CD3+ and BLA.36+ cells do not occur in the epidermis and adnexal epithelia of normal equine skin

A small population of resident T lymphocytes is present in the healthy human and murine epidermis. However, resident epidermal lymphocytes have not been reported in normal skin of the horse. Skin biopsy specimens from the normal skin of 27 horses were examined histologically and immunohistochemically for the presence of lymphocytes, CD3+ cells and BLA.36+ cells in epidermis and adnexal epithelia. All examinations were negative. It appears that lymphocytes occur rarely, if at all, in the epidermis and adnexal epithelia of normal horse skin. Hence, the presence of lymphocytes in these structures should be considered abnormal.     

几种鸡胚原代细胞的制备方法

在病毒分离、繁殖，中和试验及药物毒理试验中，细胞培养是经常被选用的技术。本文描述通过选择不同日龄的鸡胚，分别对皮肤上皮细胞、肝细胞和肾细胞进行了组织培养，确定了生长所需的培养液要求。认为１２日龄鸡胚适于皮肤上皮细胞的制备，１７～２０日龄鸡胚适合于肝细胞、肾细胞的制备，并确定了细胞生长的ｐＨ条件。     

Alopecia and dermatopathy of the lower back following pelvic fractures in three cats

Abstract   An alopecia and dermatopathy following pelvic fractures associated with vehicular trauma is reported in three cats. The animals presented 3–4 weeks post injury with acute hair loss, glistening appearance of the skin and erosions involving the lower back. Histological examination revealed atrophy of the hair follicles and adnexal structures and follicular telogenization, dermal fibroplasia and mild lymphocytic infiltrate, fibroplasia and inflammation in the panniculus. Vascular damage secondary to the external trauma to blood vessels supplying the skin over the lumbar region and subsequent ischaemia may represent the pathomechanism of this type of alopecia. Focal permanent hair loss can be expected.     

Influence of Graded Levels of Organic Zinc on Growth Performance and Carcass Traits of Broilers

This study investigated the effect of graded levels of organic Zn (Bioplex Zn) on growth performance and carcass traits of broilers fed diets containing organic Se (Sel-Plex). Dietary treatments consisted of adding 0, 15, 30, 45, or 60 ppm organic Zn to a basal diet containing 60 ppm Zn from an inorganic source. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. Body weight, feed intake, feed conversion, and carcass traits were evaluated. Carcass evaluation was also performed on the last day of the experimental period. Body weight, feed intake, feed conversion, and weights of individual meat cuts were not statistically influenced by increasing organic Zn levels in the diet. However, a significant increase in skin tearing strength was observed in response to increasing levels of dietary organic Zn. Zinc plays a role in epithelial cell layers and collagen synthesis, thus affecting susceptibility of skin to tearing. These data indicated that organic Zn does not affect growth performance of broilers but increases resistance of skin to tearing, therefore improving carcass quality.     

ARF基因干扰表达对不同发育阶段和贮藏条件马铃薯酶活性的影响

以前期研究获得的马铃薯栽培品种“甘农薯2号”ADP核糖基化因子(ARF)基因干扰表达转化植株为材料,用qRT-PCR法对转基因植株的ARF基因表达量进行了测定,结果表明,不同发育阶段转基因叶片中ARF基因的相对表达量先降低,生长后期略有增加,表明ARF基因干扰表达量随马铃薯生长发育发生改变。ARF基因干扰表达影响马铃薯叶片中酶活性,不同发育阶段转基因叶片与对照相比,多酚氧化酶(polyphenol oxidase, PPO)活性升高11.61%~27.84%,硝酸还原酶(nitrate reductase, NR)活性提高21.10%~41.32%,磷脂酶D(phospholipase D, PLD)活性降低2.88%~57.64%,蔗糖磷酸合成酶(sucrose phosphate synthase, SPS)活性提高29.00%~39.57%;不同温度(4℃和室温)贮藏的块茎中ARF基因的相对表达量变化趋势一致:均先降低,再升高,但前者较后者ARF基因相对表达量显著降低。室温较4℃贮藏的转基因块茎PPO活性升高30.44%~56.28%,NR活性提高17.41%~40.92%,PLD活性降低24.39%~85.11%,SPS活性提高30.89%~45.78%。室温较4℃贮藏的非转基因块茎PPO活性升高25.11%~70.66%,NR活性提高36.07%~89.62%,PLD活性降低11.35%~72.64%,SPS活性提高27.31%~61.33%。本研究通过探讨ARF基因干扰表达对马铃薯生理生化特性的影响,为进一步研究ARF基因在马铃薯生长发育调控中的作用提供一定的理论基础。     

Chronic moderate heat dermatitis (erythema ab igne) in five dogs,three cats and one silvered langur

Erythema ab igne, an old and rare disease in the human literature, is an erythematous, often pigmented, reticular, macular dermatosis that occurs at the site of repeated exposure to moderate heat. We identified lesions consistent with erythema ab igne in five dogs, three cats and one silvered langur (Trachypithecus cristatus[Raffles, 1821]). In dogs and cats, the cutaneous lesion distribution typically reflected chronic exposure to moderate heat during lateral or sternal recumbency. The silvered langur developed cutaneous lesions on the dorsal neck from exposure to a heat lamp. Principal clinical lesions consisted of irregular areas of alopecia (7/9) and erythema (7/9), sometimes with hyperpigmentation (3/9). Principal histological features consisted of karyomegaly (9/9) and keratinocyte atypia (4/9), scattered apoptotic or vacuolated basal cells and/or apoptotic keratinocytes (6/9), mild mixed mononuclear interstitial or interface dermatitis (9/9) with adnexal atrophy (8/9), and a variable number of wavy eosinophilic elastic fibres (9/9). The presence of these cutaneous lesions in an animal indicates that the environment should be evaluated for exposure to chronic moderate heat, and the heat source should be eliminated or modified to prevent further exposure and progression of lesions.     

