Lipopolysaccharide and cytokines modulate leukotriene (LT)B4 and LTC4 production by porcine endometrial endothelial cells

Uterine inflammatory response is mediated by inflammatory mediators including eicosanoids and cytokines produced by immune and endometrial cells. Interactions between lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cytokines, and leukotrienes (LTs) in endothelium, important for the host defence during the inflammation, are unknown. We studied the effect of LPS, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐4 and IL‐10 on 5‐lipooxygenase (5‐LO), LTA₄ hydrolase (LTAH) and LTC₄ synthase (LTCS) mRNA and protein expression, LTB₄ and LTC₄ release from porcine endometrial endothelial cells, and cell viability. For 24 hr, cells were exposed to LPS (10 or 100 ng/ml of medium) and cytokines (each 1 or 10 ng/ml). 5‐LO mRNA/protein expression augmented after incubation with larger doses of LPS, TNF‐α, IL‐4 and IL‐10 and smaller dose of IL‐1β. Larger dose of TNF‐α, smaller doses of LPS and IL‐1β and both doses of IL‐10 increased LTAH mRNA/protein expression. LTAH protein content was up‐regulated by larger dose of LPS, but it was reduced in response to both doses of IL‐4. LTCS mRNA expression was elevated by larger doses of LPS, IL‐4 and IL‐10 or both doses of TNF‐α and IL‐1β. LTCS protein level increased after treatment with both doses of IL‐1β, IL‐4 and IL‐10, smaller dose of LPS and larger dose of TNF‐α. Both doses of LPS and larger doses of TNF‐α and IL‐10 increased LTB₄ release. LPS, IL‐1β and IL‐10 at smaller doses, or TNF‐α and IL‐4 at larger doses stimulated LTC₄ release. Smaller doses of TNF‐α and IL‐1β or both doses of IL‐4 enhanced the cell viability. This work provides new insight on the participation of LPS, TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐4 and IL‐10 in LTB₄ and LTC₄ production/release from porcine endometrial endothelial cells, and the effect of above factors on these cells viability. The used cellular model gives the possibility to further establish the interactions between inflammatory mediators.     

Response of the pigeonpea-Rhizobium symbiosis to salinity stress: variation among Rhizobium strains in symbiotic ability

Summary There were significant differences among pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp] Rhizobium sp. strains (IC 3506, IC 3484, IC 3195, and IC 3087) in their ability to nodulate and fix N₂ under saline conditions. Pigeonpea plants inoculated with IC 3087 and IC 3506 were less affected in growth by salinity levels of 6 and 8 dS m^-1 than plants inoculated with the other strains. For IC 3506, IC 3484, and IC 3195, there was a decrease in the number of nodules with increasing salinity, while the average nodule dry weight and the specific nitrogenase activity remained unaffected. However, in IC 3087, the number of nodules increased slightly with increasing salinity. Leaf-P concentrations increased with salinity in the inoculated plants irrespective of the Rhizobium sp. strain, and leaf-N concentrations decreased with increasing salinity in IC 3484 and IC 3195 only. Shoot-Na and-Cl levels were further increased in these salt-sensitive strains only at 8 dS m^-1. Therefore there may be scope for selecting pigeonpea Rhizobium sp. symbioses better adapted to saline conditions. The Rhizobium sp. strains best able to form effective symbioses at high salinity levels are not necessarily derived from saline soils.Submitted as JA No. 919 by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)     

Investigation on hydrostatic resistance and thermal performance of layered waterproof breathable fabrics

Waterproof breathable layered fabrics allow water vapor passing through, but resist liquid water to pass. This ability of the fabrics to protect rain and snow water while allowing sweat vapor to evaporate from inside to outside atmosphere, leads them to be used as outdoor sportswear or protective clothing. The big challenge of enhanced hydrostatic resistance of these fabrics with proper breathability and thermal comfort has widened the research scope. This study presents an experimental investigation on hydrostatic resistance and thermal behavior of layered waterproof breathable fabrics. Six different types of hydrophobic and hydrophilic membrane laminated layered fabrics were evaluated by varying different fabric parameters in the experiment. Hydrostatic resistance and water vapor permeability of the laminated fabrics were measured by SDL ATLAS Hydrostatic Head Tester and PERMETEST respectively. Thermal properties were evaluated by ALAMBETA instrument. Moreover, FX-3300 air permeability tester was used to measure air permeability which represents the porosity of the fabrics and computer based See System software was used for water contact angle measurement on the outer fabric surface in order to determine the hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties. This experiment clearly discusses the influence of different fabric characteristics and parameters on hydrostatic resistance and thermal properties of the breathable laminated fabrics. The results show that fabric material composition, density, thickness, and hydrophobic and hydrophilic membranes have significant effects on hydrostatic resistance, breathability and thermal properties of different laminated fabrics.     

