Dove reproduction and retinoid (vitamin A) dynamics in adult females and their eggs following exposure to 3,3′,4,4′-tetrachlorobiphenyl

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 908-913 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Spear ◽  
D. H. Bourbonnais ◽  
D. B. Peakall ◽  
T. W. Moon

One week before mating, ring doves (Streptopelia risoria) received an intraperitoneal injection of vitamin-stripped corn oil containing 0 or 40 μg/g 3,3′,4,4′-tetrachlorobiphenyl. Of numerous reproductive parameters investigated, egg laying was retarded (p < 0.001) and 43% of the embryos died primarily between days 4 and 7 of incubation in the exposed group. Exposed females laying viable eggs had higher (p < 0.01) serum retinol at the time of mating than exposed females producing eggs that failed to develop to hatching. Serum retinol concentrations were greater (p < 0.05) in exposed males than in control males. A method was developed to extract and quantify five naturally occurring retinoids in egg yolks. When the experiment was repeated, yolk retinol and retinyl palmitate decreased (p < 0.05) between days 3 and 8 of development in the eggs of the exposed group regardless of embryo viability. No change in yolk retinoids occurred in the control group. At day 3 of incubation, the ratio of retinol: retinyl palmitate in yolks was greater (p < 0.01) in the viable eggs of the exposed group than in either the controls or the nonviable eggs of the exposed group. Despite the reproductive effects, the repeated dose of biphenyl did not elicit liver porphyrin accumulation or alter internal organ weights. Liver retinol concentrations were lower in males (p < 0.001) and females (p < 0.05) exposed to the toxicant than in controls; liver retinyl palmitate was unchanged. These changes in retinoid dynamics during oogenesis and in ovo may be a compensatory response to the toxicant.

Parasitology ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 93 (3) ◽  
pp. 443-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joyce A. Thornhill ◽  
Janet T. Jones ◽  
J. R. Kusel

SUMMARYBiomphalaria glabrata snails are known to be castrated by infection with the trematode parasite Schistosoma mansoni 4–6 weeks post-infection. The pattern of oviposition in the first 35 days post-exposure (p.e.) was investigated, in snails aged 14 weeks and measuring 7–10 mm diameter which had not commenced egg-laying, by counting the numbers of eggs laid in 7-day intervals. A group of exposed snails was compared with a control non-exposed group. The exposed group included both parasitized and non-parasitized snails, and showed a significant increase in the median number of eggs laid during the periods 14–21 and 22–28 days p.e. Throughout the entire 35-day period exposed non-parasitized snails laid significantly more eggs than control snails, while parasitized snails laid significantly more eggs than controls during days 22–28 p.e. and significantly fewer during days 29–35 p.e. Parasitized snails also laid significantly more eggs/egg mass in the period 16–28 days p.e. than did control snails. Growth of the snails was measured. By day 28 p.e. the mean diameter of the exposed group was significantly greater than that of the control group. The increase in oviposition by snails soon after exposure is discussed in terms of a compensatory response for expected future suppression of egg-laying. The fact that parasitized and non-parasitized snails both show increased oviposition indicates that normal development of the parasite is not necessary to trigger the response.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mireia Plaza ◽  
Alejandro Cantarero ◽  
Juan Moreno

Female mass in most altricial birds reaches its maximum during breeding at egg-laying, which coincides temporally with the fertile phase when extra-pair paternity (EPP) is determined. Higher mass at laying may have two different effects on EPP intensity. On the one hand, it would lead to increased wing loading (body mass/wing area), which may impair flight efficiency and thereby reduce female’s capacity to resist unwanted extra-pair male approaches (sexual conflict hypothesis). On the other hand, it would enhance female condition, favouring her capacity to evade mate-guarding and to search for extra-pair mates (female choice hypothesis). In both cases, higher female mass at laying may lead to enhanced EPP. To test this prediction, we reduced nest building effort by adding a completely constructed nest in an experimental group of female pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca). Our treatment caused an increase in mass and thereby wing loading and this was translated into a significantly higher EPP in the manipulated group compared with the control group as expected. There was also a significant negative relationship between EPP and laying date and the extent of the white wing patch, an index of female dominance. More body reserves at laying mean not only a higher potential fecundity but a higher level of EPP as well. This interaction had not previously received due attention but should be considered in future studies of avian breeding strategies.


