Responsivity to PGE2 labor induction involves concomitant differential prostaglandin E receptor gene expression in cervix and myometrium.

Prostaglandin E2 (dinoprostone) is largely used for labor induction. However, one-third of patients do not respond to treatment. One cause of this poor response may be associated with changes in regulation of prostaglandin E receptors (EP1-4). In this study, we investigated EP mRNA expression in the uterine cervix and lower uterine segment myometrium for term births. Biopsies were obtained from women with successful (responders) and failed (non-responders) dinoprostone labor induction, while women that underwent spontaneous labor were included as controls. EP1 mRNA was upregulated in the cervical tissue of women who did not respond to dinoprostone induction. In addition, in the myometrium, significantly higher levels of EP3 mRNA were observed in women treated with dinoprostone, independent of their responsiveness. Dinoprostone-responders presented 3.6-fold higher levels of EP3 mRNA expression than the spontaneous labor group. Significantly higher levels of EP3 mRNA in the myometrium of the dinoprostone-treated group indicated that dinoprostone may regulate the EP3 gene on the transcriptional level. These results highlight the relationship between EP gene expression and delivery and indicate that understanding the regulation of prostaglandin E receptors may lead to improved labor induction.

The functional role of oxytocin in the induction of oocyte meiotic resumption in cattle.

The aim of the present study was to examine the role of oxytocin (OT) in the progesterone (P4) and prostaglandins (PGs) pathway to induce oocyte meiotic resumption. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were co-cultured with follicular hemisections for 15 h to determine the effects of different doses of OT or atosiban (ATO; oxytocin receptor antagonist) on oocyte meiotic resumption. In another experiment, we examined the effect of the interaction between P4, OT and PGs on the regulatory cascade of the oocyte meiotic resumption. Oxytocin at 1 µm was effective in inducing meiotic resumption in oocytes co-cultured with follicular cells (84.0%), not differing from the positive control group (74.4%). Atosiban inhibited in a dose-dependent manner the positive effect of OT on the meiotic resumption (27.6% metaphase I with 10 µm of ATO, which did not differ from the 25.5% of the negative control group). Furthermore, a third experiment showed that P4 was able to induce oocyte meiotic resumption, which was inhibited by ATO. However, the OT positive effect was not blocked by mifepristone (P4 antagonist), but was inhibited by indomethacin (a non-selective PTGS2 inhibitor). Collectively, these data suggest a sequential role of P4, OT and PGs in the induction of oocyte meiotic resumption.

mRNA expression profile of the TNF-α system in LH-induced bovine preovulatory follicles and effects of TNF-α on gene expression, ultrastructure and expansion of cumulus-oocyte complexes cultured in vitro.

This study evaluated (1) the effects of in vivo GnRH treatment on mRNA expression of TNF-α system (TNF-α, TNFR1 and TNFR2) in granulosa cells of bovine preovulatory follicles, (2) the in vitro influence of gonadotropins on mRNA expression of TNF-α system in cultured cumulus cells, (3) the protein expression of the TNF-α system in late antral follicles and, (4) the influence of TNF-α on cumulus cells expansion, ultrastructure and on expression of HAS2, CASP3 and CASP6 in follicular cells cultured for 24 h. An increased expression of TNF-α and TNFR1 was observed after 3, 6 and 12 h of GnRH treatment when compared to 0 and 24h. Higher TNFR2 mRNA levels were observed 3, 6 and 12 h after GnRH, when compared to 0 and 24 h. Proteins of TNF-α system were also expressed in late antral follicles. In vitro, TNF-α did not affect cumulus cells expansion, but reduced the HAS2, CASP3 and CASP6 mRNA levels in cumulus cells after 12 h. After 24 h of culture, TNF-α increased the mRNA levels for CASP6 in mural granulosa cells, while the TNF-α, TNFR1 and TNFR2 mRNA levels were increased in cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) cultured for 12 h with gonadotropins, but not after 24 h. Ultrastructural analysis confirmed the integrity of COCs cultured in presence of TNF-α. In conclusion, TNF-α system members are present in bovine antral follicles and expression of TNF-α is influenced by gonadotropins in vivo and in vitro. In vitro, TNF-α maintained cumulus cells ultrastructure during COC culture.

Hypoxia acclimation protects against oxidative damage and changes in prolactin and somatolactin expression in silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) exposed to manganese.

The aim of this study was to assess the Mn toxicity to silver catfish considering Mn accumulation and oxidative status in different tissues, as well as pituitary hormone expression after acclimation to hypoxia. Silver catfish acclimated to hypoxia for 10 days and successively exposed to Mn (9.8 mg L(-1)) for an additional 10 days exhibited lower Mn accumulation in plasma, liver, kidneys and brain and prevented the hematocrit decrease observed in the normoxia group. Hypoxia acclimation also modified Mn-induced oxidative damage, which was observed by lower reactive species (RS) generation in gills and kidneys, decreased lipid peroxidation (LP) levels in gills, liver and kidneys and decreased protein carbonyl (PC) levels in liver, kidneys and brain. Manganese accumulation showed positive correlations with LP levels in gills and kidneys, as well as with PC levels in gills, liver and brain. In addition, hypoxia acclimation and Mn exposure increased catalase (CAT) activity in gills and kidneys and Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity in gills, liver and brain. Silver catfish that were acclimated under normoxia and exposed to Mn displayed increased pituitary prolactin (PRL) and decreased somatolactin (SL) expression. Interestingly, hypoxia acclimation prevented hormonal fluctuation of PRL and SL in fish exposed to Mn. These findings indicate that while the exposure of silver catfish to Mn under normoxia was related to metal accumulation and oxidative damage in tissues together with endocrine axis disruption, as represented by PRL and SL, hypoxia acclimation reduced waterborne Mn uptake, thereby minimizing oxidative damage and changes in hormonal profile. We hypothesized that moderate hypoxia is able to generate adaptive responses, which may be related to hormesis, thereby ameliorating Mn toxicity to silver catfish.

