Microscopic postmortem changes in adrenal glands of the domestic fowl

Eighty-four male white leghorn chickens were killed by CO2 gas to determine the type, rate, and sequence of microscopic postmortem changes in the adrenal glands of dry and wet intact carcasses. They were held at 29 or 18 C with 50% relative humidity for different times postmortem. The sequence of microscopic postmortem changes was similar in all chickens except at 18 C, when karyorrhexis of cortical and medullary cells was observed. Cellular changes occurred earlier at 29 C than at 18 C and in dry chickens but not in chickens wet with detergent solution before storage, although slight quantitative and qualitative differences between wet and dry chickens were noted. Medullary cells underwent postmortem changes earlier than cortical cells. Nuclei of medullary cells decreased in size, with chromatin clumping leading to pyknosis, followed by cytoplasmic vacuolation, cellular shrinkage, and finally karyolysis and cell dissociation. Cortical cells had nuclear chromatin marginated, nuclei reduced in size initially, and some nuclear fading, followed by pyknosis and karyolysis. Karyorrhexis was not a prominent feature of cortical and medullary cells, although it occasionally occurred before pyknosis. Cytoplasm of cortical cells remained eosinophilic, granular, and vacuolated, but vacuoles became finer later. Pyknotic medullary cells with vacuolated cytoplasm were observed as early as 3 hr postmortem, regardless of the temperature. Diffuse pyknosis of medullary cells was noted at 18 hr in chickens held at 29 C and at 48 hr in chickens held at 18 C. Marked cortical pyknosis was noted only at 36 hr in wet chickens held at 29 C, when bacterial invasion started. Dry chickens held 36 hr at 29 C had diffuse cellular dissociation, karyolysis and cytoplasmic acidophilia, and marked bacterial invasion. Erythrocytes were pyknotic and had cytoplasmolysis. It was concluded that adrenal glands may still be useful for histopathological examination before 18 hr at 29 C and before 48 hr at 18 C.     

Comparison of plasma very low density lipoproteins and lipogenic enzymes as predictors of fat content and food conversion efficiency in selected lines of broiler chickens

1. Activities of lipogenic enzymes and plasma very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) concentrations were measured in lines of chickens with large differences in food conversion efficiency (FCE) and body fat.

2. Hepatic activities of malate dehydrogenase [EC 1.1.1.40 (MD)] and ATP citrate lyase [EC 4.1.3.8 (CL)] were correlated with the proportion of both abdominal and total body fat (r = 0·50) but were poorly correlated with gain:food ratio.

3. Activities of MD and CL in plasma were low and variable and were not correlated with any other characteristics.

4. Plasma VLDL concentration was significantly correlated with the proportion of abdominal and total body fat (r = 0·59), and gain: food ratio (r = 0·36).

     

Ovine uterine morphogenesis: histochemical aspects of endometrial development in the fetus and neonate

Uterine tissues obtained from fetal (d 60 to term; n = 17; d 0 = day of mating) and neonatal (n = 9; d 0 = birth) lambs were subjected to alcian blue-8GX and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-lectin histochemistry to determine if alcianophilic properties of the epitheliomesenchymal interface (EMI) changed during endometrial morphogenesis and to characterize distribution of binding sites for seven FITC-lectins during uterine development. Neonatal lambs were subjected to bilateral ovariectomy and unilateral hysterectomy (BOHX; n = 3) or unilateral ovariohysterectomy (UOHX; n = 3) on d 0. Remaining tissues were recovered on d 14. Procedures allowed within-animal comparisons of endometrial responses and assessment of the role of the ovary in endometrial morphogenesis. Uteri also were obtained from three intact neonatal lambs by hysterectomy (d 14, d 15 and d 26). Alcianophilic properties of the EMI characteristic of polyanionic glycosaminoglycans (GAG) changed with onset of endometrial remodelling after fetal d 60 and were characterized by loss of EMI alcianophilia at or above .3 M MgCl2 and at low pH. Alcianophilic properties of the neonatal endometrium suggested restabilization of lumenal EMI and destabilization of the EMI in developing endometrial glands. Five of seven FITC-lectins bound to both fetal and neonatal uterine tissue. Tissues from UOHX, BOHX and intact ewes were indistinguishable histochemically. Data provide evidence of a role for GAG in ovine endometrial morphogenesis, ovary-independent initiation of endometrial glandular development, and illustrate potential uses of FITC-lectin conjugates in studies of ungulate uterine tissues.     

