Differential Spatiotemporal Patterns of Galectin Expression are a Hallmark of Endotheliochorial Placentation

Problem: Galectins influence the progress of pregnancy by regulating key processes associated with embryo-maternal cross talk, including angiogenesis and placentation. Galectin family members exert multiple roles in the context of hemochorial and epitheliochorial placentation; however, the galectin prolife in endotheliochorial placenta remains to be investigated. Method of study: Here, we used immunohistochemistry to analyze galectin (gal)-1, gal-3 and gal-9 expression during early and late endotheliochorial placentation in two different species (dogs and cats). Results: We found that during early feline gestation, all three galectin members were more strongly expressed on trophoblast and maternal vessels compared to the decidua. This was accompanied by an overall decrease of gal-1, gal-3 and gal-9 expressions in late feline gestation. In canine early pregnancy, we observed that gal-1 and gal-9 were expressed strongly in cytotrophoblast (CTB) cells compared to gal-3, and no galectin expression was observed in syncytiotrophoblast (STB) cells. Progression of canine gestation was accompanied by increased gal-1 and gal-3 expressions on STB cells, whereas gal-9 expression remained similar in CTB and STB. Conclusion: These data suggest that both the maternal and fetal compartments are characterized by a spatiotemporal regulation of galectin expression during endotheliochorial placentation. This strongly suggests the involvement of the galectin family in important developmental processes during gestation including immunemodulation, trophoblast invasion and angiogenesis. A conserved functional role for galectins during mammalian placental development emerges from these studies.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Differential Spatiotemporal Patterns of Galectin Expression are a Hallmark of Endotheliochorial Placentation

Problem: Galectins influence the progress of pregnancy by regulating key processes associated with embryo-maternal cross talk, including angiogenesis and placentation. Galectin family members exert multiple roles in the context of hemochorial and epitheliochorial placentation; however, the galectin prolife in endotheliochorial placenta remains to be investigated. Method of study: Here, we used immunohistochemistry to analyze galectin (gal)-1, gal-3 and gal-9 expression during early and late endotheliochorial placentation in two different species (dogs and cats). Results: We found that during early feline gestation, all three galectin members were more strongly expressed on trophoblast and maternal vessels compared to the decidua. This was accompanied by an overall decrease of gal-1, gal-3 and gal-9 expressions in late feline gestation. In canine early pregnancy, we observed that gal-1 and gal-9 were expressed strongly in cytotrophoblast (CTB) cells compared to gal-3, and no galectin expression was observed in syncytiotrophoblast (STB) cells. Progression of canine gestation was accompanied by increased gal-1 and gal-3 expressions on STB cells, whereas gal-9 expression remained similar in CTB and STB. Conclusion: These data suggest that both the maternal and fetal compartments are characterized by a spatiotemporal regulation of galectin expression during endotheliochorial placentation. This strongly suggests the involvement of the galectin family in important developmental processes during gestation including immunemodulation, trophoblast invasion and angiogenesis. A conserved functional role for galectins during mammalian placental development emerges from these studies.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Expresión de VEGFA y VEGFR2 en la placenta de cerdos en los 75 y 85 días de gestación

En el cerdo, la gestación dura aproximadamente 114 días y la placenta es epiteliocorial, no invasiva, difusa, plegada y adecidua. Durante el desarrollo placentario, ocurre un proceso fundamental denominado angiogénesis, el cual consiste en la formación de vasos sanguíneos a partir de vasos preexistentes. Este proceso depende de la expresión de factores angiogénicos, como el factor de crecimiento endotelio vascular (VEGFA), una proteína secretada por las células de la pared de los vasos sanguíneos, que actúa mediante la unión a VEGFR2 promoviendo la permeabilidad vascular, la proliferación y la migración de células endoteliales para la formación de vasos sanguíneos. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la inmunoexpresión de VEGFA y su receptor VEGFR2 en placentas porcinas pretérmino, en los días 75 y 85 de gestación.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Deletions of specific exons of FHOD3 detected by next-generation-sequencing are associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Despite new strategies, such as evaluating deep intronic variants and new genes in whole-genome-sequencing studies, the diagnostic yield of genetic testing in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is still around 50%. FHOD3 has emerged as a novel disease-causing gene for this phenotype, but the relevance and clinical implication of copy-number-variations (CNVs) have not been determined. In this study, CNVs were evaluated using a comparative depth-of-coverage strategy by NGS in 5493 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy probands and 2973 disease-controls. We detected three symmetrical deletions in FHOD3 that involved exons 15 and 16 in three HCM families (no CNVs were detected in the control group). These exons are part of the diaphanous inhibitory domain of FHOD3 protein, considered a cluster of mutations for HCM. The clinical characteristics of the affected carriers were consistent with those reported in FHOD3 in previous studies. This study highlights the importance of performing CNV analysis systematically in NGS genetic testing panels for HCM, and reinforce the relevance of the FHOD3 gene in the disease. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Calbindin D28k Expression and the Absence of Apoptosis in the Cerebellum of Solatium bonariense L-lntoxicated Bovines

