Identification of irisin immunoreactivity in porcupine (Hystrix cristata) adrenal glands and kidneys

Irisin, a novel peptide, was initially been shown to be expressed explicitly in the muscle tissues. We studied the presence of irisin immunoreactivity in porcupine adrenal glands and kidneys. Immunocytochemistry showed that irisin was localised both in the adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla. In organs, irisin immunoreactivity was found in the tubular and collecting system of the nephron. The functional role of irisin in the adrenal gland and kidney has not been precisely yet. However, irisin might have a paracrine and autocrine function as do other locally produced peptides.     

Effects of 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol in diesel exhaust particles on the regulation of reproductive function in immature female Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

In a previous study, we found that 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol (PNMC), a component of diesel exhaust particles and also a degradation product of the insecticide fenitrothion, exhibits reproductive toxicity in the adult male Japanese quail. The present study investigated the toxicity of PNMC in the female Japanese quail and its ability to influence reproduction in immature females. The quail (21-day-old) were injected intramuscularly (im) with PNMC at doses 0.1, 1 or 10 mg/kg body weight daily for 3 days. There was no significant difference in body growth between the PNMC-administered and control birds. However, the weights of the oviducts were significantly lower in the PNMC-treated birds at all doses. Furthermore, the plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol-17 beta were significantly decreased with 1 and 10 mg/kg of PNMC. These findings suggest that PNMC might influence the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis with decreasing in secretion of GnRH, LH and ovarian steroid hormones and subsequently disturb growth of the reproductive organs of immature female quail. This study indicates that PNMC induces reproductive toxicity at the central level and disrupts reproductive function in the immature female quail.     

Direct effects of prolactin on adrenal steroid release in male Hatano high-avoidance (HAA) rats may be mediated through Janus kinase 2 (Jak2) activity

Prolactin (PRL) has been proposed to directly stimulate corticosterone release. However, the role of PRL on adrenocortical function in male HAA rats has not been fully clarified. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of PRL on the secretion of corticosterone and progesterone using an in vitro cell culture system in male rats. Administration of PRL (10(-7) and 10(-6) M) resulted in dose-dependent increases in corticosterone and progesterone release. Cotreatment with PRL produced an increase in the stimulatory effects of ACTH-induced corticosterone and progesterone secretion. However, the PRL-induced corticosterone and progesterone releases were significantly reduced by treatment with AG490, a specific Janus kinase 2 (Jak2) inhibitor. In addition, administration of AG490 blunted the significant inhibition of ACTH-induced corticosterone and progesterone secretion by PRL. These results demonstrated that PRL could act directly on the adrenal gland to drive corticosterone and progesterone secretion in male rats. Additionally, the results emphasize that PRL stimulation of adrenal steroid release may be mediated through Jak2 activity.     

Assessment of fertility and reproductive toxicity in adult female mice after long-term exposure to Pueraria mirifica herb

The present study investigated the effects of long-term administration of Pueraria mirifica (PM) at non-toxic doses on the ovarian function and fertility of adult female mice based on evaluation of hematological and biochemical parameters. Female mice were divided into 4 groups (36 mice/group). Groups 1-3 were orally treated with a dose of 0 (PM-0), 10 (PM-10) or 100 mg/kg BW/day PM (PM-100), and group 4 was subcutaneously injected with 200 mug/kg BW/day of synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES). The treatment schedule was separated into treatment and post-treatment periods. The duration of each period was 8 weeks. The PM-10 mice exhibited regular estrous cycles, while the PM-100 and DES treatments induced prolonged estrous cycles. Although no changes were observed in the uterus and ovary weights of the mice after the PM-100 and DES treatments, hyperplasia of the uterine endothelium and a decrease in the number of growing ovarian follicles were detected. The changes in the ovarian histologies of the PM-100 and DES mice were related to reductions in the levels of LH and FSH, which subsequently caused a decrease in mating efficiency. Once the PM mice were able to copulate, they were capable of successfully becoming pregnant and mothering offspring. No abnormalities were observed in the external morphologies and reproductive organ weights of the 50-day-old offspring. In conclusion, our results suggest that long-term exposure to 100 mg/kg BW of PM has adverse effects on the mating efficiency and reproduction of adult female mice and that administration of 10 mg/kg BW of PM does not induce any changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian-uterine axis.     

