Distribution and adhesion-promoting activity of alpha4 and alpha5 chain laminins in human endothelia and carcinomas

Basement membranes are specialized sheets of extracellular matrix found in contact with epithelia, endothelia, and certain isolated cells. They support tissue architecture and regulate cell behaviour. Laminins are among the main constituents of basement membranes. Due to differences between laminin isoforms, laminins confer structural and functional diversity to basement membranes. The first aim of this study was to gain insights into the potential functions of the then least characterized laminins, alpha4 chain laminins, by evaluating their distribution in human tissues. We thus created a monoclonal antibody specific for laminin alpha4 chain. By immunohistochemistry, alpha4 chain laminins were primarily localized to basement membranes of blood vessel endothelia, skeletal, heart, and smooth muscle cells, nerves, and adipocytes. In addition, alpha4 chain laminins were found in the region of certain epithelial basement membranes in the epidermis, salivary gland, pancreas, esophagus, stomach, intestine, and kidney. Because of the consistent presence of alpha4 chain laminins in endothelial basement membranes of blood vessels, we evaluated the potential roles of endothelial laminins in blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and carcinomas. Human endothelial cells produced alpha4 and alpha5 chain laminins. In quantitative and morphological adhesion assays, human endothelial cells barely adhered to alpha4 chain-containing laminin-411. The weak interaction of endothelial cells with laminin-411 appeared to be mediated by alpha6beta1 integrin. The alpha5 chain-containing laminin-511 promoted endothelial cell adhesion better than laminin-411, but it did not promote the formation of cell-extracellular matrix adhesion complexes. The adhesion of endothelial cells to laminin-511 appeared to be mediated by Lutheran glycoprotein together with beta1 and alphavbeta3 integrins. The results suggest that these laminins may induce a migratory phenotype in endothelial cells. In lymphatic capillaries, endothelial basement membranes showed immunoreactivity for laminin alpha4, beta1, beta2, and gamma1 chains, type IV and XVIII collagens, and nidogen-1. Considering the assumed inability of alpha4 chain laminins to polymerize and to promote basement membrane assembly, the findings may in part explain the incomplete basement membrane formation in these vessels. Lymphatic capillaries of ovarian carcinomas showed immunoreactivity also for laminin alpha5 chain and its receptor Lutheran glycoprotein, emphasizing a difference between normal and ovarian carcinoma lymphatic capillaries. In renal cell carcinomas, immunoreactivity for laminin alpha4 chain was found in stroma and basement membranes of blood vessels. In most tumours, immunoreactivity for laminin alpha4 chain was also observed in the basement membrane region of tumour cell islets. Renal carcinoma cells produced alpha4 chain laminins. Laminin-411 did not promote adhesion of renal carcinoma cells, but inhibited their adhesion to fibronectin. Renal carcinoma cells migrated more on laminin-411 than on fibronectin. The results suggest that alpha4 chain laminins have a counteradhesive function, and may thus have a role in detachment and invasion of renal carcinoma cells.

The function of Bmps and Runx2 in normal tooth development and in the pathogenesis of cleidocranial dysplasia

The development of many embryonic organs is regulated by reciprocal and sequential epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. These interactions are mediated by conserved signaling pathways that are reiteratively used. Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) is a congenital syndrome where both bone and tooth development is affected. The syndrome is characterized by short stature, abnormal clavicles, general bone dysplasia, and supernumerary teeth. CCD is caused by mutations in RUNX2, a transcription factor that is a key regulator of osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. The first aim of this study was to analyse the expression of a family of key signal molecules, Bone morphogenetic protein (Bmp) at different stages of tooth development. Bmps have a variety of functions and they were originally discovered as signals inducing ectopic bone formation. We performed a comparative in situ hybridisation analysis of the mRNA expression of Bmp2-7 from initiation of tooth development to differentiation of dental hard tissues. The expression patterns indicated that the Bmps signal between the epithelial and mesenchymal tissues during initiation and morphogenesis of tooth development, as well as during the differentiation of odontoblasts and ameloblasts. Furthermore, they are also part of the signalling networks whereby the enamel knot regulates the patterning of tooth cusps. The second aim was to study the role of Runx2 during tooth development and thereby to gain better understanding of the pathogenesis of the tooth phenotype in CCD. We analysed the tooth phenotype of Runx2 knockout mice and examined the patterns and regulation of Runx2 gene expression.. The teeth of wild-type and Runx2 mutant mice were compared by several methods including in situ hybridisation, tissue culture, bead implantation experiments, and epithelial-mesenchymal recombination studies. Phenotypic analysis of Runx2 -/- mutant tooth development showed that teeth failed to advance beyond the bud stage. Runx2 expression was restricted to dental mesenchyme between the bud and early bell stages of tooth development and it was regulated by epithelial signals, in particular Fgfs. We searched for downstream targets of Runx2 by comparative in situ hybridisation analysis. The expression of Fgf3 was downregulated in the mesenchyme of Runx2 -/- teeth. Shh expression was absent from the enamel knot in the lower molars of Runx2 -/- and reduced in the upper molars. In conclusion, these studies showed that Runx2 regulates key epithelial-mesenchymal interactions that control advancing tooth morphogenesis and histodifferentiation of the epithelial enamel organ. In addition, in the upper molars of Runx2 mutants extra buddings occured at the palatal side of the tooth bud. We suggest that Runx2 acts as an inhibitor of successional tooth formation by preventing advancing development of the buds. Accordingly, we propose that RUNX2 haploinsuffiency in humans causes incomplete inhibition of successional tooth formation and as a result supernumerary teeth.

