Vorrei ringraziare Daniel Van Dyk dal Centro per lo Studio Integrativa del comportamento animale (CISAB) per il grande aiuto nella progettazione del modello e l&#39;accesso ai video d&#39;archivio. Christopher Evans (CISAB) ha fornito supporto tecnico, Daniel Warner (Università di Sydney) ha fornito il modello pratica della tassidermia, e Richard Peters (Australian National University) ha fornito elementi di design iniziale.

Animazione dei progetti Oggetto di scansione Acquisire lucertola pratica della tassidermia. La scansione del modello con una Konica Minolta VI-9i. Produce un oggetto 3D (*. lwo e file *. obj) in una maglia singolo poligono di 50.000 poligoni. Lightwave ® versione 8.3 dispone di due programmi utilizzati per l&#39;animazione 3D: Modeller e layout. Lightwave ® progetta Modeller e manipola l&#39;oggetto. Lightwave programma layout ® crea scene di animazione. Lightwave ® Modeller e layout sono tre dimensioni di posizionamento, l&#39;orientamento e la rotazione: voce (Y), passo (X), e la banca (Z). Texture di acquisizione Fotografare una lucertola dal vivo con un 12,8 megapixel Canon EOS 5D fotocamera digitale da due angolazioni (frontale e ortogonali), tre posizioni (frontale, ortogonali, ventrale e dorsale), tre regioni e parti del corpo (testa, corpo, coda e arti) su un foglio bianco di carta di colore bianco equilibrato per il colore standard. Fusibile fotografie insieme in Adobe ® Photoshop ® Elements 3.0. Creare una mappa UV Atlas in Lightwave ® Modeller. La mappa UV rompe l&#39;oggetto in stringhe di connessione poligoni. Acquisizione di immagini JPEG su mappa Atlas UV con Grab V1.2 per creare una immagine JPEG separato. Incastonare come il livello di sfondo in Adobe ® Photoshop ® Elements 3.0. Nel ® Lightwave Modeller, poligoni evidenziare sulla mappa UV Atlas per identificare le aree specifiche sul lucertola. Crop area e sovrapporre sullo sfondo Atlas UV mappa JPEG. Quando tutti i frammenti fotografici sono stratificati sulla mappa UV Atlas JPEG, rimuovere lo sfondo e creare un unico file TIFF. Importare il file TIFF in Lightwave ® Modeller e assegnare coordinate UV. Skelegons impianto e ossa In Lightwave ® Modeller, skelegons sono stati progettati e radicati. Skelegons agito come segnaposto per le ossa. Crea 61 ossa. Creare skelegons per imitare il numero di vertebre in un drago Jacky, con una grande skelegon utilizzato per simulare la testa. Creare una colonna vertebrale virtuale dal collo in giù fino alla fine della coda. Fondere le arti anteriori, che consistono in quattro skelegons ciascuno, alla colonna vertebrale. Quando tutti skelegons sono creati, inviare l&#39;intero oggetto di Lightwave ® Layout, dove il skelegons devono essere trasformate in ossa. L&#39;aggiunta di ombreggiatura Peso Mappe peso indipendenti hanno un campo di valori da -100% a +100% per distribuire uniformemente il movimento. Designati gli arti, coda e testa con positivo (+) valori della mappa di peso. Dare al corpo un negativo (-) Valore mappa di peso. Cattura stimolo da video d&#39;archivio Filmati lucertola archivio è stato mostrato con Sony MiniDV videoregistratore digitale lettore PAL su un monitor Sony Trinitron a una lucertola dal vivo tenuto nel suo recinto (per acquisizione video iniziale, vedere Ord e Evans, 2002; Ord, Peters, Evans, e Taylor, 2002; Van Dyk e Evans, 2007). Le risposte di lucertole sono stati registrati con un (MV650i) Canon videocamera digitale posizionata a circa sul metro dal recinto. Dimensioni lucertola era scalato alla dimensione rappresentante del pesce persico sul monitor. Esporta come singole immagini in sequenza JPEG in Apple Quicktime ™ v7.0. Rotoscoping per la replica Stimolo &#39;Rotoscoping&#39; è una tecnica in cui viene sovrapposta l&#39;animazione degli oggetti fotogramma per fotogramma in primo piano della sequenza di sfondo (Gatsey, Middleton, Jenkins, e Shubin, 1999). Invia l&#39;animazione per Lightwave ® Layout, dove la luce, macchina fotografica, oggetto, e le caratteristiche di fondo possono essere controllati per la scena. Seleziona schemi motori di archivio video digitale ed esportare come una sequenza di immagini (JPEG) utilizzando Apple QuickTime ™ Player 7.0. L&#39;oggetto deve essere in vista della telecamera. Importare la prima immagine JPEG in sequenza di immagini in secondo piano. Manipolare l&#39;oggetto utilizzando le ossa e si sovrappongono nella posizione corrente che riflette l&#39;immagine di sfondo. Ogni frame deve essere &#39;keyframe&#39;, tale che la posizione dell&#39;oggetto è salvato. Sostituire l&#39;immagine di sfondo con l&#39;immagine successiva consecutivi e manipolare l&#39;oggetto nella nuova posizione. Ripetere il processo fino a quando la sequenza è finita. Il rendering della sequenza per il completamento Clip della sequenza di grandi dimensioni o l&#39;elaborazione in batch viene eseguito utilizzando Render Farm Commander v2.9. Render Farm Commander (RFC) collega i computer per produrre una serie di processori per aiutare in un rendering più veloce. Quattro Apple Mac G5 dual-processor (otto thread) sono stati utilizzati per distribuire il rendering, riducendo così il tempo di quattro ore. Tutte le sequenze sono stati mantenuti a PAL-DV standard (720 ¥ 576 pixel di risoluzione, compressione 5:1, risoluzione orizzontale 575 linee, 25 fotogrammi s-1).

