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27 February 2013, Volume 33 Issue 2

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Effects of high protein diet and reproduction on energy intake and thermogenesis in Brandt’s voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii)

LOU Meifang,ZHANG Xueying ,FU Rongshu ,WANG Dehua

2013, 33(2):  95-105. 

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The present study was designed to explore the effects of high protein diet and reproduction on food intake and thermogenesis in Brandt’s voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii). The adult female Brandt’s voles were divided into four groups,non-reproduction and control diet (NCon,17 7% of protein),non-reproduction and high protein diet (NHP,36 6% of protein), reproduction and control diet (RCon),and reproduction and high protein diet (RHP). Body mass,body composition,organ mass,food intake,resting metabolic rate (RMR),uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1)content in brown adipose tissue (BAT),and serum leptin and prolactin levels were measured. Body mass was decreased in voles fed high protein diet, but this effect was disappeared during pregnancy and lactation. Food intake,gross and digestible energy intake were decreased in non-reproductive voles fed high protein diet,but not during lactation in reproductive voles fed high protein diet.Digestibility was increased and serum leptin was decreased in both non-reproductive and reproductive voles fed high
protein diet. The kidney mass was increased and caecum mass was decreased in reproductive voles fed high protein diet. High protein diet had no effects on RMR,UCP1 content and serum prolactin levels in both non-reproductive and reproductive voles. The body mass,energy intake,RMR and serum prolactin were increased in reproductive voles compared with non-reproductive ones. Our results suggest that food quality can affect the energy metabolism in Brandt’s voles,and vole with different reproductive status showed different responses.

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Effects of fasting and refeeding on body mass,thermogenesis and serum leptin in Eothenomys miletus

GAO Wenrong,ZHU Wanlong,CAO Neng,MENG Lihua,WANG Zhengkun,YU Tingting,MU

2013, 33(2):  106-112. 

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The adaptive control of animal behavior and physiological activities is the main strategy in response to the change of food resources. To investigate the effect of fasting and refeeding on the body mass,thermogenesis and serum leptin in Eothenomys miletus,changes in body and body fat mass,resting metabolic rate (RMR),body composition,serum leptin level and post-fasting food intake were monitored and measured. The data showed significant fasting-induced reductions in body mass and body fat mass. Body mass,but not body fat,can be restored to the control level in refeeding voles. RMR decreased significantly in response to fasting,and can return to the control level after refeeding. Fasting for 12 hours induced a rapid reduction in serum leptin content,it can not recover the control level after refeeding. Interestingly,there were no postfasting compensatory increases in food intake. There was a positive relation between serum leptin level and body fat mass. Our data indicate that E. miletus can adjust their physiological functions integratively to cope with starvation by decreasing body mass,adaptive thermogenesis and serum leptin level. There is no post-fasting hyperphagia in E. miletus. The reduction of serum leptin was somewhat earlier than the decline in body fat and body mass.

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A new species of Uropsilus(Talpidae:Uropsilinae)from Sichuan,China

LIU Yang,LIU Shaoying,SUN Zhiyu,GUO Peng ,FAN Zhenxin,Robert W Murphy

2013, 33(2):  113-122. 

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We collected a group of shrew moles from Puge County,Meigu County,Luding County,and Jiulong County,southwestern Sichuan,China. Morphologically,they were similar to other species of shrew moles in possessing the following suite of characteristics:body shrew-like;snout long and thin;ear present;forefeet small and not modified for digging; long tail has rings of small scales;tip of tail with a tuft of hair appearing like a penbrush;fur long and pointing posteriorly; and skull mole-like with complete zygomatic arches. However,the new specimens differed from all other species of shrew moles in two characteristics. First,the new specimens had nine teeth in both the upper and lower toothrows. In contrast,
Uropsilus soricipes had nine teeth in the upper toothrow but eight in the lower toothrow;U. gracilis,U. andersoni,and U. investigator had 10 in the upper toothrow and nine in the lower toothrow. Second,the tooth formula differed in having i2 /2,c1/1,pm3/ 3,and m3 /3 = 36.This differed from U. soricipes,which had i2/1,c1/1,pm3 /3,and m3 /3 = 34. It also differed from U. andersoni:i2 /2,c1/1,pm4 /3,and m3 /3 = 38. Uropsilus gracilus and U. investigator had i2 /1, c1 / 1,pm4 /4,and m3 /3 =38. The upper toothrows of the new specimens were similar to U. soricipes. The lower toothrow was similar to U. andersoni in having two incisors with the second one being minute;U. gracilis and U. investigator had only one lower incisor. Reconstructions of the matrilineal history based on maximum likelihood,maximum parsimony,and Bayesian inference of mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences always resolved the new specimens as being the sister lineage to U. andersoni. Given the matrilineal history and differences in morphology,we described the new specimens as the species Uropsilus aequodonenia sp. nov. and suggested the English name ‘Equivalent teeth Shrew Mole’.

