Localization of putative pituitary stem/progenitor cells in female dairy cattle

Research on sex-determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2)-positive pituitary stem/progenitor cells, as a source of hormone-producing cells, is progressing rapidly in rodents. However, the stem/progenitor cells supplying hormone-producing cells that are essential for growth, reproduction, and lactation in bovines have not yet been identified. In this study, we characterized SOX2-positive cells in the pituitary gland of dairy cattle (Holstein heifers) after sexual maturity. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that the localization pattern of SOX2-positive cells in the dairy cattle pituitary gland was similar to that observed in the rodent pituitary gland; the marginal cell layer (MCL), dense cell clusters, and single cells scattered in the parenchyma of the anterior lobe. Furthermore, most of the SOX2-positive cells were positive for the pituitary stem/progenitor cell niche markers E-cadherin and cytokeratin 8+18, which have been reported in rodents. In addition, in the MCL of the anterior lobe, there was a subpopulation of SOX2-positive cells positive for paired-related homeobox 1 and 2, whereas negative for S100β. Moreover, in the parenchyma of the anterior lobe, co-localization of SOX2 and pituitary hormones was infrequent. In summary, this study reveals the localization of putative pituitary stem/progenitor cells positive for SOX2 in dairy cattle. These results provide valuable information to support further investigation of cell supply in the dairy cattle pituitary gland.     

3种植物提取物对小麦茎秆性状、光合特性及产量的影响

【目的】研究苦豆子(Sophraalopecuroides)、孜然(Cuminum cyminum)、苦草(Vallisneria natans)3种植物甲醇提取物对小麦的生长调节作用,为新型植物源生长调节剂的研制提供依据。【方法】选用春小麦品种新春44号为材料,以清水处理为对照,将苦豆子、孜然和苦草甲醇提取物浸膏分别制备成3种不同浓度(1%、0.1%、0.01%)的溶液,于小麦拔节前期连续喷施3次,分析小麦株高等茎秆性状、光合特性及产量等相关指标的影响;采用主成分分析法,筛选并评价植物提取物的生物活性。【结果】0.01%苦豆子甲醇提取物处理后,小麦基部第1、2、3节间长度分别降低27.8%、13.4%、4.5%;茎粗分别增加9.4%、16.1%、14.3%;基部3节IAA含量提高16.2%;基部3节ABA含量降低7.9%;株高降低5.6%;旗叶净光合速率增加3.9%;旗叶SPAD值增加6.2%;千粒重、籽粒重量、容重分别增加2.8%、24.7%和3.6%。0.01%苦豆子处理效果显著优于其他处理组。【结论】苦豆子、孜然和苦草3种低浓度甲醇提取物对小麦均具有不同程度的生长调控作用,能缩短节间长度和增加茎粗,增强小麦抗倒伏能力,降低小麦株高的作用,改善田间的通风透光条件,提高旗叶光合作用,提高光能利用率和作物产量。0.01%苦豆子处理效果最优,0.01%孜然甲醇提取物次之。     

利用多时序激光点云数据提取棉花表型参数方法

当前,能够实现作物表型参数高效、准确的测量和作物生育期表型参数的动态量化研究是表型研究和育种中亟待解决的问题之一。本研究以棉花为研究对象,采用三维激光扫描LiDAR技术获取棉花植株的多时序点云数据,针对棉花植株主干的几何特性,利用随机抽样一致算法（RANSAC）结合直线模型完成主干提取,并对剩余的点云进行区域增长聚类,实现各叶片的分割;在此基础上,完成植株体积、株高、叶长、叶宽等性状参数的估计。针对多时序棉花激光点云数据,采用匈牙利算法完成相邻时序作物点云数据的对齐、叶片器官对应关系的建立。同时,对各植株表型参数动态变化过程进行了量化。本研究针对3株棉花的4个生长点的点云数据,分别完成了主干提取、叶片分割,以及表型参数测量和动态量化。试验结果表明,本研究所采用的主干提取及叶片分割方法能够实现棉花的枝干和叶片分割。提取的株高、叶长、叶宽等表型参数与人工测量值的决定系数均趋近于1.0;同时,本研究实现了棉花表型参数的动态量化过程,为三维表型技术的实现提供了一种有效的方法。     

湖北太子山不同林分对降雨的截留作用研究

本文在湖北太子山选取柏木纯林、马尾松纯林、麻栎五角枫混交林、柏木红果冬青混交林和马尾松红果冬青混交林共5种林分作为研究对象,采用天然降雨监测的方法,研究5种林分林分林冠层、灌草层和枯落物层分别对降雨的截留作用。结果表明林场中阔叶混交林的水源涵养能力最强,其次为针阔混交林,最差的是针叶纯林。     

Evaluation of adverse reactions in dogs following intravenous mesenchymal stem cell transplantation

Background

Recent studies have assessed the therapeutic potential and drawbacks of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The adverse reactions of intravenous transplantation of bone marrow (BM)-derived MSCs were examined at varying doses and frequencies of administration.Nine healthy beagle dogs were purchased from a commercial laboratory. The dogs were distributed equally (n = 3 per group) and randomly into three groups. All dogs received allogeneic BM-derived MSCs: 2 × 10⁶ once (group A), 2 × 10⁷ once (group B), and 2 × 10⁶ for three consecutive days (group C). Various laboratory examinations, multi-detector computed tomography features and histopathology were evaluated to clarify the clinical and diagnostic features of adverse reactions of MSCs administration, prior to receiving MSCs (pre procedure) and on days 1, 3, and 7 post transplantation.

