The detection of subclinical mastitis in the bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) by somatic cell count and California mastitis test

Milk samples (n=160) from 7 clinically healthy bactrian camels were cultured to detect subclinical udder infection. The samples were assessed by the Californian mastitis test (CMT) and somatic cell count (SCC). Bacteria were recovered from 36 (22.5%) of the milk samples. Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) were the main organisms found.Infected quarters had significantly higher mean values for the SCC (p<0.01) and CMT (p<0.001) than non-infected quarters. All 7 camels were infected with CNS but only 4 with S. aureus. CMT values for S. aureus-infected camels were significantly higher than for those only infected with CNS. The values for SCC and CMT were significantly influenced by the stage of lactation (p<0.05). No significant difference was found from the effect of the quarters. Both SCC and CMT were of value in predicting the infection status of the udder.Abbreviations CMT California mastitis test - SCC somatic cell count - CNS coagulase-negative staphylococci     

The effects of physostigmine on the electroretinogram in the beagle dog

The purpose of the study was to correlate electroretinogram (ERG) parameters with increasing levels of plasma, erythrocyte and ocular tissue cholinesterase inhibition using the beagle dog as a model for human neurovisual toxicity. The anticholinesterase compound physostigmine was administered at various steady-state intravenous infusion rates based on pharmacokinetic estimates of plasma and red blood cell cholinesterase inhibition. The most sensitive parameter was the b-wave amplitude of the rod response, which was significantly depressed compared to pretreatment at all levels of acute cholinesterase depression. The overall maximal ERG response demonstrated a trend of declining a-and b-wave amplitudes, which corresponded with the increased levels of cholinesterase depression, but these differences were not significant. The depression of the electroretinogram rod and cone amplitudes appeared to parallel plasma cholinesterase inhibition more closely than erythrocyte cholinesterase activity. Ocular tissue cholinesterase activity was significantly depressed in the retina (70%), cornea (60%) and dorsal rectus extraocular muscle (46%). Electroretinography may be a useful physiological tool for evaluating the ocular toxicity of certain chemicals or pharmaceuticals associated with cholinesterase biomarker activity.Abbreviations AChE acetylcholinesterase - Amp amplitude - BuChE butyrylcholinesterase - C _p plasma level - C _ss steady-state plasma concentration - D _L loading dose - e ^–kt the rate of elimination over time (t) - ERG electroretinogram - k elimination rate constant - Lat latency - MBW metabolic body weight - O₁–O₅ consecutive oscillatory potential wavelets - PreTx pretreatment - R rate of infusion - R _Inf rate of infusion - V _d volume of distribution     

性成熟前小鼠生精细胞的发育过程

用光镜、电镜观察了生后 1～ 1 8d昆明白小鼠的生精上皮。结果显示 ,生后 1～ 3 d,曲细精管内只有生殖母细胞和支持细胞 2类形态结构截然不同的细胞 ,前者位于管中部 ;生后 4～ 5d,少数生殖母细胞已附着在基膜上 ;生后 6～ 7d,原始 A型精原细胞大量出现并附着在基膜上 ;生后 8d,A型精原干细胞大量出现 ,B型精原细胞开始出现 ;生后 1 0 d,B型精原细胞大量出现 ;生后 1 2～ 1 3 d,前初级精母细胞出现 ,少数曲细精管的管腔开始出现 ;生后 1 4～ 1 5d,多数曲细精管管腔基本形成 ,前初级精母细胞大量出现。本试验的结果表明 ,7～ 8d小鼠的睾丸最适于分离精原干细胞     

Follicular wave dynamics and Growth factors gene expression in Braford heifers

The objectives of the present study were (experiment 1) to characterized development and dynamics of the dominant follicles (DF) and the corpus luteum (CL) to determine patterns of two (W2) and three (W3) follicular waves in beef heifers, and (experiment 2) to determine gene expression of growth factors gene expression in follicular cells of W2 and W3 heifer. Twenty-eight Braford heifers were used. Dominant follicular and CL were monitored daily by ultrasonography to identify the development W2 and W3 in heifers. Pre-ovulatory DF were aspirated on day 19 in W2 and on day 22 in W3 heifers. In W2 and W3, follicular cells (FC) of gene expression of growth differentiation factor 9, bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15), fibroblast growth factor basic, transforming growth factor beta receptor 1, bone morphogenetic protein receptor type IB and fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 were evaluated. The regression of the DF of the first follicular wave and the emergency of the DF of the second follicular wave began later in the heifers W2 than in W3 (p = .02 and p < .01). The regression of the CL began earlier in the W2 than in W3 group (p < .01). Gene expression of growth factors and receptors was similar between groups. However, higher relative levels of BMP15 was observed in W2 group (p = .07). Results propose that wave patterns were regulated by the development time of the DF in the first wave and the life of the CL. Furthermore, higher levels of BMP15 could produce shorter life of CL. The present work suggest that ultrasonography associated with molecular assays could be used as an easy and effective tool to characterize follicular wave patterns.     

