Selection of buffalo bulls: Sexual behavior and its relationship to semen production and fertility

Forty-four buffalo bulls, used for artificial insemination, were studied to develop libido, mating ability and sexual behavior indices for selection purposes. For each index, 5 categories (i.e., excellent, very good, good, fair and poor) were established. The sexual behavior index was found to be more reliable than the libido and mating ability indices. Buffalo bulls in good to excellent categories were considered acceptable sires.

Reaction time, sexual aggressiveness, and scores of libido, mating ability and sexual behavior differed significantly among the various categories of the 3 indices. Libido significantly correlated with mating ability (r=0.89; P<0.001). Sexual behavior expressed significant relationship with age (r=0.41; P<0.01) and body weight (r=0.48; P<0.01), but was nonsignificant with the scrotal circumference (r=0.28; P>0.05) of buffalo bulls. However, these relationships were absent (P>0.05) in the acceptable sires. Semen production was correlated with sexual behavior in only the fair and poor categories of buffalo bulls (r=0.84; P<0.005). Sexual behavior had no relationship with the fertility rate of buffalo bulls (r=0.44; P>0.05). It is concluded that the sexual behavior index can be used successfully for the selection of buffalo bulls. Excellent- to good bulls should be used in an artificial breeding program if they qualify in the other selection indices.     

Sugars and plant innate immunity

Sugars are involved in many metabolic and signalling pathways in plants. Sugar signals may also contribute to immune responses against pathogens and probably function as priming molecules leading to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP)-triggered immunity and effector-triggered immunity in plants. These putative roles also depend greatly on coordinated relationships with hormones and the light status in an intricate network. Although evidence in favour of sugar-mediated plant immunity is accumulating, more in-depth fundamental research is required to unravel the sugar signalling pathways involved. This might pave the way for the use of biodegradable sugar-(like) compounds to counteract plant diseases as cheaper and safer alternatives for toxic agrochemicals.     

A comparative study of DNA complexation with Mg(II) and Ca(II) in aqueous solution: major and minor grooves bindings

Although structural differences for the Mg-DNA and Ca-DNA complexes are provided in the solid state, such comparative study in aqueous solution has been less investigated. The aim of this study was to examine the bindings of Mg and Ca cations with calf thymus DNA in aqueous solution at physiological pH, using constant concentration of DNA (1.25 or 12.5 mM) and various concentrations of metal ions (2 microM-650 microM). Capillary electrophoresis, UV-visible, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic methods were used to determine the cation-binding modes, the binding constants, and DNA structural variations in aqueous solution. Direct Ca-PO(2) binding was evident by major spectral changes (shifting and splitting) of the backbone PO(2) asymmetric stretching at 1222 cm(-1) with K = 4.80 x 10(5) M(-1), whereas an indirect Mg-phosphate interaction occurred (due to the lack of shifting and splitting of the phosphate band at 1222 cm(-1)) with K = 5.6 x 10(4) M(-1). The metal-base bindings were directly for the Mg with K = 3.20 x 10(5) M(-1) and indirectly for the Ca cation with K = 3.0 x 10(4) M(-1). Both major and minor groove bindings were observed with no alteration of the B-DNA conformation.     

Therapeutic effects of Typha elephantina leave’s extract against paracetamol induced renal injury in rabbits

Present study focuses on ameliorative potential of Typha elephantina leave’s aqueous (TE.AQ) extract against Paracetamol (PCM) induced toxicity in rabbits. We fed the male rabbits with 300 mg PCM in alone and in combination with TE.AQ at different doses i.e. (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight) or silymarin (100 mg/kg) daily for 21 days. PCM in alone significantly (P < 0.5) increased serum urea, uric acid, creatinine, total protein, albumin, globulin and blood urea nitrogen. Serum sodium, potassium and magnesium level were high. The glutathione, radical scavenging activity and Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were significantly reduced. Treatment with TE.AQ at dose rate 300 mg/kg body weight and Silymarin significantly ameliorated all the parameters when compared with PCM administered group. The 100 and 200 mg of TE.AQ showed no significant effects. The histopathological examination confirmed the therapeutic potential of TE.AQ. These results established the presence of natural antioxidants in Typha elephantina leaves.     

Draft genome sequence of the volcano-inhabiting thermoacidophilic methanotroph Methylacidiphilum fumariolicum strain SolV

The draft genome of Methylacidiphilum fumariolicum SolV, a thermoacidophilic methanotroph of the phylum Verrucomicrobia, is presented. Annotation revealed pathways for one-carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen catabolism and respiration together with central metabolic pathways. The genome encodes three orthologues of particulate methane monooxygenases. Sequencing of this genome will help in the understanding of methane cycling in volcanic environments.     

