Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: W.L. Bai Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, P.R. China Author-Name: Y.L. Dang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, P.R. China Author-Name: R.H. Yin Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, P.R. China Author-Name: R.L. Yin Author-Workplace-Name: Research Academy of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine Sciences of Jilin Province, Changchun, P.R. China Author-Name: W.Q. Jiang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, P.R. China Author-Name: Z.Y. Wang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, P.R. China Author-Name: Y.B. Zhu Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, P.R. China Author-Name: J.J. Wang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, P.R. China Author-Name: Z.H. Zhao Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, P.R. China Author-Name: G.B. Luo Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, P.R. China Title: Combination of let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p is suitable normalizer for studying microRNA expression in skin tissue of Liaoning cashmere goat during hair follicle cycle Abstract: The microRNAs are non-coding RNA molecules of approximately 20-22 nucleotides that are found to be implicated in a wide range of physiological processes. In this study, the suitability of 10 candidate reference RNAs was evaluated for microRNA expression data in the skin tissue of Liaoning cashmere goat including 1 small nuclear RNA (snRNA; RNU6B), 1 small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA; Z30), 1 rRNA (5S), 1 transfer RNA (tRNA; Met-tRNA), and 6 microRNAs (miR; let-7d-5p, miR-15a-5p, miR-26a-5p, miR-125a-5p, miR-214-3p, and miR-221-3p). Based on geNorm and NormFinder algorithms, we identified let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p as the most stable reference RNAs. Also, three reference RNAs (let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p) were sufficient for the normalization of microRNA expression data in the skin of this breed. We further assessed the suitability of let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p in a combination as reference RNAs through detecting the relative expression of miR-24-3p, miR-29a-3p, miR-145a-5p, and miR-205-5p as putative genes of interest. Significant differences were revealed in the relative expression of miR-24-3p, miR-29a-3p, miR-145a-5p, and miR-205-5p at telogen stage of hair follicle cycle when a combination of let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p vs a single let-7d-5p were used as reference RNA. Based on the results from this study, we suggested that the combination of let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p as normalizers for microRNA expression data would be more reliable than that of single let-7d-5p, and the geometric mean of these three microRNAs (let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p) can be used for the normalization of microRNAs expression data in the skin of Liaoning cashmere goat. Keywords: cashmere goat skin, microRNA expression reference, expression stability Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 99-107 Volume: 61 Issue: 3 Year: 2016 DOI: 10.17221/8782-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/8782-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201603-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:61:y:2016:i:3:id:8782-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A.J. Martín de la Rosa Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain Author-Name: I. Cervantes Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain Author-Name: J.P. Gutiérrez Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain Title: Equivalent effective population size mating as a useful tool in the genetic management of the Ibicenco rabbit breed (Conill Pages d'Eivissa) Abstract: The Ibicenco rabbit (Conill Pages D'Eivissa) is a rare breed mainly located on Ibiza Island, in rural areas. Today breeders are looking for a sustainable use and alternative routes for profitability of the population to avoid its extinction. The breed presents some variety in coat colour (brown, black, orange, and grey), and breeders would like to maintain these characteristics. The objectives of this study were to develop a method to design matings in a population with unbalanced pedigree depth in a scenario of maintaining the variety of coat colours, and to analyze the genealogical information of the Ibicenco rabbit to ascertain the genetic structure of the population. Equivalent effective population size mating was developed as a useful parameter to design the mating in this particular scenario. Results obtained by the initial application showed that this population was properly managed for maintaining the maximum genetic variability. This mating method is recommended to manage the genetic variability of this small rabbit population in a scenario of partial permanent colour structure. For the pedigree analysis, a reference population formed by 143 animals available for reproduction was used. A demographic study, a probability gene origin analysis, computation of inbreeding and effective size, and an analysis of genetic structure were done. The generation interval was approximately one year (11.8 months). The average number of equivalent generations was 3.4. The effective numbers of founders and ancestors were 10 and 11, respectively, and the founder genome equivalent was 6. The average inbreeding was 10.8%, but the mean inbreeding seems to have stopped