外源促性腺激素处理后鸡产蛋及孵化研究

目的：探讨促卵泡素（FSH）对低产期肉用种母鸡在产蛋数量和孵化的影响,寻求较佳的用于提高低产期母鸡产蛋的激素剂量。方法：本试验采用同种激素不同剂量的处理方式,比较实验组和对照组产蛋量和孵化情况。结果：注射不同剂量的激素对鸡的产蛋有一定的影响,实验组一的平均产蛋数与对照组接近,其它四组均显著低于对照组（P〈0．05）,孵化率与健雏率与对照组无显著差异（P〉0．05）。结论：小荆量激素处理对鸡产蛋量没有太大的影响,但大剂量会引起鸡生殖系统萎缩,激素处理对受精卵孵化及雏鸡生长并无负面影响。     

产蛋鸡饲粮中添加玫瑰花渣的效果

用特殊方法处理的1型玫瑰花渣代替了基础饲粮中的玉米和小麦各3％,配成试验饲粮。饲喂京白产蛋母鸡(56周龄)65天的结果表明,添加少量1型玫瑰花渣,对试鸡健康和饲粮消耗量无影响,蛋重显著提高(P<0.01),产蛋力有提高趋势,料蛋比和料价蛋比略有降低,但与对照组间无显著差异(P>0.05)。     

光照对鸡生长、产蛋及血浆雌二醇、黄体生成素、甲状腺素的影响

70日龄星杂“579”小母鸡120只,随机分成A、B、C三组。C组为对照组。A、B两组分别以32和8Lx的强度补充光照,使其每天的光照时间达14h。从70日龄起,每10天称重一次;从开产日龄起,对每只鸡的产蛋分别按日龄称重、登记。结果表明,光照强度与鸡的生长速度和平均蛋重相关不显著,而与鸡的性成熟和产蛋量显著相关。用放射免疫分析法测定了三组鸡100～180日龄间外周血浆E_2、LH和T_4含量,B组鸡LH峰值最高,其峰值(149日龄)与基础值(100日龄)对比,增长率为231.4％;A组鸡血浆T_4水平增加明显,但其产蛋量相对较低;补充光照组能促使血浆E_2峰值的出现早于自然光照组,但各组鸡E_2峰值无显著差异。     

多氯联苯对成年公鸡生精功能和睾酮分泌的影响

目的：多氯联苯（PCB）与DDT结构类似,可作为内分泌干扰物（环境激素）使动物和人发生神经,内分泌和生殖功能紊乱,本试验研究PCB对公鸡生殖功能的影响。方法：对照组成年鸡口服花生油,实验组口服PCB（50mg/kg体重）,每周一次,连续六周,最后用多聚甲醛灌流,取出性腺并固定,组织块经石蜡切片和伊红－苏木精染色,并进行图象分析,结果：对照组与实验组分鸡和母鸡在体重,呼吸,心率,体温方面无显差异,红细胞和白细胞数目也无显变化。组织学切片观察发现;实验组公鸡睾丸曲细精管破损,管壁明显变薄,支持细胞数目减少,各级精母细胞及精子数目下降,间质在原有基础上变得散乱。定量结果表明,实验组与对照组公鸡相比,睾丸重量明显降低（P＜0．05）,并且曲细精管管壁厚度显下降（P＜0．01）。睾酮含量结果为,实验组公鸡睾酮水平显下降,与公鸡的结果不同,相同剂量的PCB处理后,母鸡所产蛋除蛋重下降外,其他品质包括蛋形指数,蛋壳强度,蛋白高度,蛋黄颜色和哈夫单位均无显变化,结论：PCB对成年鸡生殖功能的影响存在明显的性别差异,公鸡对PCB有较高的敏感性,可使生精功能损伤,睾酮分泌减少。     

利用鸡的假受精导入基因已成功

日本名古屋大学农学部教授富田武宣布:1985年底利用假受精育种得到的鸡(白来航鸡)321只母鸡中22只(约7％)开始产红皮蛋。这项研究工作是由富田和爱知县综合农业试验场养鸡研究所研究组共同进行的。研究目的是将产红皮蛋的洛岛红鸡的基因导入产蛋率高的白来航鸡中、育成产红皮蛋的白来航鸡。该鸡种产蛋力强、蛋的价格也高(参阅本刊1986年4月7日号)。新育成的这种鸡开始产的红皮蛋是淡红色,与一般的红皮蛋的颜色不同。根据分析蛋壳     

