Electrocardiography of rock partridges (Alectoris graeca) and chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar).

Standard limb, six lead (I, II, III, aVR, aVL, and aVF) electrocardiograms (ECGs) were recorded in 10 awake mature rock partridges (Alectoris graeca) and 10 chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar). Durations and amplitudes of P and T waves and QRS complexes, durations of P-Q and Q-T intervals, and mean heart rates were calculated from the lead II ECGs. All observable P and T waves were negative in aVR and aVL, whereas they were positive in all remaining leads. The most frequent forms of QRS complex were r-s (r-S) and q-r (q-R). A Q wave was observed in all aVR and aVL leads in both species. Chukar partridges had significantly higher amplitudes of P and T waves and QRS complexes than rock partridges. Mean heart rates were 310+/-15 beats/min and 317+/-19 beats/min for chukar partridges and rock partridges, respectively. Mean electrical axes, calculated from leads II and III, were -99+/-6.3 degrees and -95+/-1.7 degrees for chukar partridges and rock partridges, respectively. Clear ECGs were easily obtainable without anesthesia or sedation.     

Prevalence of hydatidosis and fertility of hydatid cysts in sheep in Kirikkale,Turkey

This study was conducted in order to determine the prevalence and fertility of hydatid cysts in sheep in Kirikkale, Turkey. A total of 3.2% of 553 lambs and 50.9% of 1320 adults were found to be infected with hydatid cysts. The most common locations of cysts were in the liver and lung. Liver cysts tended to be more fertile than lung cysts (81.53% v. 76.47%), though the difference was not significant. The mean number of viable protoscoleces in the liver and lung cysts were 12,400 and 5,800, respectively. In general, 1-10 cysts were found in liver (51.8%) and lung (64.7%). The findings of this study indicate that hydatid cysts are common in sheep and the fertility rate of cysts is quite high. Sheep play an important role in the life cycle of Echinococcus granulosus in this region.     

Some Physicochemical Characteristics,Bioactive Content and Antioxidant Characteristics of Non-Sprayed Barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.) Fruits from Turkey

Increasing consumer demands for indigenous, non-sprayed with pesticides and less-known or “forgotten” fruits necessitate knowledge on their breeding, cultivation, biochemical content, harvesting and marketing. Anatolia is rich for wild edible fruit species and barberry is abundant throughout Anatolia. The aim of this study was to determine some important physicochemical characteristics, bioactive content and antioxidant capacity of fruits from nineteen promising barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.) genotypes grown in the Coruh valley, Northeastern Anatolia. The results indicated genotype-specific differences for most of the physicochemical characteristics, antioxidant capacity and the content of some bioactive compounds. Fruit mass ranged from 0.073 (‘Coruh-7’) to 0.267 g (‘Coruh-11’). Total phenolic content ranged from 2532 (‘Coruh-’) to 3719 mg GAE per liter fruit juice (‘Coruh-11’). The genotype ‘Coruh-12’ had the highest total monomeric anthocyanin content (1004 mg per liter fruit juice) as cyanidin-3-glucoside. The highest total antioxidant capacity was observed in fruits of ‘Coruh-8’ and ‘Coruh-9’ genotypes with all three antioxidant-determining methods. We conclude that the barberry fruits represent a good source of bioactive phytochemicals because of their high phenolic and anthocyanin contents.     

Effects of Short-Term High Carbohydrate or Fat Intakes on Leptin, Growth Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone Secretions in Prepubertal Fat-Tailed Tuj Lambs

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of high carbohydrate or fat diets, fed for 15 days at the end of breeding season, on leptin, GH and LH secretions in prepubertal fat‐tailed Tuj lambs. For that purpose, 9‐month‐old ram‐lambs were divided into three groups as control group (fed with basal ration, n = 4), high carbohydrate (HC) group, basal ration plus barley, n = 4), or high fat (HF) group (basal ration plus by‐pass fat, n = 4). For the measurement of leptin and GH, blood plasma samples were collected on days 1, 4, 9 and 14 of the experiment. For the measurement of LH pulse frequency, serial blood samples were collected every 15 min for 6 h on day 14. Lambs were weighed and body condition scored (BCS) on days 1 and 15. Body weight and BCS increased towards the end of the study (p < 0.05). The BCS was higher in high energy groups at the end of the experiment (p < 0.05). Diet affected plasma leptin concentrations (p = 0.002) but time did not. The GH concentrations were not affected by diet or time. The LH pulse frequency appeared to be higher in HC and HF groups but there were no statistical difference between the groups. There was a significant positive relationship between overall BCS and corresponding leptin concentrations (R² = 0.263; p = 0.010) and between LH pulse frequency and leptin concentrations (R² = 0.594; p = 0.003). In conclusion, the present study suggests that rather than type of energy, amount of energy intake and body energy reserves are much important regulators of plasma leptin concentrations and LH pulse frequency in fat‐tailed Tuj lambs.     

