Relationships between monounsaturated fatty acids of marbling flecks and image analysis traits in longissimus muscle for Japanese Black steers

The percentage of MUFA to total fatty acids of beef differs among intermuscular, intramuscular, and subcutaneous fat even within an individual cow. Our objective was to investigate the variation of the percentage of MUFA by geometric and sectional change of marbling flecks in rib eye. Longissimus muscles of 8 Japanese Black steers from a common sire and a common maternal grand sire were used. Three slices (1 from rib roast and 2 from sirloin) from each animal were selected for analysis. Five marbling flecks from each slice were randomly taken to obtain the percentage of MUFA using gas chromatography. High-quality digital images of all slices were taken with a mirror-type camera. The area and location of each marbling fleck were calculated by image analysis. The marbling flecks were categorized by area [small <0.4 cm(2), medium 0.4 to 2.0 cm(2), large >2.0 cm(2)], by location (dorsal and ventral), and by slice section through the LM (front, middle, and back). The effects of classification according to the area, location, and slice section were statistically significant (P < 0.05) for the percentage of MUFA. Least squares means of the percentage of MUFA for marbling flecks of sizes small, medium, and large were 56.8, 58.4, and 60.2%, respectively, indicating that larger marbling flecks had greater MUFA (P < 0.05). Those of dorsal, ventral, front, middle, and back were 59.1, 57.8, 55.4, 59.9, and 60.1%, respectively. The percentages of MUFA of the marbling flecks located in the dorsal part were greater than those in the ventral part (P < 0.05). The percentages of MUFA from middle and back were greater than those from front (P < 0.01). We suggest that the area, location, and slice section of marbling would be the determining factors for the percentage of MUFA of marbling.     

Comparative anatomical study on the relationships between the vestigial pelvic bones and the surrounding structures of finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides)

Morphology of the modern cetaceans represents the results of adaptation of the ancestral terrestrial mammals to aquatic life through their evolutional processes. Some of the primitive fossil cetaceans are known to have both fore and hind limbs, whereas the pelvic bones of modern cetaceans are, in general, a pair of slender rod-like structures within the abdominal wall muscles just anterior to the anus with no articulations to the axial skeleton in both sexes. It is interesting and important to consider the causes and processes of how the hind limbs were lost and how the pelvis was reduced during the process of adaptation. In the present study, we tried to evaluate the topography and function of rudimentary pelvic bones of the finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides), one of the members of the odontocete cetaceans, with special references to the structures around the pelvic bones. Some soft tissues such as M. ischiocavernosus relating to the pelvic bone are transformed following the drastic reduction of the pelvis. This transformation tells us that the cetaceans adapted to the aquatic life during evolutional processes chose the tail flukes driven by the powerful trunk muscles for locomotion, instead of modifying the hind limbs into hind flippers as seen in pinnipeds. On the other hand, it is evident that a function of the pelvic bones of the male finless porpoise was supporting the penis as those of terrestrial mammals. It is noteworthy that the morphological features of the ancestral terrestrial mammals can be traced when they are carefully compared with those of the finless porpoise.     

猪肾段动脉与肾段的观察

通过对３７例猪肾动脉分支的观察，发现猪肾动脉较恒定地发出５支肾段动脉，即前内侧、前背侧、前腹侧、中间腹侧及后侧肾段动脉。相应的分布区即为具同名肾段。前内侧肾段位于肾门前内侧，前背侧肾段位于肾前侧半的背侧部，前腹侧肾段位于肾前侧半的腹侧部，中间腹侧肾段分布区呈狭长带形，位于肾腹侧中间处后侧，而后侧肾段分布区很广，可分为背、腹侧两个亚段。     

