Comparison of the fractionation and assay of domestic duck and fowl pituitary gonadotrophins

1. Pituitary glycoproteins from domestic ducks and fowls were fractionated to separate luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) activities using the same chromatographic steps. 2. Fractions were bioassayed for LH using the release of progesterone from fowl granulosa cells and for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) by measuring the release of thyroxine in 3-d-old chicks. Follicle stimulating hormone activity was measured either in a cockerel-testes radioreceptor assay or by the release of oestrogen from cultured rat Sertoli cells. 3. Fractions containing predominantly FSH or LH activity were isolated from the fowl glycoproteins. Duck gonadotrophin did not occur in fractions corresponding to those containing fowl FSH. 4. Duck gonadotrophin was found in a fraction corresponding with the most highly purified fowl LH fraction. A duck LH fraction was found with little FSH activity for which there was no corresponding fowl LH fraction. 5. It is concluded that domestic fowl and duck gonadotrophins have different chromatographic properties. Further study is required to determine whether the purified duck gonadotrophin preparation comprises proteins with similar physico-chemical properties but with separate FSH and LH biological activities.     

Further observations on functional deletion of paraocular glands in the fowl (Gallus domesticus)

Methods are described for inoculation of the fowl Harderian gland with sclerosing reagent and for its surgical excision. Though very destructive the former procedure proved the less reliable in achieving the gland's complete functional deletion. Three weeks after surgical removal of the Harderian glands the lachrymal glands of 10-week-old fowls were heavier and contained more immunocompetent cells than the glands of intact and sham operated birds. When adult birds deprived of both paraocular glands were given sheep erythrocytes or Newcastle disease virus by eye drop they developed slightly higher than normal titres of serum antibody but failed to produce lachrymal antibody.     

Ultrastructure of the tubular glands in the isthmus region of the oviduct in laying and natural moulting commercial egg‐type chickens

The study investigated the ultrastructural characteristics of tubular gland and duct cells, as well as luminal gland cells in the isthmus region of the oviduct of laying and natural moulting hens. Tubular glands in laying birds were composed of type 1 and 2 cells. Based on the preponderance of each cell type, in relation to the location of a developing egg in the oviduct of the domestic fowl, these gland cells may represent different functional states of the same cell. The findings of the study on natural moulting birds suggest that autophagy is a process confined to the early stages of degeneration, while necrosis occurs in the terminal stages.     

Histological and immunological studies on the fowl lacrimal gland following surgical excision of Harder's gland.

Surgical removal of the Harderian gland of the domestic fowl resulted in increased secretory activity in the lacrimal gland and also in an increase in goblet cell numbers along the length of the lacrimal gland duct. Plasma cells were more numerous in the lacrimal glands of operated birds and they were capable of antibody responses to both systemically and topically applied bovine serum albumin (BSA). Gel diffusion studies showed the presence of anti-BSA activity in the tears and serum of fowls stimulated after surgical removal of the Harderian gland.     

鸡肾上腺传出神经元的定位＊WGA－HRP法研究

将ＷＧＡ－ＨＲＰ注入７５～９０日龄鸡肾上腺内，追踪支配鸡肾上腺传出神经元的胞体。结果显示，鸡肾上腺接受交感性节前和节后神经元的支配，以节后神经元支配占主导；迷走神经的传出神经元也支配鸡肾上腺，但处于次要地位     

Effects of external stimulation on the onset of lung ventilation and the time of hatching in the fowl,duck and goose

Effects of naturally occurring and artificial stimulation on foetal development and the time of hatching were investigated in the fowl, duck and goose.

With respect to natural stimulation, it was shown in the fowl, that the time of hatching is advanced by contact with an egg given 24 h more incubation. Also in the fowl, it was found that contact with other eggs given the same amount of incubation reduces the spread of hatching, although without affecting the mean hatching time. In the Khaki Campbell duck, however, eggs kept in contact hatched earlier than isolates, as well as hatching within a shorter period of time.

The artificial stimulation used was that known to have an accelerating effect in the quail, and the developmental stage of the foetus was assessed by recording pressure changes within the air space of the egg, a method which reveals the time of onset of lung ventilation. When eggs were stimulated artificially it was found in the fowl, duck and goose that the stimulated eggs not only hatched earlier, but began to breathe earlier than did their unstimulated controls. In all three species also, the duration of breathing was shorter in the stimulated than in the unstimulated foetuses.     

