Potential involvement of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) metallothioneins in the hydrogen peroxide‐induced regulation of seed vigour

Germination is a crucial process in crop plant life cycle that determines future yield. Hydrogen peroxide plays a significant role in both dormancy release and seed ageing. The potential of the rapeseed metallothioneins (BnMT1‐4) as reactive oxygen species scavengers was investigated. In the presence of H₂O₂, bacterial cells expressing BnMT1‐4 had higher growth rate than control cells. However, such effect was not observed in an oxidative stress oversensitive yap‐1Δ yeast mutant strain expressing BnMT1‐4. Next, it was shown that H₂O₂, up to 100 and 10 mM, promotes rapeseed germination rate and seedling growth, respectively. Moreover, it was demonstrated that in seeds germinating in the presence of H₂O_2, the expression of seed‐specific BnMT4 decreases to a high extent in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. It was shown that the decline in BnMT4 mRNA level, accelerated by up to 10 mM H₂O₂ treatment, correlates positively with increased rapeseed germination and early growth, underscoring the plausible role of BnMT4 as a H₂O₂ scavenging protein that level has to be downregulated in conditions where the compound is needed. Finally, it was demonstrated that H₂O₂ could be used as a priming agent of rapeseeds.     

Assessment of 137Cs and 239,240Pu Distribution in Forest Soils of the Opole Anomaly

Distribution of ¹³⁷Cs and ^239,240Pu in the forest soils horizons of the Opole Anomaly was established. Gamma and alpha spectrometry was used for determination of these isotopes. It was found that the ¹³⁷Cs activity was approx. 1,000 times higher than that of ^239,240Pu. The highest activities of both radioisotopes were found close to the boundary region in soil profile where the organic horizon turns into the inorganic one. Cluster analysis did not clearly indicate the group’s existence in data in respect to ¹³⁷Cs and ^239,240Pu activities and organic matter content. Distributions of ¹³⁷Cs and ^239,240Pu in soil horizons were non-normal but similar to each other. These distributions were substantially different from that one for organic matter content. The data were separated into two groups, for organic and inorganic soil horizons, respectively. Data transformation using Box–Cox formula was performed following by standardization. Mutual relationships between variables were investigated using ordinary and robust regression methods. Good correlation between ¹³⁷Cs and ^239,240Pu was found. No significant relationship between organic matter content and radioisotopes activity was asserted.     

Estimation of additive and epistatic gene effects of doubled haploid lines of winter oilseed rape (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> L.)

In this paper 60 doubled haploid lines of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) were studied. Genetic parameters as additive and epistasis effects were estimated for nine quantitative traits. The results indicate the importance of both additive and epistasis gene effects of number of branches per plant, number of siliques per plant, number of seeds per silique and silique length in this study.     

Determination of cytogenetic markers for biological monitoring in coypu (Myocastor coypu)

Cytogenetic tests are used to assess the influence of physical and chemical factors with potential mutagenic and genotoxic properties on the animal organism. The test results make it possible to eliminate mutagens, as well as helping predict possible genetic consequences in animal cells and assess animal resistance. The aim of this study was to examine, using cytogenetic tests, the spontaneous chromosome and DNA damage in coypu lymphocytes. Four tests: fragile site (FS), bleomycin (BLM), micronucleus, (MN) and comet were used for the first time in coypu cells. The averages with standard deviations obtained in the research were as follows: 3.30 ± 0.80 fragile sites/cell; 0.63 ± 0.80 BLM damage/cell; 6.10 ± 0.53% binucleated cells with MN; and 3.24 ± 0.63% DNA in tail. The present analysis showed high interindividual variation in spontaneous chromosomal and DNA damage levels. In the case of micronucleus, fragile sites, and comet assays, the differences between animals were statistically significant. The data suggest that these assays are sensitive enough to detect some effects on an individual animal and can be proposed as tools for coypu biomonitoring.     

The immunohistochemical evaluation of selected markers in the left atrium of dogs with end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy and myxomatous mitral valve disease – a preliminary study

Background

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) are the most common diseases noted in dogs. Although their pathogenesis varies, both include a significant enlargement of the left atrium.The study was carried out on left atrial specimens obtained from 56 dogs, including those from 34 dogs with clinically diagnosed MMVD, 15 dogs with DCM and 7 dogs without heart disease (control group). Dogs in the MMVD and the DCM groups presented with left atrial enlargement and stage D heart failure. The specimens underwent immunohistochemical examination using desmin, vimentin, periostin and caspase-3 antibodies.

Results

There were alterations in the expression of the studied proteins in the study groups compared to the control group. The changes included: irregularity of desmin cross-striation and desmosomes, a higher amount of vimentin-positive cells, a change in the periostin expression pattern from cytoplasmic to extracellular, and a lower expression of caspase-3. The alterations were more pronounced in the DCM group than in the MMVD group.

