Comparative Aspects of the Endotoxin- and Cytokine-Induced Endocrine Cascade Influencing Neuroendocrine Control of Growth and Reproduction in Farm Animals

Disease in animals is a well-known inhibitor of growth and reproduction. Earlier studies were initiated to determine the effects of endotoxin on pituitary hormone secretion. These studies found that in sheep, growth hormone (GH) concentration was elevated, whereas insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) was inhibited, as was luteinizing hormone (LH). Examination of the site of action of endotoxin in sheep determined that somatotropes expressed the endotoxin receptor (CD14) and that both endotoxin and interleukin-Iβ activated GH secretion directly from the pituitary. In the face of elevated GH, there is a reduction of IGF-I in all species examined. As GH cannot activate IGF-I release during disease, there appears to be a downregulation of GH signalling at the liver, perhaps related to altered nitration of Janus kinase (JAK). In contrast to GH downregulation, LH release is inhibited at the level of the hypothalamus. New insights have been gained in determining the mechanisms by which disease perturbs growth and reproduction, particularly with regard to nitration of critical control pathways, with this perhaps serving as a novel mechanism central to lipopolysaccharide suppression of all signalling pathways. This pathway-based analysis is critical to the developing novel strategies to reverse the detrimental effect of disease on animal production.     

Serial Transrectal Ultrasonography for Monitoring the Reproductive Activity of the Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus ussuricus)

This study evaluated the structural changes in the reproductive tract of Asiatic black bears using serial transrectal ultrasonography. In addition, the ultrasonographic observations were compared with the results of vaginal cytology and hormonal analyses. The collection of blood for hormonal analysis, vaginal cytology and transrectal ultrasonography was performed in two bears (Bears 1 and 2) from June 2011 to August 2013 without mating and in a third bear (Bear 3) from April to December 2012, allowing natural mating. Serial ultrasonographic observations showed cyclic changes in ovarian structures (e.g. emergence of small follicles, growth and ovulation of dominant follicles and corpus luteum (CL) formation) during the reproductive cycles of the three bears. The diameter of the uterine horns remained similar throughout the reproductive cycle in Bears 1 and 2, and it remained similar from April until October, but an enlargement containing foetuses was observed in Bear 3 in December. The ultrasonographic observations were consistent with the data obtained through vaginal cytology and progesterone analysis during the reproductive cycle. An average of 4.0 (±0.4) dominant follicles was observed during the oestrous stage (May‐August), during which the superficial cells accounted for >90% of the total vaginal cells. In addition, the detection of an average of 2.6 (±0.2) CL was associated with increased plasma progesterone concentrations (3.0 ± 0.4 ng/ml) between June and December (near hibernation). In conclusion, serial transrectal ultrasonography demonstrated yearly oestrous (ovulation) cycles via follicular dynamics and CL formation on ovaries, accordingly with vaginal cytology and hormonal level in the Asiatic black bear.     

Targeted transcript analysis revealed association of suboptimal expression of certain endometrial immunity-related genes with disparate uterine diseases in zebu cows

The onset of uterine infection during postpartum period compromises uterine health, fertility, and productivity of dairy cattle. Endometrial innate immunity plays a key role in eliminating uterine infection and keeping the uterus healthy. Hence, the present study has been designed with the hypothesis that altered endometrial immune response around calving may compromise uterine health during postpartum period. Expression of interleukins (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α), prostaglandin synthase (PGFS, PGES), and antimicrobial peptides (beta-defensins (BDEF-4, BDEF-5), lingual antimicrobial peptide (LAP), and calcium-binding proteins (S100A8, S100A9, and S100A12) in endometrial tissues on the day of calving was studied using qRT-PCR, and circulating concentrations of prostaglandin E and F metabolites (PGEM and PGFM) during peripartum period (on days ??7, ??4, ??1 (before calving), 0 (on the day of calving), +?1, +?4, and +?7 (post calving)) of normal (healthy) cows (n?=?11) that did not develop postpartum uterine infection and cows that developed puerperal metritis (n?=?7) and clinical endometritis (n?=?6) were studied. Endometrial expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, BDEF-4, BDEF-5, S100A8, S100A12, and PGFS was higher (P?<?0.05), and expression of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and PGES was lower (P?<?0.05) in normal (healthy) cows than puerperal metritic and clinical endometritic cows. The PGFM concentration in serum was high (P?<?0.05) on days 0, +?1, and +?4 of calving in puerperal metritic cows followed by normal and clinical endometritic cows. However, PGEM concentration in serum was high (P?<?0.05) during peripartum period in uterine-infected (puerperal metritic and clinical endometritic) cows compared with normal cows. From the above findings, it is concluded that higher constitutive expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, PGFS, BDEF-4, BDEF-5, S100A8, and S100A12 genes in the endometrium and lower concentration of PGEM during the period immediate to calving might be beneficial for uterine health of cows.

