Familial Congenital Methemoglobinemia in Pomeranian Dogs Caused by a Missense Variant in the NADH‐Cytochrome B5 Reductase Gene

Background

In veterinary medicine, congenital methemoglobinemia associated with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)‐cytochrome b5 reductase (b5R) deficiency is rare. It has been reported in several breeds of dogs, but little information is available about its etiology.

Objectives

To analyze the NADH‐cytochrome b5 reductase gene, CYB5R3, in a Pomeranian dog family with methemoglobinemia suspected to be caused by congenital b5R deficiency.

Animals

Three Pomeranian dogs from a family with methemoglobinemia were analyzed. Five healthy beagles and 5 nonrelated Pomeranian dogs without methemoglobinemia were used as controls.

Methods

Methemoglobin concentration, b5R activity, and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration were measured, and a turbidity index was used to evaluate Heinz body formation. The CYB5R3 genes of the affected dog and healthy dogs were analyzed by direct sequencing.

Results

Methemoglobin concentrations in erythrocytes of the affected dogs were remarkably higher than those of the control dogs. The b5R activity of the affected dogs was notably lower than that of the control dogs. DNA sequencing indicated that this Pomeranian family carried a CYB5R3 gene missense variant (ATC→CTC at codon 194) that resulted in the replacement of isoleucine (Ile) by leucine (Leu).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

This dog family had familial congenital methemoglobinemia caused by b5R deficiency, which resulted from a nonsynonymous variant in the CYB5R3 gene. This variation (c.580A>C) led to an amino acid substitution (p.Ile194Leu), and Ile194 was located in the proximal region of the NADH‐binding motif. Our data suggested that this variant in the canine CYB5R3 gene would affect function of the b5R in erythrocytes.     

Interaction between the sequence of feeding of hay and concentrate,and boiling of barley on feed intake,the activity of hydrolytic enzymes and fermentation in the hindgut of Arabian mares

The interaction between the sequence of feeding of hay and concentrate and the hydrothermal processing of barley in alleviating concentrate effects on intake, and hindgut fermentation in horses was tested. Six Arabian mares (4–10 years of age, 410 ± 35 kg body weight) were used to evaluate the effects of feeding sequence (FS) and type of barley (TB) on intake, and faecal volatile fatty acids (VFA), activities of α‐amylase (AA: EC 3.2.1.1), carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase: EC 3.2.1.4), microcrystalline cellulase (MCCase: EC 3.2.1.91) and general filter paper degrading activity (FPD). Mares were offered a ration of air‐dried alfalfa and concentrate (70:30 as‐fed) in four subsequent periods of 14 days including 8 days of adaptation and 6 days of sampling. In each period and each meal, mares received concentrate either 30 min after (HC) or 30 min before (CH) alfalfa hay. Barley was either milled or boiled in water. Rectal samples were grabbed directly from rectum once per period. Mares subjected to CH had higher dry matter intakes than mares under HC regime. The acetate:propionate ratio (A:P ratio) in rectal content was higher with CH than HC. The AA activity was higher under CH than under HC. Mares fed boiled barley had lower rectal concentrations of VFA and propionate and a higher A:P ratio than mares fed milled barley. Furthermore, the rectal content showed a higher MCCase activity but a lower AA activity when mares were fed boiled compared with milled barley. Interactions between FS and TB were observed with respect to CMCase activity, and concentrations of propionate and valerate. In conclusion, the present results suggest that both, feeding concentrate before hay and boiling the barley, might improve the hindgut environment in Arabian mares, and that the two measures were mostly additive and sometimes even synergistic.     

Disaccharide combinations and the expression of enolase3 and plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase isoform in sturgeon sperm cryopreservation

Acipenser sinensis and Acipenser dabryanus are critically endangered species, so germplasm conservation via cryopreservation of sperm is necessary. Disaccharides can act as membrane‐impermeable cryoprotectants, and enolase3 (ENO3) and plasma membrane Ca²⁺ ATPase isoform (PMCA2) are proteins associated with sperm quality. We considered seven characteristics of sperm quality in cultured brood stock from A. sinensis and A. dabryanus. We tested use of sucrose or trehalose alone and in combination at different concentrations for cryopreservation of A. dabryanus sperm. A low concentration of sucrose plus trehalose (S₁₅T₁₅) was optimal. Mixing of the extender with sucrose, lactose, or trehalose alone or with pairwise mixtures revealed that a mixture of lactose and trehalose (L₁₅T₁₅) gave the best results for both A. sinensis and A. dabryanus. Enolase3 and PMCA2 expression levels were measured in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm via Western blotting. Relative ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels were examined, and the relationship between disaccharide composition, sperm quality and protein expression was explored in A. sinensis. The results showed that relative ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels were the highest at L₁₅T₁₅ in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm. There were significant positive correlations between ENO3 expression and percentage membrane integrity, and between PMCA2 expression and sperm motility parameters (percentage of motile sperm, curvilinear velocity, straight‐line velocity and average path velocity; p < .05) in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm. Our results indicate the optimal disaccharide combination and concentrations for cryopreservation of A. sinensis and A. dabryanus sperm and suggest that ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels could serve as a valuable indicator of sperm quality in A. sinensis.     

