The influence of progesterone and prostaglandin F2α on decorin and the adhesion of caruncular epithelial cells of bovine placenta at early-mid pregnancy—Part II

One of the most important processes determining the proper course of gestation and its physiological termination in cows is the adhesion of epithelial cells allowing for direct contact of maternal and foetal parts of the placenta. Throughout pregnancy, placental cells are under strict hormonal control, which among others regulates the concentration and activity of specific proteins participating in the extracellular matrix remodelling of foetal membranes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of progesterone and prostaglandin F_2α on the adhesion of epithelial cells at early-mid pregnancy in cows. Additionally, the impact of selected hormones on anti-adhesive properties of decorin was evaluated. Caruncular epithelial cells were isolated from healthy cows during pregnancy, immediately after slaughter. Primary cell cultures derived from the 2nd and 4th month of gestation were used in the experiments. The viability of cells was assessed by MTT assay. The adhesion of cells to fibronectin was measured spectrophotometrically. The activity of metalloproteinases was confirmed by the metalloproteinase assay. Progesterone (10^–5 and 10^–7 mol/L) and prostaglandin F_2α (10^–4_, 10^–5 and 10^–7 mol/L) increased the viability of bovine caruncular epithelial cells in the 2nd month of pregnancy. The treatment with prostaglandin F_2α significantly reduced the number of adherent cells from the 2nd month of gestation at the doses of 10^–4 and 10^–5 mol/L. Both progesterone and prostaglandin F_2α were shown to have an effect of decorin resulting in both a decrease in metalloproteinase activity and an increase in adhesion of cells to fibronectin.     

Activity of selected glycosidases and availability of their substrates in bovine placenta during pregnancy and parturition with and without retained foetal membranes

The activity of glycosidases is crucial for the function and biological activity of proteins conjugated with sugar moieties, which play an important role in adhesion of cells during attachment and detachment of the foetal membranes. The aim of study was to describe the ability of bovine placental tissues to break down O-glycosidic bonds in different glycoproteins by the determination of activity of β-galactosidase, α-l-fucosidase, β-N-acetyl-hexosaminidase and sialidase in early–mid-pregnancy as well as at parturition with released and retained foetal membranes. Moreover, the availability of substrates for these glycosidases in placental homogenates was evaluated. Placental samples were collected from pregnant (2–4 months) cows in slaughterhouse (n = 8) as well as during Caesarean section and divided into released foetal membranes (n = 8) and retained foetal membranes (n = 8). Tissue homogenates were subjected to spectrofluorimetric and spectrophotometric determinations of enzyme activities as well as electrophoretic separations. Enzyme activities expressed changes within examined time with significant (p < .05) differences between pregnancy and physiological parturition in β-N-acetyl-hexosaminidase and α-l-fucosidase in foetal part of placenta while in maternal part only in the latter one. Decreasing tendency in enzyme activity was noticed in foetal part of retained samples in comparison with released ones with significant (p < .05) differences in α-l-fucosidase activity. The analysis of staining of sugar moieties attached to selected proteins depicted availability of sugar molecules in examined tissues, but their patterns differed between samples. In conclusion, sugar moieties in conjugated proteins express changes in the course of pregnancy which is reflected by the alterations in activities of placental glycosidases.     

Radiographic Evaluation of the Anconeal Process in Skeletally Immature Dogs

Objective: To determine if a secondary center of ossification (SCO) of the anconeal process is present in skeletally immature dogs that do not develop an ununited anconeal process (UAP). Study Design: Case series. Animals: Dogs 77–154 days of age with conditions other than developmental disease of the elbow (n=78 dogs; total elbows=100). Methods: Mediolateral radiographic projections of the elbow were reviewed for presence or absence of a SCO of the anconeal process. Results: A SCO was radiographically evident in 16% of elbows from breeds that have been reported to be affected by UAP. The appearance of the SCO was different to an UAP fragment. None of the elbows with SCO of the anconeal process developed UAP. A SCO was not present in any small breed dogs. Conclusions: A SCO of the anconeal process is uncommon in medium and large breed dogs and the presence of a SCO does not indicate that UAP will develop. Clinical Relevance: Because radiographic diagnosis of a SCO of the anconeal process and UAP lesions have distinct appearances, an earlier diagnosis of UAP is possible.     

