29 research outputs found
Feasibility of combined upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopic biopsy in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) to evaluate gastrointestinal diseases
Background: Chronic gastroenteropathies, including gluten sensitivity and marmoset
wasting syndrome, frequently occur in captive colonies of common marmosets
(Callithrix jacchus). Early identification and diagnosis of affected animals are desirable.
Endoscopic examination of the colon in marmosets is described, but the small
intestine can harbor significant mucosal lesions not representing those in the colon.
Evaluating the small intestine currently requires invasive surgical biopsies due to the
small patient size, carrying a risk of severe complications.
Methods: Endoscopic intubation and multisite biopsy of the duodenum/proximal jejunum
are demonstrated in 10 marmosets under general anesthesia.
Results: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy with colonoscopy efficiently aid in examining
the gastrointestinal tract and obtaining an antemortem histologic diagnosis in marmosets
with chronic gastrointestinal signs.
Conclusions: This minimally invasive technique is feasible in marmosets. Future investigations
into the pathogenesis of chronic gastroenteropathies will benefit from these
data, leading to improved animal welfare and better individual and colony health
management
Immunoexpression of the relaxin receptor LGR7 in breast and uterine tissues of humans and primates
BACKGROUND: The receptor for the peptide hormone relaxin has recently been identified as the heptahelical G-protein coupled receptor, LGR7. In order to generate molecular tools with which to characterize both in vivo and in vitro expression of this receptor in human and primate tissues, specific monotypic antibodies have been generated and applied to a preliminary analysis of human and primate female reproductive tissues. METHODS: Three peptide sequences were identified from the proposed open reading frame of the cloned LGR7 receptor gene, representing both extracellular and intracellular domains. Two to three rabbits were immunized for each epitope, and the resulting sera subjected to a systematic validation using cultured cells transiently transfected with a receptor-expressing gene construct, or appropriate control constructs. RESULTS: Human and monkey (marmoset, macaque) endometrium showed consistent and specific immunostaining in the stromal cells close to glands. Staining appeared to be more intense in the luteal phase of the cycle. Weak immunostaining was also evident in the endometrial epithelial cells of the marmoset. A myoma in one patient exhibited strong immunostaining in the circumscribing connective tissue. Uterine expression was supported by RT-PCR results from cultured primary endometrial and myometrial cells. Human breast tissue (healthy and tumors) consistently indicated specific immunostaining in the interstitial connective (stromal) tissue within the glands, but not in epithelial or myoepithelial cells, except in some tumors, where a few epithelial and tumor cells also showed weak epitope expression. CONCLUSIONS: Using validated monotypic antibodies recognizing different epitopes of the LGR7 receptor, and from different immunized animals, and in different primate species, a consistent pattern of LGR7 expression was observed in the stromal (connective tissue) cells of the endometrium and breast, consistent also with the known physiology of the relaxin hormone
Investigation of Body Development in Growing Holstein Heifers With Special Emphasis on Body Fat Development Using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis
This study analyzed skeletal development, body condition, and total body fat
development of growing heifers. A total of 144 female primiparous Holstein cattle from
four commercial dairy farms with different degrees of stillbirth rates were examined during
the rearing period. This included measurements in body condition, fat tissue, metabolic,
and endocrine factors. Pelvic measurements and the sacrum height were analyzed to
assess skeletal development. The body condition was classified via body condition
scoring, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), back fat thickness measurements, and
the body mass. For the first time, BIA was used as an appropriate method to evaluate
the fat tissue content of cattle throughout the rearing period. This analysis technique can
be performed on heifers aged 8–15 months. Throughout that period, the fat content
decreased while the skeletal development increased. In addition, high free fatty acid
concentrations in serum of the animals with high frame development were found,
supporting our hypothesis that stored energy of body fat deposits is used for skeletal
growth. Furthermore, we were able to demonstrate complex endocrine relationships
between fat metabolism and skeletal growth by using specific markers, such as leptin,
insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and estradiol (E2). Food analysis showed high crude
protein (CP) levels in the total mixed ration above recommendation for daily protein intake
of all farms. However, there was a positive correlation between CP and the body frame
measurements in our study. In summary, we established a novel regression formula for
BIA analysis (“BIA-Heine”) in heifers to evaluate the body composition throughout different
ages and physiological stages in the development of heifers. This special formula allows
the evaluation of fat tissue without a whole-body analysis and therefore provides an
innovative technique for animal welfare support
Data from: Seasonal and urban effects on the endocrinology of a wild passerine
In order to maximize their fitness, organisms in seasonal environments rely on external cues to optimally time their life-history stages. One of the most important zeitgeber to time reproduction is the photoperiod, but further environmental cues are assessed to fine-tune reproduction due to year-to-year variation in environmental conditions. However, in urbanized environments, the pervasive artificial light at night has altered the natural signal of light and darkness. Accordingly, artificial light at night was repeatedly shown to affect avian reproductive physiology and to advance seasonal reproduction in birds. However, these experiments were mainly conducted in the absence of further environmental cues to facilitate the investigation of the mechanisms which are still poorly understood. Here, we investigate whether the endocrine system of free-ranging European blackbirds (Turdus merula) correlates with the amount of artificial light at night along a rural to urban gradient while the birds still encounter complementary environmental cues including seasonal variation in day length and temperature. Testosterone and estrone were assessed as metabolites in fecal samples and corticosterone in blood from mist-netted blackbirds. We demonstrate that seasonal fluctuations in abiotic factors, individual conditions, but also light at night affect the reproductive and stress physiology of wild European blackbirds. Elevated artificial night light intensities were significantly positively correlated with corticosterone and negatively with female estrone levels. No effects of artificial light were found for testosterone levels. Our results suggest that female blackbirds in particular perceive even low levels of artificial light at night as a weak but chronic stressor that interacts with the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and leads to a reduced secretion of reproductive hormones. These findings point out that the impacts of light pollution are diverse and we only slowly disentangle its multiple effects on physiology, ecology, and biodiversity