Relationship between quantity of IFNT estimated by IFN-stimulated gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and bovine embryonic mortality after AI or ET

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Interferon tau (IFNT), which is secreted into the uterine cavity during the maternal recognition period (MRP), is a key factor for establishment of pregnancy. The present study aims to clarify the relationship between the ability of a bovine conceptus to produce IFNT during the MRP and the conceptus's ability to establish pregnancy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In the first experiment, IFNT (0, 500, or 1000 micrograms) was administered into the uterine horn ipsilateral to the CL 16 or 17 d after standing estrus, and mRNA levels of IFN-stimulated gene 15-kDa protein (<it>ISG15</it>) and <it>Mx2 </it>in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were determined. In the second experiment, we investigated <it>ISG15 </it>mRNA expression in PBMCs during the MRP in cattle after either artificial insemination (AI) or embryo transfer (ET).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Intrauterine administration of IFNT stimulated <it>ISG15 </it>and <it>Mx2 </it>gene expressions in PBMCs in cattle, and there was a positive correlation between the expressions of peripheral markers and the quantity of IFNT administered. In pregnant and normal interestrous interval (< 25 d) cattle (nIEI cattle), expression levels of the <it>ISG15 </it>gene showed similar patterns after AI and ET, and <it>ISG15 </it>mRNA expression was increased in pregnant cattle but unchanged in nIEI cattle. In contrast, <it>ISG15 </it>gene expression in extended interestrous interval (greater than or equal to 25 d) cattle (eIEI cattle) differed after ET compared with AI. In eIEI cattle after ET, <it>ISG15 </it>gene expression increased, such that the value on day 18 was intermediate between those of pregnant and nIEI cattle. In eIEI cattle after AI, <it>ISG15 </it>gene expression did not increase throughout the observation period.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results of the current study indicate that the quantity of conceptus-derived IFNT can be estimated by measuring <it>ISG15 </it>mRNA levels in PBMCs from cattle. Using this approach, we demonstrate that <it>ISG15 </it>gene expression during the MRP in eIEI cattle differed after ET compared with AI. In addition, the modest increase in <it>ISG15 </it>gene expression in eIEI cattle after ET suggests that late embryo losses were due to delayed or insufficient growth of the conceptus during the MRP in cattle.</p

Estimation of genetic and phenotypic parameters and environmental trends of pre-weaning growth traits of Japanese Black calves using animal model

Data collected on 1739 records of Japanese Black calves during the period from 1937 to 2002 were analysed. The herd belongs to the Department of Livestock and Grassland Science, National Agricultural Research Center for Western Region, Oda City, Shimane Prefecture. The objectives were to estimate heritability, maternal effect and genetic and phenotypic correlations between birth weight, weaning weight and average daily gain from birth to weaning, to estimate calf breeding values and to evaluate genetic and phenotypic trends for these traits. Heritability estimates of birth weight, weaning and average daily gain were 0.39, 0.17 and 0. 26, respectively. The corresponding maternal components were 0.10, 0.10 and 0.11, respectively. Genetic correlations between birth weight and weaning, birth weight and average daily gain and weaning weight and average daily gain were 0.30, -0.17 and 0.86 , respectively. The corresponding phenotypic correlations were 0.19, -0.33 and 0.90, respectively. Calf breeding values ranged between -17.93 and 2.83, between -4.72 and 18.08 and between -0.070 and 0.182 kg for birth weight, weaning weight and average daily gain, respectively. Regression coefficients of breeding values of birth weight, weaning weight and average daily gain on year of calving were not significant and accounted for 0.011±0.012, -0.02±0.02 and -0.0002±0.0002, respectively. The corresponding regression coefficients of the phenotypic values of weaning weight and average daily gain of year of calving were significant and accounted for 2.16±0.31 and 0.013±0.002, respectively, however, that of birth weight was not significant (0.18±0.10). Breeding values fluctuated across years of study with no certain trend. Similar trend was observed for phenotypic values. It is concluded that environment may have higher influence on calf performance than genetics. Selection has never been practiced in this herd

