Effects of species and sex on plasma hormone and metabolite concentrations in crossbred Brahman cattle and crossbred water buffalo

Buffalo meat is tasty and indistinguishable from beef, and has been described as being lean and low in cholesterol in comparison with beef. However, little is known about the plasma hormone and metabolic profiles related to fat metabolism in buffalo, and how their levels are affected by species and sex. In this study levels of plasma hormones and metabolites were compared between species and sexes. Ten growing crossbred Brahman cattle and ten growing crossbred buffaloes (five males and five females in each), with an average age of 22 months were used. The animals were fed on an experimental diet composed of corn silage, brewer's spent grain and a concentrate mixture at a 50:30:20 ratio on a dry matter basis during a fattening period of 6 months. Blood samples were collected every month during the experiment, and were analysed for plasma leptin, insulin, glucose, triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) concentrations. Plasma leptin, insulin and TC concentrations increased during fattening and were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in cattle than in buffaloes. These concentrations in cattle showed a big difference between sexes in comparison with buffaloes, and were higher in females than in males. The plasma glucose and TG concentrations did not differ (P > 0.05) between cattle and buffaloes.

The crude fat content of longissimus muscle was significantly higher in cattle than in buffalo. Differences in body fat deposition seem to have an influence on plasma leptin, insulin and TC concentrations differently between cattle and buffaloes.     

向海尖底泡沼泽沉积物磁化率特征及其环境意义

以吉林省向海自然保护区尖底泡沼泽湿地为研究对象,通过210Pb,137Cs建立高分辨率年代序列,并结合沉积物粒度指标,分析沉积物粒度与磁化率变化的相关性,对向海近几百年的环境变化进行探讨.结果表明:历史时期内陆沼泽沉积物频率磁化率反映的向海气候变化可划分3个阶段,并与粒度的分析结果基本一致.沼泽沉积物磁化率可以作为恢复历史时期环境变化的指标之一.     

Subcutaneous pharmacokinetics and dosage regimen of cefotaxime in buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis)

The pharmacokinetics and dosage regimen of cefotaxime following its single subcutaneous administration (10 mg/kg) were investigated in buffalo calves. Plasma and urine samples were collected over 10 and 24 h post administration, respectively. Cefotaxime in plasma and urine was estimated by microbiological assay technique using E. coli as test organism. The pharmacokinetic profiles fitted one-compartment open model. The peak plasma levels of cefotaxime were 6.48 ± 0.52 µg/ml at 30 min and the drug was detected upto 10 h. The absorption half-life and elimination half-life were 0.173 ± 0.033 h and 1.77 ± 0.02 h, respectively. The apparent volume of distribution and total body clearance were 1.17 ± 0.10 l/kg and 0.45 ± 0.03 l/kg/h, respectively. The urinary excretion of cefotaxime in 24 h, was 5.36 ± 1.19 percent of total administrated dose. A satisfactory subcutaneous dosage regimen for cefotaxime in buffalo calves would be 13 mg/kg repeated at 12 h intervals.     

水牛同期发情技术的研究

采用不同药物处理和给药方式,对不同品种水牛在不同季节自然发情和同期发情配种后的受胎效果进行系统研究,以期建立一套稳定的适合水牛同期发情的处理方法。试验选取本地水牛(102头)、摩拉水牛(129头)、尼里/拉菲水牛(98头)和杂交水牛(326头)共655头,分为5个组进行比较试验。结果表明:河流型摩拉水牛和尼里/拉菲水牛的同期发情率和配种受胎率均高于杂交水牛和本地水牛(P<0.05),但同为河流型的摩拉和尼里/拉菲水牛之间没有差异(P>0.05),以本地水牛效果最差,其同期发情率和配种受胎率分别为74.51%和30.39%;应用不同的药物处理时,以GnRH+PGF2α+GnRH效果最好,同期发情率和受胎率分别为88.46%和46.38%,其同期发情率显著高于其他各药物组(P<0.05),而用PGc的效果最差(分别为79.10%和33.21%);用PMSG肌注+PGc灌注法,其同期发情率和受胎率效果最好,显著高于其他各组(P<0.05),其次是PMSG肌注+PGc肌注法,PGc肌注法效果最差;在冬季进行同期发情处理时,同期发情率和受胎率最高(分别为83.75%和43.28%),明显高于其他各季节(P<0.05);水牛自然发情的人工授精受胎率和胚胎移植的受胎率均比同期发情的高,差异显著(P<0.05)。     

The disposition kinetics of albendazole following the administration of single and divided doses to cattle and buffalo

Concentrations of albendazole sulphoxide and its sulphone metabolite in plasma in cattle and buffalo were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography after single and divided intraruminal administration of albendazole at the recommended nematocidal and fasciolicidal dose rates of 7.5 and 15.0 mg/kg body weight, respectively. No significant differences in the plasma concentrations of the metabolites or their pharmacokinetic parameters were observed between cattle or buffalo at either dose rate. Pharmacokinetic analysis and the disposition curve of the metabolites indicated increased uptake of the drug in both cattle and buffalo when the same total amount of the drug was given in divided doses compared to a single dose (p<0.05). The divided dose schedules of administration could possibly be exploited to extend the life of the available benzimidazole anthelmintics.     

