Tomatidine, a tomato sapogenol, ameliorates hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis in apoE-deficient mice by inhibiting acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyl-transferase (ACAT)

It was previously revealed that esculeoside A, a new glycoalkaloid, and esculeogenin A, a new aglycon of esculeoside A, contained in ripe tomato ameliorate atherosclerosis in apoE-deficent mice. This study examined whether tomatidine, the aglycone of tomatine, which is a major tomato glycoalkaloid, also shows similar inhibitory effects on cholesterol ester (CE) accumulation in human monocyte-derived macrophages (HMDM) and atherogenesis in apoE-deficient mice. Tomatidine significantly inhibited the CE accumulation induced by acetylated LDL in HMDM in a dose-dependent manner. Tomatidine also inhibited CE formation in Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyl-transferase (ACAT)-1 or ACAT-2, suggesting that tomatidine suppresses both ACAT-1 and ACAT-2 activities. Furthermore, the oral administration of tomatidine to apoE-deficient mice significantly reduced levels of serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and areas of atherosclerotic lesions. The study provides the first evidence that tomatidine significantly suppresses the activity of ACAT and leads to reduction of atherogenesis.     

Generation of rats from vitrified oocytes with surrounding cumulus cells via in vitro fertilization with cryopreserved sperm

The objective of this study was to evaluate fertility and full‐term development of rat vitrified oocytes after in vitro fertilization (IVF) with cryopreserved sperm. Oocytes with or without surrounding cumulus cells were vitrified with 30% ethylene glycol + 0.5 mol/L sucrose + 20% fetal calf serum by using the Cryotop method. The warmed oocytes were co‐cultured with sperm. Although the denuded/vitrified oocytes were not fertilized, some of the oocytes vitrified with cumulus cells were fertilized (32.7%) after IVF with fresh sperm. When IVF was performed with cryopreserved sperm, vitrified or fresh oocytes with cumulus cells were fertilized (62.9% or 41.1%, respectively). In addition, to confirm the full‐term development of the vitrified oocytes with surrounding cumulus cells after IVF with cryopreserved sperm, 108 vitrified oocytes with two pronuclei (2PN) were transferred into eight pseudopregnant females, and eight pups were obtained from three recipients. The present work demonstrates that vitrified rat oocytes surrounded by cumulus cells can be fertilized in vitro with cryopreserved sperm, and that 2PN embryos derived from cryopreserved gametes can develop to term. To our knowledge, this is the first report of successful generation of rat offspring derived from vitrified oocytes that were fertilized in vitro with cryopreserved sperm.     

Lesional expression of thymus and activation-regulated chemokine in canine atopic dermatitis

Glucocorticoids are reported to bias cytokines to a Th2 phenotype. However, this dogma has been advanced largely from studies utilizing potent glucocorticoid analogs. The current study was conducted to revisit the issue of glucocorticoid modulation of Th1/Th2 cytokine production and evaluate migration inhibitory factor (MIF) mRNA expression in cultured pig splenocytes treated with physiologically relevant concentrations of cortisol (CORT). Dexamethasone (DEX) was included for comparison. In Experiment 1, DEX, at 150 and 300 nM, suppressed concanavalin (ConA)-stimulated IFNgamma at both 12 and 24 h in culture, and IL-10 at 24h (P<0.05). Both 150 and 300 nM CORT suppressed IL-10 at 24 h (P<0.05), but neither concentration affected IFNgamma at 24 h. In Experiment 2, cells were cultured with a broader range of CORT for 48 h following ConA. Parallel cultures with identical treatments also were conducted in separate plates for evaluation of glucocorticoid regulation of MIF mRNA. IFNgamma was reduced by 300 nM DEX at 12, 24, and 48 h (P<0.05), whereas 150 and 300 nM CORT blunted IFNgamma at 24 h (P<0.05), but not 48 h. ConA increased IL-2 (P<0.01), but none of the steroid treatments affected IL-2. At both 12 and 24 h, IL-10 was reduced by 300 nM DEX and by 150 and 300 nM CORT (P<0.05). ConA increased relative abundance of MIF mRNA (P<0.001), but no steroid treatment affected MIF mRNA. In Experiment 3, steroid additions were delayed by 24 h after ConA, and cytokine concentrations evaluated 48 h later. Again, separate cultures were used for determination of effect of treatments on MIF mRNA. None of the steroid treatments affected IFNgamma, but 300 nM DEX reduced IL-10 (P<0.05). All of the CORT treatments (75-300 nM) reduced MIF mRNA (P<0.05), whereas DEX did not affect MIF mRNA in this experiment. The current experiments suggest that both DEX and high physiological concentrations of CORT can suppress both type 1 and type 2-like cytokines in cultured pig splenocytes. But, IL-10 was generally more sensitive to CORT suppression with increased time in culture than was IFNgamma. In addition, MIF mRNA could be suppressed by delayed addition of CORT to porcine splenocytes. Taken together, the data do not support the hypothesis that CORT directs the cytokine milieu toward a type 2 bias in cultured pig splenocytes.     

