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.     

大豆GmNRT1.2a和GmNRT1.2b基因的克隆及功能探究

拟南芥中硝酸盐的吸收、转运和分配是通过硝酸盐转运蛋白(nitrate transporter, NRT)实现的。尽管之前的生物信息学分析推测大豆GmNRT1.2s可能参与共生固氮过程,但尚未开展相应的功能研究。本研究通过对其表达模式分析収现,GmNRT1.2a和GmNRT1.2b分别在根和叶中高表达,且受硝酸盐诱导,在接种根瘤菌与结瘤因子(nodfactors,NFs)后表达量明显升高。功能研究结果显示,过表达GmNRT1.2a或GmNRT1.2b后大豆根瘤数目显著增加。本研究为深入探究GmNRT1.2a和GmNRT1.2b调控大豆共生固氮过程的分子机制提供了一定的数据支持。     

硫酸铜对泥鳅精子活力的影响

以泥鳅精子为受试材料,应用计算机辅助精子分析系统,研究硫酸铜(0.1、1、10 mg/L)对泥鳅的精子活力的影响.结果表明,在0 h试验组,0.1 mg/L的硫酸铜明显降低泥鳅精子运动速度,1 mg/L的硫酸铜对运动时间和速度产生显著抑制作用,10 mg/L的硫酸铜时运动百分数、运动时间和速度都产生明显影响(P<0.0...     

Surgical treatment of a complicated distal tibia epiphyseal Salter–Harris type I fracture in a yearling

This article describes the management of a complicated distal epiphyseal Salter–Harris type I fracture of the left tibia in a yearling horse. Closed reduction and internal fixation was attempted in the first surgery using tension band wires. Due to fracture instability 2 weeks after surgery, a full-limb transfixation pin cast was applied to the tibia and maintained for 7 weeks to prevent further fracture displacement and to achieve axial alignment. The full-limb cast was maintained for a total of 12 weeks, including the time with the transfixation pin cast. Cast sores and tendon laxity resolved without further complications. Ten months after the first surgery, the fracture had radiographically healed, and the horse was sound at the walk and trot in a straight line.     

饲粮铜源及水平对育成期雄性水貂生长性能、营养物质表观消化率及氮、铜代谢的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮铜源及水平对育成期雄性水貂生长性能、营养物质表观消化率及氮、铜代谢的影响。采用3×3+1双因素试验设计,设3种铜源(硫酸铜、碱式氯化铜、蛋氨酸铜)和3个铜添加水平(10、25、40 mg/kg),1个对照组。选择60日龄健康、体重接近的美国短毛黑雄性水貂120只,随机分成10组,每组12个重复,每个重复1只貂。预试期7 d,正试期45 d。结果表明:1)水貂的平均日采食量随饲粮铜添加水平的增加呈极显著线性增加(P0.01),并且平均日增重随饲粮铜添加水平的增加也呈线性增加(P=0.053)。2)水貂的粗脂肪表观消化率随饲粮铜添加水平的增加呈极显著线性增加(P0.01),并且粗蛋白质表观消化率随饲粮铜添加水平的增加也呈显著线性增加(P0.05)。3)水貂铜摄入量、粪铜排泄量、尿铜排泄量以及铜沉积量均随饲粮铜添加水平的增加呈极显著线性增加(P0.01),然而铜的表观吸收率却随饲粮铜添加水平的增加呈极显著线性降低(P0.01)。水貂对碱式氯化铜和蛋氨酸铜的表观吸收率极显著高于对硫酸铜的表观吸收率(P0.01)。水貂氮沉积量随饲粮铜添加水平的增加而呈显著线性增加(P0.05)。由此可见,基础饲粮中铜含量为8.05 mg/kg时,饲粮添加40 mg/kg的铜能改善育成期雄性水貂生长性能,提高水貂粗脂肪表观消化率;育成期雄性水貂对碱式氯化铜和蛋氨酸铜的表观吸收率高于对硫酸铜的表观吸收率。     

Effects of soybean variety and Bradyrhizobium strains on yield,protein content and biological nitrogen fixation under cool growing conditions in Germany

