The preliminary studies on protein profile in retained and not retained foetal membranes in heavy draft mares

Protein profile of the placenta expresses its function and maintenance. Any alterations can be reflected in qualitative and quantitative changes in this profile. The aim of the present study was the evaluation of protein profile in the placenta of mares suffering from the retention of foetal membranes (FMR) by two separation methods and the comparison with physiologically released tissues. Placentas from 14 healthy, heavy draft mares were collected immediately after the expulsion of newborn. Tissues after homogenization and staining with fluorescent dyes were subjected to electrophoretic as well as chromatographic separation. Electrophoretic gels were statistically analysed for the presence and abundance of examined proteins, while some proteins were identified in chromatographic fractions. Out of 248 spots detected in endometrium, 38 differed significantly between FMR and control animals, while in allantochorion, respective values reached 241 and 27 spots (p < .05). Among identified proteins that expressed higher abundance in endometrium of FMR mares than control animals were prostaglandin reductase, dehydrogenase/reductase SDR family, and placental growth factor. These proteins are involved in regulation of parturition. Additionally, the following proteins responsible for physiological activity of a cell—guanine methyl transferase, aspartyl/asparaginyl beta‐hydroxylase and GTP‐binding protein, were identified. These proteins expressed higher abundance in allantochorion of FMR mares than in controls. This preliminary study confirmed the disturbances in protein pattern between foetal membranes in FMR and healthy mares. Further qualitative and quantitative experiments are necessary to deepen our knowledge on the mechanisms of the retention of foetal membranes in mares.     

Expression of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 in cattle placenta during early pregnancy

Interferon‐tau (IFNT), a type I interferon, is an antiluteolytic factor secreted by trophoderm during pregnancy. IFNT transmitted signals or stimulated the expression of some factors to build maternal recognition and keep pregnancy by binding its receptors, IFNT receptor 1(IFNAR1) and IFNT receptor 2 (IFNAR2). Up to now, the expression model and roles of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 in placenta have not been investigated in cattle. In this study, the localization and expression of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 in the cattle placenta at days 18–50 of pregnancy were detected by histological examination, immunofluorescence staining and real‐time qPCR. The results showed that IFNAR1 mainly distributed in chorioallantoic membrane, endometrial epithelium, cotyledon and caruncle during the early pregnancy of cattle with change in time‐ and position‐dependent. IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 mRNA expression were mainly detected in chorioallantoic membrane and cotyledon, and markedly increased along with pregnancy process. Moreover, the mRNA expression level of IFNAR1 in chorioallantoic membrane and cotyledon was higher than that of IFNAR2. IFNAR mRNA was also expressed in caruncle tissues, which experienced a tendency of decrease from days 21 to 36, followed by increase after days 36. These results provide morphological basis and quantitative data for investigating the roles of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 on development of cattle placenta and pregnancy maintenance.     

胎盘滋养层细胞分离培养研究进展

胎盘屏障是营养物质、药物、病毒等从母体进入胎儿的必经之路,与反复自然流产等多种产科疾病有关。滋养层细胞是胎盘屏障的重要组成成分,而滋养层细胞具有内分泌的功能,其增殖、功能调节失常与多种妊娠相关疾病的发生发展有密切关系。为了揭示产科疾病发生、发展的机制,建立滋养层细胞体外培养的模型是必要的,论文就滋养层细胞分离及培养方法进行了综述。     

Mega allantoic vesicles of the equine placenta

An ultrasound examination of a pregnant 12‐year‐old Palomino mare's abdomen revealed multiple, variably sized, round, polypoid, cystic structures within the allantois. These cystic areas had clear hypoechoic centres and were surrounded by thin, irregular hyperechoic regions. The foaling was unremarkable. Grossly, the allantois was multifocally expanded by variably sized, 1–15 cm diameter, balloon‐like allantoic vesicles containing clear watery or gelatinous fluid. Histological examination demonstrated marked separation of the allantoic surface from the chorionic surface by oedema fluid or gelatinous stroma. No other lesions were observed in the placenta. Similar lesions were observed in 2 other mares. No clinical complications were observed with the foals, fillies and mares after parturition. This is the first report of such large allantoic vesicles in the equine placenta.     