Specific polyphenol oxidase activity of red clover (Trifolium pratense) and its relation with forage quality in field experiments

Abstract

In feeding studies, red clover (RC) influenced positively the N utilization by ruminants. A relationship between polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity and forage quality has not been established. Our objective was to investigate seasonal, site, genotype, and management effects on specific PPO activity in RC in three experiments under field conditions, and relate the activity to forage-quality parameters. In Experiment 1, six RC genotypes at two study sites were submitted to a 3-cut system. Specific PPO activity, forage quality, and vegetation stage were determined. PPO activity varied between harvest and study sites, with genotypes differing up to 3-fold in PPO activity within harvests. The specific PPO activity, forage quality, and vegetation stage in RC subjected to 5-cut system and grazing (Experiment 2) were determined. Additionally, in Experiment 3, cutting frequency in RC swards including mechanical stress (rolling) was investigated. The induction of PPO activity in RC by grazing or mechanical stress (Experiments 2 and 3) increased the activity up to 2.5-fold compared with RC at similar vegetation stage submitted to the 5-cut system. Mechanical stress induced by grazing or rolling, and seasonal differences, seem to have a larger influence on specific PPO activity than does the genotype effect observed in Experiment 1. For forage quality, an increased specific PPO activity explained 29–46% of the reduction in protein fraction ‘A’ content (non-protein N) in the cutting systems in Experiments 2 and 3. Other CP fractions achieved a lower relation. Furthermore, the precipitation-to-temperature ratio preceeding a harvest explained 63% of the variation in the specific PPO activity. In conclusion, the PPO activity in RC is induced by grazing and rolling. Whereas weather conditions preceeding a harvest showed a large influence, genotype influence had only minor relevance. These results may have implications for regional harvest management towards efficient N utilization by ruminants.     

Transmission electron microscopy of intra-tegumental sensory receptors in the forebody of Crepidostomum metoecus (Digenea: Allocreadiidae)

In the adult fish trematode Crepidostomum metoecus (Braun, 1900), four types of sensory receptors were observed inside the forebody tegument and one type beneath the tegument basal lamina. Two types of sensory receptors extend through the thickness of tegument and have a free cilium inside a pit (types I and II). Two types (III and IV) are nonciliate and entirely intra-tegumental in location. Type IV receptor with large horizontal and thin vertical rootlets was described earlier in aspidogastreans only. Below the basal lamina, nerve endings in close association with muscle fibres, comparable with those in the Aspidogastrea, were detected.     

A survey for BVDV antibodies in cattle farms in Slovakia and genetic typing of BVDV isolates from imported animals

A serological survey for bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) antibodies on a collection of 1295 serum samples obtained from 6-12 months old cattle originating from 45 farms in Slovakia was carried out. On 13 farms more than 90% of the examined animals were seropositive, on 14 farms 71-90% seroprevalence was observed, on 13 farms only 50-70% animals were found to be positive for BVDV antibodies, while the remaining 5 farms showed fewer than 50% seropositive animals. The average incidence of BVDV antibodies (around 70%) was similar as determined 30 years ago. Of 84 serum samples from seronegative animals originating from 14 farms in which 70-98% seropositivity was observed, six were positive in Ag-BVDV ELISA indicating persistently infected (PI) cattle. On a farm to which animals were imported from abroad, a BVD outbreak was observed. Of 110 animals tested, four were positive in Ag-ELISA indicating the presence of PI cattle on this farm. Genetic typing of two isolates from imported animals performed by RT-PCR (324/326 primers from 5'-UTR), sequencing of PCR products and computer-assisted phylogenetic analysis revealed that they belong to BVDV-1 h group.     

Effect of the gonadotrophins treatment on morphological alterations in ovary and peripheral plasma concentrations of steroid hormones in gilts

The present study was designed to examine the influence of gonadotrophins treatment on the ovarian morphology changes and plasma concentrations of steroid hormones in peripheral blood. The experiment was performed on sexually pubertal gilts (Large White x Landrace) of similar age (7-8 months) and body mass (100-110 kg) with two controlled subsequent estrous cycles. The animals were randomly divided into four groups: two control consisting of pigs with the luteal phase (n = 9, the 10th day of the estrous cycle) and the follicular phase (n = 6, the 20th day of the estrous cycle) and two experimental ones consisting of animals with both mentioned periods (n = 7 and n = 9) treated with gonadotrophins (PMSG and hCG). The gilts in the luteal phase were injected (s.c.) with gonadotrophins at a daily dose of PMSG 400 and hCG 200 IU from the 16th to the 27th day (the 6th day of the next estrous cycle). The gilts in the follicular phase, were injected with the same dose of gonadotrophins but from the 8th to the 19th day of the estrous cycle. Plasma concentrations of P4, A4, T, E1, E2 and metabolite of PGF2 alpha-PGFM were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) method. Injections of PMSG and hCG in both experimental groups produced several times enlarged: weight, size and volume of ovaries and alterations in a number of structural elements as compared with those found in the control animals. The morphological elements presented in ovaries: corpora haemorrhagica, corpora lutea, regular and atretic follicles and first of all cysts by distinctly differentiation thickness of the walls are characteristic for cystic ovarian degeneration. Plasma concentrations all determined hormones after gonadotrophins treatment in experimental groups were increased except E1 (insignificant decrease) in luteal phase as compared with those found in the control groups. Statistically significant increase (p < 0.001) in plasma concentrations of P4, A4, and T in both experimental groups and E2 (p < 0.001) in luteal phase were noted. In peripheral plasma concentrations increase of E1 and E2 in follicular phase of the estrous cycle were insignificant.