Microscopic characteristics of genital end bulbs in the penis of bulls

Light microscopic sections of Epon-embedded bull penis were examined for nerve endings. Tissue was taken from the dorsal midline of the glans penis and from the free portion of the penis in 6 mature bulls. Genital end bulbs were identified in both regions of the penis and were located from 1 to 500 micron beneath the epithelium, with most end bulbs concentrated next to the epithelium in the glans penis. Occasionally, end bulbs were found within nerve trunks. Other encapsulated endings were not seen. Ultrastructural correlation of the light and electron microscopic appearance of spherical end bulbs and elongated end bulbs indicated that their structure was identical. Two to 6 neurites filled with mitochondria were surrounded by several layers of thin cytoplasmic lamellae. The lamellae were characterized by pinocytotic vesicles, microtubules, and a scant basal lamina. A capsule of differing thickness enclosed the end bulbs. Fewer capsular layers surrounded more superficially located end bulbs. Near the epithelium, there were gaps in the capsule. Nonmyelinated fibers were seen within end bulbs and between end bulbs and the epithelium.     

Influence of inflammation and coat type on oestrogen receptor immunohistochemistry

The purpose of this study was to evaluate oestrogen receptor alpha staining in a variety of breeds and skin conditions. The influence of inflammation and coat type on the presence and intensity of oestrogen receptor alpha staining was evaluated. Approximately 1700 haematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained slides of skin biopsies were screened for presence of small hair bulbs. Slides from 94 cases were submitted for oestrogen receptor alpha immunohistochemistry. H&E-stained skin biopsy tissues were examined for inflammation and hair follicle stages. Oestrogen receptor alpha staining characteristics of telogen follicles, flame follicles, large anagen bulbs, small hair bulbs and early anagen hairs (capped bulbs) were recorded. To assess the influence of inflammation and coat type on oestrogen receptor staining of hair follicle types, chi-square tests, Fisher's exact tests and logistic regression models were performed. Slides were classified as inflammatory (65) and noninflammatory (29). There were no statistically significant differences in oestrogen receptor staining when comparing inflammatory to noninflammatory skin biopsies or skin biopsies from dogs with different coat types. A subset of 13 noninflammatory biopsies from alopecic skin was identified. There was a statistically significant increase in the number of flame follicles in this subset as compared to all others. Comparison of oestrogen receptor staining of hair follicle types from these biopsies and all other biopsies revealed a statistically significant increase in the number of mature telogen hair follicles stained in this subset. No statistical difference in staining of early follicle stages was noted. Therefore, the oestrogen receptor is unlikely to be the controlling factor for the transition from telogen to anagen in the dog.     

An immunocytochemical method for studying patterns of cell proliferation in the wool follicle

The identification of cell proliferation sites in the wool follicle bulbs of the skin of New Zealand Romney sheep was investigated with two immunocytochemical techniques. These methods were based on the in vivo labelling of DNA synthesising follicle matrix cells with the thymidine analogue 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) and a surgical preparation of the skin on the lateral abdominal flank of the sheep. Using a monoclonal antibody to BrdU, an indirect immunoenzyme method and a biotin-streptavidin method were compared for specificity and sensitivity in detecting replicating bulb matrix cells which had incorporated infused BrdU during the S-phase of the cell cycle. The immunocytochemical results for both methods showed a black-brown staining reaction of cell nuclei entering mitosis. The biotin-streptavidin method proved to be more highly specific and sensitive than the immunoenzyme technique. The immunocytochemical detection of cell cycle S-phase is highly suited for studying cell proliferation sites and cytokinetics in wool follicle bulbs and in other mitotically active tissues. Immunocytochemical detection of mitotically active cells has the advantages of high specificity, cost efficiency and rapidity and may be an alternative to methods employing metaphase arresting agents like colchicine or autoradiography.     

