Flow cytometry: clinical applications in equine medicine

The use of flow cytometry in veterinary diagnostics is becoming a valuable clinical tool with a broad range of applications. Physical characteristics of cells can be determined by the flow cytometer laser and electronics through the measurement of changes in light scatter properties. Other components and functions of cells can be defined through the application of fluorochrome dyes that have an affinity for cellular components. Traditionally, common clinical applications are immunophenotyping of cells of the hematopoietic system with fluorescent-labeled antibodies raised against specific cell surface proteins. Other approaches have been used to elucidate changes in cell function and DNA content. This review is intended to provide the reader with the fundamental uses of flow cytometry. Examples of clinical applications in equine patients include immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMT), chronic inflammatory disease, and neoplasia.     

Life cycle of Eimeria procera in experimentally infected grey partridges (Perdix perdix)

We examined exogenous and endogenous development of Eimeria procera in experimentally infected grey partridges (Perdix perdix). Our examination included data on morphology, localization, duration of schizogony and gametogony and morphology of sporulated oocysts. The endogenous stages of E. procera developed in large numbers within the epithelial cells of caecal crypts. The asexual development comprised three generations of schizonts. The first fully developed macrogametes and microgamonts were observed on Day 5 post-infection (p.i.) in histologic section. The patent period began on Day 6 p.i. and ended on Day 11 p.i. with peak production of oocysts on Days 7 and 8. Long oval oocysts of E. procera measured 25.78–28.13 μm in length and 14.06–15.24 μm in width, sporulation time ranged from 18 to 24 h at 25°C and from 36 to 48 h at 20°C.     

大鼠发情周期各阶段的阴道细胞变化观察

为了比较准确的确定大鼠发情周期各个阶段,利用阴道组织涂片法,对14只6月龄雌性Wistar大鼠连续20 d进行阴道涂片,镜检,观察阴道涂片中细胞的变化规律。结果表明,在发情间期,阴道涂片以白细胞为主(84.6个±1.1个);发情前期以有核上皮细胞为主(72.4个±8.3个);在发情期,以角质化的上皮细胞为主(78个±5.4个);发情后期角质化上皮细胞、有核上皮细胞和白细胞3种细胞都有,而且比例相当。阴道涂片法能简便有效的区分大鼠发情周期的各个阶段。     

牦牛发情周期中卵巢卵泡发育状况的组织学观察

运用组织学技术对36头处于发情周期的健康成年母牦牛卵巢卵泡的结构与发育状况进行了观察。结果表明，牦牛发情周期中卵巢卵泡发育的组织结构与其他牛基本相似。每对卵巢中原始卵泡数和生长卵泡数在发情前期、发情期、发情后期和发情间期之间差异不显著（P〉0．05）；发情前期的囊状卵泡数与发情期、发情后期和发情间期之间差异不显著（P〉0．05），发情期和发情后期均与发情间期差异显著（P〈0．05）。闭锁生长卵泡数在4个时期之间差异不显著（P〉0．05）；发情期的闭锁囊状卵泡数与其他3期之间差异极显著（P〈0．01），发情前期和发情间期均与发情后期差异显著（P〈0．05）。各级卵泡的闭锁形式各有特点。在生长卵泡、囊状卵泡及相应闭锁卵泡的卵泡膜中均见到了胶原纤维和网状纤维。     

高温应激诱导奶牛乳腺细胞生长周期阻滞

实验通过台盼蓝染色、MTT、细胞流式等方法研究高温(40℃/41℃)对乳腺细胞活性、细胞周期及凋亡的影响。结果表明,高温可以抑制乳腺细胞的增殖,使细胞产生S、G2期阻滞,诱导乳腺细胞凋亡,并随高温强度的增加而作用增强。试验提示高温可诱导乳腺细胞周期阻滞,抑制细胞增殖。     

Evaluating environmental impacts of the Japanese beef cow–calf system by the life cycle assessment method

