Cuando los tiempos se sublevan: acción política y resistencia en las fronteras de Europa

La exposición Soulèvements (París, octubre 2016 / mayo 2017) nos propone un recorrido por las “imágenes” a través de las cuales, en palabras de su comisario, George Didi-Huberman, “aparecen” o se vuelven visibles en el espacio público las fuerzas psíquicas, corporales y sociales que transforman “la inmovilidad en movimiento, el agobio en energía, la sumisión en revuelta, la renuncia en felicidad expansiva”. Tales fuerzas ocurren como gestos -“los brazos de elevan, los corazones laten más fuerte, los cuerpos se expanden, las gargantas se liberan”- y éstos devienen imágenes, algunas de las cuales, “de todos los tiempos”, han sido reunidas en esta aproximación a la forma de la protesta y la agitación políticas en Occidente

DNA integrity and viability of testicular cells from diverse wild species after slow freezing or vitrification

Introduction and objectiveCryopreservation of testicular tissues offers new possibilities to protect endangered species, genetically valuable individuals or even the fertility potential of prepubertal individuals who have died unexpectedly. However, the use of this technique still remains a challenge. In this study, slow freezing and vitrification of testicular tissue was investigated to find out which cryopreservation method could better preserve the viability and DNA integrity of testicular germ cells in diverse wild species.MethodsTestes were obtained post-mortem from 18 artiodactyls (wild boar, roe deer, dwarf goat, mhor gazelle, European mouflon, African forest buffalo, Malayan tapir, dorcas gazelle, Iberian ibex, gnu, red river hog), 5 primates (colobus monkey, capuchin monkey, mandrill), 8 carnivores (gray wolf, Persian leopard, binturong, European mink, American black bear, suricata), and 2 rodents (Patagonian mara). The testicles belonged to adult individuals and were cut into small pieces and cryopreserved by needle immersed vitrification or uncontrolled slow freezing using a passive cooling device. After warming or thawing, testicular tissues were enzymatically digested and two germ cell types were differentiated based on their morphology: rounded cells (spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and early spermatids) and elongated cells (elongated spermatids and spermatozoa). Cell viability was assessed by SYBR-14/propidium iodide while DNA fragmentation by TUNEL assay with fluorescence microscope.Results and discussionOur preliminary results revealed that our uncontrolled slow freezing method better preserved the viability and DNA integrity of elongated cells than vitrification. Such trend was observed in all species, being significant in artiodactyls, carnivores, and primates. Similarly, the viability and DNA integrity of rounded cells was also better maintained in primates by uncontrolled slow freezing, while in carnivores, vitrification by needle immersion showed better results in this type of cells. In artiodactyls and rodents both techniques preserved the viability of rounded cells in a similar manner, although the DNA integrity of these cells was greater after needle immersed vitrification in artiodactyls.ConclusionsIn conclusion, the effectiveness of each cryopreservation method is affected by the phylogenetic diversity between species and cell type

Sperm Cryopreservation in American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus Ruber): Influence of Cryoprotectants and Seminal Plasma Removal

Departamento de Reproducción Animal​ (INIA)The American flamingo is a useful model for the development of successful semen cryopreservation procedures to be applied to threatened related species from the family Phoenicopteridae, and to permit genetic material banking. Current study sought to develop effective sperm cryopreservation protocols through examining the influences of two permeating cryoprotectants and the seminal plasma removal. During two consecutive years (April), semen samples were collected and frozen from American flamingos. In the first year, the effect of two permeating cryoprotectants, DMA (dimethylacetamide) (6%) or Me2SO (dimethylsulphoxide) (8%), on frozen-thawed sperm variables were compared in 21 males. No differences were seen between DMA and Me2SO for sperm motility, sperm viability, and DNA fragmentation after thawing. In the second year, the role of seminal plasma on sperm cryoresistance was investigated in 31 flamingos. Sperm samples were cryopreserved with and without seminal plasma, using Me2SO (8%) as a cryoprotectant. The results showed that samples with seminal plasma had higher values than samples without seminal plasma for the following sperm variables: Straight line velocity (22.40 µm/s vs. 16.64 µm/s), wobble (75.83% vs. 69.40%), (p < 0.05), linearity (62.73% vs. 52.01%) and straightness (82.38% vs. 73.79%) (p < 0.01); but acrosome integrity was lower (55.56% vs. 66.88%) (p < 0.05). The cryoresistance ratio (CR) was greater in samples frozen with seminal plasma than without seminal plasma for CR-progressive motility (138.72 vs. 54.59), CR-curvilinear velocity (105.98 vs. 89.32), CR-straight line velocity (152.77 vs. 112.58), CR-average path velocity (122.48 vs. 98.12), CR-wobble (111.75 vs. 102.04) (p < 0.05), CR-linearity (139.41 vs. 113.18), and CR-straightness (124.02 vs. 109.97) (p < 0.01). This research demonstrated that there were not differences between Me2SO and DMA to successful freezing sperm of flamingos; seminal plasma removal did not provide a benefit for sperm cryopreservation.This research was funded by the Fundación Parques Reunidos—INIA agreement CC19-096.Peer reviewed13 Pág. (This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproductive Biotechnology in Wildlife

