Growth Hormone Receptors in the Porcine Testis During Prepuberty

Supplementation of exogenous growth hormone (GH) during prepuberty advances onset of spermatogenesis in boars, but the mechanism of action is unknown. The present study is an investigation of the presence and characteristics of testicular growth hormone receptors (GHR). A total of 36 boars were castrated, three boars every 10 days, between the ages of 10 and 120 days. Testicular membrane preparations of 10, 20, 30, 50, 70, 100 and 120‐day‐old boars were used to determine ¹²⁵I‐bGH binding and Scatchard analysis. Liver from a 60‐kg barrow was used for comparison. Specific ¹²⁵I‐bGH binding to testicular membrane preparations occurred in all age groups with the exception of 20‐day‐old boars at levels of 30–40% of liver binding. At 30 days of age the unlabelled bGH at 1.1 ng/tube achieved half maximal inhibition (ID₅₀). Results of Scatchard analysis indicated a single class of binding sites. Binding affinity was 2.89 × 10⁹m with a binding capacity of 12 fmole/mg membrane protein. The results from this study suggest that GH may act directly on the cells of the prepubertal boar testis.     

Use of serial standing computed tomography for diagnosis,treatment and monitoring of a horse with acute myonecrosis of the head

An 11-year-old American Quarter Horse gelding was referred to the JT Vaughan Large Animal Teaching Hospital at Auburn University, College of Veterinary Medicine, for investigation of acute and severe right-sided facial swelling and nasal discharge. Standing computed tomographic (CT) examination of the head identified severe soft tissue swelling surrounding the right mandible, emphysema within the soft tissues tracking along fascial planes and right-sided caudal and rostral maxillary sinusitis. Using CT identification and ultrasound guidance, several targeted fasciotomies were created into the right masseter, cranial cervical musculature, supraorbital space and caudo-medial aspect of the mandible. The right-sided sinusitis was treated by right conchofrontal sinus trephination and lavage. Aerobic and anaerobic cultures obtained from the fasciotomy sites and conchofrontal sinus both yielded Prevotella intermedia and Peptostreptococcus asaccharolyticus. During hospitalisation, serial, standing CT examinations were performed for monitoring case progression and guiding further fasciotomies in the face of continued myonecrosis. Follow-up CT performed at 1 month showed resolution of the emphysema and presence of chronic right ventral conchal sinusitis. The sinusitis was treated by fenestration of the right ventral concha with a diode laser via the nasal passage.     

DIE AUFNAHME VON ADSORBIERTEM MONOLINURON IM BODEN DURCH SENFPFLANZEN

Zusammenfassung. Um den Einfluß verschiedener Bodenmischungen auf die Aufnahme von adsorbiertem [¹⁴C]-markíertem Monolinuron zu verfolgen, wurden jeweils 30, 45, 60, 73 und 90 g Monolinuron-behandelter Boden (0,42-0,53 μg Monolinuron/g Boden) mit unbehandeltem auf 100 g aufgefüllt und damit 15.4–67.1 μg adsorbiertes Monolinuron eingesetzt. Die Aufnahme durch Senipflanzen wurde in Neubauerversuchen während 24 Tagen verfolgt. In 3 Anbauperioden wurden 1.17–9.74 μg aufgenommen. Der überwiegende Teil blieb jedoch an den Boden adsorbiert. Bei einer Bilanzerstellung konnten 99% der zu Versuchsbeginn eingesetzten Monolinuronmenge wieder gefunden werden, Durch den Sorptionsprozeß wurde Monolinuron chemisch nicht vcerändert. Ebenso kann das Ausgangsmolekül in der Pflanze nachgewiesen werden. Die nachweisbare Monolinuronmenge in der Pflanzensubstariz wird umso geringer, je weiter die Aufnahmeintensität zurürkgeht. Über eine Isotopen-Austauschreaktion wurde versucht, das pflanzenverfügbare Monolinuron zu messen.
The uptake of adsorbed monolinuron in the soil by mustard plants     

Weather and other environmental factors influencing crop responses to tillage and traffic

Historical research approaches to crop responses to tillage and traffic are discussed and the causes and nature of these responses are analyzed and schematized. The complex of interrelations is then reduced to the changes in soil structure which affect root growth. More attention should be given to modifications in pore geometry caused by compaction, deformation and natural regeneration, both on a macro- and a micro-scale. The possible effects of modifications in pore geometry on soil physical, chemical and biological properties are analyzed in detail, in relation to weather and other environmental factors.In quantifying the interrelationships, good progress has been made, but the integration of separate effects under specific field conditions has not been developed sufficiently. More attention is needed for evaluation of potential growth-limiting factors which can be modified by tillage and traffic.It is proposed to consider the water status of the soil as the central link in the interaction between relevant environmental factors and crop responses to tillage and field traffic.     

Oxygen reservoirs in the early solar nebula inferred from an allende CAI

Ultraviolet laser microprobe analyses of a calcium-aluminum-rich inclusion (CAI) from the Allende meteorite suggest that a line with a slope of exactly 1.00 on a plot of delta17O against delta18O represents the primitive oxygen isotope reservoir of the early solar nebula. Most meteorites are enriched in 17O and 18O relative to this line, and their oxygen isotope ratios can be explained by mass fractionation or isotope exchange initiating from the primitive reservoir. These data establish a link between the oxygen isotopic composition of the abundant ordinary chondrites and the primitive 16O-rich component of CAIs.     

