The risk of using monoclonal or polyclonal commercial antibodies: controversial results on porcine sperm CD44 receptor identification

Presence of the hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid, HA) receptor CD44 on spermatozoa has been difficult to pursue, mostly obeying to the use of different commercial mono‐ and/or polyclonal antibodies, often lacking proper controls. Here, we describe how the presence (Western blotting) and specific location (immunocytochemistry) of the CD44 receptor differs in ejaculated pig spermatozoa depending on the type of antibody and protocol used. While we were able to detect binding to spermatozoa and mark its presence in the sperm membrane, the use of blocking peptides clearly indicated that only the monoclonal antibody could confirm the specific presence and location of the CD44 receptor, whereas the polyclonal antibody was detecting multiple presumed CD44 isoforms or degraded proteins thus proving unspecific. These results call for strict protocols when attempting immunological determination of sperm membrane receptors.     

香猪睾丸发育的形态学变化

为了解香猪睾丸发育过程中的形态学变化,外科手术取30、40、50、60、90、110日龄（每个年龄组n=3～4）香猪右侧睾丸经中性多聚甲醛固定,石蜡包埋,组织切片采用HE染色,40倍物镜下观察细胞数量变化,经显微照相后用Scion image软件测量生精小管、输出小管和附睾管的管壁面积。结果发现30～50日龄时睾丸生精...     

Distribution and viability of spermatozoa in the canine female genital tract during post-ovulatory oocyte maturation

Background

Unlike other domestic mammals, in which metaphase-II oocytes are ovulated, canine ovulation is characterized by the release of primary oocytes, which may take 12 to up to 36 hours. Further 60 hours are needed for maturation to secondary oocytes which then remain fertile for about 48 hours. Oestrus takes 7 to 10 days on average and may start as early as a week before ovulation. This together with the prolonged process of post-ovulatory oocyte maturation requires an according longevity of spermatozoa in the female genital tract in order to provide a population of fertile sperm when oocytes have matured to fertilizability. Therefore the distribution and viability of spermatozoa in the bitch genital tract was examined during post-ovulatory oocyte maturation.

Methods

Thirteen beagle bitches were inseminated on the day of sonographically verified ovulation with pooled semen of two beagle dogs containing one billion progressively motile spermatozoa. Ovariohysterectomy was performed two days later (group 1, n = 6) and four days later (group 2, n = 7). The oviduct and uterine horn of one side were flushed separately and the flushing’s were checked for the presence of gametes. The oviducts including the utero-tubal junction and the uterine horns, both the flushed and unflushed, were histologically examined for sperm distribution.

Results

The total number of spermatozoa recovered by flushing was low and evaluation of viability was limited. Prophase-I oocytes were collected from oviduct flushing in group 1, whereas unfertilized metaphase-II oocytes were detected in group 2. From day 2 to day 4 after ovulation a significant decrease in the percentage of glands containing sperm (P<0.05) and a marked reduction of the mean sperm number in uterine horn glands were observed. A concomitant diminution of spermatozoa was indicated in the utero-tubal junction accompanied by a slight increase in sperm numbers in the mid oviduct.

Conclusions

Oocyte maturation to metaphase-II stage is accompanied by a continuous sperm detachment and elimination in the uterine horns. Entrance of spermatozoa into the caudal oviduct seems to be steadily controlled by the utero-tubal junction thus providing a selected sperm population to be shifted towards the site of fertilization when oocyte maturation is completed.     

国产精子计数板在长白公猪精液检测上的应用研究

文章以精子计数板为研究对象,应用SPSS 19.0软件的单因素方差分析法对81份精液检测数据进行分析,以探讨国产的精子计数板代替进口的精子计数板的可行性。试验结果显示,进口产品组精子计数板测得的随机3个视野平均精子数、精子密度、精子活力、正常精子比例分别为566.06个、249.56×10^6/ml、92.65%、71.52%;国产产品组的对应值测得为577.02个、252.68×10^6/ml、91.32%、72.65%。两产品的同一指标相比均差异不显著。结果表明:国产的精子计数板替代进口的精子计数板是可行的。     

The effects of transplacental porcine circovirus type 2 infection on porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus-induced enteritis in preweaning piglets

