Comparative IFN-τ Secretion after Hatching by Bovine Blastocysts Derived Ex Vivo and Completely Produced In Vitro     

JA Neira  D Tainturier  RM L''Haridon  J Martal 《Reproduction in domestic animals》2007,42(1):68-75

The interferon-tau (IFN-tau) secretion levels after hatching by bovine blastocysts derived from in vitro maturated oocytes (Group A) and from in vivo (Group B) were investigated considering embryo quality. Only very homogeneous blastocysts of excellent or good quality were considered from day 7 of culture (Group A) and day 7 after artificial insemination with frozen-thawed from the same bull used for in vitro fertilization (Group B). All embryos were individually cultured into a 50 microl droplet of synthetic oviduct fluid medium with 10% fetal calf serum. After 24-h culture both Group A (n=44) and B (n=40) secreted <54 pm IFN-tau. After 48-, 72-, 96- and 120-h culture, Group A daily secreted 143 +/- 24 pm IFN-tau (n=19) vs 85 +/- 12 pm IFN-tau (n=21) for Group B (p < 0.01), 491 +/- 128 pm IFN-tau (n=29) vs 216 +/- 37 pm IFN-tau (n=23) (NS), 499 +/- 135 pm IFN-tau (n=26) vs 353 +/- 93 pm IFN-tau (n=21) (NS), 559 +/- 136 pm IFN-tau (n=22) vs 333 +/- 75 pm IFN-tau (n=20) (NS), respectively. Taken all together during 5 days, Group A produced per embryo 1690 +/- 290 pm IFN-tau (n=22) vs 982 +/- 182 pm IFN-tau (n=20) for Group B (p < 0.05). For all culture time there were sizable percentages of embryos that did not produce concentrations of IFN-tau above a certain cut-off level, and as such were not used to compute the means. In respect of the embryo quality whatever the groups after days 7-12 of culture, IFN-tau secretions were 1815 +/- 453 pm (n=10) for the embryos of excellent quality vs 1356 +/- 200 pm (n=28) for those of good quality (NS) and 360 +/- 188 pm (n=4) (p < 0.05) for embryos of fair quality. A positive relationship between IFN-tau production and in vitro development of quality I embryos was observed, whatever the embryos origins and, the embryos completely produced in vitro secreted more IFN-tau than the embryos produced in vivo.  相似文献   

Progesterone and Caspase-3 Activation in Equine Cyclic Corpora Lutea     

G Ferreira-Dias  L Mateus  AS Costa  S Solá  RM Ramalho  RE Castro  CMP Rodrigues 《Reproduction in domestic animals》2007,42(4):380-386

Soon after ovulation, the newly formed corpus luteum (CL) starts secreting progesterone (P(4)), necessary for implantation. The CL, an ovarian transient endocrine organ, undergoes growth and regression throughout its life span. The objective of this study was to evaluate if caspase-3 mediates cell death in the equine cyclic luteal structures and relate it to luteal endocrine function. Blood and luteal tissue were collected during the breeding season after slaughter from 38 randomly assigned cycling mares. Luteal tissues were classified as corpora haemorrhagica (CH; n = 7); mid luteal phase corpora lutea (Mid-CL; n = 17); late or regressing corpora lutea (Late-CL; n = 9) and corpora albicans (CA; n = 5). Plasma P(4) concentration, determined by radioimmunoassay, showed a significant increase from CH to Mid-CL (p < 0.001), followed by a decrease to Late-CL (p < 0.001) and CA (p < 0.001). Caspase-3 processing and poly (ADP) ribose polymerase (PARP) degradation were assessed by western blotting. Active caspase-3 was twofold increased in Mid-CL, Late-CL and CA as compared with CH (p < 0.05). Immunocytochemistry also showed a significant increase in caspase-3 expression in large luteal cells in all structures when compared with CH (p < 0.05). Consistently, the endogenous caspase-3 substrate, PARP, was markedly degraded from CH to CA (p < 0.05). In fact, the ratio of full-length to degraded PARP showed a significant decrease from CH to Mid-CL, Late-CL and CA (p < 0.05). Finally, the decrease in P(4) from Mid- to Late-CL coincided with no further increases in apoptosis. In conclusion, these results suggest that the effector caspase-3 of apoptosis, might play an important role during luteal tissue involution in the mare, even though its relationship with P(4) remains to be elucidated.  相似文献   

The psychedelic haze of inflammation     

Breathnach R 《Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)》2007,173(1):14-15

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Management Strategies Aiming to Improve Horse Welfare Reduce Embryonic Death Rates in Mares          下载免费PDF全文

E Malschitzky  AM Pimentel  P Garbade  MIM Jobim  RM Gregory  RC Mattos 《Reproduction in domestic animals》2015,50(4):632-636