Determination of the depth of excision using a dermatome (Aesculap) to export all hair follicle bulbs from a donor site in the dog

The aim of the study was to determine the depth of excision using a dermatome to excise all hair follicle bulbs from the donor site. Partial-thickness skin samples of different depth, ranging from 0.4 to 1 mm, were excised using a dermatome (Aesculap) from the dorsal aspect of the trunk of the dog. Biopsies, using a 6-mm biopsy punch, were performed in the centre of each donor site and excised sample. They were processed routinely for histological examination and the aspect of the hair follicles was observed. Split-thickness skin grafts of >or=0.7 mm deep performed with a dermatome contain the entire hair follicle.     

周岁黑熊脾脏的组织学和组织化学研究

采用石蜡和冰冻切片方法，进行３Ｍ·Ｅ和Ｗｉｌｄｅｒ染色，并以酸性α－醋酸萘醋酶（ＡＮＡＥ）法显示Ｔ淋巴细胞的分布。结果表明：周岁黑熊（Ｓｅｌｅｎａｒｃｔｏｓｔｈｉｂｅｔａｎｕｓ）脾脏小梁较多，脾窦发育不良．动脉周围淋巴鞘发达；鞘动脉位于脾索内，靠近边缘区；椭球厚为３０－４０μｍ。ＡＮＡＥ阳性反应的淋巴细胞主要分布于白髓的中央动脉周围淋巴鞘内，其次是脾小结外周，边缘区和椭球内。     

Digital dermatitis in dairy cattle

A condition of digital dermatitis causing lameness in a dairy herd is described. The lesion was a small circumscribed area of epidermal inflammation in the skin immediately above the coronet between the bulbs of the heel. Topical treatment, consisting of excoriation and application of a gentian violet and tetracycline aerosol spray, was effective. Although the high incidence and rapid onset of the condition suggested an infectious cause, no organism was isolated consistently.     

Spontaneous pustular dermatitis in a newborn piglet associated with a poxvirus

Poxvirus was recovered from pustular skin lesions in a newborn piglet. The lesions were present at birth, suggesting transplacental infection had occurred. The lesions were circular, 1 cm in diameter, and were found over the entire skin surface, bulbs of the heels, coronets, tongue and buccal mucosa. Histologically, cells in the stratum intermedium were undergoing ballooning degeneration and necrosis, coalescing to form vesicles. The lumen of vesicles was filled with fluid and inflammatory cells. Degenerating epithelial cell nuclei were often vacuolated and eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusions were in many ballooned cells. The size and morphology of the virions recovered from vesicular fluid, place them in the poxvirus group.     

Optimal filling solution for silicone Foley catheter balloons

We assessed whether saline, sterile water, or air better maintained filling volume and diameter in a veterinary silicone Foley bulb. The bulbs of 45 8-French silicone Foley catheters were inflated: 15 with 5 mL of sterile water (SW bulbs), 15 with 0.9% saline (S bulbs), and 15 with air (A bulbs). The bulbs were submerged in 30 mL of synthetic urine in a 50 mL conical tube in a 38°C water bath. Five catheters from each group were removed on days 3, 5, and 10 to measure bulb volume and diameter. On days 3 and 5, volume and diameter of SW or S bulbs were significantly greater than those of A bulbs, but were not significantly different from one another. At day 10, only 1 S bulb remained intact, 4 of the 5 SW bulbs were intact, the average volume of the SW bulbs was 2.8 mL, and the A bulbs were all deflated. We conclude that sterile water and 0.9% saline are both acceptable for Foley bulb inflation of 5 d or less, but sterile water might be preferred if bulb inflation must be maintained for more than 5 d.     

