Serum testosterone, sperm quality, cytological, physicochemical and biochemical characteristics of the prostatic fraction of dogs with prostatomegaly.

Prostatomegaly is a common finding in older non-neutered dogs. This study compared the serum testosterone, sperm quality and characteristics of the prostatic fraction between healthy dogs and dogs with prostatomegaly. Blood samples of ten dogs (five dogs from each group) were taken for serum testosterone measurement. Sperm motility, vigour, concentration, viability, membrane functionality and morphology were analysed in sperm-rich fraction. Osmolality, pH, cell types, and albumin, haemoglobin, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and chloride were analysed in prostatic fraction. Dogs with prostatomegaly have the lowest sperm motility, vigour, concentration and functional membrane. Dogs with prostatomegaly have the highest glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol. Glucose was the only constituent positively correlated with serum testosterone and prostate volume. It can be concluded that dogs with prostatomegaly have poorer sperm quality, and glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol in prostatic fraction can be used as prostatomegaly biomarkers.

Different associations of cryoprotectants for testicular tissue of prepubertal cats submitted to vitrification.

The cryopreservation of testicular tissue is presented as the only alternative for the preservation of genetic material from prepubertal animals. However, this biotechnology is still being tested. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different associations of cryoprotectants and the potential of cell proliferation after vitrification of testicular tissue of prepubertal cats. Five testicular pairs from five prepubertal cats were used, and each pair was divided into four fragments. Of these, one fragment composed of the control group (CG) and the rest were distributed in experimental groups according to the associations of cryoprotectants to be tested (dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO)/glycerol (GLY); ethylene glycol (EG)/GLY) or DMSO/EG) in a final cryoprotectant concentration of 5.6 m. The fragments were submitted to vitrification, and after one week, fragments were heated and processed for histomorphological evaluation and quantification of nucleolar organizer regions (NORs). DMSO/GLY did not differ from CG and was superior to the other vitrified groups, as to cell separation and degree of shrinkage of the basal membrane. Concerning cell differentiation, visibility of the nucleus and nuclear condensation, all the vitrified groups were inferior to CG; however, DMSO/EG was inferior to DMSO/GLY and EG/GLY, which did not differ among themselves. CG was superior to all groups in quantification of NORs. DMSO/EG was inferior to all others, and there was no difference between DMSO/GLY and EG/GLY. The association DMSO/GLY presented the best preservation of tissue integrity and potential of cell proliferation after vitrification of the testicular tissue of prepubertal cats.

Two methods of vitrification followed by in vitro culture of the ovine ovary: evaluation of the follicular development and ovarian extracellular matrix.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of two vitrification techniques on the extra cellular matrix (ECM) and ovarian follicular development. The ovarian cortex was fragmented (9 mm(3)) and divided into six groups, viz. fresh control, cultured control, vitrified by the Ovarian Tissue Cryosystem (OTC) method, conventional solid surface vitrification (SSV) method, OTC/cultured and SSV/cultured. Follicles from all the fragments were analysed for morphology, development and viability. The ECM was evaluated based on the condition of collagen and reticular fibres and the immunolocalization of type I collagen and fibronectin. After 7 days of culture, the tissue vitrified by OTC revealed a higher percentage (p < 0.05) of morphologically normal (30.66%) and viable (60.00%) follicles when compared with those vitrified using the SSV technique (21.33% and 23.00%). In all the fragments cultured, regardless of the vitrification method, a significantly higher percentage of developing follicles was observed when compared with the non-cultured tissue. Analysis of the type I collagen showed increased immunostaining after the in vitro culture in the vitrified fragments. In conclusion, the OTC is better for preserving the follicular viability and morphology and maintaining the integrity of the extracellular matrix components of the ovine ovary.

The macro-eco-evolutionary interplay between dispersal, competition and landscape structure in generating biodiversity.

Theory links dispersal and diversity, predicting the highest diversity at intermediate dispersal levels. However, the modulation of this relationship by macro-eco-evolutionary mechanisms and competition within a landscape is still elusive. We examine the interplay between dispersal, competition and landscape structure in shaping biodiversity over 5 million years in a dynamic archipelago landscape. We model allopatric speciation, temperature niche, dispersal, competition, trait evolution and trade-offs between competitive and dispersal traits. Depending on dispersal abilities and their interaction with landscape structure, our archipelago exhibits two 'connectivity regimes', that foster speciation events among the same group of islands. Peaks of diversity (i.e. alpha, gamma and phylogenetic), occurred at intermediate dispersal; while competition shifted diversity peaks towards higher dispersal values for each connectivity regime. This shift demonstrates how competition can boost allopatric speciation events through the evolution of thermal specialists, ultimately limiting geographical ranges. Even in a simple landscape, multiple intermediate dispersal diversity relationships emerged, all shaped similarly and according to dispersal and competition strength. Our findings remain valid as dispersal- and competitive-related traits evolve and trade-off; potentially leaving identifiable biodiversity signatures, particularly when trade-offs are imposed. Overall, we scrutinize the convoluted relationships between dispersal, species interactions and landscape structure on macro-eco-evolutionary processes, with lasting imprints on biodiversity.This article is part of the theme issue 'Diversity-dependence of dispersal: interspecific interactions determine spatial dynamics'.