抗孵化疫苗

INRA鸟类研究所(Tours,France)的Daniel Guémené及其同事们已经开发出一种能够阻止火鸡孵化行为的疫苗。 阻止火鸡卵的孵化是一项较重要的工作。如果一只火鸡产蛋并孵化它们,其生理变化和母鸡的重量增加是一种不利影响。母鸡一产下蛋就移走它们并进行标记,以阻止孵化,进行人工孵化。     

广西麻鸡FOXL2基因的克隆、序列分析及在高低产蛋量卵巢中的表达

为了研究鸡FOXL2基因的结构和功能,本研究克隆了广西麻鸡FOXL2基因编码区序列,分析了其突变位点及与其他物种的同源性和进化距离,以及在高产组和低产组母鸡卵巢组织中的表达水平.结果 表明:广西麻鸡FOXL2基因的编码区长度为918 bp,共编码305个氨基酸,存在一处错义突变和两处同义突变.通过物种间的同源性分析显示,广西麻鸡FOXL2基因与原鸡(Gallus gallus)、雉鸡(Phasianus colchicus)、绿头鸭(Anas platyrhynchos)、野鸽(Columba livia)、人(Homo sapiens)、小鼠(Mus musculus)的同源性分别为99.7％、98.8％、95.1％、92.0％、75.7％、75.5％.通过种间进化树分析表明,广西麻鸡与原鸡(Gallus gallus)的亲缘关系最近,与小鼠(Mus musculus)的亲缘关系最远.FOXL2在高低产蛋量鸡卵巢中的表达水平结果显示:FOXL2基因在高产蛋组中的表达量显著高于低产蛋组中的表达量(P＜0.05).该研究结果提示鸡FOXL2的序列相对较保守,对卵巢功能的维持和提高产蛋量具有功能性作用.     

鸡胚脑细胞谷氨酸释放的模拟微重力效应

用回转器旋转鸡胚蛋研究对脑细胞的模拟微重力生物效应.采用连续荧光法测量孵化10 d（E10）和孵化13 d（E13）鸡胚的脑细胞谷氨酸的初始释放速率、在KCl去极化及单个电脉冲刺激后的释放速率和释放量以及谷氨酸的含量,并对旋转处理组和静止对照组进行了比较.结果如下：旋转组和对照组脑细胞的谷氨酸初始释放速率没有显著差异,E10鸡胚经24 h旋转后,在KCl刺激下脑细胞的谷氨酸释放速率和释放量皆高于对照组,经4 h旋转后谷氨酸含量显著增高（P＜0.01）;但旋转24 h的E13鸡胚上述指标皆无显著改变,表明微重力对鸡胚脑细胞神经递质释放的影响与胚龄有关.鸡胚脑细胞在电脉冲刺激下谷氨酸释放的动态过程表明：脉冲电场引起的谷氨酸释放与细胞内钙离子迅速增加有关.     

外源激素对中华鳖胚胎期性别决定及仔稚鳖第一性征的影响

中华鳖(Trionyx sinensis)属于温度依赖型性别决定。为研究外源性17α-甲基睾酮(17α-methyltestosterone,MT)和雌二醇(estradiol,E_2)对中华鳖胚胎敏感期的性别决定及仔稚鳖第一性征的影响,本实验通过激素注入法,在胚胎性别决定敏感期,进行MT和E_2处理。结果表明:激素处理显著影响胚胎存活率; E_2组平均孵化时间比对照组提前5.5 d,MT组平均孵化时间稍晚于对照组; E_2组全为雌鳖,MT组全为雄鳖,对照组的雌雄比例为3∶11;给驯养20 d后的稚鳖投喂40 d拌有不同浓度MT和E_2的饲料,设置25、50和100mg·kg-1三个处理组和对照组;激素处理对仔稚鳖的存活率无显著影响,对其形态发育具有一定的促进作用;投喂40 d后,50 mg·kg-1处理E_2组的性别比例(雄性只数∶性别待定只数∶雌性只数)由19∶6∶15变为19∶0∶4,最终雌性比例(17. 39%)与对照组(16.67%)无显著差异,25 mg·kg-1处理E_2组与100 mg·kg~(-1)处理E_2组的雌性比例为0,MT各处理组性别比例(雄性只数∶性别待定只数∶雌性只数)分别为9∶0∶0、19∶0∶0和8∶0∶0,全为雄性群体,第一性征较E_2组和对照组更加明显。     

