牛支原体及其脂质相关膜蛋白诱导胎牛肺细胞IL-1β表达的分子机制研究

为研究牛支原体(M.bovis)及其脂质相关膜蛋白(LAMPs)诱导胎牛肺(EBL)细胞IL-1β表达的分子机制,本研究首先以M.bovis及其LAMPs刺激EBL细胞,利用荧光定量PCR检测细胞因子IL-1β的动态变化;然后将融合表达的细胞p65(Rel A)蛋白和绿色荧光蛋白重组质粒p EGFP-p65转染EBL细胞,以LAMPs刺激EBL细胞,通过激光共聚焦观察p65的亚细胞分布。荧光定量PCR结果显示,M.bovis及其LAMPs能够诱导EBL细胞IL-1β的表达;而且LAMPs作用的最佳剂量为2μg/m L,最佳时间为12 h。同时,激光共聚焦试验检测到LAMPs能够诱导p65进入EBL细胞核中。上述实验结果表明LAMPs能够诱导EBL细胞中p65进入细胞核内,从而激活NF-κB信号通路,诱导IL-1β上调表达。     

DNA甲基化参与LPS诱导的牛子宫内膜细胞IL-6和IL-8表达调控

利用DNA甲基化抑制剂等试验分析了DNA甲基化在细菌脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide,LPS)诱导的牛子宫内膜细胞IL-6和IL-8表达上调中的作用。首先用1mg/L LPS处理牛子宫内膜细胞24h,研究其对细胞IL-6、IL-8和TLR4(Toll-like receptor 4,TLR4)、DNA甲基化酶(DNMT1、DNMT3A、DNMT3B)和DNA甲基化结合蛋白2(methyl CpG-binding protein 2,MeCP2)表达的作用,随后用1,2,5,10μmol/L 5Aza-dc分别预处理牛子宫内膜细胞0,24,48,72h,荧光定量PCR技术测定IL-6和IL-8表达。结果显示:1mg/L LPS处理可显著上调牛子宫内膜细胞IL-6、IL-8、TLR4、DNMT1、DNMT3A、DNMT3B和MeCP2的表达,5Aza-dc预处理可显著提高LPS诱导的牛子宫内膜细胞IL-6和IL-8表达上调,且其作用效果存在浓度和时间依赖效应。结果表明:LPS通过抑制DNA甲基化诱导牛子宫内膜细胞IL-6和IL-8mRNA表达上调。     

蓝刺头多糖B对胰岛素抵抗L6骨骼肌细胞耗糖量及AMPK表达的影响

为了探究蓝刺头多糖B(ETPB)对棕榈酸(PA)诱导的胰岛素抵抗L6骨骼肌细胞耗糖量及腺苷酸活化蛋白激酶(AMPK)表达的影响,体外培养大鼠L6成肌细胞,诱导分化为骨骼肌细胞并进行分化鉴定;采用CCK8法检测细胞存活率,筛选PA和ETPB的安全浓度;葡萄糖氧化酶法检测各组细胞耗糖量;实时荧光定量PCR法检测AMPK mRNA基因表达水平,Western blot法检测AMPK蛋白表达量。结果显示:PA诱导L6骨骼肌细胞发生胰岛素抵抗的最适造模浓度为0.4 mmol/L,ETPB的最大安全浓度为200 mg/mL;ETPB可显著提高胰岛素抵抗L6骨骼肌细胞耗糖量(P<0.05),上调AMPK mRNA表达水平,增加AMPK蛋白表达量。提示:ETPB可以通过提高AMPK基因及蛋白表达而促进胰岛素抵抗L6骨骼肌细胞耗糖,这可能是ETPB改善骨骼肌胰岛素抵抗的作用机制之一。     

