La conformation extérieure et la lobation du foie du dromadaire (Camelus dromedarius)

The authors have examined the external conformation and the lobes of 100 livers of one humped camels (Camelus dromedarius), mâles and aged between 5 and 10 years. Similitudes and anatomical differences with other domestic animals were also reported.     

On signale la fréquence et on décrit

Résumé. On signale la fréquence et on décrit les effets des cils en position anormale dans le fente palpébrale et on passe en revue des procédés thérapeutiques à mettre en oeuvre.
Zusammenfassung. Das Auftreten und die Wirkungen anomaler Cilien in der Lidspalte werden zusammen mit einer Übersicht der Abhilfemassnahmen besprochen.     

Les protéines totales et leurs fractions dans le sérum et dans les sécrétions endométriales chez la vache atteinte d'infertilité sine materia

Total proteins, albumine and globulins of serum and uterine secretions were evaluated in two groups of 15 normal and 15 repeat breeder cows. Cyclic significant variations of all studied parameters were observed in uterine secretions of normal cows although only total proteins showed the same pattern in repeat breeder cows where individual variations were noted to be very important. Concentrations of total proteins, albumin (P<0.05) and β globulins (P<0.01) were different between the two groups during either the estrous or the postestrous period. Concentration of proteins in uterine fluid was higher in normal breeder cows during postestrus and diestrus.     

Le développement de l' activité des estérases carboxyliques et de la phosphatase alcaline dans l' oesophage,le réseau,le rumen et le f euillet du boeuf1

The development of carboxylic esterases and alkaline phosphatase activity in the bovine forestomachs and esophagus The reticulum, the rumen, the omasum and the esophagus of 8 adult cattle, 6 veal calves, one four-day-old calf and 4 fetuses were examined for esterase and alkaline phosphatase activity. The localization and the intensity of these enzymes in the proventricular compartments are age-related. In the fetuses and the four-day-old calf the esterases are found only in the deeper epithelial cell layers, whereas in the veal calves and in the adults the horny and the transitional cell layer become strongly positive. Alkaline phosphatase is not present in the epithelium of the fetuses. A reaction band of this enzyme occurs at the level of the stratum transitionale in the four-day-old calf. In the adults the upper cells of the stratum spinosum and all the cells of the strata transitionale and corneum are positive. The enzyme activity in the esophagus is very slightly agerelated. The esterases are only found in the deeper epithelial layers, and alkaline phosphatase does not appear in the epithelium. The activity and the localization of these enzymes may be related to the keratinization and especially in the proventricular compartments of the adult, also to the absorption.     

étude Histomorphométrique des Variations Morphologiques du Follicule Thyroïdien chez le Rat en Fonction de l''âge et du Sexe

The thyroid glands of male and female rats (Sprague Dawley) 10 to 60 weeks of age were examined histomorphometrically. The results show a clear sex dimorphism. The thyroid follicles in the male animals show a greater functional activity than in the female animals. But while the morphology of the follicles in the females was constant throughout the period of observation, in the males the activity gradually diminished.     

Effect of Glutathione-Supplemented INRA82 Extender on Miniature Caspian Stallion Sperm Quality during Storage at 5°C

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of glutathione-supplemented INRA82 extender on miniature Caspian stallion sperm quality during storage at 5°C. A total of 12 ejaculates from three stallions (four ejaculates from each stallion) were collected and diluted with INRA82 extender that included different concentrations of glutathione (0 [INRA-G0], 5 [INRA-G5], and 10 mM [INRA-G10]) and stored for 48 hours at 5°C. Sperm motility (computer-assisted sperm analysis), plasma membrane integrity (eosin–nigrosin staining) and functionality (hypo-osmotic swelling test), and malondialdehyde (MDA) level were determined during storage at 5°C. The results showed that the sperm total and progressive motility and plasma membrane integrity and functionality in all extenders were significantly decreased with increasing storage time. However, the MDA level in all extenders was significantly increased with increasing storage time. Also, the results showed that most of the evaluated sperm quality parameters in the present study, with the exception of MDA, were significantly greater in INRA-G5 than in INRA-G0 and INRA-G10 after 24 and 48 hours of storage at 5°C. We have concluded that supplementation of INRA82 with 5 mM glutathione can improve miniature Caspian stallion sperm quality during storage at 5°C by increasing total and progressive motility, plasma membrane integrity and functionality, and decreasing the MDA level compared with INRA-G0 and INRA-G10. More advanced in vitro evaluations and artificial insemination are required to reveal the exact effects of INRA-G5 on miniature Caspian stallion sperm quality and its fertilizing ability.     

