SINE indel polymorphism of AGL gene and association with growth and carcass traits in Landrace × Jeju black pig F2 population

Genetic polymorphisms in the glycogen debrancher enzyme (AGL) gene were assessed with regard to their association with growth and carcass traits in the F2 population crossbred Landrace and Jeju (Korea) Black pig. Three genotypes representing the insertion and/or deletion (indel) polymorphisms of short interspersed nuclear element were detected at frequencies of 0.278 (L/L), 0.479 (L/S), and 0.243 (S/S), respectively. The AGL S allele-containing pigs evidenced significantly heavier body weights at birth, the 3rd week, 10th week, and 20th week during developmental stages and higher average daily gains during the late period than were noted in the L/L homozygous pigs (P < 0.05), respectively. However, average daily gains during the early period were not significantly associated with genotype distribution (P > 0.05). With regard to the carcass traits, the S allele pigs (S/-) evidenced significantly heavier carcass weights and thicker backfat than was measured in L/L homozygous pigs (P < 0.05). However, body lengths, meat color, and marbling scores were all found not to be statistically significant (P > 0.05). Consequently, the faster growth rate during the late period and backfat deposition rather than intramuscular fat deposition cause differences in pig productivity according to genotypes of the AGL gene. These findings indicate that the AGL genotypes may prove to be useful genetic markers for the improvement of Jeju Black pig-related crossbreeding systems

Profiling of Differentially Expressed Genes Using Suppression Subtractive Hybridization in an Equine Model of Chronic Asthma

Background :\ud Gene expression analyses are used to investigate signaling pathways involved in diseases. In asthma, they have been primarily derived from the analysis of bronchial biopsies harvested from mild to moderate asthmatic subjects and controls. Due to ethical considerations, there is currently limited information on the transcriptome profile of the peripheral lung tissues in asthma.\ud \ud Objective :\ud To identify genes contributing to chronic inflammation and remodeling in the peripheral lung tissue of horses with heaves, a naturally occurring asthma-like condition.\ud \ud Methods :\ud Eleven adult horses (6 heaves-affected and 5 controls) were studied while horses with heaves were in clinical remission (Pasture), and during disease exacerbation induced by a 30-day natural antigen challenge during stabling (Challenge). Large peripheral lung biopsies were obtained by thoracoscopy at both time points. Using suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH), lung cDNAs of controls (Pasture and Challenge) and asymptomatic heaves-affected horses (Pasture) were subtracted from cDNAs of horses with heaves in clinical exacerbation (Challenge). The differential expression of selected genes of interest was confirmed using quantitative PCR assay.\ud \ud Results :\ud Horses with heaves, but not controls, developed airway obstruction when challenged. Nine hundred and fifty cDNA clones isolated from the subtracted library were screened by dot blot array and 224 of those showing the most marked expression differences were sequenced. The gene expression pattern was confirmed by quantitative PCR in 15 of 22 selected genes. Novel genes and genes with an already defined function in asthma were identified in the subtracted cDNA library. Genes of particular interest associated with asthmatic airway inflammation and remodeling included those related to PPP3CB/NFAT, RhoA, and LTB4/GPR44 signaling pathways.\ud \ud Conclusions :\ud Pathways representing new possible targets for anti-inflammatory and anti-remodeling therapies for asthma were identified. The findings of genes previously associated with asthma validate this equine model for gene expression studies

