First Established Pregnancies in Mediterranean Italian Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) Following Deposition of Sexed Spermatozoa near the Utero Tubal Junction

At the time of AI following Ovsynch protocol, a total of 51 buffaloes were randomly divided in a first group (n = 30) subjected to conventional AI into the uterine body with 20 million non-sex sorted frozen-thawed spermatozoa, while a second group (n = 21) was inseminated near the utero-tubal junction (UTJ) ipsilateral to the ovary carrying the preovulatory follicle with 2.5 million live (4 million total) sex-sorted frozen-thawed spermatozoa. The semen used for flowcytometric sorting was collected and processed on a farm in Italy, and then shipped to a laboratory in Germany. Eleven buffaloes were inseminated with X-chromosome bearing spermatozoa and 10 with Y-chromosome bearing spermatozoa. Conception rates after conventional and UTJ inseminations were 43.3% (n = 13) and 42.8% (n = 9) respectively (p = 0.97). Eight of the nine foetuses obtained after insemination with sexed spermatozoa corresponded to the sex as predicted by the cell sorting procedure (five male and four female foetuses by ultrasound vs six male and three female foetuses by cell sorting). In conclusion, for the first time buffalo semen has been successfully subjected to procedures for flowcytometric sperm sorting and freezing. Low doses of sexed spermatozoa have been deposited near the UTJ giving conception rates similar to those of conventional AI with full dose.     

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.     

Temporal variation of total and DTPA-extractable heavy metal contents as influenced by sewage sludge and perlite in a calcareous soil

Continuous application of sewage sludge (SS) as a source of organic matter, may increase available heavy metals (HMs) up to their critical levels. As a consequence their uptake by plants, risks of accumulation in food chain and groundwater pollution increases. To evaluate the effects of perlite and SS on total content and available fraction of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) over 45 and 90 days a completely randomized pot experiment was conducted. Treatments consisted of SS (0, 2 and 4%) and combined SS and perlite levels (1:1, 1.5:0.5 and 0.5:1.5% SS:perlite). Mean available Fe, Ni, Cd, Mn and Zn fractions decreased over time by 7–27%, whereas, total contents did not change. Available HMs in SS-treated soils increased by 0.5–25%; whereas, only total Zn, Cu and Pb concentrations increased with SS application (although concentrations fall in the range of critical levels). The lowest (1.6 fold) and highest (22.1 fold) increases obtained for available Cu and Zn, respectively. Perlite could mitigate the adverse effect of high rate application of SS on amplification of HMs extractability. Therefore, their concomitant applications can be suggested considering the perlite durability and its positive effects on soil physical properties.     

The effect of some watershed,soil characteristics and morphometric factors on the relationship between the gully volume and length in Fars Province,Iran

A survey consisting of 146 first order gullies selected from five sites with different land use, soil and watershed properties was carried out to estimate the parameters of the empirical power function in order to describe the relationship between the gully volume and length in Fars province, Iran. Subsequently, the gullies were clustered into seven groups (“A” to “G”) based on nine morphometric factors. The linearized functions were fitted to the natural logarithms of the volume and length in each group and the parameters “a” and “b” were determined. The obtained “a” and “b” parameters are in the ranges of 1.0–10.8 and 0.8–1.4, respectively. Comparison of “a” and “b” parameters in each group with the mean of nine factors and the mean soil, watershed and land use characteristics in each group showed that the gully volume and average cross section are correlated with the gully depths in different sections and the gully head slopes. Also it was shown that the parameters of fitted functions to the plots of gully volumes versus gully lengths are proportional to width at the gully heads. The gully widths at the top and bottom of the five meter sections are correlated with the average upstream watershed area of the gullies.     

关于开发建设项目水土保持监督管理体系的思考与建议

把依法行政分解为法律基础和行政体系2个方面,分析了开发建设项目水土保持监督管理体系在法律基础和行政体系2个方面存在的问题。法律基础方面存在的问题:一是相关法律中提到开发建设项目水土保持监督管理的内容较少,各项职责落实不到位;二是法律中没有明确流域机构的水土保持职能。行政体系方面存在的问题有:规范化建设还不够完善,个别地方水保部门对监督管理工作内容不了解,权大于法的情况时有出现。提出了完善开发建设项目水土保持监督管理体系的建议。     

