In vitro effects of two environmental toxicants, beauvericin and glyphosate in Roundup, on cell numbers and steroidogenesis of bovine ovarian cells

Beauvericin is an emerging Fusariotoxin naturally occurring in cereal grains throughout the world whereas glyphosate (N-phosphonomethyl-glycine) is a non-selective systemic herbicide used worldwide. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a newly developed ovarian cell culture system (that includes both granulosa and theca cells) as an in vitro model for toxicological studies. Specifically, the effects of beauvericin and glyphosate in formulation with Roundup on ovarian cell numbers and steroid production were evaluated. Ovaries collected from cattle without luteal structures were sliced into 30-70 pieces each, and granulosa and theca cells were collected. Harvested cells were cultured for 48 h in 10% fetal bovine serum-containing medium followed by 48 h in serum-free medium containing testosterone (500 ng/mL; as an estrogen precursor) with the following eight treatments: (1) controls, (2) FSH (30 ng/mL) alone, (3) FSH plus insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1; 30 ng/mL), (4) FSH plus IGF1 plus beauvericin (3 µM), (5) FSH plus IGF1 plus glyphosate in Roundup (10 µg/mL), (6) FSH plus IGF1 plus fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9, 30 ng/mL), (7) a negative control without added testosterone, and (8) IGF1 plus LH (30 ng/mL) with basal medium without added testosterone. In the presence of FSH, IGF1 significantly increased cell numbers, estradiol and progesterone production by severalfold. Glyphosate in Roundup formulation significantly inhibited IGF1-induced cell numbers and estradiol and progesterone production by 89-94%. Beauvericin inhibited IGF1-induced cell numbers and estradiol and progesterone by 50-97% production. LH plus IGF1 significantly increased androstenedione secretion compared with controls without added testosterone indicating the presence of theca cells. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that toxicological effects of beauvericin and glyphosate in Roundup formulation are observed in a newly developed ovarian cell model system and further confirms that both glyphosate and beauvericin may have the potential to impair reproductive function in cattle.

Species-specific models in toxicology: in vitro epithelial barriers

Species-specific in vitro epithelial barriers represent interesting predictive tools for risk assessment evaluation in toxicological studies. Moreover, these models could be applied either as stand-alone methods for the study of absorption, bioavailability, excretion, transport, effects of xenobiotics, or through an Integrated Testing Strategy. The aim of this review is to give a comprehensive overview of in vitro species-specific epithelial barrier models from bovine, dog and swine. Bovine mammary epithelial barrier as a fundamental instrument for the evaluation of the toxicant excretion, the blood brain barrier as a useful first approach in toxicological and pharmacological studies, the porcine intestinal barrier, the canine skin barrier, and finally the pulmonary barrier from bovine and swine species are described in this review.

Evaluation of equine oocyte developmental competence using polarized light microscopy

The purpose of this study was to observe in vitro-matured equine oocytes with an objective computerized technique that involves the use of a polarized light microscope (PLM) in addition to the subjective morphological evaluation obtained using a classic light microscope (LM). Equine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs, n = 922) were subjected to different in vitro maturation times (24, 36 or 45 h), however, only 36-h matured oocytes were analyzed using CLM. The 36-h matured oocytes that reached maturity were parthenogenetically activated to evaluate the quality and meiotic competence. Average maturation percentages per session in groups 1, 2 and 3 (24-, 36- and 45-h matured oocytes respectively) were 29.31 ± 13.85, 47.01 ± 9.90 and 36.62 ± 5.28%, whereas the average percentages of immature oocytes per session were 28.78 ± 20.17, 7.83 ± 5.51 and 22.36 ± 8.39% respectively. The zona pellucida (ZP) birefringent properties were estimated and correlated with activation outcome. ZP thickness and retardance of the inner layer of the zona pellucida (IL-ZP) were significantly increased in immature oocytes compared with mature oocytes (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01 respectively). The comparison between parthenogenetically activated and non-activated oocytes showed a significant increase in the area and thickness of the IL-ZP in parthenogenetically activated oocytes (P < 0.01). These results show that the 36-h in vitro maturation (IVM) protocol allowed equine oocytes to reach maturity, and PLM observation of ZP can be used to distinguish mature and immature oocytes as well as activated and non-activated oocytes.

Design and optimization of lipid-modified poly(amidoamine) dendrimer coated iron oxide nanoparticles as probes for biomedical applications

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles with a wide size range (2.6-14.1 nm) were synthesized and coated with the amphiphilic poly(amidoamine) PAMAM-C12 dendrimer. The resulting well dispersed and stable water suspensions were fully characterized in order to explore their possible use in biomedical applications. The structural and magnetic properties of the nanoparticles were preserved during the coating and were related to their relaxometric behaviour. The Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Dispersion (NMRD) profiles were found to be in accordance with the Roch model. The biocompatibility was assessed by means of cell viability tests and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis. The nanoparticles' capability of being detected via Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was investigated by means of clinical MRI scanners both in water and agar gel phantoms, and in a mouse model.