Effects of Exogenous Tumour Necrosis Factor-α on the Secretory Function of the Bovine Reproductive Tract Depend on Tumour Necrosis Factor-α Concentrations

The aim of study was to correlate tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF) infused doses used with the TNF concentrations achieved and with the secretory function of both the ovary and the uterus in cows. We evaluated the concentrations of progesterone (P4), prostaglandin (PG)F_2α, PGE₂ nitric oxide (NO) and TNF in the jugular vein and vena cava caudalis as parameters of exogenous TNF action on the female reproductive tract. Aortae abdominalis of cows (n = 18) were infused with saline or two doses of TNF (luteolytic – 1 μg or luteotrophic – 10 μg). In the peripheral blood, 1 μg TNF concentrations achieved within the range of 30–45 pg/ml, and 10 μg TNF provoked a sharp increase in achieved concentrations at a range of 250–450 pg/mL). The TNF concentrations achieved in vena cava caudalis were five to six times higher than that in peripheral blood (p < 0.001). One microgram TNF increased PGF_2α and NO (p < 0.001) and decreased P4 (p < 0.05). The higher TNF dose stimulated P4 and PGE₂ (p < 0.01). TNF infusion at luteolytic dose achieved its concentrations at the physiological range previously observed in cows. Luteotrophic TNF dose achieved the concentrations in vena cava caudalis that are much higher than physiological level and were previously noted in pathological circumstances (i.e. mastitis , metritis ).     

Photoinduced Chemical Dynamics of High-Spin Alkali Trimers

Nanometer-sized helium droplets, each containing about 10(4) helium atoms, were used as an inert substrate on which to form previously unobserved, spin-3/2 (quartet state) alkali trimers. Dispersed fluorescence measurements reveal that, upon electronic excitation, the quartet trimers undergo intersystem crossing to the doublet manifold, followed by dissociation of the doublet trimer into an atom and a covalently bound singlet dimer. As shown by this work, aggregates of spin-polarized alkali metals represent ideal species for the optical study of fundamental chemical dynamics processes including nonadiabatic spin conversion, change of bonding nature, and unimolecular dissociation.     

Ultrasound during mid‐gestation: Agreement with physical foetal and placental measurements and use in predicting gestational age in sheep

To determine the effects of poor maternal nutrition and litter size on foetal growth during mid‐gestation, pregnant ewes (n = 82) were fed 100%, 60% or 140% of NRC TDN beginning at day 30.2 ± 0.2 of gestation. Transabdominal ultrasound was performed weekly between day 46.0 ± 0.4 and 86.0 ± 0.7 to monitor foetal heart width (HW), umbilical diameter (UMB), rib width (RW) and placentome outer (OD) and inner diameter (ID). Data were analysed with repeated‐measures using the mixed procedure for effects of maternal diet, litter size and gestation, and equations predictive of gestational age were generated using the regression procedure. To determine the agreement of ultrasound measurement and actual size, ewes (n = 20–21) were euthanized at day 45 or 90 to obtain corresponding postmortem measurements for Bland–Altman analysis. The HW, UMB and placentome OD and ID increased with gestation (p < .0001) but were unaffected by maternal diet or litter size (p ≥ .12). Ultrasound underestimated postmortem measurements of HW (14.8%), UMB (7.3%), placentome OD (4.5%) and ID (37.3%) at day 90 of gestation. Ultrasound underestimated RW at day 45 (7.7%) but overestimated RW (23.8%) at day 90, indicating inconsistent bias when reporting RW by ultrasound. Combining the HW, UMB, RW and placentome OD generated the strongest equation predictive of gestational age (R² = .91). These findings indicate that during mid‐gestation, maternal diet or litter size did not affect HW, UMB or placentome diameters and these factors can be used to estimate gestational age.     

Antigens of Goat Spermatozoa that Recognize Homologous Zona Pellucida

Goat sperm surface proteins obtained from purified plasma membrane (PPM) vesicles (purity of membrane checked by marker enzymes and transmission electron microscopy) were size fractionated on an fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) gel filtration column. All the seven surface proteins (129, 100, 46, 28, 27, 18 and 10 kDa) obtained were further fractionated and purified on high-efficiency gel filtration (GFC-HPLC) as well as ion exchange (DEAE-HPLC) columns. Antibodies were generated against the PPM and the protein fractions. Such resolved and purified surface antigens were tested by Dot Blot Immunoassay and homologous in vitro sperm-zona binding assays. It was revealed that the binding of goat spermatozoa to homologous zona pellucida was inhibited by antisera raised against the five lower molecular weight surface antigens. Further, the components of FPLC-AIII (46 kDa; A represents antigenic protein) and IV (28 kDa) were most promising as the antibodies against these fractions inhibited sperm binding to zona pellucida even at a dilution of 1 : 1000 as tested by the sperm-zona binding assays.     

Localized reconnection in the near jovian magnetotail

The oppositely directed magnetic field in the jovian magnetic tail is expected eventually to reconnect across the current sheet, allowing plasma produced deep inside the magnetosphere near Io's orbit to escape in the antisolar direction down the tail. The Galileo spacecraft found localized regions of strong northward and southward field components beyond about 50 jovian radii in the postmidnight, predawn sector of the jovian magnetosphere. These pockets of vertical magnetic fields can be stronger than the surrounding magnetotail and magnetodisk fields. They may result from episodic reconnection of patches of the near jovian magnetotail.     

