Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Franz Lahnsteiner Title: Digestive enzyme system of larvae of different freshwater teleosts and its differentiation during the initial phase of exogenous feeding Abstract: Activities of digestive enzymes and main histological characteristics of the intestine were investigated in larvae of three salmonid species (Coregonus maraena, C. atterensis, Thymallus thymallus), of burbot (Lota lota), and pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) at the onset of exogenous feeding (0 day degrees (°d)) and at 250°d thereafter. At the onset of exogenous feeding the activities of proteolytic, lipolytic, and carbohydrate splitting enzymes were detected in the intestines of all species. The enzymatic activities showed significant species specific differences indicating specializations in functionality and digestion ability. In C. atterensis and L. lota the activities of most enzymes were low in comparison to the other investigated species and therefore their digestive system was only poorly developed. In S. lucioperca it was moderately developed and in T. thymallus and C. maraena well-developed. After 250°d, the activities of the investigated enzymes changed in a very species specific way. Histologically, the intestines of the investigated species revealed no species specific differentiations at the onset of the first feeding with the exception of the absence of goblet cells in L. lota and C. atterensis. These differentiated after 250°d. Keywords: digestive system, larvae, freshwater fish, digestive enzymes, histology Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 403-416 Volume: 62 Issue: 10 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/25/2016-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/25/2016-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201710-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:62:y:2017:i:10:id:25-2016-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Liwen He Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Hao Wu Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Wanbao Chen Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Qingxiang Meng Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Zhenming Zhou Title: Influence of sulfur on the fermentation characteristics of corn distiller's dried grains with solubles in in vitro culture Abstract: The effects of sulfur on the fermentation characteristics of corn distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in in vitro culture were investigated. Samples (DDGS) were analyzed for nutrient values and then two independent in vitro experiments were conducted to study the effects of various sulfur sources (Na2S, Na2S2O4, Na2SO3, and Na2SO4) and different sulfur levels (0.346, 0.692, and 1.038%) on the fermentation characteristics of DDGS. Based on sampling and chemical composition analysis, there existed a great variation in the concentrations of sulfur and proximate nutrients of DDGS. In Experiment 1, sulfur source showed a significant (P < 0.01) effect on the gas production parameters (asymptotic gas production (b) and gas production rate (c)) and gas production of DDGS - sulfur from Na2SO4 and Na2S produced more (P < 0.01) gas within 48 h with a faster gas production rate as well as higher digestibilities (dry matter degradability and organic matter digestibility) and more energy supplies (metabolizable energy), net energy for maintenance and gain, and net energy for gain than sulfur from Na2SO3 and Na2S2O4. Neither ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) concentration nor volatile fatty acids (VFA) profile (total VFA and individual VFA proportion) were affected by sulfur source (P > 0.05). In Experiment 2, no significant (P > 0.05) effect on the fermentation characteristics of DDGS with increasing sulfur content was found. The collective findings suggest that regular chemical analyses are necessary to make full use of DDGS, and that the valence state of sulfur in DDGS exerts an effect on its in vitro fermentation characteristics and there appears no dose-related effect of sulfur on the fermentation of DDGS in a short-term in vitro culture. Keywords: DDGS, rumen fermentation, byproduct, feeding value Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 417-425 Volume: 62 Issue: 10 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/85/2016-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/85/2016-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201710-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:62:y:2017:i:10:id:85-2016-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Mingna Li Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Yak Breeding Engineering of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Xiaoyun Wu Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Yak Breeding Engineering of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Xian Guo Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Yak Breeding Engineering of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Pengjia Bao Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Yak Breeding Engineering of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Xuezhi Ding Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Yak Breeding Engineering of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Min Chu Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Yak Breeding Engineering of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Chunnian Liang Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Yak Breeding Engineering of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Ping Yan Title: Identification of optimal reference genes for examination of gene expression in different tissues of fetal yaks Abstract: Reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) is widely used to study the relative abundance of mRNA transcripts because of its sensitivity and reliable quantification. However, the reliability of the interpretation of expression data is influenced by several complex factors, including RNA quality, transcription activity, and PCR efficiency, among others. To avoid experimental errors arising from potential variation, the selection of appropriate reference