Changes in growth performance, digestive enzyme activities and nutrient digestibility of cherry valley ducks in response to aflatoxin B1 levels

The objective of this study was to investigate toxic effects of aflatoxin B1(AFB₁) on growth performance, organs, hepatic enzyme activities, apparent digestibility of nutrients and digestive enzyme activities in ducks. Ninety 1-day-old Cherry Valley commercial ducks were designed to three treatment groups with three replicates of ten birds each. Group I (control) was fed conventional feed free of AFB₁, group II or III was fed the diets containing 20 μg/kg or 40 μg/kg AFB₁-contaminated rice respectively. The feeding trial lasted 6 weeks. The results were that decreased body weight gain and feed intake, increased feed to gain ratio and selected organ weights (liver, kidney and pancreas) were observed in AFB₁-treated groups. The activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were significantly increased in AFB₁-contamined groups. The apparent digestibility of crude protein (CP) was significantly lower while activities of digestive enzyme from duodenum contents including protease, chymotrypsin, trypsin and amylase were increased in AFB₁-treated group. These results indicated that AFB₁ of feed could decrease growth performance and apparent digestibility of nutrients, change digestive enzyme activities of duodenum contents in duck.     

Cytokine response in Balb/c mice infected with Francisella tularensis LVS and the Pohang isolate

We investigated the immune response induced by the Francisella (F.) tularensis live vaccine strain (LVS) and the Pohang isolate. After the Balb/c mice were infected intradermally (i.d) with 2 × 10⁴ cfu of F. tularensis LVS and Pohang, respectively, their blood and organs were collected at different times; 0, 3, 6, 24, 72, 96, 120 and 168 h after infection. Using these samples, RT-PCR and ELISA analysis were carried out for the comparative study of the cytokines, including TNF-α, INF-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-12. In the Pohang-infected mice at 120 h, the liver showed a 53 times higher level of TNF-α and a 42 times higher level of IFN-γ than the respective levels at the early time points after infection. The levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ induced by LVS were 5 times lower than those induced by the Pohang isolate. Also, the organs from the Pohang-infected mice showed higher levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-10 and IL-12 than the levels in the LVS-infected mice. The blood from the Pohang-infected mice at 120 h revealed about a 40 times increased level of IFN-γ, and IL-10 was also increased by 4 times at 96 h compared to an early infection time point, while IL-4 was not induced during the whole infection period. These results suggest that F. tularensis may induce a Th1-mediated immune response to in vivo infection and the Pohang isolate has a higher capacity than the LVS to induce an acute immune response in Blab/c mice.     

Distribution of the neurokinin-1 receptor in equine intestinal smooth muscle

REASON FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Tachykinins have profound effects on equine intestinal motility, but the distribution of the neurokinin receptors (NKRs) through which they act is unknown. This study reports the distribution of one of these receptors, the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R), in smooth muscle throughout the equine intestinal tract. OBJECTIVES: To quantify the distribution of the NK1R, based upon mRNA expression, in smooth muscle of different regions of the equine intestinal tract. METHODS: Nine regions of the intestinal tract were sampled in 5 mature horses. Total RNA was isolated from smooth muscle and reverse transcribed; NK1R mRNA was then quantified using real-time PCR. RESULTS: NK1R mRNA was found at all levels of the sampled intestinal tract. The smooth muscle of the proximal small intestine and the ventral colon exhibited the highest level of NK1R mRNA expression in the equine intestinal tract. CONCLUSIONS: Tachykinins probably affect intestinal contractility and propulsion in the proximal small intestine and in the ventral colon.     

猪PGC1基因多态性与胴体性状的相关性分析

通过PCR-RFLP方法,检测外来品种大约克猪和江苏地方品种梅山猪、二花脸猪、姜曲海猪以及培育品种苏钟猪共144头,结果表明PGC1基因第8外显子序列经AulⅠ酶切后存在AA、AT和TT3种基因型,其中大约克猪中AA基因型占优势,A等位基因频率为0．7,而江苏地方品种猪中,TT占绝对优势。分析PGC1基因型与胴体性状相关性发现,AA基因型猪的左胴重、右胴重和脂肪重均高于TT基因型猪,差异达到显著水平（P〈0．05）。倒数第三、四腰椎间背膘厚AA基因型显著高于TT基因型猪,差异达到极显著水平（P〈0．01）,AT基因型与TT基因型差异达到显著水平（P〈0．05）。     

黄羽肉鸡ACSL1基因多态性与腹脂性状的相关性研究

长链酯酰辅酶A合成酶(ACSLs)是长链脂肪酸通过硫代酯化进而合成酰基辅酶A衍生物所必需的酶,也是脂肪酸代谢的第一步.哺乳动物ACSL家族由ACSL1、ACSL3、ACSL4、ACSL5和ACSL65个不同的成员组成,ACSL1是主要的异构体之一.为探讨黄羽肉鸡ACSL1基因作为腹脂性状分子标记的可行性,本实验采用PC...     

