Physiological mechanisms of ovarian follicular growth in pigs--a review

Follicular growth after antrum formation is determined by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Only two ways are possible for recruited follicles, continuing development or atresia. In gilts, intensive ovarian follicular growth begins between 60 and 100 days of age, and fluctuations of the ovarian morphological status last about 20 days; however, at that time there are no really large follicles. Final follicular development is under luteinising hormone (LH) control; this is why the attainment of puberty is related to an increase in serum oestradiol to a level that causes a preovulatory surge of this gonadotropin. The pool of follicles at the beginning of the oestrous cycle is about 30-40, most of which are small (< 3 mm) and growing. Then, the pool of follicles increases to about 80 in the mid-luteal phase but about 50 of them are small and 30 are medium sized (3-6.9 mm). Some of these follicles are in the growing phase, but some are atretic. Between days 7 and 15 of the oestrous cycle the percentage of atretic follicles fluctuates between 12 and 73%. At that time there are no large (> 7 mm) follicles because of the suppressing effect of progesterone. The number of small follicles declines after luteolysis. From the pool of medium follicles, large follicles are selected under the influence of LH, but about 70% of the medium-sized follicles become atretic. Because of the long-lasting selection process there is a significant heterogeneity in the diameter of large follicles in oestrus. However, the number of follicles correlates with the number of corpora lutea after ovulation. Individual follicular development and the relationship between follicles are still poorly known. The use of ultrasonography may give a closer insight into these phenomena.     

Total antioxidant capacity and protein peroxidation intensity in seminal plasma of infertile and fertile dogs

The aim of this study was to evaluate the total antioxidant capacity and protein peroxidation intensity in seminal plasma of infertile and fertile dogs. The study was conducted on 10 infertile and 10 fertile dogs of various breeds. Infertility was defined as conception failure at least three matings with different bitches. Semen was collected by manual manipulation. The sperm concentration and motility parameters were evaluated using CASA Hamilton Thorne, Vers. IVOS 12.3. The morphology of spermatozoa and the percentage of live and dead sperm cells were assessed microscopically, total antioxidant capacity and the content of SH‐groups in seminal plasma were determined spectrophotometrically, the contents of protein peroxidation markers in seminal plasma, bityrosine and formylokinurenine, were determined using spectrofluorimetric methods. Sperm concentration and total sperm count were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in infertile dogs than in fertile dogs (99.92 ± 3 0.05 × 10⁶/ml vs. 282.07 ± 48.27 × 10⁶/ml; 214.19 ± 114.74 × 10⁶ vs. 747.57 ± 210.94 × 10⁶, respectively). The percentage of spermatozoa with normal morphology and the most determined motility parameters differed significantly (p < 0.05) between both groups. The mean values of total antioxidant capacity in the seminal plasma were significantly (p < 0.05) lower (19.95 ± 20.94 vs. 25.66 ± 23.18 µmol/g protein), whereas the mean contents of bityrosine and formylokinurenine in seminal plasma were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in infertile dogs than in fertile dogs (3.71 ± 4.83 µg/mg protein vs. 1.55 ± 2.00 µg/mg protein and 0.37 ± 0.45 µg/mg protein vs. 0.14 ± 0.08 µg/mg protein, respectively). In conclusion, the obtained results suggest that the poor semen quality and infertility in dogs could be associated with lowered total antioxidant capacity and increased protein peroxidation in seminal plasma as a consequence of oxidative stress.     

Alterations in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) eggs exposed to ionizing radiation during induced androgenesis

Ionizing radiation (IR) is applied to inactivate nuclear genome in the salmonid eggs to induce androgenetic development. However, it has been considered that doses of IR used to damage maternal chromosomes may also affect morphology of the eggs and decrease their developmental potential. Thus, the main goal of the present research was to assess alterations in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) eggs caused by the high dose of IR administered during androgenesis. In the present research, rainbow trout eggs were irradiated with 350 Gy of X‐rays, inseminated and exposed to the high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) shock to develop as androgenetic doubled haploids (DHs). The distribution of lipid droplets in the irradiated and non‐irradiated rainbow trout eggs, survival rates and morphology of larvae from androgenetic and control groups were compared. It has been observed that non‐irradiated and irradiated eggs exhibited altered distribution of lipid droplets. Most of the eggs before IR treatment displayed rather equal distribution of the oil droplets. In turn, majority of eggs studied after irradiation had coalesced lipid droplets, a pattern found in eggs with reduced quality. Incidences of abnormally developed larvae were more frequently observed among fish that hatched from the irradiated eggs. Observed changes suggest X‐rays applied for the genetic inactivation of rainbow trout eggs may lead to decrease of their developmental competence.     

