Effects of Dietary Dihydropyridine Supplementation on Laying Performance and Fat Metabolism of Laying Hens

Zou, X.T.,Xu, Z.R.,Zhu, J.L.,Fang, X.J.,Jiang, J.F. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2007 Animal Bioscience Vol.20 No.10

The experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dihydropyridine on laying performance and fat metabolism of laying hens. Five hundred and forty laying hens, 40 weeks old, were randomly allotted to three groups, each of which included four replicates of 45 hens. The groups were given a basal corn-soybean meal diet supplemented with 0, 150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg dihydropyridine. Results showed that compared with the control group (0 mg/kg dihydropyridine), supplements of 150 and 300 mg/kg dihydropyridine increased egg production rate by 9.39% (p<0.01) and 12.97% (p<0.01), increased mean egg weight by 3% (p>0.05) and 4.8% (p>0.05), and improved feed efficiency by 9.54% (p<0.05) and 7.25% (p<0.05), respectively; The addition of 150 and 300 mg/kg dihydropyridine decreased percentage of abdominal fat by 35.4% (p<0.05) and 46.9% (p<0.05), decreased liver fat content by 32.4% (p<0.05) and 10.5% (p<0.05), increased HSL activity of abdominal fat by 39.64% (p<0.05) and 48.48% (p<0.05), increased HSL activity of liver by 9.4% (p>0.05) and 47.34% (p<0.05) and increased the content of cAMP in adenohypophysis by 14.67% (p<0.05) and 10.91% (p<0.05), respectively; The inclusion of 150 mg/kg dihydropyridine increased liver superoxide dismutase activity by 69.61% (p<0.05), and increased hepatic apoB concentration by 53.96% (p<0.05); The supplementation of 150 or 300 mg/kg dihydropyridine decreased malondialdehyde concentration of hepatic mitochondria by 30.90% (p<0.01) and 10.39% (p<0.05), respectively; Supplemented dihydropyridine had no significant effects on TG, Ch HDL-C and VLDL-C concentrations in serum; addition of 150 or 300 mg/kg dihydropyridine increased T3 levels in serum by 15.34% (p<0.05) and 11.88% (p<0.05) and decreased insulin concentration by 40.44% (p<0.05) and 54.37% (p<0.05), respectively. The results demonstrated that adding dihydropyridine had the tendency of improving very low density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) content in the ovary. It was concluded that dihydropyridine could improve laying performance and regulate the fat metabolism of laying hens and that 150 mg/kg dihydropyridine is the optimum dose for laying birds in practical conditions.

15-lipoxygenase metabolites play an important role in the development of a T-helper type 1 allergic inflammation induced by double-stranded RNA

Jeon, S. G.,Moon, H.-G.,Kim, Y.-S.,Choi, J.-P.,Shin, T.-S.,Hong, S.-W.,Tae, Y.-M.,Kim, S.-H.,Zhu, Z.,Gho, Y. S.,Kim, Y.-K. Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2009 Clinical and experimental allergy Vol.39 No.6

