纯种与杂种鸡之间肝脏组织基因差异表达及其与肉用性状杂种优势的关系

以白洛克肉鸡 (EE)、中国丝羽乌骨鸡 (CC)、农大褐 (DD)和白来航 (AA) 4个纯种鸡为材料 ,进行 4× 4完全双列杂交 ,共得到 16种杂交组合。应用mRNA差异显示技术 (DDRT PCR)检测了 8周龄纯种和杂种鸡之间肝脏组织基因的差异表达。结果表明 ,在纯种和杂种间共有 8种 15类基因差异表达模式 ,杂种和纯种之间基因表达存在明显的差异。对各种基因差异表达模式与 10个肉用性状的杂种优势率进行相关分析发现 ,表达一致型P8(t1111)与肉用性状的杂种优势率相关不显著 (P >0 0 5) ,这说明杂种优势的形成与某些基因的差异表达有关 ;正交或反交特异表达型P4(t0 10 0、t0 0 10 )与 8周龄个体重、腿肌重、半净膛重、全净膛重相关显著 (P <0 0 5) ,与胸肌重相关极显著 (P <0 0 1) ;单亲特异表达型P1(t10 0 0、t0 0 0 1)与腹脂重相关显著 (P <0 0 5) ,与体斜长相关极显著 (P <0 0 1) ;双亲特异表达型P7(t10 0 1)与腿肌重、翅重、半净膛重、肌间脂宽的杂种优势率相关显著 (P <0 0 5) ;正交或反交单亲表达一致型P2 (t110 0、t0 0 11、t10 10、t0 10 1)与肌间脂宽的杂种优势率相关显著 (P <0 0 5) ;单亲表达一致型P5(t1110、t0 111)胫骨长的杂种优势率相关显著 (P <0 0 5)。     

Sexual Behaviour following Castration in Experienced and Inexperienced Male Rabbits

Sexual activity declines after castration in all mammalian species studied (Beach 1948, Beach and Pauker 1949, Beach 1970, Grunt and Young 1953, Michael and Wilson 1974, Phoenix, Slob and Goy 1973, Rosenblatt and Aronson 1958). The rate of decline of sexual behaviour is generally slower than that of the function of the accessory sexual glands. Two factors have been suggested to contribute to the maintenance of sexual behaviour for some time after castration: secretion of androgen from the adrenal cortex and sexual experience. However, adrenalectomy does not seem to influence post-castrational behaviour in hamsters (Warren and Aronson 1956), dogs (Schwartz and Beach 1954), rats (Bloch and Davidson 1968), mice (Burge and Edwards 1971), and cats (Cooper and Aronson 1958), and the degree of sexual experience appears to be of little importance for the postcastrational behaviour of rats (Bloch and Davidson 1968, Rabedeau and Whalen 1959) and dogs (Hart 1968). But male cats with sexual experience continue to mate after castration for a considerably longer period than inexperienced cats (Rosenblatt and Aronson 1958). Some experienced animals were able to achieve insertion at the 10th week after castration, whereas none of the inexperienced animals did so after the first week. In conclusion, the importance of experience seems to vary between species, whereas the adrenal androgens are of doubtful significance for postcastrational behaviour. We have casually observed that castrated rabbits retain their sexual vigour longer if they are given extensive precastrational experience. The importance of experience has now been studied systematically in animals of mixed strains generally used in the laboratory. As a comparison, we studied the postcastrational behaviour in some New Zealand White rabbits with extensive sexual experience.     

Exploration of the Association between Obesity and Semen Quality in a 7630 Male Population

This study aimed to explore the association between body mass index (BMI), other anthropometric indexes and semen quality in a general male population in Taiwan. In this cross-sectional cohort study, the study cohort consisted of 7941 healthy male individuals aged 18 years or older who participated in a standard medical screening program run by a private firm from January 2008 to May 2013. Semen parameters including sperm concentration (SC), total sperm motility (TSM), progressive motility (PRM), and normal sperm morphology (NSM) were recorded. Anthropometric indexes including BMI, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and body fat percentage were measured. A total of 7630 men were enrolled for the final analysis, of whom 68.5% had a normal weight distribution and 31.4% were overweight or obese. Total sperm motility, progressive motility, normal sperm morphology and sperm concentration showed a statistically linear decline with increasing age (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p = 0.004). Sperm concentration showed a significantly negatively linear association with BMI (p = 0.005), and normal sperm morphology showed an inverse association with BMI and waist-to-height ratio (p < 0.001 and p = 0.004). The prevalence of abnormal total sperm motility, progressive motility, normal sperm morphology and sperm concentration increased with increasing age (p = 0.011, p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p = 0.002). Lower normal sperm morphology and sperm concentration were associated with increasing body adiposity (p<0.05). No relationship between obesity and sperm motility was identified.     

