Characterization of the gut microbiota in leptin deficient obese mice – Correlation to inflammatory and diabetic parameters

Gut microbiota have been implicated as a relevant factor in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and its diversity might be a cause of variation in animal models of T2DM. In this study, we aimed to characterise the gut microbiota of a T2DM mouse model with a long term vision of being able to target the gut microbiota to reduce the number of animals used in experiments. Male B6.V-Lep^ob/J mice were characterized according to a number of characteristics related to T2DM, inflammation and gut microbiota. All findings were thereafter correlated to one another in a linear regression model. The total gut microbiota profile correlated to glycated haemoglobin, and high proportions of Prevotellaceae and Lachnospiraceae correlated to impaired or improved glucose intolerance, respectively. In addition, Akkermansia muciniphila disappeared with age as glucose intolerance worsened. A high proportion of regulatory T cells correlated to the gut microbiota and improved glucose tolerance. Furthermore, high levels of IL-10, IL-12 and TNF-α correlated to impaired glucose tolerance, blood glucose or glycated haemoglobin. The findings indicate that gut microbiota may contribute to variation in various disease read-outs in the B6.V-Lep^ob/J model and considering them in both quality assurance and data evaluation for the B6.V-Lep^ob/J model may have a reducing impact on the inter-individual variation.     

Photoperiod influences the immune status of multiparous pregnant sows and their piglets

Manipulation of photoperiod may provide a noninvasive, easily implemented, effective method to improve immune status and enhance the efficiency of production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of manipulation of photoperiod on endocrine and immune responses of pregnant sows and their offspring. At d 83 of gestation, sows were moved to gestation stalls and kept on a photoperiod of 12 h of light:12 h of dark until d 90, when sows were assigned to a long day (LD; 16 h of light/d) or a short day (SD; 8 h of light/d) treatment. During farrowing and lactation, one-half of the sows remained on their initial photoperiod (LD:LD or SD:SD), whereas one-half were switched to the opposite treatment (LD:SD or SD:LD). Blood samples were collected from sows at d 0, 7, 14, and 21 posttreatment, 24-h postfarrowing, and the end of lactation (approximately d 21 postfarrowing). Piglets were bled at 7 and 21 d of age for immune measures. Relative to sows on LD, sows on SD had greater concanavalin A- (P = 0.003) and lipopolysaccharide- (P = 0.02) induced proliferative responses at d 7 but reduced responses at d 14. Compared with SD, sows on LD had a greater (P < 0.05) percentage of neutrophils and fewer (P < 0.05) lymphocytes at d 7, resulting in a greater (P = 0.05) neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio. Neutrophil phagocytosis was greater at d 21 in sows kept on LD. Cortisol concentrations tended to be greatest (P = 0.10) in sows on SD:SD at 24-h postfarrowing and throughout lactation. At 7 d of age, piglets on LD:SD had greater (P = 0.001) total white blood cells (WBC) and plasma cortisol (P = 0.001) relative to those on the other photoperiod treatments. Plasma immunoglobulin G was less (P = 0.001) in piglets from sows kept on SD:LD compared with the other photoperiod treatments. Piglets from sows kept on LD:LD tended to have lower total WBC (P = 0.08) at 21 d of age. Piglets from sows kept on SD:SD had greater concanavalin A- (P < 0.001) and lipopolysaccharide-induced (P < or = 0.10) proliferation responses and cortisol (P = 0.05). Phagocytosis was greater (P < 0.003) in piglets from sows that were kept on LD:LD. Cortisol (P = 0.02), WBC (P = 0.003), and immunoglobulin G (P = 0.001) were all influenced by gestational photoperiod treatment. These data indicate that photoperiod influences the immune status and endocrine response of piglets from dams that have been kept on a defined photoperiod. We conclude that photoperiod effects on piglets may be programmed in utero and can last throughout lactation.     

利用光照周期调控技术改善奶牛生产性能

舍饲奶牛场通常要对那些可能抑制产奶效率的环境因素予以关注 ,比如采取散热措施减轻热应激 ,管理食槽以使干物质进食量最大化以及选择合适的圈舍垫层使奶牛感到更舒适等 ,所有这些措施都可防止生产水平下降。对另外一个环境因素光照周期的控制则可有效地改善奶牛的生产效率。光照周期的定义为在 1昼夜 2 4 h内动物暴露于光照之中的持续时间。动物根据光照周期判断白昼的长度。长日照周期 ( LDPP)是指持续光照 1 6～ 1 8h,然后经历一个 6～ 8h的黑暗时期 ,短日照周期 ( SDPP)则通常是指 8h光照加 1 6h黑暗时期。家禽生产者利用光照控制…     

