Major seminal plasma proteome of rabbits and associations with sperm quality.

The present study was conducted to describe the major seminal plasma proteome of rabbits and potential associations between seminal proteins and semen criteria. Semen samples were collected from 18 New Zealand adult rabbits, and seminal plasma proteins were analyzed by 2-D SDS-PAGE and tandem mass spectrometry. Sperm motility, vigor, concentration, morphology and membrane sperm viability were evaluated. Rabbits ejaculated 364 ±â€¯70 million sperm/ml, with 81 ±â€¯6.1% motile cells, 3.8 ±â€¯0.2 vigor and 66.7 ±â€¯2.5% sperm with normal morphology. Based on the viability and acrosome integrity assay, there were 65.8 ±â€¯2.5% live sperm with intact acrosome and most spermatozoa had both intact acrosome and functional membrane. On average, 2-D gels of rabbit seminal plasma had 232 ±â€¯69.5 spots, as determined by PDQuest software (Bio Rad, USA). Mass spectrometry allowed the identification of 137 different proteins. The most abundant proteins in rabbit seminal plasma were hemoglobin subunit zeta-like, annexins, lipocalin, FAM115 protein and albumin. The intensity of the spots associated with these five proteins represented 71.5% of the intensity of all spots detected in the master gel. Multiple regression models were estimated using sperm traits as dependent variables and seminal plasma proteins as independent ones. Also, sperm motility had positive association with beta-nerve growth factor and cysteine-rich secretory protein 1-like and a negative one with galectin-1. The percentage of rabbit sperm with intact membrane was related to seminal plasma protein FAM115 complex and tropomyosin. Then, the population of morphologically normal sperm in rabbit semen was positively linked to carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 6-like and down regulated by seminal plasma isocitrate dehydrogenase. Based on another regression model, the variation in the percentage of live sperm with intact acrosome was partially explained by the amount of leukocyte elastase inhibitor and the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase A in the rabbit seminal fluid. The current study reports the identification of 137 proteins of rabbit seminal plasma. Major proteins of seminal secretion relate primarily to prevention of damages caused by lipid peroxide radicals and oxidative stress, membrane functionality, transport of lipids to the sperm membrane and temperature regulation. Moreover, finding seminal plasma proteins as indicators of semen parameters will improve assisted reproductive technologies.

Proteomic landscape of seminal plasma associated with dairy bull fertility.

Male fertility is the ability of sperm to fertilize the egg and sustain embryo development. Several factors determine the fertilizing capacity of mammalian sperm, including those intrinsic to sperm and components of the seminal plasma. The present study analyzed the seminal fluid proteome of Bos taurus and potential associations between proteins and fertility scores. Mass spectrometry coupled with nano HPLC allowed the identification of 1,159 proteins in the dairy bull seminal plasma. There were 50 and 29 seminal proteins more abundant in high (HF) low fertility (LF) bulls, respectively. Based on multivariate analysis, C-type natriuretic peptide, TIMP-2, BSP5 and sulfhydryl oxidase indicated relationship with HF bulls. Clusterin, tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2, galectin-3-binding protein and 5'-nucleotidase were associated with LF bulls. Abundance of NAD(P)(+)-arginine ADP-ribosyltransferase, prosaposin and transmembrane protein 2 proteins had the highest positive correlations with fertility ranking. Quantities of vitamin D-binding protein, nucleotide exchange factor SIL1 and galectin-3-binding protein showed the highest negative correlations with fertility ranking. A fertility ranking score was calculated and the relationship with these proteins was significant (Spearman's rho = 0.94). The present findings represent a major and novel contribution to the study of bovine seminal proteins. Indicators of fertility can be used to improve reproductive biotechnologies.

Immunoregulation in human American leishmaniasis: balancing pathology and protection.

Leishmaniasis covers a broad spectrum of diseases with distinct, and sometimes overlapping, characteristics. The common thread in all forms of leishmaniasis is the infection by the parasite Leishmania belonging to the genus Leishmania. Upon infection of humans, there can be at least three outcomes, (i) control of Leishmania by the host immune response resulting in asymptomatic disease, (ii) patent infection and development of a relatively mild form of leishmaniasis and (iii) patent infection and development of severe clinical forms. The factors that determine the outcome of an initial inoculation with Leishmania are many, with the species of Leishmania representing one of the strongest predictive factors for the development of a given clinical form of disease. This is seen with L. braziliensis and L. amazonensis, infection leading mostly to tegumentary forms of disease, and L. infantum with the potential to induce visceral disease. However, it is also clear that the host immune response is a key factor in disease progression, not only responsible for control of Leishmania, but also playing an important role in disease progression and pathology. This duality between protective and pathogenic immune responses in individuals infected with Leishmania in the Americas is the focus of this review.

The effect of organic amendment on potential mobility and bioavailability of 137Cs and 60Co in tropical soils.

In this work the role of organic matter in the potential mobility and bioavailability of 137Cs and 60Co in Brazilian soil was investigated. Radish was cultivated in pots containing the top layer (0-20 cm) of a Histosol, Ferralsol and Nitisol spiked with 137Cs and 60Co. In the case of the Ferralsol and Nitisol samples, besides the control, two different rates of organic amendments were used. In these soils, a sequential extraction protocol was used to identify the main soil compartments that could be responsible for the variation of transfer factor values. Our results indicate that organic amendment could be suggested as a practical countermeasure for 137Cs and 60Co contamination, since it reduces bioavailability of radionuclides and, consequently, soil to plant transfer factor values by almost one order of magnitude in a short period of time.

Soil to plant transfer of 137Cs and 60Co in Ferralsol, Nitisol and Acrisol.

In this study, soil to plant transfer factor values were determined for 137Cs and 60Co in radish (Raphanus sativus), maize (Zea mays L.) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata) growing in gibbsite-, kaolinite- and iron-oxide-rich soils. After 3 years of experiment in lysimeters it was possible to identify the main soil properties able to modify the soil to plant transfer processes, e.g. exchangeable K and pH, for 137Cs, and organic matter for 60Co. Results of sequential chemical extraction were coherent with root uptake and allowed the recognition of the role of iron oxides on 137Cs behaviour and of Mn oxides on 60Co behaviour. This information should provide support for adequate choices of countermeasures to be applied on tropical soils in case of accident or for remediation purposes.

Optimization of the still-marinating process of chicken parts.

The still-marinating process is a simplified technology used to tenderize and to improve the flavor and succulence of meat to satisfy consumer demand. The objective of this study was to obtain still-marinated chicken breast meat and legs of good quality. To attain this aim, the effects of salt concentration, polyphosphates concentration and marinating time were optimized to increase weight gain, reduce loss of weight during storage and reduce cooking loss, making use of the surface response methodology. The results of this study indicate that marinating times ranging from 8-12 hours, salt concentrations ranging from 3-4% and polyphosphates concentration ranging from 2-3% are recommended for the still-marinating process of chicken breast meat. In additon, marinating times ranging from 4-8 hours, salt concentration ranging from 3-4% and polyphosphates concentration of about 2% can be suggested for the still-marinating process of chicken legs. ©