Differentiation and proliferation of spermatogonial stem cells using a three-dimensional decellularized testicular scaffold: a new method to study the testicular microenvironment in vitro

International Urology and Nephrology - Successful in vitro transplantation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) demands effective culture systems for SSCs proliferation and differentiation. Natural...     

Skellam process with resetting: a neural spike train model

This paper introduces the Skellam process with resetting. Resetting is a modification that accommodates the modeling of neural spike trains. We show this as a biologically plausible model, which codes the information content of neural spike trains with three, potentially, time‐varying functions. We show that the interspike interval distribution under this model follows a mixture of gamma distributions, a flexible class covering a wide range of commonly used models. Through simulation studies and the analyses of connected retinal ganglion and lateral geniculate nucleus cells, we evaluate the performance of this model. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of fresh dietary garlic powder on some of the serum biochemical parameters in broiler chicks

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of garlic, in powder form, on protein fractions of broiler chicks' sera. Two hundred and eighty, 2-day-old Ross chicks were randomly divided into four groups: A and B (52 each) and C and D (88 each). The chicks in groups A and B were fed control diet, but those in groups C and D received diet supplemented with 1% and 3% garlic powder, respectively. To evaluate the effect of consumption period of garlic on immune response, half of the chicks in groups C and D were separated after the second bleeding as groups E and F and were fed control diet until the end of the experiment (6 weeks). All groups except A were inoculated against Newcastle disease, avian influenza, and infectious bursal disease. Fifteen birds were bled from each group on days 21, 32, and 42 and also five birds on day 2. The sera were assayed for prealbumin (pre-ALB), ALB, α-1, α-2, β, and γ globulin using bidimensional gel electrophoresis. The results showed that the aforementioned parameters, except γ globulin, were not affected by the diet (p > 0.05). The level of γ globulin had a decline with age in group A, whereas it increased in all vaccinated groups. Furthermore, when compared with group B, treated groups had a significantly higher amount of γ globulin from day 21 onwards, and the increase was dose dependent. Also, the removal of garlic from the diet of group E resulted in a significant drop in γ globulin, in relation to group C, on day 42. It is concluded that garlic powder has the potential to increase serum γ globulins in broiler chicks vaccinated against common poultry pathogens.     

Inhibitory effects of taraxasterol and aqueous extract of Taraxacum officinale on calcium oxalate crystallization: in vitro study

Objective: We investigated and compared the effects of taraxasterol, aqueous extract of T. officinale (AET) aerial part, and potassium citrate (PC) on calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystallization in vitro.

Materials and methods: CaOx crystallization was induced by adding sodium oxalate to synthetic urine. Taraxasterol (2.5, 5, 7.5 and 12.5?μg/mL), extract (1, 2, 4 and 8?mg/mL), and PC (100, 150, 200 and 350?mg/mL) were subjected to anti-crystallization activities. The absorbance and %inhibition of nucleation of CaOx crystals were evaluated by spectrophotometer at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60?min and the number and morphology of crystals were studied by light microscopy after 60?min.

Results: Presence of taraxasterol, extract and PC decreased absorbance in experimental samples compared to control, significantly. The nucleation of crystals is inhibited by taraxasterol, extract, and PC (26–64, 55–63 and 60–70%, respectively). The number of CaOx crystals were decreased in presence of taraxasterol (p?p?p?2O₄ monohydrate, while increased CaC₂O₄ dihydrate crystals, significantly. Also, the diameter of CaC₂O₄ dihydrate crystals was decreased in presence of taraxasterol, extract and PC, significantly.

Conclusions: This research indicated that taraxasterol and extract have anti-crystallization activities and effectiveness of the extract is more potent than taraxasterol. It could be because of another constituent in the extract with the synergistic effect.     

Induction of strong immune response against a multicomponent antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in BALB/c mice using PLGA and DOTAP adjuvant

A promising strategy for preventing illness and death caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is vaccination. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the capacity of a multicomponent vaccine comprising HspX/EsxS‐fused protein, PLGA (poly (lactide‐co‐glycolide)) and DOTAP (1, 2‐dioleoyl‐3‐trimethylammonium propane) in eliciting immune responses against Mtb in BALB/c mice. A preparation of PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) containing fused protein and DOTAP adjuvant was made using double emulsion solvent evaporation (w/o/w) and lipid film hydration methods, respectively. After three subcutaneous immunization of BALB/c mice with various formulations, ELISA technique was used to measure interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) and interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) cytokines levels in splenocytes as well as serum anti‐HspX/EsxS IgG1 and IgG2a titers. The results of the current study showed that PLGA/HspX/EsxS/DOTAP formulation was able to induce higher levels of FN‐γ, IgG1, and IgG2a responses compared with BCG as the positive control, HspX/EsxS, HspX/EsxS/DOTAP and PLGA/HspX/EsxS formulations. Our results suggest that PLGA NPs, as delivery system, and DOTAP, as adjuvant, have a good potential to enhance immune responses against HspX/EsxS antigen after subcutaneous immunization of BALB/c mice.     

The effects of dietary enzyme on some blood biochemical parameters of the cultured great sturgeon Huso huso juveniles

In this study the effects of dietary exogenous enzyme (Kemin?; 0, 250, 500, 750 and 1,000 mg/kg) on certain blood biochemical parameters (total protein, glucose, cholesterol) and serum magnesium in cultured great sturgeon (Huso huso) juveniles were determined. Juveniles (mean weight 10.2 ± 0.8 g) were fed three times a day at 5–10% body weight for 46 days. Serum total protein concentration remained unaffected except in fish fed with 750 mg/kg enzyme which was significantly higher than the other treatments. Although dietary enzyme did not affect the glucose level in juveniles fed with 1,000 mg/kg enzyme, its level decreased significantly in other groups. Serum cholesterol of the fish decreased in all treatments except in fish fed 750 mg/kg dietary enzyme. Magnesium levels were higher in the groups that received 500–750 mg/kg dietary enzyme.