Hyperthymic temperament and brightness judgment in healthy subjects: involvement of left inferior orbitofrontal cortex.

Background: Hyperthymic temperament has been generally accepted as one of premorbid temperament of bipolar disorders. Since recent several studies indicate an association between illuminance and hyperthymic temperament, it can be hypothesized that more hyperthymic temperament subjects have a different threshold of brightness or darkness perception in comparison with less hyperthymic temperament subjects.

Methods: We compared the threshold of brightness and darkness judgment between more and less hyperthymic subjects, and by simultaneously using fMRI we compared activations of whole brain between these subjects by two sample t-test.

Progesterone effects on lymphocytes may be mediated by membrane progesterone receptors.

Luteal cell-induced proliferation of T lymphocytes devoid of the nuclear progesterone receptor (PGR) is inhibited by progesterone. Functional effects of progesterone on bovine lymphocytes and the expression of membrane progesterone receptors (mPRs) alpha (PAQR7), beta (PAQR8), gamma (PAQR5), and progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) mRNA were analyzed in corpus luteum (CL) and lymphocytes. Progesterone and a cell-impermeable progesterone conjugate caused a dose-dependent decrease in IL2 receptor α-subunit (IL2RA) mRNA and an increase in interleukin 2 (IL2) mRNA concentrations in cultured PBMCs.

The interface of the immune and reproductive systems in the ovary: lessons learned from the corpus luteum of domestic animal models.

The dynamic changes that characterize the female reproductive system are regulated by hormones. However, local cell-to-cell interactions may mediate responsiveness of tissues to hormonal signals. The corpus luteum (CL) is an excellent model for understanding how immune cells are recruited into tissues and the role played by those cells in regulating tissue homeostasis or demise.

Silage preparation and nutritive value of Chinese yam by-product.

The objective of this experiment was to determine the ensiling characteristics, nutrient composition and nutritive value of Chinese yam by-product (CYBP) silage treated without additive (Control), with lactic acid bacteria (LY), with dried beet pulp (BY), or with mixtures of lactic acid bacteria and dried beet pulp (LBY) for a fermentation period of 150 days. The nutritive value of CYBP silage was studied in an in vivo digestibility trial using wethers in a 4 x 4 Latin square design. Addition of lactic acid bacteria and/or dried beet pulp greatly improved fermentation quality of CYBP silage.

Cellular localization and function of the antiviral protein, ovine Mx1 (oMx1): II. The oMx1 protein is a regulator of secretion in an ovine glandular epithelial cell line.

Problem: Embryonic loss is a major contributor to infertility. Understanding factors affecting embryonic loss will help increase fertility.

Method Of Study: We investigated if ovine Mx1 (oMx1) mediated secretion by ovine glandular epithelial (oGE) cells using small interfering RNA (siRNA).

Cellular localization and function of the antiviral protein, ovine Mx1 (oMx1): I. Ovine Mx1 is secreted by endometrial epithelial cells via an 'unconventional' secretory pathway.

Problem: Embryonic loss is a major contributor to infertility. Understanding factors contributing to embryonic loss will aid in development of technologies to improve/regulate fertility in animals and humans.

Method Of Study: We tested the hypothesis that the antiviral protein, ovine Mx1 (oMx1), is secreted by uterine epithelial cells.