Prevention of Toxoplasma gondii abortion in goats by vaccination with oocysts of Hammondia hammondi

Nineteen does (female goats) were dosed with 500,000 oocytes of Hammondia hammondi prior to breeding. At about 90 days of gestation these, and 18 uninoculated does were challenged with 25,000 Toxoplasma gondii oocysts. The 19 H. hammondi--inoculated does produced 26 live and one dead kid (newborn goat). The 18 does not given H. hammondi produced 12 live and 19 dead kids. However, examination of all of the kids by isolation of T. gondii in mice, serology and histology revealed that they were all infected with T. gondii. Thus, while H. hammondi "vaccination" is protective against the deleterious effects of T. gondii on pregnant does, perhaps by reducing the severity of placental lesions, it does not prevent foetal infection.     

沧州市滨海盐碱区耕层土壤盐分特征

为了解沧州市滨海盐碱区耕层土壤的盐渍化特征,采集三个时期沧州不同地区耕层土壤（0~20 cm）样品,结合样品实验分析,探究土壤盐分特征。结果表明：①沧州滨海盐碱区耕层土壤离子类型多样,检测的八大离子中氯离子、钠离子、硫酸根、碳酸根+碳酸氢根离子为主要盐分离子,土壤类型为硫酸盐-氯化物型。②相关分析表明,耕层土样中总含盐量与氯离子和钠离子均存在显著或极显著相关关系,沧州市滨海盐碱地耕层土壤的总含盐量一定程上取决于土壤中氯化钠的含量;氯化钠、氯化镁和氯化钙为氯化物的主要组成部分;主要硫酸盐类为硫酸钠、硫酸镁和硫酸钙。③方差分析表明,三个不同采样时期和不同地区均对沧州市滨海区盐碱地的盐渍化的影响存在显著或极显著差异。④主成分分析表明,钠离子、氯离子、镁离子、钙离子和硫酸根与第1主成分相关性较高;钾离子和碳酸根+碳酸氢根与第2主成分相关性较高;第3主成分主要反映硅酸盐类对土壤离子成分的影响。由于钠离子、氯离子、钙离子和硫酸根在土壤中含量相对较高,是表征沧州滨海盐碱区土壤盐渍化的主要特征因子。     

Circulating Metabolic Hormones During the Peripubertal Period and Their Association with Testicular Development in Bulls

The objective of the present study was to characterize changes in serum metabolic hormones concentrations from 20 weeks before to 20 weeks post-puberty in bulls and to investigate the associations of metabolic hormones concentrations with testicular development. Leptin concentrations increased from 16 weeks before puberty to 8 weeks post-puberty and insulin concentrations increased from puberty to 8 weeks post-puberty. Growth hormone concentrations decreased after 4 weeks post-puberty, whereas IGF-I concentrations increased from 8 weeks before puberty to 8 weeks post-puberty. During this period, testicular growth was accelerated and testosterone secretion increased substantially, without any significant changes in gonadotropin secretion. Monthly circulating concentrations of leptin, IGF-I and insulin accounted for 63% of the variation in scrotal circumference and 59% of the variation in paired testes volume. In conclusion, the secretion of metabolic hormones was not associated with changes in gonadotropins concentrations. Furthermore, the associations of leptin, IGF-I and insulin concentrations with testes size indicated that these hormones might be involved in a gonadotropin-independent mechanism regulating the testicular development in peripubertal bulls.     

Mm. scaleni of the Ox (Bos taurus L)*)

The Mm. scaleni of 20 bovine cadavers were dissected and their attachments and nerve supply are described and illustrated. The literature is reviewed and the principles of subdividing the muscles are discussed. The emerging roots of the brachial plexus rather than the axillary vessels are taken as the dividing line between the middle and ventral scalene muscles. This principle can also be applied to the other domesticated species. Fascicles formerly described as M. iliocostalis cervicis are grouped with the M. scalenus medius as its Pars superficialis on the ground of their nerve supply. The scalene muscles are innervated by the ventral branches of spinal nerves C4—T2. The subdivisions and innervation in the ox are as follows: 1. M. scalenus dorsalis, C5—T2. 2. M. scalenus medius: Pars superficialis, C4—C8; Pars profunda, C8. 3. M. scalenus ventralis, C4—T2.