Histopathology of the chick pancreas following pancreatic duct ligation

Ligation of the ventral pancreatic ducts of day-old chicks resulted in atrophy of the pancreatic acini and interstitial fibrosis. The pancreatic histopathology was identical to that seen in mammals with pancreatic duct obstruction and also to that seen in stunting syndrome of broiler chickens. It is suggested that the pathogenesis of the pancreatic lesions seen in stunting syndrome may be due to pancreatic duct obstruction.     

Histogenesis of neoformation in the endocrine pancreas of aging horses

Pancreatic tissue from 20 horses was examined using immunocytochemical techniques. In aged horses, neogenesis of endocrine cells, neoformation, and hyperplasia of islets occurred closely associated with the pancreatic duct; these changes were regarded as nesidioblastosis. In addition, pancreatic fibrosis accompanied by ductal proliferation and endocrine neogenesis was considered a regenerative change. Thus, the origin of neoformation in the endocrine pancreas was in the ductal system, and it is suggested that the pancreatic endocrine cells were of endodermal origin.     

The effect of a different protein supply with regard to quality and quantity on growth and serum growth hormone in weaned rats

A two-factorially experiment was done over a period of 42 days using 32 male, weaned Sprague-Dawley rats in order to study the effect of insufficient protein supplementation, with regard to quantity and quality (13% protein in comparison to 18%, and an essential amino acid index of 64 in comparison to 92%, resp.), on weight development and serum growth hormone concentration. Qualitative protein deficiency had a greater adverse effect on weight development and feed utilization than did quantitative protein deficiency. Both test factors combined brought about the lowest body weight and poorest feed utilization. A lowered hematocrit value occurred only after quantitative protein deficiency. The serum urea concentration was elevated after protein deficiency due to poor quality protein; the serum protein concentration tended toward reduction in both the case of qualitative as well as in the case of qualitative-quantitative protein deficiency. After providing the animals poor quality protein, growth hormone levels in serum were reduced, whereas the concurrence of both factors of protein deficiency caused the growth hormone concentration in serum to rise to a value 4.2-fold of the control value.     

Development in culture of the chick embryo from cleavage to hatch

1. Early uterine embryos were obtained from hens by induced oviposition 7.5-8.0 h after the preceding egg was laid. They were cultured in vitro and then in recipient shells to hatch. As controls, embryos from freshly laid eggs were cultured in recipient shells to hatch. 2. For embryos cultured from uterine eggs, the hatch rate was 22.5%, and for embryos cultured from laid eggs, the hatch rate was 62.5%. 3. The weight of the chicks hatched from culture was about 60% of the weight of the preceding egg, or donor egg. Male and female chicks reached maturity and have produced viable offsprings. 4. The results show that it is possible to grow chick embryos in culture from the early cleavage stage (stage II) to hatch. They extend earlier findings on the culture of embryos from the blastoderm stage (Stage X) to hatch. The technique provides a basis for investigations on chick embryo cryopreservation.     

加强生长育肥猪的饲养管理减少疾病的发生

在整个养猪生产中,育肥是养猪的最后一个生产环节,是检测猪种选择是否正确,营养饲料是否适合,饲养技术是否过硬,疫病防控是否完善的关键,不仅关系到市场供应,而且对猪场经济效益有着重要影响,也是发展养猪生产的最终目的。     

Histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of the endocrine and exocrine pancreas in twelve cattle with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM).

Histological and immunohistochemical studies were carried out on the pancreas of twelve cattle of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). They showed clinical signs such as persistent hyperglycemia, glycosuria and decreased glucose tolerance, and some cases accompanied with or without ketonuria. Histopathologically, eight cattle were diagnosed as chronic IDDM, while others were acute IDDM. The most characteristic lesions of the pancreas in chronic IDDM showed a decrease in the size and number of pancreatic islets, interlobular and interacinar fibrosis, mild lymphocytic insulitis, and vacuolation of a few islets. Almost all cells in the atrophied islets had a small amount of ungranulated cytoplasm. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that the atrophied islet cells did not react to anti-insulin antibody, but occasionally reacted to anti-glucagon or somatostatin antibodies. A few solitary islets with mild lymphocytic infiltration, necrotic islets with occasional calcification, and atrophied islets with mild fibrosis were also observed. A few islets consisted of many islet cells with vacuolated cytoplasm including a small number of insulin-positive granules. Accumulation of glycogen granules was occasionally observed in these islets. Islet fibrosis was due to the proliferation of collagen fibers reactive to both anti-collagen type I and type III antibodies. In acute IDDM, the major islets consisted of the cells with vacuolated cytoplasm indicating the degranulation of islet cells. These islets contained many islet cells with shrunken cytoplasm and karyorrhectic nuclei. Lymphocytic infiltration was frequently observed in the islets which consisted of many islet cells having karyorrhectic nuclei and vacuolated and severely degranulated cytoplasm. Immunohistochemically, islet cells with vacuolated cytoplasm had a small amount of insulin-positive granules, suggesting severe degranulation of beta-cells. An increase in acinar islet-cells and proliferation of ductal epithelial cells showing insulin-immunoreactivity were observed. Bovine IgG-immunoreactive islet cells were frequently seen in the vacuolated islets. In summary, pathological observations suggested that beta-cells were being destroyed by an inflammatory process which selectively affected the pancreatic islets. Lymphocytic insulitis and anti-bovine immunoreactive islet cells were thought to be the most significant changes in determining the etiology and pathogenesis of bovine IDDM, and suggested their role in anti-islet autoimmunity in this form of diabetes.     

