Hepatic transcriptome profiling identifies differences in expression of genes associated with changes in metabolism and postnatal growth between Hereford and Holstein-Friesian bulls.

This study examined liver transcriptomic profiles of cattle distinctly different in meat and milk production capacity. It was performed on bulls of two different genetic backgrounds: Herefords (H), a meat breed, and Holstein-Friesians (HF), a dairy breed. Using bovine long oligo-microarrays and qPCR, we identified 128 genes that are differentially expressed between the two breeds. In H bulls, we observed up-regulation of genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis and lipid metabolism (CD36, CAT, HSD3B1, FABP1, ACAA1) and involved in insulin signaling (INSR, INSIG2, NR4A1) and down-regulation of genes involved in somatotropic axis signaling (IGF1, GHR, IGFBP3) as compared to HF. Transcriptome profiling of these two breeds allowed us to pinpoint the transcriptional differences between Holstein and Hereford bulls at hepatic level associated with changes in metabolism and postnatal growth.

Polymorphism in genes of growth hormone receptor (GHR) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) and its association with both the IGF1 expression in liver and its level in blood in Polish Holstein-Friesian cattle.

BACKGROUND: Polymorphisms in the bovine ghr and igf1 genes. Ghr and igf1 genes have been associated with milk and meat production of cattle. However, the molecular and physiological mechanisms underlying such associations are unknown. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of polymorphisms in 5'-regions of the bovine ghr and igf1 genes on the igf1 gene expression in the liver and on the level of IGF1 in blood of Polish Holstein-Friesian cattle. METHODS: Individual and combined effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 5'noncoding regions of the bovine igf1 and ghr genes on the IGF1 level in blood and igf1 gene expression in liver were examined. One SNP in the igf1 gene and four SNPs in the ghr gene were analyzed. IGF1 level in blood was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in 211 heifers and bulls of Polish Holstein-Friesian cattle (of Black-and-White type). The igf1 gene expression was measured in livers of bulls carrying different igf1 and ghr genotypes (from three to nine animals per genotype) using real-time reverse transcription-PCR methods with the gapdh gene as a reference. RESULTS: We showed that C/T transition in the promoter region of the igf1 gene influences the gene expression; relative igf1 expression was higher for animals with the CC genotype than for those with the TT and CT genotypes. TESS analysis showed that C/T transition in the igf1 gene co-localizes with the NF1 transcription factor binding site. Also, the ghr genotype appeared to significantly influence the igf1 gene expression in the liver, and we found the highest expression for the genotypes: RFLP-AluI (AT), RFLP-Fnu4HI(CC), and RFLP-NsiI(GA), and for the combined ghr genotype: AluI(AT)/ Fnu4HI(CC)/NsiI(GA). We discovered a significant association between the igf1 genotype and the IGF1 blood level. The highest IGF1 content in blood serum was found in CC genotype animals (1024 ng/ml) vs 698 ng/m and 859 ng/min in the TT and CT igf1 genotypes, respectively. Moreover, we noticed significant differences between ghr genotypes. The highest blood levels of IGF1 were for the animals carrying the ghr genotypes: RFLP-AluI(AA), RFLP-Fnu4HI(CC), and RFLP-NsiI(AG). Ghr haplotypes also significantly affected the IGF1 blood level. Animals of the combined ghr genotypes AluI(AA)/AccI(CC)/Fnu4HI(CC)/NsiI(AG) and AluI(AA)/AccI(CT)/Fnu4HI (CC)/ NsiI(AG) had a higher IGF1 concentration in blood than other genotype carriers. CONCLUSIONS: The present results indicate that the effects of polymorphism in the igf1 and ghr genes on cattle milk or meat production traits could be at least partially mediated through their effects on the igf1 gene expression in the liver and the IGF1 level in blood.

Trichinella spiralis reinfection: macrophage activity in BALB/c mice.

