Fluctuations of serum cortisol,insulin and non-esterified fatty acid concentrations in growing ewes over the year

Background

The physiological levels of endocrine and metabolic parameters in Slovene autochthonous breeds of sheep are not yet well known, nor are the mechanisms of their adaptability and responses to climate and environmental factors.Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate fluctuations of cortisol, insulin and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) in growing ewes over an one-year period. Blood samples were collected monthly from 10 yearling Jezersko-Solchava, 10 Bovec and 10 Istrian ewes. Serum cortisol, insulin and NEFA were measured with commercial kits.

Results

Mean monthly cortisol values fluctuated with low levels in summer and high levels in autumn. Significant peaked cortisol values of 25.69 ± 6.89, 14.67 ± 2.43 and 21.11 ± 7.25 μg/L in Jezersko-Solchava, Bovec and Istrian breed, respectively, were found in September (Bovec breed) and October (Jezersko-Solchava and Istrian breed). Mean monthly insulin values increased during the observation period. The highest levels of 14.60 ± 3.15, 16.03 ± 5.35 and 12.56 ± 2.52 μIU/mL in Jezersko-Solchava, Bovec and Istrian breed, respectively, were observed in the last sample collection in May. NEFA concentrations were found to be low except in some autumn and spring months. The peak values were observed in March for Jezersko-Solchava and Istrian breed (0.60 ± 0.05 and 0.66 ± 0.10 mmol/L), and in April for Bovec breed (0.71 ± 0.11 mmol/L).

Conclusions

Monthly fluctuations of cortisol, insulin and NEFA were measured in all observed sheep breeds, but between-breed differences in monthly values of examined parameters were insignificant. Significantly increased serum cortisol levels were found in autumn for all breeds and were probably associated with the onset of puberty and low environmental temperature. A gradual increase of insulin level in the examined ewes was in parallel with their growth. Significantly higher NEFA values in spring suggest qualitatively insufficient feed supply during that period.     

RAPD genetic diversity of Albanian olive germplasm and its relationships with other Mediterranean countries

RAPD markers were used for the study of 19Albanian olive cultivars and two wild olives (oleasters). A total of 76polymorphic bands (4.8 polymorphic markers per primer) out of 107 reproducible were obtained using 16 primers. The number of bands per primer ranged from 4 to 10,whereas the number of polymorphic bands ranged from 1 to 9, corresponding to 71%of the total amplification products. All the accessions could be identified by the combination of four primers: OPA-19;OPA-02; OPK-16 and OPP-19. The dendrogram,based on Jaccard's index, included three major groups according to their origin: 1)most of the cultivars from the area of Berat (South of Albania) 2) cultivars from the Centre and Centre-North of Albania and3) cultivars from the Centre and North-West of Albania along with the oleaster from Elbasan. In order to evaluate the origin of Albanian cultivars they were compared to those diffused in other countries like Greece, Italy and Turkey, due to geographical and historical affinity among these countries, by using a one way AMOVA. Although most of the genetic diversity was attributable to differences among cultivars within each country (91.47%) significantφ-values among countries(φ_st = 0.085; p < 0.001)suggested the existence of RAPD phenotypic differentiation. Significant φ-values in all pairs formed by Albania with the other countries were observed. These results are consistent with the autochthonous origin of Albanian cultivars. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Alkaline Comet Assay as a Potential Tool in the Assessment of DNA Integrity in Freshwater Zooplankton Affected by Pollutants from Water Treatment Facility

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution - In this pilot study, we evaluated the usefulness of the alkaline comet assay as a biomonitoring tool at the level of plankton communities affected by varying...     

Quantitative trait loci of frost tolerance and physiologically related trait in faba bean (Vicia faba L.)

In faba bean, field based winter-hardiness is a complex trait that is significantly correlated to frost tolerance. Frost tolerance could be used to indirectly select for faba bean winter-hardiness. The aim of this study was to identify putative QTL associated with frost tolerance and auxiliary traits and to quantify the efficiency of marker assisted selection. Thus, 101 recombinant inbred lines derived from the cross between two frost tolerant lines were tested for their hardened and unhardened frost tolerance and for their leaf fatty acid content in both treatments. Significant differences among the RIL were observed for all studied traits. For frost tolerance, five putative QTL were detected; three for unhardened frost tolerance that explained 40.7% (8.6% after cross-validation, CV) of its genotypic variance and two for hardened frost tolerance that explained 21.8% (1.0% after CV). For fatty acid content, three QTL were detected for oleic acid content in unhardened leaves that explained 62.9% (40.6% after CV) of its genotypic variance. This fatty acid was significantly correlated with unhardened frost tolerance. The unbiased genotypic variance explained enabled to draw realistic prospects of MAS for frost tolerance. In this study, combined MAS was more efficient than classical phenotypic selection and was expected to be higher on larger populations at early generations. Moreover, favourable alleles inherited from the exotic line BPL 4628 could be introgressed to European winter-hardy beans for further improvement.     