Glycine cleavage system in neurogenic regions

The glycine cleavage system (GCS) is the essential enzyme complex for degrading glycine and supplying 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate for DNA synthesis. Inherited deficiency of this system causes non-ketotic hyperglycinemia, characterized by severe neurological symptoms and frequent association of brain malformations. Although high levels of glycine have been considered to cause the above-mentioned problems, the detailed pathogenesis of this disease is still unknown. Here we show that GCS is abundantly expressed in rat embryonic neural stem/progenitor cells in the neuroepithelium, and this expression is transmitted to the radial glia-astrocyte lineage, with prominence in postnatal neurogenic regions. These data indicate that GCS plays important roles in neurogenesis, and suggest that disturbance of neurogenesis induced by deficiency of GCS may be the main pathogenesis of non-ketotic hyperglycinemi

SNP- and haplotype-based genome-wide association studies for growth, carcass, and meat quality traits in a Duroc multigenerational population

Average linkage disequilibrium coefficient (r2) values plotted against intermarker distance for all autosomal chromosomes. (PDF 407 kb

Large Population of ALMA Galaxies at z>6 with Very High [OIII]88um to [CII]158um Flux Ratios: Evidence of Extremely High Ionization Parameter or PDR Deficit?

We present our new ALMA observations targeting [OIII]88um, [CII]158um, [NII]122um, and dust continuum emission for three Lyman break galaxies at z=6.0293-6.2037 identified in the Subaru/Hyper Suprime-Cam survey. We clearly detect [OIII] and [CII] lines from all of the galaxies at 4.3-11.8sigma levels, and identify multi-band dust continuum emission in two of the three galaxies, allowing us to estimate infrared luminosities and dust temperatures simultaneously. In conjunction with previous ALMA observations for six galaxies at z>6, we confirm that all the nine z=6-9 galaxies have high [OIII]/[CII] ratios of L[OIII]/L[CII]~3-20, ~10 times higher than z~0 galaxies. We also find a positive correlation between the [OIII]/[CII] ratio and the Lya equivalent width (EW) at the ~90% confidence level. We carefully investigate physical origins of the high [OIII]/[CII] ratios at z=6-9 using Cloudy, and find that high density of the interstellar medium, low C/O abundance ratio, and the cosmic microwave background attenuation are responsible to only a part of the z=6-9 galaxies. Instead, the observed high [OIII]/[CII] ratios are explained by 10-100 times higher ionization parameters or low photodissociation region (PDR) covering fractions of 0-10%, both of which are consistent with our [NII] observations. The latter scenario can be reproduced with a density bounded nebula with PDR deficit, which would enhance the Lya, Lyman continuum, and C+ ionizing photons escape from galaxies, consistent with the [OIII]/[CII]-Lya EW correlation we find.Comment: 20 pages, 18 figures, Accepted for publication in Ap

Impact of laparoscopic surgery on short‐term and long‐term outcomes in elderly obese patients with colon cancer

[Background] Laparoscopic surgery is reported to be useful in obese or elderly patients with colon cancer, who are at increased risk of postoperative complications because of comorbidities and physical decline. However, its usefulness is less clear in patients who are both elderly and obese and may be at high risk of complications. [Methods] Data for obese patients (body mass index ≥25) who underwent laparoscopic or open surgery for stage II or III colon cancer between January 2009 and December 2013 were collected by the Japan Society of Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery. Surgical outcomes, postoperative complications, and relapse-free survival (RFS) were compared between patients who underwent open surgery and those who underwent laparoscopic surgery according to whether they were elderly (≥70 y) or nonelderly (<70 y). [Results] Data of 1549 patients (elderly, n = 598; nonelderly, n = 951) satisfied the selection criteria for analysis. Length of stay was shorter and surgical wound infection was less common in elderly obese patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery than in those underwent open surgery. There were no significant between-group differences in overall complications, anastomotic leakage, ileus/small bowel obstruction, or RFS. There were also no significant differences in RFS after laparoscopic surgery according to patient age. [Conclusion] Laparoscopic surgery is safe in elderly obese patients with colon cancer and does not worsen their prognosis. There was no significant difference in the effectiveness of laparoscopic surgery between obese patients who were elderly and those who were nonelderly

