Tannic acid (TA) is a hydrolysable plant secondary metabolite known to influence multiple physiological processes in animals; however, its role in regulating brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis remains poorly understood. Notably, the overwinter food caches of Brandt’s voles predominantly consist of Artemisia species, which are rich in TA. This study aimed to determine whether TA contributes to cold tolerance in Brandt’s voles by activating BAT thermogenesis. Adult male voles were administered TA, after which the masses of BAT and inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT) were measured, and temperature changes in BAT, the body surface, and the rectum were recorded following exposure to − 20 °C. In addition, transcriptomic analyses of BAT were performed, and the expression and protein levels of key thermogenic markers were assessed. The results showed that TA reduced iWAT mass while exerting minimal effects on BAT mass. TA-treated voles exhibited significantly elevated temperatures in BAT, the body surface, and the rectum after cold exposure. Histological analyses revealed that TA treatment reduced adipocyte area in iWAT while increasing the number of nuclei in brown adipocytes in BAT. In BAT, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in voles receiving a low TA dose were significantly enriched in pathways related to fat digestion and absorption and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling. In contrast, DEGs in voles administered a high TA dose were predominantly associated with brown adipocyte differentiation and the upregulation of cold-induced thermogenesis. Moreover, TA administration increased the expression of FFAR4 and UCP1, as well as the protein levels of PGC-1α, PPARγ, and UCP1 following cold exposure. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that TA enhances cold tolerance in Brandt’s voles by promoting thermogenic gene expression and stimulating brown adipocyte differentiation in BAT, providing novel insights into the role of plant secondary metabolites in mammalian cold adaptation and herbivore–plant interactions.

Environmental stressors encountered during pregnancy can exert profound effects on fetal development and program long-term physiological outcomes in offspring. Among these, ecologically relevant stressors such as predation risk remain understudied despite their potential to disrupt maternal physiology and placental function. In this study, we investigated how prenatal exposure to predator odor influences placental glucocorticoid metabolism and fetal growth in Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii). Pregnant voles were exposed to predator odor to simulate prenatal predator stress, allowing us to assess its effects on fetal growth, maternal and fetal corticosterone levels, and the expression of key enzymes and transport proteins involved in glucocorticoid regulation. The results revealed that prenatal exposure to predator odor significantly reduced fetal weight. While maternal and fetal serum corticosterone levels increased, placental corticosterone levels remained unchanged. Additionally, our study observed significant increases in the expression of placental P-glycoprotein and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1, both of which are crucial for maintaining placental glucocorticoid metabolic homeostasis. However, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 levels were unaffected. In the fetal brain, corticotropin-releasing hormone expression in the hypothalamus showed a downward trend, whereas glucocorticoid receptor expression in the hippocampus remained unchanged, indicating a disruption in the development of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. These findings suggest that prenatal exposure to predator odor alters placental glucocorticoid metabolism, leading to increased fetal corticosterone exposure and potentially impairing fetal development.

Sound and stocking density are two common factors which influence the performance and welfare of layers. Accumulated studies have been conducted on the impacts of the two factors on production performance, while knowledge regarding the impacts of the two factors and their interactions on stress-related serum indicators, behaviors, and cecal bacterial communities in laying hens is still limited. A 3 × 3 factorial design with three sound sources (natural sound (NS), instrumental music (IMS), or mixed road noise (MRS)) and three stocking densities (low density (LD), medium density (MD), and high density (HD)) was used in this 24-day experiment, in which 378 30-week-old Xiandao green-shell layers were randomly distributed into nine treatments with six replicates per treatment. At the 3rd, 12th, and 24th experimental day, we evaluated the serum levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) and recorded stress-related animal behaviors. At the end of the experiment, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of the cecal bacterial communities was performed. Our results confirmed that MRS and HD induced significantly elevated serum ACTH and CORT levels, and were correlated with significantly increased feather pecking behavior. IMS and LD were associated with enhanced preening behavior and reduced feather pecking behavior. LD significantly increased the Firmicutes/Bacteriodetes ratio and IMS significantly enriched the beneficial Lactobacillus population. Based on the obtained results we proposed that music exposure and reduced stocking density were helpful in reducing stress and improving cecal bacterial profile, which were beneficial for improving layers’ health status and welfare.

