A study on stress response and fertility parameters in phenotypically thermotolerant and thermosensitive dairy cows during summer heat stress

It is well documented that heat stress (HS) causes subfertility in dairy cows. However, during the last ten years we have been observing that, under high temperature–humidity index (THI ≥ 75), despite the overall reduced fertility, some cows conceive at the first artificial insemination (AI). Here, we examined distinctive features of cows with conserved fertility under severe HS. From the databases of three herds, 167 lactating Holstein cows were selected; group TT cows (n = 57) conceived in the previous summer (THI ≥ 75) at the 1st AI, and group TS (n = 110) failed to conceive at the same period after at least 2 consecutive AIs. The animals calved in spring, and in August, blood samples were collected during a hot day (THI ≥ 81) for the determination of cortisol and HSP70 concentrations. In one farm, the validity of fertility data of the previous year was re-examined. In 28 cows from group TT and in 39 cows from group TS, the conception rate was examined during July and August. In 6 cows from each group (TT and TS) the oestrous cycles were synchronized, ovulation was induced with GnRH (THI = 80), and the concentration of the pre-ovulatory LH surge was determined in 9 blood samples. The progesterone concentration in the ensuing cycle was determined in blood samples collected every other day. Overall, cortisol and HSP70 were significantly lower in TT group compared to TS. More (p < .05) animals from group TT conceived at the first AI compared with those from group TS. The induced pre-ovulatory LH surge peaked at higher level (p < .002) in group TT than in group TS, while no difference was recorded among groups either in mean progesterone concentrations or in the duration of the ensuing oestrous cycle. These results are highly suggestive that thermotolerance in some dairy cows is an inherent characteristic, warranting further genetic investigation.     

内蒙古螺旋藻HSP90基因的克隆及三亲接合表达载体构建

内蒙古螺旋藻是一种原产于内蒙古碱湖,品质优良、中温适应型的螺旋藻品种,但因发现较晚,生长环境特殊等原因,对其分子遗传学等基础研究相对滞后。提高其耐热性能够扩大养殖范围,降低养殖成本,具有很大的应用价值。研究表明热激蛋白在藻类抗高温胁迫中起着重要作用。本研究采用PCR技术得到内蒙古螺旋藻HSP90基因序列,并对基因及其编码蛋白序列进行了初步分析;同时,根据蓝藻遗传转化需要,构建了三亲接合转移的穿梭表达载体,该载体起始密码子ATG与目的基因HSP90相距6 bp,含有进行三亲结合转移所需的蓝藻复制起始区、Bom基因、启动子(BetaP)、氯霉素抗性基因(Cm)及目的基因HSP90。研究结果为构建耐热内蒙古螺旋藻转基因新品系等奠定了基础。     

外源物质诱导家蚕小分子热激蛋白基因HSP19.9的组织表达活性分析

小分子热激蛋白(sHSP)参与生物体细胞内多种生理生化反应,并保护细胞在外界不良环境胁迫下免于受损或降低受损程度。为了探讨家蚕小分子热激蛋白在家蚕组织对外源物质代谢中的作用,分别给家蚕添食蜕皮激素(MH)和芸香苷(rutin)后,采用双跟踪标定定量PCR(dual spike-in qPCR)方法,分析家蚕sHSP19.9基因(BmHSP19.9)的组织应急表达特征。结果表明,家蚕5龄幼虫食下2×10-3μg/μL蜕皮激素溶液或5×10-2 ng/μL芸香苷溶液浸泡的桑叶2 h后,BmHSP19.9基因在中肠、脂肪体和马氏管组织中的转录水平均有上升,尤其是在脂肪体中的转录水平非常高,在中肠组织的转录水平出现2个峰值,推测与中肠组织存在不同的应激系统有关。     

