bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Distribution of Spermatozoa and Embryos in the Female Reproductive Tract after Unilateral Deep Intra Uterine Insemination in the Pig
Authors: Tummaruk P , Sumransap P , Techakumphu M , Kunavongkrit A 
Published: October 2007

ContentsThe present study was performed to investigate the number of either the spermatozoa or the embryos in the reproductive tracts of sows after unilateral, deep, intra uterine insemination (DIUI). Two experiments were conducted, 10 sows were used in experiment I and eight sows were used in experiment II. Transrectal ultrasonography was used to examine the time when ovulation took place in relation to oestrus behaviour. The sows were inseminated with a single dose of diluted fresh semen 6–8 h prior to expected ovulation, during the second oestrus after weaning. In experimental I, five sows were inseminated by a conventional artificial insemination (AI) technique using 100 ml of diluted fresh semen, containing 3000 × 106 motile spermatozoa and five sows were inseminated by the DIUI technique with 5 ml of diluted fresh semen, containing 150 × 106 motile spermatozoa. The sows were anesthetized and ovario‐hysterectomized approximately 24 h after insemination. The oviducts and the uterine horns on each side of the reproductive tracts were divided into seven segments, namely ampulla, cranial isthmus, caudal isthmus, utero‐tubal junction (UTJ), cranial uterine horn, middle uterine horn and caudal uterine horn. Each segment of the reproductive tracts was flushed with Beltsville thawing solution (BTS) through the lumen. The total number of spermatozoa in the flushing from each segment were determined. In experimental II, eight sows were inseminated by the DIUI technique using 5.0 ml diluted fresh semen containing 150 × 106 motile spermatozoa. The sows were anesthetized 61.1 ± 12 h after insemination (48–72 h) and the embryos were flushed from the oviduct through the proximal part of the uterine horn. It was revealed that, in experimental I, the spermatozoa were recovered from both sides of the reproductive tract in the AI‐group, and from unilateral side of the reproductive tract in the DIUI‐group (three sows from the left and two sows from the right sides). The number of spermatozoa recovered from the reproductive tracts was higher in the AI‐ than the DIUI‐group (p < 0.001). In experiment II, fertilization occurred in five of eight sows (62.5%) after DIUI. The number of ova that ovulated were 16.4 ± 2.6 per sow and the embryos numbering 11.4 ± 2.3 per sow were recovered from both sides of the reproductive tract. In conclusion, the spermatozoa given by DIUI could be recovered from only one side of the reproductive tract of sows at approximately 24 h after DIUI via the flushing technique. However, embryos were found in both sides of the oviducts and the proximal part of the uterine horns 48–72 h after insemination, indicating that the fertilization occurred in both sides of the oviducts.
Early Detection of Pregnancy and Embryonic Loss in Dairy Cattle by ELISA Tests
Authors: Gábor G , Tóth F , Ózsvári L , Abonyi‐Tóth Zs , Sasser RG 
Published: October 2007

ContentsOver a 25‐month period 8118 blood samples were assayed for the presence of the serum pregnancy specific‐protein B (PSPB) and progesteron (P4) concentrations on three Hungarian large‐scale dairy farms. Pregnancy (n = 4085) was checked by BioPRYN assay at 30–36 days post‐insemination (PI). Samples from all cows that tested not pregnant and from cows with an optical density (OD) reading in the BioPRYN test that was between 0% and 30% above the cutoff OD value were tested for serum P4 concentration. According to serum P4 concentration, cows were assigned to three categories: high (>4 ng/ml), medium (2–4 ng/ml) and low (<2 ng/ml) serum progesterone. The authors predicted a presumed (low) or possible (medium) late embryonic loss (LEL) or maintenance of the pregnancy (high). A total of 710 LELs were detected (17.4%) and 31.8% of them were predicted because of a low OD value at 30–36 days after insemination. Lower PSPB serum level significantly refers for LEL (p < 0.0001). The prediction rate for the true embryonic loss was 31.8% when OD cutoff from 0% to + 30% of cutoff was examined while it was 62.5% when the threshold was OD cutoff of 0% to 10% of cutoff. The authors conclude that BioPRYN was useful for prediction of a part of LEL in dairy cows and serum P4 concentration in these cows related to the rate of LEL.
Bovine Endothelial Cells Interact with Fully‐luteinized, but Not Luteinizing, Granulosa Cells in the mRNA Expression of Endothelin‐1 System in Response to Prostaglandin F2α
Authors: Shirasuna K , Watanabe S , Yamamoto D , Hayashi M , Nagai K , Miyamoto A 
Published: October 2007

