Roe deer uterine fluid metabolome reveals elevated glycolysis, fatty acid breakdown, and spermidine synthesis upon reactivation from diapause†.

The blastocyst of the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) undergoes a period of decelerated growth and limited metabolism. During this period known as embryonic diapause, it floats freely in the uterus encircled by the histotroph. Prior to implantation, reactivation is marked by rapid embryonic growth and conceptus elongation.

Presence of embryos increases uterine blood flow and affects endometrial gene expression in Holstein cows on day seven post-insemination.

Superovulation treatment leads to characteristic changes in uterine perfusion during the first three weeks of pregnancy in cattle, but the origin of these changes is unknown. We investigated embryo-induced effects on uterine blood flow volume (uBFV) and pulsatility index (uPI), as well as on steroid hormone concentrations during the first seven days after conception, together with endometrial gene expression at the time of embryo flushing, in Holstein Friesian cows. Animals (n = 8) underwent (a) artificial insemination (AI), (b) superovulation followed by artificial insemination (SOV-AI), and (c) superovulation followed by sham AI (SOV-control) in a Latin square design.

Developmental progression continues during embryonic diapause in the roe deer.

Embryonic diapause in mammals is a temporary developmental delay occurring at the blastocyst stage. In contrast to other diapausing species displaying a full arrest, the blastocyst of the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) proliferates continuously and displays considerable morphological changes in the inner cell mass. We hypothesised that developmental progression also continues during this period.

Autoreactive T cells target peripheral nerves in Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare heterogenous disorder of the peripheral nervous system, which is usually triggered by a preceding infection, and causes a potentially life-threatening progressive muscle weakness. Although GBS is considered an autoimmune disease, the mechanisms that underlie its distinct clinical subtypes remain largely unknown. Here, by combining in vitro T cell screening, single-cell RNA sequencing and T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing, we identify autoreactive memory CD4 cells, that show a cytotoxic T helper 1 (T1)-like phenotype, and rare CD8 T cells that target myelin antigens of the peripheral nerves in patients with the demyelinating disease variant.

Quantification of glucocorticoid and progestogen metabolites in bovine plasma, skimmed milk and saliva by UHPLC-HR-MS with polarity switching.

Steroid metabolites are increasingly in focus when searching for novel biomarkers in physiological mechanisms and their disorders. While major steroids such as progesterone and cortisol are well-researched and routinely determined to assess the health, particularly the reproductive status of mammals, the function of potentially biologically active progestogen and glucocorticoid metabolites is widely unexplored. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of comprehensive, sensitive, and specific analytical methods.