Hemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) - problems of protection of the endangered deer from Patagonia

Patagoński hemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) należy do rodziny jeleniowatych (Cervidae) i jest klasyfikowany jako gatunek zagrożony wyginięciem. Obecna jego populacja wynosi 350-500 w Argentynie i 1.000 sztuk w Chile i jest skupiona w ponad 100 grupach rodzinnych. Ze względu na postępujący spadek liczebności konieczne jest utworzenie centrum hodowlanego, gdzie poza rozmnażaniem hemuli i ich wypuszczaniem do natury, będą prowadzone badania naukowe nad biologią tego słabo poznanego gatunku. Posiadanie zwierząt wychowanych na butelce pozwoli na pobieranie nasienia przy użyciu sztucznej pochwy i na utworzenie banku genów, nasienia zamrożonego w ciekłym azocie (LN2).Patagonian hemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) is a member of the deer family (Cervidae) classified as an endangered species. The size of its population, estimated at 350-500 heads in Argentina and at 1000 in Chile, is distributed in over 100 family groups. Taking into account the gradually decreasing number of specimens, it is necessary to establish a captive breeding center. Besides reproduction and reintroduction to the natural environment, the center will help also to conduct scientific investigations on this poorly known species. Tamed animals reared on the bottle will allow to collect semen using artificial vagina, and would provide an opportunity to establish a live semen bank protected in liquid nitrogen (LN2), as a reserve of genes

Variations of selected trace element contents in two layers of red deer antlers

Introduction: Hard antlers of deer are unique bioindicators of environmental metal pollutions, but sampling methods presented in the literature are inconsistent. Due to the specific growth pattern of antlers and their histological structure, sampling methods described in the literature were reviewed, the suitability of using mixed samples of both antler layers as element bioindicators was assessed, and the codified method of antler sampling used for bioindication was described. Material and Methods: Lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, copper, zinc, and iron in trabecular and cortical parts of hard antlers of red deer (Cervus elaphus) were determined using different methods of atomic absorption spectrometry (depending on the element). Results: Mean mercury content in trabecular bone (0.010 ±0.018 mg/kg) was 5 times higher than in cortical bone (0.002 ±0.003 mg/kg). Mean iron concentration was approximately 15 times higher in trabecular (239.83 ±130.15 mg/kg) than in cortical bone (16.17 ±16.44 mg/kg). Concentrations of other analysed elements did not differ statistically between antler layers. Conclusion: In mixed antler samples, concentrations of mercury and iron depend on the particular antler layer contents. This therefore warrants caution when comparing results across studies and specification of the sampling methodology of antlers is highly recommended

Light and electron microscopy of the European beaver (Castor fiber) stomach reveal unique morphological features with possible general biological significance.

Anatomical, histological, and ultrastructural studies of the European beaver stomach revealed several unique morphological features. The prominent attribute of its gross morphology was the cardiogastric gland (CGG), located near the oesophageal entrance. Light microscopy showed that the CGG was formed by invaginations of the mucosa into the submucosa, which contained densely packed proper gastric glands comprised primarily of parietal and chief cells. Mucous neck cells represented <0.1% of cells in the CGG gastric glands and 22-32% of cells in the proper gastric glands of the mucosa lining the stomach lumen. These data suggest that chief cells in the CGG develop from undifferentiated cells that migrate through the gastric gland neck rather than from mucous neck cells. Classical chief cell formation (i.e., arising from mucous neck cells) occurred in the mucosa lining the stomach lumen, however. The muscularis around the CGG consisted primarily of skeletal muscle tissue. The cardiac region was rudimentary while the fundus/corpus and pyloric regions were equally developed. Another unusual feature of the beaver stomach was the presence of specific mucus with a thickness up to 950 µm (in frozen, unfixed sections) that coated the mucosa. Our observations suggest that the formation of this mucus is complex and includes the secretory granule accumulation in the cytoplasm of pit cells, the granule aggregation inside cells, and the incorporation of degenerating cells into the mucus

Seasonal differences in the testicular transcriptome profile of free-living European beavers (Castor fiber L.) determined by the RNA-Seq method.

