Technical note: A rapid enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay blood test for pregnancy in dairy and beef cattle.

The ruminant trophoblast produces pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAG) that can be detected in the blood of pregnant animals. The objective was to determine the accuracy of a rapid ELISA PAG-based test for the purpose of pregnancy detection in cattle. Blood was sampled from dairy cattle (539 Holstein cows, 173 Holstein heifers, 73 Guernsey cows, 22 Guernsey heifers, and 12 Jersey heifers) and crossbred beef cattle (145 cows and 46 heifers) that were >or=25 d after insemination (range = 25 to 45 d for dairy and 29 to 56 d for beef). Cattle were examined by ultrasonography for detection of pregnancy within 2 d of blood collection. Whole blood or plasma was incubated in a polystyrene tube coated with a monoclonal PAG antibody for 15 min. The tubes were then washed and subjected to sequential incubations with a biotinylated polyclonal PAG antibody (15 min, followed by wash), a horseradish peroxidase-streptavidin solution (15 min, followed by wash), and a peroxidase substrate. Tubes were visually assessed for color after 15 min (clear solution = PAG negative, not pregnant; blue solution = PAG positive, pregnant). Total assay time was approximately 90 min. The ultrasound examination was used as the standard for pregnancy diagnosis. The sensitivity (99.8 +/- 0.2%), specificity (91.7 +/- 1.4%), and negative predictive value (99.7 +/- 0.3%) for the PAG test used in dairy cattle were similar for different breeds and for cows and heifers. The positive predictive value for the test was greater in dairy heifers than in dairy cows (96.5 +/- 1.4% vs. 90.5 +/- 1.7%, respectively). In beef cattle, the sensitivity (100%), specificity (92.3 +/- 3.0%), positive predictive value (95.0 +/- 2.0%), and negative predictive value (100%) for the PAG test were similar for cows and heifers. The accuracy of the test was not different for dairy and beef cattle. In conclusion, the rapid ELISA pregnancy test based on PAG was highly sensitive and specific for pregnancy detection in dairy and beef cattle.

Deletion of the Na/K-ATPase alpha1-subunit gene (Atp1a1) does not prevent cavitation of the preimplantation mouse embryo.

Increases in Na/K-ATPase activity occur concurrently with the onset of cavitation and are associated with increases in Na(+)-pump subunit mRNA and protein expression. We have hypothesized that the alpha1-isozyme of the Na/K-ATPase is required to mediate blastocyst formation. We have tested this hypothesis by characterizing preimplantation development in mice with a targeted disruption of the Na/K-ATPase alpha1-subunit (Atp1a1) using embryos acquired from matings between Atp1a1 heterozygous mice. Mouse embryos homozygous for a null mutation in the Na/K-ATPase alpha1-subunit gene are able to undergo compaction and cavitation. These findings demonstrate that trophectoderm transport mechanisms are maintained in the absence of the predominant isozyme of the Na(+)-pump that has previously been localized to the basolateral membranes of mammalian trophectoderm cells. The presence of multiple isoforms of Na/K-ATPase alpha- and beta-subunits at the time of cavitation suggests that there may be a degree of genetic redundancy amongst isoforms of the catalytic alpha-subunit that allows blastocyst formation to progress in the absence of the alpha1-subunit.

The alpha(1)- and alpha(2)-isoforms of Na-K-ATPase play different roles in skeletal muscle contractility.

The Na-K-ATPase, which maintains the Na(+) and K(+) gradients across the plasma membrane, can play a major role in modulation of skeletal muscle contractility. Although both alpha(1)- and alpha(2)-isoforms of the Na-K-ATPase are expressed in skeletal muscle, the physiological significance of these isoforms in contractility is not known. Evaluation of the contractile parameters of mouse extensor digitorum longus (EDL) was carried out using gene-targeted mice lacking one copy of either the alpha(1)- or alpha(2)-isoform gene of the Na-K-ATPase. The EDL muscles from heterozygous mice contain approximately one-half of the alpha(1)- or alpha(2)-isoform, respectively, which permits differentiation of the functional roles of these isoforms. EDL from the alpha(1)(+/-) mouse shows lower force compared with wild type, whereas that from the alpha(2)(+/-) mouse shows greater force. The different functional roles of these two isoforms are further demonstrated because inhibition of the alpha(2)-isoform with ouabain increases contractility of alpha(1)(+/-) EDL. These results demonstrate that the Na-K-ATPase alpha(1)- and alpha(2)-isoforms may play different roles in skeletal muscle contraction.