c-Fos expression after neonatal handling in social brain regions: Distinctive profile of RHA-rat schizophrenia model on a social preference test.

Neonatal handling (NH) is an environmental manipulation that induces long-lasting changes in behavioural, neuroendocrine, and neuroanatomical processes in rodents. We have previously reported that NH treatment increases social interaction preference in an animal model of schizophrenia-relevant features, the Roman high-avoidance (RHA) rats. The present study was aimed at evaluating whether the increase of social behaviour/preference due to NH treatment in RHA rats is associated with differences in c-Fos expression levels in some of the brain areas that integrate the "social brain". To this aim, we evaluated the performance of adult male rats from both Roman rat strains (RHA vs. RLA -Roman low-avoidance- rats), either untreated (control) or treated with NH (administered during the first 21 days of life) in a social interaction task. For the analyses of c-Fos activation untreated and NH-treated animals were divided into three different experimental conditions: undisturbed home cage controls (HC); rats exposed to the testing set-up context (CTX); and rats exposed to a social interaction (SI) test. It was found that, compared with their RLA counterparts, NH treatment increased social behaviour in RHA rats, and also specifically enhanced c-Fos expression in RHA rats tested for SI in some brain areas related to social behaviour, i.e. the infralimbic cortex (IL) and the medial posterodorsal amygdala (MePD) regions.

Low prepulse inhibition predicts lower social interaction, impaired spatial working memory, reference memory and cognitive flexibility in genetically heterogeneous rats.

The "Genetically Heterogeneous National Institutes of Health (NIHHS)" stock rat (hereafter HS) shows a wide phenotypic variation, as a result of having been derived from eight inbred rat strains. Thus, these rats may be a conceivable parallel model of a healthy human sample. In order to evaluate whether HS rats have face validity as an animal model of schizophrenia-relevant features, it should be demonstrated that they present behavioural traits that may model negative and cognitive symptoms of the disorder. Previous studies on HS rats have shown that prepulse inhibition (PPI, a measure of sensorimotor gating processes), which is impaired in schizophrenic patients, is correlated with their working memory performance. In this study, we evaluated whether low PPI in the HS stock rat predicts impairments of spatial working memory (SWM), spatial reference memory and cognitive flexibility in the Morris water maze (MWM) test, and we evaluated HS rats for social interaction (SI) in a social investigation task. HS rats were stratified into 2 different groups according to their PPI scores, i.e. low- and high-PPI. In the SI task, low-PPI rats showed decreased social behaviour compared to high-PPI rats. In addition, relative to high-PPI HS rats, the low-PPI group displayed poorer SWM performance, impaired cognitive flexibility (in a reversal task) and worsened long-term spatial memory. Such differential behaviours in social and cognitive paradigms provide evidence on the face validity of low-PPI HS rats as a model of negative-like and cognitive schizophrenia-relevant traits.

New vascular structure in broiler breast: breast-vessel.

Chickens intensively selected for accelerating growth rate and enhanced muscle mass has resulted in the occurrence of breast alterations with a negative consumers perception. Together with the already known breast abnormalities (White Striping, Wooden Breast and Spaghetti Meat) a new one has been described by the consumers as a "long and thin worm". For this reason, the aim of this work was to macroscopically and microscopically describe this structure in broiler breast. To this end, 2 different experiments were performed. In the first one, 4 broiler breasts from a supermarket were analysed. Thereafter, a second experiment was carried out on an experimental farm simulating field management conditions in order to confirm the results of the first experiment. To this end, 120 chickens were reared in an experimental farm up to 42 d. Breast samples were collected and analysed macroscopically and microscopically to assess the abnormality on the broiler breast. In both experiments, the results of the analysis showed the finding of tubular structures located on the surface of pectoralis major muscle compatible with arteries. So far, currently, this occurrence has not been described in the literature and we propose calling this new broiler breast feature as breast-vessel.

