Relationship between Polyamines and Other Cold‐induced Response Mechanisms in Different Cereal Species

To find a connection between polyamines and various protective effectors involved in the development of cold tolerance, eight different cereal genotypes, including wheat, barley and oat species, were investigated during the acclimation phase to low temperature. Exposure to low temperature induced different changes in the levels of polyamines, and other signalling molecules, such as salicylic acid and abscisic acid, and of other protective compounds, namely flavonols, sugars and antioxidant enzyme activity, and in the lipid composition of certain membrane factions. The most remarkable differences were observed in the oat varieties compared to the other cereal genotypes, which was manifested in the lack of spermidine accumulation and of decrease in trans‐Δ³‐hexadecanoic acid content, in lower initial and not cold‐inducible abscisic acid content and guaiacol peroxidase activity after cold treatment. Correlation analysis revealed that spermidine shows strong positive relationship with flavonols, abscisic acid and ascorbate peroxidase, while was in negative relationship with trans‐Δ³‐hexadecanoic acid. These results suggest that spermidine may have a crucial role in the cold acclimation signalling processes in cereals.     

Digestion of lipids and carbohydrates from microalgae (Chaetoceros muelleri Lemmermann and Isochrysis aff. galbana clone T‐ISO) in juvenile scallops (Pecten maximus L.)

The digestion of laminaran and neutral lipids from the microalgae Chaetoceros muelleri or mixtures of C. muelleri and Isochrysis galbana clone T‐ISO in 4‐mm scallops Pecten maximus were studied. The microalgae were cultivated at fixed low and high growth rate (5% and 60% of μ_max). The cultivation method clearly affected the lipid and carbohydrate contents, as well as their enzyme activity. Chaetoceros muelleri and T‐ISO grown at low growth rate exhibited a considerably higher content of lipids and carbohydrates than those algae grown at high growth rate. The specific activity of laminaranase and neutral lipase was the highest in C. muelleri grown at the low growth rate. Growth rate of scallops was best when they were fed a mono‐species diet of C. muelleri grown at low growth rate. The growth rate of the scallops was positively correlated to the dietary carbohydrate content as well as to the specific activity of neutral lipase and laminaranase in the diet. The capacity to digest carbohydrates (laminaran) might be limiting for the young scallops, and the content of carbohydrates and enzymatic activities of laminaran in the diet should be considered when formulating an optimal diet, both when the diet consist of live microalgae and formulated diets.     

消化酶及胎牛血清对奶牛乳腺上皮细胞培养的影响

试验研究了不同浓度及组合消化酶对奶牛乳腺组织分离的影响以及不同FBS浓度培养基对奶牛乳腺上皮细胞纯化和生长的影响。试验结果表明,0.25%胰酶＋0.20%Ⅱ胶原酶对组织块分离效果最好,乳腺上皮细胞生长最多,5%与10%浓度FBS对奶牛乳腺上皮细胞纯化效果最好,5%与10%浓度FBS对细胞生长没有明显的差异（P〉0.05...     

骆驼乳清蛋白对热应激所致大鼠肝氧化损伤的保护作用

本试验旨在研究骆驼乳清蛋白（CWP）对热应激（HS）大鼠肝损伤、氧化应激及肝功能的保护作用。选取6周龄SD大鼠36只,适应性饲养2周后随机分为6组：正常对照组饲喂基础日粮;CWP对照组添加400 mg·kg^-1的CWP;HS组除饲喂基础日粮外,每天进行2 h HS处理,连续8 d;3个CWP干预组分别于每次HS前灌服100、200和400 mg·kg^-1的CWP。试验结束后,取大鼠肝组织,HE染色观察肝组织病理学变化,同时检测肝功能生物标志物、氧化应激标志物水平及抗氧化酶活性。结果表明：CWP降低了HS大鼠血清谷草转氨酶（AST）和谷丙转氨酶（ALT）活性,400 mg·kg^-1的CWP干预效果最好（P<0.01）;400 mg·kg^-1CWP干预组有效降低了HS诱导的大鼠肝组织病理学改变; CWP降低了大鼠肝活性氧（ROS）及丙二醛（MDA）水平,增加了超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）活性及谷胱甘肽（GSH）水平,400 mg·kg^-1的CWP干预效果最好（P<0.01）。结果提示,CWP干预能够以剂量依赖性方式降低大鼠肝氧化应激,增加抗氧化系统防御能力,从而缓解HS所致大鼠肝损伤。     