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is able to fix atmospheric nitrogen in symbiosis with the bacteria Bradyrhizobium japonicum. Because these bacteria are not native in European soils, soybean seeds must be inoculated with Bradyrhizobium strains before sowing to fix nitrogen and meet their yield potential. In Central Europe soybean cultivation is still quite new and breeding of early maturing soybean varieties adapted to cool growing conditions has just started.Under these low temperature conditions in Central Europe the inoculation with different, commercially available Bradyrhizobium inoculants has resulted in unsatisfactory nodulation. The aim of this study was: (i) to test the ability of commercially available inoculants to maximize soybean grain yield, protein content and protein yield, (ii) to study the interaction of different inoculants with different soybean varieties for two different sites in Germany under cool growing conditions over three years and (iii) to determine the variability of biological nitrogen fixation. Field trials were set up on an organically managed site at the Hessische Staatsdomäne Frankenhausen (DFH) and on a conventionally managed site in Quedlinburg (QLB) for three consecutive seasons from 2011 to 2013. Three early maturing soybean varieties—Merlin, Bohemians, Protina—were tested in combination with four different Bradyrhizobium inoculants—Radicin No.7, NPPL-Hi Stick, Force 48, Biodoz Rhizofilm—and compared with a non-inoculated control. Effective inoculation with Bradyrhizobium strains increased grain yield, protein content and protein yield by up to 57%, 26% and 99%, respectively. Grain yield, protein content and protein yield were generally higher in DFH. Average grain yield was 1634 kg ha⁻¹ in QLB (2012–2013) and 2455 kg ha⁻¹ in DFH (2011–2013), average protein content was 386 g kg⁻¹ in QLB and 389 g kg⁻¹ in DFH and average protein yield was 650 kg ha⁻¹ in QLB and 965 kg ha⁻¹ in DFH. The percentage of nitrogen derived from air (Ndfa) ranged between 40% and 57%. Soybeans inoculated with Radicin No. 7 failed to form nodules, and crop performance was identical to the non-inoculated control. Biodoz Rhizofilm, NPPL Hi-Stick and Force 48 are suitable for soybean cultivation under cool growing conditions in Germany. Interactions between soybean variety and inoculant were significant for protein content and protein yield at both sites, but not for nodulation, grain yield, thousand kernel weight and Ndfa. The variety Protina in combination with the inoculant Biodoz Rhizofilm can be recommended for tofu for both tested sites, while Merlin and Protina in combination with Biodoz Rhizofilm are recommended for animal fodder production in DFH. Animal fodder production was not profitable in QLB due to low protein yields.     

Mesh-like vascular changes in copper deficiency-induced rat cardiomyopathy

The pathological effects of copper deficiency (COD) are well known. However, the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy resulting from COD remains unclear. In this study, aimed to elucidate the pathogenesis of COD-induced cardiomyopathy by examining the morphology of the cardiovascular system in copper-deficient rats using histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Changes detected in the myocardium and interstitium were consistent with those reported for COD. Morphological changes included mesh-like changes in the capillary endothelial cells that appear to be a novel finding in COD-induced cardiomyopathy. These changes are hypothesized to result from abnormal vascular remodeling following damage to the basement membrane and due to the mechanical effects of myocardial contractions. Although cardiomyopathy may be associated with microcirculatory disorders arising from these lesions, further investigations are necessary to demonstrate a causal relationship between the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy and the contribution of these lesions to disease progression.     

钼和铜对雏鸡肾脏抗氧化能力的影响

为研究饲料中不同剂量钼和铜对雏鸡肾的影响,试验用2日龄海兰褐壳蛋公雏鸡80只,随机平均分为Ⅰ空白对照组、Ⅱ(Cu 800 mg/kg,Mo 400 mg/kg)、Ⅲ(Cu 800 mg/kg,200 mg/kg)、Ⅳ(Cu 800mg/kg,100mg/kg)组。试验60d,每15d每组随机处死5只测定肾脏总超氧化物岐化酶(T-SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、黄嘌呤氧化酶(XOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)含量。结果表明,试验组T-SOD第15天最高,随后呈下降趋势(P0.05);POD、GSH-Px和XOD随时间延长呈上升趋势(P0.05),Ⅲ组GSHPx第30天时最高,最后回归正常,Ⅱ组XOD第30天最高,Ⅲ组POD随时间延长先下降后上升(P0.05),第45天时最高,Ⅳ组POD随时间延长先下降后上升再下降(P0.05)。说明日粮中以2∶1的比例关系添加Cu 800mg/kg、Mo 400mg/kg,随时间的延长可提高肾脏抗氧化能力。