KAP7-1基因在内蒙古白绒山羊皮肤中的表达

角蛋白关联蛋白是羊绒主要的结构蛋白之一,依据氨基酸的成分,基本上可分为超高硫、高硫和富含甘氨酸/酪氨酸三种角蛋白家族.从构建的成年山羊皮肤cDNA文库和ESTs分析中发现了与绵羊KAP7-1cDNA高度同源的gKAP7-1cDNA,在核苷酸水平的同源性达到96.8%,编码85个氨基酸,甘氨酸和酪氨酸的含量为30.12%.在GeneBank中的注册号是AY510121.1,有3个拷贝数.原位杂交显示它在皮肤初级毛囊的皮质层、表皮层和次级毛囊的皮质层有强烈的表达.     

高原型藏绵羊KAP基因单核苷酸多态性分析

试验旨在寻找角蛋白辅助蛋白(keratin-associated proteins,KAP)基因与产毛性状相关的多态位点,为藏绵羊产毛性状的分子标记提供理论依据。采用PCR-SSCP技术对高原型藏绵羊角蛋白辅助蛋白基因家族中KAP3.2、KAP7基因部分序列和KAP8基因外显子进行多态性分析。结果表明,3个基因座都存在多态性,均检测到AA、AB和BB 3种基因型。KAP3.2基因以A等位基因为优势等位基因,AA基因型为优势等位基因型;KAP7和KAP8基因均以B等位基因为优势等位基因,BB基因型为优势等位基因型。高原型藏绵羊在KAP3.2和KAP8基因座达中度多态,而在KAP7基因座为低度多态,在KAP3.2和KAP8位点上基因型频率处于Hardy-Weinberg非平衡状态。测序分析结果表明,KAP3.2和KAP8基因上分别存在1个C→T(271 bp)和1个T→C(1122 bp)的突变,均属于同义突变,KAP7基因5′调控区存在1个T→C(102 bp)的突变。     

高原型藏绵羊KAP 基因单核苷酸多态性分析

试验旨在寻找角蛋白辅助蛋白(keratin-associated proteins,KAP)基因与产毛性状相关的多态位点,为藏绵羊产毛性状的分子标记提供理论依据。采用PCR-SSCP技术对高原型藏绵羊角蛋白辅助蛋白基因家族中KAP 3.2、KAP 7基因部分序列和KAP 8基因外显子进行多态性分析。结果表明,3个基因座都存在多态性,均检测到AA、AB和BB 3种基因型。KAP 3.2基因以A等位基因为优势等位基因,AA基因型为优势等位基因型;KAP 7和KAP 8基因均以B等位基因为优势等位基因,BB基因型为优势等位基因型。高原型藏绵羊在KAP 3.2和KAP 8基因座达中度多态,而在KAP 7基因座为低度多态,在KAP 3.2和KAP 8位点上基因型频率处于Hardy-Weinberg非平衡状态。测序分析结果表明,KAP 3.2和KAP 8基因上分别存在1个C→T（271 bp）和1个T→C(1122 bp）的突变,均属于同义突变,KAP 7基因5′调控区存在1个T→C（102 bp）的突变。     

羊驼皮肤角蛋白基因家族的表达

为了揭示羊驼皮肤结构发生和皮肤生理的分子机制,对构建的皮肤cDNA文库进行了大规模的测序,以对羊驼皮肤的结构基因--角蛋白基因家族进行基因水平的表达分析.通过构建羊驼皮肤cDNA文库的基因表达谱,发现了羊驼皮肤结构基因角蛋白的表达具有以下特点:keratin家族有7个家庭成员表达,其中上皮角蛋白类型I keratin10表达丰度最高,而上皮角蛋白类型Ⅱ表达丰度较低;毛干特异性上皮角蛋白以类型I keratin 25低表达为主;毛发角蛋白以类型I keratin 40低表达为主.这些基因的表达对维持羊驼皮肤及其衍生物(毛发)的正常生理起着重要的作用.     

