Measurement of the cytotoxic effects of different strains of Mycoplasma equigenitalium on the equine uterine tube using a calmodulin assay.
Abstract: The cytopathic effects induced by five strains of Mycoplasma equigenitalium for cells of equine uterine tube explants were tested by measuring changes in cellular and extracellular concentrations of calmodulin (CaM). Calmodulin concentrations in samples of total homogenate (TH) and total homogenate supernates (THS) of the infected equine uterine tube explants were significantly lower than respective measurements on noninfected controls. In tissue culture medium fractions (TCM) of some infected explants, CaM concentrations were significantly higher than noninfected controls (p > 0.95). The results suggest that M. equigenitalium colonization on ciliated cells of the equine uterine tube can affect the permeability of the cell membrane leading to leakage or release of CaM during cell breakdown. Measurement of CaM concentrations in samples of TH revealed significant differences in the cytotoxic effects induced by different strains of M. equigenitalium on the equine uterine tube (EUT). The data suggests that some strains of M. equigenitalium may have a role in reproductive failure in the mare. In addition comparisons of the means of the concentrations of CaM in samples of TH or THS in EUT explants from four mares in the follicular and four in the luteal phase of the estrous cycle were found to be not significantly different.
Publication Date: 1992-10-01 PubMed ID: 1477802PubMed Central: PMC1263565
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This study explores the damaging effects of different types of Mycoplasma equigenitalium bacterium on horse uterine tissue, using calmodulin assays. The research indicates that some variants of the bacterium may cause reproductive failure in mares.
Testing Cytopathic Effects
The researchers wanted to study the harmful effects caused by five different strains of Mycoplasma equigenitalium on cells harvested from horse uterine tubes. They carried out their experiments using a technique that measures variations in calmodulin (CaM).
- Calmodulin is a calcium-binding messenger protein that plays vital roles in numerous cellular functions including cell division and apoptosis (programmed cell death). Measuring CaM concentrations is one approach to gauge cell health and function.
Findings on Calmodulin Concentrations
The study found that in infected samples of total homogenate (whole-cell mixtures) and total homogenate supernates (the liquid component after cell separation), CaM levels were significantly lower than in non-infected counterparts.
- Conversely, in some infected explants’ tissue culture medium fractions (TCM – the part containing the nutrients required for cell growth), CaM levels were significantly higher than those of non-infected ones.
- This raises the possibility that Mycoplasma equigenitalium infection disrupts the cell membrane’s integrity, leading to leakage or release of CaM during cell damage and death in horse uterine tubes.
Impact on Reproductive Failure
Measuring CaM concentrations revealed notable differences in the levels of cell damage caused by different strains of Mycoplasma equigenitalium on equine uterine tubes.
- This discovery indicates that some types of the bacterium might play a role in causing reproductive issues in horses.
- Nevertheless, the study found no significant differences when comparing CaM levels in samples taken from mares during different phases of their reproductive cycle, suggesting that the bacterium’s harmful effects occur regardless of the reproductive stage.
Cite This Article
APA
Bermúdez VM, Miller RB, Rosendal S, Fernando MA, Johnson WH, O'Brien PJ.
(1992).
Measurement of the cytotoxic effects of different strains of Mycoplasma equigenitalium on the equine uterine tube using a calmodulin assay.
Can J Vet Res, 56(4), 331-338.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Pathology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bacterial Adhesion
- Calmodulin / analysis
- Cell Membrane Permeability
- Culture Techniques
- Female
- Follicular Phase
- Horses / microbiology
- Luteal Phase
- Mycoplasma / pathogenicity
- Uterus / microbiology
References
This article includes 17 references
- Cox JA. Interactive properties of calmodulin.. Biochem J 1988 Feb 1;249(3):621-9.
- Cox JA. Calcium-calmodulin interaction and cellular function.. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 1986;8 Suppl 8:S48-51.