Improving the reproductive,immunity and health status of rabbit does using honey bee venom

The aim of the present study was to investigate the long-term effect of using bee venom (BV) on the reproductive performance, immune, and health status of rabbit does and its effect on their litters. Sixty mature does, from Spanish V-line rabbit stock, were randomly assigned to four homogeneous groups with 15 does each. The 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd groups were injected twice weekly under the neck skin with 0.1 ml solution contains 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 mg BV/rabbit respectively. The 4^th group served as a control group. From the results, litter size at birth, litter weight and survival rate at weaning age as well as milk yield were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased in BV groups than in the control group. Serum estradiol 17-β (E2) was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher (15%) in the rabbit does treated with BV compared to the control group. The treated does with BV at any study doses showed a gradual and significant (p ≤ 0.05) decrease (12%) in serum progesterone levels (P4) compared to the control. They also showed a significant (p≤0.05) increase in conception (17%) and fertility rates (10%) compared to the control does. Treatment of rabbit does with BV caused a gradual and significant (p ≤ 0.05) reduction in both aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (16%) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (37%) liver enzyme activities. Additionally, results have shown that BV resulted in a gradual and significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase in total antioxidant capacity (TAC), antioxidative enzymes such as glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), serum IgG, IgM and IgA levels with significant (p ≤ 0.05) decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in BV groups compared to the control group. Results suggest that BV can be used in rabbit farming as an effective and safe alternative to artificial chemical drugs (sexual-stimulants) to improve certain reproductive traits, immune response and health.     

Chitosan nanoparticles enhance developmental competence of in vitro-matured porcine oocytes

Oxidative stress is inevitable as it is derived from the handling, culturing, inherent metabolic activities and medium supplementation of embryos. This study was performed to investigate the protective effect of chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) on oxidative damage in porcine oocytes. For this purpose, cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) derived from porcine slaughterhouse ovaries were exposed to different concentrations of CNPs (0, 10, 25 and 50 µg/ml) during in vitro maturation (IVM). Oocytes treated with 25 µg/ml CNPs showed significantly higher levels of GSH, along with a significant reduction in ROS levels compared to control, CNPs10 and CNPs50 groups. In parthenogenetic embryo production, the maturation rate was significantly higher in the CNPs25 group than that in the control and all other treated groups. In addition, when compared to the CNPs50 and control groups, CNPs25-treated oocytes showed significantly higher cleavage and blastocyst development rates. The highest concentration of CNPs reduced the total cell number and ratio of ICM: TE cells in parthenogenetic embryos, suggesting that there is a threshold where benefits are lost if exceeded. In cloned embryos, the CNPs25 group, as compared to all other treated groups, showed significantly higher maturation and cleavage rates. Furthermore, the blastocyst development rate in the CNPs25-treated group was significantly higher than that in the CNPs50-treated group, as was the total cell number. Moreover, we found that cloned embryos derived from the CNPs25-treated group showed significantly higher expression levels of Pou5f1, Dppa2, and Ndp52il genes, compared with those of the control and other treated groups. Our results demonstrated that 25 µg/ml CNPs treatment during IVM improves the developmental competence of porcine oocytes by reducing oxidative stress.     

外源海藻糖对NaHCO3胁迫下甘草幼苗生长调节及总黄酮含量的影响

本研究以甘草无菌苗为试验材料,采用植物组织培养的方法,分析50 mmol·L^-1 NaHCO₃ 胁迫下外源海藻糖对甘草幼苗生长量、叶绿素含量、渗透调节物质含量、抗氧化保护酶活性和总黄酮含量的影响。结果表明： 50 mmol·L^-1 NaHCO₃ 胁迫显著降低了甘草幼苗的生长量、叶绿体色素含量、K⁺ 浓度、抗氧化保护酶（SOD、POD、CAT）活性和总黄酮含量,显著提高了丙二醛、脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量以及Na⁺浓度;施加15 mmol·L^-1 海藻糖可显著提高甘草幼苗的生长量,提高叶绿素含量、K⁺ 浓度和总黄酮含量,降低丙二酸含量、脯氨酸含量、可溶性糖含量和Na⁺ 浓度,并且提高抗氧化保护酶活性。因此,NaHCO₃胁迫下施加外源海藻糖对甘草幼苗生长具有良好的调节作用,可以增强甘草的抗碱能力,促进甘草幼苗生长。本研究为外源海藻糖提高甘草耐碱性和揭示其调控机制提供理论依据。     