Kidney injury molecule-1 and urinary gamma-glutamyl transferase as biomarkers of acute kidney injury in cats.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the concentration of kidney injury molecule-1 and activity of urinary gamma-glutamyl transferase in cats with urethral obstruction and healthy cats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood and urine samples were collected from a group of 15 healthy cats (control group) and a group of 20 cats with urethral obstruction at presentation, and 24 hours and 7 days after unblocking the obstruction. The serum creatinine, urinary creatinine and urinary gamma-glutamyl transferase were measured by spectrophotometry and kidney injury molecule-1 by the sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: On presentation, cats with obstruction had serum creatinine concentration and urinary gamma-glutamyl transferase index higher than healthy cats (mean difference 544 µmol/L, 95% confidence intervals 222 to 865 µmol/L, and 0.0022 U/µmol-uCre, 0.00043 to 0.0039 U/µmol-uCre, respectively), urine creatinine concentration lower (mean difference 25,624 µmol/L, 17,329 to 33,919 µmol/L), and no significant difference in the kidney injury molecule-1/urinary creatinine ratio (mean difference 13 pg/µmol-uCre, -33 to 59 pg/µmol-uCre). In the group of cats with urinary obstruction, over time serum creatinine decreased, urine creatinine increased, urinary gamma-glutamyl transferase index did not change significantly, and kidney injury molecule-1/urinary creatinine ratio increased. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Cats with post-renal obstruction and potential intrinsic renal damage had higher urinary gamma-glutamyl transferase index than healthy cats at the time of presentation and showed increase in kidney injury molecule-1/urinary creatinine ratio over time.

α,ß-Amyrin prevents steatosis and insulin resistance in a high-fat diet-induced mouse model of NAFLD via the AMPK-mTORC1-SREBP1 signaling mechanism.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterized by hepatosteatosis and steatohepatitis, is intrinsically related to obesity. Our previous study reported on the anti-obese activity of α,ß-amyrin (AMY), a pentacyclic triterpene isolated from Protium heptaphyllum. This study investigated its ability to prevent fatty liver and the underlying mechanism using the mouse model of NAFLD. NAFLD was induced in male Swiss mice fed a high fat diet (HFD) for 15 weeks. The controls were fed a normal chow diet (ND). The mice were simultaneously treated with AMY at 10 and 20 mg/kg or fenofibrate at 50 mg/kg. Lipid levels along with metabolic and inflammatory parameters were assessed in liver and serum. The liver sections were histologically examined using H&E staining. RT-qPCR and western blotting assays were performed to analyze signaling mechanisms. Mice fed HFD developed severe hepatic steatosis with elevated triglycerides and lipid droplets compared with ND controls. This was associated with a decrease in AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity, an increase of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling, and enhanced sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1) expression, which have roles in lipogenesis, inhibition of lipolysis, and inflammatory response. AMY treatment reversed these signaling activities and decreased the severity of hepatic steatosis and inflammatory response, evidenced by serum and liver parameters as well as histological findings. AMY-induced reduction in hepatic steatosis seemed to involve AMPK-mTORC1-SREBP1 signaling pathways, which supported its beneficial role in the prevention and treatment of NAFLD.

Increased thin-spine density in frontal cortex pyramidal neurons in a genetic rat model of schizophrenia-relevant features.

The cellular mechanisms altered during brain wiring leading to cognitive disturbances in neurodevelopmental disorders remain unknown. We have previously reported altered cortical expression of neurodevelopmentally regulated synaptic markers in a genetic animal model of schizophrenia-relevant behavioral features, the Roman-High Avoidance rat strain (RHA-I). To further explore this phenotype, we looked at dendritic spines in cortical pyramidal neurons, as changes in spine density and morphology are one of the main processes taking place during adolescence. An HSV-viral vector carrying green fluorescent protein (GFP) was injected into the frontal cortex (FC) of a group of 11 RHA-I and 12 Roman-Low Avoidance (RLA-I) male rats. GFP labeled dendrites from pyramidal cells were 3D reconstructed and number and types of spines quantified. We observed an increased spine density in the RHA-I, corresponding to a larger fraction of immature thin spines, with no differences in stubby and mushroom spines. Glia cells, parvalbumin (PV) and somatostatin (SST) interneurons and surrounding perineuronal net (PNN) density are known to participate in FC and pyramidal neuron dendritic spine maturation. We determined by stereological-based quantification a significantly higher number of GFAP-positive astrocytes in the FC of the RHA-I strain, with no difference in microglia (Iba1-positive cells). The number of inhibitory PV, SST interneurons or PNN density, on the contrary, was unchanged. Results support our belief that the RHA-I strain presents a more immature FC, with some structural features like those observed during adolescence, adding construct validity to this strain as a genetic behavioral model of neurodevelopmental disorders.