奶牛胎盘还原性多肽不同蛋白酶酶解方法建立与优化

为高效制备奶牛胎盘还原性多肽,试验选择自然分娩脱落健康中国荷斯坦奶牛新鲜胎盘,冰浴条件下12000 r·min-1匀浆化,分别采用木瓜蛋白酶和胃蛋白酶酶解,以奶牛胎盘组织匀浆为底物,基于Box-Behenken中心响应法,在底物浓度10％、30％、50％,酶底比1％、3％、5％,酶解时间3、5、7 h条件下制备胎盘多肽...     

奶牛胎衣不下血清离子水平和机体抗氧化作用的研究

[目的]进一步探讨青海地区奶牛胎衣不下的发病原因。[方法]选择胎衣不下和胎衣正常排出的奶牛各15头分为两组。通过原子吸收光谱法测量两组奶牛分娩时和分娩后12h血清中8种金属元素K、Na、Ca、Mg、Cu、Fe、Zn和Mn的含量,同时用日产UV-1601双光束紫外可见分光光度计对两组奶牛分娩时血清中的抗氧化指标进行检测。[结果]与正常对照组比较,胎衣不下组血清中Mn、Zn、Cu、Ca和Mg含量显著降低（〈0.01）,Fe含量显著升高,K和Na含量没有明显变化;胎衣不下组奶牛血清中抗氧化酶总SOD和GSH-Px的活性明显降低（〈0.01）,而MDA含量显著提高（〈0.05）。[结论]奶牛的胎衣不下与其血清中金属离子水平和抗氧化指标间有一定的相关性。     

奶牛静脉血、胎盘组织、脐静脉血及犊牛静脉血脂联素与犊牛初生重相关性研究

为探究奶牛静脉血、胎盘组织、脐静脉血和犊牛静脉血中脂联素之间及与犊牛初生重的相关性,选取规模化养殖场正常分娩奶牛54头,按犊牛初生重将奶牛分为3组:A组,≤40kg,9头;B组,40~45kg,25头;C组,≥45kg,20头。分别采集分娩奶牛颈静脉血、胎盘组织、脐静脉血及犊牛颈静脉血,ELISA法检测血液及胎盘组织脂联素水平,相关分析法分析各样品之间及与犊牛初生重的相关性。奶牛静脉血脂联素水平((29.15±4.02)mg/L)高于脐静脉血((13.79±1.14)mg/L)与犊牛静脉血((13.46±0.94)mg/L)脂联素水平,差异极显著(P0.01),脐静脉血脂联素水平高于犊牛静脉血脂联素水平,但差异性不显著(P0.05);奶牛静脉血脂联素水平与胎盘组织、脐静脉血、犊牛静脉血脂联素水平以及胎盘组织脂联素水平与脐静脉血、犊牛静脉血脂联素水平相关性均不显著(P0.05),脐静脉血脂联素水平与犊牛静脉血脂联素水平极显著正相关(P0.01);犊牛初生重与奶牛静脉血脂联素水平无显著相关性(P0.05),与脐静脉血、胎盘组织脂联素水平极显著正相关(P0.01),与犊牛静脉血脂联素水平显著正相关(P0.05);奶牛静脉血、胎盘组织、脐静脉血脂联素水平及犊牛静脉血脂联素水平在公、母犊间差异均不显著(P0.05)。脐静脉血、胎盘组织脂联素水平对犊牛初生重有非常显著的影响,犊牛静脉血脂联素水平对犊牛初生重具有一定影响,而奶牛静脉血脂联素水平对犊牛初生重的影响不显著;奶牛静脉血、脐静脉血、胎盘组织及犊牛静脉血脂联素水平在公、母犊间差异均不显著。     

