Bacterial Contamination of Boar Semen and its Relationship to Sperm Quality Preserved in Commercial Extender Containing Gentamicin Sulfate.

This study was designed to determine the degree and type of bacterial contamination in boar semen (79 ejaculates from Large White and Landrace boars) and its consequences for sperm quality during storage (27 extended semen samples, 16°C for five days) under practical conditions of artificial insemination (AI). The results revealed the presence of aerobic bacteria in 99% of the ejaculates (from 80 to 370 ×106 colony-forming units/mL). Most of the ejaculates contained two or three bacterial contaminants, while the Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Pseudomonas bacterial genera were most frequently isolated. Also detected were Enterobacter spp., Bacillus spp., Proteus spp., Escherichia coli, P. fluorescens, and P. aeruginosa. In general, the growth of certain bacterial types isolated prior to semen processing (Enterobacter spp., E. coli, P. fluorescens, and P. aeruginosa) was not discovered on different days of storage, but fluctuations (with a tendency towards increases) were found in the frequencies of Bacillus spp., Pseudomonas spp., and Staphylococcus spp. isolates up to the end of storage. Semen preserved for five days exhibited decreases in sperm motility and increases in the average number of total aerobic bacteria; this was associated with sperm agglutination, plasma membrane disruption, and acrosome damage. We inferred that, due to the different degrees and types of bacterial contaminants in the boar ejaculates, the inhibitory activity of some antimicrobial agents used in swine extenders (such as gentamicin sulfate) may be limited. Because such agents can contribute to the overgrowth of certain aerobic bacteria and a reduction in the quality of stored semen, procedures with high standards of hygiene and microbiological control should be used when processing boar semen.

Circannual changes in serum concentrations of thyroxine, calcitonin and parathormone in immature and mature red deer females (Cervus elaphus).

The aim of this study was to determine circannual changes in the serum concentrations of thyroxine, calcitonin and parathormone in mature and immature red deer females. Blood samples from 8 hinds were collected monthly for 26 months. Secretions of thyroxine and calcitonin showed circannual rhythms with significantly higher levels in the immature hinds compared to the mature animals (p<0.05). For thyroxine, the concentration was higher in the winter/spring period than in summer/autumn (p<0.05), while for calcitonin the concentration profile was the opposite (p<0.05). The concentration of parathormone was significantly higher in summer/autumn that in the other months of the experiment (p<0.01). These results may indicate that the hormones investigated may be involved in the regulation of seasonal reproductive activity and in processes contributing to entering puberty in red deer females.

Biochemical composition of the fluid of ovarian cysts and pre-ovulatory follicles compared to the serum in sows.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the biochemical composition of follicular cysts, pre-ovulatory follicles and serum in sows. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research involved multiparous sows (cysts-bearing sows, n = 21; non-cysts-bearing sows, n = 22). Concentration of glucose, protein, cholesterol (CHOL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triacylglycerol (TAG) in the samples was determined. RESULTS: Glucose concentration in serum was higher than in cysts and follicles (p < 0.01) and glucose concentration in cysts was higher than in follicles (p < 0.01). Differences were also observed between the concentration of glucose in serum of cysts-bearing and non-cysts-bearing sows (p < 0.01). Protein concentration in cysts and follicles was lower than in serum (p < 0.01). Concentration of cholesterol in the serum of cysts-bearing sows and non-cysts-bearing sows was higher than the one in cysts and follicles (p < 0.01). Cholesterol concentration in the serum of cysts-bearing sows was higher than the one in non-cysts-bearing sows (p < 0.01). Concentration of HDL in serum of both cysts-bearing and non-cysts-bearing sows was also higher than the one in cysts and follicles (p < 0.01). Cysts-bearing sows had a higher concentration of HDL in the serum than non-cysts-bearing sows. Differences were also observed between the concentration of HDL in cysts and the one in follicles (p < 0.05). LDL was determined not to be present in either cysts or pre-ovulatory follicles. TAG concentration in the serum of cysts-bearing sows was higher than the one in the serum of non-cysts-bearing sows (p < 0.05). Differences were also detected between the TAG concentrations in cysts and in follicles (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The differences in the biochemical composition of the fluid in follicular cysts and pre-ovulatory follicles point to the variable intensification of the course of metabolic processes in pathological and physiological ovarian structures.

