Changes in Activities of Enzymes Related to Energy Metabolism in Peripheral Leukocytes of Fattening Steers

Glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol and immunoreactive insulin (IRI) concentrations, some enzyme activities in plasma, and activities of enzymes related to energy metabolism in peripheral leukocytes were measured in fattening Japanese Black Wagyu x Holstein steers fed on different diets at 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 months of age. The plasma IRI concentrations at 20 and 24 months of age were significantly higher than those at 8 months of age. Activities of hexokinase (HK), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) in cytosolic fractions, and glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), MDH and AST in mitochondrial fractions in peripheral leukocytes of steers at 24 months of age were significantly higher than those at 8 months. Increasing plasma insulin concentration was considered to induce acceleration of glucose utilization in leukocytes of fattening steers. The cytosolic ratio of MDH/lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in leukocytes increased significantly in the fattening process and was considered to be a useful indicator for evaluating changes in energy metabolism in steers.     

Incidence of silent ovulation in dairy cows during post partum period

The present study was undertaken to show the incidence of silent ovulation in high producing dairy cows, by monitoring ovarian cyclicity based on practical milk progesterone assay which was established in this study. The direct milk progesterone enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed using anti-progesterone-3(E)-carboxymethyloxime-BSA antibody for the antibody and horse radish peroxidase labeled progesterone for tracer. High sensitivity (26 pg/mL, 0.65 pg/well), high recovery rates (83-97%), high reproducibility (CV of intra-assay 4.8-11.5%; CV of inter-assay 14.3-19.1%) and high correlation between milk progesterone concentrations measured by the direct ELISA and the values obtained by the ELISA after extraction proved the reliability of the assay. In second experiment the incidence of silent ovulation was investigated based on the milk progesterone concentrations in 32 dairy cows within 70 days post partum. The incidences of silent ovulation at the first, second, third and fourth ovulation post partum were 83, 46, 13 and 0%, respectively. Most commonly observed patterns of sequential occurrence of silent ovulation in cows ovulating 2, 3 or 4 times within 70 days post partum were silent-estrus (50%), silent-silent-estrus (60%) and silent-silent-estrus-estrus (67%), respectively. These results suggest that the present ELISA is a reliable and practically applicable method for determination of progesterone in milk and that high producing dairy cows show a high incidence of silent ovulation at the first post partum ovulation as well as the second ovulation, which then decreased with the increased frequency of ovulation.     

Morphologic and functional features of the canine cruciate ligaments

OBJECTIVE: To review the gross, microscopic, and functional anatomy of the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Literature review. METHODS: Reports of the anatomy and function of the cruciate ligaments in dogs were retrieved by search of the 1975-2005 PubMed database. RESULTS: The CCL has an important biomechanical function resisting cranial drawer, hyperextension, and internal rotation and acts to fine tune and guide the stifle through its rolling and sliding motion. It has a complex architecture, and distinct geographic regions within the ligament have different functional roles depending on the angle and loading conditions. Collagen type I is the main component of the extracellular matrix; the fibrils have a crimped structure. The cruciate ligaments are almost completely covered by synovium, protecting them from synovial fluid. Cruciate blood supply is mainly of soft tissue origin. The intraligamentous network is relatively limited whereas the core of the middle third of the CCL is even less well vascularized. Neurohistologic studies are very limited in the dog. Various mechanoreceptors and proprioceptive receptors have been identified within the substance of the cruciate ligaments. CONCLUSIONS: CCL structural characteristics play an important part in its complex behaviour with the crimped pattern of the collagen fibrils being an important determinant of its biomechanical properties. In contrast to reports of managing CCL rupture, there are few reports describing the microanatomy and neurovascular morphology of the cruciate ligaments. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Cruciate disease is likely multi-factorial. Improved understanding of CCL degradation leading to CCL rupture is critical to development of new diagnostic tests for cruciate disease in dogs. Appropriate intervention during the early stages of disease process might preserve CCL structural properties by preventing further collagen degradation. Accurate knowledge of functional and fiber bundle anatomy is imperative for reconstruction and restoration of normal stifle joint physiology. Reconstructive goals should alleviate existing instability and mimic normal kinematics. Knowledge of the exact function of the CCL in the neuromuscular control around the stifle joint could possibly explain osteoarthritis progression after CCL damage.     

Shedding routes of Coxiella burnetii in dairy cows: implications for detection and control

Reliable detection of Coxiella burnetii shedders is a critical point for the control of the spread of this bacterium among animals and from animals to humans. Coxiella burnetii is shed by ruminants mainly by birth products (placenta, birth fluids), but may also be shed by vaginal mucus, milk, and faeces, urine and semen. However, the informative value of these types of samples to identify shedders under field conditions is unknown. Our aim was then to describe the responses obtained using a real-time PCR technique applied to milk, vaginal mucus and faeces samples taken from 242 dairy cows in commercial dairy herds known to be naturally infected with Coxiella burnetii, and to assess their putative associations. Positive results were found in all types of tested samples even in faeces. No predominant shedding route was identified. Among the shedder cows, 65.4% were detected as shedders by only one route. By contrast, cows with positive results for all three samples were scarce (less than 7%). Testing a cow based on only one type of biological sample may lead to misclassify it with regards to its shedding of Coxiella burnetii and thereby underestimate the risk of bacterial spread within a herd.     

Fast variability of tera-electron volt gamma rays from the radio galaxy M87

The detection of fast variations of the tera-electron volt (TeV) (10(12) eV) gamma-ray flux, on time scales of days, from the nearby radio galaxy M87 is reported. These variations are about 10 times as fast as those observed in any other wave band and imply a very compact emission region with a dimension similar to the Schwarzschild radius of the central black hole. We thus can exclude several other sites and processes of the gamma-ray production. The observations confirm that TeV gamma rays are emitted by extragalactic sources other than blazars, where jets are not relativistically beamed toward the observer.     

Use of internal splinting to realign a noncompliant sternum in a cat with pectus excavatum

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 5.5-month-old female domestic longhair cat was examined because of dorsal deviation of the caudal aspect of the sternum and progressively worsening dyspnea during play activities. CLINICAL FINDINGS: A diagnosis of pectus excavatum was made clinically and confirmed radiographically. The cardiac silhouette was shifted into the right hemithorax. The vertebral index (VI) and frontosagittal index (FSI), which are radiographic indices used to grade the extent of the deformity, were 5.2 and 3.0, respectively. Minimum thoracic height was 13 mm at this time. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: The sternal malposition was corrected during surgery; for stabilization, an internal splint was provided by use of a plate that was applied to the ventral side of the sternum. Radiographic indices improved until day 85; at that time, an increase in the distance between plate and sternum was detected, and plate removal was advised. The radiographic indices improved again after plate removal. At 310 days after surgery, VI was 9.6, FSI was 1.6, and minimum thoracic height was 34 mm. No dyspnea was evident during physical examination. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results of treatment suggest that this technique may be useful as an alternative surgical option for cats with pectus excavatum that have a noncompliant sternum.