Influence of Prolactin Secretion Changes on Sperm Head Size and Freezability in Ibex and Mouflon

Aim: This work examined the influence of induced changes in prolactin (PRL) secretion on sperm cryoresistance of ibex and the mouflon. Materials and Methods: PRL secretion was modified in a first experiment by the use of bromocriptine (BCR, dopamine agonist) during the non-breeding season, and in a second experiment by the use of sulpiride (SLP, dopamine D2-receptor antagonist) during the rutting season. Slow and ultra-rapid freezing protocols were used to cryopreserve sperm samples. Results: BCR decreased blood plasma PRL concentrations, whereas SLP increased them. Cryoresistance ratios (CRs) for curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight-line velocity (VSL), and average path velocity (VAP) in BCR-treated mouflons were lower than in controls using slow-freezing (p < 0.05), while CRs of motility and morphologically normal sperm of BCR-treated mouflons were greater than controls with ultra-rapid freezing (p < 0.05). BCR increased the head sperm dimensions in ibexes (p < 0.001); conversely, BCR decreased the head dimensions in mouflons (p < 0.001). CR-motility, CR-amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH), CR-viability, and CR-acrosome integrity in SLP-treated mouflons were lower than in controls with slow-freezing (p < 0.01); CR-viability and CR-acrosome were lower than controls with ultra-rapid freezing (p < 0.05). In ibexes, CR-ALH was lower for SLP-treated (p < 0.05). SLP treatment increased head dimensions in ibexes (p < 0.001) but did not affect the sperm head of mouflons. Conclusion: Our findings show that high levels of blood plasma PRL negatively affect the cryoresistance of ibex and mouflon sperm.Peer reviewe

Intravenous administration of BCG in mice promotes natural killer and T cell-mediated antitumor immunity in the lung

Intravesical administration of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) was one of the first FDA-approved immunotherapies and remains a standard treatment for bladder cancer. Previous studies have demonstrated that intravenous (IV) administration of BCG is well-tolerated and effective in preventing tuberculosis infection in animals. Here, we examine IV BCG in several preclinical lung tumor models. Our findings demonstrate that BCG inoculation reduced tumor growth and prolonged mouse survival in models of lung melanoma metastasis and orthotopic lung adenocarcinoma. Moreover, IV BCG treatment was well-tolerated with no apparent signs of acute toxicity. Mechanistically, IV BCG induced tumor-specific CD8+ T cell responses, which were dependent on type 1 conventional dendritic cells, as well as NK cell-mediated immunity. Lastly, we also show that IV BCG has an additive effect on anti-PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor treatment in mouse lung tumors that are otherwise resistant to anti-PD-L1 as monotherapy. Overall, our study demonstrates the potential of systemic IV BCG administration in the treatment of lung tumors, highlighting its ability to enhance immune responses and augment immune checkpoint blockade efficacy

Effectiveness of ultra-rapid cryopreservation of sperm from endangered species, examined by morphometric means