Propofol Anaesthesia in Cats

Propofol was administered to forty nine cats to induce anaesthesia. The mean dose required was 6.8 mg/kg and this was not affected by prior administration of acepromazine maleate. In 27 cases, propofol was also used as the principal maintenance agent (mean dose rate 0.51 mg/kg/minute). Inductions were very smooth and problem free. Intubation was easily achieved in 15 cats with the aid of local desensitization by lignocaine spray or neuromuscular relaxation by suxamethonium. Heart rate did not vary significantly during induction or maintenance of anaesthesia but respiratory rates did fall significantly.     

Progestogen-related gross and microscopic changes in female Beagles.

Long-term studies of megestrol acetate and chlormadinone acetate in 100 female dogs are in progress. Doses of zero, one, 10 and 25 times the expected human dose of megestrol acetate and 25 times the expected human dose of chlormadinone acetate (on a milligram per kilogram body weight basis) are being given daily. During the first 4 years, eight dogs from each of the five groups were killed. The principal gross findings included enlarged uteri with mucoid material in the lumina, mammary development in dogs given middle and high doses of megestrol acetate and chlormadinone acetate, and thickened gallbladder walls in dogs given high doses of each. Histologic evaluation showed inhibition of ovulation for progestogen-treated dogs and suppression of ovarian follicular development with the high doses. Cystic endometrial hyperplasia was slight in the low-dose dogs and moderate to severe in most of the high-dose dogs; a few also had ulcerative endometritis and pyometra. The mammary glands of dogs given the middle and high doses produced lobules, acini, and secretion exceeding natural metestrus. Slight to marked cystic mucinous hyperplasia occurred in the gallbladders of most dogs given the high doses. Tow high-dose megestrol dogs had clinical signs and microscopic pancreatic, renal, and ocular changes indicative of diabetes mellitus.     

Production of an equine anti-bovine leukocyte serum.

A method is described for production of an equine anti-bovine leukocyte serum (EABLS). Leukocytes were harvested from the milk of cow's udders which had been irritated with endotoxin. The washed leukocytes as antigens were administered to 2 horses in a series of subcutaneous and intravenous injections. There was a variably progressive increase in total serum proteins and a decrease in albumin/blobulin ratios, but the most pronounced change was an increase in beta2-globulins. Accompanying these changes was an increase in the number of precipitin lines as shown by Ouchterlony analysis. Four old cows and 2 calves were intravenously given a 50- and 20-ml dose, respectively, of the EABLS. Two of the cows and 1 of the calves were given the EABLS which had been heated to 56 C for 30 minutes. Both calves and the 2 cows given heated EABLS and 1 cow given unheated EABLS developed marked neutropenia within the 1st hour. The 4th cow given unheated EABLS developed only slight neutropenia. It was concluded that there may be variation in the individual animal's susceptibility to the neutropenia-inducing activity of EABLS.     

Cattle breed comparison and crossbreeding trials in Europe; A survey prepared by a working party of the European association for animal production

A Working Party of the European Association for Animal Production surveyed the breed comparison and crossbreeding trials which were being carried out in Europe. The survey summarizes the experimental work in the different countries and gives details on 86 separate projects concerned with breed and strain evaluation in pure and crossbreeding situations. The paper gives a general summary of the survey and recommendations on the methodology for future experiments. More detailed abstracts of the individual trials included in the survey are obtainable on request.