Early systemic inflammatory response in mice after a single oral gavage with live Escherichia coli is evidenced by increased TNF-alpha and nitric oxide production

Twenty-four female BALB/c mice were orally inoculated with 10(8) CFU Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and euthanized 2.5, 7, 13 and 25 h post-inoculation. The levels of organ nitric oxide (NO) and plasma endotoxin, TNF-alpha and nitrite/nitrate (NO(x)) were compared to those found in sham-inoculated mice, to evaluate systemic host-response to a low-level oral exposure to Gram-negative bacteria. Organ bacterial culture and immunohistochemistry for iNOS were performed on lungs, liver, kidneys and brain from all mice. Organ NO and plasma TNF-alpha levels were higher in E. coli-inoculated animals, but no differences were detected in plasma endotoxin levels, NO(x) or iNOS immunostaining for any of the animal groups. Single oral gavage with live E. coli stimulates an early systemic immune response in clinically healthy mice as evidenced by increased plasma TNF-alpha and organ NO levels, but bacteremia and endotoxemia are not related to this inflammatory response.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Er3</Emphasis> gene,conferring resistance to powdery mildew in pea,is located in pea LGIV

Three genes for resistance to Erysiphe pisi, named er1, er2 and Er3 have been described in pea so far. er1 gene is located in pea linkage group VI, while er2 gene has been mapped in LGIII. SCAR and RAPD markers tightly linked to Er3 gene have been identified, but the position of these markers in the pea genetic map was unknown. The objective of this study was to localize Er3 gene in the pea genetic map. Towards this aim, the susceptible pea cv. Messire (er3er3) and a resistant near isogenic line of Messire (cv. Eritreo, Er3Er3) were surveyed with SSRs with known position in the pea map. Three SSRs were polymorphic between “Messire” and “Eritreo” and further surveyed in two contrasting bulks formed by homozygous Er3Er3/er3er3 individuals obtained from a F₂ population derived from the cross C2 (Er3Er3)?×?Messire (er3er3). A single marker, AA349, was polymorphic between the bulks. Subsequently, other ten markers located in the surrounding of AA349 were selected and analysed in Er3Er3 and er3er3 plants. As a results, another SSR, AD61, was found to be polymorphic between Er3Er3 and er3er3 plants. Further linkage analysis confirmed that SSRs AA349 and AD61 were linked to Er3 and to the RAPD and SCAR markers previously reported to be linked to this gene. Er3 gene was located in pea LGIV at 0.39 cM downstream of marker AD61. The location of Er3 gene in the pea map is a first step toward the identification of this gene.     

Type, density, and location of immune cells within human colorectal tumors predict clinical outcome

The role of the adaptive immune response in controlling the growth and recurrence of human tumors has been controversial. We characterized the tumor-infiltrating immune cells in large cohorts of human colorectal cancers by gene expression profiling and in situ immunohistochemical staining. Collectively, the immunological data (the type, density, and location of immune cells within the tumor samples) were found to be a better predictor of patient survival than the histopathological methods currently used to stage colorectal cancer. The results were validated in two additional patient populations. These data support the hypothesis that the adaptive immune response influences the behavior of human tumors. In situ analysis of tumor-infiltrating immune cells may therefore be a valuable prognostic tool in the treatment of colorectal cancer and possibly other malignancies.     

Comparison of methods for the estimation of best parent heterosis among lines developed from interspecific sunflower germplasm

Pre-breeding and elite breeding are two steps in creating high yielding sunflower hybrids that differ in well established procedures and selection methods. However, a methodology that bridge efficient use of introgression lines as product of pre-breeding procedures and their crossing to elite inbreed lines, is not yet very well established. Therefore, the development of cost- and time-efficient methods for the determination of best parent heterosis and the use of best inbred lines in crosses with introgression lines for obtaining high-yielding and stable hybrids is highly desirable. In this regard, sixteen Cytoplasmic Male Sterile (CMS) inbred lines (A) derived from four heterogeneous interspecific lines originating from three annual: H. debilis silvestris (DEB-SIL), H. praecox runyoni (PRA-RUN), H. deserticola (DES) and one perennial H. resinosus (RES) wild species were evaluated. Seven agronomic traits were measured over a period of 2 years and 38 DNA loci were analysed, in order to compare four different methods for the estimation of best parent heterosis (BPH). New inbred lines were characterized by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of morphological traits and Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) of molecular marker data. Line?×?tester mating design was used to evaluate General Combining Ability (GCA), while Genetic Distance (GC) estimated by markers was evaluated as a predictor of BPH by Locally Weighted Sequential Smoothing (LOESS). Analysis of combining ability is one of the most important tools breeders use to identify superior inbred lines on the basis of their performance in hybrid combinations. Results obtained in this research show that PCA of morphological and PCoA of molecular marker data on parental lines are generally in agreement with GCA effects for examined traits. GD versus BPH relationships indicate that intermediate to high GD between parental lines was optimal for best heterotic effects of most traits. In this study, we show that the combination of the PCA of morphological data, PCoA of molecular marker data and GD between parental lines is fast and affordable, giving the most important information for parental choice of introgression and elite lines in sunflower breeding programs.     

Identification of QTLs for alpha acid content and yield in hop (Humulus Lupulus L.)

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and microsatellite (SSR) markers were applied to a segregation population of 111 genotypes derived from a pseudo-testcross of hop (Humulus lupulus L.) in order to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for alpha-acid content and yield traits. A total of 199 markers (150 AFLPs, 43 SSRs, one hypothetical sex marker, five chs genes) were located on the 20 linkage groups (LGs) of the maternal and paternal maps, covering 706 and 616 cM, respectively. Due to the presence of 16 common biparental SSR markers, homology of seven LGs between parental maps could be inferred. The progeny segregated quantitatively for alpha-acid content and yield determined in the years from 2002–2006. A total of 13 putative QTLs for alpha acid content, 13 for dry cone weight and 18 for harvest index were identified on the two maps across years. Possible homologies between the detected QTLs on the two maps as well as in different years were established for all three traits. The most promising QTL for alpha acid content was identified on LG03 flanked by two AFLP markers (E-ACC-M-CAA103F*/P-ACA-M-CAC412F). From 13.80 to 36.64% higher content of alpha acids than the averages obtained in different years was observed in plants having both flanking markers. The candidate region for further characterization of QTLs for yield traits was located on LG01 where the putative QTLs for harvest index were detected on both maps in each of the 5 years. The QTLs identified represent an important improvement in alpha acids MAS and the first step towards marker-assisted breeding for hop yield.