JSRV-Env重组质粒诱导转染TC-1、TC-1-Hyal2细胞后对TGF-α及VEGF因子表达的影响

通过脂质体法将JSRV-Env重组质粒瞬时转染小鼠肺上皮细胞（TC-1）和表达绵羊Hyal-2的小鼠肺上皮细胞（TC-1-Hyal2）,而后探讨两细胞中转化生长因子-α（TGF-α）及血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）mRNA和蛋白表达的变化,以此分析TGF-α、VEGF与绵羊肺腺瘤病（ovine pulmonary adenomatosis,OPA）发生的关联性及其在细胞癌变过程中的作用。体外培养TC-1和TC-1-Hyal2细胞,按照不同质粒可将TC-1和TC-1-Hyal2细胞分别设为pEGFP-C1-env转染组、pEGFP-C1转染组和未转染组。利用实时荧光定量PCR和ELISA方法对TGF-α、VEGF的表达水平进行检测。实时荧光定量PCR检测结果表明,相比对照组（pEGFP-C1转染组及未转染组）,在转染pEGFP-C1-env的两细胞组中VEGF mRNA的表达量均显著升高（P<0.05）;而两细胞组中TGF-α mRNA的表达量均极显著升高（P<0.01）。ELISA检测结果表明,同两对照组相比,转染pEGFP-C1-env的TC-1-Hyal2细胞上清液中VEGF、TGF-α蛋白浓度均极显著升高（P<0.01）;且VEGF在相同转染处理的TC-1细胞组中其蛋白浓度也极显著升高（P<0.01）,而TGF-α的蛋白浓度呈显著升高（P<0.05）。比较pEGFP-C1转染和未转染各细胞组中TGF-α、VEGF的mRNA和蛋白表达量,结果均无显著差异（P>0.05）。本研究发现,通过实时荧光定量PCR和ELISA方法检测经JSRV-Env诱导转染上述两细胞系后TGF-α、VEGF的mRNA和蛋白表达量均升高,结果提示JSRV-Env可能上调两细胞因子,进而可推测TGF-α、VEGF的表达变化与OPA发病存在一定的关联性,由此为衍生出的OPA针对二者进行基因靶向治疗方案提供重要的理论依据。     

前列腺素E_2和F_(2α)对LPS刺激后奶牛子宫内膜上皮细胞COX-1和COX-2表达的影响

试验旨在阐明前列腺素E_2(prostaglandin E_2,PGE_2)和F_(2α)(prostaglandin F_(2α),PGF_(2α))对体外培养的奶牛子宫内膜上皮细胞中环氧合酶-1(cyclooxygenase-1,COX-1))与环氧合酶-2(cyclooxygenase-2,COX-2)表达的影响。培养奶牛子宫内膜上皮原代细胞和传代细胞,第4代细胞以1×106个/孔接种于6孔板,以10-7 mol/L PGE_2和PGF_(2α)分别预处理细胞24h,以100ng/mL细菌脂多糖(lipopolysaccharides,LPS)刺激细胞4、8和12h后分别提取RNA和总蛋白质,采用实时荧光定量PCR与Western blotting等技术检测COX-1与COX-2mRNA和蛋白质的表达量。结果表明,与对照组相比,COX-1 mRNA表达量在PGE_2单独作用4、8和12h后显著上调(P0.05);COX-2mRNA表达量在PGE_2单独作用4和12h后显著上调(P0.05),PGE_2单独处理使COX-1、COX-2蛋白表达量均显著上调(P0.05)。与对照组相比,LPS刺激8和12h时COX-1mRNA表达量显著下调(P0.05),LPS刺激后COX-1蛋白表达量无显著变化(P0.05);LPS刺激后4、8和12h时COX-2mRNA表达量显著上调(P0.05),LPS刺激后COX-2蛋白表达量显著上调(P0.05)。与LPS单独处理组相比,LPS+PGE_2处理组在8和12h时COX-1和COX-2mRNA表达量均显著上调(P0.05),同时COX-1和COX-2蛋白表达量也显著上调(P0.05)。PGF_(2α)在LPS未刺激和刺激后对COX-1和COX-2mRNA的表达无显著影响(P0.05),仅在PGF_(2α)单独处理8和12h后COX-1mRNA表达量上调(P0.05)。两种激素联合处理与各自单独处理及LPS单独刺激相比,对COX-1和COX-2mRNA表达具有一定的协同诱导作用。     

