The effect of estradiol valerate on follicular dynamics and superovulatory response in cows with Syncro-Mate-B implants

Two experiments were designed to evaluate the effect of estradiol valerate on follicular dynamics and superovulatory response in cows with Syncro-Mate-B (SMB)implants. In Experiment 1, 5 mg estradiol valerate (E(2)), injected at the same time as superstimulation treatments were initiated, resulted in fewer corpora lutea (CL), ova/embryos collected and fertilized ova (P<0.05) than if E(2) was administered with the SMB implant 7 days earlier. In Experiment 2, 31 beef cows and 26 Holstein cows were placed in one of four treatment groups. Group I (control) cows were superstimulated on Day 9 (estrus=Day 0). On Day 2, cows in Groups II, III, and IV received SMB and cows in Group III received E(2). On Day 9, cows in Group IV received E(2), and all cows were superstimulated with Folltropin. The number of CL did not differ (P>0.19) among groups. However, there were more follicles < 10 mm and fewer fertilized ova and transferable embryos (P<0.02) in Group IV cows. Ovarian ultrasonography revealed that the diameter of the largest follicle in Group III cows declined from Day 2 to Day 7 and subsequently increased until Day 13. In contrast, Groups I, II and IV were characterized by apparently linear growth between Days 2 and 13. Differences (P<0.05) were detected between Days 5 and 9. Mean diameter of the largest follicle was smaller for cows in Group III than for the remaining groups on Day 9. It was concluded that SMB did not adversely affect superovulatory response and that E(2) administration resulted in atresia of the antral follicles in the cows with SMB implants.     

Affinity thermoprecipitation of trypsin using soybean trypsin inhibitor conjugated with a thermo-reactive polymer,poly(N-vinyl caprolactam)

The soybean trypsin inhibitor conjugate with a thermo-reactive water soluble polymer, poly(N-vinyl caprolactam), was successfully used for thermally induced affinity precipitation of trypsin. The validity of the developed procedure was proven by a model separation of trypsin from dilute solution containing a large excess of bovine serum albumin.     

Detection of gastrin and its messenger RNA in Zollinger-Ellison tumors by non-radioactive in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry

Summary Gastrin immunocytochemistry and non-radioactive in situ hybridization, using biotinylated oligonucleotide probes, for gastrin mRNA have been used for studying a retrospective material of six gastrin-producing (Zollinger-Ellison) tumors. Hybridization results for gastrin mRNA were positive in all six, while gastrin immunoreactivity could be detected in five tumors. In one of the patients, different areas of the same tumor displayed differences in immunoreactivity to gastrin, but were uniformly hybridization positive. Weak hybridization signals were detected in liver metastases from a necropsy case, while the gastrin immunostaining was more pronounced. The results show that non-radioactive hybridization methods are applicable to routine clinical specimens stored for as long as 16 years and that in situ hybridization may be a useful complement to immunocytochemical diagnosis, particularly in cases where high synthesis and little storage of hormonal products occur.     

欺骗,契约,合作的ESS

动物竞争中的欺骗、契约、合作现象是极为常见的。本文就论述与此有关的ESS。一、欺骗某些动物竞争时信号a后跟随发生行为A,如一个体不出现A则为欺骗。欺骗是相对真实     

SHOULD ETHICAL CONCERNS REGULATE SCIENCE? THE EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE WITH THE HUMAN GENOME PROJECT

... The allocation of resources can indirectly control science by defining areas undesirable for research from the point of view of society. In the United States federal funds are not available for research on human embryos. The European experience represents a new approach to control of scientific research. The project is neither prohibited nor accepted in accordance with certain ethical rules, but is followed throughout the project. This new approach originates from the complexity of the human genome project and its unpredictable consequences for man.     

