Regulatory role of l-proline in fetal pig growth and intestinal epithelial cell proliferation

l-proline (Pro) is a precursor of ornithine, which is converted into polyamines via ornithine decarboxylase (ODC). Polyamines plays a key role in the proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells. The study investigated the effect of Pro on polyamine metabolism and cell proliferation on porcine enterocytes in vivo and in vitro. Twenty-four Huanjiang mini-pigs were randomly assigned into 1 of 3 groups and fed a basal diet that contained 0.77% alanine (Ala, iso-nitrogenous control), 1% Pro or 1% Pro + 0.0167% α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) from d 15 to 70 of gestation. The fetal body weight and number of fetuses per litter were determined, and the small and large intestines were obtained on d 70 ± 1.78 of gestation. The in vitro study was performed in intestinal porcine epithelial (IPEC-J2) cells cultured in Dulbecco''s modified Eagle medium-high glucose (DMEM-H) containing 0 μmol/L Pro, 400 μmol/L Pro, or 400 μmol/L Pro + 10 mmol/L DFMO for 4 d. The results showed that maternal dietary supplementation with 1% Pro increased fetal weight; the protein and DNA concentrations of the fetal small intestine; and mRNA levels for potassium voltage-gated channel, shaker-related subfamily, member 1 (Kv1.1) in the fetal small and large intestines (P < 0.05). Supplementing Pro to either gilts or IPEC-J2 cells increased ODC protein abundances and polyamine concentrations in the fetal intestines and IPEC-J2 cells (P < 0.05). In comparison with the Pro group, the combined administration of Pro and DFMO reduced the expression of ODC protein and spermine concentration in the fetal intestine, as well as the concentrations of putrescine, spermidine and spermine in IPEC-J2 cells (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the percentage of cells in the S-phase and the mRNA levels of proto-oncogenes c-fos and c-myc were increased in response to Pro supplementation, whereas depletion of cellular polyamines with DFMO increased tumor protein p53 (p53) mRNA levels (P < 0.05). Taken together, dietary supplementation with Pro improved fetal pig growth and intestinal epithelial cell proliferation via enhancing polyamine synthesis.     

Metabolic response of horses to a high soluble carbohydrate diet: effects of low-intensity submaximal exercise and sodium bicarbonate supplementation.

Four mares fed a low fiber, high soluble carbohydrate diet were used in a crossover design to evaluate the effects of dietary sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) supplementation during daily low-intensity submaximal working conditions. Mares were fed the diet at 1.7 times the maintenance energy requirement for mature horses at work. The horses tolerated the diet well and had no clinical abnormalities. Resting venous blood bicarbonate (HCO3), standard HCO3, and base excess (BE) concentrations significantly (P less than 0.05) increased with NaHCO3 supplementation, but no significant changes in resting venous blood pH or carbon dioxide tension (PCO2) were recorded. Venous blood HCO3, standard HCO3, BE, hemoglobin, and heart rate were significantly (P less than 0.05) increased and plasma lactate concentration was significantly (P less than 0.05) decreased in the control horses and in the horses given the NaHCO3 supplement during low-intensity submaximal exercise. There were no significant changes in venous blood pH, PCO2, or plasma protein concentration with exercise. Venous blood HCO3, standard HCO3, and BE concentrations were significantly (P less than 0.05) greater during submaximal exercise in horses given the NaHCO3 supplement. There were no significant differences in plasma lactate or total protein concentrations, blood pH, PCO2, or hemoglobin concentration between the 2 groups during exercise.     

Immunization against cholecystokinin decreases appetite in lambs.

The effects of immunization against cholecystokinin (CCK) on feed intake, weight gain, and carcass characteristics were studied in sheep. Nine wether lambs at 10 wk of age were immunized with a conjugate of sulphated CCK octapeptide and human serum globulin or against human globulin alone. All CCK-immunized lambs produced antibodies, and the average titer 5 wk after the primary immunization was calculated to be sufficient to bind normal circulating levels of CCK. Mean daily feed intakes and BW were similar in the CCK-immunized and the control-immunized groups at the start of treatment, but after immunization, feed intake, appetite, and BW gain were decreased in the CCK-immunized animals. There was no effect on carcass composition or organ growth relative to body growth. It is concluded that the immunization procedure used in this study may have potentiated the actions of CCK rather than neutralizing its action as an appetite regulator.     