Toxicité et effet immunosuppresseur de la sulfaquinoxaline chez la poule

Secondary effects of sulfaquinoxaline have been studied by comparing specific antibody titres of treated birds with the titres of those birds which were not treated.

Previously these birds had been immunized by intramuscular injections of a killed antigen of S. pullorum, standard strain, and S. pullorum, variant strain. This experiment demonstrated that this drug possesses an immuno-suppressing action. This secondary effect was confirmed by an experimental infection with the GB strain of Newcastle disease virus.

     

接种不同根瘤菌菌株对热研5号柱花草的影响

为研究接种不同根瘤菌对热研5号柱花草（Stylosanthes guianensis ‘Reyan No.5’）生长的影响,以灭菌后的石英砂为培养介质,将22株根瘤菌接种到热研5号柱花草根部,通过对干重、氮磷含量、有效根瘤数及固氮酶活性等指标的测定与分析,确定各菌株对热研5号柱花草生长的影响情况,并筛选出高效的固氮菌株。结果表明：除接种菌株DF6和RJS9-1以外,其他20份菌株均能使热研5号柱花草结瘤,且显著提高其产量和氮含量,但不同菌株间接种效果差异较大;其中,接种菌株YM11-1,SM5-1,PS5-1,DH4-2,LZ3-2,CJ和BS1-1对热研5号柱花草产量和品质的提高影响较大,可作为热研5号高效固氮匹配菌株,而接种菌株RJS9-1,RJS6-1,PS2-1,CM2和DF6的效果较差。     

Ovicidal activity of seven <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pochonia chlamydosporia</Emphasis> fungal isolates on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ascaris suum</Emphasis> eggs

The ovicidal effect of the nematophagous fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia on eggs of Ascaris suum was tested under laboratory conditions. A. suum eggs were plated on 2% water–agar with seven fungal isolates (Isol. 5, Isol. 31, Isol. 1, VC1, Isol. 12, Isol. 22 and VC4) and control without fungus. After 5, 7, 10, 14, 15 and 21 days of incubation, approximately 100 eggs were removed from the plates and classified according to the following parameters: type 1, biochemical and physiological effect without morphological damage to the eggshell, type 2, lytic effect with morphological alteration of the eggshell and embryo and type 3, lytic effect with morphological alteration of eggshell and embryo showing hyphal penetration and internal egg colonization. The isolates effectively destroyed A. suum eggs and all types of effects were observed during the experiment. There was no variation in ovicidal capacity (type 3 effect) among the isolates (p > 0.05) throughout the experiment. After 21 days, isolate 5 showed the highest percentages of type 3 effect (58.33%). The results indicated that P. chlamydosporia (Isol. 5, Isol. 31, Isol. 1, VC1, Isol. 12, Isol. 22 and VC4) can destroy A. suum eggs and is, therefore, a potential biological control agent of nematodes.     

L'anesthésie intraveineuse chez le cheval: comparaison des combinaisons xylazine-kétamine et xylazine-tilétamine-zolazépam.

Intravenous anesthesia in the horse: Comparison of xylazine-ketamine and xylaxine-tiletamine-zolazepam combinations. Six healthy adult horses were anesthetized twice at random with following intravenous combinations: 1.1 mg/kg of body weight (BW) of xylazine followed by 2.2 mg/kg BW of ketamine (X-K) and 1.1 mg/kg BW of xylazine followed by 1.65 mg/kg BW of tiletamine-zolazepam (X-TZ). The modifications of some cardiorespiratory parameters and the duration of anesthesia were evaluated and compared for the 2 protocols used. Few significant differences were observed between the 2 protocols in regard to the cardiorespiratory parameters measured. The respiratory rate was lower (7 breaths per minute) and the heart rate was higher (34 beats per minute) with the X-TZ combination. The duration of anesthesia with this technique was 33 +/- 3 minutes (X +/- Sx) and longer than with X-K (18 +/- minutes (X +/- Sx)). Superficial analgesia lasted 14,5 +/- 3 minutes with the X-K combination and 31,7 +/- 3,2 minutes for the X-TZ combination. The 2 protocols are associated with a reduction of PaO2.     