男性不育患者解脲支原体感染状况及其对精液参数的影响

目的:观察男性不育患者解脲支原体UU感染状况及其对精液参数的影响,分析治疗前后精液参数的变化.方法:用培养法检测4300例男性不育患者精液UU感染情况并行精液常规检测,与正常对照组进行比较.对UU感染患者根据药敏结果进行治疗,并观察治疗前后精液参数的变化.结果:男性不育患者UU的感染率为39.3％,对照组为12.8％,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).男性不育UU阳性患者精子浓度、前向运动PR、正常形态率与同组阴性者比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),与对照组阴性者比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01),与对照组阳性者比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).经治疗后患者精子浓度、前向运动、正常形态率有明显改善.结论:解脲支原体感染是引起男性不育的主要原因,对精子浓度、前向运动、正常形态率有一定的影响,经过合理治疗后精液质量可以改善.     

Sagebrush Characteristics Influencing Foraging Patterns of Pygmy Rabbits

The pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) is endemic to the sagebrush steppe landscapes in the western United States. Pygmy rabbits have adapted to this region by depending on big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) as a source of nutrition and concealment from predators. Being a central place forager, and a dietary specialist makes pygmy rabbits an ideal subject to study foraging tradeoffs. Our objectives were to determine if pygmy rabbit foraging patterns are influenced by the nutrient content of individual sagebrush, or the size and location of individual sagebrush. We first developed a near infrared spectroscopy assay that can be conducted in the field, with whole plant foliage, to determine individual sagebrush crude protein (CP) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents. We then measured the size, location, protein, and fiber contents of >1,500 foraged and non-foraged sagebrush plants surrounding pygmy rabbit burrows in 2 field sites in northern Utah, USA. We found significant site differences in sagebrush CP levels and significant season differences in sagebrush ADF levels; sagebrush closer to central burrows were higher in protein and lower in fiber. Pygmy rabbits preferred to forage on taller sagebrush plants that were closer to the central burrow but only marginally higher in CP (0.2%) and lower in ADF (1%). Sagebrush plants with a >50% chance of being foraged, were <5.6 m from the burrow, >0.67 m tall, >10.4% CP, and <34.95% ADF. The selection of closer, larger, and more nutrient-dense sagebrush may be influenced by pygmy rabbits' need for concealment from predators or a way to minimize foraging effort. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.     

Electron Microscopic (Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis) Study of Human Male Reproductive Organs and Semen

Recently, technological advancement helped to improve our knowledge on trace elements in human male reproductive organs and its secretion, semen. In this study, employing energy dispersive x-ray analysis facilities on electron microscope, presence of different elements in human male reproductive organs-??testis, epididymis, caput, corpus and cauda, prostate gland, seminal vesicle, Cowper??s gland and vas deferens??seminal plasma and spermatozoa pellet was studied. Several elements were observed. Gold was one among them that was present in seminal plasma and spermatozoa. It was also present in epididymis caput. Authors consider epididymis caput as the source of gold in semen.     

纯种犬在15个STR基因座上的遗传多态性

目的:指导纯种犬的繁育及建立一套简便的犬个体识别和亲权鉴定方法。方法:通过设计引物进行PCR扩增及PAGE检测的方法,分析了88头纯种犬在15个STR基因座上的遗传学多态性。结果:15个STR基因座的累积非父排除率(CPE)和累积个体识别率(TDP)分别为0.999678和0.999999999997,而平均杂合度和平均多态信息含量分别为0.607和0.640。12个STR基因座(PEZ1、PEZ2、PEZ3、PEZ5、PEZ6、PEZ8、PEZ12、FHC2010、FHC2054、FHC2087UbF、HC2132、FHC2611)的多态信息含量(PIC)和杂合度(H)大于0.5,它们的TDP和CPE值分别为0.999999999963和0.999334,能有效用于犬的个体识别和亲权鉴定。结论:这15个STR基因座可以用于指导犬的繁育,其中12个STR基因座能有效用于犬的个体识别和亲权鉴定。     

