Growth, survival and fillet composition of paddlefish, Polyodon spathula (Walbaum) fed commercial trout or catfish feeds

Paddlefish are gaining increasing acceptance as an aquaculture species worldwide. Commercial trout feeds, containing high protein and lipid levels, are currently used in intensive culture; however, nutritional requirements of paddlefish are not currently known. A study was conducted examining the effects on growth, survival and fillet composition of juvenile paddlefish when fed commercial feeds differing in protein and lipid levels. Paddlefish larvae were first stocked in 14.0 m³ round tanks and fed trout starter feeds for 43 days until trained to accept a 1.6 mm pellet. Paddlefish juveniles of mean weight (±SE) 20±0.27 g were randomly stocked into six0.02 ha ponds at 12 500 ha^?1 and fed floating commercial trout or catfish (lower protein and lipid) feeds, twice daily (08:00 and 15:30 hours) for 92–97 days. At harvest, there were no significant differences in final weight, percent survival, specific growth rate , relative growth and feed conversion ratio between treatments, which averaged 223.6 g, 96.2%, 2.5% day^?1, 10.2 and 1.98 respectively. Surface feeding activity index was significantly higher in ponds supplied with catfish feed than in ponds supplied with trout feeds. Relative pellet buoyancy was not a factor in feeding activity. Fulton's condition factor averaged0.238, was not significantly different, and was similar to a reported value for extensively cultured paddlefish (zooplanktivore). There was no significant difference in liver somatic index between treatments, which averaged 1.91%. Percent protein and moisture of fillets averaged 14.9% and 80.9%, respectively, and were not significantly different between treatments. However, lipid content of fillets was significantly higher in paddlefish fed the trout feed (4.45%), compared with paddlefish fed the catfish feed (2.42%). Fillet lipid content for both treatments was higher than reported values for extensively cultured paddlefish. Percent abdominal fat was significantly higher (0.82%) in paddlefish fed the trout feed compared with paddlefish fed the catfish feed (0.52%). Results from this study indicate that paddlefish can be fed a commercial catfish feed labeled to contain 32% protein and 4.5% lipid without adverse effects on growth, survival and fillet composition, lowering production costs.     

A comparison of RNA concentrations and ornithine decarboxylase activity in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) muscle tissue,with respect to specific growth rates and diel variations

RNA concentrations and enzyme activities are often used as indices of recent growth in fish, but few studies have used both methods to assess the same fish. This study measured RNA concentrations and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity in muscle tissue of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) to compare their usefulness for reflecting specific growth rates, and to determine whether either growth index was influenced by diel variations or time of feeding. Three groups (n = 54 in total) were fed 1.5% of body weight in commercial pellets in four feedings per day. One group was fed only in the morning (0830–1230h), one in the afternoon (1430–1830h), and one in the morning and afternoon (0830–1830h). At the end of ten days, fish were sampled at three times (0130h, 1030h, 1630h) over a single 24h period. Correlations to specific growth rate were slightly higher for RNA concentrations than for ODC activity, but both were highly significant. RNA and ODC activity were also correlated to each other. These results suggest that RNA concentration and ODC activity, taken together, can be used to monitor changes in both the numbers and activity of ribosomes. For RNA concentrations, there was no evidence of an effect of diel variations or the time of feeding. For ODC activity, a significant diel effect (all feed schedules combined) was detected if one non-growing fish was excluded from the analysis; activity of the enzyme was slightly higher in the sample taken at night (0130h) than in the two daytime samples. Contribution no. 8, Catamaran Brook Habitat Research Project     

不同饲粮粗蛋白质水平对20～35kg淮猪生长性能和血清生化指标的影响

为研究不同饲粮粗蛋白质水平对20~35 kg淮猪生长性能和血清生化指标的影响,选择48头遗传背景相似、初始体重约20 kg的淮猪,按随机区组设计分为3组,每组4个重复,每个重复4头淮猪,公母各半。3个试验组等能量水平下（12.78 MJ/kg）分别饲喂低（14.53%）、中（15.55%）、高（16.62%）3种不同粗蛋白质水平的饲粮。猪体重达35 kg左右结束试验。饲养试验共49 d,其中预试期7 d,正试期42 d。结果显示,日采食量,中等蛋白质组分别比低蛋白质组和高蛋白质组高8.55%和5.77%;日增重,低蛋白质组和中等蛋白质组相同,均比高蛋白质组高9.09%;料重比,低蛋白质组分别比中等蛋白质组和高蛋白质组低4.19%和8.63%。血清尿素氮含量,低蛋白质组分别比中等蛋白质组和高蛋白质组低16.25%（P〈0.05）和11.96%（P〉0.05）,说明低蛋白质组猪对饲料蛋白质的利用率高于中等蛋白质组和高蛋白质组;中等蛋白质组血清中葡萄糖、总胆固醇、甘油三酯含量略低于其它试验组,而血清总蛋白、球蛋白含量略高于其它试验组;低、中、高蛋白质组血清中白蛋白含量依次递减。本试验结果表明,20~35 kg淮猪饲粮蛋白质适宜水平为14.53%。     