The scanning electron and light microscopic structure of bovine tactile hair

Bovine tactile hairs in skin samples from the lateral side of the upper lip were examined using scanning electron and light microscopy. The root of these hairs has a variable length and is surrounded by a large sinus located between the internal and the external dermal sheath. With a prominent thickness, the external dermal sheath forms the external wall of the tactile hair and contains many nerves some of which extend into trabeculae. Trabeculae projecting from the internal dermal sheath and attaching to the external dermal sheath with two or more branches are present in the entire sinus. The trabeculae are interconnected by connective tissue sheets that support the integrity of the trabecular organization. The sinus surfaces as well as trabeculae are lined by endothelia. As a result, the bovine tactile hair is truly a cavernous type of tactile hair with a well organized microscopic anatomy. Thus, the bovine tactile hair most likely plays an important role in relatively immobile and insensitive bovine lips.     

Effect of accelerated aging on some physical and mechanical properties of bamboo

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of accelerated aging on compression strength, modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, color change, volumetric swelling, and volumetric shrinkage of bamboo specimens with and without node sections. In the study, these properties were compared with those of Scots pine and beech wood specimens. Depending on bamboo sections, the aging procedure reduced modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, and compression strength. Bamboo specimens showed relatively high strength properties compared to wood specimens due to having high density. Strength properties increased from bottom to top of bamboo culms. The presence of nodes in the specimens reduced compression strength and modulus of rupture but affected modulus of elasticity slightly. Remarkable color changes in specimens were observed after aging. Volumetric swelling and shrinkage of bamboo specimens exposed to aging decreased probably due to heat effect of aging procedure.     

The genetic characterization of Turkish watermelon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Citrullus lanatus</Emphasis>) accessions using RAPD markers

Genetic diversity of the Turkish watermelon genetic resources was evaluated using different Citrullus species, wild relatives, foreign landraces, open pollinated (OP) and commercial hybrid cultivars by RAPD markers. The germplasm was consisted of 303 accessions collected from various geographical regions. Twenty-two of 35 RAPD primers generated a total of 241 reproducible bands, 146 (60.6%) of which were polymorphic. Based on the RAPD data the genetic similarity coefficients were calculated and the dendrogram was constructed using UPGMA (Unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic average). Cluster analysis of the 303 accessions employing RAPD data resulted in a multi-branched dendrogram indicating that most of the Turkish accessions belonging to var. lanatus of Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum et Nakai were grouped together. Accessions of different Citrullus species and Praecitrullus fistulosus (Stocks) Pangalo formed distant clusters from C. lanatus var. lanatus. Among 303 accessions, a subset of 56 accessions was selected representing different groups and a second dendrogram was constructed. The genetic similarity coefficients (GS) within the Turkish accessions were ranged from 0.76 to 1.00 with 0.94 average indicating that they are closely related. Taken together, our results indicated that low genetic variability exist among the watermelon genetic resources collected from Turkey contrary to their remarkable phenotypic diversity.     

Identification of factor XI deficiency in Holstein cattle in Turkey

Background

Factor XI (FXI) is a plasma protein that participates in the formation of blood clots. Factor XI deficiency is autosomal recessive hereditary disorder that may be associated with excess bleeding in Holstein cattle.

Methods

In this study, 225 Holstein cows reared in Turkey were screened in order to identify FXI genotypes. DNA extractions were obtained from the fresh blood of the cows. Amplicons of FXI exon 12 were obtained by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and analyzed by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis stained with ethidium bromide. Additionally, all cows were confirmed by DNA sequencing to determine whether or not there was a mutant allele.

Results

Carriers of the FXI deficiency have two DNA fragments of 320 bp and 244 bp in size. The results of our study demonstrated that only four out of the 225 Holstein cows tested in Turkey carried the FXI deficiency. The frequency of the mutant FXI allele and the prevalence of heterozygous cows were found as 0.9% and 1.8%, respectively.

Conclusion

The DNA-based test determines all genotypes, regardless of phenotype or FXI activity. The mutation responsible for the FXI deficiency had not been detected in Holstein cattle in Turkey before prior to this study. The frequency of the mutant FXI allele needs to be confirmed by carrying out further analyses on cattle in Turkey and the selection programs should be developed to eliminate this genetic disorder.