<ol>
	<li>Gatesy, S. M., Middleton, K. M., Jenkins, F. A., Shubin, N. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Three-dimensional+preservation+of+foot+movements+in+Triassic+theropod+dinosaurs.">Three-dimensional preservation of foot movements in Triassic theropod dinosaurs.</a> Nature. 399, 141-144 (1999).</li><li>Newtek, Inc, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lightwave+[8]+Reference+Manual.">Lightwave [8] Reference Manual.</a> , (2004).</li><li>Ord, T. J., Evans, C. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Interactive+video+playback+and+opponent+assessment+in+lizards.">Interactive video playback and opponent assessment in lizards.</a> Behav. Process. 59, 55-65 (2002).</li><li>Ord, T. J., Peters, R. A., Evans, C. S., Taylor, A. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Digital+video+playback+and+visual+communication+in+lizards.">Digital video playback and visual communication in lizards.</a> Anim. Behav. 63, 879-890 (2002).</li><li>Rosenthal, G. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Design+considerations+and+techniques+for+constructing+video+stimuli.">Design considerations and techniques for constructing video stimuli.</a> Acta Ethol. 3, 49-54 (2000).</li><li>Van Dyk, D. A., Evans, C. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Familiar-unfamiliar+discrimination+based+on+visual+cues+in+the+Jacky+dragon,+Amphibolurus+muricatus.">Familiar-unfamiliar discrimination based on visual cues in the Jacky dragon, Amphibolurus muricatus.</a> Anim. Behav. 74, 33-44 (2007).</li></ol>

Il finanziamento è stato supportato dal premio post-laurea CISAB e Dipartimento di Psicologia dell&#39;Università Macquarie University, e il Consiglio di ricerca australiana. Ricerca è stata condotta in conformità alle linee guida etiche dell&#39;Università Macquarie comitato etico degli animali (2003/014) e il New South Wales National Parks e servizi naturalistici (S11024).

