Accessory Carpal Bone Fractures in the Racing Greyhound: Classification and Pathology

Fractures of the accessory carpal bone in 35 racing Greyhounds were classified into five types. Type I fractures (27 fractures) involved the distal articular surface of the accessory carpal bone, type II (6 fractures) were of the proximal articular margin, type III (1 fracture) were at the origin of the accessorometacarpal ligaments, type IV (6 fractures) were avulsion fractures at the tendon of insertion of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle, and type V (3 fractures) were comminuted fractures.     

Dynamics of amino acid and protein metabolism of laying hens after administration of 15N-labeled wheat protein. 5. Incorporation of 15N into the blood fraction and its amino acids

12 colostomized laying hens which received 15N labelled wheat over 4 days were butchered 12 h, 36 h, 60 h and 108 h (3 animals each) after the last 15N application. The intake of 15N excess (15N') from the wheat amounted to 540 mg 15N' during the application period. The 15N' in the blood plasma decreased after the last 15N' application from 0.76 atom-% to 0.55 atom-% after 108 h, the labelling of the corpuscular components at the same measuring points increased from 0.28 to 0.50 atom-% 15N'. 96.6% of the plasma 15N' and 93.8% of that in the corpuscles is precipitable in trichloric acetic acid. The atom-% 15N' of histidine in the total blood remained unchanged in dependence on the butchering time. The 15N amount in lysine and arginine and that in the non-basic amino acids decreased inconsiderably in the period between 12 h and 108 h after the last 15N' wheat feeding.     

Monoclonal antibodies to sheep MHC class I and class II molecules: biochemical characterization of three class I gene products and four distinct subpopulations of class II molecules

The availability of a panel of monoclonal antibodies to sheep MHC class I and class II gene products has allowed for the first time an assessment of the relative complexity of the sheep MHC. By using four monoclonal antibodies to MHC class I, and seven monoclonal antibodies to MHC class II molecules together with one-dimensional SDS-PAGE, sequential immunoprecipitation and 2-dimensional gel analysis, three class I gene products and four distinct subsets of class II molecules have been identified. Sheep class I molecules showed heterogeneity on 2-dimensional gels and as in mouse and man, represented the products of at least three different non-allelic class I genes. Interestingly, the sheep beta 2 microglobulin molecule also displayed heterogeneity, consistent with either two primary gene products or allelic variation. Four sheep class II monoclonal antibodies identified distinct, non-overlapping subsets of sheep class II molecules of Mr 32-36 K (alpha chain) and 25-28 K (beta chain). These class II molecules were co-expressed on sheep B lymphocytes and represented the primary products of different sheep MHC class II genes. The class II molecules within three of these subsets displayed allelic polymorphism essentially restricted to their beta polypeptides, while the fourth subset of class II molecules showed allelic variation in both their alpha and beta polypeptides. The results of this study represent the first evidence for gene duplication and heterogeneity within the sheep MHC. The identification of three primary class I gene products and four distinct subsets of class II molecules suggests three class I loci and up to four distinct class II subregions within the sheep MHC. Potentially large numbers of allelic variants of these different gene products may be expressed in normal sheep.     

The effect of straw meal on the crude protein and amino acid metabolism and the digestibility of crude nutrients in broiler breeding hens. 3. Digestibility of amino acids

In two experiments with colostomized broiler hens the influence of a straw meal supplement on the apparent digestibility of the amino acids of the ration and the 15N labelled basic amino acids in wheat was studied. In experiment 1 the animals received 120 g mixed feed plus 0, 20, 30 and 40 g straw meal per animal and day. The digestibility of the amino acids decreased on average from 86% to 83%, 80% and 79% with the growing straw intake. In contrast to the control variant, 20 g straw meal intake resulted in a significant decrease of digestibility for lysine, histidine, glycine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, cystine and methionine. 30 and 40 g straw meal reduced significantly the digestibility of all amino acids with the exception of arginine. The amino acid composition of the crude protein in faeces changed only very slightly due to the straw supplement. In experiment 2 15N labelled wheat was a component of the ration. Of the 15N labelled amino acids lysine, histidine and arginine, 88, 90 and 95% were apparently digested. The adaptation of the animals to straw meal intake did not change the digestibility of the amino acids.     