Conclusions

During heart failure, the pattern of desmin, vimentin, periostin and caspase-3 expression alters in the left atrium, regardless of the cause. The changes are more pronounced in dogs with DCM than in dogs with MMVD and similar left atrial enlargement, suggesting that volume overload may not be the only cause of myocardial changes in DCM.

     

Histological and morphometric evaluation of the urethra and penis in male New Zealand White rabbits

This stereudy aimed at performing a histological and morphometric evaluation of the urethra and penis of male rabbits. Seven male New Zealand White rabbits weighing 2.1–3 kg were used in the study. The whole urethra, from the urinary bladder to the external urethral orifice, was dissected from the rabbits, and the tissue was sliced into sections at an interval of 2 mm. The sections were stained with haematoxylin–eosin, Masson–Goldner trichrome stain, Van Gieson's stain and Movat–Russell modified pentachrome stain. A detailed evaluation of the morphology and morphometry was performed. The parameters assessed were the type and height of epithelium, thickness and composition of connective tissue, and thickness and structure of muscularis. The histological structure of the rabbit urethra was found to be similar to humans. However, although the rabbits were found to have the same type of penis as the humans, the internal structure of the corpora cavernosa, the relative thickness of the tunica albuginea and the rudimentary glands of the penis were found to differ in these animals. The results of the present study may be useful in the designing of implants, drug testing or surgical procedures on the physiological and pathological urethra.     

Giblets and abdominal fat of pomegranate seed oil fed chickens as a source of bioactive fatty acids

The aim of present study was to determine whether chickens’ (broilers Ross 308, n = 180, sex ratio 1:1) diet modification with different doses of grape or pomegranate seed oil will favourable change fatty acids and cholesterol content in selected giblets (liver and heart) or wastes (adipose tissue). It was also verify whether generated changes would make the giblets and wastes more valuable as dietary components or by-products for food industry. From 22 to 42 day of life, five diets were administered to chickens. Control grower diet (CON) contained 5% of soy oil, whereas in the experimental grower diets part of soy oil (1.5% or 2%) was replaced with specific amount of grape or pomegranate seed oil (GRAP 1.5; GRAP 2.0; POM 1.5; POM 2.0 respectively). Fatty acids and cholesterol content were determined with gas chromatography with flame-ionization detection. Pomegranate seed oil improved fatty acids profile more favourably than grape seed oil, which makes it a valuable additive in chickens’ feeding. Abdominal fat of pomegranate seed oil supplemented chickens appeared to be the richest sources of rumenic acid and n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which allows to suggest its use in manufacturing of meat products to obtain foodstuffs rich in those essential nutrients. In principal component analysis (PCA), two principal components: PC1 and PC2, which were enough to explain 29.91% of variance of initial variables, allowed to a good separation of chickens fed with both doses of pomegranate seed oil from animals from control and grape seed oil fed groups. Because poultry addresses all nutritional, institutional and consumer requirements, enrichment of giblets in rumenic acid by pomegranate seed oil incorporation into chickens’ diet may provide a valuable dietary source of bioactive fatty acids for consumers, especially of low-income countries.     

Assessment of selenium bioavailability from high-selenium spirulina subfractions in selenium-deficient rats

It was previously found that the bioavailability of Se from Se-rich spirulina (SeSp) was lower than that from selenite or selenomethionine when fed to Se-deficient rats. The present study examined the bioavailability of Se from SeSp subfractions: a pellet (P) issuing from the centrifugation of a suspension of broken SeSp and a retentate (R) resulting from ultrafiltration of the supernatant through a 30 kDa exclusion membrane. Animals were fed a torula yeast based diet with no Se (deficients) or supplemented with 75 microg of Se/kg of diet as sodium selenite (controls) for 42 days. Se-deficient rats were then repleted for 56 days with Se (75 microg/kg of diet) supplied as sodium selenite, SeSp, P, or R. During this period, controls continued to receive sodium selenite. Speciation of Se in subfractions showed that the majority was present in the form of high molecular weight compounds; free selenomethionine was only a minor constituent. Gross absorption of Se from sodium selenite, P, and R was not different and was higher than from SeSp. Only retentate allowed full replenishment of Se concentration in liver and kidney (as did sodium selenite) and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity in liver, kidney, plasma, and erythrocytes. The bioavailabilities of Se in retentate, as assessed by slope ratio analysis using selenite as a reference Se, were 89 and 112% in the tissue Se content and 106-133% in the GSHPx activities. SeSp and P exhibited a gross bioavailability of <100%. These results indicate that Se in retentate is highly bioavailable and represents an interesting source of Se for food supplementation.