Animazioni generate al computer stanno diventando sempre più uno strumento popolare in cui per investigare questioni riguardanti la comunicazione in comportamento animale. Utilizzando tecniche di animazione, i ricercatori possono concentrarsi su aspetti specifici della configurazione del segnale, e manipolare le funzioni che in precedenza non potevano essere indagati a causa della tecnologia limitata. Sebbene convenzionale animale messo in scena incontra ancora dimostrare principi teorici, tecniche di animazione ora fornire un sofisticato ...

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">	
		
		<div>
		<table border="1">
		<thead>
		<tr>
		<th>Material Name</th>
		<th>Type</th>
		<th>Company</th>
		<th>Catalogue Number</th>
		<th>Comment</th>
		</tr>
		</thead>
		<tbody>
		
<tr>
<td>New Item</td>
<td>Digital camera</td>
<td>Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc. </td>
<td>VI-9i</td>
<td>Used to acquire 3D mesh (done by New Dawn&#174; - Bexley North, NSW Australia)
 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lightwave&#174; 3D</td>
<td>Software program</td>
<td>NewTek Inc.</td>
<td>v8.3</td>
<td>To create animation</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Canon</td>
<td>Digital camera</td>
<td>Canon, Inc.</td>
<td>EOS 5D</td>
<td>12.8 megapixels</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Grab</td>
<td>Software program</td>
<td>Apple Computer, Inc.</td>
<td>v1.2</td>
<td>Extract texture from photographs and UV map</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Adobe&#174; Photoshop&#174; Elements</td>
<td>Software program</td>
<td>Adobe Systems Inc.</td>
<td>v3.0</td>
<td>Extract texture from photographs</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Render Farm Commander</td>
<td>Software program</td>
<td>Bruce Rayne&#169;</td>
<td>v2.9</td>
<td>Mass rendering across local area network

</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mac Pro</td>
<td>Computer</td>
<td>Apple Computer, Inc.</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Four dual processors (eight threads); Create and render animation</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sony MiniDV</td>
<td>Digital video recorder</td>
<td>Sony Corporation</td>
<td>GV-D300E</td>
<td>Playback stimuli during stimulus acquisition</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sony Trintron</td>
<td>Colour viewfinder</td>
<td>Sony Corporation</td>
<td>PVM-14M2A</td>
<td>One monitor for stimulus acquisition</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Canon</td>
<td>Digital camcorder</td>
<td>Cannon Inc.</td>
<td>MV650i</td>
<td>Records behavior during stimulus acquisition</td>
</tr>		</tbody>
		</table>
		</div>
			<div>
					</div>

computer-generated animal model stimuli

La comunicazione tra gli animali è vario e complesso. Gli animali possono comunicare utilizzando uditiva, sismico, chemosensoriali, segnali elettrici, o visivo. In particolare, la comprensione dei vincoli sul design segnale visivo per la comunicazione è stata di grande interesse. I metodi tradizionali per lo studio delle interazioni animali hanno usato tecniche di osservazione di base, messo in scena incontri o manipolazione fisica della morfologia. Metodi meno invadenti hanno cercato di simulare conspecifici con strumenti di riproduzione greggio, come specchi, immagini fisse, o modelli. Poiché la tecnologia è divenuta più avanzati, riproduzione video è emerso come un altro strumento per esaminare la comunicazione visiva (Rosenthal, 2000). Tuttavia, per muovere un passo avanti, l&#39;applicazione di computer-animazione ora permette ai ricercatori di isolare i componenti specificamente critica necessaria per ottenere risposte sociali conspecifici, e manipolare queste caratteristiche per il controllo delle interazioni. Qui, ho fornito dettagli su come creare un&#39;animazione utilizzando il drago Jacky come modello, ma questo processo può essere adattabile per altre specie. Nel costruire l&#39;animazione, ho scelto di utilizzare Lightwave 3D di modificare la morfologia dell&#39;oggetto, aggiungere texture, installare le ossa, e di fornire ombreggiatura comparabile peso che impedisce il movimento esagerato. L&#39;animazione è poi abbinato a scegliere schemi motori di replicare le caratteristiche movimento critico. Infine, la sequenza deve rendere in un singolo clip per la presentazione. Anche se ci sono altre tecniche adattabili, questo particolare metodo ha dimostrato di essere efficace nel suscitare risposte, sia ben visibile e sociale messo in scena le interazioni.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Computer-Generated Animal Model Stimuli at JoVE.com

Computer-Generated Animal Model Stimuli

Generate dal computer usando stimoli il drago Jacky come modello.

