Immunocytochemical Localization of Aromatase in The Ovary of Superovulated Cattle,Pigs and Sheep

Laurincik, J., L. Kolodzieyski, V. Elias, P. Hyttel, Y. Osawa, A. Sirotkin: Immunocytochemical localization of aromatase in the ovary of superovulated cattle, pigs and sheep. Acta vet. scand. 1994, 35, 185-191.–The localization of aromatase, an enzyme converting androgens to estrogen, in the ovaries of superovulated cattle, pigs and sheep was studied immunocytochemically in the preovulatory and postovulatory period using anti-human placental aromatase cytochrome P-450 antiserum. Immunostaining for aromatase was detected in the granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles of all species studied. Theca interna cells were stained in preovulatory follicles in the pig but not in cattle and sheep. Interstitial gland cells, cumulus cells and oocytes were unstained in all species. In cattle and pig the corpora lutea were unstained whereas they displayed staining in the sheep. Preantral and small antral follicles were unstained during both the preovulatory and postovulatory period in all species.It is concluded that granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles are the main residence for aromatase activity in superovulated cattle, pig and sheep, whereas the activity of theca interna and corpora lutea is species specific.     

Effects of poor forage conditions on the behaviour of grazing ruminants

Summary This paper shows that the study of animal behaviour is a valuable aid to the improvement of the management of grazing livestock under extensive conditions. The food available to grazing animals in developing countries, and particularly in the dry season in the tropics, is often of very low quality and, in addition, is frequently available at low densities per unit area. Grazing ruminants attempt to adapt to these adverse conditions by increasing the time for which they graze each day and also by dispersing more widely. However, the time for which animals can graze may be limited by solar radiation and fly irritation in the day, and by the confining of the animals in pens at night. The adverse effects of the above limitations may be partially overcome when adapted local breeds are used. Dispersion of animals improves their ability to make use of extensive pasture and in order to encourage it, an understanding of the factors that affect it such as breed difference, social behaviour, adaptation and location of watering points and other unique environmental factors must be achieved. The paper concludes with recommendations of areas worth further research.

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Effecto De Malas Condiciones Del Forraje Sobre El Comportamiento De Rumiantes En Pastoreo

Resumen Este articulo demuestra la importancia de estudiar el compartamiento de animales en pastoreo, para mejorar el manejo extensivo. El forraje disponible por unidad de superficie en países en vías de desarrollo es escaso y de mala calidad, sobre todo en época seca. Los rumiantes tratan de adaptarse a estas condiciones adversas incrementando el tiempo de pastoreo y dispersándose. Sin embargo el tiempo de pastoreo puede estar limitado por la radiación solar y la irritación causada por moscas durante el dia o porque los animales son encerrados durante la noche. Estos efectos pueden contrarrestarse utilizando razas criollas y bebederos estratégicamente localizados. Se requiere entonces más profundidad en estudios etológicos para incrementar la productividad de animales en pastoreo extensivo.

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Effets De Mauvaises Conditions Fourrageres Sur Le Comportement De Ruminants Au Paturage

Résumé Cet article montre que l'étude du comportement animal est une aide appréciable pour l'amélioration de la conduite du bétail au pâturage en élevage extensif. La nourriture disponible pour les animaux au pâturage dans les pays en développement, particulièrement en saison sèche sous les tropiques, est souvent de très faible qualité et, de plus, fréquemment disponible en faible densité par unité de surface. Les ruminants essaient de s'adapter à ces mauvaises conditions en augmentant leur temps de pâturage chaque jour et aussi en se dispersant plus. Cependant, le temps de pâturage peut être limité par les rayons du soleil et l'irritation due aux mouches le jour, et par le confinement des animaux à l'enclos la nuit. Ces effets défavorables peuvent être partiellement surmontés par l'utilisation de races locales adaptées. La dispersion des animaux améliore leur possibilité d'utilisation des pâturages extensifs et pour favouriser cela, une compréhension des facteurs qui les affectent comme la différence de race, le comportement social, l'adaptation et la situation des points d'eau et d'autres facteurs du milieu doivent être considérés. L'auteur conclut en recommandant d'autres recherches valables pour ces régions.

     

The sequential appearance of sperm abnormalities after scrotal insulation or dexamethasone treatment in bulls.

