Comparison of mouse mammary gland imaging techniques and applications: Reflectance confocal microscopy, GFP Imaging, and ultrasound

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Genetically engineered mouse models of mammary gland cancer enable the <it>in vivo </it>study of molecular mechanisms and signaling during development and cancer pathophysiology. However, traditional whole mount and histological imaging modalities are only applicable to non-viable tissue.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We evaluated three techniques that can be quickly applied to living tissue for imaging normal and cancerous mammary gland: reflectance confocal microscopy, green fluorescent protein imaging, and ultrasound imaging.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the current study, reflectance confocal imaging offered the highest resolution and was used to optically section mammary ductal structures in the whole mammary gland. Glands remained viable in mammary gland whole organ culture when 1% acetic acid was used as a contrast agent. Our application of using green fluorescent protein expressing transgenic mice in our study allowed for whole mammary gland ductal structures imaging and enabled straightforward serial imaging of mammary gland ducts in whole organ culture to visualize the growth and differentiation process. Ultrasound imaging showed the lowest resolution. However, ultrasound was able to detect mammary preneoplastic lesions 0.2 mm in size and was used to follow cancer growth with serial imaging in living mice.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In conclusion, each technique enabled serial imaging of living mammary tissue and visualization of growth and development, quickly and with minimal tissue preparation. The use of the higher resolution reflectance confocal and green fluorescent protein imaging techniques and lower resolution ultrasound were complementary.</p

Expression and function of G-protein-coupled receptorsin the male reproductive tract

This review focuses on the expression and function of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs), α1-adrenoceptors and relaxin receptors in the male reproductive tract. The localization and differential expression of mAChR and α1-adrenoceptor subtypes in specific compartments of the efferent ductules, epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicle and prostate of various species indicate a role for these receptors in the modulation of luminal fluid composition and smooth muscle contraction, including effects on male fertility. Furthermore, the activation of mAChRs induces transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the Sertoli cell proliferation. The relaxin receptors are present in the testis, RXFP1 in elongated spermatids and Sertoli cells from rat, and RXFP2 in Leydig and germ cells from rat and human, suggesting a role for these receptors in the spermatogenic process. The localization of both receptors in the apical portion of epithelial cells and smooth muscle layers of the vas deferens suggests an involvement of these receptors in the contraction and regulation of secretion.Esta revisão enfatiza a expressão e a função dos receptores muscarínicos, adrenoceptores α1 e receptores para relaxina no sistema reprodutor masculino. A expressão dos receptores muscarínicos e adrenoceptores α1 em compartimentos específicos de dúctulos eferentes, epidídimo, ductos deferentes, vesícula seminal e próstata de várias espécies indica o envolvimento destes receptores na modulação da composição do fluido luminal e na contração do músculo liso, incluindo efeitos na fertilidade masculina. Além disso, a ativação dos receptores muscarínicos leva à transativação do receptor para o fator crescimento epidermal e proliferação das células de Sertoli. Os receptores para relaxina estão presentes no testículo, RXFP1 nas espermátides alongadas e células de Sertoli de rato e RXFP2 nas células de Leydig e germinativas de ratos e humano, sugerindo o envolvimento destes receptores no processo espermatogênico. A localização de ambos os receptores na porção apical das células epiteliais e no músculo liso dos ductos deferentes de rato sugere um papel na contração e na regulação da secreção.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de FarmacologiaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de FarmacologiaSciEL

Geometric Construction of Quintic Parametric B-splines

Aim of this paper is to present a new class of B-spline like functions with tension properties. The main feature of these basis functions consists in possessing C3 or even C^4 continuity and, at the same time, being endowed by shape parameters that can be easily handled. Therefore they constitute a useful tool to construct curves satisfying some prescribed shape constraints. The construction is based on a geometric approach which uses parametric curves with piecewise quintic components

High Smoothness Parametric B-splines

We present a geometric construction of a two-parameter family of C^3, 4-interval supported, B-spline like functions obtained by the parametric approach, using planar curves with piecewise quintic components and geometric continuity of order 3. The parameters act as shape parameters and have a clear geometric interpretation

A control polygon scheme for design of planar C2 PH quintic spline curves

A scheme to specify planar C2 Pythagorean-hodograph (PH) quintic spline curves by control polygons is proposed, in which the "ordinary" C2 cubic B-spline curve serves as a reference for the shape of the PH spline. The method facilitates intuitive and efficient constructions of open and closed PH spline curves, that typically agree closely with the corresponding cubic B-spline curves. The C2 PH quintic spline curve associated with a given control polygon and knot sequence is defined to be the "good" interpolant to the nodal points of the C2 cubic spline curve with the same B-spline control points, knot sequence, and end conditions-it may be computed to machine precision by just a few Newton-Raphson iterations from a close starting approximation. The relation between the PH spline and its control polygon is invariant under similarity transformations. Multiple knots may be inserted to reduce the order of continuity to C1 or C0 at specified points, and by means of double knots the PH splines offer a linear precision and local shape modification capability. Although the non-linear nature of PH splines precludes proofs for certain features of cubic B-splines, such as convex-hull confinement and the variation-diminishing property, this is of little practical significance in view of the close agreement of the two curves in most cases (in fact, the PH spline typically exhibits a somewhat better curvature distribution). © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Chilcare and equality of opportunity

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Intervalos de referencia de minerales en cerdos confinados de diferentes genéticas y categorías

En Argentina, no existen datos regionales de intervalos de referencia de minerales en cerdos según las líneas genéticas actuales y distintas categorías de producción en sistema intensivo. Por ello, el objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar intervalos de minerales: calcio, fósforo, magnesio, sodio, potasio, hierro, cobre y cinc, en suero de cerdos en establecimientos del centro de Santa Fe y de Entre Ríos. Se trabajó con 300 muestras de sangre de cerdos sanos de dos líneas genéticas diferentes en las categorías de lechones recién nacidos, lechones destetados, hembras nulíparas gestantes seleccionadas fenotípicamente para la reposición del plantel, y hembras multíparas gestantes. Se determinaron las concentraciones séricas de los minerales por espectrofotometría de absorción atómica (FAAS) con un equipo Perkin Elmer modelo Analys 200, con métodos oficiales de AOAC. Se analizaron también muestras de agua. Los intervalos de referencia se calcularon utilizando parámetros paramétricos o no paramétricos dependiendo de la distribución de los datos. Los valores medios, medianas, valores mínimo y máximo e intervalos de referencia, para los distintos minerales en cada categoría productiva, se presentan en tablas. Los intervalos de referencia calculados serán útiles para el diagnóstico de deficiencias mineral y la vigilancia nutricional en cerdo de producción de carne. SUMMARY. Mineral reference intervals in confined swine with different genetic background and categories. In Argentina, there is no regional data on mineral reference intervals in swine, according to the genetic lines, categories of production in intensive systems. The objective of this study was to establish ranges of the following serum minerals: calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron, copper and zinc, in swine farmed in Santa Fe and Entre Ríos. Blood samples were collected from 300 healthy pigs of two different genetic lines belonging to the following categories: newborn piglets, weaned piglets, pregnant nulliparous females selected for re-stocking, and pregnant multiparous females. Serum concentrations of minerals were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS) with a Perkin Elmer model Analys 200 and using official AOAC methods. Water samples were also analyzed. Reference intervals were calculated using parametric or nonparametric methods on basis of data distribution. Mean, median, minimum, maximum values and reference intervals for different minerals were tabulated. The reference intervals calculated in this study will be useful for the diagnosis of mineral deficiencies and nutritional monitoring in meat production pigs