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Brain-derived neurotrophic factor modulates mitochondrial dynamics and thermogenic phenotype on 3T3-L1 adipocytes
No full textObesity is a growing threat. In recent years, the finding of functional brown adipose tissue (BAT) in adult humans implemented the studies of anti-obesity therapies based on triggering energy expenditure. The activation of BAT thermogenesis and the recruitment of brite (brown-in-white) adipocytes in white fat pads are under noradrenergic control. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), if centrally administered, enhances thermogenesis through sympathetic activation, but its direct effect on adipocytes is still unclear. The phenotypic change from fat storing to thermogenic adipocytes is recognized by the presence of multilocular lipid droplets (LDs) and fissed mitochondria that tend to surround LDs, maximizing the efficiency of fatty acid release for thermogenesis. BDNF treatment on differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes was compared to negative (CTRL) and positive (norepinephrine, NE) controls. BDNF significantly increased small globular mitochondria percentage (> 150% CTRL), while the area surface and elongation index of branched tubules were respectively 55% and 10% lower than NE. Canonical discriminant analysis of mitochondria morphological data clearly separated differentially treated cells with 85% of the total variance. The expression of brown markers and mitochondrial dynamic genes was significantly affected by BDNF. Investigating the pathways involved in adipocyte BDNF stimulation could clarify its role in thermogenesis and its possible local regulation
Expression profile of caseins, estrogen and prolactin receptors in mammary glands of dairy ewes
No full textExosome cargo in milk as a potential marker of cow health
Full text linkRecent advances on milk exosomes (EXO), cargoes in cell-cell communication, explored their role within and between individuals, including in dairy species. The potential use of EXO as biomarkers of disease and metabolic conditions adds significant interest to the study of EXO in milk. Although several researches have been carried out on circulating miRNA in the milk, less information is available about milk-derived exosomal miRNAs, which are stable over time and resistant to digestion and milk processing. EXO are taken up by recipient cells through specific mechanisms, which enable the selective delivery of cargoes. This suggests that EXO cargoes can be used as biomarkers of health. Nevertheless, methodological limitations and potential applications of milk EXO in dairy ruminants must be considered. The paucity of studies that associate the EXO cargo to specific challenges deserves further investigations to unravel the variation of miRNA and proteins cargo in relation to metabolic imbalance and infectious disease of the mammary gland
Proliferation and apoptosis in subcutaneous adipose tissue of lactating cows with different genetic merit for milk yield
No full textThe aim of this study was to investigate the adipocyte size and fate in subcutaneous fat (scAT) of cows diverging for genetic merit at mid lactation stage, when anabolic activity increases and animals are in a state of positive energy balance. Twenty mid lactation cows (180 ± 20 days in milk) grouped according to the Estimated Breeding Values (EBV) for milk yield in plus (EBVp) and minus (EBVm) variants were selected. Average of adipocytes area, proliferation and apoptotic labelling index as well as DLK-1 expression, a marker of pre-adipocytes, were immunohistochemically evaluated in scAT biopsies. In EBVp cows, the BCS was lower (P < 0.01) whereas milk yield, protein, fat yield (P < 0.001) and plasma free fatty acid concentration (P < 0.05) were higher. The scAT of EBVp cows showed a significantly (P < 0.001) higher frequency between 500-3000μm2 classes in comparison to EBVm cows, that showed a significantly (P < 0.01) higher apoptotic labeling index. The immunohistochemical reaction showed DLK-1 positivity in scAT of EBVp cows. Taking together, the data indicate a link between milk yield genetic merit of cows, scAT morphology and function, suggesting greater dynamics and metabolic flexibility in EBVp cows
Apoptosi ed espressione delle proteine correlate nella ghiandola mammaria di manze durante la lattazione
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Apoptosis and expression of related proteins in mammary gland of heifers during early lactation
No full textIncubation of canine dermal fibroblasts with serum from dogs with atopic dermatitis activates extracellular matrix signalling and represses oxidative phosphorylation
Full text linkThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects on gene expression in canine fibroblasts after incubation with a medium
enriched with atopic dermatitis canine serum (CAD) compared with healthy canine serum (CTRL) and fetal bovine serum
(FBS). Differential Expression and Pathway analysis (iDEP94) in R package (v0.92) was used to identify differentially
expressed genes (DEGs) with a False Discovery Rate of 0.01. DEGs from fibroblasts incubated with CAD serum were
significantly upregulated and enriched in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and focal adhesion signalling but downregulated
in the oxidative phosphorylation pathway. Genes involved in profibrotic processes, such as TGFB1, INHBA, ERK1/2, and
the downward regulated genes (collagens and integrins), were significantly upregulated after fibroblasts were exposed to
CAD serum. The observed downregulation of genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation suggests metabolic dysregulation
toward a myofibroblast phenotype responsible for fibrosis. No differences were found when comparing CTRL with FBS.
The DEGs identified in fibroblasts incubated with CAD serum suggest activation of signalling pathways involved in gradual
differentiation through a myofibroblast precursors that represent the onset of fibrosis. Molecular and metabolic knowledge
of fibroblast changes can be used to identify biomarkers of the disease and new potential pharmacological targets
Variations in the Fecal Microbiota of Red Deer in Relation to the Hunting Area in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region, Italy
Full text linkThe gut microbiota of red deer is a topic of growing interest, particularly with regard to its
ecological and physiological importance. The diversity and composition of these microbial
communities is influenced by environmental variables, diet and interactions with other
organisms in their habitat. Fecal samples were collected in 10 hunting reserves in the
Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, Italy. In each hunting reserve, five individual samples were
taken from the ground for a total of 50 samples. After DNA extraction, the V3–V4 16s
rRNA regions were sequenced. The raw data were uploaded to QIIME2 and taxonomic
annotation was performed. Significant differences between the deer sampled in the hunting
reserves (p < 0.05) were calculated for the phyla Firmicutes and Cyanobacteriota and for
the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidota, especially for the mountain reserves in the north
and northeast compared to the reserves in the hills in the west. Shannon and Chao1 alpha
diversity indices varied between reserves (p < 0.01) and the Bray–Curtis beta diversity index
also indicated differences in microbiota between hunting reserves. The different habitats
and vegetation of the reserves could explain the differences observed. Understanding the
dynamics of the microbiota of red deer provides important information about their health
and feeding behavior and also has far-reaching implications for species conservation
Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) in the gastrointestinal tract of the duck (Anas platyrhynchos).
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