The Use of Faecal Progestin Measurements to Monitor Reproductive Activity in Mashona Cows in a Smallholder Farming Area of Zimbabwe

The objectives of this study were to investigate the relationship between the concentrations of progesterone (P₄) in the peripheral circulation and progestins in the faeces of cows in a smallholder farming area and to monitor the ovarian activity of such cows. The study was carried out in Sanyati smallholder farming area, located 250 km southwest of Harare. Blood and faecal samples for P₄ and progestin determination, respectively, were obtained once a week from 35 Mashona type cows that belonged to farmers from three different villages. The cows were weighed once every month and all births were recorded. The concentrations of progestins in faeces and P₄ in plasma were positively correlated (r = 0.72, p<0.01). Most of the non-pregnant cows (65%) cycled during the rainy season. Most of those that were acyclic at this time were undergoing post-partum anoestrus. During the dry season, most cows (58%) became acyclic as forage became scarce and of poor quality. Thirty-two calves were born during the study period, mostly during the first or last two months of the year, when there was enough forage. The mean calving to first oestrus in 14 cows that recalved was 71±49 days. Eight of these 14 cows conceived again, the calving to conception interval being 173±94 days. The cows' liveweights were highest in April, at the end of the rainy season. By the end of the dry season, the cows had lost, on average, 15% of their peak weight.     

草地灌丛化土壤碳氮地球化学循环

灌丛化(shrub encroachment)是全球陆地生态系统重要的生态现象之一,是影响草地碳库的重要过程。灌丛化由全球气候变化、降雨、火烧和生物活动等多因素共同作用形成,对区域环境、气候、土壤性质和碳循环影响显著。目前灌丛化对生态系统的影响仍存在分歧,表现在不同气候和降雨梯度下灌丛化后土壤有机碳/氮储量、养分循环和土壤温室气体排放等差异。本文总结和归纳了灌丛化形成与控制因素、灌丛化对团聚体稳定性、酶活性和土壤碳、氮循环的影响。灌丛化改变了土壤团聚体稳定性和酶活性,进而影响土壤呼吸以及土壤生源物质的存储、分解和循环,这将显著影响区域乃至全球气候变化。因此分析提出,今后应进一步加强对灌丛化形成过程长期的定位观察研究,以便了解灌丛化的可控因素,并加强对灌丛化后土壤有机碳库、土壤团聚体稳定性变化对碳氮循环进程和全球气候变化的影响研究。     

猪子宫内膜肥大细胞消涨规律初探

雌性小型猪１５头，分为二月龄、间情期、民情前期、发情期、妊娠期等六组。颈动脉放血处死，取子宫组织，经甲苯胺改良法和免疫组化法染色，观察肥大细胞的动态变化。子宫内膜肥大细胞的数量随个体的生长而增加。在发情周期中肥大细胞的数量呈规律性的变化：在民情前期一时性地剧增，至发情期陡然降至显著低于间情期的水平，在妊娠期也维持低于间情期的水平。本实验的结果提示，子宫内膜肥大细胞的数量可能反映子宫局部的免疫水平。     

The second-generation curcumin analogue RL71 elicits G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in canine osteosarcoma cells

Canine osteosarcoma is an aggressive cancer, comprising 85% of canine bone neoplasms. Current treatment practices of surgery and chemotherapy increase 1-year survival by only 45%. The curcumin analogue RL71, has demonstrated potent in vitro and in vivo efficacy in several models of human breast cancer through increased apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate efficacy of curcumin analogues in two canine osteosarcoma cell lines. Osteosarcoma cell viability was assessed using the sulforhodamine B assay and mechanisms of action were determined by analysing the levels of cell cycle and apoptotic regulatory proteins via Western blotting. Further evidence was obtained using flow cytometry to detect cell cycle distribution and the number of apoptotic cells. RL71 was the most potent curcumin analogue with EC₅₀ values of 0.64 ± 0.04 and 0.38 ± 0.009 μM (n = 3) in D-17 (commercial) and Gracie canine osteosarcoma cells, respectively. RL71 significantly increased the ratio of cleaved-caspase 3 to pro-caspase 3 and the level of apoptotic cells at the 2× and 5× EC₅₀ concentration (p < 0.001, n = 3). Furthermore, at the same concentration, RL71 significantly increased the number of cells in the G2/M phase. In conclusion, RL71 has potent cytotoxic activity in canine osteosarcoma cells triggering G2/M arrest and apoptosis at concentrations achievable in vivo. Future research should further investigate molecular mechanisms for these changes in other canine osteosarcoma cell lines prior to in vivo investigation.     

