1. The effect of preconditioning strategies on the adsorption of model proteins onto screen-printed carbon electrodesTea Romih, Ivan Konjević, Lea Žibret, Ika Fazarinc, Ajda Beltram, David Majer, Matjaž Finšgar, Samo B. Hočevar, 2022, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: The preconditioning and modification of the supporting electrode surface is an essential
step in every biosensor architecture. In particular, when using screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPEs)
as inexpensive and convenient disposable sensor substrates, their somewhat lower electrochemical
(surface) reproducibility might represent a complex hurdle. Herein, we investigated the effect of
selected preconditioning strategies, such as cyclic voltammetric pretreatment, in H2SO4 and H2O2
and plasma pretreatment with a positive and negative glow discharge, which all improved the electrochemical stability of the unmodified SPEs. Furthermore, we studied the influence of preconditioning
strategies on the adsorption kinetics of the two most commonly used building blocks for biosensor
preparation, i.e., bovine serum albumin (BSA) and protein A. We observed an advantageous effect
of all the examined preconditioning strategies for the modification of SPEs with protein A, being
the most effective the negative glow discharge. On the other hand, BSA exhibited a more complex
adsorption behavior, with the negative glow discharge as the only generally beneficial preconditioning strategy providing the highest electrochemical stability. Protein A revealed a more substantial
impact on the electrochemical signal attenuation than BSA considering their same concentrations in
the modification solutions. For both BSA and protein A, we showed that the concentrations of 5 and
10 µg mL−1 already suffice for an electrochemically satisfactorily stable electrode surface after 60 min
of incubation time, except for BSA at the positive-plasma-treated electrode. Ključne besede: screen-printed carbon electrode, SPE, electrochemical biosensor, adsorption, bovine serum albumin, protein A, glow discharge Objavljeno v DKUM: 15.05.2025; Ogledov: 0; Prenosov: 2
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2. Effect of immunocastration and housing conditions on pig carcass and meat quality traitsMartin Škrlep, Klavdija Poklukar Žnidaršič, Kevin Kress, Milka Vrecl, Gregor Fazarinc, Nina Batorek Lukač, Ulrike Weiler, Volker Stefanski, Marjeta Čandek-Potokar, 2020, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: The present study investigated the effects of immunocastration and housing conditions on carcass, meat, and fat quality traits. Immunocastrates (IC, n = 48), entire (EM, n = 48), and surgical castrates (SC, n = 48) male pigs were reared under three different housing conditions. The conditions were standard (n = 36), enriched (n = 36, twice as much space as standard and additional outdoor access), or standard with repeated social mixing (n = 72). Pigs of the IC group were vaccinated at the age of 12 and 22 wk. The animals were slaughtered in four batches, balanced for sex category and housing, at the age of 27 wk reaching 124.7 ± 1.0 kg. Immunocastration led to increased fat deposition (i.e., thicker subcutaneous fat at different anatomical locations, more leaf fat, fatter belly in IC than EM, P < 0.05) but did not affect muscularity traits. As a result, EM exhibited higher and SC lower (P < 0.05) carcass leanness than IC. Fatty acids composition of either subcutaneous or intramuscular fat (IMF) agreed with general adiposity, that is, IC were intermediate between EM and SC exhibiting the lowest and highest fat saturation (P < 0.05), respectively. Compared to SC, EM exhibited higher (P < 0.05) levels of muscle oxidation and collagen content than SC, with IC taking an intermediate position in the case of the level of peroxidation and collagen content, or closer to SC as regards to oxidation of muscle proteins (i.e., carbonyl groups). Meat quality (including marbling score, cooking loss, subjective color redness, and chroma) of IC was similar to EM, and both differed (P < 0.05) from SC. However, IC and SC had less (P < 0.05) tough meat than EM, consistent with protein oxidation. The effect of housing was less evident. Mixing of pigs resulted in lower (P < 0.05) carcass weight and fatness in all sex categories with lower (P < 0.05) oleic and higher (P < 0.05) arachidonic acid in IMF of EM. Ključne besede: carcass traits, entire males, housing, immunocastrates, meat quality, surgical castrates Objavljeno v DKUM: 18.12.2024; Ogledov: 0; Prenosov: 9
