Liver pathology in retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukoencephalopathy and systemic manifestations: vasculopathic disease beyond nodular regenerative hyperplasia.

Retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukoencephalopathy and systemic manifestations (RVCL-S) is a rare autosomal dominant disease resulting from a frame-shift mutation in TREX1, an intracellular 3'-5' exonuclease 1. Hepatic findings include an elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH). Affected individuals typically succumb to brain lesions before clinically apparent hepatic manifestations; thus, little else is known about the hepatic pathology.

Prolonged Effect of Seminal Plasma on Global Gene Expression in Porcine Endometrium.

Seminal plasma (SP) deposited in the porcine uterine tract at the time of mating is known to elicit an initial response that is beneficial for pregnancy outcome. However, whether SP has any long-term effect on alterations in endometrial molecular and cellular processes is not known. In this study, using microarray analyses, differential changes in endometrial transcriptome were evaluated after Day 6 of SP-infusion (6DPI) or Day 6 of pregnancy as compared to corresponding day of estrous cycle.

Lesion evolution and neurodegeneration in RVCL-S: A monogenic microvasculopathy.

Objective: To characterize lesion evolution and neurodegeneration in retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukoencephalopathy and systemic manifestations (RVCL-S) using multimodal MRI.

Methods: We prospectively performed MRI and cognitive testing in RVCL-S and healthy control cohorts. Gray and white matter volume and disruption of white matter microstructure were quantified.

Facilitated Transport of Copper(II) across Polymer Inclusion Membrane with Triazole Derivatives as Carrier.

This study investigates copper(II) ion transport through a polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) containing 1-alkyl-1,2,4-triazole (n = 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14), -nitrophenyl octyl ether as the plasticizer and cellulose triacetate as the polymer matrix. The feeding phase was a solution of 0.1 mol/dm and an equimolar (0.

Maternal effect gene expression in porcine metaphase II oocytes and embryos in vitro: effect of epidermal growth factor, interleukin-1β and leukemia inhibitory factor.

Maternal effect genes (MEG) play a crucial role in early embryogenesis. In vitro culture conditions may affect MEG expression in porcine oocytes and embryos. We investigated whether in vitro culture medium supplementation with epidermal growth factor (EGF), IL-1β or LIF (leukemia inhibitory factor) affects the mRNA level of ZAR-1 (zygote arrest 1), NPM2 (nucleoplasmin 2) and DPPA3 (developmental associated protein 3) in porcine MII oocytes and embryos.

Zygote arrest 1, nucleoplasmin 2, and developmentally associated protein 3 mRNA profiles throughout porcine embryo development in vitro.

Maternal effect genes (MEGs) are expressed in oocytes and embryos and play an important role in activation of the embryonic genome. An abnormality in the expression of these genes may lead to arrest of embryonic cleavage or to altered transcription of factors responsible for further embryonic development. In vitro-produced porcine embryos have a lower developmental potential than embryos produced in vivo.

PPAR ligand association with prostaglandin F2α and E2 synthesis in the pig corpus luteum-An in vitro study.

The present study evaluated the involvement of PPARs in prostaglandin (PG) E2 and F2α production in the corpus luteum (CL) of pigs on days 10-12 and 14-16 of the estrous cycle or pregnancy. The tissue explants were incubated for 6h in the presence of PPARα, PPARβ, PPARγ ligands. The concentration of PGs in the incubation media was determined by radioimmunoassay, while mRNA abundance of PG synthetases (PGES and PGFS) was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR.

Comparison of the porcine uterine smooth muscle contractility on days 12-14 of the estrous cycle and pregnancy.

Background: Uterine contractile activity is very important for many reproductive functions including embryo transport, implantation, gestation and parturition. Abnormal contractility leads to implantation failure, spontaneous miscarriage, preterm birth and many other disorders. The objective of the present study was to assess the effects of acetylcholine (ACh), noradrenaline (NA), oxytocin (OT) and prostaglandins F2α (PGF2α) and E2 (PGE2) on the contraction of uterine strips collected from the horns of cyclic gilts (12-14 days of the estrous cycle-group I) and from pregnant (12-14 days after first insemination gilts in which one of the uterine horn was gravid (group IIa) and the second one was non-gravid (group IIb).

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors in the regulation of female reproductive functions.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) belong to a ligand-dependent nuclear receptor family. In the past decade, numerous studies have revealed the presence and significance of PPARs in the reproductive system. PPARs are expressed at different levels of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis.

