Moth sex-pheromone biosynthesis is inhibited by the herbicide diclofop

Pheromones of nocturnal moths are derived from fatty acids produced as a result of the activity of acetyl-CoA carboxylase. This timely production is initiated in nocturnal moths by a tropic peptide, pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide released into the hemolymph. In monocotyledonous plants, specific plastid acetyl-CoA carboxylase is inhibited by herbicides that target the eukaryotic form of the enzyme. We report evidence that these herbicides can also target pheromone biosynthesis by a moth, thereby implicating the acetyl-CoA carboxylase as a key regulatory enzyme in the pheromone biosynthetic pathway. These findings, whilst indicating the possible action of such herbicides on non-target organisms, also suggest a novel alternative method of insect pest management, which precludes sex-pheromone production and mating success, thereby reducing insect population growth.     

Immunohistochemical analysis of pseudorabies virus spread through neurons innervating the eyeball

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) was inoculated intraocularly into BALB/c mice, and the distribution pattern of cells positive for several neurotransmitters and viral antigens in the eyeball, trigeminal nerve ganglia, and superior cervical ganglia was examined immunohistochemically to clarify the neural route of the virus spread. In the eyeball, substance P (SP)- and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-positive cells were detected in the ipsilateral iris and ciliary body, neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY)-positive cells were detected in the choloid membrane, and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive cells were detected in the ipsilateral inner nuclear layer of the retina; all these cells contained viral antigens. In the superior cervical ganglia, viral antigen-positive cells containing TH or NPY were found at bilateral sites. In the trigeminal nerve ganglia, viral antigen-positive cells containing SP or CGRP were found at bilateral sites. These findings indicated that the SP- and CGRP-positive ganglion cells of the trigeminal nerve ganglia innervating the iris or ciliary body, and the NPY-positive ganglion cells of the superior cervical ganglia innervating the iris, ciliary body, and choroid membrane served as the route for the virus spread. These findings also suggested that dopaminergic neurons, such as the TH-positive retinal cells and TH-positive ganglion cells of the superior cervical ganglia, served as the route for virus spread.     

干奶期不同能量水平对奶牛血中神经肽 Y和生长激素浓度的影响

将健康围产期奶牛30头随机分为3组．预产前28d按奶牛营养需要分别饲喂100％、120％、80％能量日粮，产后各组奶牛均饲喂标准的产奶日粮，至产后56d结束，观测干奶期不同能量摄入水平对围产期健康奶牛血中神经肽Y和生长激素浓度的影响。结果表明，干奶期低能量日粮饲喂，奶牛血中神经肽和生长激素浓度均高于其他2组，从产前14d至产后28d组间差异显著（P〈0.01；P〈0.05），提示低能量饲料饲喂干奶期奶牛，产后能量负平衡得到缓解。     

Associations of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptor (GnRHR) and Neuropeptide Y (NPY) Genes'''' Polymorphisms with Egg-Laying Traits in Wenchang Chicken

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of chicken gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) were selected to identify the genotypes of Wenchang (Chinese indigenous breed) chicken with restricton fragment length polymorphisms. The associations of the SNPs with the total egg production (NE), average days of continual laying (ADCL), and number of double-yolked eggs (DYE) traits were analyzed. The frequency of restriction enzyme A/a alleles in the population was for GnRHR 0.69 (Bpu1102 Ⅰ A) and 0.31 (Bpu1102 Ⅰ a) and for NPY 0.46 (Dra Ⅰ B) and 0.54 (Dra Ⅰ b). Trait data from a total of 120 hens, which were purebred introduced from Hainan Province, China from one generation were recorded. Two significant effects of genes' marker were found for GnRHR and number of eggs (dominant; t= 2.67, df= 116) and NPY and number of eggs (additive; t= 1.97, df= 116). The current research supports the effects of GnRHR and NPY genes on egg-laying traits of chickens.     

侧脑室注射Leptin对大鼠下丘脑前阿黑皮素mRNA表达的影响

给体重 180～ 2 0 0 g的雌性 SD大鼠侧脑室中注射重组瘦素 (L eptin) 1μg,采用 RT- PCR测定了其下丘脑前阿黑皮素 (POMC) m RNA和 L eptin受体 (OB- R) m RNA的表达水平。结果表明 ,注射重组 L eptin后 ,OB- R基因和 POMC基因表达量均上升 ,与生理盐水注射组、空白对照组相比差异显著 (P<0 .0 5 ,P<0 .0 1)。由此认为 ,L eptin在大鼠下丘脑 POMC的调控功能中起着重要作用     

