Aluminium in coal fly ash (FA), in plants grown on FA, and in the leachates from FA.

Two coal fly ashes (FA), one from Montana semi-bituminous coal and another from North Dakota lignite alone or in combination with bottom ash (BA) from Montana semi-bituminous coal were tested as plant growth media for the following plant species: barley (Hordeum vulgare), oats (Avena sativa), rye (Secale cereale), wheat (Triticum aestivum), regreen; a hybrid between wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum), and triticale; a hybrid between wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rye (Secale cereale). The concentration of Al, in coal ashes and in plant seedlings was determined using Inducted Coupled Plasma Spectrophotometry (ICP). All tested plant species germinated and grow in FA and/or FA + BA containing media.

Placental development during early pregnancy in sheep: effects of embryo origin on vascularization.

Utero-placental growth and vascular development are critical for pregnancy establishment that may be altered by various factors including assisted reproductive technologies (ART), nutrition, or others, leading to compromised pregnancy. We hypothesized that placental vascularization and expression of angiogenic factors are altered early in pregnancies after transfer of embryos created using selected ART methods. Pregnancies were achieved through natural mating (NAT), or transfer of embryos from NAT (NAT-ET), or IVF or in vitro activation (IVA).

Leaching of Selected Trace Elements from Plant Growth Media Composed of Coal Fly Ash (FA), and of FA amended with Sphagnum Peat Moss and Soil. Part 1: Leaching of trace Elements from Group 1: Cesium (Cs) and Lithium (Li), and from Group 2: Beryllium (Be), Strontium (Sr), and Barium (Ba).

This study investigated the leaching of selected trace elements (Cs, Li, Be, Sr, and Ba) from plant growth media made of two coal fly ashes (one from semi-bituminous coal and one from lignite), and from these ashes combined with the soil and with the soil and sphagnum peat moss. Leachate fractions will be collected at each ½ pore volume for a total of five pore volumes. Concentrations of mentioned above trace elements in plant growth media and in leachate has been determined using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) emission spectrophotometry.

Agro-toxicological aspects of coal fly ash (FA) phytoremediation by cereal crops: effects on plant germination, growth and trace elements accumulation.

A vegetative cover is a remedial technique utilized on coal fly ash (FA) landfills for soil stabilization and for the physical and chemical immobilization of contaminants. There is a great concern, that plants planted or voluntarily growing on media with high content of FA may absorb toxic amounts of Se and/or heavy metals. If such plants are ingested, it may result in toxicity to animals or humans.

Preliminary study of coal fly ash (FA) phytoremediation by selected cereal crops.

This study focuses on the environmentally friendly utilization of coal combustion residue, fly ash (FA) containing significant amounts of heavy metals. Knowledge about the potential use of FA as a component of growth media for plants is fragmentary. Preliminary experiments tested the possibility to grow cereal crops on media composed exclusively of FA.

Amelioration of coal fly ash used as cereal crops growth media by sphagnum peat moss and soil.

Coal fly ash (FA) has a potential to be used as a soil amendment for growing plants. Toxicity of heavy metals present in FY, FA high salinity, and high pH of coal FA may potentially restrict or even prevent plant growth on the media with high concentration of FA. Sphagnum peat moss (SPM) shows a potential to ameliorate coal FA based plant media by improving the texture of such media, making media less harder, decreasing high pH of the media, and potentially binding heavy metals present in FA.

Placental development during early pregnancy in sheep: cell proliferation, global methylation, and angiogenesis in the fetal placenta.

To characterize early fetal placental development, gravid uterine tissues were collected from pregnant ewes every other day from day 16 to 30 after mating. Determination of 1) cell proliferation was based on Ki67 protein immunodetection; 2) global methylation was based on 5-methyl-cytosine (5mC) expression and mRNA expression for DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) 1, 3a, and 3b; and 3) vascular development was based on smooth muscle cell actin immunolocalization and on mRNA expression of several factors involved in the regulation of angiogenesis in fetal membranes (FMs). Throughout early pregnancy, the labeling index (proportion of proliferating cells) was very high (21%) and did not change.

Environmental health aspects of coal ash phytoremediation by selected crops.

The objective of this research was to determine the effects of growth media containing FA and FA mixed with soil on selected crop plants seedlings growth. We studied the influence of various FA concentrations (e.g.

Placental development during early pregnancy in sheep: vascular growth and expression of angiogenic factors in maternal placenta.

Placental vascular development (angiogenesis) is critical for placental function and thus for normal embryonic/fetal growth and development. Specific environmental factors or use of assisted reproductive techniques may result in poor placental angiogenesis, which may contribute to embryonic losses and/or fetal growth retardation. Uterine tissues were collected on days 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30 after mating and on day 10 after estrus (nonpregnant controls) to determine vascular development and expression of several factors involved in the regulation of angiogenesis in the endometrium.

Cellular proliferation and vascularization in ovine fetal ovaries: effects of undernutrition and selenium in maternal diet.