     

Different indices to characterize water use pattern of micro-sprinkler irrigated onion (Allium cepa L.)

The amount of water used by any crop largely depends on the extent to which the soil water depletion from the root zone is being recharged by appropriate depth of irrigation. To test this hypothesis a field study was carried out in November–March of 2002–2003 and 2003–2004 on a sandy loam (Aeric haplaquept) to quantify the effect of depth of irrigation applied through micro-sprinklers on onion (Allium cepa L.) bulb yield (BY) and water use patterns. Seven irrigation treatments consisted of six amounts of sprinkler applied water relative to compensate crop (K_c) and pan (K_p) coefficient-based predicted evapotranspiration loss from crop field (ET_p) (i) 160% of ET_p (1.6ET_p); (ii) 1.4ET_p; (iii) 1.2ET_p; (iv) 1.0ET_p; (v) 0.8ET_p; (vi) 0.6ET_p; (vii) 40 mm of surface applied water whenever cumulative pan evaporation equals to 33 mm. Water use efficiency (WUE), net evapotranspiration efficiency (WUE_ET) and irrigation water use efficiency (WUE_I) were computed. Marginal water use efficiency (MWUE) and elasticity of water productivity (EWP) of onion were calculated using the relationship between BY and measured actual evapotranspiration (ET_c). Yield increased with increasing sprinkler-applied water from 0.6 to 1.4ET_p. Relative to the yield obtained at 0.6ET_p, yield at 1.0ET_p increased by 23–25% while at 1.4ET_p it was only 3–9% greater than that at 1.0ET_p. In contrast, yield at 1.6ET_p was 9–12% less than that at 1.4ET_p. Maximum WUE (7.21 kg m⁻³) and WUE_ET (13.87 kg m⁻³) were obtained under 1.0ET_p. However, the highest WUE_I (3.83 kg m⁻³) was obtained with 1.2ET_p. The ET_c associated with the highest WUE was 20% less than that required to obtain the highest yields. This study confirmed that critical levels of ET_c needed to obtain maximum BYs, or WUE, could be obtained more precisely from the knowledge of MWUE and EWP.     

Molecular characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum militinae</Emphasis> derived introgression lines carrying leaf rust resistance

Triticum militinae Zhuk. et Migusch. belongs to timopheevii [Triticum timopheevii (Zhuk.) Zhuk.] group of wheats with 2n = 4x = 28 chromosomes and genome formula A^tA^tGG. Triticum militinae Zhuk. et Migusch. is known to carry resistance to fungal diseases including rusts and powdery mildew. Genes from timopheevii wheat can be incorporated into cultivated wheat by either direct hybridization or through development of amphiploids. Three T. militinae derived introgression lines (ILs) Triticum Militinae Derivative (TMD) 6-4, TMD7-5 and TMD11-5 were selected for the current study based on cytological stability. All three ILs showed resistance against wide spectrum of Indian pathotypes of leaf rust. More than 1200 SSR markers were used for genotyping of ILs and parental lines. The ILs showed variable and multiple introgressions in different chromosomes of A, B and D genome of wheat. The introgression points were distributed mostly in the distal regions though significant introgressions were also observed in proximal regions of some chromosomes. The extent of introgression in ILs TMD6-4, TMD7-5 and TMD11-5 was 2.8, 8.3 and 8.6% respectively. The set of ‘informative markers’ in the Molecularly Tagged Chromosome Regions (MTCR) of T. militinae origin can also be used in future for tagging of genes associated with traits of economic importance apart from leaf rust resistance. The transferability of Triticum aestivum L. SSR markers to T. militinae was 96.4% for A genome, 95.8% for B genome and 84.3% for D genome. Transferability of wheat SSR markers to T. militinae can be used in preparing genetic maps in timopheevii group of wheats.