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3. Adipose tissue gene expression of entire male, immunocastrated and surgically castrated pigsKlavdija Poklukar Žnidaršič, Marjeta Čandek-Potokar, Milka Vrecl, Nina Batorek Lukač, Gregor Fazarinc, Kevin Kress, Volker Stefanski, Martin Škrlep, 2021, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Differences in adipose tissue deposition and properties between pig male sex categories, i.e., entire males (EM), immunocastrates (IC) and surgical castrates (SC) are relatively well-characterized, whereas the underlying molecular mechanisms are still not fully understood. To gain knowledge about the genetic regulation of the differences in adipose tissue deposition, two different approaches were used: RNA-sequencing and candidate gene expression by quantitative PCR. A total of 83 differentially expressed genes were identified between EM and IC, 15 between IC and SC and 48 between EM and SC by RNA-sequencing of the subcutaneous adipose tissue. Comparing EM with IC or SC, upregulated genes related to extracellular matrix dynamics and adipogenesis, and downregulated genes involved in the control of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism were detected. Differential gene expression generally indicated high similarity between IC and SC as opposed to EM, except for several heat shock protein genes that were upregulated in EM and IC compared with SC. The candidate gene expression approach showed that genes involved in lipogenesis were downregulated in EM compared with IC pigs, further confirming RNA-sequencing results. Ključne besede: pigs, adipose tissue, entire males, immunocastration, surgical castration, RNA-sequencing, expression Objavljeno v DKUM: 10.10.2024; Ogledov: 0; Prenosov: 5
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4. Male reproductive organ weight : criteria for detection of androstenone-positive carcasses in immunocastrated and antire male pigsGregor Fazarinc, Nina Batorek Lukač, Martin Škrlep, Klavdija Poklukar Žnidaršič, Alice Broeke, Kevin Kress, Etienne Labussière, Volker Stefanski, Milka Vrecl, Marjeta Čandek-Potokar, 2023, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Immunocastration and rearing of entire males (EMs) are sustainable alternatives to surgical castration. However, these animal carcasses have variable risk of boar taint and should be identified at the slaughter line. We aimed to identify a simple and reliable indicator of androstenone-related boar taint by evaluating pelvic urogenital tract weight as a marker of boar-taint animals at the slaughter line. The pelvic urogenital tract, testes, and accessory sex glands of EMs and immunocastrates (ICs) were collected, dissected, and weighed, before colorimetric measurements of testicular tissue. Additionally, GnRH antibody titers and testosterone, androstenone, and skatole levels were determined. Our results showed that 81.8% of EMs had androstenone levels above the risk threshold (>0.5 µg/g fat; EM/Ahigh subgroup), whereas in ICs, the C/Ahigh subgroup with androstenone >0.5 µg/g fat accounted for only 4.3%. Androstenone levels correlated negatively with GnRH antibody titers and positively with testosterone levels and reproductive organ weights. Identification of ICs with androstenone levels above the threshold (IC/Ahigh subgroup) may be achieved via testes or pelvic urogenital tract weight measurements. However, in EMs, the latter is a more reliable parameter. A principal component analysis based on these variables and hierarchical clustering also distinguished the Ahigh from the Alow subgroup, irrespective of IC/EM. The findings highlight the possible use of pelvic urogenital tract weight along with testes weight as a simple, reliable, and efficient morphometric indicator for identifying androstenone-positive carcasses of different sex categories. Ključne besede: boar taint, morphometric indicators, immunocastration, entire males Objavljeno v DKUM: 11.04.2024; Ogledov: 213; Prenosov: 18
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5. Immunocastration in adult boars as a model for late-onset hypogonadismNina Batorek Lukač, Kevin Kress, Marjeta Čandek-Potokar, Gregor Fazarinc, Martin Škrlep, Klavdija Poklukar Žnidaršič, Raffael Wesoly, Volker Stefanski, Milka Vrecl, 2022, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Background:
While immunocastration has been studied in male pre-pubertal pigs, data on older, sexually mature animals are limited. To understand the physiological effects of androgen deprivation in the late sexual development phase, we compared mature immunocastrated boars (n = 19; average age = 480 days) to young male immunocastrated pigs (n = 6; average age = 183 days) and young entire males (n = 6; average age = 186 days) as positive and negative controls, respectively.
Objectives:
We hypothesized that the timing of gonadotropin-releasing hormone suppression (early or late sexual development phases) influences the extent of reproductive function inhibition, histological structure of testicular tissue, and expression levels of selected genes related to steroid metabolism.
Materials and methods:
Antibody titer, hormonal status, and histomorphometric analysis of testicular tissue were subjected to principal component analysis followed by hierarchical clustering to evaluate the immunocastration effectiveness in mature boars.
