（ACP5） in the Ovine Uterus： I. Regulation by Pregnancy and Progesterone

Uteroferrin, also known as type 5 tartrate resistant acid phosphatase （ ACP5 ） or TRAP, is an iron-containing glycoprotein secreted by uterine gland epithelium （GE） in response to progesterone and transported across the placental areoalae into the fetal circulation and aUantoic fluid to deliver iron and to stimulate hematopoeisis in pigs. This study deter- mined if ACP5 was expressed in the ovine uterus in response to pregnancy, progesterone, interferon tau, placental lactogen, and placental growth hormone. ACP5 protein was present in uterine GE of cyclic and early pregnant ewes,particularly between days 18 and 120 of pregnancy. ACP5 mRNA was expressed in uterine GE of cyclic and pregnant ewes in the same temporal and cell-specific manner. ACP5 was present in secretions from uterine glands, i. e. , uterine milk,and allantoic fluid from days 40 to 80 of pregnancy, and in uterine flushings from cyclic and early pregnant ewes. Progesterone induced expression of ACP5 mR- NA and intrauterine infusion of recombinant ovine interferon tau further stimulated ACP5 expression in uterine GE of ewes,but intrauterine injections of ovine placental lactogen and ovine growth hormone had no effect on ACP5 expression in uterine GE. These re- sults indicate that ACP5 is：1 ） expressed only in GE in response to progesterone ;2） secreted into the uterine lumen and transported into the conceptus via placental areolae during pregnancy;and 3） present in secretions from uterine GE and in allantoic fluid. The roles of ACP5 in the ovine uterus may include transport of iron across the placenta and stimulation of hematopoiesis.     

Progesterone and estradiol-17β as a potential method for pregnancy diagnosis in the collared peccary (Pecari tajacu)

In this study, the period of pregnancy of nine collared peccary females has been monitored through the analysis of serum progesterone and estradiol-17β profiles. Serum concentrations of progesterone increased by Day 4 after conception, reaching concentrations of 33.4±5.6ng/mL on Day 10. Between Days 10 and 130 progesterone values were maintained between 20 and 60ng/mL. In the collared peccary, embryonic estradiol synthesis is first observed in the systemic circulation by Day 15 of pregnancy. Between Days 0 and 50 of pregnancy, average estradiol-17β concentrations were between 0 and 30pg/mL. From Day 75 of pregnancy onwards, estradiol concentrations were constantly increasing, reaching maximum concentrations (131.4±40.8pg/mL) on the day of parturition. The combined study of serum progesterone and estradiol-17β concentrations as a potential method for early pregnancy diagnosis presented the best overall accuracy (73%) when the threshold was established at 20ng/mL serum progesterone and 20pg/mL serum estradiol. Nevertheless, the accuracy for diagnosing pregnancy of females at mid and late pregnancy was 78% and 95%, respectively. The analysis of the sexual hormones during pregnancy could be a useful tool as a potential pregnancy diagnosis and an efficient predictor of the day of parturition in the captive collared peccary.     

Regulation of Oestrus ovis (Diptera: Oestridae) populations in previously exposed and naïve sheep

Larvae of Oestrus ovis (Insecta: Diptera: Oestridae) are common parasites of nasal and sinus cavities of sheep and goats. During larval development, a specific immune reaction is initiated by the host with a humoral local and systemic response and the recruitment of eosinophils and mast cells in the upper airways mucosae. Nevertheless, the roles of these responses in the regulation of O. ovis larvae populations in sheep are not yet known. The aim of this study was to compare the establishment and the development of larvae as well as some inflammatory or immune parameters between different groups of half-sibling sheep: (i) a primed group experimentally infected twice before a challenge infection, (ii and iii) two groups infected once only and previously treated with a long-lasting cortico?d before the challenge (one group) or not (the other group). A fourth group of non-infected animals was added in the experimental design. The larval establishment rate was 23% in the cortico?d treated group compared to about 10% in the two other infected groups. Moreover, the larval development appeared more rapid in the cortico?d treated group than in the two other infected groups suggesting that the inflammatory response is involved in the regulation of O. ovis populations. By contrast, no differences in the establishment rates were shown in the primed group compared to the na?ve group (without cortico?d treatment) despite evidence of higher eosinophilia, serum specific IgG, and immediate hypersensibility to excretory-secretory products of larvae. The specific lymphocyte proliferation was reduced in the primed group compared to the na?ve one suggesting that an immuno-suppression occurs following repetitive O. ovis infections.     