鸡Leptin基因正确性的免疫验证

①取20只240日龄的粤黄鸡种母鸡平分为处理组和对照组,分别在第3、31、63和84d对之接种鸡Leptin重组融合蛋白(处理组)或BSA(对照组)1mL/羽。每天记录产蛋率,每10天测定采食量,每两周称重,在试验的第1、31、53、78和91d采血。结果表明Leptin处理组的血浆抗Leptin抗体水平和Leptin水平在免疫后显著高于对照组(P<0.01);第3和4次免疫后处理组产蛋率比对照组显著低约50%(P<0.05);在第98d试验结束时,处理组腹脂量为(115.60±15.07)g,显著高于对照组[(77.98±5.70)g,P<0.05];试验期间处理组的采食量略低于对照组,增重则略高于对照组,但两者差异均不显著(P>0.05);处理组血浆总T3和总T4水平与对照组差异不显著(P>0.05)。②取12只50日龄的粤黄鸡后备小母鸡,平分成处理组和对照组,分别肌注含抗Leptin抗体的卵黄提取液和生理盐水6mL/只,处理组在2、4、6h的累积采食量显著高于对照组(P<0.05),但在8h的累积采食量与对照组差异不显著(P>0.05)。两个试验通过免疫重组鸡Lep tin融合蛋白,使鸡表现出Leptin功能的丧失,证明目前所克隆的鸡Leptin基因在家鸡中的确存在和其正确性。     

Effect of long-term food restriction on pituitary sensitivity to cLHRH-I in broiler breeder females

The effect of long-term food restriction on the sensitivity of the pituitary to exogenously administered chicken luteinizing hormone releasing hormone I (cLHRH-I) was investigated in three groups of broiler breeder females fed ad libitum, fed a restricted quantity of food or fed a restricted quantity of food to obtain an intermediate body weight between those of the first two groups. At 16 weeks of age, basal FSH release was higher in ad libitum fed birds, culminating in ovarian development and subsequent oestradiol production by the small follicles. At this age, LH secretion was independent of ovarian feedback factors. In all groups, cLHRH-I was most active in releasing LH in intact and ovariectomized animals and, to a lesser extent, in releasing FSH in ovariectomized birds. At 39 weeks of age, basal FSH concentrations were similar among intact animals of all groups, whereas LH concentrations differed among groups, with higher values in the restricted birds. This food effect was enhanced in ovariectomized birds. Furthermore, the high response to cLHRH-I in the ovariectomized, restricted birds compared with the ad libitum, ovariectomized group suggests an improved sensitivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. In conclusion, birds fed ad libitum showed the highest responsiveness to ovarian factors and to cLHRH-I in releasing FSH in the period before sexual maturity. No effect of amount of feeding could be observed for LH. However, during the egg laying period, LH release by cLHRH-I was highly dependent on amount of feeding and on ovarian feedback regulation. This finding indicates that the amount of feeding can modify the sensitivity of the pituitary to cLHRH-I, and possibly to gonadal hormones, during the laying period.     

