The use of human and bovine commercial media for oocyte maturation and embryo development in the domestic cat (Felis catus)

The aim of this study was to examine the suitability of commercial media designed for humans and cattle for oocyte maturation and embryo culture in the domestic cat. In Exp. I, feline oocytes collected ex vivo were subjected to in vitro maturation in a laboratory‐made culture medium (based on M199) or a commercial medium designed for cattle cells (BO‐IVM^®). In Exp. II, ICSI‐derived feline embryos were cultured for 7 days in a commercial human (Continuous Single Culture^®) or bovine (BO‐EC^®) cell medium. The rates of cleavage, morula and blastocyst formation were evaluated at 24 hr, 6 days and 7 days after ICSI, respectively, and compared between experimental groups. At the end of culture, embryos were assessed for viability and apoptotic changes. In Exp. I, no statistically significant difference in oocyte maturation outcome between laboratory‐made (52.7%) and commercial media (58.9%) was observed. However, the use of a commercial medium prepared for use with bovine cells resulted in a significantly lower variance of the maturation rate. In Exp. II, no statistically significant differences between two commercial media were observed for cleavage (67.5% and 64.5%), morula (39.3% and 47.1%) and blastocyst rates (25.0% and 19.6%), as well as for the percentage of late apoptotic blastomeres. Morulae cultured in medium marketed for humans exhibited significantly more early apoptotic (43.2 ± 31.2% vs. 23.4 ± 23.2%) and necrotic (60.6 ± 47.6% vs. 29.4 ± 22.6%) blastomeres. In conclusion, both commercial media tested are suitable for in vitro oocyte maturation and embryo culture procedures in cats. It is remarkable that a culture medium designed for use in cattle for in vitro maturation of cat oocytes provides more reproducible results.     

Effect of albumin and casein supplementation on the common carp Cyprinus carpio L. sperm motility parameters measured by CASA

Adhesion of sperm to a glass surface can be manifested by the low percentage of motile spermatozoa and lower speed. This crucial factor could disprove the sperm quality prediction from computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) results. In our study, this was particularly observed when solution L was used. However, protein supplementation was effective in the reduction in sperm adhesion. We found that albumin increased the sperm motility at concentrations of 0.25 % in solution L and 0.5 % in solution P. Casein was effective in both solutions at 0.25 % concentration. However, in solution L, the motility was lower than that measured in solutions P and L with the supplementation of BSA at 0.25 and 0.5 %. BSA supplementation was especially beneficial in terms of higher speed values regardless of an activation solution. Casein used with solution P allows us to obtain similar results as in the samples activated with BSA supplementation. Casein supplementation to solution L did not increase CASA results to the level observed in the samples activated with BSA added to the solution L. Our data suggest that the selection of an activation solution is one of the most crucial steps in the experiments requiring CASA data. Depending on the composition, different protein supplements should be used to reduce adhesion of sperm to a glass surface. We recommend the use of BSA at the 0.5–1 % concentration because at this level we obtained the highest CASA parameters in both activation media.     

Immunomodulatory effect of dietary brewer’s yeast extract in Sander lucioperca juveniles against the challenge of Aeromonas salmonicida

The present study examined the influence of extract obtained from the interior of cells of yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (NuPro^®), on the growth, proximate composition, nonspecific cellular and humoral defense mechanisms, and protection against furunculosis in pikeperch (Sander lucioperca). It was noted that eight weeks of supplementation with 40 g of NuPro^® kg^?1 feed (containing approximately 0.22 % exogenic nucleotides) enhanced pikeperch innate immunity. Increased serum lysozyme activity and total Ig levels (P < 0.05) were noted in the NuPro^®-fed group, which indicated the activation of nonspecific humoral defense mechanisms. Brewer’s yeast extract also stimulated nonspecific cellular defense mechanisms as indicated by the increased metabolic activity of blood phagocytes and pronephric macrophages, and in the increased intracellular killing activity of phagocytes and proliferative responses of T and B lymphocytes (P < 0.05). Additionally, reduced mortality (15 %) after the in vivo challenge with pathogenic Aeromonas salmonicida suggested that NuPro^® activated nonspecific protection against furunculosis in pikeperch. The experimental feed did not have a significant impact on the growth or proximate composition of the fish (P > 0.05).     

Effect of Environmental Conditions on Chemical Profile of Stream Water in Sanctuary Forest Area

This study reports the evaluation of chemical composition of a Black Vistula and White Vistula streams’ waters taking into consideration both geological conditions of the stream’s catchment area and different water’ level related to seasonal variations in particular catchment ecosystem (high stage: beginning of the vegetation period; medium stage: vegetation period; low stage: final time of vegetation period). The complex data matrix (744 observations), obtained by the determination of major inorganic analytes (Cl^?, NO₃ ^?, SO₄ ^2?, NH₄ ⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺) in water samples by ion chromatography was treated by linear discriminant analysis and non-parametrical testing. In case of both streams obtained results indicate presence of two discriminant functions (DFs). The data variance explained by DFs is as follows: Black Vistula stream—first DF: 93.5%, second DF: 6.5%; White Vistula stream—first DF: 66.3%, second DF: 33.7%. In case of Black Vistula stream first DF allows distinction of medium, high and low waterstage related samples while second DF between high/low and medium water stage related samples. In case of White Vistula stream first DF allowed to distinguish between medium/high and low water stage related samples while second DF between medium and high water level samples. In case of both streams, the most informative DFs were related to geological conditions of investigated catchments (contents of Cl^?, Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, SO₄ ^2?), while the second to nutrient biocycle (mainly NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ^?) related to slope’s exposition and inclination.     

