Kojic acid inhibits pig sperm apoptosis and improves capacitated sperm state during liquid preservation at 17°C.

The parameters of sperm apoptosis and capacitation during liquid storage at 17°C can indicate the quality of pig sperm and the potential development of early embryos. However, the effect of kojic acid (KA) on semen preservation and its mechanism has not been fully understood. In this study, we discovered that adding KA to the diluent improved the antioxidant capacity of sperm mitochondria, maintained the normal structure of sperm mitochondria, and reduced sperm apoptosis. Western blot analysis revealed that KA prevented the release of Cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytoplasm, reduced the expression of pro-apoptosis proteins cleaved Caspase-3 and cleaved Caspase-9, and increased the expression of the antiapoptosis protein Bcl-XL. Furthermore, KA also enhanced the motility parameters, oxidative phosphorylation level, adenosine triphosphate level, and protein tyrosine phosphorylation of capacitated sperm, while preserving the acrosome integrity and plasma membrane integrity of capacitated sperm. In conclusion, this study offers new insights into the molecular mechanism of how KA inhibits porcine sperm apoptosis and improves capacitated sperm parameters. Additionally, it suggests that KA can serve as an alternative to antibiotics.

Spatial-temporal evolution characteristics and influencing factors of county rural hollowing in Henan / Características de evolução espacial e fatores de influência do êxodo rural do condado de Henan

ABSTRACT: Taking Henan province as an example, the index system of rural hollowing was constructed from three aspects of economy, population and land. Using the entropy weight method, hollowing index method, spatial autocorrelation analysis and Geo detector, spatial-temporal evolution characteristics and influencing factors of county rural hollowing from 2000 to 2013 in Henan province were analyzed. Results showed that the gap of rural hollowing between counties in Henan province expanded first and then decrease, and the whole province was at the middle level of rural hollowing, so the development of rural hollowing in Henan province was stable and positive. Spatial variation characteristics of different degrees rural hollowing during 2000-2013 were obvious, and the overall spatial pattern was higher in the northwest-southeast direction and lower in the northeast-southwest direction. There was a strong spatial positive correlation in rural hollowing, and spatial agglomeration was slightly weakened; the number of counties in H-H and L-L agglomeration areas was large and its agglomeration characteristics were obvious; the H-L agglomeration areas started from zero with a small number and scattered distribution. Influence of different factors on rural hollowing was quite different, and the per capita homestead area, the proportion of secondary and tertiary industries, the investment in fixed assets and the per capita net income of farmers were the dominant factors.

RESUMO: Tomando a província de Henan como exemplo, o sistema de índices de evasão rural foi construído a partir de três aspectos da economia, população e terra. Utilizando o método de peso de entropia, método de índice de vazamento, análise de autocorrelação espacial e Geo detector para analisar características de evolução espaço-temporal e fatores de influência do esvaziamento rural do município de 2000 a 2013 na província de Henan. Os resultados mostraram que a lacuna de esvaziamento rural entre condados na província de Henan foi expandida inicialmente e em seguida diminuiu, e toda a província estava no nível médio de evasão rural, e, além disso, o desenvolvimento da evasão rural na província de Henan era estável. As características de variação espacial de diferentes graus de evasão rural durante 2000-2013 eram óbvias, e o padrão espacial geral era mais alto na direção noroeste-sudeste e mais baixo na direção nordeste-sudoeste. Houve forte correlação positiva espacial no êxodo rural, e a aglomeração espacial foi levemente enfraquecida; o número de municípios nas áreas de aglomeração H-H e L-L era grande e as características de aglomeração eram óbvias; as áreas de aglomeração de H-L eram do zero com um pequeno número e distribuição dispersa. A influência de diferentes fatores no esvaziamento rural foi diferente, e a área de propriedade per capita, a proporção de indústrias secundárias e terciárias, o investimento em ativos fixos e a renda líquida per capita dos agricultores foram os fatores dominantes.