Egg laying inAplysia

Aplysia egg laying is a complex sequence of head and neck movements initiated by the release of ovulatory and neuroactive hormones from the neurosecretory bag cells. This behavioral pattern is difficult to study in reduced preparations, because they do not show ovulation or egg laying behaviors. This paper describes the use of chronically implanted electrodes to elicit normal neurosecretory activity and provides an analysis of egg laying behaviors and the underlying muscle activity in intact, freely behaving A. californica and A. brasiliana. 1. Bag cell discharges elicited with a fine wire electrode implanted in the connective tissue sheath above the cell bodies were typically without noxious behavioral side effects. 2. Following selectively elicited bag cell discharges, egg laying consisted of four rhythmic head and neck movements that were separated functionally into appetitive behaviors ('waves' and 'undulations') used to explore and prepare the substrate and consummatory behaviors ('weaves' and 'tamps') used to distribute and attach the egg string. The amount of time an animal performed consummatory behaviors was positively related to the amount of eggs deposited. By contrast, the appetitive phase of egg laying was independent of the size of the egg mass. 3. The individual behaviors and their temporal sequence were similar following selectively elicited bag cell discharges, spontaneous discharges of animals with implanted electrodes and during normal egg laying of unoperated animals. 4. Three longitudinal muscle systems occurred within the head and neck. Following a selectively elicited bag cell discharge, spatially and temporally coordinated patterns of EJP bursts of different durations were recorded chronically from each muscle group. These EJP patterns were characteristic for specific head and neck movements used in appetitive and consummatory egg laying behaviors.     

Maternal investment during egg laying and offspring sex: an experimental study of zebra finches

To study whether offspring sex is related to the amount of resources invested in eggs we performed an experiment on zebra finches, Taeniopygia guttata. By manipulating their food supply, we forced two groups of females either to increase or to decrease investment in subsequent eggs. Since zebra finches are sexually dimorphic and the reproductive value of the sexes may vary with maternal nutritional status, we predicted that females would adjust the sex of their offspring to egg quality. Females that received poor-quality food for 7 weeks before egg laying, then food supplemented with proteins after they laid the first egg, significantly increased the mass of subsequent eggs. An increase of egg mass with laying sequence was less pronounced in females that received high-quality food before laying and experienced food deterioration after starting to lay. The proportion of sons in subsequent eggs tended to increase in the latter group (although this was marginally significant) but was not related to laying sequence in the other group: these patterns differed significantly between the groups. Offspring sex was not related to egg mass, but newly hatched male chicks were heavier than female chicks. Furthermore, the hatching success of male eggs was lower than that of female eggs. We suggest that differential hatching success of the sexes and sex differences in mass at hatching may constitute important factors shaping brood sex ratios. Copyright 2002 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.     

Effects of early prenatal exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) on postnatal reproduction in the laying hen (Gallus gallus)

This study demonstrates the long-term effects of very early embryonic exposure to a single dose of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) (0, 10 and 20 ng/egg), administered before the beginning of embryonic development, on growth and reproductive performance in laying hens. Hatchability and body weight gain from 11 weeks onwards were significantly depressed in 20 ng treated hens. All hens started laying egg at around the same age and the laying performance of TCDD-treated hens was normal. No disturbances in the age-related pattern and concentrations of oestradiol, LH or FSH in plasma could be found but mean progesterone concentrations were significantly lower in 20 ng treated hens. Moreover, follicular distribution was changed with less small white follicles and smaller yellow follicles, which probably resulted in the lower egg weight of the 20 ng treated hens. At 43 weeks of age, hens treated in ovo with TCDD showed a retained right oviduct, mostly filled with clear fluid. From these results, it seems that in ovo exposure to TCDD interferes in the right oviduct regression during embryonic development and induces some changes in follicular distribution but without impairment of reproductive performance in the adult laying hen.     

Supplementary artificial light to increase egg production of geese under natural lighting conditions

A new supplementary lighting program was designed to increase the egg production of geese under natural light conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the supplementary lighting program on egg production of White Roman geese in an open housing system at the Tropic of Cancer. Forty mature White Roman geese were randomly allocated into two groups (male:female=1:4). The supplementary lighting program with a total daily photoperiod of between 12.0 h and 13.5 h was initiated on 1 November and withdrawn from the experimental group on 30 January. In contrast, the geese in the control group were kept under natural lighting conditions throughout this study. The results showed that the laying peak of the experimental group occurred earlier than normal in the reproductive season and the geese continued laying throughout the breeding season. The geese in the experimental group had 47.6 eggs/goose which was significantly (P<0.05) more than that of the control group having 26.4 eggs/goose. We can conclude that the supplemental lighting method will result in an earlier laying peak of the geese in the breeding season and higher egg production. The supplementary lighting program was able to maximize egg production in geese at the Tropic of Cancer.     