Computer-Generated modello animale Stimoli

Communication between animals is diverse and complex. Animals may communicate using auditory, seismic, chemosensory, electrical, or visual signals. In ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

10.8K Views.  Macquarie University. Generate dal computer usando stimoli il drago Jacky come modello.

Video: Computer-Generated Animal Model Stimuli

Noninvasive In Vivo Small Animal MRI and MRS: Basic Experimental Procedures

Small animal Magnetic Resonance (MR) research has emerged as an important element of modern biomedical research due to its non-invasive nature and the richness of biological information it provides. MR does not require any ionizing radiation and can noninvasively provide higher resolution and better signal-to-noise ratio in comparison to other tomographic or spectroscopic modalities. In this protocol, we will focus on small animal MR imaging and MR spectroscopy (MRI/MRS) to noninvasively acquire relaxation weighted 1H images of mouse and to obtain 31P spectra of mouse muscle. This work does not attempt to cover every aspect of small animal MRI/MRS but rather introduces basic procedures of mouse MRI/MRS experiments. The main goal of this work is to inform researchers of the basic procedures for in vivo MR experiments on small animals. The goal is to provide a better understanding of basic experimental procedures to allow researchers new to the MR field to better plan for non-MR components of their studies so that both MR and non-MR procedures are seamlessly integrated.

Noninvasive In Vivo Small Animal MRI and MRS: Basic Experimental Procedures

This work describes basic procedures of noninvasive small animal MRI and MRS in vivo.

Non invasiva In Vivo Piccoli Animali MRI e MRS: Basic procedure sperimentali

Small animal Magnetic Resonance (MR) research has emerged as an important element of modern biomedical research due to its non-invasive nature and the ...

Ricerca

Biologia

Cryopreservation of Preimplantation Embryos of Cattle, Sheep, and Goats

Preimplantation embryos from cattle, sheep, and goats may be cryopreserved for short- or long-term storage. Preimplantation embryos consist predominantly of water, and the avoidance of intracellular ice crystal formation during the cryopreservation process is of paramount importance to maintain embryo viability. Embryos are placed into a hypertonic solution (1.4 &#x2013; 1.5 M) of a cryoprotective agent (CPA) such as ethylene glycol (EG) or glycerol (GLYC) to create an osmotic gradient that facilitates cellular dehydration. After embryos reach osmotic equilibrium in the CPA solution, they are individually loaded in the hypertonic CPA solution into 0.25 ml plastic straws for freezing. Embryos are placed into a controlled rate freezer at a temperature of -6&deg;C. Ice crystal formation is induced in the CPA solution surrounding the embryo, and crystallization causes an increase in the concentration of CPA outside of the embryo, causing further cellular dehydration. Embryos are cooled at a rate of 0.5&deg;C/min, enabling further dehydration, to a temperature of -34&deg;C before being plunged into liquid nitrogen (-196&deg;C). Cryopreserved embryos must be thawed prior to transfer to a recipient (surrogate) female. Straws containing the embryos are removed from the liquid nitrogen dewar, held in room temperature air for 3 to 5 sec, and placed into a 37&deg;C water bath for 25 to 30 sec. Embryos cryopreserved in GLYC are placed into a 1 M solution of sucrose for 10 min for removal of the CPA before transfer to a recipient (surrogate) female. Embryos cryopreserved in EG, however, may be directly transferred to the uterus of a recipient.

Preimplantation embryos may be cryopreserved after placement into a hypertonic cryoprotective solution to cause cellular dehydration. After equilibration, ice crystal formation is induced in the solution surrounding the embryo. Further dehydration occurs as the embryo is slowly cooled to subzero temperatures before plunging into liquid nitrogen for storage.