Proteomic analysis of porcine endometrial tissue during peri-implantation period reveals altered protein abundance.

Unlabelled: In mammals, successful pregnancy depends upon the readiness of uterus for implantation, followed by correct communication between the endometrium and the developing conceptus. The objective of this study was to elucidate changes in protein abundance associated with progression of estrous cycle and pregnancy from Day 9 to Day 12. We analyzed porcine endometrial tissue lysates by 2D-DIGE.

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor ligands affect progesterone and 17β-estradiol secretion by porcine corpus luteum during early pregnancy.

In the present study we investigated the effect of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) ligands on progesterone (P4) and 17β-estradiol (E2) secretion and 3b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ(5)-Δ(4) isomerase (3β-HSD) mRNA abundance in porcine corpora lutea (CL) collected on days 10-12 and 14-16 of the estrous cycle or pregnancy. The PPAR agonists reduced P4 secretion by the CL during pregnancy whereas they were ineffective during the estrous cycle. An inhibitory effect of WY-14643 (PPARα agonist) on P4 release was noted on days 14-16 of pregnancy.

The effect of hormonal estrus induction on maternal effect and apoptosis-related genes expression in porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes.

Background: The effect of hormonal estrus induction on maternal effect (MATER - maternal antigen that embryo requires, ZAR-1 - zygote arrest 1, and BMP15 - bone morphogenetic protein 15) and apoptosis-related genes expression (BCL-2 and BAX) in porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) and selected follicular parameters was investigated in this study.

Methods: Gilts were divided into three groups: (I) with natural estrus; (II) stimulated with PMSG/hCG; and (III) with PMSG/hCG + PGF2alpha. Analysis of maternal effect and apoptosis-related transcripts expression in COCs, and progesterone synthesis pathway genes expression (P450scc and 3betaHSD) in granulosa cells was performed by qPCR.

Effects of seminal plasma and the presence of a conceptus on regulation of lymphocyte-cytokine network in porcine endometrium.

Infusion of seminal plasma in the uterus is known to elicit an instant inflammatory response in the porcine uterus, but whether or not it prepares a uterine immunological response to the presence of conceptuses is not well understood. Seminal plasma induced long-term modulatory effects and conceptus-induced immune changes in leukocyte populations were measured by flow cytometry and mRNAs for various cytokines by quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR in porcine endometrium collected on Days 6 and 13 from cycling and pregnant animals or from animals given seminal plasma infusions. Seminal plasma infusion induced long-term modulatory effects, resulting in significantly more endometrial FoxP3-positive T-regulatory and T-helper cells 6 days after infusion as compared to cycling and pregnant animals.

The involvement of peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) in prostaglandin F2α production by porcine endometrium.

In the present study, we investigated the in vitro effects of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) ligands on PGF2α secretion and mRNA expression of prostaglandin F synthase (PGFS) in porcine endometrial explants collected on days 10-12 and 14-16 of the estrous cycle or pregnancy. The explants were incubated for 6h with: PPARα ligands - WY-14643 (agonist) and MK 886 (antagonist); PPARβ ligands - l-165,041 (agonist) and GW 9662 (antagonist); PPARγ ligands - 15d-prostaglandin J2 (PGJ2, agonist), rosiglitazone (agonist) and T0070907 (antagonist). The expression of PGFS mRNA in the endometrium and the concentration of PGF2α in culture media were determined by real time RT-PCR and radioimmunoassay, respectively.

The effect of embryo presence on the expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) genes in the porcine reproductive system during periimplantation.

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of the presence of embryos in the uterine horn on peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs; A, D, G) gene expression in the reproductive tissues of gilts subjected to a surgical procedure. The uterus consisted of one intact horn connected to the uterine corpus and the second horn detached from the uterine corpus but connected with the contiguous ovary. The gilts were hormonally stimulated and divided into two groups: the first group, inseminated (pregnant) and the second group (cyclic), with surgical procedure but not inseminated.

In vitro effect of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) ligands on prostaglandin E2 synthesis and secretion by porcine endometrium during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy.

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) are ligand-dependent transcriptional factors which are expressed in distinct tissues of the female reproductive system, including the ovary, uterus and placenta. An important role of PPARs in the regulation of reproductive processes has been previously highlighted in rodents. In the present study we investigated the in vitro effect of PPAR ligands on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release and prostaglandin E synthase (PGES) gene expression in the endometrial explants collected from cyclic (days 10-12 and 14-16 of the estrous cycle) or pregnant (days 10-12 and 14-16) pigs.