The effects of transplacental porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection on porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDV)-induced enteritis were examined in neonatal piglets. Six pregnant sows were randomly allocated to an infected (n=3) or control group (n=3). Three pregnant sows were inoculated intranasally with 6 mL of tissue culture fluid containing 1.2 x 10(5) tissue culture infective doses 50% (TCID(50))/mL of PCV2 strain SNUVR000470 three weeks before the expected farrowing date. Three control pregnant sows were similarly exposed to uninfected cell culture supernatants. Thirty piglets from PCV2-infected sows were randomly assigned to two groups (A and B) of 15 piglets each. Another 30 piglets from noninfected sows were randomly assigned to two groups (C and D) of 15 piglets each. The piglets in groups A and C were dosed orally at three days of age with 2mL of virus stock (1 x 10(6.5) TCID(50)/mL) of the PEDV strain, SNUVR971496, at the third passage. The mean villous height and crypt depth (VH:CD) ratio in PEDV-infected piglets from PCV2-infected sows (group A) were significantly different from those of the PEDV-infected piglets from PCV2 negative sows (group C) at 36, 48, and 72 h post-inoculation (hpi) (P<0.05). In PEDV-infected piglets from PCV2-infected sows (group A), significantly more PEDV nucleic acid was detected in the jejunal tissues (P<0.05) at 24 hpi than in the same tissues of the PEDV-infected piglets from PCV2 negative sows (group C). Thereafter, at 36, 48, 60, and 70 hpi significantly more PEDV nucleic acid (P<0.05) was detected in the jejunal tissues of the PEDV-infected piglets from PCV2 negative sows (group C) than those of the PEDV-infected piglets from the PCV2-infected sows (group A). It is concluded that the clinical course of PEDV disease was markedly affected by transplacental infection of PCV2.     

An Acute-phase Protein as a Regulator of Sperm Survival in the Bovine Oviduct: Alpha 1-acid-glycoprotein Impairs Neutrophil Phagocytosis of Sperm In Vitro

We have previously shown that polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are present in bovine oviduct fluid under physiological conditions, and that the oviduct provides a microenvironment that protects sperm from phagocytosis by PMNs. Alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) is a major acute-phase protein produced mainly in the liver that has immunomodulatory functions. AGP mRNA is expressed in extrahepatic organs, such as the lung, kidney, spleen, lymph node, uterus, and ovary. Therefore, in this study, we investigated, 1) the local production of AGP in the bovine oviduct, 2) the effect of AGP on the phagocytic activity of PMNs for sperm and superoxide production and 3) the impact of AGP desialylation on the PMN phagocytosis of sperm. The AGP gene was expressed in cultured bovine oviduct epithelial cells (BOECs) and AGP protein was detected in oviduct fluid. Preexposure of PMNs to AGP at physiological levels impaired PMN phagocytosis for sperm and superoxide generation. The desialylation of AGP eliminated these suppressive effects of AGP on PMN. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that AGP drastically reduced the formation of DNA-based neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) for sperm entanglement. Additionally, AGP dose-dependently stimulated BOECs to produce prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) which has been shown to partially contribute to the regulation of sperm phagocytosis in the bovine oviduct. AGP and PGE₂ at concentrations detected in the oviducts additively suppressed sperm phagocytosis by PMNs. These results provide evidence that locally produced AGP may be involved in protecting sperm from phagocytosis by PMNs in the bovine oviduct.     

Characteristic of duodenal myoelectric activity in relation to food in piglets during the 3rd and 4th week of life

The relationship between duodenal myoelectric activity and liquid food intake was investigated in eight conscious piglets with bipolar electrodes implanted on the wall of the duodenum. Piglets were fed with commercial milk formula and the effects of volume and feed dry matter intake on duodenal myoelectric activity were measured by means of an analog–digital recording system.The cyclic pattern of duodenal myoelectric activity, i.e. the migrating myoelectric complex (MMC), was preserved when piglets received small meals at regular intervals. The duration of the whole MMC cycle, as well as the duration of phase II of the MMC, were only weakly correlated (r = 0.2, P < 0.05 for both parameters, respectively) to the amount of ingested food. However, the increase of the amount of feed dry matter intake of a meal from 2.1 to 4.5 g kg^− 1 of live body mass (LBM) as well as an increase of volume of a meal from 13 to 26 ml kg^− 1 LBM significantly increased the duration of the MMC cycles (P < 0.05) due to the elongation of phase II of the MMC (P < 0.05).The present study shows that in piglets fed with a liquid diet the upper gut motility response to food is similar to that previously observed in adult animals.     

