Isolation of bovine ovarian inhibin, its immunoneutralization in vitro and immunolocalization in bovine ovary

A purification scheme involving gel permeation chromatography, anion exchange chromatography and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) was used to isolate from bovine follicular fluid (FF) biologically-active inhibin of molecular weight 32 kDa. Chromatographic fractions were monitored for inhibin-like biological activity (ILA) using a simplified bioassay procedure in which a suppression of total basal FSH production by rat pituitary cells in monolayer culture indicates the presence of ILA. Approximately 3 mg protein having an ILA potency (ED50 value in in vitro bioassay) of 1.7 ng/ml was obtained from 4 1 crude bovine FF (260 g protein; ILA potency 3750 ng/ml) reflecting an approximate 2200-fold purification factor with an overall recovery of about 3%. The isolated material appeared as a single major UV absorbance peak on RP-HPLC and as a single band (32 kDa) when subjected to SDS-PAGE (15% gel) under non-reducing conditions. Under reducing conditions the molecule dissociated into 2 subunits of apparent molecular weight 22 and 14 kDa confirming that it is probably identical to the 31/32 kDa form of bovine ovarian inhibin previously reported by two other independent research groups. An antiserum raised in a chicken against the isolated material completely neutralized the suppressive effects of both 32 kDa inhibin and bovine FF on basal production of FSH by rat pituitary cells in vitro but only partially reversed the suppressive effects of both porcine and human FF. Immunohistochemical staining of sections of bovine ovary and of isolated preparations of bovine granulosa cells using this antiserum confirmed that granulosa cells are a major source of inhibin. The observation that specific immunostaining was not confined to these cells, however, suggests that they may not be the exclusive source of immunoreactive inhibin in the bovine ovary.     

Colour-Doppler sonography of the musculophrenic vein in cows

The goal of the present study was to examine the musculophrenic vein of 29 healthy Swiss Braunvieh cows using colour-Doppler sonography to determine vessel morphology and diameter, and blood flow velocity. The hair over the reticular region was clipped, and the left musculophrenic vein was examined before and 10 min after sedation using 0.03 mg/kg xylazine. The musculophrenic vein appeared as a vessel with a diameter of 0.5–1.1 cm located in the diaphragmatic musculature. The spectral display was a broad band structure with a wave-like shape. The Doppler measurement point was 1.5–2.7 cm from the body surface. The diameter of the vein and the blood flow velocity did not differ significantly before and after sedation. Before sedation, the mean diameter (±SD) of the musculophrenic vein was 0.7 (0.2) cm, the maximum blood flow velocity 90.2 (38.6) cm/s, the mean blood flow velocity 60.4 (22.3) cm/s and the minimum blood flow velocity 41.4 (24.2) cm/s. There were significant correlations (r = 0.45–0.90) between blood flow velocity before and after sedation and between minimum, maximum and mean blood flow velocities.     

In vitro antiviral activity of dehydroepiandrosterone and its synthetic derivatives against vesicular stomatitis virus

In this work the antiviral activity of 20 dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) analogs with different substituents at positions C-3, C-15, C-16 and C-17 were evaluated against vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in Vero cell cultures. The selectivity indexes (SI) obtained with DHEA and epiandrosterone (EA) were 50 and 72.6, respectively. The work showed that the compounds 21-norpregna-5,17(20)-dien-3β,16α-diyl-diacetate, 17,17-ethylendioxyandrostan-5,15-dien-3β-ol and 3β-hydroxypregn-17(20)-en-16-one had higher SI values than ribavirin, which was used as a reference drug. The antiviral mode of action of DHEA was also investigated against VSV replication in Vero cells, and time of addition experiments showed that DHEA mainly affected a late event in the virus growth cycle. Analysis of RNA and protein synthesis indicated that DHEA adversely affected positive strand RNA synthesis and viral mature particle formation.     

