Epithelial response to experimentally introduced intraluminal bacteria in the avian epididymal ducts

The response of the epithelial cells of the various ducts of the avian epididymis, whose function is poorly understood, to intraluminal bacteria was evaluated by the injection of an avirulent strain of Salmonella gallinarium into the RT for 24 h. Ultrastructurally, bacteria and invading mononuclear cells were present in the lumina of the RT, proximal efferent ducts (PED) and distal efferent ducts. However, only the non-ciliated (Type I) cells of the PED epithelium ingested bacteria from the lumen. Fragments of bacteria also occurred in several intercellular spaces in the epithelium of the PED. Some mononuclear cells also contained fragments of bacteria. Neither cell death in the various epithelia nor mononuclear infiltration of the periductal tissue occurred. Therefore, in addition to the established function of absorbing most of the testicular fluid entering the epididymis, the Type I cells also appear capable of recognising and removing foreign particulate matter from the epididymal through-flow in the proximal part of the epididymis.     

Changes in plasma renin activity and renal immunohistochemically demonstrated renin in carbadox treated pigs

Carbadox is known to induce toxic effects on the adrenal cortex, resulting in hypoaldosteronism. To study the involvement of carbadox on the renin-angiotensin system, weaned piglets of five weeks old received feed supplemented with 0 (control group), 50, 100, 150 or 200 ppm carbadox. After four weeks the 100 and 150 ppm groups had significantly higher plasma renin activity levels than the control group and after nine weeks plasma renin activity levels of all treated groups were significantly higher than the control group. Five and 10 weeks after carbadox administration, three and two pigs, respectively, of all groups were necropsied and the kidneys were screened for immunohistochemically demonstrated renin. All dosed pigs demonstrated an increase of immunoreactive renin, which was dose- and time-related. From these results it is concluded that carbadox induces activation of the renin-angiotensin system, secondary to the suppressing effect on mineralocorticoid secretion and that these changes may be responsible for part of the clinical picture.     

Effect of GnRH and hCG administration on plasma LH and testosterone concentrations in normal stallions, aged stallions and stallions with lack of libido

Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (a single intravenous injection with 0.042 mg busereline acetate) was administered to control stallions (n=5), aged stallions (n=5) and stallions with lack of libido (n=5). Jugular blood samples were taken at -10, 0, 10, 20, 40 and 80 minutes after treatment and measured for luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone concentrations. A single intravenous injection of hCG (3000 IE) was given 1 day later. Venous blood samples were taken at -60, 0, 15, 30, 60, 120, and 240 minutes after treatment and measured for the testosterone concentration. The experiment was performed in the breeding season. There was a wide variation between stallions in basal concentrations of LH and testosterone. The treatment groups all showed a significant increase in LH and testosterone concentrations after treatment with GnRH. There was a significant difference (P<0.05) between the control, the lack of libido stallions and the aged stallions in the production of LH before and after stimulation with GnRH. The aged stallions had higher basal LH concentrations. GnRH induced a rise in plasma LH in all groups, but the greatest response was observed in aged stallions. No response to GnRH was seen with respect to plasma testosterone. There was an increase in plasma testosterone following hCG; however, this increase was very small in aged stallions. After stimulation with hCG the control and lack of libido stallions had a significant increase (P<0.05) in testosterone production. In conclusion, stimulation with either GnRH or hCG can be a valuable method to test whether the function of the stallion's reproductive endocrine system is optimal.     

Non-pruritic granuloma in Norwegian forest cats

The eosinophilic granuloma complex is a group of skin disorders common in cats. This paper describes the clinical, haematological and histopathological features of 17 related Norwegian forest cats, six of which had a linear granuloma on the caudal thigh, three of which also had a granuloma on the lower lip, and one of which had a granuloma in combination with an indolent ulcer. The high prevalence of the disease in this population is suggestive of a genetic background.     