蒙古马全身主要骨骼肌表型谱的构建及比较研究

为探究蒙古马骨骼肌在运动和肉质方面的特点，本研究选取2匹5岁健康未调教的成年公马全身主要骨骼肌52块(2匹×26块)作为研究对象。试验采用石蜡切片、免疫组化、HE染色的方法得到26个部位骨骼肌形态、快慢肌纤维分布情况、肌纤维横截面积。因不同部位骨骼肌存在差异，本研究将肌肉组织分为5组(头颈部、前肢、躯干部、腹壁侧、后肢)分别进行统计。将其中对应的24个部位与前期得到的纯血马骨骼肌快慢肌纤维比例进行分组比对。结果得到蒙古马全身主要骨骼肌的表型谱，其中颈锯肌、冈上肌、臂二头肌、腕桡侧屈肌、腓肠肌、菱形肌、胸腹侧锯肌的慢肌纤维占比较低；腕桡侧伸肌、臂三头肌、背最长肌、臀中肌慢肌纤维占比达70%以上；且慢肌纤维占比与肌纤维横截面积呈负相关。蒙古马骨骼肌慢肌纤维占比基本高于纯血马，前肢、躯干部差异极显著(P<0.01),后肢、腹壁侧差异显著(P<0.05)。其中蒙古马与纯血马在臂三头肌、臀中肌、半膜肌和背最长肌慢肌纤维的差值大于50%。结果表明，蒙古马颈锯肌、冈上肌、臂二头肌、腕桡侧屈肌、腓肠肌、菱形肌、胸腹侧锯肌具有耐力训练的潜力；腕桡侧伸肌、臂三头肌、背最长肌、臀中肌品质好，可为...     

The effects of feeding and fasting on gastrointestinal sounds in adult horses

The effect of changes in feed intake on auscultatable gastrointestinal sounds has not been systematically studied. Disagreement also is present in the literature about variation in sounds according to the quadrant of auscultation. Gastrointestinal sounds were recorded over the center of the left dorsal, left ventral, right ventral, and right dorsal quadrants and over the middle of the right abdominal flank. During 24 hours (n = 4) or 48 hours (n = 5) of fasting, there was a reduction in the intensity of gastrointestinal sounds as assessed by analysis of sound recordings. There was also a reduction in the number of mixing-like and propulsive-like sounds heard by 2 blinded observers. After refeeding, there was a marked increase in sound. Sound intensity varied among abdominal quadrants, but blinded observers did not notice significant differences in the number of mixing-like sounds. The left dorsal quadrant was quieter than others during fasting and refeeding. The right ventral quadrant appeared to be least affected by fasting, and sounds were louder over the right ventral and right middle quadrants than over the others. The blinded observers' perceptions of sound correlated poorly with one another and with objective measures of sound intensity. This experiment demonstrates the effectiveness of computerized analysis of abdominal sound in detecting a reduction in the intensity of gastrointestinal sounds during fasting and their return during refeeding. The left dorsal quadrant was quieter than other quadrants, likely because of its position over the small colon. There was considerable observer variation in the number of intestinal sounds heard.     

台湾次睾吸虫成虫体被的扫描电镜观察

台湾次睾吸虫１５日龄成虫经扫描电观察，虫体整个背面和腹面前４／５的体表皮层着生有鱼鳞状的簇生体棘，簇生体棘在虫体前端分布较密集，由前向后渐变稀疏，每一个簇生体棘中含３－６个尖刀形棘。口盘上有１５－１８个无纤毛圆丘型乳突，腹吸盘唇部光滑无乳突分布，但在其周围可见到１０余个花蕾状乳突。     

Distribution of atrophy in the nasal ventral conchae of piglets infected experimentally with Bordetella bronchiseptica.

The distribution and extent of atrophy caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica in the nasal ventral conchae were investigated by intranasally infecting piglets at day 4 of life. Experimental and control piglets were killed at one, two, three, four, five and six weeks of age. Serial transverse 80 microns thick nondecalcified sections were cut throughout the entire length of the nasal ventral conchae, and microradiographed. It was observed that the distribution and extent of atrophy was not uniform along the ventral conchae. The articular and transverse laminae as well as the connecting zone were not atrophied, except at their rostral extremity. The entire dorsal scroll was atrophied. This atrophy was moderate, except at the rostral and caudal extremities of the dorsal scroll, where its size was less than half that of the controls. The ventral scroll was less atrophied than the dorsal scroll, although a marked atrophy was present at its rostral extremity. From these observations, it is suggested that two transverse sections should be made through the nose of pigs in order to establish a diagnosis of atrophic rhinitis at slaughter: one section at the level of the first-second premolar tooth and one more rostral section, at the level of the canine tooth.     