Resistance to gentamicin and amikacin of gram-negative organisms isolated from horses

Resistance of gram-negative bacteria to gentamicin has become an increasingly common problem among clinical isolates from human beings. Susceptibility of isolates from horses to gentamicin and amikacin was evaluated for the period from July, 1983 to June, 1985. All isolates of Escherichia coli, and species of Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Proteus, and Pseudomonas examined were susceptible to amikacin, except 2 of the 46 Pseudomonas isolates. In contrast, 13 to 50% of isolates were resistant to gentamicin. Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella, Proteus, and Enterobacter species isolates were highly significantly more susceptible to amikacin (P less than 0.01) than to gentamicin. Pseudomonas spp (P = 0.13) were not significantly different in susceptibility to the 2 drugs. There was significant variation among genera in their susceptibility to gentamicin (P = 0.002), primarily because of the frequency of resistance in isolates of Klebsiella spp and Proteus spp, compared with the other 3 organisms (E coli, Enterobacter spp, and Pseudomonas spp). There was no significant difference of susceptibility to amikacin among the genera studied (P = 0.06).     

New techniques for the assessment and optimal management of growth and standing crop variation in the cultured freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii

The current ‘traditional’ prawn pond management system really does not ‘manage’, but rather accommodates prawn production characteristics and was instituted with a minimum knowledge of prawn biology and husbandry. As such, the traditional system is not optimal because it does not rely on a strong empirical knowledge base. Prawn culture has succeeded up until now because Macrobrachium rosenbergii is easily cultured and will give 500–1000 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ without much effort. This is sufficient in many areas of the world but not in others where economic conditions have break-even production requirements of nearly 1 tonne greater than this. The traditional system relying on selective harvesting with large seine nets is seriously inefficient which not only leads to lost revenue but under-manages pond growth since unculled large animals suppress the growth of unculled smaller ones. The degree to which this occurs was not known to the designers of the traditional system who had no way of knowing (as we do now from our research results) the extremely large compensatory growth capability of small prawns in the absence of large ones. The traditional system also does not manage sexual dimorphic growth because no technology exists which can be used to create monosex broods or manipulate the sex ratio in ponds. Accurate production models are not available because traditional ponds are rarely sampled and/or rarely drained. This, along with inefficient harvests, results in a co-mingling of cohort stocking classes. It is impossible to get accurate survival and growth data because of this and because it is so time consuming to sample commercial ponds and process the data on a regular basis. This paper describes four new engineering and ‘bioengineering’ techniques which are under development and can overcome all the drawbacks of the traditional system: (1) surgical sex reversal to create monosex broods; (2) genetic tagging of stocking and resident cohorts to assess survival and growth; (3) size grading and 100% efficient harvesting using pond draining and a machine grader-harvester; and (4) a semi-automated computer assisted prawn sample data management system which uses sonic digitization of prawn sample data.     

The development ofRhizoctonia solani Kühn on the underground parts of the potato plant

Summary The development of the sclerotia (black scurf) ofRhizoctonia solani Kühn, on potato tubers is related to tuber maturity and the health of the root and stolon systems. Few sclerotia formed on tubers from untreated plants until the onset of plant senescence when, as the tubers matured and roots and stolons decayed, sclerotia developed both rapidly and extensively. Application of acid to haulms in early August led to an increase in black scurf on tubers, initially related to the increase in root and stolon infection, but especially after later harvests, to the degree of tuber maturity. Later in August, scurf increases were paralleled both by tuber changes and root and stolon infection. My mid-September, when acid application was to plants becoming senescent, there was little difference between patterns of infection found on treated and check plants.

