Comparison of bovine and human platelet deformability, using micropipette elastimetry

We evaluated the deformability of bovine platelets and contrasted the effects of pharmacologic and thermal perturbations on cytoskeletal structure of human and bovine platelets. Platelets were aspirated into micropipettes (0.7 to 0.8 micron in diameter) by stepwise increments in tension. The resulting lengths of the cell extensions were recorded. The cell extensions aspirated from bovine platelets were shorter than the extensions drawn from human platelets. Disassembly of the circumferential microtubule coil allowed human platelets to pass through the pipette, but the same treatments only slightly increased the deformability of bovine platelets. Alteration of the actin filament cytoskeleton caused increased mechanical fragility of human platelets. In contrast, even the combined use of microtubule and actin filament-disrupting agents only modestly increased the deformability of bovine platelets and did not cause premature fragmentation of the cells. Unusual cytoskeletal structure, absence of an open canalicular system, and disparity in granule size may all contribute to the variance in deformability between the platelets of the 2 species. Reduced cell deformability may impair bovine platelet surface interactions by diminishing the ease of cell spreading and formation of areas of contact between the platelet and other cell surfaces.     

The effect of energy concentration and source on the use of feed protein and NPN in lambs. 3. Allantoin excretion and microbial protein synthesis

In an N balance experiment with male crossbreeding lambs at an age of 3 ... 4 months four different rations were given differing in energy concentration (high greater than 700 EFU cattle/kg DM and low less than 650 EFU cattle/kg DM) and in the energy source (sugar, starch or crude fibre) with crude protein intake being almost equal. The rations contained 2% urea. Microbial protein synthesis in the rumen was assessed according to ROTH and KIRCHGESSNER (1978) (1), RYS et al. (1975) (2) and BICKEL-BAUMANN and LANDIS (1986) (3) on the basis of allantoin excretion in urine. The highest ruminal protein synthesis quotas were 868 ... 921 mg protein N per kg LW0.75 in (2). In (3) 723 ... 766 mg protein N/kg LW0.75 were synthesized. From the 15N labelling of the supplemented urea and the excreted allantoin it could be calculated that 26 ... 40% of the microbial protein resulted from the urea-N of the ration. Despite a high crude protein content of the ration of between 16 and 17% in the DM and a relation of NPN: pure protein of 0.95 the utilization of the NPN in the ration was relatively high but slightly lower than the utilization of pure protein. The variants with higher energy concentration showed as a tendency higher allantoin excretion in spite of slightly lower dry matter intake and a slightly higher NPN utilization than the variants with lower energy concentration.     

Characterisation of three novel canine osteosarcoma cell lines producing high levels of matrix metalloproteinases

Three canine osteosarcoma cell lines were established from spontaneous pelvic and radial osteosarcomas. The cell populations cultured exhibited characteristics of malignancy and consisted of adherent, pleomorphic, mostly large spindle-shaped or polyhedral cells, characterised by the presence of numerous cytoplasmic granules and vacuoles. The main ultrastructural features included the presence of abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum and numerous cytoplasmic vesicles, deposit vacuoles and small cytoplasmic protrusions. Zymography showed that the cell lines produce high levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9, enzymes directly involved in crucial aspects of the metastatic process. Consistent with their osteoblastic lineage and malignant phenotype, all cell lines were immunoreactive to vimentin, osteopontin, PCNA, p53, MMP-2 and MMP-9, while they were negative for cytokeratin, desmin, SMA, Factor VIII, NSE, GFAP, Rb and p21 protein. No retroviral particles or RNA were detected ultrastructurally or with RT-PCR, although the possibility of viral involvement in osteosarcoma cannot be excluded. The new cell lines provide excellent in vitro models that may allow further studies on the pathobiology of canine osteosarcoma to be undertaken.     

Influence of antibiotics on growth dynamics and movement ability of Salmonella rods

Variety of traits important in diagnostics and epidemiology of pathogenic microorganisms may change due to antibiotics. Movement ability, that is characteristic for every serovar except from Salmonella Gallinarum-Pullorum, is important to salmonellas. In own experiments using semi-fluid MSRV medium, it was found that a decrease in salmonella sensibility to selected antibiotics and chemiotherapeutics due to passage might lead to weakening of its movement ability. Movement ability of all strains (S. Enteritidis, S. Dublin, S. Typhimurium) after passage with amoxycillin, neomycin, colistin and enrofloxacin became weakened as compared to results achieved before passage. The strongest inhibition of movement ability was most often observed in strains after passage on medium with colistin. It seems to be associated with the action mechanism of the antibiotic. Colistin injuries cellular membranes, where flagella (active motoric organ of Salmonella) are anchored. Appearance of drug-resistance as a result of passage at the presence of antibiotics may cause variability of biochemical properties of Salmonella rods and leads to weakening of movement ability of ciliated Salmonella.     

The distribution and chemical coding of neurons in the celiac-superior mesenteric ganglion complex supplying the normal and inflamed ileum in the pig

The present study investigated the chemical coding of neurons in the celiac-superior mesenteric ganglion complex supplying the normal (n=4) and inflamed (n=4) ileum (chemically-induced inflammation) in juvenile pigs using retrograde tracing combined with immunohistochemistry. Ileum-projecting neurons (IPN) were predominantly distributed in the left and right superior mesenteric pools of the ganglion. The majority of them were adrenergic (tyrosine hydroxylase-positive) and also contained neuropeptide Y, somatostatin or galanin. No clear-cut differences in the distribution and chemical coding of IPN were found between normal and inflamed pigs. However, in the inflamed group, the density of peptidergic, IPN-associated nerve fibres was higher than that found in the control group.     

