Organic zinc and copper supplementation on antioxidant protective mechanism and their correlation with sperm functional characteristics in goats

Trace minerals feeding had significant effects on sperm production and fertility with better absorption and proper utilization within the body for optimum reproductive function. Several studies have shown that more influenced trace elements in the diets of animals are copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). Bucks showing deficiency of this mineral might affect the quality of semen production which in turn would affect the fertility. This experiment was thus designed to test the effects of organic Cu and Zn supplementation on antioxidants enzyme activities and sperm functional attributes in fresh semen of bucks. Forty bucks (n = 40, Aged 5 months) were assigned to ten groups of four animals in each group, supplemented (for a period of 8 months) with different levels of organic Zn: 20 mg (T2), 40 mg (T3) and 60 mg (T4), organic Cu: 12.5 mg (T5), 25 mg (T6), 37.5 mg (T7) and combined organic Zn and Cu: 20 + 12.5 mg (T8), 40 + 25 mg (T9), 60 + 37.5 mg (T10), respectively, per kg dry matter and no additional mineral diet (control; T1). One hundred and sixty semen samples were collected through electro‐ejaculator and analysed for sperm quantity, quality, acrosome intactness and plasma membrane integrity and correlated with the catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase enzyme activities in seminal plasma. The results indicated organic Cu and zinc supplemented bucks produced more sperm cells, had higher sperm concentrations, maintained higher (p < .01) sperm livability, plasma membrane and acrosome integrities, more motility and velocity. The increased antioxidant enzyme activities, reduced oxidative stress and lowered lipid peroxidation were positively correlated (p < .05) with the sperm functional attributes. In conclusion, organic Cu and Zn supplement to male goats showed protective roles against oxidative damage and maintained better fresh semen characteristics.     

Copper‐Induced Oxidative Stress and Responses of the Antioxidant System in Roots of Medicago sativa

The effects of various copper (Cu) concentrations on the antioxidative system in the roots of Medicago sativa were explored. The results indicated that the Cu content of the roots reached a value of 854 μg g^?1 DW at 10 μm Cu and a value of 4415 μg g^?1 DW at 100 μm Cu, suggesting that M. sativa has better ability to tolerate and accumulate Cu than other Cu‐bioaccumulators, and is a potential plant for phytoremediation. Treatment with Cu resulted in a significant increment in the levels of H₂O₂, O₂˙^? and OH˙. The reduced form of ascorbate and glutathione reached a peak at 30 μm Cu, and was followed by a sharp depletion to a lower level than that of the control. In contrast, the levels of the oxidised forms of ascorbate and glutathione showed a progressive increment with increasing Cu concentrations, suggesting that the antioxidant system was unable to cope with Cu stress at higher Cu levels. Under the Cu concentrations tested, the activity of catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11) and glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2) increased at lower Cu concentrations, and then decreased, reaching a maximum at 30 μm of Cu for APX and GR, at 10 μm for CAT, whereas the activities of guaiacol peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7) were gradually increased with increasing Cu concentrations. PAGE analysis of superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.1.5.1.1) revealed that one band is a Mn‐SOD and five bands are identified as Cu, Zn‐SOD, whereas Fe‐SOD isoforms were not found in the roots of alfalfa. Cu at 10–100 μm increased the intensity of constitutive isozymes of CAT, APX and POD, whereas it decreased the intensity of isozymes of glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH, EC 1.1.1.49) significantly. The activities of lipoxygenases (LOX, EC 1.13.11.12) were gradually augmented with increasing Cu concentrations, demonstrating that LOXs are probably involved in production of lipid hydroperoxides and superoxide anion. There was a continuous and pronounced enhancement in the activity of esterase (EST, EC 3.1.1.1) in roots treated with 10–30 Cu μm , whereas EST activity in roots exposed to above 30 μm Cu declined, suggesting that EST plays a protective role under lower Cu concentrations stress.     

Soil enzyme activities during the 2011 Texas record drought/heat wave and implications to biogeochemical cycling and organic matter dynamics

