Effects of the GnRH analogue deslorelin implants on reproduction in female domestic cats

The aim of the present study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of deslorelin, a GnRH agonist, implants in suppressing estrus behavior and matings in a controlled ambient environment in feline queens in the presence of a tomcat. Local and utero-ovarian side effects of deslorelin implants were also investigated. The queens were housed in groups and assigned to one of three treatments: group 1 received 9.5 mg deslorelin implants (N = 14), group 2 received 5 mg megestrol acetate tablets and 9.5 mg deslorelin implants (N = 7), and group 3 were given placebo implants (N = 7). All implants were placed subcutaneously cranial to the interscapular region under xylazine hydrochloride sedation. Ovarian activity was monitored by fecal estradiol (E₂) analyses. The animals were observed daily and checked individually at three-day intervals for behavioral signs of estrus. After 18.5 mo of trial, queens were ovariohysterectomized, and ovaries and uteri were weighed and evaluated histologically. E₂ levels were significantly lower in group 1 and 2 than in group 3 with an average of 128.48 ± 19.97 ng/g, 90.44 ± 7.16 ng/g and 283.26 ± 39.21 ng/g, respectively, excepting the first week of treatment. After inserting implants an initial estrus-like increase in fecal E₂ concentrations occurred in all treated queens except one female in group 2. Ovarian and uterine weights were significantly different among the groups (P < 0.01), and were lowest in groups 1 and 2. Primordial and primary follicle numbers were significantly higher in groups 1 and 2 than in group 3 (P < 0.001). Endometrial gland, antral follicle, and corpus luteum (CL) numbers were highest in group 3 (P < 0.01, 0.001, and 0.001, respectively) compared with groups 1 and 2. Deslorelin implants successfully suppressed estrus behavior and E₂ secretion in queens for 18.5 mo of the study period. Further investigations are needed to demonstrate the effects of GnRH agonists on ovarian interstitial tissue.     

A diet rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids reduced prostaglandin biosynthesis, ovulation rate, and litter size in mice

Successful cryopreservation is usually measured in terms of cell survival. However, there may also be more subtle effects within cells that survive. Previous studies on zebrafish have produced evidence of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage in cryopreserved embryonic blastomeres and, after exposure to cryoprotectants, alterations in mtDNA replication in embryos and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, mtDNA and ATP production in ovarian follicles. This study shows that the decreased ATP levels previously observed in stage III zebrafish ovarian follicles exposed to ≥3 M methanol persisted in those follicles that subsequently developed to stage IV. However, the decreased mtDNA levels were restored in those follicles. In order to determine whether mitochondrial distribution and/or their transport network was affected by the methanol exposure, immunocytochemistry analysis of tubulin and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COX-I) was performed, along with phalloidin staining of polymerized actin. Neat arrangements of all proteins were observed in control follicles, with COX-I and tubulin being colocalized near granulosa cell nuclei, while actin formed hexagonal and/or polygonal structures nearer granulosa cell membranes and projected into the oocyte surface. Exposure to methanol (2 to 4 M) disrupted the COX-I and tubulin arrangements and the hexagonal and/or polygonal actin distribution and actin projections into the oocyte. These effects were still observed in those follicles that developed to stage IV, although the severity was reduced. In summary, the disruption to function and distribution of mitochondria in ovarian follicles exposed to > 2 M methanol may be mediated via disruption of the mitochondrial transport system. Some recovery of this disruption may take place after methanol removal and subsequent follicle maturation.     

Subpopulation distribution of motile sperm relative to activation medium in steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

In the present study, steelhead sperm were activated in artificial tap water, ovarian fluid, activating saline, or in combinations of these media, and motility characteristics were determined using computer-assisted sperm analysis. Motility characteristics of individual sperm were then assessed to test the hypothesis that motile sperm are distributed among discrete subpopulations and that their distribution is influenced by the activation medium. Analysis with k-means clustering detected three discrete motile sperm subpopulations in steelhead semen, regardless of the activation medium. Based on multivariate analysis of variance, proportions of these subpopulations did not differ between sperm activated with ovarian fluid and activating saline, or any combination of these two media. However, subpopulation distributions for sperm activated with either ovarian fluid or activating saline were influenced by the level of dilution of these media in artificial tap water. There was an increase in the number of sperm in high velocity (curvilinear), high straightness, and high wobble subpopulation with increased levels of ovarian fluid or activating saline. The change in sperm motility characteristics with a change in activation medium may play a role in normal fertilization, as discharged sperm pass from seminal plasma and water through ovarian fluid en route to the egg.     