Exploring indicators of genetic selection using the sniffer method to reduce methane emissions from Holstein cows

Objective This study aimed to evaluate whether the methane (CH4) to carbon dioxide (CO2) ratio (CH4/CO2) and methane-related traits obtained by the sniffer method can be used as indicators for genetic selection of Holstein cows with lower CH4 emissions. Methods The sniffer method was used to simultaneously measure the concentrations of CH4 and CO2 during milking in each milking box of the automatic milking system to obtain CH4/CO2. Methane-related traits, which included CH4 emissions, CH4 per energy-corrected milk, methane conversion factor (MCF), and residual CH4, were calculated. First, we investigated the impact of the model with and without body weight (BW) on the lactation stage and parity for predicting methane-related traits using a first on-farm dataset (Farm 1; 400 records for 74 Holstein cows). Second, we estimated the genetic parameters for CH4/CO2 and methane-related traits using a second on-farm dataset (Farm 2; 520 records for 182 Holstein cows). Third, we compared the repeatability and environmental effects on these traits in both farm datasets. Results The data from Farm 1 revealed that MCF can be reliably evaluated during the lactation stage and parity, even when BW is excluded from the model. Farm 2 data revealed low heritability and moderate repeatability for CH4/CO2 (0.12 and 0.46, respectively) and MCF (0.13 and 0.38, respectively). In addition, the estimated genetic correlation of milk yield with CH4/CO2 was low (0.07) and that with MCF was moderate (−0.53). The on-farm data indicated that CH4/CO2 and MCF could be evaluated consistently during the lactation stage and parity with moderate repeatability on both farms. Conclusion This study demonstrated the on-farm applicability of the sniffer method for selecting cows with low CH4 emissions

Relationship between mitochondrial DNA polymorphism and postnatal growth of Japanese beef cattle

Correlation coefficients (r) between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes, maternal lineage (ML), birth weight (BWT), preweaning average daily gain (PREADG), weaning weight (WT6), post weaning average daily gain (POSTADG) and yearling weight (WT12) were computed in Japanese Black beef cattle within the same herd and management. The objective was to study the relationship between maternal and postnatal growth traits and to investigate if postnatal growth of calves to yearling age could be accurately predicted from mtDNA genotype at an early age. Blood samples and phenotypic records from 129 cattle which were part of a QTL mapping herd were utilized. mtDNA from the displacement-loop (D-loop) region (496 bp) was genotyped and classified into sub-groups 2 and 3 haplotypes and sequenced. General linear models procedure was utilized to adjust for genetic and non-genetic effects on postnatal growth traits. Simple and multiple linear regressions were fitted to predict postnatal growth traits from mtDNA haplotypes and the coefficients of determination (R2 ) were computed. Results revealed 19 maternal lineages and four mtDNA types (1, 11, 73 and a new hitherto unreported one). There were strong, positive and highly significant (P0.05) ranging from -0.05 to 0.1. Prediction of postnatal growth from mtDNA yielded very low R2 values ranging from 0.002 for BWT to 0.019 for WT6. The addition of ML, sub-group 2 and sub-group 3 haplotype information did not lead to any appreciable improvement in prediction accuracy. It was concluded that mtDNA polymorphism has no significant association with postnatal growth from birth to yearling age, and by implication, nuclear rather than cytoplasmic DNA, is most likely responsible for genetic variation observed in postnatal growth of Japanese Black cattle. Therefore, mtDNA genotyping at an early age has no bearing on future growth performance of calves