Endometrial Population of Oestrogen Receptors Alpha and Beta and Progesterone Receptors A and B During the Different Phases of the Follicular Wave of Llamas (Lama glama)

The aim of this study was to characterize the distribution of oestrogen receptor (ER)α and ERβ as well as both progesterone receptors isoforms progesterone receptor (PR) A and PRB in the luminal and glandular epithelia and stroma of the endometrium during the different phases of the follicular wave in llamas. Six llamas were examined by transrectal ultrasonography, and a transcervical biopsy was obtained when a follicle at the growing, plateau and regressing phase was recorded. Blood samples were collected at the time of biopsy for hormone determinations. An immunohistochemical technique was used to study receptor populations. Total positive area was evaluated in the different cell types by Image Analysis. Mean diameter measurements of the largest follicle were 6.9, 8.5 and 5.1 mm (p < 0.001) and mean plasma oestradiol‐17β concentrations were 27.9 ± 3.26; 30.0 ± 2.79 and 24.0 ± 1.78 pmol/l (p = 0.32) during the growing, plateau and regressing phases, respectively. Immunostaining of ERα was higher in the luminal epithelium during the plateau and regressing phases (p < 0.05) than during the growing phase. More positive cells to ERβ were observed in the glandular epithelium of the growing and plateau phases (p < 0.05) than during the regressing phase. A higher percentage of cells positive to PRB was recorded in the luminal and glandular epithelia during the plateau phase (p < 0.05), while the PRA immunostaining was similar among phases. In brief, this study showed an increased population of ERα and PRB in the luminal epithelium, and only of PRB in the glandular epithelium at the time when an ovulatory follicle is present. The physiological importance of these changes in llamas remains to be elucidated.     

Chloride Ion in Small Animal Practice: The Forgotten Ion

The Physiology of chioride ion and its relationship to clinical disorders in small animall practice is reviewed. Chioride is the major anion in the extracellular fluid and is important in the metabolic regulation of acid-base balance. A new clinical approach is used to assess chloride ion changes after accounting for changes in free water. Using this approach chloride disorders can be divided into corrected and artifactual. Changes in free water are solely responsible for the chioride ion changes in artifactual disorders, whereas in corrected chloride disorders, chloride ion itself changes. Corrected hypochioremia is associated with increases in the strong ion differece (SID) and metabolic alkalosis and is caused by administration of solution containing a high concentration of sodium relative to chioride (e.g., Sodium bicarbonate) or the excessive loss chioride relative to sodium (e.g., vomiting of stomach contents). Administration of chioride is correction of hypochioremic metabolic alkalosis. Corrected hyperchioremia is associated with a decreased SID and metabolic acidosis and is usually the result of excessive loss of sodium relative to chloride (e.g., diarrhea), chioride retention (e.g., renal tubular acidosis), or therapy with solutions containing a high concentration of chioride relative to sodium (e.g.,0.9% sodium chloride;3–24% hypertonic saline). Treatment with sodium bicarbonate should be attempted in patients with corrected hyperchioremia and a plasma pH beiow 7.2.     

Serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity in healthy cats and cats with induced hepatic disease

Activities of serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were determined in healthy cats and in cats before and after treatment: common bile duct ligation, carbon tetrachloride administration, sham surgery, or anesthesia only. Significant (P less than 0.01) increases in serum GGT, ALP, and ALT occurred in cats with ligated bile ducts. Significant (P less than 0.01) increases in serum ALT occurred in carbon tetrachloride-treated cats. Increases of serum GGT, ALP, or ALT were not observed in cats subjected to sham surgery or anesthesia only compared with these cats' baseline values and values in healthy cats. Tissue GGT activity was measured in liver, renal cortex, jejunal mucosa, and bile ducts. There was a 1.5-fold increase in GGT activity in livers of cats with ligated bile ducts, compared with that in livers of healthy cats.     

The pollination of zygogynum (winteraceae) by a moth, sabatinca (micropterigidae): an ancient association?

