Follicle-stimulating hormone receptors expression in ovine corpora lutea during luteal phase: effect of nutritional plane and follicle-stimulating hormone treatment.

Corpus luteum (CL), a transient endocrine gland critical for reproductive cyclicity and pregnancy maintenance, is controlled by numerous regulatory factors. Although LH is widely recognized as the major regulator, other factors may also affect luteal functions. It has been demonstrated that FSH receptors (FSHR) are expressed not only in ovarian follicles but also in other tissues within the reproductive tract, including the CL. To evaluate FSHR expression in nontreated (nonsuperovulated; experiment 1) or FSH-treated (superovulated; experiment 2) sheep fed a control (C; maintenance), excess (O; 2 × C), or restricted (U; 0.6 × C) diet, CL were collected at the early, mid and/or late luteal phases (n = 5-7 per group). Protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of FSHR were detected in the CL from all groups using immunohistochemistry followed by image analysis and quantitative RT-PCR, respectively. Follicle-stimulating hormone receptor was immunolocalized to steroidogenic small and large and nonsteroidogenic luteal cells. In both experiments, FSHR protein expression was not affected by stage of luteal development or diet. In experiment 1, expression of mRNA for all FSHR variants was greater (P <0.02 to 0.0003) at the late phase than mid or early luteal phase, and in experiment 2, it was greater (P < 0.001) at the mid than early luteal phase. Plane of nutrition did not affect FSHR mRNA expression. Comparison of FSH-treated with nontreated ewes demonstrated that FSH increased FSHR protein expression by 1.5- to 2-fold (P < 0.0001) in all groups, and mRNA expression by 7- to 30-fold (P < 0.001) for (1) FSHR-1 in all groups except U at the early luteal phase, (2) FSHR-2 in C, O, and U at the mid-phase, but not early luteal phase, and (3) FSHR-3 in U at the mid-luteal phase. Our data demonstrate that (1) FSHRs are expressed in ovine CL at several stages of luteal development, (2) FSHR protein expression does not change during the luteal phase and is not affected by diet, (3) FSHR mRNA expression not only depends on the stage of the estrous cycle but also not affected by diet in nonsuperovulated or superovulated ewes, and (4) in vivo FSH treatment enhanced FSHR protein and/or mRNA expression in the CL depending on diet and phase of the estrous cycle. Presence of FSHR in the CL indicates a regulatory role of FSH in luteal function in sheep. As very little is known about the possible role of FSH and FSHR in luteal functions, further studies should be undertaken to elucidate the endocrine, molecular, and cellular mechanisms of FSH effects on the CL.

Corpora lutea in superovulated ewes fed different planes of nutrition.

The corpus luteum (CL) is an ovarian structure which is critical for the maintenance of reproductive cyclicity and pregnancy support. Diet and/or diet components may affect some luteal functions. FSH is widely used to induce multiple follicle development and superovulation. We hypothesized that FSH would affect luteal function in ewes fed different nutritional planes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine if FSH-treatment affects (1) ovulation rate; (2) CL weight; (3) cell proliferation; (4) vascularity; (5) expression of endothelial nitric oxide (eNOS) and soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) proteins; and (6) luteal and serum progesterone (P4) concentration in control (C), overfed (O), and underfed (U) ewes at the early- and mid-luteal phases. In addition, data generated from this study were compared to data obtained from nonsuperovulated sheep and described by Bass et al. Ewes were categorized by weight and randomly assigned into nutrition groups: C (2.14 Mcal/kg; n = 11), O (2xC; n = 12), and U (0.6xC; n = 11). Nutritional treatment was initiated 60 d prior to day 0 of the estrous cycle. Ewes were injected with FSH on day 13-15 of the first estrous cycle, and blood samples and ovaries were collected at early- and mid-luteal phases of the second estrous cycle. The number of CL/ewe was determined, and CL was dissected and weighed. CL was fixed for evaluation of expression of Ki67 (a proliferating cell marker), CD31 (an endothelial cell marker), and eNOS and sGC proteins using immunohistochemistry and image analysis. From day 0 until tissue collection, C maintained, O gained, and U lost body weight. The CL number was greater (P < 0.03) in C and O than U. Weights of CL, cell proliferation, vascularity, and eNOS but not sGC expression were greater (P < 0.001), and serum, but not luteal tissue, P4 concentrations tended to be greater (P = 0.09) at the early- than mid-luteal phase. Comparisons of CL measurements demonstrated greater (P < 0.01) cell proliferation and serum P4 concentration, but less vascularity at the early and mid-luteal phases, and less CL weight at the mid-luteal phase in superovulated than nonsuperovulated ewes; however, concentration of P4 in luteal tissues was similar in both groups. Thus, in superovulated ewes, luteal cell proliferation and vascularity, expression of eNOS, and serum P4 concentration depend on the stage of luteal development, but not diet. Comparison to control ewes demonstrated several differences and some similarities in luteal functions after FSH-induced superovulation.

Chlorsulfuron resistant transgenic tobacco as a tool for broomrape control.

Broomrape (Orobanche ramosa L.) is the most important parasitic plant that infests tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.). Chemical treatment of the soil is not effective and crop rotation is not acceptable to solve this problem because of the long viability period of Orobanche seeds in the soil. Application of systemic herbicides in the field with herbicide resistant tobacco could be a successful tool for broomrape control. Several tobacco cultivars were transformed with a mutant ahas3R gene for resistance to the herbicide chlorsulfuron (Glean, DuPont). Transformed plants were selfed and the segregation of resistance was followed in the next generation. The efficiency of the herbicide was demonstrated in greenhouse and field trials. An Orobanche/tobacco growth system was used in order to prove the lethal effect of the herbicide to the attached broomrape plants.

Food poisoning caused by parahaemolytic and NAG vibrios after eating meat products.

At total of 15 subjects taken ill with food poisoining caused by parahaemolytic and NAG vibrios after eating boiled pork sausage and boiled veal stomach were examined. The meat products were secondarily contamined in the sausage factory due to the use od non-disinfected lake water which was found to be a natural medium of the vibrios. When the use of this water was prohibited, the contamination of the factory and the meat products disappeared and no further cases of food poisoning due to meat products were notified. The disease has a toxic character, runs a bening course and ends after 2--3 days by restoration to full health.

Food poisoning caused by parahaemolytic and NAG vibrios after eating meat products.

At total of 15 subjects taken ill with food poisoining caused by parahaemolytic and NAG vibrios after eating boiled pork sausage and boiled veal stomach were examined. The meat products were secondarily contamined in the sausage factory due to the use od non-disinfected lake water which was found to be a natural medium of the vibrios. When the use of this water was prohibited, the contamination of the factory and the meat products disappeared and no further cases of food poisoning due to meat products were notified. The disease has a toxic character, runs a bening course and end after 2--3 days by restoration to full health.

[Problems of cancer therapy in the hairy part of the head]. / Probleme bei der Behandlung des Krebses des behaarten Kopfteils

Biological assumptions concerning carcinogenesis at the hairy part of the head were discussed. At the Research Institute of Oncology in Sofia, 71 patients suffering from a carcinoma at the hairy part of the head were treated until 1967.--47.2 percent of them were in the first stage, and 34.7 percent in the second stage. The temporal region was affected most (39.3 percent). Contact therapy was done preferably. Three years after treatment, all persons treated (100 percent) were cured--after five years 82.2 percent, and after ten years 58.0 percent. Four patients were affected by regional lymph metastases; in two of these persons, biologically verified metastases of basicellular cancer became evident.