Long-term intake of egg white hydrolysate attenuates the development of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats

This paper evaluates the effect of the long-term intake of a hydrolysate of egg white with pepsin (HEW), with a potent angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory activity, on the development of hypertension of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). After being weaned, male 3-week-old SHR were randomly divided into five groups that were given until the 20th week of life the following drinking fluids: (1) tap water, (2) non-treated egg white 1 g/kg/day, (3) captopril 100 mg/kg/day, (4) HEW 0.5 g/kg/day, and (5) HEW 1 g/kg/day. From the 20th to 25th week of life, animals from all groups were given tap water. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured weekly in the rats, from the 6th to 25th week of life, by the tail cuff method. Development of hypertension was attenuated in the groups treated with captopril and HEW (P<0.001 vs. the group that drunk tap water). At the 20th week of life, the arterial blood pressure values of the different groups of rats were: tap water (SBP = 219.5 +/- 5.7, DBP = 167 +/- 3.7), non-treated egg white (SBP = 206.4 +/- 1.43, DBP = 166.4 +/- 4.9), captopril (SBP = 131.7 +/- 2.74, DBP = 91.5 +/- 1.62), HEW 0.5 g/kg/day (SBP = 182.9 +/- 4.64, DBP = 127.5 +/- 2.1) and HEW 1 g/kg/day (SBP = 177.7 +/- 4.72, DBP = 120.1 +/- 2.4). SBP and DBP increased in the treated SHR when the corresponding antihypertensive treatment was removed. In spite of this, SBP remained lower in the SHR that had received captopril and HEW than in the SHR of the control groups (P<0.05). The present results suggest that HEW could be used as a functional food with antihypertensive activity.     

Egg yolk plasma can replace egg yolk in stallion freezing extenders

Hen egg yolk is normally used as a cryoprotective agent in semen freezing extenders, but its use has sanitary and practical disadvantages. Moreover the protection afforded by egg yolk has not yet been completely elucidated. The objective of this study was to compare the egg yolk plasma fraction to whole egg yolk in stallion freezing extender. Plasma contains mainly Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL), which are widely presumed to be the cryoprotective agent in egg yolk. Plasma can be produced on an industrial scale, sterilised by gamma-irradiation and incorporated in a ready-to-use extender (our ultimate objective). Plasma samples were subjected to different doses of gamma-irradiation (3, 5, 10 kGy) without dramatic chemical changes that may affect their cryoprotective properties. Stallion semen was frozen with whole egg yolk as a control and with sterilised egg yolk plasma. A fertility trial was conducted on a total of 70 mares' cycles. Fertility per cycle was 60% after insemination of semen frozen in our control extender containing egg yolk (EY), compared to 69% for the extender containing sterilised egg yolk plasma (EYP) (P > 0.05). Post-thaw motility and membrane integrity of spermatozoa were also analysed. Motility parameters were not significantly different between extenders except for the variable VAP (for EY versus EYP, VAP: 63 μm.s⁻¹ versus 59 μm.s⁻¹, a, b: P < 0.001; PROG: 41% versus 39%, RAP30: 56% versus 54%; RAP40: 51% versus 48%, P > 0.05). Membrane integrity was better preserved in EY than in EYP but the difference between extenders was small (P < 0.05). Our results demonstrated that sterilised egg yolk plasma has the potential to replace egg yolk in stallion freezing extender. This experiment led to the development of a ready-to-use extender called INRA-Freeze^® (IMV-Technologies, France).     

横纹金蛛多次产卵生物量分配初步研究

卵袋是雌蛛产卵、若蛛孵化等繁育后代的保护性场所.常见农林蜘蛛横纹金蛛(Argiopebruennichi)一般一生产卵3～6次,织制卵袋3～6个.本文对横纹金蛛的体重、卵袋生物量、卵粒数与卵粒重进行了测试研究.结果表明,随着产卵次数增加,产卵间隔时间更长,但雌蛛产卵后至下一次产卵前生物量的增量在减少,而对卵袋生物量的投...     

Embryonic expression of juvenile hormone binding protein and its relationship to the toxic effects of juvenile hormone in Manduca sexta

The juvenile hormones (JHs) regulate a diverse array of insect developmental and reproductive processes. One molecular target of JH action is its transporter, hemolymph JH binding protein (hJHBP); in the larva of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, low doses of JH can immediately increase hJHBP gene expression. Less explored are the effects of JH on embryological development, where early hormonal treatment has been shown to affect embryonic development and pupation. This study examines the egg form of JHBP and its gene expression during embryogenesis of M. sexta, as well as the phenotypic effect JH treatment has on embryos and on JHBP gene expression. We here demonstrate that the preponderance of JHBP found in the egg is maternally derived and that the embryonic gene and protein appear identical to those found in the larva. Expression of the JHBP gene begins in both the embryo itself and extra-embryonic tissues 15 h after fertilization, long before emergence of a functional fat body and circulatory system. Topical application of low JH doses to early embryos resulted in larval abnormalities while high doses of the hormone induced embryonic mortality. These effects are not mediated through regulation of the JHBP gene, since embryonic expression appears invariant in response to JH challenge. The toxicity of JH is tightly correlated with the concentration of unbound hormone.     