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGING OF THE EQUINE HEAD

The head from three horses euthanized due to diseases unrelated to the head and neck was imaged using computed tomography (CT). Gross cross-sectional slices of equine head #1 and skeleton of equine head #2 were compared with the CT images of the three equine heads to identify normal structures of the cranium, brain, paranasal sinuses, nasal cavity, and teeth. Labeled transverse CT images of the equine head are presented sequentially as a reference for normal anatomy.     

Estrus Synchronization in Sheep and Goats Using Combinations of GnRH,Progestagen and Prostaglandin F2α

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of GnRH, progestagen and prostaglandin F_2α on estrus synchronization in sheep and goats. Sixty Awassi ewes and 53 Damascus does were used in the study. The experiment started at the beginning of the breeding season (June/July). The same treatments were applied to sheep and goats as follows: no treatment (CON), 14‐day progestagen sponges and 600 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (S), gonadotropin releasing hormone followed 5 days later by prostaglandin F_2α (GP) and gonadotropin releasing hormone, progestagen sponges for 5 days and prostaglandin F_2α on the day of sponge removal (GSP). None of the ewes in the S group lambed from mating during the induced cycle. A greater lambing rate (p < 0.05) was observed in the GSP group compared with the CON and S groups while the GP group was intermediate. The number of lambs born per lambed ewe was similar among the CON, GP and GSP groups. However, the number of lambs per exposed ewe was greater (p < 0.05) in the GSP than the remaining groups. The induced cycle kidding rate was 77% for all treatments combined. Similar kidding rate were observed among treatments. The numbers of kids born per kidded and exposed doe from mating during the induced estrus were also similar among treatments. Greater numbers of multiple births were observed in the GP and GSP than in the S group. In conclusion, a combination of GnRH, progestagen sponges and PGF_2α can be effective in synchronizing estrus and improving fecundity in sheep and goats. Although the use of GnRH–PGF_2α was effective, the addition of progestagen sponges at the time of GnRH administration appeared to improve reproductive parameters.     

The structure of the upper atmosphere of mars: In situ accelerometer measurements from mars global surveyor

The Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) z-axis accelerometer has obtained over 200 vertical structures of thermospheric density, temperature, and pressure, ranging from 110 to 170 kilometers, compared to only three previous such vertical structures. In November 1997, a regional dust storm in the Southern Hemisphere triggered an unexpectedly large thermospheric response at mid-northern latitudes, increasing the altitude of thermospheric pressure surfaces there by as much as 8 kilometers and indicating a strong global thermospheric response to a regional dust storm. Throughout the MGS mission, thermospheric density bulges have been detected on opposite sides of the planet near 90 degreesE and 90 degreesW, in the vicinity of maximum terrain heights. This wave 2 pattern may be caused by topographically-forced planetary waves propagating up from the lower atmosphere.