Osseous lesions resembling vaccine-site sar comas in two cats

Extract

Lytic lesions with microscopic features similar to those of vaccine-site sarcomas were diagnosed in the distal femur of two young neutered male cats, one a 20-month-old Birman and the other an 18-month-old domestic short-hair (DSH). Radiographically, there was extensive destruction of trabecular and cortical bone in the metaphysis and/or epiphysis of the distal femur. The DSH cat also had angular deformity of the distal femur due to asymmetrical involvement of the physis. Histologically, the lesions in both cats consisted of dense, interwoven bundles of fibrous connective tissue, amongst which there were variable numbers of plump malignant mesenchymal cells, often with very large, hyperchromatic nuclei and irregularly shaped nucleoli. Several focal aggregates of small lymphocytes were present in both tumours. Although neither cat had apparently been vaccinated in the hindlimb it is possible that the tumours had been triggered by injection of some other irritant material.     

Cytokines, Growth Factors and Prostaglandin Synthesis in the Uterus of Pregnant and Non-pregnant Bitches: The Features of Placental Sites

Uterine tissue from pregnant bitches was investigated by qualitative RT-PCR for the gene expression of local factors potentially important for the implantation of canine embryos. For this purpose, 10 bitches identified as being at the time of implantation or early placentation by means of ultrasonography before ovariohysterectomy (days 20–35, n = 10) provided tissues for comparison to tissue collected in a previous study and identified as early pregnant (n = 10) or non-pregnant (n = 4) by embryo flushing after ovariohysterectomy (days 10–12 after mating; Schäfer-Somi et al. 2008 ). Uterine tissue was excised from the middle of the left horn from early pregnant and non-pregnant animals, including from interplacental and placentation sites. The following genes were investigated: CD-4, -8; cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, -2; granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF); hepatocyte growth factor (HGF); insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, -2; transforming growth factor (TGF) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α; interferon (IFN)-γ; interleukin (IL)-1β, -2, -4, -6, -8, -10, -12; leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and leptin. Gene expression for CD-8, COX-1, TGF-β, HGF, IGF-1, IL-2, -4,-10, IFN-γ and LIF were detected in the pre-implantation uterus, and all except IL-2 and -10 were still detectable during the implantation and placentation stage. During implantation, mRNA for IGF-2 and GM-CSF were additionally detected. The dioestrous uterus differed from the pregnant uterus because of the absence of CD-8, IL-4 and IFN-γ and the expression of CD-4, TNF-α and IL-6. The results suggest that IL-4, IFN-γ, CD-8, GM-CSF and IGF-2 are regulated in a pregnancy-specific manner and that GM-CSF and IGF-2 probably have growth supporting and immune modulating functions during implantation of the canine embryo.     

Efficiency of uterine fluid cytology in the diagnosis of subclinical endometritis in the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

This study compared endometrial cytology vis‐a‐vis uterine fluid cytology for assessment of uterine health in clinically normal and subclinical endometritis (SE)‐affected buffaloes. Uterine fluid samples and endometrial samples were collected from the buffaloes (n = 38) at oestrus using blue sheath and cytobrush, respectively. The smears were stained with Field stain for 3 minutes, and a minimum of 400 cells were counted in each smear for determination of the percentage of polymorphonuclear (PMN) leucocyte. The incidence of subclinical endometritis, based on the cytobrush cytology, was 23.08%. The correlation between cytobrush cytology with uterine fluid cytology was positive and significant (r = .37; p = .02). The ratio of PMN leucocyte in cytobrush cytology to uterine fluid cytology was 1:2.4. ROC analysis revealed that the threshold value of 6.16% PMN leucocyte in uterine fluid cytology showed a diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 100% in differentiating normal from SE‐affected buffaloes. In conclusion, collection of uterine fluid was easier compared to collection of endometrial samples using cytobrush and the percentage of PMN leucocyte in uterine fluid cytology can be used as a tool for diagnosis of subclinical endometritis in buffaloes.     

Culture of porcine stromal-vascular cells in serum-free medium: differential action of various hormonal agents on adipose conversion

We developed a strictly controlled serum-free culture system and tested the effects of adipogenic and antiadipogenic agents on the proliferation and(or) adipose conversion of porcine stromal-vascular cells. To avoid any interference with serum components, stromal-vascular cells were isolated, plated, and grown in absence of serum. In these culture conditions, a very limited growth phase and the absence of cell confluence were observed. However, when compared with continuous culture in serum-containing medium, the serum-free conditions were significantly more adipogenic as assessed by increased lipid content and increased enzymatic activities for lipoprotein lipase, glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and malic enzyme. In serum-free medium, physiological concentrations of insulin or IGF-I were sufficient to significantly increase the percentage of lipid-containing cells, whereas triiodothyronine (T3) and GH had no effect. Insulin, IGF-I, and, more moderately, T3 also accelerated the lipid filling in the lipid-containing cells. In the presence of insulin, stimulation by T3 or hydrocortisone alone had no effect on glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, whereas their concomitant addition significantly increased it. Chronic exposure to tumor necrosis factor-alpha dose-dependently stimulated cell proliferation but clearly inhibited differentiation. Epidermal growth factor, another known antiadipogenic agent, also significantly increased the proliferation of stromal-vascular cells, but, surprisingly, this was not correlated with inhibition of adipocyte differentiation. Indeed, epidermal growth factor treatment did not decrease lipid filling and significantly improved lipoprotein lipase and malic enzyme activities. Taken together, the results obtained in these strictly controlled serum-free culture conditions point out functions for insulin, IGF-I, hydrocortisone, and T3 during early and(or) later steps of porcine adipose conversion. In addition, this study reports a positive activity of epidermal growth factor on porcine adipocyte differentiation that is in clear contrast with previous works performed with rodent cells.