Results:
Hierarchical clustering differentiated mature immunocastrated boars clustered with young immunocastrated pigs from those clustered with entire males. Although all mature immunocastrated boars responded to vaccination, as evidenced by the increased gonadotropin-releasing hormone antibody titers (p < 0.001), decreased serum luteinizing hormone concentrations (p = 0.002), and changes in testicular tissue
vascularization (lighter and less red testicular parenchyma; p ≤ 0.001), the responses were variable. Sharp decreases in testes index (p < 0.001), Leydig cell volume density (p < 0.001), Leydig cell nucleus-to-cytoplasm ratio (p < 0.001), and testosterone concentration (p < 0.001) were observed in mature immunocastrated boars clustered with young immunocastrated pigs compared with those that clustered with entire males. Additionally, mature immunocastrated boars clustered with young immunocastrated pigs showed lower hydroxysteroid 17-beta dehydrogenase 7 expression than entire males (p < 0.05). The young immunocastrated pigs group showed higher folliclestimulating hormone receptors than the entire males and mature immunocastrated boars, lower steroidogenic acute regulatory protein expression levels compared with
entire males, and mature immunocastrated boars clustered with entire males (p < 0.01).
Conclusion:
The two-dose vaccination regime resulted in progressive but variable regression of testicular function in adult (post-pubertal) pigs; however, it was insufficient to induce a complete immunocastration response in all animals. Ključne besede: response to immunocastration, pigs, anti-GnRH, morphometry, testicular mRNA expression Objavljeno v DKUM: 16.08.2023; Ogledov: 490; Prenosov: 104
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6. Salivary gland adaptation to dietary inclusion of hydrolysable tannins in boarsMaša Mavri, Marjeta Čandek-Potokar, Gregor Fazarinc, Martin Škrlep, Catrin Rutland, Božidar Potočnik, Nina Batorek Lukač, Valentina Kubale, 2022, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: The ingestion of hydrolysable tannins as a potential nutrient to reduce boar odor in entire males results in the significant enlargement of parotid glands (parotidomegaly). The objective of this study was to characterize the effects of different levels of hydrolysable tannins in the diet of fattening boars (n = 24) on salivary gland morphology and proline-rich protein (PRP) expression at the histological level. Four treatment groups of pigs (n = 6 per group) were fed either a control (T0) or experimental diet, where the T0 diet was supplemented with 1% (T1), 2% (T2), or 3% (T3) of the hydrolysable tannin-rich extract Farmatan®. After slaughter, the parotid and mandibular glands of the experimental pigs were harvested and dissected for staining using Goldner’s Trichrome method, and immunohistochemical studies with antibodies against PRPs. Morphometric analysis was performed on microtome sections of both salivary glands, to measure the acinar area, the lobular area, the area of the secretory ductal cells, and the sizes of glandular cells and their nuclei. Histological assessment revealed that significant parotidomegaly was only present in the T3 group, based on the presence of larger glandular lobules, acinar areas, and their higher nucleus to cytoplasm ratio. The immunohistochemical method, supported by color intensity measurements, indicated significant increases in basic PRPs (PRB2) in the T3 and acidic PRPs (PRH1/2) in the T1 groups. Tannin upplementation did not affect the histo-morphological properties of the mandibular gland. This study confirms that pigs can adapt to a tannin-rich diet by making structural changes in their parotid salivary gland, indicating its higher functional activity. Ključne besede: pigs, dietary supplements, tannins, parotid gland, mandibular gland, immunohistochemistry, histology, proline-rich proteins (PRP), swine Objavljeno v DKUM: 07.07.2023; Ogledov: 506; Prenosov: 199
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7. Effect of immunocastration on performance of Slovenian pig fattenersMartin Škrlep, Nina Batorek Lukač, Blaž Šegula, Marta Zajec, Stane Košorok, Marija Glavač-Vnuk, Valentina Kubale, Gregor Fazarinc, Marjeta Čandek-Potokar, 2011, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: The influence of the immunocastration (immunisation against GnRH) on pig performance (growth, carcass and meat quality traits) was investigated in two parallel experiments (on two farms) with two crossbreeds – G1 (50% Duroc) and G2 (50% Pietrain). Within the crossbreed, the pigs were assigned to three experimental groups; entire males (EM, n=49), immunocastrates (IC, n=45) and surgical castrates (SC, n=45). Those assigned to IC group were vaccinated at the age of 12 and 19 weeks. Pigs were individually housed, their feed intake (ad libitum) and weight (at 12, 19 and 24 weeks) were recorded. At the age of 24 weeks, the pigs were slaughtered and their carcass and meat quality traits were assessed. We hypothesized that treatment response could have been different in two crossbreeds. However the interaction was insignificant, thus the treatment effect is presented on pooled results for both crossbreeds. Until the revaccination, IC were similar to EM pigs, thereafter they exhibited an increase in feed intake and growth rate. Overall, they presented an advantage in growth rate and feed efficiency as compared to SC. They also exhibited better carcass properties as SC without any major effect on meat quality. The present study provides the initial information on the immunocastration effect in Slovenian herds that should further be supported by testing it in usual rearing conditions and group housing. Ključne besede: pig, immunocastration, growth performance, carcass properties, meat quality Objavljeno v DKUM: 24.08.2017; Ogledov: 1983; Prenosov: 111
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