膜联蛋白A8在小鼠早期妊娠子宫中表达研究

膜联蛋白A8(Annexin A8,ANXA8)是一种磷脂结合蛋白,与炎症反应、癌症的发生以及血管生成有密切联系。本实验旨在利用实时荧光定量PCR、原位杂交与免疫组织化学的方法研究ANXA8 mRNA与蛋白在小鼠早期妊娠和人工蜕膜子宫中的表达。原位杂交结果表明:ANXA8 mRNA在小鼠早期妊娠第1～4天子宫腔上皮和腺上皮有微弱表达,ANXA8 mRNA在妊娠第5、6天的初级蜕膜区与第7、8天的次级蜕膜区表达,并随妊娠进行逐渐增强;人工蜕膜化模型中ANXA8 mRNA表达在蜕膜区。实时荧光定量PCR证明:ANXA8 mRNA的表达量在早期妊娠模型中的第7、8天显著提高,人工蜕膜侧子宫与对照侧相比也显著提高。免疫组织化学结果表明:ANXA8蛋白与ANXA8 mRNA表达规律相似。体外分离培养小鼠子宫基质细胞,并诱导蜕膜化,实时荧光定量PCR结果表明ANXA8随着基质细胞的蜕膜化表达升高。以上体内和体外实验表明,ANXA8在小鼠子宫中的表达具有着床相关特异性,ANXA8参与小鼠子宫蜕膜化过程。     

家蚕Ada3蛋白对杆状病毒复制及宿主细胞凋亡的影响

基于BmNPV感染前后宿主细胞BmN的蛋白质差异组学研究结果,发现宿主细胞中的BmAda3(B.mori alteration/deficiency in activation 3)蛋白在BmNPV感染前后,其表达水平发生了显著变化。为探究BmAda3蛋白在病毒侵染过程中的作用,构建原核表达载体pET28a-ada3,通过诱导表达、纯化获得目的蛋白并制备多克隆抗体。将构建的瞬时表达载体pIEx-1-gfp-ada3转染BmN细胞,激光共聚焦显微镜观察发现BmAda3蛋白主要分布在细胞核中。将构建的瞬时表达载体pIEx-1-ada3转染BmN细胞,荧光定量PCR显示BmAda3蛋白的过表达可显著抑制病毒基因组复制。MTT细胞活力检测结果表明,BmAda3蛋白的过表达具有显著增强细胞活力的作用,DNA片段化和流式细胞术检测结果也进一步证实BmAda3蛋白的过表达可在一定程度上抑制BmNPV感染诱导的宿主细胞凋亡。研究结果将为深入了解家蚕细胞与BmNPV的互作调控关系提供一些新的线索。     

谷氨酰胺对过氧化氢诱导氧化应激人结肠癌HT-29细胞损伤和凋亡的影响

本试验旨在通过研究谷氨酰胺对过氧化氢(H_2O_2)诱导氧化应激人结肠癌HT-29细胞损伤和凋亡的影响,阐明谷氨酰胺的抗氧化效果和作用机理。HT-29细胞经不同浓度[0(对照组)、0.5、2.0、10.0 mmol/L]谷氨酰胺和0.35 mmol/L H_2O_2分别处理12、24、32 h后,测定细胞的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性和丙二醛(MDA)含量,并采用荧光定量PCR方法分析谷氨酰胺对H_2O_2诱导的细胞凋亡相关基因的mRNA相对表达量,以及采用膜联蛋白V-异硫氰酸荧光素/碘化丙啶双染法对HT-29细胞染色,并用流式细胞仪检测细胞的凋亡情况。结果表明:1)处理24 h后,0.5、2.0 mmol/L Gln组SOD活性显著高于对照组(P0.05);处理32 h后,0.5、2.0 mmol/L Gln组SOD活性显著高于对照组(P0.05),MDA含量显著低于对照组(P0.05)。2)处理12 h后,各组天冬氨酸蛋白水解酶-3(Caspase-3)和B淋巴细胞瘤-2相关X蛋白(Bax)mRNA相对表达量无显著差异(P0.05)。与对照组比较,0.5 mmol/L Gln组核转录因子κB(NF-κB)mRNA相对表达量显著降低(P0.05),0.5与2.0 mmol/L Gln组B淋巴细胞瘤-2(Bcl-2)mRNA相对表达量显著提高(P0.05)。处理24 h后,与对照组比较,0.5、2.0和10.0 mmol/L Gln组Caspase-3、NF-κB和Bax mRNA相对表达量均显著降低(P0.05),Bcl-2mRNA相对表达量显著升高(P0.05)。处理32 h后,与对照组比较,2.0 mmol/L Gln组细胞表面诱导凋亡分子(FAS)、Caspase-3、NF-κB、Bax mRNA相对表达量均显著降低(P0.05),Bcl-2mRNA相对表达量显著升高(P0.05);10.0 mmol/L Gln组FAS、Caspase-3、NF-κB、Bax mRNA相对表达量均显著升高(P0.05)。3)处理24 h后,与对照组比较,Gln处理使活细胞数量提高了5.32%~11.97%,坏死细胞数量降低了6.75%~12.66%。处理32 h后,与对照组比较,Gln处理使活细胞数量提高了1.39%~7.63%,坏死细胞数量降低了3.40%~4.57%。由此可见,谷氨酰胺可抑制氧化应激反应,降低H_2O_2诱导的HT-29细胞凋亡。     