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A recent survey of bat diversity (Mammalia:Chiroptera)in Macau

WONG Kai Chin,TAN Liangjing,YANG Jian,CHEN Yi,LIU Qi,SHEN Qiqi,CHOI Man

2013, 33(2):  123-132. 

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Surveys to investigate bat species diversity were conducted in Macau from 2009 to 2012. Results indicated that at least 10 bat species belonging to eight genera from five families were identified. Of the 10 species,Hipposideros armiger (Hipposideridae)and Pipistrellus abramus (Vespertilionidae)were previously recorded in Macau,while eight species were
newly recorded for Macau from the present study. The new bats were Cynopterus sphinx and Rousettus leschenaulti (Pteropidae), Taphozous melanopogon(Emballonuridae), Rhinolophus pusillus (Rhinolophidae),Myotis ricketti,P. pipistrellus, Miniopterus schreibersi,and M. pusillus (Vespertilionidae). In addition,using ultrasound survey methods and comparing results with published data on echolocation calls,we also recorded and identified one Rhinolophus species and one Hipposideros species,the former possibly representing R. siamensis or R. affinis,and the latter H. pomona or Aselliscus stoliczkanus. The present work also reports data on distribution range,morphological characteristics and echolocation calls of all 10 captured bat species,as well as a discussion of population size and conservation status in these species. It is important to protect roost habitats (including caves,old buildings and Chinese fan-palm)in order to conserve bat species diversity in Macau.

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The variation characteristics of the beta diversity of rodent communities in fragmented landscape in the Alxa desert,China

ZHANG Xiaodong,WU Xiaodong,FU Heping,CHA Muha,HAN Yanjing

2013, 33(2):  133-143. 

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This study was conducted in four different habitats of the Alax desert of Inner Mongolia including a grazing-prohibited site,a rotational-grazing site,an over-grazing site and farmland. Rodent communities were sampled using snaptraps for a single day each month during April,July and October from 2002 to 2010,and beta diversity of rodent communities in
the different habitats was analyzed. The characteristics of shrub communities also were analyzed to investigate landscape fragmentation under different disturbance conditions. The variation of the four habitats along with gradient were divided into six classes based on the amount of landscape fragmentation. The Jaccard’s diversity index,Sorenson’s diversity index and Cody diversity index were used to analyze the variation in the beta diversity of the rodent communities. The results showed that the three beta diversity indices differed significantly among all gradients between habitats (P < 0.05),and the variance was the most obvious between grazing-prohibited areas and the over-grazing site in the gradient. The Shannon-Wiener index, Simpson index and the species number in the shrub communities were significantly different among studies sites (P <0. 01),and showed the following trends:rotational-grazing site > over-grazing site > grazing-prohibited site > farmland. The region was considered a fragmented landscape if the degree of variation for environment conditions and the beta diversity was similar. In addition,the main reason for the landscape fragmentation in the region was the human-caused disturbance,
particularly the grazing activities,which drove the heterogeneity of environment significantly. The beta diversity increase along with the increase of environment gradient lead to heterogeneity,which was caused by the increase in difference and variation of the species composition between rodent communities rather than the increase of species in arid desert region.

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The characteristics of time budgets of male goitred gazelle in different rutting period stages

XIA Canjun,YANG Weikang ,XU Wenxuan,XU Feng,David Blank

2013, 33(2):  144-149. 

