The role of oviduct-specific glycoprotein (OVGP1) in modulating biological functions of gametes and embryos

Diverse lines of evidence indicate that the mammalian oviduct makes important contributions to the complex process of reproduction other than being simply a conduit for the transport of gametes and embryos. The cumulative synthesis and transport of proteins secreted by oviductal secretory cells into the oviductal lumen create a microenvironment supporting important reproductive events, including sperm capacitation, fertilization, and early embryo development. Among the components that have been identified in the oviductal fluid is a family of glycosylated proteins known collectively as oviduct-specific glycoprotein (OVGP1) or oviductin. OVGP1 has been identified in several mammalian species, including humans. The present review summarizes the work carried out, in various mammalian species, by many research groups revealing the synthesis and secretion of OVGP1, its fate in the female reproductive tract upon secretion by the oviductal epithelium, and its role in modulating biological functions of gametes and embryos. The production and functions of recombinant human OVGP1 and recombinant OVGP1 of other mammalian species are also discussed. Some of the findings obtained with immunocytochemistry will be highlighted in the present review. It is hoped that the findings obtained from recent studies carried out with recombinant OVGP1 from various species will rekindle researchers’ interest in pursuing further the role of the oviductal microenvironment, of which OVGP1 is a major component, in contributing to the successful occurrence of early reproductive events, and the potential use of OVGP1 in improving the current assisted reproductive technology in alleviating infertility.

Constipation in patients with comorbidity

Пациенты пожилого и старческого возраста в силу физиологических причин и коморбидной патологии имеют высокий риск развития запора. Причиной запора чаще всего являются алиментарные факторы и возраст-ассоциированные заболевания и повреждения толстой кишки (дивертикулярная болезнь, ишемия толстой кишки, ректоцеле, геморрой и другие); метаболические, эндокринные расстройства и неврологические заболевания. Возрастные анатомические, структурные и функциональные изменения пищеварительной системы вносят свой вклад в развитие запоров у пожилых. У пациентов «серебряного возраста» отмечено увеличение длины желудочно-кишечного тракта, прогрессирование атрофических, склеротических изменений слизистой и подслизистой оболочки, снижение количества секреторных клеток, замещение мышечных волокон соединительной тканью и др. Все это способствует замедлению транзита по желудочно-кишечному тракту и нарушению акта дефекации. Образ жизни пожилых людей также может способствовать развитию запора. Низкое содержание в рационе клетчатки, употребление преимущественно термически обработанной пищи, нарушение ритма питания (прием пищи 1-2 раза в день) являются одной из причин возникновения запоров у пожилых, чему способствуют трудности при жевании вследствие стоматологических проблем. Колоноскопия показана всем пациентам пожилого и старческого возраста с запором, а выявление «симптомов тревоги» необходимо проводить при каждом визите пациента. Вне зависимости от причины вторичного запора, все пациенты должны осуществлять ряд мер немедикаментозного характера, включающих изменение образа жизни, диету с включением достаточного количества клетчатки и потребление жидкости. Физические методы лечения могут включать лечебную гимнастику, массаж толстой кишки для стимуляции моторной активности кишечника в определенное время. При неэффективности немедикаментозных мероприятий рекомендуется использование осмотических слабительных, а также средств, увеличивающих объем каловых масс. Высокая эффективность и безопасность псиллиума позволяет рекомендовать его в лечении хронического запора у пожилых пациентов. Elderly and senile patients, due to physiological reasons and comorbid pathology, have a high risk of constipation. The causes of constipation are more often nutritional factors and age-associated diseases and damage to the colon (diverticular disease, colon ischemia, rectocele, hemorrhoids, and others); metabolic, endocrine disorders and neurological diseases. Age-related anatomical, structural and functional changes in the digestive system contribute to the development of constipation in the elderly. In patients of «silver age», there was an increase in the length of the gastrointestinal tract, the progression of atrophic, sclerotic changes in the mucous and submucosa, a decrease in the number of secretory cells, replacement of muscle fibers with connective tissue, etc. All this contributes to the slowing down of transit through the gastrointestinal tract and the violation of the act of defecation. Elderly lifestyles can also contribute to constipation. The low fiber content in the diet, the use of mainly thermally processed food, the violation of the rhythm of the diet (eating 1-2 times a day) are one of the causes of constipation in the elderly, which is facilitated by difficulty in chewing due to dental problems. Colonoscopy is ordered for all elderly and senile patients with constipation, and the identification of «anxiety symptoms» should be carried out at each patient visit. Regardless of the cause of secondary constipation, all patients should take a number of non-pharmacological measures, including lifestyle changes, a diet with adequate fiber, and fluid intake. Physical therapies may include medical gymnastics, colon massage to stimulate bowel movement at specific times. If non-drug measures are ineffective, it is recommended to use osmotic laxatives, as well as agents that increase the volume of feces. Psyllium supplementation is recommended for treatment of chronic constipation in elderly patients due to its high efficacy and safety.