<P>Summary</P><P>Background</P><P>We recently demonstrated that the T-helper type 1 (Th1) immune response plays an important role in the development of non-eosinophilic inflammation induced by airway exposure of an allergen plus double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). However, the role of lipoxygenase (LO) metabolites in the development of Th1 inflammation is poorly understood.</P><P>Objective</P><P>To evaluate the role of LO metabolites in the development of Th1 inflammation induced by sensitization with an allergen plus dsRNA.</P><P>Methods</P><P>A Th2-allergic inflammation mouse model was created by an intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide-depleted ovalbumin (OVA, 75 μg) and alum (2 mg) twice, and the Th1 model was created by intranasal application of OVA (75 μg) and synthetic dsRNA [10 μg of poly(I : C)] four times, followed by an intranasal challenge with 50 μg of OVA four times. The role of LO metabolites was evaluated using two approaches: a transgenic approach using 5-LO<SUP>−/−</SUP> and 15-LO<SUP>−/−</SUP> mice, and a pharmacological approach using inhibitors of cysteinyl leucotriene receptor-1 (cysLTR1), LTB4 receptor (BLT1), and 15-LO.</P><P>Results</P><P>We found that the Th1-allergic inflammation induced by OVA+dsRNA sensitization was similar between 5-LO<SUP>−/−</SUP> and wild-type (WT) control mice, although Th2 inflammation induced by sensitization with OVA+alum was reduced in the former group. In addition, dsRNA-induced Th1 allergic inflammation, which is associated with down-regulation of 15-hydroxyeicosateraenoic acids production, was not affected by treatment with cysLTR1 or BLT1 inhibitors, whereas it was significantly lower in 12/15-LO<SUP>−/−</SUP> mice compared with WT control mice. Moreover, dsRNA-induced allergic inflammation and the recruitment of T cells following an allergen challenge were significantly inhibited by treatment with a specific 15-LO inhibitor (PD146176).</P><P>Conclusion</P><P>15-LO metabolites appear to be important mediators in the development of Th1-allergic inflammation induced by sensitization with an allergen plus dsRNA. Our findings suggest that the 15-LO pathway is a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of virus-associated asthma characterized by Th1 inflammation.</P>

Ultrafast Pump-Probe Study of Phase Separation and Competing Orders in the Underdoped(Ba,K)Fe2As2Superconductor

Chia, Elbert E. M.,Talbayev, D.,Zhu, Jian-Xin,Yuan, H. Q.,Park, T.,Thompson, J. D.,Panagopoulos, C.,Chen, G. F.,Luo, J. L.,Wang, N. L.,Taylor, A. J. American Physical Society 2010 Physical Review Letters Vol.104 No.2

<P>We report measurements of quasiparticle relaxation dynamics in the high-temperature superconductor (Ba,K)Fe2As2 in optimally doped, underdoped, and undoped regimes. In the underdoped sample, spin-density wave (SDW) order forms at approximately 85 K, followed by superconductivity at approximately 28 K. We find the emergence of a normal-state order that suppresses SDW at a temperature T{*} approximately 60 K and argue that this normal-state order is a precursor to superconductivity.</P>

Probenazole + Carbofuran (3.5+3.6)% GR 의 논토양과 벼에서의 잔류와 안전성 평가

주영철 ( Y. Z. Zhu ),김태한 ( T. H. Kim ),김성문 ( S. M. Kim ),임춘근 ( C. K. Lim ),허장현 ( J. H. Hur ) 강원대학교 농업생명과학연구원 2001 강원 농업생명환경연구 Vol.12 No.-

Investigation of PCR-RFLPs within Major Histocompatibility Complex B-G Genes Using Two Restriction Enzymes in Eight Breeds of Chinese Indigenous Chickens

R. F. Xu,K. Li,G. H. Chen,B. Y. Z. Qiang,D. L. Mo,B. Fan,C. C. Li,M. Yu,M. J. Zhu,T. A. Xiong,B. Liu 아세아·태평양축산학회 2005 Animal Bioscience Vol.18 No.7

New polymorphism of major histocompatibility complex B-G genes was investigated by amplification and digestion of a 401bp fragment including intron 1 and exon 2 using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCRRFLP) technique with two restriction enzymes of Msp I and Tas I in eight breeds of Chinese indigenous chickens and one exotic breed. In the fragment region of the gene, three novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected at the two restriction sites. We found the transition of two nucleotides of A294G and T295C occurred at Tas I restriction site, and consequently led to a nonsynonymous substitution of asparagine into serine at position 54 within the deduced amino acid sequence of immunoglobulin variableregion- like domain encoded by the exon 2 of B-G gene. It was observed at rare frequency that a single mutation of A294G occurring at the site, also caused an identical substitution of amino acid, asparagine 54-to-serine, to that we described previously. And the transversion of G319C at Msp I site led to a non-synonymous substitution, glutamine 62-to-histidine. The new alleles and allele frequencies identified by the PCR-RFLP method with the two enzymes were characterized, of which the allele A and B frequencies at Msp I and Tas I loci were given disequilibrium distribution either in the eight Chinese local breeds or in the exotic breed. By comparison, allele A at Msp I locus tended to be dominant, while, the allele B at Tas I locus tended to be dominant in all of the breeds analyzed. In Tibetan chickens, the preliminary association analysis revealed that no significant difference was observed between the different genotypes identified at the Msp I and Tas I loci and the laying performance traits, respectively.