漏芦通过TLR4/NF-κB通路抑制脂多糖诱导的小鼠乳腺上皮细胞炎症反应

为探讨漏芦醇提物（RUEE）对脂多糖（LPS）诱导的小鼠乳腺上皮细胞（HC11细胞）的抗炎作用及机制,试验利用RUEE(80μg/mL)、LPS(1μg/mL)单独处理以及RUEE(80μg/mL)+LPS(1μg/mL)共处理HC11细胞,采用荧光定量PCR检测炎性细胞因子及Toll样受体4(TLR4)mRNA表达水平,采用Western blotting检测核转录因子κB(NF-κB)通路关键因子的蛋白表达量。结果表明：LPS诱导可明显提高HC11细胞肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、环氧合酶-2(COX-2)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)的mRNA表达水平（P<0.05）;明显上调TLR4 mRNA表达及NF-κB p65和NF-κB抑制蛋白α(IκBα)的磷酸化水平（P<0.05）。RUEE预处理可显著降低LPS诱导的HC11细胞TNF-α、COX-2、IL-6、IL-1β的mRNA表达（P<0.05）;显著下调TLR4 mRNA表达及NF-κB p65和IκBα的磷酸化水平（P<0.05）。由此可知漏芦醇提物可通过抑制TLR...     

前列腺素E2和F2α对LPS刺激后奶牛子宫内膜上皮细胞COX-1和COX-2表达的影响

试验旨在阐明前列腺素E₂（prostaglandin E₂,PGE₂）和F_2α（prostaglandin F_2α,PGF_2α）对体外培养的奶牛子宫内膜上皮细胞中环氧合酶-1（cyclooxygenase-1,COX-1））与环氧合酶-2（cyclooxygenase-2,COX-2）表达的影响。培养奶牛子宫内膜上皮原代细胞和传代细胞,第4代细胞以1×10⁶个/孔接种于6孔板,以10^-7mol/L PGE₂和PGF_2α分别预处理细胞24 h,以100 ng/mL细菌脂多糖（lipopolysaccharides,LPS）刺激细胞4、8和12 h后分别提取RNA和总蛋白质,采用实时荧光定量PCR与Western blotting等技术检测COX-1与COX-2 mRNA和蛋白质的表达量。结果表明,与对照组相比,COX-1 mRNA表达量在PGE₂单独作用4、8和12 h后显著上调（P<0.05）;COX-2 mRNA表达量在PGE₂单独作用4和12 h后显著上调（P<0.05）,PGE₂单独处理使COX-1、COX-2蛋白表达量均显著上调（P<0.05）。与对照组相比,LPS刺激8和12 h时COX-1 mRNA表达量显著下调（P<0.05）,LPS刺激后COX-1蛋白表达量无显著变化（P>0.05）;LPS刺激后4、8和12 h时COX-2 mRNA表达量显著上调（P<0.05）,LPS刺激后COX-2蛋白表达量显著上调（P<0.05）。与LPS单独处理组相比,LPS+PGE₂处理组在8和12 h时COX-1和COX-2 mRNA表达量均显著上调（P<0.05）,同时COX-1和COX-2蛋白表达量也显著上调（P<0.05）。PGF_2α在LPS未刺激和刺激后对COX-1和COX-2 mRNA的表达无显著影响（P>0.05）,仅在PGF_2α单独处理8和12 h后COX-1 mRNA表达量上调（P<0.05）。两种激素联合处理与各自单独处理及LPS单独刺激相比,对COX-1和COX-2 mRNA表达具有一定的协同诱导作用。     