Crioconservazione di embrioni preimpianto di bovini, ovini, e caprini

Preimplantation embryos from cattle, sheep, and goats may be cryopreserved for short- or long-term storage.  Preimplantation embryos consist predominantly ...

Genotyping of Plant and Animal Samples without Prior DNA Purification

The Direct PCR approach facilitates PCR amplification directly from small amounts of unpurified samples, and is demonstrated here for several plant and animal tissues (Figure 1). Direct PCR is based on specially engineered Thermo Scientific Phusion and Phire DNA Polymerases, which include a double-stranded DNA binding domain that gives them unique properties such as high tolerance of inhibitors.
PCR-based target DNA detection has numerous applications in plant research, including plant genotype analysis and verification of transgenes. PCR from plant tissues traditionally involves an initial DNA isolation step, which may require expensive or toxic reagents. The process is time consuming and increases the risk of cross contamination1, 2. Conversely, by using Thermo Scientific Phire Plant Direct PCR Kit the target DNA can be easily detected, without prior DNA extraction. In the model demonstrated here, an example of derived cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence analysis (dCAPS)3,4 is performed directly from Arabidopsis plant leaves. dCAPS genotyping assays can be used to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) by SNP allele-specific restriction endonuclease digestion3. 
Some plant samples tend to be more challenging when using Direct PCR methods as they contain components that interfere with PCR, such as phenolic compounds. In these cases, an additional step to remove the compounds is traditionally required2,5. Here, this problem is overcome by using a quick and easy dilution protocol followed by Direct PCR amplification (Figure 1). Fifteen year-old oak leaves are used as a model for challenging plants as the specimen contains high amounts of phenolic compounds including tannins. 
Gene transfer into mice is broadly used to study the roles of genes in development, physiology and human disease. The use of these animals requires screening for the presence of the transgene, usually with PCR. Traditionally, this involves a time consuming DNA isolation step, during which DNA for PCR analysis is purified from ear, tail or toe tissues6,7. However, with the Thermo Scientific Phire Animal Tissue Direct PCR Kit transgenic mice can be genotyped without prior DNA purification. In this protocol transgenic mouse genotyping is achieved directly from mouse ear tissues, as demonstrated here for a challenging example where only one primer set is used for amplification of two fragments differing greatly in size.

The Direct PCR approach presented here facilitates PCR amplification directly from small amounts of unpurified plant and animal tissue.

Genotipizzazione di campioni di piante e degli animali, senza purificazione del DNA Prima

The Direct PCR approach facilitates PCR amplification directly from small amounts of unpurified samples, and is demonstrated here for several plant and ...

Utero-tubal Embryo Transfer and Vasectomy in the Mouse Model

The transfer of preimplantation embryos to a surrogate female is a required step for the production of genetically modified mice or to study the effects of epigenetic alterations originated during preimplantation development on subsequent fetal development and adult health. The use of an effective and consistent embryo transfer technique is crucial to enhance the generation of genetically modified animals and to determine the effect of different treatments on implantation rates and survival to term. Embryos at the blastocyst stage are usually transferred by uterine transfer, performing a puncture in the uterine wall to introduce the embryo manipulation pipette. The orifice performed in the uterus does not close after the pipette has been withdrawn, and the embryos can outflow to the abdominal cavity due to the positive pressure of the uterus. The puncture can also produce a hemorrhage that impairs implantation, blocks the transfer pipette and may affect embryo development, especially when embryos without zona are transferred. Consequently, this technique often results in very variable and overall low embryo survival rates. Avoiding these negative effects, utero-tubal embryo transfer take advantage of the utero-tubal junction as a natural barrier that impedes embryo outflow and avoid the puncture of the uterine wall. Vasectomized males are required for obtaining pseudopregnant recipients. A technique to perform vasectomy is described as a complement to the utero-tubal embryo transfer.

