Evaluation of Anogenital Distance and Anti-Müllerian Hormone Plasmatic Concentration as Potential Phenotypes to Predict Reproductive Performance in Holstein Heifers.

Anogenital distance (AGD) is a marker of the degree of prenatal exposure to androgens in multiple species, and it has been suggested that there is an inverse association between AGD and fertility. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of AGD and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentrations, an indirect marker of the follicular population, as predictors of future reproductive potential in Holstein cattle. The AGD was measured in 566 females from 9 dairy farms in Galicia (Spain).

Deciphering Pyramidanes: A Quantum Chemical Topology Approach.

C[CH], the simplest compound of the [4]-pyramidane family, has so far eluded experimental characterization, although several of its analogs, E[C(SiMe)] in which the E apex atom is a tetrel group element, have been successfully prepared. The non-classical bonding mode of E, similar to that found in propellanes, has prompted a considerable number of theoretical studies to unravel the nature of the apex-base interaction. Here, we contribute to this knowledge by analyzing the electron localization function (ELF) and classical QTAIM descriptors; as well the statistical distribution of electrons in atomic regions by means of the so-called electron distribution functions (EDFs), calculation of multicenter indices (MCI) as aromaticity descriptors and by performing orbital invariant energy decompositions with the interacting quantum atoms (IQA) approach on a series of E[C(SiMe)] compounds.

Loss-of-function mutations in caspase recruitment domain-containing protein 14 (CARD14) are associated with a severe variant of atopic dermatitis.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a highly prevalent chronic inflammatory skin disease that is known to be, at least in part, genetically determined. Mutations in caspase recruitment domain-containing protein 14 (CARD14) have been shown to result in various forms of psoriasis and related disorders.

Objective: We aimed to identify rare DNA variants conferring a significant risk for AD through genetic and functional studies in a cohort of patients affected with severe AD.

Involvement of nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors on striatal HgCl2-induced dopamine release in freely moving rats.

The possible role of acetylcholine receptors on the HgCl(2)-induced dopamine (DA) release from rat striatum was investigated by using in vivo brain microdialysis technique after administration of selective nicotinic and muscarinic receptor antagonists, mecamylamine and atropine, respectively. Intrastriatal infusion of 1mM HgCl(2) increased striatal DA to 1717.2+/-375.

Protection from inorganic mercury effects on the in vivo dopamine release by ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists and nitric oxide synthase inhibitors.

The possible role of ionotropics glutamate receptors on the HgCl(2)-induced dopamine (DA) release from rat striatum was investigated by using in vivo brain microdialysis technique after administration of selective NMDA and AMPA/Kainate receptors antagonists dizocilpine (MK-801), D (-)-2-amino-5-phoshonopentanoic acid (AP5), and 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX). Moreover, we have also studied the effects of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors L-nitro-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and 7-nitro-indazol (7-NI) on HgCl(2)-induced DA release. Intraestriatal infusion of 1mM HgCl(2) increased striatal DA to 1717.

Evaluation of the effects and mechanisms of action of mercuric chloride on striatal dopamine release by using in vivo microdialysis in freely moving rats.

The in vivo effects of inorganic mercury (Hg(2+)) on striatal dopamine (DA) release were studied in freely moving and conscious rats using brain microdialysis techniques. Intrastriatal administration of HgCl(2) (1mM) produced an increase in extracellular DA levels of 1717+/-375% with respect to basal levels. This effect was attenuated in a Ca(2+)-free medium (361+/-66%), after pre-treatment with reserpine (231+/-66%), and was prevented in the presence of tetrodotoxin (TTX).

Mediation of glutamatergic receptors and nitric oxide on striatal dopamine release evoked by anatoxin-a. An in vivo microdialysis study.

In this work, the involvement of ionotropic glutamatergic receptors and nitric oxide on striatal dopamine release induced by anatoxin-a was investigated in conscious and freely-moving rats. To study the participation of glutamatergic receptors, the effects of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA)/kainate receptors antagonist, 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX), and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, dizocilpine (MK-801) and d(-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (APV), were examined. The perfusion of 3.

Two splice variants of claudin-10 in the kidney create paracellular pores with different ion selectivities.

Members of the large claudin family of tight junction (TJ) proteins create the differences in paracellular conductance and charge selectivity observed among different epithelia. Previous studies demonstrated that ionic charge selectivity is influenced by acidic or basic amino acids on the first extracellular domain of claudins. We noted two alternatively spliced variants of claudin-10 in the database, 10a and 10b, which are predicted to encode two different first extracellular domains and asked whether this might be a novel mechanism to generate two different permselectivities from a single gene.