microRNAs在动物皮肤及毛囊发育中的调控作用研究进展

基因表达调控是动物被毛生长和发育的决定性因素。microRNA作为一种新发现的基因调控元件,在多种哺乳动物皮肤及毛囊中均有表达,并在转录后水平调节皮肤和毛发的生长和发育过程。从microRNA水平上解析绵羊、山羊及羊驼等被毛生长特点及发生机理,为提高毛用型经济动物的毛发品质和产量提供新的思路,同时也为更深入地研究皮肤组织中microRNA的功能提供更多的理论依据。作者主要针对目前已报道的在绵羊、山羊及羊驼等哺乳动物皮肤及毛囊发育中microRNA的调控作用进行综述。     

绵羊角蛋白Kap6.1启动子的克隆及活性检测

克隆绵羊角蛋白Kap6.1启动子,为下一步构建真核毛囊特异表达载体奠定基础。以绵羊基因组为模板,利用PCR方法克隆绵羊角蛋白结合蛋白Kap6.1启动子,并用此启动子置换真核表达载体pEGFP-N1的原始启动子CMV,构建pKap-EGFP质粒,通过转染内蒙古阿尔巴斯绒山羊胎儿皮肤成纤维细胞鉴定启动子活性。结果显示:克隆所获得的启动子序列与NCBI上发表序列匹配率为99.6%,启动子的特征序列CAAT框和TATA框完整,并且分别位于序列的921位和878位,pKap-EGFP质粒转染绒山羊成纤维细胞后Kap能启动GFP的表达,与对照组相比活性良好。本研究通过克隆获得了绵羊角蛋白结合蛋白Kap6.1启动子,并观测到其能启动GFP在山羊胎儿皮肤成纤维细胞中表达。     

牦牛KAP1家族基因长度多态研究

试验旨在研究牦牛角蛋白关联蛋白1（keratin associated protein 1,KAP1）家族基因长度多态与重复序列特点。研究对牦牛和黄牛KAP1家族基因进行测序,并与绵羊已知序列进行比较分析。结果发现,牛KAP1家族位于19号染色体,根据绵羊KAP1家族基因在染色体上的位置与相似性,重新命名了牛KAP1家族基因B2D、B2A、KAP1-1和B2C为KAP1-4、KAP1-1、KAP1-2、KAP1-3（按照染色体上的基因顺序）。KAP1家族基因之间在3'和5'端区域高度保守,中间有重复序列长度差异,其中牦牛KAP1-KAP4基因发现有30 bp的长度多态。研究其蛋白序列发现5个氨基酸为基序的重复序列B（CCQTS）A₁（CCQPT）,以及一个新的重复序列C（SIQTS）。本研究结果说明重复序列是KAP1家族基因间和基因内的主要差异区域,这可能与其角蛋白结合螺旋数相关。     

绒山羊KAP13-1基因在毛囊中的表达

绒山羊绒毛的主要结构蛋白是角蛋白和角蛋白关联蛋白(KAP).对绒山羊13-1的序列分析可知,其与人、鼠的KAP13家族cDNA同源性较高,但氨基酸序列同源性较低,而且丝氨酸含量高,半胱氨酸及甘氨酸/酪氨酸的含量远低于其他品种,分类上属于高硫KAP家族;绒山羊兴盛期毛囊KAP13-1的mRNA原位杂交也显示,KAP13-1只在毛母质上部和皮质层起始部分表达,且表达强烈.     

黄淮山羊Leptin cDNA的克隆及鉴定

根据GenBank中公布的山羊Leptin基因部分基因组核苷酸序列，设计合成一对引物，以山羊脂肪组织总RNA为模板，采用RT—PCR法，扩增出Leptin成熟蛋白编码cDNA序列，将此扩增产物克隆入pMD18-T载体，进行PCR、双酶切鉴定及序列测定与分析。结果表明，扩增的山羊Leptin基因编码序列长为441bp，编码146个氨基酸。同源性分析表明，山羊Leptin基因成熟蛋白编码cDNA与小鼠、人、猪、牛及绵羊基因相应序列的同源性分别为82．22％、87．76％、92．97％、96．15％和98．64％，氨基酸同源性为84．25％、86．99％、92．47％、97．95％和100．00％，说明Leptin是一组在进化上高度保守的蛋白质。山羊Leptin成熟蛋白cDNA的成功克隆，为进一步研究黄淮山羊Leptin基因全结构、基因表达与调控奠定了基础。     