Author(s):  
O. Merzlyakova ◽  
V. Rogachyev ◽  
V. Chegodaev

The efficiency of introducing probiotics based on strains of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis and their consortium in the amount of 150 g/t of feed into the diets of laying quails has been studied. The experiment lasting 182 days has been carried out on four groups of quails with 30 heads in each. The quails have been housed in the broiler battery in compliance with the required microclimate conditions. Quails of all groups have been received the main diet (compound feed) developed taking into account their age and physiological characteristics. The quails of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd experimental groups in addition to the main diet received probiotics (150 g/t compound feed) based on strains Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis and their consortium, respectively. It has been found that feeding the laying quails of the consortium of strains Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis had the most significant positive impact on their productive performance, it allowed to increase egg production by 7,81 %, egg laying intensity by 5,0 %, egg mass yield by 9,77 %, while reducing feed expenditures for 10 eggs by 13,35 %. The yield of hatching eggs has been increased by 7,03 %, hatchability of chickens from laid and fertilized eggs by 8,33 and 8,35 %, brooding waste decreased by 21,74 %. Hematological parameters of quails during the whole experiment were within the physiological norm. The economic effect calculated on the basis of data on the cost of compound feed, probiotics and the cost of sold eggs of quail laying was 14,56 % in the 3rd experimental group (in relation to the control group).


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 932
Author(s):  
Arkadiusz Matuszewski ◽  
Monika Łukasiewicz ◽  
Jan Niemiec ◽  
Maciej Kamaszewski ◽  
Sławomir Jaworski ◽  
...  

The use of intensive selection procedure in modern broiler chicken lines has led to the development of several skeletal disorders in broiler chickens. Therefore, current research is focused on methods to improve the bone quality in birds. In ovo technology, using nanoparticles with a high specificity to bones, is a potential approach. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of in ovo inoculation (IOI) of calcium carbonate nanoparticles (CCN) on chicken embryo development, health status, bone characteristics, and on broiler production results and bone quality. After assessing in vitro cell viability, the IOI procedure was performed with an injection of 500 μg/mL CCN. The control group was not inoculated with CCN. Hatchability, weight, and selected bone and serum parameters were measured in embryos. Part of hatchlings were reared under standard conditions until 42 days, and production results, meat quality, and bone quality of broilers were determined. CCN did not show cytotoxicity to cells and chicken embryo and positively influenced bone parameters of the embryos and of broilers later (calcification) without negatively affecting the production results. Thus, the IOI of CCN could modify the molecular responses at the stage of embryogenesis, resulting in better mineralization, and could provide a sustained effect, thereby improving bone quality in adult birds.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Yang ◽  
Tingting Di ◽  
Zixiao Zhang ◽  
Jiaxin Liu ◽  
Congli Fu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Establishment of a mouse model is important for investigating the mechanism of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In this study, we observed and compared the evolution of the pathology in two mouse models of COPD induced by cigarette smoke (CS) exposure alone or in combination with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods One hundred eight wild-type C57BL/6 mice were equally divided into three groups: the (1) control group, (2) CS-exposed group (CS group), and (3) CS + LPS-exposed group (CS + LPS group). The body weight of the mice was recorded, and noninvasive lung function tests were performed monthly. Inflammation was evaluated by counting the number of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and measuring the expression of the IL-6 mRNA in mouse lung tissue. Changes in pathology were assessed by performing hematoxylin and eosin and Masson staining of lung tissue sections. Results The two treatments induced emphysema and airway remodeling and decreased lung function. Emphysema was induced after 1 month of exposure to CS or CS + LPS, while airway remodeling was induced after 2 months of exposure to CS + LPS and 3 months of exposure to CS. Moreover, the mice in the CS + LPS group exhibited more severe inflammation and airway remodeling than the mice in the CS group, but the two treatments induced similar levels of emphysema. Conclusion Compared with the single CS exposure method, the CS + LPS exposure method is a more suitable model of COPD in airway remodeling research. Conversely, the CS exposure method is a more suitable model of COPD for emphysema research due to its simple operation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 205873922110008
Author(s):  
Meng Chen ◽  
Xinyan Song ◽  
Jifang Jiang ◽  
Lei Xing ◽  
Pengfei Wang

