Tuber borchii fruit body: 2-dimensional profile and protein identification

The formation of the fruit body represents the final phase of the ectomycorrhizal fungus T. borchii life cycle. Very little is known concerning the molecular and biochemical processes involved in the fructification phase. 2-DE maps of unripe and ripe ascocarps revealed different protein expression levels and the comparison of the electropherograms led to the identification of specific proteins for each developmental phase. Associating micropreparative 2-DE to microchemical approaches, such as N-terminal sequencing and 2-D gel-electrophoresis mass-spectrometry, proteins playing pivotal roles in truffle physiology were identifie

Distribution of α-transducin and α-gustducin immunoreactive cells in the chicken (Gallus domesticus) gastrointestinal tract

The expression and distribution patterns of the taste signaling molecules, α-gustducin (Gαgust) and α-transducin (Gαtran) G-protein subunits, were studied in the gastrointestinal tract of the chicken (Gallus domesticus) using the immunohistochemical method. Gαgust and Gαtran immunoreactive (-IR) cells were observed in the mucosal layer of all examined segments, except the esophagus, crop, and the saccus cranialis of the gizzard. The highest numbers of Gαgust and Gαtran-IR cells were found in the proventriculus glands and along the villi of the pyloric, duodenum, and rectal mucosa. Gαgust and Gαtran-IR cells located in the villi of the jejunum, ileum, and cloaca were much less numerous, while only a few Gαgust and Gαtran-IR cells were detected in the mucosa of the proventriculus and cecum. In the crypts, IR cells were observed in the small and large intestine as well as in the cloaca. Gαgust and Gαtran-IR cells displayed elongated ("bottle-" or "pear-like") or rounded shape. The demonstration of Gαgust and Gαtran expression provides evidence for taste receptor mediated mucosal chemosensitivity in the chicken gastrointestinal tract

Expression and regulation of α-transducin in the pig gastrointestinal tract

Taste signalling molecules are found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract suggesting that they participate to chemosensing. We tested whether fasting and refeeding affect the expression of the taste signalling molecule, a-transducin (Gatran), throughout the pig GI tract and the peptide content of Gatran cells. The highest density of Gatran-immunoreactive (IR) cells was in the pylorus, followed by the cardiac mucosa, duodenum, rectum, descending colon, jejunum, caecum, ascending colon and ileum. Most Gatran-IR cells contained chromogranin A. In the stomach, many Gatran-IR cells contained ghrelin, whereas in the upper small intestine many were gastrin/cholecystokinin-IR and a few somatostatin-IR. Gatran-IR and Gagust-IR colocalized in some cells. Fasting (24 h) resulted in a significant decrease in Gatran-IR cells in the cardiac mucosa (29.3 0.8 versus 64.8 1.3, P < 0.05), pylorus (98.8 1.7 versus 190.8 1.9, P < 0.0 l), caecum (8 0.01 versus 15.5 0.5, P < 0.01), descending colon (17.8 0.3 versus 23 0.6, P < 0.05) and rectum (15.3 0.3 versus 27.5 0.7, P < 0.05). Refeeding restored the control level of Gatran-IR cells in the cardiac mucosa. In contrast, in the duodenum and jejunum, Gatran-IR cells were significantly reduced after refeeding, whereas Gatran-IR cells density in the ileum was not changed by fasting/refeeding. These findings provide further support to the concept that taste receptors contribute to luminal chemosensing in the GI tract and suggest they are involved in modulation of food intake and GI function induced by feeding and fasting

Effects of antioxidants on boar spermatozoa during sorting and storage.

Sorting procedures submit sperm cells to a set of stressful steps that can trigger an increase of ROS production and consequently reduce sorted semen quality. This study evaluated the effect of supplementation with different antioxidants (EGCG, Na pyruvate+catalase, SOD) on acrosome and plasma membrane integrity, activation of caspases (as assayed by FITC-VAD/PI staining) and immunolocalization of Hsp70 of boar spermatozoa after sperm preparation (Hoechst 33342 staining) and sorting procedure. The effect of antioxidants, with or without seminal plasma, on sorted spermatozoa stored for 24h at 15\ub0C was also evaluated. Antioxidants did not exert any preventive action on sperm modification induced by staining and sorting. After 24h of storage at 15\ub0C, sorted samples supplemented with either EGCG or SOD plus seminal plasma showed a significant (p<0.05) increase of the percentage of viable spermatozoa, while no positive effect on the other tested parameters was observed; EGCG seems to exert an inhibition on caspase activation in that a decrease of the number of dead cells FITC-VAD+/PI+ was recorded. In conclusion, our results indicate that EGCG and SOD in association with seminal plasma are effective in exerting some compensatory protection against the detrimental effects of storage of sorted semen while their action is not evident during steps of the sorting procedure

Pig oocyte vitrification by cryotop method: effects on viability, spindle and chromosome configuration and in vitro fertilization

