Biochemical characterization of nuclear receptors for vitamin D3 and glucocorticoids in prostate stroma cell microenvironment.

The disruption of stromal cell signals in prostate tissue microenvironment influences the development of prostate cancer to androgen independence. 1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25D(3)) and glucocorticoids, either alone or in combination, have been investigated as alternatives for the treatment of advanced prostate cancers that fails androgen therapies. The effects of glucocorticoids are mediated by the intracellular glucocorticoid receptor (GR).

Changes in the expression of pluripotency-associated genes during preimplantation and peri-implantation stages in bovine cloned and in vitro produced embryos.

In cattle, embryos elongate before implantation and after hatching. Changes in gene expression during this transition are not well studied. Especially important are variations in the expression of pluripotency-associated genes as a result of assisted reproductive biotechnologies, such as cloning and in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Cold storage of biopsies from wild endangered native Chilean species in field conditions and subsequent isolation of primary culture cell lines.

We evaluated the possibility of deriving primary cell cultures from tissue biopsies taken in field conditions from six threaten endemic Chilean species of free-ranging mammals. Biopsies were taken either by ear punching or darts fired to animals and hold in hypothermic conditions (4 degrees C) in defined salt solution for time periods ranging from 0 to 7 d before biopsy samples reached the cell culture laboratory. Previously, holding times were evaluated in experimental cows in controlled conditions.

High developmental potential in vitro and in vivo of cattle embryos cloned without micromanipulators.

Purpose: In order to simplify cloning, a new method that does not require micromanipulators was used. We aimed to evaluate the developmental potential of two bovine cell lines upon cloning.

Materials And Methods: In vitro matured bovine oocytes, were released from zona pellucida, enucleated, fused to foetal or adult somatic donor cells.