Effects of diesel exhaust particles on the male reproductive system in strains of mice with different aryl hydrocarbon receptor responsiveness

Diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) that bind to aryl hydrocarbon receptors (AhRs) and decrease sperm production. Since it is not clear if AhR mediates DEP toxicity, we investigated the effect of DEPs in four strains of mice that have different AhR responsiveness. We treated BALB/c, C57BL/6, ICR and DBA/2 mice with DEP suspensions and compared their toxicity in each strain. In both the vehicle- and DEP-treated groups, ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, as an indirect index of AhR activity, was increased in the order of BALB/c > C57BL/6 > ICR > DBA/2. Only BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice had significantly lower daily sperm production (DSP) than vehicle-treated mice. All strains exhibited increased sperm abnormalities. In particular, the C57BL/6, ICR and DBA/2 mice exhibited significantly increased abnormalities. A significant correlation was found between EROD activity and DSP or incidence of morphologically abnormal sperm. These data suggest that DEP toxicity may affect the male reproductive system in an AhR-dependent manner.     

春季西瓜留瓜个数和整枝方式对产量的影响

为探究湖州地区春季西瓜高产优质栽培技术,对小型西瓜的不同留瓜个数和中型西瓜的不同整枝方式进行了比较。结果表明:小型瓜单株留2个瓜,中心糖含量可达10.67%,667 m~2产量达2 419.2 t,既保证了西瓜的品质优良,又保证了生产效益;中型瓜可采用双蔓整枝,在保证产量和品质的同时,简化了田间操作,节约了土地。     

烤烟主要化学成分与烟叶品质关系研究进展

介绍了烟草的研究现状及烤烟主要化学成分与烟叶的外观质量、物理特性、评吸质量、烟气与焦油的关系.     

Comparison in taste and extractive components of boiled dorsal muscle and broth from half-smooth golden puffer Lagocephalus spadiceus caught in Japan with those of the same fish imported

The taste and extractive components of boiled dorsal muscle and broth prepared from half-smooth golden puffer Lagocephalus spadiceus caught in Japan and from those imported from China were compared. In the sensory test, the first taste, elasticity, and saltiness of boiled muscle from Japanese (domestic) fish were higher than those of the imported fish, whereas the orthonasal fishy smell of the imported fish was higher than that of the domestic fish. The first taste, aftertaste, retronasal fishy smell, sweetness, saltiness, and umami of the broth prepared from dorsal muscle of the domestic fish were higher than those of the imported fish, whereas orthonasal fishy smell and bitterness of the imported fish were higher than those of the domestic fish. Most panelists preferred the overall taste of the domestic fish to that of the imported fish. The concentration of trimethylamine in the trichloroacetic acid extracts from boiled muscle and broth of the imported fish was higher than that of the domestic fish, suggesting that this substance contributes to the orthonasal fishy smell of the imported fish.     

大麦植株干物质分配模型

为给建立大麦产量品质形成预测模型奠定基础,通过定量分析不同品种和氮肥处理大麦干物质分配和转移的变化过程,建立大麦植株干物质分配动态模型.模型采用Richards方程描述大麦干物质分配指数的动态变化,引入叶片潜在分配指数、茎鞘潜在分配指数、籽粒潜在分配指数3个品种遗传参数反映不同品种在器官间的干物质分配差异;采用两段Richards方程来描述大麦茎鞘在灌浆期前后的干物质分配动态,较好地解决了两段方程的衔接问题;运用氮素影响因子来校正不同氮素水平对大麦干物质分配的影响,引入潜在临界含氮量和潜在最小含氮量2个品种遗传参数来表达氮素对不同品种干物质分配影响的差异.利用不同品种、氮肥、播期和种植地域试验数据检验模型.结果表明,大麦干物质在叶片、茎鞘、穗和籽粒间分配模拟值与观测值的绝对预测误差为0.001～0.252 kg·m-4,RMSE为0.007～0.186 kg·m-2,精度良好.模型体现出较好的可靠性.