千金子制霜前后提取物对4类肠道菌影响的体外研究

目的 研究并对比千金子制霜前后提取物对正常SD大鼠肠道菌群的影响。方法 采用酶标比浊法,体外不同浓度千金子制霜前后提取物作用下的细菌生长曲线来研究制霜对长双歧杆菌、嗜酸乳杆菌、大肠埃希菌和粪肠球菌4种代表性肠道菌的作用,分析其对4种肠道菌生长的影响。结果 千金子生品提取物和霜品提取物对4种肠道菌均有抑制作用,且随着给药浓度的增大,抑制作用增强。相同生药量下,千金子生品提取物对4种肠道菌的抑制作用均大于霜品提取物,且低剂量下会使条件致病菌粪肠球菌和大肠埃希菌的数量减少。推测千金子制霜前后均会一定程度影响肠道菌群的稳态,制霜后对4种肠道菌的影响弱于生品,与千金子制霜后泻下作用缓和的研究结果相吻合。结论 从肠道微生态角度为切入点,考察千金子制霜前后提取物对肠道菌群数量和生长情况的干预作用,可初步揭示千金子制霜与肠道菌群数量和结构变化可能存在的相关性,为深入揭示千金子制霜减毒微生物学机制奠定基础。     

雄性西藏蟾蜍的鸣声特征及听觉敏感性

西藏蟾蜍(Bufo tibetanus)主要生活在海拔2 400～4 300 m的高海拔地区,本研究分析了这一高原两栖物种雄性个体的鸣声特征和听觉敏感性。采用录音机和指向性话筒,在野外记录西藏蟾蜍的广告鸣声,使用听觉脑干反应(ABR)检测听觉敏感性。采用Praat声音分析软件绘制广告鸣声的波形图和频谱图,鸣声特征参数通过Adobe Audition软件获取。广告鸣声由多个单音节鸣叫组成,鸣声主频为(1150±99)Hz。ABR对于刺激的响应以谷峰波形展示,听力图结果显示,听觉敏感区域在1.4～2.0 kHz,但在0.6～6.0 kHz范围的听觉阈值均高于70 dB,表明雄性西藏蟾蜍相较于其他物种听觉敏感性较差。尽管雄性西藏蟾蜍的最佳听觉敏感频率(1.6kHz)稍高于鸣声主频,但其鸣声能谱结构与听觉敏感性曲线在1.0～1.4 kHz存在一定程度重叠,符合"匹配过滤假说"。     

Genetic and Phenotypic Correlations between Performance Traits with Meat Quality and Carcass Characteristics in Commercial Crossbred Pigs

Genetic correlations between performance traits with meat quality and carcass traits were estimated on 6,408 commercial crossbred pigs with performance traits recorded in production systems with 2,100 of them having meat quality and carcass measurements. Significant fixed effects (company, sex and batch), covariates (birth weight, cold carcass weight, and age), random effects (additive, litter and maternal) were fitted in the statistical models. A series of pairwise bivariate analyses were implemented in ASREML to estimate heritability, phenotypic, and genetic correlations between performance traits (n = 9) with meat quality (n = 25) and carcass (n = 19) traits. The animals had a pedigree compromised of 9,439 animals over 15 generations. Performance traits had low-to-moderate heritabilities (±SE), ranged from 0.07±0.13 to 0.45±0.07 for weaning weight, and ultrasound backfat depth, respectively. Genetic correlations between performance and carcass traits were moderate to high. The results indicate that: (a) selection for birth weight may increase drip loss, lightness of longissimus dorsi, and gluteus medius muscles but may reduce fat depth; (b) selection for nursery weight can be valuable for increasing both quantity and quality traits; (c) selection for increased daily gain may increase the carcass weight and most of the primal cuts. These findings suggest that deterioration of pork quality may have occurred over many generations through the selection for less backfat thickness, and feed efficiency, but selection for growth had no adverse effects on pork quality. Low-to-moderate heritabilities for performance traits indicate that they could be improved using traditional selection or genomic selection. The estimated genetic parameters for performance, carcass and meat quality traits may be incorporated into the breeding programs that emphasize product quality in these Canadian swine populations.     