PANCREATIC PATHOMORPHOLOGY IN SUPERINVASIVE OPISTHORCHIASIS

Superinvasive opisthorchiasis involves many body systems in the pathological process. The parasite, due to its unique characteristics, changes numerous genes, and contributes to proliferative processes. Stem cells are initiated and subsequently differentiated along various cell lineages. The liver and pancreas are econiches, where parasites vegetate for a long time. However, there is no available information on the dynamics of proliferative pancreatic changes and various histogenetic pathways. The aim of the paper is to reveal the proliferative activity of pancreatic stem cells in superinvasive opisthorchiasis and their differentiation. Materials and Methods. Fragments of pancreatic tissue were selected and analyzed in departments of morbid anatomy of medical institutions located on the territory of the hyperendemic focus (Tyumen region, Omsk region, Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug). The following groups were formed: Group 1 – patients with a history of superinvasive opisthorchiasis with a more than 10-year invasion (n=70); Group 2 – patients without invasion with all-cause mortality (n=10). The material was subjected to routine histological examination. The authors used histochemical and immunohistochemical staining methods and performed statistical analysis. Results. The authors observed marked proliferative reactions in the epithelial layer of the duct system, the secretory section of the pancreas, as well as changes in the endocrine apparatus. The histological types of pancreatic endocrine formations were revealed, namely, normal, hyperplastic and newly formed islets of Langerhans. The difference between the newly formed islets and the preexisting forms was in a disorderly arrangement, an indefinite shape, significantly larger sizes, and in the absence or presence of a forming capsule. The newly formed islets contained cells similar to preexisting endocrinocytes. Conclusion. Under the influence of the Opisthorchis felineus secretome, there occurs initiation and differentiation of pancreatic stem cells. Newly formed clusters of endocrine cells are formed, but they have the characteristics of the preexisting endocrine apparatus and secretory cells with exocrine properties. Key words: pancreas, opisthorchiasis, secretion, superinvasion, stem cells, differentiation. Суперинвазионный описторхоз – заболевание, при котором в патологический процесс вовлекаются многие системы организма. Паразит вследствие своих уникальных свойств изменяет многочисленные гены, дает начало пролиферативным процессам. Происходит инициация стволовых клеток с последующей дифференцировкой их по линиям различных дифферонов. Печень и поджелудочная железа являются эконишами, где длительное время вегетируют паразиты, однако сведений о динамике пролиферативных изменений в железе с рассмотрением различных гистогенетических путей в литературе не представлено. Цель работы. Выявить пролиферативную активность стволовых клеток поджелудочной железы при суперинвазионном описторхозе и их дифференцировку. Материалы и методы. Фрагменты ткани поджелудочной железы были отобраны для изучения в патологоанатомических отделениях медицинских учреждений, расположенных на территории гиперэндемического очага (Тюменская, Омская области, Ханты-Мансийский автономный округ). Сформированы следующие группы: 1 группа – лица, в анамнезе которых имелся суперинвазионный описторхоз с длительностью инвазии более 10 лет (n=70); 2 группа – лица без инвазии, умершие от случайных причин (n=10). Материал подвергался рутинному гистологическому исследованию, использовались гистохимические и иммуногистохимические методы окрашивания, проводился статистический анализ. Результаты. Обнаружены выраженные пролиферативные реакции в эпителиальном пласте протоковой системы, секреторном отделе поджелудочной железы и изменения структуры эндокринного аппарата. Выявлены гистологические типы эндокринных образований поджелудочной железы: островки Лангерганса обычного строения, гиперплазированные и новообразованные островки. Отличие последних от предсуществующих форм состояло в беспорядочном расположении, неопределенной форме, существенно более крупных размерах, отсутствии или наличии формирующейся капсулы. Новообразованные островки содержали аналогичные клетки, обладающие идентичными свойствами предсуществующих эндокриноцитов. Выводы. При воздействии секретома Opisthorchis felineus происходит инициация и дифференцировка стволовых клеток поджелудочной железы с формированием новообразованных скоплений эндокринных клеток со свойствами предсуществующего эндокринного аппарата и секреторных клеток с экзокринными свойствами. Ключевые слова: поджелудочная железа, описторхоз, секретом, суперинвазия, стволовые клетки, дифференцировка.

