Effect of short-term calf removal at three stages of a follicular wave on fate of a dominant follicle in postpartum beef cows.

The hypothesis that ovulation in response to short-term (48 h) calf removal (CR) is dependent on the developmental stage of the dominant follicle was tested in two studies. The objective of Exp. 1 was to characterize the fate of a dominant follicle following 48-h CR on d 2, 4, or 8 of a postpartum follicular wave. Ovaries of 61 beef cows were examined daily by transrectal ultrasonography starting at d 20 to 21 postpartum. Treatments were no CR (n = 14) and CR on d 2 (n = 12), 4 (n = 16), or 8 (n = 10) of first detected follicular wave. Percentage of cows that ovulated a dominant follicle following treatment was not different among groups (P = 0.62). Maximum size of dominant follicles was larger in cows that ovulated (P = 0.002) than in cows that did not ovulate. The objectives of Exp. 2 were 1) to determine whether a follicular wave could be synchronized in anestrous cows following injection of 1 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB) and 200 mg of progesterone (P4; EB + P4); 2) to characterize the fate of dominant follicles following 48-h CR at three stages of a synchronized follicular wave; and 3) to determine whether estrous cycles of normal length followed ovulation in cows pretreated with EB + P4. Ovaries of 50 anestrous beef cows were examined daily as in Exp. 1. Treatments were sesame oil (SO) injected (i.m.) on d 25 postpartum and no CR (n = 9); EB + P4 and no CR (n = 9); EB + P4 and CR on 6 (n = 12), 8 (n = 9), or 12 (n = 11) d after injection. The EB and P4 injections were given on d 25 postpartum. Variability in day of emergence of subsequent follicular waves was lower in cows receiving EB + P4 than in SO-injected cows (P < 0.05). The percentage of cows that ovulated was not different (P = 0.16), but CR increased the percentage of cows that ovulated when groups that received EB + P4 were compared to the EB + P4 group that did not have CR (53.1 vs 11.1%, respectively; P < 0.05). Maximum diameter of dominant follicles was larger (P = 0.05) in ovulatory follicles. The luteal phase was longer (P < 0.03) in cows receiving EB + P4 injection (10.6 +/- 1.2 d) than in cows receiving SO (4.4 +/- 2.2 d). In summary, the maximum size of ovulatory follicles was greater than that of nonovulatory follicles, the ovulatory response of postpartum anestrous cows was maintained through d 8 of a follicular wave, synchronization of follicular waves was accomplished in postpartum cows using EB + P4, and the subsequent luteal phase length was increased in animals that were administered EB + P4.     

A novel HPLC method for glutathione-insulin transhydrogenase assay using fluorescence labeled insulin

The activity of rat liver glutathione-insulin transhydrogenase (GIT) was measured by HPLC. The degradation of fluorescein isothiocyanate-I (FITC-I)-labeled insulin is separated into several peaks, which are bound different amount of FITC-I. We selected mono-fluorescein-thiocarbamylated insulin to estimate the decrease of insulin content and it became possible to assay GIT activity. This novel method was time-saving and simple, and this system could utilize instead of previous method.     

Changes in the concentration of mRNAs for the inhibin subunits in ovarian follicles after administration of gonadotropins to progestin treated ewes.

RNA was extracted from single or small groups of ovine ovarian follicles after treatment of ewes with FSH and/or LH. The content of mRNA for the alpha-inhibin and beta A-inhibin subunits was analyzed by hybridization with specific cDNA probes. All ewes were treated with progestin vaginal pessaries to suppress spontaneous preovulatory follicle maturation and ewes were given three intramuscular injections of gonadotropins at 8-hr intervals starting 24 hr prior to collection of ovaries. In experiment I, both Schering-FSH and NIDDK-oFSH-17 (oFSH) significantly increased alpha- and beta A-inhibin mRNA per ewe in 2-5 mm follicles and tended to increase alpha- and beta A-inhibin mRNA in large (greater than 5 mm) follicles. In experiment II, oFSH and NIDDK-oLH-25 (oLH) were administered in a 2X2 factorial arrangement. Separate administration of oFSH or oLH increased (P less than .05) the alpha-inhibin mRNA concentration in large follicles. alpha-inhibin mRNA concentration in 4-5 mm follicles was also increased by oFSH but was decreased by oLH. Concomitant treatment with oFSH and oLH did not change alpha-inhibin mRNA concentrations from those measured in oFSH treated ewes. In experiment II, beta A mRNA concentrations followed a pattern similar to that of alpha A mRNA, but the differences were not statistically significant. We conclude that, in the ewe, exogenous FSH increases the concentration of inhibin mRNA in the whole follicle. The ability of exogenous oLH to alter expression of the inhibin subunit genes may depend upon the stage of follicle maturation.     

