The IVACS section held our annual student competition. This year, oral presentations were done instead of posters. We had lively interest, with 5 students that signed up to participate. Unfortunately, 2 had to drop out and 1 could not get travel arrangements together in time to participate. So, instead of cancelling the competition, we went ahead and let our 2 remaining students present their talks so the judges and audience could then ask questions and provide feedback. Both students did a great job and when asked who should win, judges Cindy Goodman, Bill Smith and Lia Campbell, were undecided. Still we offer congratulations to Richelle Monaghan and Cordula Bartel for a job well done.
Submitted by Lia Campbell
2010 IVACS Student Oral Presentation Competition Winners
Winners of the 2010 Student Oral Presentation Competition were:
Cordula Bartel
Tied for First place
Influence of Steroid Hormones on Canine Endometrial Cells in a Three-Dimensional In Vitro System
Cystic alterations of the canine endometrium compromise reproduction and fertility of the bitch and may lead to life-threatening diseases, like CEH and pyometra. The pathogenesis of these alterations is still unclear, although stimulation with estrogen followed by prolonged intervals of progesterone dominance is thought to be involved. Therefore, the aim of the study was to establish a three-dimensional in vitro system of the canine endometrium to study the influence of steroid hormones on cultured glandular explants to mimic the cyclic events in the native endometrium. Compared to a monolayer cell culture a three dimensional cell culture system complies with the physiological environment. Cell morphology and differentiation, as well as cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions are only comprehensible in a three-dimensional in vitro system. For this reason, intact uterine glands were isolated from 4 canine uteri and placed together with stromal cells on BD MatrigelTM for up to 3 days to support differentiation of cultured cells. On day 1 hormone substituation started (group1: 100 pg/ml b-estradiol, group 2: 30 ng/ml progesterone), together with a control group (standard medium) and one with hormone-free medium. Glandular structures were differentiated and polarized during culture time as shown by electron microscopy. Proliferation and steroid hormone receptor expression of cultured glands were verified by immunohistochemical staining. Preliminary results showed an increase of estrogen receptor expression and mitotic activity after b-estradiol substituation and a decrease of both after progesterone substituation. For valuable comparison the native tissue of the relative uterus and the glandular explants of the control group were analyzed too. This in vitro reconstitution of the canine endometrium is a promising tool for experimental studies to elucidate physiological and pathological events induced by steroid hormones on the cellular level.
Cordula Bartel, Vetmeduni Vienna, Department of Histology, Embryology and Anatomy, Veterinaerplatz 1, A – 1210 Vienna, AUSTRIA. Oral Presentation, SIVB Animal Cell Culture Applications Contributed Paper Session, Wednesday, June 9, 11:00 am –11:15am, 2010 In Vitro Biology Meeting held in collaboration with the 12th IAPB Congress.
S. Richelle Monaghan
Tied for First place
The Opportunities of the Microsporidian Anncaliia Algerae: In Vitro They Seem Unlimited
Microsporidia are intracellular parasites that require a host cell in order to proliferate. Taxonomically, microsporidia encompass over 1,200 species and approximately 150 genera, but are informally categorized according to their economically and clinically relevant hosts. These categories are: insect, mammalian, and fish. Anncaliia algerae (previously Brachiola algerae) is a microsporidian originally identified in insects, and had been considered as an agent to control mosquitoes until it was then discovered to be a pathogen of mammals, including humans. Could fish cells be infected? This research demonstrates that, in vitro at 27°C, A. algerae proliferates in insect, mammalian, and fish cells. Goldfish skin (GFSK-S1), zebra fish (Zeb2J), and fathead minnow testis (FHMT) cell lines were infected with A. algerae spores in addition to the insect and mammalian cell lines, Sf9 and RK-13 respectively. Polar tube extrusion could be seen in these cultures, indicative of spore germination. Development of mature spores was apparent after three days, and proliferation of spores continued for 7 days. Mature spores were visible using phase contrast and fluorescence microscopy following staining with 1 µg/ml of 4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that a microsporidian is capable of infecting all three informal categories of hosts. Although some microsporidian species show restrictions and/or tropisms with respect to hosts, this research suggests that A. algerae can infect any animal cell in vitro, which may mean that it is a parasite of opportunity, capable of infecting any host under the appropriate conditions.
S. Richelle Monaghan, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1. Oral Presentation, SIVB Animal Cell Culture Applications Contributed Paper Session, Wednesday, June 9, 11:45 am –12:00 pm, 2010 In Vitro Biology Meeting held in collaboration with the 12th IAPB Congress.