Maintaining blood–brain barrier integrity: Pericytes perform better than astrocytes during prolonged oxygen deprivation

The blood–brain barrier (BBB), consisting of specialized endothelial cells surrounded by astrocytes and pericytes, plays a crucial role in brain homeostasis. Many cerebrovascular diseases are associated with BBB breakdown and oxygen (O₂) deprivation constitutes a critical factor that onsets its disruption. We investigated the impact of astrocytes and pericytes on brain endothelial cell permeability and survival during different degrees of O₂ deprivation. Prolonged exposure to 1% O₂ caused barrier breakdown and exposure to 0.1% O₂ dramatically accelerated disruption and induced cell death, mediated at least in part via caspase‐3 activation. Reoxygenation allowed only cells exposed to 1% O₂ to re‐establish barrier function. Notably co‐culture with astrocytes and pericytes substantially enhanced barrier function under normoxic conditions, and produced differential responses during O₂ deprivation. At 1% O₂ astrocytes partially maintained barrier integrity whereas pericytes accelerated its disruption in the short‐term, having positive effects only after prolonged exposure. Unexpectedly, at 0.1% O₂ pericytes were more effective than astrocytes in preserving barrier function although the protection afforded by both cells involved inhibition of caspase‐3 pathways. Furthermore, cell‐specific regulation of auto‐ and paracrine VEGF signaling pathways were also in part responsible for the differential modulation of barrier function. Our data suggests that cellular cross‐talk within the neurovascular unit is crucial for preservation of barrier integrity and that pericytes, not astrocytes, play a significant role during severe and prolonged O₂ deprivation. J. Cell. Physiol. 218: 612–622, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Effects of Choline on Meat Quality and Intramuscular Fat in Intrauterine Growth Retardation Pigs

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of choline supplementation on intramuscular fat (IMF) and lipid oxidation in IUGR pigs. Twelve normal body weight (NBW) and twelve intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) newborn piglets were collected and distributed into 4 treatments (Normal: N, Normal+Choline: N+C, IUGR: I, and IUGR+Choline: I+C) with 6 piglets in each treatment. At 23 d of age, NBW and IUGR pigs were fed basal or choline supplemented diets. The results showed that the IUGR pigs had significantly lower (P<0.05) BW as compared with the NBW pigs at 23 d, 73 d, and 120 d of age, however, there was a slight decreased (P>0.05) in BW of IUGR pigs than the NBW pigs at 200 d. Compared with the NBW pigs, pH of meat longissimus dorsi muscle was significantly lower (P<0.05), and the meat color was improved in IUGR pigs. The malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly decreased (P<0.05), while triglyceride (TG) and IMF contents were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the IUGR pigs than the NBW pigs. IUGR up-regulated the mRNA gene expression of fatty acid synthetase (FAS) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). Dietary choline significantly increased (P<0.05) the BW at 120d of age, however, significantly decreased (P<0.05) the TG and IMF contents in both IUGR and NBW pigs. FAS and sterol regulatory element-binding proteins 1 (SREBP1) mRNA gene expressions were increased (P<0.05) while the muscle-carnitine palmityl transferase (M-CPT) and peroxisome proliferators-activated receptorγ (PPARγ) mRNA (P<0.05) gene expressions were decreased in the muscles of the IUGR pigs by choline supplementation. Furthermore, choline supplementation significantly increased (P<0.05) the MDA content as well as the O₂•¯ scavenging activity in meat of IUGR pigs. The results suggested that IUGR pigs showed a permanent stunting effect on the growth performance, increased fat deposition and oxidative stress in muscles. However, dietary supplementation of choline improved the fat deposition via enhancing the lipogenesis and reducing the lipolysis.     

3-Deoxyglucosone: A Potential Glycating Agent Accountable for Structural Alteration in H3 Histone Protein through Generation of Different AGEs

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are heterogeneous group of compounds, known to be implicated in diabetic complications. One of the consequences of the Maillard reaction is attributed to the production of reactive intermediate products such as α-oxoaldehydes. 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG), an α-oxoaldehyde has been found to be involved in accelerating vascular damage during diabetes. In the present study, calf thymus histone H3 was treated with 3-deoxyglucosone to investigate the generation of AGEs (N^ε-carboxymethyllysine, pentosidine), by examining the degree of side chain modifications and formation of different intermediates and employing various physicochemical techniques. The results clearly indicate the formation of AGEs and structural changes upon glycation of H3 by 3-deoxyglucosone, which may hamper the normal functioning of H3 histone, that may compromise the veracity of chromatin structures and function in secondary complications of diabetes.