Cell-free extract from porcine induced pluripotent stem cells can affect porcine somatic cell nuclear reprogramming

Pretreatment of somatic cells with undifferentiated cell extracts, such as embryonic stem cells and mammalian oocytes, is an attractive alternative method for reprogramming control. The properties of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are similar to those of embryonic stem cells; however, no studies have reported somatic cell nuclear reprogramming using iPSC extracts. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of porcine iPSC extracts treatment on porcine ear fibroblasts and early development of porcine cloned embryos produced from porcine ear skin fibroblasts pretreated with the porcine iPSC extracts. The Chariot^TM reagent system was used to deliver the iPSC extracts into cultured porcine ear skin fibroblasts. The iPSC extracts-treated cells (iPSC-treated cells) were cultured for 3 days and used for analyzing histone modification and somatic cell nuclear transfer. Compared to the results for nontreated cells, the trimethylation status of histone H3 lysine residue 9 (H3K9) in the iPSC-treated cells significantly decreased. The expression of Jmjd2b, the H3K9 trimethylation-specific demethylase gene, significantly increased in the iPSC-treated cells; conversely, the expression of the proapoptotic genes, Bax and p53, significantly decreased. When the iPSC-treated cells were transferred into enucleated porcine oocytes, no differences were observed in blastocyst development and total cell number in blastocysts compared with the results for control cells. However, H3K9 trimethylation of pronuclear-stage-cloned embryos significantly decreased in the iPSC-treated cells. Additionally, Bax and p53 gene expression in the blastocysts was significantly lower in iPSC-treated cells than in control cells. To our knowledge, this study is the first to show that an extracts of porcine iPSCs can affect histone modification and gene expression in porcine ear skin fibroblasts and cloned embryos.     

不同水平复合益生菌制剂添加对奶牛生产性能、乳品质及体细胞数量的影响

为分析不同水平复合益生菌制剂添加对奶牛生产性能、乳品质及体细胞数量的影响,试验选择胎次、产奶量、泌乳天数相近的荷斯坦奶牛160头随机分成4个组,每个组4个重复,每个重复10头,1组饲喂基础日粮为对照组,试验2、3、4组每头奶牛分别在基础日粮中添加20、40、60 g/d复合益生菌制剂,预试验7 d,试验期为60 d。结果表明:(1)试验后的30、60 d,试验3、4组的平均产奶量较1相比分别提高16.0%、14.9%、25.6%、24.1%(P<0.05);(2)试验2、3、4组的4%乳脂校正、乳蛋白率、总固形物均高于1组(P>0.05);试验2、3、4组的尿素氮均低于1组(P>0.05);试验3、4组的乳糖率、乳脂率较1组分别提高14.6%、13.4%、5.0%、4.2%(P<0.05);(3)试验后的60 d,试验3、4组乳中体细胞数量较1组相比降低9.3%、7.1%(P<0.05)。综上,每头牛每天添加40 g复合益生菌制剂可以提高奶牛的生产性能、乳品质,减少体细胞数量。     

四季鹅产蛋前后腺垂体远侧部细胞的超微结构比较

对处于产蛋、停产和产前等不同时期的四季鹅腺垂体远侧部分泌促激素的６类细胞,即促生长激素细胞（α细胞）、催乳激素细胞（η细胞）、促卵泡形成激素细胞（β细胞）、促黄体生成激素细胞（γ细胞）、促甲状腺激素细胞（δ细胞）及嫌色细胞等的超微结构作了比较观察。结果表明,产蛋期嗜碱性β、γ和δ细胞呈旺盛的细胞结构象,细胞器结构发达,腺体功能活跃;停产期特征是η细胞稍增多,细胞器少,腺体功能处于相对静止;产前期仅α细胞功能活跃,嫌色细胞数量较多,此时腺体功能低下。     

Effects of Wnt10b on dermal papilla cells via the canonical Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway in the Angora rabbit

Wnt10b is a member of Wnt family that plays a variety of roles in biological functions, including those in the development of hair follicles. To investigate the effect of Wnt10b on hair growth in the Angora rabbit and to determine the underlying molecular mechanism, we cultured dermal papilla (DP) cells with exogenous Wnt10b in vitro. We observed the expressions of downstream critical gene β‐catenin and lymphoid enhancer‐binding factor 1 (LEF1) in Wnt/β‐catenin pathway. The levels of β‐catenin mRNA and protein were higher in the Wnt10b group of DP cells than in the Control group, and the mRNA level of LEF1 in the Wnt10b group was higher than in the Control group. Moreover, translocation of β‐catenin from cytoplasm to nucleus was activated in the Wnt10b group. Furthermore, the mRNA levels of the hair follicle‐regulatory genes, insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and the protein activity of ALP was also upregulated in the Wnt10b group compared to their corresponding levels in the Control group. These data suggest that Wnt10b could activate the canonical Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway to induce DP cells in the Angora rabbit. In addition, the proliferation of DP cells was significantly promoted when cultured with Wnt10b for 48 and 72 hr, suggesting that Wnt10b plays a pivotal role in the proliferation and maintenance of DP cells in vitro. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that Wnt10b may promote hair follicle growth in Angora rabbit through the canonical Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway that promotes the proliferation of DP cells.