Evaluation of a Transcondylar Toggle System for Stabilization of the Cranial Cruciate Deficient Stifle in Small Dogs and Cats

Objective— To evaluate use of a transcondylar toggle system (TCTS) for stabilization of the cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) deficient stifle in small dogs and cats. Study Design— Prospective clinical study. Animals— Small dogs (<7 kg; n=14) and cats (2) with CrCL‐associated lameness of <3 months duration and a tibial plateau angle <32°. Methods— Affected animals had an extracapsular CrCL repair using the TCTS. Lameness score, muscle atrophy, osteoarthritis (OA) score, and range of motion (ROM) were evaluated preoperatively, and at 6 weeks and 7–10 months postoperatively. Results— Operative time was 75 ± 16 minutes. Fifty‐six percent required >1 bone tunnel attempts. One dog required revision at 2 weeks because of suture loosening. All stifles were stable at 6 weeks postoperatively. Fifteen animals were available for follow‐up (7–10 months). Lameness improved significantly at 6 weeks (P<.0001), whereas muscle atrophy was worse at 6 weeks (P=.008) but improved at 7–10 months (P<.0001). OA scores were unchanged at 6 weeks (P=.08) but were significantly worse at 7–10 months (P<.0001). ROM remained unchanged at 6 weeks (P=1) and 7–10 months (P=.6). Conclusions— The medially placed toggle provides a reliable short‐term proximal anchor for the extracapsular suture with outcomes similar to other extracapsular techniques. The aiming device and drill bit are not recommended in their current form. Clinical Relevance— The TCTS appears to be a well‐tolerated technique for proximal suture anchoring in extracapsular CrCL repair in small dogs and cats where instrumentation and anatomic constraints preclude other techniques.     

Computed tomography in the diagnosis of malignant sinonasal tumours in three horses

Malignant tumours are uncommon in horses, but when they do occur, they are most frequently found in the head. Clinical findings, such as facial swelling and nasal discharge, are frequently encountered but are nonspecific. To highlight the usefulness of a computed tomography (CT) examination in malignancy in the equine head, this Case Report describes the CT features of a leiomyosarcoma, an osteosarcoma and a sarcoma in 3 horses. CT of the equine head was able to provide more information about the extent and severity of lesions than conventional radiography in these cases.     

In vitro contractile responses and contracture testing of skeletal muscle from Quarter Horses with exertional rhabdomyolysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether increased sensitivity to pharmacologic agents was a general property of equine exertional myopathies, including polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) in Quarter Horses. ANIMALS: 5 adult Quarter Horses with exertional rhabdomyolysis and abnormal polysaccharide accumulation in skeletal muscle and 4 clinically normal adult Quarter or Quarter-type horses. PROCEDURES: Twitch time course measurements and contracture responses to various concentrations of caffeine and halothane for small bundles of intact external intercostal muscle fibers were measured in all horses. RESULTS: Caffeine contracture threshold of muscles from Quarter Horses with PSSM was not different from that of clinically normal horses (5 mM in both groups). Muscles from horses with PSSM and from clinically normal horses did not have contracture in response to up to 2% halothane. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results were in contrast to the increased sensitivity to caffeine and halothane for muscles from Thoroughbreds with recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER). Although clinical signs of muscular stiffness after exercise are similar between Quarter Horses with PSSM and Thoroughbreds with RER, these breeds appear to have 2 distinct myopathies with different pathophysiologic bases. Unlike RER in Thoroughbreds, PSSM in Quarter Horses does not appear to be accompanied by a defect in regulation of muscle contraction.     

Cerebral larva migrans in a raccoon (Procyon lotor)

During 1997, gross and histopathologic examinations were performed on an adult female raccoon (Procyon lotor) that was live-trapped in Corvallis, Oregon. Multifocal eosinophilic granulomas indicative of neural and visceral larva migrans were observed. However, within these granulomas, the presence of parasitic larva was seen only in the cerebrum. Morphologic characteristics indicated that the nematode was an ascarid larva. However, it was smaller than the larva of Baylisascaris sp. This appears to be the first documented case of cerebral larva migrans in a raccoon.