Computed tomography of the abdomen in Saanen goats: II. liver, spleen, abomasum, and intestine

This study describes the results of computed tomography (CT) of the liver, spleen, abomasum, small intestine and large intestine in 30 healthy Saanen goats. CT examination and anatomical slice preparation postmortem were performed as described in the first communication. After subjective evaluation of the CT images, various variables including the length/size, volume and density of the liver, spleen and gallbladder, the wall thickness of the abomasum, small intestine and large intestine and the diameter of the intestine were measured. The liver, spleen, abomasum, small intestine and large intestine could be accurately visualised using CT

Ultrasonography of the reticulum in 30 healthy Saanen goats

Background: The reticulum plays a crucial role in the ruminant digestive tract because the primary cycle of rumen motility always starts with a reticular contraction. In contrast to cattle, there are only few results on the ultrasonographic examination of the reticulum in goats. Therefore, it was the goal of the present study, to describe the results of ultrasonography of the reticulum of 30 healthy Saanen goats. Methods: Ultrasonography was carried out on standing, non-sedated animals using a 5.0 MHz linear transducer. The shape, contour and motility of the reticulum were investigated. A nine-minute video recording of the reticulum was made for each goat and the frequency, duration and amplitude of reticular contractions were calculated as described for cattle. Results: The reticulum appeared as a crescent-shaped structure with a smooth contour located immediately adjacent to the diaphragm. 0.8 to 2.1 (1.41 ± 0.31) reticular contractions were seen per minute. In all goats, biphasic reticular contractions were observed. 90% of the goats also had monophasic reticular contractions, and two had triphasic contractions. During the nine-minute observation periods, there were 0 to 6 monophasic reticular contractions and 6 to 15 biphasic contractions per goat. The duration of the biphasic contractions was 6.56 ± 0.74 s, which was significantly longer than the monophasic contractions at 4.31 ± 0.81 s. The average interval between two reticular contractions was 45.06 ± 12.57 s. Conclusion: Ultrasonography of the reticulum in goats is a valuable tool to characterise the appearance and motility of this organ. In addition to the biphasic motility pattern seen in cattle the reticular motility of goats is characterized by monophasic reticular contractions. The results of the present study are an important contribution for better understanding of the reticular motility in goats

Molecular mechanisms in uterine epithelium during trophoblast binding: the role of small GTPase RhoA in human uterine Ishikawa cells

BACKGROUND: Embryo implantation requires that uterine epithelium develops competence to bind trophoblast to its apical (free) poles. This essential element of uterine receptivity seems to depend on a destabilisation of the apico-basal polarity of endometrial epithelium. Accordingly, a reorganisation of the actin cytoskeleton regulated by the small GTPase RhoA plays an important role in human uterine epithelial RL95-2 cells for binding of human trophoblastoid JAR cells. We now obtained new insight into trophoblast binding using human uterine epithelial Ishikawa cells. METHODS: Polarity of Ishikawa cells was investigated by electron microscopy, apical adhesiveness was tested by adhesion assay. Analyses of subcellular distribution of filamentous actin (F-actin) and RhoA in apical and basal cell poles were performed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) with and without binding of JAR spheroids as well as with and without inhibition of small Rho GTPases by Clostridium difficile toxin A (toxin A). In the latter case, subcellular distribution of RhoA was additionally investigated by Western blotting. RESULTS: Ishikawa cells express apical adhesiveness for JAR spheroids and moderate apico-basal polarity. Without contact to JAR spheroids, significantly higher signalling intensities of F-actin and RhoA were found at the basal as compared to the apical poles in Ishikawa cells. RhoA was equally distributed between the membrane fraction and the cytosol fraction. Levels of F-actin and RhoA signals became equalised in the apical and basal regions upon contact to JAR spheroids. After inhibition of Rho GTPases, Ishikawa cells remained adhesive for JAR spheroids, the gradient of fluorescence signals of F-actin and RhoA was maintained while the amount of RhoA was reduced in the cytosolic fraction with a comparable increase in the membrane fraction. CONCLUSION: Ishikawa cells respond to JAR contact as well as to treatment with toxin A with rearrangement of F-actin and small GTPase RhoA but seem to be able to modify signalling pathways in a way not elucidated so far in endometrial cells. This ability may be linked to the degree of polar organisation observed in Ishikawa cells indicating an essential role of cell phenotype modification in apical adhesiveness of uterine epithelium for trophoblast in vivo