不同光照制度对绍兴鸭和高邮鸭生长与相关激素及其基因表达的影响

取33日龄高邮鸭和绍兴鸭公鸭各32只，每品种分为两组，分别给以20h和6h光照，试验期14d。试验前后称重。Nothern杂交法测定垂体GH mRNA和下丘脑SS mRNA表达水平，放免法测定血清中生长激素（GH）、胰岛素生长因子－1（IGF－1）、甲状腺激素（T3、T4）水平。结果表明：高邮鸭20h光照时增重、GH及T4水平显著低于6h光照（P＜0．01）；而绍兴鸭的增重变化则与高邮鸭相比（P＜0．01），血浆GH水平变化与高邮鸭相同，T4水平无显著变化。光照制度的改变未引起两品种鸭IGF－1、T3水平的显著变化。垂体GH mRNA表达水平的变化与增重变化相反。提示光照直接影响鸭生长轴基因的表达以及激素水平，从而显著影响生长速率，但这种影响在不同品种可有完全不同的表现。     

2-methyl-5,6-dihydro-4-H-pyran-3-carboxylic acid anilide: A new systemic fungicide against smut diseases

2-Methyl-5,6-dihydro-4-H-pyran-3-carboxylic acid anilide, a new systemic fungicide, proved to be highly effective against smut diseases of barley and oats (Ustilago nuda and U. avenae) in pot and field trials. The disease incidence could be prevented almost completely at rates of 50 g and 25 g respectively, of the active ingredient per 100 kg of seed.     

Vasotocin and reproductive functions of the domestic chicken

The neurohypophyseal hormone arginine vasotocin (AVT) combines both antidiuretic and reproductive activities. In the domestic chicken AVT produces assimetric effects on the reproductive functions of males and females. AVT synthesized in magnocellular diencephalic neurons is released into circulation in a highly coordinated manner contributing to the peripheral control of oviposition in hens. Conversely, parvocellular AVT cells located in the limbic system (bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BST)) are quite different in their properties and, possible, functions. In domestic chickens these cells express AVT in a sexually dimorphic manner and are found solely in males. This sexually dimorphic part of the AVT system is sensitive to gonadal steroids. Experimental data demonstrated that AVT modulates different aspects of reproductive behavior including courtship vocalization and copulation. Sexual differentiation of these limbic vasotocinergic cells show striking correlation with sexual differentiation of masculine behavior. Evidences coming from physiological, anatomical and ethological studies suggest strong implication of the vasotocinergic system in the control of reproductive functions.     

Effect of dietary daidzein on egg production, shell quality, and gene expression of ER-alpha, GH-R, and IGF-IR in shell glands of laying hens

Our previous studies demonstrated that dietary daidzein improves egg production in ducks during the late period of the laying cycle. The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of daidzein in laying hens, with more focus on eggshell quality. The expression of ER-alpha, GH-R, and IGF-IR mRNA in shell glands was determined to identify the target genes of daidzein action and to reveal the relationship between shell quality and profiles of gene expression in shell glands of laying hens. 1000 ISA hens, at 445 days of age, were allotted at random to two groups and given the basal diet with or without 10 mg of daidzein per kg diet for 9 weeks. Daidzein supplement significantly increased the egg laying rate and the feed conversion ratio. The eggshell thickness increased, while the percentage of cracked eggs decreased in daidzein-treated hens. Serum E2 and phosphate concentrations were not altered, but the level of serum Ca2+ and the tibia bone mineral density were significantly increased in the daidzein-treated group compared with their control counterparts. In parallel with the significant increase of oviduct weight, significant down-regulation of GH-R and IGF-IR mRNA and a trend of decrease in ERalpha mRNA expression in shell glands were observed in daidzein-treated hens. The results indicate that dietary daidzein improves egg laying performance and eggshell quality during the late (postpeak) laying stage of hens, which is associated with modulations in gene expression in the shell gland.     

Physiological and biochemical characterization of quinclorac resistance in a false cleavers (Galium spurium L.) biotype

The physiological and biochemical basis for quinclorac resistance in a false cleavers (Galium spurium L.) biotype was investigated. There was no difference between herbicide resistant (R) and susceptible (S) false cleavers biotypes in response to 2,4-D, clopyralid, glyphosate, glufosinate-ammonium, or bentazon. On the basis of GR(50) (growth reduction of 50%) or LD(50) (lethal dose to 50% of tested plants) values, the R biotype was highly resistant to the acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitor, thifensulfuron-methyl (GR(50) resistance ratio R/S = 57), and quinolinecarboxylic acids (quinclorac R/S = 46), resistant to MCPA (R/S = 12), and moderately resistant to the auxinic herbicides picloram (R/S = 3), dicamba (R/S = 3), fluroxypyr (R/S = 3), and triclopyr (R/S = 2). The mechanism of quinclorac resistance was not due to differences in [(14)C]quinclorac absorption, translocation, root exudation, or metabolism. Seventy-two hours after root application of quinclorac, ethylene increased ca. 3-fold in S but not R plants when compared to controls, while ABA increased ca. 14-fold in S as opposed to ca. 3-fold in R plants suggesting an alteration in the auxin signal transduction pathway, or altered target site causes resistance in false cleavers. The R false cleavers biotype may be an excellent model system to further examine the auxin signal transduction pathway and the mechanism of quinclorac and auxinic herbicide action.     