Diminished vessel diameter as a possible factor in the decline of European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.)

? The aim of this work was to examine the anatomy and functioning of secondary xylem in stems in relation to the decline of European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.).

? We tested the hypothesis that declining trees show changes in the structure of wood, which result in impaired water transport.

? Anatomical analyses were carried out on wood samples (comprising all annual rings formed during the 30 years life of the analysed trees) collected at breast height from the main stem of healthy, weakened and dead ash trees. The width of annual wood increments, the diameter and density of earlywood vessels were measured and the theoretical hydraulic conductivity index through the secondary xylem calculated by application of Hagen-Poisseuille’s formula.

? Anatomical characteristics changed both with the age of trees and in response to unfavorable factors. The largest vessels were observed in healthy trees, which implied that they had the highest hydraulic conductivity index, whereas trees considered to be in decline produce smaller vessels and hence had reduced conductivity.

     

How pollution legacies and land use histories shape post-communist forest cover trends in the Western Carpathians

Forests that encompass the border triangle of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia currently suffer from centuries of inadequate forest management strategies, including overexploitation during the countries’ respective communist regimes and high stress levels due to airborne emissions from heavy industry. Since the fall of the Iron Curtain, each country has approached forest monitoring, protection and the improvement of forest conditions in its own way. Spaceborne remote sensing of forest changes across country borders offers great potential for better understanding the underlying drivers of change and for developing comparable indicators between countries.     

Functional response of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus robur</Emphasis> L. to taproot pruning: a 5-year case study

Key message

Quercus robur seedling mass was affected more by planting density than by taproot pruning. Root pruning enhanced stem biomass at the expense of roots in later growth stages. Alteration of biomass allocation due to nursery practices may result in greater susceptibility to injury and death of the seedlings under unfavorable environmental conditions.

Context

Plants adjust their growth and modulate the resource allocation in response to applied treatments and environmental conditions.

Aims

The aim was to examine how taproot pruning in seedlings grown at different densities affected long-term growth of Quercus robur.

Methods

Seedlings, sown as acorns at two planting densities, with or without pruned roots were harvested in the second, fourth, and fifth years of growth. The effect of root pruning on biomass allocation was determined by measuring leaf, stem, and root mass fractions; carbohydrate concentrations in the roots; and C/N ratios. Specific leaf area and root length were also determined to assess morphological adaptations to growth conditions.

Results

Total seedling mass was affected more by planting density than by taproot pruning. After 4 years of growth, root mass fractions were lower and stem mass fractions were greater in seedlings planted at a higher density. Five-year old root-pruned seedlings also had a lower root mass fraction and higher stem mass fractions than unpruned seedlings. Specific root length was not affected by root pruning or planting density.

Conclusion

Decrease of relative root biomass with simultaneous increase of stem biomass may be a long-term consequence of taproot pruning of Q. robur, and the effects may manifest years after the seedling stage.

     

Spatio-temporal heterogeneity of soil microbial properties in a conventionally managed arable field

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Knowledge about the spatio-temporal variability of soil microbial properties is crucial in evaluating their structure-function relationship and their impact on...     

The impact of a bio-fertilizer on the soil organic matter status and carbon sequestration—results from a field-scale study

Purpose

The application of bio-fertilizers is one of the management practices that can help to maintain or increase the content of organic matter (OM) and improve soil fertility in arable soils. While some results have been obtained in relation to the influence of bio-fertilizers on organic matter content, less in known about the fractional composition of humus.

Materials and methods

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the bio-fertilizer UGmax on soil total organic carbon (TOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and the fractional composition of organic matter (C of humic acids (CHAs), C of fulvic acids (CFAs), and C in humins) in the humus horizon of an arable field. Measurements were taken in 2005 before the application of UGmax and in 2008, 3 years after its application, which was done in 2005, 2006, and 2007. Forty soil samples were taken in 2005 (the control year without UGmax), while 20 samples were taken after UGmax treatment and 20 from the control in 2008. Samples were always collected after the plants were harvested.