Polymerization and gelation of fibrinogen in D2O

The solution properties of fibrinogen and the thrombin-induced activation and gelation of fibrinogen in 95% D2O at pH 7.4 were compared to those in H2O under similar conditions. The initial release rates of fibrinopeptides A and B in D2O were slightly slower than those in H2O. However, the values of the Michaelis-Menten parameters Km and V for the release of the two peptides in D2O and H2O in the presence of 0.5 M NaCl were about the same. From turbidity measurements at 450 nm it is obvious that fibrinogen is soluble in a slightly more narrow range of NaCl concentration and that the fibrin gels have a higher degree of lateral aggregation in D2O than in H2O. The variation of fibrinogen concentration, thrombin concentration, pH and ionic a strength have a similar dependence on the final gel structure and clotting time in D2O and H2O. SDS-gel electrophoresis on fibrin samples, which were cross-linked by factor XIII, yielded results where the cross-linking of the gamma-chain appeared to be the same in D2O and H2O. The alpha-chain cross-linking was somewhat faster in D2O than in H2O. When fibrinogen solutions in 95% D2O were incubated at 20 mM CaCl2, a slow gelation of fibrinogen was observed, which was found to be induced by trace amounts of factor XIII. The final gel turbidity appeared to be about the same for this gelation as for that induced by thrombin. The differences in solubility for fibrinogen, kinetics for the enzyme reaction and optical properties for the fibrin gels in D2O and H2O may be explained by differences in electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding and hydration of fibrinogen in these two media.     

Sexual orientation, proceptivity, and receptivity in the male rat as a function of neonatal hormonal manipulation

The influence of neonatal androgen on the potential to exhibit feminine sexual behavior was investigated. Male rats castrated on Day 0 but not those castrated on Day 4 or later showed hop/darting, ear wiggling, and lordotic behavior in response to treatment with estrogen and progesterone in adulthood at a frequency equal to that of females. Neonatal treatment with testosterone propionate (1 mg/rat for 4 days) abolished the capacity to show these behaviors. In subsequent experiments, involving castration of male rats at 0 or 4 hr after cesarean delivery, the effect of the postnatal surge of testicular secretions on the expression of female sexual behavior was investigated. No differences were seen in the frequency of hop/darting, ear wiggling, and receptivity between males castrated immediately or 4 hr after delivery. In a preference test where the experimental male could choose between an estrous female and a sexually active male, the neonatally castrated males preferred the company of a male when treated with estrogen and progesterone. The implantation of testosterone resulted in a preference for an estrous female. It was concluded that testicular secretions in the newborn male influence adult sexual orientation and suppress the ability to show proceptive and receptive behaviors.     

Kinetic evidence for cytoplasmic calcium as an inhibitory messenger in parathyroid hormone release

A sudden change of extracellular Ca2+ from 0.5 to 3.0 mM resulted in a transient rise of the cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration (Ca2+i) followed by a sustained increase in parathyroid cells loaded with the Ca2+-indicator fura-2. The initial transient could be eliminated by increasing the Ca2+ buffering capacity of the cytoplasm. Under such conditions the rise of Ca2+i exhibited kinetics reminiscent of those for 45Ca uptake and cell depolarization. Addition of 0.5 mM Mn2+ mimicked the effect of raising the extracellular Ca2+ concentration, since there was an initial Ca2+i transient followed by a slower entry of Mn2+ into the cells. This reaction pattern was different from that of pancreatic alpha 2-cells in which there was no substantial influx of Mn2+ before depolarization with arginine. When measuring the kinetics of parathyroid hormone (PTH) release it was apparent that Ca2+ inhibition of secretion followed Ca2+i and thus became substantially delayed after eliminating the initial transient. The results support the concept of a depolarizing Ca2+ permeability in the parathyroid cell membrane which can be activated by external Ca2+, and indicate that Ca2+i is an inhibitory messenger of importance for the physiological regulation of PTH release.     

Lipid phase transitions in membranes involving intrinsic periodic curvature

A conformation of the lipid bilayer of membranes is proposed, with periodic curvature corresponding to the minimal surface structure of cubic lipid phases. Evidence is given indicating that activities of lipid synthesis/modification enzymes embedded in the membrane are controlled by the lateral "packing-pressure", so that the lipid bilayer is close to a transition from the lamellar (L alpha) type of conformation to this periodically curved conformation. Such a phase transition mechanism is assumed to be involved in numerous cooperative membrane functions.