Contrasting Disease Progression, Microglia Reactivity, Tolerance, and Resistance to Infection in Two Mouse Strains.

Our study investigated the innate immune response to infection by assessing microglial phenotypic changes and sickness behavior as inflammatory response markers post-ocular tachyzoite instillation. Disease progression in Swiss albino mice was compared with the previously documented outcomes in BALB/c mice using an identical ocular route and parasite burden (2 × 10 tachyzoites), with saline as the control. Contrary to expectations, the Swiss albino mice displayed rapid, lethal disease progression, marked by pronounced sickness behaviors and mortality within 11-12 days post-infection, while the survivors exhibited no apparent signs of infection.

Dynamics of transcription is affected by oxygen tension and developmental speed during in vitro production of bovine embryos.

This study examines the impact of oxygen tension and embryo kinetics on gene transcription dynamics in pathways crucial for embryonic preimplantation development, including lipid metabolism, carbohydrate transport and metabolism, mitochondrial function, stress response, apoptosis and transcription regulation. Bovine embryos were generated in vitro and allocated into two groups based on oxygen tension (20% or 5%) at 18 h post insemination (hpi). At 40 hpi, embryos were categorized into Fast (≥4 cells) or Slow (2 cells) groups, resulting in four experimental groups: FCL20, FCL5, SCL20 and SCL5.

Impact of Extraction Methods and Transportation Conditions on Lipid Profiles of Bovine Oocytes.

Lipids play numerous pivotal physiological roles in mammalian reproduction, being indispensable for oocyte competence acquisition and post-fertilization embryonic development. Profiling lipids in minute samples, such as oocytes, presents challenges but has been accomplished through mass spectrometry technologies like Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) profiling. With the dual objectives of simplifying workflow and examining the influence of preanalytical conditions, we assessed whether transportation at room temperature affects the lipid profile of bovine oocytes.

The central role of pyruvate metabolism on the epigenetic maturation and transcriptional profile of bovine oocytes.

In Brief: Pyruvate metabolism is one of the main metabolic pathways during oocyte maturation. This study demonstrates that pyruvate metabolism also regulates the epigenetic and molecular maturation in bovine oocytes.

Abstract: Pyruvate, the final product of glycolysis, undergoes conversion into acetyl-CoA within the mitochondria of oocytes, serving as a primary fuel source for the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle.

Effect of lipid extraction and room temperature transportation of bovine oocytes determined by MRM profiling.

Lipids play many important physiological roles in mammalian reproduction, being essential for the acquisition of oocyte competence and post-fertilization embryonic development. Lipid profiling in samples of minute size, such as oocytes, is challenging but has been achieved by mass spectrometry technologies such as multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) profiling. With the goals of further simplifying sample workflow and investigating the influence of pre-analytical conditions, we have evaluated how different extraction methods and transportation of lipid extracts in vacuum and at room temperature impacted the lipid profile of bovine oocytes.

Assessment of River-Aquifer Interaction and Nitrogen Contamination in an Agricultural Zone Located in the Guarani Aquifer System Outcrop Area.

The excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers is responsible for an increase in nitrate concentrations in water bodies, which in the future could led to an irreversible contamination compromising the water resource quality. In this way, understand the water movement within a watershed and evaluate the impacts related to agricultural practices is relevant for water management, especially in an environmental fragile region, such as the outcrop area of the Guarani Aquifer. Water samples from a small watershed located at the Guarani Aquifer region in São Paulo state, representing surface water and groundwater discharge in riverbeds from two creeks, as well as groundwater (springs and wells) were collected for isotopic ratios (δ18O e δ2H) and nitrate determination.

Metabolic stressful environment drives epigenetic modifications in oviduct epithelial cells.

The oviduct provides a suitable microenvironment from the gametes' final maturation until initial embryo development. Dynamic functional changes are observed in the oviduct cells, mainly controlled by steroid hormones and well-orchestrated during the estrous cycle. However, based on the roles played by the oviduct, additional layers of complexity might be present in its regulatory process.

Genome-wide methylation profile of mitochondrial DNA across bovine preimplantation development.

This study characterized variations in the methylation profile of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) during initial bovine embryo development and correlated the presence of methylation with mtDNA transcription. Bovine oocytes were obtained from abattoir ovaries and submitted to culture procedures. Oocytes and embryos were collected at various stages (immature oocyte, IM; mature oocyte, MII; zygote, ZY; 4-cells, 4C; 16-cells, 16C and blastocysts, BL).

