Comparative analysis of in vitro proliferative,migratory and pro-angiogenic potentials of bovine fetal mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow and adipose tissue

Veterinary Research Communications - Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are found in virtually all tissues, where they self-renew and differentiate into multiple cell types. Cumulative data indicate...     

Relationship between performance,metabolic profile,and feed efficiency of lactating beef cows

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Twenty-seven Nellore cow-calf pairs were submitted for feed efficiency testing. The animals were weighed every 21 ± 5 days to...     

Reduction in the mRNA expression of sVEGFR1 and sVEGFR2 is associated with the selection of dominant follicle in cows

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is essential for follicular development by promoting follicular angiogenesis, as well as for the proliferation and survival of granulosa cells. The biological effects of VEGF are regulated by two membrane receptors, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2, and two soluble receptors, sVEGFR1 and sVEGFR2, which play an antagonistic role. Thus, the objective of this study was to identify the mRNA expression pattern of total VEGF, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, sVEGFR1 and sVEGFR2 in bovine preselected follicles (PRF) and post‐selected follicles (POF). The mRNA expression of these five genes in both granulosa cells (GC) and theca cells (TC) was compared between follicles classified as PRF and POF based on their diameter and on their ratio of estradiol/progesterone (E2/P4). Results showed a lower expression of mRNA of sVEGFR1 and sVEGFR2 in POF than in PRF (p < .05). Regarding the mRNA expression of total VEGF, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2, there was no difference between POF and PRF follicles (p > .05). Our results showed that the mRNA expression of VEGFR2 and sVEGFR1 was more abundant than the expression of VEGFR1 and sVEGFR2, while GC was the main source of mRNA for total VEGF. On the other hand, TC was the follicular compartment where the receptors were most expressed. Our results suggest that non‐dominant follicles maintain a greater concentration of the mRNA expression of both membrane and soluble VEGF receptors. On the other hand, follicular dominance is related to a reduction in the mRNA expression of sVEGFR1 and sVEGFR2, which may favour VEGF binding with VEGFR2 and, hence, improve the follicular health and development.     

Protective activity against oocyst shedding in cats vaccinated with crude rhoptry proteins of the Toxoplasma gondii by the intranasal route

This study evaluated a vaccine made from crude rhoptry proteins of Toxoplasma gondii with Quil-A, which was administered to cats by the intranasal route. Eleven short-hair domestic cats were divided into four groups: G1 (n=3) received three doses (200 microg/dose) of the rhoptry vaccine with Quil-A (20 microg); G2 (n=3) received PBS with Quil-A (20 microg); G3 (n=3) and G4 (n=2) received only PBS. Treatments were administered at days 0, 21, and 42 by the intranasal route. Challenge was done to G1, G2, and G3 animals with 600 cysts of the VEG strain on day 51 (challenge day); G4 animals were unchallenged. The anti-T. gondii IgG and IgA antibody levels from sera were measured by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). At challenge, two animals from G1 revealed antibody levels for both IgG and IgA; oocysts were not detected in feces of these two cats. There were no differences in hematological values between groups throughout the experiment (p>0.10). Preventable fractions were 67% in G1 and 0% in G2 and G3. Comparatively, G1 animals shed 89.3% and 90.8% less oocysts than G3 and G4, respectively. Two out of three cats were protected against T. gondii oocyst shedding when the rhoptry vaccine was administered by the intranasal route. This is the first study using crude rhoptry proteins as vaccine by the intranasal route in cats to evaluate protection against oocysts shedding.     

Enhanced resistance to bacterial infection byErwinia carotovora subsp.atroseptica in transgenic potato plants expressing the attacin or the cecropin SB-37 genes

Blackleg and soft rot diseases, caused by the bacteriumErwinia carotovora, are among the diseases that cause important losses in culture and storage of potato. In this paper, we introduced bacterial resistance into potato, via genes encoding for proteins with antibacterial activity. For this purpose, potato clones were transformed either with the gene encoding the acidic attacin protein fromHyalophora cecropia, or with the gene encoding the cecropin analog peptide SB37. These clones were evaluated for soft rot and blackleg resistance, after inoculation with the bacterial strainErwinia carotovora subsp.atroseptica T7. Results reported in this paper indicate that a considerable percentage of the potato clones (15–22%) showed increased resistance to bacterial infection, revealed by reduced severity of blackleg or soft rot symptoms. Expression of the transgenes was demonstrated in some of the clones by Northern blot analysis. This is the first report indicating that expression of the gene encoding for an attacin protein and for the cecropin SB-37 peptide in transgenic potato confers increased resistance to bacterial infection.     

Growth and feeding of Patagonian pejerrey Odontesthes hatcheri reared in net cages

An experiment was performed to evaluate the performance of Patagonian pejerrey during net cage rearing in the oligomesotrophic reservoir Exequiel Ramos Mexía. Survival, growth, nutrition and reproduction were evaluated for two lots of pejerrey, initial weights 4.0 and 2.5 g, reared in net cages for 22 and 14 months respectively. Fish were stocked at 29 and 48 individuals m^?3 densities and fed with an experimental pejerrey feed. During the experiment, temperature fluctuated between 6.6 and 19.6 °C. The two lots did not show substantial differences in survival (pooled survival at the end of the experiment >80%) and the thermal‐unit growth coefficient (TGC), daily feed intake and feeding efficiency were 0.43±0.19, 1.70±0.80 and 53.6±9.9 respectively. Digestive tract analysis showed that caged pejerrey can consume substantial quantities of natural food, taking advantage of its planktivorous condition. Pejerrey showed high percentage survival, slow growth and early sexual maturation in captivity. The use of the TGC is proposed as a model for describing the growth pattern of this species and other pejerrey under culture conditions.     

The effects of diet supplemented with Lactobacillus rhamnosus on tissue parameters of rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)

This study was carried out to establish the effects of a 6 week treatment with the diet supplemented with L. rhamnosus in concentrations of 10⁷ CFU g^?1 (G1 group) and 10⁸ CFU g^?1 (G2 group) on the condition expressed by condition factors (Fulton's, Clark's and B), intestinal microbiology, haematological, histological and selected antioxidative parameters of rainbow trout. A significantly higher condition factors were found in G1 group indicating that higher concentration of probiotic (10⁸ CFU g^?1) did not result in the better condition. Cholesterol and urea levels were significantly higher in both G1 and G2 groups, albumin in G1 and creatinine in G2 group with respect to control. A significantly higher liver TBARS level was observed in G2 group. The feeding with supplemented probiont apparently changed the resident microbiota. Three weeks after withdrawal of the supplemented feed, the microflora mostly reverted to the control composition, although L. rhamnosus in faecal matter of fish remained inherent. The epithelial structure of the proximal and distal intestine revealed the increased absorptive area in both treated groups, as well as the increase in the mucin‐secreting goblet cells. The L. rhamnosus‐treated groups demonstrated the capacity for the augmentation of the innate host defence.