Stereological design techniques applied to bovine rumen evaluation

• Grant number: 17/06449-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2017
• End date: April 30, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Francisco Javier Hernandez Blazquez
• Grantee: Samuel Viana de Souza
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 15/50095-3 - Expression of proteins of cell communication and cell junctions in the digestive system of cattle fetuses, newborn calves and adult cattle, AP.TEM

Abstract

The coating epithelium and ruminal musculature undergo various physiological and morphological adaptations that prepare them for their functions of bacterial fermentation chamber and absorption of volatile fatty acids. The ruminal epithelium and myenteric plexus are crucial for the digestive and physiological adaptations of adult feeding in ruminants, but the cellular and nervous adaptation process is poorly studied. The study of junction proteins is necessary for a better understanding of intercellular functions and interactions. For this, the present study will use immunohistochemical techniques for the identification, microscopic localization and detection of cadherins (E and N), catenins (a and P) and connexins (26, 32, 40 and 43) of bovine fetus rumen 30,110 and 150 days of development), newborn calves and adult bovines, in order to verify the expression pattern of these molecules in each stage studied. In adult animals, it will also be verified and effect of different dietary energy sources on these aspects of the ruminal epithelium. The project will also study the adaptive mechanisms of myenteric plexuses, at different stages of postnatal and adult development. In adult animals, it will also be verified and effect of different dietary energy sources on these aspects of the ruminal epithelium. The connexins selected for the study are the ones that are most likely to be found based on skin studies, since there is no comprehensive study of the subject even in the animal's esophagus epithelium which would be the closest tissue. However, also by genetic sequencing and real-time PCR we will look for other junction molecules that can also be coexpressed in each step (AU)