A Plaque Assay for Duck Plague Virus

A plaque assay for duck plague virus was developed for a chicken embryo-adapted virus and a duck lethal virus and used to determine the identity of these viruses. Using the plaque inhibition neutralization test, duck plague virus was differentiated from Newcastle disease, fowl plague, and duck hepatitis viruses. The plaque morphology is described.     

高产与低产乌鸡主要生殖器官的比较形态学研究

为探明高产与低产乌鸡主要生殖器官的组织学特点差异,采用石蜡切片、HE染色方法对高产与低产泰和乌鸡主要生殖器官———卵巢及输卵管子宫部结构特点进行比较。结果表明,高产组乌鸡卵巢内生长卵泡多,卵泡外腺细胞数量少,输卵管子宫部皱襞长呈叶片状,固有膜内管状腺发达,血管、神经丰富;低产组乌鸡卵巢内初级卵泡数量较多,次级卵泡量少,卵泡外腺细胞数量较多,输卵管子宫部皱襞较短,血管少。结果还表明,高产组乌鸡主要生殖器官的组织结构与低产乌鸡的差异较大,说明高产组乌鸡的主要生殖器官发育完善,功能较强。     

Molecular characterization of MHC class II region in guinea fowl

1. The MHC class II gene was amplified, cloned and sequenced in guinea fowl. 2. The NumeMHC II sequence of 754 nucleotides included complete exon 1 (91 nt), exon 2 (270 nt), exon 3 (282 nt) and exon 4 (110 nt). 3. The size of β(1) and β(2), domains were 89 and 93 amino acids, respectively in guinea fowl. 4. High amino acid variability (38·2%) was observed within guinea fowl in β(1) domain, while in β(2) domain, amino acid variability (6·3%) was low. 5. Among poultry species, the percent amino acid identity between guinea fowl and chicken, quail, pheasant and duck was 38·8, 42·2, 44·4 and 58·8 in β(1) domain; and 13·8, 17·0, 13·8 and 27·6 in β(2) domain, respectively. 6. Sequence alignment with mammalian and avian MHC showed that many of the conserved features of MHC class II glycoprotein was conserved in guinea fowl. 7. Within-species genetic distances (Poisson correction) based on cumulative amino acid variability in β(1) domain and β(2) domains was 0·141 in guinea fowl. 8. Guinea fowl showed low and similar genetic distances with all the poultry species (0·255-0·268) except duck (0·456). 9. Guinea fowl made separate branch within the major cluster having chicken, quail and pheasant, showing equal distance from these poultry species, whereas duck MHC II clustered separately.     

Cytogenetic studies in domestic chickens and ducks

Typology and the number of chromosomes were studied in two species of domestic poultry: the domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus) and duck (Anas platyrhynchos domestica). The classical method, described by Konstantinov and Dobriyanov (1974), used in the trails, enabled typology only in the largest chromosomes. In the remaining microchromosomes the position of centromere was not determined. Microchromosomes appeared as points which were arranged by size in caryotypes. The domestic fowl had 78 chromosomes on the whole and the duck 80 chromosomes.     

Cloning and Sequence Analysis of Hexon Gene of Duck Adenovirus A

In order to clarify the characteristics of the Hexon gene and the classification candidate of duck adenovirus A under the Adenoviridae family, the Hexon gene fragments of duck adenovirus A (designated as strain JX2016) were amplified. The results demonstrated that the cloned Hexon gene of duck adenovirus A (strain JX2016) was 2 733 bp in length, coding 910 amino acids. Nucleotide homology comparison showed that the strain JX2016 shared the highest nucleotide (99.8%) homology with reference strain FJ12025, also displayed higher than 99.4% nucleotide homology with other duck adenovirus A reference strains. However, the nucleotide homologies with strain GR (duck adenovirus 2, unclassified virus), Phelps (fowl adenovirus A) and P29 (goose adenovirus) were 54.5%, 53.6% and 55.2%, respectively. The genetic evolution analysis showed that all the duck adenovirus A strains were at the same subgroup, under the same Atadenovirus genus branch with ovine atadenovirus D (strain OAV287). Meanwhile, the duck adenovirus 2 (strain GR) at the same branch under Aviadenovirus genus branch with fowl adenovirus A (strain Phelps) and goose adenovirus (strain P29). Based on the Hexon protein genetic evolution analysis, we suggested renamed the duck adenovirus A as duck-origin atadenovirus and renamed the duck adenovirus 2 as duck-origin aviadenovirus.     