ContentsThe corpus luteum (CL) undergoes regression by prostaglandin (PG)F2α from uterus and endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) plays an important role during luteolysis as a local mediator of PGF2α in the cow. Endothelial cells (EC) and luteal cells are main cell types making up the CL and their interactions are vital for CL function. We aimed to examine the relevance of interactions between EC and luteal cells on stimulation of genes which involved ET‐1 synthesis by PGF2α. We further focused the impact of maturity of luteal cells on the stimulation of the genes. To make a microenvironment which resembles the CL, we used bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) and luteinizing or fully‐luteinized granulosa cells (GC) and evaluated the effect of PGF2α on the expression for mRNA of ET‐1 system by using real‐time RT‐PCR. PGF2α stimulated the expression of preproET‐1 and endothelin converting enzyme‐1 mRNA only in the co‐cultures of BAEC with fully‐luteinized GC, but not with luteinizing GC. The data suggest that interactions between BAEC and fully‐luteinized GC enhance the capability of BAEC to produce ET‐1 in response to PGF2α. This mechanism may contribute to the local induction of luteolytic action of PGF2α which is dependent on the age/maturation of the CL.
Luteal Characteristics and Progesterone Production on Day 5 of the Bovine Oestrous Cycle
Authors: Green MP , Mann GE , Hunter MG 
Published: October 2007

ContentsIn this study we have examined luteal function in non‐lactating and late lactation dairy cows on day 5 of the cycle, during the period of the post‐ovulatory progesterone rise. Comparison of luteal progesterone content and in vitro synthetic capacity with circulating plasma progesterone demonstrated that circulating progesterone concentration is a function of total luteal activity rather than the activity of individual units of tissue. Incubation of luteal tissue in vitro demonstrated stimulatory activity of LH and IGF‐I, and to a greater degree IGF‐II, on luteal progesterone synthesis. Finally the study showed no effect of double ovulation on luteal function. Occurrence of double ovulation in 35% of animals was not associated with any difference in luteal function or plasma progesterone concentrations.
Successful Low Dose Insemination of Flow Cytometrically Sorted Ram Spermatozoa in Sheep
Authors: De Graaf SP , Evans G , Maxwell WMC , Downing JA , O'Brien JK 
Published: October 2007

ContentsThe fertility of ram spermatozoa that had undergone flow cytometric sorting (MoFlo® SX) and cryopreservation was assessed after low‐dose insemination of synchronized Merino ewes. Oestrus was synchronized with progestagen‐impregnated pessaries, PMSG and GnRH treatment. Ewes (n = 360) were inseminated with 1 × 106, 5 × 106 or 15 × 106 motile sorted frozen‐thawed (S1, S5, or S15 respectively) or non‐sorted frozen‐thawed (C1, C5 or C15 respectively) spermatozoa from three rams. An additional group of ewes were inseminated with 50 × 106 motile non‐sorted frozen‐thawed spermatozoa (C50) to provide a commercial dose control. The percentage of ewes lambing after insemination was similar for C50 (24/38, 63.2%), C15 (37/54, 68.5%), S15 (38/57, 66.7%), S5 (37/56, 66.1%) and S1 (32/52, 61.5%) groups (p > 0.05), but lower for C5 (19/48, 39.6%) and C1 (19/55, 34.5%) treatments (p < 0.05). This study demonstrates sorted ram spermatozoa are equally fertile to non‐sorted spermatozoa even when inseminated at 2% of the dose. Furthermore, at very low artificial insemination doses (1 or 5 million motile) the fertility of sorted ram spermatozoa is superior to non‐sorted spermatozoa inseminated in equal numbers. These results have significance for the future commercialization of sex‐preselection technology in sheep as a reduction in the minimum effective sperm number will allow a corresponding decrease in the associated cost per dose.
Our Expectations of and Participation in Neuropathology: From the Field of Clinical Neurology
Authors: Tanabe Hitosi 
Published: October 2007