Metabolomic analysis of longissimus from underperforming piglets relative to piglets with normal preweaning growth

Background: Recent increases in intra-litter variability in weaning weight have raised swine production costs. A contributor to this variability is the normal birth weight pig that grows at a slower rate than littermates of similar birth weight. The goal of this study was to interrogate biochemical profiles manifested in skeletal muscle originating from slow growing(SG) and faster growing littermates(control), with the aim of identifying differences in metabolic pathway utilization between skeletal muscle of the SG pig relative to its littermates. Samples of longissimus muscle from littermate pairs of pigs were collected at 21 d of age for metabolomic analysis.Results: Birth weights did not differ between littermate pairs of SG and Control pigs(P 0.05). Weaning weights differed by 1.51 ± 0.19 kg(P 0.001). Random forest(RF) analysis was effective at segregating the metabolome of muscle samples by growth rate, resulting in a predictive accuracy of 81% versus random segregation(50%).Decreases in sugars in the pentose phosphate pathway(PPP) in the longissimus of SG pigs were detected(P 0.05). Decreases were also apparent in glycolytic intermediates(glycerol-3-phosphate and lactate) and key glycolysis-derived intermediates(glucose-6-phosphate and fructose-6-phosphate; P 0.05). SG pigs had increased levels of phospholipids, lysolipids, diacylglycerols, and sphingolipids(P 0.05). Pathway analysis identified a cluster of molecules associated with muscle and collagen/extracellular matrix breakdown that are increased in the SG pig(glutamate, 3-methylhistidine and hydroxylated proline moieties; P 0.05). Nicotinate metabolism was altered in SG pigs, resulting in a 78% decrease in the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide pool(P 0.05).Conclusions: These metabolomic data provide the first evidence for biochemical mechanisms that should be investigated to determine if they have a potential role in the slow growth in some normal birth weight piglets that contribute to increased intra-litter variability in weaning weights and provides essential information and potential targets for the development of nutritional intervention strategies.     

日粮添喂伊普异黄酮影响去势仔猪生长及有关内分泌水平

断奶仔猪(雌雄均去势)60头随机分为对照组和试验组,分别饲喂基础日粮和基础日粮添加5mg/kg日粮的伊普异黄酮,试验期持续1个月。与对照组相比,试验组增重提高26.3%(P<0.01),饲料利用率提高33.95%,其中雄性去势仔猪增重比雌性提高显著。血液胰岛素样生长因子(IGF-I)含量雌、雄分别提高24.72%和44.76%,平均提高33.93%;睾酮含量雌、雄分别提高40.38%和40.98%,平均提高40.68%。血钙含量试验组比对照组高14.60%,其中雌、雄分别高9.76%和19.44%。上述试验结果表明,伊普异黄酮影响神经内分泌系统,提高睾酮、IGF-I和血钙水平,从而促进去势仔猪增重,而对雄性的作用比雌性显著。     

The awareness of farmers with regard to bovine fascioliasis

The owners of 54 cattle herds with bovine fasciolosis, as a livestock problem in Switzerland, were surveyed on their farm, on their education and knowledge on Fasciola hepatica. The aim of the survey was to assess the awareness of the farmers concerning this economically important parasitosis. The analysis of the questionnaires revealed that 72.2% of the farmers were unaware of the fasciolosis in their animals. The knowledge of 51 out of 54 (94.4%) respondents was classified as low to moderate, only four farmers (7.4%) had knowledge of control strategies in addition to the parasite cycle. The knowledge on fasciolosis did not correlate with farm data or year of graduation from school for agriculture. Furthermore, the results were compared to the answers of 33 farmers whose animals were not infected with Fasciola hepatica. Of this group of respondents 12.1% believed that their cattle suffered from fasciolosis.     