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens BLCC1-0238 Can Effectively Improve Laying Performance and Egg Quality Via Enhancing Immunity and Regulating Reproductive Hormones of Laying Hens

In this study, we sought to evaluate the effects of dietary Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (B. amyloliquefaciens) BLCC1-0238 supplementation on laying performance, egg quality, antioxidant enzyme activities, reproductive hormone, and immunity of laying hens. A total of 240 Hy-Line Brown laying hens (28 weeks old) were randomly divided into four groups, and three replicates per group (n = 20 per replicate). The control group was fed a standard basal diet, and the three treatment groups were provided the basal diet supplemented with either 0.01%, 0.03%, or 0.06% B. amyloliquefaciens BLCC1-0238 (2 × 10¹⁰ CFU/g), respectively. Hens were allowed 2 weeks to acclimate prior to initiation of the 8-week experiment. It was observed that dietary supplementation with 0.01% or 0.03% B. amyloliquefaciens BLCC1-0238 significantly increased egg production and egg mass. However, no significant differences in feed intake, egg weight, and feed conversion ratio among the four groups were observed. Different levels of B. amyloliquefaciens BLCC1-0238 supplementation also significantly increased egg shell strength and thickness. With respect to the levels of reproductive hormones in the hens, B. amyloliquefaciens BLCC1-0238 supplementation significantly reduced serum adrenal cortical hormone (ACTH) levels, while increasing estradiol (E2) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion in the treatment groups compared to the control group. Relative to the control group, supplementation with 0.03% and 0.06% B. amyloliquefaciens BLCC1-0238 was observed to significantly increase serum glutathione S-transferase (GST) concentration, and supplementation significantly reduced serum IL-1 and IL-6 levels, whereas IL-4 levels increased for all concentrations tested. In conclusion, supplementation of a basal chicken diet with B. amyloliquefaciens BLCC1-0238 can improve laying performance and egg quality through the reduction of stress responses, up-regulation of growth hormones, and supporting immunity in laying hens.

     

The consequences of genetic variation in sex peptide expression levels for egg laying and retention in females

The accessory gland proteins (Acps) that male Drosophila melanogaster produce and transfer to females during copulation are key to male and female fitness. One Acp, the sex peptide (SP), is largely responsible for a dramatic increase in female egg laying and decrease in female receptivity after copulation. While genetic variation in male SP expression levels correlate with refractory period duration in females, it is unknown whether male SP expression influences female egg laying or if any effect of SP is mediated by SP retention in the female reproductive tract. Here we measured the amount of SP retained in the female reproductive tract after mating and female egg laying after copulating with virgin males. We found no correlation between male SP expression levels and egg laying, or the amount of SP in the female reproductive tract after mating. Additionally, the amount of SP retained in the female did not influence egg laying. These finding suggests that additional factors, such as variation in other Acps, are important for the retention of SP in females and its quantitative effects on egg laying. It also shows that egg laying and refractory period response to SP is at least partially uncoupled.     

Laying, egg and hatchability characteristics in ostrich (Struthio camelus) at different age

The experimental material comprised 7 ostrich families (7 males and 14 females) of which five families were at the age of 7 and two at the age of 5 years. In the course of the entire reproductive season, the following parameters were analysed: length of the laying period, mean laying rate, number of eggs laid by one female, proportion ofhatching eggs, egg weight and shape, egg weight lost during incubation, egg fertilisation, percentage of dead embryos and unhatched chicks, hatchability from fertilised and set eggs. Seven year-old ostriches were characterised by shorter laying period (134 days) but, at the same time, by higher proportions of hatching eggs. This group was also characterised by high egg fertilisation (79.7%) as well as high hatchability indices at simultaneous highest embryo mortality during incubation (11.6 %). Five year-old ostriches exhibited a longer laying period (175 days) during which females laid more eggs (49 pcs.). In addition, this group was characterised by a smaller proportion of hatching eggs, better egg fertilisation indices (83.5%) and hatchability results. Moreover, the determined higher egg shape index indicates that the 5 year-old females laid eggs which were more spherical. Recapitulating, the obtained results indicate that, under Polish conditions, better indices of laying performance, egg fertilisation and hatchability were observed in the group of 5 year-old ostriches.