口蹄疫灭活疫苗蛋白质含量测定操作程序的确立

为优化用于口蹄疫灭活疫苗蛋白质含量测定的改良Lowry法,进而确立口蹄疫灭活疫苗蛋白质含量测定的操作程序,探索了有机溶剂破乳剂、酚红以及丙酮沉淀对测定结果影响。结果表明：样品中含酚红和有机溶剂均导致测定值较标准值高;有机溶剂破乳后,水相样经过丙酮沉淀测定值较标准值低;丙酮直接沉淀疫苗后测定蛋白质值与标准值符合度最高,丙酮沉淀回收率随蛋白浓度升高而升高,回收率在90％～100％之间。试验首次确立了改良Lowry法检测口蹄疫灭活疫苗中蛋白质含量的操作程序为丙酮直接沉淀疫苗后测定蛋白质浓度。并成功应用于口蹄疫灭活疫苗蛋白质含量的测定。     

不同粗饲料组合混合日粮对奶牛泌乳性能的影响

本试验通过给奶牛饲喂不同粗饲料组合的TMR日粮,探讨日粮中不同粗饲料组合对奶牛泌乳性能的影响.结果表明,日粮鲜重的精粗比从30∶70提高到40∶60后,奶牛的干物质采食量有显著地增加（P＜0.05）.随着精料比例增加,其能量水平、蛋白含量和乳蛋白率增加.同时,蛋白含量和产奶量都有所提高.在试验二组中用青贮代替了全贮,提高了奶牛的采食量和泌乳性能.说明,奶牛全混合日粮（TMR）可以提高日粮养分表观消化率、产奶量和改善乳蛋白质水平.青贮饲料的蛋白质的降解和利用更容易被瘤胃微生物降解和吸收,从而提高奶牛的泌乳性能,取得较高的经济效益.     

周期性变动饲粮蛋白质水平对内蒙古白绒山羊内源尿素氮循环和微生物蛋白质合成的影响

本试验旨在探讨周期性变动饲粮蛋白质水平对内蒙古白绒山羊内源尿素氮循环和微生物蛋白质合成的影响。饲粮分为低(7.5%)、中(10.5%)和高(13.5%)3个蛋白质水平。选用9只体况良好,体重为(45.63±3.15)kg,装有瘤胃瘘管的内蒙古白绒山羊,采用单因子随机区组试验设计分为3组,即中蛋白质饲粮组(对照组)、变动低蛋白质饲粮组(2 d低蛋白质饲粮—2 d高蛋白质饲粮,循环饲喂)、变动高蛋白质饲粮组(2 d高蛋白质饲粮—2 d低蛋白质饲粮,循环饲喂)。预试期16 d,正试期12 d。通过全收粪尿法、嘌呤衍生物法和同位素灌注法测定山羊氮代谢、内源尿素氮循环以及微生物蛋白质合成的变化。结果表明:1)中蛋白质饲粮组与变动蛋白质饲粮组比较,瘤胃液氨氮(NH3-N)浓度显著增加(P<0.05),粪氮、尿氮排出量显著增加(P<0.05),沉积氮/摄入氮显著降低(P<0.05),尿中嘌呤衍生物排出量和微生物蛋白质合成的量显著降低(P<0.05);2)变动低蛋白质饲粮组与变动高蛋白质饲粮组比较,瘤胃液NH3-N浓度显著降低(P<0.05);3)周期性变动饲粮蛋白质水平后,进入胃肠道的尿素氮/肝脏合成的内源尿素氮显著增加(P<0.05),进入尿中的尿素氮/肝脏合成的内源尿素氮显著减少(P<0.05),返回鸟氨酸循环的尿素氮/进入胃肠道的尿素氮显著减少(P<0.05),用于再合成的尿素氮/进入胃肠道的尿素氮显著增加(P<0.05)。综上所述,周期性变动饲粮蛋白质水平有利于提高内蒙古白绒山羊氮利用率和微生物蛋白质合成量。     

鸡Mx蛋白抗病毒作用研究进展

Mx蛋白是在脊椎动物机体细胞受病毒感染或诱生剂处理时由Ⅰ型干扰素诱导表达的一种抗病毒蛋白。Mx 蛋白具有良好的抗病毒能力,靶向许多 RNA 病毒,诸如流感病毒、水疱性口炎病毒、狂犬病毒等,对某些 DNA 病毒,例如乙型肝炎病毒也有一定的作用。近年来,基于鸡的 Mx 蛋白抗病毒作用及机制的相关研究逐渐增多,取得了一些进展。论文就近年来鸡 Mx 蛋白的抗病毒机制与分子生物学特点进行综述,针对鸡 Mx 蛋白在抗病毒与品种鸡抗病育种筛选等应用前景进行分析与探讨。     