Prenatal and neonatal exposure to the antiandrogen flutamide alters connexin 43 gene expression in adult porcine ovary

Connexin 43 (Cx43) is the predominant gap junction protein within porcine ovary and is required for proper follicle and corpus luteum (CL) development. Recent research suggests maternally or neonatally mediated effects of antiandrogens on reproductive function during adulthood, notably those dependent on gap junctional communication. The current study was conducted to determine whether late gestational or neonatal exposure to the antiandrogen flutamide influences Cx43 gene expression in the adult porcine ovary. Flutamide was injected into pregnant gilts between days 80 and 88 of gestation and into female piglets between days 2 and 10 posnatally. After animals reached sexual maturity, the ovaries were collected from treated and nontreated (control) pigs. Expression of Cx43 mRNA and protein was determined for preantral and antral follicles and for CLs. In addition, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) expression and progesterone concentration were determined for luteal tissues. In preantral follicles, Cx43 mRNA was down-regulated (P < 0.01) following maternal and neonatal flutamide exposure. In large antral follicles, Cx43 mRNA was up-regulated (P < 0.01) after neonatal flutamide administration. Immunofluorescence showed that Cx43 expression decreased (P < 0.001) in preantral follicles and increased (P < 0.001) in large antral follicles following flutamide exposure. In luteal tissues, Cx43 and 3β-HSD expression and progesterone concentration decreased (P < 0.01) after postnatal flutamide treatment. Overall, these results suggest the involvement of androgens in the regulation of Cx43 expression in pig ovary. Moreover, alteration of Cx43 expression by the administration of flutamide during particular prenatal and neonatal time periods may affect porcine follicle development, as well as CL formation and function.     

泰地罗新注射液治疗猪呼吸道疾病临床疗效试验

为评价泰地罗新注射液注射液(4％)对猪呼吸道疾病的有效性和安全性,试验选择自然发病、表现典型的呼吸系统疾病症状的130头猪进行治疗效果试验.将患病猪随机分成2组(试验组和对照组),受试组采用泰地罗新注射液(4 mg/kg体重)肌内注射给药,对照组采用氟苯尼考注射液(2mg/kg体重)肌内注射给药.结果 显示:受试组和对...     

3D reconstruction of the porcine and equine pulmonary veins,supplemented with the identification of telocytes in the horse

The myocardial sleeve of the porcine and equine pulmonary veins were histologically investigated and reconstructed three dimensionally. Moreover, the localization of neuron cell bodies at the veno‐atrial junction and alongside the myocardial sleeve was light microscopically visualized to depict the organization of nerve, myocardial and fat tissue. Finally, the presence of telocytes inside the equine pulmonary veins was demonstrated by use of transmission electron microscopy. These structures are thought to play a role in the induction of atrial fibrillation, which is frequently seen in horses, while pigs are often used as a cardiovascular model in this context. This data fills in remaining gaps in the literature concerning the histological build‐up of the pulmonary veins wall in pigs and horses. In‐depth knowledge on the myocardial sleeve and its surrounding cell types are important to understand the possible outcome of an ablation therapy as an atrial fibrillation treatment. In pigs and horses, the layout of the pulmonary veins wall concerning these structures is comparable to humans. However, neuron cell bodies were recovered at the veno‐atrial junction in both species but not alongside the myocardial sleeve in horses.     

The effect of pentaghrelin on amylase release from the rat and porcine dispersed pancreatic acinar cells in vitro

Ghrelin-28 was found to inhibit the pancreatic enzyme output in rats, although the effect of pentaghrelin has not been studied. The effect of ghrelin on pig exocrine pancreas remains largely unknown. The aim of the present study was: (1) to establish a model of porcine dispersed pancreatic acinar cells in vitro and compare it with an existing rat model, and (2) to investigate the effect of pentaghrelin on amylase release from the rat and pig pancreatic acini. The rat and porcine acinar cell preparations released amylase in response to cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) stimulation in a dose-related manner. Pentaghrelin hardly inhibited the amylase release in rat preparations (maximum inhibition with 10^− 9 M pentaghrelin). It stimulated amylase release in porcine preparations, however, no dose response was found in a range of doses between 10^− 10 and 10^− 7 M. Concluding, pentaghrelin may stimulate amylase release from porcine acinar cells through as yet unknown mechanisms.     