American foulbrood (AFB) is a cosmopolitan bacterial disease that affects honey bee (Apis mellifera) larvae and causes great economic losses in apiculture. Currently, no satisfactory methods are available for AFB treatment mainly due to the difficulties to eradicate the tenacious spores produced by the etiological agent of AFB, Paenibacillus larvae (Bacillales, Paenibacillaceae). This present review focused on the beneficial bacteria that displayed antagonistic activities against P. larvae and demonstrated potential in AFB control. Emphases were placed on commensal bacteria (genus Bacillus and lactic acid bacteria in particular) in the alimentary tract of honey bees. The probiotic roles lactic acid bacteria play in combating the pathogenic P. larvae and the limitations referring to the application of these beneficial bacteria were addressed.

Context Egg production rate (EPR) is the main criteria for egg producers and egg quality is important for consumers. Exposed to music, layers kept at appropriate stocking density could display optimal production performance without compromising egg quality. Aims This study aimed to investigate the possibility of employing instrumental music stimulus and regulating stocking density to maximise egg production performance and improve egg quality in Xiandao green-shell layers. Methods In total, 378 30-week-old layers were randomly distributed into nine treatments across three types of sound sources (natural sound, instrumental music, or mixed road noise) × three different stocking densities (4, 7 and 10 birds/cage corresponding to low, medium, and high density respectively), with six replicates per treatment. The 24-day experimental period was equally divided into four phases. EPR, average egg weight, and serum IgG concentration were determined at the end of each phase. Egg quality and organ indices were determined at the end of experiment. Results Hens exposed to music had a significantly higher EPR and laid eggs of better quality than did hens subjected to mixed road noise. Across all parameters, hens exposed to music did not significantly differ from hens exposed to natural sound. Stocking density had significant impacts on EPR, relative eggshell weight, and serum IgG concentration, with hens kept at high stocking density (357 cm2/hen) exhibiting the lowest values. Hens kept at medium density (510 cm2/hen) and low density (892 cm2/hen) showed no significant differences in tested parameters except that the former produced eggs with a significantly higher relative eggshell weight. Significant interactions between sound and density were observed in EPR, relative yolk weight, and spleen index, with hens exposed to music and kept at low density displaying the highest values. Conclusions Music and low stocking density had favourable effects on improving egg production and egg quality, while road noise and high stocking density exerted negative influences on them. Implications Xiandao green-shell layers are recommended to be kept at medium density to maximise the production benefits. The integration of music playback into management practices will not compromise layers’ production potential displayed under natural sound exposure.

Food grinding is supposed to be influenced by multiple factors. However, how those factors affecting this behavior remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of food restriction on food grinding in Brandt’s voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii), as well as the potential role of the gut microbiota in this process, through a comparison of the variations between voles with different food supplies. Food restriction reduced the relative amount of ground food to a greater extent than it lowered the relative food consumption, and altered the abundance of Staphylococcus, Aerococcus, Jeotgalicoccus, and Un--s-Clostridiaceae bacterium GM1. Fecal acetate content for the 7.5 g-food supply group was lower than that for the 15 g-food supply group. Our study indicated that food restriction could effectively inhibit food grinding. Further, Un--s-Clostridiaceae bacterium GM1 abundance, Aerococcus abundance, and acetate content were strongly related to food grinding. Variations in gut microbial abundance and short-chain fatty acid content induced by food restriction likely promote the inhibition of food grinding. These results could potentially provide guidance for reducing food waste during laboratory rodent maintenance.