Analysis of Annual Changes in the Concentrations of Selected Macro- and Microelements, Thyroxine, and Testosterone in the Serum of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) Stags.

The aim of the study was to analyze seasonal changes in the concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and selenium as well as thyroxine and testosterone in adult red deer stags. The highest testosterone concentrations (mean 6.29±4.36 ng/ml) were observed from the end of August to November, confirming an increase in testicular secretory activity during the mating season. The changes in thyroxine concentration show circannual rhythms, most likely related to changes in the air temperature. The highest mean level of thyroxine was observed in spring (55.69±10.99 ng/ml). The concentration of selenium also reached the highest level during this season (0.107±0.027 µg/ml). In the case of the studied macroelements, the concentrations were stable from spring to summer but then decreased to the lowest mean values in autumn in both years of the experiment (Ca, 61.17±10.60; P, 47.08±9.59; Mg, 15.96±2.39 µg/ml). The dynamics of thyroxine secretion does not seem to affect directly the metabolism of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. In turn, sexual activity, manifested in the increase in secretion of testosterone, may affect changes in the concentration of calcium. Additionally, we cannot exclude a connection between changes in the concentrations of testosterone and selenium.

Serum selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity and selenium content in testes of Polish Konik horses from selenium--deficient area in North-Western Poland.

The aim of this study was to determine serum selenium concentrations in Polish Konik horses residing in the Odra Delta Nature Park (Poland) and to evaluate the activity of glutathione peroxidase and Se content in testes of this horse breed. In over 95% of cases, serum Se concentration was below the optimal range, and none of the horses examined was deficient in this trace element. The lack of Se deficiency in the animals examined suggests however, that the Polish Konik horses have a natural ability to the optimal use of nutrients available in their life area. Testicular content of Se and GSHPx activity in the colts was higher than those found in stallions, and a positive relationship between these antioxidants was demonstrated. The differences in Se contents and GSHPx activities in testes between colts and stallions suggest that selenoenzymes play important roles during the puberty of male horses.

Evaluation of selenium status and its distribution in organs of free living foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from an Se deficient area.

The objective of the study was to determine selenium status and its distribution in the organs of free living foxes from selenium deficient areas of north-western Poland. Samples of organs harvested from 40 foxes shot during the 2008-2009 hunting seasons served as experimental material. Selenium concentration in the organs was determined spectrofluorometrically. Selenium distribution in tissues depends largely on its dietary content. Our study indicated that concentrations of selenium in the examined organs followed the order: kidney>liver>spleen>lung>heart and kidneys were the organ with the highest retention of this element. Mean selenium concentration in fox kidneys was 0.60 +/- 0.15 microg/g wet weight. Several times less selenium on average was found in the liver (0.27 +/- 0.09 microg/g w.w.), lungs (0.17 +/- 0.06 microg/g w.w.), spleen (0.19 +/- 0.06 microg/g w.w.) and heart (0.13 +/- 0.05 microg/g w.w.). All the animals studied were deficient in selenium.

A study on the occurrence of polyovular follicles in porcine ovaries with particular reference to intrafollicular hormone concentrations, quality of oocytes and their in vitro fertilization.