Effects of exposure to methylglyoxal on sperm motility and embryonic development after fertilization in mice

Methylglyoxal (MG) is a precursor for the generation of endogenous advanced glycation end-products involved in various diseases, including infertility. The present study evaluated the motility and developmental competence after in vitro fertilization of mouse sperm which were exposed to MG in the capacitation medium for 1.5 h. Sperm motility was analyzed using an SQA-V automated sperm quality analyzer. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and DNA damage were assessed using flow cytometry. The matured oocytes were inseminated with MG-exposed sperm, and subsequently, the fertilization and embryonic development in vitro were evaluated in vitro. The exposure of sperm to MG did not considerably affect the swim-up of sperm but resulted in a deteriorated sperm motility in a concentration-dependent manner, which was associated with a decreased mitochondrial activity. However, these effects was not accompanied by obvious ROS accumulation or DNA damage. Furthermore, MG diminished the fertilization rate and developmental competence, even after normal fertilization. Collectively, a short-term exposure to MG during sperm capacitation had a critical impact on sperm motility and subsequent embryonic development after fertilization. Considering that sperm would remain in vivo for up to 3 days until fertilization, our findings suggest that sperm can be affected by MG in the female reproductive organs, which may be associated with infertility.     

Supplementing media with NAD+ precursors enhances the in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes

In vitro maturation (IVM) is an important reproductive technology used to produce embryos in vitro. However, the developmental potential of oocytes sourced for IVM is markedly lower than those matured in vivo. Previously, NAD⁺-elevating treatments have improved oocyte quality and embryo development in cattle and mice, suggesting that NAD⁺ is important during oocyte maturation. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of nicotinic acid (NA), nicotinamide (NAM) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) on oocyte maturation and subsequent embryo development. Porcine oocytes from small antral follicles were matured for 44 h in a defined maturation medium supplemented with NA, NAM and resveratrol or NMN. Mature oocytes were artificially activated and presumptive zygotes cultured for 7 days. Additionally, oocytes were matured without treatment then cultured for 7 days with NMN. Supplementing the IVM medium with NA improved maturation and blastocyst formation while NAM supplementation improved cleavage rates compared with untreated controls. Supplementing the IVM or embryo culture media with NMN had no effect on maturation or embryo development. The results show that supplementing the maturation medium with NA and NAM improved maturation and developmental potential of porcine oocytes.     

聚维酮碘对常温保存猪精子质量的影响

通过在猪鲜精和17℃保存精液中添加聚维酮碘(PVP-Ⅰ),探讨其杀灭精液有害细菌的效果和对精子质量的影响,从而达到阻断病原菌垂直传播的目的。保存后不同时间时取样精液接种和培养,用细菌菌落计数的方法检测精液中细菌菌落总数,并用MicroScanA/S4细菌鉴定仪鉴定细菌种类。采用计算机辅助精液分析仪(CASA)检测精子活率、活力,低渗肿胀法(HOST)检测质膜完整性线粒体膜电位检测试剂盒(JC-1)测线粒体活性和考马斯亮蓝染色检测精子顶体完整性。结果显示,用PVP-Ⅰ消毒猪精液时,在0～0.27g/L随着PVP-Ⅰ质量浓度的增加杀菌效果越好。精液中添加0.20g/L和0.27g/L PVP-Ⅰ能杀死棒状杆菌、大肠杆菌、不动杆菌、铜绿假单胞菌、白色念珠菌、链球菌(作用1h),但不能杀死变形杆菌。在猪精液稀释液中添加质量浓度0～0.20g/L的PVP-Ⅰ对17℃保存猪精子质量无影响。结果表明,聚维酮碘在质量浓度0.20g/L能杀死猪精液中的棒状杆菌、大肠杆菌、不动杆菌、铜绿假单胞菌、白色念珠菌、链球菌,并且对17℃保存猪精子质量常规指标(活率、活力、线粒体活性、质膜完整性和顶体完整性)无影响。     

Treatment of experimental ureteral strictures by endourological ureterotomy and implantation of stents in the porcine animal model

The objective of this study is to evaluate the dilation of the ureter using endoureterotomy and an expanding-sheath double pigtail ureteral stent in the treatment of experimentally induced ureteral strictures in the porcine animal model. This is a new treatment in the ureteral strictures resolution in Veterinary Urology, although it is not a common affection, it usually appears as a consequence of ureteritis and in the iatrogenic female genital surgery. The experimental study is design in three phases: induction of experimental stricture, diagnosis and treatment of the stricture and follow-up. We have used 10 healthy Large White female pigs. The internal ureteral diameter was measured prior to laparoscopic ligature stricture induction using retrograde ureteropyelography (RUPG). Experimental stricture was diagnosed 4 weeks after intervention, using RUPG and ultrasound, and treated by endoureterotomy and subsequent placement of a double pigtail ureteral stent, which was removed 6 weeks later. The study finished 4 weeks later with measurement of ureteral diameters using RPUG and ultrasound evaluation. Except in one case, all ureters displayed permanent dilation of the strictured area for 10 weeks after treatment (6 weeks with ureteral stent and 4 more weeks without stent). Finally, this technique proved to be effective in cases of short-length and short-living ureteral strictures, and represents a viable alternative to conventional surgery in animals.     

