Effect of micronized pea seeds (Pisum sativum L.) as a substitute of soybean meal on tissue fatty acid composition and quality of broiler chicken meat

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of micronized pea seeds introduced into feed mixes for broilers on the slaughter yield, blood lipid parameters, content of fatty acids in selected tissues, and meat quality. The studies involved 150 1‐day‐old Ross 308 chicks split into three groups (for 42 days). The feed rations differed in terms of the source of proteins: in the control group (C), it was post‐extraction soybean meal (SBM) 100%; in group I, SBM 50% and micronized peas 50%; and in group II, micronized peas only, 100%. Irradiated pea seeds added to the feed ration for chicks reduced the fattening grade of carcasses (P < 0.05). Additionally, significant improvement of blood lipid indices was recorded. The share of the irradiated pea seeds in feed mixes decreased the share of saturated fatty acids in the muscles and abdominal fat and had a positive effect on the n‐6/n‐3 ratio, hypocholesterolemic / hypercholesterolemic ratio, as well as the atherogenic and thrombogenic indices (P < 0.05).     

The application of tannic acid to the elimination of egg stickiness at varied moments of the egg swelling process in pikeperch,Sander lucioperca (L.)

The aim of this article was to analyse the process of pikeperch, Sander lucioperca, egg swelling and to apply tannic acid to eliminate egg stickiness at different moments of the swelling process on artificially obtained eggs. The first experiment involved observation of egg swelling process and the second determined the effect of temperature (12, 14 and 16°C) on the egg swelling rate. The third experiment involved elimination of egg stickiness in a tannin solution (0.75 g L^?1) where eggs were submerged in a solution for 0.5, 1, 2 and 5 min – 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 min following gamete activation. The results indicate that the pikeperch egg swelling process lasts 30 min. It was found that the temperature did not affect the process duration. The results of the third experiment showed that the effectiveness of tannic acid application in egg stickiness elimination increases with time. The best result was obtained in groups of eggs submerged for 1 and 2 min (86.5% and 80.5% of larvae were obtained respectively) 30 min following the gamete activation. The results presented in this study for the first time indicate the possibility of highly effective procedure of egg stickiness elimination with tannic acid in pikeperch aquaculture.     

Reproduction of chub, Leuciscus cephalus L., under controlled conditions

Research into artificial reproduction of chub was studied during three subsequent reproductive seasons. Chub reproduction was conducted in two different variations. In the first experiment different hormonal agents were given to fish, such as CPE, hCG, or an analogue of GnRH with dopamine antagonist (ovopel). In the second one, the optimum moment of applying of artificial reproduction was sought and the fish were only obtained an analogue of GnRH in different periods. The results obtained in two first seasons indicated that ovopel is the most effective agent for the artificial reproduction of chub. Consequently, it was decided that the fish would obtain only this agent in the final year of research. In last year (experiment II), chub spawners were taken to the hatchery under controlled conditions every few weeks from February to the beginning of June. Periodically, the maturity of oocytes was checked. As soon as the oocytes had achieved stage 2–3 of maturity, fish were obtained ovopel. It was noted that there was no problem with collecting semen. Obtaining oocytes was much more difficult. Most frequently, they were not obtained at all or obtained in very small amounts. It was also observed that the administration of hormones caused a very quick maturation of gonads and their over-maturation.     

Ertragsreaktionen von Zuckerrüben in den internationalen organischen Stickstoffdauerdün‐Gungsversuchen (IOSDV) Rauischholzhausen und Wrocław‐Swojec

Gegenstand der Untersuchungen sind zwei Dauerfeldversuche, die im Jahr 1984 in Rauischholzhausen (Deutschland) und im Jahr 1996 in Wroc?aw‐Swqjec (Polen) mit vergleichbarer Methode und Zielstellung angelegt wurden. Ausgewertet wurden hier die Zuckerrübenerträge im Mittel der dreijährigen Rotation der Jahre 1997–1999 in Abhängigkeit von organischen und mineralischen Düngungsmaßnahmen. Die erzielten Ergebnisse unterstreichen die Bedeutung der organischen Düngung für die Ertragssicherung im Zuckerrübenanbau. Die untersuchten organischen Dünger Stalldung, Stroh und Biokompost verbesserten die Ertragswirksamkeit mineralischer N‐Gaben.