increasing as a consequence of deeper monitoring in the mating design. The realized effective size was 9.6 (via inbreeding) and 17.5 (via coancestry). Regarding the genetic structure, the orange and black groups are the most distant genetically while grey and blacks are closer. Keywords: diversity, genetic structure, pedigree, small populations Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 108-116 Volume: 61 Issue: 3 Year: 2016 DOI: 10.17221/8783-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/8783-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201603-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:61:y:2016:i:3:id:8783-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: H. Shi Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, P.R. China Author-Name: S. Yan Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, P.R. China Author-Name: L. Jin Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, P.R. China Author-Name: B. Shi Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, P.R. China Author-Name: X. Guo Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, P.R. China Title: Vitamin A affects the expression of antioxidant genes in bovine mammary epithelial cells with oxidative stress induced by diethylene triamine-nitric oxide Abstract: The considerable increase in oxygen requirements due to the high metabolic rate of the bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMEC) during lactation results in an augmented production of reactive nitrogen species (RNS), such as nitric oxide (NO), which may expose cows to increased oxidative stress. Vitamin A (VA) has been shown in several studies to enhance the antioxidant defence system against oxidative stress, but whether the reason is related to a reduced NO production remains unclear. Diethylene triamine-nitric oxide polymer (NOp) is a type of NO-generating compound, which is safe, efficacious, and releases NO over a long period. The current study was conducted to investigate the effect of VA on the antioxidant function in BMEC and the underlying mechanism by discussing the protection of VA on NO-induced oxidative stress of BMEC. The experiment was conducted using a single-factor completely randomized arrangement. Primary BMEC were isolated from the mammary glands of Holstein dairy cows. The third generation cells were randomly divided into four equal groups with six replicates each. Each group received different combinations of VA and NOp treatment as follows: controls (without VA and NOp), NOp treatment alone, VA treatment alone, and VA and NOp treatment together. The lysates were collected to evaluate the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) and the contents of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and the cell-free supernatants were collected to analyze selenoprotein P (SelP) content, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activities and nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) contents. The results suggested that compared to the control, the cell proliferation, the activity of the antioxidants GPx and TrxR, the content of SelP and the antioxidant gene expressions of GPx1, GPx4, and TrxR1 were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and the contents of ROS and MDA, the activity of iNOS, the contents of NO and IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, and their mRNA expressions were increased dramatically in the NOp treatment alone group (P < 0.05), but the opposite changes were observed in the VA treatment alone group. Compared to the NOp treatment alone, the VA and NOp treatment together significantly improved cell proliferation, the activities of the antioxidants GPx and TrxR, and the gene expressions of GPx1 and TrxR1, and dramatically decreased the contents of ROS and MDA, the activity of iNOS, the contents of NO and IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α and their mRNA expression levels (P < 0.05). The present research suggests that VA can improve the antioxidant function of BMEC and protect the cells from experiencing the NOp-induced oxidative stress by regulating antioxidant gene expression. The probable mechanism is that VA can reduce the activity of iNOS and its mRNA expression by down-regulating of the expression of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α to reduce NO production. However, the exact mechanism warrants future exploration. Keywords: nitric oxide, antioxidant enzymes, inflammatory factors Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 117-126 Volume: 61 Issue: 3 Year: 2016 DOI: 10.17221/8784-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/8784-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201603-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:61:y:2016:i:3:id:8784-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: I. Sedláček Author-Workplace-Name: Czech Collection of Microorganisms, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: E. Staňková Author-Workplace-Name: Czech Collection of Microorganisms, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: P. Švec Author-Workplace-Name: Czech Collection of Microorganisms, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Composition of cultivable enteric bacteria from the intestine of Antarctic fish (family Nototheniidae) Abstract: Selenium (Se), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) play important antioxidant role during the transition period of dairy cattle. However, there is limited information about their blood fluctuations during the entire transition period, especially in heifers. Furthermore, it