Alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein is contained in bovine neutrophil granules and released after activation

The present study was designed to investigate the capability of bovine neutrophil granulocytes to produce the minor acute phase protein alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP, Orososmucoid). Bovine neutrophils contain a high MW (50-60kDa) AGP isoform (PMN-AGP), as determined by Western blotting and confirmed by fluorescence microscopy. The presence of AGP in bovine neutrophils has been confirmed by fluorescence immunocytometry. In addition, bovine neutrophils contain also a 42-45kDa isoform, which has the same MW as plasma-, liver-delivered, AGP. cDNA sequence of plasma- and PMN-AGP revealed that (i) the two proteins are products of the same gene; (ii) the differences in molecular weight are due do different post-translational modifications. This result was confirmed by deglycosylation of the two glycoforms. Exocytosis studies showed that isolated neutrophils exposed to several challengers, including Zymosan activated serum (ZAS) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), which mimic the inflammatory activation, released PMN-AGP as early as 15min. AGP's mRNA is physiologically expressed by mature resting neutrophils. Real-time PCR on LPS, ZAS and PMA challenged cells revealed that the level of expression apparently does not increase after inflammatory activation. Collectively, the findings reported in this paper proved that PMN-AGP: (i) is a hyperglycosylated glycoform of plasma AGP, (ii) is stored in granules, and (iii) is released by neutrophils in response to activation. Due to its anti-inflammatory activity, PMN-AGP may work as a fine tuning of the neutrophils functions in the inflammatory focus, i.e. it can reduce the damages caused by an excess of inflammatory response.     

Bovine alpha-1 acid glycoprotein can reduce the chemotaxis of bovine monocytes and modulate CD18 expression

The acute phase protein alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP--Orosomucoid) is a lipocalin with immunomodulatory functions. The present study provides evidence that the plasma glycoforms of AGP inhibit the migration of bovine monocytes in response to classical chemoattractants. The inhibition is specific, since neutrophils are apparently not affected. To investigate the molecular basis of this finding, the expression of the molecules mostly involved in chemotaxis, including CD18, CD11b and CD47 was studied. It was found that the incubation of activated monocytes with acute phase concentration of AGP (0.9 mg/mL) induces a down-regulation of CD18, and has no apparent influence on CD11b and CD47. RT-PCR expression studies on CD18, CD11b and CD47 mRNA revealed that AGP treatment does not modify the expression rate of these genes. Since AGP treatment is related to a down-regulation of CD18 on the surface of the monocytes, the authors suggest that one of its possible functions consists in specifically reducing the firm adhesion phase of bovine monocytes to the endothelium.     

Performance and intestinal microbiota of chickens receiving probiotic in the feed and submitted to antibiotic therapy

The purpose of this study was to verify the ability of a probiotic in the feed to maintain the stability of the gut microbiota in chickens after antibiotic therapy and its association with growth performance. One thousand six hundred twenty 1‐day‐old Cobb male were housed in floor pens (36 pens, 45 birds/pen) and were fed corn‐/soya bean meal‐based diets supplemented with or without probiotic (Bacillus subtilis) during the entire rearing phase. From 21 to 24 days of age (three consecutive days), the chickens were submitted to antibiotic therapy via drinking water (bacitracin and neomycin) in order to mimic a field treatment and induce dysbiosis. Growth performance was monitored until 42 days of age. At 2, 4 and 6 days after antibiotic therapy, three chickens from each pen were euthanized and the contents of the small intestine and caeca were collected and pooled. The trial was conducted with four treatments and nine replicates in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement for performance characteristics (with and without probiotic × with and without antibiotic therapy); for the intestinal microbiota, it was in a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial arrangement (with and without probiotic × with and without antibiotic therapy × 2, 4 and 6 days after the antibiotic therapy) with three replicates per treatment. Terminal restriction length polymorphism (T‐RFLP) analysis showed that the structure of gut bacterial community was shaped by the intestinal segment and by the time after the antibiotic therapy. The number of 16S rDNAs copies in caecum contents decreased with time after the therapeutic treatment. The antibiotic therapy and dietary probiotic supplementation decreased richness and diversity indexes in the caecal contents. The improved performance observed in birds supplemented with probiotic may be related to changes promoted by the feed additive in the structure of the intestinal bacterial communities and phylogenetic groups. Antibiotic therapy modified the bacterial structure, but did not cause loss of broiler performance.     

Leaf gas exchange, chloroplastic pigments and dry matter accumulation in castor bean (Ricinus communis L) seedlings subjected to salt stress conditions

