Expression and localization of cFLIP anti-apoptotic protein in the porcine corpus luteum and corpora albicans during the estrous cycle and pregnancy.

We determined expression and localization of the anti-apoptotic cellular FLICE inhibitory protein (cFLIP) in the porcine corpora lutea (CL) and corpus albicans (CA) during estrous and pregnancy. The CL and CA were collected at different stages of estrous to determine cFLIP immunolocalization, and mRNA and protein expression. The mRNA expression of the short cFLIP isoform (cFLIPS) was higher at the early and mid CL stages, and lower by the late CL stage (P < 0.01); mRNA expression of the long cFLIP isoform (cFLIPL) was higher at the mid CL stage, and lower at the early and late CL stages (P < 0.01). Levels of cFLIPS and cFLIPL were steady and high during the early and mid CL stages, and had significantly decreased (P < 0.01) by the late stage. The cFLIP protein was highly expressed in the early and mid CL stages of estrous, but weakly ex-pressed in the late stage. Expression of cFLIPS showed no significant difference between preovulatory corpus albicans (CA1) and corpus albicans (CA2) coexistent with the CL from the previous estrus, but cFLIPL mRNA expression was higher during CA1 than CA2. The expression of cFLIPS showed no significant difference between CA1 and CA2, but cFLIPL was not detected. The cFLIP protein was weak-ly expressed in the CA. Expression of cFLIPS and cFLIPL mRNA and proteins was observed in the CL, and the cFLIP protein was highly expressed during pregnancy. We propose that cFLIPS/L acts as a survival factor, and performs an anti-apoptotic function in the porcine CL.

Expression and tyrosine phosphorylation of sp32 regulate the activation of the boar proacrosin/acrosin system.

The current study investigated the relationship between the level of expression and tyrosine phosphorylation of the sperm protein 32 (sp32) and the activation of the boar proacrosin/acrosin system. The acrosomal membrane proteins of boar sperm for use in different treatment experiments (i.e., fresh sperm, freezing and thawing, capacitation, and acrosome reaction) were separated, stained by Coomassie brilliant blue, and analyzed using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western blot. The results showed that there were differences in the expression level of sp32 among capacitated, frozen-thawed, and post acrosomal reaction sperms. sp32 expression was higher and significantly higher in capacitated and post-acrosomal reaction sperms than in frozen-thawed sperms and fresh semen, respectively. The level of sp32 tyrosine phosphorylation was significantly different between the frozen-thawed sperms and sperms in the other experimental groups. However, bands with molecular masses of 38 to 170 ku in the fresh semen group were more noticeable, indicating that large acrosomal membrane proteins underwent modification and degradation during capacitation and the acrosomal reaction. As a proacrosin binding protein, sp32 shows upregulated expression and increase in tyrosine phosphorylation levels during the activation of the boar proacrosin/acrosin system.

[Epidemiological studies on human cryptosporidiosis in rural and urban areas of Jiangsu].

A survey of cryptosporidiosis in outpatients and inhabitants in Xuzhou city and 6 rural areas of Jiangsu Province was carried out from 1989 to 1991. Cryptosporidium oocysts (CSO) were found in 97 (1.6%) of 6,221 individuals as a whole, and were detected in 39 (3.3%) of 1,172 outpatients among the examinees. 39 cases were from 31 towns and villages of 8 counties near Xuzhou city. Among the 136 cases, 83 were males and 53 females, of them 89 (65.4%) were infants and young children. The incidence was evidently higher in the group of children under 4 than in that aged 4 to 15 (P < 0.01). Diarrhea, intermittent or persistent, was the main symptom of cryptosporidiosis, being present in 94 (69.1%) of the 136 positive cases, while the other 42 were asymptomatic carriers. The results of routine blood examination and immunoassay performed in a part of the infected children indicated that more than half of them had anemia and lessened cellular immunity. Stool examination of the domestic animals of the affected households showed that a pig and a dog were CSO positive.

Cryptosporidium infection and diarrhea in rural and urban areas of Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.

Screening of infants and children under age 15 years for Cryptosporidium oocysts in their stools was carried out in the suburb of Xuzhou City and six rural areas of Jiangsu Province. The infection rate varied from 0.7 to 5.06%. Of the total of 5,089 children examined, 89 (1.75%) were oocyst positive. The incidence was evidently higher in the group of children under age 4 years than it was in children from 4 to 15 years (P less than 0.01). Routine blood examination and immunoassay performed on blood samples from some of the infected children indicated that more than half of them had anemia and lower cellular immunity. Diarrhea was the main symptom of cryptosporidiosis. It was intermittent or persistent and was present in 57 of the 89 children positive for Cryptosporidium oocysts, while the other 32 children were asymptomatic carriers. Examination of stool specimens of adult members and domestic animals of about half of the infected families showed that two mothers, one pig, and one dog were positive for Cryptosporidium oocysts.

Neurotensin attenuates dopamine D2 agonist quinpirole-induced inhibition of midbrain dopamine neurons.

The effects of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of NT on the activity of midbrain DA neurons were studied in rats using single unit recording techniques. NT (i.c.v., 50 micrograms) was found to have no significant effect on the spontaneous activity of DA cells. On the other hand, NT treatment significantly attenuated the inhibitory effect of quinpirole (i.v.), a specific D2 agonist, on a subpopulation of DA cells. This result is consistent with previous behavioral and biochemical studies suggesting that NT may produce some of its effects through modulation of central DA systems.