Sarda female lambs bred at pasture: growth rate from weaning to reproductive activity

The traditional dairy sheep system in Sardinia presents 2 lambing seasons: in November-December for mature ewes and in February-March for primiparous. Replacement (20-25% of female lambs) usually came from mature ewes whereas all lambs born in January-February are slaughtered when their market price is low. These lambs could represent part of flock replacement that can integrate the traditional lamb breeding system, and also a flock replacement of ewes that are planned to lamb in late winter to have a continuous milk production all over the year. The aim of the present work, that represent an aspect of a wider trial, was to determine the suitability to breed this lambs under grazing condition monitoring their growth rate from weaning to the beginning of reproductive activity. At the “Bonassai” research farm an experiment was carried out from March 2004 to May 2005. 51 female Sarda lambs born from 19/01/2004 to 07/02/2004 (live weight 3.24±0.51 kg; mean±standard deviation) were weaned on average of 45 days (live weight 12.02±1.52 kg) and weighted monthly. After weaning feeding regimen was based on grazed forage crops (Lolium multiflorum Lam., Hedysarum coronarium L. and Cichorium intybus L.) and on natural pasture with an average stocking rate of 5.5 head/ha. The supplementation ranged between 0 - 1200 g/head/d of Lucerne and Italian ryegrass hay and 0 - 400 g/head/d of commercial concentrate, depending on herbage on offer. The amount of hay and concentrate offered during the trial represented 51% of total energetic requirements of lambs. Average lamb daily gain (ADG) during the experimental period resulted 74±11 g head/day. The ADG pattern showed a maximum value 30 days after weaning (139±33 g head/day) and a minimum value in January when herbage availability was low. At the beginning of reproductive activity lambs weighed on average 40.5±3.5 kg and their average body condition score was 3.03±0.12. The trial showed that is possible to breed lambs born in late winter at pasture. However an economic and technical evaluation of differences of these lambs compared to those bred in the traditional system is under evaluation

Gender differences in human smooth muscle cells and rat liver

Aim: Besides being different in phenotype, males and females respond also differently to drugs thus it is important to known the differences in order to have a better therapeutic appropriateness. We focused on the liver because it exerts a fundamental role in drug metabolism and on vessels because several significant differences exist between male and female in cardiovascular disease. Methods: Livers were removed from 18 male and 18 female Sprague–Dawley rats (7 weeks old), washed, weighed, and a part was used for immunohistochemical detection of GCL, and another one was homogenized in cold PBS for biochemical determinations. Human umbilical arteries were collected from boy and girl cords within 24 hours of birth; smooth muscle cell were isolated from tunica media with collagenase and cultured and used at passage 1. RNA was purified from 100% confluent cells that have the typical morphology of the contractile phenotype. cDNA was synthetized and used as template for gene expression studies by real time PCR. Results: In livers, methionine, glutathione, taurine, malondialdehyde (a marker of lipid peroxidation), and protein oxidation were similar in both sexes, while L -cysteine and H2S levels were significantly higher and lower in female rat livers, respectively. Female liver expressed less GCL than the male liver and this was also confirmed by immunohistochemstry. Interestingly, LAMP-1 expression a marker for lysosomal activity was higher in male liver in comparison with female liver. The datum was confirmed by immunofluorescence staining, while other protein such the autophagic markers and autophagic checkpoint: mTOR did not present significant differences in male and female livers. Our methodology for purifying VSMC cells resulted extremely affordable and effective, so we evaluated sex-gender differences in gene expression of 9 genes using B2m and rpl30 to normalize the other 7 genes. Importantly, ER-alpha, ER-beta gene expression diverged between sexes being more present in male-VSMC than in female ones, thus suggesting the importance of estrogen receptors in determining sex-gender differences. Conclusion: The previous results suggest that glytamyl cycle is sex-gender dimorphic and this could produce a different metabolism of important drugs. The divergences in gene expression for ERs in VSMC cultures still need investigations to understand the implications on tunica media physiopathology in a sex-gender perspective.</br