Brazilian castor bean (Ricinus communis L) crops have expanded towards semiarid lands, in which soil salinity is an important factor limiting plant development. In order to evaluate the effects of salt stress on leaf gas exchange, pigments, and dry matter accumulation of seedlings, seeds of castor bean var. BRS Nordestina were planted in 15-L pots filled with 13 kg of soil (control) or with soil plus 2 g NaCl kg⁻¹ soil corresponding to 30 mM NaCl (salt treatment). Seedlings were grown under greenhouse conditions and the effects of salinity were assessed by measuring physiological parameters at 38 and 59 days after germination. Salt treatment induced decreases in leaf water potential at pre-dawn (ψ_pd, 42%), stomatal conductance to water vapor (g_s, 36%), and net carbon assimilation rate (A, 24%) only at 38 days after germination. At the same time, the values for transpiration rate were unchanged and the hydraulic conductance was increased (34%). After 59 days under hypersalinity, leaf ψ_pd increased to −0.44 MPa, although g_s, A, transpiration rate, and hydraulic conductance were not different between treatments. Salt stress effects on chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and chlorophyll a + b contents were evident only on experimental day 59. The dry matter accumulation of leaves, roots and stems, as well as the total dry matter, and the root to above ground ratio increased with plant growth in both treatments, however, these parameters were lowered in salt-stressed seedlings. In short, all physiological variables were more drastically affected after 38 days under high salinity, and despite acclimatization of A after 59 days exposure to salt, no recovery of the dry matter accumulation was observed in the seedlings, suggesting that this species does not tolerate salt stress at its initial growth stages.     

Champagne experiences various rhythmical bubbling regimes in a flute

Bubble trains are seen rising gracefully from a few points on the glass wall (called nucleation sites) whenever champagne is poured into a glass. As time passes during the gas-discharging process, the careful observation of some given bubble columns reveals that the interbubble distance may change suddenly, thus revealing different rhythmical bubbling regimes. Here, it is reported that the transitions between the different bubbling regimes of some nucleation sites during gas discharging is a process which may be ruled by a strong interaction between tiny gas pockets trapped inside the nucleation site and/or also by an interaction between the tiny bubbles just blown from the nucleation site.     

Computed tomography and cross-sectional anatomy of the head in the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)

The aim of this study was to identify the anatomical structures in the head region of the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) using computed tomography. For this, three giant anteater corpses, adult and female, were used. The tomographic analysis was performed in sequential order in rostrocaudal direction. Subsequently, the heads of these animals were sectioned in cross sections of approximately 1.5 cm each. Tomographic images were compared with anatomical sections. The association between computed tomography and anatomical sections allowed the visualization of anatomical structures found in the nasal, oral, cranial, pharyngeal and ear cavities. An elongated oral cavity delimited by the elongated mandible was observed. The oral cavity was mainly occupied by a thin and elongated tongue formed mainly by the union of the sternoglossal muscles. The nasopharynx and oropharynx extended up to the neck at the level of the fifth cervical vertebra. The findings of this study suggest that the giant anteater has a head with structures morphologically adapted to its feeding habits, such as an elongated skull, tongue, styloid bones and mandible. In addition, based on the results of this study, it is possible to suggest that computed tomography is a pivotal tool for the veterinary routine of wild animals, since it allowed the identification of anatomical structures found in the head of the giant anteater.     

Elephant grass, sugarcane, and rice bran in diets for confined sheep

We aimed to evaluate the effects of diets, based on elephant grass or sugarcane as roughage and corn meal or rice bran as energy concentrate, on performance and body composition in terms of diet intake and digestibility. A total of 30 Santa Ines crossbreds (SIC), castrated male sheep with 19.8?±?2.0?kg initial body weight (BW) were used. Six animals were slaughtered at the onset of the experiment to estimate the initial body composition for the other animals. The remaining 24 animals were distributed in a completely randomized 2?×?2 factorial design, with four treatments (two roughages and two concentrates) and six replicates. The sheep were slaughtered when they reached 30.0?kg BW. Elephant grass diets provided higher intake and digestibility than sugarcane diets for the following contents: dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre, minerals, total carbohydrates (TC), and total digestible nutrients (TDN). Among the concentrates, corn meal diets were associated with higher intakes than rice bran diets for the following contents: DM, OM, CP, TC, and TDN. Animals from all of the treatments exhibited low average daily weight gain and low protein and high fat and energy body levels. Sugarcane and rice bran can be used as ingredients in diets for sheep with low weight gain potential. Regardless of roughage or concentrate types used in diets for confined SIC sheep, performance and body composition remained unaltered.     

Effect of Calea serrata Less. n-hexane extract on acetylcholinesterase of larvae ticks and brain Wistar rats

The stem bark of Acacia oxyphylla Graham ex Bentham is used as an anthelmintic by the natives of Mizoram (North-East India). Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the effect of the active compound isolated from A. oxyphylla on the tegument of adult Raillietina echinobothrida and Ascaridia galli. The test parasites R. echinobothrida and A. galli were incubated in physiological buffered saline containing 0.0005, 0.001, 0.05, 0.1 and 1mg/ml of the isolated compound. The alterations in the tegument of the parasites post paralysis were examined using electron microscopes. The compound reduced the cestode's motility soon after incubation, but did not induce paralysis in the nematodes till about 11-14 h at highest concentration. The compound caused extensive digestion of cestode tegument as evident by electron microscopy. Disorganization of muscle bundles, loss of cell-cell contact, extreme vacuolization and oedema were some of the changes observed. Loss of cellular organelles combined with distortion of those present was markedly noted throughout the parasite tissue. Deformation and disorganization of epicuticle, disruption of mitochondrial and nuclear membrane were also observed in nematode exposed to the active compound of the plant. Substantial structural deformities in the treated parasites are indicative of an efficient vermicidal activity of the isolated compound against cestodes and nematodes.