地塞米松和饲粮能量水平对肉仔鸡能量采食及神经肽Y基因表达的影响

本试验旨在探讨注射地塞米松(DEX)模拟应激状态下,应激和饲粮能量水平对肉仔鸡能量采食的影响。选取体重相近的180只23日龄的雄性爱拔益加(AA)肉鸡随机分成6组,每组3个重复,每个重复10只鸡。试验采用2×3析因设计,因素为DEX[处理(注射DEX2 mg/kg)、未处理(注射等剂量生理盐水)]和饲粮能量水平[高能(HE)、低能(LE)以及高能、低能自由采食(H-LE)]。预试期5 d,正试期7 d。结果表明:1)DEX处理极显著降低了肉仔鸡的采食量和体增重(P<0.01),极显著提高了耗料增重比、耗能增重比、腹脂率以及血浆葡萄糖、甘油三酯和尿酸的浓度(P<0.01),显著提高了肠道指数(P<0.05)。2)采用LE饲粮体增重(P<0.05)、腹脂率(P<0.01)显著低于其他2种饲粮,耗料增重比显著低于HE饲粮(P<0.05);采用HE饲粮耗能增重比极显著高于其他2种饲粮(P<0.01);采用H-LE饲粮神经肽Y(NPY)基因表达量显著高于LE饲粮(P<0.05)。3)DEX、饲粮能量水平对耗料增重比(P<0.05)和耗能增重比(P<0.01)的影响存在显著的互作效应。结果提示,DEX应激可使肉仔鸡血浆中葡萄糖、尿酸和甘油三酯的浓度升高;DEX应激和HE饲粮均能增加脂肪在腹部沉积,提高耗料增重比和耗能增重比;H-LE饲粮能上调肉仔鸡下丘脑NPY基因表达。     

乌鸡小脑的解剖学及神经肽Y神经元分布的研究

为了探明乌鸡小脑的形态结构及其细胞构筑和神经肽Y免疫反应神经元在小脑内的分布情况 ,采用石蜡切片HE染色和免疫组化SABC染色技术 ,对 1 0只泰和乌鸡的小脑进行了研究 ,并与北京鸭、肉鸽、本地鸡及非洲鸵鸟等禽类的相关结构进行了比较。结果表明 :①泰和乌鸡小脑皮质分 3层 ,由外至内依次为分子层、蒲肯野氏细胞层和颗粒层 ;②小脑分 1 0叶 ,Ⅰ、Ⅱ和Ⅹ为单叶 ,其余都有2个～ 3个小叶 ;③小脑中央核的神经元数量稀少 ;④神经肽Y免疫阳性神经元主要存在小脑皮质的蒲肯野氏细胞层 ,分子层、颗粒层 ,在小脑中央核未见阳性反应细胞 ;⑤泰和乌鸡小脑的形态结构及其细胞构筑与其它家禽相似 ;⑥小脑内NPY阳性神经元在蒲肯野氏细胞层的分布与鸡、肉鸽、大鼠的大体相似 ,在小脑白质内与肉鸽的有一定差异     

Unexplained underperformance syndrome in sport horses: classification, potential causes and recognition

When inadequate training stress is applied and recovery time is insufficient, performance reduction and chronic maladaptation occurs. Known as overtraining syndrome (OTS), this complex condition afflicts horses in top training. The name of the syndrome implies causation and it is necessary to differentiate it from over-reaching, a term used in horses that, after suffering a loss of performance without an obvious clinical reason, recover their performance within 1 or 2 weeks. The term OTS should be used for horses in heavy training losing performance without an obvious clinical reason and which is sustained for > 2 weeks. Despite considerable scientific investigations, the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood and there are no objective biomarkers for OTS. An imbalance between training and recovery seems to be the primary cause of this dysfunction. However, other factors such as transport, feeding, subclinical disease and general management may play a role. There is now sufficient evidence that red cell hypervolaemia is not a mechanism for the OTS in horses. A dysfunction of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis is momentarily the only mechanism that may be related to the development of this syndrome. In the absence of a scoring system to assess the psychological status of horses, the most effective method for diagnosis is the thorough assessment of the history and presenting complaint (length of unexplained performance deficit, weight loss despite adequate feed intake, concurrence of unspecific subclinical problems, unsuccessful treatments and changes of behaviour). Standardised exercise tests are suggested to provide a way to detect subtle changes in hormonal responses in the individual, which may make an important contribution to the detection of early overtraining. But further longitudinal studies are needed to clarify mechanism(s) underlying OTS and to establish the potential for the use of a physiological test as a predictive tool of this disorder.