OVA [HRP]

The study evaluated the effects of eCG treatment prior to ovum pick up (OPU) on follicular population, oocyte and embryo yields in summer and autumn in Podolic cattle. The effects of repeated OPU on cattle wellbeing was also documented. Twenty-six animals were used, and split into two groups, treatment (OPU; n = 18) and control (CG; n = 8). The OPU cattle were subsequently split into two subgroups (n = 9) and underwent repeated OPU, without and with eCG priming, for a total of 8 sessions (4 sessions/season). Follicular population, oocyte and embryo yields were recorded in those sub-groups. CG was handled in the same manner of OPU, except for epidural anaesthesia and follicular aspiration. Biochemical profile, serum protein electrophoresis and haptoglobin levels were analysed in OPU and CG. Hormonal priming increased the number of medium follicles (1.7 +/- 0.2 vs 0.9 +/- 0.2, p < .05), while it decreased the recovery rate and number of cumulus-enclosed oocytes (COCs) (recovery rate: 38.3 +/- 3.5 vs 60.5 +/- 4.0%; COCs: 2.3 +/- 0.3 vs 3.4 +/- 0.4, respectively; p < .01). However, priming increased cleavage (72.9 +/- 5.7 vs 49.4 +/- 5.4; p < .05) and blastocyst (41.1 +/- 5.7 vs 23.0 +/- 4.2; p = .054) rates. With regard to season's effect, a higher number of COCs was recorded in autumn than in summer (3.1 +/- 0.4 vs 2.6 +/- 0.3; p < .05) without affecting though the number of embryos produced (0.9 on average). Since haematological parameters did not vary between OPU and CG, our preliminary data suggest that repeated OPU may be used as a conservation strategy in Podolic cattle without affecting wellbeing.

Adaptive immune responses regulate the development of atherosclerosis, with a detrimental effect of type 1 but a protective role of type 2 immune responses. Immunization of Apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE(-/-)) mice with Freund's adjuvant inhibits the development of atherosclerosis. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an IL7-like cytokine with essential impact on type 2 immune responses (Th2). Thymic stromal lymphopoietin is strongly expressed in epithelial cells of the skin, but also in various immune cells following appropriate stimulation. In this study, we investigated whether TSLP may be crucial for the anti-atherogenic effect of Freund's adjuvant. Subcutaneous injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) rapidly led to the expression of TSLP and IL1 beta at the site of injection. In male mice, CFA-induced TSLP occurred in immigrated monocytes-and not epithelial cells-and was dependent on NLRP3 inflammasome activation and IL1 beta-signalling. In females, CFA-induced TSLP was independent of IL1 beta and upon ovariectomy. CFA/OVA led to a more pronounced imbalance of the T cell response in TSLPR-/- mice, with increased INF gamma/IL4 ratio compared with wild-type controls. To test whether TSLP contributes to the anti-atherogenic effects of Freund's adjuvant, we treated ApoE(-/-) and ApoE(-/-)/TSLPR-/- mice with either CFA/IFA or PBS. ApoE(-/-) mice showed less atherogenesis upon CFA/IFA compared with PBS injections. ApoE(-/-)/TSLPR-/- mice had no attenuation of atherogenesis upon CFA/IFA treatment. Freund's adjuvant executes significant immune-modulating effects via TSLP induction. TSLP-TSLPR signalling is critical for CFA/IFA-mediated attenuation of atherosclerosis.