Poult malabsorption syndrome. II. Pathogenesis of skeletal lesions.

One-day-old poults were placed on litter on which poults had previously developed diarrhea, increased mortality, stunting, and malabsorption. Gross, microscopic, and morphometric evaluations of the proximal tibiotarsal growth plate, along with analysis of plasma calcium, phosphorus, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 concentrations, were conducted for 3 weeks to determine the development and character of skeletal lesions. Poults developed enteritis with diarrhea and dehydration. Body weights and shank lengths were significantly decreased. Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 concentrations were significantly decreased. Plasma calcium was significantly decreased on day 8. Plasma phosphorus concentrations were significantly increased on day 8 and were significantly decreased on days 15, 18, and 22. Growth plates narrowed on days 8 and 11 and expanded on days 15, 18, and 22. The proliferating-prehypertrophy zone significantly decreased in length on days 11, 18, and 22, and significantly increased in length on day 15. The unmineralized hypertrophy zone was significantly increased in length on days 15, 18, and 22. The mineralized hypertrophy zone was significantly decreased in length on all days. Skeletal lesions during the poult malabsorption syndrome evolved from an early osteoporotic lesion associated with hypocalcemia to a rachitic lesion associated with depleted vitamin D and hypophosphatemia.     

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.]     

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.     

Ultrasound Confirmation of Ovulation in Mares: A Normal Corpus Luteum or a Haemorrhagic Anovulatory Follicle?

The most common pathological anovulatory condition that occurs spontaneously during the breeding season in the mare is the haemorrhagic anovulatory follicle (HAF). A relatively high proportion of mares, soon after ovulation, develop a corpus haemorrhagicum (CH) with a central lacuna. This type of corpora lutea may resemble an HAF, which may complicate the accurate diagnosis of ovulation. The main objective of this study was to compare the ultrasound data of mares examined frequently with HAFs and CHs to elucidate whether it is possible to distinguish them from each other. A total of 135 ovulating mares were classified according to the morphology of the corpus luteum (CL) in mares with: a solid CL, a CH with small or with large central cavities. Ultrasound characteristics of the development of 11 HAF and 13 CHs with a large central cavity were compared. The pre‐ovulatory follicular diameter of ovulatory mares was significantly correlated with the diameter of CH with large central cavities. The percentage of mares with post‐ovulatory areas eligible to be mistaken with a CH was <25%. Although a predictive diagnosis of an HAF/CH can be made on the basis of several ultrasonographic endpoints, the only parameter that allows a definitive diagnosis is the thickness of the luteal border. This is <3 mm in HAFs in contrast to >5 mm in CHs. However, this only applies when the unidentified structure has non‐organized contents.     

Postnatal Changes in Testicular Concentrations of Transforming Growth Factors‐Alpha and‐Beta 1, 2 and 3 and Serum Concentrations of Insulin Like Growth Factor I in Bulls

Based on work largely in laboratory animals, transforming growth factors (TGF) and insulin like growth factors (IGF) could be regulators of testicular development. The aim of this study was to see if TGF‐alpha and ‐beta 1, 2 and 3 are present in the bovine testis and to monitor concentrations of these factors in the testis and IGF‐I in serum during reproductive development. Separate groups of Hereford × Charolais calves (n = 6) were castrated every 4 weeks from 5 to 33 weeks of age and at 56 weeks of age. A week prior to castration, from 5 to 33 weeks of age, blood was collected every 15 min for 10 h. Serum IGF‐I concentrations increased from 8 to 12 weeks of age, decreased from 24 to 28 weeks and increased to 32 weeks of age (p < 0.05). Testicular TGF‐alpha concentrations increased from 13 to 17 weeks of age, decreased to 21 weeks and from 33 to 56 weeks of age (p < 0.05). Testicular TGF‐beta 1 concentrations decreased from 17 to 21 weeks of age, increased to 25 weeks and decreased from 25 to 33 weeks of age (p < 0.05). Testicular TGF‐beta 2 concentrations increased from 5 to 17 weeks of age, decreased to 21 weeks, increased to 25 weeks and decreased at 29 weeks of age (p < 0.05). Testicular TGF‐beta 3 concentrations increased from 13 to 17 weeks of age, decreased to 21 weeks and from 25 to 29 weeks of age (p < 0.05). We concluded that TGF‐alpha and TGF‐beta 1, 2 and 3 are present in the testis of the bull calf, and changes in concentrations with age suggest a functional role in the development of the testis.