Histological Feature of Uterus and Uterine Tube During Late Period of Pregnancy in Rabbits

Current work was conducted to investigate the histological architecture of the uterine tube and uterus during the period of late pregnancy in rabbits. Twelve adult local breed rabbits were used. The samples from different parts of the uterine tube were prepared for histological study after staining with H&E, Masson’s trichrome and combine Alcian blue (pH2.5)-PAS. The pre ampulla was a narrow tube and its tunica mucosa had slightly long simple mucosal folds lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium, the ampulla had a wide lumen and its tunica mucosa displayed several highly tall branched mucosal folds with few short simple folds while the isthmus was the narrowest region and its tunica mucosa displayed few of tall and short simple mucosal folds. The mucosa of three parts of the uterine tube was lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium which is composed of three types of cells: mucous secretory cells, non-secretory cells and basal cells, the mucous secretory cells were the predominant type and revealed secretory activities. The lamina propria-submucosa of the uterine tube was composed of cellular connective tissue and tunica muscularis. The uterus had a very thick wall with well-recognized endometrium and myometrium, the endometrium was composed of many-branched and simple endometrial folds that were covered by multinucleated syncytial cells and simple cuboidal epithelial cells. Lamina propria was composed of loose connective tissue had scattered groups of well growing simple uterine glands that showed secretory activities. The current result showed that the uterus during the late period of pregnancy was differed from those of non-pregnant rabbits, while the uterine tube at late pregnancy has a structure that appeared prepared for the next physiological period.

CCN1 coordinately regulates intestinal stem cell proliferation and differentiation through integrins αvβ3/αvβ5

Intestinal stem cells (ISCs) at the crypt base contribute to intestinal homeostasis through a balance between self-renewal and differentiation. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating this homeostatic balance remain elusive. Here we show that the matricellular protein CCN1/CYR61 coordinately regulates ISC proliferation and differentiation through distinct pathways emanating from CCN1 interaction with integrins αvβ3/αvβ5. Mice that delete Ccn1 in Lgr5+ ISCs or express mutant CCN1 unable to bind integrins αvβ3/αvβ5 exhibited exuberant ISC expansion and enhanced differentiation into secretory cells at the expense of absorptive enterocytes in the small intestine, leading to nutrient malabsorption. Analysis of crypt organoids revealed that through integrins αvβ3/αvβ5, CCN1 induces NF-κB-dependent Jag1 expression to regulate Notch activation for differentiation and promotes Src-mediated YAP activation and Dkk1 expression to control Wnt signaling for proliferation. Moreover, CCN1 and YAP amplify the activities of each other in a regulatory loop. These findings establish CCN1 as a novel niche factor in the intestinal crypts, providing new insights into how matrix signaling exerts overarching control of ISC homeostasis.

Comparative LM, SEM and EDAX study of chalk glands on leaf and stem of two species of Plumbago Linn.

