Improving our understanding of the mechanisms controlling the corpus luteum (CL) and its role in regulating the reproductive cycle should lead to improvements in the sustainability of today's global animal industry. The corpus luteum (CL) is a transient endocrine organ composed of a heterogeneous mixture steroidogenic, endothelial and immune cells, and it is becoming clear that immune mechanisms play a key role in CL regulation especially in luteolysis. Toll‐like receptors (TLR) mediate innate immune mechanisms via the production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, especially within various tissues, although the role of TLR within CL remains unknown. Thus, the objectives of this study were to characterize TLR mRNA expression in the CL during the oestrous cycle and in pregnancy (day 30–50), and to examine the role of TLR signalling in luteal cells. Corpora lutea were collected at various stages of the cycle and pregnancy and analysed for TLR and cytokine mRNA expression. In addition, luteal cells were cultured with the TLR4 ligand (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) for 24 h to evaluate the role of TLR4 in regulating luteal function. Toll‐like receptors 1, 2, 4, 6, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF), interferon gamma (IFN‐G), and interleukin (IL)‐12, mRNA expressions were greatest in regressing CL compared with earlier stages (p < .05), whereas no change was observed for IL‐6 mRNA expression. Cytokine mRNA expression in cultured luteal cells was not altered by LPS. Based on these data, one or more of the TLRs found within the CL may play a role in luteolysis, perhaps via pro‐inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression. 相似文献
Perinatal mortality and stillbirths were investigated in an extensively managed herd of Friesian cows and heifers calving over a 2‐year period: 504 cows were calved and 215 heifers. Cows were bred to Friesian and Jersey bulls using natural service. The perinatal fetal mortality rate was 7.5% for cows and 30% for heifers. An experienced stockman managed these calvings and veterinary assistance was required only on nine occasions. All stillborn fetuses were examined post‐mortem by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Carmarthen and no infectious agent was identified on any occasion. Thyroid hyperplasia was found in two fetuses. In blood samples taken from 10 late pregnant heifers, mean glutathione peroxidase values were 7.9 ± 1.7 IU/ml Packed Cell Volume (PCV). Tissues from eight fetuses were submitted to the University of Liverpool for histopathological examination; all presented lesions consistent with myocardial degeneration and necrosis of the left ventricle. Following treatment of 205 late pregnant heifers with sodium selenite and vitamin E, the overall perinatal mortality rate in these cattle fell to below 11%. 相似文献
CASE HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: A dairy cow, from a herd in the Waikato region of New Zealand, was reported with regenerative anaemia on 12 September 2014. Testing of blood from the animal using PCR assays for Theileria orientalis produced a negative result for both Chitose and Ikeda types.
LABORATORY FINDINGS: Using PCR and DNA sequencing, blood from the cow was positive for Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos. Further testing of another 12 animals from the case herd, 27 days after the affected cow was first reported, showed 11 animals were positive for Candidatus M. haemobos or Mycoplasma wenyonii in the PCR. None of these cattle were clinically anaemic or positive for T. orientalis Ikeda type using PCR.
A convenience sample of 47 blood samples from cattle throughout New Zealand, submitted to the Investigation and Diagnostic Centre (Ministry for Primary Industries) for surveillance testing for T. orientalis Ikeda, was selected for further testing for bovine haemoplasmas. Of these samples, 6/47 (13%) and 13/47(28%) were positive for M. wenyonii and Candidatus M. haemobos, respectively. There was no difference in the proportion of samples positive for the bovine haemaplasmas between cattle with anaemia that were negative for T. orientalis (6/20, 33%), or without anaemia or T. orientalis (10/18, 56%), or from cattle herds experiencing anaemia and infection with T. orientalis Ikeda type (3/9, 33%).