Results

Only one dog had clinical signs during and after MSCs transplantation. Dogs receiving 2 × 10⁶ MSCs showed increased numbers of lymphocytes but the total white blood cell counts were not elevated (P < 0.01). Multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) revealed pulmonary parenchymal changes in one dog and histopathologic examination revealed pulmonary parenchymal edema and hemorrhage in four dogs. The presence of pulmonary thromboembolism was not detected in either examination.

Conclusions

We considered the presence of pulmonary edema and hemorrhage as possible adverse reactions after intravenous MSCs transplantation; however these results should be cautiously interpreted.     

Use of stem cells in equine musculoskeletal disorders

Stem cell therapies for musculoskeletal disorders are becoming commonplace in the horse. In order to decipher the many options available for stem cell therapy and interpret results of accumulating experimental and clinical data, practitioners should have a basic understanding of stem cells.     

一种芦笋茎枯病防治喷头的试验研究

为促进本地区芦笋种植业规模化发展,提高芦笋种植产量,减少芦笋茎枯病防治用工成本,提出一种喷雾器喷头。采用该喷头进行施药,可以代替人工涂抹施药方式。对该喷头进行了试验研究,研究结果显示,3喷头喷雾器能明显降低芦笋茎枯病防治用工投入,且具有一定的茎枯病防治能力,在一定程度上可以替代人工涂茎作业,为芦笋规模化种植提供了基础。     

Pigmentation and eye migration in Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.) larvae: new findings and hypotheses

Atlantic halibut juveniles, which have been fed Artemia during larval development, frequently demonstrate malpigmentation and impaired eye migration. This is in contrast to the high percentage of normally developed larvae fed copepods, reared under similar conditions. Nutrition is therefore an important component influencing larval development. Analyses of the nutrient composition of Artemia and copepods show that Atlantic halibut larvae fed Artemia probably receive sufficient amounts of vitamin A by converting canthaxanthin, while iodine may be deficient, possibly leading to interrupted thyroid hormone synthesis. An unbalanced fatty acid composition, such as high levels of arachidonic acid and low levels of docosahexaenoic acid, can be another limiting factor in Artemia. Vitamin A, fatty acids and thyroid hormones have all been shown to affect pigmentation in flatfish. They are ligands to nuclear receptors, thyroid hormone receptors, retinoic acid receptors, retinoic X receptors and peroxisomal proliferator‐activated receptors, which are members of the superfamily of steroid hormone receptors. The receptors interact with each other to promote gene expression that modulates proliferation and differentiation of cells. Our hypothesis is that these interactions are important for development during flatfish metamorphosis. Very little data exist on the topic of impaired eye migration. However, energy limitation, iodine deficiency and an unbalanced fatty acid composition have been proposed as possible explanations. Here, we review the literature on development of pigment cells and the possible mechanisms behind the effects of vitamin A, fatty acids and thyroid hormone on pigmentation and eye migration during development of Atlantic halibut larvae.     

Expression and function of calcium-sensing receptor in mouse embryonic stem cells

AIM: To observe the functional expression of calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) in the mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). METHODS: The expression and distribution of CaSR were detected by Western blotting and immunofluorescence observation in 129 mouse ES-D3 cells. The intracellular concentration of free calcium (［Ca2+］i) was determined by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The cell viability was analyzed by MTT assay and flow cytometry. RESULTS: CaSR protein was expressed in mESCs. Extracellular calcium or neomycin significantly increased the expression of CaSR and ［Ca2+］i. Neomycin increased the cell viability, up-regulated the protein expression of p-ERK2. These effects of neomycin were inhibited by NPS2390. CONCLUSION: CaSR is expressed in mESCs. The activation of CaSR is involved in the proliferation of mESCs.     

Strontium renelate promotes osteogenesis via regulation of Sonic hedgehog signaling molecules in rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

AIM：To study the role of Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) in strontium ranelate (Sr)-induced osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). METHODS：BMSCs was isolated from 4-week-old rats by adherent culture. The cells in the 3rd～5th generations were induced to differentiate into obteoblasts, and then were treated with different concentrations of Sr and cyclopamine (Cy). The activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was mea-sured by colorimetry. Mineralized nodules were observed by alizarin red staining. The cellular Shh and Runx2 expression was detected by Western blotting. RESULTS：Sr at concentration of 3 mmol/L increased the activity of ALP and induced the formation of mineralized nodules. Sr at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 5 mmol/L increased the expression of Shh and Runx2 in the BMSCs at 7 d. Furthermore, the peak expression of Shh occurred following the exposure of Sr (1 mmol/L) or Runx2 (3 mmol/L). On the other hand, Sr at concentration of 1 mmol/L showed a time-dependent increase in the expression of Shh and Runx2 from 1 d to 7 d. Cy at concentration of 10 μmmol/L not only obviously inhibited Sr-induced expression of Shh and Runx2, but also antagonized the increase in the ALP activity and mineralization induced by Sr in the BMSCs. CONCLUSION：Sr promotes osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs by increasing the expression of Shh and Runx2.