Adaptative response to changes in pyruvate metabolism on the epigenetic landscapes and transcriptomics of bovine embryos.

The epigenetic reprogramming that occurs during the earliest stages of embryonic development has been described as crucial for the initial events of cell specification and differentiation. Recently, the metabolic status of the embryo has gained attention as one of the main factors coordinating epigenetic events. In this work, we investigate the link between pyruvate metabolism and epigenetic regulation by culturing bovine embryos from day 5 in the presence of dichloroacetate (DCA), a pyruvate analog that increases the pyruvate to acetyl-CoA conversion, and iodoacetate (IA), which inhibits the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), leading to glycolysis inhibition.

Lipid availability during in vitro maturation alters oocyte lipid content and blastocyst development and metabolism.

Lipids play a crucial role in various biological functions, including membrane composition, energy storage, cell signalling, and metabolic and epigenetic processes. Abnormal lipid accumulation and metabolism during in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes have been linked to the use of fetal bovine serum (FBS), even though it provides several beneficial molecules, contributing to the oocyte competence. Delipidating agents have been used to mitigate these deleterious effects, but they can have adverse effects on embryonic development.

Metabolism-epigenetic interactions on produced embryos.

Metabolism and epigenetics, which reciprocally regulate each other in different cell types, are fundamental aspects of cellular adaptation to the environment. Evidence in cancer and stem cells has shown that the metabolic status modifies the epigenome while epigenetic mechanisms regulate the expression of genes involved in metabolic processes, thereby altering the metabolome. This crosstalk occurs as many metabolites serve as substrates or cofactors of chromatin-modifying enzymes.

ROOT parameters of sugarcane and soil compaction indicators under deep strip tillage and conventional tillage.

Soil tillage and agricultural traffic generate changes in soil physical attributes and affect the growth of the roots. This study evaluates the impact of system soil tillage on compaction and sugarcane root growth. The experiment was carried out on a Rhodic Kandiudox with two soil tillages (Deep Strip Tillage and Conventional Tillage) and two positions (beds or traffic lane and no traffic lane), totaling four treatments (DST-beds + no traffic lane, DST-traffic lane, CT-no traffic lane and CT-traffic lane).

Metabolic signature of spent culture media shows lipid metabolism as a determinant of pregnancy outcomes.

In the present study, we investigated the spent culture media of in vitro produced (IVP) bovine embryos which did (group Pregnant) or did not (group Non-pregnant) establish pregnancy after transfer. For that purpose, IVP embryos on D5 were transferred to individual droplets for the last 48 h of culture. Embryos at the blastocyst stage were then transferred to synchronized recipients, while respective culture media drops were collected and evaluated individually.

Microbiological analysis of oral biofilms in patients admitted to intensive care unit: Pilot study.

Aim: To identify Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in oral biofilms of intubated and non-intubated patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, with 30 biofilm sites sampled. S.

Peptide-coating 2D and small chemical molecules prolong the passage of porcine spermatogonia stem cells.

Porcine spermatogonia stem cells (pSSCs) are the only type of somatic stem cell that can pass genetic information to the successive generations. Little is known about pSSCs vitality in vitro, and due to their increasing importance in stem cell research, here, we optimized a protocol to culture pSSCs and explored their potential fate in vitro. Utilizing a feeder-free culture system with a 2D peptide-coating and small chemical molecules (including CHIR99021, Repsox, vitamin C, folic acid, and CD lipid concentrate), we were able to prolong the culture time of pSSCs by at least three months compared with previous methods.

Microglial Metamorphosis in Three Dimensions in Virus Limbic Encephalitis: An Unbiased Pictorial Representation Based on a Stereological Sampling Approach of Surveillant and Reactive Microglia.

Microglia influence pathological progression in neurological diseases, reacting to insults by expressing multiple morphofunctional phenotypes. However, the complete morphological spectrum of reactive microglia, as revealed by three-dimensional microscopic reconstruction, has not been detailed in virus limbic encephalitis. Here, using an anatomical series of brain sections, we expanded on an earlier Piry arbovirus encephalitis study to include CA1/CA2 and assessed the morphological response of homeostatic and reactive microglia at eight days post-infection.

Microglial Morphology Across Distantly Related Species: Phylogenetic, Environmental and Age Influences on Microglia Reactivity and Surveillance States.