The conservation status of the world’s reptiles

Effective and targeted conservation action requires detailed information about species, their distribution, systematics and ecology as well as the distribution of threat processes which affect them. Knowledge of reptilian diversity remains surprisingly disparate, and innovative means of gaining rapid insight into the status of reptiles are needed in order to highlight urgent conservation cases and inform environmental policy with appropriate biodiversity information in a timely manner. We present the first ever global analysis of extinction risk in reptiles, based on a random representative sample of 1500 species (16% of all currently known species). To our knowledge, our results provide the first analysis of the global conservation status and distribution patterns of reptiles and the threats affecting them, highlighting conservation priorities and knowledge gaps which need to be addressed urgently to ensure the continued survival of the world’s reptiles. Nearly one in five reptilian species are threatened with extinction, with another one in five species classed as Data Deficient. The proportion of threatened reptile species is highest in freshwater environments, tropical regions and on oceanic islands, while data deficiency was highest in tropical areas, such as Central Africa and Southeast Asia, and among fossorial reptiles. Our results emphasise the need for research attention to be focussed on tropical areas which are experiencing the most dramatic rates of habitat loss, on fossorial reptiles for which there is a chronic lack of data, and on certain taxa such as snakes for which extinction risk may currently be underestimated due to lack of population information. Conservation actions specifically need to mitigate the effects of human-induced habitat loss and harvesting, which are the predominant threats to reptiles.

A framework for optimising capital investment and operations in livestock logistics

Despite the longevity, scale and importance of northern Australia's beef industry, recent disruptions to external markets have demonstrated a degree of vulnerability to shocks in the supply chain. Matching the industry's long-evident resilience to climatic variability with resilience to changes in markets and supply chains requires careful planning. One component of this is how investments in infrastructure will need to be planned to facilitate adaptive responses to market changes. This paper provides an outline of a modelling framework that links strategic and operational dynamic models of logistics along the supply chain from the property to the abattoir or port. A novelty of the methodology is that it takes into account the high granularity of individual livestock transport vehicle movements and the ability to scale up to an almost complete view of logistics costs across the entire beef industry of northern Australia. The paper illustrates how the methodology could be used to examine the effects of changes in logistics infrastructure on efficiency and costs using examples from the states of Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland.