Oxidative stress drives divergent evolution of the glutathione peroxidase (GPX) gene family in mammals

The molecular basis for adaptations to extreme environments can now be understood by interrogating the ever-increasing number of sequenced genomes. Mammals such as cetaceans, bats, and highland species can protect themselves from oxidative stress, a disruption in the balance of reactive oxygen species, which results in oxidative injury and cell damage. Here, we consider the evolution of the glutathione peroxidase (GPX) family of antioxidant enzymes by interrogating publicly available genome data from 70 mammalian species from all major clades. We identified 8 GPX subclasses ubiquitous to all mammalian groups. Mammalian GPX gene families resolved into the GPX4/7/8 and GPX1/2/3/5/6 groups and are characterized by several instances of gene duplication and loss, indicating a dynamic process of gene birth and death in mammals. Seven of the eight GPX subfamilies (all but GPX7) were under positive selection, with the residues under selection located at or close to active sites or at the dimer interface. We also reveal evidence of a correlation between ecological niches (e.g. high oxidative stress) and the divergent selection and gene copy number of GPX subclasses. Notably, a convergent expansion of GPX1 was observed in several independent lineages of mammals under oxidative stress and may be important for avoiding oxidative damage. Collectively, this study suggests that the GPX gene family has shaped the adaption of mammals to stressful environments.     

The effects of transportation stress on Japanese quail (Coturnix Coturnix japonica) fed corn‐based diet in comparison with wheat‐based diet supplemented with xylanase and phytase

Harvesting, handling and transporting quails to the slaughterhouses, other farms and laboratories might covertly reduce their welfare. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two major sources of energy in poultry nutrition on reducing transportation stress in Japanese quail (Coturnix Coturnix japonica). Male quails (n = 60) were divided into two groups. The first group was fed corn‐based diet, and the second was fed wheat‐based diet supplemented with xylanase and phytase. At the end of the experiment (day 35), quails were subjected to 80 km of transportation. Immediately on arrival and after 24 h, heterophil counts, lymphocyte counts and H:L ratios were measured. On arrival, H counts were lower, L counts were higher, and H:L ratios were lower for corn‐fed group. After 24 h, wheat‐fed group showed lower increment of H counts, greater increment of L counts and also decrement of H:L ratios rather than corn‐fed group which showed increment of H:L ratios. However, these ratios were still lower in corn‐fed group. Results indicate that corn‐based diets can help Japanese quail to better resist transportation stress, although it seems that feeding wheat‐based diets supplemented with xylanase and phytase could have positive effects for coping better with stress after journeys.     

Association of oxidative status and insulin sensitivity in periparturient dairy cattle: an observational study

Post‐parturient insulin resistance (IR) is a common feature in all mammalian animals. However, in dairy cows, it can be exacerbated because of high milk yield, leading to excessive negative energy balance, which is related with increased disease incidence, reduced milk production and worsened reproductive performance. IR has been extensively investigated in humans suffering from diabetes mellitus. In these subjects, it is known that oxidative stress (OS) plays a causative role in the onset of IR. Although OS occurs in transitional dairy cattle, there are yet no studies that investigated the association between IR and OS in dairy cattle. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between OS and IR in dairy cattle. Serum samples were taken repeatedly from 22 dairy cows from 2 months prior to the expected calving date to 2 months after calving and were analysed for markers of metabolic and redox balance. Surrogate indices of insulin sensitivity were also calculated. Generalised linear mixed models revealed an effect of the oxidative status on peripheral insulin concentration and on indices of insulin sensitivity. Hence, field trials should investigate the effectiveness of antioxidant therapy on insulin sensitivity in peripheral tissues during the transition period of dairy cattle.