Stress steroid levels and the short-term impact of routine dehorning in female southern white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum simum)

Rhinoceros populations in Africa are under severe threat as a result of surging poaching rates and risk-mitigation strategies are continuously adapted in an attempt to ensure the survival of the species. This study compared faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) levels of two age classes of limited free-ranging female white rhinos with fGCM levels of adult free-ranging female white rhinos. Subsequently, fGCM alterations in the limited free-ranging animals were monitored following routine dehorning as a measure of the animals’ short-term physiological stress response. Baseline fGCM levels differed significantly between tested groups, with both free-ranging and limited free-ranging adult animals showing significantly higher fGCM levels compared with limited free-ranging juvenile females. In contrast, baseline fGCM levels did not differ significantly between limited free-ranging and free-ranging adult individuals. Routine dehorning procedures resulted in a short-term stress response expressed by a significant increase in fGCM levels 48 h post-dehorning, with stress steroid levels returning to pre-dehorning concentrations 72 h after the procedure.     

Polymorphism in promoter region of growth hormone receptor is associated with potential production capacity of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 in pre‐pubertal Holstein heifers

Insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) is one of the important factors for growth, milk production and reproductive functions and mainly released from the liver in response to growth hormone (GH) via GH receptor (GHR) in cattle. Recently, some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in the bovine GHR gene. Some GHR‐SNPs were shown to be related to plasma IGF‐1 concentration in cattle. Hence, the capacity to IGF‐1 production in the liver might be affected by GHR‐SNP and associated with performance in the future. This study examined whether GHR‐SNP is associated with IGF‐1 production in the liver of pre‐pubertal heifers. In 71 Holstein calves, blood samples for genomic DNA extraction were obtained immediately after birth. To genotype the GHR‐SNPs in the promoter region, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were digested with restriction enzyme NsiI (cutting sites: AA, AG and GG). All heifers at 4 months of age were intramuscularly injected with 0.4 mg oestradiol benzoate. Blood samples were obtained from the jugular vein just before (0 h) and 24 h after injection. The number of AA, AG and GG at the NsiI site was 0, 17 and 54 respectively. In AG and GG, plasma GH concentrations were higher pre‐injection than 24 h post‐injection (p < 0.01). Moreover, plasma GH concentrations in AG post‐injection were higher than in GG (p < 0.05). In contrast, the GG genotype exhibited higher plasma IGF‐1 concentrations in pre‐injection than post‐injection (p < 0.01), although oestradiol did not change IGF‐1 concentration in the AG genotype. We conclude that the GG polymorphism in the promoter region of GHR is associated with a higher potential capacity of IGF‐1 production in the liver of cattle.     

Suppression of behavioural and physiological oestrus in the mare by vaccination against GnRH

OBJECTIVE: To examine the immunogenicity of an equine immunocontraceptive vaccine and its efficacy in controlling hormone-related behaviour. DESIGN: A total of 24 mares at two sites in Australia were vaccinated with an immunocontraceptive vaccine comprising gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) conjugated to a carrier protein in immunostimulating complex as an adjuvant. Twelve animals at each site received a placebo of adjuvant alone and served as controls for seasonal oestrus, hormonal and behaviour patterns. Animals were observed for injection site reactions, ovarian and follicular activity, and serum levels of antibody, 17beta-oestradiol and progesterone in the weeks following vaccination. Mares were also examined for oestrous behaviour by teasing with a stallion. RESULTS: All mares responded to vaccination. Two weeks following the second vaccination there was a peak in antibody response to GnRH that declined gradually over the following weeks. Commensurate with the elevated anti-GnRH antibody there was a marked effect on ovarian activity with a reduction in 17beta-oestradiol and progesterone levels in the 24 vaccinated mares. There was also a reduction of oestrus-related behaviour as determined by a teaser stallion. This effect lasted a minimum of 3 months and correlated with the initial level of antibody response. CONCLUSION: Following a conventional two-dose immunisation regime this commercially available equine immunocontraceptive vaccine was effective at inhibiting oestrous behaviour for at least 3 months. This vaccine has a high level of safety since there were no significant local reactions nor were there any adverse systemic responses to vaccination.     