Scrotal insulation and dexamethasone treatment were used as a model to compare the effect of testicular heating and stress on spermatogenesis. Insulation was applied to the scrotum of eight bulls (insulated) for a period of four days, eight bulls were treated daily for seven days with 20 mg dexamethasone injected intramuscularly, and four bulls were untreated controls. Semen from four bulls in each group was collected and evaluated over a six-week period after treatment. Blood samples for testosterone analysis were taken hourly for eight hours at the beginning and the end of the six-week period from the control bulls and before and after treatment from the four insulated and four dexamethasone-treated bulls that were not used for semen collection. At the end of the last blood sampling period, the four bulls in each group were castrated for the collection of testicular tissue for the determination of testosterone concentrations. Basal, peak episodic, and mean serum testosterone concentrations among control bulls, pre and postinsulated bulls, and pretreatment samples of dexamethasone-treated bulls were not different (p > 0.05); however, bulls that had received dexamethasone treatments had significantly lower basal, peak episodic, and mean testosterone concentrations (p < 0.05). Tissue concentrations of testosterone in control, insulated, and dexamethasone-treated bulls were not significantly different but tended to be lower in dexamethasone-treated bulls (p > 0.13). The spermiograms of the control bulls varied insignificantly over the six-week sampling period; however, there was a marked increase in sperm defects in insulated and dexamethasone-treated bulls. The types of sperm defects and the temporal relationships of rises and declines of sperm defects were quite similar for both treatments. All bulls recovered to approximately pretreatment levels of sperm defects by six weeks after the initiation of treatment. Results indicate that two of the most common types of insults to spermatogenesis in bulls, heat and stress, result in similar spermiograms.     

Systemic histiocytosis in a Bernese mountain dog

Systemic histiocytosis was diagnosed at post mortem examination in a three-year-old Bernese mountain dog born in the United Kingdom. The dog presented with a progressive nodular skin disease, chemosis and periocular swelling occurring over six months. It was unresponsive to topical corticosteroids, antibiotics and oral azathioprine. Elective euthanasia was performed. Post mortem examination revealed extensive histiocytic infiltration of the skin, subcutis and skeletal muscles, particularly of the head.     

Causes of death and illness in the native sheep of North Ronaldsay, Orkney. I. Adult sheep

Post-mortem examinations on 71 native sheep found dead on the island of North Ronaldsay, Orkney in four visits between April 1983 and July 1985 were carried out. The sheep in this almost feral flock have access to a small area of unmanaged moorland pasture but are otherwise restricted to the foreshore where they subsist largely on Laminaria spp. and other seaweeds. Young adult animals died largely of heavy parasite burdens combined with inadequate nutrition, while the older sheep often starved because of severe dental disease precipitated by heavy deposits of tartar on the cheek teeth--rarely seen in sheep on a more conventional diet. Other underlying metabolic conditions, such as the extensive mineralization of the kidney medulla in many mature sheep, may be debilitating. The pathological findings suggest that adaptation to the peculiar environmental rigours and dietary restrictions on North Ronaldsay is less complete than has previously been assumed.     

Observations on mouse-infective stocks of Cowdria ruminantium: microscopical demonstration of the Kwanyanga stock in mouse tissue and the carrier-status of the Senegal stock in mice

The behaviour of two different stocks of Cowdria ruminantium was investigated in mice. The mouse-pathogenic Kwanyanga stock of C ruminantium was microscopically demonstrated in mice in capillary endothelial cells of the lung, spleen, kidney, liver and brain. Mice of the ninth passage of the Senegal stock, which is infective but not pathogenic to mice, were kept alive for a year. Their blood and homogenised spleens, inoculated intravenously, caused fatal heartwater in a goat. However, the Senegal stock could not be demonstrated microscopically in mice. These results indicate the possible role of rodents in the epidemiology of heartwater.     

Serum prolactin and growth hormone responses to naloxone and intracerebral ventricle morphine administration in heifers

These studies examined responses of serum prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) to opioid agonist and antagonist administration in heifers. To minimize nonspecific and behavioral effects and to facilitate future studies with specific opioid receptor agonists, a cannula was placed within the third cerebral ventricle of the brain of 4- to 10-mo-old heifers to directly access hypothalamic regions involved in the regulation of PRL and GH secretion. Increasing doses of morphine (M) from 2 to 1,500 micrograms injected into the third cerebral ventricle increased (P less than .001) serum PRL concentrations in a dose-related manner. Growth hormone responses were variable, resulting in elevated (P less than .05) serum concentrations following morphine, but no dose-related effects were apparent. Both PRL and GH responses to 700 micrograms M were absent when an intracerebral ventricle injection of an equimolar dose of naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist, was administered prior to M. In a replicated 4 x 4 latin square, the effects of intravenous naloxone on PRL and GH responses was tested in young (86 +/- 11 d) and older (234 +/- 6 d) heifers. Naloxone at doses of 1, 2 and 4 mg/kg reduced (P less than .05) serum concentrations of PRL for 45 to 60 min. Mean concentrations of GH tended to be higher (P less than .07) in older heifers All doses of naloxone decreased (P less than .05) serum GH concentrations in older heifers but proved ineffective in younger heifers. There were no differences between doses of naloxone on either PRL or GH. These data suggest that endogenous opioids are involved in the regulation of PRL and GH secretion in heifers.