绵羊VEGF-C基因可变剪切体克隆与序列分析

为克隆不同品种绵羊血管内皮生长因子C(VEGF-C)基因,探寻该基因与绵羊毛囊发育及毛用性状形成的内在关系,本实验利用RT-PCR方法从小尾寒羊与新吉细毛羊皮肤组织克隆出VEGF-C基因mRNA并进行生物信息学分析。以皮肤组织cDNA为模板,RT-PCR扩增显示存在多个扩增条带,克隆测序结果发现所有条带均为VEGF-C基因序列。除最长片段为全长VEGF-C基因外,其他均为VEGF-C异构体,片段长度依次为1 318、1 298、1 197、890、732、604 bp。所有异构体均表现为序列中间部位的缺失,分析显示各异构体由不同类型的可变剪切方式组合加工产生。氨基酸分析发现大部分异构体造成移码突变,编码类VEGF-C蛋白小肽,推测可能参与VEGF-C蛋白成熟或功能调节。本研究首次证明VEGF-C基因在绵羊皮肤组织存在复杂的转录后加工过程,为进一步研究VEGF家族在绵羊皮肤组织中的功能奠定基础。     

Phase I evaluation of CCNU (lomustine) in tumor-bearing cats

1-(2-Chloroethyl)3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU) is an alkylating agent in the nitrosourea subclass. A prospective evaluation of CCNU was done to determine the maximally tolerated dosage of CCNU in tumor-bearing cats. Response data were obtained when available. Twenty-five cats were treated with CCNU at a dosage of 50-60 mg/m3 body surface area. Complete hematologic data were available for 13 cats. Neutropenia was the acute dose-limiting toxicity. The median neutrophil count at the nadir was 1,000 cells/microL (mean, 2,433 cells/microL; range, 0-9,694 cells/microL). The time of neutrophil nadir was variable, occurring 7-28 days after treatment, and counts sometimes did not return to normal for up to 14 days after the nadir. Based on these findings, a 6-week dosing interval and weekly hematologic monitoring after the 1st treatment with CCNU are recommended. The nadir of the platelet count may occur 14-21 days after treatment. The median platelet count at the nadir was 43,500 cells/microL. No gastrointestinal, renal, or hepatic toxicities were observed after a single CCNU treatment, and additional studies to evaluate the potential for cumulative toxicity should be performed. Five cats with lymphoma and 1 cat with mast cell tumor had measurable responses to CCNU. Phase II studies to evaluate antitumor activity should be completed with a dosing regimen of 50-60 mg/m3 every 6 weeks.     

Furosemide continuous rate infusion in the horse: evaluation of enhanced efficacy and reduced side effects

Continuous rate infusion (CRI) of furosemide in humans is considered superior to intermittent administration (IA). This study examined whether furosemide CRI, compared with IA, would increase diuretic efficacy with decreased fluid and electrolyte fluctuations and activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in the horse. Five mares were used in a crossover-design study. During a 24-hour period, each horse received a total of 3 mg/kg furosemide by either CRI (0.12 mg/kg/h preceded by a loading dose of 0.12 mg/kg IV) or IA (1 mg/kg IV q8h). There was not a statistically significant difference in urine volume over 24 hours between methods; however, urine volume was significantly greater after CRI compared with IA during the first 8 hours ([median 25th percentile, 75th percentile]: 9.6 L [8.9, 14.4] for CRI versus 5.9 L [5.3, 6.0] for IA). CRI produced a more uniform urine flow, decreased fluctuations in plasma volume, and suppressed renal concentrating ability throughout the infusion period. Potassium, Ca, and Cl excretion was greater during CRI than IA (1,133 mmol [1.110, 1,229] versus 764 mmol [709, 904], 102.7 mmol [96.0, 117.2] versus 73.3 mmol [65.0, 73.5], and 1,776 mmol [1,657, 2.378] versus 1,596 mmol [1,457, 1,767], respectively). Elimination half-lives of furosemide were 1.35 and 0.47 hours for CRI and IA, respectively. The area under the excretion rate curve was 1,285.7 and 184.2 mL x mg/mL for CRI and IA, respectively. Furosemide CRI (0.12 mg/kg/h) for 8 hours, preceded by a loading dose (0.12 mg/kg), is recommended when profound diuresis is needed acutely in horses.     

The Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Nematodes of Dairy Cattle in Central Kenya

The epidemiology of H. placei and of other gastrointestinal nematodes in yearling dairy cattle was examined on two farms in Kiambu District, central Kenya during each of 13 one-month periods from April 1993 to April 1994. On each farm, 32 newly weaned dairy calves were given a single dose of albendazole and then placed on experimental pastures. Twelve of the animals were designated for bi-monthly slaughter (n = 2) and analysis of worm population characteristics and 20 were designated for blood and faecal collection and for weighing. Two parasite-free tracer calves were grazed alongside the weaner calves each month throughout the study period and were also slaughtered for analysis of worm populations. Faecal egg counts, haematological and serum pepsinogen determinations, herbage larval counts, and animal live weight changes were recorded monthly. The study revealed that Haemonchus placei, Trichostrongylus axei, Cooperia spp. and Oesophagostomum radiatum were responsible for parasitic gastroenteritis and that H. placei was the predominant nematode present in the young cattle on both farms. Faecal egg counts from resident cattle and necropsy worm counts revealed that pasture larval levels were directly related to the amount of rainfall. The total worm burdens in the animals were highest during the rainy season (March–June and October–December) and lowest during the dry seasons (July–September and January–February). The very low recovery of immature larvae of H. placei from the tracer calves indicated that arrested development is not a feature of the life cycle of this parasite in central Kenya. The maintenance of the parasite population depended on continuous cycling of infection between the host and the pasture. The agroclimatic conditions of the study area were such that, in general, favourable weather conditions for the development and survival of the free-living stages of gastrointestinal nematodes existed all year round.     

Diversity of Ectoparasites in Sheep Flocks in Sa~o Paulo,Brazil

The occurrence of ectoparasites in sheep flocks is frequently reported but seldom quantified. Sheep production used to be a predominantly family activity in the state of Sa~o Paulo (Brazil), but it began to become a commercial activity in the past decade. Thus, information about the ectoparasites existing in sheep flocks has become necessary. The present data were obtained by means of questionnaires sent to all sheep breeders belonging to the `Associaça~o Paulista de Criadores de Ovinos' (ASPACO; Sa~o Paulo State Association of Sheep Breeders). Response reliability was tested by means of random visits paid to 10.6% of the respondents. Most of the properties (89.5%) reported the presence of one or more ectoparasites. Screw-worm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) was the most frequent ectoparasite (72.5%), followed by bot fly larvae (Dermatobia hominis, 45.0%), ticks (Amblyomma cajennense) and Boophilus microplus, 31.3%) and finally lice (Damalinia ovis, 13.8%). Combined infestations also occurred, the most common one being screw-worm with bot fly larvae (36.0%) followed by bot fly larvae with ticks (13.9%), screw-worm with ticks (9.3%), bot fly larvae with lice (6.9%), and ticks with lice (5.0%). The most common triple combination was screw-worm, bot fly larvae and ticks (12.8%). Breeds raised for meat or wool were attacked by bot fly larvae and ticks more often than other breeds. Lice were only absent from animals of indigenous breeds. The relationships among these ectoparasites are discussed in terms of sheep breeds, flock size, seasonality and the ectoparasitic combinations on the host.     