玉米自交系B73丙酮酸磷酸双激酶基因的克隆及低氮对PPDK表达的影响

以玉米B73自交系为实验材料,克隆了玉米B73叶片C4型丙酮酸磷酸双激酶(PPDK)基因即C4PPDK基因的c DNA全长并测序,研究了低氮胁迫对典型C4作物玉米PPDK蛋白表达的影响。结果表明,B73玉米C4PPDK基因有19个外显子,18个内含子。无论在高氮还是低氮条件下,玉米野生型与ppdk突变杂合子在表型上均无显著差异。野生型植株中PPDK表达量约为杂合子的2倍;与高氮处理相比,低氮处理下PPDK野生型和杂合子中PPDK蛋白表达量显著升高,表明PPDK蛋白可能参与了对低氮胁迫的响应。该实验为进一步研究PPDK与氮代谢的关系奠定了基础。     

Strontium renelate promotes osteogenesis via regulation of Sonic hedgehog signaling molecules in rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

AIM：To study the role of Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) in strontium ranelate (Sr)-induced osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). METHODS：BMSCs was isolated from 4-week-old rats by adherent culture. The cells in the 3rd～5th generations were induced to differentiate into obteoblasts, and then were treated with different concentrations of Sr and cyclopamine (Cy). The activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was mea-sured by colorimetry. Mineralized nodules were observed by alizarin red staining. The cellular Shh and Runx2 expression was detected by Western blotting. RESULTS：Sr at concentration of 3 mmol/L increased the activity of ALP and induced the formation of mineralized nodules. Sr at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 5 mmol/L increased the expression of Shh and Runx2 in the BMSCs at 7 d. Furthermore, the peak expression of Shh occurred following the exposure of Sr (1 mmol/L) or Runx2 (3 mmol/L). On the other hand, Sr at concentration of 1 mmol/L showed a time-dependent increase in the expression of Shh and Runx2 from 1 d to 7 d. Cy at concentration of 10 μmmol/L not only obviously inhibited Sr-induced expression of Shh and Runx2, but also antagonized the increase in the ALP activity and mineralization induced by Sr in the BMSCs. CONCLUSION：Sr promotes osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs by increasing the expression of Shh and Runx2.     

Chronic alcohol intake-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition contri-butes to hepatic fibrogenesis in mice

AIM：To evaluate the effect of chronic alcohol intake on the histopathological changes of the liver and to determine the contribution of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to hepatic fibrogenesis. METHODS：Thirty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 3 groups as following: the mice in control group was given (ig) water; the mice in low-dose alcohol group (2.0 g·kg -1·d -1) and high-dose alcohol group (4.0 g·kg -1·d -1) were given (ig) alcohol for 5 months. Alcohol-induced histopathological changes of the liver or development of hepatic fibrosis were evaluated using the histological methods with HE and Masson trichrome staining. The apoptosis of the liver was detected by TUNEL fluorometric staining (counterstained with DAPI). The activity of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was measured by an automated biochemical analyzer. The expression of fibroblast-specific protein 1 (FSP-1), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and E-cadherin in the hepatic tissues was detected by immunofluorescence examination. The protein levels of E-cadherin, α-SMA, FSP-1, transforming growth factor β 1 (TGF-β 1) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) were analyzed by Western blotting. RESULTS：Compared with control, the activity of serum ALT and AST, and apoptotic index of liver tissues were increased in the mice treated with alcohol for 5 months. The histopathological changes of the livers in the mice of low-dose alcohol group included steatosis and mild liver fibrosis, while severe liver fibrosis was observed in the high-dose alcohol-treated mice. Chronic alcohol consumption induced the increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and the decreases in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the livers. It also reduced E-cadherin expression and increased α-SMA expression. FSP-1 immunostaining and albumn immunostaining positive cells were co-localized in the hepatocytes of low-dose alcohol group, but only FSP-1 positive hepatocytes were observed in high-dose alcohol group. Chronic alcohol consumption decreased E-cadherin expression and increased α-SMA, FSP-1, TGF-β 1 and HIF-1α expression in a dose-dependent manner, but the HIF-1α expression was not altered between the 2 alcohol-treated groups. CONCLUSION：Chronic alcohol intake induces the progression of hepatic fibrosis. Some fibroblasts derive from hepatocytes in liver fibrosis via EMT. The underlying mechanism is associated with the changes of the redox state, and increased TGF-β 1 generation and HIF-1α expression.