Development of a cell culture line of bovine fetal endometrial cells.

Monolayers of bovine fetal endometrial cells were established as primary culture cells within 1 to 2 weeks. After the 2nd passage, these cells were inoculated with bovine viral diarrhea virus. Effects of the virus were observed each day with a light microscope. Specific cytopathic effects consisting of degeneration and sloughing of the cells and a well-defined pattern of cytoplasmic vacuolation were observed at 5 days after inoculation.     

Pathology of maternal genital tract, placenta, and fetus in equine viral arteritis

Six pregnant mares were given equine viral arteritis virus intravenously. Tissues from genital tracts, placentae, and fetuses were examined by light and electron microscopy to study the mechanism of abortion. Four mares which died with acute disease had diffuse vacuolation of endometrial epithelium and systemic necrotizing vasculitis. Two of these mares had dead fetuses and two had live fetuses; virus was isolated from tissues of one live fetus. Placentae of mares dying from acute disease did not have lesions attributable to infection; virus was isolated from two of these placentae. One of the two mares which recovered from clinical disease aborted a dead fetus eight days after inoculation. The mare had severe necrotizing myometritis and virus was isolated from maternal ovaries and from fetal tissues. The fetus did not have lesions attributable to arteritis virus. These results suggest that although fetal death may occur in utero during acute equine viral arteritis, abortion probably is due to lesions in the uterus of the mare.     

Pathology and Neurotoxicity in Dogs after Repeat Dose Exposure to a Serotonin 5-HT1B Inhibitor

AZD3783, a cationic amphiphilic drug and a potent inhibitor of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT_1B) receptor, was explored as a potential treatment for depression. To support clinical trials, repeat dose toxicity studies in rats and dogs were conducted. Here we report toxicity findings in dogs after dosing from 1 to 3 months. In the 1-month study, there were minimal neuronal vacuolation in the brain, a marked increase in liver enzymes accompanied by hepatocellular degeneration/necrosis and phospholipidosis (PLD), and PLD/cholecystitis in the gallbladder of animals dosed at 47 mg/kg/day. In the 3-month study, neurotoxicity resulted in euthanasia of one animal dosed at 30 mg/kg/day after 86 days. Extensive pathologic changes were seen in all animals in retina epithelium (inclusion bodies), brain (neuronal vacuolation, degeneration, or necrosis and nerve fiber degeneration), spinal ganglia (vacuolation, degeneration, or necrosis), as well as sciatic and optic nerves (degeneration). Pigment-laden macrophages were observed in the lung, kidney, liver, gallbladder, bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract, and lymphoid tissues. Also seen were vitrel and retinal hemorrhage in the eyes. A brain concentration and pathology study showed that the concentration of AZD3783 in the brain was approximately 4 times higher than in the plasma after 4 weeks of dosing, however, they were similar in all regions examined, and did not correlate with areas with pathologic findings. Our findings with AZD3783 in dogs have not been reported previously with other CNS compounds that effect through serotonergic pharmacology.     

