Informatic resources useful for the development of biomedical applications of nanomaterials and their toxicological evaluation / Recursos informáticos útiles en el desarrollo de aplicaciones biomédicas de nanomateriales y su evaluación toxicológica

The need for tools to process all the information generated in the field of nanotechnology has led to the development of a new discipline known as nanoinformatics. In the coming years, it is expected to have databases with information, not only on the physicochemical properties of nanomaterials, but also with information on the potential interactions with environment and biological systems, which will enable search for new biomedical applications of nanomaterials, without forgetting their toxicological aspects. In this review, various standardization resources, ontologies, databases, initiatives and partnerships that will help manage the information generated on nanomaterials are presented, especially those useful in biomedical research and the toxicology of nanomaterials. In addition, other complementary web resources are described with the aim of facilitating the process of self-learning and the development of curriculum contents of nanotechnology in higher education centers (AU)

La necesidad de herramientas informáticas para procesar toda la información generada en el ámbito de la nanotecnología ha originado el desarrollo de una nueva disciplina conocida como nanoinformática. En los próximos años es esperable poder disponer de bases de datos con información, no sólo de las propiedades físico-químicas de los nanomateriales, sino también con información de sus posibles interacciones con el medio ambiente y sistemas biológicos, lo que favorecerá la investigación de nuevas aplicaciones biomédicas de los nanomateriales, sin olvidar sus aspectos toxicológicos. En este artículo se presentan diversos recursos de estandarización, ontologías, bases de datos, iniciativas y colaboraciones que ayudan a gestionar la información generada sobre nanomateriales, especialmente orientados a favorecer la Investigación biomédica y la toxicología de los nanomateriales. Además, se presentan otros recursos web complementarios que facilitarán el proceso de autoaprendizaje y el desarrollo de contenidos curriculares en escuelas superiores y facultades, útiles en la formación de esta nueva disciplina, denominada nanotecnología (AU)

Administration of single short-acting doses of GnRH antagonist modifies pituitary and follicular function in sheep.

Current study determined the effect of two different single subcutaneous doses (1.5 and 3 mg) of GnRH antagonist (GnRHa) on pituitary and follicular function in non-lactating cyclic ewes. Both doses abolished the pulsatile secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) for at least 3 days and decreased mean LH concentration during 6 days (0.64 +/- 0.09 for control and 0.54 +/- 0.05, P < 0.005, and 0.46 +/- 0.02, P < 0.00001, for 1.5 and 3 mg, respectively). Supply of GnRHa decreased the number of large dominant follicles, so the total number of smaller follicles, 2-3 mm in size, increased in both treated groups from day 0, reaching its maximum at day 2 in ewes treated with 1.5 mg (19.83+/-1.05 versus 5.83 +/- 0.50 in the control, P < 0.005) and at day 4 in sheep treated with 3mg (18.67 +/- 0.65 versus 5.50 +/- 0.65 in the control, P < 0.0001). However, the analysis of follicular function in terms of inhibin A indicated a possible effect of the higher dose of GnRHa on follicular function. The pattern of inhibin secretion in the group treated with 3mg of GnRHa decreased after the first 48 h, reaching its lowest value on day 4.5 (182.59 +/- 3.75 to 140.28 +/- 9.91 pg/ml, P < 0.05) concentration significant lower than control sheep (171.93 +/- 6.21 pg/ml, P +/- 0.01) or treated with 1.5 mg (168.04 +/- 7.16 pg/ml, P+ /- 0.05). Hence, the use of 1.5 mg would be more suitable to induce the presence of a high number of follicles able to grow to preovulatory sizes.

Follicular growth, endocrine response and embryo yields in sheep superovulated with FSH after pretreatment with a single short-acting dose of GnRH antagonist.

The objective of this study was to characterize follicular development, onset of oestrus and preovulatory LH surge, and in vivo embryo yields of sheep superovulated after treatment with a single dose of 1.5mg of GnRH antagonist (GnRHa). At first FSH dose, ewes treated with GnRH antagonist (n=12) showed a higher number of gonadotrophin-responsive follicles, 2-3mm, than control ewes (n=9, 13.5+/-3.8 versus 5.3+/-0.3, P<0.05). Administration of FSH increased the number of >or=4mm follicles at sponge removal in both groups (19.3+/-3.8, P<0.0005 for treated ewes and 12.7+/-5.4, P<0.01 for controls). Thereafter, a 25% of the GnRHa-treated sheep did not show oestrous behaviour whilst none control sheep failed (P=0.06). The preovulatory LH surge was detected in an 88.9% of control ewes and 66.7% of GnRHa-treated sheep. A 77.8% of control females showed ovulation with a mean of 9.6+/-0.9 CL and 3.3+/-0.7 viable embryos, while ewes treated with GnRHa and showing an LH surge exhibited a bimodal distribution of response; 50% showed no ovulatory response and 50% superovulated with a mean of 12.2+/-1.1 CL and 7.3+/-1.1 viable embryos. In conclusion, a single dose of GnRHa enhances the number of gonadotrophin-dependent follicles able to grow to preovulatory sizes in response to an FSH supply. However, LH secretion may be altered in some females, which can affect the preovulatory LH surge and/or can weak the terminal maturation of ovulatory follicles.