Candidate gene analysis of osteochondrosis in Spanish Purebred horses

Equine osteochondrosis (OC) is a frequent developmental orthopaedic disease with high economic impact on the equine industry and may lead to premature retirement of the animal as a result of chronic pain and lameness. The genetic background of OC includes different genes affecting several locations; however, these genetic associations have been tested in only one or few populations, lacking the validation in others. The aim of this study was to identify the genetic determinants of OC in the Spanish Purebred horse breed. For that purpose, we used a candidate gene approach to study the association between loci previously implicated in the onset and development of OC in other breeds and different OC locations using radiographic data from 144 individuals belonging to the Spanish Purebred horse breed. Of the 48 polymorphisms analysed, three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in the FAF1, FCN3 and COL1A2 genes were found to be associated with different locations of OC lesions. These data contribute insights into the complex gene networks underlying the multifactorial disease OC, and the associated SNPs could be used in a marker‐assisted selection strategy to improve horse health, welfare and competitive lifespan.     

Molecular Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Other Sexually Transmitted Bacteria in Semen of Male Partners of Infertile Couples in Tunisia: The Effect on Semen Parameters and Spermatozoa Apoptosis Markers

This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasmas, and Ureaplasmas in semen samples of the male partners of infertile couples and to investigate whether Chlamydia trachomatis could initiate apoptosis in human spermatozoa. A total of 85 males partners of infertile couples undergoing routine semen analysis according to World Health Organization guidelines were included. Specimens were examined for the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum by Real time PCR (qPCR). Semen specimens were analysed for the appearance of apoptotic markers (sperm DNA fragmentation, activated caspase 3 levels, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm)) using flow cytometry. C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae, U. urealyticum, M genitalium were detected in semen samples of 13 (15.2%), 5 (5.8%), 5 (5.8%) and 3 (3.5%) male partners of infertile couples, respectively. M. hominis and U. parvum were detected in semen sample of only one patient (1.1%). The semen of infertile men positive for C. trachomatis showed lower mean of semen count and lower rapid progressive motility (category [a]) of spermatozoa compared to uninfected men with statistically significances (p = 0.02 and p = 0.04, respectively). Flow cytometry analyses demonstrated a significant increase of the mean rate of semen with low ΔΨm and caspase 3 activation of infertile men positive for C. trachomatis compared to uninfected men (p = 0.006 and p = 0.001, respectively). DNA fragmentation was also increased in sperm of infertile men positive for C. trachomatis compared to uninfected men but without statistical significances (p = 0.62). Chlamydial infection was associated to loss of ΔΨm and caspase 3activation. Thus, C. trachomatis infection could be incriminated in apoptosis induction of spermatozoa. These effects may explain the negative direct impact of C. trachomatis infection on sperm fertilizing ability.     

苎麻雄性不育材料的生理生化特性初探

在苎麻(Boehmeria nivea(L.) Gaud)雌雄性器官发育期取功能叶,现蕾后取幼蕾(直径小于0.4mm)、中蕾(直径0.4-1.2mm)、大蕾(直径大于2.0mm),比较分析苎麻雄性不育材料C26、C4与可育材料B8、B16的可溶性糖含量、淀粉含量、游离脯氨酸含量、可溶性蛋白含量以及过氧化物酶(POD)活性的差异。结果表明,不育材料在各时期的花蕾中可溶性糖含量都高于可育材料的,以大蕾最为明显,C26比B8高0.58%,C4比B16高0.83%;淀粉和游离脯氨酸含量从中蕾期开始,不育材料明显低于可育材料,到大蕾期差异最大(淀粉含量B8/C26为1.81,B16/C4为1.46;游离脯氨酸含量B8是C26的7.35倍,B16为C4的3.94倍);在相同花蕾期,可育材料的POD活性略高于不育材料。可溶性蛋白质含量在可育材料和不育材料中无明显规律性。这些物质的代谢可能是导致苎麻雄性不育的原因。     

Correction to: The Effects of 50 nm Unmodified Nano-ZnO on Lipid Metabolism and Semen Quality in Male Mice

Biological Trace Element Research - The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. The correct title should be “The Effects of 50 nm Unmodified Nano-ZnO on Lipid...     

