Effects of Growth Hormone on In Situ Culture of Bovine Preantral Follicles are Dose Dependent

The objective of this study was to evaluate different concentrations of growth hormone (GH) on the development of bovine preantral follicles cultured included in the ovarian tissue (in situ) on the rates of morphologically normal, viable, primordial and developing follicles, as well as the oocyte and follicle diameter and ultrastructural analysis. Ovarian fragments collected from cows with no cross‐breeds defined were cultured in situ for 1 and 7 days in minimal essential medium (α‐MEM+) supplemented with different concentrations of recombinant human GH (0, 10, 25, 50 ng/ml). The ovarian fragments non‐cultured (control) and cultured were processed for classic histology, mechanical isolation and electron transmission microscopy (MET). The parameters underwent anova (Tukey′s and Dunnett′s tests) and chi‐square test (χ²). After 7 days of culture, the treatment with 50 ng/ml GH showed no differences with fresh control (p > 0.05) and had greater effectiveness than in the 0, 10 and 25 ng/ml GH concentrations of the morphologically normal follicles. Regarding the primordial follicles, a reduction was observed in the 50 ng/ml GH concentration concomitant with the significant increase in developing follicles, differing from both the fresh control and the other GH concentrations tested. In addition, 50 ng/ml GH showed a larger follicle and oocyte diameter when compared to the other treatments cultured. Similar structures were ultrastructurally observed in the control group, 50 ng/ml GH. Follicles cultured in 10 ng/ml GH showed nuclear invagination, vacuoles and lesioned basal membrane. Hence, it is concluded that 50 ng/ml GH is the most effective concentration for the development of preantral follicles cultured in situ.     

Sexual reproduction of Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms in the Nile

In a study of some of the factors that are believed to affect fruit-setting in Eichhornia crassipes under Sudan conditions, the average number of flowers per inflorescence was twelve (range 4–26) while the average number of capsules per inflorescence was 1·5 (range 0–16). The problem of low fruit-setting was suggested to be basically due to the ecological factor of high temperature and low relative humidity. The flowers were preponderantly meso-stylic with the long and short-stylic ‘races’ absent or very rare. Recherches stir la biologic d'Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms dans le Nil Dans une étude sur quelques-uns des facteurs que l'on suppose actifs sur la mise à fruits de l’Eichhornia crassipes. dans les conditions du Soudan le nombre moyen de fleurs par inflorescence fut de 12 (s'étendent de 4 à 26), cependant que le nombre moyen de capsules par inflorescence fut de 1,5 (s'étendant de 0 à 16). Le probléme de la faible mise à fruit suggere qu'elle pourrait etre due a des facteurs écologiques: température élevée et faible humidity relative. Les fleurs étaient en majorité meso-stylées, les races à long style ou à style court étaient absentes ou tres rares. Generative Vermehrung von Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms. im Nil In einer Untersuchung über einige Faktoren, von denen angenommen wird, dass sie die Fruchtbildung von Eichhornia crassipes unter sudanesischen Bedingungen beeinflussen, war die durchschnittliche Anzahl von Blüten, 12 Blüten pro Inflorescenz (4–26), wáhrend die durchschnittliche Anzahl von Kapseln nur 1.5 Kapseln pro Inflorescenz war (0–16), Das Problem der geringen Fruchtausbildung wurde folgenden okologischen Faktoren zugeschrieben; hohe Temperatur und niedrige Luftfeuchtigkeit. Bei den Blüten wurden überwiegend Stempel miltlerer Länge gefunden, während die ‘Rassen’ kurzer und langer Stempel nicht oder nur sehr selten anzutreficn waren.     

Effect of sodium molybdate supplementation on high concentrations of Cu in liver of yearling bulls

AIM: To determine the impact of sodium molybdate treatment, given weekly, on concentrations of Cu in liver, activity of liver enzymes, and weight gain over 4 weeks, in yearling bulls with elevated concentrations of Cu in liver.

METHODS: The study was carried on two commercial grazing farms in the Otago region of New Zealand in yearling Friesian bulls (n=150 on Farm A and n=49 on Farm B) with mean concentration of Cu in liver >3,000 µmol/kg fresh weight. On Day 0, all animals were weighed and half were systematically allocated to treatment with sodium molybdate (3?mg/kg liveweight on Farm A and 7?mg/kg liveweight on Farm B); the remainder received no treatment (Control). Sodium molybdate was given as a drench weekly for 4 weeks and all animals were weighed again on Day 28. Ten animals on each farm (five from each treatment group) were systematically selected for blood sampling and liver biopsies on Days 0 and 28. Samples were analysed for concentrations of Cu in plasma, vitamin B₁₂ in serum, activities of γ–glutamyl transferase, aspartate aminotransferase and glutamate dehydrogenase in serum, and concentrations of Cu and vitamin B₁₂ in liver. Separate multivariable linear models were used to compare the change in outcome variables between Days 0 and 28 between bulls that had been drenched with sodium molybdate or not.