Shwachman-Diamond syndrome : Clinical, genetic and radiological study

Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder in which the cardinal symptoms arise from exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and bone marrow dysfunction. Previous studies have suggested increased risk of fatal complications among Finnish SDS infants. The genetic defect responsible for the disease was recently identified; the SBDS gene is located at chromosome 7q11 and encodes a protein that is involved in ribosome biosynthesis. The discovery of the SBDS gene has opened new insights into the pathogenesis of this multi-organ disease. This study aimed to assess phenotypic and genotypic features of Finnish patients with SDS. Seventeen Finnish patients with a clinical diagnosis of SDS were included in the study cohort. Extensive clinical, biochemical and imaging assessments were performed to elucidate the phenotypic features, and the findings were correlated with the SBDS genotype. Imaging studies included abdominal magnetic reso-nance imaging (MRI), brain MRI, cardiac echocardiography including tissue Doppler examination, and cardiac MRI. The skeletal phenotype was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and bone histomorphometry. Twelve patients had mutations in the SBDS gene. In MRI, a characteristic pattern of fat-replaced pancreas with occasional enhancement of scattered parenchymal foci and of pancreatic duct was noted in the SBDS mutation-positive patients while the mutation-negative patients did not have pancreatic fat accumulation. The patients with SBDS mutations had significantly reduced bone mineral density associated with low-energy peripheral fractures and vertebral compression fractures. Bone histomorphometry confirmed low-turnover osteoporosis. The patients with SBDS mutations had learning difficulties and smaller head size and brain volume than control subjects. Corpus callosum, cerebellar vermis, and pos-terior fossa structures were significantly smaller in SDS patients than in controls. Patients with SDS did not have evidence of clinical heart disease or myocardial fibrosis. However, subtle diastolic changes in the right ventricle and exercise-induced changes in the left ventricle contractile reserve were observed. This study expanded the phenotypic features of SDS to include primary low-turnover osteoporosis and structural alterations in the brain. Pancreatic MRI showed characteristic changes in the SBDS mutation-positive patients while these were absent in the mutation-negative patients, suggesting that MRI can be used to differentiate patients harbouring SBDS mutations from those without mutations. No evidence for clinical cardiac manifestations was found, but imaging studies revealed slightly altered myocardial function that may have clinical implications. These findings confirm the pleiotropic nature of SDS and underscore the importance of careful multidisciplinary follow-up of the affected individuals.

Expected Performance of the ATLAS Experiment - Detector, Trigger and Physics

A detailed study is presented of the expected performance of the ATLAS detector. The reconstruction of tracks, leptons, photons, missing energy and jets is investigated, together with the performance of b-tagging and the trigger. The physics potential for a variety of interesting physics processes, within the Standard Model and beyond, is examined. The study comprises a series of notes based on simulations of the detector and physics processes, with particular emphasis given to the data expected from the first years of operation of the LHC at CERN.

Spin-Electron-Phonon Excitation in Re-based Half-Metallic Double Perovskites

A remarkable hardening (similar to 30 cm(-1)) of the normal mode of vibration associated with the symmetric stretching of the oxygen octahedra for the Ba2FeReO6 and Sr2CrReO6 double perovskites is observed below the corresponding magnetic ordering temperatures. The very large magnitude of this effect and its absence for the antisymmetric stretching mode provide evidence against a conventional spin-phonon coupling mechanism. Our observations are consistent with a collective excitation formed by the combination of the vibrational mode with oscillations of Fe or Cr 3d and Re 5d occupations and spin magnitudes.

On the microstructure-tensile property correlations in bulk metallic glass matrix composites with crystalline dendrites

Bulk metallic glass (BMG) matrix composites with crystalline dendrites as reinforcements exhibit a wide variance in their microstructures (and thus mechanical properties), which in turn can be attributed to the processing route employed, which affects the size and distribution of the dendrites. A critical investigation on the microstructure and tensile properties of Zr/Ti-based BMG composites of the same composition, but produced by different routes, was conducted so as to identify ``structure-property'' connections in these materials. This was accomplished by employing four different processing methods-arc melting, suction casting, semi-solid forging and induction melting on a water-cooled copper boat-on composites with two different dendrite volume fractions, V-d. The change in processing parameters only affects microstructural length scales such as the interdendritic spacing, lambda, and dendrite size, delta, whereas compositions of the matrix and dendrite are unaffected. Broadly, the composite's properties are insensitive to the microstructural length scales when V-d is high (similar to 75%), whereas they become process dependent for relatively lower V-d (similar to 55%). Larger delta in arc-melted and forged specimens result in higher ductility (7-9%) and lower hardening rates, whereas smaller dendrites increase the hardening rate. A bimodal distribution of dendrites offers excellent ductility at a marginal cost of yield strength. Finer lambda result in marked improvements in both ductility and yield strength, due to the confinement of shear band nucleation sites in smaller volumes of the glassy phase. Forging in the semi-solid state imparts such a microstructure. (c) 2012 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The adenylyl cyclase Rv2212 modifies the proteome and infectivity of Mycobacterium bovis BCG

All organisms have the capacity to sense and respond to environmental changes. These signals often involve the use of second messengers such as cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). This second messenger is widely distributed among organisms and coordinates gene expression related with pathogenesis, virulence, and environmental adaptation. Genomic analysis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis has identified 16 adenylyl cyclases (AC) and one phosphodiesterase, which produce and degrade cAMP, respectively. To date, ten AC have been biochemically characterized and only one (Rv0386) has been found to be important during murine infection with M. tuberculosis. Here, we investigated the impact of hsp60-driven Rv2212 gene expression in Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) during growth in vitro, and during macrophage and mice infection. We found that hsp60-driven expression of Rv2212 resulted in an increased capacity of replication in murine macrophages but an attenuated phenotype in lungs and spleen when administered intravenously in mice. Furthermore, this strain displayed an altered proteome mainly affecting proteins associated with stress conditions (bfrB, groEL-2, DnaK) that could contribute to the attenuated phenotype observed in mice.

