Nonvolatiles of commercial lime and grapefruit oils separated by high-speed countercurrent chromatography

The nonvolatile fractions of cold-pressed peel oils of Key and Persian lime as well as grapefruit were separated by high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HS-CCC). In addition to the isolation of the main coumarins, psoralens and polymethoxyflavones, a number of minor constituents were enriched and successfully characterized by GC-MS and HPLC-UV. 5,7,8-Trimethoxycoumarin and the cyclical acetals of oxypeucedanin hydrate with citral were determined as new nonvolatile trace constituents of lime oils and confirmed by NMR spectroscopy. The citral oxypeucedaninyl acetals were found particularly in Key lime oil type A, which as a result of the juice-oil contact, is exposed to acidic conditions during industrial processing. Some of the confirmed minor constituents, such as pabulenol, isooxypeucedanin, and oxypeucedanin methanolate in lime as well as auraptenol in grapefruit, may have been generated by hydrolysis-sensitive precursors during CCC separation or their respective industrial processing techniques.     

On the weight-bearing function of the medial coronoid process in dogs

The shape of and proportions between the surface areas of the medial coronoid process (MCP) and the fovea of the radial head were determined in 88 juvenile dogs and 146 adult dogs grouped as giant, large, mid-sized, chondrodystrophic, or small dogs. Thereby, the longitudinal (length) and transverse (width) extension of the MCP and fovea of the radial head have been measured. Original values were used to describe changes of the parameters attributed to growth. Normalized values (i.e. values expected in case of a width of the fovea of the radial head of 20 mm) were used to determine potential differences between constitutional types. All original values increased during growth (P < 0.05) except for the width and length of the MCP in chondrodystrophic and small breeds. Normalized values revealed a proportional decrease in width and length of the MCP during growth (P < 0.05) compared with the radial head. In adults, the normalized MCP was widest in giant dogs followed by large, mid-sized, small, and chondrodystrophic breeds. The MCP was also longest in giant dogs but shortest in large and chondrodystrophic dogs with those of large dogs being significantly (P < 0.05) shorter than those in giant, mid-sized and small dogs. Present results suggest that a deficiency in length-growth of the MCP--which has been present especially in large dogs--results in smaller humeral contact areas and decreased weight-bearing capacity of the MCP. Because loading forces acting on the MCP increase with body weight, the condition noted in large dogs might increase the risk of fragmentation of the MCP in these.     

The gross anatomy of the male reproductive system of a neotropical rodent: the agouti (Dasyprota leporina)

The literature available on the agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) is very limited. The agouti is a Neotropical rodent found in Trinidad and Tobago, Central and South America. This study focuses on one of the many unexplored areas relating to the species, the male reproductive system. The results showed that the mean testicular length, diameter and weight was 3.67 +/- 0.12 cm, 1.67 +/- 0.04 cm and 5.03 +/- 0.52 g respectively. The paired testes and epididymis were found in contact with the abdominal muscles within scrotal pouches, which are evaginations of the caudoventral abdominal wall. The caput epididymis is enclosed by a fat body. The ductus deferens has a mean length and diameter of 10.98 +/- 0.40 cm and 0.14 +/- 0.01 cm respectively. At the urethral end of the ductus deferens the diameter of each duct expends to form the ampulla. The mean diameter of each of the ampulla was 0.25 cm. The accessory sex organs of the male agouti (D. leporina) include the vesicular glands, the coagulating glands, the prostate glands and the bulbourethral glands. The penis of the agouti is U-shaped with a mean length of 9.90 +/- 0.43 cm. The glans penis contains an os penis, a pair of lateral penile cartilages and paired ventral keratinaceous styles.     

Case report: congenital myoclonus in a German Holstein calf

A female German Holstein calf was not able to stand up after birth. Resting the animal was lying in normal position and could lift its head. Sensory stimuli like auditory or tactile impulses induced myoclonic jerking of the whole body. Afterwards it calmed down quickly. The signs observed correspond to the clinical findings of congenital myoclonus in poll Hereford calves. The pathological examination revealed no indications for changes in organs. The inbreeding coefficient of the calf was 1.56 %. The present type of congenital myoclonus in the calf examined is likely to be genetically determined, even if the point mutation in exon 2 of the glycin receptor alpha 1 gene was not confirmed.     

