Localization and quantitation of hyaluronan and sulfated glycosaminoglycans in the tissues and intraluminal fluid of the pig oviduct.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), hyaluronan (HA) and heparan sulfate (HS) were localized in the pre- and post-ovulatory oviducts of inseminated and control (non-inseminated) sows using biotinylated HA-binding protein (HABP) and anti-syndecan antibodies respectively. In addition, the concentrations of HA and total sulfated GAGs (S-GAGs) were measured in fluid collected in vivo from either a selected tubal segment (isthmus or ampulla) or from the contralateral whole oviduct (WO) of non-inseminated sows during proestrus-metoestrus. HA was localized in the lamina propria of the entire oviduct, but epithelial HA-labelling was only present in the sperm reservoir (uterotubal junction adjacent isthmus) in control and inseminated sows.

Fractionation of cells and subcellular particles with Percoll.

At present, centrifugation is the most common method for separation and isolation of cells and subcellular particles. The technique can be used for a wide range of applications. During latter years it has become obvious what a powerful method density gradient centrifugation is, especially when used in conjunction with sensitive assays or clinical treatments.

Hyaluronan oligosaccharides induce tube formation of a brain endothelial cell line in vitro.

In remodeling tissues the formation of new blood vessels is an essential process which is regulated by different factors. During such processes an increase in hyaluronan synthesis and turnover is often seen and recent observations have suggested that hyaluronan can both promote and inhibit neovascularization depending on its molecular mass. In this work we show that a brain capillary endothelial cell line forms tubes in a collagen gel after stimulation by hyaluronan oligosaccharides.

Evaluation of sperm damage and techniques for sperm clean-up.

The cryopreservation of bull semen adversely affects the metabolism, motility and membrane integrity of the spermatozoa, thereby decreasing the fertilizing ability of the processed sample. The present review covers methods available for examining the functionality of bull spermatozoa after thawing, including the use of fluorophores in combination with morphological examination. Procedures for clean-up, separation and selection of morphologically-normal, viable spermatozoa in vitro are also reviewed.

Recruitment of type I collagen producing cells from the microvasculature in vitro.

We have previously suggested that microvascular pericytes can differentiate into fibroblast-like, type I collagen-producing cells during excessive dermal scarring in vivo (Sundberg, C., Ivarsson, M., Gerdin, B.