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Several researchers have shown that male ruminants reduce forage intake sharply during the rutting season. Two hypotheses could explain this rut-induced hypophagia: a foraging-constraint hypothesis,and an energy-saving hypothesis. We compared the time budgets of male goitred gazelle before,during and after the rut in Kalamaili Nature Reserve during 2009 -2010. The results showed that the percentage time of spent feeding decreased dramatically in rut (37. 9% )compared to before (63. 6% )and after rut (65. 8% ). Lying time during rut (6. 0% )was notably lower than during pre-rut (23. 2% ),and similar with that of post-rut (5. 4% ). The ratio of feeding and lying continuously increased across different stages of rut (2. 7,6.3 and 12. 1,respectively). During rut,percentages time spent standing and moving were significantly higher than during pre- and post-rut. Most of non-rut time was allocated to feeding time (86. 4% ),and a negative correlation between feeding and rutting time emerged. In contrast,time budgets of female were similar in different stages of rut. In conclusion,male goitred gazelle maximized their energy intake when not engaged in rutting behaviors during rut season. The increase of rutting behaviors was expected to be at the expense of feeding time. Accordingly,the foragingconstraint hypothesis explains the rutting-induced hypophagia of goitred gazelle better.

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Seed dispersal and hoarding of three species by rodents in the Mt. Taihangshan Area,Jiyuan,China

WANG Chong,ZHANG Yifeng,WANG Zhenlong,QIAO Wangtie,LU Jiqi

2013, 33(2):  150-156. 

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Seed hoarders,such as small rodents,may adopt different eating and hoarding strategies for seeds of different plant species,and resulting in different plant seed dispersal patterns. At here,we tracked the seeds of three sympatric tree species:Quercus variabilis,Prunus armeniaca,Prunus persica,dispersed by small rodents in the Yugong State-owned Forestry Station,Jiyuan,Henan Province,Mt. Taihangshan area from September 10th to November 8th in 2011. We aimed to determine differences in harvest rates,seed fates,dispersal distances,cache sites and cache size among these seeds and understand the influence of rodents on seed dispersal of these sympatric tree species. The results showed that:1)Apodemus peninsulae and Sciurotamias davidianus were mainly responsible for the consumption and hoarding of the tested seeds; 2)Seed harvest rates varied significantly among different seed species,Q. variabilis (median survival times (MST): 8. 6 d)> P. armeniaca (MST:20. 9 d) > P. persica (MST:37. 5 d);3)A total of 55.0 % of Q. variabilis acorns were consumed,62.0 % of P. armeniaca seeds were scatter-hoarded (buried in soil),whereas almost all of P. persica seeds (99.0 % )remained in situ; 4)Majorities seeds of P. armeniaca (88.6% )and Q. variabilis (78. 9% )were hoarded either under shrubs,near the tree stems or near rock edges,whereas a few seeds of P. armeniaca (4. 3% )and Q. variabilis (9. 1% )were hoarded in the microhabitat of bare ground;5)P. armeniaca seeds were dispersed farther from the seed sources (3.4 ± 2.1 m,mean ± SE,n =63)than were Q. variabilis acorns (2.5 ± 2. 4 m,n = 57). These results suggest that small rodents are likely to adopt different hoarding strategies for sympatric plant seeds,and subsequently result in different plant seed dispersal patterns.

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Establishment and characterization of yak mammary epithelial cell line

HAO Mingchao,LIU Ben,FAN Jiangfeng,CHEN Peng,ZHANG Hua,WANG Mingliang,GAO Xudong,YU Sijiu

2013, 33(2):  157-163. 

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Abstract:The present study was carried out to establish a method of cultivation of yak mammary epithelial cell in vitro. Yak mammary epithelial cell line (YMEC)was established successfully by use of collagenase digestion,and then identified by immunocytochemistry,ultrastructural characteristics and RT-PCR. The morphological character,doubling time of cell population,growth curve,and chromosomal analysis of YMEC were characterized. The results showed that YMEC maintained a normal diploid chromosome modal number of 2n = 60,possessed an estimated population doubling time of 45 - 48 h and differentiation appeared after subculturing 25 times. The cell showed typical ‘cobblestone’morphology with numerous microvilli on its surface and there existed abundant amounts of rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria in its cytoplasm. The result of sterility was negative. When the cells were stimulated by hormones,mRNA of beta-casein was detected. It was concluded that YMEC line retaining mammary gland specific functions was established,which might be a useful tool for studying the function of yak mammary epithelial cell.