Induction of leukemic-cell-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes by autologous monocyte-derived dendritic cells presenting leukemic cell antigens

Lee, J.-J.,Park, M.-S.,Park, J.-S.,Kang, H.-K.,Kim, S.-K.,Nguyen Pham, T.-N.,Zhu, X.-W.,Cho, D.,Nam, J.-H.,Kim, Y.-J.,Rhee, J.-H.,Chung, I.-J.,Kim, H.-J. Wiley-Liss 2006 JOURNAL OF CLINICAL APHERESIS Vol.21 No.3

<P>Leukemic-dendritic cells (leukemic-DCs) have certain limitations, which include difficult generation in 30–40% of patients, and low levels of expression of several key molecules. Therefore, an alternative approach using monocyte-derived DCs pulsed with tumor antigens is required. We investigated the possibility of immunotherapy for AML using leukemic-cell-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes that were stimulated in vitro by autologous DCs pulsed with tumor antigens. To generate DCs, CD14+ cells were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells using magnetic-activated cell sorting, and cultured in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4. On day 6, maturation of DCs was induced by addition of cytokine cocktail (TNF-&agr;, IL-1&bgr;, IL-6, and prostaglandin E<SUB>2</SUB>) for 2 days, and then the mature DCs were pulsed with whole leukemic cell lysates or apoptotic leukemic cells. There were no differences in the phenotypic expressions of mature DCs generated by pulsing with or without leukemic antigens. The mature DCs pulsed with tumor cell lysates or apoptotic leukemic cells showed a higher allostimulatory capacity for allogeneic CD3+ T cells as compared with mature non-pulsed DCs. Autologous CD3+ T cells stimulated by the mature pulsed DCs showed more potent cytotoxic activities against autologous leukemic cells than those stimulated by mature non-pulsed DCs. These results suggest that use of DCs pulsed with leukemic cell lysates or apoptotic leukemic cells is a feasible alternative immunotherapeutic approach to overcome the limitations of leukemic-DCs for the treatment of AML patients. J Clin Apheresis 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.</P>

Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Four Reproduction Component Traits in Two Chinese Indigenous Pig Breeds

Zhu, M.J.,Ding, J.T.,Liu, B.,Yu, M.,Fan, B.,Li, C.C.,Zhao, S.H. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2008 Animal Bioscience Vol.21 No.8

The reproduction component traits are important components of sow efficiency. The objective of this study was to evaluate the phenotypic and genetic parameters of four reproduction component traits (age at puberty (AP), preweaning number dead (PND), weaning to service interval (WSI), and intra-individual SD in litter size (IISDLS)) of sows in two Chinese indigenous pig breeds. Available reproductive records including 22,591 piglets born from 2,054 litters by 574 Jiangquhai sows and 464 Meishan sows were used in this investigation. A set of mixed models and restricted maximum likelihood methodology were used for the multiple trait analyses of these traits. The results showed that the estimates of heritabilities (${\pm}$standard error) for AP, PND, WSI and IISDLS were $0.40{\pm}0.05$, $0.06{\pm}0.03$, $0.20{\pm}0.02$ and 0.09{\pm}0.03 in Jiangquhai sows, and $0.35{\pm}0.06$, $0.05{\pm}0.03$, $0.18{\pm}0.03$ and $0.10{\pm}0.04$ in Meishan sows, respectively. There was moderate genetic correlation between AP and WSI, while there were low genetic correlations between the other pairwise traits. The genetic correlations were positive for most of the pairwise traits, except for the one between AP and IISDLS. The results indicated that all traits except for AP were difficult to make genetic improvement by traditional selection methods due to low heritabilities and the favorable improvement of AP might result in unfavorable changes of IISDLS due to the trend of genetic antagonism.