Life cycle of Eimeria procera in experimentally infected grey partridges (Perdix perdix)

We examined exogenous and endogenous development of Eimeria procera in experimentally infected grey partridges (Perdix perdix). Our examination included data on morphology, localization, duration of schizogony and gametogony and morphology of sporulated oocysts. The endogenous stages of E. procera developed in large numbers within the epithelial cells of caecal crypts. The asexual development comprised three generations of schizonts. The first fully developed macrogametes and microgamonts were observed on Day 5 post-infection (p.i.) in histologic section. The patent period began on Day 6 p.i. and ended on Day 11 p.i. with peak production of oocysts on Days 7 and 8. Long oval oocysts of E. procera measured 25.78–28.13 μm in length and 14.06–15.24 μm in width, sporulation time ranged from 18 to 24 h at 25°C and from 36 to 48 h at 20°C.     

胚胎移植技术在肉羊快速制种中的应用

本试验于2003年4月13日开始,随机选择6只萨福克肉羊作为供体;当地普通绵羊30只作为受体。分为2组进行诱导发情处理和超排处理,A组供体3只,诱导发情率66．7％(2／3);受体15只,诱导发情率93．3％(14／15)。B组供体3只,诱导发情率100％(3／3);受体15只,诱导发情率100％(15／15)。从6只供体中获得有效胚胎19枚,移植妊娠率68．4％(13／19)。     

Assessment of Uterine Vascular Perfusion During the Estrous Cycle of Mares in Connection to Circulating Leptin and Nitric Oxide Concentrations

The objective of this study was to find difference in vascular perfusion of uterine horns or uterine body throughout the estrous cycle and their relation to circulating nitric oxide and leptin concentrations. Five cyclic mares were subjected to transrectal Doppler ultrasonography and blood sampling for 18 days. Area of color and power Doppler modes was measured in pixels. Day (P = .0001) of the estrous cycle and ovulation (P = .0001) influenced uterine blood flow. Uterine body blood flow directed away from the transducer (blue, P = .0001) increased from day −5 until day 0 (day of ovulation), and its power (P = .0001) blood flow increased from day −6 until day 0; then, both decreased until days 12 and 10, respectively. Conversely to the contralateral uterine horn, ipsilateral uterine horn blood flow directed away from the transducer (blue, P = .0001) increased from day −5 until day −1, and its power (P = .0001) blood flow increased from day −6 until day 0; then, both decreased until day 10. Nitric oxide concentrations (P = .0001) attained two major peaks; the first on day −3 and the other persisted from day 2 until day 5. Leptin concentrations increased (P > .001) with a maximum value on day 0 and then decreased until a minimum value on day 9. In conclusion, during the estrous cycle, ipsilateral uterine horn and uterine body blood vessels had similar blood flow. Both leptin and nitric oxide played a role during follicle growth, ovulation, and corpus luteum development and modulated uterine blood flow before and after ovulation.     