A Comparison of Spontaneous and Odor-induced Chin Marking in Male and Female Domestic Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus domestica)

Chin marking by the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is one of the classic but still little understood examples of mammalian chemical communication. To investigate whether the sexes differ in performance of this behavior, we compared the frequency of spontaneous chinning and chinning in response to the chin marks of conspecifics in 20 intact male and 20 intact female chinchilla-breed rabbits, and in five gonadectomized animals of each sex. Contrary to the expectation of greater chinning activity in males, no significant sex differences were found. Frequencies of spontaneous chinning were similar in the two sexes, large and stable individual differences were observed in both, chinning increased in both when marks from unfamiliar conspecifics were present, and both directed chin marks to objects marked by conspecifics more than to unmarked objects. Individual chinning frequencies correlated positively with urination but not defecation in both sexes, and spontaneous and odor-induced chinning were significantly reduced both in castrated and ovariectomized animals. The findings suggest that chinning is an equally significant part of the communication system of male and female rabbits and that its expression may be regulated by similar olfactory, hormonal, and social mechanisms.     

Electrophysiologic Characteristics of the Crista Terminalis and Implications on Atrial Tachycardia in Rabbits

The objective of this study was to evaluate the electrophysiologic characteristics of Crista terminalis (CT) and their implication in the pathogenesis of atrial tachycardia in rabbits. For this purpose, 27 New Zealand rabbits were used. Using standard glass microelectrode technique, cellular action potentials (APs) of CT and pectinate muscle (PM) were recorded in normal Tyrode’s perfusion and Tyrode’s perfusion with 4 μM isoproterenol. Longitudinal conduction velocity (V _L) and transverse conduction velocity (V _T) of CT were measured. As our data show, CT tissue had a trend of spontaneous phase IV depolarization. Conduction anisotropy (V _L/V _T) of CT was 4.53 ± 0.91. The duration of the AP of CT was longer than that of PM cells. APD₂₀ and APD₉₀ for CT were 28.1 ± 3.5 and 145.3 ± 7.1 ms; and for PM cells were 21.8 ± 4.1 and 125.3 ± 6.3 ms, respectively (all P values < 0.01). The early and delayed action depolarizations were recorded after isoproterenol perfusion. A fast paroxysmal irregular rhythm was recorded which could be arrested by 0.1 mmol/l Isoptin. It was, therefore, concluded that the latent autorhythmicity, trigger activity, and conduction properties of CT might provide the electrophysiologic basis for the occurrence and sustenance of atrial arrhythmia.     

Viral RNA Levels and env Variants in Semen and Tissues of Mature Male Rhesus Macaques Infected with SIV by Penile Inoculation

HIV is shed in semen but the anatomic site of virus entry into the genital secretions is unknown. We determined viral RNA (vRNA) levels and the envelope gene sequence in the SIVmac 251 viral populations in the genital tract and semen of 5 adult male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) that were infected after experimental penile SIV infection. Paired blood and semen samples were collected from 1–9 weeks after infection and the monkeys were necropsied eleven weeks after infection. The axillary lymph nodes, testes, epididymis, prostate, and seminal vesicles were collected and vRNA levels and single-genome analysis of the SIVmac251 env variants was performed. At the time of semen collection, blood vRNA levels were between 3.09 and 7.85 log10 vRNA copies/ml plasma. SIV RNA was found in the axillary lymph nodes of all five monkeys and in 3 of 5 monkeys, all tissues examined were vRNA positive. In these 3 monkeys, vRNA levels (log10 SIVgag copies/ug of total tissue RNA) in the axillary lymph node (6.48±0.50) were significantly higher than in the genital tract tissues: testis (3.67±2.16; p<0.05), epididymis (3.08±1.19; p<0.0001), prostate (3.36±1.30; p<0.01), and seminal vesicle (2.67±1.50; p<0.0001). Comparison of the SIVmac251 env viral populations in blood plasma, systemic lymph node, and genital tract tissues was performed in two of the macaques. Visual inspection of the Neighbor-Joining phylograms revealed that in both animals, all the sequences were generally distributed evenly among all tissue compartments. Importantly, viral populations in the genital tissues were not distinct from those in the systemic tissues. Our findings demonstrate striking similarity in the viral populations in the blood and male genital tract tissues within 3 months of penile SIV transmission.