Stromal-Epithelial Interactions during Mammary Gland Development

Mammary gland is an organ, which undergoes the majority of its development in the postnatal life of mammals. The complex structure of the mammary gland comprises epithelial and myoepithelial cells forming the parenchymal tissue and adipocytes, fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells, and infiltrating immune cell composing the stromal compartment. During puberty and in adulthood, circulating hormones released from the pituitary and ovaries regulate the rate of development and functional differentiation of the mammary epithelium. In addition, growing body of evidence shows that interactions between the stromal and parenchymal compartments of the mammary gland play a crucial role in mammogenesis. This regulation takes place on a paracrine level, by locally synthesized growth factors, adipokines, and cytokines, as well as via direct cell-cell interactions. This chapter summarizes the current knowledge about the complex nature of interactions between the mammary epithelium and stroma during mammary gland development in different mammalian species

Chemerin Stimulates the Secretory Activity of BME-UV1 Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells

Adipose tissue is an active endocrine gland, synthesizing and secreting multiple signaling molecules termed adipokines. Following the detection of adipokines and their receptors in the mammary tissue of various species, it is indicated that adipokines play a role in the development of the mammary gland. The aim of the present study was to determine the concentration-dependent influence of three adipokines, leptin, adiponectin, and chemerin, on the viability, apoptosis, and secretory activity of BME-UV1 bovine mammary epithelial cells. The study confirmed that BME-UV1 cells contain the leptin receptor (Ob-R) protein, and express transcripts of adiponectin (ADIPOR1 and ADIPOR2) and chemerin (CMLKR1 and GPR1) receptors. Regardless of the administered dose, none of the three tested adipokines had an effect on the viability of BME-UV1 cells, and the number of apoptotic cells remained unchanged. However, chemerin (100 ng/mL) stimulated BME-UV1 cells to synthesize and secrete αS1-casein, the major protein component of milk. These results indicate that chemerin may be a potent regulator of the bovine mammary epithelial cells’ functional differentiation, contributing, along with the major systemic hormones and local growth factors, to the development of the bovine mammary gland

Behavioral and Biochemical Effects of Glyphosate-Based Herbicide Roundup on Unionid Mussels: Are Mussels Good Indicators of Water Pollution with Glyphosate-Based Pesticides?

The behavioral (filtration activity) and biochemical (oxidative stress) effects of Roundup 360 Plus (active substance glyphosate) herbicide on two species of unionid mussels, Unio tumidus (Philipsson, 1788) and Anodonta anatina (L.), were evaluated at concentrations ranging from 15 to 1500 μg L−1 of glyphosate for five days. During all experiments, we did not record the mortality of the studied mussel species. Exposure to Roundup herbicide induced dose-dependent filtration disruptions in both U. tumidus and A. anatina. Exposure of the mussels to a low and environmentally relevant concentration 15 µg glyphosate L−1 resulted in a slight (<20%) and temporary decrease in mean valve dilation. Exposure of the mussels to Roundup at relatively high concentrations caused drastic and prolonged shell closure and a reduction in the mussel shell opening rate. Exposure of both mussel species to herbicide resulted in oxidative stress; an increase in superoxide dismutase enzymatic activity was detected. The most significant increase in SOD activity was observed after the exposure to the highest Roundup concentration. However, no correlation between the Roundup concentration and enzymatic activity was found. The use of unionid mussels to detect environmentally relevant concentrations of Roundup, as a part of biological early warning system for pollution, is limited, but they can serve to detect the incidental pollution of aquatic ecosystems with high concentrations of this herbicide

Basic and mineral composition of colostrum from cows in different ages and calving period

The aim of our research was to analyse the composition and the basic content of selected minerals of colostrum depending on the season of calving and lactation of cows. The research material consisted of 180 colostrum samples collected in the first lactation (1st) and further lactation together (FLT) of cows which calved in the summer season (S) and winter season (W). The scope of the experimental research covered determinations performed on colostrum samples collected in 4 lactation phases: 1st (1h), 8th (8h) hour as well as at 3rd (3D) and 5th (5D) day after calving. Studies have shown that the dry matter, fat, protein as well as FFA and IgG content decreased after calving. The lactose level increased and the concentration of urea remained on a relatively constant level (no statistically significant difference). The age of cows was another differentiating factor of the dry matter, fat, protein, FFA, urea and IgG content. It did not affect the change in the lactose content. It has been shown that the content of mineral components changed over the course of the colostral period. The highest values of Ca, Mg and Zn occurred in the first hour after calving, after which their content decreased. The content of K and Na was shaped slightly differently, since it was not possible to establish upward or downward trends. Significant changes also occurred in the content of elements depending on the age of cows. Colostrum with the highest Ca content may be obtained from older cows. However, the highest K, Mg and Na content was recorded in the primiparous cows’ colostrum of collected in the first hours after calving. A significantly higher content of K, Mg, Na and Zn appeared in colostrum obtained in the first hour after calving of cows in the winter calving season in comparison to the summer season

The effects of intra-stomach obestatin administration on intestinal contractility in neonatal piglets fed milk formula.

A 23-amino acid peptide named obestatin is derived from the ghrelin gene. The aim of the experiment was to study the effects of enteral obestatin administration for a 6-day period on intestinal contractility in piglets fed milk formula. Pigs were treated with 0.9% NaCl (group C) or varying doses of obestatin: 2 μg/kg body weight (BW) (group O2), 10 μg/kg BW (O10) or 15 μg/kg BW (O15) every 8 hours via a stomach tube. Blood was sampled for assessment of obestatin concentration. Duodenal and middle jejunum whole-thickness preparations were studied in an organ bath for isometric recording under electric field stimulation (EFS) and increasing doses of acetylcholine (ACh), and in the presence of atropine and tetrodotoxin (TTX). Additionally, the measurement of intestinal muscularis layer and the immunodetection of Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors (M1 and M2) were performed. In comparison to C animals, the obestatin concentration in blood plasma was significantly increased in groups O10 and O15. In both studied intestinal segments, significant increases in the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous contractions were observed in O15 and C groups. In the duodenum and middle jejunum significant differences in responsiveness to EFS (0.5, 5 and 50 Hz) were observed between the groups. The addition of 10-4 M ACh to the duodenum significantly increased the responsiveness in tissues. In contrast, in the middle jejunum a significant increase in the amplitude of contraction was observed after the addition of 10-9 and 10-6 M ACh (groups O15 and O10, respectively). Pretreatment with atropine and TTX resulted in a significant decrease in the responsiveness of the intestinal preparations from all groups, in both studied segments. The increased contractility was not dependent on the expression of muscarinic receptors. Results indicate the importance of enteral obestatin administration in the regulation of intestinal contractility in neonatal piglets

Correction: The effects of intra-stomach obestatin administration on intestinal contractility in neonatal piglets fed milk formula.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230190.]