DIAGNOSIS: Bovine haemoplasmosis.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The presence of bovine haemoplasmas in blood does not establish causality for anaemia in cattle. Diagnosis of anaemia associated with haemoplasmosis would require exclusion of other causes of regenerative anaemia and an association of the agent with anaemia in affected cattle herds. The data collected in this study did not provide evidence that bovine haemoplasmas were associated with a large number of outbreaks of anaemia in cattle in New Zealand. 相似文献
CASE HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: On 9 January 2014 (Day 0) a mare from a stud farm in the Waikato region presented with urinary incontinence without pyrexia. Over the following 33 days 15 mares were clinically affected with neurological signs. All but one mare had a foal at foot. The most commonly observed clinical signs were hind limb paresis and ataxia. In some cases recumbency occurred very early in the course of disease and seven mares were subject to euthanasia for humane reasons.
LABORATORY FINDINGS: Equid herpesvirus (EHV) type 1 was detected using PCR in various tissues collected post mortem from two mares with neurological signs. DNA sequencing data from the DNA polymerase gene of the virus showed a nucleotide transition at position 2254, a mutation encoding amino acid D752 that is highly associated with the neuropathogenic genotype of EHV-1. In total 12/15 mares were confirmed positive for EHV-1 on PCR. Results from a virus neutralisation test and ELISA on paired serum samples, and PCR on whole blood and nasal swabs, indicated that of four paddocks in a high-risk area where a cluster of cases had occurred, 20/21 (95%) horses were likely to have been exposed or were confirmed infected with EHV-1. Subsequent to the outbreak two mares aborted, one at 9 months and one at 10 months of gestation. The cause of abortion was confirmed as EHV-1 with the same genotype as that involved in the outbreak.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The outbreak described shows the considerable impact that can occur in outbreaks of equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy in New Zealand. Early biosecurity controls not only reduced the effect on the farm but mitigated the potential for the virus to spread to other horse enterprises. 相似文献
This work focused on the effect of maca on lipid, anti-oxidative, and glucose parameters in hereditary hypertriglyceridemic
(HHTg) rat. Maca (1%) was administred to rats as a part of a high-sucrose diet (HSD) for 2 weeks. Rosiglitazone (0.02%) was
used as a positive control. Maca significantly decreased the levels of VLDL (very low density lipoproteins), LDL (low density
lipoproteins), and total cholesterol, and also the level of TAG (triacylglycerols) in the plasma, VLDL, and liver. Maca, as
well as rosiglitazone, significantly improved glucose tolerance, as the decrease of AUC (area under the curve) of glucose
showed, and lowered levels of glucose in blood. The activity of SOD (superoxide dismutase) in the liver, the GPX (glutathione
peroxidase) in the blood, and the level of GSH (glutathione) in liver increased in all cases significantly. Results demonstrate
that maca seems to be promising for a positive influence on chronic human diseases (characterized by atherogenous lipoprotein
profile, aggravated antioxidative status, and impaired glucose tolerance), and their prevention. 相似文献
Some effects of dietary medicinal herbs mixture (HM), Massa medicata fermentata, Crataegi fructus, Artemisia capillaries, and Cnidium officinale, in the proportions 2∶2∶1∶1 were identified in juvenile Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. In an 8-week feeding trial, fish were fed with 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0% HM in a moist diet composed of horse mackerel and
an artificial diet in equal parts. Fish fed the diets with 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0% HM showed higher weight gain and feed efficiency
than fish in 0.1 and 0% HM feed groups. No significant differences were found in survival, feed intake, final carcass proximate
composition, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, plasma total cholesterol level, and alanine aminotransferase activity among
the dietary treatments. Fish fed with 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0% HM showed higher total carcass unsaturated fatty acid content and