is questionable whether the use of clinoptilolite, a natural zeolite, affects the availability of these trace elements during this period. The objective of the present study was to monitor the blood concentrations of Se, Cu, and Zn during the transition period of dairy heifers and to investigate whether the dietary inclusion of clinoptilolite has any effect on them. Forty clinically healthy Holstein heifers were used in the experiment. They were randomly allocated in two equal groups (n = 20) formed according to their body condition score. The control group was fed only the basal ration whereas the daily feed of treatment group was supplemented with 200 g clinoptilolite. The experiment started 28 days before the expected day of calving and lasted until day 21 after parturition. Blood samples were taken at the onset of the experiment and then at weekly intervals until parturition, at the day of calving, and on days 7, 14, and 21. All samples were analyzed for blood Se and plasma Cu and Zn concentrations. The results indicate that the levels of Se, Cu, and Zn in blood change significantly (P < 0.05) throughout the transition period in dairy heifers and increase significantly (P < 0.05) immediately after calving. Furthermore, the dietary administration of clinoptilolite does not significantly affect their blood concentration (P > 0.05). Blood levels of Se, Cu, and Zn, although undergoing significant changes throughout the transition period in dairy heifers, remain practically stable until parturition and increase significantly immediately after calving. Clinoptilolite does not impair the dietary availability of the trace elements evaluated when added in heifers' rations during this period. Keywords: trace elements, zeolite, parturition, dairy cattle Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 127-132 Volume: 61 Issue: 3 Year: 2016 DOI: 10.17221/8785-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/8785-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201603-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:61:y:2016:i:3:id:8785-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M.A. Karatzia Author-Workplace-Name: Clinic of Farm Animals, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece Author-Name: P.D. Katsoulos Author-Workplace-Name: Clinic of Farm Animals, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece Author-Name: H. Karatzias Author-Workplace-Name: Clinic of Farm Animals, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece Author-Name: A. Zeyner Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Nutrition, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany Title: Blood selenium, copper, and zinc in dairy heifers during the transition period and effects of clinoptilolite administration Keywords: trace elements, zeolite, parturition, dairy cattle Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 133-139 Volume: 61 Issue: 3 Year: 2016 DOI: 10.17221/8786-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/8786-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201603-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:61:y:2016:i:3:id:8786-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Menendez Author-Workplace-Name: Breeders Association of Gochu Asturcelta (ACGA), Avilés, Spain Author-Name: I. Alvarez Author-Workplace-Name: SERIDA-Deva, Gijón (Asturias), Spain Author-Name: I. Fernandez Author-Workplace-Name: SERIDA-Deva, Gijón (Asturias), Spain Author-Name: F. Goyache Author-Workplace-Name: SERIDA-Deva, Gijón (Asturias), Spain Title: Genealogical analysis of the Gochu Asturcelta pig breed: insights for conservation Abstract: The Breeders Association of Gochu Asturcelta (ACGA) initiated a recovery programme with six founders (three boars and three sows) in 2002. Information provided by a total of 3156 records (515 litters, 109 boars, and 309 sows) with father and mother known included in the Gochu Asturcelta herdbook was analyzed. The aim of the analyses was to assess if the mating policy implemented by the breeders association ACGA has been successful in preserving the genetic background of the founders in the present population. Two reference populations were defined: 232 individuals born in 2013 and 2014 (PopO), and 18 individuals born in 2012 and 2013 and kept for reproduction (PopR). Mean inbreeding was very high (0.230 ± 0.078 for the whole pedigree) with mean individual increase in inbreeding (ΔFi) of 0.067 ± 0.021 for PopO and PopR. However, mean ΔFi tended to keep steady values (around 0.07) after 2009. The number of founders identified for PopO and PopR was 4 and 5, respectively. The ratio between the effective number of ancestors (fa) and effective number of founders (fe) was roughly 1 for both PopO and PopR. This suggests that the ACGA's mating policy has avoided an extreme bottleneck in the population. However, drift caused noticeable losses of genetic diversity: ratio between the founder genome equivalents (fg) and fe was around 0.6 for the two reference populations. The current results highlight the need of unbalancing further genetic contributions to the population towards descendants of a very poorly represented founder (Fema 1). Keywords: genetic variability, pedigree analysis, founder contribution, conservation of genetic stock Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 140-149 Volume: 61 Issue: 3 Year: 2016 DOI: 10.17221/8787-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/8787-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201603-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:61:y:2016:i:3:id:8787-CJAS