8 Pág.This study compares the effectiveness of the ultra-rapid and conventional freezing of sperm from captive bovids, giraffids, cervids, ursids, a cercopithecid, a delphinid and a phascolarctid. The relationship between sperm head dimensions and cryosurvival was also examined. Compared to conventional freezing, the ultra-rapid freezing of epididymal sperm from the dama gazelle, giraffe and brown bear returned higher cryoresistance ratios (CR, the ratio, in percentage, between the value of the variable after thawing/value before thawing) for sperm viability and motility. In the remaining species, the conventional freezing of epididymal sperm returned better CR values. The conventional freezing method also returned better CR values for ejaculated samples from all species. The head dimensions of both fresh epididymal and ejaculated sperm differed widely among species: for epididymal sperm, dolphin sperm heads were the smallest (7.189 ± 0.049 μm2) and dama gazelle sperm heads the largest (43.746 ± 0.291 μm2), while for ejaculated sperm, giant panda sperm heads were the smallest (15.926 ± 0.150 μm2) and mouflon sperm heads the largest (38.258 ± 0.104 μm2). However, no significant correlations were detected between the CR for motility, viability, membrane functional integrity or acrosome integrity and the sperm head area, either for epididymal or ejaculated sperm. In conclusion, ultra-rapid freezing is especially recommended for the cryopreservation of dama gazelle, giraffe and brown bear epididymal sperm. Sperm head dimensions appear not to be useful predictors of how well sperm might survive freezing.This work was funded by MINECO/AEI/FEDER, UE, Spain grants AGL2014-52081-R and AGL2017-85753-R, and by the Fundación Parques Reunidos - INIA, Spain agreement CC16-001. The authors thank DG Biodiversidad (Principado de Asturias), and the Consejería de Medio Ambiente (Junta de Andalucía), for their unfailing help in the provision of animals from the mentioned wildlife reserves and in implementing the projects proposed. The authors thank the Ayuntamiento de Sedella (Málaga) for its help in the provision of a field laboratory close to the Tejeda and Almijara mountains. Thanks are also due to the Parque Zoólogico del Ayuntamiento de Córdoba, the Parque Zoológico del Ayuntamiento de Guadalajara and the Zoo-Aquarium, Madrid, for their help in the execution of this project.Peer reviewe

Slow and ultra-rapid freezing protocols for cryopreserving roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) epididymal sperm collected at different times of year

10 Pág. Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA) / Departamento de Reproducción animalThe roe deer is a monoestrous species with a very short rutting season. The present work reports the most suitable period for collecting epididymal sperm and describes the effect of two cooling rates on the post-thaw quality of sperm. Testes were collected 24–48 h after death. Samples of sperm flushed from the epididymis were subjected to either (1) dilution in a Tris-citric acid-glucose-egg yolk-based medium with glycerol, and slow freezing in straws, or (2) dilution in the same extender but replacing the glycerol with 100 mM of sucrose, and ultra-rapid freezing in pellets. Sperm motility, acrosome and membrane integrity, morphometry and morphological abnormalities were analysed before and after cryopreservation. Spermatogenic activity was investigated via histological examination of testis sections. Several testes collected between April, May and September showed no spermatogenic activity. All those collected in June–August showed spermatogenic activity. No significant difference was detected in the cryoresistance ratios associated with the conventional slow freezing, between sperm collected during the pre-rutting (April–May) and rutting (June–August) periods. No significant differences were seen between the slow-frozen-thawed and the ultra-rapid-frozen-thawed sperm in terms of percentage of viable sperm or the percentage of sperm with morphological abnormalities. Slow freezing returned significantly better (P<0.05) values for post-thaw acrosome integrity (43.3% vs. 25.0%) and straight-line velocity (19 μm/s vs. 4 μm/s). For both freezing methods, sperm heads were smaller post-thawing than pre-freezing (P<0.001). In conclusion, both the pre-rutting and rutting season are suitable periods for freezing roe deer sperm. Ultra-rapid freezing did not provide suitable results.This research was funded by MINECO/AEI/FEDER and EU grant AGL2017-85753-R. P. Bóveda was the recipient of a grant for pre-doctoral researchers from MINECO (AEI/FSE, UE). Octavio Mejía was the recipient of a research fellowship from the PASPA-DGAPA-UNAM (México). V.N. Flores-Gil was funded by FONDECYT-CONCYTEC (grant contract number 000245-2015-FONDECYT).Peer reviewe