Relationship between more follicles in right than left ovary in recently born calves and right ovary propensity for ovulation in cattle

The mechanism for more frequent ovulation from right ovary (RO) than left ovary (LO) was considered by determining if RO of recently born calves had a propensity for more follicles. Rationale was from reports that RO in heifers has more 6-mm follicles before selection of the future ovulatory follicle as well as greater frequency of RO ovulation. Dimensions, weight, and number of follicles per ovary were compared between LO and RO in 10 Holstein calves (age, 1 to 7 days). Weight of an ovary was greater (P < 0.05) for RO (0.393 ± 0.04 g) than LO (0.355 ± 0.05 g). Follicles were delineated by translucency of follicular fluid from transmitted light. Follicles from 0.3 mm diameter (smallest identified) to 4.8 mm (largest present) were counted. Mean number of translucent antral follicles (8.1 ± 1.8 vs 5.3 ± 1.2 follicles) and means for follicle diameter, fluid volume, and surface area were each greater (P < 0.01) for RO than LO. Combined for all diameters (0.3–4.8 mm), the hypothesis was supported that more follicles are present in RO than LO in calves 1 to 7 days of age. Although follicle activity in the fetus has not been compared between LO and RO, more follicles in RO than LO in recently born calves is consistent with the concept that the propensity for RO ovulation is congenital.     

Polyvanadate acts at the level of plasma membranes through α-adrenergic receptor and affects cellular calcium distribution and some oxidation activities

The activities of calcium-stimulated respiration, calcium uptake, α-glycero-phosphate dehydrogenase and rates of oxidation in state 3 and of H²O² generation, were found to increase and that of pyruvate dehydrogenase decrease in mitochondria isolated from livers of rats administered intraperitoneally or perfused with polyvanadate. Phenoxybenzamine, an antagonist of α-adrenergic receptor, effectively prevented these changes. It was also found that perfusion of the liver with polyvanadate reproduced one of the best characterized events of α-adrenergic activation-stimulation of protein kinase C in plasma membrane accompanied by its decrease in cytosol. These experiments indicate for the first time the α-adrenergic mimetic action of polyvanadate.     

Novel behaviour shown by an Asian elephant in the context of allomothering

In the absence of large sample sizes, logistic difficulties, and, more importantly, knowledge about appropriate hypotheses to test cognition in elephants, reliable anecdotal observations from field studies are increasingly being realized as valuable in this context. I report here a novel behaviour shown by a subadult female in the context of allomothering. The observation was made as part of a long-term study of social organization and behaviour in free-ranging Asian elephants in southern India. A subadult, nulliparous female, Genette, while allomothering a calf, was confronted by the calf persistently trying to suck at Genette’s mammary glands. This was presumably uncomfortable for Genette, as evidenced by her reactions of avoiding, kicking, and nudging the calf away. She, however, started offering her trunk tip to the calf to suck, and this behaviour was seen repeatedly, with the calf actively sucking on it as if drinking milk. I discuss how this trunk-sucking behaviour differs from related behaviours previously seen in elephants and how this might be a case of problem solving.     

Correction to: Hyperglycaemia cause vascular inflammation through advanced glycation end products/early growth response-1 axis in gestational diabetes mellitus

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry -     

Targeting Oncogenes into a Defined Subset of Mammary Cells Demonstrates That the Initiating Oncogenic Mutation Defines the Resulting Tumor Phenotype

Breast cancers exhibit high intertumoral heterogeneity in genetic alterations as well as histopathological and other phenotypic characteristics. The contribution of the initiating oncogenic mutation to tumor phenotype remains controversial, largely due to the technical difficulties in delivering genetic alterations into well-defined subsets of mammary epithelial cells. To examine how different initiating oncogenes drive tumor phenotype, we somatically delivered two oncogenes (ErbB2, PyMT) into a narrow and distinct subset of the mouse mammary epithelium defined by the expression of the progenitor marker keratin 6a (Krt6a), and compared the phenotypes of the resulting mammary tumors. While PyMT-induced tumors were well-differentiated and displayed glandular and papillary features, ErbB2-induced tumors were poorly differentiated and exhibited epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition as well as β-catenin activation. These in vivo data demonstrate that the initiating oncogene plays a key role in driving mammary tumor phenotype.