The role of macrophages and their products--nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide anion (O(2) (-))--were examined in BALB/c mice reinfected with Trichinella spiralis. Mice were infected twice with 400 T. spiralis larvae; the secondary infection was performed 60 days after the primary one. Adult T. spiralis in intestines were detected from 5 to 20 days postprimary infection (dpi), and postreinfection (dpri), but the intensity of worm expulsion was greater and quicker after the reinfection. The highest muscle larvae numbers were detected from 60 dpi till 90 dpi (30 dpri), and thereafter, a great reduction was noted. The high numbers of macrophages in the peritoneal cavity of infected mice were obtained at 20 dpi, but the highest numbers of these cells from 10 to 30 dpri were observed. The production of NO by macrophages in infected mice was suppressed at 5 dpi, and then, NO release increased until 60 dpi. On the contrary, the long-lasting (5-30 dpri) suppression of NO production after T. spiralis reinfection was observed. The levels of NO in plasma and urine were lower in infected mice till 20 dpi; there were no differences in plasma and urine NO level after the reinfection in comparison to control uninfected animals. The production of O(2) (-) in peritoneal macrophages was inhibited during the first 2 weeks after infection, but the reinfection caused great increase in O(2) (-) production lasting 30 days.

Inhibition of nitric oxide production by aminoguanidine influences the number of Trichinella spiralis parasites in infected "low responders" (C57BL/6) and "high responders" (BALB/c) mice.

The influence of nitric oxide (NO) on the development of adults and larvae Trichinella spiralis was examined in two strains of mice: C57BL/6 and BALB/c. The influence of aminoguanidine (AG)-inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) administered in the first days after T. spiralis infection (1-5 dpi) on the number of adult parasites, as well as the influence of AG administered at the beginning of muscle phase of the T. spiralis infection (16-29 dpi) on the number of muscle larvae, was studied. In mice that were treated with AG from the 1st to the 5th day post infection (dpi), the numbers of adult T. spiralis were counted in intestines at 6, 9, 15, and 20 dpi. In this experiment, the impact of AG expressed as diminution of adult worms at 9, 15, and 20 dpi in BALB/c mice. The opposite effect of AG was demonstrated in C57BL/6 mice at 6 and 9 dpi. In mice in which AG was applied from the 16th to the 29th dpi T. spiralis larvae were counted at 30, 35, and 41 dpi. This experiment demonstrated that treating mice with AG at the beginning of muscle phase of the infection inhibits the reduction of muscle larvae number in mice of both strains.

[Ultrastructural analysis of capsule and nurse-cell morphology examined seven months after Trichinella spiralis mouse infection]. / Badania ultrastrukturalne torebki i "nurse-cell" Trichinella spiralis w siedem miesiecy od zarazenia myszy.

Ultrastructural changes in muscles cells of mice infected with T. spiralis larvae in 220 day of infection were evaluated. The object of study was in the region of the "nurse-cell" being in direct contact with the larva wall. Electron microscopic observations revealed the continuity of the muscle cell membrane adjacent to larva surface.

[Eosynophils in parasitic infections--clinical and functional significance]. / Eozynofile w chorobach pasozytniczych--znaczenie kliniczne i funkcjonalne.

Eosinophils are multifunctional cells which contain and produce many biologically active substances. Their presence is mainly associated with parasitic infections or allergic manifestations. Eosinophilia is a common feature of helminth infections occurring both in the blood and at local sites of infection. The highly toxic basic proteins in eosinophil granules exert a range of biological effects not only against helminth parasites but also in host tissue being responsible for their damage. Eosinophils have been shown to be strong effectors killing helminth parasites in vitro, especially the larval stages. However, this function in vivo was established only for the very small number of parasites. In the last years an opportunity has appeared to perform experiments with parasites on genetically modified mice: over expressing the gene encoding Il-5 as well as lacking some receptors on eosinophils. These new studies in mice demonstrated that Il-5 and eosinophils had a different impact on different helminth infections. Eosinophilia in human patients has only a limited predictive value for the presence of helminth infections. However, the likelihood of the presence of helminth infections increases considerably with the extent of eosinophilia.

Raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides)--the new host of Echinococcus multilocularis in Poland.

The alimentary canals of 9 species of domesticated or wild animals were examined for the presence of E. multilocularis. The tapeworm was found in 9 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) out of 155 examined (5.8%) and in 2 raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) of 25 examined (8.0%). Our studies proved that in Poland the raccoon dog can also be infected with E. multilocularis.