Morphology of Reproductive Organs,Semen Quality and Sexual Behaviour of the Male Rabbit Exposed to a Soy‐containing Diet and Soy‐derived Isoflavones during Gestation and Lactation

Placental and breastfeeding transfer of soy isoflavones are potential routes for animal and human exposure to phytoestrogens, and reproductive dysfunctions have been linked to early exposure to these compounds. So, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of perinatal (intrauterine and lactational) exposure to soy‐containing diet and soy‐derived isoflavones on the reproductive parameters of male rabbits. For this purpose, 12 female rabbits were randomly assigned to receive: (1) a soy‐ and alfalfa‐free diet (control diet); (2) a soy‐ and alfalfa‐free diet supplemented with 10 mg/kg body wt/day of soy isoflavones; (3) a soy‐ and alfalfa‐free diet supplemented with 20 mg/kg body wt/day of soy isoflavones; and (4) a diet containing 18% of soy meal, throughout gestation and lactation. Weight and morphology of the reproductive organs of some of the male offspring were evaluated at weaning (between days 29 and 31). The remaining males were placed on the control diet from weaning to adulthood (gestational and lactational exposure only). Sexual behaviour, semen quality and reproductive organs’ morphology were evaluated after puberty. There were no significant differences in litter size and gestation duration between control and treatment groups. Perinatal exposure to soy‐containing diet and soy isoflavones did not alter testis, epididymides, proprostate and prostate weight and gross morphology. After puberty, sexual behaviour and semen parameters did not differ significantly from the control group. These results indicate that intrauterine and lactational exposure to soy‐containing diet and soy‐derived isoflavones may not adversely affect reproductive development and function of male rabbits.     

Auricular chondrosis in a horse

A 4-year-old crossbred, Welsh Mountain Pony gelding was presented with multiple, thick, round, raised, 3 to 8 mm diameter nodular lesions on the medial aspects of both ears. The nodules did not involve the epidermis and were observed to develop over several months. Punch biopsies were taken and histopathological examination returned a diagnosis of auricular chondrosis. Neither auricular chondrosis nor auricular chondritis has been reported in horses, although it has been recorded in cats, dogs, laboratory animals and humans.     

Sialomucin Complex (Muc4) Expression in Porcine Endometrium During the Oestrous Cycle and Early Pregnancy

The non‐invasive type of implantation in the pig is characterized by the maintenance of a thick glycocalyx coating on the uterine epithelial surface microvilli. Present study investigated the alteration in the sialomucin complex (Muc4) expression during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy in the pig. Endometrial tissue samples were immunostained with the primary antibody to the Muc4 transmembrane subunit ASGP‐2. Muc4 immunostaining increased in the surface and glandular epithelia between days 5 and 10 of oestrous cycle. Immunostaining continued to increase on day 12 with the greatest intensity of uterine Muc4 immunostaining detected on day 15 of the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy. Endometrial Muc4 expression in cyclic gilts decreased dramatically during early proestrous but continued to remain abundant in the surface and glandular epithelium of pregnant gilts during the period of conceptus attachment to the uterine surface.     

Sebaceous gland melanosis in dogs with endocrine skin disease or follicular dysplasia: a retrospective study