HSP90及其在水生动植物中的研究进展

简要介绍了HSP90的分类、结构和转录调控,重点讨论了HSP90在水产动植物中的诱导表达与生理功能。     

侵染番茄的番茄褪绿病毒山东泰安分离物的分子鉴定和序列分析

2012年秋季, 在山东泰安番茄主要种植区中采集到叶片褪绿, 叶脉颜色变深的疑似番茄褪绿病毒病和番茄侵染性褪绿病毒病的番茄样品。利用番茄褪绿病毒(Tomato chlorosis virus, ToCV)的特异引物 ToCV1/ToCV2和番茄侵染性褪绿病毒(Tomato infectious chlorosis virus, TICV)的特异引物TICV1/TICV2分别对样品进行扩增, 最后仅得到利用引物 ToCV1/ToCV2 扩增的101 bp 的核苷酸序列, 对该核苷酸序列克隆并测序。序列比对表明, 山东泰安地区分离物与已登录的番茄褪绿病毒(ToCV)分离物相似性都在99%以上。随后, 对山东泰安种植区ToCV番茄分离物进行外壳蛋白(CP)及热激蛋白(HSP70)序列的扩增、克隆和测序(GenBank登录号KC812620/KC812625), 经NCBI BLAST比对发现, 目的序列与番茄褪绿病毒日本番茄分离物ToCV Japan/Tochigi (GenBank登录号AB513442/AB513443)相似性最高为99%, 同属于毛型病毒属的番茄褪绿病毒, 这是首次明确山东地区番茄受到番茄褪绿病毒的侵染。     

Cellular stress marker alteration and inflammatory response in pigs fed with an ochratoxin contaminated diet

Aim of this study was to characterize the effects of an ochratoxin A (181 ± 34 ng/g) contaminated diet on growth performances, blood parameters, systemic cytokine levels, cell stress markers and reactivity of immune system of weaned pigs.     

脊尾白虾热休克蛋白HSP70基因的克隆及其表达分析

克隆了脊尾白虾热休克蛋白基因全长cDNA,并进行了序列分析。该基因由2 250 bp的碱基组成,开放阅读框长1 959 bp,编码由652个氨基酸组成的蛋白,基因两翼分别存在83 bp(5′端)和208 bp(3′端)的非翻译区,将该基因命名为Ec-HSP70。与其它物种HSP70s氨基酸序列进行同源性比较发现,与甲壳动物的同源性都在90%以上,表明该蛋白属于热休克蛋白HSP70家族。聚类分析表明,脊尾白虾热休克蛋白氨基酸序列与中国明对虾和凡纳滨对虾紧密聚为一支,之后聚类顺序依次为斑节对虾、日本囊对虾、刀额新对虾等。通过荧光定量RT-PCR对该基因在肝胰腺、肌肉的表达分析表明,温度、pH和氨氮胁迫都可以引起该基因的高表达,而且肝胰腺中的高表达时间相对肌肉中出现的较早。试验结果表明,温度、pH和氨氮胁迫对脊尾白虾HSP70基因表达有一定的诱导效果,但胁迫的时间过长则抑制其表达,肝胰腺对胁迫比肌肉较敏感。     

热应激对小鼠囊胚HSP72表达的影响

将体外培养的小鼠囊胚分别施以40℃和38℃热休克处理1 h,2 h和3 h,然后在37℃条件下分别恢复3 h,2 h和1 h后,利用Western blot技术检测小鼠囊胚HSP72的表达,以明确热应激对小鼠囊胚HSP72表达的影响.结果显示,38℃和4O℃热应激组均有HSP72的表达,38℃组2 h达到最高水平,与对照组相比差异显著(P<0.05),然后表达量随热应激时间延长而降低;40℃组3 h达到最高水平,与对照组相比差异不显著(P>0.05).结果表明,轻度、短时间热应激既可使小鼠囊胚HSP72表达.     

热胁迫对植物生理影响的研究进展

温度是影响植物生理过程的重要生态因子之一,随着全球气温的上升,热逆境对植物的影响日趋显著。从热胁迫对植物生长、细胞膜结构、抗氧化物质、渗透调节、热激蛋白、光合作用的影响等方面对研究进展进行综述,旨在为今后林木抗热性品种选育提供理论依据和参考。