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The expression pattern of BMPR-2 and Fas was investigated in different developmental stages (1–3 mm, 3–5 mm, 5–8 mm and >8 mm) of follicles and the effect of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and Fas-ligand (Fas-L) was studied in vitro on granulosa cell function. BMPR-2 was mainly localized in the granulosa cells, oocytes and theca cells of healthy follicles from primordial to late antral stages and the expression pattern did not differ among different sizes of follicles. The Fas was predominantly expressed in granulosa cells of atretic follicles. In the granulosa cell culture, BMP-2 (30 ng/ml) and IGF-1 (100 ng/ml) significantly increased estradiol-17β production when compared to control in all sizes i.e. small (3–5 mm), medium (5–8 mm) and large (>8 mm) follicles. This first study in buffalo revealed that BMP-2 rescues small size follicles, whereas IGF-1 rescues all size follicles from Fas mediated apoptosis in buffalo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Radiographic guidelines aim to increase the diagnostic yield of clinically relevant imaging findings whilst minimising risk. This study assessed the appropriateness of radiographic referrals made by student chiropractors and explored the association between guideline appropriate imaging and clinically significant radiographic findings., Methods: Radiographic referral and report findings (n=437) from 2018 were extracted from Macquarie University chiropractic clinics. Appropriateness of radiographic referrals was assessed according to current radiographic guidelines. Radiographic findings were assessed for clinical significance. The association between guideline appropriate radiographic referral and clinically significant radiographic findings was assessed using logistic regression analysis and odds ratios were estimated., Results: The proportion of guideline appropriate imaging was 55.8% (95%CI: 51.2-60.4). An association between guideline appropriate radiographs and clinically significant findings was found (OR: 2.2; 95%CI: 1.3-4.1)., Conclusions: Approximately half of all radiographic referrals made by chiropractic students were guideline concordant. Guideline appropriate imaging was associated with an increase in clinically significant radiographic findings., Competing Interests: The authors have no disclaimers, competing interests, or sources of support or funding to report in the preparation of this manuscript., (© JCCA 2021.)

Mammalian spermatozoa deliver various classes of RNAs to the oocyte during fertilization, and many of them may regulate fertility. The objective of the present study was to determine the composition and abundance of spermatozoal transcripts in fresh bull semen. The entire transcriptome of the spermatozoa from bulls (n = 3) was sequenced using two different platforms (Ion Proton and Illumina) to identify the maximum number of genes present in the spermatozoa. The bovine spermatozoa contained transcripts for 13,833 genes (transcripts per million, TPM > 10). Both intact and fragmented transcripts were found. These spermatozoal transcripts were associated with various stages of spermatogenesis, spermatozoal function, fertilization, and embryo development. The presence of intact transcripts of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) in the spermatozoa suggest a possible influence of sperm transcripts beyond early embryonic development. The specific regions (exon, intron, and exon-intron) of the particular spermatozoal transcripts might help regulate fertilization. This study demonstrates that the use of two different RNA-seq platforms provides a comprehensive profile of bovine spermatozoal RNA. Spermatozoal RNA profiling may be useful as a non-invasive method to delineate possible causes of male infertility and to predict fertility in a manner that is more effective than the conventional methods.