The effect of natural and induced calving of beef heifers on stress-related gene expression and maternal health and immunity

peer-reviewedThe peri-partum processes can exert stress on a cow on many levels. There is little evidence about acute stress around the calving event and subsequent potential effects for the cows’ immunological status or subsequent reproductive health. To investigate this, 55 crossbred recipient beef heifers carrying purebred Simmental embryos were assigned to one of three groups on day 285 of gestation: (i) control (no parturition induction treatment; n = 19); (ii) induction of parturition with corticosteroid (n = 20) and (iii) induction of parturition with corticosteroid plus prostaglandin (n = 16). Interval from induction of parturition to calving and calving ease was recorded. Reproductive tract examinations were conducted on Day 21 (D21) and Day 42, and a sample was obtained for the determination of uterine cytology on D21. Blood samples were taken from the dams two weeks before parturition, one day after parturition (D1) and two weeks after parturition (D14) for gene expression and cortisol and calcium concentration determination. Calves were weighed at birth and subsequently every week until they were 10 weeks of age. A colostrum sample was taken immediately after calving and stored for subsequent Immunoglobin G (IgG) concentration analysis. Data were analysed using ANOVA with posthoc Tukey, Spearman correlation and stepwise backwards linear regression using SAS. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR was performed on the following immune genes: Interleukins IL1a and b, IL2, IL4, IL8, Tumour Necrosis Factor Alpha, Interferon-gamma, Lymphotoxin, Toll-Like Receptor, Nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells 1 and 2, glucocorticoid receptor alpha, as well as the neutrophil genes that regulate inflammation: Fas, L-selectin, MMP-9 and BPI. The results show that compared with non-induced contemporaries, induction has no negative effect on dystocia or subsequent calf weight gain but can have a positive effect on colostral IgG concentration. Blood calcium concentrations on both D1 and D14 postcalving are associated with subsequent uterine health. Parturition events were reflected in temporal changes in the expression of the cytokines IFNγ, TNFα, IL1b, IL4, IL8 and Haptoglobin in the dams’ blood, all of which are associated with the immune competence of the cow during this period. The conclusion is that induction of calving can have a positive effect on colostral IgG concentration. Calcium concentrations postcalving are associated with subsequent reproductive tract health. Events associated with the peri- and postpartum period are all reflected in temporal changes in immune function-related cytokines

Subtle, CXCR3-dependent, chemotaxis of cytotoxic cells within infected tissues allows efficient target localization

Toxicolog

PROGNOSTIC SIGNIFICANCE OF L1 CELL ADHESION MOLECULE (L1CAM) IN CERVICAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMAS

TI9 - Endometriumpathologi

L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) is a strong predictor for locoregional recurrences in cervical cancer

Molecular tumour pathology - and tumour genetic

Tissue-resident memory CD8+ T cells continuously patrol skin epithelia to quickly recognize local antigen

Recent work has demonstrated that following the clearance of infection a stable population of memory T cells remains present in peripheral organs and contributes to the control of secondary infections. However, little is known about how tissue-resident memory T cells behave in situ and how they encounter newly infected target cells. Here we demonstrate that antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells that remain in skin following herpes simplex virus infection show a steady-state crawling behavior in between keratinocytes. Spatially explicit simulations of the migration of these tissue-resident memory T cells indicate that the migratory dendritic behavior of these cells allows the detection of antigen-expressing target cells in physiologically relevant time frames of minutes to hours. Furthermore, we provide direct evidence for the identification of rare antigen-expressing epithelial cells by skin-patrolling memory T cells in vivo. These data demonstrate the existence of skin patrol by memory T cells and reveal the value of this patrol in the rapid detection of renewed infections at a previously infected site

Global proteomic characterization of uterine histotroph recovered from beef heifers yielding good quality and degenerate day 7 embryos

The objective was to analyze the proteomic composition of uterine flushes collected from beef heifers on day 7 after insemination. Estrus was synchronized in crossbred beef heifers by using a protocol with a controlled intravaginal drug releasing device. Heifers detected in standing estrus (within 24-48 h after removal of controlled intravaginal drug releasing device) were inseminated (estrus = day 0) with frozen-thawed semen from a single ejaculate of a bull with proven fertility. Heifers from which an embryo was recovered (after slaughter on day 7) were classified as either having a viable embryo (morula/blastocyst stage) or a degenerate embryo (arrested at the 2- to 16-cell stage). The overall recovery rate (viable and degenerate combined) was 64%. Global liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry proteomic analysis of the histotroph collected identified 40 high-confidence proteins present on day 7; 26 proteins in the viable group, 10 in the degenerate group, and 4 shared between both groups. Five proteins (platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase IB subunit γ [PAFAH1B3], tubulin α-1D chain, tubulin β-4A chain, cytochrome C, and dihydropyrimidinase-related protein-2) were unique or more abundant in the histotroph collected from animals with a viable embryo, and 1 protein (S100-A4) was more abundant in the histotroph collected from animals with a degenerate embryo. Of interest, PAFAH1B3, detected only in histotroph from the group yielding viable embryos, belongs to the group of platelet-activating factors that are known to be important for the development of the pre-implantation embryo in other species. To our knowledge this is the first report of PAFAH1B3 in relation to bovine early embryonic development.Science Foundation IrelandAuthor has checked copyrightDM,3/12/201

Evaluation of models to induce low progesterone during the early luteal phase in cattle

Two experiments were designed to evaluate models for generation of low circulating progesterone concentrations during early pregnancy in cattle. In Experiment 1, 17 crossbred heifers (Bos taurus) were assigned to either prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) administration on Days 3, 3.5, and 4 (PG3; n = 9) or to control (n = 8). Blood samples were collected from heifers from Days 1 to 9 for progesterone assay. Progesterone concentrations were decreased (P < 0.03) between 18 and 48 h after first PGF2α treatment in heifers assigned to PG3 compared with that of controls. In Experiment 2, 39 crossbred heifers detected in estrus were inseminated (Day 0) and assigned to either (1) PGF2α administration on Days 3, 3.5, and 4 (PG3; n = 10), (2) PGF2α administration on Days 3, 3.5, 4, and 4.5 (PG4; n = 10), (3) Progesterone Releasing Intravaginal Device (PRID) insertion on Day 4.5 with PGF2α administration on Days 5 and 6 (PRID + PGF2α; n = 10), or (4) control (n = 9). Blood samples were collected daily until Day 15, and conceptus survival rate was determined at slaughter on Day 16. Progesterone concentrations during the sampling period in the PG3 and PG4 groups did not differ but were less than that of controls (P < 0.01). After an initial peak, progesterone concentrations in the PRID + PGF2α group were similar to that of controls. More heifers in the PG4 group (6 of 10) had complete luteal regression than did those in the PG3 group (3 of 10). Conceptus survival rate on Day 16 did not differ between groups. There was a significant correlation between progesterone concentration on Days 5 and 6 and conceptus size on Day 16. In summary, treatment with PGF2α on Days 3, 3.5, and 4 postestrus appeared to provide the best model to induce reduced circulating progesterone concentrations during the early luteal phase in cattle.Author has checked copyrightAM