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.     

Impact of heat stress,nutritional restriction and combined stresses (heat and nutritional) on growth and reproductive performance of Malpura rams under semi‐arid tropical environment

A study was conducted to assess the combined effect of heat stress and nutritional restriction on growth and reproductive performances in Malpura rams. Twenty‐eight adult Malpura rams (average body weight (BW) 66.0 kg) were used in this study. The rams were divided into four groups: CON (n = 7; control), HES (n = 7; heat stress), NUS (n = 7; nutritional stress) and COS (n = 7; combined stress). The study was conducted for a period of 2 months. CON and HES rams had ad libitum access to their feed while NUS and COS rams were under restricted feed (30% intake of CON rams) to induce nutritional stress. The HES and COS rams were kept in climatic chamber at 42 °C and 55% relative humidity for 6 h a day between 10 : 00 h and 16 : 00 h to induce heat stress. Body weight increased significantly (p < 0.05) in CON as compared to NUS and COS. When compared within groups, scrotal width morning, scrotal width afternoon, scrotal circumference morning and scrotal circumference afternoon were significantly (p < 0.05) larger in CON while smaller in COS rams. The higher testicular length was recorded both during morning (p < 0.05) and afternoon (p < 0.01) in COS rams while the lowest in NUS rams. The highest plasma testosterone concentration was recorded in CON and lowest in COS rams. Semen volume and mass motility also differed significantly (p < 0.05) between the groups. The highest semen volume and mass motility was recorded in CON and NUS while lowest in both HES and COS rams. It can be concluded from this study that when two stressors occur simultaneously, they may have severe impact on reproductive performance of rams.     

The effects of transportation stress on Japanese quail (Coturnix Coturnix japonica) fed corn‐based diet in comparison with wheat‐based diet supplemented with xylanase and phytase

Harvesting, handling and transporting quails to the slaughterhouses, other farms and laboratories might covertly reduce their welfare. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two major sources of energy in poultry nutrition on reducing transportation stress in Japanese quail (Coturnix Coturnix japonica). Male quails (n = 60) were divided into two groups. The first group was fed corn‐based diet, and the second was fed wheat‐based diet supplemented with xylanase and phytase. At the end of the experiment (day 35), quails were subjected to 80 km of transportation. Immediately on arrival and after 24 h, heterophil counts, lymphocyte counts and H:L ratios were measured. On arrival, H counts were lower, L counts were higher, and H:L ratios were lower for corn‐fed group. After 24 h, wheat‐fed group showed lower increment of H counts, greater increment of L counts and also decrement of H:L ratios rather than corn‐fed group which showed increment of H:L ratios. However, these ratios were still lower in corn‐fed group. Results indicate that corn‐based diets can help Japanese quail to better resist transportation stress, although it seems that feeding wheat‐based diets supplemented with xylanase and phytase could have positive effects for coping better with stress after journeys.     

Physiological and biochemical changes of females of Piracanjuba,subjected to induced reproduction

The aim of this experiment was to compare the level of fish female stress during induced reproduction with pituitary extract by two different methods, natural and semiextruded. The reproductive efficiency was 62.5% in the seminatural treatment and 100% in the extruded. Obtained egg volume was 5200 ml and 4000 ml, for seminatural and extruded treatments respectively. The mean number of eggs was 46.7 for the seminatural and 52.0 and for the extruded treatment. The percentage of viable eggs was, respectively, 87.2% and 8.17% for the natural treatment and extruded semimethods. Blood samples were collected to quantify cortisol and glucose levels, as well as red cell series and lymphocyte count. Fishes submitted to induction procedures showed elevated cortisol and glucose levels, compared to the control animals. The results for haematocrit, haemoglobin concentration and red blood cell count showed no significant differences among groups. Significant differences found in the number of lymphocytes and monocytes suggest the general adaptation syndrome. Our results suggest the reproductive induction process with extrusion of gametes as a more stressful method than seminatural reproduction process.     

Association of oxidative status and insulin sensitivity in periparturient dairy cattle: an observational study

Post‐parturient insulin resistance (IR) is a common feature in all mammalian animals. However, in dairy cows, it can be exacerbated because of high milk yield, leading to excessive negative energy balance, which is related with increased disease incidence, reduced milk production and worsened reproductive performance. IR has been extensively investigated in humans suffering from diabetes mellitus. In these subjects, it is known that oxidative stress (OS) plays a causative role in the onset of IR. Although OS occurs in transitional dairy cattle, there are yet no studies that investigated the association between IR and OS in dairy cattle. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between OS and IR in dairy cattle. Serum samples were taken repeatedly from 22 dairy cows from 2 months prior to the expected calving date to 2 months after calving and were analysed for markers of metabolic and redox balance. Surrogate indices of insulin sensitivity were also calculated. Generalised linear mixed models revealed an effect of the oxidative status on peripheral insulin concentration and on indices of insulin sensitivity. Hence, field trials should investigate the effectiveness of antioxidant therapy on insulin sensitivity in peripheral tissues during the transition period of dairy cattle.     