The primitive and vesselless angiosperm Zygogynum (Winteraceae), which is restricted to New Caledonia, is pollinated by a moth, Sabatinca (Micropterigidae). Fossil records of both the moth and the plant families extend to the Early Cretaceous. Adult Sabatinca have grinding mandibles and usually feed on the spores of ferns and on pollen. The insects use the flowers as mating sites and eat the pollen which is immersed in a dense pollenkitt. This mode of pollination in which flowers serve as mating and feeding stations with floral odors acting as cues may have been common in the early evolution of flowering plants.     

Spontaneous neurodegeneration in transgenic mice with mutant prion protein

Transgenic mice were created to assess genetic linkage between Gerstmann-Str?ussler-Scheinker syndrome and a leucine substitution at codon 102 of the human prion protein gene. Spontaneous neurologic disease with spongiform degeneration and gliosis similar to that in mouse scrapie developed at a mean age of 166 days in 35 mice expressing mouse prion protein with the leucine substitution. Thus, many of the clinical and pathological features of Gerstmann-Str?ussler-Scheinker syndrome are reproduced in transgenic mice containing a prion protein with a single amino acid substitution, illustrating that a neurodegenerative process similar to a human disease can be genetically modeled in animals.     

Survey of Feeding Practices, Supplement Use, and Knowledge of Equine Nutrition among a Subpopulation of Horse Owners in New England

Nutrition is a critical component of equine health. Horse owners' knowledge of nutrition is likely to affect their feeding practices. The aim of this study was to survey feeding practices, dietary supplement use, and knowledge about equine nutrition in New England by surveying a subpopulation of horse owners (67/337 or 19.8%) who brought their horses to the Large Animal Hospital at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University between July and September 2008. All owners reported feeding hay, with the majority feeding grass or timothy hay. Most owners (96%) reported feeding a concentrate in addition to hay. Approximately 84% of owners reported including at least one dietary supplement in their horse's daily feeding. The most commonly used supplements were chondroprotectives, electrolytes, and multivitamins. Survey questions designed to assess the owner's knowledge of nutrition suggested that many owners may not have a basic understanding of principles of equine nutrition; less than 50% knew the daily water and hay requirements for a horse, and 69% lacked knowledge about the proper use of concentrates in a diet. Most of the surveyed owners consulted multiple sources of information concerning equine nutrition, including veterinarians (n = 36), trainers (n = 27), feed stores (n = 10), and the internet (n = 7). Although the major source of information was the veterinarian, it appears that the communication between horse owners and their veterinarian about optimal feeding practices could be enhanced. This survey demonstrated areas in the veterinarian–client dialog that need to be addressed when evaluating the health and well-being of the horse.     

α-Luminol prevents decreases in glutamate, glutathione, and glutamine synthetase in the retinas of glaucomatous DBA/2J mice

Objective  To test the hypothesis that in DBA/2J mice, oxidative stress decreases glutamine synthetase (GS) levels resulting in a loss of neuronal glutamate and that the antioxidant α-luminol (GVT®) decreases this stress and glutamate loss in some types of glaucoma.
Animals  DBA/2J mice were separated into two groups, of which one was not treated, and the other treated with GVT in the drinking water. At 7 months of age, retinas were examined from five untreated DBA/2J mice, seven GVT-treated mice, and five C57BL/6 mice (negative controls).
Methods  Serial 0.5 μm plastic sections were immunogold stained for glutamate, GS, and total glutathione, followed by image analysis for staining patterns and density.
Results  Focal decreases in glutamate immunostaining were common in the inner nuclear layer (INL) of DBA/2J retinas, but not in C57BL/6 or GVT-treated DBA/2J retinas. Decreases in glutathione and GS immunostaining were found in DBA/2J retinal regions where neuronal glutamate immunostaining was reduced. Retinas from GVT-treated DBA/2J had no significant decreases in INL levels of glutamate, glutathione, or GS.
Conclusions  Retinas of dogs with primary glaucoma are reported to have focal depletion of neuronal glutamate. In DBA/2J mice, similar changes occur prior to the development of clinical disease. In these focal glutamate-depleted regions, levels of glutathione and GS are also reduced, consistent with the hypothesis that oxidative stress contributes to retinal changes in glaucoma. The ability of GVT, an antioxidant, to inhibit retinal abnormalities in DBA/2J mice provides further support for this hypothesis.