利用激素生源2＋1对水牛同期发情处理效果的观察

[目的]为探讨激素生源2+1在水牛同期发情中的应用效果.[方法]利用激素生源2+1对48头母水牛在不同季节进行了同期发情处理研究.[结果]表明:同期发情效果受季节环境因素影响较大,夏季(6～8月)同期发情处理22头,14头表现发情,发情率为63.6%;秋季(9～11月)同期发情处理26头,20头表现发情,发情率为76.9%,总发情率70.8%(34/48).并在不同季节进行了同期发情人工受精配种比较,发现夏季和秋季的水牛同期发情人工受精配种受胎率差别较大(P≤0.01),分别为16.7%和33.3%.[结论]"生源激素2+1"在水牛同期发情中的应用虽有一定的效果,但本次试验牛只较少, 目前很难得出一个合理的结论,其应用效果仍需进一步研究探讨.     

辽宁地区樗蚕的生物学特性及人工饲育技术研究

樗蚕(Samia cynthia Walker et Felde)是一种珍贵的泌丝及食用昆虫资源。通过室内及野外人工饲育的方法,观察分布在辽宁地区的樗蚕的形态特征和生活习性,发现与分布于其它地区的樗蚕存在不同程度的差异。辽宁地区的樗蚕年发生1-2代,喜食臭椿(Ailanthus altissima)、山花椒(Zanthoxylum schinifollum)、枣树(Zizyphus jujube)、黄檗(Phellodendron amu-rense)等的树叶,幼虫4眠5龄,龄期经过25-37d,饲料种类不同可造成龄期差异;以蛹滞育。人工饲育樗蚕可采用小蚕室内育,大蚕野外育的饲养形式;种茧保护可采用柞蚕(Antheraea pernyi)的种茧越冬保护技术与方法,春季种茧出库后在温度20～23℃、相对湿度75%～85%的条件下暖茧,成虫交配时间超过4h的卵孵化率较高;樗蚕的主要病害有细菌性软化病、白僵病、微粒子病,春、秋季野外饲养的樗蚕易被蚕饰腹寄蝇(Blepharip azebina)寄生危害。樗蚕茧丝的纤度为1.80～3.60dtex,茧层丝胶练减率平均为25%,茧丝中的丝素蛋白约78%。     

从江香猪生精上皮周期及睾丸发育的形态学分析

试验旨在探究初情期前后生精上皮周期差异及睾丸发育过程中的形态学变化。通过测定15、30、60和90 d睾丸相关指数,结合睾丸组织形态学特征,判断香猪初情期,划分从江香猪生精上皮周期。结果显示,30 d的睾丸指数较15 d极显著升高（P<0.01）,睾丸重、长轴及短轴的增长率分别为298.05%、66.42%和65.45%,60和90 d两个阶段睾丸重增长率相对稳定。形态学观察表明,从江香猪30 d时生精小管出现游离精子,完成第一次生精并进入初情期;与15 d相比,30 d生精小管面积和生精上皮厚度极显著增加（P<0.01）,增长率分别为136.12%和40.19%,在60和90 d均处于稳定增长状态。睾丸细胞数统计显示,日龄增加不影响支持细胞（setoli cells,SC）数量（P>0.05）,而30 d生殖细胞数（germ cells,GC）较15 d极显著增加（P<0.01）。相关分析结果发现,生殖细胞数量增加与生精小管面积增大、生精上皮厚度变化之间呈明显正相关（r=0.994;0.96）。根据生殖细胞组合形式差异,将初情期前后生精上皮分为3和8个阶段。初情期前生殖细胞以第一次减数分裂前期为主,A、B型精原细胞、SC、初级精母细胞（primary spermatocyte,Ps）、前细线期（preleptotene,PI）、细线期（leptotene,L）等生殖细胞在初情期前后生精上皮中均存在,而圆形精子（round spermatids,R）、延伸精子（elongating spermatid,E）、精子细胞（spermatozoa,S）仅存在于初情期后的生精上皮。本研究结果表明,从江香猪30 d初情,睾丸发育以生殖细胞和生精小管面积的迅速增加为主,该结果对从江香猪早熟性状挖掘、种猪选育及开发利用等有重要的指导意义。