The Impact of Diesel Oil Pollution on the Hydrophobicity and CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Efflux of Forest Soils

The contamination of soil with petroleum products is a major environmental problem. Petroleum products are common soil contaminants as a result of human activities, and they are causing substantial changes in the biological (particularly microbiological) processes, chemical composition, structure and physical properties of soil. The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of soil moisture on CO₂ efflux from diesel-contaminated albic podzol soils. Two contamination treatments (3000 and 9000 mg of diesel oil per kg of soil) were prepared for four horizons from two forest study sites with different initial levels of soil water repellency. CO₂ emissions were measured using a portable infrared gas analyser (LCpro+, ADC BioScientific, UK) while the soil samples were drying under laboratory conditions (from saturation to air-dry). The assessment of soil water repellency was performed using the water drop penetration time test. An analysis of variance (ANVOA) was conducted for the CO₂ efflux data. The obtained results show that CO₂ efflux from diesel-contaminated soils is higher than efflux from uncontaminated soils. The initially water-repellent soils were found to have a bigger CO₂ efflux. The non-linear relationship between soil moisture content and CO₂ efflux only existed for the upper soil horizons, while for deeper soil horizons, the efflux is practically independent of soil moisture content. The contamination of soil by diesel leads to increased soil water repellency.     

Effect of mulch and tillage system on soil porosity under wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Crop residues and reduced tillage become current tendency in modifying tillage due to better water management, organic and nutrient supply and increasing crop production. This study was carried out to quantify the effect of fodder radish mulching and different tillage systems in wheat production. In 2004–2006 the field trial was set up on Luvic Chernozems derived from loess. This experiment consisted of two factors: tillage system (conventional or reduced) and mulch (with or without). The air–water properties of soil with particular focus on macropore characteristics were investigated.The tillage system and mulch application significantly influenced physical properties of investigated soil. Reduced tillage, without mouldboard plough, increased the soil density with respect to conventional tillage. However, in the upper soil layer (0–10 cm) with mulch residues the bulk density decreased and reached the similar value as those obtained at conventional tillage (1.25 g cm⁻³). The macroporosity of soil with conventional tillage (14.79%) was significantly higher in comparison with reduced tillage (6.55%). The mulch of fodder radish added at reduced tillage increased the macroporosity in pore diameter range of 50–500 μm. These changes referred to all shape classes: regular, irregular and elongated pores. The lowest transmission pores content (0.078 cm³ cm⁻³) was noticed at the reduced tillage without mulch at the 0–10 cm layer. Due to lack of differences in storage pores the tillage and mulching had no effect on both AWC (available water content) and PWC (productive water content) values. The higher value of AWC was noticed in the upper soil layer (0.198 cm³ cm⁻³ in average), whereas in the 10–20 cm soil layer it was 0.186 cm³ cm⁻³. Similar relation was recorded in PWC values, 0.165 and 0.154 cm³ cm⁻³, respectively. The results obtained in physical properties of soil reflected in wheat yields. The yields obtained at reduced tillage system without mulch (5.54 t ha⁻¹) were significant lower with respect to treatment when mulch applied (6.79 t ha⁻¹). The mulch residues did not affect yields at conventional tillage (6.53 t ha⁻¹ without mulch and 7.00 t ha⁻¹ with mulch). The main conclusion is that the mulching can help to avoid yield reduction in wheat production when reduced tillage is used.     