为推进基础教育改革，充分发挥生物学学科的育人价值，高中生物学教材进行了改革。文章以“细 胞的物质输入和输出”这一章为例，对新、旧人教版高中生物学教材的内容编排和核心素养四维度等方面进行对 比，旨在挖掘新版教材的改动优势。结果表明，新版教材完善了教材内容，加强了生物学学科核心素养的渗透， 有利于培养学生的生物学核心素养。并基于此，对教师的教学提出建议，为高中生物学教学提供参考。

The three-chamber test has been widely used to investigate social approach/novelty preference in rodents. Most studies have used the briefly familiar and unfamiliar individuals as stimuli to examine social recognition; however, little is known about the effects of long-term familiar peers in this paradigm. In the present study, we made a slight modification to it: the first phase measured preference for a cage-mate (not a novel individual) over an identical wire cage without an individual stimulus; the later phase measured preference for a novel individual placed in the previous empty wire cage compared to the cage-mate (not the briefly familiar individual). The present study aimed to compare differences in sociability and social recognition between Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii) and C57BL/6J mice using this modified three-chamber test. The levels of anxiety-, depression-, and anhedonia-like behaviors were also examined in both species. We found that Brandt's voles preferred the cage-mate over the empty cage in phase 1 and showed a preference for the novel individual in phase 2. In C57BL/6J mice, males showed no preference for familiar peers in phase 1, whereas females failed to show a preference for the novel individual in phase 2, showing a sex-specific difference. Furthermore, Brandt's voles displayed higher levels of locomotor activity and sociability as well as lower levels of anxiety-, depression-, and anhedonia-like behaviors than C57BL/6J mice. Interestingly, sociability and social approach correlated with depression-like behavior, whereas social novelty preference correlated with anhedonia-like behavior. Together, these data indicate that Brandt's voles and C57BL/6J mice show significant differences in sociability, social recognition, and levels of anxiety-and depression-like behaviors. Furthermore, Brandt's voles are more suitable for the study of selective social relationships.

[目的]杂草是常见的稻田有害生物,化学除草已成为稻田控制杂草的重要技术措施,但随着一些除草剂的广泛应用,杂草的抗性逐渐增强,筛选出新药剂及其复配剂能够有效减缓杂草抗性,对防除杂草具有重要意义.[方法]通过水稻移栽同步喷雾法研究了氟酮磺草胺·丙草胺复配对水稻移栽田杂草的防效及其对水稻生长和产量的影响,于2020年在江苏水稻试验基地进行了田间试验.[结果]19％氟酮磺草胺SC对禾本科杂草防除效果较好,有效剂量18～36 g a.i./hm2处理药后30 d对禾本科杂草防效均在70％以上,且对水稻生长安全,但对稻田阔叶类、莎草科杂草防除效果不理想.27％氟酮磺草胺·呋喃磺草酮SC处理药后30 d对总草防效在90％以上,但对水稻生长具有较强的抑制作用;19％氟酮磺草胺SC+50％丙草胺EC(18+450 g a.i./hm2)防效与之相当,显著优于19％氟酮磺草胺SC单剂处理,且对水稻生长安全.[结论]氟酮磺草胺·丙草胺复配能有效控制水稻移栽田杂草生长,且对水稻安全,能有效保障水稻产量,有良好的应用前景.

动物学是一门重要的生物类基础课程,但是如何提高留学生动物学的全英文教学质量是目前最为紧要的任务.结合留学生自身的语言、文化、习惯等特点,在师资队伍培养、教学内容选择、备课、教学、考核等环节,初步总结和探讨了提高留学生动物学教学质量的方法与举措,希望对其他高校留学生的动物学全英文教学有所帮助.

为了解决传统实验教学中存在的手术操作不易掌握,部分器官微小、易损,结构与生理的协同作用不可见等问题,构建了"兔的形态结构与功能的虚拟仿真实验",并通过实施"虚实结合"的实验教学模式和形成性实验考核体系,调动了学生学习的兴趣和主动性,有效提升了实验教学效果,实现了实验项目完整、高效、绿色和环保.

2016年8月和2017年8月,在天目山国家级自然保护区采用样线法和样方法调查了旅游公路的运营对节肢动物群落的影响及道路致死状况.结果表明,公路两侧昆虫的遇见率(14.55±4.45只·km-1)显著的高于林中(8.27±2.22只·km-1;P=0.018),公路两侧0—5 m区域内节肢动物的捕获数(33.45±3.23只·m-2)也显著的高于20—30 m区域(23.92±4.72只·m-2;P=0.027);并且距离公路0—5 m区域内的节肢动物群落Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(2.21)也高于20—30 m区域(1.90),说明公路运营对节肢动物群落产生正的边缘效应.动物的平均道路致死率为9.01±3.17只·km-1,其中昆虫的道路致死数量最高,占总数的69.44％.说明道路边缘可能由于车辆的行驶而变成生态陷阱.另外还记录到大量的脊椎动物被车辆撞死,造成动物非自然死亡,进而对当地的野生动物群落产生明显的负面效应.