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Zusammenfassung In diesem Artikel wird der Fortlauf der Infektion durchRhizoctonia solani Kühn an Wurzeln. Stolonen und Knollen beschrieben. Ferner wird der Einfluss der Krautvernichtung und des zeitlichen Abstandes zwischen ihr und der Ernte auf diese Infektion untersucht. Pflanzknollen der Sorte Majestic wurden am Kronenende direkt vor dem Auspflanzen mit vier Isolaten vonR. solani (aus Sklerotien von Kartoffelknollen) inokuliert. An den ausgelesenen Knollen war keine Pockenkrankheit sichtbar. Das Kraut wurde an einem von fünf Daten gespritzt resp, nicht gespritzt und die Pflanzen nachher in Intervallen geerntet (Tabelle 1). Wurzel- und Stolonenteile wurden gewaschen, dann auf Leitungswasseragar, das 50 mg Neomycin und Chloramphenicol proliter enthielt, gebracht und vor der Beurteilung auf Rhizoctoniabefall w?hrend 48 Stunden bei Zimmertemperatur bebrütet. Die Pflanzknollen wurden gem?ss Tabelle 2 auf Sklerotienbefall beurteilt. Zur Reifesch?tzung wurde jede Knolle der L?nge nach geschnitten und der Prozentsatz des Periderms notiert, das mit einer Pinzette entfernt werden konnte, wenn man am Kronenende begann. Die Kontrollpflanzen hatten bis Mitte September bei nur beschr?nkter lokaler Infektion durchR. solani (Abb. 1 und 2) relativ gesunde Untergrundsysteme. In den folgenden drei Wochen reiften die Knollenperiderme. Wurzeln und Stolonen wurden weitgehend vom Pilz besiedelt. Folglich ?nderte sich die N?hrstoffversorgung des Pilzes, eine Situation, von der man weiss, dass sie die Entwicklung zur Sklerotienbildung f?rdert. Mitte September widerspiegelt sich die ?nderung in der Ern?hrung in einem Ansteigen der Anzahl von Knollen mit Pocken und in deren Ausdehnung auf den Knollen (Abb. 3 und 4). Krautvernichtung mit S?ure Anfang August führte zu einer Zunahme der Pockenkrankheit, was anf?nglich auf eine Zunahme der Wurzel- und Stoloneninfektion, sp?ter aber auf den Grad der Knollenreife (Abb. 5) in Beziehung stand.: Sp?ter, im August, wurden die Krankheitszunahmen mit Knollen?nderungen wie mit Wurzel- und Stoloneninfektion gleichlaufend. Die S?ureanwendung Mitte September geschah an alternden Pflanzen und ?nderte das an Kontrollpflanzen beobachtete Infektionsbild wenig.

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Résumé Cet article décrit l'évolution de la contamination, parRhizoctonia solani Kühn, des racines, stolons et tubercules de pommes de terre, et examine l'influence du défanage et de l'intervalle défanagerécolté sur une telle contamination. Des tubercules de la variété Majestic n'étant pas visuellement porteurs de sclérotes ont été inoculés à la couronne, juste avant la plantation, avec 4 souches deR. solani provenant de sclérotes sur tubercules de pommes de terre. Les tiges ont été ou n'ont pas été défanées à 5 dates différentes et on a récolté ensuite les tubercules à intervalles réguliers (tableau 1). Les fragments de racines et de stolons ont été lavés, placés sur une gelose à l'eau du robinet, contenant 50 mg de néomycin et de chloramphénicol par litre, et mis à incuber 48 heures à température ambiante avant notation de l'infection parR. solani. La notation des sclérotes sur tuberculesfils a été effectuée comme cela est indiqué dans le tableau 2. Comme estimation de la ‘maturité’ chaque tubercule a été coupé selon l'axe longitudinal et on a noté le pourcentage de périderme, en partant de la couronne qui a pu être enlevé avec des pinces. Les plantes témoins ont eu leurs systémes souterrains relativement sains jusqu'à la mi-septembre avec des contaminations locales parR. solani, limitées (figures 1 & 2). Les trois semaines suivantes, la maturité des tubercules a augmenté et les racines et stolons ont été fortement contaminés par le champignon. Le support nutritionnel du champignon a donc été altéré, cet élément connu permet de stimuler la maturité des sclérotes en cours de formation. Vers la mi-septembre, des changements nutritionnels se sont soldés par une augmentation du nombre de tubercules porteurs de sclérotes et par l'extension de ces derniers (figures 3 & 4). Le défanage aux colorants nitrés début ao?t a entrainé une augmentation des sclérotes, qui s'était manifestée initialement par une augmentation de la contamination des racines et stolons, et plus tard au niveau du degré de maturité du tubercule (figure 5). Plus tardivement en ao?t, l'augmentation des sclérotes allait de paire avec le changement de tubercule et avec la contamination des racines et stolons. Vers la mi-septembre, le défanage sur des plantes proches de la senescence a eu un léger effet sur la contamination des plantes témoins.