Results and discussion

After the 3-year period of the experiment, the TOC content was 6.3 % higher in plots on which UGmax was applied in comparison to the control, while the DOC content was 0.19 percentage points lower after 3 years of bio-fertilizer use as compared to the initial year of the experiment. The contribution of DOC to TOC decreased significantly after the application of UGmax in comparison with the control. The content of CFAs and its contribution in the TOC pools in soil without UGmax was higher at the end of the experiment compared to the beginning, while there was an inverse relationship in the soil with the bio-fertilizer. In comparison with the control, organic matter in the soil treated with UGmax had a higher content of C of humic acids, C in humins, and higher CHAs/CFAs ratio.

Conclusions

We conclude that the use of a bio-fertilizer that increases the stable fractions of organic matter provides evidence of an increase in the soil OM stability. In turn, the contribution of the organic matter fractions that are more resistant to decomposition is crucial for increasing soil carbon sequestration.

     

Protein recovery from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) processing byproducts via isoelectric solubilization/precipitation and its gelation properties as affected by functional additives

Solubility of rainbow trout proteins was determined between pH 1.5 and 13.0 and various ionic strengths (IS). Minimum solubility occurred at pH 5.5; however, when IS = 0.2, the minimum solubility shifted toward more acidic pH. Isoelectric solubilization/precipitation was applied to trout processing byproducts (fish meat left over on bones, head, skin, etc.), resulting in protein recovery yields (Kjeldahl, dry basis) between 77.7% and 89.0%, depending of the pH used for solubilization and precipitation. The recovered protein contained 1.4-2.1% ash (dry basis), while the trout processing byproducts (i.e., starting material) 13.9%. Typical boneless and skinless trout fillets contain 5.5% ash, and therefore, the isoelectric solubilization/precipitation effectively removed impurities such as bones, scales, skin, etc., from the trout processing byproducts. The recovered proteins retained gel-forming ability as assessed with dynamic rheology, torsion test, and texture profile analysis (TPA). However, the recovered proteins failed to gel unless beef plasma protein (BPP) was added. Even with BPP, the recovered protein showed some proteolysis between 40 and 55 degrees C. Addition of potato starch, transglutaminase, and phosphate to the recovered proteins resulted in good texture of trout gels as confirmed by torsion test and TPA. Higher ( P < 0.05) shear stress and strain were measured for gels developed from basic pH treatments than the acidic counterparts. However, proteins recovered from acidic treatments had higher ( P < 0.05) lipid content than the basic treatments. This is probably why the gels from acidic treatments were whiter ( L* - 3 b*) ( P < 0.05) than those from the basic ones. Our study demonstrates that functional proteins can be efficiently recovered from low-value fish processing byproducts using isoelectric solubilization/precipitation and subsequently be used in value-added human foods.     

Influence of Agricultural Land Use and Management on the Contents of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Selected Silty Soils

The characteristics of transport and transformation of SO₂, NO_x and O₃ in northeast Asia have been investigated by using a comprehensive regional air quality model (RAQM) driven by a meteorological model MM5. A study period of 1-15 March 2002 has been selected due to the availability of intense observation of chemical species for both ground and upper levels. Model results have been compared against observational data to provide insights into the strength and weakness of the model’s ability and the evolutionary features of chemical species. Validation shows a good skill of this model system in reproducing most of the key features in long-range transport, but apparent bias still remains due to a series of uncertainties from either emission estimates, prescribed parameters, or inherent model limitations. In general, this model shows a better skill for SO₂ and O₃ than for NO_x. Large discrepancy occurs between the observed and calculated NO_x concentration at higher levels, with the model results being much lower. A series of sensitivity tests have been conducted to investigate the potential affecting factors and it is found that the inaccuracy or incompleteness in currently used emission inventories could be a most likely cause for such discrepancy. Long-range transport from Asian continent to the western Pacific is pronounced in springtime. Substantially high concentrations of SO₂ and NO_x in or above the boundary layer (0.5～3.0 km) over the Yellow Sea suggest an important pathway for long-range transport in northeast Asia.