Xin Dai, Ling-Yu Zhou, Jie-Xia Cao, Yan-Qi Zhang, Feng-Ping Yang, Ai-Qin Wang, Wan-Hong Wei, and Sheng-Mei Yang (2018) Population density is well known to influence animal physiology and behavior. How population density affects the aggressive behavior of the Brandt's vole (Lasiopodomys brandtii) is, however, little known. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of group density on physiologic responses and aggressive behavior of male Brandt's voles and their potential underlying neuro-mechanism. The results show that increasing group density led to elevated serum corticosterone levels and increased spleen weight; it also induced more male-male aggressive behavior. By contrast, it had a negative effect on body growth and the weight of testis and epididymis. Aging also increased male-male aggressive behavior. Higher density reduced mRNA levels of tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2), 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1A (5HT1A), and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1B (5HT1B) in the amygdala and the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). Our results demonstrate that higher population density can intensify stress reactions and male-male aggressive behavior in Brandt's voles at the price of inhibiting body growth and reproduction. Serotonergic systems in the amygdala and the DRN may take part in the control of aggressive behavior among male voles. Our results provide novel insights into the neuro-mechanism underlying the influence of population density on aggressive behavior in Brandt's vole, and imply that aggressive behavior may play an important role in the population fluctuation of the animal.

以"鱼类解剖"为实验教学案例,采用验证性与探究性相结合的方法开展实验,旨在知识重现的同时,通过设定主题让学生做到自主探究鱼类特征的异同,从而调动他们的学习积极性,培养他们实验操作、数据采集与分析、语言组织以及沟通协调等的能力。结果表明,两种实验方法的融合使用在实验教学中收到良好的教学效果。

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary rosemary on egg quality and antioxidant ca pacity of egg contents of laying hens at high temperature.The total of 41-weeks old healthy Jing fen number Ⅰ laying hens were divided into 4 groups.The groups were fed with basal diet supplement with 0％,0.3％,0.6％ and 0.9％ of rose mary in diet respectively.After 60 days,sixty eggs were selected from each group to evaluate egg quality and antioxidant activity of egg contents when the eggs were stored at room temperature for 1,15,25 days.The results showed that egg yolk color at the storage of 1st,15th days of experimental groups were significantly higher than that of the control group (P＜0.05).Egg albumen height of experimental group in the storage for 15 days was significantly higher than that of the control group (P＜0.01).Yolk weight,albumen height,haugh unit (HU) of 0.6％ rosemary group in the storage for 25 days was significantly higher than that of the control group (P＜0.05).Yolk antioxidant capacity (AOC) of 0.6％ rosemary group at the storage of 1st day was significantly higher than that of the control group (P＜0.05).Egg albumen AOC of 0.6％ rosemary group for stored 15 days was significantly higher than that of the control group (P＜0.05),and yolk AOC of 0.3％ rosemary group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P＜0.05).Yolk AOC of 0.9％ rosemary group for stored 25 days was significantly higher than that of the control group (P＜0.05),and egg albumen AOC of 0.6％ rosemary group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P＜0.05).In conclusion,dietary supplementation of 0.6 ％ rosemary could significantly improve the egg antioxidant capacity and quality in high temperature.

为研究高温应激条件下蛋鸡日粮中添加维生素E对不同存放时间鸡蛋蛋品质及血清抗氧化能力的影响,试验选取健康的41周龄京粉Ⅰ号蛋鸡360只,随机分为4个组,每组3个重复,每个重复30只鸡.其中Ⅰ组为对照组,第Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ组为试验组,分别在日粮中添加不同水平的维生素E(0、100、200、300 mg/kg),预试期1周,试验期为6周.结果表明:在热应激(26~33℃,平均28.5℃)状态下,日粮中添加维生素E的试验Ⅲ组蛋白高度显著提高(P<0.05);日粮中添加维生素E的试验Ⅲ组哈氏单位在存放15 d时显著高于对照组(P<0.05);日粮中添加维生素E的试验Ⅲ、Ⅳ组蛋黄重在存放25 d时显著高于对照组(P<0.05);日粮中添加维生素E的试验Ⅱ组丙二醛(MDA)含量显著降低(P<0.05),试验Ⅲ组总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)显著升高(P<0.05).由此可见,高温应激下日粮中添加200 mg/kg维生素E可显著改善蛋鸡的抗氧化能力,提高鸡蛋蛋品质.