鸭腺病毒A型Hexon基因克隆与序列分析

为明确鸭腺病毒A型Hexon基因特征及其在腺病毒科病毒分类中的作用,本研究从前期分离鉴定的一株番鸭源鸭腺病毒A型分离株（JX2016株）中分段扩增获得其Hexon基因编码区。结果发现,鸭腺病毒A型JX2016株Hexon基因编码区为2 733 bp,编码910个氨基酸,与鸭腺病毒A型（FJ12025株）核苷酸同源性最高,达99.8%;与其他分离株Hexon基因核苷酸同源性均在99.4%以上;与鸭腺病毒2型（GR株,未明确分类地位）同源性仅为54.5%;与禽腺病毒A型Phelps株（鸡源）及P29株（鹅源）的核苷酸同源性分别为53.6%和55.2%。遗传进化树分析发现,所有鸭腺病毒A型分离株在遗传进化上均处于相同的亚分支,且与绵羊腺病毒D型（OAV287株）均处于富AT腺病毒属遗传进化分支。但鸭腺病毒2型（GR株）与禽腺病毒A型Phelps株（鸡源）、P29株（鹅源）却处于同一遗传进化分支,均属于禽腺病毒属遗传进化分支。基于Hexon蛋白的遗传进化分析,建议将鸭腺病毒A型重新命名为鸭源富AT腺病毒A型,将鸭腺病毒2型重新命名为鸭源禽腺病毒。     

Immunohistochemical study on the distribution and relative frequency of endocrine cells in the stomach of the Malayan Pangolin, Manis javanica

The distribution and relative frequency of six kinds of endocrine cells in the stomach of the Malayan pangolin, Manis javanica were studied immunohistochemically using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method. The stomach of the pangolin has three regions of mucous gland, one oxyntic gland and one pyloric gland. Cells immunoreactive for chromogranin, serotonin, somatostatin, BPP and glucagon were detected in all of the gastric glands, while gastrin-immunoreactive cells were found in the entire gastric gland except for the oxyntic gland. The distribution pattern of endocrine cells in the mucous gland and pyloric gland was mainly from the middle to apical portions of the glands. The endocrine cells were rare or not detected in the basal portion of all of the mucous glands and pyloric gland, but they were also found in the basal portion of the oxyntic gland. The distribution pattern of the endocrine cells in the mucous and pyloric glands suggested that this position facilitates a quick response to the luminal ingesta. The wide distribution of gastrin-immunoreactive cells in all of the mucous glands and pyloric gland was the most remarkable finding. This distribution suggests a major function of gastrin-immunoreactive cells for the digestive process in the Malayan pangolin stomach.     

Dystrophic muscular fibers in the muscles of certain breeds of birds

The occurrence of pathologically changed muscular fibers in some wild species of birds and in economically important domesticated species of birds is described. The hydrops of muscular fibers, necrosis and atrophy with connective tissue infiltration in muscular bundles were detected in breast and thigh muscles in wild birds, e. g. in raven, pigeon and pheasant. The same pathological processes were also found in domesticated species, e. g. in guinea fowl, less often in geese and duck. Their incidence in turkeys and laying types of fowl was more frequent, they were observed most often in muscles of broiler hens. Fission of muscular fibers, very thin, but also hypertrophic fibers and resorption of necrotic fibers were detected in hens besides the above changes. The described histological picture is confronted with the picture of hereditary myodystrophy in chickens.     

The outer membrane of the avian egg shell as a reticular structure

The shell membranes of fowl, duck, quail and turkey eggs were examined by electron microscopy. A proportion of the outer membrane fibres from all sources were interconnected by lamellae about 90 A thick. The lamellae, which are probably protein, endow the outer membrane with a secondary reticulum reinforcing the reticulum formed by the fibres themselves.     

鸡肾上腺神经的分布──WGA－HRP法研究

将ＷＧＡ－ＨＲＰ注入７５～９０日龄鸡肾上腺内，追踪支配鸡肾上腺传出神经元的胞体，结果显示：鸡肾上腺接受交感神经节前和节后神经元的支配，以节后神经元支配占主导；迷走神经的传出神经元也支配鸡肾上腺，并处于次要地位。     

Organic matrix composition and ultrastructure of eggshell: a comparative study.

