高粱不同外植体愈伤组织诱导的研究

取几种高粱类型的不同外植体在MS培养基上进行愈伤组织诱导培养,影响外植体愈伤组织形成和生长的因素很多,本试验结果表明:不同基因型间愈伤组织诱导率有差异.耐性(耐旱)品种形成愈伤组织能力较强.不同外植体间诱愈率差别较大,幼穗诱愈率最高88.O%,花药最低1%左右.另外,幼叶诱愈培养对盐反应敏感.在成熟胚培养过程中,其诱愈率为63.O%,并获得8棵成株.     

国外引进番茄资源的果实性状比较

对引自美国、以色列和荷兰共计35份番茄资源材料的始花期、熟性、果实性状、座果性及田间抗病性等进行观察比较,结果表明:果肉厚、心室数、单果重、果实硬度、座果性及田间抗病性等性状在材料间的差异较大,其中综合性状较为理想的材料有4份,即以色列的SFI、荷兰的ST02、ST03及T6271材料,不仅表现抗青枯病和病毒病,而且具有前期座果率高、单序果实成熟一致、着色均匀及硬度高等特性,可作为培育不同果实类型的高产、抗病、耐贮运品种的基本育种材料。     

美国引进甜玉米品种的性状分析和评估

对从美国引进的11个温带品种进行了植株性状、穗部性状、产量及品质性状的分析和评估,以期筛选出适宜广东乃至华南地区栽培的温带品种.结果发现,引进的美国种皆为早熟品种,株高较矮、穗位较低、植株整齐度好、鲜穗较小(250～350 g)、产量较低.但是鲜苞的品质很好,特别是CSAYP6-225,其色泽、口感、甜度、籽粒深度、排列都较好,产量中等,适合鲜食和加工.     

Chlamydiae and atherosclerosis: can psittacine cases support the link?

Atherosclerosis is a common disease in pet birds, particularly in psittacines. Little is known about the role of risk factors predisposing birds to this disease. In our study, we tried to detect chlamydiae in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded atherosclerotic tissue from 103 pet birds to clarify their role in atherosclerosis. Methods used were polymerase chain reaction (PCR), sequencing, and immunohistochemistry. Histopathologic examination served to classify the extent of atherosclerotic lesions. In the PCR, 4 (3.9%) of 103 cases, all of them with advanced stages of atherosclerosis, were positive. Subsequent sequence analysis revealed high identities (94%-100%) with Chlamydophila psittaci in three cases. Interestingly, two of these birds came from C. psittaci-infected populations. Because of the low incidence (3.9%), the occurrence only in advanced stages, and the association with C psittaci-infected avian populations, a causal relationship between chlamydiae and atherosclerosis in pet birds is rather improbable.     

Isolation of Leptospira noguchii from sheep

The main goal of this study was to obtain new isolates of Leptospira spp. from sheep. A total of 10 kidney samples and 44 blood samples were collected from sheep slaughtered in Pelotas, Southern Brazil. One isolate was obtained which was identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and serogrouping to be Leptospira noguchii serogroup Autumnalis. Microscopic agglutination test (MAT) evaluation revealed that 4.5% of the sheep sera reacted against the Autumnalis serogroup. This is the first report of isolation of L. noguchii from sheep. Together these findings indicate that L. noguchii infections may be a potentially important veterinary problem in this domestic animal species.     

Studies on the toxicity of an aqueous extract of the leaves of Abrus precatorius in rats

The toxic effects of an aqueous extract of Abrus precatorius were studied in 20 male white rats over a period of 18 days. The rats were divided into four groups of five rats per group. Those in Group A served as controls while the rats in Groups B, C and D were dosed per os with 400 mg/kg, 800 mg/kg and 1 600 mg/kg of the extract, respectively. Blood samples were collected for haematological and biochemical analysis and specimens of the liver, kidney and testes were taken for histopathological studies. The study showed that the extract of A. precatorius caused decreased levels of packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin. The extract also resulted in increased levels of total serum protein, albumin, alanine amino transaminase, aspartate amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin. Histologically, testicular degeneration characterized by decreased numbers of lining cells of the epithelium as well as reduction in sperm cells with presence of scattered Sertoli cells were noted. The study thus showed that aqueous extract of Abrus precatorius is toxic and caution should be exercised in its use for medicinal purpose.     

Functional development of small intestine of Japanese quail hatched on MIR orbital station

The effect of microgravity on functional development of the small intestine of Japanese quails incubated for 2-3 d and hatched on the orbital station MIR was examined. After 5 d of space flight duodenal and jejunal alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity of the experimental group was compared with the AP activity in quails of the same age hatched on the Earth (laboratory controls). Short-term microgravity leading to decreased food intake resulted in significant increase of AP activity in both duodenal and jejunal enterocytes (P<0.001) of the experimental quails. The results suggest that increased AP activity probably reflects the delayed functional development of the small intestine as a consequence of inappropriate food intake during non-physiological conditions of space flight.