Czech Journal of Animal Science, 2016 (vol. 61), issue 3

Combination of let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p is suitable normalizer for studying microRNA expression in skin tissue of Liaoning cashmere goat during hair follicle cycleOriginal Paper

W.L. Bai, Y.L. Dang, R.H. Yin, R.L. Yin, W.Q. Jiang, Z.Y. Wang, Y.B. Zhu, J.J. Wang, Z.H. Zhao, G.B. Luo

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2016, 61(3):99-107 | DOI: 10.17221/8782-CJAS  

The microRNAs are non-coding RNA molecules of approximately 20-22 nucleotides that are found to be implicated in a wide range of physiological processes. In this study, the suitability of 10 candidate reference RNAs was evaluated for microRNA expression data in the skin tissue of Liaoning cashmere goat including 1 small nuclear RNA (snRNA; RNU6B), 1 small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA; Z30), 1 rRNA (5S), 1 transfer RNA (tRNA; Met-tRNA), and 6 microRNAs (miR; let-7d-5p, miR-15a-5p, miR-26a-5p, miR-125a-5p, miR-214-3p, and miR-221-3p). Based on geNorm and NormFinder algorithms, we identified let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p as the most stable reference...

Equivalent effective population size mating as a useful tool in the genetic management of the Ibicenco rabbit breed (Conill Pages d'Eivissa)Original Paper

A.J. Martín de la Rosa, I. Cervantes, J.P. Gutiérrez

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2016, 61(3):108-116 | DOI: 10.17221/8783-CJAS  

The Ibicenco rabbit (Conill Pages D'Eivissa) is a rare breed mainly located on Ibiza Island, in rural areas. Today breeders are looking for a sustainable use and alternative routes for profitability of the population to avoid its extinction. The breed presents some variety in coat colour (brown, black, orange, and grey), and breeders would like to maintain these characteristics. The objectives of this study were to develop a method to design matings in a population with unbalanced pedigree depth in a scenario of maintaining the variety of coat colours, and to analyze the genealogical information of the Ibicenco rabbit to ascertain the genetic structure...

Vitamin A affects the expression of antioxidant genes in bovine mammary epithelial cells with oxidative stress induced by diethylene triamine-nitric oxideOriginal Paper

H. Shi, S. Yan, L. Jin, B. Shi, X. Guo

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2016, 61(3):117-126 | DOI: 10.17221/8784-CJAS  

The considerable increase in oxygen requirements due to the high metabolic rate of the bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMEC) during lactation results in an augmented production of reactive nitrogen species (RNS), such as nitric oxide (NO), which may expose cows to increased oxidative stress. Vitamin A (VA) has been shown in several studies to enhance the antioxidant defence system against oxidative stress, but whether the reason is related to a reduced NO production remains unclear. Diethylene triamine-nitric oxide polymer (NOp) is a type of NO-generating compound, which is safe, efficacious, and releases NO over a long period. The current study was...

Composition of cultivable enteric bacteria from the intestine of Antarctic fish (family Nototheniidae)Original Paper

I. Sedláček, E. Staňková, P. Švec

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2016, 61(3):127-132 | DOI: 10.17221/8785-CJAS  

Selenium (Se), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) play important antioxidant role during the transition period of dairy cattle. However, there is limited information about their blood fluctuations during the entire transition period, especially in heifers. Furthermore, it is questionable whether the use of clinoptilolite, a natural zeolite, affects the availability of these trace elements during this period. The objective of the present study was to monitor the blood concentrations of Se, Cu, and Zn during the transition period of dairy heifers and to investigate whether the dietary inclusion of clinoptilolite has any effect on them. Forty clinically healthy...

Blood selenium, copper, and zinc in dairy heifers during the transition period and effects of clinoptilolite administrationOriginal Paper

M.A. Karatzia, P.D. Katsoulos, H. Karatzias, A. Zeyner

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2016, 61(3):133-139 | DOI: 10.17221/8786-CJAS  

Genealogical analysis of the Gochu Asturcelta pig breed: insights for conservationOriginal Paper

J. Menendez, I. Alvarez, I. Fernandez, F. Goyache

Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2016, 61(3):140-149 | DOI: 10.17221/8787-CJAS  

The Breeders Association of Gochu Asturcelta (ACGA) initiated a recovery programme with six founders (three boars and three sows) in 2002. Information provided by a total of 3156 records (515 litters, 109 boars, and 309 sows) with father and mother known included in the Gochu Asturcelta herdbook was analyzed. The aim of the analyses was to assess if the mating policy implemented by the breeders association ACGA has been successful in preserving the genetic background of the founders in the present population. Two reference populations were defined: 232 individuals born in 2013 and 2014 (PopO), and 18 individuals born in 2012 and 2013 and kept for reproduction...