Quantification and morphometry of myenteric neurones in the jejunum of Holtzman rats (Rattus norvegicus)

With 2 figures and 3 tables SUMMARY: The morphological pattern of the myenteric plexus (MP) is species-specific, and little is known about this pattern in Holtzman rats. The aim of the current experiment was the morphological and quantitative study of myenteric neurones in the Holtzman rat jejunum. Hematoxylin-Eosin and NADH-diaphorase (NADH-dp) staining were used to assess muscular layer thickness, neurone cell body area (CBA) and nuclei area (NA). Muscular layer thickness was found to be 114.77 ± 14.89 μm. Neuronal densities across the subregions of the jejunum were similar: mesenteric, 11.78 ± 2.89/mm(2) ; intermediate, 12.06 ± 2.69/mm(2) ; and antimesenteric, 10.67 ± 1.89/mm(2) . As expected, there was positive correlation between the CBA and NA of 79.19, 79.26 and 78.5% in the mesenteric, intermediate and antimesenteric subregions of the jejunum, respectively. Medium-sized neurones predominated in the ganglionic arrangement of the MP. These results indicate that the NADH-dp myenteric neurones in the jejunum of Holtzman rats are similar in many aspects to those found in the ileum of Holtzman rats and to those found in the small intestine of Wistar rats, including their location, ganglionic disposition and predominance of medium-sized CBA. However, neuronal density in the jejunum is lower than in the ileum. Based on these results showing morphological similarities to the MP of the Wistar rat, the Holtzman strain can be used to investigate the effects of adverse conditions on the morphology of the MP.     

Modular hybrid total hip arthroplasty. Experimental study in dogs

Background

This prospective experimental study evaluated the surgical procedure and results of modular hybrid total hip arthroplasty in dogs.

Methods

Ten skeletally mature healthy mongrel dogs with weights varying between 19 and 27 kg were used. Cemented modular femoral stems and uncemented porous-coated acetabular cups were employed. Clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed before surgery and at 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 and 360 days post-operation.

Results

Excellent weight bearing was noticed in the operated limb in seven dogs. Dislocation followed by loosening of the prosthesis was noticed in two dogs, which were therefore properly treated with a femoral head osteotomy. Femoral fracture occurred in one dog, which was promptly treated with full implant removal and femoral osteosynthesis.

Conclusions

The canine modular hybrid total hip arthroplasty provided excellent functionality of the operated limb.     

Impacts of spatial variability of basins microtopography on irrigation performance

Land microtopography unevenness is a key variable affecting basin irrigation performances. Using stochastic modeling, a number of sets of spatially variable surface elevations were generated, and a two-dimensional basin irrigation model was used to simulate irrigation for the generated sets. Strip, narrow and wide basins, as well as graded and zero-levelled basins were analyzed. Results show that spatial variability of basin microtopography influences the infiltrated depth when the advance is completed (Z _adv) and the irrigation uniformity (DU_lq). When the degree of unevenness increases, the Z _adv value and its range of variation also increase, thus indicating that overirrigation increases with unevenness, mainly when zero leveling is adopted, inflow rates are small, and basin length is larger. Differently, DU_lq is relatively small and insensitive to unevenness in case of graded basins, but is much larger and sensitive in case of zero leveling. This indicates that when water saving is aimed, it is preferable to adopt graded basins and shorter cut-off times, while it is better to adopt zero leveling and high inflow rates when high DU_lq is pretended.     

Relationship among blood indicators of lipomobilization and hepatic function during early lactation in high-yielding dairy cows

Blood indicators are used as a tool to diagnose metabolic disorders. The present work was conducted to study the relationships among blood indicators of lipomobilization and hepatic function in high-yielding dairy cows. Two groups of Holstein cows were studied: 27 early lactation cows and 14 mid lactation cows from four different herds with similar husbandry characteristics in Galicia, Spain. Blood samples were obtained to measure beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), triglycerides (TG), and the activity of aspartate transaminase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transferase. Cows in early lactation had higher levels of BHB and NEFA than mid lactation cows. High lipomobilization (NEFA > 400 µmol/L) was detected in 67% and 7% of early lactation and mid lactation cows, respectively, while subclinical ketosis (BHB > 1.2 mmol/L) was detected in 41% and 28% of the early lactation and lactation cows, respectively. TG concentrations were low in all cows suffering subclinical ketosis and in 61% of the cows with high lipomobilization. During early lactation, 30% of cows suffered hepatic lipidosis as detected by levels of AST. Compromised hepatic function was observed in early lactation cows as shown by lower concentrations of glucose, total protein, and urea.     

