Effects of Confluent, Roscovitine Treatment and Serum Starvation on the Cell-cycle Synchronization of Bovine Foetal Fibroblasts

The present study was designed to examine the effects of cell-cycle synchronization protocols, such as confluent, roscovitine treatment and serum starvation, in bovine foetal fibroblasts on synchronization accuracy at G0/G1, viability, apoptosis, necrosis and ploidy for use as a nuclei donor. The cells in 5-10 passages were randomly allocated into three treated groups. Cells were cultured either in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) + 10% foetal bovine serum (FBS) until 90% confluent (group 1, confluent), in DMEM + 10% FBS + 30 microM roscovitine for 12 h (group 2, roscovitine), or in DMEM + 0.5% FBS for 5 days (group 3, serum starvation). Most of the cells (>80%) in all groups were arrested at the G0/G1 stage. Although the rates did not differ, cells in group 1 showed an increased cell population arrested at the G0/G1 phase. Significantly (p < 0.05) higher rates of apoptosis occurred in group 3 than in group 1 and 2 (10% vs 6% and 6%, respectively). No differences in chromosomal abnormality were observed among groups. However, by increasing the number of cell culture passages up to 15, significantly (p < 0.05) higher chromosomal abnormality was observed than in 5 and 10 passages (39% vs 28% and 23%, respectively) in group 1. The results clearly indicated that bovine foetal fibroblasts could be effectively synchronized at G0/G1 stages by all the three different treatments, confluent, roscovitine and serum starvation. However, cells in confluent showed reduced apoptosis and necrosis when they underwent 5-10 passages, exhibiting increased percentage of cells with stable chromosome diversity. Hence, cells in confluent merit further studies before they could be used as nuclear donors.     

羊免疫布鲁菌病疫苗(S2株)免疫抗体长期监测结果的试验

为探究羊经布鲁菌病疫苗(S2株)免疫后的血清抗体长期动态消长规律,本试验于2012年9月-2015年9月选取阿拉善盟阿拉善左旗96只山羊、100只绵羊作为试验动物,经布鲁菌疫苗(S2株)100亿CFU、200亿CFU不同免疫剂量灌服,分别于免疫前和免疫后不同时间段采血分离血清,应用虎红平板凝集试验和试管凝集试验进行抗体监测。结果表明,绵羊组在一免后20d时,血清抗体阳性率达到最高峰,之后呈下降趋势,150d抗体阳性率降至0%,免疫后180d^360d,绵羊组抗体阳性率一直处于较低水平(0%~4%),二免和三免后不同时间段免疫抗体消长规律与首次免疫基本一致;山羊组抗体阳性率在免疫后20 d时,血清抗体阳性率达到最高峰,之后呈下降趋势,免疫后90 d^360 d,免疫抗体时高时低,起伏较大,无明显规律,二免和三免后不同时间段免疫抗体消长规律与首次免疫基本一致,结果同时表明,100亿CFU和200亿CFU两个免疫剂量组的抗体阳性率无明显差异。     

“珍珠”的工艺配方研究

通过正交试验,对"珍珠"的工艺配方进行了研究,结果表明,胶液最佳配方为海藻酸钠∶明胶∶琼脂为3∶1∶2,奶油含量5%,蔗糖含量10%。氯化钙浓度3.0%,固化时间10min。得到的"珍珠"颗粒形状圆润,口感滑嫩,3个月内不发生溶解。     

Short-wave solar radiation level willingly tolerated by lactating Holstein cows in an equatorial semi-arid environment

The amount of short-wave solar radiation willingly tolerated by lactating Holstein cows on pasture was determined in an equatorial semi-arid environment. The study was carried out on a dairy farm located in Limoeiro do Norte, CE, northeastern Brazil. The observed behaviours were as follows: grazing, under the sun, under the shade, standing, lying, ruminating, idling and wallowing in the water. The behaviours were recorded using instantaneous scan sampling at regular intervals of 15 min from 0600 to 1800 hours over 5 days. On all sampling days, the meteorological variables, including local short-wave solar radiation (R _S-W, W m^?2), were recorded. The R _S-W data were divided into five levels. The sun exposure was more frequent under low (100 %) and moderately low (97 %) levels, when R _S-W remained below 500 W m^?2. The grazing was more intense under low (100 %) and moderately low (93 %) levels. Above 500 W m^?2, the grazing time significantly decreased (11 %). The cows avoided grazing under high (0 %) and very high (0 %) levels, when R _S-W exceeded 700 W m^?2. The ruminating behaviour was more frequent under high (33 %) and very high (37 %) levels, in which the highest averages of R _S-W were recorded (815 and 958 W m^?2, respectively). The standing posture was more frequent under low (100 %) and moderately low (97 %) levels. Therefore, the critical R _S-W level that motivates cows to stop grazing and seek shade was in the interval between 500 and 700 W m^?2.     