Utero-tubal embryo transfer uses the utero-tubal junction as a barrier to prevent the embryo outflow that may occur when performing uterine transfer. Vasectomized males are required to obtain pseudopregnant recipients for embryo transfer. Both techniques are discussed.

Trasferimento di Embrione utero-tubarica e vasectomia nel modello murino

The transfer of preimplantation embryos to a surrogate female is a required step for the production of genetically modified mice or to study the effects ...

A Protocol for Using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis to Identify the Appropriate Animal Model for Translational Research

Recent studies that compared transcriptomic datasets of human diseases with datasets from mouse models using traditional gene-to-gene comparison techniques resulted in contradictory conclusions regarding the relevance of animal models for translational research. A major reason for the discrepancies between different gene expression analyses is the arbitrary filtering of differentially expressed genes. Furthermore, the comparison of single genes between different species and platforms often is limited by technical variance, leading to misinterpretation of the con/discordance between data from human and animal models. Thus, standardized approaches for systematic data analysis are needed. To overcome subjective gene filtering and ineffective gene-to-gene comparisons, we recently demonstrated that gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) has the potential to avoid these problems. Therefore, we developed a standardized protocol for the use of GSEA to distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate animal models for translational research. This protocol is not suitable to predict how to design new model systems a-priori, as it requires existing experimental omics data. However, the protocol describes how to interpret existing data in a standardized manner in order to select the most suitable animal model, thus avoiding unnecessary animal experiments and misleading translational studies.

We provide a standardized protocol for the use of gene set enrichment analysis of transcriptomic data to identify an ideal mouse model for translational research. 
This protocol can be used with DNA microarray and RNA sequencing data and can further be extended to other omics data if data are available.

Un protocollo per l'utilizzo di Gene imposta analisi di arricchimento per identificare il modello animale adeguato per la ricerca traslazionale

Recent studies that compared transcriptomic datasets of human diseases with datasets from mouse models using traditional gene-to-gene comparison ...

A Tissue Culture Model of Estrogen-producing Primary Bovine Granulosa Cells

Ovarian granulosa cells (GC) are the major source of estradiol synthesis. Induced by the preovulatory luteinizing hormone (LH) surge, cells of the theca and, in particular, of the granulosa cell layer profoundly change their morphological, physiological, and molecular characteristics and form the progesterone-producing corpus luteum that is responsible for maintaining pregnancy. Cell culture models are essential tools to study the underlying regulatory mechanisms involved in the folliculo-luteal transformation. The presented protocol focuses on the isolation procedure and cryopreservation of bovine GC from small- to medium-sized follicles (&#60; 6 mm). With this technique, a nearly pure population of GC can be obtained. The cryopreservation procedure greatly facilitates time management of the cell culture work independent of a direct primary tissue (ovaries) supply. This protocol describes a serum-free cell culture model that mimics the estradiol-active status of bovine GC. Important conditions that are essential for a successful steroid-active cell culture are discussed throughout the protocol. It is demonstrated that increasing the plating density of the cells induces a specific response as indicated by an altered gene expression profile and hormone production. Furthermore, this model provides a basis for further studies on GC differentiation and other applications.

A long-term culture model of bovine granulosa cells under serum-free conditions is described. This model allows researchers to study the effects of diverse factors and conditions as different plating densities on the characteristics of estrogen-producing bovine granulosa cells.

Un modello di coltura del tessuto della produzione di estrogeno primario bovina Granulosa Cells

Ovarian granulosa cells (GC) are the major source of estradiol synthesis. Induced by the preovulatory luteinizing hormone (LH) surge, cells of the theca ...