Extreme droughts and heat waves due to climate change may have permanent consequences on soil quality and functioning in agroecosystems. During November 2010 to August 2011, the Southern High Plains (SHP) region of Texas, U.S., a large cotton producing area, received only 39.6 mm of precipitation (vs. the historical avg. of 373 mm) and experienced the hottest summer since record keeping began in 1911. Several enzyme activities (EAs) important in biogeochemical cycling were evaluated in two soils (a loam and a sandy loam at 0–10 cm) with a management history of monoculture (continuous cotton) or rotation (cotton and sorghum or millet). Samplings occurred under the most extreme drought and heat conditions (July 2011), after precipitation resulted in a reduction in a drought severity index (March 2012), and 12 months after the initial sampling (July 2012; loam only). Eight out of ten EAs, were significantly higher in July 2011 compared to March 2012 for some combinations of soil type and management history. Among these eight EAs, enzymes key to C (β-glucosidase, β-glucosaminidase) and P cycling (phosphodiesterase, acid and alkaline phosphatases) were significantly higher (19–79%) in July 2011 than in March 2012 for both management histories regardless of the soil type (P > 0.05). When comparing all sampling times, the activities of alkaline phosphatase, aspartase and urease (rotation only) showed this trend: July 2011 > March 2012 > July 2012. Activities of phosphodiesterase, acid phosphatase, α-galactosidase, β-glucosidase and β-glucosaminidase were higher in July 2011 than July 2012 in at least one of the two management histories. Total C was reduced significantly from July 2011 to March 2012 in the rotation for both soils. Only the activities of arylsulfatase (avg. 36%) and asparaginase showed an increase from July 2011 to March 2012 for both soil types, which may indicate they have a different origin/location than the other enzymes. EAs continued to be a fingerprint of the soil management history (i.e., higher EAs in the rotation than in monoculture) during the drought/heat wave. This study provided some of the first evidence of the adverse effects of a natural, extreme drought and heat wave on soil quality in agroecosystems as indicated by EAs involved in biogeochemical cycling.     

甲壳素对连作平邑甜茶生长、光合及抗氧化酶的影响

以苹果连作土盆栽的平邑甜茶幼苗为试材,探讨了0、0.5、1.0和2.5 g·kg-1不同施入量的甲壳素对其光合速率、活性氧含量及抗氧化酶活性的影响。结果表明,1.0 g·kg-1的甲壳素处理能显著促进幼苗株高、地径,干样质量和根冠比的增加,根冠比为对照的1.51倍;明显提高了幼苗叶片光合色素含量、净光合速率和蒸腾速率,其中光合速率为对照的1.30倍;同时提高了幼苗叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性,分别为对照的1.10倍、1.85倍、1.77倍和1.43倍;减少了叶片丙二醛(MDA)、过氧化氢(H2O2)和超氧阴离子的积累,分别为对照的73%、62%和34%,降低了脯氨酸(Pro)和可溶性糖含量。当甲壳素施用量为2.5 g·kg-1时则显著抑制平邑甜茶幼苗生长,降低幼苗叶片光合速率和抗氧化酶活性,并使超氧阴离子和脯氨酸含量明显上升。因此,适宜用量的甲壳素能减轻苹果的连作障碍。     

Digestive Enzyme Activity during Larval Development of Black Snook,Centropomus nigrescens

Black snook, Centropomus nigrescens, have been identified as a promising candidate for aquaculture although, like many of the Centropomid species, high mortality associated with early larval stages presents a significant bottleneck to their commercialization. The digestive capacity of black snook larvae throughout the first 37 d after hatch (d.a.h.) was evaluated by quantifying digestive enzyme activities using biochemical techniques. Results showed that black snook larvae have alkaline proteases at hatching, which are known to be important during the first days of feeding for digestion. Toward the end of the study, acid proteases concentration increased (37 d.a.h.). Enzymes for lipid digestion, pancreatic lipase and bile salt‐activated lipase, were already present in the larvae before exogenous feeding commenced, and their activity increased with age and growth (length). Intracellular digestion, measured as the activity of leucine‐alanine peptidase, was high early on (5 d.a.h.) and decreased as development progressed (next 32 d). In contrast, alkaline phosphatase activity was lowest at first feeding and subsequently increased with age. Overall patterns in enzyme activity suggest the possibility of live feed weaning before 32 d.a.h. if artificial diets can be properly balanced.     

饲料蛋白质和脂肪水平对亚东鲑亲鱼生长性能、消化酶活性和血清指标的影响

本试验旨在研究饲料蛋白质和脂肪水平对亚东鲑亲鱼生长性能、性腺指数、消化酶活性和血清指标的影响。试验采用5×2两因素随机设计,设5个蛋白质水平(36%、39%、42%、45%、48%)和2个脂肪水平(9%、18%),共配制10种实用试验饲料。每种试验饲料投喂3个重复,每个重复19尾鱼。初重为(462.53±45.40)g亚东鲑在室内水族箱中流水饲养,饲养周期为77 d。结果表明:同一脂肪水平下,随饲料蛋白质水平的升高,增重率有所升高,而饲料系数逐渐降低,至蛋白质水平为48%时又有所升高。饲料蛋白质和脂肪水平对雌性亲鱼性腺指数无显著影响(P0.05),雄性亲鱼性腺指数随蛋白质水平的升高而降低,但至蛋白质水平为48%时又有所回升。同一脂肪水平下,随着饲料蛋白质水平的升高,胃、肠道和幽门盲囊的脂肪酶活性逐渐增加,蛋白质水平为48%时显著高于蛋白质水平为36%时(P0.05);而胃、肠道和幽门盲囊的蛋白酶活性虽有所增加,但各组间无显著差异(P0.05)。同一蛋白质水平下,18%脂肪水平组胃、肠道和幽门盲囊的蛋白酶和脂肪酶活性均略高于9%脂肪水平组。同一脂肪水平下,血清氨含量随饲料蛋白质水平的升高而逐渐增加。饲料蛋白质和脂肪水平对血清超氧化物歧化酶、溶菌酶活性以及葡萄糖、甘油三酯、总蛋白、白蛋白和丙二醛含量均未产生显著影响(P0.05)。由此得出,亚东鲑亲鱼对饲料蛋白质(36%~48%)和脂肪(9%~18%)水平有一定的适应性反应;以增重率为指标进行折线模型分析,得出饲料脂肪水平为9%和18%时,亚东鲑亲鱼对蛋白质需要量分别为43.11%和45.69%。     