In this special lecture at the 34th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Neuropathology, the author expressed his respect for and expectation of neuropathology from the field of clinical neurology. For the bases of the conclusion in this study, following details were presented in five parts.1)The author's initial neurological autopsy case of Wallenberg syndrome was described, and the results of further studies on some basic problems arisen from this case were also shown.2)Statistical studies on the autopsy ratio revealed gradual decrease in every field. and reasons for this undeniable fact and plans of the amelioration were discussed.3)The clinical diagnosis and therapeutic effects were reevaluated on 399 autopsy cases in our Hospital, and the clinicopathological discrepancies in diagnosis were classified into three types. The results of further investigations were presented here mainly in disease groups with pathological diagnosis of Parkinson disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinocerebellar degenerations, multiple system atrophy, Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease and Alzheimer disease.4)On the bases of 2,130 cases of muscle biopsy and 415 cases of sural nerve biopsy, the guide manuals was proposed for improved methods, for the study of specimens, and for diagnostic contribution.5)The research project teams for neuropathology have successively been organized in our hospital. The results on various degenerative disease groups were presented.With this presentation, the author emphasized the importance of sustained participation in clinicopathological work and of reciprocal communication between the two disciplines.
A Morphological Study on the Microcirculation of the Central Nervous System. Selective Vulnerability to Hypoxia
Authors: Akima Michio 
Published: October 2007

We have examined the microvasculature of the human cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, hippocampus, cerebellar cortex and pons. In this presentation we summarize the results andy on the discuss the relationship between vasculature and the selectivere and its senile vulnerability of the brain to hypoxia.One of most characteristic features of the cerebral cortex is the presence of fountain‐like ramifications in the middle andn the deep cortical branches and the intracortical branches of theecure and its senile subcortical artery. The fountain‐like ramifications appeari as branches that originate from small arteries by repeated bifurcations occurring within short segments of the arteries. This particular structural blood vessel pattern of the corticalanese). gray matter is probably responsible for the ischemia that readily develops in generalized hypotension and may contributend cerbral to the development of pseudolaminar necrosis.Numerous reverse ramifications are present in the basal ganglia. It is thought that they play a significant role in bloodams JH, pressure regulation and occurrence of circulatory disturbances London, Mebone which are prone to involve these structures.Within the hippocampus, h1 is supplied only by the sectora pathogenetic artery, whereas h2 is nourished by the SA, DA, and DA2 but h2 is located at the most peripheral end of these branches. In addressing the question of the vulnerability of the hippocampalypoxamia, end plate it is evident that this cannot be accounted for by they WH, notion proposed by Lindenberg. Thus, the problem of vulnerability of h1 and the end plate still remains to be explained by the vascular theory.The distribution of arteries in the cerebellar cortex closely resembles that of the cerebral cortex. There is no particular vascular distribution to the Purkinje cell layer, but this layerarchiture of has numerous arterial branches that are derived from the middle and deep cortical branches. The capillary networklar architure ofthe density is roughly equivalent to that of the molecular and granular layers. Hence it is not possible to readily account for the selective vulnerability of the Purkinje cells to hypoxia by the vascular distribution alone.Intertwinings of arterial branches particularly with formation of rope‐like structures are seen in fountain‐like ramifications. This type of configuration is observed in allshornerkrankung. regions examined and appear more frequently with advancing age, thus suggesting a certain correlation with the concomitant brain atrophy.
Machado‐Joseph Disease in Japan: Clinicopathological Study of 6 Autopsy Cases with Special Reference to the Clinicopathological Correlation to Cerebellar Ataxia and Lower Motor Neuron Signs
Authors: Tsuchiya Kuniaki , Wakabayashi Masatoshi , Oyanagi Shinsaku , Ikeda Kenji , Mizutani Toshio , Morirnatsu Yoshio , Ohbu Sadayoshi , Saiki Shigeki , Makifuchi Takao 
Published: October 2007