Consequences of early chilling stress in two Triticum species: plastic responses and adaptive significance

Phenotypic plasticity of two primitive wheat species (Triticum monococcum L. and Triticum dicoccum S.) was studied in response to early chilling stress. Selection pressure differentials, gradients and plasticity costs on plant morphogenesis, growth and reserve carbohydrate consumption were estimated. Regression analysis was applied to investigate differential developmental changes and patterns between treatments. Four‐day‐old seedlings of T. monococcum and T. dicoccum, differing in plant stature and reserve carbohydrates, were given an early chilling temperature (4 °C for 42 day) and compared with control plants grown at 23 °C. Early chilling stress resulted in a significant increase in leaf mass ratio (LMR) and relative growth rate (RGR), a reduction in flag leaf size, total biomass, specific leaf area (SLA) and reserve carbohydrate storage at flowering, together with advanced onset of flowering. Selection pressure within the early chilling environment favoured early flowering, smaller SLA, higher LMR and lower reserve carbohydrates, suggesting the observed responses were adaptive. Furthermore, a regression of daily cumulative plant biomass derived from a crop growth simulation model (CERES‐Wheat) on crop vegetation period revealed a divergent developmental pattern in early‐chilled plants. Using selection pressure gradient analysis, we found similar responses among these traits, except for SLA and sucrose, indicating that these two traits have indirect effects on fitness. Thus, the total effects of SLA and reserve sucrose on relative fitness seem to be buffered via the rapid growth rate in chilled plants. While lower SLA may reduce early chilling stress effects at an individual leaf level, a higher LMR and use of reserve carbohydrates indicated that compensatory growth of chilled plants during the recovery period relied on the concerted action of altered resource allocation and reserve carbohydrate consumption. However, a significant cost of plasticity was evident only for flowering time, LMR and fructan levels in the early chilling environment. Our results demonstrate that morphological and intrinsic developmental (ontogenetic) patterns in two Triticum species respond to early chilling stress.     

Maximising return on conservation investment in the conterminous USA

Efficient conservation planning requires knowledge about conservation targets, threats to those targets, costs of conservation and the marginal return to additional conservation efforts. Systematic conservation planning typically only takes a small piece of this complex puzzle into account. Here, we use a return‐on‐investment (ROI) approach to prioritise lands for conservation at the county level in the conterminous USA. Our approach accounts for species richness, county area, the proportion of species' ranges already protected, the threat of land conversion and land costs. Areas selected by a complementarity‐based greedy heuristic using our full ROI approach provided greater averted species losses per dollar spent compared with areas selected by heuristics accounting for richness alone or richness and cost, and avoided acquiring lands not threatened with conversion. In contrast to traditional prioritisation approaches, our results highlight conservation bargains, opportunities to avert the threat of development and places where conservation efforts are currently lacking.     

趋化因子SD-1及其受体CXCR4在卵巢癌中的研究进展

基质细胞衍生因子-1(Stromal cell derived factor-1,SDF-1)是CXC趋化因子家族的重要成员,系统命名为CXCL12,能与它的唯一受体CXC趋化因子受体-4(CXC chemokine receptor-4,CXCR4)形成CXCL12-CXCR4生物学轴,CXCL12-CXCR4生物学轴在肿瘤生长、侵袭、转移过程中发生重要作用。到目前为止,已发现CXCL12-CXCR4在卵巢癌、胰腺癌、肝癌等多种肿瘤组织中表达。然而,国内目前还没有关于CXCL12-CXCR4与卵巢癌关系的相关综述,本文将从趋化因子CXCL12及其受体CXCR4,CXCL12/CXCR4轴与卵巢癌细胞系实验研究,CXCL12-CXCR4轴与卵巢癌的临床研究,CXCL12/CXCR4与卵巢癌预后,CXCL12/CXCR4与卵巢癌治疗展望等五个方面对CXCL12-CXCR4生物轴与卵巢癌的关系,及其在卵巢癌治疗中的应用展开综述。     