早期限饲对肉鸡肌肉生长及生产性能的长期影响

本研究旨在比较不同生长阶段隔日限饲(早期限饲:1~14日龄限饲,后期限饲:50~63日龄限饲)对肉鸡肌肉生长及相关激素水平的影响,并探讨早期限饲对肉鸡肌肉生长的程序化作用。试验结果:1)早期限饲组整个试验阶段体重均极显著低于对照组,后期限饲组限饲一周后体重显著低于对照组并于63日龄实现完全补偿生长;2)早期限饲组14日龄和63日龄胸肌、腓肠肌重均显著低于对照组;后期限饲组63日龄胸肌、腓肠肌重均显著低于对照组,且二者与早期限饲组均差异不显著;3)早期限饲显著降低了14日龄肉鸡肌肉中DNA、RNA和蛋白含量,63日龄恢复至正常水平,且核酸、蛋白水平在胸肌和腓肠肌内的趋势表现不一致;4)早期限饲组14日龄血清中T3、T4水平均显著低于对照组,63日龄血清T3水平仍显著低于对照组;后期限饲组63日龄血清T3水平显著低于对照组,T4水平与对照组差异不显著。结果表明:1)限饲可显著阻碍肉鸡肌肉的生长;2)不同部位的肌肉对限饲的敏感度不同;3)早期营养因子对肉鸡肌肉的生长具有"程序化"作用,甲状腺激素可能参与这些过程的调节。     

陆地棉一个丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶蛋白基因的克隆与表达分析

通过RT-PCR获得一个编码棉花丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶类似蛋白全长的cDNA片段,其编码的氨基酸序列与拟南芥ATPK3的相似度达到82%,这个基因暂被命名为GhPK1。基因全编码区包括1038个核苷酸,编码346个氨基酸的蛋白。GhPK1的编码产物在265~270个氨基酸处有一个跨膜区并可能结合在内质网膜上。GhPK1在种子和纤维中的表达水平较其它组织高。另外,GhPK1的表达量在受到盐胁迫后上升,说明GhPK1可能参与了盐胁迫反应。     

桃芽休眠诱导过程中IAA、ABA含量及PpPINs基因表达的变化

为认识桃芽休眠诱导过程中生理与相关基因表达的变化,分别用HPLC检测‘中农红久保’、‘中农3号’、03-30-035 3个桃品种(系)休眠诱导时期叶片和叶芽IAA和ABA含量,用RT-q PCR检测叶片和叶芽生长素极性运输载体基因Pp PIN1、Pp PIN3、Pp PIN5和Pp PIN8共4个基因的相对表达量。结果表明,在桃芽休眠诱导过程中,叶片IAA含量未见显著变化,ABA含量自10月6日开始升高,至10月16日含量达到高峰;叶芽中10月上中旬IAA含量骤增,而ABA含量逐渐降低。本研究中桃基因组的4个Pp PINs基因家族成员中,叶片中活跃表达为Pp PIN5,其次为Pp PIN3,在10月上中旬Pp PIN5出现强烈表达;而在10月26日,叶芽中活跃表达的Pp PIN1和Pp PIN3表达量骤降。桃休眠诱导过程中叶片和叶芽内内源激素和Pp PINs基因表达量变化明显不同。     

高粱不同外植体离体培养

不同材料愈伤组织诱导培养结果表明，幼穗，茎尖和成熟胚的最高出愈率达１００％，子粒达９３％，幼胚仅为７４％。幼穗不但出愈率高，且愈伤组织胚性状况好，分化出苗率高。幼胚出愈率虽低，但其分化率明显主茎尖，成熟胚和子粒了的分化率。     

外源激素和微量元素对茶籽萌发和生理生化变化影响的研究

茶树种子经赤霉素（ＧＡ）、乙烯利（ＣＥＰＡ）硼酸（Ｂ）、钼酸铵（Ｍｏ）、硫酸锰（Ｍｎ）和硫酸铜（Ｃｕ）溶液处理后，子叶吸水能力、持水力、呼吸速率和过氧化氢酶活性增强，可溶性糖和蔗糖含量提高，并加速子叶蛋白质的消耗和胚对蛋白质的利用，从而促进茶籽萌发生长，增加幼苗干重，提高发芽率，其中以ＧＡ１００ｐｐｍ、ＣＥＰＡ１００ｐｐｍ、Ｂ１５００ｐｐｍ，Ｍｏ１０００ｐｐｍ，Ｍｎ１０００ｐｐｍ，Ｃｕ１００ｐｐｍ     

葡萄组培苗瓶外生根技术研究

采用不同种类和浓度的生长素诱导葡萄组培苗瓶外生根，并观察组培苗在不同处理基质、不同的温度、不同的生理年龄条件下生根的效果。通过优化技术参数，建立了葡萄组培苗瓶接生根的技术优化体系，结果表明，用浓度为0.3mg/L的IBA浸蘸处理的插条，在温度为27~29℃的环境条件下在基质珍珠岩上培养，瓶苗茎段的生根率可达85.5 %，移栽后苗木的成活率达98 %，相对于其他方法有了较大的提高。该技术的建立有助于实现葡萄工厂化育苗技术的商业化扩大。