A Magnetic Signature at Io: Initial Report from the Galileo Magnetometer

During the inbound pass of the Galileo spacecraft, the magnetometer acquired 1 minute averaged measurements of the magnetic field along the trajectory as the spacecraft flew by Io. A field decrease, of nearly 40 percent of the background jovian field at closest approach to Io, was recorded. Plasma sources alone appear incapable of generating perturbations as large as those observed and an induced source for the observed moment implies an amount of free iron in the mantle much greater than expected. On the other hand, an intrinsic magnetic field of amplitude consistent with dynamo action at Io would explain the observations. It seems plausible that Io, like Earth and Mercury, is a magnetized solid planet.     

Impact of enclosure management on soil properties and microbial biomass in a restored semi-arid rangeland,Kenya

Rangeland degradation is a serious problem throughout sub-Saharan Africa and its restoration is a challenge for the management of arid and semi-arid areas. In Lake Baringo Basin of Kenya, communities and individual farmers are restoring indigenous vegetation inside enclosures in an effort to combat severe land degradation and address their livelihood problems. This study evaluated the impact of enclosure management on soil properties and microbial biomass, being key indicators of soil ecosystem health. Six reseeded communal enclosures using soil embankments as water-harvesting structures and strictly regulated access were selected, varying in age from 13 to 23 years. In six private enclosures, ranging from 3 to 17 years in age, individual farmers emulated the communal enclosure strategy and restored areas for their exclusive use. Significant decreases in bulk density, and increases in the soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and microbial biomass contents and stocks were found in the enclosures as compared with the degraded open rangeland. In the private enclosures, the impact of rehabilitation on the soil quality was variable, and soil quality was in general lower than that obtained under communal management. The significant increase of absolute stocks of carbon, nitrogen and microbial biomass compared to the degraded open rangeland indicates the potential for the restoration of soil quality through range rehabilitation. Over-sowing with indigenous legume fodder species could improve total nitrogen content in the soil and nutritional value of the pastures as well.     

Development of an in vitro oviduct epithelial explants model for studying sperm–oviduct binding in the buffalo

In this study, we developed an in vitro model for studying sperm–oviduct binding in the buffalo. Oviduct explants were prepared by overnight culture of epithelial cells in TCM‐199 medium under 5% CO₂ at 38.5 °C. Cryopreserved spermatozoa from buffalo bulls (n = 4) were incubated with the oviduct explants, and the sperm–oviduct explants complex was stained with JC‐1. The effect of sperm concentration (2, 3 and 4 million), size of the oviduct explants (<0.2, 0.2–0.3, 0.3–0.4 and >0.4 mm²) and time of incubation (1 hr and 4 hr) on binding index (BI—number of sperm bound to unit area of explants) was studied. No significant difference was observed in the BI among <0.2, 0.2–0.3 and 0.3–0.4 mm² size of explants; however, the BI decreased significantly (p < .05) when the size of explants exceeded 0.4 mm². The BI decreased significantly (p < .05) when the sperm concentration was increased to 4 million, while the duration of incubation did not have any significant effect on the BI. The interaction of bulls with explants size, sperm concentration and incubation time was not significant. The developed assay has the potential to be used as an in vitro model for studying sperm–oviduct binding in the buffalo.     

Relationship of temperament with oestrous behaviour,resumption of ovarian cyclicity and milk yield in post‐partum Murrah buffaloes

This study was designed to investigate the relationship of temperament with oestrus, resumption of ovarian cyclicity and milk yield in post‐partum buffaloes. For this study, 102 post‐partum Murrah buffaloes were observed for temperament in open paddock and during milking. Based on the temperament score (1–5 score), they were classified into docile, slightly restless, restless, aggressive and nervous. Oestrous behaviour was monitored twice daily in all the buffaloes along with milk yield (weekly), body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) at day 0, 30, 60 and 90 post‐partum. Based on the temperament score, the number of buffaloes classified as docile, slightly restless, restless and aggressive was 37 (36.27%), 28 (27.45%), 30 (29.41%) and 7 (6.86%), respectively, but none under nervous category. Number of buffaloes resuming cyclicity in various temperaments groups were as follows: docile (n = 35; 94.59%), slightly restless (n = 22; 78.57%), restless (n = 20; 66.67%) and aggressive (n = 7; 85.71%). Temperament was not correlated (p = .128; r=?.152) with oestrous behaviour. But, temperament was correlated (p < .0001; r = .384) with the resumption of cyclicity as docile and slightly restless buffaloes resumed cyclicity (p < .0016) earlier. Temperament of buffaloes was weakly correlated (p = .0017; r=?.306) with milk production with higher (p < .0358) total milk yield in docile (1022 ± 23.75 kg) and slightly restless buffaloes (948 ± 35.86 kg) as compared to other temperament groups. In summary, temperament of post‐partum buffaloes was related with resumption of ovarian cyclicity and milk yield, but not oestrous behaviour.