Na,K-ATPase polypeptide upregulation responses in lens epithelium.

PURPOSE: In a previous study, an increase in Na,K-ATPase alpha 2 expression was detected in the epithelium of porcine lenses exposed to amphotericin B, an ionophore that also increases lens sodium and stimulates active sodium transport. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether an increase of Na,K-ATPase alpha 2 synthesis is a response to an episode of rapid Na-K transport or whether the increase in lens sodium alone can initiate the response. METHODS: Western blot analyses were conducted to probe for Na,K-ATPase alpha polypeptides in membrane material isolated from porcine lens epithelium. Ouabain-sensitive adenosine triphosphate hydrolysis was used as an index of Na,K-ATPase activity, and lens ion content was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. 86-Rubidium (86Rb) uptake was measured as an indicator for active potassium transport. RESULTS: 86Rb uptake was markedly diminished in lenses exposed to dihydro-ouabain (DHO), signifying inhibition of active sodium-potassium transport. Consistent with this, the sodium content of DHO-treated lenses increased. By western blot analysis, a marked increase of Na,K-ATPase alpha 2 polypeptide could be detected in the epithelium of DHO-treated lenses. To rule out the possibility that apparent stimulation of Na,K-ATPase alpha 2 synthesis stemmed from binding of DHO to Na,K-ATPase sites, experiments were conducted to confirm an increase of Na,K-ATPase alpha 2 polypeptide in the epithelium of lenses exposed to low-potassium medium to inhibit active sodium-potassium transport. Consistent with the apparent increase of Na,K-ATPase polypeptide, Na,K-ATPase activity was detectably increased in epithelial material isolated from lenses pretreated with DHO or low-potassium medium. CONCLUSIONS: An increase in Na,K-ATPase alpha 2 polypeptide can occur in the epithelium of lenses subjected to an episode of sodium pump inhibition. This suggests the response could be triggered by an increase in cell sodium and does not necessarily require a period of stimulated active sodium-potassium transport.

Isoforms of Na,K-ATPase in rat lens epithelium and fiber cells.

PURPOSE: The lens epithelium is thought to conduct Na-K transport for the entire lens cell mass. Lens fibers have a poor ion transport capacity. The authors tested whether different Na,K-ATPase polypeptides are expressed in the two cell types and whether both cells have the machinery needed for ongoing Na,K-ATPase expression as judged by the presence of mRNA for the Na,K-ATPase alpha subunit. METHODS: Membranes were isolated from adult rat lens epithelium or fibers, and Western blot experiments were conducted for Na,K-ATPase alpha 1, alpha 2, and alpha 3 polypeptides. Total RNA was isolated from adult rat lens epithelium or fiber cells, and Northern analysis was conducted for Na,K-ATPase alpha 1, alpha 2, and alpha 3 mRNA. Some experiments were conducted using fiber cells from neonatal (3-day-old) rat lenses. RESULTS: Multiple isoforms of Na,K-ATPase were detected in adult rat lens epithelium. Judged by Northern blot band intensity, mRNA for Na,K-ATPase alpha 1 and alpha 2 was more abundant than for alpha 3 mRNA. By Western blot, Na,K-ATPase alpha 1, alpha 2, and alpha 3 polypeptides were observed as sharp bands at 100 to 108 kDa. In fiber cells, only Na,K-ATPase alpha 1 immunoreactive polypeptide was detected. Judged by immunoblot density, the amount of alpha 1 polypeptide was similar in both epithelium and fiber cell material. However, Na,K-ATPase alpha subunit mRNA was not found in adult lens fibers. To test whether Na,K-ATPase synthesis takes place during fiber cell growth, Northern blot analysis was conducted with RNA from neonatal (3-day-old) lens fibers; Na,K-ATPase alpha 1 mRNA was clearly visible. CONCLUSIONS: Adult rat lens epithelium expresses more than one isoform of Na,K-ATPase catalytic subunit, whereas only the alpha 1 isoform can be detected in fiber cells. In adult rat lens fiber cells, the observation of alpha 1 polypeptide, but no alpha 1 mRNA, suggests that ongoing alpha 1 synthesis is low. Based on the detection of alpha 1 mRNA in neonatal lens fibers, Na,K-ATPase synthesis by lens fibers may be higher during cell elongation and growth.

Studies on lipids and the activity of Na,K-ATPase in lens fibre cells.