This report concerns a clinicopathological study of six Japanese patients with Machado‐Joseph disease. All were unrelated females; their ages at disease onset ranged from 17 to 36, and the length of the clinical course from 12 to 50 years. The results of neurological examinations indicated that lower motor neuron signs such as ophthalmoparesis, dysphagia, atrophy of the tongue, and muscular weakness of the extremities appeared in the intermediate stages of the disease, and that from these to the end stages, involvement of the lower motor neurons became cardinal signs of the disease. Urinary and/or fecal incontinence was evident in four patients.Post‐mortem investigations revealed that, in comparison with European and American cases, the involvement of the globus pallidus (particularly the medial segment) and grumose degeneration of the dentate nucleus were salient pathological features of Japanese Machado‐Joseph disease patients. We also noticed involvement of the Onufs nucleus of the two cases in which this structure was examined.The application of a semiquantitative method revealed that neuronal loss in the pontine nucleus, hypoglossal nucleus, and anterior horn of the cervical cord increased in relation to the duration of the disease. By contrast, the severe loss of neurons in the dentate nucleus and Clarke's colum was not related to the length of the clinical course.We suggest that in the initial stages of Machado‐ Joseph disease the cerebellar ataxia is probably due to the involvement of the dentate nucleus and Clarke's column, and that in the advanced stages it is caused by alterations of the pontine nucleus as well. We believe that bulbar signs and muscular weakness of the extremities that appear in the middle stages of the disease are due to progressive neuronal loss in the hypoglossal nucleus and anterior horn. The issue regarding the neuropathological similarities of Machado‐Joseph disease in Japanese patients, “Marie's ataxia” and spinopontine degeneration is addressed in the discussion.
Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study of the cerebellar medulloblastoma‐neuroblastoma group and cerebral primitive neuroectodermal tumors
Authors: Yagishita Saburo , Kawano Nobuyuki , Kameya Toru 
Published: October 2007

Cerebellar medulloblastoma has been recognized as a distinct clinicopathological entity; however, its origin and its differentiating capacity are still disputed because of the primitive nature of the tumor cells. To assess the nature of so‐called medulloblastoma, 12 cases of medulloblastoma‐neuroblastomas, two primitive neuroectodermal tumors (Rorke's NOS category) and two cerebral neuroblastomas were studied. Moreover, some mature neuronal tumors, and some glial and mesenchymal tumors as controls, were examined by electron microscopy and immunohistochem‐istry using a panel of the antibodies. The relatively high frequencies of neuronal differentiation in the so‐called medulloblastoma and the paucity of glial differentiation, albeit with the absence of similar neurofilament immuno‐reactivity in the neoplastic cells, suggest the histogenesis of these neoplasms is more closely aligned with the histogenesis of neuronal elements in the central nervous system.Human β4 tubulin isotype (TuJl) first becomes positive when primitive neuronal neoplastic cells start to form neuritic processes from the cytoplasm. A maturation‐associated switch from vimentin filament synthesis to (34 tubulin may occur in the primitive neuronal neoplastic cells. TuJl is a reliable marker of neuronal tumors.
Clinical outcome of radical cystectomy for patients with pT4 bladder cancer
Authors: Furukawa Junya , Miyake Hideaki , Hara Isao , Takenaka Atsushi , Fujisawa Masato 
Published: October 2007

Objective:  The objective of this study was to analyze the outcomes of radical cystectomy for patients with pT4 bladder cancer.Methods:  Between 1995 and 2003, 583 patients underwent radical cystectomy for bladder cancer at our institution and related hospitals, including 76 pathologically diagnosed as having pT4 disease. Of these 76, this study included 60 patients after excluding 16 with pT4Tis disease, and a retrospective review of their records was carried out.Results:  Pathological examinations demonstrated that seven (11.6%) and 53 (88.4%) patients were Grades 2 and 3, respectively, and 48 (80.0%), 38 (63.4%), 10 (16.7%) and 30 (50.0%) were positive for lymphatic invasion, microvenous invasion, surgical margin and lymph node metastasis, respectively. During the observation period of this study (median, 24.5 months; range, 2–89 months), disease recurrence occurred in 38 (63.3%), and the median time to recurrence after radical cystectomy was 7.0 months (range, 1–38 months). One‐, 3‐ and 5‐year cancer‐specific survival rates of the 60 patients were 68.8%, 48.5% and 23.9%, respectively. Univariate analysis identified lymph node metastasis, lymphatic invasion, microvenous invasion and positive surgical margin as significant predictors for cancer‐specific survival; however, only lymph node metastasis was shown to be independently associated with cancer‐specific survival by multivariate analysis.Conclusions:  The prognosis of patients with pT4 bladder cancer is generally poor, particularly for those with nodal involvement. Therefore, it would be potentially important to carry out careful follow‐up for such patients following radical cystectomy and, if necessary, to consider a multimodal therapeutic approach in an adjuvant setting.
Acute effect of metformin on exercise capacity in active males
Authors: Johnson S. T. , Robert C. , Bell G. J. , Bell R. C. , Lewanczuk R. Z. , Boulé N. G. 
Published: October 2007