内蒙古阿尔巴斯白绒山羊毛囊生长周期性变化的研究

本试验以内蒙古阿尔巴斯白绒山羊为研究材料,研究其1年内毛囊生长变化特点。利用Sacpic染色法对体侧部皮肤横、纵切片进行染色。由切片可见5—8月份次级毛囊逐渐进入兴盛前期、8—12月份为兴盛期、1月份大部分进入退行期、2—4月份为休止期;次级毛囊深度在8月份最深,毛球宽、毛囊宽在8月份最宽;退行期的毛囊仍具有活性,绒生长变慢而休止期毛囊失去活性,绒不再生长;兴盛期毛球末端扁平,真皮乳头层细胞(DPCs)内陷;退行期、休止期的毛球末端呈尖状,乳头层细胞向外突出。绒长测量结果表明:最早于6月下旬绒长出体表,绒生长的最快时期为10月份,并非为最冷时期;绒长出体表即使在同一品种内因个体不同而有差异,同一个体的不同部位也具有不同步性:绒先在股部长出,然后是体侧部,最后是肩胛部。     

皱皮香猪WIF1基因结构变异WIF1-I8-sv889的研究

为探究WIF1（Wnt inhibitory factor 1）基因中WIF1-I8-sv889结构变异位点变异与皱皮香猪躯干被毛形成的关系,本试验采用冰冻组织切片观察皱皮香猪皮肤毛囊的组织学形态,采用PCR方法分析WIF1-I8-sv889位点在猪群中的分布频率,并通过在线软件UCSC、RegRNA 2.0对结构变异序列所含的功能元件进行分析。组织学研究显示,与正常香猪和大白猪皮肤相比,皱皮香猪毛囊毛根鞘伸入真皮层,形成棘突,且皱褶凹陷处毛囊聚集,相反皱褶凸起处毛囊较少;皱皮香猪皮肤毛囊中的毛球宽度显著增大（P<0.05）,单个毛囊中的毛干数极显著增多（P<0.01）。在WIF1-I8-sv889结构变异断点两端设计特异性引物,扩增片段长1383 bp,与参考基因组比,1383 bp中889 bp为结构变异区间,缺失581 bp,倒置308 bp。群体分布结果显示,猪群中WIF1-I8-sv889位点呈现出丰富的多态性,检测到3种基因型：正常的Ⅱ型、杂合的DI型和缺失的DD型,皱皮香猪中未检测到Ⅱ型;与正常香猪和大白猪相比,皱皮香猪中D等位基因占优势（94.44%）;经卡方检验,皱皮香猪D等位基因显著或极显著高于正常香猪和大白猪（P<0.05;P<0.01）。结果提示,WIF1基因中的WIF1-I8-sv889结构变异可能与皱皮香猪毛囊的形态发生有关。     

Hypotrichosis in Miniature Poodle siblings.

Progressive hypotrichosis was detected in 2 silver male Miniature Poodle siblings at 5 weeks of age. A male and 2 female siblings had normal black coats. The sire, a 3-year-old black Miniature Poodle, and the dam, a 2-year-old silver Miniature Poodle, also had normal coats. Microscopically, the hypotrichotic skin had accumulations of keratotic debris and melanin in dilated hair canals and melanin deposits in and around inactive hair bulbs. Sex-linked or sex-limited inheritance may have been involved, inasmuch as both affected dogs were males.     

Small Demodex populations colonize most parts of the skin of healthy dogs

Background – It is unproven that all dogs harbour Demodex mites in their skin. In fact, several microscopic studies have failed to demonstrate mites in healthy dogs. Hypothesis/Objectives – Demodex canis is a normal inhabitant of the skin of most, if not all, dogs. This hypothesis was tested using a sensitive real‐time PCR to detect Demodex DNA in the skin of dogs. Animals – One hundred dogs living in a humane society shelter, 20 privately owned and healthy dogs and eight dogs receiving immunosuppressive or antineoplastic therapy. Methods – Hair samples (250–300 hairs with their hair bulbs) were taken from five or 20 skin locations. A real‐time PCR that amplifies a 166 bp sequence of the D. canis chitin synthase gene was used. Results – The percentage of positive dogs increased with the number of sampling points. When a large canine population was sampled at five cutaneous locations, 18% of dogs were positive for Demodex DNA. When 20 skin locations were sampled, all dogs tested positive for mite DNA. Our study indicates that Demodex colonization of the skin is present in all dogs, independent of age, sex, breed or coat. Nevertheless, the population of mites in a healthy dog appears to be small. Demodex DNA was amplified from all 20 cutaneous points investigated, without statistically significant differences. Conclusions and clinical importance – Using a real‐time PCR technique, Demodex mites, albeit in very low numbers, were found to be normal inhabitants of haired areas of the skin of healthy dogs.     

