Oxidative Stress During Pregnancy In The Sheep.

During physiological pregnancy, all tissues and, mostly, placenta and foetus require high amounts of oxygen. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), generated both by mother and foetus, are implicated in foetal growth because they promote replication, differentiation and maturation of cells and organs. Nevertheless, ROS excess, if not properly counterbalanced, may lead to an alteration in cell constituents, with harmful effects both on mother and foetus.ROS exert a biphasic effect because adequate ROS concentration is essential for embryo development, implant, foetal defence against uterine infections, steroidogenesis, pregnancy maintainance and partum. On the other hand, an uncontrolled ROS generation, beyond physiological antioxidant defences, may lead to embryo resorption, placental degeneration with subsequent alteration in maternal-foetal exchanges, delay in foetal growth, pregnancy interruption, stillbirths. This review investigates the mechanisms underlying ROS generation and effects, throughout physiological and pathological pregnancy in sheep, with a look to antioxidants and their importance in such a critical phase of the reproductive cycle of the sheep

Evaluation of serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, and IL-12 during pregnancy in bitches

Complex cytokine networks play an important role in a wide range of pregnancy-related processes. During physiological pregnancy, the balance of T helper lymphocytes Th1 and Th2 is strongly shifted toward Th2, which has a protective role in the feto–maternal interaction. The aim of the present study is to establish the serum concentrations, ranges, and trends of anti-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10, and inflammatory IL-12A, during three phases of gestation in the bitch (20–30, 31–40, and 41–57 days of gestation). Our results indicate that, in early gestation, IL-4 and -10 serum concentrations are elevated and might depend on progesterone that could act as a potent inhibitor of Th1 responses inducing, conversely, the production of Th2-type cytokines (i.e., IL-10 and IL-4). On the other hand, between 30 and 40 days of gestation, the concentrations of the antiinflammatory ILs decrease probably because of high concentrations of prolactin, which is endowed with immunostimulatory properties on different immune cell types. In the third phase of gestation (41–57 days), an increase in IL-10 occurs, which might depend on high levels of 17b-estradiol that, during pregnancy, interfere with the ability of dendritic cells to stimulate T lymphocytes, acting as an anti-inflammatory factor. Conversely, the low and persistent concentrations of inflammatory IL-12A, throughout pregnancy, compared with anti-inflammatory ILs, might depend on the characteristic cytokine products of Thl and Th2 cells that are known to be mutually inhibitory. The monitoring of immunological status via the levels of cytokines during pregnancy in the bitch, could represent a diagnostic tool to predict and/or prevent pregnancy abnormality, as demonstrated in wome

Evaluation of serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, and IL-12 during pregnancy in bitches

Complex cytokine networks play an important role in a wide range of pregnancy-related processes. During physiological pregnancy, the balance of T helper lymphocytes Th1 and Th2 is strongly shifted toward Th2, which has a protective role in the feto–maternal interaction. The aim of the present study is to establish the serum concentrations, ranges, and trends of anti-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10, and inflammatory IL-12A, during three phases of gestation in the bitch (20–30, 31–40, and 41–57 days of gestation). Our results indicate that, in early gestation, IL-4 and -10 serum concentrations are elevated and might depend on progesterone that could act as a potent inhibitor of Th1 responses inducing, conversely, the production of Th2-type cytokines (i.e., IL-10 and IL-4). On the other hand, between 30 and 40 days of gestation, the concentrations of the antiinflammatory ILs decrease probably because of high concentrations of prolactin, which is endowed with immunostimulatory properties on different immune cell types. In the third phase of gestation (41–57 days), an increase in IL-10 occurs, which might depend on high levels of 17b-estradiol that, during pregnancy, interfere with the ability of dendritic cells to stimulate T lymphocytes, acting as an anti-inflammatory factor. Conversely, the low and persistent concentrations of inflammatory IL-12A, throughout pregnancy, compared with anti-inflammatory ILs, might depend on the characteristic cytokine products of Thl and Th2 cells that are known to be mutually inhibitory. The monitoring of immunological status via the levels of cytokines during pregnancy in the bitch, could represent a diagnostic tool to predict and/or prevent pregnancy abnormality, as demonstrated in wome

Immunological Aspects Of Metritis In Dairy Cows: A Review.