Mutual relations between PAHs derived from atmospheric deposition,enzymatic activity,and humic substances in soils of differently urbanized areas

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine the mutual relations between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) originated from atmospheric emissions and enzymatic activity and humic substances in soils at differently urbanized area, on an example of the Lublin city, east Poland.

Materials and methods

The chosen areas represented three differently urbanized environments: old tenement houses and modern residential blocks, mixture of different building and rural landscape, and typical rural environment with smallholding farms, respectively. On each of the urban, suburban, and rural areas, one representative plot was chosen on fallow lands classified as luvisol derived from loess. The soil samples were collected from the top 25 cm layer. The following properties were determined: pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, humic and fulvic acids, PAHs content (14 PAHs from US EPA list), and the activities of the following enzymes: dehydrogenases, acid phosphatase, alkane phosphatase, protease, and urease.

Results and discussion

Higher contents of organic C and total N were found in the rural soil samples. The share of humic acid was similar in all soils investigated, ranging from 19.38 to 25.27%, while fulvic acid values differ significantly between urban and rural areas. The urban soils indicated much lower share of fulvic acids (9.78–10.99%) than those of rural (29.02–29.32%). Consequently, the values of the C_HA:C_FA ratio of the urban soil were approximately two times higher than those of the rural soil. The results showed that both the rate of humification and the activity of dehydrogenases, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and proteases in the soils increased in the following sequence: urban < suburban < rural.

Conclusions

The results showed that an increase of PAHs in the urbanized areas affect other soil properties. The phenanthrene/anthracene and fluoranthene/pyrene ratios pointed to coal combustion as the principal source of PAHs in the investigated soils. The PAH content in the urbanized area inhibit humification processes in the soil and the activity of dehydrogenases, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and proteases.

     

Genetic variability within <Emphasis Type="Italic">Septoria carvi</Emphasis> Syd.- a pathogen of caraway <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carum carvi</Emphasis> L

Genetic variability within Septoria carvi isolates obtained from various organs of caraway cultivated in south-eastern and central Poland was studied using the RAPD-PCR technique. The tests were performed using randomly selected primers. The DNA profiles obtained using four primers proved useful in determining genetic variability among the genotypes of Septoria carvi isolates. The present study characterized the differences in the nucleotide sequence within the internal transcribed spacer region of rDNA (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2) of selected S. carvi isolates and reference strains of Septoria spp. Moreover, eight isolates were sequenced for three loci: actin, calmodulin and translation elongation factor 1-alpha, and the obtained sequences were compared with the sequences of Septoria reference strains affecting other plants of the family Apiaceae. Phylogenetic analysis showed distinct differences of the tested isolates, which allowed to treat them Septoria carvi species affecting the above-ground organs of caraway Carum carvi L. This study is the first report on the genetic characteristics of the species S. carvi.     

Nɛ-(carboxymethyl)lysine,Available Lysine,and Volatile Compound Profile of Biscuits Enriched with Grape by-Product During Storage

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - We investigated the changes in N?-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) and available lysine content, antioxidant properties, volatiles, and oxidation products of...     

The Role of Weather in Meningitis Outbreaks in Navrongo, Ghana: A Generalized Additive Modeling Approach

Bacterial (meningococcal) meningitis is a devastating infectious disease with outbreaks occurring annually during the dry season in locations within the ??Meningitis Belt??, a region in sub-Saharan Africa stretching from Ethiopia to Senegal. Meningococcal meningitis occurs from December to May in the Sahel with large epidemics every 5?C10?years and attack rates of up to 1000 infections per 100,000 people. High temperatures coupled with low humidity may favor the conversion of carriage to disease as the meningococcal bacteria in the nose and throat are better able to cross the mucosal membranes into the blood stream. Similarly, respiratory diseases such as influenza and pneumonia might weaken the immune defenses and add to the mucosa damage. Although the transmission dynamics are poorly understood, outbreaks regularly end with the onset of the rainy season and may begin anew with the following dry season. In this paper, we employ a generalized additive modeling approach to assess the association between number of reported meningitis cases and a set of weather variables (relative humidity, rain, wind, sunshine, maximum and minimum temperature). The association is adjusted for air quality (dust, carbon monoxide), as well as varying degrees of unobserved time-varying confounding processes that co-vary with both the disease incidence and weather. We present the analysis of monthly reported meningitis counts in Navrongo, Ghana, from 1998?C2008.