Response of four indigenous cattle breeds to natural tsetse and trypanosomosis challenge in the Ghibe valley of Ethiopia

A comparative study on the response of four indigenous cattle breeds of Ethiopia, namely Abigar, Horro, Sheko and Gurage, to natural challenge of trypanosomosis in the Tolley-Gullele area of the Ghibe valley has been undertaken from August 2000 until August 2004. Fifty female yearlings each of Horro, Sheko and Abigar and 31 of the Gurage were purchased from their natural habitats and introduced in to medium to high tsetse-trypanosomosis challenge area of the Ghibe valley. While the natural habitats of first three breeds are naturally infested with tsetse flies and trypanosomosis, that of the Gurage is known to be very minimal, if any, and hence the Gurage breed was used in this study as the known susceptible breed. During the study animal health, production performance and tsetse fly situation were monitored monthly. The Sheko breed has manifested very significantly (p<0.001) high overall average packed cell volume (PCV) values (25%) compared to that of Abigar (24%), Horro (23%) and Gurage (22%). It also had the lowest mean trypanosome prevalence rate of 9% against 23% of Horro, 26% of Abigar and 27% of Gurage, and the least number of Berenil treatments (1.36) compared to Abigar (4.0), Horro (4.6) and Gurage (6.7). While the Abigar manifested high sensitivity and frequent death to PCV depression, the Horro showed strong resilience to PCV depression and better response to Berenil treatment assistance. At this stage the Sheko breed was also found to be equal to the other breeds in its reproductive performance. These results need to be substantiated with further in-depth investigation including immune response, animal behavior and environmental influences.     

Collagen fiber architecture of the periodontal ligament in equine cheek teeth

The objective of this study was to examine the spatial arrangement of the fiber apparatus of the equine periodontium which is supposed to meet two contrary requirements: (1) to attach the tooth firmly and elastically to the alveolar bone; and, to be appropriately remodeled and reconstructed in order to facilitate the prolonged eruption of the tooth. Specimens of periodontal ligament were obtained from the buccal and lingual/palatal aspects of the first molars from the maxilla and mandible of 12 horses. The animals were assigned to three age groups. Histological sections were prepared from three specific horizontal levels of the periodontal ligament and examined with conventional and polarized-light microscopy. At the gingival level, collagen fascicles (diameter > 200 microm) were densely packed. Their spatial alignment was the same in all age groups. The architecture of the collagen fiber apparatus differed at the middle and apical levels in the three age groups. There was a clear distinction between fibers, bundles, and fascicles. Bundling of collagen fibers, density of the fiber arrangement, and collagen fascicles with an alveolo-cemental orientation increased with age. The collagen fiber apparatus of the equine periodontal ligament is highly adaptive, responding continuously to the dynamic changes in the periodontal environment. Site-specific arrangements and age-dependent structural variations are assumed to maintain tooth support as the reserve crown gradually decreases in length with progressive dental attrition. Most of the age-dependent changes to the periodontal ligament in teeth examined in this study occurred at the apical level. The apical region of young teeth had no periodontal attachment, while the roots of older teeth were firmly attached to the alveolus. When evaluating periodontal ligament development, the individual tooth's 'dental age' should be considered rather than the animal's age to account for individual tooth eruption times.     

Effect of Pueraria mirifica on the sexual skin coloration of aged menopausal cynomolgus monkeys

To investigate the estrogenic effect of Pueraria mirifica (PM), a Thai herbal plant that contains many phytoestrogens, sexual skin coloration was studied in cynomolgus monkeys. Aged menopausal monkeys were divided into three groups. Each group (n=3) was fed 10, 100, or 1,000 mg of PM daily. The treatment schedule was divided into three periods, a 30-day pre-treatment period, 90-day treatment period, and 60-day post-treatment period. The results show that the sexual skin exhibited reddish coloration within 24 h after PM-treatment and remained this way for the first half of the PM-feeding period. The changes in sexual skin coloration were not dose-dependent. The present results indicate that PM had estrogenic action by increasing reddish sexual skin coloration in aged menopausal monkeys.