Screening for the Mucopolysaccharidosis-IIIA gene in Huntaway dogs

Abstract

Extract

A single case of the inherited lysosomal storage disease known as mucopolysaccharidosis-IIIA (MPS-IIIA), due to a deficiency of the enzyme heparan sulphatase, was reported in an 18-month-old male Huntaway dog (Jolly et al 2000 Jolly, RD, Allan, FJ, Collett, MG, Rozaklis, T, Muller, VJ and Hopwood, JJ. 2000. Mucopolysaccharidosis IIIA (Sanfilippo syndrome) in a New Zealand Huntaway dog with ataxia. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 48: 144–148. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). He had developed normally but when presented with a history of progressive ataxia over the preceding month, had a high stepping, prancing gait and difficulty in jumping into a utility vehicle. In addition, he had started to defaecate in his kennel. Following diagnosis of the enzyme deficiency, the mutant heparan sulphatase gene was sequenced and a PCR/restriction enzyme diagnostic test developed, based on the mutation. This is capable of detecting both homozygous and heterozygous individuals (Yogalingam et al 2000 Yogalingam, G, Pollard, T, Gliddon, B, Jolly, RD and Hopwood, JJ. 2001. Identification of a mutation causing mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIA in New Zealand Huntaway dogs. Genomics, 79: 150–153.  [Google Scholar]).     

Effect of Follicle Size on In Vitro Maturation of Pre‐Pubertal Porcine Cumulus Oocyte Complexes

Very small follicles (<3.0 mm diameter) are over‐represented on the surface of ovaries of non‐cycling pigs, and the oocytes collected from these follicles generally have reduced developmental competence in vitro. This study examined the effect of follicle size on the nuclear maturation (n = 608), the potential of parthenogenetic activation (n = 243) and the cyclic AMP (cAMP) content of pre‐pubertal porcine oocytes (n = 480). In addition, the influence of follicle size on steroid hormone synthesis was analysed. Cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) flushed from small (2.5–4.0 mm) or large (4.5–6.0 mm) ovarian follicles were cultured for 0, 28 and 46 h. After 46 h of IVM, a greater proportion of oocytes from 4.5‐ to 6.0‐mm follicles reach metaphase II (MII) compared with those from follicles with 2.5–4.0 mm of diameter (96.1 vs 77.0%, respectively; p < 0.001). Parthenogenetic activation of oocytes from large follicles produced higher developmental rates than oocytes from large follicles (p < 0.05). At 28 h, the IVM medium with oocytes from large follicles contained significantly more 17ß‐oestradiol (E₂) than the medium with oocytes from small follicles (5.55 vs 3.45 ng/ml, respectively; p < 0.05) and at 46 h, the medium with oocytes from small follicles contained significantly more progesterone (P₄) than the medium with oocytes from large follicles (276.7 vs 108.2 ng/ml, respectively, p < 0.05). Porcine oocytes from large follicles have higher nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation capacities, but the differences did not appear to be cAMP‐mediated. Our findings also suggest that COCs from small follicles undergo more intensive luteinization than COCs from large follicles. The results show that oocytes from follicles with a diameter greater than 4.0 mm are more suitable for in vitro studies.     

Impact of donor nutritional balance on the growth and development of mesenchymal stem cells from caprine umbilical cord Wharton´s jelly

Veterinary Research Communications - Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from the umbilical cord (UC) have aroused considerable interest. However, little is known about the maternal effect on these...     

Pomegranate Juice and Peel Extracts are Able to Inhibit Proliferation,Migration and Colony Formation of Prostate Cancer Cell Lines and Modulate the Akt/mTOR/S6K Signaling Pathway

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is known to contain polyphenols with many potential health benefits, including anti-tumoral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial...     

Use of shrimp protein hydrolysate in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, L.) feeds

A 45-day feeding trial was carried out to evaluate the use of shrimp protein hydrolysate (SPH) in diets for Oreochromis niloticus, L. SPH was included in isonitrogenous diets replacing fish meal protein by 0, 5, 10, and 20% and offered to Nile tilapia juveniles (1.7 ± 0.4 g) stocked in 40-L glass aquaria. The inclusion of SPH produced no significant differences (P ≥ 0.05) in final weight, survival, weight gain, average daily gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, or apparent net protein utilization. The inclusion of SPH Nile tilapia diets significantly affected (P < 0.05) the final fish body composition. Protein and ash contents decreased and fat content increased slightly with the increase in SPH. This study has demonstrated that SPH is a promising protein feedstuff and could account for as much as 6% of Nile tilapia diets with no adverse effects on growth and nutrient utilization.     

Salt stress alters the morphoanatomy and primary and secondary metabolites of the leaves and rhizomes of Curcuma longa L.

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - During cultivation, environmental factors can cause changes in the metabolism of Curcuma longa L. that limit its development. This study evaluated the...     

Digestive peptidases and proteinases in the midgut gland of the pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus paulensis (Crustacea, Decapoda, Penaeidae)

Proteases from the midgut gland of the Farfantepenaeus paulensis juveniles were assessed. Enzyme activity was determined using protease substrates and inhibitors. The effect of pH, temperature and calcium on proteolytic activity was assayed. Caseinolytic activity was analysed in substrate-sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Trypsin, chymotrypsin and leucine aminopeptidase activity was detected. Proteolytic activity was strongly inhibited by the specific trypsin inhibitors. Tosyl-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone inhibited 59.3% of chymotrypsin activity. The greatest trypsin-like activity occurred at pH 8.0 and 45 °C. Chymotrypsin-like activity reached maximal values at alkaline pH (7.2–9.0) and 55 °C. CaCl₂ did not increase trypsin-like activity, but rather inhibited it at concentrations of 30 (20%), 50 (30%) and 100 mM (50%). The substrate-SDS-PAGE zymogram revealed eight proteinase bands. Two possibly thermal-resistant (85 °C, 30 min) chymotrypsin isoforms were found, which were inhibited by phenyl-methyl-sulphonyl-fluoride. Aminopeptidase activity of enzyme extracts (Arg, Leu, Lys, Phe and Val) and the recommended concentrations of these essential amino acids in penaeid shrimp diets were positively correlated ( P <0.05). Beause protein digestion involves the combined action of different enzymes, adequate knowledge of shrimp digestion and enzyme characteristics is required for the assessment of the digestive potential of different feed sources and development of in vitro digestibility protocols.