Three experiments were designed to evaluate the effects of vitrification using Cryotop method on MII porcine oocyte viability, chromosomes configuration, meiotic spindle morphology and in vitro fertilization; to do this, in vitro matured oocytes were subjected to the cryoprotectant treatment excluding the plunging into liquid nitrogen, the whole vitrification/warming/rehydration procedure or no treatment (control). In experiment 1 viable oocytes were not reduced by either cryoprotectants or vitrification when they were evaluated immediately after warming and cryoprotectant dilution. However, after a 2 h incubation, the survival rate significantly decreased (P < 0.05). In experiment 2 cryoprotectant exposure significantly (P < 0.05) influenced spindle morphology even if chromosome organization did not vary, while vitrification significantly (P < 0.05) increased oocytes with damaged spindles and chromosomes displaced from the metaphase plate. No significant improvements in these parameters were observed after 2 h of incubation but, on the contrary, the rate of oocytes with normal chromosome configuration was reduced. In experiment 3 significant differences among the three groups in the fertilization rate but not in the percentages of monospermy fertilization were recorded; in addition, exposure to cryoprotectants and vitrification significantly (P < 0.05) increased degenerated oocyte rate. Overall, these findings confirm that porcine oocytes at MII stage are very sensitive to vitrification, which reduces the rate of viable oocytes and alters microtubule organization, thus impairing fertilization; in addition, incubation of oocytes for 2 h after devitrification seems to be detrimental rather than ameliorative. Further improvements of the current protocol will be necessary in order to optimize the Cryotop method for vitrifying pig matured oocytes

Pig oocyte vitrification by Cryotop method and the activation of the apoptotic cascade.

Oocyte and embryo cryopreservation has been applied successfully in many mammalian species. Nevertheless, pig oocytes, because of their greater susceptibility to cryoinjuries, have shown a reduced ability to be fertilized in vitro and a lower developmental competence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the apoptotic status of porcine oocytes vitrified by Cryotop method. We assessed three parameters linked to the activation of the apoptotic cascade: the exteriorization of phosphatidylserine using Annexin V, the caspase activation using FITC-VAD-FMK and the alteration of plasma membrane permeability employing YOPRO-1. These assays were performed on control oocytes, oocytes exposed to vitrification solutions (toxicity control) and vitrified oocytes either immediately after warming or after incubation for 2 h into maturation medium. The exposition to vitrification solutions triggered an increase of the percentage of oocytes both faintly (VAD+ PI 12) and strongly (VAD++ PI 12) labeled by FITC-VAD-FMK but not a significant modification of the number of oocytes Annexin V (A+ PI 12, early apoptotic) and YO-PRO-1(YP+ PI 12, apoptotic) positive in comparison with control oocytes. Oocytes submitted to the whole vitrification procedure showed a rise of the percentage of early apoptotic oocytes (A+ PI 12) and FITC-VAD-FMK positive oocytes (VAD+/VAD++ PI 12) and a contemporaneous increase of the number of dead oocytes (PI+). On the contrary, vitrified oocytes analyzed immediately after warming did not show a significant increase in the percentage of apoptotic oocytes (YO-PRO-1+/PI 12) as compared with the control. Post warming incubation for 2 h into maturation medium, in comparison with oocytes analyzed immediately after warming, did not induce any increase in the percentage of early apoptotic (A+ P 12) oocytes while a decrease of the percentage of VAD+/PI 12 oocytes and a contemporaneous increase of VAD 12/PI 12 oocytes were observed. Moreover, the postwarming incubation induced a rise of the percentage of apoptotic oocytes (YO-PRO-1+/PI 12). All these data confirm the involvement of apoptotic mechanisms on the injuries induced by vitrification procedure in pig oocytes; explanation of this phenomenon could be useful to improve oocytes\u2019 cryopreservation protocols

Effect of liquid storage on sorted boar spermatozoa.

A routine use of boar sexed semen is far from being a reality due to many limiting factors among which is the long sorting time necessary to obtain the adequate number of sexed spermatozoa for artificial insemination and the high susceptibility to damages induced by cryopreservation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the modification induced by 24-26 h storage on sorted boar spermatozoa on the basis of their viability, acrosome status, Hsp70 presence, and in vitro fertilizing ability. The percentage of viable cells, according to SYBR green/PI staining, was negatively affected (P &lt; 0.05) by sorting procedure. Moreover, liquid storage significantly (P &lt; 0.05) reduced membrane integrity of sorted spermatozoa as compared to all the other groups. Neither sorting nor storage influenced the percentage of live cells with reacted acrosome, according to FITC-PNA/PI staining. Sorted samples, after 24-26 h storage, were characterized by an increase (P &lt; 0.05) of sperm cells negative for Hsp70, as observed by immunofluorescence, and by a decrease (P &lt; 0.05) in Hsp70 content, as evidenced by western blot. While sorting procedure did not adversely affect both penetration rate and total efficiency of fertilization, these parameters were negatively (P &lt; 0.05) influenced by storage after sorting. In order to minimize damages that compromise fertility and function of sex-sorted boar spermatozoa, the mechanisms by which sorting and liquid storage cause these injures require further study