Avaliações clínica, ecográfica e anatomofisiológica do alotransplante parcial de vesícula urinária com células-tronco mesenquimais alogênicas derivadas do tecido adiposo em coelhos / Clinical, sonographic, anatomic and physiological assessments of partial allotransplant urinary bladder with allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue in rabbits

Os problemas relacionados ao armazenamento vesical são muitos e relevantes. Eles, além de influírem de forma efetiva na qualidade de vida, podem eventualmente evoluir para falência renal. Existem vários trabalhos, os quais descrevem as propriedades imunomoduladoras e imunossupressoras das células-tronco mesenquimais derivadas do tecido adiposo (ADSCs). Objetiva-se com o presente avaliar clínica, ecográfica e anatomofisiologicamente o alotransplante parcial de bexiga a fresco em coelhos, utilizando como agente imunomodulador ADSCs alogênicas. Para isso foram utilizados 25 coelhos, sendo um deles macho e doador das ADSCs, e os outros 24 eram fêmeas, submetidas a alotransplante parcial de bexiga, sendo tratadas com ciclosporina (GCi) ou células-tronco mesenquimais (GCe). Conclui-se que as ADSCs foram suficientes para evitar sinais clínicos e ecográficos de rejeição ao alotransplante de vesícula urinária, mantendo a estrutura anatomofisiológica vesical por até 30 dias em coelhos.

The problems related to bladder storage are many and significant. In addition to effectively impacting the quality of life, they can eventually progress to kidney failure. There are several studies which describe the immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive properties of ADSCs. The aim of this study is to clinically, through sonography, anatomically and physiologically evaluate fresh partial allograft bladder from rabbits using allogeneic ADSCs as immunomodulator agents. For such, 25 rabbits were used, one being a male ADSCs donor, and the other 24 females who underwent simultaneous partial allograft bladder, being treated with cyclosporine (GCi) or mesenchymal stem cells (GCe). It was concluded that ADSCs were sufficient to prevent clinical and ultrasound signs of allograft rejection of the urinary bladder. These bladders retained the anatomophysiological structure for 30 days in rabbits.

Resposta reprodutiva de vacas de corte associada a marcadores moleculares relacionados à fertilidade / Reproductive performance of beef cattle cows associated with molecular markers related to the fertility

O objetivo deste estudo foi buscar associação entre a taxa de prenhez após inseminação e natalidade com marcadores moleculares ligados aos genes do receptor para IGF-1, LHβ, Leptina e receptores do FSH e LH. Utilizaram-se 249 vacas adultas Aberdeen Angus, das quais 199 foram submetidas a protocolos distintos para a IATF, seguida pelo repasse com touros, e 50 vacas formaram o grupo controle representado pelo acasalamento com touros. Foram avaliados o escore de condição corporal (ECC) e o escore de condição ovariana (ECO) ao início da estação reprodutiva. O ECC influenciou a taxa de natalidade, respectivamente de 55,6%, 75,8% e 82,4% (P<0,05) para os animais com ECC menor que 2,5, entre 2,5 a 2,9, e maior ou igual a 3,0, por ocasião da estação reprodutiva. Os marcadores relacionados ao gene do receptor para o IGF-1 (AFZ-1 e HEL5) mostraram associação com a taxa de natalidade. Vacas homozigóticas para o marcador AFZ-1 apresentaram 84,4% de natalidade em comparação às heterozigóticas, com 71,5% (P<0,05). A presença do alelo*161 para o marcador HEL5 foi negativa sobre a natalidade, respectivamente de 33,3% e 76,5% para vacas com e sem esse alelo (P<0,05). Esses resultados demonstram uma importante associação entre os marcadores envolvidos com o receptor para o IGF-1 e desempenho reprodutivo de vacas Angus.

The association between the reproductive performance, expressed by pregnancy rate at fixed timed artificial insemination and birth rate in the subsequent season in beef cows, and molecular markers linked to genes for IGF-1 receptor, LHβ, leptin, and FSH and LH receptors were evaluated. Data from 249 Aberdeen Angus adult cows were used in this study. One hundred and ninety-nine cows were subjected to four different protocols for FTAI, followed by clean-up bulls and 50 cows formed the control group, matted only with bulls for 90 days during the mating season. Body condition score (BCS) and ovarian condition score (OCE) were evaluated at the beginning of the breeding season. The birth rate in the following year was 75.5%, with no treatments influence. The BCS has influenced the birth rate, respectively 55.6%, 75.8% and 82.4% (P<0.05) for animals with BCS less than 2.5; 2.5 to 2.9; and greater than or equal to 3.0, at the beginning of the breeding season. The markers related to IGF-1 receptor gene (AFZ-1 and HEL5) were associated with the birth rate in beef cows. Cows homozygous for AFZ-1 marker showed 84.4% of birth rate, while heterozygous cows showed 71.5% (P <0.05). The presence of allele *161 to the HEL5 marker was negative on birth rate. Cows with this allele had only 33.3% of birth rate, while cows without this allele had 76.5% of birth rate (P <0.05). These results demonstrate a significant association between the markers involved with the IGF-1 receptor and reproductive performance of Aberdeen Angus beef cows.