Distributions of extracellular matrix and carbonic anhydrase-III during bovine palatine ridge development.

The present study describes histological alterations and immunohistochemical distributions of extracellular matrices (ECMs) and the carbonic anhydrase isozyme-III (CA-III) during the period of bovine palatine ridge formation. Morphogenesis of bovine palatine ridges was preceded by epidermal placodes and the mesenchymal condensation (MC). During the early stages of less than 44 cm crown rump length (CRL), fibronectin (FN) was distributed densely in the MC. Strong reactions against type I collagen (C-1) were detected outer to the FN positive site. In the stages of more than 44 cm CRL, FN and C-1 were distributed diffusely in subepithelial mesenchyme. Laminin (LN) and type IV collagen were distributed in the epithelial and endothelial basement membranes (BMs) in all of the stages examined, except in the stage of 7 cm CRL, where LN was not detected only in the BM just beneath the epidermal placode. CA-III was detected in basal epithelial cells except for palatine ridge rudiments in the stages of more than 21 cm CRL. It is suggested that the expressions of LN and CA-III might play a role in the spatial determination of rudiments of bovine fetal palatine ridges.     

Viral respiratory disease of the horse.

The diagnosis of any viral respiratory disease relies on laboratory procedures to isolate the virus and demonstrate a significant rise in serum antibody titers. To isolate viruses from the upper respiratory tract, it is imperative that nasopharyngeal swabs are obtained from animals in the early acute stage of illness, i.e., during the pyrexic phase when the virus is replicating. Nasopharyngeal swabs must be placed in a virus transport medium and forwarded immediately to the laboratory at refrigerated temperature. Equine influenza, rhinopneumonitis, and equine viral arteritis are the three viral infections causing outbreaks of respiratory disease in North America. African horse sickness, although foreign to North America, could be introduced despite stringent horse importation regulations. Specific antiviral therapy is not available to treat viral respiratory disease in the horse. A variety of inactivated and modified live vaccines, however, are available to prevent clinical disease and the spread of infection caused by the common viral respiratory pathogens. A considerable amount of research is underway to enhance the potency and duration of immunity of the present vaccines against influenza and rhinopneumonitis. This research is directed at defining and characterizing the importance of specific glycoprotein antigens on the surface of the virus, which trigger the various host immune responses, and determining whether they are stimulatory or suppressive.     

Vitamin deficiencies in cattle

Deficiencies of vitamins A, D, K, E and thiamin can cause severe limitations in beef production. In particular, vitamin A and E can be common causes of lost profit, secondary to limitations of reproductive and growth potential. Prolonged dry periods will reduce available A and E in pasture forage, as can ensiling and prolonged storage of harvested feedstuffs. Polioencephalomalacia is a thiamin responsive disorder, associated with high concentrate feeding and lush pastures. Antimetabolites, such as amprolium, will cause thiamine deficiency when fed in excess. Recent information has shown improved performance with supplemental beta carotene and niacin. The positive responses in reproductive performance, noted with cattle fed supplemental beta carotene, was independent of vitamin A. Supplementation of vitamins above National Research Council recommendations can be justified. However, proper evaluation of feed and animal status, and documentation of a response to supplementation is necessary before diagnosing deficiencies of specific nutrients.     

Changes in the concentration of mRNAs for the inhibin subunits in ovarian follicles after administration of gonadotropins to progestin treated ewes.

RNA was extracted from single or small groups of ovine ovarian follicles after treatment of ewes with FSH and/or LH. The content of mRNA for the alpha-inhibin and beta A-inhibin subunits was analyzed by hybridization with specific cDNA probes. All ewes were treated with progestin vaginal pessaries to suppress spontaneous preovulatory follicle maturation and ewes were given three intramuscular injections of gonadotropins at 8-hr intervals starting 24 hr prior to collection of ovaries. In experiment I, both Schering-FSH and NIDDK-oFSH-17 (oFSH) significantly increased alpha- and beta A-inhibin mRNA per ewe in 2-5 mm follicles and tended to increase alpha- and beta A-inhibin mRNA in large (greater than 5 mm) follicles. In experiment II, oFSH and NIDDK-oLH-25 (oLH) were administered in a 2X2 factorial arrangement. Separate administration of oFSH or oLH increased (P less than .05) the alpha-inhibin mRNA concentration in large follicles. alpha-inhibin mRNA concentration in 4-5 mm follicles was also increased by oFSH but was decreased by oLH. Concomitant treatment with oFSH and oLH did not change alpha-inhibin mRNA concentrations from those measured in oFSH treated ewes. In experiment II, beta A mRNA concentrations followed a pattern similar to that of alpha A mRNA, but the differences were not statistically significant. We conclude that, in the ewe, exogenous FSH increases the concentration of inhibin mRNA in the whole follicle. The ability of exogenous oLH to alter expression of the inhibin subunit genes may depend upon the stage of follicle maturation.     