Alopecia areata (pelade) in a cow

A case of alopecia areata (pelade) is described in a cow. Alopecia areata is a rare idiopathic dermatosis of cattle. It is characterized by asymptomatic, solitary or multiple, annular areas of noninflammatory alopecia. Scrapings and cultures are negative, and the diagnosis is confirmed by skin biopsies taken from early lesions, which reveal accumulations of lymphocytes around the bulbs of anagen hair follicles. There is no known effective and practical treatment for affected cattle. The dermatitis is a cosmetic problem, but does not seem to affect general health and production, and spontaneous remission may occur.     

Characterization of glycoconjugates and sialic acid modification in the olfactory bulb of the Chinese fire-bellied newt (Cynops orientalis)

Diverse glycoconjugates are expressed in the vertebrate olfactory bulb and serve as guidance cues for axons of nasal receptor neurons. Although the involvement of glycoconjugates in the segregation of the olfactory pathway has been suggested, it is poorly understood in salamanders. In this study, lectin histochemistry was used to determine glycoconjugate distribution in the olfactory bulb of the Chinese fire-bellied newt (Cynops orientalis). Succinylated wheat germ agglutinin (sWGA), Ricinus communis agglutinin-I and Lens culinaris agglutinin showed different bindings in the nerve fibre layer or glomerular layer, or both, between the main and accessory olfactory bulbs. We then investigated the lectin-binding pattern after the removal of terminal sialic acids using neuraminidase. Desialylation resulted in a change in the binding reactivities with seven lectins. Wheat germ agglutinin, sWGA, soybean agglutinin (SBA) and peanut agglutinin showed different degrees of binding between the main and accessory olfactory bulbs. In addition, SBA showed a heterogeneous labelling of glomeruli in the rostral region of the main olfactory bulb. Our results suggest that terminal sialic acids mask the heterogeneity of glycoconjugates in the olfactory bulb of C. orientalis.     

百合鳞茎休眠解除过程中差异蛋白表达分析

通过低温处理打破细叶百合(Lilium pumilum)鳞茎休眠,利用荧光差异凝胶电泳和质谱技术,借助生物信息学分析手段,分析百合鳞茎休眠解除过程中蛋白质组的变化,以期进一步理解百合鳞茎休眠机制奠定基础。结果表明,分离得到31个差异表达蛋白点;相对于休眠鳞茎,休眠解除鳞茎中上调表达的蛋白点有15个,下调表达的蛋白点有16个;应用MS质谱成功鉴定12个差异蛋白点,按功能划分为6类,主要为胁迫类蛋白,可能涉及鳞茎内物质的代谢过程,进而调控鳞茎的休眠解除;根据细叶百合鳞茎休眠解除过程中差异蛋白表达谱比较,获得了几种与鳞茎休眠相关的蛋白质,鳞茎休眠时胁迫类蛋白高表达,休眠解除时蛋白水解酶类高表达。     

On the Vegetative and Sensitive Innervation of the Retractor Clitoridis Muscle in Some Domestic Animals

The retractor clitoridis muscle originates from the coccygeal vertebrae in the cow, ewe, goat and mare, and from the anal musculature in the sow. It terminates at the base of the clitoris. In all the species considered, a vegetative innervation was found. This was represented by isolated or grouped ganglion cells. Nervous sensitive supply was also present. This was represented by Pacinian, Pacinian-like and Golgi-Mazzoni's corpuscles, and by Krauses's end bulbs. A notable difference was found in the amount and type of these receptors. They were numerous in the sow, ewe and goat, and rare in the cow and mare. Additionally, in the sow, ewe and goat, all the above mentioned receptors were found, while, in the cow and mare, only Pacinian and Pacinian-like corpuscles occurred. The morphology of these receptors was described and hypotheses were made concerning their probable functional role.     

