Immunocytochemical Localization of Aromatase in The Ovary of Superovulated Cattle,Pigs and Sheep

Laurincik, J., L. Kolodzieyski, V. Elias, P. Hyttel, Y. Osawa, A. Sirotkin: Immunocytochemical localization of aromatase in the ovary of superovulated cattle, pigs and sheep. Acta vet. scand. 1994, 35, 185-191.–The localization of aromatase, an enzyme converting androgens to estrogen, in the ovaries of superovulated cattle, pigs and sheep was studied immunocytochemically in the preovulatory and postovulatory period using anti-human placental aromatase cytochrome P-450 antiserum. Immunostaining for aromatase was detected in the granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles of all species studied. Theca interna cells were stained in preovulatory follicles in the pig but not in cattle and sheep. Interstitial gland cells, cumulus cells and oocytes were unstained in all species. In cattle and pig the corpora lutea were unstained whereas they displayed staining in the sheep. Preantral and small antral follicles were unstained during both the preovulatory and postovulatory period in all species.It is concluded that granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles are the main residence for aromatase activity in superovulated cattle, pig and sheep, whereas the activity of theca interna and corpora lutea is species specific.     

Experimental model of swine pneumonic pasteurellosis using crude Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae cytotoxin and Pasteurella multocida given endobronchially.

This study was designed to develop and characterize a swine pneumonic pasteurellosis model by concurrent introduction of Pasteurella multocida type A and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae crude cytotoxin. After a series of preliminary experiments, a combination of 4 x 10(9) P. multocida and 4,000 toxic units of A. pleuropneumoniae crude cytotoxin was determined to produce optimal results. A total of 48 pigs were divided into four groups of 12 pigs each. The control group received buffered saline only. Four pigs from each group were randomly selected for necropsy 3, 7 and 14 days postinoculation (PI). Inoculation of pigs with P. multocida and A. pleuropneumoniae cytotoxin (group 1) resulted in moderate to severe pneumonia. Pasteurella multocida was isolated from pneumonic lesions, grossly normal lung, and bronchial lymph nodes of all group 1 pigs throughout the 14 day experimental period. Pathological changes typical of field cases of swine pneumonic pasteurellosis were produced. Pigs inoculated with P. multocida alone (group 2) had pneumonic lesions and P. multocida was reisolated from lungs at three days PI. Pasteurella multocida was not isolated from these pigs at 7 and 14 days PI, except for one pig in which an abscess developed in the thorax. Pulmonary lesions induced by A. pleuropneumoniae crude cytotoxin alone (group 3) were transient and resolved by seven days PI. Group 1 pigs had significantly greater lung lesion volumes than group 2 and 3 pigs at 3, 7 and 14 days PI. Statistical analysis indicated a significant interactive effect of P. multocida and A. pleuropneumoniae cytotoxin on the development of lung lesion volumes at 7 and 14 days PI (p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Systemic histiocytosis in a Bernese mountain dog

Systemic histiocytosis was diagnosed at post mortem examination in a three-year-old Bernese mountain dog born in the United Kingdom. The dog presented with a progressive nodular skin disease, chemosis and periocular swelling occurring over six months. It was unresponsive to topical corticosteroids, antibiotics and oral azathioprine. Elective euthanasia was performed. Post mortem examination revealed extensive histiocytic infiltration of the skin, subcutis and skeletal muscles, particularly of the head.     

Comparative features of retroviral infections of livestock

Retroviral infections of livestock have become of increasing importance due to their usefulness as comparative models for human retroviral infections and their effects upon animal health and marketability of animals and animal products nationally and internationally. This paper presents a perspective on the retroviruses of economic concern in veterinary medicine with emphasis on the importance of understanding the modes of virus transmission and the species specificity of the viruses. The retroviruses reviewed include the oncovirus, bovine leukosis virus, and the lentiviruses, equine infectious anemia virus; maedi/visna virus, caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus and bovine visna-like virus. The comparative features amongst these animal retroviruses and those of humans must be recognized by the veterinary and medical professions since the similarities in virus replication and spread by blood transfer can provide important clues in controlling and perhaps preventing human retroviruses infections, such as the human immunodeficiency virus.     

Intravenous anesthesia

Anticholinergics, tranquilizers, and sedative-hypnotics are the usual agents used for preanesthetic sedation of the horse. Of these drugs, the anticholinergics are of little importance in the horse. Acepromazine is the most useful and widely used tranquilizer, whereas xylazine is a safe and popular sedative. A newer sedative recently made available to the veterinarian for clinical use in horses is detomidine. Thiobarbiturates are seldom used alone any longer but are still useful when combined with guaifenesin for induction and maintenance of anesthesia. Other, more contemporary drug combinations that have largely replaced thiobarbiturates and chloral hydrate include xylazine with ketamine, xylazine with Telazol, detomidine with Telazol, and guaifenesin with ketamine and xylazine.     

Causes of death and illness in the native sheep of North Ronaldsay, Orkney. I. Adult sheep

Post-mortem examinations on 71 native sheep found dead on the island of North Ronaldsay, Orkney in four visits between April 1983 and July 1985 were carried out. The sheep in this almost feral flock have access to a small area of unmanaged moorland pasture but are otherwise restricted to the foreshore where they subsist largely on Laminaria spp. and other seaweeds. Young adult animals died largely of heavy parasite burdens combined with inadequate nutrition, while the older sheep often starved because of severe dental disease precipitated by heavy deposits of tartar on the cheek teeth--rarely seen in sheep on a more conventional diet. Other underlying metabolic conditions, such as the extensive mineralization of the kidney medulla in many mature sheep, may be debilitating. The pathological findings suggest that adaptation to the peculiar environmental rigours and dietary restrictions on North Ronaldsay is less complete than has previously been assumed.     

Predicting beef-longissimus tenderness from various biochemical and histological muscle traits

Our objective was to determine the predictive value of various biochemical and histological traits for tenderness of the longissimus muscle. Data collected from 27 crossbred cattle included longissimus pH, temperature, sarcomere length, total and percentage of soluble collagen, muscle-fiber type and area, cathepsin B and B + L activities, calcium-dependent protease (CDP)-I, -II and inhibitor activities, myofibril fragmentation indices (MFI), Warner-Bratzler shear (WBS) force, sensory-panel tenderness (SPT) ratings and carcass traits. Stepwise regression analyses were performed among breeds or pooled within breeds with WBS and SPT as dependent variables. When MFI were included in the analysis, MFI at d 7 explained 50% of the variation in WBS and SPT at d 14. An additional 19% of SPT was accounted for by the addition of CDP inhibitor d 1 activity and percentage-area of alpha R fibers to the model. However, because variation in MFI was not significant within breed subclasses and MFI could be classified more as a dependent variable, it was removed from the model. This resulted in CDP inhibitor d 1 activity explaining 44% of the variation in WBS and SPT at d 14. Also, percentage-area of beta R fibers, 6 h pH and cathepsin B + L d 14 activity appeared in the model. In addition, CDP inhibitor activity was the only variable to be significant within breed groups. These data suggest that d 7 MFI could be used as a single predictor of d 14 longissimus muscle tenderness; however, CDP inhibitor d 1 activity (a biological event) also may be useful in predicting tenderness.