Skimmed Milk Diluent Promotes the Sperm Motility and Conception Rate of Dorper Sheep Compared to Vitamin B12 Diluent

BACKGROUND

Dorper sheep is an ideal breed for improvement, with higher meat production and increased adaptability. Artificial insemination is an efficient technique for Dorper genetic improvement and reproduction management. However, there is no uniform diluent for Dorper semen dilution.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effects of vitamin B12 (VB12) and skimmed milk diluents on sperm motility at different ratios and time points, and the effects on conception rate.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We detected the effect of diluents on sperm density, deformity, motility and conception rate of Dorper sheep.

RESULTS

We found the optimal dilution ratio of skimmed milk is 1:3. Compared to VB12, skimmed milk at 1:3 ratio prolonged semen storage time (48 h vs. 18 h, storage at a low temperature of 4°C) and increased the survival index of sperm (44.7 ± 2.8 vs. 18.5 ± 0.6, P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Skimmed milk is more effective, nutritious and convenient than vitamin B12, representing a more advantageous diluent.

[CD(4+) T lymphocyte responses to anti-retroviral therapy, among HIV/AIDS patients aged 18 and over]

Objective: To compare the differences of CD(4) (+) T lymphocyte (CD(4)) counts between patients aged 18 and over, to explore the effect of age on treatment, 36 months after having received the China National Free AIDS Antiretroviral Treatment on HIV/AIDS. Methods: Through the National ART Information Ssystem, we selected those HIV/AIDS patients who initiated the ART 36 months after the ART, between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2012 in Guangzhou, Liuzhou and Kunming. Patients were divided into age groups as 18-49, 50-59 and 60 or over year olds, at the baseline of treatment. Under different levels of baseline CD(4) counts, we chose the baseline and different time-point of CD(4) counts as dependent variables, applied mixed linear model to analyze the effects of age, viral suppression, gender, baseline CD(4)/CD(8) ratio and initial treatment regimen. Results: A total of 5 331 HIV/AIDS patients were recruited. No differences were found on age group ratios between different levels of baseline CD(4) counts. At the level of baseline CD(4)<200 cells/μl, both the 50-59 and 60 or above years old groups had lower CD(4) counts than the 18-49 year-old group, within 36 months after the initiation of ART. However, at the baseline CD(4) level of 200-350 cells/μl, no significant differences on CD(4) counts between the 50-59 year-old and 18-49 year-old groups were noticed. CD(4) counts seemed lower in the 60 and above year-old group than in the 18-49 year-old group. Conclusion: Age might serve as an influencing factor on CD(4) counts within 36 months after the initiation of ART, suggesting that earlier initiation of ART might be of help to the recovery of immune function in the 50-59 year-old group.

Enhancing the rate performance of spherical LiFeBO3/C via Cr doping

Spherical LiFe_1−xCr_xBO₃/C (x = 0, 0.005, 0.008) has been successfully synthesized by ball-milling and spray-drying assisted high-temperature solid-state reaction.

Infections of nervous necrosis virus in wild and cage-reared marine fish from South China Sea with unexpected wide host ranges

The concerns about the impact of the nervous necrosis virus (NNV) infections in wild fish have been raised. This paper presents the results of quarterly surveys of NNV in wild and cage-reared marine fish from South China Sea. Samples of 892 wild fish belonging to 69 species and 381 cage-reared fish belonging to 11 species were collected and were detected by seminested PCR and nested PCR. In the case of seminested PCR, the positive signal was detected in 3.0% and 3.1% samples of wild and cage-reared fish, respectively. However, by nested RT-PCR, the positive signal was observed in 42.3% and 63.0% samples of wild and cage-reared fish, respectively. If the fish species were considered, the positive signal was detected in 21.7% and 72.7% species of wild and cage-reared fish by seminested PCR assay, respectively. However, by nested RT-PCR, the positive signal was observed in 65.2% and 100% species of wild and cage-reared fish, respectively. The nucleotide sequences of the nested PCR products were determined. Phylogenetic tree showed that all the obtained viral isolates belonged to the red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV) genotype. Thirty-five species of the marine fish were the new hosts of NNV.

p53 mediates autophagy activation and mitochondria dysfunction in kainic acid-induced excitotoxicity in primary striatal neurons

The present study sought to investigate if p53 mediates autophagy activation and mitochondria dysfunction in primary striatal neurons in kainic acid (KA)-induced excitotoxicity. The excitotoxic model of primary striatal neurons was established with KA. The levels of p53, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), Beclin1, and p62 were examined by Western blot and immunostaining. Autophagy activation was also determined with electron microscope. To evaluate the contribution of p53 to autophagy activation and mitochondria dysfunction in KA-induced excitotoxicity, the protein levels of LC3, Beclin1, and p62, the mitochondrial transmembrane potential and the mitochondrial Reactive oxygen species (ROS) after pretreatment with the p53 inhibitor pifithrin-alpha (PFT-α) and the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) were analyzed. Excitotoxic neuronal injury was induced after KA treatment as demonstrated by increases in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage and was significantly inhibited by PFT-α. Western blot and immunostaining showed that the induction of p53 protein occurred in the cytosol and the nucleus. Increases in autophagic proteins LC3 and Beclin1 were observed, whereas the protein levels of p62 decreased after KA treatment. Electron microscope analysis showed increased autophagosomes in the cytoplasm. The changes in LC3, Beclin1, and p62 levels were blocked by PFT-α, PFT-μ, 3-MA, and E64d but not Z-DEVD-FMK. JC-1 staining showed the depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential after excitotoxic insult. Mito-tracker and RedoxSensor Red CC-1 staining showed an increased production of mitochondrial ROS after excitotoxic insult. These effects were significantly suppressed after pretreatment with PFT-α and 3-MA. This study suggests that p53 mediates KA-induced autophagy activation and mitochondrial dysfunction in striatal neurons.