Die ertragssteigernde Wirkung organischer Dünger war bei fehlender oder niedriger mineralischer N‐Düngung größer als bei hohen N‐Gaben. Auf stark lehmigem Sandboden (Wrozlaw) wurden höhere Ertragseffekte erzielt als auf schwerem Lehmboden (Rauischholzhausen). Die Blatterträge wurden durch die angewendeten Düngungsmaßnahmen stärker beeinflußt als die Rübenerträge. Stroh und Biokompost zeigten die gleichen Ertragseffekte wie Stalldung.     

Human-specific gain of function in a developmental enhancer

Changes in gene regulation are thought to have contributed to the evolution of human development. However, in vivo evidence for uniquely human developmental regulatory function has remained elusive. In transgenic mice, a conserved noncoding sequence (HACNS1) that evolved extremely rapidly in humans acted as an enhancer of gene expression that has gained a strong limb expression domain relative to the orthologous elements from chimpanzee and rhesus macaque. This gain of function was consistent across two developmental stages in the mouse and included the presumptive anterior wrist and proximal thumb. In vivo analyses with synthetic enhancers, in which human-specific substitutions were introduced into the chimpanzee enhancer sequence or reverted in the human enhancer to the ancestral state, indicated that 13 substitutions clustered in an 81-base pair module otherwise highly constrained among terrestrial vertebrates were sufficient to confer the human-specific limb expression domain.     

Role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and nitric oxide in luteolysis in cattle

Although prostaglandin (PG) F2alpha is known to be a principal luteolytic factor, its action on the bovine corpus luteum (CL) is mediated by other intra-ovarian factors. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) and its specific receptors are present in the bovine CL with the highest expressions at luteolysis. TNFalpha in combination with interferon-gamma reduced progesterone (P4) secretion, increased PGF2alpha and leukotriene C4 (LTC4) production, and induced apoptosis of the luteal cells in vitro. Low concentrations of TNFalpha caused luteolysis, which resulted in a decreased level of P4, and increased levels of PGF2alpha, LTC4 and nitrite/nitrate (stable metabolites of nitric oxide-NO) in the blood. Inhibition of local NO production counteracts spontaneous and PGF2alpha-induced luteolysis. Therefore, NO is a likely candidate for the molecule that mediates PGF2alpha and TNFalpha actions during luteolysis. Both PGF2alpha and TNFalpha increase NO concentrations in blood, and stimulate NO synthase expression on protein level in the bovine CL cells. NO stimulates PGF2alpha and LTC4 secretion, inhibits P4 production and reduces the number of viable luteal cells. TNFalpha and NO induce apoptotic death of the CL by modulating expression of bcl-2 family genes and by stimulating expression and activity of caspase-3. The above findings indicate that TNFalpha and NO play crucial roles in functional and structural luteolysis in cattle.     

A plant based sensing method for nutrition stress monitoring

Due to economical and ecological reasons it is important to provide the necessary flexibility in fertilizer management to respond to differences in plant nutrients requirements. Plant-based sensors have potential to provide more accurate and on-line information regarding crop bio-responses to environmental stress and could overcome limitations of traditional methods which focus only on monitoring parameters of soil. Current research regarding on-line plant stress sensing techniques concentrates on spectroscopic and image processing methods. These techniques have many limitations connected with their sensitivity to environmental interferences. In recent years, impedance spectroscopy has become a well-known non-invasive tool for describing the electrical properties of many systems. The research hypothesis tested was that information provided by Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy is correlated with tomato plant stress caused by lack of mineral nutrients in the growth medium. The experiment was conducted with two sets of hydroponically-grown tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., cv. ‘Maliniak’). During the experiment the tomato plants were fed alternately with flow of necessary nutrients and with distilled water. The impedance spectra were measured by scanning frequencies from 100 Hz to 50 kHz to determine the most sensitive frequency. A Nutrition Index was proposed for indicating variability of mineral nutrition within plants, and its correlation with experimental plant data was tested. Data showed that the relation between the Nutrition Index and the stress caused by lack of mineral nutrients in the growing medium was a monotonic function in the case of study. The results presented in the paper support the concept that the electrical impedance spectroscopy is a non-destructive, economical and reliable measurement method, which can be utilised for plant nutrition stress monitoring.