Genomic changes in generations of synthetic rapeseed-like allopolyploid grown under selection

Resynthesized Brassica napus L. is an important source for broadening genetic diversity and producing lines with desired characteristics. It is also a fine model to study the processes of genomic reorganizations in recently formed polyploids. We firstly performed molecular cytogenetic characterization of newly resynthesized rapeseed (B. rapa ssp. narinosa × B. oleracea ssp. capitata) and its parental species, and also examined genomic changes in hybrids of the succeeding generations grown under pressure of selection of yellow-seeded progeny. For karyotype studies, FISH/GISH with 45S, 5S rDNA, C genome specific BoB014O06 BAC clone and genomic DNA of parental B. rapa was performed. Synthetic S0–S2 hybrids had common rapeseed karyotypes (2n = 38) including 14 loci of 45S rDNA sites and 10 loci of 5S rDNA. Progeny selection led to gradual deletion of C genome chromosomes in hybrid karyotypes. So, in karyotypes of S6 and S7 hybrids, the chromosome number was reduced to 2n = 20–22, and only chromosomes of A genome bearing 10–13 loci of 45S rDNA and 8–10 loci of 5S rDNA, variations in chromosome number, chromosome rearrangements as well as examples of trisomy and monosomy were revealed. Our findings indicate an enhanced genome instability in resynthesized rapeseed lines developed under the pressure of selection which might lead to chromosome rearrangements or/and deletions and even elimination of the whole parental genome in hybrids in succeeding generations. The approach can be useful for the development of rapeseed lines with trisomy, chromosome addition/substitution lines important for genetics and plant breeding.     

Comparing the resistance of mid‐maturing maize varieties to European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn.)—results from the Polish VCU registration field trials

European corn borer is a major pest in the United States and Europe. This pest causes grain yield losses worth billions of Dollars. One of the best methods to control this pest making damages is cultivation of resistant varieties. In the present work, using the generalized linear mixed model methodology, we identified maize varieties with improved resistance to European corn borer from a Polish VCU series of field trials performed in the two consecutive years 2014 and 2015.     

Ustekinumab pharmacokinetics after subcutaneous administration in swine model

BackgroundDue to multiple similarities in the structure and physiology of human and pig skin, the pig model is extremely useful for biological drug testing after subcutaneous administration. Knowledge of the differences between subcutaneous injection sites could have a significant impact on the absorption phase and pharmacokinetic profiles of biological drugs.ObjectivesThis study aimed to analyze the impact of administration site on pharmacokinetics and selected biochemical and hematological parameters after a single subcutaneous administration of ustekinumab in pigs. Drug concentrations in blood plasma were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pharmacokinetic analyses were performed based on raw data using Phoenix WinNonlin 8.1 software and ThothPro v 4.1.MethodsThe study included 12 healthy, female, large white piglets. Each group received a single dose of ustekinumab given as a 1 mg/kg subcutaneous injection into the internal part of the inguinal fold or the external part of the inguinal fold.ResultsThe differences in absorption rate between the internal and external parts of the inguinal fold were not significant. However, the time of maximal concentration, clearance, area under the curve calculated between zero and mean residence time and mean residence time between groups were substantially different (p > 0.05). The relative bioavailability after administration of ustekinumab into the external part of the inguinal fold was 40.36% lower than after administration of ustekinumab into the internal part of the inguinal fold.ConclusionsHealthy breeding pigs are a relevant model to study the pharmacokinetic profile of subcutaneously administered ustekinumab.     

Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotopes in a Peat Profile Are Influenced by Early Stage Diagenesis and Changes in Atmospheric CO2 and N Deposition

In this study, we test whether the δ(13)C and δ(15)N in a peat profile are, respectively, linked to the recent dilution of atmospheric δ(13)CO(2) caused by increased fossil fuel combustion and changes in atmospheric δ(15)N deposition. We analysed bulk peat and Sphagnum fuscum branch C and N concentrations and bulk peat, S. fuscum branch and Andromeda polifolia leaf δ(13)C and δ(15)N from a 30-cm hummock-like peat profile from an Aapa mire in northern Finland. Statistically significant correlations were found between the dilution of atmospheric δ(13)CO(2) and bulk peat δ(13)C, as well as between historically increasing wet N deposition and bulk peat δ(15)N. However, these correlations may be affected by early stage kinetic fractionation during decomposition and possibly other processes. We conclude that bulk peat stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios may reflect the dilution of atmospheric δ(13)CO(2) and the changes in δ(15)N deposition, but probably also reflect the effects of early stage kinetic fractionation during diagenesis. This needs to be taken into account when interpreting palaeodata. There is a need for further studies of δ(15)N profiles in sufficiently old dated cores from sites with different rates of decomposition: These would facilitate more reliable separation of depositional δ(15)N from patterns caused by other processes. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11270-011-1001-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.