Integration Between Different Hypothalamic Nuclei Involved in Stress and GnRH Secretion in the Ewe

This study investigated possible integrated links in the neuroanatomical pathways through which the activity of neurones in the paraventricular nucleus and arcuate nucleus may modulate suppression of gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion during stressful situations. Double‐label immunofluorescence and laser scanning confocal microscopy were used to examine the hypothalamic sections from the follicular phase ewes. Noradrenergic terminals were in close contact with 65.7 ± 6.1% corticotrophin‐releasing hormone (CRH) and 84.6 ± 3.2% arginine vasopressin (AVP) cell bodies in the paraventricular nucleus but not with β‐endorphin cell bodies in the arcuate nucleus. Furthermore, γ‐amino butyric acid (GABA) terminals were close to 80.9 ± 3.5% CRH but no AVP cell bodies in the paraventricular nucleus, as well as 60.8 ± 4.1%β‐endorphin cell bodies in the arcuate nucleus. Although CRH, AVP and β‐endorphin cell terminals were identified in the medial pre‐optic area, no direct contacts with GnRH cell bodies were observed. Within the median eminence, abundant CRH but not AVP terminals were close to GnRH cell terminals in the external zone; whereas, β‐endorphin cells and terminals were in the internal zone. In conclusion, neuroanatomical evidence is provided for the ewe supporting the hypothesis that brainstem noradrenergic and hypothalamic GABA neurones are important in modulating the activity of CRH and AVP neurones in the paraventricular nucleus, as well as β‐endorphin neurones in the arcuate nucleus. These paraventricular and arcuate neurones may also involve interneurones to influence GnRH cell bodies in medial pre‐optic area, whereas the median eminence may provide a major site for direct modulation of GnRH release by CRH terminals.     

Serum antibody response to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay after experimental and natural infection of pigs

Studies were conducted under experimental and field conditions to determine the effect of infection with M. hyopneumoniae on the immune response in serum as measured by ELISA. Following intratracheal challenge or contact exposure, serologically negative pigs derived from mycoplasma-free piggeries developed an immune response within 10 days. This response continued to rise for a further 50 days. In a field study in a commercial piggery, no animals (0/44) were observed to have M. hyopneumoniae antibodies at day 86 of life. However between day 86 and day 144, 97.7% (42/43) animals sero-converted. These results are discussed in terms of infection spread, particularly in the grower/finisher shed.     

Social relationships in a herd of 11 geldings and two female ponies

The social behaviour of a small herd of 10 Exmoor geldings, two Exmoor mares and one Highland pony gelding was studied in order to see whether any specific associations existed between ponies and, if so, whether these applied to all or only some of the ponies' main activities of grazing, eating hay and sleeping. Such relationships were found but only in a small number of cases did they apply to all activities. The results are discussed in relation to the individual histories of these ponies and in relation to the welfare of horses.     

GONG Observations of Solar Surface Flows

Doppler velocity observations obtained by the Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG) instruments directly measure the nearly steady flows in the solar photosphere. The sun's differential rotation is accurately determined from single observations. The rotation profile with respect to latitude agrees well with previous measures, but it also shows a slight north-south asymmetry. Rotation profiles averaged over 27-day rotations of the sun reveal the torsional oscillation signal-weak, jetlike features, with amplitudes of 5 meters per second, that are associated with the sunspot latitude activity belts. A meridional circulation with a poleward flow of about 20 meters per second is also evident. Several characteristics of the surface flows suggest the presence of large convection cells.     

An inhibitor of FtsZ with potent and selective anti-staphylococcal activity

FtsZ is an essential bacterial guanosine triphosphatase and homolog of mammalian beta-tubulin that polymerizes and assembles into a ring to initiate cell division. We have created a class of small synthetic antibacterials, exemplified by PC190723, which inhibits FtsZ and prevents cell division. PC190723 has potent and selective in vitro bactericidal activity against staphylococci, including methicillin- and multi-drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The putative inhibitor-binding site of PC190723 was mapped to a region of FtsZ that is analogous to the Taxol-binding site of tubulin. PC190723 was efficacious in an in vivo model of infection, curing mice infected with a lethal dose of S. aureus. The data validate FtsZ as a target for antibacterial intervention and identify PC190723 as suitable for optimization into a new anti-staphylococcal therapy.     

Usability of soil survey soil texture data for soil health indicator scoring

Soil textural information is an important component underlying other soil health indicators. Soil texture analysis is a common procedure, but it can be labor intensive and expensive. Soil texture data typically are available from the Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) database, which may be an option for determining soil health texture groups (SHTG). The SSURGO database provides soil texture information in the soil map unit (SMU) name, taxonomic class category (family), and detailed values (≤ 2 mm soil fraction) of percent sand, silt and clay by soil horizon. The objective of this study was to examine the possibility of using SSURGO data for SHTG at the 147-ha Cornell University Willsboro Research Farm in New York state as an alternative for soil texture data determined manually on collected soil core samples. Comparative results revealed that representative values for soil texture from the SSURGO database generally matched measured mean values for all SMUs.     

Aquaporin 9 is expressed in the epididymis of immature and mature pigs

Aquaporins (AQPs) are channel proteins that facilitate the transepithelial and bidirectional movement of water. AQP9 is an aquaporin that is expressed in the mammalian epididymis. This water transport contributes to epididymal sperm concentration. This study aimed to examine the morphology of epididymal epithelium in piglets and boars, as well as the expression and immunolocalization of AQP9. The piglets presented an epididymal epithelium in differentiation with principal, basal and apical cells. The cellular population of the epididymal epithelium in boars consisted of principal, basal, apical, clear and narrow cells. The migratory cells known as halo cells were observed in the epididymis of both piglets and boars. AQP9 expression presented differences between piglets and boars. Moderate intensity of AQP9 immunoreaction was observed in the apical border of the epididymal epithelium of the caput and cauda regions in the piglet epididymis. A moderate‐to‐intense reaction for AQP9 was observed in the nuclei of epithelial cells of the three epididymal regions in the boar epididymis. The region of the cauda epididymis showed reactivity for AQP9 also in the apical border of the epithelium. It is believed that the AQP9 is already functional in piglets at only 1 week of age and is more active, playing a pivotal role in the caput and cauda regions of the epididymis. Moreover, the intense AQP9 expression in the apical border of epithelial cells in the cauda region of the boar epididymis suggests a higher performance of AQP9 in this region, where sperm complete their maturation process, stored and concentrated.