Bovine Mammary Gland Biopsy Techniques

Bovine mammary gland biopsies allow researchers to collect tissue samples to study cell biology including gene expression, histological analysis, signaling pathways, and protein translation. This article describes two techniques for biopsy of the bovine mammary gland (MG). Three healthy Holstein dairy cows were the subjects. Before biopsies, cows were milked and subsequently restrained in a cattle chute. An analgesic (flunixin meglumine, 1.1 to 2.2 mg/kg of body weight) was administered via jugular intravenous [IV] injection 15-20 min prior to biopsy. For standing sedation, xylazine hydrochloride (0.01-0.05 mg/kg of body weight) was injected via the coccygeal vessels 5-10 min before the procedure. Once adequately sedated, the biopsy site was aseptically prepared and locally anaesthetized with 6 mL of 2% lidocaine hydrochloride via subcutaneous injection. Using aseptic technique, a 2 to 3 cm vertical incision was made using a number 10 scalpel. Core and needle biopsy tools were used. The core biopsy tool was attached to a cordless drill and inserted into the MG tissue through the incision using a clock-wise drill action. The needle biopsy tool was manually inserted into the incision site. Immediately after the procedure, an assistant applied pressure on the incision site for 20 to 25 min using a sterile towel to achieve hemostasis. Stainless steel surgical staples were used to oppose the skin incision. The staples were removed 10 days post-procedure. The main advantages of core and needle biopsies is that both approaches are minimally invasive procedures that can be safely performed in healthy cows. Milk yield following the biopsy was unaffected. These procedures require a short recovery time and result in fewer risks of complications. Specific limitations may include bleeding after the biopsy and infection on the biopsy site. Applications of these techniques include tissue collection for clinical diagnosis and research purposes, such as primary cell culture.

This article presents a bovine mammary gland biopsy using core and needle biopsy tools. Harvested tissue can be used for cell culture or to assess mammary physiology and metabolism including gene expression, protein expression, protein modifications, immunohistochemistry, and metabolite concentrations.

Tecniche di biopsia della ghiandola mammaria bovina

Bovine mammary gland biopsies allow researchers to collect tissue samples to study cell biology including gene expression, histological analysis, ...

Mass Spectrometry Analysis to Identify Ubiquitylation of EYFP-tagged CENP-A (EYFP-CENP-A)

Studying the structure and the dynamics of kinetochores and centromeres is important in understanding chromosomal instability (CIN) and cancer progression. How the chromosomal location and function of a centromere (i.e., centromere identity) are determined and participate in accurate chromosome segregation is a fundamental question. CENP-A is proposed to be the non-DNA indicator (epigenetic mark) of centromere identity, and CENP-A ubiquitylation is required for CENP-A deposition at the centromere, inherited through dimerization between cell division, and indispensable to cell viability.
Here we describe mass spectrometry analysis to identify ubiquitylation of EYFP-CENP-A K124R mutant suggesting that ubiquitylation at a different lysine is induced because of the EYFP tagging in the CENP-A K124R mutant protein. Lysine 306 (K306) ubiquitylation in EYFP-CENP-A K124R was successfully identified, which corresponds to lysine 56 (K56) in CENP-A through mass spectrometry analysis. A caveat is discussed in the use of GFP/EYFP or the tagging of high molecular weight protein as a tool to analyze the function of a protein. Current technical limit is also discussed for the detection of ubiquitylated bands, identification of site-specific ubiquitylation(s), and visualization of ubiquitylation in living cells or a specific single cell during the whole cell cycle.
The method of mass spectrometry analysis presented here can be applied to human CENP-A protein with different tags and other centromere-kinetochore proteins. These combinatory methods consisting of several assays/analyses could be recommended for researchers who are interested in identifying functional roles of ubiquitylation.

Mass Spectrometry Analysis to Identify Ubiquitylation of EYFP-tagged CENP-A EYFP-CENP-A

CENP-A ubiquitylation is an important requirement for CENP-A deposition at the centromere, inherited through dimerization between cell division, and indispensable to cell viability. Here we describe mass spectrometry analysis to identify ubiquitylation of EYFP-tagged CENP-A (EYFP-CENP-A) protein.

Analisi della spettrometria di massa per identificare l'ubiquilazione del CENP-A con tag EYFP (EYFP-CENP-A)

Studying the structure and the dynamics of kinetochores and centromeres is important in understanding chromosomal instability (CIN) and cancer ...

