Genotoxic effects of (-)-cubebin in somatic cells of mice

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Genotoxicity assessment of the antimalarial compound artesunate in somatic cells of mice

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Somaticell® as a screening method for somatic cell count from bovine milk

Os objetivos do presente estudo foram avaliar a correlação entre a contagem eletrônica de células somáticas (eCCS) com o Somaticell® sob diferentes níveis de contagem de células somáticas (CCS) do leite e patógenos causadores de mastites, além de calcular a sensibilidade, especificidade e valores preditivos do Somaticell® utilizando diferentes limites de CCS estabelecidos pelos diferentes países. Trezentos e quarenta amostras de leite foram coletadas assepticamente após realização do California Mastitis Test (CMT). O Somaticell® e a eCCS foram realizados em todas as amostras de leite. A correlação entre o Somaticell® e a contagem eletrônica foi determinada de acordo com o CMT, patógeno isolado e escore de eCCS. de acordo com os escores de CCS estabelecidos, 26,5% das amostras de leite apresentaram escore 1 (69-166 x10³células mL-1), 26,8% escore 2 (167-418x10³células mL-1), 27,4% escore 3 (419-760x10³células mL-1) e 19,4% escore 4 (761 to 1970x10³células mL-1). A eCCS e o Somaticell® apresentaram correlação positiva em quase todos os escores estudados (exceto escore 2 e 3). O valor de r obtido entre CCS e o Somaticell® foi de 0,32. Observou-se que, quando o limite de CCS estabelecido aumentou, a sensibilidade decresceu e os valores de especificidade aumentaram. Os valores preditivos apresentaram-se constantes em todos os limites. Quando o limite de CCS era baixo (<760,000 células mL-1), Somaticell® forneceu resultados consistentemente mais elevados que os valores de CCS. Já para amostras com CCS elevada, Somaticell® resultou em menores contagens que a eCCS. A correlação entre os dois métodos permaneceu relativamente constante em todas as condições e os valores de sensibilidade e especificidade do teste são altamente dependentes do limite estabelecido. Os resultados deste trabalho sugerem que o Somaticell® não é útil para avaliar a CCS do leite, pois seus resultados são significativamente diferentes da eCCS, no entanto, pode ser utilizado como método de triagem, tal como o CMT, para a detecção do aumento da CCS do leite.

Somatic cell nuclear transfer is associated with altered expression of angiogenic factor systems in bovine placentomes at term

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Short-Term Antiandrogen Flutamide Treatment Causes Structural Alterations in Somatic Cells Associated with Premature Detachment of Spermatids in the Testis of Pubertal and Adult Guinea Pigs

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Use of strontium in the activation of bovine oocytes reconstructed by somatic cell nuclear transfer

As an important step in the nuclear transfer (NT) procedure, we evaluated the effect of three different treatments for oocyte activation on the in vitro and in vivo developmental capacity of bovine reconstructed embryos: (1) strontium, which has been successfully used in mice but not yet tested in cattle; (2) ionomycin and 6-dimethylammopurine (6-DMAP), a standard treatment used in cattle; (3) ionomycin and strontium, in place of 6-DMAP. As regards NT blastocyst development, no difference was observed when strontium (20.1%) or ionomycin/6-DMAP (14.4%) were used. However, when 6-DMAP was substituted by strontium (3), the blastocyst rate (34.8%) was superior to that in the other activation groups (p < 0.05). Results of in vivo development showed the possibility of pregnancies when NT embryos activated in strontium were transferred to recipient cows (16.6%). A live female calf was obtained when ionomycin/strontium were used, but it died 30 days after birth. Our findings show that strontium can be used as an activation agent in bovine cloning procedures and that activation with a combination of strontium and ionomycin increased the in vitro developmental capacity of reconstructed embryos. This is the first report of a calf produced by adult somatic cell NT in Latin America.

Radioprotection of beta-carotene evaluated on mouse somatic and germ cells

In the present paper, the protective effect of beta-carotene was evaluated after whole body exposure of mice to 2 Gy of X-rays. Splenocytes, reticulocytes, bone marrow cells and spermatids were evaluated for the frequency of micronuclei (MN) induced by X-rays. Mice were treated (gavage) with beta-carotene (10, 25 and 50 mg/kg b.w.) for 5 consecutive days and, 4 h after the last treatment, the animals were irradiated. The results obtained showed different frequencies of X-ray-induced-MN between different cell populations analysed and also different response of these cells to the beta-carotene treatment. The radioprotective effect of beta-carotene was observed in splenocytes, reticulocytes, and spermatids but not in bone marrow cells. No dose-response relationship for beta-carotene was detected. The time of sampling, the sensitivity of the cells as well as the antioxidant activity of beta-carotene are discussed as important factors for the radioprotective action of this provitamin.

Genetic Parameters For the Somatic Cells Count In the Milk of Buffaloes Using Ordinary Test Day Models

The buffaloes dairy milk production (BDMP) has increased in the last 20 years, mainly for the manufacturing of mozzarella cheese, which is recognized by its high nutritional quality. However, this quality can be affected by several factors i. e. high somatic cells count (SCC) provokes changes in the milk's constituents. As in bovine dairy milk, the SCC is used as diagnostic tool for milk quality; because it enables the diagnosis of sub-clinic mastitis and also allows the selection of individuals genetically resistant to that disease. Based on it, we collected information about SCC and BDMP along the lactation in Murrah breed buffaloes, during the period between 1997 and 2005. Curves were designed to estimate genetic parameters. These parameters were estimated by ordinary test-day models. There were observed variations in the estimated heritability for both characteristics the lowest score for somatic cells count (SSCC) was seen at first month (0.01) and the highest at sixth months (0.29 the genetic correlation between these traits varied from -1 at the 1 and 9(th) months to 0.31 and 0.30 in the2 and 4(th) month of lactation. Phenotypic correlations were all negative (-0.07 in the second month and up to -0.35 in the eighth month of lactation). These results showed that environmental factors are more important than genetics in explain SCC, for this reason, selection for genetic resistance to mastitis in buffalos based in SCC should not be done. In the other hand, negative phenotypic correlations demonstrated that as the SCC increased, the milk production decreased.

Using Mastitis Records and Somatic Cell Count Data

On-farm records are essential for managing mastitis in dairy herds. Mastitis records are a useful tool for caring for an individual cow, to monitor compliance of farm personnel working with groups of animals, to understand the epidemiology of mastitis in the herd, to ensure responsible drug utilization, and to document accountability in care of the cow. Herds have become larger and more people are involved with individual animal care. This article describes a records plan that can be used to monitor mastitis at the herd level, aid in decision-making processes for individual cows, and improve drug use on dairy herds.

Follicular somatic cell factors and follicle development

Considerable attention is currently paid to oocyte-derived secreted factors that act upon cumulus and granulosa cells. Also important for follicle development are somatic cell-derived secreted factors. This is illustrated by the ability of granulosa cell-derived Kit ligand (KITL) to promote primordial follicle activation, and the loss of follicle development that accompanies KITL gene disruption. This review summarises our current understanding of somatic cell factors during both preantral and antral follicle growth, involving not only signalling from granulosa cells to the oocyte, but also signalling between granulosa and theca cells. Principal granulosa cell-derived factors include activin, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and fibroblast growth factors (FGFs). Theca cells also secrete BMPs and FGFs. The interplay between these factors is equally important for follicle growth as the activity of oocyte-derived factors.