Na,K-ATPase was studied in the two cell types that make up the lens of the eye. Membrane material was isolated from lens fibre cells, which make up the bulk of the lens cell mass, and also from lens epithelial cells, which are present only as a monolayer on the anterior lens surface. Judged by immunoblotting, greater amounts of Na,K-ATPase alpha1 and beta1 polypeptides were found in fibre cell membrane material than in epithelial cell membrane material. However, the NA,K-ATPase activity in epithelial cell membrane material was 20 times that measured in fibre cell membrane material. In 86Rb uptake experiments with intact lenses, ouabain-inhibitable 86Rb uptake was observed for lens epithelium but not for lens fibres. These findings are consistent with a low Na,K-ATPase activity in lens fibre cells even though these cells express a considerable amount of Na,K-ATPase alpha1 and beta1 polypeptides. The lipid composition of lens fibre cell membranes causes them to be more ordered than epithelial cell membranes; this was confirmed by measurements of the infrared CH2 symmetric stretching band frequency. Because lipid composition can influence Na,K-ATPase activity, experiments were conducted to determine whether the activity of Na,K-ATPase alpha1 beta1 is inhibited by lens fibre lipid. However, no significant difference in Na,K-ATPase activity was detected when Na,K-ATPase alpha1 beta1 was purified from rabbit kidney and then reconstituted with lipid that had been isolated from either lens epithelium or lens fibre cells. These studies indicate that lens fibre cells contain both Na,K-ATPase alpha1 and beta1 polypeptides but have low Na,K-ATPase activity. However, the results do not support the notion that this is due to the lipid composition of lens fibre cell membranes.

Influence of amphotericin B on the sodium pump of porcine lens epithelium.

Active transport by Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase in the monolayer of lens epithelium is vital for the regulation of sodium and potassium levels within the mass of fiber cells that make up the bulk of the lens. In this study, experiments were conducted using porcine lenses to test whether Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in the epithelium is altered when the permeability of lens cell plasma membranes is increased by the ionophore amphotericin B. After 24 h, sodium was significantly (P < 0.01) elevated in lenses exposed to 5 or 10 microM amphotericin B. Amphotericin B stimulated 86Rb uptake, probably through an increase of cytoplasmic sodium concentration due to increased inward sodium leak; the rate of ouabain-sensitive potassium (86Rb) uptake by intact lenses was significantly increased by amphotericin B at 5 microM (P < 0.05) and 10 microM (P < 0.01). After 24 h, the epithelium from lenses exposed to amphotericin B had an Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity that was more than twofold higher (P < 0.01) than the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in control lenses. By immunoblot, there was an increase in Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase catalytic (alpha) subunit immunoreactive polypeptide in the epithelium of lenses exposed to amphotericin B. The increase stemmed from a marked increase of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase alpha 2-immunoreactive polypeptide but little change in the amount of alpha 1-immunoreactive protein. As judged by immunoblot experiments, the amount of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase beta 1-immunoreactive polypeptide also appeared to be higher in the epithelium of amphotericin B-treated lenses compared with control lenses. In summary, these results suggest that in response to a permeability challenge with amphotericin B, the porcine lens epithelium is able to increase the activity of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase. The same permeability challenge also appears to stimulate the biosynthesis of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase catalytic subunit as well as glycoprotein subunit polypeptides.

Differential expression of sodium pump catalytic subunits in the lens epithelium and fibers.

Na,K-ATPase in lens epithelium plays a key role in conducting sodium-potassium transport. The purpose of this study was to test whether epithelium or fiber cells can synthesize new Na,K-ATPase protein in response to an increase of membrane permeability. Western blot methodology was used to identify Na,K-ATPase alpha subunit polypeptides in membrane material isolated from lens cells. As judged by immunoblot density, epithelial cell membrane material isolated from porcine lenses cultured 24 h with 1 microM amphotericin B contained more Na,K-ATPase alpha subunit polypeptide than epithelial material isolated from control lenses. This increase stemmed from the apparent synthesis of Na,K-ATPase alpha 2 isoform polypeptide by the epithelium; Na,K-ATPase alpha 1 isoform polypeptide abundance was not detectably altered. The apparent amphotericin B-induced expression of Na,K-ATPase alpha 2 was seen in lens epithelial cells but not fiber cells. This study suggests that the epithelium of the adult porcine lens may be capable of expressing additional sodium pump molecules of the alpha 2-subtype when membrane permeability is increased.