Vacuolating cytotoxin produced by avian pathogenic Escherichia coli

The purpose of this study was to determine whether avian pathogenic Escherichia coli produced cytotoxic activity. Culture supernatants of 20 E. coli strains isolated from cellulitis lesions in chickens, five E. coli strains from avian septicemia, five from swollen head syndrome, and five from the feces of healthy chickens were incubated with primary chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cells, primary chicken kidney (PCK) cells, a quail fibroblast cell line (QT-35), and four mammalian cell lines (human epithelioid cervical carcinoma, African green monkey kidney, Chinese hamster ovary, and human larynx epidermoid carcinoma). Cytotoxicity was observed with supernatants from the 30 avian pathogenic strains on the two primary chicken cells (CEF and PCK). The highest dilution of culture supenatant that induced cytotoxic changes in 50% of the cells was 1/64. Supernatants from the five strains from normal feces were noncytotoxic, and none of the supernatants was cytotoxic for the QT-35 or the four mammalian cell lines. The cytotoxic effect, which was observed as early as 2 hr after exposure of the cells, was maximal at 6 hr and was evident as vacuolation, morphologically indistinguishable from that previously reported for culture supernatants of Helicobacter pylori. Like the activity in H. pylori, the cytotoxicity of the avian pathogenic strains was destroyed by heating at 70 C for 30 min and by exposure to proteolytic enzymes and was retained by filtration with a 100,000 molecular weight cut-off ultrafilter. Supernatants of two vacuolating cytotoxin-positive cultures of H. pylori failed to induce vacuolation of the CEF and PCK cells but caused the characteristic vacuolation in HeLa and Vero cells. The observations suggest that avian pathogenic E. coli produce a cytotoxin that is similar to the cytotoxin of H. pylori but may be specific for avian cells.     

Comparative pathology of endometrial carcinoma

A review is given of the comparative pathology of endometrial carcinomas regarding the incidence, the morphology, and the relation with endometrial hyperplasia. Compared to man, endometrial carcinomas in animals are fairly rare, except in rabbits, in cattle, and in a stock of Han: Wistar rats. In rabbits the endometrial carcinomas are mostly primary multiple and present in both horns. Histologically they are almost always adenocarcinomas. The histological structure can vary considerably with regard to the degree of differentiation. In cattle the endometrial carcinomas are mostly singular. Histologically they are mostly adenocarcinomas, often accompanied by formation of much dense fibrous tissue. In rats the endometrial carcinomas are mostly primary multiple adenocarcinomas. In man as well as in the rabbit and in the rat, relationships have been described between endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma. It is striking that in the dog, a species in which endometrial hyperplasia very often occurs, endometrial carcinomas should be rare. The endometrial carcinoma in the rabbit as an animal model for human endometrial carcinoma is discussed extensively. In both species there are signs indicating relationships between endometrial carcinomas and sex hormones, especially oestrogens. The incidence in rabbits is very high. Endometrial carcinomas in rabbits can be transplanted subcutaneously in the same rabbit. They can also be cultured in vitro. Moreover the rabbit is a suitable species to study the progesterone/progesterone-receptor complex by determining the synthesis of the progesterone-induced protein uteroglobin which may be important in studying endometrial carcinomas. Uteroglobin is a good marker for a functional 'Progesterone-PR-DNA-mRNAug-Uteroglobin- System' (or PUG-System).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Feasibility and Safety of Endometrial Injection of Autologous Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Mares

​Chronic degenerative endometritis (CDE) is an important cause of fertility problems in older mares. It is estimated that 30% of mares breeding are over 18 years old and the high value of their progeny encourages the use of these animals in assisted reproduction procedures. Currently, cell-based therapies are broadly used in human and veterinary regenerative medicine and have been showed a good effect on the treatment of liver fibrosis. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of endometrial injection of autologous bone marrow MSCs in mares. Mares were examined by transrectal ultrasound and the endometrial stem cells injections performed during diestrous, using injection needles coupled to a teflon catheter through the biopsy channel of a flexible endoscope. After treatment clinical evaluations (heart reat, respiratory rate, staining of the mucosa, capillary refill time, body temperature and lameness score) were performed daily during seven days. The intrauterine fluid and endometrial edema was evaluated before, 24 and 48 hours after the procedure by ultrasonographic exams and the inflammatory infiltrate (polymorphonuclear cells and mononuclear cells) and degree of fibrosis by histological evaluations before (D0) and 15 (D15), 30 (D30) and 60 (D60) days after endometrial injections. The results were evaluated by Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn test and for fertility rates was used Chi-square, considering a 5% significance level. Neither clinical alteration was observed in mares after treatment, as well as, intrauterine fluid and endometrial edema were not detected in any mare before and after cell therapy. After cell therapy, significantly more PMNs were found in D15 biopsies, however, these cells were not observed in D30 and D60 biopsies. No worsening on the histological architecture after treatment was observed in any mare. In conclusion, the results of this study showed that endometrial hysteroscopic injections of stem cells in mares is a safe procedure.     