LE REMODELAGE DES VOIES RESPIRATOIRES CHEZ LES CHEVAUX ATTEINTS DU SOUFFLE

Les chevaux atteints du souffle, exposés à du foin moisi, développent un rétrécissement réversible du diamètre de leurs voies respiratoires. Cette obstruction chronique des voies respiratoires, l'accumulation de mucus typiquement associée et l'inflammation neutrophile après exposition aux antigènes incriminés sont associées à une expression prédominante de cytokines de type Th2 semblable à l'asthme humain. Les symptômes cliniques sont accompagnés d'un remodelage des voies respiratoires probablement à l'origine de la pérennité de la maladie. Nous avons mesuré l'importance du remodelage du muscle lisse des voies respiratoires de chevaux malades. Méthodes : Nous avons quantifié l'augmentation de la masse du muscle lisse des voies respiratoires chez 5 chevaux atteints du souffle comparés à 5 chevaux contrôles, en utilisant des techniques morphométriques standard. Les analyses morphométriques ont été réalisées sur des sections de tissus colorés par immunohistochimie avec colocalisation d'un antigène nucléaire de la prolifération cellulaire (le PCNA) et l'alpha?active spécifique du muscle lisse. Résultats : Le rapport entre la surface de muscle lisse des voies respiratoires (en ~Lmz) et le périmètre de la membrane basale des voies respiratoires (en ~tm2) chez les chevaux atteints du souffle est presque le triple de ce même rapport obtenu chez les chevaux contrôles (9,15 +/? 1,38 x 10?3 chez les chevaux atteints du souffle, versus 3,21 +/? 0,23 x 10?3 chez les animaux contrôles p=0,003). Le nombre de cellules en prolifération (cellules PCNA +) dans le muscle lisse des voies respiratoires affectées, rapporté au périmètre de la membrane basale des voies respiratoires (en p,m2), est sept fois plus important que dans les voies respiratoires normales (6,41 +/? 1,26 cellules par mm 2 chez les chevaux atteints du souffle contre 0,89 +/0,27 cellules par mmz chez les chevaux contrôles p=0,003). L'augmentation de la masse du muscle lisse et le taux de division des cellules musculaires lisses sont plus marqués dans les voies respiratoires les plus étroites même si des différences ont été observées quelque soit la taille des voies respiratoires étudiées. Conclusions: L'hyperplasie des cellules musculaires lisses contribue à l'augmentation de la masse du muscle lisse des voies respiratoires des chevaux atteints du souffle. L'important taux de division des cellules musculaires lisses n'est pas spécifiques aux petits mammifères tels que les rongeurs habituellement utilisés comme modèles d'étude de l'asthme. Après l'hypertrophie du muscle lisse initié par une inflammation intense, des facteurs de croissance sécrétés par les cellules musculaires lisses pourrait maintenir le phénomène hyperplasique par une action autocrine. Une étude cinétique chez les chevaux pourrait permettre de caractériser plus avant la physiopathologie de la maladie.MAISONS-ALFORT-Ecole Vétérin (940462302) / SudocSudocFranceF

Effect of weaving on the tensile properties of fibre tows and woven composites

Tension tests were conducted on (consolidated) tow and woven carbon/epoxy composites in an attempt to quantify the effect of fibre damage induced during weaving on the mechanical performance of fibre tows and their corresponding composites. Two commercially-available carbon fibres were considered. The tension tests were carried out on composites with fibre tows sampled from different locations in the loom setup. These included samples from the tensioning, heddles and reed regions of loom setup. In addition, samples were taken from the external (or, surface) and internal warp layers of the woven preforms. The present work has shown that the tensile properties of fibre composites are detrimentally affected only if the fibres suffer sufficiently large amounts of damage during the weaving process. Compared with unidirectional, non-woven fibre tow composites, further deterioration in properties is expected in multilayer woven composites due to the inevitable presence of fibre crimping

Disbond detection in adhesively bonded composite structures using vibration signatures

This paper presents a structural health monitoring technique based on analysis of the dynamic signature of the structure, which changes as damage occurs, due to alterations in structural properties such as stiffness and damping. Experiments performed on plate specimens and T-joint specimens which had various degrees of damage in the form of delaminations showed that it is possible to quantify the effect of damage on the acoustic response resulting from a tap in thick GFRP laminates. Subsequent experiments were conducted on adhesively bonded GFRP composite beam specimens with artificial delaminations of various sizes and locations embedded in the bondline. The specimens were excited using piezoelectric actuators bonded to the surface at various locations and the structural and acoustic responses were analysed. The results of these tests and analyses are presented and it is concluded that the structural and acoustic responses of such specimens to a piezoelectric actuator can be used to identify the presence of a delamination and may potentially be used to determine its size and location

THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SUPERCONDUCTING GAMMA CAMERA

Nous décrivons le développement de la première gamma caméra dont le détecteur est une suspension de grains supraconducteurs en état de surchauffe. Cette réalisation conçue en vue d'utilisation clinique permet l'obtention d'images de 81 x 81 mm avec une résolution spatiale de 1,27 mm.We described the development of first gamma camera, the detector of which is a suspension of superheated superconducting granules. This device has been designed in view of clinical utilization. It allows the obtention of 81 x 81 mm pictures with a spatial resolution of 1.27 mm

Characterization of the equine glycogen debranching enzyme gene (AGL): Genomic and cDNA structure, localization, polymorphism and expression

Glycogen debranching enzyme (AGL) is a multifunctional enzyme acting in the glycogen degradation pathway. In humans, the AGL activity deficiency causes a type III glycogen storage disease (Cori-Forbes disease). One particularity of AGL gene expression lies in the multiple alternative splicing in its 5' region. The AGL gene was localized on ECA5q14-q15. The sequence of the equine cDNA was determined to be 7.5 kb in length with an open reading frame of 4602 bp. The gene is 69 kb long and contains 35 exons. The equine AGL gene has an ubiquitous expression and presents five tissue-dependent cDNA variants arising from alternative splicing of the first exons. The equine skeletal muscle and heart contain four out of six variants previously described in humans and the equine liver express three of these four human variants. We identified a new alternative splicing variant expressed in equine skeletal and heart muscles. All these mRNA variants most probably encode only two different protein isoforms of 1533 and 1377 amino-acids. Four SNPs were detected in the mRNA. The equine in silico promoter sequence reveals a structure similar to those of other mammalian species. The disposition of the transcription factor biding sites does not correlate to the transcription start sites of tissue-specific variants