Expression and localization of nodal in bovine oviduct and uterus during different functional stages of oestrus cycle and pregnancy

Members of TGF-β superfamily play a major role in the endometrial changes involved in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Their deregulated expression and action could lead to absolute or partial failure of embryo implantation. Nonetheless, the precise function and mechanism of many of these cytokines remain unclear. Nodal, a transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) superfamily member, was characterized in the human and rodent uterus and implicated in the tissue remodeling events during menstruation and embryo implantation. In order to study its possible role in the cattle reproductive process, we have analyzed Nodal expression pattern and localization in the oviduct and uterine horn during the oestrus cycle and early pregnancy (day 20). Nodal was detected both in oviduct and uterus during either the oestrus cycle or pregnancy; however, it shows a differential expression profile in the uterine horn at dioestrus and pregnancy, decreasing 1.5 and 1.4 folds in comparison with oestrus. Nodal immunostaining intensity was observed in stromal and in epithelial cells of the surface and the glandular epithelium. The staining pattern correlates with the RT-qPCR expression profile. This work is the first to evidence the presence of Nodal in the bovine reproductive tract; our data suggest that Nodal is a novel cytokine that would be involved in the remodelling occurring in the endometrium of cattle during the oestrus cycle and in the embryo implantation. The identification of new molecules that participate in endometrium cycling and/or pregnancy may be useful for predicting the ability of the uterine tissue to establish and maintain pregnancy or for detecting the infertility processes. These results highlight Nodal as a possible novel marker of the fertility process, nevertheless further studies should be done to determine its role in the reproductive system.     

Insights into the susceptibility of raspberries to Drosophila suzukii oviposition

The spotted wing drosophila (SWD) causes massive losses in red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) cultivation by direct oviposition leading to damages of the soft skin fruits. Knowledge of the fly's host preference could help farmers in managing the pest. We used a laboratory-based oviposition assay for screening the germplasm of Rubus to ascertain whether the spotted wing drosophila prefers certain cultivars to others for oviposition and if preference is based on citric acid and Brix content or firmness. Correlation analyses of evaluated characters with no-choice tests results in 3 years obtained no correlation between citric acid, Brix content and oviposition. Primocane raspberries were lower affected by SWD than floricane raspberries. The Rubus hybrid cultivar “Dorman Red” and the primocane cultivar “Pokusa” showed the lowest oviposition rate compared to the other 58 evaluated genotypes. We found that oviposition correlates to firmness of the investigated cultivars, which strongly indicates that host preference is partly connected to that character in raspberries. The results are discussed regarding the use of Rubus genetic resources in breeding and integrated pest management to control spotted wing drosophila in the field.     

Orcadian Rhythm of Trehalose in the Face Fly Musca Autumnalis De Geer

Trehalose levels were determined over two 24 hr spans in groups of face fly adults 3-4 days after emergence from the puparium. Face fly pupae were placed in rearing chambers at 27° C in a staggered light-dark regimen, LD 16:8, so that at a given clock hour, samples could be obtained at several different hours after lights on (HALO). Trehalose was determined in hemolymph collected from a puncture in the intersegmental membrane of the abdomen. Treated hemolymph samples were passed through a Bio-Rad Amino S-S disaccharide column and a Waters 410 refractive index detector was used to differentiate among sugars. The circadian acrophase derived by cosinor analysis in hemolymph trehalose (when the values were 25.49 and 26.86μg/μ¹ on the first and second days respectively) occurred at -226° (ca 15 HALO) and the bathyphase at 24 HALO. The mesor = 11.82μg/μ¹ trehalose, the amplitude = 8.57/μg/μ¹ trehalose and the P-value for presence of a rhythm was 0.003. Based on these data, differences between control and test flies in a bioassay of hypertrehalosemic activity would be most easily observed at 0-8 HALO, while exogenous hypotrehalosemic activity would be best assayed at 12-20 HALO.     

Analysis of pollen proteins of Typha species in relation to identification of hybrids

Hybridization studies have been carried out with Typha angustifolia, T. latifolia, T. shuttleworthii and T. minima. All combinations, except those with T. minima, were successful. The hybrid $\text{T. latifolia (♀) × T. angustifolia (♂)}$ has been obtained after 5 attempts involving hundreds of pollinations. The pollen proteins of the parental as well as the F₁ generation have been examined by isoelectrofocusing (IEF). The proteins from each species and each hybrid form displayed a distinct and constant pattern. The pollen protein profile thus represents a new, quite easily accessible character by which F₁ hybrids between the species studied can be unequivocally identified, whereas the morphological criteria described in the literature to distinguish intermediate forms is insufficient for this purpose.     

Über die Eigenschaften und die Bedeutung der Panethschen Körnerzellen in der Tierreihe

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