genes to normalize gene expression is essential. In this study, 10 commonly used reference genes - ACTB, B2M, HPRT1, GAPDH, 18SrRNA, 28SrRNA, PPIA, UBE2D2, SDHA, and TBP - were selected as candidate reference genes for six fetal tissues (heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, and forehead skin) of yak (Bos grunniens). The transcription stability of the candidate reference genes was evaluated using geNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper. The results showed that the combination of TBP and ACTB provided high-quality data for further study. In contrast, the commonly used reference genes 28SrRNA, SDHA, GAPDH, and B2M should not be used for endogenous controls because of their unstable expression in this study. The reference genes that could be used in future gene expression studies in yaks were indentified. Keywords: transcription stability, RT-qPCR, TBP gene, ACTB gene Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 426-434 Volume: 62 Issue: 10 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/75/2016-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/75/2016-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201710-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:62:y:2017:i:10:id:75-2016-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Adéla Krejcárková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Petra Folková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Ondřej Šimoník Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Martina Šašková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Romana Krejčířová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Ondřej Drábek Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Radko Rajmon Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Effects of zearalenone, α-zearalenol, and genistein on boar sperm motility in vitro Abstract: Genistein (GEN) and zearalenone (ZEA), environmental oestrogens commonly present in feedstuff for pigs, are known for their effects on reproductive functions. The aim was to verify the in vitro effects of 0.5-20 µM concentrations of GEN, ZEA and its metabolite α-zearalenol (α-ZOL) on pig sperm motility. A dose-dependent increase of the immotile sperm amount against fast and medium-fast sperm clusters was observed with all three oestrogens from the lowest concentrations tested. Individual CASA (computer-assisted sperm analysis) parameters of motile sperms seemed to be less sensitive indicators. This should be considered especially in toxicological research on a sperm model. Background of inconsistencies in to date-published papers is discussed. The results shift the effective concentrations of ZEA, α-ZOL, and GEN to values achievable in vivo and raises the questions of risk assessment of these compounds in pig reproduction. Keywords: pig, spermatozoa, environmental oestrogens, motility, CASA, cluster analysis Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 435-445 Volume: 62 Issue: 10 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/19/2017-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/19/2017-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201710-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:62:y:2017:i:10:id:19-2017-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Zhong Chen Author-Name: Ying-Ya Jiang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, China Author-Name: Yong-Wei Zhou Author-Workplace-Name: College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, China Author-Name: Chen Liang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, China Author-Name: Li-Jin Xie Author-Workplace-Name: College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, China Title: Effects of heat stress on somatostatin and some related immune factors in the small intestine of Wenchang chicks Abstract: To investigate the effects of heat stress (HS) on developmental changes in immune functions of chick intestinal mucosa, one-day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned into control check (CK) and heat-stressed (HS) groups and raised under indoor temperature. The chicks in HS group were subjected to HS at 40 ± 0.5°C from 12:00 to14:00 h every day. Intestinal mucosa samples were collected weekly during 6 weeks, and the effects of HS on somatostatin and its related immune factors were examined using immunohistochemical, physiological, and biochemical methods. The results showed that HS obviously increased the amount and integral optical density of somatostatin positive cells, somatostatin content, as well as IFN-γ and IL-2 levels in the small intestine, and these increases reached statistical significance in some intestinal segments (P < 0.05). In addition, IgG, IgA, and IgM levels fluctuated in different intestinal segments and their levels in jejunum, duodenum, and ileum in 6-week-old chicks were significantly lower in HS group than in CK group (P < 0.05). The contents of immune-related enzymes also fluctuated, but the activities of acid phosphatase, lysozyme, and glutathione reductase in duodenum and jejunum were lower in 6-week-old chicks in HS group than in CK group, some reaching statistical significance (P < 0.05). Growth hormone (GH) and HSP70 contents in multiple intestinal segments in 6-week-old chicks were significantly higher in HS group than in CK group (P < 0.05). The results indicate that (1) HS could increase the expression and secretion of somatostatin and affect the normal development of immunoglobulins, cytokines, and immune-related enzymes in the small intestine, and thereby impact the chicks' intestine immune function; (2) GH and HSP70 in the small intestine were involved in self-protection mechanisms against HS-induced intestinal injury and somatostatin regulation might be one of the important components. Keywords: hyperthermia, somatostatin, intestinal mucosa, cytokines, lysozyme activity Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 446-455 Volume: 62 Issue: 10 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/69/2016-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/69/2016-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201710-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:62:y:2017:i:10:id:69-2016-CJAS