防病促生枯萎病拮抗菌“98-Ⅰ”对4种枯萎病防治效果研究

经 8年系统试验研究从 330个细菌菌株中筛选出 1株防病促生枯萎病拮抗菌“98 Ⅰ” ,经鉴定属蜡质芽孢杆菌。该菌对黄瓜枯萎病、西瓜枯萎病、青椒枯萎病和番茄枯萎病 4种土传病害均有显著防治效果 ,其平皿孢子萌发抑制率分别为 79 2 %、75 1%、72 3%和 95 7% ,且该菌对多种蔬菜有促生和促进种子发芽功效。     

大豆水溶性多糖的黏度性质及其应用研究

研究了不同条件下大豆水溶性多糖溶液的黏度变化情况，同时和其他常用的稳定剂如果胶等也做了比较。试验结果表明。本实验室生产的大豆水溶性多糖的水溶液的黏度随着温度的升高、浓度的降低、外加盐量的增加而降低；随着外加蔗糖量、pH值的增加而增加；相比较于其他稳定剂大豆水溶性多糖的黏度很低，使酸乳饮料具有清爽的口味。     

Oestradiol Induced Inhibition of Neuroendocrine Marker Expression in Leydig Cells of Adult Rats

The objectives of this work were to determine the changes in the expression of neuroendocrine markers in Leydig cell by oestradiol treatment, and to determine whether testosterone is able to recover partially the effects of hormonal suppression induced by oestradiol. Adult male rats were injected daily with either 50 microg of oestradiol or oestradiol plus testosterone propionate (25 mg every 3 days) for 15 days. The animals were sacrificed and testicles were dissected and processed by routine histological protocols. FSH and LH serum levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. The visualization of antigens was achieved by the streptavidin-peroxidase immunohistochemical method. Antibodies against chromogranin A (CrA), S-100 protein (S-100), P substance (PS), synaptofisin (SYN), neurofilament protein (NF), gliofibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neuron specific enolase (NSE) were used. The mean LH and FSH serum concentrations were consistently suppressed with hormonal treatments. Intermediate filaments (NF and GFAP) showed no difference in their expression. The expression of S-100, NSE and SYN was significantly lower in both hormone-treated groups. In oestradiol-treated rats, the immunoreactivity of CrA and SP decreased significantly but was restored after testosterone supplementation. Although the nature and functions of many of these substances in Leydig cells remain unknown, these results are consistent with the hypothesis that the expression of some neuroendocrine markers is hormonally controlled.     

Effect of Relaxin on Fertility Parameters of Frozen–Thawed Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Sperm

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of relaxin on fertility parameters of buffalo frozen/thawed sperm. Sperm were incubated in the absence of capacitating agents (negative control), with a known capacitating agent such as heparin (positive control) and with 50 and 100 ng/ml relaxin for 2 and 4 h. Sperm viability, motility, capacitation and the effect of relaxin on the fertilizing ability after heterologous IVF were evaluated. Although viability was not affected, relaxin increased (p < 0.05) sperm motility compared to the negative and positive controls both after 2 h (60.0 ± 2.0, 60.0 ± 3.1, 68.3 ± 1.7 and 69.4 ± 2.7, respectively, in negative control, positive control, 50 and 100 ng/ml relaxin) and 4 h (55.0 ± 2.5, 53.3 ± 3.0, 62.2 ± 3.0 and 65.0 ± 3.2, respectively, in negative control, positive control, 50 and 100 ng/ml relaxin) incubation. When sperm were incubated with both 100 ng/ml relaxin and heparin, a decrease (p < 0.01) of pattern A, that is low capacitation level, was observed compared to the negative control both after 2 h (54.4, 34.3 and 36.4%, respectively, in negative control, positive control and 100 ng/ml relaxin) and 4 h (51.9, 35.0 and 34.3%, respectively, in negative control, positive control and 100 ng/ml relaxin). Moreover, an increase (p < 0.01) of pattern EA, that is high capacitation level, was recorded with 100 ng/ml relaxin and heparin compared to the negative control both after 2 h (44.1, 59.3 and 57.7%, respectively, in negative control, positive control and 100 ng/ml relaxin) and after 4 h (43.0, 54.4 and 56.0%, respectively, in negative control, positive control and 100 ng/ml relaxin). Finally, relaxin increased (p < 0.01) cleavage rate compared to the negative control (57.1 ± 4.4, 72.5 ± 6.0, 71.4 ± 5.5 and 73.6 ± 2.9, respectively, in negative control, positive control, 50 and 100 ng/ml relaxin). In conclusion, relaxin has a beneficial effect on motility, capacitation and fertilizing ability of frozen–thawed buffalo sperm.