The aim of this study was to identify the occurrence of polyovular follicles in porcine ovaries. We investigated the presence of such follicles in relation to age, and compared the intrafollicular concentrations of steroid hormones between poly- and uniovular follicles. Then we measured the size, viability and the in vitro fertilizing ability of the oocytes from polyovular follicles. Histological examinations documented the occurrence of polyovular follicles in pigs at various stages of follicular growth. Within antral follicles, the number of polyovular follicles was higher in the ovaries of gilts than in sows (P < 0.01). We noticed differences in the viability and size of oocytes recovered from the same follicles. We noted a higher concentration of oestradiol-17beta and a lower concentration of progesterone in polyovular follicles as compared with uniovular follicles (P < 0.01). The amount of embryos after in vitro-fertilization of oocytes from polyovular follicles was significantly lower than that from uniovular ones. Nevertheless, we found that some oocytes from polyovular follicles also have the capacity to be fertilized in vitro and be developed to the blastocyst stage.

Nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of the thyroid hormone receptor alpha.

The thyroid hormone receptor alpha (TR alpha) exhibits a dual role as an activator or repressor of gene transcription in response to thyroid hormone (T(3)). Our studies show that TR alpha, formerly thought to reside solely in the nucleus tightly bound to DNA, actually shuttles rapidly between the nucleus and cytoplasm. The finding that TR alpha shuttles reveals an additional checkpoint in receptor control of gene expression. Using Xenopus oocyte microinjection assays, we show that there are two coexisting mechanisms for nuclear entry of TR alpha. First, nuclear import of TR alpha (molecular mass 46 kDa) was not sensitive to general inhibitors of signal-mediated transport, indicating that TR alpha can enter the oocyte nucleus by passive diffusion. Second, when TR alpha was tagged with glutathione-S:-transferase, import of the fusion protein (molecular mass 73 kDa) was completely blocked by these inhibitors, demonstrating that an alternative, signal-mediated import pathway exists for TR alpha. Nuclear retention of TR alpha in oocytes is enhanced in the presence of T(3), suggesting that more intranuclear binding sites are available for the ligand-bound receptor. Using mammalian cells, we show that shuttling of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged and untagged TR alpha is inhibited in both chilled and energy-depleted cells, suggesting that there is an energy-requiring step in the nuclear retention/export process. Nuclear export of TR alpha is not blocked by leptomycin B, a specific inhibitor of the export receptor CRM1, indicating that TR alpha does not require the CRM1 pathway to exit the nucleus. Dominant negative mutants of TR with defects in DNA binding and transactivation accumulate in the cytoplasm at steady state, illustrating that even single amino acid changes in functional domains may alter the subcellular distribution of TR. In contrast to TR alpha, nuclear export of its oncogenic homolog v-ErbA is sensitive to leptomycin B, suggesting that the oncoprotein follows a CRM1-mediated export pathway. Acquisition of altered nuclear export capabilities may contribute to the oncogenic properties of v-ErbA.

[Central prolapse of the Th12 -L1 nucleus pulposus with radiological signs of tumor of the conus medullaris]. / Przepuklina srodkowa jadra miazdzystego Th12--L1 z objawami radiologicznymi guza stozka koncowego.

The authors report a 42-year-old patient with excruciating pains felt in the interscapular and lumbar regions and both lower extremities without symptoms of root involvement. Myelography suggested presence of a tumour of the conus medullaris or epidural tumour in this area, at the Th12--L1 level. During the operation a central prolapse of the nucleus pulposus was found in the midline on the anterior wall of the vertebral canal below the longitudinal ligament. After operation all symptoms disappeared and the patient resumed work.

[Developmental anomalies of the metencephalon in the craniofacial and vertebral malformation syndrome]. / Zaburzenia rozwojowe tylomózgowia w zespole wad twarzoczaszki i kregoslupa.

The authors describe a case of a girl aged 9 years with a syndrome of malformations--cleft of the upper lip, maxilla and palate, lack of C2 arch fusion, polycystic lesions of the vermis and cerebellar hemisphere with obliteration of the aqueduct. The syndrome of intracranial hypertension with prevailing cerebellar symptoms was the cause of diagnostic and surgical management. Suboccipital craniotomy was done with insertion of ventriculoatrial valve which restored the normal intracranial pressure. The girl recovered and resumed education.