Development of a Certified Reference Material (NMIJ CRM 7203-a) for Elemental Analysis of Tap Water

Zhu, Y.,Narukawa, T.,Inagaki, K.,Miyashita, S.,Kuroiwa, T.,Ariga, T.,Kudo, I.,Koguchi, M.,Heo, S. W.,Suh, J. K. THE JAPAN SOCIETY OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY 2017 Analytical sciences Vol.33 No.3

Genetic Status of ESR Locus and Other Unidentified Genes As sociated with Litter Size in Chinese Indigenous Tongcheng Pig Breed after a Long Time Selection

Zhu, M.J.,Yu, M.,Liu, B.,Zhu, Z.Z.,Xiong, T.A.,Fan, B.,Xu, S.P.,Du, Y.Q.,Peng, Z.Z.,Li, K. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2004 Animal Bioscience Vol.17 No.5

The Tongcheng pig breed is a famous Chinese indigenous breed. The Ministry of Agriculture of China has filed it as 1 of 19 national key conservation breeds selected from more than 100 Chinese indigenous pig breeds in 2000. In order to improve the reproductive performance, it has been intensively selected to increase the litter size for about 10 years. The population randomly sampled from conservation nucleus of eight families in the Tongcheng pigs was genotyped for identification of their estrogen receptor locus polymorphisms with the PCR-RFLPs method. Only AB heterozygotes and BB homozygotes were detected, and $X^2$ test demonstrated that the locus was in disequilibrium at a significant level (p<0.05). In the present paper, the litter sizes in different parities were regarded as different traits. Holistic status of other unspecific and unidentified genes was estimated by using the statistical methods. Coefficients of kurtosis and skewness showed that the litter size still presented segregating characteristic in the 2nd, 5th, 7th, 8th and 9th parities. Analysis of homogeneity of variance between families confirmed the results for the 5th, 7th and 8th parities. The heritability of litter size for the 1st to 10th parities was estimated with paternal half-sib model and individual estimated breeding values (EBVs) were evaluated by a single trait animal model as well. We found that the averages of EBVs for litter size in each parity did not differ significantly between genotypes, despite the significant difference for original phenotype records in the 3rd, 4th and 5th parities (p<0.05 or p<0.01). The results may be explained by the deduction that the polymorphisms of ESR locus are no longer the important genetic base of litter size variation when the frequency of allele B accumulated in the experience of selection procedure, and further conferring that there exist special genes associated with litter size in the recent Tongcheng pigs population can be made.

<i>Phellinus linteus</i> activates different pathways to induce apoptosis in prostate cancer cells

Zhu, T,Guo, J,Collins, L,Kelly, J,Xiao, Z J,Kim, S-H,Chen, C-Y Nature Publishing Group 2007 The British journal of cancer Vol.96 No.4

<P>It is known that polysaccharides extracted from the <I>Phellinus linteus</I> (PL) mushroom possess antitumour activity. We previously have demonstrated that high doses of PL render murine or human lung cancer cells susceptible to apoptosis. However, the molecular mechanisms of PL-mediated apoptosis have not been fully explored. In this study, we demonstrate that LNCaP cells expressing the androgen receptor (AR) are highly susceptible to apoptosis in response to treatment with high doses of PL. In this process, caspase 8 and its downstream effectors (such as BID), as well as ER stress-related, apoptotic signalling, are activated. In contrast, a moderate amount of apoptosis occurs in PC3 cells (that lack AR) after the same treatment, which does not activate ER-mediated apoptotic signalling. We also show that, in the process of PL-induced apoptosis, caspase 2 is induced in LNCaP cells, but not in PC3 cells. However, LNCaP cells that express a mutated AR or LNCaP cells treated with a caspase 2 inhibitor blocked ER stress-induced apoptotic signals. The magnitudes of the induction of apoptosis in these cells are comparable with what occurred in the PC3 cells. The data demonstrate that high doses of PL activate the AR-dependent and independent apoptotic pathways. Our study also suggests that caspase 2 is a key target in the determination of the susceptibility of prostate cancer cells to PL-induced apoptosis.</P>