RESULTS: On Farm A, mean concentrations of Cu in liver on Day 28, as a percentage of concentrations on Day 0, for the control group was 55 (95% CI=40–73)% and for the treatment group was 73 (95% CI=43–111)%. On Farm B, the equivalent mean for the control group was 75 (95% CI=42–131)% and for the treatment group was 85 (95% CI=38–134)%. The multivariable linear models indicated that the changes in concentrations of Cu in liver, activities of liver enzymes and weight gain between Days 0 and 28 did not differ between the bulls treated or not with sodium molybdate (p>0.18).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Treatment with sodium molybdate in one bolus at weekly intervals for 4 weeks did not affect concentrations of Cu in liver, activity of liver enzymes or weight gain in animals with high concentrations of Cu liver on two farms.     

Vitamin E deficiency and perinatal mortality in pigs

In a recent letter ⁽¹⁾ to the New Zealand Veterinary Journal on perinatal mortality in piglets, the reported sow Vitamin E supplementation of 50 IU/sow/day was slightly lower than that typically used on most commercial farms in New Zealand. Normal sow dietary supplementation is in the range of 30-60 IU per kg dry matter (DM).     

The Effect of Vitamins on Weight Gain and Organ Production in the Sea Urchin,Lytechinus variegatus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea)

We investigated the requirements for a commercial vitamin premix in diets of Lytechinus variegatus. Small L. variegatus (ca. 28 mm diameter) were collected from Saint Joseph Bay, Florida, and acclimated to laboratory conditions (32 ppt salinity, 22 C, 12:12 photoperiod) for 3 wk, then placed individually into plastic mesh cages (n = 16 per treatment). Sixteen urchins were dissected to obtain initial weights of organs (gut, gonad, test). Each treatment was fed one of five semipurified diets supplemented with levels of a commercial shrimp vitamin premix ranging from 0 to 0.9% dry weight. At 4‐wk intervals, wet weights and test diameters were measured. At 16 wk, urchins were dissected and organs weighed. Significant weight gain and 100% survival was observed with all diets. At 16 wk, urchins fed 0% vitamin premix exhibited no noticeable pathology but had significantly less weight gain than those fed the 0.6% vitamin premix. Those fed the 0.6% vitamin premix had significantly greater weight gain than all other diets (P < 0.0001). Gonad weights increased in all treatments, but did not vary significantly. Under the conditions of this study, L. variegatusexhibited a satisfactory nutritional response. Experiments are planned to determine specific dietary vitamin requirements for L. variegatus.     

Gnomonia platani and bark killing of London plane

An investigation was made of bark necrosis on the stems of London plane in a tree nursery. It appears likely that the damage was caused by fungi such as Gnomonia platani and Cylindrocarpon beteronema invading trees predisposed to disease by heavy summer pruning.     

Shoot dieback of lodgepole pine in Scotland caused by Ramichloridium pini

Research conducted on shoot dieback of lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta, during the early 1980's in west Scotland is summarised. The dieback symptoms and their stages of development are described. Ramichloridium pini de Hoog and Rahman was regularly isolated from bark and xylem tissue of dieased shoots. Artificial inoculations established that this fungus was the cause of the disease.     

The ecology of fungal cankers on Cupressus macrocarpa in southern England

Bark isolations from cankers on Cupressus macrocarpa in southern England yielded Seiridium cardinale, Pestalotiopsis funerea and Pestalotiopsis monochaetioides. The recovery pattern of the three fungi indicated that only S. cardinale was a primary pathogen; the two Pestalotiopsis species being secondary. Pathogenicity data obtained following the inoculation of C. macrocarpa branches with mycelium of the three fungi confirmed this view. No evidence of vegetative incompatibility was found in S. cardinale, but five vegetative-compatibility (vc) groups were found in P. funerea and six in P. monochaetioides. Different vc groups of the two Pestalatiopsis species were often found in the same S. cardinale lesion, suggesting that a number of separate colonization events were involved. It is possible that this sometimes leads to complete replacement of the pathogen.