Effect of dietary selenium and vitamin E on spermatogenic development in boars

An experiment involving a total of 61 crossbred boars evaluated the effects of dietary Se and vitamin E on spermatogenic development at various stages of sexual development and the prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) content in the seminal vesicle and prostate glands at 18 mo of age. The experiment from 5.4 to 9 mo of age was conducted as a 2 x 2 factorial in a randomized complete block design. Dietary Se at 0 or .5 ppm was the first factor and vitamin E at 0 or 220 IU/kg diet was the second. From 9 to 18 mo of age, a group of sexually active and inactive boars was a third factor. Treatment diets were fed from weaning (28 d of age) to the end of the experiment. Three boars per treatment group at 5.4 (105 kg BW), 6.2 (130 kg BW), and 9.0 (150 kg BW) mo of age were killed and the testes collected. From 9 to 18 mo of age, three boars from each dietary treatment group were used for semen collection, and another set of three to four boars from each treatment group remained sexually inactive. At 18 mo, both sets of boars were killed and their testes, prostates, and seminal vesicles were collected. The testis at each age was evaluated for sperm reserve numbers and germ and Sertoli cell populations. At 5.4 or 6.2 mo of age, testicular sperm reserves were not affected by dietary Se (P > .15), at 9.0 mo of age there was a trend for a higher (P < .10) number of sperm reserves, and by 18 mo of age the Se-fed boars had higher (P < .01) numbers of sperm reserves. Vitamin E had no effect (P > .15) on testicular sperm reserves at any age period. Boars fed dietary Se had a greater number of Sertoli cells (P < .01) and round spermatids (P < .01) at 6.2 mo of age, but by 18 mo of age the boars fed Se had more Sertoli cells (P < .05), more secondary spermatocytes (P < .01), and more round spermatids (P < .05). Vitamin E did not affect Sertoli or germ cell populations at the various ages. Boars at 18 mo of age had lower PGF2alpha concentrations in the prostate (P < .05) and seminal vesicles (P < .01) when vitamin E was fed, whereas Se had no effect. Sexually active boars had lower PGF2alpha concentrations in the seminal vesicles (P < .01) than sexually inactive boars, but there was no effect (P > .15) of sexual activity on the number of Sertoli cells, primary or secondary spermatocytes, or round spermatids. Our results indicate that Se has a role in establishing the number of boar spermatozoal reserves and Sertoli cells, whereas supplemental vitamin E did not affect these criteria.     

Environmental and physiological controls over oxygen and carbon isotope composition of Tasmanian blue gum, Eucalyptus globulus

We measured oxygen isotope ratios (delta18O) of xylem sap, phloem sap, leaves, wood and bark of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. growing in southwestern Australia. Carbon isotope ratios (delta13C) were measured in the dry matter of phloem sap, leaves and wood. Results were used to test several aspects of a mechanistic model of 18O enrichment and provided insights into post-photosynthetic variations in dry matter delta13C. Xylem water delta18O varied little within the tree crown, whereas variation at the landscape-level was more pronounced, with plantations near the coast being enriched by up to 3 per thousand compared with plantations less than 100 km inland. Phloem water was significantly enriched in 18O compared with xylem water in two of three sampling campaigns; mean enrichments were 0.5 and 0.8 per thousand. Phloem sap sugars exported from E. globulus leaves closely reflected observed leaf water enrichment when diurnal variation in photosynthesis was taken into account. Photosynthetic rates were higher in the morning than in the afternoon, whereas leaf water 18O enrichment increased to maximum values in the afternoon. A non-steady-state model of leaf water 18O enrichment accurately predicted observed values through a full diel cycle. Mean estimates of the proportion of organic oxygen effectively exchanging with xylem water during cellulose synthesis were close to 0.40 for both leaves and wood. Carbon isotope ratios of nascent xylem tissues did not differ from those of phloem sap sugars collected concurrently, whereas nascent leaf tissues were depleted in 13C by 2 per thousand compared with phloem sap sugars, suggesting that, in E. globulus, 13C enrichment of sink tissues compared with source leaves does not result from an enriching process within the sink tissue.     

TRANSTHORACIC LUNG ULTRASOUND IN NORMAL DOGS AND DOGS WITH CARDIOGENIC PULMONARY EDEMA: A PILOT STUDY

Pulmonary edema is the most common complication of left‐sided heart failure in dogs and early detection is important for effective clinical management. In people, pulmonary edema is commonly diagnosed based on transthoracic ultrasonography and detection of B line artifacts (vertical, narrow‐based, well‐defined hyperechoic rays arising from the pleural surface). The purpose of this study was to determine whether B line artifacts could also be useful diagnostic predictors for cardiogenic pulmonary edema in dogs. Thirty‐one normal dogs and nine dogs with cardiogenic pulmonary edema were prospectively recruited. For each dog, presence or absence of cardiogenic pulmonary edema was based on physical examination, heartworm testing, thoracic radiographs, and echocardiography. A single observer performed transthoracic ultrasonography in all dogs and recorded video clips and still images for each of four quadrants in each hemithorax. Distribution, sonographic characteristics, and number of B lines per thoracic quadrant were determined and compared between groups. B lines were detected in 31% of normal dogs (mean 0.9 ± 0.3 SD per dog) and 100% of dogs with cardiogenic pulmonary edema (mean 6.2 ± 3.8 SD per dog). Artifacts were more numerous and widely distributed in dogs with congestive heart failure (P < 0.0001). In severe cases, B lines increased in number and became confluent. The locations of B line artifacts appeared consistent with locations of edema on radiographs. Findings from the current study supported the use of thoracic ultrasonography and detection of B lines as techniques for diagnosing cardiogenic pulmonary edema in dogs.     

Atmospheric gases and particulates in panama

The concentrations of trace gases in tropical air from samples taken on the Isthmus of Panama are compared with those reported by others. The role of a tropical land mass as a sink or source of atmospheric components is discussed.     

Life or death decisions in the corpus luteum

The corpus luteum (CL) is an ephemeral endocrine organ. During its lifespan, it undergoes a period of extremely rapid growth that involves hypertrophy, proliferation and differentiation of the steroidogenic cells, as well as extensive angiogenesis. The growth phase is followed by a period in which remodelling of the tissue ceases, but it engages in unparalleled production of steroids, resulting in extraordinarily high metabolic activity within the tissue. It is during this stage that a critical juncture occurs. In the non-fertile cycle, uterine release of prostaglandin (PG)F(2α) initiates a cascade of events that result in rapid loss of steroidogenesis and destruction of the luteal tissue. Alternatively, if a viable embryo is present, signals are produced that result in rescue of the CL. This review article summarizes the major concepts related to the fate of the CL, with particular focus on recent insights into the mechanisms associated with the ability of PGF(2α) to bring about complete luteolysis. It has become clear that the achievement of luteolysis depends on repeated exposure to PGF(2α) and involves coordinated actions of heterogeneous cell types within the CL. Together, these components of the process bring about not only the loss in progesterone production, but also the rapid demise of the structure itself.