Morphological changes in the rat endocrine pancreas within 12 h of intravenous streptozotocin administration

We examined early morphological changes in pancreatic endocrine cells within 12 h of intravenous streptozotocin (STZ) administration (60 mg/kg). Thirty rats were allocated either to a control group (vehicle alone) or to one of four experimental groups tested after 3, 6, 9 and 12 h. Karyopyknosis and cytoplasmic vacuoles were first observed in beta-cell cytoplasm 3 h after STZ administration (STZ-3 h), and the most severe damage was found in beta cells at STZ-12 h. Insulin-positive non-islet cells were observed near the intercalated duct (ICD) and/or centroacinar (CA) cells at STZ-6 h and their numbers peaked at STZ-6 h. The distribution patterns of the insulin-positive cells and those of nestin and insulin-like growth factor-1 were similar and their nuclei were positive for proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Thus, ICD cells and/or CA cells reacted immediately to transform into insulin-secreting cells to replace injured beta cells (or to compensate for the lack of beta cells) within 12 h of STZ administration.     

Prenatal thyroid gland in sheep with regard to the presence of isthmus

We studied the embryonal thyroid gland in 18 foetuses of sheep of Slovac merino breed by light microscopy in the period from 32nd to 36th day of evolution. We found that in the majority of sheep foetuses, the thyroid gland consists of two separate lobes and their structure was the same during the afore-mentioned period. Parenchyma, composed of solid cell networks or cell groups in the form of nests, was irregularly divided by septa, containing embryonal blood vessels. Almost all cases of this experiment showed slight asymmetry of lobes. In one case the asymmetry reached a considerable proportion - nearly the length of one lobe. Glandular isthmus was presented in only eight cases from 18 foetuses. We did not find fibrous isthmus in any case.     

A comparison of the oxytetracycline preparations Aquacycline and Terramycin 100 with regard to absorption characteristics, local tissue reactions and residues following dewlap injections in calves

In an experiment with 12 calves, Aquacycline® in a 5 % (OTC-A5) and a 10 % (OTC-A10) solution, was compared with Terramycin®-100 (OTC-C) by injecting 20 mg OTC/kg bwt. of these preparations in the dewlap and monitoring serum concentrations as well as tissue reactions and residues at the site of injection. All 3 preparations resulted in oxytetracycline (OTC) serum concentrations above 0.5 µg/ml of approximately 60 h. During this period, OTC-A5 resulted in a 39 % and OTC-A10 in a 20 % larger area under the serum concentration-time curve, as compared to OTC-C (P < 0.05). The recorded tissue reaction in the form of swelling during the first week following injection of OTC-A5 averaged 72 % of that after OTC-C (P < 0.01), while the mean swelling after OTC-A10 was 81 % of the corresponding value after OTC-C (P < 0.05). The OTC residue levels at the sites of injection were lower after OTC-A5, but none of the preparations resulted in OTC residues exceeding 0.3 mg at 28 days and about 0.15 mg at 42 days after injection. The pathological changes at the site of injection were somewhat more pronounced in those calves which received OTC-C. Accordingly, these results give some support to the claims that Aquacycline® offers advantages with respect to absorption characteristics and tissue tolerance.     

Specific binding of naloxone to ovine brain tissue: comparison of brain regions and endocrine states

Binding of [3H]naloxone ([3H]NAL) to brain membranes was quantified by Scatchard analysis using two methods of separating bound from free [3H]NAL. In the centrifugation method, membranes that were soluble at 1,000 x g, but sedimented at 20,000 x g, were incubated with [3H]NAL. For filtration, all membranes that sedimented at 20,000 x g were incubated and filtered through glass filter fibers. Nonspecific binding was estimated using greater than 500-fold excess of unlabeled naloxone (10(-6) M). Specific binding of [3H]NAL was used to generate linear multiple-point Scatchard plots, which indicated a single class of high-affinity sites. In Exp. 1, 10 ovariectomized (OVX) ewes were injected with estradiol-17 beta alone or in combination with progesterone. Compared with OVX controls, these hormonal treatments did not affect binding of [3H]NAL (centrifugation method) to combined hypothalamus (HYP) + preoptic (POA) tissues. In cyclic ewes (Exp. 2, filtration method), affinity constants (2.4 +/- .2 x 10(8) M-1) did not differ among HYP, POA and basal forebrain (BF) tissues, but BF had more sites (39 +/- 3 fmol/mg) than either HYP (14 +/- 1) or POA (17 +/- 1). Binding affinity and concentration of sites within each brain area (HYP, POA, BF) did not differ between d 8 and d 16 (preovulatory but after luteolysis) in normally cycling ewes. Overall, neural tissue dissected from BF had a greater concentration of binding sites than HYP or POA. Exogenous and endogenous fluctuations in ovarian steroids did not affect binding of [3H]NAL to these tissues.     

喹胺醇对大鼠的促生长及生殖内分泌作用的研究

对8周龄雌性Wistar大鼠连续灌服不同剂量喹胺醇40d，以探讨喹胺醇不同灌服量的促生长作用及对生殖内分泌机能的影响。结果表明，喹胺醇具有显著促进雌性大鼠增重的作用。药物剂量在10mg/kg（相当于150mg/kg饲料添加剂量）时，其促生长效果较为显著；喹胺醇对大鼠血清中P1和E2的含量均无明显影响。