Lowered Antioxidant Status of Red Blood Cells in Post-Parturient Haemoglobinuria of Buffaloes

The antioxidant status of the red blood cells of buffaloes (n = 20) suffering from post-parturient haemoglobinuria (PPH) was assessed by comparing their tocopherol (vitamin E) and reduced glutathione contents with those of red blood cells from apparently healthy buffaloes (n = 20). The red cell tocopherol content of the diseased buffaloes (1.76±0.11 g/ml) was significantly (p<0.01) lower than that of healthy buffaloes (2.45±0.14 g/ml). This may be the first report comparing the concentration of tocopherol in the red blood cells of buffaloes suffering from PPH and apparently healthy buffaloes.There was a drastic reduction in the reduced glutathione content in the red cells of haemoglobinuric buffaloes (23.74±2.86 mg%) compared to the healthy control buffaloes (73.71±3.87 mg%). The diseased buffaloes also exhibited severe hypophosphataemia. These findings suggest that an impaired or insufficient antioxidant potential of the red blood cells in this disease in buffaloes is associated with the phosphorus deficiency.     

Cloning of Buffalo AQP9 Gene and Analysing its Expression in the Buffalo Tissues

Cloning buffalo AQP9 gene and analyzing its expression in buffalo tissues.A pair of primers was designed according to the released bovine AQP9 sequences in GenBank,which was used to clone buffalo AQP9 gene.The AQP9 gene was amplified by RT-PCR,whose nucleotide sequence and protein structure were analyzed by bioinformatics methods.The expression of AQP9 in buffalo tissues was assayed by Real-time quantitative PCR.The expression of AQP9 gene in buffalo ovary and testis tissue was detected by immunohistochemical staining method.The results showed that the cloned ORF length of buffalo AQP9 gene was 888 bp,which coded 295 amino acids.The results of multiple sequence comparison showed that the nucleotide sequence of buffalo AQP9 shared 99%,90%,97% and 88% homologeous compared with that of Bos taurus,Sus scrofa,Ovis ariessis and Homo sapiens,respectively,while shared 99%,86%,97%,83% homologeous for amino acids,respectively.Phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that AQP9 gene was highly conservative in the evolutionary process.Real-time quantitative PCR results showed that AQP9 gene expressed in buffalo liver,lung,brain,skin,testis and ovary tissues with different levels,had the most abundant expression in liver,followed by in skin and testis,less observed in lung and ovary.The results of immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of AQP9 protein varied with the development of buffalo ovarian tissue,and gradually enhanced with follicle development.In testicular tissue,AQP9 protein expressed in spermatocyte and leydig cells of developmental stage testis.These results indicated that we had successfully cloned buffalo AQP9 gene sequences.The expression and its function of AQP9 in buffalo ovaries and testes might play an important role in follicle development and spermatogenesis.     

日粮钙水平对泌乳水牛生产性能的影响

为了探讨日粮钙水平对泌乳水牛生产性能的影响,本试验选用12头胎次、泌乳时间、泌乳量相近的水牛,随机分成4组,每组3头水牛。采用4×4拉丁方试验方法,4组水牛基础日粮中钙含量分别占基础日粮干物质的0.47%、0.62%、0.78%、0.93%,其他营养成分均相同,其中磷占采食干物质比例为0.50%;共4期试验,每一试验期21 d,其中预饲期7 d,正饲期14 d。试验结果表明:1、不同钙水平日粮对泌乳水牛的产奶性能影响不显著(P>0.05),但0.78%钙水平日粮组水牛的产奶量分别比其他3组提高5.4%、5.5%、3.9%,不同钙水平对水牛奶营养成分影响不显著(P>0.05)。2、不同钙水平日粮对水牛血浆中钙含量影响差异显著(P<0.05);随着日粮钙水平的上升,水牛血液甲状旁腺素和1,25二羟基维生素D呈显著下降趋势(P<0.05)。综合各指标,日粮钙占采食干物质的比例为0.78%能进一步提高泌乳水牛产奶量。     

不同比例香根草日粮对沼泽性水牛尿嘌呤衍生物排出量的影响

试验采用4×4拉丁方设计,利用4头18月龄,体质量为(262±17.9)kg处于生长期的泰国沼泽性水牛,通过饲喂粗料中4种不同比例香根草的日粮,观察每单位可消化有机物质尿嘌呤衍生物排泄量(PD/DOMI)的变化,来研究不同日粮对水牛尿嘌呤衍生物(PD)排出量的影响.结果表明,随着香根草在粗料中比例的增大,尿囊素(Allantoin)、尿酸(Uric acid)及总嘌呤衍生物(total PD)的排出量都增加,且日粮间差异显著(P<0.05),而黄嘌呤和次黄嘌呤(Xan-thine+hypoxanthine)的排出量在各个日粮间差异不显著(P>0.05);PD/DOMI随着日粮中香根草含量的增加,在日粮间差异不显著(P>0.05).研究说明香根草占粗料50%时,对水牛尿嘌呤衍生物(PD)的排泄量影响最大(PD的排出量:17.5 mmol/d,PD/DOMI:6.11 mmol/kg).     

青海海北高寒湿地近地层大气CO_2浓度的变化特征

采用快速响应红外气体分析仪对青海海北高寒湿地大气CO2浓度进行连续监测,分析2004年CO2浓度变化特征表明,CO2浓度存在明显的日、季变化,日、年内均表现“U”型变化特征。这些变化与植被生理活动、土壤呼吸、大气逆温层、及湍流交换强度等有关。自1月到7月CO2浓度的日变化过程中,日最高值出现时间在日出前后的5:00到9:00,并随7月的到来逐渐提早,日出后下降,约在下午15:00左右为最低,日落后又逐步升高。7月以后日最高值出现时间随时间推移又滞后,最低提早。一年中,月平均浓度最低值出现在7月份,最高值则在10月。观测表明,2004年海北高寒湿地CO2年平均浓度为315.3μmol/mol,月平均最高为335.0μmol/mol(10月),月平均最低值为270.1μmol/mol(7月)。统计海北高寒湿地旬平均CO2浓度与气象因素线性相关关系表明,海北高寒湿地CO2浓度与大多数气象因子有显著的负相关关系,但与土壤温度、气压、相对湿度等的相关关系不明显。