A light and electron microscope study of epitheliocystis in juvenile steelhead trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson

Abstract. Ultrastructural analysis of epitheliocystis organisms from gills of anadromous juvenile steelhead trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, revealed the presence of several distinct forms. Two oval infectious organisms resembled previously described agents and had chlamydia-like characteristics. One form had a distinct oval head region from which a tail-like structure projected. These prokaryotic forms have an ultrastructural appearance which has not been described in previous reports of epitheliocystis. Morphological analyses of gill epithelial cells of S. gairdneri suggest that each cyst remains contained within the cytoplasm of a single host cell.     

Circulating concentrations of 17-estradiol influence pattern of LH in circulation of cows

The objective of the research was to determine the relationship between circulating 17β-estradiol (E2) and secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) in cows. A second objective was to determine if response to E₂ was influenced by interval between ovariectomy and the start of E₂ treatment. Thirty-one nulliparous cows 3 yr of age were randomly assigned to a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement of treatments. Sixteen cows were ovariectomized at 18 mo of age (long term), and the other 15 cows were ovariectomized at 36 mo of age (short term). At the time of ovariectomy of cows in the short term group, 11 cows in the short term group and 12 cows in the long term group were implanted subcutaneously with 1, 2 or 4 polydimethylsiloxane capsules containing E₂. The other eight cows served as non-implanted controls (n=4-short term, n=4-long term). All cows were fitted with jugular vein catheters on day 29 of treatment, and on day 30 blood samples were collected at 12-min intervals for 6 hr. At the end of 6 hr, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) was administered and blood sampling continued at 12-min intervals for an additional hour. Serum was analyzed for LH and E₂. Variables of LH secretion analyzed were mean concentration, frequency of pulses, amplitude of pulses and maximum concentration after LHRH. There were no significant interactions for any of the variables of LH among cows ovariectomized for the long and short term. There was a significant linear increase in mean concentration of LH with increased circulating concentration of E₂. Frequency of LH pulses was not affected by circulating concentration of E₂. As circulating concentration of E₂ increased, amplitude of LH pulses increased and response to LHRH increased - resulting in an increase in mean LH. Interval from time of ovariectomy to the start of E₂ treatment only had a minor influence on mean concentration of LH and profile of LH concentrations in circulation.     

Accumulation and perchlorate exposure potential of lettuce produced in the Lower Colorado River region

The Colorado River is contaminated with perchlorate concentrations of 1.5-8 microg/L, an anion linked to thyroid dysfunction. Over 90% of the lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) consumed during the winter months in the United States is produced in the Lower Colorado River region. Studies were conducted in this region to survey the potential for lettuce perchlorate accumulation and estimate potential human exposure to perchlorate from lettuce. Total uptake of perchlorate in the above-ground plant of iceberg lettuce was approximately 5 g/ha. Exposure estimates ranged from 0.45 to 1.8 microg/day depending on lettuce types and trimming. For all lettuce types, hypothetical exposures were less than 4% of the reference dose recommended by the National Academy of Sciences. Results show the relative iodide uptake inhibition potential because of lettuce nitrate was 2 orders of magnitude greater than that associated with the corresponding trace levels of perchlorate. These data support the conclusion that potential perchlorate exposures from lettuce irrigated with Colorado River water are negligible relative to acute or long-term harmful amounts.     

PRODUCTION AND TREATMENT OF GRANULOCYTOPENIA AND ANEMIA IN RATS FED SULFONAMIDES IN PURIFIED DIETS

(1) A severe granulocytopenia or anemia, or both, have been produced in rats fed sulfathiazole, sulfadiazine or sulfanilamide at a 1 per cent. level in purified diets. (2) Treatment with certain liver fractions orally has succeeded in correcting the granulocytopenia in four days and the anemia in about 10 days in spite of continued ingestion by these animals of the sulfonamide-containing diet.     

Penetration and establishment of Phakopsora pachyrhizi in soybean leaves as observed by transmission electron microscopy

For over 30 years, it has been known that Phakopsora pachyrhizi is unusual in that it penetrates from urediniospores directly through the leaf cuticle without entering stomates. This unusual mode of penetration suggests that disease resistance mechanisms might exist for soybean rust that do not exist for most rust diseases. As a result, we decided to conduct a histological study using transmission electron microscopy to further elucidate the mechanisms of penetration and early establishment of P. pachyrhizi in soybean leaves. Based on our study, it was concluded that P. pachyrhizi utilizes primarily mechanical force, perhaps with the aid of digestive enzymes, to penetrate the cuticle on the leaf surface. However, the lack of deformation lines in micrographs indicated that digestive enzymes, without mechanical force, are used by the penetration hypha to penetrate the outer and inner epidermal cell walls. Digestive enzymes, again indicated by the lack of deformation lines, are used by haustorial mother cells to breach the walls of mesophyll cells to form haustoria. The possibility exists for eventual determination of the precise roles of pressure and digestive enzymes in the development of soybean rust and elucidation of some of the determinants of resistance and susceptibility to this important plant disease.     

Evaluation of Assouline–Or Adjusted Model to Express Soil Drainage Curve

Eurasian Soil Science - The objectives of this research are prediction of soil drainage curve using Assouline and Or (2014) adjusted soil drainage model and comparison of the predicted results with...