The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the effect of management strategies aiming to improve animal well‐being on pregnancy and embryonic death (ED) rates. Breeding records of a cohort of 1206 Thoroughbred mares brought to a stallion station facility, to be bred with the stallions housed there, were evaluated during ten breeding seasons. Mares were blocked according to management strategies in two groups: Stress and Relax. Strategies used to improve animal well‐being (Relax group) were as follows: stopping the teasing routine, reducing or eliminating stall confinement, reducing the number of mares per group and maintaining herd stability during the breeding season. In barren mares, the pregnancy rate was higher in the Relax group (91.8%) when compared to the observed in Stress group (84.7%). However, no difference in pregnancy rates were observed (Stress = 85.2% vs. Relax = 86.2) in foaling mares. ED rate was higher in barren and foaling mares of the Stress group mares (25.5% and 26.8%, respectively) compared with the Relax group (16.1% and 14.7%, respectively). No significant differences were observed on foal heat pregnancy rate between groups; yet, the embryo loss on foal heat was significant reduced in Relax mares (Relax = 8.7% vs Stress = 24.5%). In conclusion, management strategies aimed to reduce social stress can reduce early pregnancy losses and the average cycles per pregnancy, improving reproductive performance in mares.  相似文献   

Allelopathic potential of native plants against water hyacinth   总被引：14，自引：0，他引：14  

RM. Kathiresan 《Crop Protection》2000,19(8-10):705-708

Classical biocontrol of water hyacinth using insects in India is constrained by seasonal occurrence of water flow and interrupted host range. Use of fungal pathogens is also difficult due to lack of shelf-life and virulence under severe climatic fluctuations and a lack of knowledge of spray techniques. Hence, the allelopathic potential of native plants is reviewed for use as an alternative bio-control tactic. Dried powder of the leaves of Omavalli Coleus amboinicus L. at 40 g l⁻¹ as a water suspension killed water hyacinth within 24 h reducing the fresh weight by 80.72% and the dry weight by 75.63% within one week. The lowest dose required to kill the whole plant was 10 g l⁻¹. Coleus powder was injurious to cut leaves of water hyacinth even at 0.1 g l⁻¹ dose as it was absorbed directly by the cut leaf, indicating that the dose required to kill the whole plant could still be reduced, if either the natural product or the active principle is formulated for absorption through foliage.  相似文献   

High-selectivity, high-flux silica membranes for gas separation     

de Vos RM  H Verweij 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》1998,279(5357):1710-1711

Process improvements in silica membrane fabrication, especially the use of clean-room techniques, resulted in silica membranes without detectable mesoscopic defects, resulting in significantly improved transport properties. Supported membranes calcined at 400 degreesC were 30 nanometers in thickness, showed a H2 permeance at 200 degreesC of 2 x 10(-6) moles per square meter per second per Pascal (mol m-2 s-1 Pa-1), and had a CH4 permeance more than 500 times smaller. Molecules larger than CH4 were completely blocked. Silica membranes calcined at 600 degreesC showed no detectable CH4 flux, with a H2 permeance of 5 x 10(-7) (mol m-2 s-1 Pa-1) at 200 degreesC. These results signify an important step toward the industrial application of these membranes such as purification of H2 and natural gas as well as the selective removal of CO2.  相似文献   

Increased leukotriene B(4) production, complement C3 conversion and acid hydrolase enzyme concentrations in different leucocyte sub-populations of dogs with atopic dermatitis     

Breathnach R  Donahy C  Jones BR  Bloomfield FJ 《Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)》2006,171(1):106-113

Various markers of the inflammatory response were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) from 31 dogs with atopic dermatitis (AD). The variables assayed included chemiluminescence, acid hydrolase enzyme concentrations, leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) production and complement C3 conversion. The results were compared to those derived from a population of clinically healthy dogs. Dogs with AD exhibited a significant increase in median LTB(4) production in PMNs compared to controls (0.94 versus 0.00 ng/10(6) cells; P<0.01). Significant increases in the median concentrations of intracellular beta-galactosidase (PBMC fraction - 0.42 versus 0.25 mU/10(6) cells; P<0.05) (PMN fraction - 0.47 versus 0.12 mU/10(6) cells; P<0.01) and beta-glucuronidase (PBMC fraction - 0.52 versus 0.27 mU/10(6) cells; P<0.05) were also evident in the AD group. Although median maximum chemiluminescence values for both leucocyte sub-populations were higher in controls, the differences recorded were not significant (P>0.05). However, the median time taken to reach maximum chemiluminescence was significantly shorter in the PMN fraction of dogs with AD (7.00 versus 10.00 min; P<0.01). Atopic dogs had a significant increase in the median percentage conversion of complement C3 to C3b (66.0 versus 57.3%; P<0.01). The results of this study indicate a priming of the inflammatory response in dogs with AD. The role of LTB(4) in the pathogenesis of canine AD and the potential efficacy of leukotriene antagonists in the treatment of this disorder warrant further investigation.  相似文献   

