Gas and short‐chain fatty acid production from feeds commonly fed to red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) and incubated with rumen inoculum from red deer and sheep

Efficient red deer supplementary feeding depends on estimations of the nutritive value of offered feeds, frequently estimated with the use of equations derived from domestic ruminants. The aim of this study was to compare the 24‐hour in vitro true dry matter degradability (ivTD₂₄), in vitro gas production (GP) kinetic parameters, GP in 24 hr of incubation (GAS₂₄) and short‐chain fatty acid (SCFA) and microbial biomass (MBS) produced after 24‐hour incubation of feeds in inoculum prepared from sheep and red deer rumen fluid. Eleven feeds, frequently consumed by red deer in Slovenia, which occur either naturally (two fresh grasses, chestnut fruits and common and sessile oak acorns) or are fed as winter supplemental feeds (two grass hays, two grass silages, apple pomace, fresh sugar beetroot), were investigated. The in vitro GP kinetic parameters, GAS₂₄ and ivTD₂₄, did not differ between animal species. Amounts of SCFAs were greater (p < 0.05) when feeds were incubated in sheep inoculum, while molar proportions of acetic and propionic acids did not differ. Molar proportions of butyric acid produced during incubation of high fibre feeds did not differ between animal species, but were higher (p < 0.05) when feeds high in starch or sugar were incubated in red deer inoculum. Greater production of SCFA by sheep rumen microbes suggests better coverage of host animal with energy precursors, while greater production of MBS by red deer rumen microbes suggests better coverage of host animal with protein. Results also suggest that rumens of sheep and red deer are inhabited by different microbial communities, which did not affect the extent of in vitro GP and degradation of feeds used in the present experiment. However, the possibility exists that the divergent nutrient use could be a consequence of different priming by different feeds of the donor animal diets.     

Lipopolysaccharide and cytokines modulate leukotriene (LT)B4 and LTC4 production by porcine endometrial endothelial cells

Uterine inflammatory response is mediated by inflammatory mediators including eicosanoids and cytokines produced by immune and endometrial cells. Interactions between lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cytokines, and leukotrienes (LTs) in endothelium, important for the host defence during the inflammation, are unknown. We studied the effect of LPS, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐4 and IL‐10 on 5‐lipooxygenase (5‐LO), LTA₄ hydrolase (LTAH) and LTC₄ synthase (LTCS) mRNA and protein expression, LTB₄ and LTC₄ release from porcine endometrial endothelial cells, and cell viability. For 24 hr, cells were exposed to LPS (10 or 100 ng/ml of medium) and cytokines (each 1 or 10 ng/ml). 5‐LO mRNA/protein expression augmented after incubation with larger doses of LPS, TNF‐α, IL‐4 and IL‐10 and smaller dose of IL‐1β. Larger dose of TNF‐α, smaller doses of LPS and IL‐1β and both doses of IL‐10 increased LTAH mRNA/protein expression. LTAH protein content was up‐regulated by larger dose of LPS, but it was reduced in response to both doses of IL‐4. LTCS mRNA expression was elevated by larger doses of LPS, IL‐4 and IL‐10 or both doses of TNF‐α and IL‐1β. LTCS protein level increased after treatment with both doses of IL‐1β, IL‐4 and IL‐10, smaller dose of LPS and larger dose of TNF‐α. Both doses of LPS and larger doses of TNF‐α and IL‐10 increased LTB₄ release. LPS, IL‐1β and IL‐10 at smaller doses, or TNF‐α and IL‐4 at larger doses stimulated LTC₄ release. Smaller doses of TNF‐α and IL‐1β or both doses of IL‐4 enhanced the cell viability. This work provides new insight on the participation of LPS, TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐4 and IL‐10 in LTB₄ and LTC₄ production/release from porcine endometrial endothelial cells, and the effect of above factors on these cells viability. The used cellular model gives the possibility to further establish the interactions between inflammatory mediators.     

Histological and immunohistochemical evaluation of granulosa cells during different stages of folliculogenesis in bovine ovaries

Bovine granulosa cells (GC) vary in their morphological aspect during different stages of folliculogenesis. In this study, 10 morphologically normal bovine ovaries were collected to study the structural aspects of different stages of GC using intermediate filament protein antibodies including cytokeratin AE1/AE3 (AE1/AE3), vimentin, nectin‐4 and desmin. Hormonal immunolocalization was assessed using the immunomarkers anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin alpha. In addition, tumour markers and proliferation markers using c‐erbB‐2 oncoprotein and proliferating cell nuclear antigen, respectively, were investigated. The immunolabelling of AE1/AE3 in GC was strongest in the early follicle stage and gradually decreased when reaching the Graafian follicle stage. Its immunolabelling increased again as the stage progressed from stage I to stage III. The immunolabelling of inhibin alpha was inversely proportional to that of AE1/AE3 in the developing ovarian follicles as their immunolabelling is opposite to each other during folliculogenesis. AMH was immunopositive in almost all GC stages in different intensities and percentages, except for some negative staining in the atretic IV follicles. The atretic IV follicle is a unique type of atretic follicle that shows Call‐Exner body formation, which was mainly found in older cows in this study. The distinct patterns of immunoreactivity for various types of immunomarkers in the different GC stages will play an important role in diagnostic assistance of various follicle conditions, including cystic ovaries and GC tumours.     