Microglial immunosurveillance of the brain parenchyma to detect local perturbations in homeostasis, in all species, results in the adoption of a spectrum of morphological changes that reflect functional adaptations. Here, we review the contribution of these changes in microglia morphology in distantly related species, in homeostatic and non-homeostatic conditions, with three principal goals (1): to review the phylogenetic influences on the morphological diversity of microglia during homeostasis (2); to explore the impact of homeostatic perturbations (Dengue virus challenge) in distantly related species ( and ) as a proxy for the differential immune response in small and large brains; and (3) to examine the influences of environmental enrichment and aging on the plasticity of the microglial morphological response following an immunological challenge (neurotropic arbovirus infection). Our findings reveal that the differences in microglia morphology across distantly related species under homeostatic condition cannot be attributed to the phylogenetic origin of the species.

Biochemical markers for pregnancy in the spent culture medium of in vitro produced bovine embryos†.

The present study aimed to identify biomarkers to assess the quality of in vitro produced (IVP) bovine embryos in the culture media. IVP embryos on Day (D) 5 of development were transferred to individual drops, where they were maintained for the last 48 h of culture. Thereafter, the medium was collected and the embryos were transferred to the recipients.

Erosive potential of powdered juice drinks on dental enamel.

This study aimed to evaluate the erosive potential of powdered juice drinks on dental enamel in 2 stages: physiochemical characterization and erosive challenge testing. In stage 1, the pH and titratable acidity of 5 commercially available powdered juices in 10 different flavors were analyzed. Five treatment groups were then established based on the pH values, titratable acidity, and presence of citric acid in the juices, and their energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy profiles were studied.

Erasing gametes to write blastocysts: metabolism as the new player in epigenetic reprogramming.

Understanding preimplantation embryonic development is crucial for the improvement of assisted reproductive technologies and animal production. To achieve this goal, it is important to consider that gametes and embryos are highly susceptible to environmental changes. Beyond the metabolic adaptation, the dynamic status imposed during follicular growth and early embryogenesis may create marks that will guide the molecular regulation during prenatal development, and consequently impact the offspring phenotype.

The dynamics between in vitro culture and metabolism: embryonic adaptation to environmental changes.

Previous studies have discussed the importance of an optimal range of metabolic activity during preimplantation development. To avoid factors than can trigger an undesirable trajectory, it is important to learn how nutrients and metabolites interact to help launching the correct developmental program of the embryo, and how much the in vitro culture system can impair this process. Here, using the bovine model, we describe a factorial experimental design used to investigate the biochemical and molecular signature of embryos in response to different combinations of morphological features-i.

Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle Metabolites as Mediators of DNA Methylation Reprogramming in Bovine Preimplantation Embryos.

In many cell types, epigenetic changes are partially regulated by the availability of metabolites involved in the activity of chromatin-modifying enzymes. Even so, the association between metabolism and the typical epigenetic reprogramming that occurs during preimplantation embryo development remains poorly understood. In this work, we explore the link between energy metabolism, more specifically the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), and epigenetic regulation in bovine preimplantation embryos.

Mitoepigenetics: Methylation of mitochondrial DNA is strand-biased in bovine oocytes and embryos.

Global mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) methylation has been recently described in bovine and showed particular signatures in both gametes and embryos. Here, we investigated the distribution of mtDNA methylation through strand-specific mapping of methylation sites to gain perspective on how epigenetic mechanisms can be involved in mitochondrial function. We demonstrate that in both oocytes and embryos, the frequency of methylation is biased towards the light strand (L-strand), particularly in the gene bodies and in the region containing the L-strand promoter (LSP).

Long-term environmental enrichment reduces microglia morphological diversity of the molecular layer of dentate gyrus.

We investigated long-term environmental influences on morphology of microglia from the outer and middle thirds of molecular layer of the dentate gyrus (MolDG), and on microglia from dorsal and ventral dentate gyrus molecular layer. We also estimated the total number of MolDG microglia using stereology. For this purpose, microglia of the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus of 20-month-old female Swiss albino mice, housed from 21st postnatal day onwards, in the impoverished environment of the standard laboratory cages (SEA), or in a cage with an enriched environment (EEA), were reconstructed microscopically in three dimensions and compared with each other and with microglia of 6-month-old female Swiss albino mice, also housed from weaning onwards in an enriched cage (EEY).