High-Pressure Framework Silicates     

RM Hazen  RT Downs  LW Finger 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》1996,272(5269):1769-1771

Recent syntheses of high-pressure alkali and alkaline earth silicates reveal a class of framework structures with corner-linked 4- and 6-coordinated silicon. These compounds possess the structural formula (A4-2x1+Bx2+)SimVI(SinIVO2(m+n)+2), where x, m, and n specify the amounts of alkaline earth, 6-coordinated silicon, and 4-coordinated silicon, respectively. Appropriate values of m and n yield a range of high-pressure structures, from fully 4-coordinated to fully 6-coordinated silicate frameworks. Recognition of this class of framework silicates leads to predictions of high-pressure structures as well as room-pressure isomorphs of high-pressure silicates.  相似文献   

Behavioural and EEG changes in sheep in response to painful acute electrical stimuli     

RM ONG  JP MORRIS  JK O'DWYER  JL BARNETT  PH HEMSWORTH  IJ CLARKE 《Australian veterinary journal》1997,75(3):189-193

Objective To measure acute pain in sheep, based on a human pain model, and examined changes in both electroencephalogram frequency spectrum and behavioural responses to increased electrical stimulation in sheep. Design Analysis of variance (treatment and animal effects) for stimulus intensity where each animal received each electric shock treatment given in the order 0, 5,10 and 20 mA. Procedure Eight sheep with electrodes implanted over the surface of the brain were examined for escape-avoidance and electroencephalogram responses to four levels of electrical stimulation from 0–20 mA. Results With increasing stimulus intensity at the time of feeding, the sheep were more hesitant to return to the feeder or remain near the feeder following stimulation. There was little difference between the 0 and 5 mA stimuli for any of the behaviour variables (P > 0.05). However, there were marked increases in the time taken to re-approach the feeder after receiving an electric shock of 5 mA and of 20 mA (P < 0.05; mean values 3 and 119 s, respectively) and remaining near the feeder for 5 s (P < 0.001; mean values 10 and 167 s, respectively). Following the stimulus, there was an overall increase in the electroencephalogram power spectrum in the first four seconds, which then rapidly returned to normal. In particular, the 20 mA stimulus resulted in higher absolute power values than in the control (0 mA) treatment for delta 2 (P < 0.001), theta 1 (P < 0.05), theta 2 (P < 0.05), alpha 1 (P < 0.001), alpha 2 (P < 0.001) and beta 1 (P < 0.01) band-widths. Similarly, for the 10 mA stimulus, the absolute power values were greater than the control treatment for delta 2 (P < 0.05), alpha 1 (P < 0.01), alpha 2 (P < 0.001) and beta 1 (P < 0.01) bandwidths. Conclusion The experiment suggests that a human acute pain model is applicable to sheep and that these electroencephalogram changes may provide a good measure of acute pain in sheep.  相似文献   

Effects of barefoot trimming on hoof morphology     

HM Clayton  S Gray  LJ Kaiser  RM Bowker 《Australian veterinary journal》2011,89(8):305-311

Objective To monitor changes in hoof morphology in response to barefoot trimming. Methods Seven horses were trimmed every 6 weeks according to barefoot trimming principles, which involved levelling the hoof to live sole, lowering the heels, bevelling the toe and rounding the peripheral wall, while leaving the sole, frog and bars intact. A 4‐month period was allowed to lower the heels sufficiently to achieve a hoof shape representative of the barefoot trim. This was regarded as the starting point for morphological adaptations in response to maintenance of the trim. Hoof morphology was measured from lateral, dorsal and solar view photographs and lateromedial radiographs taken at 0, 4 and 16 months. Changes from 0 to 4 months represented differences between a natural hoof shape and the trim, while changes from 4 to 16 months represented adaptive effects during hoof growth. Results Establishment of the barefoot trim involved significant shortening of the toe, heel and medial and lateral walls, with increases in angulation at the toe, medial and lateral walls, but not at the heel. Maintenance of the trim resulted in a palmar/plantar migration of the heels, with increases in support length, heel angle and solar angle of the distal phalanx (P3). Conclusions Bevelling the toe and engaging the frog and bars in the weight‐bearing function of the foot resulted in elevation of the heel angle and solar angle of P3. These changes may be beneficial in treating under‐run heels and negative solar plane angulation of P3.  相似文献