Biometrical Studies on the Cornea in Some Domestic Animals

The ringed seal ( Phoca hispida ), as well as other seals, exhibit some unique anatomical properties when compared to their terrestrial counterparts. In the ringed seal, the most conspicuous adaptation is the aortic bulb, a large dilatation of the ascending aorta, which is comparable to that found in other seal species and marine mammals. Coronary arteries are similar to those of terrestrial mammals. The branches of the ascending aorta (brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid artery and left subclavian artery) are similar to those of higher primates and man. The pulmonary trunk originates from the right ventricle near the ventral midline of the thorax. The peculiarities of the venous system are three pulmonary veins, a pericardial venous plexus, a caval sphincter, a hepatic sinus with paired caudal vena cavae and a large extradural venous system. Generally, three pulmonary veins (right, left, middle) empty into the left atrium. The right and left pulmonary veins drain the cranial and middle lung lobes of their respective lung, while the middle pulmonary vein drains both caudal lung lobes and the accessory lobe. The pericardial venous plexus lies on the pericardial pleura on the auricular (ventral) surface the heart. The azygous vein is formed from the union of right and left azygous veins near the 5th thoracic vertebra. The caval sphincter surrounds the caudal vena cava as it passes through the diaphragm. Caudal to the diaphragm, the vena cava is dilated excessively (the hepatic sinus) and near the kidneys it is biphid. Cardiovascular physiological studies have shown some of these anatomical variations, especially of the venous system and the ascending aorta, to be modifications for diving.     

Papillar morphology of the rumen of forest reindeer (Rangifer tarandus fennicus) and semidomesticated reindeer (R. t. tarandus)

The papillar morphology of the ventral and dorsal rumen of the wild forest reindeer (Rangifer tarandus fennicus Lönn.) and semidomesticated reindeer (R. t. tarandus L.) was studied in October and November 1996. The morphological measurements which were carried out were: the lengths of the papillae, the number of the papillae per square centimetre, the cross‐sectional area and perimeter of sections cut from the middle of papillae. From these measurements mean papillar volume, areal papillar volume, mean papillar (epithelial) surface area, areal papillar surface and surface enlargement factor were calculated. No differences in these measurements between ventral and dorsal walls of the rumen were evident. The semidomesticated reindeer had longer papillar perimeters, larger mean and areal papillar surface areas, larger mean papillar volumes, and a larger surface enlargement factor in the ventral rumen than did forest reindeer. This may be a result of differences between feeding habits, the semidomesticated reindeer preferring a diet including more plants rich in carbohydrates e.g. lichens, which has resulted in a high production of volatile fatty acids and thus stimulation of papillar growth.     

Ultrasound-guided modified subcostal transversus abdominis plane block and influence of recumbency position on dye spread in equine cadavers

ObjectiveTo describe and evaluate an ultrasound-guided modified subcostal approach for the transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in horse cadavers in lateral or dorsal recumbency.Study designProspective, experimental cadaveric study.AnimalsStudy of one preserved foal and eight fresh adult horse cadavers.MethodsThe lateral and ventral abdominal wall of a preserved cadaver was dissected to identify the muscles and nerves. A unilateral standard TAP block technique was performed (60 mL of methylene blue dye–bupivacaine) on a fresh cadaver in right lateral recumbency. A modified subcostal technique was performed on the opposite side using a linear ultrasound transducer and in-plane approach. Injection points (two 30 mL dye) were at the level of the TAP (between the rectus abdominis and transversus abdominis muscles and ventral to the cutaneous trunci muscle) perpendicular to: 1) the mid-point between the xiphoid cartilage and umbilical scar; and 2) at a point between the caudal and middle thirds of the abdomen measured from the first injection point to the umbilical scar. The modified subcostal approach was performed in seven additional cadavers in both hemiabdomens, with three cadavers in lateral and four cadavers in dorsal recumbency. Ultrasound guidance was used with all injections.ResultsThe standard approach stained the sixteenth to eighteenth thoracic nerves (T16–T18). The modified subcostal approach performed in lateral recumbency provided greater spread (T9–T17) than dorsal recumbency (T12–T18) (p = 0.016).Conclusions and clinical relevanceThe modified subcostal TAP approach resulted in extensive staining exceeding the standard approach. The nerves stained are consistent with production of ventral abdominal wall anesthesia in horses. Clinical studies are needed to verify these findings.     