Survey of the genetic variability of populations of <i>Ruditapes philippinarum</i> from tre Gulf of Olbia (N-E Sardinia) by microsatellites = Indagine sulla variabilità genetica di popolazioni di <i>Ruditapes philippinarum</i> provenienti dal golfo di Olbia (N-E Sardegna)

Genetic variability was investigated at six microsatellite loci of the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum (Adams &amp; Reeve, 1850) (Bivalvia) from the Gulf of Olbia (N-E Sardinia) and Sacca di Goro (N Adriatic Sea). We found no significant differentiation among Sardinian samples and between those and the Adriatic one, which suggests the absence of a founder effect in Sardinian population

Struttura di popolazione di vongola verace (<i>Ruditapes decussatus</i> l.) in due lagune costiere della Sardegna = Population structure of carpet shell clam (<i>Ruditapes decussatus</i> l.) in two coastal lagoons of Sardinia (Italy)

Ruditapes decussatus L. (Bivalvia) is a traditional resource for fishing activity in Sardinia Island. This species is not cultured, but fishermen pick them up from the bottom of brackish areas. The distribution and the population structure of R. decussatus were investigated in two coastal lagoons: S. Giovanni (CA) and Calich (SS). The samplings were performed seasonally from autumn 2008 to summer 2009

Cold markedly influences milk yield of Sardinian dairy sheep farms

The effects of cold stress on milk production have been widely examined in cattle and goats but little studied in dairy sheep. For this reason, the milk production of 10 dairy sheep farms, located throughout the Sardinian island, was analysed in relation to winter and early-spring meteorological conditions. From January 1st to March 31st, in 2003 and 2004, bulk milk production data were collected every 48 hours. From January 15th to April 30th of the same years, bulk milk production was also measured daily in five out of the ten studied farms. During the same periods, meteorological data were collected from stations of the Weather Forecast Service of Sardinia located near the farms. To determine the effects of meteorological conditions on milk yield, analysis of variance using the SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA) mixed procedure was performed. The results showed that minimum and mean temperatures, as well as number of hours under a critical threshold temperature (-3 °C, 0 °C and 3 °C), influenced milk yield, with a progressive decrease in milk yield as unfavourable cold conditions increased. In particular, as minimum temperatures decreased from the optimal values of 9-12 °C down to -3 °C, milk yield decreased by 25% (0.30 kg/d per head), with relevant decreases as temperatures went below 0-3 °C. In addition, in the daily dataset decreases up to 30% (0.40 kg/d per head) in milk yield occurred, as mean temperatures went below the optimal values of 15-18 °C. Other factors such as maximum temperature, wind speed, rainfall, relative humidity, Wind Chill Index (WCI) and number of hours under 7 °C and 10 °C did not significantly influence milk yield. The only interaction that significantly influenced milk yield was that between wind speed and number of hours under -3 °C. In fact, in particularly cold days, wind increased animal discomfort, thus negatively influencing milk production. Non significant variations occurred between the two years studied, while production differed significantly among farms, probably due to differences in their managerial techniques. In conclusion, cold stress can markedly decrease milk yield of dairy ewes even in Mediterranean climatic conditions

