Interaction between the sequence of feeding of hay and concentrate,and boiling of barley on feed intake,the activity of hydrolytic enzymes and fermentation in the hindgut of Arabian mares

The interaction between the sequence of feeding of hay and concentrate and the hydrothermal processing of barley in alleviating concentrate effects on intake, and hindgut fermentation in horses was tested. Six Arabian mares (4–10 years of age, 410 ± 35 kg body weight) were used to evaluate the effects of feeding sequence (FS) and type of barley (TB) on intake, and faecal volatile fatty acids (VFA), activities of α‐amylase (AA: EC 3.2.1.1), carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase: EC 3.2.1.4), microcrystalline cellulase (MCCase: EC 3.2.1.91) and general filter paper degrading activity (FPD). Mares were offered a ration of air‐dried alfalfa and concentrate (70:30 as‐fed) in four subsequent periods of 14 days including 8 days of adaptation and 6 days of sampling. In each period and each meal, mares received concentrate either 30 min after (HC) or 30 min before (CH) alfalfa hay. Barley was either milled or boiled in water. Rectal samples were grabbed directly from rectum once per period. Mares subjected to CH had higher dry matter intakes than mares under HC regime. The acetate:propionate ratio (A:P ratio) in rectal content was higher with CH than HC. The AA activity was higher under CH than under HC. Mares fed boiled barley had lower rectal concentrations of VFA and propionate and a higher A:P ratio than mares fed milled barley. Furthermore, the rectal content showed a higher MCCase activity but a lower AA activity when mares were fed boiled compared with milled barley. Interactions between FS and TB were observed with respect to CMCase activity, and concentrations of propionate and valerate. In conclusion, the present results suggest that both, feeding concentrate before hay and boiling the barley, might improve the hindgut environment in Arabian mares, and that the two measures were mostly additive and sometimes even synergistic.     

Differential gene expression of Eph‐ephrin A1 and LEPR‐LEP with high or low number of embryos in pigs during implantation

The objective of this study was to ascertain whether mRNA and protein expressions of implantation‐related genes (erythropoietin‐producing hepatocellular receptor–ligand A1, Eph‐ephrin A1 and leptin receptor–leptin, LEPR‐LEP) differed between pigs with high and low number of embryos, and whether these differences in gene expression might affect embryo implantation. Experimental pig groups (n = 24) for high and low number of embryos were prepared by altering the number of eggs ovulated in pre‐pubertal gilts treated with 1.5 × (High) or 1.0 × (Low) PG600 ([400 IU PMSG + 200 IU hCG]/dose, AKZO‐NOBEL). Gilts expressing oestrus were artificially inseminated twice and maintained in breeding and gestation until the reproductive tract was collected on day 22 of pregnancy. At slaughter, the reproductive tracts from each pregnant gilt from each treatment were immediately processed to collect samples for RNA and protein analysis. Within each gilt, three conceptus points were sampled, one from each horn and then a random conceptus within the tract. At each conceptus point, endometrial attachment site, chorion–allantois and embryo were collected and immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen. Number of corpus luteum (CL) (35.4 vs. 12.6) and total embryo number (18.8 vs. 10.2) were greater in the high‐embryo compared to the low‐embryo group, respectively (p < .05). Real‐time qPCR results showed that Eph‐ephrin A1 mRNA expression was less in the high‐embryo (p < .05) compared to the low‐embryo group. In addition, Western blotting analysis indicated that Eph‐ephrin A1 and LEP protein expression at endometrial attachment site in high‐embryo was less (p < .05) compared to low‐embryo group. It was also noted that mRNA expression of Eph‐ephrin A1 and LEPR‐LEP was greater in pregnant than non‐pregnant gilts (p < .05). Moreover, mRNA expression of Eph‐ephrin A1 (p < .05) and LEPR‐LEP was greatest at endometrial attachment site among all three tissues. There was a positive correlation between expressions of Eph‐ephrin A1, LEPR‐LEP and embryo length with the correlation coefficient 0.31–0.59. For Eph‐ephrin A1, the highest correlation coefficient appeared between Eph A1 expression and normal embryo number, between ephrin A1 expression and embryo length. For LEPR‐LEP, the highest correlation coefficient appeared between LEPR‐LEP expression and ovary weight (0.79 for both, p < .05), followed by embryo length and weight. The results of this study suggest that low expression of Eph‐ephrin A1 and LEPR‐LEP is somehow related to increased embryo number during implantation and that endometrial attachment site might be the main target tissue of these gene products. Yet, the increased expression of Eph‐ephrin A1 and LEPR‐LEP appeared associated with increased embryo growth (length and weight) and ovary weight, Eph‐ephrin A1 and LEPR‐LEP might play roles in the regulation of embryo implantation in pigs.     

