Immunochemical study of canine intestinal, hepatic, and osseous alkaline phosphatases.

Partially purified alkaline phosphatase (ALP) from canine intestine, liver, and bone were injected into rabbits to elicit anti-canine intestinal, hepatic, and osseous ALP antibodies, respectively. The antibody formed a soluble enzyme-antienzyme complex when directly interacted with the ALP antigen. In order to form an insoluble complex, it was then necessary to interact the initial soluble complex with the goat anti-rabbit gamma-globulin antibody in the 2nd step. Antiintestinal ALP antibody was highly specific and did not cross react with canine hepatic, osseous, splenic, and renal ALP. Antiliver and antibone ALP antibodies, on the other hand, did cross react with hepatic, osseous, splenic, and renal ALP, but not with the intestinal ALP.     

Microbiology of normal and seborrheic canine skin.

Quantitative and qualitative bacterial assays were performed on the skin of 15 normal and 32 seborrheic dogs. Nonionic detergent scrubs were made on areas demarcated by glass sidearm cylinders. Quantitative analysis was accomplished by the serial dilution technique, and the bacteria were identified by individual and colonial morphology and by enzyme production. Areas measured on control dogs had a markedly lower total bacterial count than similar areas measured on seborrheic animals. Control dogs had a flora consisting primarily of coagulase-negative cocci, whereas seborrheic dogs usually had a cutaneous flora composed primarily of Stahylococcus aureus, coagulase-positive.     

Studies on the avian shell gland during egg formation: The effect of acetazol‐amide on the transfer of ions to the albumen 1

1. Twenty‐five laying hens were fed on a diet containing 100 mg acetazolamide/kg in order to determine the effects of a decrease in the activity of carbonic anhydrase on the transfer of minerals to the egg albumen.

2. Treatment with acetazolamide decreased the rate of shell formation by 44%; reduced the concentrations of water and Na+ in the albumen at the beginning of the plumping stage but increased the accumulation of water during plumping; increased the concentration of Cl‐ in the albumen after the 6‐h stage without any appreciable change in K+ and Ca²⁺ concentrations.

3. The computed relationships between the concentrations of different ions also showed that the transfer of water and Na+ were linked during egg formation, that a water‐independent, acetazolamide‐sensitive reabsorption of Na+ occurred after the 10‐h stage and that Na+ and Cl‐moved simultaneously up to 14 h but with the ratio of Cl‐ to Na+ three times higher in the treated group.

4. It is concluded that acetazolamide impairs the transfer of Na+ and Cl‐ between the albumen and the extracellular fluid and that secretion of Ca²⁺ into the uterine lumen seems to depend on Na+ and Cl‐ reabsorption.     

The role of oral immunisation in stimulating Escherichia coli antibody of the IgM class in porcine colostrum.

Oral immunisation with Escherichia coli polysaccharide antigens provided a primary antigenic stimulus which facilitated the production of humoral IgM antibody following a single parenteral antigen dose. The peak antibody response of preparturient sows was manipulated to coincide with the period of colostrum formation so that high levels of IgM antibody were made available for neonatal defence. The characteristics of the immune response remained unchanged on reintroduction of the immunisation schedule for a second gestation period.     

Tolerance breaking by lymphocyte activating factor induced by Escherichia coli O138 lipopolysaccharide from homologous macrophages.

Following an antigenic dose of 10 microgram or a tolerogenic dose of 200 microgram of Escherichia coli O138 lipopolysaccharide (LPS), BALB/c mice were examined on day 14 for percentages of theta-bearing cells. A considerable increase in T cells was noticed in lymphocytes from tolerant draining lymph nodes, and furthermore these cells did not possess receptors for LPS when tested for rosette inhibition. However, when the supernatant from 1 X 10(7) macrophages, pretreated with 150 microgram LPS, was given to tolerant mice on day 7, by day 14 tolerance was found to be broken, anti-LPS IgG was present in circulation and the draining lymph node contained T cells specifically committed to LPS. The change from suppressor to helper T cell activity is discussed in relation to enhancement of the immune response.     

On estimating non‐additive genetic parameters in chickens 1

1. Several economically important traits in two Leghorn populations (over 9000 birds) were examined for additive and non‐additive components of genetic variance and sex‐linked effects. Data were analysed by two different statistical models based on least‐squares procedures.

2. Six different covariances were first calculated between relatives; i.e., full‐sibs, 3/4‐sisters, half‐sisters, dam‐daughters, grandam‐granddaughters and aunt‐nieces.

3. From the covariances, weighted least‐squares equations were used to obtain estimates of variance components for additive genetic, dominance, maternal and sex‐linkage effects.

4. The estimates of non‐additive components were highly variable but generally small compared with the additive genetic estimates.

5. In general this study suggests that for most traits, with the possible exception of rate of egg production, there is relatively little non‐additive genetic variation.

6. The consequences of possible negative correlations between additive effects and maternal effects are considered as they might apply to egg production in poultry.     

An equine cryptorchid with testicular and ovarian tissues.

Cytogenetic and histological studies were carried out on an intersex horse which was diagnosed clinically as a cryptorchid. Surgery confirmed the horse to be a bilateral abdominal cryptorchid and histological examination revealed ovarian tissue associated with the left epididymis. Chromosome analysis of cultured cells from testicular tissue, ovarian tissue and skin revealed 64-XX and 64-XY make-up, the left gonad containing a greater preponderance of XX cells over XY cells. The external characteristics and behaviour of the horse were indistinguishable from that of a "routine" cryptorchid. Other cases of equine intersexes are reviewed and theories for the discrepancies between genetic, gonadal and phenotypic sex are discussed.