MiR‐330‐5p negatively regulates ovine preadipocyte differentiation by targeting branched‐chain aminotransferase 2

The differentiation of preadipocytes into adipose tissues is tightly regulated by various factors including microRNAs and cytokines. This article aims to study the effect of miR‐330‐5p on expression of BCAT2 in ovine preadipocytes. Ovine preadipocytes were isolated, and we found that the miR‐330‐5p expression decreased gradually during the early differentiation of ovine preadipocytes, while BCAT2 expression increased. BCAT2 was identified as a direct target of miR‐330‐5p, ectopic expression of miR‐330‐5p could change the expression of both BCAT2 mRNA and protein. Silencing BCAT2 had the same inhibition effects as overexpressing miR‐330‐5p on the preadipocyte differentiation, but overexpressing BCAT2 had the converse effects. Taken together, we demonstrated that miR‐330‐5p is a negative regulator of differentiation by targeting BCAT2, and clarified the role of BCAT2 and miR‐330‐5p during preadipocyte differentiation.     

“Arte et Labore”—A Blackburn Rovers fan's legacy in human complex trait genetics

Through his own research contributions on the modelling and genetic analysis of quantitative traits and through his former students and postdocs, Robin Thompson has indirectly left a major legacy in human genetics. In this short note, we highlight examples of the long‐lasting relevance and impact of Robin's work in human genetics. A lone early study of marker‐assisted selection developed many of the tools and approaches later exploited (often after reinvention) by the human genetics community in GWAS studies and for prediction. Furthermore, a particularly clear example of the pervasive impact of Robin's work is that REML has become the default method to estimate variance components and that genetic predictions exploiting linkage disequilibrium in the population are starting to become used in precision medicine applications.     

Der Einfluß eines Gestagens und eines Östrogens auf das Längenwachstum der Tubuli seminiferi beim Zwergschwein

Contents: 16 male mini-pigs were divided into 3 groups (group A: n = 5; group B: n = 5; group C: n = 6 individuals). At an age of 60 and 75 days the 5 individuals of group A were given subcutaneous injections of 50 mg chlormadinon-acetate each time; the 5 animals of group B received 20 mg estradiol valerianate intramuscularly in the same schedule as group. A 6 boars served as controls (group C). All animals were sacrifized at an age of 180 days, their testes removed and examined.
2. The weight of the testes in group A was significantly lower than in the control group (P ≤ 0,05). The weight of the germinal epithelium, determined indirectly by means of the area it is occupying in the histological slide, was significantly lower in groups A and B in comparison to the controls (P ≤ 0.05 resp. P ≤ 0.01).
3. The diameter of the tubules was slightly greater in group A than in the other groups (P ≤ 0,05). With 791 m in group A and 982 m in group B, the length of the tubules proved to be significantly shorter than in the control group with 1560 m (P ≤ 0,01). In none of the groups spermatogenesis was impaired.
4. The growth of length of the tubules seems to be a more sensitive criterion than spermatogenesis for the determination of the adverse influence of steroids on the adenohypophysis, especially in immature individuals. A certain difference in the control of the 1 functions "spermatogenesis" and "growth of length of the tubules" by gonadotropins must be taken into consideration.     