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The utility of detecting corticosterone levels in feces of root vole (Microtus oeconomus)

HE Hui,CAO Yifan,CHEN Lilin,DU Shouyang,NIE Xuheng,BIAN Jianghui

2013, 33(2):  164-171. 

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To determine the utility of detecting corticosterone levels in feces of root vole (Microtus oeconomus),fecal corticosterone concentration during 24-hour rhythm,alteration induced by acute and chronic restraints and the negative feedback function of HPA axis were measured. The results showed that the fecal corticosterone concentration in root voles displayed
dynamic diurnal changes. This index peaked at 08:00 and 24:00,and fallen to the bottoms at 12:00 and 16:00. Two hours of restraint caused a 12h-delayed significant increase in fecal corticosterone,with sex-differences. The fecal corticosterone concentration of chronic stressed voles maintained at relatively high levels. Furthermore,the chronically stressed individuals’stress reaction time is relatively long,indicating the negative feedback function of HPA axis was deteriorated. Based on the above,fecal corticosterone measurements provide a reliable,accurate and useful method to assessing individual stress level. It can be assured use in studies related to root vole population.

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Hisþºlºgicâl sþrucþurð cºmpârisºn ºf þhð smâll inþðsþinð b&

YANG Chuanhua,DU Yurong,LIN Gonghua,SU Jianping,ZHANG Tongzuo

2013, 33(2):  172-177. 

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Þhð smâll inþðsþinð lðngþh ºf Gânsu zºkºr (Mýºspâlâx cânsus) âbºuþ 70 pðrcðnþ þhâþ ºf þhð plâþðâu zºkºr(M. bâilðýi). Þº mððþ þhð sâmð ðnðrgý rðquirðmðnþs,sºmð pârþs ºf þhð digðsþivð sýsþðm in Gânsu zºkºr musþ bð âdjusþðd þº cºmpðnsâþð fºr dðficiðnciðs ºf digðsþivð ând âbsºrpþivð âbiliþiðs. Þhð hisþºlºgicâl sþrucþurð ºf þhð smâll inþðsþinð ºf þhð
þwº zºkºr spðciðs wâs cºmpârðd using þhð hðmâþºxýlin-ðºsin (HE)sþâining þðchniquð. Iþ wâs rðvðâlðd þhâþ þhð villus gâps in þhð duºdðnum,jðjunum ând ilðum ºf Gânsu zºkºrs wðrð ºbviºuslý smâllðr þhân þhºsð ºf þhð plâþðâu zºkºr,buþ þhð insidð diâmðþðr ºf iþs jðjunum wâs significânþlý biggðr þhân þhâþ ºf þhð plâþðâu zºkºr. Hºwðvðr,þhðrð wðrð nº significânþ diffðrðncð in þhð þºþâl ârðâs ºf villus bðþwððn þwº spðciðs. Our sþudý suggðsþs þhâþ þhð rðducðd villus gâps ºf smâll inþðsþinð ând þhð ðnlârgðd insidð diâmðþðr ºf jðjunum sðrvð þº incrðâsð þhð âbsºrpþivð ârðâs ºf smâll inþðsþinð,slºw dºwn þhð râþð ºf fººd pâssing ând imprºvð nuþriþiºnâl âbsºrpþiºn ând digðsþiºn. As â rðsulþ,þhð dðficiðnciðs ºf digðsþivð ând âbsºrpþivð âbiliþiðs ârð ºffsðþ þº sºmð ðxþðnþ.

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Comparision of antioxidase and ATPase activity in heart between Myospalax cansus and Rattus norvegicus under acute hypoxia

TANG Yanhong,WANG Jian,LI Jingang,XIE Huichun,LI Tao,HE Jianping

2013, 33(2):  178-185. 