Effect of Luteolin on Blood Indexes,Liver and Kidney in Mice with Acute Mercury Poisoning

To study the effect of luteolin on blood indexes,liver and kidney in mice with acute mercury poisoning,28 mice were randomly divided into four groups:Control group (intraperitoneal injection 0.9% saline),luteolin group (lavage 100 mg/kg luteolin),mercuric chloride group (intraperitoneal injection 4 mg/kg mercury chloride) and mercury chloride+luteolin group (intraperitoneal injection 4 mg/kg mercuric chloride,lavage 100 mg/kg luteolin).The activities of ALT in serum,AST,CREA and BUN contents,blood WBC,RBC,HGB content and GSH and MDA contents of liver tissue were detected.Morphological changes of liver and kidney tissues were observed.The results showed that compared with the control group,the activities of ALT and AST of mercuric chloride group were extremely significantly increased (P < 0.01),serum CREA,BUN,blood WBC and liver tissue MDA contents were significantly increased (P < 0.05) while blood RBC,HGB and liver tissue GSH contents were significantly decreased (P < 0.05).Liver,kidney pathological changes were obviously.Compared with mercuric chloride group,the activities of ALT,AST in serum,CREA,BUN,blood WBC and liver tissue MDA contents of mercuric chloride+luteolin group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05),while blood RBC,HGB and liver tissue GSH contents were significantly elevated (P < 0.05).Liver,kidney pathological changes were attenuated obviously.The poisoning were characterized by inflammation and the occurrence of anemia when acute mercury poisoning occurred,liver and kidney showed different degrees of injury in mice.Luteolin could reduce the toxic effects of acute mercury poisoning on blood,liver and kidney.     

低海拔异地育肥牦牛与本地杂交肉牛(秦川×西门塔尔)在不同非蛋白氮水平饲粮条件下血液生理生化指标及生长性能的差异

为探究异地育肥牦牛模式,本试验对比了低海拔异地育肥耗牛与本地杂交肉牛(秦川×西门塔尔)在同等条件下血液生理生化指标和生长性能的差异。将体重相近的8头1岁本地杂交肉牛(秦川×西门塔尔)和8头4岁青海牦牛各分为2组,每组4头,同一品种的2组试验牛分别饲喂低非蛋白氮饲粮[LNPN,饲粮中缓释尿素添加量为1.0%(干物质基础)]和高非蛋白氮饲粮[HNPN,饲粮中缓释尿素添加量为1.5%(干物质基础)]。预试期10 d,正试期50 d。结果发现:牦牛与肉牛均在LNPN条件下表现出最高的平均日采食量和最小的料重比。饲粮非蛋白氮水平未对牦牛与肉牛的血常规指标造成显著影响(P0.05),但是牦牛在各饲粮条件下中性粒细胞数目(Gran#)、平均红细胞体积(MCV)、平均红细胞血红蛋白含量(MCH)、红细胞分布宽度标准差(RDW-SD)、平均血小板体积(MPV)和血小板分布宽度(PDW)显著高于肉牛(P0.05),而平均红细胞血红蛋白浓度(M CHC)和血小板数目(PLT)显著低于肉牛(P0.05)。饲粮非蛋白氮水平未对肉牛和牦牛各项血清生化指标产生显著影响(P0.05)。牦牛在各饲粮条件下血清总蛋白(TP)、尿素氮(UN)、肌酐(GREA)、免疫球蛋白A(Ig A)、免疫球蛋白M(Ig M)和免疫球蛋白G(Ig G)水平均显著高于肉牛(P0.05)。牦牛在HNPN条件下的血清白蛋白(ALB)水平显著低于LNPN条件下(P0.05)。本试验结果表明,在肉牛和牦牛育肥饲粮中添加1.0%的缓释尿素替代饲粮蛋白质是可行的;低海拔异地育肥牦牛不会对牦牛健康产生不利影响。     

激素对奶牛乳腺上皮细胞乳脂肪合成的调控作用

乳脂肪是高质量的天然脂肪，其可为人类提供营养和能量，在各种膳食脂肪和油类中，是最容易被消化吸收的。乳脂肪是在乳腺中由从头合成或外源摄取的脂肪酸与甘油酯化形成的一种脂类物质，其含量的高低关系着牛奶品质的优劣和乳制品的加工特性。在奶牛的泌乳周期中，乳腺泌乳功能受多种因素影响，其中内分泌腺分泌的多种激素对奶牛乳腺上皮细胞（BMECs）乳脂的合成具有积极的调控作用。综上所述，作者介绍了氢化可的松、催乳素、胰岛素和生长激素4种泌乳相关激素对BMECs乳脂肪合成的调控机理，即从乳脂合成适宜的激素添加量、激素对乳脂球形态的影响方面初步阐释其调控作用，并从乳脂合成的关键酶及转录因子、激素对乳脂合成相关基因表达量方面深入阐释其作用机理，旨在为研究泌乳相关激素对奶牛乳腺内乳脂肪合成的调控机理提供参考。     