Abstract Skin biopsy specimens from 107 dogs with endocrine skin disorders were examined for the presence of melanin granules in the sebaceous glands or ducts (sebaceous gland melanosis). Nineteen of these cases (17.8%) had sebaceous gland melanosis. Skin biopsy specimens from 71 dogs with follicular dysplasia were similarly examined and 27 (38.0%) had sebaceous gland melanosis. Sebaceous gland melanosis alone cannot be used to differentiate histologically follicular dysplasia and endocrine skin disorders. Résumé— Des biopsies cutanées provenant de 107 chiens présentant des troubles cutanés associés à une dysendocrinie ont été examinées pour la rechereche de granules de mélanine dans les glandes sébacées ou dans leurs canaux (mélanose des glandes sébacées). Dix neuf de ces cas (17,8%) présentaient une mélanose des glandes sébacées. Des biopsies provenant de 71 chiens à dysplasic folliculaire ont été examinées de la même manière et 27 (38%) de ces cas présentaient également une mélanose des glandes sébacées. La mélanose des glandes sébacées seule ne peut être utilisée pour différencier histopathologiquement les dysplasies folliculaires des lésions cutanées associées à une dysendocrinie. [Bagladi, M.S., Scott, D.W., Miller, W.H. Sebaceous gland melanosis in dogs with endocrine skin disease or follicular dysplasia: A retrospective study (Mélanose des glandes sébacées chez des chiens présentant une dysendocrinic à expression cutanée et chez des chiens présentant une dysplasie folliculaire). Veterinary Dermatology 1996; 7 : 85–90.] Resumen Se examinó la presencia de gránules de melanina en las glándulas sebáceas (melanosis de glándulas sebáceas) en muestras de biopsia cutánea de 107 perros con desequilibrios endocrinos cutáneos. Diecinueve de estos casos (17.8%) mostraban melanosis de glándulas sebáceas. Las muestras de biopsia cutánea de 71 perros con displasia folicular se examinaron de forma similar y 27 (38.0%) mostraban melanosis de glándulas sebáccas. La melanosis de glándulas sebáceas en sí no puede utilizarse para diferenciar histológicamente entre la displasia folicular y los desequilibrios endocrinos. [Bagladi, M.S., Scott, D.W., Miller, W.H. Sebaceous gland melanosis in dogs with endocrine skin disease or follicular dysplasia: A retrospective study (Melanosis glandulas sebaceas en perros con enfermedad endocrina o dysplasia folicular: estudio retrospectivo). Veterinary Dermatology 1996; 7 : 85–90.] Zusammenfassung— Es wurden Hautbiopsien von 107 Hunden mit endokrinen Hauterkrankungen auf das Vorkommen von Melaningranula in den Talgdrüsen oder -ausführungsgängen (Talgdrüsenmelanose) untersucht. 19 dieser Fälle (17,8%) zeigten Talgdrüsenmelanose. Die Hautbiopsien von 71 Hunden mit follikulärer Dysplasie wurden auf ähnliche Weise untersucht, 27 davon (38,0%) wiesen ebenfalls Talgdrüsenmelanose auf. Talgdrüsenmelanose allein kann nicht dazu verwendet werden, um histologisch follikuläre Dysplasie und endokrine Hauterkrankungen zu unterscheiden. [Bagladi, M. S., Scott, D. W., Miller, W. H. Sebaceous gland melanosis in dogs with endocrine skin disease of follicular dysplasia: a retrospective study (Talgdrüsenmelanose bei Hunden mit endokrinen Hauterkrankungen oder follikulärer Dysplasie: eine retrospektive Studie). Veterinary Dermatology 1996; 7 : 85–90.]     

Hydrogel control of xylem hydraulic resistance in plants

Increasing concentrations of ions flowing through the xylem of plants produce rapid, substantial, and reversible decreases in hydraulic resistance. Changes in hydraulic resistance in response to solution ion concentration, pH, and nonpolar solvents are consistent with this process being mediated by hydrogels. The effect is localized to intervessel bordered pits, suggesting that microchannels in the pit membranes are altered by the swelling and deswelling of pectins, which are known hydrogels. The existence of an ion-mediated response breaks the long-held paradigm of the xylem as a system of inert pipes and suggests a mechanism by which plants may regulate their internal flow regime.     

Stratospheric Mean Ages and Transport Rates from Observations of Carbon Dioxide and Nitrous Oxide

Measurements of stratospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) concentrations were analyzed to investigate stratospheric transport rates. Temporal variations in tropospheric CO2 were observed to propagate into the stratosphere, showing that tropospheric air enters the lower tropical stratosphere continuously, ascends, and is transported rapidly (in less than 1 month) to both hemispheres. The mean age A of stratospheric air determined from CO2 data is approximately 5 years in the mid-stratosphere. The mean age is mathematically equivalent to a conserved tracer analogous to exhaust from stratospheric aircraft. Comparison of values for A from models and observations indicates that current model simulations likely underestimate pollutant concentrations from proposed stratospheric aircraft by 25 to 100 percent.     

Pentaborate Polyanion in the Crystal Structure of Ulexite, NaCaB5O6(OH)6{middle dot}5H2O

Triclinic ulexite crystals contain isolated borate polyanions [B(5)O(6)(OH)(6)](3-) related to the well known pentaborate polyanion [B(5)O(6)(OH)(4)](-) by addition of two hydroxyl groups to two opposite B-O triangles. The isolated ulexite polyanions form the [B(5)O(7)(OH)(4)](n)(3n-) chains previously found in crystals of the related mineral probertite, NaCaB(5)O(7)(OH)(4).3H(2)O.     

Effect of temperature and water variables on the juvenile growth of lucerne and red clover

Plants of three cultivars of lucerne ( Medicago sativa L.) and of red clover ( Trifolium pratense L.) were grown at four levels each of water availability and temperature in all combinations to evaluate these factors as determinants of plant growth. Plants grew in conventional plant growth chambers from age 2 to 4 weeks with the roots held between layers of polyester cloths that held a volume of nutrient solution which was adjusted at 24-h intervals by flushing and blotting the cloths. The experimental design consisted of two growth chamber runs at each of four temperatures. Within each run, water treatments and the species-cultivar combination were arranged In four replicates of a split-plot design with water treatment as whole plot and species-cultivars as subplots.
Plant response variables over all treatments were significant (P < 0·05) for temperature and water for shoot weights, root weights, shoot/root ratios and number of roots. Cultivars within species had no significant difference in response lo the treatments, but species differences were significant for alt response variables except shoot/root ratio.