Interactions between artificial saliva and 20 aroma compounds in water and oil model systems

The interactions between saliva components and 20 aroma compounds in water and oil model systems were systematically evaluated as a function of saliva composition and saliva/model system ratio. Air/liquid partition coefficients of dimethyl sulfide, 1-propanol, diacetyl, 2-butanone, ethyl acetate, 1-butanol, 2-pentanol, propyl acetate, 3-methyl-1-butanol, ethyl butyrate, hexanal, butyl acetate, 1-hexanol, 2-heptanone, heptanal, alpha-pinene, 2-octanone, octanal, 2-nonanol, and 2-decanone were determined by static headspace gas chromatography. Chain length of compounds within the homologous series determined the extent of interactions with the model system or saliva. Salts in the artificial saliva hardly interacted with aroma compounds. On the other hand, saliva proteins lowered retention of highly volatile compounds and increased retention of less volatile, hydrophobic compounds. Significant differences in volatility of compounds when artificial saliva or water was added indicated that saliva could not be sufficiently replaced by water. The model system/saliva ratio influenced air/liquid partitioning of the aroma compounds significantly for both model systems. Although saliva composition affected volatility of the aroma compounds, the saliva/model system ratio was of much greater influence.     

禁食禁水对绍兴鸭生长相关激素及其基因表达的影响

 随机选取 33日龄雄性高邮鸭和绍兴鸭 ,禁食、禁水 2 4h和 4 8h后 ,采用放射免疫分析法测定血清生长激素 (GH)、胰岛素样生长因子 (IGF 1)及甲状腺素 (TH)的水平 ,用Northern杂交分析法检测垂体GH和下丘脑生长抑素 (SS)mRNA的含量。结果表明 ,禁食显著提高绍兴鸭和高邮鸭垂体GHmRNA含量与血清T4水平 ,显著降低血清T3 水平 ,而对血清GH和IGF 1水平的影响具有品种间差异。禁水对GH、IGF 1及TH的影响类似于禁食 ,但是 ,禁水对血清IGF 1和下丘脑SSmRNA没有显著影响。     

Effects of the aglycone of ascaulitoxin on amino acid metabolism in Lemna paucicostata

Ascaulitoxin and its aglycone (2,4,7-triamino-5-hydroxyoctanoic acid, CAS 212268-55-8) are potent phytotoxins produced by Ascochyta caulina, a plant pathogen being developed for biocontrol of weeds. The mode of action of this non-protein amino acid was studied on Lemna paucicostata. Ascaulitoxin is a potent growth inhibitor, with an I₅₀ for growth of less than 1 μM, almost completely inhibiting growth at about 3 μM. Its action is slow, starting with growth inhibition, followed by darker green fronds, and then chlorosis and death. Most amino acids, including non-toxic non-protein amino acids, reversed the effect of the toxin when supplemented in the same medium. Supplemental sucrose slightly increased the activity. d-Amino acids were equally good inhibitors of ascaulitoxin activity, indicating the amino acid effects may not be due to inhibition of amino acid synthesis. Oxaloacetate, the immediate precursor of aspartate, also reversed the activity. LC-MS did not detect interaction of the compound with lysine, an amino acid that strongly reversed the effect of the phytotoxin. Metabolite profiling revealed that the toxin caused distinct changes in amino acids. Reduction in alanine, paralleled by enhanced levels of the branched chain amino acids valine, leucine and isoleucine and nearly unchanged levels of pyruvate, might indicate that the conversion of pyruvate to alanine is affected by ascaulitoxin aglycone. In addition, reduced levels of glutamate/glutamine and aspartate/asparagine might suggest that synthesis and interconversion reactions of these amino group donors are affected. However, neither alanine aminotransferase nor alanine: glyoxylate aminotransferase were inhibited by the toxin in vitro. Our observations might be explained by three hypotheses: (1) the toxin inhibits one or more aminotransferases not examined, (2) ascaulitoxin aglycone affects amino acid transporters, (3) ascaulitoxin aglycone is a protoxin that is converted in vivo to an aminotransferase inhibitor.     

Probing mode of action in plant cell cycle by the herbicide endothall, a protein phosphatase inhibitor

The mode of action of endothall, an herbicide which was reported to inhibit plant protein phosphatases 1 (PP1) and 2A (PP2A), was investigated. For initial characterization, a series of bioassays was used for comprehensive physiological profiling of endothall effects which suggested a phytotoxic mode of action similar to mitotic disrupter herbicides. Unlike known microtubule disrupters, endothall did not inhibit soybean tubulin polymerization in vitro. As shown in meristematic corn root tips, endothall distorted the orientation of cell division plane and microtubule spindle structures which led to cell cycle arrest in prometaphase. In tobacco BY-2 cells, malformed spindles together with prometaphase arrest of nuclei and abnormal perinuclear microtubule patterns were detected as early as 4 h of endothall treatment. These effects were also observed after treatment with other protein phosphatase inhibitors, cantharidin and okadaic acid, which phenocopied the mitotic changes described in tonneau1 (ton1) and tonneau2 (ton2) Arabidopsis mutants. These mutants are defective in TONNEAU2 (TON2) protein, a regulatory subunit of PP2A, which governs cell division plane and microtubule orientation. Therefore, PP2A/TON2 phosphatase complex is suggested to be an in planta molecular target of endothall. However, in BY-2 cells, additional effects of endothall, including inhibition of S-phase initiation and DNA synthesis, detected by 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation, and condensed nuclei arrested in late mitosis were observed which were not reported in Arabidopsiston1 and ton2 mutants. This result indicates that two additional checkpoints in cell cycle were blocked by endothall which are probably not associated with TON2-pathway inhibition. Possibly, inhibition of PP1 and/or other PP2A protein phosphatases are involved in the regulation of these cell cycle phenomena.