Stem and leaves of two species of PlumbagoLinn.viz. P. zeylanica Linn.andP. auriculata Lam. were investigated for the structure and chemical composition of chalk glands. Light Microscopy (LM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed the presence of chalk glands on both lower as well as upper surface of leaf and stem of both species. Chalk glands are abundant on lower surface and sparse on upper surface of leaf. Chalk glands are approximately hemispherical glands with oval or almost circular outline. It is composed of 8 cells arranged in two circles – central circle of 4 secretory cells and outer circle of 4 adjoining cells. Each secretory cell has depression which corresponds to pore. Each gland is surrounded by 4 subsidiary cells. No significant difference in the structure of chalk glands in both species was noticed. Chalk glands occupy three different positions with regard to epidermal cells –at the same level of the epidermis, slightly sunken in the epidermis and slightly raised above the epidermis. Common elements found in EDAX analysis of all chalk glands are carbon, oxygen, magnesium, sulphur, potassium and calcium. Differences in the presence of elements silicon, chlorine, aluminium, sodium, phosphorus were observed. The presence of significant amount of calcium in chalk glands and their dried deposits and absence of sodium and chlorine from dried deposits and even in some chalk glands appealed to use the term ‘Chalk gland’ instead of ‘Salt gland’ in Plumbago.

Examination of the interior of sand fly (Diptera: Psychodidae) abdomen reveals novel cuticular structures involved in pheromone release: Discovering the manifold

The males of many species of New World Phlebotomines produce volatile terpenoid chemicals, shown in Lutzomyia longipalpis s.l. to be sex/aggregation pheromones. Pheromone is produced by secretory cells which surround a cuticular reservoir which collects the pheromone and passes it through a cuticular duct to the surface of the insect. The pheromone then passes through specialised cuticular structures on the abdominal surface prior to evaporation. The shape and distribution of the specialised structures are highly diverse and differ according to species. In this study we used SEM to examine the interior cuticular pheromone collection and transport structures of 3 members of the Lu. longipalpis s.l. species complex and Migonemyia migonei. We found a new structure which we have called the manifold which appears to be a substantial extension of the interior tergal cuticle connected in-line with the cuticular duct and reservoir. The manifold of the Campo Grande member of the complex is longer and wider than the Jacobina member whereas the manifold of the Sobral member was shorter than both other members of the complex. Overall, the secretory apparatus of the Sobral member was smaller than the other two. The manifold of M. migonei was very different to those found in Lu. longipalpis s.l. and was positioned in a pit-like structure within the tergal cuticle. The secretory reservoir was connected by a short duct to the manifold. Differences in the size and shape of the manifold may be related to the chemical structure of the pheromone and may have taxonomic value. Examination of the interior cuticle by SEM may help to locate the secretory apparatus of vector species where pheromonal activity has been inferred from behavioural studies but the external secretory structures or pheromones have not yet been found.

Multi-omics Uncover Neonatal Cecal Cell Development Potentials

BackgroundAlthough, the cecum plays vital roles in absorption of water, electrolytes, and other small molecules, and harbors trillions of commensal bacteria to shape large intestine immune functions, it is unknown the cecum development potentials at single cell level during the very crucial neonatal developmental period.ResultsUsing singe cell RNA-seq and proteomics, we have characterized six major types of cecal epithelial cells: undifferentiated cells; immune cells (Ims); cecumocytes (CCs); goblet, Paneth like cells (PLCs), and enteroendocrine cells (EECs) with specific marker genes. CCs mature with a gradual decrease in number; however, Ims develop with a continuing increase in number. Meanwhile secretory cells (goblet, PLCs, EECs) reduce in number during the neonatal developmental period. The cells exhibit specific development and maturation trends controlled by transcriptional factors, ligand-receptor pairs, and other factors. As piglets grow, cecal content and mucosal microbial diversity increases dramatically with population of beneficial microbiota, such as lactobacillus, increasing significantly. Moreover, cecal mucosal-associated and cecal content microbiota are positively correlated and both show significant correlation with different types of cecal epithelial cells and plasma metabolites. ConclusionsThis is the first presentation of neonatal cecal cell development and maturation naturally at single cell level with transcript, protein, microbiota and metabolism perspectives. Furthermore, this study provides an important tool for the determination of novel interventions in cecal drug delivery and metabolism studies.