Oxygen-participated electrochemistry of new lithium-rich layered oxides Li3MRuO5 M = Mn, Fe)

We describe the synthesis, crystal structure and lithium deinsertion-insertion electrochemistry of two new lithium-rich layered oxides, Li3MRuO5 (M = Mn, Fe), related to rock salt based Li2MnO3 and LiCoO2. The Li3MnRuO5 oxide adopts a structure related to Li2MnO3 (C2/m) where Li and (Li0.2Mn0.4Ru0.4) layers alternate along the c-axis, while the Li3FeRuO5 oxide adopts a near-perfect LiCoO2 (R (3) over barm) structure where Li and (Li0.2Fe0.4Ru0.4) layers are stacked alternately. Magnetic measurements indicate for Li3MnRuO5 the presence of Mn3+ and low spin configuration for Ru4+ where the itinerant electrons occupy a pi*-band. The onset of a net maximum in the chi vs. T plot at 9.5 K and the negative value of the Weiss constant (theta) of -31.4 K indicate the presence of antiferromagnetic superexchange interactions according to different pathways. Lithium electrochemistry shows a similar behaviour for both oxides and related to the typical behaviour of Li-rich layered oxides where participation of oxide ions in the electrochemical processes is usually found. A long first charge process with capacities of 240 mA h g(-1) (2.3 Li per f.u.) and 144 mA h g(-1) (1.38 Li per f.u.) is observed for Li3MnRuO5 and Li3FeRuO5, respectively. An initial sloping region (OCV to ca. 4.1 V) is followed by a long plateau (ca. 4.3 V). Further discharge-charge cycling points to partial reversibility (ca. 160 mA h g(-1) and 45 mA h g(-1) for Mn and Fe, respectively). Nevertheless, just after a few cycles, cell failure is observed. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterisation of both pristine and electrochemically oxidized Li3MRuO5 reveals that in the Li3MnRuO5 oxide, Mn3+ and Ru4+ are partially oxidized to Mn4+ and Ru5+ in the sloping region at low voltage, while in the long plateau, O2- is also oxidized. Oxygen release likely occurs which may be the cause for failure of cells upon cycling. Interestingly, some other Li-rich layered oxides have been reported to cycle acceptably even with the participation of the O2- ligand in the reversible redox processes. In the Li3FeRuO5 oxide, the oxidation process appears to affect only Ru (4+ to 5+ in the sloping region) and O2- (plateau) while Fe seems to retain its 3+ state.

Disminución del síndrome de muerte súbita en pollos de engorde a través de diferentes niveles de afrecho de trigo incluido en el alimento iniciador

El trabajo investigativo nace como una necesidad de encontrar bajo las condiciones tanto ambientales como de manejo , alternativas alimenticias que nos lleven a reducir el Síndrome de muerte súbita (SMS) que ocasiona grandes pérdidas económicas en explotaciones tanto lllfesanales (pequeftos productores) y las grandes industrias avícolas. La investigación se realizó en la granja avícola LA TRINIDAD propiedad de la empresa Tip­ Top, S.A Ubicada en Níndiri municipio de Masaya, para el experimento se emplearon 700 pollos de engorde de la raza Piterson hubbard, de día de nacido, que se distribuyeron en una galera experimental, en grupos de 175 pollos los cuales se subdividieron en 5 sub grupo de 35 pollos cada uno para estudiante el efecto de una restricción cualitativa del alimento iniciador en un periodo de 6 días partiendo del 5 a 11 día de edad en los siguientes tratamientos: TI 25 % de afrecho de trigo incluido en el concentrado iniciador, T2 15 %de afrecho de trigo incluido en el concentrado iniciador, T3 O % de afrecho de trigo incluido en el concentrado iniciador, T4 20 % de afrecho de trigo inclusión en el concentrado iniciador. Para disminuir la incidencia del SMS. Las variables estudiadas y evaluadas fueron las siguientes: Consumo de alimento, Peso vivo, Conversión alimenticia, Mortalidad vs. Viabilidad y Rendimiento en canal. Los datos que se registraron fueron evaluados a través de análisis estadístico Bifactorial y las medias a través de la prueba de rango múltiples de Tukey exceptuando la mortalidad y rendimiento en canal. Con el análisis estadístico no se encon traron diferencias significativas en todos los tratamiento evaluados (P>0.05) La tasa de mortalidad de los diferentes tratamientos fue analizada a través de una prueba de hipótesis para diferencias entre las proporciones de dos poblaciones no encontrando diferencias estadísticas entre las tasas de mortalidad, para los altos tratamientos evaluados en las diferentes semanas (P>0.05). El análisis económico fue evaluado auxiliándose de los presupuestos parciales para estudiar el beneficio entre los diferentes tratamientos, así también de presupuestos tipo empresa, con los cuales llegamos a la conclusión que el Tratamiento dos tuvo el mejor comportamiento.