不同克隆萼花臂尾轮虫的后代质量及其相关因素分析

在4个温度(15 ℃、20 ℃、25 ℃和30 ℃)下对4个不同生化遗传特征的萼花臂尾轮虫克隆(A、B、C和D)所产幼体的耐饥饿时间及其与温度、轮虫个体大小和卵大小等的关系进行研究.结果表明,15 ℃下克隆B幼体耐饥饿时间最短,为45.67 h;20 ℃和25 ℃下克隆C幼体耐饥饿时间均最长,分别为61.33 h和72.01 h;30 ℃下克隆A幼体耐饥饿时间最长,为40.11 h.4个温度间,克隆A轮虫幼体的耐饥饿时间在15 ℃下最长,克隆B和C轮虫幼体的耐饥饿时间在30 ℃下均最短,克隆D轮虫幼体的耐饥饿时间随培养温度的升高而逐步显著缩短.4个克隆轮虫的幼体耐饥饿时间均与温度呈显著负相关关系.克隆A轮虫的幼体耐饥饿时间还与卵体积呈显著负相关,克隆C相反;克隆B和克隆D轮虫幼体耐饥饿时间与个体体积呈显著正相关关系.     

维生素B12对萼花臂尾轮虫种群的影响

温度为15℃时,添加20,40,80和100μg/mL维生素B12后,萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionuscalyciflorus)种群密度随时间增加而增长,其回归方程依次为:y=e(0.1757+0.2974x),y=4.6765x1.2079,y=7.7798x1.0175和y=e(0.6117+0.3469x),密度显著高于对照组(t=4.56,8.15,8.53和9.86;P1.4366,y=7.7461x1.6533,y=6.3611x1.7790和y=9.064x1.6872,对照为y=7.5902x1.50192。各添加组的密度均显著高于对照组(t值分别为16.12,10.17,5.83和5.86;P(0.1376+0.4395x),y=e(0.2032+0.4856x),y=3.4615x1.9522和y=e(0.0220+0.48074x)。对照组除了和20ng/mL组间没有统计差异外(t=0.34,P>0.05),其他各实验组密度显著高出对照组(t值分别为3.66,10.23和2.13)。最高混交率分别为18.18%,7.60%,18.18%和16.67%,对照为66.70%。最大卵雌比依次为0.70,1.90,0.91,1.09,对照组为0.95。       

Chemical nature of the egg shell in helminths. II. Mode of stabilization of egg shells of monogenetic trematodes

The chemical nature of the egg shells of the monogenetic trematodes Pseudomicrocotyle sp. and Pricea multae, parasitizing the gills of the marine fish Scomberomorus guttatus was studied with a view to understanding the mode of stabilization of the egg shells.The egg shells of the monogenetic trematodes appeared to contain dimers of tyrosine; a conclusion based on fluorescence properties, affinity to toluidine blue, methylene blue, and a positive test for aromatic amino acids. In addition, they are stabilized by -S-S- linkages as indicated by the positive reaction to tests for disulfides. This is also suggested by the shells being refractile to stain but which can be reversed after treatment with sodium thioglycollate.Absence of phenolic tanning in the egg shells of the monogenetic trematodes is indicated by the negative reaction to tests for quinones, the failure to develop color on incubation in catechol after heat treatment, and by the fluorescence in uv light.In these respects the egg shells of the monogenetic trematodes strongly resemble the egg shell of Fasciola hepatica.     

Do female newts modify thermoregulatory behavior to manipulate egg size?

Reproductive females manipulate offspring phenotypes by modifying conditions during embryogenesis. In ectotherms, the environmental control over embryogenesis is often realized by changes in maternal thermoregulation during gravidity. To determine if reproduction influences thermoregulatory behavior in species where females lay eggs shortly after fertilization (strict oviparity), we compared preferred body temperatures (T_p) between reproductive (egg-laying) and non-reproductive female newts, Ichthyosaura alpestris. Next, we exposed reproductive females to temperatures mimicking T_p ranges of reproductive and non-reproductive individuals to find out whether the maternally modified thermal regime influences ovum and jelly coat volume, and early cleavage rates at the time of oviposition. In the thermal gradient, reproductive females maintained their body temperatures within a narrower range than non-reproductive individuals. The exposure of ovipositing females to temperatures preferred during their reproductive and non-reproductive period had a negligible influence on egg size and early cleavage rates. We conclude that the modification of maternal thermoregulatory behavior provides a limited opportunity to manipulate egg traits in newts.     

Nutrients in fruit increase fertility in wild-caught females of large and long-lived Euphaedra species (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae)

Fruit-feeding butterflies can experience a more nutrient rich adult diet than nectar-feeding species, and can be expected to use these nutrients for egg production. Here we compare life span, and reproduction parameters of wild-caught females of large and long-lived species on either a sucrose or a mashed banana diet. With small sample sizes per species, but rich longitudinal data for each individual, we examined the longitudinal reproduction pattern, egg size and hatchability of these butterflies in captivity. Diet significantly affected mortality in captivity in a time-dependent manner. On average, we found that butterflies fed mashed banana laid 1.855 times more eggs than those fed sugar. They laid significantly more eggs when they laid and conserved egg size with age while butterflies fed sucrose showed significantly declining egg sizes. Egg hatchability was not significantly affected by diet. Long pre-oviposition periods, significantly smaller first eggs, and absence of age at capture effects on intensity of reproduction indicate low reproduction rates in the field that are due to low food availability. With our small sample sizes, we did not detect significant differences between the species in their response to the diet treatments.