In situ hybridization analysis of ovarian prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase mRNA throughout the periovulatory period of the ewe.

Cellular alterations in level of expression of mRNA encoding for prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase were quantified within ovarian tissues of sheep obtained before, during and after induction of the preovulatory surge of LH and ovulation with LHRH. This was accomplished by isotopic in situ hybridization using a selective cRNA probe to ovine prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase mRNA. A significant elevation in mRNA was detected within the theca interna of the preovulatory follicle at 8, 16 and 24 hr following administration of LHRH. Very close to the time of ovulation (ie., at 24 hr post-LHRH) a marked rise in mRNA was observed in association with epithelial cells covering the apical surface of the follicle. Ovarian cyclooxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid produced during the ovulatory process in the ewe originate within the thecal layer and germinal epithelium of the follicle destined to ovulate.     

Acute infection of encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus in Syrian hamsters.

One-month-old Syrian hamsters of the APA and Std: golden strains were inoculated intraperitoneally with 10(5) PFU/head of the D variant of encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus and examined virologically and pathologically up to 7 days after inoculation. APA hamsters developed apparent hyperglycemia due to pancreatic islet cell damage while Std:golden hamsters did not. Hamsters of both strains showed clear histopathologic changes in the testis with prominent viral replication as well as in the brain, heart and exocrine pancreas. The susceptibility to EMC virus-infection was higher in males than in females and in APA than in Std: golden hamsters.     

Importance of Some Biochemical Parameters in the Quality and Yield of Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)

Samples of rapeseed from three Italian growing environments (Bologna, Perugia and Palermo) were analysed for glucose content and dry weight of 1000 seeds every three or four days starting from the end of flowering until complete ripening. In addition, the content of oil, soluble and total proteins, glucosinolates and myrosinase activity was determined in samples of mature seeds. The cultivars used were jet Neuf and Lingot (type 0) and Tandem, Jade and Santana (type 00). From the results it emerged that the point of intersection of the two branches of the linear regression plots for different glucose-consumption kinetics found during seed filling, in addition to being strongly affected by the climate of the test environment, is correlated with quantitative and qualitative production, independently of the genotype.     

Free-running rhythms of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol and melatonin in pigs.

In the domestic pig, a circadian rhythm of plasma cortisol occurs, with greatest concentrations in the morning and lowest concentrations in the afternoon. However, photic entrainment of the rhythms of ACTH and melatonin in pigs have not been defined clearly. This experiment was designed to evaluate free-running rhythms of ACTH, cortisol and melatonin in pigs housed in constant light (LL) and constant darkness (DD). Twelve crossbred barrows, maintained under ambient photoperiod, were catheterized and tethered individually in two environmentally controlled rooms, one with LL and the other with DD. For animals in LL, fluorescent lights provided 202 +/- 15 (mean +/- standard deviation) lux of light at 65 cm above the floors. Incandescent nightlights equipped with 7 watt red bulbs provided 7 +/- 2 lux and were illuminated continuously in both rooms. Pigs were given at least 14 d exposure to LL and DD, then samples of plasma and serum were obtained at hourly intervals for 48 hr. Plasma was assayed for ACTH, and serum for cortisol and melatonin. Periodograms were constructed to analyze the data. For this type of analysis, a statistic, Qp, is calculated, and circadian periodicity is suggested if maximum Qp (Qp max) occurs at or near 24 hr. The period of the free-running rhythms (tau) at Qp max for ACTH, cortisol and melatonin for pigs in LL (23.80 +/- .01, 23.78 +/- .01, and 23.21 +/- .02 hr, respectively) did not differ significantly from those for pigs in DD (23.39 +/- .01, 23.20 +/- .01, and 22.55 +/- .02 hr, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)