- Rosendal S, Valdivieso-Garcia A. Enumeration of mycoplasmas after acridine orange staining.. Appl Environ Microbiol 1981 Apr;41(4):1000-2.
- Klee CB, Crouch TH, Richman PG. Calmodulin.. Annu Rev Biochem 1980;49:489-515.
- Gietzen K, Sadorf I, Bader H. A model for the regulation of the calmodulin-dependent enzymes erythrocyte Ca2+-transport ATPase and brain phosphodiesterase by activators and inhibitors.. Biochem J 1982 Dec 1;207(3):541-8.
- Freedman RI, Zeira M, Dirksen ER. Some aspects of the regulation of ciliary activity in mammalian somatic cells.. J Submicrosc Cytol 1983 Jan;15(1):97-100.
- Sharma RK, Wang JH. Preparation and assay of the Ca2+--dependent modulator protein.. Adv Cyclic Nucleotide Res 1979;10:187-98.
- Moorthy AR, Spradbrow PB, Eisler ME. Isolation of mycoplasmas from the genital tract of horses.. Aust Vet J 1977 Apr;53(4):167-9.
- Engle CC, Foley CW. Certain physiochemical properties of uterine tubal fluid, follicular fluid, and blood plasma in the mare.. Am J Vet Res 1975 Feb;36(2):149-54.
- Klamut HJ, Kotarba JA, Strickland KP. Calmodulin levels in developing muscle tissues and primary cultures of normal and dystrophic (UM-X7.1) hamsters.. Muscle Nerve 1987 Jan;10(1):69-76.
- O'Brien PJ, Forsyth GW, Olexson DW, Thatte HS, Addis PB. Canine malignant hyperthermia susceptibility: erythrocytic defects--osmotic fragility, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and abnormal Ca2+ homeostasis.. Can J Comp Med 1984 Oct;48(4):381-9.
- Cheung WY. Calmodulin.. Sci Am 1982 Jun;246(6):62-70.
- Verdugo P, Raess BV, Villalon M. The role of calmodulin in the regulation of ciliary movement in mammalian epithelial cilia.. J Submicrosc Cytol 1983 Jan;15(1):95-6.
- Kirchhoff H, Heitmann J, Bisping W. [Mycoplasmas isolated from the genital tract of mares (author's transl)].. Zentralbl Bakteriol A 1980 Mar;246(2):228-35.
- Heitmann J, Kirchhoff H, Petzoldt K, Sonnenschein B. Isolation of acholeplasmas and mycoplasmas from aborted horse fetuses.. Vet Rec 1979 Apr 14;104(15):350.
- Stalheim OH, Gallagher JE. Effects of Mycoplasma spp, Trichomonas fetus, and Campylobacter fetus on ciliary activity of bovine uterine tube organ cultures.. Am J Vet Res 1975 Aug;36(08):1077-80.
- Moorthy AR, Spradbrow PB. The effect of mycoplasmas and acholeplasmas of equine origin on organ cultures of chicken-embryo trachea.. J Comp Pathol 1985 Apr;95(2):209-16.
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Nehra K, Rana R, Viswas KN, Arun TR, Singh VP, Singh AP, Prabhu SN. Isolation and molecular identification of Mycoplasma equigenitalium from equine genital tracts in northern India. Iran J Vet Res 2015 Spring;16(2):176-81.
- Smits B, Rosendal S, Ruhnke HL, Plante C, O'Brien PJ, Miller RB. Effects of Ureaplasma diversum on bovine oviductal explants: quantitative measurement using a calmodulin assay. Can J Vet Res 1994 Apr;58(2):114-21.
- O'Brien PJ, Duke AL, Shen H, Shohet RV. Myocardial mRNA content and stability, and enzyme activities of Ca-cycling and aerobic metabolism in canine dilated cardiomyopathies. Mol Cell Biochem 1995 Jan 26;142(2):139-50.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