Evaluation of biohydrogenation rate of canola vs. soya bean seeds as unsaturated fatty acids sources for ruminants in situ

An experiment was conducted to study disappearance of C14 to C18 fatty acids, lag times and biohydrogenation (BH) rates of C18 fatty acids of ground soya bean and canola seeds in situ. Three ruminally fistulated Dallagh sheep were used to determine ruminal BH of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs). Differences in the disappearance of fatty acids through the bags and lag times were observed between the oilseeds. We saw that the longer the incubation time of the oilseeds in the rumen, the lower the content of C18:2 and C18:3. Significantly higher lag times for both C18:2 and C18:3 were observed in ground canola compared to ground soya bean. BH rates of C18:2 and C18:3 fatty acids in soya bean were three times higher than those of canola. These results suggest that the fatty acid profile of fat source can affect the BH of UFAs by rumen micro‐organisms. So that UFAs of canola had higher ability to escape from ruminal BH. It seems that fatty acid profile of ruminant products is more affected by canola seed compared to soya bean seed.     

Serum biochemical values and mineral element contents of tissues in yaks

Serum biochemical values and the wet weight to dry weight ratios of tissues were determined in yaks in Shandan county of Gansu province. The liver, kidney, heart and muscle contents of seven elements in yaks were also analysed. Most serum biochemical values were similar to those of cattle, camels and sheep, but the calcium concentration was considerably above the normal range for other ruminants. The liver contained the highest concentrations of copper, manganese and cobalt and the kidney of selenium, iron and calcium.Abbreviations Alb albumin - ALT alanine aminotransferase - AST aspartate aminotransferase - BUN blood urea nitrogen - Chol cholesterol - Glob globulin - -GT -glutamyl transpeptidase - IP inorganic phosphorus - TP total protein     

Internal Parasites and Haematological Values in Cattle Slaughtered in Buea Subdivision of Cameroon

Tropical Animal Health and Production -     

Evaluation of the Microbiological Status of Milk and Various Structures in Mammary Glands from Naturally Infected Dairy Cows

A knowledge of the microbiological status of milk and of the different structures in the mammary glands has great importance in elucidating the pathogenesis of mammary gland infections. The objective of this study was to evaluate the microbiological status of various structures in the mammary glands from naturally infected dairy cows following slaughter. A total of 94 samples of milk, 184 samples of mammary parenchyma, 168 samples of gland cisterns, and 168 samples of teat cisterns were collected for microbiological examination. Microorganisms were detected in 59.9% of all samples, 67.0% of the milk samples, 70.1% of the mammary parenchymas, 55.9% of the gland cisterns and 48.8% of the teat cistern samples. When all samples were considered, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus were the most prevalent (35.7%) followed by coagulase-positive Staphylococcus (12.2%), Corynebacterium bovis (2.4%), Prototheca sp. (1.9%), and Streptococcus dysgalactiae (1.5%). There was a significantly higher occurrence of microorganisms in the milk and mammary parenchyma compared to the gland cisterns and teat cisterns. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Development and survival of free-living stages of gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep and goats on pasture in the Nigerian derived savanna

Four grass plots were sequentially contaminated with goat faeces containing known numbers of unembryonated eggs of predominantly Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus spp. between October 1982 and April 1983. Four other plots were similarly contaminated with sheep faeces between February and May 1987. An additional plot was repeatedly contaminated with sheep faeces from February to April 1987. Populations of free-living stages in faeces and of infective larvae (L₃) in the herbage were subsequently monitored until the end of April and June of 1983 and 1987 respectively. During February and May 1987 two control cultures of sheep faeces were incubated in the laboratory at 25°C–30°C and at a constant temperature of 50°C and the free-living development was also monitored. L₃ developed very readily in the faeces cultured at 25°C–30°C and in those spread on a grass plot in October, at the end of the wet season, but developed less on the plot contaminated in May at the start of the wet season. Worm eggs in faeces deposited on plots during the hot dry season (December to April) or incubated at 50°C died and disintegrated after 24–48 h exposure to the high environmental temperatures. The results indicate that it is unlikely that gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep and goats can develop or survive on open pasture during the dry season in the Nigerian derived savanna zone.