To investigate the protective effects of galangin on liver toxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in mice. Mouse hepatotoxicity model was established by intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of 10 ml/kg body weight CCl4 that diluted with corn oil to a proportion of 1:500 on Kunming mice. The mice were randomly divided into five groups named control group, model group, and 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg galangin group. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were analyzed by ELISA. Liver histopathological examination was observed via optical microscopy. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and glutathion (GSSG) were analyzed to assess oxidative stress. Finally, western blot assay was carried out to analyse the expression levels of total AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), phospho-AMPK (p-AMPK), total liver kinase B1 (LKB1), and phospho-LKB1 (p-LKB1). Compared with the control group, in the model group, the levels of AST, ALT, MDA, and GSSG increased significantly ( p < 0.01); the activity of SOD and GSH decreased significantly ( p < 0.01); and the histopathological examination revealed liver necrosis. However, treatment with galangin (5 and 10 mg/kg) significantly reversed these CCl4-induced liver damage indicators. Furthermore, treatment with galangin (10 mg/kg) significantly increased the p-AMPK and p-LKB1 expression levels ( p < 0.01). This study supports the hepatoprotective effect of galangin against hepatotoxicity, perhaps occurring mainly through the LKB1/AMPK-mediated pathway.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 1222
Author(s):  
Cristina Cuello ◽  
Cristina A. Martinez ◽  
Josep M. Cambra ◽  
Inmaculada Parrilla ◽  
Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez ◽  
...  

This study was designed to investigate the impact of vitrification on the transcriptome profile of blastocysts using a porcine (Sus scrofa) model and a microarray approach. Blastocysts were collected from weaned sows (n = 13). A total of 60 blastocysts were vitrified (treatment group). After warming, vitrified embryos were cultured in vitro for 24 h. Non-vitrified blastocysts (n = 40) were used as controls. After the in vitro culture period, the embryo viability was morphologically assessed. A total of 30 viable embryos per group (three pools of 10 from 4 different donors each) were subjected to gene expression analysis. A fold change cut-off of ±1.5 and a restrictive threshold at p-value < 0.05 were used to distinguish differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The survival rates of vitrified/warmed blastocysts were similar to those of the control (nearly 100%, n.s.). A total of 205 (112 upregulated and 93 downregulated) were identified in the vitrified blastocysts compared to the control group. The vitrification/warming impact was moderate, and it was mainly related to the pathways of cell cycle, cellular senescence, gap junction, and signaling for TFGβ, p53, Fox, and MAPK. In conclusion, vitrification modified the transcriptome of in vivo-derived porcine blastocysts, resulting in minor gene expression changes.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bing Xia ◽  
Kangcheng Chen ◽  
Yingnan Lv ◽  
Damin Huang ◽  
Jing Liu ◽  
...  