Correlations of fatty acid supplementation, aeroallergens, shampoo, and ear cleanser with multiple parameters in pruritic dogs

Seventy-two pruritic dogs were fed one of four diets controlled for n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratios and total dietary intake of fatty acids. Multiple parameters were evaluated, including clinical and cytological findings, aeroallergen testing, microbial sampling techniques, and effects of an anti-fungal/antibacterial shampoo and ear cleanser. Significant correlations were observed between many clinical parameters, anatomical sampling sites, and microbial counts when data from the diet groups was combined. There were no statistically significant differences between individual diets for any of the clinical parameters. The importance of total clinical management in the control of pruritus was demonstrated.     

Morphological and scanning electron microscopic studies of the tongue of the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) and their lingual adaptation for its feeding habits

This study was carried out on the tongues of 12 adult normal healthy Egyptian fruit bats of both sexes. The tongue is protrusible, elongated flat with a rounded apex and its wide and thickness increase gradually toward the lingual root. There are four types of lingual papillae; two mechanical and two gustatory. The tongue divided into three parts (anterior, middle and posterior), each part subdivides into three regions; two lateral regions and median region, in addition to the lingual apex to the anterior region. The lingual papillae close to the median region of the tongue were posteriorly directed toward the pharynx, while theses present on the lateral regions of the tongue are directed medioposteriorly. There are sex subtypes of the filiform papillae; three on the anterior part (small, conical and giant), two on the middle part (cornflower and leaf-like papillae) while the posterior part contain rosette shape filiform papillae, in addition to transitional papillae and conical papillae. Two gustatory papillae represented by; small number of fungiform papillae which scattered among the filiform papillae on lingual apex and two lateral regions of the anterior and middle part of tongue, while the three circumvallate papillae on the posterior part were arranged in a triangle form.     

家禽生产中应用喷雾干燥血浆粉

前言喷雾干燥动物血浆粉系从政府检验的屠宰场采集的牛血或猪血,经精心汇集、加工并喷雾干燥而得的产品。喷雾干燥血浆粉有粉状和颗粒状两种。由于采集和加工喷雾干燥血浆粉时所用的方法,其产品成为一种具有多种功能性成分的混合物,其中含有免疫球蛋白、白蛋白、纤维蛋白原、脂类、生长因子、生物活性肽(防卫素、转铁蛋白)、酶以及一些其它因子而这些因子在肠道内具有独立于其营养价值之外的生物活性。这些功能性蛋白质能够提高动物的存活率、健康水平和生产性能。已有人提出了喷雾干燥血浆粉的几种作用模式。总体说来,从提出的这些作用模式…     

Laryngeal collapse in seven brachycephalic puppies

OBJECTIVES: To document the histories, clinical findings, and management of seven puppies with laryngeal collapse occurring secondarily to brachycephalic airway syndrome. METHODS: Seven brachycephalic puppies aged between 4.5 and six months underwent surgery for management of brachycephalic airway syndrome following presentation for exercise intolerance and increased respiratory noise and effort. RESULTS: Stenotic nares of varying severity and an elongated soft palate were common to all dogs. All dogs had tracheal hypoplasia and this was severe in four dogs. Laryngeal collapse was present in all dogs. Two dogs had stage I, four dogs stage II, and one dog stage III laryngeal collapse. The dog with stage III laryngeal collapse and one dog with stage II laryngeal collapse died. There was no apparent association between the changes evident on thoracic radiographs or the degree of tracheal hypoplasia and postoperative outcome. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The development of severe secondary laryngeal changes in dogs aged six months or less supports the suggestion that immature brachycephalic dogs should undergo assessment and, if indicated, surgery as soon as any clinical signs of BAS are apparent.     

Immunohistochemical localization of distinct angiotensin II AT1 receptor isoforms in the kidneys of the Sprague-Dawley rat and the desert rodent Meriones crassus

Employing a purified lgG fraction of a polyclonal anti-AT1 receptor anti-body, raised against a synthetic octapeptide encompassing residues 14-21 of the first extracellular domain of the AT1 polypeptide, selective AT1 receptor expression was immunohistochemically demonstrable within renal structures in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and the desert rodent Meriones crassus. In both animal models, prominent AT1 receptor labelling was evident in renal vascular elements, particularly cortical inter-lobular arteries (IA) as well as vasa recta bundles in the inner stripe of the outer medulla. Less intense labelling was observed among peritubular capillary endothelia within the deep cortex, and at both the outer stripe and the inter-bundle regions of the inner stripe of the outer medulla. The binding of the anti-peptide anti-body was, however, lacking among glomeruli and, except for the intense labelling confined to basement membranes of Bowman's capsule of deep nephrons, was virtually absent in all renal tubular structures of both animal models. Structural assessment of the expressed AT1 receptors by two-dimensional Western blotting revealed that a spectrum of structurally distinct AT1 receptor isoforms is expressed in the renal tissues of both animal models. This spectrum was constituted by isoforms of equal size (70 kDa) but distinct pls in SD rats, and of both different sizes (67-73 kDa) and isoelectric points in M. crassus. In either species, the charge and/or size heterogeneity of AT1 receptor isoforms may be attributed in part to differential post-translational glycosylation mechanisms of the AT1 receptor polypeptide backbone. The potential for the differential glycosylation state of AT1 receptors to alter recognition properties may add another level of complexity to tissue-specific and/or species-specific mechanisms underlying angiotensin II interactions in the kidney.