Effects of five cryoprotectants on proliferation and differentiation‐related gene expression of frozen‐thawed bovine calf testicular tissue

The cryopreservation of testicular tissue is a potential method for preserving male fertility. However, the effect of cryopreservation on bovine calf testicular tissue is scarce. This study investigated the effect of different cryoprotectants on bovine calf testicular tissue at the molecular level. Testicular tissue from ten immature bovine calves (6 months) was collected after slaughter and cryopreserved in an extender containing different concentrations of the following five cryopreservation solutions (CP): bovine serum albumin (BSA) with 5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), trehalose with 5% DMSO, DMSO and glycerol and ethylene glycol (EG). After 7‐day cryopreservation, the expression levels of three spermatogonial stem cell (SSC)‐related genes, octamer‐4 (OCT4), KIT ligand (MGF/SCF) and kit oncogene (C‐KIT), were investigated by quantitative PCR (qPCR). The cell viability was highest for the tissues preserved with 30 mg/ml BSA (77.82% ± 1.22) and 40 mg/ml trehalose (74.23% ± 1.16) compared with other groups (p < 0.05), and the level of expression of the three genes was highest with 30 mg/ml BSA (p < 0.05). Compared with other CPs, the 30 mg/ml BSA and 40 mg/ml trehalose have the better cryopreserve protection. The 30 mg/ml BSA is the most viable media for the cryopreservation of testicular tissue from cattle.     

百棉1号纤维初期发育规律及元素含量研究

利用扫描电镜(SEM)与x射线能谱仪(EDS)对河南省审定品种春棉百棉1号初期纤维发育进行观察和元素组分能谱分析,研究棉花纤维初期发育及其所含矿质元素与纤维发育的关系。结果表明:在棉纤维细胞启始阶段(-2~0 d)胚珠表皮细胞迅速分化并在胚珠表面形成球形突起,而且含有较多的P和Mg元素;伸长阶段胚珠表皮细胞发育成纤维并快速伸长,在此阶段纤维细胞含有较多的K和Ca元素,根据棉纤维初期发育与矿质元素的关系在棉花苗期和初花期增施P肥、K肥和Ca肥有利于棉花的优质高产。     

马铃薯品种黔芋一号高产配套技术措施研究

采用二因素饱和D最优设计对黔芋一号施肥水平(氮、磷、钾固定比例2∶1∶4)、密度2个主要栽培措施进行了试验研究。结果表明,在中等土壤肥力条件下要获得1 900~2 250 kg/667m2的产量,可以采用施肥水平在13.96~16.98 kg/667m2与密度3 574~4 200株/667m2的组合方案;要获得大于2250 kg/667m2的产量,施肥水平应在14.98~16.57 kg/667m2,密度在4 200~4 884株/667m2为宜。     

高坡猪GH基因不同基因型对其部分生产性能的影响

采用PCR-RFLP-ApaⅠ方法检测高坡猪GH基因-119~ 486 bp片段的多态性,探讨了不同基因型对其部分生产性能的影响。结果表明:产生2个等位基因A(449 bp)和B(316 133 bp),其频率分别为0.54和0.46;3种基因型:AA、AB和BB,其频率分别为0.26、0.56和0.18;除6月龄腹围和背膘厚外,其余指标值均以BB基因型最高,AA基因型的6月龄腹围和瘦肉率与BB基因型相比差异显著(P<0.05),其他指标在各基因型间差异均不显著(P>0.05)。表明,A可能是小型猪的有利等位基因,B则可能是大型猪的有利等位基因。     