Objectives: Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) is an organic derivative of manganese (Mn) and is used as an antiknock agent and octane enhancer in gasoline. In this article, we tested the oxidative stress and heat stress protein (Hsp) 70 levels of gasoline station attendants to explore potential plasma biomarkers. Furthermore, the dose–response relationship was also identified. Methods: A total of 144 workers, including 96 petrol fillers and 48 cashiers, participated in the study. Ambient concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) and Mn were monitored at nine filling stations. During the measuring process, the individual cumulative exposure index was calculated. Plasma oxidative stress and Hsp70 levels were also analysed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The BTEX time-weighted average in office areas was significantly lower than in refuelling areas ( p < 0.05). In refuelling areas, the content of Mn ranged from 6.44 μg/m3 to 127.34 μg/m3, which was much higher than that in office areas (3.16–7.22 μg/m3; p < 0.05). Exposed workers had significantly different plasma oxidative stress indicators compared with the control group, respectively: superoxide dismutase (SOD), 39.18 ± 6.05 U/mL versus 52.84 ± 3.87 U/mL; glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), 186.07 ± 15.63 U versus 194.38 ± 10.42 U; and malondialdehyde (MDA), 1.68 ± 0.52 nmol/L versus 1.43 ± 0.64 nmol/L (in all comparisons, p < 0.05). Plasma Hsp70 level in the exposed group (2.77 ± 0.64 ng/mL) was significantly higher than in the control group (2.32 ± 0.87 ng/mL; p < 0.05). Furthermore, Hsp70 levels were inversely correlated with the activities of SOD ( r = −0.305) and GSH-Px ( r = −0.302) in the exposed group ( p < 0.05). Moreover, a positive correlation ( r = 0.653) was found between plasma Hsp70 levels and plasma MDA levels ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: Exposure to MMT-containing gasoline may result in increasing reactive oxygen stress among filling station attendants. Plasma Hsp70 levels could be used as a sensitive responsive biomarker for exposed workers.


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 806-812 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Wu ◽  
Aiqin Zhang ◽  
Hongyang Lu ◽  
Qiaoyuan Cheng

Background: The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the greatest challenge in the treatment of intracranial malignant tumors. Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the role of borneol in opening the BBB and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods: Twenty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomized into borneol group intragastrically administered with 10% borneol corn oil (2 mL/kg) and control group. After 30 minutes, 2% Evans blue (4 mL/kg) was injected. Thirty minutes later, brain tissue was analyzed using the Evans blue standard curve. Another 40 SD rats were randomized into high-, medium-, and low-dose borneol groups and a control group. Each rat in the experimental groups was intragastrically administered with 10% borneol corn oil (2 mL/kg, 1.25 mL/kg, and 0.5 mL/kg, respectively). The control group was injected with corn oil of 1.25 mL/kg. After 30 minutes, the rats were killed, and the brain tissues were collected. The expression of occludin, occludens-1, nitric oxide synthase, P-glycoprotein, and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was detected by immunohistochemy. Results: The concentration of Evans blue in the borneol group was higher than in the control group ( P < .05). The mean density of ICAM-1 expression was higher in the experimental group than in the control group ( P < .05). In contrast, significant differences of positive area and total density of ICAM-1 were shown only between the high-dose group and the control group ( P < .05). Conclusion: Borneol can open the BBB, which might be related with the increased expression of ICAM-1.


1990 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 377-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Vyskočil ◽  
S. Emminger ◽  
J. Tejral ◽  
Z. Fiala ◽  
E. Ettlerova ◽  
...  

1 Biochemical markers of kidney damage were examined in 16 female workers chronically exposed to tetrachlorethylene (TCE) in five dry-cleaning shops. The results were compared with those obtained in 13 females non-occupationally exposed to organic solvents. 2 The intensity of exposure was monitored by personal environmental monitoring. The time-weighed average exposure to TCE amounted to 157 mg m-3 (range 9-799 mg m-3). A satisfactory agreement was found between the concentration of TCE in ambient air sampled with the charcoal tube method and with a passive dosimeter. 3 The urinary excretion of lysozyme was increased in the exposed group. No difference was found in the urinary excretion of albumin, β2-microglobulin, lactate dehydrogenase, total proteins or glucose. The prevalence of abnormal values of biochemical parameters in the exposed group did not differ from that observed in the control group. No correlation was found between the level of TCE exposure and biochemical parameters. 4 The present study suggests that chronic exposure to TCE does not lead to renal damage.


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