摩杂一代水牛脑垂体前叶的超微结构研究

利用超薄切片对摩杂一代水牛脑垂体前叶的腺细胞进行透射电镜观察,发现5种腺细胞各有其超微结构特征：促性腺激素细胞胞体呈圆形,直径为7.6～9.0 μm;分泌颗粒分为明显的大小2种颗粒,且电子密度高。促甲状腺激素细胞的直径为6.0～7.5 μm;分泌颗粒少而最小,且大小无显著差异,多沿质膜分布;细胞核小,多位于中央。促肾上腺皮质激素细胞多在邻近垂体神经部的腺体前叶中,细胞核不规则,常偏向一侧,分泌颗粒常于细胞周边或一端;胞体直径为7.1～8.5 μm。促生长激素细胞数量多,核大而圆,分泌颗粒多且均一,充满胞质。催乳素细胞胞体最大,直径为11.2～13.4 μm,数量多,核小,常偏于一侧;分泌颗粒多而大小不等,充满胞质。旨在为研究摩杂一代水牛生殖泌乳的内分泌调控机制提供形态学基础资料。     

BRCA1基因多态性及其与奶牛乳房炎抗性的相关性研究

为了研究BRCA1基因突变与荷斯坦奶牛体细胞数和体细胞评分的关系,试验通过对BRCA1基因外显子13、14进行克隆、序列比对和挖掘已有突变的方法确定该基因的多态位点,采用SNaPshot技术检测了BRCA1基因25025 T>A和46126 G>T突变位点在北京郊区荷斯坦奶牛群体中的分布,并对突变位点与体细胞数和体细胞评分进行了关联分析。结果表明,荷斯坦奶牛BRCA1基因2个位点均检测到3种基因型,其中25025 bp位点TT基因型为优势基因型,46126 bp位点GT基因型为优势基因型。25025 bp位点AA基因型个体体细胞数(P<0.05)和体细胞评分(P<0.01)都显著低于TT和TA基因型;46126 bp位点TT基因型个体体细胞数显著低于GG和GT基因型个体(P<0.05),但3种基因型个体体细胞评分无显著差异(P>0.05)。本研究结果初步表明,BRCA1基因25025和46126 bp位点可作为中国荷斯坦牛乳房炎抗性的标记辅助选择。     

A novel MCT1 and MCT4 dual inhibitor reduces mitochondrial metabolism and inhibits tumour growth of feline oral squamous cell carcinoma

Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) support tumour growth by regulating the transport of metabolites in the tumour microenvironment. High MCT1 or MCT4 expression is correlated with poor outcomes in human patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Recently, drugs targeting these transporters have been developed and may prove to be an effective treatment strategy for HNSCC. Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an aggressive and treatment‐resistant malignancy resembling advanced or recurrent HNSCC. The goals of this study were to investigate the effects of a previously characterized dual MCT1 and MCT4 inhibitor, MD‐1, in OSCC as a novel treatment approach for feline oral cancer. We also sought to determine the potential of feline OSCC as a large animal model for the further development of MCT inhibitors to treat human HNSCC. In vitro, MD‐1 reduced the viability of feline OSCC and human HNSCC cell lines, altered glycolytic and mitochondrial metabolism and synergized with platinum‐based chemotherapies. While MD‐1 treatment increased lactate concentrations in an HNSCC cell line, the inhibitor failed to alter lactate levels in feline OSCC cells, suggesting an MCT‐independent activity. In vivo, MD‐1 significantly inhibited tumour growth in a subcutaneous xenograft model and prolonged overall survival in an orthotopic model of feline OSCC. Our results show that MD‐1 may be an effective therapy for the treatment of feline oral cancer. Our findings also support the further investigation of feline OSCC as a large animal model to inform the development of MCT inhibitors and future clinical studies in human HNSCC.