Urethral pressure profilometry in mares

A technique was developed for recording urethral pressure profiles (UPP) in mares. Profiles were obtained from 12 clinically normal mares and from 3 mares with urinary incontinence. Variables measured on the profile included intravesicular pressure and maximal urethral closure pressure. The mean maximal urethral closure pressure of the incontinent mares was significantly less (P less than or equal to 0.001) than that of the normal mares. The technique is simple and reliable for objectively evaluating urethral pressures in mares.     

Effect of ranitidine on gastric acid secretion in young male horses

Gastric cannulas were placed surgically in 5 young male horses. After a 2-week recovery period, horses were studied once a week. Horses were fasted for 24 hours, and gastric fluid output was collected for 5 continuous hours. Volumes were recorded every 15 minutes, and pH and hydrogen ion concentration were determined in an aliquot from each period. In 10 basal experiments, using 5 horses, volume, pH, and hydrogen ion concentration were continuously variable. Mean acid output was 45.1 +/- 2.02 microEq/15 min/kg (mean +/- SEM). In 6 experiments, using 3 horses, 0.5 mg of ranitidine/kg of body weight, given as an IV bolus after a 1-hour basal collection, significantly (P less than 0.02) inhibited hourly total acid output for 4 hours, but did not significantly change pH. The cannulation technique was done without complications, and horses tolerated the cannula for several months. Seemingly, the horse has a continuously variable gastric acid secretion, and histamine type-2 receptors have a role in this process.     

Demonstration of antibodies to Eimeria species in lambs by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Soluble extracts were prepared from sporulated oocysts, unsporulated oocysts and merozoites of Eimeria crandallis, E faurei and E ovinoidalis. They were assessed for antigenicity and specificity by ELISA using rabbit antisera to sporulated oocysts or merozoites. Antibody levels were examined in sera from colostrum-deprived coccidia-free lambs, conventionally reared lambs and lambs which had received experimental infections. Maternal antibody was demonstrated in colostrum and in serum taken at 24 hours from all conventionally reared animals but not colostrum-deprived animals. Antibody levels in conventional animals dropped over the first five weeks of life and rose again during the next five weeks. Antibody was not detected in coccidia-free animals. Monospecific infections of E faurei or E ovinoidalis demonstrated antibody responses to primary and secondary infections. Some specificity of response was suggested with E faurei infection. The antigen preparations showed considerable cross-reactions between species. These serum antibody responses, although appearing too late for individual diagnosis, may assist diagnosis on a flock basis.     

The utilization of crude proteins from 15N-labeled straw by broiler hen breeds

In an experiment with 10 colostomized broiler breeding hens the digestibility of wheat straw meal labelled with 15N and the incorporation of heavy nitrogen into individual body fractions were studied. The straw meal contained a 15N excess (15N') of 14.88 atom-%. Before the experiment part of the straw meal was treated with gamma-rays (2.0 MGy). 5 animals each received in addition to the basic ration 30 g untreated (group I) and irradiated 15N labelled straw meal (group II). The apparent 15N' digestibility amounted for untreated straw meal to 49% and for irradiated straw meal to 46% (p less than 0.05). The labelling of uric acid amounted to 0.25 atom-% 15N', urine with 0.30 atom-% 15N' was more highly labelled (p less than 0.05). On an average of both groups the same labelling of 0.18 atom-% could be detected in the follicles and the liver, whereas 0.17 were ascertained in the blood plasma and 0.16 atom-% 15N' in the oviduct. 18% of the digested 15N' were incorporated in the muscles. There were only insignificant differences between the two groups with regard to the incorporation of 15N'. In conclusion one can say that the apparent digestibility of straw protein is 47.5% and that the utilization of the absorbed N is about the same as that of wheat protein.