Transcript abundance and apoptosis in day-7 porcine blastocyst cultured with exogenous insulin-like growth factor-I.

Exogenous growth factors may increase the efficiency of embryo development in vitro. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I on porcine embryo development. Porcine embryos obtained by in vitro fertilization were cultured for seven days in the presence of IGF-I (50, 100 or 150ng/ml).

Participation of analogues of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA): oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate (L-alpha-LPA) and 1-oleoyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycerophosphothionate (OMPT) in uterine smooth muscle contractility of the pregnant pigs.

Recent studies show that a representative of phospholipids, namely lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and its receptors (LPA1.3) play a significant role in the reproductive processes, i. a, in the modulation of the uterine contractility.

Expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) genes in porcine endometrium exposed in vitro to IL-6 and INFγ.

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of interferon gamma (INFγ) or interleukin 6 (IL-6) on gene expression of PPARs in the porcine endometrium on day 14 of the estrous cycle and pregnancy. Endometrial tissue (200-210 mg), after 18 h of pre-incubation, was incubated for 6 or 12 h in the presence of INFγ (5 or 50 ng/ml) or IL-6 (1 or 10 ng/ml). Gene expression was analyzed by quantitative real time RT-PCR.

The quantitative expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) genes in porcine endometrium through the estrous cycle and early pregnancy.

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPAR) are a family of the nuclear receptors which play an important role as transcriptional factors. The aim of the present study was to determine the expression of PPARs (α, β, γ) mRNA in the porcine endometrium during the estrous cycle and periimplantation period. Gilts were divided into two groups (cyclic and pregnant), synchronized and superovulated.

Effect of the conceptus on uterine prostaglandin-F2alpha and prostaglandin-E2 release and synthesis during the periimplantation period in the pig.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the conceptus on uterine prostaglandin-F2alpha (PGF2alpha) and prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2) release and the expression of prostaglandin synthase enzymes during the periimplantation period in the pig. A surgically generated model with conceptuses developing in only one of the uterine horns was created. The highest concentration of PGF2alpha and PGE2 was found in the gravid uterine horn, compared with the non-gravid horn and the intact horn of cyclic gilts.

Biodegradation and surfactant-mediated biodegradation of diesel fuel by 218 microbial consortia are not correlated to cell surface hydrophobicity.

In this study, we elucidated the role of cell surface hydrophobicity (microbial adhesion to hydrocarbons method, MATH) and the effect of anionic rhamnolipids and nonionic Triton X-100 surfactants on biodegradation of diesel fuel employing 218 microbial consortia isolated from petroleum-contaminated soils. Applied enrichment procedure with floating diesel fuel as a sole carbon source in liquid cultures resulted in consortia of varying biodegradation potential and diametrically different cell surface properties, suggesting that cell surface hydrophobicity is a conserved parameter. Surprisingly, no correlations between cell surface hydrophobicity and biodegradation of diesel fuel were found.

Local and systemic effects of embryos on uterine tissues during early pregnancy in pigs.

In the pig, the periimplantation period is critical for successful establishment of pregnancy. We studied the influence of embryos on oxytocin (OT) and progesterone (P(4)) regulated endometrial and myometrial secretion of 1) luteotrophic prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and 2) luteolytic prostaglandin F(2alpha) and its metabolite (PGFM) on days 12-14 of pregnancy in pigs. We used unilaterally pregnant pigs created by a surgical procedure in which one uterine horn remained intact and the second horn was cut transversely so that part of the horn was detached from the uterine body.

Immune response to lytic peptides conjugated to a betaCG fragment in treated BALB/C mice.

Hecate-betaCG and Phor14-betaCG(ala) are relatively short, amphipathic alpha-helical cationic peptides with the ability to destroy selectively breast, prostate and ovarian cancer cells. Treatment with proteins and peptides frequently initiated antibody formation. Short peptides may minimize the risk of the immune system mobilization after treatment but it is necessary to investigate whether Hecate-betaCG and Phor14-betaCG(ala) induce the immune system to produce antibody and whether they affect the reproductive organs in normal wild-type mice.

Conceptus signals for establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in pigs - lipid signaling system.

Establishment of pregnancy in pigs requires estrogen secretion by the conceptus. The developmental changes of embryo before implantation and embryo-uterine cross talk are dependent on various biological molecules secreted by the endometrium and conceptus. An integral part of maternal recognition of pregnancy seems to be also the lipid signaling system consisting of prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha and E2 and/or lysophosphatic acid (LPA).