P38 MAPK 信号传导通路与卵巢癌关系的研究进展

丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(mitogen-activated proteinkinases,MAPKs)级联反应是细胞内重要的信号传导系统之一,参与细胞生长、发育、分化和凋亡等一系列生理、病理过程.P38 MAPK信号传导通路是MAPK通路的分支之一,介导了应激、炎性细胞因子、细菌产物等多种刺激引起的细胞反应,对细胞周期调控具有重要作用.但对不同的卵巢癌细胞系,或者不同的刺激,P38通路的作用不完全相同,甚至可能相反,提示对P38通路的功能仍需进一步的研究,他可能是肿瘤治疗的新靶点.本文就P38 MAPK信号传导通路与卵巢癌关系作一综述。     

转化因子-β 受体III

转化生长因子-β(transforming growth factor-β,TGF-β)受体Ⅲ,又称为β蛋白聚糖(betaglycan),是一种膜锚定蛋白。TGF-β受体Ⅲ是表达最为丰富的TGF-β受体,曾被认为是TGF-β超家族(包括TGF-β、激活素和抑制素等)的辅助受体。后来研究表明,它在介导和调节TGF-β的信号转导中具有非常重要的、不可替代的作用。它通过与TGF-β形成复合体来介导对靶细胞的作用。在没有TGF配体的情况下,TGF-β受体Ⅲ可以激活p38信号,表明这一受体可能与不依赖TGF-β的信号通路相互作用。TGFβ受体Ⅲ还可以结合并调节抑制素的信号转导。TGFβ受体Ⅲ与抑制素A结合,形成一个稳定的高亲和复合物。体外研究表明,TGFβ受体III还结合抑制素B和强化抑制素与Ⅱ型激活素受体的关系。有关报道显示TGFβ受体Ⅲ在卵巢癌中具有肿瘤抑制的作用。研究表明,在上皮源性卵巢癌中,TGFβ受体Ⅲ mRNA和蛋白质表达降低或丢失,丢失的程度与肿瘤分级相关。有很多因素可以影响并调节该受体的表达,如雌激素、卵泡刺激素(FSH)、TGF-β1等,深入开展相关机制的研究,对于癌症的治疗和预防将会起到一定的推动作用。     

肿瘤标志物在卵巢恶性肿瘤早期误诊预防中的价值

目的:探讨糖类抗原CA125、CEA与CA199联合检测对卵巢癌有一定的鉴别诊断价值。方法:应用化学发光免疫法对126例经病理查证实的卵巢癌患者(试验组)、104例良性肿瘤患者(对照组)进行血清CA125、CEA与CA199检测。结果:试验组血清检测结果和阳性率均明显高于对照组(P<0.01),联合检测阳性率高于单项检测(P<0.01)。结论:应用检验医学进行CA125、CEA与CA199联合检测对卵巢癌有一定的鉴别诊断价值。可降低误诊率。     

卵巢癌患者血清的拉曼光谱研究初探

目的:探究拉曼光谱技术应用于卵巢癌研究的可能性。方法:收集卵巢癌患者血清及健康人血清各20例,用激光共聚焦显微拉曼光谱仪进行检测。结果:两组血清的平均拉曼光谱形态和谱峰基本相似,但在约1010、1158、1283、1520、1646、2307和2661cm-17个拉曼频移附近,卵巢癌患者血清的拉曼光谱谱峰强度明显低于健康对照组,而在其余大部分波段,卵巢癌患者血清的拉曼光谱强度均高于健康对照组。结论:拉曼光谱技术可以初步区分卵巢癌及健康人血清,值得进一步研究和探讨其临床应用价值。