Detection of neurectomy by testing skin sensitivity using an electrical stimulus

A method for detection of neurectomy by electrical stimulation of the skin, distal to the neurectomy site, was tested for accuracy and feasibility. An electrical stimulation device was designed and tested to find the minimum peak voltage that would elicit a response in normal horses. Twenty seven horses were then tested at regular intervals following neurectomy and their responses recorded. Immediately following neurectomy there was an area of insensitivity with sharply defined borders extending in an arc from the back of the pastern down towards the bulbs of the heels. In the months following neurectomy, re-innervation occurred and this area gradually reduced in size, although it was still possible to detect insensitive areas 14 months after neurectomy in all horses tested. The method proved to be safe, accurate and ethically acceptable.     

The use of high-energy electrons to depilate the breech of sheep

The use of high-energy electrons for permanently depilating areas of sheep skin was evaluated. The most effective dose of electrons for depilation was 17.5Gy. Histological changes in skin treated at this dose were examined in one sheep over 18 months and in 5 sheep over 89 d. Effects of treatment on bodyweight gains and fleece growth were examined by comparing the productivity of a further 5 sheep treated on the breech with high-energy electrons, with that of conventionally mulesed sheep (n = 5) and untreated controls (n = 5). Electron treatment resulted in immediate death of cells in the germinative region of the wool follicle bulbs. Within 10 d of treatment the treated areas were completely depilated. Wool follicle shafts in the treated areas regressed rapidly towards the epidermis and remained quiescent for the whole trial (89 d). A sheep treated 18 months previously has remained largely depilated, although a few sparse fibres are present. Epidermal acanthosis and orthokeratosis were present at 26 d after treatment. The thickened stratum corneum then sloughed off, but the epidermis remained acanthotic for the entire trial. Sweat glands and most sebaceous glands were destroyed by the treatment and were replaced by fibrotic, avascular tissue in the dermis. In all other respects the external appearance of the electron-treated breech was similar to that of mulesed sheep. There were no apparent side-effects of treatment. Neither mulesing nor electron treatment altered weight gains or fleece growth rates.     

A modified bilateral transfrontal sinus approach to the canine frontal lobe and olfactory bulb: surgical technique and five cases

Five adult dogs presented for an acute onset of seizure activity. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed lesions in the olfactory bulbs, frontal lobes of the cerebrum, or both. A modified bilateral transfrontal sinus craniotomy was performed on each patient. The goal of removing the lesion was to relieve clinical signs and to provide tissue for histopathological diagnosis. In each instance, excision of the lesion was possible using this approach. No postoperative complications were observed. The modified bilateral transfrontal sinus craniotomy provides excellent access to the canine olfactory bulbs and frontal lobes.     

Lectin histochemical study on the olfactory bulb of the newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster

The function and/or morphological features of the vomeronasal olfactory system remain unclear in aquatic animals, although the system appeared first in urodeles based on phylogenic data. We examined the lectin binding patterns in the olfactory bulb of a semi-aquatic urodele, the Japanese red-bellied newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster, using 22 different lectins. Eleven of the lectins showed specific binding to the nerve fibres and glomeruli in the olfactory bulb. Among these, Wheat germ agglutinin, pokeweed and peanut agglutinin preferentially bound the main olfactory bulb, reflecting variation in the expression of glycoconjugates between the main and accessory olfactory bulbs. By contrast, the types of lectins bound to the Cynops olfactory bulb were considerably different from those reported in other urodele families. These results suggest a histochemical distinction between the main and accessory olfactory bulbs, and that glycoconjugate expression may differ significantly among urodele families.