Distribution Pattern of Neuropeptide Y in the Brain, Pituitary and Olfactory System during the Larval Development of the Toad Rhinella arenarum (Amphibia: Anura)

The first NPY-immunoreactivity (ir) in the central nervous system of Rhinella arenarum was obtained just after hatching in the pre-optic area, ventral thalamus and rostral rhombencephalon. During pre-metamorphosis, new NPY-ir cells were observed in other brain areas such as pallium, septum and striatum, infundibulum and pars intermedia of the pituitary. Further maturation continued through pro-metamorphosis with the appearance of cell groups in the diagonal band, amygdala, pre-optic nucleus, dorsal nucleus of the habenula, anterior ventral and dorsal thalamus, suprachiasmatic nucleus, tuberculum posterior, tectum, torus semicircularis, inter-peduncular nucleus and median eminence. During the metamorphic climax and soon after, the relative abundance of NPY-ir fibres decreased in all hypothalamic areas and the staining intensity and number of NPY-ir cells in the pallium also decreased, whereas no cells were found in the striatum, dorsal nucleus of the habenula and tectum. In the olfactory epithelium, nerve or bulb, neither cells nor NPY-ir fibres were found during the stages of development analysed. The ontogeny pattern of the NPY-ir neuronal system in the brain of Rh. arenarum is more similar to the spatiotemporal appearance reported for Rana esculenta than to that reported for Xenopus laevis . Many NPY-ir fibres were found in the median eminence and in the pars intermedia of the pituitary, supporting the idea that this neuropeptide may play a role in the modulation of hypophyseal secretion during development.     

双峰驼髂内动脉的形态学观察

采用血管内灌注有色油画颜料的方法,解剖观察了双峰驼髂内动脉的分支及分布情况.髂内动脉是骨盆部动脉的主干,其分支有脐动脉、臀前动脉、闭孔动脉、臀后动脉和阴部内动脉.阴部内动脉的分支有阴道动脉、直肠中动脉、会阴腹侧动脉和阴蒂动脉.在双峰驼未见有会阴背侧动脉.还就双峰驼和其它家畜髂内动脉的解剖学特点进行了比较讨论.     

Suspensory apparatus of the bovine udder in the Estonian black and white Holstein breed: increased milk production (udder mass) induced changes in the pelvic structure

Bovine udders, together with the attached section of the ventral abdominal wall, as well as the bony pelvic floor were studied. The parts of the suspensory apparatus and attachment to the body were investigated. The location of the medial and lateral laminae served as the basis for classifying them into abdominal and pelvic parts. The udder base is attached to the ventral abdominal wall by means of the dorsal connective tissue plate. The abdominal part of the medial lamina and the pelvic part of the lateral lamina are the functionally more important bands. Sixty per cent of the udder base is attached to the ventral abdominal wall and 40% to the pelvic floor by the symphysial tendon. The symphysial tendon is attached to the ventral pubic tubercle and the symphysial eminence as well as to the symphysial crest, which develops by the fourth year. In order to study the osseous changes, bovine pelvises from the Middle Ages, the beginning of the 20th century, and the present time were compared. Increased udder mass has brought about changes in the structures of the suspensory apparatus of the udder and in the structure of the pelvis.     

双峰驼肾动脉分布

应用大体解剖学和血管铸型方法,研究了12峰双峰驼肾动脉的分支分布。结果显示,肾脏的肾动脉在进入肾门之前均分成一背干和一腹干,在肾窦内,背干分为一前支,再由前、后支分别发出背部贤脏的各肾段动脉。腹干不分前、后支,而由主干直接发出腹部肾脏的各肾段动脉。不仅各肾段动脉之间未见吻合,背干及其分支与腹干及其分支之间也无吻合。左肾肾段动脉共13条,右肾肾段动脉12条。表明,双峰驼不仅左、右肾的肾动脉与肾段动脉不尽相同,各肾的背部和腹部的动脉供应也存在差异。肾动脉的背干和腹干是相对独立的。     

The Great Vessels and Tributaries of the Heart of the Ringed Seal (Phoca hispida)