1. The avian eggshell is a biomineralised composite ceramic consisting of calcium carbonate embedded in an organic matrix. Matrix components are supposed to be involved in the control of mineralisation, crystallographic texture and biomechanical properties of eggshell. 2. The structure and eggshell matrix composition of various domesticated bird species were compared to gain insight into the universality of the eggshell mineralisation process. 3. The SDS-PAGE profiles of soluble eggshell matrix were specific within groups of birds (a: laying hen, breeder hen, quail, pheasant and possibly turkey; b: guinea fowl; c: duck and goose) but some of the protein bands were common to all groups. 4. Analogies between species were confirmed by Western blotting using hen protein antibodies. Ovocleidin-17 (OC-17) and ovalbumin were revealed in all species (except quail for OC-17). Lysozyme was present only in hen eggshell. Another egg white protein: ovotransferrin showed a positive signal in hens, turkey and quail. Osteopontin was observed in laying and breeder hens and quail. 5. Different proteoglycans were localised to discrete regions within the eggshell. Dermatan sulphate was observed within the matrix of the calcified shell of all species except quail which contained chondroitin-6-sulfate. Keratan sulphate was observed in mammillary bodies of breeder and laying hen, quail, pheasant and turkey while chondroitin sulphate was also present in guinea fowl and duck. 6. The general structural organisation of the different avian eggshells was similar but specific differences were observed in the ultrastructure of the mammillary layer. Species of the same taxonomic family could be grouped according to their structural analogies: breeder hen, turkey and pheasant resembled that of the domestic fowl. Guinea fowl was unique. Goose and duck were quite similar with large and confluent mammillary bodies. 7. Some matrix components are therefore common to eggshells of various species but more information is needed to relate differences in matrix composition between taxonomic groups with differences in ultrastructure.     

Thoracic teratoma in a white Pekin duck (Anas platyrhinchos domesticus)

Teratomas are infrequent tumors in domestic fowl and have been rarely reported in ducks. It appears that the only case of mediastinal teratoma in a Pekin duck was observed by Alezais and Cotte in 1908. A lobulated, firm mass occupied the thorax of a 7-mo-old male white Pekin duck (Anas platyrhinchos domesticus). The tumor was composed of squamous epithelium, feather follicles, glandular epithelium, bone and cartilage, and thymus and was classified as tridermic, thoracic teratoma.     

赤水乌骨鸡不同产蛋期SPIA1基因的差异表达研究

为了探究SPIA1基因的表达量与蛋壳绿色深浅之间的规律性,本试验以赤水乌骨鸡母鸡为试验动物,利用双重PCR技术进行基因分型,根据基因型(纯合型、杂合型)和蛋壳颜色(深绿色、浅绿色、淡绿色)进行分类.采集300日龄赤水乌骨鸡的蛋壳腺进行转录组测序,结果发现SPIA1基因为蛋壳绿色的上调基因,为了验证测序结果,随机选取不同...     

Arterial vascularization of the uropygial glands (Gl. uropygialis) in geese (Anser anser) and ducks (Anas platyrhynches)

In the present study, arterial vascularization of the uropygial glands (Gl. uropygialis) of 10 adult geese (Anser anser) and 10 adult ducks (Anas platyrhynches) were studied. Takilon was injected into the median coccygeal arteries of six specimens from each species, and Latex (a natural rubber with ammonia) into those of four specimens. Takilon-injected specimens were corrosion casted, and arteries nourishing the gland were revealed via dissection. Vascularization of the uropygial glands of both the goose and the duck was observed to be the right (a. gl. uropygii dextra), left (a. gl. uropygi sinistra) and ventral (a. gl. uropygi ventralis) glandular uropygial arteries, arising from the median coccygeal (a. coccygea media) artery. Both the right and left glandular uropygial arteries were observed, divided into four branches as follows; muscular ramus (ramus muscularis), medial ramus (ramus medialis), ventral ramus (ramus ventralis) and lateral ramus (ramus lateralis). Of these, as the lateral, medial and ventral branches feed the gland, the muscular branch provides blood for the lateral coccygeal (m. coccygealis lateralis) and levator coccygeal (m. levator coccygealis) muscles, and the skin. Among the arteries mentioned above, anastomosis between the first and the second branches of the right ventral uropygial arteries in the five geese and five ducks was found.