Partial cloning and localisation of leptin and its receptor in the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius)

Based on the studies and results presented here, leptin and its receptor were expressed by adipose tissue, mammary alveolar epithelial cells, liver hepatocytes, and the lining epithelium of the bile duct of the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius). Our observations support the biological importance of leptin in the mammary gland as well as the likely local effect of leptin on the peripheral tissues. We suggest that there may be an association between hepatic leptin and the lipogenic activity of the liver in the dromedary camel.     

Microbial mineralization of humic acid-3,4-dichloroaniline complexes

3,4-Dichloroaniline (DCA), a biodegradation intermediate of numerous herbicides, binds covalently to soil humus to form persistent complexes. Prompted by the possibility that, upon repeated treatments, xenobiotic residues may accumulate in humus, the turnover rates of intact, solvent-extracted, and hydrolyzed humic complexes of ¹⁴C-DCA were compared with that of similarly-treated soil organic matter fractions. The turnover rate of intact humic-DCA complexes was considerably faster than the average turnover of soil organic matter. Humic-DCA complexes, that had been washed in solvents to remove adsorbed DCA or hydrolyzed to break susceptible chemical bonds, had turnover rates that were equal to or slower than that of the average soil organic matter, respectively. However, the turnover rates of the solvent-washed and hydrolyzed humic-DCA complexes were similar to that of identically-treated humic acid. The evidence indicates that an extensive accumulation of DCA or similar herbicide-derived halogenated anilines in soil organic matter is unlikely.     

Oestrogens in the mammalian brain: from conception to adulthood--a review

Environmental and plant oestrogens have been identified as compounds that when ingested, disrupt the physiological pathways of endogenous oestrogen actions and thus, act as agonists or antagonists of oestrogen. Although the risks of exposure to exogenous oestrogens (ExEs) are subject to scientific debate, the question of how ExE exposure affects the central nervous system remains to be answered. We attempt to summarise the mechanisms of oestrogenic effects in the central nervous tissue with the purpose to highlight the avenues potentially used by ExEs. The genomic and rapid, non-genomic cellular pathways activated by oestrogen are listed and discussed together with the best known interneuronal mechanisms of oestrogenic effects. Because the effects of oestrogen on the brain seem to be age dependent, we also found it necessary to put the age-dependent oestrogenic effects in parallel to their intra- and intercellular mechanisms of action. Finally, considering the practical risks of human ExE exposure, we briefly discuss the human significance of this matter. We believe this short review of the topic became necessary because recent data suggest new fields and pathways for endogenous oestrogen actions and have generated the concern that the hidden exposure of humans and domestic animal species to ExEs may also exert its beneficial and/or adverse effects through these avenues.     

Periodic reappearance of bovine herpesvirus type 4 DNA in the sera of naturally and experimentally infected rabbits and calves.

A BHV-4 specific nested PCR was used for the detection of viral DNA in serum samples of rabbits and calves. All animals were followed up for 62 days, blood samples were taken for PCR studies every second day. Maternal infection of calves resulted in the repeated regular reappearance (10-14 days) of the virus (DNA) in serum samples. When PCR positive five-day-old calves were infected with tissue culture adapted virus, the reappearance of the DNA in the serum was shown to be irregular, nevertheless, DNA peaks reappeared during the whole observation period. A PCR negative calf infected at the age of 60 days was found to possess viraemia until p.i.d. 32. In rabbits treated intravenously with BHV-4 the inoculum or a primary viraemia was detected at p.i.d. 2-3 and p.i.d. 14-16. Published data on human herpesviruses suggest, that the target cells might be a pluripotent stem cell population of the bone marrow and differentiated virus-infected cells destroyed by the immune system might be the source of viral DNA detected in the serum. Frequency of DNA reappearance was depended on the age of the infected animals but not on the inoculated amount of BHV-4. The described phenomenon might be part of BHV-4 infection of very young animals.     

Transplacental transmission of bovine adenovirusesTransmission transplacentaire d'adenovirus bovins

Type 1 bovine adenovirus has been isolated from cell cultures prepared from the kidneys of a 7-month-old bovine fetus, taken from a slaughterhouse, and types 4, 6 and 8 from cell cultures prepared from the testicles of four neonatal, precolostral calves. Sera of these pre-colostral calves possessed virus-neutralizing antibodies in titers of 1:4–1:16. Bovine adenoviruses of types 4 and 8 have also been isolated from two bovine fetuses aborted from an unknown cause. Relying upon these findings the possible vertical (transplacental) transmission of bovine adenoviruses is presumed. Though a cause-and-effect relationship between abortion and adenovirus infection could not be detected, it is probable that infection during fetal development cannot be indifferent to the fetus or the neonatal calf.