Vorzeitigc Gelbkörperrückbildung bei Kühen natch ciner Gcstageninjektion im frühen Diöstrus

Inhalt Die intramuskuläre Injektion des Depotgestagens Chlormadinonacetat in Kühe des 5. Zyklustages führte zu einer vorzeitigen Regression des periodischen Gelbkörpers. Corpora lutea coin 14. – 16. Zyklustag wares bei behandelten Kühen leichter, zeigten schwächere Steroiddehydrogenase-Aktivität, einen geringeren Anteil aktiver Luteinzellen in einem aufgelockerten Zellverband. Diese histologischen Veränderungen entsprachen Strukturen, wie sic in regressierenden Gelbkörpern unbehandelter Kühe gefunden werden. Contents (Premature regression of the Corpus luteum in cows following an injection of progestagen during early dioestrus) The i.m. injection of 30 mg Chlormadinonacetate (CAP) in cows on day 5 of their sexual cycle resulted in a premature regression of the corpus luteum. In treated animals C.L. of day 14 to 16 of the sexual cycle were 20 % lighter in weight, had less intensity of steroid dehydrogenase activity and showed fewer and disorderly distributed lutein cells. These histological and histochemical findings are similar to structures found in normal regressing C.L.     

Anesthésie du lapin de Nouvelle-Zélande utilisant les combinaisons tilétamine-zolazépam et kétamine-midazolam avec ou sans xylazine.

In this study, anesthesia levels obtained with tiletamine-zolazepam (TZ) and ketamine-midazolam (KM) with or without xylazine (X) were compared in rabbits. Reflexes (corneal, palpebral and withdrawal), blood parameters (PaO2, PaCO2, pH and ions HCO3-), cardiovascular function (heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure) and body temperature were evaluated before and after the injections of the anesthetic combination in the same rabbits (n = 10). With KM and TZ, no suppression of reflexes occurred. The body temperature and pH decreased and HCO3- increased similarly to KMX et TZX. Some physiological and blood parameters were less (PAM, PaCO2) and not (PaO2) affected comparatively to KMX et TZX. These protocols were of short duration of action and did not offer any anesthesia or analgesia. Therefore, their utilization should be restricted to short procedures where no painful manipulations are performed. Ketamine-midazolam-xylazine and tiletamine-zolazepam-xylazine on the other hand are indicated for interventions that require anesthesia. With these combinations, all reflexes were absent for 30-45 and 60-90 min following injections of KMX et TZX, respectively. However, these combinations induce cardiac depression, as well as a decrease of all measured blood parameters and body temperature and a reduction of PaO2. Supplementation with oxygen is recommended with the introduction of xylazine in the protocol.     

Rebuttal of Roper (2020) Critique of Larson et al. (2019)

Roper (2020) conducted a critique of the Larson et al. (2019) study of the accuracy and confidence of data collected using systematic and random sampling designs.   Roper (2020) did not provide a data set but speculated that the Larson et al. (2019) conclusions likely reflected differences in the number of plants evaluated at each plot and the low number of independent observers rather than the sample design.  Our random sampling design employed multiple randomly located quadrat locations and measured multiple plants (> 5) that were averaged within the plot to represent plot characteristics.  Data collected in this fashion fulfilled assumptions intrinsic to and necessary for statistical analysis using plot data as observations.  Thus, the statistical observations reported in the original paper are valid.     

Utilisation d'acétate de mégestrol lors d'arrosage urinaire chez le chat mâle castré

The use of megestrol acetate to stop urine spraying in castrated male cats Four castrated male cats were treated with megestrol acetate because they were showing signs of urine spraying. The dosage used was 5 mg a day for seven days followed by 5 mg every three days for 21 days. The treatment did not exceed one month.     

A possible role of central serotonin in L‐tryptophan‐induced GH secretion in cattle

To clarify the role of serotonin (5‐HT) in the regulatory mechanism of L‐tryptophan (TRP)‐induced growth hormone (GH) secretion in cattle, changes in 5‐HT concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the third ventricle (3V) and GH in plasma before and after the peripheral infusion of TRP were determined simultaneously. The direct effect of TRP on GH release from the dispersed anterior pituitary cells was also assessed. A chronic cannula was placed in 3V by stereotaxic surgery, then CSF and blood were withdrawn under physiological conditions. TRP (38.5 mg/kg BW) was infused through an intravenous catheter from 12.00 to 14.00 hours and CSF and blood sampling were performed from 11.00 to 18.00 hours at 1‐h intervals. The concentration of 5‐HT in CSF was determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. GH, melatonin (MEL), and cortisol (CORT) concentrations were measured by radio‐immunoassay and enzyme‐immunoassay. Concentrations of 5‐HT were increased by TRP infusion. The TRP infusion significantly increased GH release. On the other hand, TRP did not stimulate GH release from the bovine pituitary cells. MEL and CORT concentrations were not altered by TRP infusion. These results suggest that TRP induced GH release via the activation of serotonergic neurons in cattle.     