CoCl2对Na2CO3胁迫下苜蓿幼苗叶片细胞膜的保护作用

本研究报道了CoCl2对Na2CO3胁迫下苜蓿幼苗叶片细胞膜的保护作用及机制,研究结果表明,在120mmol/L Na2CO3胁迫的前期,苜蓿幼苗叶片多胺含量及抗氧化酶活性显著升高,过氧化物酶除外,而活性氧水平、脂质过氧化程度和细胞膜相对透性无显著变化;当120 mmol/L Na2CO3胁迫延长至24~28 d时,乙烯产生速率大幅度上升,多胺氧化酶及二胺氧化酶活性显著升高,精胺、亚精胺和腐胺含量显著下降;抗氧化酶活性显著下降,活性氧水平与脂质过氧化程度显著提高,细胞膜稳定指数大幅度下降。在120 mmol/L Na2CO3溶液中加入CoCl2至50μmol/L,在胁迫的整个过程中乙烯产生被显著抑制,同时相对提高了抗氧化酶的活性,并在胁迫后期显著减轻了多胺氧化酶活性升高、多胺含量下降及脂质过氧化程度的增加,减缓了细胞膜稳定指数的下降,从而对Na2CO3胁迫下苜蓿幼苗叶片细胞膜表现出一定的保护作用。     

不同基因型大麦苗期对干旱胁迫的响应及HvPIPs基因表达特征分析

为研究不同基因型大麦苗期对干旱胁迫的响应,挖掘优质抗旱的大麦种质资源,以4份不同基因型大麦(2个高抗品种ZDM5430和ZDM5458,2个干旱敏感型品种7DCADA和IL-12)为材料,利用聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)模拟干旱条件,综合分析不同品种大麦的苗期抗旱性差异;并通过对不同品种根系进行PIPs实时定量分析,研究水通道蛋白AQPs基因与干旱胁迫之间的应答关系。结果表明,持续干旱胁迫会使大麦生长变缓,各处理苗长、根长、叶含水量和根含水量都呈下降趋势,其中,4个品种的大麦叶含水量在干旱胁迫14 d时下降最为显著,与对照相比,其降幅分别为29.14%、52.64%、21.67%和72.15%。干旱胁迫对大麦苗期干物质积累量和根冠比的影响较小,各处理间差异不显著;但持续干旱后,抗旱品种ZDM5430的根冠比呈上升趋势,在胁迫7、14、21 d时较CK分别增加了4.92%、42.86%和21.05%。随着胁迫时间的延长,大麦旗叶叶绿素含量和根系活力也呈下降趋势,其中ZDM5430和ZDM5458较对照组降幅较小,说明抗旱品种的形态指标、叶绿素含量及根系活力受干旱胁迫的影响较小。通过PIP...     

阶段性极端高温对七星瓢虫生长发育和繁殖的影响

为明确极端高温天气对七星瓢虫Coccinella septempunctata生长发育和繁殖的影响,通过模拟田间高温发生情况,设置6h极端高温(36℃和39℃)与不同持续时间(1d和3d)对七星瓢虫卵和成虫进行胁迫,以25℃恒温饲养处理为对照,观察统计其发育历期、存活率、繁殖力及子代孵化率。结果表明,在相同高温胁迫模式下,七星瓢虫成虫的耐热性要明显高于卵,如在39℃处理1d后,卵和成虫的存活率分别为52.09%和93.94%;处理温度越高,高温持续时间越长,七星瓢虫卵的存活率越低,36℃处理1、3d和39℃处理1、3d后卵的存活率依次为71.31%、62.87%、52.09%和24.98%。七星瓢虫卵经39℃处理3d后,其孵化1龄幼虫的发育历期为2.77d,显著长于对照组(2.11d),其余龄期幼虫的发育历期、整个幼虫期和蛹期与对照组均无显著差异,说明七星瓢虫发育前期经历极端高温可能会导致其发育后期生长加速,出现生长补偿现象。卵期受极端高温的影响要显著大于成虫期,卵和成虫在39℃处理1d后的单雌产卵量分别为42.67粒和139.79粒;所有高温处理组的子代卵孵化率均显著低于对照组(85.42%),介于0~64.13%之间。另外,各高温处理组的种群趋势指数在5.26~56.02之间,均低于对照组(78.76)。表明夏季极端高温天气频发可能导致七星瓢虫种群数量减少,不建议此时期在田间释放七星瓢虫卵进行害虫防控。     

Physiological but not morphological adjustments along latitudinal gradients in a human commensal species,the Eurasian tree sparrow

Human commensal species take advantage of anthropogenic conditions that are less likely to be challenged by the selective pressures of natural environments. Their morphological and physiological phenotypes can therefore dissociate from habitat characteristics. Understanding how these species adjust their morphological and physiological traits across latitudinal gradients is fundamental to uncovering the eco-physiological strategies underlying coping mechanisms. Here, we studied morphological traits in breeding Eurasian tree sparrows (ETSs; Passer montanus) among low-latitude (Yunnan and Hunan) and middle-latitude (Hebei) localities in China. We then compared body mass; lengths of bill, tarsometatarsus, wing, total body, and tail feather; and baseline and capture stress-induced levels of plasma corticosterone (CORT) and the metabolites including glucose (Glu), total triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid (FFA), total protein, and uric acid (UA). None of the measured morphological parameters varied with latitude except in the Hunan population, which demonstrated longer bills than those in other populations. Stress-induced CORT levels significantly exceeded baseline levels and decreased with increasing latitude, but total integrated CORT levels did not vary with latitude. Capture stress-induced significantly increased Glu levels and decreased TG levels, independent of site. However, the Hunan population had significantly higher baseline CORT, baseline and stress-induced FFA levels, but lower UA levels, which differed from other populations. Our results suggest that rather than morphological adjustments, physiological adjustments are mainly involved in coping mechanisms for middle-latitude adaptation in ETSs. It is worth investigating whether other avian species also exhibit such dissociation from external morphological designs while depending on physiological adjustments.