Caracterización de la curva de lactancia y el comportamiento reproductivo de vaquillas Holstein bajo implementación de medidas de manejo en el período pre-parto

Con el objetivo de caracterizar la curva de lactancia y evaluar el comportamiento reproductivo se analizaron los registros mensuales (N=10) de vaquillas Holstein bajo la implementación y falta de implementación de medidas de manejo pre-parto en la Empresa Agropecuaria “San Ignacio” Mateare, Nicaragua. Para caracterizar la curva de lactancia, se utilizó el modelo de Wood (1967) de forma linealizada Ln Yx = Lna + b Lnx - ex , donde Yx es la producción diaria en el período x, a representa la producción inicial, b el ascenso al pico, c el descenso de producción, a partir del mismo se generaron la Persistencia (S), Rendimiento al pico (RP), Tiempo al pico (TP), también se evaluó el Intervalo parto - concepción (IPC) y el Número de servicios por concepción (NSPC) . Al presentar problemas reproductivos la proporción de curvas atípicas encontradas en este Trabajo fue de 40%. Al analizar la curva de lactancia del grupo experimental se observa un a= 11.00212 kg, b = 0.083528 kg, e = 0.00407148 kg, RP = 12.790 kg, TP = 29.54 días, S = 6.126. El grupo testigo presenta un a = 6.4384 kg, b = 0.193048 kg, e = 0.00466974 kg, RP = 9.49 kg, TP = 34.32 días, S = 6.421. En el análisis de varianza se encontró que el RP tiene diferencia significativa entre los tratamientos a un nivel de significancia (P<0.05). Los parámetros reproductivos IPC y NSPC para el grupo experimental fueron de 243.6 días y 3 servicios respectivamente, el grupo testigo presentó un IPC = 221.8 días y NSPC = 3.6 servicios .

Producción de biomasa de Moringa oleifera sometida a diferentes densidades de siembra y frecuencias de corte, en el trópico seco de Managua, Nicaragua

Este experimento se llevó a cabo en la hacienda Santa Rosa localizada geográficamente a 12,08,15 de latitud Norte y 86,09,36 longitud Este en la comunidad de sabana grande municipio de Managua, entre el periodo de octubre 2002 a octubre 2003.Tuvo como objetivo evaluar el efecto de diferentes densidades de siembra y frecuencias de corte en la producción de biomasa de Moringa oleifera Lam bajo condiciones de trópico seco. Se utilizó el diseño de bloques completo al azar (BCA) con cuatro repeticiones en un arreglo de parcelas divididas donde las densidades de siembra (250, 500 y 750 mil plantas /ha) eran para las parcelas principales y las frecuencias de corte (45, 60 y 75 días) para las subparcelas. Las variables evaluadas fueron: Rendimiento de materia fresca total (RMFT), Rendimiento de materia fresca fracción fina (RMFFF), Rendimiento de materia fresca fracción gruesa (RMFFG), Rendimiento de materia seca total (RMST), Tasa de crecimiento (TC), Altura promedio de la planta (APP), Porcentaje de materia seca (% MS), Porcentaje de cenizas (% C). Se realizó análisis de varianza y comparación de medias por la prueba simultanea de Tukey utilizando el paquete estadístico MINITAB versión 13. para PC 2000. Los resultados en el análisis de varianza mostraron que las densidades de siembra no presentaron efectos significativos importantes (p<0.05) en las variables evaluadas en Moringa oleifera, la frecuencia de corte que presento efectos significativos a un (p<0.05) para la mayoría de las variables fué la frecuencia de corte a los 75 días que mostró los mejores resultados para las variables: RMFT (41.18 ton/ha/año), RMFFG (20.11ton/ha/año), RMST (7.34ton/ha/año), APP(109.02cms), TC (19.61Kgs MS/ha/dia), %C (9.84%), excepto para el RMSFF (4.51ton/ha/año), cuyos mejores resultados fueron encontrados en la frecuencia de corte a los 60 días.