Sheep were fed a maintenance (M) diet with adequate (A) Se or high (H) Se concentration from 21 days before breeding to day 135 of pregnancy. From day 50 to day 135 of pregnancy (tissue collection day), a portion of the ewes from ASe and HSe groups were fed restricted (R; 60% of M) diet. Fetal ovarian sections were stained for: 1) the presence of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (a marker of proliferating cells) to determine the proportion of proliferating primordial follicles, or the labeling index (LI; percentage of proliferating cells) for primordial, primary, secondary and antral follicles, stromal tissues, and blood vessels; 2) factor VIII (a marker of endothelial cells) or 3) a presence of apoptotic cells/bodies.

Morphology and function of cryopreserved whole ovine ovaries after heterotopic autotransplantation.

Background: The objective of this study was to perform complex characterization of cryopreserved and then autotransplanted ovaries including determination of the ability to respond to in vivo follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)-treatment, fertilizability of retrieved oocytes, and morphology, vascularization, cellular proliferation and apoptosis in sheep.

Methods: Mature crossbred ewes were divided into two groups; an intact (control) group (n = 4), and autotransplanted group (n = 4) in which oophorectomy was performed laparoscopically and ovaries with intact vascular pedicles frozen, thawed and transplanted back into the same animal at a different site. Approximately five months after autotransplantation, estrus was synchronized, ewes were treated with FSH, and ovaries were collected.

Role of gap junctions in regulation of progesterone secretion by ovine luteal cells in vitro.

To evaluate the role of gap junctions in the regulation of progesterone secretion, two experiments were conducted. In Experiment 1, luteal cells obtained on days 5, 10, and 15 were cultured overnight at densities of 50 x 10(3), 100 x 10(3), 300 x 10(3), and 600 x 10(3) cells/dish in medium containing: (1) no treatment (control), (2) LH, or (3) dbcAMP. In Experiment 2, luteal cells from days 5 and 10 of the estrous cycle were transfected with siRNA, which targeted the connexin (Cx) 43 gene.

Gap junctional connexin 37 is expressed in sheep ovaries.

The objective of current study was to evaluate the expression of Cx37 in ovarian follicles and in corpora lutea (CL) during the estrous cycle in sheep. Ovine Cx37 was cloned and characterized to design speciesspecific probe and primers. In Exp.

Expression of gap junctional connexins 26, 32, and 43 mRNA in ovarian preovulatory follicles and corpora lutea in sheep.

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the expression of connexins (Cx)26, Cx32, and Cx43 mRNA in granulosa and theca cells during the peri-ovulatory period (experiment 1) and in the corpus luteum (CL) during the estrous cycle (experiment 2) and during prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF)-induced luteal regression (experiment 3) in FSH-treated ewes. In experiment 1, Cx26, Cx32, and Cx43 mRNA was expressed in granulosa and theca cells, and expression of Cx32 and Cx43 mRNA, but not Cx26, was greater (p<0.001) in granulosa than in theca cells throughout the peri-ovulatory period.

Vascular composition, apoptosis, and expression of angiogenic factors in the corpus luteum during prostaglandin F2alpha-induced regression in sheep.

Corpora lutea and blood samples were collected from superovulated ewes 0, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h after prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGF) analog injection on day 10 of the estrous cycle. Changes in vascular cell and fibroblast composition, apoptosis and mRNA expression for several angiogenic factors in the corpus luteum (CL) were determined. While peripheral progesterone concentration decreased at 24 h after PGF injection, CL weight did not change.

Expression of connexin 43 and gap junctional intercellular communication in the cumulus-oocyte complex in sheep.

To evaluate the effects of FSH, LH and/or cAMP on expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) in the ovine cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) and gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) of cumulus cells, two experiments were carried out. In experiment 1, Cx43 was immunodetected in the COC, before or after maturation, obtained from non-treated or FSH-treated ewes. The expression of Cx43 in the COC was greater (P < 0.

Wound healing: the role of growth factors.

Wound healing is a complex biological process that requires cellular interactions between a variety of cells, including fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, keratinocytes and immune cells. These interactions are mediated by numerous factors such as growth factors, hormones, blood components and second messengers. Several growth factors that are released at the wound site are presumed to be necessary for wound healing.

Effects of Aloe vera on gap junctional intercellular communication and proliferation of human diabetic and nondiabetic skin fibroblasts.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of Aloe vera on gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and proliferation of human skin fibroblasts in the presence or absence of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2).

Design: In vitro study using human type II diabetic and nondiabetic skin fibroblast cell lines.

Setting And Subjects: Diabetic (n = 4) and nondiabetic (n = 4) human skin fibroblast cell lines were purchased from Coriell Institute for Medical Research (Camden, NJ).

Gap junctional intercellular communication of bovine granulosa and thecal cells from antral follicles: effects of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone.

Throughout each estrous cycle, the gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), are involved in regulation of folliculogenesis. We have shown that LH or FSH affect cellular interactions mediated by gap junctions in bovine granulosa and thecal cells in vitro. To evaluate further the hypothesis that gonadotropins influence gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and expression of gap junctional proteins known as connexins (Cx), throughout antral follicle development, granulosa and thecal cells from large (>10 mm; n = 13), medium (5-10 mm; n = 20), and small (<5 mm; n = 27) follicles were cultured (n = 4 cultures per size) with or without LH, FSH, or LH + FSH for 24 h.