南果梨周年干物质与氮磷钾积累动态

【目的】明确南果梨干物质积累特征和氮磷钾养分周年动态积累规律,为南果梨优化施肥量和施肥时期提供依据。【方法】以12年生南果梨树为试材,采用田间采样和树体分解方法,分别于萌芽后10 d(萌芽期)、 30 d(花期)、 65 d(幼果膨大期)、 100 d(果实膨大或新稍停止生长期)、 130 d(果实着色前)、 155 d(果实采收期)、 185 d(采收后)、 210 d(落叶前)8个生育期,选干周和树高一致的3株树,将树体连根从土壤中挖出,分出果实、 叶片、 枝条、 主干、 主根、 侧根、 须根,各器官单独称重,并取200 g左右的鲜样按清水、 洗涤剂、 清水、 1%盐酸、 3次去离子水冲洗、 杀青、 烘干后,电磨粉碎过0.15 mm筛,测定样品中氮、 磷、 钾含量。【结果】1)南果梨周年生育期内,树体干物质当年净积累量为18.4 kg/plant,干物质累积速率出现两次累积高峰,分别是幼果膨大期(0.15 kg/d)和采收期(0.11 kg/d)。2)南果梨树体总氮周年积累量为154.0~301.0 g,新生器官为0~116.2 g,果实膨大期达到最高;多年生器官氮积累量为154.0~194.8 g,落叶前达到最高。3)南果梨树体总磷周年积累量为17.1~37.2 g,果实着色前最高。其中新生器官为13.7 g,果实采收期最高;多年生器官为17.1~24.9 g,果实转色期最高。4)南果梨树体总钾周年积累量为27.9~174 g。新生器官钾为97.3 g,采收期最高;多年生器官钾为27.6~76.6 g,落叶前最高。5)产量大约为17 t/hm2的12年生南果梨从萌芽到落叶前树体当年氮磷钾的单株净累积量分别为146.2、 20.1、 146.1 g,折合1000 kg果实经济产量需吸收氮(N)、 磷(P)、 钾(K)5.4、 0.7、 5.4 kg。【结论】南果梨周年干物质单株积累总量为41.4 kg,当年净积累量为19.7 kg。南果梨干物质积累主要集中在花期到果实膨大期和果实转色到落叶前,分别占47.3% 和47.5%。南果梨从萌芽到落叶前氮、 磷、 钾的单株净累积量分别为146.2、 20.1、 146.1 g,每1000 kg果实经济产量需吸收氮(N)、 磷(P)、 钾(K)5.4、 0.7、 5.4 kg。从开花到果实膨大期和从果实着色到采收后30天对氮吸收分别占总氮累积量的39.0%和49.0%,而磷、 钾的累积从萌芽到开花较快,到果实膨大期磷的累积达67.4%,钾的累积达65.1%,果实膨大期是干物质和氮磷钾积累的关键时期。     

三维CAD技术在机械设计中的应用

现代计算机在技术和性能上越发成熟,再加之网络的普及和信息的智能化处理技术的提高,三维CAD技术本身也正逐步成熟,因此,正确地把握CAD技术的发展趋势对我国机械工程中的设计工作具有深远的意义.     

“互联网+农业”模式下食用菌的营销策略

在"互联网+农业"融合发展背景下,食用菌企业需要借助互联网,构建市场主导、数字驱动的全新营销战略,助力产品营销。以"互联网+农业"模式为研究视角,分析食用菌产品营销现状,提出发挥技术优势、挖掘用户需求和建设优质平台等营销建议,以助力食用菌产品市场营销与效益转化。     

永安市美丽乡村建设成效、问题与对策

美丽乡村是"生产发展、生活宽裕、乡风文明、村容整洁、管理民主"的"二十字"方针贯彻落实的成果展现。在生态文明视角下建设美丽乡村是目前我国正在全力规划实施的一个重大工程。该文总结了福建省永安市美丽乡村建设所取得的成效,分析了制约其发展的因素,并提出对策建议。     

基于“3S”技术的辽宁省某尾矿库扩容工程生态影响预测与评价

以辽宁省某尾矿库为例,基于GIS技术,利用2010年的TM遥感影像及地形图,预测该尾矿库扩容后的生态影响。分析结果显示:尾矿库扩容工程对生态的影响主要体现在土地利用、植被、生态景观和地形地貌的变化4个方面。