非洲猪瘟疫情背景下我国生猪保险发展现状、功能作用及对策建议探讨

生猪产业是农业生产的重要组成部分,是农民收入的重要来源之一,猪肉也是我国城乡居民的主要副食品。2018年8月,我国暴发非洲猪瘟疫情,非洲猪瘟对我国生猪产业造成了较大影响,猪肉产能迅速下降,猪肉价格持续上涨。发展生猪保险,是落实国家扶持生猪生产政策的重要举措,有利于帮助农户分散转移风险,调动养猪积极性,推动农民增收;有利于提高生猪产业防灾防疫能力,稳定生猪市场供应,保障人民生活;有利于充分发挥保险的社会管理功能,助力国家乡村振兴战略。文章首先简要介绍了我国生猪保险业务发展现状,包括业务规模、保险产品情况及存在问题等,在此基础上结合生产实际情况,对非洲猪瘟背景下我国生猪保险对生猪稳产保供的功能作用进行了详细分析,包括经济补偿、价格稳定、风险管理、融资增信、社会治理和产业扶贫等六大方面。虽然我国生猪保险业务发展取得了较好成效,但仍面临着业务覆盖率偏低、道德风险高、市场化保费费率定价缺乏等难题,所以文章在最后提出了推进我国生猪保险稳定健康发展的相关建议。     

Assessment of the morphology of frozen-thawed bull sperm in relation to its cryopreservation for artificial insemination

The morphology of sperm in raw semen was compared with that of the live sperm in semen which had been frozen and thawed. The thawed semen was stained with 6-carboxyfluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide and examined by fluorescence microscopy; smears of the raw semen were stained with eosin and nigrosin. Thirty-four ejaculates from 24 bulls of various breeds were examined. There were fewer abnormal heads, detached heads, coiled tails and proximal cytoplasmic droplets/pseudodroplets in the thawed semen than in the raw semen, there was no change in the number of bent tails, but the number of distal cytoplasmic droplets/pseudodroplets increased. There were no significant differences in morphology between ejaculates which passed or failed the osmotic resistance test after thawing, but failed batches tended to have more distal cytoplasmic droplets/pseudodroplets.     

The role of CD44 adhesion factor in canine mammary carcinomas

CD44 is an adhesion molecule implicated in the progression of human breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to describe CD44 antigen expression in canine mammary carcinomas and to evaluate its prognostic significance in relation to other clinico-pathological variables.A reduction in CD44 expression was significantly related to variables such as tumour size and adherence to underlying tissues but was not related to tumour location or to ulceration of the overlying skin. Complex (grade I) and anaplastic (grade III) carcinomas exhibited more intense expression of this antigen than did some tubulopapillary and most solid carcinomas (grade II). Although reduced CD44 expression was associated with infiltrative growth and vascular invasion in solid carcinomas, intense expression was also observed in anaplastic tumours. Although overall these findings suggest a role for this adhesion factor in canine mammary tumour development and progression, the complexity and apparently paradoxical nature of some of the findings currently limit the use of this immunohistochemical marker as a prognostic indicator.     

The presence of acetylated tubulin in the pig thymus

Immunohistochemical localisation of acetylated alpha-tubulin was investigated in pig thymus using a mouse monoclonal antibody. Positive reaction to acetylated tubulin was observed in the cells involved in Hassall's bodies localized in the medulla region. Reacting product displayed a homogenous, fine or coarse granular character. The reacting peripheral cells of Hassall's bodies produced crescent or annular formations. Inside the Hassall's bodies the centrally located cells were unreactive. The presence of the acetylated tubulin confirms positive cellular structures in these cells. Differences in the character and intensity of staining in the epithelial cells may confirm transformation of the epithelial cells during the formation of the Hassall's bodies and/or the presence of the neural crest derivative in the development of the thymus.