docosahexaenoic acid (22∶6n−3) level, and plasma high density lipoprotein-cholesterol level, but lower carcass saturated fatty
acid content and plasma aspartate aminotrasferase activities than the control group. Moreover, a 10-min air exposure test
with five times repeat, and an anesthesia test for 2 min with 200 p.p.m. 2-phenoxyethanol, also revealed lower mortality and
lower recovery time in 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0% HM groups than the control group at the end of the trial. These results indicate
that the medicinal herb mixture is useful to improve growth, fatty acid utilization, and stress recovery in the Japanese flounder. 相似文献
AIM: To determine the effect of grazing pasture that had a low selenium (Se) concentration on serum concentrations of tri iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in dairy cows. METHODS: Forty pregnant Friesian cows were grazed on pasture that contained 0.03–0.04 ppm Se on a dry matter (DM) basis. Two months before parturition, 20 cows were randomly selected and treated with 1 mg Se/kg bodyweight subcutaneously, as barium selenate (Group Se-S). The other group (Se-D) was not supplemented. Blood samples were taken before supplementation (-60 days) and 30, 60, 90, 180 and 270 days after parturition, for determination of concentrations of T3 and T4 in serum, and GSH-Px activity in erythrocytes. RESULTS: Erythrocyte GSH-Px activity in the Se-D group was >60 U/g haemoglobin (Hb) throughout the experiment. Supplementation increased (p>0.05) activities to >130 U/g Hb throughout lactation. Mean serum concentrations of T4 in Se-D and Se-S cows increased from 23.7 (SEM 0.7) and 23.4 (SEM 0.8) nmol/L, respectively, in the prepartum period to 69.6 (SEM 0.1) and 67.6 (SEM 0.2) nmol/L, respectively, at 180 days of lactation (p>0.01), and no effect of Se supplementation was evident. Serum concentrations of T3 in Se-D cows decreased (p>0.05) from 1.6 (SEM 0.1) nmol/L prepartum to 1.0 (SEM 0.2) nmol/L at the beginning of lactation, and remained lower (p>0.05) than those in the Se-S cows which did not decrease after calving and ranged from 1.9 (SEM 0.1) to 2.4 (SEM 0.2) nmol/L throughout lactation. CONCLUSIONS: Serum T3 concentrations decreased during early lactation in unsupplemented cows grazing pastures low in Se (0.03–0.04 ppm) and both serum T3 and erythrocyte GSH-Px activities were consistently lower throughout lactation compared with Se-supplemented cows. Se supplementation had no effect on serum T4 concentrations. 相似文献
In cats, accuracy of parturition day prediction by ultrasonographic measurement of foetal structures is decreasing towards the end of gestation. Foetal measurements during the last days of pregnancy are scarce. We determined foetal biparietal, abdominal and eye diameter (BPD, AD and ED, respectively) by ultrasonography as well as maternal blood progesterone (P4) within five days of delivery to predict parturition date and calculate accuracy of prediction. Foetal BPD at birth was compared with newborn kitten head diameter (HD). Kitten HD, crown‐rump length (CRL) and body weight were compared by breed and gender. Ultrasonography measurements were carried out on the day of parturition in 14 queens, and on days 62–63 after the first mating and repeated 24–72 hr later in ten other cats. Accuracy of parturition day prediction using BPD and AD was determined based on the equations of Beccaglia et al. (2008) Veterinary Research Communications, 32(Suppl 1), S99 and Garcia Mitacek et al. (2015) Theriogenology, 84, 1131. Progesterone was measured at the time of presentation and repeated 24–72 hr later if parturition did not occur. Data were analysed with linear regression, t test, Mann–Whitney U test, one‐way anova and Kruskal–Wallis test. There was a moderate relationship between BPD, days before birth (DBB) and litter size. AD and DBB had a low agreement, and ED was not associated with DBB. BPD at birth was significantly related to HD. The accuracy of parturition day prediction using BPD and AD was 27–53% and 17–35%, respectively. Kitten HD was associated with body weight, and both were inversely related to litter size. Newborn biometric measurements differed by breed but not by gender. Progesterone decreased towards parturition and reached 3.18 ± 1.68 ng/ml on the day of delivery. In conclusion, close to birth, the combination of foetal ultrasonography and maternal blood P4 rather than each as a sole predictor of parturition is recommended. 相似文献