Aim:  Physical activity and metformin are often used concomitantly in the treatment of diabetes, even though little is known about possible interactions between these treatment modalities. This study was designed to examine the acute effect of metformin on oxygen consumption and lactate concentration during exercise.Methods:  Eleven healthy, active men [mean ± s.d.: age = 29.9 ± 3.7 years; body mass index = 25.2 ± 2.8 kg/m2; maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) = 53.5 ± 8.9 ml/kg/min] completed a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, crossover study. The testing protocol consisted of a standardized breakfast with metformin (1000 mg) or placebo. Three hours after breakfast, participants underwent a graded maximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer. Approximately 30 min after this exercise test, participants cycled continuously at an intensity below their ventilatory threshold for 45 min (mean exercise intensity = 69 ± 5.5% of VO2max).Results:  During the graded exercise test, average oxygen consumption was higher for the metformin condition (2.9 vs. 2.8 l/min, p = 0.04); however, there was no treatment effect on VO2max or ventilatory threshold. During continuous exercise, lactate was lower for the metformin condition (4.7 vs. 5.4 mmol/l, p = 0.05). Following a standardized lunch, glucose concentrations were lower in the metformin compared with the placebo condition (5.8 vs. 6.4 mmol/l, p = 0.04).Conclusion:  A single dose of metformin does not acutely influence maximal oxygen consumption or ventilatory threshold in healthy active males. The lower lactate concentration observed during continuous exercise with metformin was an unexpected finding considering that, in the resting state, metformin has been previously associated with a modest increase in lactate concentrations.
Vascular and neural dysfunction in Zucker diabetic fatty rats: a difficult condition to reverse
Authors: Oltman C. L. , Davidson E. P. , Coppey L. J. , Kleinschmidt T. L. , Lund D. D. , Adebara E. T. , Yorek M. A. 
Published: October 2007

Aim:  We had previously demonstrated that vascular and neural dysfunction in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats is progressive. In this study, we sought to determine whether monotherapy of ZDF rats can reverse the vascular and nerve defects.Methods:  ZDF rats at 16 weeks of age were treated for 12 weeks with the angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril, the antioxidant α‐lipoic acid, the HMG‐CoA reductase inhibitor rosuvastatin or the PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone. Vasodilation of epineurial arterioles was measured by videomicroscopy. Endoneurial blood flow (EBF) was measured by hydrogen clearance, and nerve conduction velocity was measured following electrical stimulation of motor or sensory nerves.Results:  Motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV), sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) (70 and 77% of control, respectively), EBF (64% of control), and vascular relaxation in response to acetylcholine (50% of control) and calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP; 73% of control) are impaired in ZDF rats at 28 weeks of age compared with lean littermate controls. Treatment with enalapril and α‐lipoic acid attenuated the decrease in MNCV and SNCV. Enalapril, α‐lipoic acid and rosiglitazone treatment of ZDF rats were partially effective in improving endothelium‐dependent vascular dysfunction as measured by vascular relaxation in response to acetylcholine. The same drugs also attenuated the decrease in EBF. However, impairment in vascular relaxation in response to CGRP was improved with only α‐lipoic acid or rosuvastatin treatment. The increase in superoxide and nitrotyrosine levels in vascular tissue was attenuated by all treatments.Conclusions:  The efficacy of monotherapy treatment of ZDF rats using different classes of drugs for vascular and neural dysfunction once complications have developed did not achieve expected levels. This could be because of the complex aetiology of vascular and neural disease in type 2 diabetes.