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the environmental impacts of a beef cow–calf system using a life cycle assessment (LCA) method and to investigate the effects of scenarios to reduce environmental impacts on the LCA results. The functional unit was defined as one marketed beef calf, and the processes associated with the cow–calf life cycle, such as feed production, feed transport, animal management, the biological activity of the animal and the treatment of cattle waste were included in the system boundary. The present results showed that the total contributions of one beef calf throughout its life cycle to global warming, acidification, eutrophication and energy consumption were 4550 kg of CO₂ equivalents, 40.1 kg of SO₂ equivalents, 7.0 kg of phosphate (PO₄) equivalents and 16.1 GJ, respectively. The contribution of each process to the total environmental impact in each environmental impact category showed a similar tendency to the contribution of each process in each environmental category reported in the case of the beef fattening system as a whole. The results from this analysis showed that shortening calving intervals by 1 month reduced environmental impacts by 5.7–5.8% in all the environmental impact categories examined in the current study, and increasing the number of calves per cow also reduced environmental impacts in all the categories, although the effects were smaller.     

Comparative sensitivity of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to insecticide and fungicide on different stages of cell cycle

In this study, the comparison of cytogenetic effects of insecticide and fungicide in different phases of cell cycle was investigated in the root tip cells of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The seeds of H. vulgare L. Var. Karan 16 were treated with different concentrations (0.05%, 0.1% and 0.5%) of insecticide Profenophos (PF) and fungicide Mancozeb (MZ) for 6 h after presoaking durations of 7, 17 and 27 h.The different presoaking durations were used to bring the cells in various phases of cell cycle. Negative control was run parallel in distilled water. Cytogenetic examinations of root meristems exposed to the PF and MZ showed significant inhibition of mitotic index (MI) as well as significant increase in chromosomal aberrations (CAs). These parameters were dependent on the concentrations of insecticide and fungicide. The present study shows that PF and MZ both caused more damage in S phase of cell cycle which indicates that S phase is more sensitive in comparison to other phases.     

青海湖旅游区生命周期研究

立足青海湖旅游区实际,在分析影响旅游区生命周期的诸因素基础上,提出了延长该区旅游生命周期的具体措施。     

A comparison of the adrenal cortical response to ACTH stimulation in Angora and non-Angora goats

The adrenal cortex is believed to be implicated in the high incidence of abortion in the Angora goat. Stimulation testing with adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) was used to assess the adrenal cortical function in 5 Angora does from herds with a history of abortion and 5 non-Angora does. An acute test involving a single intramuscular (i.m.) injection of 0.25 mg of synthetic ACTH was given during anoestrus, at mid-oestrus, on day 90 and on day 120 of gestation. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein at 30 min intervals for 1 h before and 5 h after injection. Cortisol concentrations rose within 30 min and returned to baseline values within 3.5 h. Cortisol production was lower (p<0.01) in the pregnant state compared to the non-pregnant state in both groups. Production of cortisol was consistently lower (p<0.05) in the Angora does compared to the non-Angora does during anoestrus and pregnancy and marginally so at mid-oestrus. A chronic stimulation test involving once daily injections of 0.5 mg of a depot form of ACTH i.m. for 7 days commencing on day 90 of pregnancy was also conducted. Cortisol concentrations rose to reach a peak on the third day of treatment in both groups. The values then declined in the Angora does despite continued ACTH treatment, while those for the non-Angora does exhibited a second peak. During and following this treatment, two non-Angora does delivered live kids (day 95, day 120). Out of 7 Angora pregnancies, one Angora doe aborted two dead fetuses at day 116. No significant difference in the cortisol response in the acute test was detected between the animals that aborted and their respective cohorts, but the two non-Angora does that aborted had significantly lower cortisol concentrations during depot ACTH administration. Progesterone and oestradiol levels did not differ between Angora and non-Angora animals during pregnancy or on the test days. The results suggest that the steroidogenic response of the adrenal cortex to ACTH stimulation is significantly less in Angora does with a history of abortion than it is in non-Angora does and support the view that the Angora goat would make a more limited adrenal cortical response to a stressful occurrence during pregnancy.     

猴头菌子实体提取物对人肺癌细胞SPCA-1的抑制作用

猴头菌(Hericium erinaceus)子实体的醇提物用不同极性有机溶剂分部提取,得到石油醚、氯仿、乙酸乙酯和正丁醇分部,其中仅石油醚分部能抑制SPCA-1细胞增殖和促进其释放ROS(reactive oxygen species),对石油醚分部的进一步研究发现石油醚分部可诱导SPCA-1细胞早期凋亡和降低G_0/G_1期细胞数量。