The Activity and Localization of 3β-hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase/Δ5-Δ4 Isomerase and Release of Androstenedione and Progesterone by Uterine Tissues During Early Pregnancy and the Estrous Cycle in Pigs

Steroid hormones are produced by the porcine uterus. We hypothesized that the uterus in pigs possesses active 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ⁵-Δ⁴ isomerase (3β-HSD) responsible for progesterone and androstenedione production, that uterine steroids may supplement the amount of steroid hormones produced by embryos and corpus luteum and that these steroids are necessary for maintenance of pregnancy. In this study, we examined 1) endometrial and myometrial expression of 3β-HSD mRNA, 2) uterine 3β-HSD protein activity and 3) in vitro production of A₄ and P₄ by uterine slices harvested from pigs on days 10 to 11, 12 to 13 and 15 to 16 of pregnancy and the estrous cycle. The expression of 3β-HSD and the presence and activity of 3β-HSD protein were different in the endometrium and the myometrium during the examined periods of pregnancy and the estrous cycle. Production of A₄ by the endometrium and myometrium was highest on days 12 to 13 of pregnancy and the estrous cycle. Endometrial secretion of P₄ did not differ in the course of early pregnancy and on the respective days of the estrous cycle. The gravid myometrium was the highest source of P₄ in pregnant pigs on days 12 to 13. The release of P₄ by the cyclic myometrium rose during the examined days of the estrous cycle. The steroidogenic activity of the uterus, as described in this study, may support early pregnancy or the luteal phase of the estrous cycle in pigs.     

Structure and functions of the placenta in common minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), Bryde’s (B. brydei) and sei (B. borealis) whales

The structure and functions of placentas were examined in 3 species of rorqual whales, common minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), Bryde’s (B. brydei) and sei (B. borealis) whales, with the aim of confirming the structural characteristics of the chorion, including the presence of the areolar part, and clarifying steroidogenic activities and fetomaternal interactions in the placentas of these whales. Placentas were collected from the second phase of the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the North Pacific (JARPN II). Histological and ultrastructural examinations revealed that these whale placentas were epitheliochorial placentas with the interdigitation of chorionic villi lined by monolayer uninucleate cells (trophoblast cells) and endometrial crypts as well as folded placentation by fold-like chorionic villi. Moreover, well-developed pouch-like areolae were observed in the placentas, and active absorption was suggested in the chorionic epithelial cells of the areolar part (areolar trophoblast cells). Berlin blue staining showed the presence of ferric ions (Fe³⁺) in the uterine glandular epithelial cells and within the stroma of chorionic villi in the areolar part. An immunohistochemical examination revealed tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP; known as uteroferrin in uteri) in the cytoplasm of glandular cells and areolar trophoblast cells. This result suggested that, in cetaceans, uteroferrin is used to supply iron to the fetus. Furthermore, immunoreactivity for P450scc and P450arom was detected in trophoblast cells, but not in areolar trophoblast cells, suggesting that trophoblast cells synthesize estrogen in whale placentas. Therefore, we herein immunohistochemically revealed the localization of aromatase and uteroferrin in cetacean placentas during pregnancy for the first time.     

Pre-implantation exogenous progesterone and pregnancy in sheep:Ⅰ. polyamines,nutrient transport,and progestamedins

Background:Administration of exogenous progesterone (P4) to ewes during the pre-implantation period advances conceptus development and implantation. This study ...     

Pregnancy diagnosis in the dog: A comparison between abdominal palpation and linear‐array real‐time echography

Summary

This paper presents quantitative results of canine pregnancy diagnoses performed by abdominal palpation and/or linear‐array real‐time echography.

Each animal was first palpated by an experienced clinician and then another investigator performed ultrasound scanning using a 3 MHz transducer. In other dogs echography was undertaken only when the result of abdominal palpation was negative or doubtful or when the owner requested ultrasound scanning. Using all tests performed between days 20 and 49 of pregnancy (day 0 = day of first mating or insemination), the results of abdominal palpation (n= 116) versus real‐time scanning (n = 135) were: sensitivity: 89.0% v 92.9%; specificity: 93% v 96.0%; positive predictive value: 95.6% v 97.5%; negative predictive value: 83.3% v 88.9%. Results of ultrasound tests performed in 97 other dogs were: sensitivity: 92.4%; specificity: 97.7%; positive predictive value: 98.0% and negative predictive value: 91.4%. Almost identical figures were found when only the tests performed between days 25 and 35 of pregnancy were included.

It was concluded that 1) real‐time ultrasound scanning is an accurate method for discriminating between pregnant and non‐pregnant bitches; 2) sensitivity and specificity of the abdominal palpation technique executed by an experienced clinician approach that of ultrasound scanning; 3) small litter size and lack of knowledge of conception date are the main sources of false negative diagnoses.     

Pathogen carriage by the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché) in the United Kingdom

The carriage of Bartonella, Rickettsia felis and haemoplasma species was investigated in cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) collected from 121 cats and dogs in the United Kingdom. DNA extracted from fleas was analysed using genus and species-specific PCR and amplicons were characterised using DNA sequencing. Fifty percent of flea samples were PCR positive for at least one pathogen. Twenty one percent were positive for R. felis, 17% for Bartonella henselae, 40% for haemoplasma species and 20% were infected with more than one of the pathogen species studied. It is clear from the results in this study that companion cats and dogs are commonly infested with Ct. felis carrying bacterial pathogens of significance to human and animal health. These findings raise the possibility that Ct. felis found on dogs and cats are a potential source of infection with such pathogens for humans.     

The Concentrations of LH,FSH, Oestradiol-17β and Progesterone in the Blood Plasma of the Female Bactrian Camel (Camelus bactrianus) before and after Intramuscular Injection of Seminal Plasma

The concentrations of LH, FSH, oestradiol-17beta and progesterone in the blood plasma of the female Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) before and after intramuscular injection of seminal plasma.