An unusual case of chronic fibrosing endometritis and mucometra in a Watusi cow (Bos primigenius f. taurus) with uterine foreign bodies

Genital organs, ureter, urinary bladder, and blood were collected from a 12 year old watusi cow which never exhibited estrous behaviour. Post-mortem findings and hormone assays, however, indicated the incidence of recent estrous cycles. The animal showed a chronic panmetritis, retained fetal membranes or fetal residues, an infected mucometra with cystic glandular hyperplasia, and a leiomyoma. Tubular genitalia, ureter, and urinary bladder exhibited subacute inflammation.     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF INTRACRANIAL TISSUE ACCUMULATIONS IN DOMESTIC DUCKS (Anas platyrhynchos f. dom.) WITH FEATHER CRESTS

The crested breed of domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos f. dom.) has been described as a variety which has high pre- and postnatal mortalities, malformations in skull and brain anatomy, and several central nervous deficiencies. In addition, intracranial tissue accumulations have been diagnosed in purebred Crested ducks. The incidence, heredity and inheritance of these accumulations as well as their pathogenesis are still generally unknown. The aims of this study were to examine the head of Crested ducks, plain-headed duck breeds, and their crossbreeding relating to the incidence of intracranial alterations. These examinations were performed using magnetic resonance imaging. We found a high incidence of intracranial tissue accumulations in domestic ducks with feather crests. Creasted ducks had more intracranial tissue deposits than plain-headed ducks (p < 0.001). In the present study a correlation between the volume of the crest cushion and the volume of the intracranial tissue deposit could not be found (r = 0.014). Some of the Crested ducks had encephaloceles in addition to the crest cushion.     

Morphological Changes and Proliferative Activity in the Oviductal Epithelium during Hormonally Defined Stages of the Oestrous Cycle in the Bitch

The aim of the present study was to investigate morphological changes and proliferative activities in the epithelium of the canine oviduct with regard to the part of the oviduct – possibly indicating the existence of a locally restricted sperm reservoir – and the stage of the oestrous cycle. Nine healthy adult nulliparous bitches were submitted to ovariohysterectomy at three stages of the cycle: anoestrus (n = 3), late follicular phase (n = 3) and mid‐luteal phase (n = 3). The whole oviduct ranging from the utero‐tubal junction (UTJ) to the infundibulum (IN) was collected, divided into UTJ, IN plus six segments of equal length, i.e. eight oviductal specimens per animal were studied by light microscopy. Morphological characteristics of ovaries and endometrium were recorded macroscopically and verified histologically. The height of oviduct epithelial cells and percentage of ciliated cells (CC) were assessed and the respective data analysed statistically. Proliferative activity was immunohistochemically visualized by means of Ki‐67 antigen detection. Blood was collected and concentrations of oestradiol‐17β and progesterone (P₄) were measured. Within the IN and five of the six tissue samples collected from the ampulla and isthmus in anoestrous bitches, the oviductal surface epithelium consisted of low cuboidal cells demonstrating a uniform dark staining intensity. Only a very few scattered lighter staining CC could be detected. Under the influence of oestrogens during late follicular phase, the oviductal epithelium was highly differentiated. Lighter stained CC with apically located nuclei were easily distinguishable from basophilic secretory cells with apical cytoplasmic protrusions. Cell height and percentage of CC were significantly higher than in anoestrus (p ≤ 0.05). During mid‐luteal phase, high levels of P₄ were associated with differentiated and dedifferentiated cells as well as cells in regression seen in the mucosal folds of all samples. The percentage of CC and cell height were significantly lower than during late follicular phase (p ≤ 0.05). Further signs of dedifferentiation consisted of a loss of cilia, a pinching off of the apical cytoplasm as well as the presence of debris and macrophages within the oviductal lumen. In the oviductal part of UTJ and the caudal isthmus hormone‐dependent variations in cellular morphology were less distinct. Changes in cell height were minimal and did not differ significantly throughout the oestrous cycle. Hypertrophic cells with large nuclei were predominantly present at these sites, but did not consistently demonstrate signs of ciliation or secretion. Sporadic proliferating activity, visualized by means of Ki‐67 antigen, was mainly seen in some cells of the late follicular phase samples. Thus, overall proliferative activity is generally very low or may occur within a relatively short period of time. It therefore cannot be excluded, that periods exhibiting higher mitotic rates are not included in the present study. It should, however, be mentioned that cells demonstrating morphological signs of apoptosis can only be seen very sporadically within a few specimens during mid‐luteal phase, thus, reflecting low proliferative capacities and minimal cellular turnover found during this study. The results of the present study strongly indicate that oestrogens cause hypertrophy and differentiation, whereas P₄ induces gradual dedifferentiation or regression of the oviductal epithelium. Furthermore, they reveal clearly visible changes in the morphology of the tubal epithelium during the oestrous cycle. Depending on the tubal segment, these are, however, variably expressed. Whether the low degree of cellular variation of the UTJ and caudal isthmus is caused by specific hormone concentrations at these sites or specific regulatory mechanisms and may be associated with specific functional properties such as the formation of a locally restricted sperm reservoir needs further investigations.     