营养对动物健康和粮食安全保障的影响

迄今为止,动物营养以及人营养主要关注如何为人和动物的维持以及动物生产提供所需的营养素和能量。此外,在生长动物饲料中迄今一直使用诸如抗生素（AGP）的抗微生物产品,认为其可以通过影响胃肠道微生物进而促进动物生长。     

Bilirubin metabolism in canine hepatobiliary and haemolytic disease

Summary

The kinetics of unconjugated ₃H‐bilirubin are described in 25 healthy dogs and 35 dogs with spontaneous hepatobiliary or haemolytic disease, using a two‐compartment model. The bilirubin production rates from erythrocyte degradation (P_E), ineffective erythropoiesis (P_I) and catabolism of hepatic haemoproteins (P_I), were derived from the incorporation of ¹⁴C‐glycine into haemoglobin and stercobilin. These combined measurements permitted an integral survey of bilirubin metabolism in health and disease. The concentration of unconjugated bilirubin in plasma and its of total bilirubin levels were similar in hepatic and haemolytic disorders.

This was explained by the highly increased bilirubin production rates in both types of disease. In addition, the hepatic bilirubin clearance was severely impaired in fulminant hepatitis and in cirrhosis, and moderately decreased in the other hepatobiliary diseases and in primary haemolysis. The erythrocyte lifespan was reduced in all animals but one. In addition to haemolysis, the contribution of P_I and P_L was variable, and in two dogs P_L was the principle source of highly increased bilirubin production rates. These data indicate that the concentration of unconjugated bilirubin in plasma or its fraction of total pigments is unreliable in the discrimination of canine hepatobiliary disease from haemolytic disorders.     

Individual differences and repeatability of post-prandial changes of plasma-free amino acids in young horses

Few data are available on post-prandial changes of plasma amino acids (AAs) in horses and on the repeatability and the individual variance on different sampling days. The objective of the present study was to measure pre- and post-prandial concentrations of plasma AA in 10 yearling horses. Blood samples were taken on days 1 and 40 of the study before feeding of hay, oats and soya meal and over an 8 h post-prandial period in 2-h intervals. The plasma AAs were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography after ortho-phthalaldehyde derivatization. Mean fasting concentrations of the AAs were not significantly influenced by the individuum and sampling day. Repeatability of the fasting AA levels in the individual horses on two different sampling days was only found for histidine, 3-methylhistidine, methionine, tryptophan and taurine. While the absolute post-prandial AA concentrations differed between sampling days, the relative changes were comparable. All AA concentrations except 3-methylhistidine increased after feeding by 13% to more than 200% of their fasting values if the combined data of both days were analysed. Four hours after feeding the concentrations of arginine, asparagine, lysine, leucine, isoleucine and threonine, decreased more than 20%. Histidine, methionine, phenylalanine, valine, tryptophan, glutamine, glycine, tyrosine and taurine concentrations decreased by less than 20%. Concentrations of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, ornithine, serine and citrulline remained elevated. Most AA approached the fasting concentrations at 8 h, only glycine increased between 6 and 8 h after meal and 3-methyl-histidine concentrations were constant throughout the entire period. In conclusion, the pre-prandial plasma AA in horses appeared less influenced by individuum or sampling day than post-prandial plasma AA concentrations. Therefore, plasma AA concentrations should be interpreted only under well-defined conditions, especially regarding the feeding regimen.     

Development of diets for the intensive culture of Pacific lamprey

The Pacific lamprey Entosphenus tridentatus is an ancestral species of critical importance to the ecosystem and indigenous cultures in the Pacific Northwest. Conservation aquaculture has been proposed as a potential technique to restore Pacific lamprey populations. Intensive culture methods and diets for this species have not been developed. A sixteen week feeding trial tested the effects of seven diet treatments on the survival, growth, fatty acid profile and whole body lipid content of Pacific lamprey ammocoetes. Dietary treatments were: active dry yeast, yeast plus fish oil emulsion, micro‐algae, micro‐algae plus fish oil emulsion, yeast with micro‐algae, yeast with micro‐algae plus fish oil emulsion and yeast with larval fish diet. Each diet was offered to five replicate tanks stocked with 20 ammocoetes that were 51 days post hatch. Survival during the trial was not affected by diet. The greatest length and weight increases were in fish fed diets containing yeast. Growth decreased as the amount of algae in the diet was increased. Lipid retention was significantly higher in fish fed yeast with larval fish diet relative to the other treatments. Feed conversion ratio was lowest in fish fed diets containing yeast. Whole body fatty acid profiles tended to reflect the fatty acid profile of the diet. Percentages of 20:5n‐3 and 22:6n‐3 were significantly higher in fish fed diets containing fish oil emulsion. Overall, yeast with larval fish diet provided the best growth performance in larval Pacific lamprey.