Naturally occurring antihormones: secretion of FSH antagonists by women treated with a GnRH analog

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a glycoprotein essential for gonadal development and steroidogenesis. Recent studies suggest that deglycosylation of FSH results in the formation of antagonistic proteins that are capable of binding to gonadal receptors but that are devoid of bioactivity. Treatment of hypogonadal women with an antagonist of gonadotropin-releasing hormone substantially decreased serum FSH bioactivity with minimal changes in immunoreactivity. Chromatofocusing and size fractionation of the serum samples indicated the secretion of immunoreactive FSH isoforms that are devoid of bioactivity but that are capable of blocking FSH action in ovarian granulosa cells. These findings provide the first demonstration of naturally occurring circulating antihormones. These FSH antagonists may play an important role in the physiology and pathophysiology of the gonads.     

Ammonia synthesis from first-principles calculations

The rate of ammonia synthesis over a nanoparticle ruthenium catalyst can be calculated directly on the basis of a quantum chemical treatment of the problem using density functional theory. We compared the results to measured rates over a ruthenium catalyst supported on magnesium aluminum spinel. When the size distribution of ruthenium particles measured by transmission electron microscopy was used as the link between the catalyst material and the theoretical treatment, the calculated rate was within a factor of 3 to 20 of the experimental rate. This offers hope for computer-based methods in the search for catalysts.     

Characterization of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from free range chickens from Paraná, Brazil

The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in free range chickens is a good indicator of the prevalence of T. gondii oocysts in the environment because chickens feed from the ground. In the present study, prevalence of T. gondii in 40 free range chickens (Gallus domesticus) from a rural area surrounding Paraná, Brazil was assessed. Blood, heart, and brain from each chicken were examined for T. gondii infection. Antibodies to T. gondii, assayed with the modified agglutination test (MAT> or =1:5) were found in 16 chickens. Hearts and brains of seropositive (MAT> or =1:5) chickens were bioassayed in mice. Additionally, hearts and brains of seronegative (MAT<1:5) chickens were bioassayed in two T. gondii-free cats (12 chickens per cat). T. gondii was isolated from 13 of 16 (81%) seropositive chickens. Of the two cats fed tissues pooled form seronegative chickens, one shed T. gondii oocysts. Nine of the 13 T. gondii isolates killed 100% of infected mice. The T. gondii isolate from the cat was also virulent for mice. Genotyping of 13 chicken isolates of T. gondii using the SAG2 locus indicated that seven isolates were type I and six were type III; three of these type III isolates killed all infected mice suggesting that all strains virulent for mice are not type I. The isolate from the feces of the cat fed chicken tissues was type I.     

Expression of functional cell-cell channels from cloned rat liver gap junction complementary DNA

An oocyte expression system was used to test the relation between a complementary DNA (cDNA) clone encoding the liver gap junction protein and cell-cell channels. Total liver polyadenylated messenger RNA injected into oocytes induced cell-cell channels between paired oocytes. This induction was blocked by simultaneous injection of antisense RNA transcribed from the gap junction cDNA. Messenger RNA selected by hybridization to the cDNA clone and translated in oocyte pairs yielded a higher junctional conductance than unselected liver messenger RNA. Cell-cell channels between oocytes were also formed when the cloned cDNA was expressed under the control of a heat-shock promoter. A concentration-dependent induction of channels was observed in response to injection with in vitro transcribed gap junction messenger RNA. Thus, the liver gap junction cDNA encodes a protein that is essential for the formation of functional cell-cell channels.     

Hard clam relocation as a potential strategy for QPX disease mitigation within an enzootic estuary

Monitoring of persistent QPX infections in clams of Raritan Bay (New York) shows certain areas of the estuary have remained without any significant disease prevalence. This study was conducted to investigate the potential to mitigate QPX disease by relocating infected hard clams, Mercenaria mercenaria (Linnaeus), from enzootic areas to nearby sites with prevailing environmental conditions suggested to deter infection and favour remission and healing. Clams were collected from a location with consistent disease prevalence in central Raritan Bay and brought to near shore habitats subject to lower salinities and higher summer temperatures. A reduced host density treatment was included in the study to examine the common observation of high clam density in the most persistently infected locales. An additional treatment retained clams above the sediment, since sediments are suspected to represent a QPX reservoir. At the end of the 4‐month study all treatments displayed less QPX disease than the control group and the greatest contrast was provided by the disappearance of infections in a tidal creek.