Genome-wide scan for runs of homozygosity in the composite Montana Tropical® beef cattle

The aim of this study was to assess the distribution of runs of homozygosity (ROH) and autozygosity islands in the composite Montana Tropical^® beef cattle to explore hotspot regions which could better characterize the different biological types within the composite breed. Montana animals (n = 1,436) were genotyped with the GGP-LD BeadChip (~30,000 markers). ROH was identified in every individual using the plink v1.90 software. Medium and long ROH prevailed in the genome, which accounted for approximately 74% of all ROH detected. On an average, 2.0% of the genome was within ROH, agreeing with the pedigree-based inbreeding coefficient. The Montana cattle with a higher proportion of productive breed types showed the highest number of autozygosity islands (n = 17), followed by those with a higher proportion of breeds adapted to tropical environments (n = 15). Enriched terms (p < .05) associated with the immune and inflammatory response, homeostasis, reproduction, mineral absorption, and lipid metabolism were described within the autozygosity islands. In this regard, over-represented GO terms and KEGG pathways described in this population may play a key role in providing information to explore the genetic and biological mechanisms together with the genomic regions underlying each biological type that favoured their optimal performance ability in tropical and subtropical regions.     

BMP-15 activity on in vitro development of collared peccary (Pecari tajacu Linnaeus, 1758) preantral follicles

This study investigated the effects of BMP-15 on the in vitro development of preantral follicles of collared peccaries. Ovarian fragments were cultured for 1 or 6 days in Tissue Culture Medium 199 (TCM199⁺) supplemented with BMP-15 at rates of 0, 1, 25 or 50 ng/ml. The fragments were analysed histologically by evaluating follicular morphology, activation and growth as well as the potential for proliferation of granulosa cells. Our results show the addition of 25 ng/ml BMP-15 in the medium provided the greatest percentage of normal follicles (79.67% ± 0.69) when compared to other treatments (p < .05); however, this result is similar to 1 ng/ml BMP-15 (74.00% ± 1.90, p > .05). Moreover, 25 and 50 ng/ml of BMP-15 promoted follicular activation. BMP-15 supplements did not affect oocyte and follicular growth. All concentrations of BMP-15 increased the number of nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) after 1 day of culture when compared to fresh fragments or the control samples (p < .05). However, at the end of the experiment, the number of NORs in follicles cultured in all treatments was higher than that observed in the fresh control (sample taken prior to culturing) (p > .05). In summary, the addition of 25 ng/ml BMP-15 to the culture medium of collared peccary preantral follicles maintained a high number of morphologically healthy follicles and stimulated the activation of primordial follicles after 6 days in culture.     

Prediction,structure characterization,and evolutionary analysis of Erwinia psidii putative type III effectors

Erwinia psidii is a gram-negative bacterium that threatens both guava and eucalypt plantations in several countries. Despite the economic importance of both crops, nothing is currently known about the molecular mechanisms underlying E. psidii pathogenicity and, consequently, how it evolved to infect Eucalyptus species besides its presumed native host Psidium guajava. In this study, we predicted putative type III secretion system effectors that may play important roles during plant–E. psidii interactions and conducted effector structure and phylogenetic analyses to gain important insights into their function and evolution. For that, the whole genomes of four E. psidii strains that exhibit differential aggressiveness towards eucalypt clones were sequenced and their effector repertoires predicted based on sequence identity with known effectors of the model phytopathogen Erwinia amylovora. Only proteins sharing significant sequence identity with the DspE and Eop1 effectors were found. Here, it is shown that these two E. psidii effectors retain all structural characteristics of their corresponding protein superfamilies, but exhibit allelic variations that are consistent with the observed aggressiveness differences between strains. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that whereas E. psidii housekeeping gene sequences are more closely related to those from Erwinia tracheiphila, the effector (either nucleotide or amino acid) sequences are more closely related to their Pantoea agglomerans counterparts, suggesting that dspE and eop1 were both acquired through horizontal gene transfer from the latter bacterial species. The results of this study provide important insights on E. psidii pathogenicity and set the stage for future effector functional studies.