     

The role of flatfishes in the organization and structure of the eastern Bering Sea ecosystem

We evaluated the role of flatfishes in the organization and structure of the eastern Bering Sea ecosystem using the Ecopath/Ecosim approach. As basic input data for the Ecopath/Ecosim model, we used estimates of biomass from bottom trawl surveys and age-structured population models, production/biomass (P/B) ratio, consumption/biomass (Q/B) ratio, diet composition (DC), and fisheries harvests for each component of species or species groups. We estimated the trophic level of each component, niche overlaps among flatfishes, and the impacts of competition and predation on flatfish species in the eastern Bering Sea ecosystem. Based on those estimates, we developed the tropho-dynamic structure of the ecosystem, and the model was used to simulate ecological effects of fishery exploitation patterns. No single flatfish species appeared to have a profound and uniquely important role in the organization and structure of the ecosystem. Instead, the most important component among the guild of flatfish species appeared to be yellowfin sole Pleuronectes asper, which had greater biomass than other flatfish and a relatively diverse diet among the small flatfish species. Pacific halibut Hippoglossus stenolepis, Greenland turbot Reinhardtius hippoglossoides, and arrowtooth flounder Atheresthes stomias were important keystone predators in the eastern Bering Sea ecosystem together with some groups of marine mammals and sea birds. Intra flatfish complex cannibalism was not observed, however, substantial diet overlaps were common in the flatfish guild system.     

黔苦2号苦荞新品种春播高产综合农艺措施研究

运用二次回归正交旋转组合设计,在春播条件下研究黔苦2号苦荞籽粒产量与其播种量及N、P、K肥施用量间的关系。通过试验,建立了黔苦2号籽粒产量与主要农艺措施的数学模型,通过对模型的解析和模拟寻优分析。结果表明：黔苦2号籽粒产量高于2800kg/hm2的优化栽培技术方案：播种量67.14~74.93 kg/hm2,施N量28.88~40.12 kg/hm²,施P₂O₅量179.11~210.89 kg/hm²,施K₂O量43.94~61.06 kg/hm²;试验4因子对籽粒产量影响的程度大小为播种量>施K2O量>施P₂O₅量>施N量。     

Immunohistochemical detection of PrP in the medulla oblongata of sheep: the spectrum of staining in normal and scrapie-affected sheep

Sections of the medulla oblongata from the brains of sheep were examined for prion protein (PrP) by immunohistochemistry. On the basis of the morphology and neuroanatomical distribution of the deposits, distinct disease-associated patterns of PrP deposition were identified in scrapie-affected sheep, suggesting at least four distinct phenotypes of scrapie. In addition, clearly defined patterns of PrP deposition, readily distinguished from the disease-associated PrP deposits, were identified in some normal sheep from scrapie-free flocks. In five sheep, believed to be preclinically affected by scrapie, PrP deposition of a disease-specific type but of restricted distribution was identified, demonstrating the sensitivity of the technique for the diagnosis of scrapie. The neuroanatomical distribution of these early PrP deposits suggest that the route of entry of the scrapie agent into the brain is via parasympathetic motor neurons in the vagus nerve which innervate the gastrointestinal tract.