Resident Dendritic Cells in the Epidermis: Langerhans Cells, Merkel Cells and Melanocytes

Résumé— En plus des kératinocytes, l'épiderme contient des cellules résidentes de morphologie dendritique. Ce sont principalement la cellule de Langerhans, la cellule de Merkel et le mélanocyte. Ces cellules ont des fonctions diverses dans le tégument. Le mélanocyte assure la pigmentation cutanée et la protection contre les radiations U.V., et pourrait intervenir également dans la modulation de l'inflammation cutanée. La cellule de Langerhans intervient dans la surveillance immunologique des surfaces corporelles ecternes. La cellule de Merkel a des fonctions neuroendocrines. Cet article donne un aperçu de la structure et de la fonction de ces trois importantes populations cellulaires dans la peau. [Resident dentritic cells in the epidermis: Langerhans cells, Merkel cells and melanocytes (Cellules dentritiques résidentes de l'épiderme: cellules de Langerhans, cellules de Merkel et mélanocytes). Resumen— La epidermis contiene, además de los queratinocitos, células résidentes de morfologia dendria dendritica. Estas son principalmente las células de Langerhans, las células de Merkel y los melanocitos. Estas células tienen varias funciones en el integumento. Los melanocitos se encargan de la pigmentación y protección de la piel contra la radiación ultravioleta y tarrtbién participan en la regulación de la inflamación cutánea. Las células de Langerhans ayudan en la regulación inmunológica en la superficie externa. Las células de Merkel tienen funciones neuroendocrinas. Esta revisión da un repaso general a la estructura y función de tres importantes células de la piel. [Resident dendsuitic cells in the epidermis: Langerhans cells, Merkel cells and Melanocytes (Células résidentes en la epidermis: células de Langerhans, células de Merkel y melanocitos). Abstract— In addition to the keratinocytes, the epidermis contains resident cells of dendritic morphology. These are principally the Langerhans cell, Merkel cell and melanocyte. These cells have a number of different functions in the integument. The melanocyte is responsible for skin pigmentation and protection against UV radiation, and may also play a role in the modulation of cutaneous inflammation. The Langerhans cell aids in the immunological monitoring of the body's external surfaces. The Merkel cell has neuroendocrine functions. This review gives an overview of the structure and function of these three important cells of the skin.     

Serological responses of specific pathogen-free foals to equine herpesvirus-1: primary and secondary infection, and reactivation.

Serum antibody (virus neutralisation, complement fixation, IgM and IgG) responses to equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) infection were measured in six foals which were initially free from EHV-1 and EHV-4 infection and maternally-derived antibodies. Following primary infection, high titres of virus neutralisation and complement fixation antibodies were detectable against EHV-1, however, corresponding antibody levels against EHV-4 were low or inapparent, although the two viruses share a number of cross-reactive epitopes. In addition, following the primary infection with EHV-1, IgM levels increased before those of IgG, virus neutralisation and complement fixation antibodies, peaked sooner and thereafter declined. Stimulation of IgM levels was observed on secondary infection with EHV-1 given 61 days later. In contrast, IgG, virus neutralisation and complement fixation antibodies following primary infection were more sustained and no increase in their levels was observed on secondary infection. No consistent changes in IgM or IgG levels were seen after administration of dexamethasone to reactivate latent virus.     

Managing the lactating sow for optimal weaning and rebreeding performance.

Management of the lactating sow influences milk production and subsequent reproduction through changes in nutrient intake. The management goal during lactation is to maximize feed intake. Decreasing the effective environmental temperature, increasing the nutrient density of the lactation diet, maintaining fresh adequate supplies of feed and water, and preventing excess weight gain during the prior gestation period will increase nutrient intake during lactation. Effective environmental temperature of the lactating sow can be maintained in the thermoneutral zone by using drip cooling, increased ventilation rates and flooring materials with superior conductive properties. Sow parity, genetics, litter size, and disease level will also influence feed intake. Management practices must account for these factors and, thus, should be tailored to individual farm situations to ensure adequate nutrient intake and prevent aberrations in subsequent reproductive performance.     

Storage of Non-structural Carbohydrates in Sweet Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.]: Comparison of Sterile and Fertile Lines

The accumulation of soluble carbohydrates in vegetative parts of sweet sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.) represents an intermediate reserve pool for grain filling as well as an irreversible storage up to maturity. In order to study the effect of Sterility on soluble sugar accumulation in vegetative parts, two cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines of sweet sorghum were compared with their corresponding fertile mamtainers for non-structural carbohydrate concentrations in shoots. Plants were harvested at four different physiological stages. The lines showed significant differences in the yield of non-structural carbohydrates. At maturity, the yields of soluble carbohydrates from vegetative parts of the two sterile lines were 93 % and 43 % higher than the yield of the two corresponding fertile lines. At that stage, sucrose represented about 80 % of total soluble carbohydrates and the higher yield of soluble carbohydrates of sterile lines was mainly due to the higher yield of sucrose. This indicates that the yield of extractable carbohydrates, especially sucrose, in vegetative parts of sweet sorghum could be considerably improved by using sterile lines which are utilized in hybrid production.