Solanum bonariense intoxication is characterized by cerebellar neuronal vacuolation, degeneration, and necrosis. Cerebellar Purkinje cells seem especially susceptible, but more research is needed to determine the pathogenesis of neuronal necrosis and the mechanism of Purkinje cell susceptibility. Calbindin D28k (CbD28k) is highly expressed in Purkinje cells and has been used as a marker for normal and degenerative Purkinje cells. The goal of this study was to describe S bonariense-induced disease by ascertaining Purkinje cell-specific degenerative changes using CbD28k expression and to correlate this with apoptosis in Purkinje cells, as determined using TUNEL (transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling) and ultrastructural changes. In all cases, an increase in both dose and duration of S bonariense intoxication resulted in a decrease in the number of Purkinje cells. CbD28k immunohistochemistry was an excellent marker for Purkinje cells because immunoreactivity did not change in normal or degenerative tissues. This finding suggests that excessive calcium excitatory stimulation does not induce rapid neuronal degeneration and death. As found in previous studies, TUNEL tests and electron microscopy suggest that Purkinje cell degeneration and death are not occurring via an apoptotic process. These findings suggest that S bonariense poisoning induces progressive Purkinje cell death that is not mediated by excitotoxicity or apoptotic activation.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Calbindin D28k Expression and the Absence of Apoptosis in the Cerebellum of Solatium bonariense L-lntoxicated Bovines

Solanum bonariense intoxication is characterized by cerebellar neuronal vacuolation, degeneration, and necrosis. Cerebellar Purkinje cells seem especially susceptible, but more research is needed to determine the pathogenesis of neuronal necrosis and the mechanism of Purkinje cell susceptibility. Calbindin D28k (CbD28k) is highly expressed in Purkinje cells and has been used as a marker for normal and degenerative Purkinje cells. The goal of this study was to describe S bonariense-induced disease by ascertaining Purkinje cell-specific degenerative changes using CbD28k expression and to correlate this with apoptosis in Purkinje cells, as determined using TUNEL (transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling) and ultrastructural changes. In all cases, an increase in both dose and duration of S bonariense intoxication resulted in a decrease in the number of Purkinje cells. CbD28k immunohistochemistry was an excellent marker for Purkinje cells because immunoreactivity did not change in normal or degenerative tissues. This finding suggests that excessive calcium excitatory stimulation does not induce rapid neuronal degeneration and death. As found in previous studies, TUNEL tests and electron microscopy suggest that Purkinje cell degeneration and death are not occurring via an apoptotic process. These findings suggest that S bonariense poisoning induces progressive Purkinje cell death that is not mediated by excitotoxicity or apoptotic activation.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Congenital Zika syndrome is associated with maternal protein malnutrition

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy is associated with a spectrum of developmental impairments known as congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). The prevalence of this syndrome varies across ZIKV endemic regions, suggesting that its occurrence could depend on cofactors. Here, we evaluate the relevance of protein malnutrition for the emergence of CZS. Epidemiological data from the ZIKV outbreak in the Americas suggest a relationship between undernutrition and cases of microcephaly. To experimentally examine this relationship, we use immunocompetent pregnant mice, which were subjected to protein malnutrition and infected with a Brazilian ZIKV strain. We found that the combination of protein restriction and ZIKV infection leads to severe alterations of placental structure and embryonic body growth, with offspring displaying a reduction in neurogenesis and postnatal brain size. RNA-seq analysis reveals gene expression deregulation required for brain development in infected low-protein progeny. These results suggest that maternal protein malnutrition increases susceptibility to CZS.Fil: Barbeito Andrés, Jimena. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil. Universidad Nacional Arturo Jauretche. Unidad Ejecutora de Estudios en Neurociencias y Sistemas Complejos. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital Alta Complejidad en Red El Cruce Dr. Néstor Carlos Kirchner Samic. Unidad Ejecutora de Estudios en Neurociencias y Sistemas Complejos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Unidad Ejecutora de Estudios en Neurociencias y Sistemas Complejos; ArgentinaFil: Pezzuto, Paula. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Higa, Luiza. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Dias, André Alves. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Vasconcelos, Janaina. Universidade Federal do Pará; BrasilFil: Santos, T. M. P.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Ferreira, Jéssica. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Ferreira, R. O.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Dutra, F. F.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Rossi, A. D.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Barbosa, R. V.. Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro. Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural E Bioimagem.; BrasilFil: Amorim, C. K. N.. Evandro Chagas Institute; BrasilFil: de Souza, M. P. C.. Evandro Chagas Institute; BrasilFil: Chimelli, L.. Instituto Estadual do Cérebro Paulo Niemeyer ; BrasilFil: Aguiar, R. S.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Gonzalez, Paula Natalia. Universidad Nacional Arturo Jauretche. Unidad Ejecutora de Estudios en Neurociencias y Sistemas Complejos. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital Alta Complejidad en Red El Cruce Dr. Néstor Carlos Kirchner Samic. Unidad Ejecutora de Estudios en Neurociencias y Sistemas Complejos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Unidad Ejecutora de Estudios en Neurociencias y Sistemas Complejos; ArgentinaFil: Lara, F. A.. Oswaldo Cruz Institute; BrasilFil: Castro, M.C.. Harvard University. Harvard School of Public Health; Estados UnidosFil: Molnár, Z.. University of Oxford; Reino UnidoFil: Lopes, R. T.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Bozza, M. T.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Vianez, J. L. S. G.. Evandro Chagas Institute; BrasilFil: Barbeito, Claudio Gustavo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Cuervo, P.. Oswaldo Cruz Institute; BrasilFil: Bellio, M.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Tanuri, A.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Garcez, P. P.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasi

Uterine injuries caused by different strains of Tritrichomonas foetus in mice

La tritrichomonosis genital bovina es una enfermedad venérea causada por el protozoario flagelado Tritrichomonas foetus. El ratón Balb/c es un modelo animal adecuado para reproducir la enfermedad. En trabajos anteriores se demostró que las cepas aisladas a partir de distintos rodeos presentan diferencias, en la producción de abscesos subcutáneos, síntesis de hemolisinas y persistencia de la infección intravaginal. El objetivo del presente trabajo es describir los cambios histopatológicos en los cuernos uterinos murinos infectados con distintas cepas de T foetus. Se analizaron 12 cepas provenientes de diferentes establecimientos ganaderos.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Histomorfología comparada del esófago de dos especies de Arctocephalus: A. australis y A. tropicalis (Mammalia, Carnivora, Pinnipedia, Otariidae).

La estructura del sistema digestivo de los pinnípedos se relaciona directamente con los hábitos alimenticios y la dieta de cada especie. Se estudiaron las características histomorfológicas del esófago de dos otáridos: Arctocephalus australis y Arctocephalus tropicalis, mediante técnicas histológicas convencionales. El esófago consta de cuatro túnicas: mucosa, submucosa, muscular y adventicia/serosa. La mucosa incluye: a) tejido epitelial plano estratificado paracornificado, que en A. tropicalis posee menor cantidad de capas en sus estratos; b) lámina propia de tejido conectivo; c) muscular de la mucosa, de tejido muscular liso, discontinua y de espesor creciente hacia caudal. Existen glándulas acinares en toda su extensión; hacia caudal alcanzan la submucosa. Son más abundantes en A. australis, mientras que forman pequeñas agrupaciones en A. tropicalis. Poseen secreción mucosa, pero en A. tropicalis algunas son mixtas. La submucosa posee tejido conectivo denso irregular. La túnica muscular posee dos capas de tejido muscular estriado esquelético (interna, oblicua/espiralada; externa, longitudinal); hacia caudal la capa interna cambia progresivamente a tejido muscular liso, y la externa continúa con tejido muscular estriado esquelético. Entre ambas existen abundantes vasos y un plexo nervioso mientérico bien desarrollados. La adventicia está muy vascularizada e inervada. Las especies consideradas se alimentan principalmente bajo el agua mientras nadan, mediante la captura de presas que degluten enteras. La musculatura estriada que predomina en casi toda la extensión del órgano, junto con el gran desarrollo glandular, podrían facilitar el pasaje hacia el estómago de un alimento que no es procesado en la cavidad oral. Esto se complementaría con los movimientos corporales multidireccionales (algunos antigravitacionales) que realizan mientras ingieren sus presas. Las diferencias histológicas encontradas podrían atribuirse al tipo de dieta, más generalista en A. tropicalis (cefalópodos, peces y krill), mientras que en A. australis está constituida principalmente por peces, cuyo transporte sería más dificultoso e involucraría mayor fricció

Domestic Poultry and SARS Coronavirus, Southern China

SARS coronavirus injected intratracheally into chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, and quail, or into the allantoic sac of their embryonating eggs, failed to cause disease or replicate. This finding suggests that domestic poultry were unlikely to have been the reservoir, or associated with dissemination, of SARS coronavirus in the animal markets of southern China