Melatonin reduces apoptotic cells,SOD2 and HSPB1 and improves the in vitro production and quality of bovine blastocysts

Effects of adding different concentrations of melatonin (10^?7, 10^?9 and 10^?11 M) to maturation (Experiment 1; Control, IVM  + 10^?7, IVM  + 10^?9, IVM  + 10^?11) and culture media (Experiment 2; Control, IVC  + 10^?7, IVC  + 10^?9, IVC  + 10^?11) were evaluated on in vitro bovine embryonic development. The optimal concentration of melatonin (10^?9 M) from Experiments 1–2 was tested in both maturation and/or culture media of Experiment 3 (Control, IVM  + 10^?9, IVC  + 10^?9, IVM /IVC  + 10^?9). In Experiment 1, maturated oocytes from Control and IVM  + 10^?9 treatments showed increased glutathione content, mitochondrial membrane potential and percentage of Grade I blastocysts (40.6% and 43%, respectively). In Experiment 2, an increase in the percentage of Grade I blastocysts was detected in IVC  + 10^?7 (43.5%; 56.7%) and IVC  + 10^?9 (47.4%; 57.4%). Moreover, a lower number and percentage of apoptotic cells in blastocysts were observed in the IVC  + 10^?9 group compared to Control (3.8 ± 0.6; 3.6% versus 6.1 ± 0.6; 5.3%). In Experiment 3, the IVC  + 10^?9 treatment increased percentage of Grade I blastocysts with a lower number of apoptotic cells compared to IVM /IVC  + 10^?9 group (52.6%; 3.0 ± 0.5 versus 46.0%; 5.4 ± 1.0). The IVC  + 10^?9 treatment also had a higher mRNA expression of antioxidant gene (SOD 2) compared to the Control, as well as the heat shock protein (HSPB 1) compared to the IVM  + 10^?9. Reactive oxygen species production was greater in the IVM /IVC  + 10^?9 treatment group. In conclusion, the 10^?9 M concentration of melatonin and the in vitro production phase in which it is used directly affected embryonic development and quality.     

小麦銹病化学治疗的研究

 治疗剂的应用是防治小麦锈病的新方向,已引起国际上普遍重视,并有不少成功的先例。     

Age‐related changes in semen quality characteristics and expectations of reproductive longevity in Duroc boars

Quadratic fitting was used to regress semen characteristics of 1441 samples consisting of 12‐month collection from 58 Duroc boars against animal age varied from 10 to 80 months. Data was divided into two groups of cool (14.0–22.7°C, RH 81.5%) and hot season (22.9–29.9°C, RH 86.6%), to test effects of age, season and their interactions. Results revealed that young boars of around 1 year old could endure the hot season. The endurance gradually diminished as animals grew. In the hot season animals exhibited peak performance at age around 33 month and it remained for 1 month, while cool‐season kept boars could last for 48 months from 16 months old onward. The reproductive longevity should be 51 month in a subtropical environment and it may extend to 70 month if heat stress can be avoided. The estimated total sperm contribution of a Duroc boar would be 1.8 times more when kept below 22°C than in a natural subtropical environment. It is concluded that to maintain Duroc boars as semen donor to at least 4 years of age is feasible in a subtropical environment and boar longevity could reach 6 years old if well kept in a temperate region.     

笋用竹害虫天敌资源研究

本文报道了浙江省笋用竹害虫天敌资源调查的结果，共查明天敌资源44种，经鉴定属于螳螂目1科2种，半翅目1科2种，蛇蛉目1科1种，脉翅目1科2种，鞘翅目2科9种，双翅目2科2种，膜翅目9科22种；蛛形纲蜱螨目1科1种，蜘蛛目3科3种，指出了天敌的寄主和分布。     

The morphological characteristics of the antebrachiocarpal joint of the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

A morphological study of the structures of the antebrachiocarpal (AC) joint of the cheetah was carded out by dissection of eight forelimbs obtained from four adult cheetahs culled from the Kruger National Park, Republic of South Africa. The aim was to evaluate the deviations of this joint from the normal feline pattern and to consider their possible relationship to the cheetah's adaptation to speed. Although published data on the AC joint of the other felids show general resemblance to that of the cheetah, there are nevertheless slight, but significant variations and modifications which tend to suggest adaptation to speed. The shafts of the radius and ulna of the cheetah are relatively straight and slender, with poorly developed distal ends. The ulnar notch is reduced to a very shallow concavity while the corresponding ulnar facet is a barely noticeable convexity, separated from the distal ulnar articular facet by an ill-defined groove. The movement of the distal radio-ulnar joint is highly restricted by the presence of a fibro-cartilaginous structure and a strong interrosseous membrane, limiting pronation and supination normally achieved by the rotation of the radius around the ulna. The extensor grooves at the distal extremity of the radius are deep and narrow and are guarded by prominent ridges. A thick extensor retinaculum anchors the strong extensor tendons in these grooves. The distal articular surface of the radius is concave in all directions except at the point where it moves into its stylold process. At this point it is convex in the dorsopalmar direction, with a surface that is rather deep and narrow. The proximal row of carpal bones presents a strongly convex surface, which is more pronounced in the dorsopalmar direction with the greatest convexity on the lateral aspect. Medially, there is a ridge-like concavity across the base of the tubercle, which rocks on the flexor surface of the radius, limiting excessive flexion as well as restricting lateral deviation of the AC joint.     

Closure of the ductus arteriosus of indigenous South African goats at high altitude

The closure of the ductus arteriosus (DA) of 31 indigenous South African goats, whose ages ranged from 30 days prenatal to 60 days postnatal, were studied at an altitude of 1,514 m above sea level by vascular injection as well as histologically and ultrastructurally. The vascular injection results showed that functional occlusion started from the pulmonary end of the DA in kids 6 days old and progressed to the aortic end in kids 8 days old. Histologically, anatomical obliteration was observed in kids from 35 days of age. The functional closure was preceded by enlargement of the subendothelial region, progressive intimal thickening, presence of subendothelial vacuolization and endothelial detachment. There was radial orientation of the subintimal smooth muscle cells and subsequent migration towards the intima. The inner tunica media contained mast cells and areas of cytolysis. Following functional closure, the subendothelial region showed migrating subintimal smooth muscle cells with extensive cytoplasmic processes and, ultrastructurally a fragmented internal elastic lamina. In 15-day-old kids there were prominent, progressively enlarged cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and numerous free, dispersed ribosomes. In kids 19 and 25 days old, there was, additionally, rarefaction of the cell cytoplasm and appearance of intracellular myofibrils and extra cellular collagen in the surrounding amorphous matrix, which culminated in the complete anatomical closure of the DA in 35-day-old kids.