Planarian Scrunching as a Quantitative Behavioral Readout for Noxious Stimuli Sensing

Freshwater planarians normally glide smoothly through ciliary propulsion on their ventral side. Certain environmental conditions, however, can induce musculature-driven forms of locomotion: peristalsis or scrunching. While peristalsis results from a ciliary defect, scrunching is independent of cilia function and is a specific response to certain stimuli, including amputation, noxious temperature, extreme pH, and ethanol. Thus, these two musculature-driven gaits are mechanistically distinct. However, they can be difficult to distinguish qualitatively. Here, we provide a protocol for inducing scrunching using various physical and chemical stimuli. We detail the quantitative characterization of scrunching, which can be used to distinguish it from peristalsis and gliding, using freely available software. Since scrunching is a universal planarian gait, albeit with characteristic species-specific differences, this protocol can be broadly applied to all species of planarians, when using appropriate considerations. To demonstrate this, we compare the response of the two most popular planarian species used in behavioral research, Dugesia japonica and Schmidtea mediterranea, to the same set of physical and chemical stimuli. Furthermore, the specificity of scrunching allows this protocol to be used in conjunction with RNA interference and/or pharmacological exposure to dissect the molecular targets and neuronal circuits involved, potentially providing mechanistic insight into important aspects of nociception and neuromuscular communication.

Freshwater planarians exhibit three gaits (gliding, peristalsis, and scrunching) that are distinguishable by quantitative behavioral analysis. We describe a method to induce scrunching using various noxious stimuli, quantification thereof, and distinction from peristalsis and gliding. Using gene knockdown, we demonstrate the specificity of scrunching as a quantitative phenotypic readout.

Planarian Scrunching come una lettura comportamentale quantitativa per il rilevamento di stimoli nocivi

Freshwater planarians normally glide smoothly through ciliary propulsion on their ventral side. Certain environmental conditions, however, can induce ...

Bovine Ovarian Cortex Tissue Culture

Follicle development from the primordial to antral stage is a dynamic process within the ovarian cortex, which includes endocrine and paracrine factors from somatic cells and cumulus cell-oocyte communication. Little is known about the ovarian microenvironment and how the cytokines and steroids produced in the surrounding milieu affect follicle progression or arrest. In vitro culture of ovarian cortex enables follicles to develop in a normalized environment that remains supported by adjacent stroma. Our objective was to determine the effect of nutritional Stair-Step diet on the ovarian microenvironment (follicle development, steroid, and cytokine production) through in vitro culture of bovine ovarian cortex. To accomplish this, ovarian cortical pieces were removed from heifers undergoing two different nutritionally developed schemes prior to puberty: Control (traditional nutrition development) and Stair-Step (feeding and restriction during development) that were cut into approximately 0.5-1 mm3 pieces. These pieces were subsequently passed through a series of washes and positioned on a tissue culture insert that is set into a well containing Waymouth&#39;s culture medium. Ovarian cortex was cultured for 7 days with daily culture media changes. Histological sectioning was performed to determine follicle stage changes before and after the culture to determine effects of nutrition and impact of culture without additional treatment. Cortex culture medium was pooled over days to measure steroids, steroid metabolites, and cytokines. There were tendencies for increased steroid hormones in ovarian microenvironment that allowed for follicle progression in the Stair-Step versus Control ovarian cortex cultures. The ovarian cortex culture technique allows for a better understanding of the ovarian microenvironment, and how alterations in endocrine secretion may affect follicle progression and growth from both in vivo and in vitro treatments. This culture method may also prove beneficial for testing potential therapeutics that may improve follicle progression in women to promote fertility.

In vitro culture of bovine ovarian cortex and the effect of nutritional Stair-step diet on ovarian microenvironment is presented. Ovarian cortex pieces were cultured for seven days and steroids, cytokines, and follicle stages were evaluated. The Stair-Step diet treatment had increased steroidogenesis resulting in follicle progression in culture.

Coltura tissutale della corteccia ovarica bovina

Follicle development from the primordial to antral stage is a dynamic process within the ovarian cortex, which includes endocrine and paracrine factors ...