The European beaver (Castor fiber L.) is an important free-living rodent that inhabits Eurasian temperate forests. Beavers are often referred to as ecosystem engineers because they create or change existing habitats, enhance biodiversity and prepare the environment for diverse plant and animal species. Beavers are protected in most European Union countries, but their genomic background remains unknown. In this study, gene expression patterns in beaver testes and the variations in genetic expression in breeding and non-breeding seasons were determined by high-throughput transcriptome sequencing. Paired-end sequencing in the Illumina HiSeq 2000 sequencer produced a total of 373.06 million of high-quality reads. De novo assembly of contigs yielded 130,741 unigenes with an average length of 1,369.3 nt, N50 value of 1,734, and average GC content of 46.51%. A comprehensive analysis of the testicular transcriptome revealed more than 26,000 highly expressed unigenes which exhibited the highest homology with Rattus norvegicus and Ictidomys tridecemlineatus genomes. More than 8,000 highly expressed genes were found to be involved in fundamental biological processes, cellular components or molecular pathways. The study also revealed 42 genes whose regulation differed between breeding and non-breeding seasons. During the non-breeding period, the expression of 37 genes was up-regulated, and the expression of 5 genes was down-regulated relative to the breeding season. The identified genes encode molecules which are involved in signaling transduction, DNA repair, stress responses, inflammatory processes, metabolism and steroidogenesis. Our results pave the way for further research into season-dependent variations in beaver testes

Ultrastructure of mucous cells in the pyloric glands.

<p>Note the three types of granules: 1) irregular, filled with electron-lucent material and “speckled” with electron-dense spots (arrows); 2) round, bipartite (double arrows); and 3) granules with intermediate properties.</p

SUMMARY

The following article is a summary of research on the influence of season on the reproductive processes in undomesticated animals. The results presented below show: a / an annual hormonal profile of domestic pig and wild boar crossbreed and the antioxidant blood system in the different seasons, b / the possibility of gonadptropic hormone stimulation in chinchillas which are in diestrus or infertile, c / the possibility of using bison’s semen (collected

Ultrastructure of chief cells in the proper gastric gland of the corpus mucosa.

<p>(A) Bipolar organization of chief cells. Note the well-developed Golgi apparatus (<i>AG</i>). L: lumen of the gland. (B) Numerous secretory granules, varying in size and electron density, located in the supranuclear cytoplasm. (C) Well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum in the basal region.</p

Gross morphological features of the European beaver stomach.

<p>(A) An external view of the stomach. Asterisk: the CGG on the lesser curvature; <i>E</i>: oesophagus; <i>D</i>: duodenum. (B) The mucosa after cutting the stomach along the greater curvature. Note differences in mucosal colour between the corpus - <i>C</i> and pylorus - <i>P</i>. Asterisk: the CGG. (C) The CGG viewed from the stomach lumen. Note the large crater-like (arrow heads) and small (arrows) orifices. <i>Z</i>: gastroesophageal junction (D) The stomach cut along the lesser curvature. Note the continuity between the muscular coat of the CGG and the muscularis of the esophagus. Asterisk: the CGG; <i>E</i>: oesophagus. (E) Section of the CGG showing its internal organization. Arrows: branched tubes that open on the luminal mucosal surface.</p

Ultrastructure of the surface epithelium cells in the basal (A), middle (B, C), and upper (D, E) regions of the corpus gastric pits and mucus structure (F).

<p>(A) Pit cells containing electron dense granules in their apical parts. Note the bundles of tonofilaments (arrow). (B) Cells with numerous electron-dense granules that form oval clusters in the supranuclear cytoplasm. (C) Cells with numerous granules that vary in electron density and aggregate with each other. (D) Degenerating cells with flattened nuclei and cytoplasm filled by the mucous mass. (E) Cells with destroyed apical regions. Note the mucus is partially released from the cell. (F) Mucus ultrastructure. Cell debris and fine fibrils are visible.</p