Adrenergic receptors in preimplantation embryos
Štefan Čikoš, Soňa Czikková, Ján Burkuš, Žofia Janštová, Dušan Fabian, Juraj Koppel
Catecholamines play a significant role in the development of embryos, with data obtained from laboratory rodent models indicating that these molecules may act as early as the preimplantation developmental period. To investigate adrenergic receptor expression in bovine and rabbit oocytes, morulae, and blastocysts, we employed reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with specific oligonucleotides that discriminate between representatives of the adrenergic receptor family. The analysis yielded multiple profiles of adrenergic receptor transcripts. The detection of transcripts for specific receptor subtypes (cow α2 receptors, rabbit α2A, α2C, β1 and β2 receptors) at all stages examined indicates that receptor expression persists throughout the preimplantation developmental period. The expression of a single receptor subtype (rabbit α1B) was observed in oocytes but not in later stages. Conversely, the mRNA of several receptors was detected in embryos but not in oocytes (bovine beta receptors, rabbit α1A). The nucleotide sequences of the PCR products amplified in rabbit oocytes and preimplantation embryos represent the inaugural published mRNA sequences (partial sequences encoding at least one transmembrane region) of the rabbit α2C, β1 and β2 adrenergic receptors. Our findings indicate that adrenergic receptor expression may be a universal characteristic of mammalian oocytes and preimplantation embryos. Conversely, a comparative analysis of three mammalian species (cow, rabbit, mouse) suggests potential interspecies variations in the expression of each adrenergic receptor subtype. Our results lend support to the hypothesis that stress mediators may act directly on the cells of preimplantation embryos.
ČIKOŠ, Štefan – CZIKKOVÁ, Soňa – CHRENEK, P. – MAKAREVICH, A.V. – BURKUŠ, Ján – JANŠTOVÁ, Žofia – FABIAN, Dušan – KOPPEL, Juraj. Expression of adrenergic receptors in bovine and rabbit oocytes and preimplantation embryos. In Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 2014, vol. 49, no. 1, p. 92-100. (2013: 1.177 – IF, Q2 – JCR, 0.660 – SJR, Q1 – SJR, karentované – CCC). (2014 – Current Contents). ISSN 0936-6768.
Fermentation of fungal substrates in the rumen
Monika Wencelová, Zora Váradyová, Katarína Mihaliková, Peter Pristaš, Dušan Jalč, Svetlana Kišidayová
The enrichment of cereal agro-industrial feed substrates with the fungus Cunninghamella echinulata, which is a source of fungal gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), has the potential to revolutionise livestock nutrition. The testing of cereal diets enriched with fungal GLA revealed no significant impact on rumen fermentation and fatty acid biohydrogenation. However, a notable effect was observed in the concentration of GLA in rumen fluid. This is the inaugural study to assess the efficacy of substrates enriched with the fungus C. echinulata in sheep diets.
WENCELOVÁ, Monika – VÁRADYOVÁ, Zora – MIHALIKOVÁ, Katarína – GUOTHOVÁ, Lucia – JANŠTOVÁ, J. – ČERTÍK, Milan – HOMOĽOVÁ, Lucia – PRISTAŠ, Peter – JALČ, Dušan – KIŠIDAYOVÁ, Svetlana. Substrates enriched by the fungus Cunninghamella echinulata: an/in vitro study of nutrient composition, sheep rumen fermentation and lipid metabolism. In Journal of Applied Microbiology, 2014, vol. 117, p. 930-939. (2013: 2.386 – IF, Q2 – JCR, 0.987 – SJR, Q1 – SJR, karentované – CCC). (2014 – Current Contents). ISSN 1364-5072.
Study of rumen ciliate relationships
Svetlana Kišidayová
A method for the simultaneous identification and quantification of rumen ciliates of the Entodinium spp. and their episymbionts, methanogenic bacteria, using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in the rumen of cows fed different roughages was designed and tested. The use of novel FISH probes for species of the genus Entodinium and rumen methanogens revealed that phylogenetically close species of Entodinium were colonised by similar populations of methanogenic archaea, irrespective of the experimental roughage fed. The dominant colonisers of the tested Entodinium were identified as Methanobrevibacter thaueri, Methanobrevibacter millerae, Methanobrevibacter smithii, as well as representatives of Methanomicrobium and Methanosphaera. This is the first occasion on which a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method has been successfully employed to monitor changes in the populations of rumen ciliates and associated methanogenic bacteria. The developed simultaneous FISH labeling appears to be a reliable and efficient method for monitoring the dynamics of symbiotic relationships between rumen protists and methanogens at the cellular level.
XIA, Y. – KONG, Y.H. – SEVIOUR, R. – FORSTER, R.J. – KIŠIDAYOVÁ, Svetlana – MCALLISTER, T.A. Fluorescence in situ hybridization probing of protozoal Entodinium spp. and their methanogenic colonizers in the rumen of cattle fed alfalfa hay or triticale straw. In Journal of Applied Microbiology, 2014, vol. 116, no.1, p. 14-22. (2013: 2.386 – IF, Q2 – JCR, 0.987 – SJR, Q1 – SJR, karentované – CCC). (2014 – Current Contents). ISSN 1364-5072.