Transplantation of human amnion epithelial cells improves learning and memory function in Alzheimer's disease-like pathology rat model

AIM: To observe the treatment effect and its immune regulation of human amnion epithelial cells (hAECs) on Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like pathology rat model. METHODS: The hAECs were isolated from amnion with trypsin digestion, and the phenotype of hAECs was analyzed by flow cytometry. SD rats (n=48) were randomly divided into sham control group, model group, medium group and hAECs group. AD-like pathology rat model was induced by bilateral intraventricular injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). hAECs (5×10⁵) were injected into the hippocampus of the AD-like pathology rats. At 2 weeks after transplantation, the animals were tested by Morris water maze to observe the function of learning and memory. The pathological change of the brain was observed by HE staining. The expression of amyloid β-protein 42(Aβ42) and Tau protein and the level of acetylcholine (ACh) in the injury brain were determined by immunohistochemistry. The survival and differentiation of hAECs in the hippocampus were measured by immunofluorescent technique. The percentages of lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The contents of serum cytokines were detected by cytometric bead array. RESULTS: Compared with model group and medium group, hAECs group showed shortened escape latency (P<0.01), increased frequency of going through the platform (P<0.05), reduced loss of hippocampal neurons, decreased expression of Tau protein and Aβ42 in the hippocampus (P<0.05), increased ACh level in the hippocampus (P<0.05), decreased percentages of Th1 and Th17 subsets, increased percentages of Th2 and Treg cells (P<0.05), decreased concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-2 in the serum, and increased concentration of IL-4(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: hAECs improve the cognitive learning and memory function and alleviate pathologic damage of hippocampus through immune regulation in AD-like pathology rats.     

铅和（或）镉对体外培养肾细胞的毒性损伤

在培养液中加入不同浓度的Cd（10、20、40μmol／L）、Pb（10、20、40μmol／L）和Pb-Cd联合（分别为5、10、20μmol／L），来探讨铅镉对肾细胞的作用及可能机制。在显微镜下观察细胞形态、测定细胞凋亡率和细胞周期及上清液脂质过氧化指标。结果表明：20μmol／L以上染毒组细胞皱缩、体积变小，表面有细胞碎片，甚至呈泡沫状或树枝状；铅、镉单独和联合染毒组GSH—Px、SOD活性随染毒剂量的增加，呈逐渐下降趋势（P〈0．05）．而MDA含量和凋亡率则呈升高趋势（P〈0．05），并存在剂量和时间效应。镉和铅也能使细胞周期停滞。Pb、Cd联合可加剧细胞损伤。     

蜂王浆对尾静脉注射4T1细胞小鼠抗氧化能力的影响

探讨蜂王浆对尾静脉注射4T1细胞小鼠的抗氧化和免疫力的影响.将4T1细胞或其与蜂王浆的混合物通过尾静脉注射入小鼠体内,ELISA法检测蜂王浆对小鼠血清、肝脏和肾脏中与抗氧化能力相关的指标及血清中和免疫力相关细胞因子水平的影响.结果表明,和模型对照组相比,蜂王浆(50、100 mg·mL~(-1))可以显著提高小鼠血清内T-AOC、IFN-α(P0.05)水平,降低IL-4的水平(P0.05);蜂王浆剂量为50 mg·m L~(-1)时,IFN-γ的含量显著增加(P0.05).蜂王浆(100 mg·mL~(-1))显著提高肾脏中T-AOC的水平(P0.05).可见,蜂王浆可以改善尾静脉注射4T1细胞小鼠的抗氧化能力和免疫力.     

Differences between wheat genotypes in damage from freezing temperatures during reproductive growth

Cereal crops in the reproductive stage of growth are considerably more susceptible to injury from freezing temperatures than during their vegetative growth stage in the fall. While damage resulting from spring-freeze events has been documented, information on genotypic differences in tolerance to spring-freezes is scarce. Ninety wheat genotypes were subjected to a simulated spring-freeze at the mid-boot growth stage under controlled conditions. Spring-freeze tolerance was evaluated as the number of seeds per head at maturity after plants were frozen at −6 °C. Plants that froze, as confirmed by infrared (IR) thermography, died shortly after thawing and consequently the heads did not mature. Only in plants that had no visible freezing (super-cooled) were heads able to reach maturity and produce seeds. In plants that super-cooled four genotypes had significantly higher seed counts after being exposed to freezing than three with the lowest. In addition, significant differences between genotypes were found in whole plant survival among those that had frozen. Genotypes with high whole-plant freezing survival were not necessarily the same as the super-cooled plants with the highest seed counts. Spring-freeze tolerance was not correlated with maturity suggesting that improvement in freezing tolerance could be selected for without affecting heading date. Spring-freeze tolerance was not correlated with freezing tolerance of genotypes of plants in a vegetative state, either under non-acclimated or cold-acclimated conditions indicating that vegetative freezing tolerance is not a good predictor of spring-freeze tolerance.