Effects of heat stress on milk yield in Sardinian dairy sheep farms

The effects of heat stress on milk production of dairy ewes have been very little studied, especially under Mediterranean conditions. For this reason, such effects were studied in ten Sarda dairy sheep farms associated to the Sardinian Breeders Association, located throughout Sardinia. They had whole farm milk yield records registered every 48 hours from April 1st until July 15th, in the years 2003 and 2004. Meteorological data were obtained from data collected by meteorological stations of the Weather Forecast Service of Sardinia located near each farm. To determine the effects of meteorological conditions on milk yield, analysis of variance using the SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA) mixed procedure was performed. The results showed that Sarda dairy sheep were highly sensitive to high temperatures, especially when they persisted for long periods. All analysed meteorological factors, except for wind speed, significantly influenced milk yield. Milk yield was more influenced by minimum air temperatures than by any other meteorological parameter. Increases in minimum temperatures from the optimal range of 9-12 °C up to 27-30 °C caused on average a decrease in milk yield of 36% (0.35 kg/d per head). The highest milk yields were observed at maximum air temperatures ranging from 24 to 30 °C and at mean temperatures varying from 15 to 18 °C, with progressive decreases, up to 20% (about 0.22 kg/d per head), at higher temperatures. The effects of duration of temperatures higher than some threshold values on milk yield were also relevant. Optimal air relative humidity for milk production was between 65 and 75%, in accordance with values reported in the literature. Rainfall negatively influenced milk yield, probably because it disturbs grazing, with decreases up to 23% (0.20 kg/d per head) under conditions of 6 mm-cumulative rainfall in two days. Milk production was also influenced by Temperature Humidity Index (THI), with a decrement of 25% (0.23 kg/d per head) as THI increased from 60-65 to 72-75.Wind influenced milk yield only when associated with other meteorological factors; it alleviated the negative effects of heat stress on milk yield at higher speed values. In conclusion, despite of their small body size, which should favour heat exchange and thermoregulation, milk yield of Sarda ewes was markedly reduced by heat stress

Ethanol-derived acetaldehyde: pleasure and pain of alcohol mechanism of action

Acetaldehyde (ACD), the first metabolite of ethanol (EtOH), has been implicated in several actions of alcohol, including its reinforcing effects. Previously considered an aversive compound, ACD was useful in alcoholic’s pharmacological treatment aimed at discouraging alcohol drinking. However, it has recently been shown that EtOH-derived ACD is necessary for EtOH-induced place preference and self-administration, thereby suggesting a possible involvement of ACD in EtOH motivational properties. In addition, EtOH-stimulating properties on DA neurons are prevented by pharmacological blockade of local catalase H2O2 system, the main metabolic step for biotransformation of EtOH into ACD within the central nervous system. It was further shown that pretreatment with thiol compounds, like L-Cysteine or D-Penicillamine, reduced EtOH and ACD-induced motivational effects, in fact preventing self-administration of both EtOH and ACD, thus suggesting a possible role for ACD as a biomarker useful in evaluating potential innovative treatments of alcohol abuse. These findings suggest a key role of ACD in the EtOH reinforcing effects. In the present paper we review the role of EtOH-derived ACD in the reinforcing effects of EtOH and the possibility that ACD may serve as a therapeutically targetable biomarker in the search for novel treatments in alcohol abuse and alcoholi

The Endemic Vascular Flora of Sardinia: A Dynamic Checklist with an Overview of Biogeography and Conservation Status

The vascular flora of Sardinia has been investigated for more than 250 years, with particular attention to the endemic component due to their phylogeographic and conservation interest. However, continuous changes in the floristic composition through natural processes, anthropogenic drivers or modified taxonomical attributions require constant updating. We checked all available literature, web sources, field, and unpublished data from the authors and acknowledged external experts to compile an updated checklist of vascular plants endemic to Sardinia. Life and chorological forms as well as the conservation status of the updated taxa list were reported. Sardinia hosts 341 taxa (15% of the total native flora) endemic to the Tyrrhenian Islands and other limited continental territories; 195 of these (8% of the total native flora) are exclusive to Sardinia. Asteraceae (50 taxa) and Plumbaginaceae (42 taxa) are the most representative families, while the most frequent life forms are hemicryptophytes (118 taxa) and chamaephytes (106 taxa). The global conservation status, available for 201 taxa, indicates that most endemics are under the ‘Critically Endangered’ (25 taxa), ‘Endangered’ (31 taxa), or ‘Least Concern’ (90 taxa) IUCN categories. This research provides an updated basis for future biosystematics, taxonomic, biogeographical, and ecological studies and in supporting more integrated and efficient policy tools