Comparison of four methods of inducing pseudopregnancy in rabbits

This study was conducted to compare several methods for inducing pseudopregnancy in local rabbits. The study used 25 clinically healthy rabbits of local breeds, aged 1-1.5 years, with a bodyweight of 1.8-2.2 kg. The rabbits were divided into five treatment groups (n = 5): R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5. Each group was given a different treatment. Group R1 was injected intramuscularly with 100 IU PMSG and mated with males three days later, which was followed by an intravenous injection of 75 IU hCG. Pseudopregnancy in group R2 was induced through artificial copulation by inserting a 1 cm long cotton bud into vaginal lumen at 5 a.m. Pseudopregnancy in group R3 was induced using 50 IU hCG intramuscularly. Group R4 was injected intravenously with 5 g GnRH and then intramuscularly with 100 IU PMSG and three days later with 75 IU hCG. Blood samples were collected on days 2, 4, 6, and 8 for estrogen and progesterone measurement, whereas an ovarian histological observation of all groups was performed on day 8. The results show that the highest concentration of estrogen was obtained in group R2, which was significantly different from the other groups (P <0.05), but the difference in examination time was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the concentration of progesterone in all groups fluctuated at various times of the day. Progesterone concentrations were higher in group R5, in which pseudopregnancy was induced with PMSG and hCG. Group R5 showed a significant difference (P <0.05) with R2, R3, and R4, but the difference with the positive control group (R1) was not significant (P > 0.05). The numbers of corpora lutea in groups R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 were, respectively, 6.87 ± 1.58, 6.22 ± 2.71, 6.74 ± 1.94, 5.98 ± 2.04, and 8.8 ± 1.90, and the largest diameter was obtained in R5 (1.65 ± 0.37 mm). In conclusion, the best method of inducing pseudopregnancy in local rabbits is the administration of PMSG and hCG.

SOME HISTOLOGICAL OBSERVATION OF THE EYE IN THE FISH (Mystus pelusius)

The eyes of 50 fishes (Mystus pelusius) were located in protective myodome of the skull and were basically made up of an elongated globe. The comeal epithelium was composed of stratified squamous non-keratinized. The iris bends sharply inward over the lens and consisted of richly vasculared connective tissue stroma and a pigmented epithelium. The sclera was cartilaginous. The choroid was made of connective tissue and containing choriocapillaris. Longe single, short single and double cones and rods was the characteristic feature of the retina.

Npr2 mutant mice show vasodilation and undeveloped adipocytes in mesentery

Objective The biological importance for the signaling of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) and natriuretic peptide receptor B (NPR-B) has been recognized. However, the details remain unclear and are debatable. The Npr2 is a gene of NPR-B, and we previously reported a unique phenotype of a spontaneous mutant mouse lacking Npr2 (Npr2slw/slw), such as severe ileus-like disorder with bloodless blood vessels. In this study, we analyzed the bloodless mesenteric vascular morphology of Npr2slw/slw by histological observation to clarify the effects of the CNP/NPR-B signal deficiency. Results Blood vessels in the mesentery were clearly dilated in the preweaning Npr2slw/slw mice. Additionally, in the Npr2slw/slw mice, the lacteals were partially dilation or randomly direction mucosal epithelial cells in villi, and mesenteric adipocytes were undeveloped. These findings provide important information for understanding the role of CNP/NPR-B signals on intestine with mesentery.

Evaluation of the effect of probiotic as add-on therapy with conventional therapy and alone in malaria induced mice

Objective Chloroquine is used as a conventional drug therapy for the treatment of malaria. The existence of resistance to chloroquine shown among various species of Plasmodium leads to the search for more efficacious therapy to treat malaria. Probiotic (Lactobacillus casei) has been tried as an add-on therapy with chloroquine. Probiotics are ingested microorganisms associated with a beneficial effect on humans and other species. The study was done to check the efficacy of L. casei as an add-on therapy along with conventional drug therapy (chloroquine) to treat malaria. Results Probiotic in combination with chloroquine showed complete suppression in parasitemia rate. Representation of parasitemia rate was done using mean ± SD. p < 0.05 is considered as statistically significant. The results showed a reduction in parasitemia with probiotic treatment, which was further confirmed through histological observation of two major organs, the liver and spleen. Interestingly, further suppression of parasitemia and hemosiderosis was observed when probiotic was given along with chloroquine.

Efficacy of extracellular vesicles from dental pulp stem cells for bone regeneration in rat calvarial bone defects

Background Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are known to be secreted by various cells. In particular, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived EVs (MSC-EVs) have tissue repair capacity and anti-inflammatory properties. Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), which are MSCs isolated from pulp tissue, are less invasive to the body than other MSCs and can be collected from young individuals. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of EVs secreted by DPSCs (DPSC-EVs) for bone formation. Methods DPSC-EVs were isolated from the cell culture medium of DPSCs. DPSC-EVs were unilaterally injected along with collagen (COL), beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) or hydroxyapatite (HA) into rat calvarial bone defects. The effects of DPSC-EVs were analyzed by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and histological observation. Results Micro-CT showed that administration of DPSC-EVs with the abovementioned scaffolds resulted in bone formation in the periphery of the defects. DPSC-EVs/COL specifically resulted in bone formation in the center of the defects. Histological observation revealed that DPSC-EVs/COL promoted new bone formation. Administration of DPSC-EVs/COL had almost the same effect on the bone defect site as transplantation of DPSCs/COL. Conclusions These results suggest that DPSC-EVs may be effective tools for bone tissue regeneration.

Response of Resistant and Susceptible Bayberry Cultivars to Infection of Twig Blight Pathogen by Histological Observation and Gibberellin Related Genes Expression

Bayberry is an important fruit tree native to the subtropical regions of China. However, a systematic twig blight disease caused by Pestalotiopsis versicolor and P. microspora, resulted in the death of the whole tree of bayberry. The main variety Dongkui is highly sensitive to the twig blight disease, but the variety Zaojia is very highly resistant to the disease. Therefore, it is very necessary to clear the difference between resistant and susceptible varieties in response to the fungal infection. In this paper, we investigated the response of resistant and susceptible bayberry cultivars to infection of twig blight pathogen by histological observation and gibberellin signaling pathway-related genes expression. Microscopic observation revealed the difference in the infection process between resistant and susceptible varieties. The results of frozen scanning electron microscopy showed that the Pestalotiopsis conidia were shrunk, the mycelium was shriveled and did not extend into the cells of resistant cultivars, while the conidia were full and the top was extended, the mycelia was normal and continued to extend to the cells of a susceptible cultivar. Indeed, the medulla cells were almost intact in resistant cultivar, but obviously damaged in susceptible cultivar after inoculation of the main fungal pathogen P. versicolor conidia, which is earlier germinated on sterile glass slide than that of a hard plastic slide. The quantitative real-time PCR results showed a significant difference between resistant and susceptible cultivars in the expression of gibberellin signaling pathway-related genes in leaves and stems of bayberry, which is closely related to infection time, the type of genes and varieties. Overall, this study provides a clue for our understanding of the resistance mechanism of bayberry against the twig blight disease.