基于COI基因构建西北太平洋常见鱼类DNA条形码参考数据库

西北太平洋以其独特的地理位置和复杂的海洋环境,孕育了极为丰富的渔业资源,成为全球海洋生物多样性保护和渔业资源管理的热点区域。为了更有效地进行鱼类种类识别和多样性的调查,本研究建立了西北太平洋常见鱼类DNA条形码本地数据库。基于线粒体COI基因,对2023年6-8月在西北太平洋海域所采集的307份样品进行扩增和测序,共获得7目13科20属25种鱼类的COI基因序列。77.96%的COI序列在公共数据库中都能比对到高相似度序列。种间平均遗传距离为0.233,种内平均遗传距离为0.003,种间遗传距离是种内遗传距离的77.67倍,且能够形成明显的条形码间隙,不存在物种区分困难的现象。基于COI基因序列构建的系统发育树显示,同一属的鱼类首先聚为一支,随后与同一科的鱼类聚为一支,最后,同目不同科的鱼类聚为一支。综上所述,COI基因具有物种特异性,能够有效的区分西北太平洋常见鱼类物种,本数据库的初步建立,有利于后期利用环境DNA技术进行西北太平洋鱼类多样性的监测和调查,为西北太平洋海域生物多样性保护、资源管理和种群动态监测提供了技术支持。     

Expression profiling of transgenes (Cry1Ac and Cry2A) in cotton genotypes under different genetic backgrounds

Transgenic cotton carrying the CrylAc gene has revolutionized insect pest control since its adoption,although the development of resistance in insect pests has reduced its efficacy.After 10 years of cultivating Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt) cotton with a single Cry1 Ac gene,growers are on the verge of adopting Bt cotton that carries the double gene(Cry1 Ac+Cry2 A) due to its better effectiveness against insect pests.Thus,the current study was designed to evaluate the role of each gene in the effect...     

低温驯化下斑马鱼LINE1的表达检测

长散布核元件-1(Long spread nuclear element-1,LINE1)是跳跃基因。前期比较基因组研究发现,南极鱼经历漫长的低温适应进化后,与南极圈外的同亚目鱼类相比较,在基因水平上LINE1的扩增效率高达8~300倍,但LINE1的扩增与鱼类抵御寒冷之间的关系尚未明了。本实验对斑马鱼(Danio rerio)胚胎成纤维细胞ZF4进行了不同时间梯度的低温处理(18℃、5 d和18℃、30 d),同时对斑马鱼成鱼也进行了不同时间的低温处理(10℃,3 h、6 h、1 d、3 d、5 d)。采用RT-qPCR检测了LINE1的mRNA水平,并克隆了斑马鱼LINE1基因启动子区,利用Luciferase双荧光报告系统,在ZF4细胞中验证LINE15’UTR在低温压力下的生物活性。结果显示,短时间低温处理下,ZF4细胞中LINE1 mRNA水平有所降低,而在长时间低温处理中,LINE1的mRNA水平显著升高。在成鱼中,短时间低温处理下,LINE1 mRNA水平降低;长期低温处理下,LINE1 mRNA水平显著升高。在ZF4细胞中发现,LINE15’UTR具有生物活性。在低温处理(18℃,3 d)下,报告基因信号减弱,间接表明LINE1启动子活性减弱。研究结果表明,低温压力会影响LINE1在鱼类中的表达。本研究为进一步探究LINE1在鱼类适应低温环境中的作用机制奠定了基础。     

发病鲆鲽类分离菌株的16S rRNA基因测序分析

细菌性疾病是中国海水养殖鲆鲽类的主要病害,为全面了解病原菌种类,本研究对1999~2012年从山东、江苏、河北、天津等沿海地区养殖场发病鲆鲽鱼类中分离得到的124株优势菌株进行了16S rRNA基因测序和系统发育学分析。将基因序列与GenBank核酸序列数据库进行相似度比对分析,结果显示,有83株与弧菌属(Vibriosp.)细菌相似度最高,11株与气单胞菌属(Aeromonas sp.)细菌相似度最高,4株与爱德华氏菌属(Edwardsiella sp.)细菌相似度最高,26株为其他15种属的细菌。根据系统发育学分析结果,进一步将66株菌鉴定为16个种,优势种为溶藻弧菌(V.alginolyticus)、哈氏弧菌(V.harveyi)、鳗弧菌(V.anguillarum)、杀鲑气单胞菌(A.salmonicida)和迟缓爱德华氏菌(E.tarda)。选择其中的9株鳗弧菌和4株迟缓爱德华氏菌进行人工感染实验,结果显示,其中7株鳗弧菌和3株迟缓爱德华氏菌对大菱鲆(Scophthalmus maximus)有较强的致病性。研究结果可为阐明中国海水养殖鲆鲽类的流行病发生历史、病原种类、病原监测及疾病控制提供重要参考。