大针茅对放牧生态系统植物群落地上生物量的调控作用

通过放牧梯度试验,研究放牧对内蒙古典型草原5种优势植物在个体、种群和群落水平上的影响,探讨大针茅(Stip grandis)对放牧生态系统植物群落地上生物量的调控作用。结果表明:个体水平,中轻度放牧对以大针茅和糙隐子草(Cleistogenes squarrosa)为代表的丛生禾草株高影响较小,对以羊草(Leymus chinensis)、黄囊苔草(Carex korshinskyi)和米氏冰草(Agropyron michnoi)为代表的根茎型禾草株高影响较大,植物株高的降低与个体地上生物量减少呈显著正相关。种群水平,大针茅种群生物量对放牧的响应迟缓,羊草、米氏冰草、糙隐子草和黄囊苔草种群生物量的减少与多度减少呈显著正相关。群落水平,大针茅的耐牧性使其成为资源重配的获益者,轻中度放牧干扰下,其地上生物量的补偿生长缓冲了放牧对群落的影响,对维持群落生产力与功能稳定性起重要的调控作用。     

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.     

Disseminated pythiosis in three horses

Three cases of equine subcutaneous pythiosis with dissemination to the internal organs were investigated. The subcutaneous lesions were observed on the mammary gland, nostrils and limbs of the infected horses. Histopathological analysis of the infected tissues revealed a strong eosinophilic reaction, with macrophages, mast cells and giant cells. Sparsely septated hyphal filaments of 4-6 microm diameter were identified in the center of the eosinophilic areas. Specific fluorescent antibody against Pythium insidiosum confirmed the hyphae in the infected tissues in three examined horses. In one of the three cases, the DNA sequences amplified from the infected subcutaneous tissues and internal organs, revealed that P. insidiosum's 18S SSU rDNA amplicons shared 100% identity with those sequences deposit in GenBank. This is the first report confirming by immunochemical and genetic techniques that P. insidiosum can disseminated from superficial to deep structures.     

Re: Advances in animal welfare in New Zealand

Extract

The review article which appeared in the Jubilee Issue of the New Zealand Veterinary Journal (Stafford et al 2002) provided a good summary of recent research into the animal suffering associated with normal farming practices and pest control. In many cases, such research has been helpful in making improvements to animal welfare regulations, and the knowledge gained may prove even more useful in making further beneficial changes during the current submission round on codes of ethical conduct.     

中国苜蓿审定登记品种叶形态特征及变异分析

利用CI-202型叶面积仪研究29个我国审定登记苜蓿品种(Medicago sativa L.)的叶长、叶宽、叶面积、叶周长、叶长/叶宽和叶形指数。结果表明:地方苜蓿品种和育成品种在叶形态方面存在着较大的差异,前者的叶片较后者小;二者叶片形状相似;在6个指标中,叶长宽比变异最大,叶周长变异最小;地方品种的叶面积、叶长、叶周长和叶长宽比的变异系数均高于育成品种,其他2项指标则低于后者;在育成品种中,中兰1号的变异最大,甘农3号苜蓿最小;在地方品种中,蔚县苜蓿的变异最大,河西苜蓿最小;该结果将为今后培育苜蓿新品种提供理论基础。     

Spatiotemporal variation in snow cover and its effects on grassland phenology on the Mongolian Plateau

Snow cover is an important water source for vegetation growth in arid and semi-arid areas,and grassland phenology provides valuable information on the response of terrestrial ecosystems to climate change.The Mongolian Plateau features both abundant snow cover resources and typical grassland ecosystems.In recent years,with the intensification of global climate change,the snow cover on the Mongolian Plateau has changed correspondingly,with resulting effects on vegetation growth.In this study,using MOD10A1 snow cover data and MOD13A1 Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI)data combined with remote sensing(RS)and geographic information system(GIS)techniques,we analyzed the spatiotemporal changes in snow cover and grassland phenology on the Mongolian Plateau from 2001 to 2018.The correlation analysis and grey relation analysis were used to determine the influence of snow cover parameters(snow cover fraction(SCF),snow cover duration(SCD),snow cover onset date(SCOD),and snow cover end date(SCED))on different types of grassland vegetation.The results showed wide snow cover areas,an early start time,a late end time,and a long duration of snow cover over the northern Mongolian Plateau.Additionally,a late start,an early end,and a short duration were observed for grassland phenology,but the southern area showed the opposite trend.The SCF decreased at an annual rate of 0.33%.The SCD was shortened at an annual rate of 0.57 d.The SCOD and SCED in more than half of the study area advanced at annual rates of 5.33 and 5.74 DOY(day of year),respectively.For grassland phenology,the start of the growing season(SOS)advanced at an annual rate of 0.03 DOY,the end of the growing season(EOS)was delayed at an annual rate of 0.14 DOY,and the length of the growing season(LOS)was prolonged at an annual rate of 0.17 d.The SCF,SCD,and SCED in the snow season were significantly positively correlated with the SOS and negatively correlated with the EOS and LOS.The SCOD was significantly negatively correlated with the SOS and positively correlated with the EOS and LOS.The SCD and SCF can directly affect the SOS of grassland vegetation,while the EOS and LOS were obviously influenced by the SCOD and SCED.This study provides a scientific basis for exploring the response trends of alpine vegetation to global climate change.