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The Wnt signaling pathway plays a critical role in almost all aspects of skeletal development and homeostasis. Many studies suggest the importance of this signaling pathway in connection with bone metabolism through many skeletal disorders caused by mutations in Wnt signaling genes. The knowledge gained through targeting this pathway is of great value for skeletal health and diseases, for example of increased bone mass in the case of osteoporosis. Our objective was to focus on the detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms and investigate the associations between possible polymorphisms in selected genes that are part of those signaling pathways and parameters of bones in hens of ISA Brown hybrids (bone breaking strength, length, width, and bone mass). Different regions of the GPR177, ESR1 and RUNX2 genes were studied, using PCR and sequencing, in a total of forty-eight samples for each marker. Thirteen polymorphisms have been discovered in selected regions of studied genes, whereas these polymorphisms were only within the GPR177 gene. Eight of these polymorphisms were synonymous and five were in the intron. The tested regions of the ESR1 and RUNX2 genes were monomorphic. The only statistically significant difference was found within the GPR177 gene (exon 2) and the bone length parameter, in the c.443 + 86G > A polymorphism. However, this polymorphism was found in the intron, and no other one was found within the selected regions to show associations with the observed bone parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beneficial effects of Sambucus nigra L. (black elder) as a traditional medicine have been associated with the phytoconstituents including polyphenols, terpenes and lectins. Various antioxidant rich natural products have also been implicated with improvement of reproductive health and fertility, however, the effect of Sambucus nigra on the ovarian cell functions has not been investigated yet. The objectives of the present study were to screen the polyphenols in the elderflower and elderberry extracts, and to examine the secretion activity of steroid hormones 17ß-estradiol and progesterone by human ovarian granulosa cells HGL5 after supplementation of the extracts at a concentration range of 12.5 to 100 µg.ml-1. Qualitative as well as quantitative screening of polyphenols by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD) analysis revealed rutin to be the most abundant polyphenol in both elderflower and elderberry extracts. In culture, neither elderflower nor elderberry extract caused any significant impact (p>0.05) in cell viability as studied by AlamarBlue assay in comparison to control. However, a dosedependent stimulation of 17ß-estradiol release was detected by ELISA after supplementation of elderflower (at 50 µg.ml-1; p<0.01) and elderberry (at 100 µg.ml-1; p<0.05) extracts at higher doses used in the study. On the other hand, both elderflower and elderberry extracts stimulated the secretion of progesterone by HGL5 cells at a lower dose (12.5 µg.ml-1; p<0.05), as compared to control. Therefore, elderflower and elderberry extracts may have the potential to regulate steroidogenesis in ovarian cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to screen potential key genes associated with osteoporosis in laying hens. We performed association analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms of selected genes encoding non-collagenous proteins (IBSP, SPP1, FN1, MEPE, DCN, THBS2) with parameters of bones in a group of ISA Brown laying hens. The surveyed parameters were bone breaking strength, length, width and bone mass. In this pilot study, nineteen samples for genes encoding non-collagenous proteins were tested. The polymorphisms were detected using PCR method and sequencing. Seven polymorphisms have been discovered in genes encoding noncollagenous proteins in the genes FN1 (c.7413A>G, c.7440+57G>A, c.7440+105G>A, c.7441-71T>C), DCN (c.158C>T) and SPP1 (c.362+117G>C, c.363-88G>C), of which two of these polymorphisms were synonymous and five were in the intron. Despite the position of the found polymorphisms, no association with the mechanical parameters of the bones were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this trial was to investigate the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin 1beta (IL-1β) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) produced by bovine mammary gland leukocytes following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge (5 μg LPS of Escherichia coli in 20 ml of PBS) or PBS (20 ml) as a control. The leukocytes were obtained by mammary gland lavage 1, 2, 3, and 7 days following the stimulation. The concentration levels of these cytokines were analyzed by sandwich ELISA. Eight clinically healthy crossbred heifers (Holstein x Czech Pied) were selected for this study. The heifers were group housed in a tie-stall barn and fed a total mixed diet. Higher average number of leukocytes (P<0.01) was recorded for LPS than for PBS stimulation on day 1. The production of IL-1β increased following the stimulation on day 1. After that gradual decline was detected. The IFN-γ production showed a similar trend. Positive correlation between IL-1β and IFN-γ increased level was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]