,不同浓度PEG处理,SOD和POD同工酶谱带数目没有变化,无新酶带的出现或酶带的减少,分别为SOD1-4和POD1-3。由迁移率可以看出,尖叶胡枝子幼苗叶片在不同浓度PEG处理下,共有10种SOD同工酶基因表达和6种POD同工酶基因表达。SOD和POD酶活性在低浓度(5~10%)PEG处理下增加,高浓度(15%)的PEG处理下降低。     

DNA去甲基化参与提高白菜型冬油菜抗寒性的生理机制

利用来自不同育种环境的10份白菜型冬油菜材料,通过半致死温度的测定分析其抗寒性与环境的关系,并利用不同浓度DNA甲基化抑制剂5-azaC处理,分析DNA去甲基化对白菜型冬油菜DNA整体甲基化水平及低温胁迫下苗期生理特性的影响。结果表明,不同育种环境选育的材料,其半致死温度具有显著差异,其中材料2018-FJT、DT-7、DT-9与MXW-1的半致死温度分别为-16.04℃、-15.98℃、-15.63℃、-15.04℃;材料CT-2360、CT-2380、CT-2400、CT-2420、CT-2440、CT-2460的半致死温度分别为-11.32℃、-11.6℃、-11.42℃、-11.44℃、-12.97℃、-13.28℃。依据半致死温度,10个白菜型冬油菜抗寒性由强到弱依次为:2018-FJTDT-7DT-9MXW-1CT-2460CT-2400CT-2380CT-2420CT-2440CT-2360。抗寒性的形成与育成环境的纬度和年平均气温呈极显著正相关。选择抗寒性及产地不同的4个材料CT-2360、MXW-1、2018-FJT、DT-7进行生理测定,结果表明,1 000μmol·L~(-1) 5-azaC处理能显著抑制幼苗的根生长,4个材料的根长较对照减少93.14%～95.06%;低温下5-azaC处理对抗寒性较弱材料CT-2360幼苗的相对电导率、丙二醛含量以及强抗寒性材料DT-7幼苗的脯氨酸、可溶性蛋白含量影响最显著(P0.05);低温处理过程中,4个材料的SOD、POD、CAT活性均上升,以低温处理5d最显著(P0.05),其中2018-FJT的SOD活性增幅最高,为45.85%,DT-7的POD活性增幅最大,为460%,CT-2360的CAT活性增幅最显著,为321.02%。HPLC分析发现常温下抗寒性较弱材料CT-2360的甲基化水平为77.48%,高于其他3个抗寒性强的材料;经过5-azaC处理后发生明显的去甲基化作用,证明抗寒能力受DNA去甲基化的调控。