山羊妊娠早期胎儿胎盘血管形成及相关基因的表达

旨在探究大足黑山羊妊娠早期胎儿胎盘血管发育、分布和血管生成相关因子表达状况,并对血管生成相关因子表达之间和血管发育进行相关性分析。本研究随机选取15只8月龄、体格相近、身体健康的国家级畜禽遗传资源—大足黑山羊青年母羊,经同一种公羊自然交配后(以末次配种当天记为0 d),经剖腹产手术采集妊娠第20、25和30天的胎儿和胎儿胎盘以及经屠宰采集妊娠第45和60天的胎儿和胎儿胎盘作为研究对象,通过免疫组化法评估胎盘血管发育和分布情况,采用qRT-PCR技术检测主要血管生成相关基因的mRNA表达水平,分析血管生成相关基因之间以及与胎盘血管发育分布的相关性。结果显示,胎儿体重和体长随着妊娠的进行逐渐增加,且血管内皮细胞阳性率处于较高水平(>26%)。山羊胎儿胎盘毛细血管总面积/组织区域面积(CAD)逐渐升高;毛细血管总数/单位组织区域面积(CND)在妊娠25~30 d增加,30~60 d降低,毛细血管总面积/毛细血管根数(APC)呈相反趋势;毛细血管总周长/单位组织区域面积(CSD)无显著变化。妊娠早期胎儿胎盘VEGFA的表达量随着妊娠的进行逐渐升高,且与血管分布存在一定的相关性,其受体FLT1和KDR表达量呈先增高后降低的趋势,分别在30和45 d达到峰值。血管生成相关基因ANGPT1/2及其受体TEK和FGF2及其受体FGFR2的表达均在妊娠30 d时较高。综上表明,在妊娠30 d前,胎儿胎盘主要通过毛细血管形成分支促进血管面积的增加;而在30~60 d,主要通过单位血管的增粗促进血管面积的增加,并且血管生成相关基因的表达在妊娠30 d时较高,这可能和子叶开始形成有关。山羊妊娠早期胎儿胎盘中VEGFA可能通过其受体结合与其他血管生成因子共同作用调控胎儿胎盘血管形成。     

Effect of decorin and selected glycosylation inhibitors on the adhesion of caruncular epithelial cells of pregnant cows—part I

Adhesion process ensures the formation of the appropriate connection between mother and foetus during placentation and further placental development, which determines physiological pregnancy course. Extracellular matrix of foetal membranes are a rich source of biologically active proteins, the synthesis of which is regulated by hormones. Depending on the stage of pregnancy, the protein profile of the placenta changes, thanks to which its remodelling is possible. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of decorin, as well as selected glycosylation inhibitors on the adhesion of caruncular epithelial cells derived from cows during pregnancy. Placental cells were isolated from healthy, pregnant (2nd and 4th month) cows after slaughter, which allowed for the establishment of 4 primary cell cultures without visible cells of fibroblast morphology. The presence of decorin in cell monolayer and cell lysates was determined by the use of immunocytochemistry and Western blotting, respectively. The viability of cells was evaluated by MTT assay. The adhesion of cells to fibronectin was measured spectrophotometrically. Protein N-glycosylation and O-glycosylation have a modulating effect on the adhesion and viability of placental cells during early–mid pregnancy. Decorin and tunicamycin were shown to have anti-adhesive properties with respect to caruncular cells of the pregnant bovine uterus.     

The effects of endometrial damage on placental and fetal development in a mare

A 13-year-old ex-polo pony maiden mare with an extensively damaged endometrium was initially used as an embryo donor in a research herd. Embryos recovered from the mare were of normal morphology and size. Subsequently, the mare was inseminated and left pregnant. Early conceptus development was normal and she foaled a small (22 kg) but healthy filly after a gestation of 360 days. Examination of the placenta showed that development of the microcotyledons accurately reflected the damage to the uterus. Plasma progestagen profiles throughout gestation also provided evidence for placental pathology and fetal stress.