Effects of gestation and lactation on vitamin D receptor amounts in goats and sheep

During gestation and lactation, an increased demand for calcium (Ca) due to the development of fetal skeleton and excretion via milk is observed. The higher need for Ca is met by an augmented mobilisation of Ca from bones and by an increased absorption from the intestines. The main influence on this physiological process of active absorption has Vitamin D, acting through Vitamin D receptors (VDR) located in the mucosal wall of the intestines, thus increasing Ca absorption. As a consequence of inadequate Ca absorption, metabolic diseases like milk fever can develop. In this study immunohistochemical procedures were applied to colon mucosa biopsies of pregnant and lactating goats and sheep, to study the effect of late gestation, parturition and lactation on VDR amount. Colon mucosa biopsies were collected 2 weeks before parturition, 1 and 4 weeks post partum (pp), 2, 3, 4, and 5 months pp from 11 dairy goats and 11 sheep. Immunohistochemistry was performed employing a biotinylated monoclonal rat anti-VDR antibody and streptavidin peroxidase techniques. Nuclei and cytoplasm of enterocytes stained positively for VDRs. Strongest immunoreactions were observed in intermediate and superficial glandular cells. The biopsy samples taken during early lactation revealed a lower immunoreaction for VDR compared with samples taken during later stages of lactation. In conclusion, immunochemistry and biopsy technology are useful tools to assess changes in VDR expression in relation to varying demands for Ca in the process of a reproductive cycle. These results show that in dairy goats and sheep, an influence of gestation and lactation on VDR is obvious.     

Enzyme Histochemistry of Bovine Luteinized Follicular Cysts and Corpora lutea of Estrous Cycle

Contents: Enzyme histochemical characteristics of parenchyma of luteinized follicular cysts and of corpora lutea of estrous cycle were compared in view of the developmental stages of the luteal tissue in order to evaluate the role of this type of cyst in bovine sterility. Δ⁵-3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase activities were higher in mature luteal tissue than in immature and regressed one. Both enzymes demonstrated higher reaction intensities in large luteal cells than in small ones. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities in non-regressed luteal tissue specimens were higher than in regressed ones. Reaction intensities were lower in large luteal cells than in small ones. NADH₂ and NADPH tetrazolium reductases exhibited very high reaction intensities compared to the other dehydrogenases demonstrated. Acid phosphatase showed an almost constantly high activity in luteal tissue irrespective of the developmental stage. Alkaline phosphatase activity was high in small luteal cells, proliferating large luteal cells, and proliferating capillary endothelial cells, as well as in fibroblasts. The present study showed enzyme histochemical characteristics of luteinized follicular cysts and corpora lutea of estrous cycle to be almost identical. Structural and enzyme histochemical findings in bovine corpora lutea of pregnancy beyond the first month of gravidity, as reported in literature, differ markedly from those described here, suggesting a similar life-span for luteinized follicular cysts and corpora lutea of estrous cycle. Inhalt: Enzymhistochemie von Follikel-Lutein-Zysten und von Zyklusgelbkörpern beim Rind Enzymhistochemische Merkmale von Follikel-Lutein-Zysten und von Zyklusgelbkörpern wurden, bezogen auf die Entwicklungsstadien des Luteingewebes, miteinander verglichen um die Rolle dieser Zystenart im Sterilitatsgeschehen des Rindes abzuklären. Die Aktivität der Δ ⁵ -3β-Hydroxysteroiddehydrogenase und der Sukzinatdehydrogenase waren im voll entwickelten Luteingewebe höher als im noch nicht ausgereiften oder schon in Rückbildung befindlichen. Beide Enzyme waren in den groβen Luteinzellen stärker aktiv als in den kleinen. Die Glucose-6-phosphatdehydrogenaseaktivität war in nicht rüekgebildeten Luteingewebeproben höher als in rückgebildeten. In den groβen Luteinzellen war die Reaktionsintensität dieses Enzyms niedriger als in den kleinen. Die NADH₂- und die NADPH-Tetrazoliumreduktasen waren im Vergleich zu den anderen nachgewiesenen Dehydrogenasen sehr viel stärker aktiv. Die saure Phosphatase wies unabhängig vom morphologischen Entwicklungsstadium des Luteingewebes eine fast konstant hohe Aktivität im Gewebe auf. Die alkalische Phosphatase war in den kleinen und in den proliferierenden groβen Luteinzellen sowie in sprossenden Kapillarendothelzellen und in Fibroblasten stark aktiv. In der vorliegenden Untersuchung wurde nachgewiesen, daβ die enzymhktochemisch erfaβbaren Merkmale von Follikel-Lutein-Zysten und Zyklusgelbkörpern nahezu identisch sind. Strukturelle und histochemische Befunde, wie sie aus der Literatur über den mehr als einen Monat alten Trachtigkeitsgelbkorper zu entnehmen sind, unterscheiden sich deutlich von den hier beschriebenen Ergebnissen. Daraus kann gefolgert werden, daβ Follikel-Lutein-Zysten und Zyklusgelbkörper eine ähnlich lange Verweildauer am Ovar haben.