The effects of exogenous xylanase supplementation on the in vivo generation of xylooligosaccharides and monosaccharides in broilers fed a wheat-based diet

ABSTRACT

1. This study quantified xylanase-induced changes in soluble monosaccharides, xylooligosaccharides (XOS) and volatile fatty acid (VFA) contents of the different sections of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and whether these were related to altered bird performance.

2. An in vitro digestion of the wheat-based diet was carried out with the xylanase (Econase XT at 16,000BXU/kg diet) to compare the in vitro and in vivo generation of these XOS and monosaccharides. For the in vivo study, 80 male Ross 508 b roiler chicks were split into two groups fed a wheat-based diet with or without Econase XT (16,000BXU/kg diet) for 21 days.

3. There were no effects of Econase XT inclusion on growth performance characteristics, likely a result of the high-quality wheat diet, the corresponding high performance of the control group (FCR average of 1.45 in controls) and the relatively young age of the birds (from four to 26 days of age).

4. Econase XT supplementation increased the xylotetraose (X₄) content in the colon (P = 0.046, enzyme x GIT section interaction) and the xylose contents in the colon and caeca (P < 0.001, enzyme x GIT section interaction).

5. The trend for increased acetate production in the caeca of Econase XT treated birds (P = 0.062) suggested that the XOS generated were subsequently fermented in the caeca, potentially impacting upon the types of microbiota present.

6. The present study suggested that wheat arabinoxylan degradation was enhanced by xylanase supplementation, which may have increased the production of beneficial volatile fatty acids (VFA) in the caeca, and thereby potentially modulated the caecal microbiome, but without affecting bird performance at this early age.     

添加复合酶对临武鸭瓜尔豆胚芽养分、氨基酸和能量利用率的影响

本试验旨在研究添加复合酶对临武鸭瓜尔豆胚芽养分、氨基酸和能量利用率的影响。试验选用24只体重2.0 kg左右的健康成年临武鸭公鸭,随机分为3组,每组8个重复,每个重复1只鸭。采用绝食强饲-全收粪法进行代谢试验。1、2组试验鸭每只强饲60 g/d饲粮,2组饲粮中添加250 mg/kg的复合酶,3组强饲60 g/d无氮饲粮。测定添加复合酶对临武鸭瓜尔豆胚芽中干物质(DM)、粗蛋白质(CP)、粗脂肪(EE)、粗纤维(CF)和17种氨基酸的表观利用率、真可利用率、表观代谢能(AME)和真代谢能(TME)。结果表明,临武鸭对瓜尔豆胚芽DM、CP、EE、CF和能量的真可利用率分别为67.07%、67.57%、65.52%、82.88%和77.39%,AME和TME分别为11.34和13.31 MJ/kg,17种氨基酸的真可利用率为67.72%~93.70%;添加复合酶使临武鸭的DM、CP、EE、CF和能量的真可利用率分别提高了5.23%、8.02%、5.80%、3.66%和3.31%(P0.05),AME和TME分别提高了3.97%和3.27%(P0.05),17种氨基酸的真可利用率提高了1.73%~11.62%,其中丝氨酸、甘氨酸、亮氨酸、酪氨酸和苯丙氨酸的真可利用率显著提高(P0.05)。由此可知,添加含有蛋白酶和非淀粉多糖酶的复合酶能够提高临武鸭对瓜尔豆胚芽中养分、氨基酸和能量的利用率。     

Relationship between Polyamines and Other Cold‐induced Response Mechanisms in Different Cereal Species

To find a connection between polyamines and various protective effectors involved in the development of cold tolerance, eight different cereal genotypes, including wheat, barley and oat species, were investigated during the acclimation phase to low temperature. Exposure to low temperature induced different changes in the levels of polyamines, and other signalling molecules, such as salicylic acid and abscisic acid, and of other protective compounds, namely flavonols, sugars and antioxidant enzyme activity, and in the lipid composition of certain membrane factions. The most remarkable differences were observed in the oat varieties compared to the other cereal genotypes, which was manifested in the lack of spermidine accumulation and of decrease in trans‐Δ³‐hexadecanoic acid content, in lower initial and not cold‐inducible abscisic acid content and guaiacol peroxidase activity after cold treatment. Correlation analysis revealed that spermidine shows strong positive relationship with flavonols, abscisic acid and ascorbate peroxidase, while was in negative relationship with trans‐Δ³‐hexadecanoic acid. These results suggest that spermidine may have a crucial role in the cold acclimation signalling processes in cereals.