Effect of nutrient intake on intramuscular glucose metabolism during the early growth stage in cross‐bred steers (Japanese Black male × Holstein female)

The objective was to investigate the impact of nutrient intake during the early growth period on the expression of glucose metabolism‐related genes in skeletal muscle of cross‐bred cattle. From 1.5 to 5 months of age, group H (n = 7) animals were intensively fed a high‐protein and low‐fat milk replacer [crude protein (CP) 28%; ether extracts (EE) 18%; max: 2.0 kg, 12 l/day], and group R (n = 7) animals were fed a restricted amount of normal milk replacer (CP 25%; EE 23%; max 0.5 kg, 4 l/day). From 6 to 10 months of age, group H cattle were fed a high‐nutrition total mixed ration mainly prepared from grain feed, and group R cattle were fed only roughage. Blood samples were taken from each animal at three biopsy times (1.5, 5 and 10 months of age), and the blood plasma concentration of glucose and insulin was analysed. In glucose concentration, there were no significant differences; however, the concentrations of insulin were higher in group H than in group R at 5 and 10 months of age. Muscle samples were taken by biopsy from longissimus thoracis muscle (LT) at 1.5, 5 and 10 months of age. We analysed mRNA expression levels using the quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for glucose transporters (GLUT1 and GLUT4), insulin receptor, phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI‐3K), protein kinase B (PKB, also known as Akt), hexokinase 1 (HK1) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα). Although no differences were detected at 1.5 and 5 months of age, at 10 months of age, GLUT1, HK1 and TNFα mRNA expression levels were significantly higher in group H than in group R. These results suggested Glut1 that affects insulin‐independently mediated glucose uptake was more responsive to improved nutrition during early growth stage than GLUT4 that insulin‐dependently mediated glucose uptake in LT of cattle.     

Development of a Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction for the Differentiation of Bovine Herpesvirus‐1 and ‐5

Bovine herpesvirus‐1 (BHV‐1) and bovine herpesvirus‐5 (BHV‐5) are closely related viruses which exhibit some important differences at the genetic and immunogenic levels which may explain the differences in their pathogenicity and epidemiological characteristics. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (M‐PCR) was developed to detect and differentiate between BHV‐1 and BHV‐5. In this M‐PCR two pairs of primers (TK1, TK2 and GD1, GD2) were used in the same reaction mix to amplify a thymidine kinase genomic region (183 bp) of BHV‐1 and one genomic region of the glycoprotein D (564 bp) of BHV‐5. The specificity of the M‐PCR was demonstrated when using both primers pairs simultaneously with BHV‐1 and BHV‐5 templates. The two expected bands were amplified without the apparition of non‐specific products. However, when other herpesvirus strains were used, there was no amplification. To evaluate the sensitivity of the assay, dilutions of purified viral DNA were made for M‐PCR amplification. The detection limit was 7 pg for BHV‐1 and 22 pg for BHV‐5. It was also determined by comparing the M‐PCR with viral isolation. M‐PCR was able to detect one log₁₀ more than viral isolation for BHV‐1 and for BHV‐5 was two logarithms lower. The applicability of M‐PCR was demonstrated on different specimens. Twenty isolates from field samples (11 BHV‐1 and nine BHV‐5) were positive by M‐PCR, and the results were completely coincident with previous characterization using the immunoperoxidase assay. M‐PCR could detect viral DNA in organ samples from natural infections, such as semen and brain. In addition, M‐PCR detected more positive samples than observation of the citophatic effect in cell culture of nasal swabs from experimentally infected animals in two different assays. Owing to the difference in size of the M‐PCR products which allows easy identification in an electrophoretic run, it is not necessary to use extra blotting and hybridization steps or a second round of amplification to differentiate clearly between BHV‐1 and BHV‐5.