Gonadotropin releasing hormone receptor gene and protein expression and immunohistochemical localization in bovine uterus and oviducts

Recently GnRH, GnRH-R systems has been demonstrated in various extrahypothalamic and extrapituitary reproductive tissues in different mammalian species, where GnRH acts in an autocrine and or paracrine manner and modulates different biological processes. GnRH-R mRNA has also been demonstrated in bovine ovaries (follicle and corpus luteum) and normal and carcinogenic human endometrium/endometrial cells. This is the first study elucidating presence of GnRH-R mRNA and GnRH-R protein in bovine uterus and oviducts in follicular and luteal phases of the estrous cycle and further localizing the receptors to endometrial and oviductal epithelial cells. To our knowledge this is the first report demonstrating GnRH-R mRNA and protein in mammalian oviducts. We used gene-specific primers and monoclonal GnRH-R antibody to test GnRH-R mRNA and GnRH-R protein through RT-PCR and immunobloting. Immunohistochemistry was employed to localize these receptors to endometrial and oviductal epithelial cells. GnRH-R mRNA and receptor protein were expressed at expected molecular weights of 920bp and 60kD, respectively. Densitometry analysis revealed that expression levels for GnRH-R protein in uterus and oviducts were similar to bovine pituitary. The presence of GnRH receptors in bovine uterus and oviducts is intriguing and it would be imperative to examine the functional role of this system in the regulation of reproductive processes.     

Magnetic resonance imaging and pathological findings in a cat with brain contusions

Necropsy was performed on a mongrel male cat of unknown age weighing 1.3 kg, which probably encountered a traffic accident. Gross pathological examination of the brain revealed reddish colour of the right cerebral hemisphere and haemorrhages on the surface of the right frontal lobe to temporal lobe. Histologically, there was diffuse vacuolation in the cortex of the right frontal lobe and extensive haemorrhages in the base of brain. These histopathological findings were consistent with areas of abnormal signals found on post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this study, the MRI findings were identical to that reported in human cases of head trauma as well as histopathological changes.     

Effect of EDTA on morphology of neutrophils of healthy dogs and dogs with inflammation

Increased basophilia and foamy vacuolation in the cytoplasm of neutrophils in smears made within 1 hour of blood collection suggest inflammatory disease. Due to the mild increase in foamy vacuolation which occurred with time in EDTA, the significance of mildly vacuolated neutrophils in smears prepared a few hours after blood collection is questionable. However, moderate or severe foamy vacuolation should be considered clinically significant. In vitro morphologic changes in neutrophils from healthy dogs in EDTA include clear, discrete vacuoles in the cytoplasm, uneven distribution of cytoplasmic granules, irregular cell membrane and pyknosis. These neutrophils generally lack basophilia, have minimal foamy vacuolation of the cytoplasm and are morphologically different from neutrophils associated with severe inflammation.     

Fostering and Identifying of Dairy Endometrium Epithelial Cell in vitro

To build up the method of isolating and culturing the dairy endometrial epithelial cells for further study, mechanical method and enzymatic isolation method were used in this study.0.1% pronase was used to soak uterine horns for 16 to 20 h at 4 ℃, and a surgical knife was used to scrape cells from dairy endoemtrium. The dairy endometrial epithelial cells were cultured by trypsin digestion method. The cultured cells were identified by keratin antibody through immunohistochemistry, and the proliferation of the third generation were measured by MTT assay.The results showed that morphology of the cultured cells were similar to epithelia cells by phase-contrast microscope. In addition, the eighth generation still maintained the similar morphology and growth state comparing to the primary generation cells, and the cytokeratin-positive cells ration was more than 80%. The methods used in this study were suitable for culturing the endometrial epithelial cells with highly quantity, activity and purity, it could be popularized in related labs.