In situ hybridization analysis of ovarian prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase mRNA throughout the periovulatory period of the ewe.

Cellular alterations in level of expression of mRNA encoding for prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase were quantified within ovarian tissues of sheep obtained before, during and after induction of the preovulatory surge of LH and ovulation with LHRH. This was accomplished by isotopic in situ hybridization using a selective cRNA probe to ovine prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase mRNA. A significant elevation in mRNA was detected within the theca interna of the preovulatory follicle at 8, 16 and 24 hr following administration of LHRH. Very close to the time of ovulation (ie., at 24 hr post-LHRH) a marked rise in mRNA was observed in association with epithelial cells covering the apical surface of the follicle. Ovarian cyclooxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid produced during the ovulatory process in the ewe originate within the thecal layer and germinal epithelium of the follicle destined to ovulate.     

Salmonella contamination of poultry flocks in The Netherlands

The contamination of poultry in the Netherlands with Salmonella enteritidis was tested. For this, different methods (detection of S. enteritidis in faecal samples of 25 g; detection of S. enteritidis in cloacal swabs; detection of S. enteritidis by serological testing of antibodies in serum) were compared for their efficiency to detect S. enteritidis in flocks of poultry. Testing of faecal samples clearly yielded the best results. This method was used in a transmission study, in which 14 flocks descending from a contaminated primary mother flock were screened for the presence of S. enteritidis. The method was also used for screening 49 flocks of laying hens and 52 flocks of broiler chickens throughout the Netherlands. From the transmission study it became clear that S. enteritidis, phage type 2 (Dutch phage set) was isolated both from the mother flock and from five of the descendent flocks. Screening of poultry flocks for the presence of salmonella revealed that salmonella was present in 47% of the layer flocks and in 94% of the broiler flocks. S. enteritidis was isolated from 15% of the flocks screened.     

Acute and chronic hormone and metabolite changes in lambs fed the beta-agonist, cimaterol

The objective of this study was to determine if acute and chronic changes in circulating metabolic hormone and metabolite concentrations are associated with β-agonist-induced nutrient repartitioning in young growing lambs. Two groups of 12 Dorset and Dorset-Finn cross ram lambs weighing 36 or 33 kg live weight were assigned to 3- or 6-week treatment intervals, respectively, to achieve similar slaughter weights. Six lambs within each treatment interval were fed ad libitum a complete mixed high-concentrate diet containing either 0 or 10 ppm cimaterol. During the first 12 hr of cimaterol administration plasma somatotropin (ST), thyroxine (T₄), and triiodothyronine (T₃) concentrations were not altered by treatment, but plasma insulin, glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and glycerol concentrations were elevated 2 hr after ingestion. These acute responses suggest direct stimulation of glycogenolysis and lipolysis by cimaterol, which is characteristic of β-adrenergic alteration of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Chronic administration of cimaterol significantly decreased insulin concentrations by 36% and 52% at 3 and 6 weeks, respectively, while glucose concentrations remained unchanged. Serum IGF-I concentrations were not significantly altered by cimaterol. T₄ levels were reduced 22.1% after 3 weeks of cimaterol treatment. Although plasma NEFA concentrations were chronically elevated 56% to 65% in lambs fed cimaterol, plasma glycerol concentrations remained at baseline levels. The relative changes in plasma NEFA and glycerol concentrations are consistent with a decreased rate of lipogenesis, rather than an increase in lipolysis.     

Variation in the level of grain defect light flecks and spots on cattle hides.

The occurrence of hide damage light flecks and spots was determined on tanned hides from 28 herds during a period of 8 to 12 months. Light flecks and spots are described as small areas of grain loss up to 3 mm in diameter that are seen on dyed crust cattle leather. Damage was found on 75.8% of all hides. The neck and shoulders were the anatomical region with the highest prevalence of damage. Sixty-eight per cent of all hides had light flecks and spots in this region. The forelimbs and dewlap were the anatomical region with the second highest occurrence with a prevalence of 39.1%. This distribution corresponded to the known distribution of lice in cattle. No significant differences were observed in age, sex, prevalence of lice in the herd assessed in March or infestations with different lice species. The frequency of light flecks and spots varied significantly during the year. The frequency was highest in the late winter and early spring, decreased significantly during the summer and was lowest in the autumn. This variation supported the importance of lice in the development of light flecks and spots and suggested a relatively long healing period for the damages induced by lice.