动物学是一门重要基础课.笔者结合多年的教学体会,对动物学的课程特点、教学模式和教学现状进行分析归纳,对教学方法和教学模式方面的改革提出一些设想和展望,认为除了采用多媒体教学外,教师应当重视其它教学方法的运用,来提高动物学的教学效果.

The SNPs of IGF-IR exon3 were studied by PCR-SSCP and PCR-RFLP in Jinghai yellow chicken and their genetic effects on production performances were also analyzed.The results showed that 2 SNPs at G11 0996C and C11 1014A were identified and three genotypes were detected in each locus,P1 locus deviated the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium(P0.05).The Least Square Means analysis showed that individuals with AA genotype had higher body weight than those with CC and CA at 1-day-age(P0.05).Hens with GC/AA had late first-egg-age but high first-egg-weight.Individuals with CC/CA com-genotype had low body weight,which was significantly lower than those with CC/AA at 12-weeky-day and 300-day(P0.01),lower than any other com-genotypes at 1-day,4-weeky-day,12-weeky-day,16-weeky-day and 300-day(P0.05).Those with CC/AA had significantly higher body weight than those with GC/CC or CC/CA at 12-weeky-day and 300-day(P0.01),higher than those with GC/CC,GC/CA,GC/AA,CC/CA(P0.05),respectively.The correlation characteristics between GC/AA,CC/CA,CC/AA and production performances could be helpful to accelerate the conservation and breeding process of Jinghai yellow chicken.

Steppe polecat (Mustela eversmanni Lesson, 18271 is the dominant species of mustelids in the alpine meadow ecosystem of the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibetan) plateau in China. Using the live and dead rats as the experimental prey, researchers investigated the effects of prey body masses, numbers and activities on predatory behaviors of the polecat. The results revealed that the prey activity was the most important factor that affected prey selection of the polecat during searching phase. The searching time used for live prey by polecat was significantly longer than that used for dead prey. Also, the prey numbers and body masses significantly affected prey selection of the polecat. When the activities of prey were the same, the polecat always preferred the group with more prey than the one with less prey. When the number and activity of prey were the same, the searching duration was significantly decreased from the lowest weight class to the highest one. In addition, the foraging profitability of polecat is prey dependent which was higher with smaller prey than with larger ones. These results indicated that the polecat could adjust the hunting behaviors to achieve the optimal profitability according to the characteristics of prey.

In this study, exon 2 of Insulin-like Growth Factor Receptor type I (IGF-IR) gene was studied as a candidate gene associated with production performance in Jinghai Yellow chicken. A pair of primers was designed to screen the Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) using DNA pooling which consisted of DNA from all 200 female chickens and three pairs of primers were then designed to check them individually. The result showed there were three SNPs (G26333A, G26336A and C26639T) in the chicken group, each had three genotypes and was in. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p>0.05). Correlation analysis showed the G to A transition at 26333 bp was negatively associated with 300 days egg number and body weight at 4 and 16 weeks of age, the G to A transition at 26336 bp was positively associated with body weight at 8 and 12 weeks of age and the C to T transition at 26639 bp was positively associated with body weight at 16 weeks of age. Com-genotype analysis showed that the age at the first egg of chickens with AA/CD/EE was earlier than those with AA/CC/EE and AB/CC/EF (p<0.05) and chickens with AB/CC/EE had more 300 days egg number than those with BB/CD/EE (p<0.05). AA/CC/EF was an enhancing com-genotype for body weight while AA/CC/EE and AB/CC/EF were the negative ones at 12 and 16 weeks of age. The results suggested a significant association between SNPs of IGF-IR gene and production traits and these SNPs could be used as potential genetic markers in future breeding of Jinghai yellow chicken.