The ringed seal (Phoca hispida), as well as other seals, exhibit some unique anatomical properties when compared to their terrestrial counterparts. In the ringed seal, the most conspicuous adaptation is the aortic bulb, a large dilatation of the ascending aorta, which is comparable to that found in other seal species and marine mammals. Coronary arteries are similar to those of terrestrial mammals. The branches of the ascending aorta (brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid artery and left subclavian artery) are similar to those of higher primates and man. The pulmonary trunk originates from the right ventricle near the ventral midline of the thorax. The peculiarities of the venous system are three pulmonary veins, a pericardial venous plexus, a caval sphincter, a hepatic sinus with paired caudal vena cavae and a large extradural venous system. Generally, three pulmonary veins (right, left, middle) empty into the left atrium. The right and left pulmonary veins drain the cranial and middle lung lobes of their respective lung, while the middle pulmonary vein drains both caudal lung lobes and the accessory lobe. The pericardial venous plexus lies on the pericardial pleura on the auricular (ventral) surface the heart. The azygous vein is formed from the union of right and left azygous veins near the 5th thoracic vertebra. The caval sphincter surrounds the caudal vena cava as it passes through the diaphragm. Caudal to the diaphragm, the vena cava is dilated excessively (the hepatic sinus) and near the kidneys it is biphid. Cardiovascular physiological studies have shown some of these anatomical variations, especially of the venous system and the ascending aorta, to be modifications for diving.     

Axogenesis in the central and peripheral nervous system of the amphipod crustacean Orchestia cavimana

We describe the formation of the major axon pathways in the embryonic central and peripheral nervous systems of the amphipod crustacean Orchestia cavimana Heller, 1865 by means of antibody staining against acetylated alpha‐tubulin. The data add to a long list of previous studies of various other aspects of development in Orchestia and provide a basis for future studies of neurogenesis on a deeper cellular and molecular level. Orchestia exhibits a tripartite dorsal brain, which is a characteristic feature of euarthropods. Its anlagen are the first detectable structures in the developing nervous system and can be traced back to distinct neuronal cell clusters in the early embryo. The development of the ventral nervous system proceeds with an anteroposterior gradient of development. In each trunk segment, the longitudinal connectives and the anterior commissure form first, followed by the intersegmental nerve, the posterior commissure and segmental nerves, respectively. A single commissure of a vestigial seventh pleonal segment is found. In the peripheral nervous system we observe a spatial and temporal pattern of leg innervation, which is strikingly similar in both limb types, the uniramous pereopods and the biramous pleopods. A proximal leg nerve splitting distally into two separated nerves probably reflects a general feature of crustaceans.     

A case of feline paraneoplastic alopecia with secondary Malossezia-associated dermatitis

A 13-year-old neutered female domestic shorthaired cat had progressive ventral abdominal alopecia attributed initially to hyperthyroidism. Corrective treatment by unilateral thyroidectomy did not, however, resolve the dermatosis and the alopecia progressed to involve the whole ventral trunk, the lower limbs and the head. Pruritus of the lower limbs was a prominent feature and was associated with the finding of Malassezia on cytology; Malassezia -associated dermatitis was diagnosed. Resolution of pruritus was seen after treatment with oral ketoconazole and a cleansing shampoo to eliminate the yeast, but severe polyphagia, small intestinal diarrhoea and polydipsia developed subsequently and the cat was euthanased. Necropsy revealed an exocrine pancreatic adenocarcinoma with hepatic metastases. The pancreatic, hepatic and dermatologlcal lesions were found to be typical of feline paraneoplastic alopecia (FPA). Malassezia -associated dermatitis can be associated with pruritus in cats with FPA.     

Stabilisation with dorsal and ventral fixation of a traumatic cervical instability in a dog

This case study reports the outcome of dorsal and ventral stabilisation of a traumatic cervical instability in a dog. A 2-year-old, male Pointer was admitted following a motor vehicle accident. Clinical examination revealed non-ambulatory tetraparesis, severe neck pain and upper motor neuron changes in all limbs. Deep pain response was present. Subluxation of C2/3 and fractures of the dorsal spinous process and lamina of C2 were observed on radiographs. Ventral stabilisation was performed with screws and bone cement (polymethylmethacrylate). For dorsal fixation of the fractures, screws and cerclage wire were used. The dog stood up independently after 1 month, was able to walk 1.5 months postoperatively and had recovered completely at 1 year following surgery. We conclude that combined stabilisation techniques are effective for this type of cervical fracture in which the dorsal, middle and ventral structures of the vertebra are severely disrupted.