This paper reviews puerperal metritis in the cow, particularly the complex and multi-factorial pathogenesis characterized by an altered cross-talk among infectious agents, endocrine and immune systems. Uterine infections impair fertility and is one of the main causes of economic losses in dairy production. The early postpartum is a period characterized by an increased exposition to infectious agents and the disruption of the metabolic homeostasis, leading to endocrine and immunologic disorders. Dysregulation of uterine defence mechanisms results in the development of metritis. Because there is a complex interaction between infectious, endocrine and immune factors during metritis, there is need to use safer and cheaper drugs which are able to strengthen the anti-infective actions of the routine therapies

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in human and pet tumours with special reference to breast cancer: A comparative review.

Tyrosine kinase receptors (TKRs) play a key role in tumour cell proliferation and survival since they are involved in endothelial cell activation leading to tumour neoangiogenesis. In particular, vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs), platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), stem cell factor receptor (c-KitR), and colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) are overexpressed or constitutively activated in human and pet malignancies. A variety of small molecule inhibitors targeting specific tyrosine kinases (known as tyrosine kinase inhibitors or TKIs) have recently been approved, or are under investigation, for the treatment of human cancer. TKI application in animal cancer is however relatively recent. This review aims to illustrate the major aspects of tyrosine kinase dysfunctions, with special regard to human and animal cancer of the mammary gland, providing an update on the background of the anti-angiogenic and anti-neoplastic properties of TKIs in human and veterinary cancer

In vivo model for mastocytosis: A comparative review.

Human mastocytosis are heterogeneous group of neoplastic diseases characterized by a different degree of uncontrolled mast cell (MC) proliferation and activation. Interestingly, human mastocytosis share several biological and clinical features with canine mast cell disorders, so called canine mast cell tumors (CMCTs). These CMCTs are the most common spontaneous cutaneous tumors found in dogs representing a valid model to study neoplastic mast cell disorders. It has been discovered that the pathological activation of c-Kit receptor (c-KitR), expressed by MCs, has been involved in the pathogenesis of neoplastic MC disorders. In this review we have focused on human mastocytosis in terms of: (i) epidemiology and classification; (ii) pathogenesis at molecular levels; (iii) clinical presentation. In addition, we have summarized animal models useful to study neoplastic MC disorders including CMCTs and murine transgenic models. Finally, we have revised therapeutic approaches mostly common in human and canine MCTs and novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors approved for CMCTs and recently translated in human clinical trials

Nuovi approcci terapeutici e chirurgici per la risoluzione delle lacerazioni del capezzolo, nella bovina da latte

Le alterazioni del capezzolo possono essere distinte in anomalie congenite (politelia, atresia congenita del/i capezzolo/i, ghiandola/e soprannumerarie) e in lesioni traumatiche (interne, esterne). Esse costituiscono un’importante problematica, negli allevamenti di bovine da latte e possono determinare la perdita dei quarti mammari coinvolti dalla lesione, destinando le bovine interessate alla macellazione. L’esperienza condotta fino ad oggi ci spinge a ritenere che queste perdite potrebbero essere ampiamente ridotte, intervenendo con tecniche chirurgiche e con metodiche post-operatorie appropriate. Il lavoro descrive un nuovo approccio anestesiologico, terapeutico e chirurgico, per la risoluzione delle lacerazioni capezzolari, in 37 bovine da latte. Le bovine interessate dalla lesione sono state sedate e sottoposte ad anestesia loco-regionale (blocco epidurale lombare, ring block dell’area del capezzolo e infusione della cisterna capezzolare), introducendo delle modifiche alle procedure anestesiologiche classiche. Si è proceduto, successivamente, alla revisione chirurgica della ferita, ricruentando e regolarizzando i margini, al fine di renderli perfettamente raffrontabili, e, nei casi di lesione a livello di ostio papillare, utilizzando una tecnica di Overlapping “modificata”. Al termine di ciascun intervento di ricostruzione del capezzolo, è stata eseguita l’autoemoterapia rigenerativa staminale, inoculando una miscela di sangue venoso omologo e Arnica compositum, attorno alla ferita chirurgica. Il recupero funzionale di quasi tutti i capezzoli trattati chirurgicamente, ci induce a ritenere che la tecnica operatoria decritta e il protocollo terapeutico utilizzato siano dei validi metodi per migliorare la risoluzione chirurgica delle lacerazioni del capezzolo