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanisms of anti-oxidative damages and electrophysiological disorder during low oxygen stress in Myospalax cansus. Myospalax cansus and Rattus norvegicus were stressed under low oxygen (4. 5% )conditions for 2 h,4 h,6 h,8 h,10 h,or 16 h. The activities of three heart antioxidases including superoxide dismutase (SOD),catalase (CAT)and glutathione reductase (GR)and three ATPases including Ca^{2 +} - ATPase, Ca^{2 +}- Mg^{2 +} - ATPase and Na +- K ⁺ - ATPase were measured at each time point. Malondialdehyde (MDA)was used as indicator of oxidative damage. The results are as follows:under normal oxygen conditions,there was no significant difference in SOD,CAT,Ca^{2 +} - ATPase,Ca^{2 +}- Mg^{2 +} - ATPase,Na ⁺ - K⁺ - ATPase activities and MDA content between Myospalax cansus and Rattus norvegicus,but GR activity in Myospalax cansus was significantly higher than that in Rattus norvegicus. Under low oxygen conditions,the activities of all of the three heart antioxidases and the three ATPases in Myospalax cansus increased rapidly,and they were significantly higher than those in Rattus norvegicus,but Myospalax cansus had significantly lower MDA content than did Rattus norvegicus. We conclude that Myospalax cansus can maintain normal cardiac electrical activity,heart rate and good heart condition through increasing the activity of antioxidase,removing excessive free radicals induced by low oxygen condition and improving ATPase activity

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Amplification and sequence analysis of partial cDNA sequence of NPY, AgRP,POMC and CART genes in Eothenomys miletus

HUANG Chunmei,ZHU Wanglong,YANG Shengchang,YU Tingting,WANG Zhengkun

2013, 33(2):  186-192. 

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Neuropeptide Y (NPY),agouti related peptide (AgRP),pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC )and cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript peptide (CART)are four neuropeptides that play essential roles in the regulation of food intake and energy homeostasis in mammals. Partial cDNA sequences of NPY,AgRP,POMC and CART genes were obtained
using the RT-PCR method. The obtained partial sequences of NPY,AgRP,POMC,and CART were 162 bp,187 bp, 240 bp,and 55 bp in length,respectively,which contain open reading frames (ORF)of 114 bp,179 bp,214 bp, 54 bp separately. The protein coding of these sequences include 37 amino acids in NPY;59 amino acids in AgRP;71 amino
acids in POMC;17 amino acids in CART. A search of the BLAST database showed that the deduced sequence of E. miletus NPY,AgRP,POMC and CART were very similar to the NPY,AgRP,POMC and CART of Rattus norvegicus,Mus musculus,and Acomys russatus. In order to make a further determination of the evolutional position of E. miletus,the
NPY,AgRP,POMC and CART genes were used to reconstruct phylogenetic trees by using ML method. The result showed that E. miletus has the closest relationship relative to R. norvegicus and M. musculus. The finding of this comparative study will contribute to further revealing the energy metabolism mechanisms of E. miletus from an evolutionary perspective

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Morphological analysis on Gansu zokors (Myospalax cansus)from five geographical populations

LU Qingbin,ZHANG Yang,ZHOU Caiquan

2013, 33(2):  193-199. 

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The morphological variation of Gansu zokors (Myospalax cansus)was studied from morphological data from five geographical populations. The results indicated that 34 morphological variables are significantly different among these populations.The comparison of female and male morphological variables showed that 30 variables are significantly different,so Gansu zokors have characteristics of sexual dimorphism,and different analyses should be made among males or females respectively. Q-cluster analysis uncovered that,for males,the Lintao population and the Ledu population are most similar, the Zhenyuan population and the Fuxian population are most similar,and Guyuan population is closer to the Zhenyuan and Fuxian populations. For females,the same results occur,but the Guyuan population is closer to the Lintao and the Ledu populations. Based on the synthetic analysis from morphologics,Gansu zokors should be divided into 3 geographical taxa: a Lintao-Ledu unit,a Guyuan unit and a Zhenyuan-Fuxian unit.

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The first book about snow leopard in China

2013, 33(2):  200-202. 

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