Identificación de helmintos gastrointestinales en bovinos menores de un año en el municipio de Matagalpa, en el período comprendido de noviembre 2005 - abril 2006

Con el objetivo de conocer los principales helmintos gastrointestinales que afectan a bovinos menores de un año en la zona del municipio de Matagalpa, se realizó este estudio en diez (10) fincas representativas de la zona que se encuentran en distintos puntos geográficos del municipio. Investigación que se llevó a efecto entre noviembre del 2005 - abril del 2006. Los parámetros climáticos del municipio en esta época oscila entre 26 - 28 °C de temperatura y 80 % de humedad relativa, ± un 5 %. Se realizaron cuatro muestreos en serie a 91 terneros menores de un año, correspondiente al 20 % del total de una población de 455 animales, la que se les extrajo del recto aproximadamente de 80 a l 00 gramos de heces fecales, de los cuales se utilizó 5 gramos para realizar el método cualitativo de presencia de huevos de helmintos por medio del método de flotación de Sheather. Posterior al análisis cualitativo, se procedió a realizar el cálculo de la carga parasitaria, utilizando para esto la metodología de Gordon & Whitllock (Macmaster modificado). Para la identificación de especies, se realizaron cultivos de larva de las que se obtuvieron muy pocas formas larvarias, se observó baja eclosión de larvas, posiblemente a la no viabilidad de los huevos. Se encontraron 82 animales positivos, de los cuales los géneros Strongyloides s y Cooperia presentaron 33 % y 16.5 % respectivamente siendo los más predominantes, seguido por Trichuris 6.6 %, Toxocara; 2.2 %, Oesophagostomum; 1.1%, Bunostomum; l.l %. Además se presentaron asociaciones de helmintos con una prevalencia de 29.6 % de los casos positivos.

Efecto de diferentes densidades de siembra y alturas de corte sobre la producción de biomasa y composición quimica de Cratylia argentea

El presente estudio se realizó en la finca Santa Rosa, propiedad de la Universidad Nacional Agraria (UNA), De partamento de Managua, localizada geográficamente a 12º08 ́15 ̈ latitud Norte y a 86º09 ́36 ̈ longitud Este, en el período Julio 2005-Julio 2006. Se evaluó el efecto de tres densidades de siembras (40 000, 20000 y 10 000 plantas/ha) y tres alturas de corte (20, 40 y 60 cm.) sobre la producción de biomasa y composición química de Cratylia argentea. Se utilizó un diseño experimental de Bloque Completamente al Azar con 4 repeticiones con arreglo de Parcelas Divididas, a las parcelas principales se les asignó la densidad de plantas y a las subparcelas las alturas de corte. Los resultados del análisis de vari anza (p<0.05) mostraron que la densidad de siembra de 40 000 plantas/ha presentó estadísticamente (P<0.05) diferencias altamente significativas dando los ma yores rendimientos para Materia Fresca Total (58.9 t/ha/año), Materia Seca Total (17.6 t/ha/año) y Altura de Planta (97.5 cm). No se encontró diferencias significativas entre densidades de siembra en contenido de MS,FDN, FDA y DIVMS, sin embargo, la densidad de siembra de 20 000 plantas/ha, presentó el mayor (P<0.05) contenido de PB (21.1%).La altura de corte de 60 cm mostró significativamente (P<0.05) los mejores resultados para MFT (57.5 t/ha/año), MST (18.1 t/ha/año) y Altura de Plantas ( 115.6 cm). No se encontró diferencias estadísticas entre alturas de corte para contenido de MS y hemicelulosa, no obstante la altura de corte de 20 cm mostró el mayor (P<0.05) contenido de PB (22.6%) y DIVMS (60.8%). La altura de corte de 60 cm presentó los mayores (P<0.05) contenidos de FDN (51.6%) y FDA (37.7%). No se encontró interacción entre densidades de siembra y alturas de corte.