日粮中添加角黄素和阿卜酯对母鸡产蛋性能和蛋黄颜色的影响

研究日粮中添加角黄素和阿卜酯及日粮总着色素量对蛋鸡产蛋性能、蛋黄颜色和1日龄雏鸡脚胫部皮肤着色的影响。按照3×3因子设计试验分为9个处理,每个处理70只蛋鸡,分别饲喂添加有角黄素(25mg、50mg和100mg)和阿卜酯(25mg、50mg和100mg)的日粮,试验42天。结果表明,日粮中添加角黄素明显降低产蛋率、蛋重和饲料报酬,对受精率无明显影响;添加阿卜酯可提高种蛋受精率,而对产蛋率、蛋重和饲料报酬无明显影响。角黄素和阿卜酯使蛋黄和1日龄雏鸡脚胫皮肤着黄色显著加深,蛋黄的黄色程度与日粮总着色素含量呈高度正相关(R=0.95),1日龄雏鸡脚胫部皮肤黄色程度与蛋黄的黄色程度呈高度正相关(r=0.96)。     

Blood vitamin concentrations in privately owned dogs fed non-standardized commercial diets and after intake of diets with specified vitamin concentrations

The objective was to investigate in a survey study the blood vitamin concentrations in healthy dogs fed non-specified commercial complete diets and in an intervention study to determine the effects of defined dietary vitamin intakes on blood vitamin levels and hair and skin condition. Sixty-four privately owned dogs, aged from 1 to 8 years, without history of skin or coat problems were included. All animals were fed commercial complete diets with uncertain vitamin concentrations before enrolment. The animals were assigned, according to weight and gender, to four groups with graded vitamin intakes. The blood vitamin levels and skin and coat quality of the dogs were investigated at days 0 and day 122. Coat and hair condition was not influenced by the experimental diets. The retinol concentrations were reduced at the end of the experiment compared with the baseline levels, retinyl esters were not influenced. 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol decreased in all groups, alpha-tocopherol was constant or tended to decrease. Ascorbic acid, thiamine pyrophosphate and riboflavin concentrations were not affected by treatment, flavin adenine dinucleotide and pyridoxal-5'-phosphate were partially reduced on day 122. Cobalamin, pantothenate and biotin concentrations increased with higher dietary intakes, folate levels in tendency. In conclusion, this study gives a survey of blood vitamin concentrations in healthy dogs and provides a data base for the evaluation of the vitamin status in health and disease.     

Effect of live weight and dietary supplement of raw potato starch on the levels of skatole, androstenone, testosterone and oestrone sulphate in entire male pigs

This study evaluated the effect of supplement of raw potato starch (RPS) on the levels of skatole, androstenone, testosterone and oestrone sulphate in plasma from entire male pigs. The study also evaluated relationships between plasma levels of skatole and testicular steroids at three different live weights (LW) of approximately 90, 100 and 115 kg. A total of 111 entire male pigs of a crossbred (Yorkshire dams×Swedish Landrace sires) were used. Animals were raised either in mixed pens, with females and males, or single-sex pens. Each pen contained seven or nine pigs. The most fast-growing three pigs from the pens with nine pigs were slaughtered when they reached 90 kg LW, and the remaining pigs were slaughtered at 115 kg LW. All pigs were fed the same commercial diet until the average pen weight reached 100 kg. Then, 33 out of 80 remaining pigs received RPS, 0.6 kg per pig and day, for 2 weeks prior to slaughter. Blood samples were taken from the pigs at three occasions: first, the day prior to first slaughter occasion, low-weight group; second, the day prior to change in diet, middle-weight group; and third, the day prior to second slaughter occasion, high-weight group. Plasma was analysed for the levels of skatole, androstenone, testosterone and oestrone sulphate. Fat samples were taken at slaughter and analysed for the levels of skatole and androstenone. The levels of skatole and testicular steroids in plasma were significantly higher in entire male pigs from the high-weight group fed no RPS compared to those from low- and middle-weight groups. The levels of the investigated compounds did not differ between low- and middle-weight groups (P>0.1). The diet with RPS induced a decline in skatole levels in plasma and fat (P<0.001), but not plasma levels of testicular steroids and fat levels of androstenone (P>0.05). Skatole levels were positively correlated to testosterone and oestrone sulphate levels in the middle- and high-weight pigs fed no RPS as well as to testosterone in the low-weight group. In the high-weight group fed RPS, skatole levels were not correlated to any of the analysed compounds. Approximately 26% of the entire male pigs (11 out of 43) from the high-weight group fed no RPS produced skatole levels in fat above 0.20 μg/g, whereas the pigs from the low- and high-weight group fed RPS did not produce skatole levels above 0.20 μg/g in fat. Androstenone levels in fat were high in all groups. In total 47% (52 out of 111) pigs expressed androstenone levels above the rejection levels in fat of 1.0 μg/g and 88% (98 out of 111) had androstenone levels above 0.5 μg/g. It was concluded that a lower slaughter weight and the supplement of raw potato starch to the diet could be used to reduce skatole levels in entire male pigs. Androstenone levels in fat, however, could not be reduced by either a lower weight at slaughter or dietary manipulation.     

Differential responses of cells from human skin keratinocyte and bovine mammary epithelium to attack by pore-forming Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin

Human skin keratinocytes HaCat attacked by Staphylococcus aureus α-toxin showed a transient drop of cellular ATP levels whereas in toxin-perforated bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMEC), the ATP levels dropped more slowly. Morphologically, during the ATP level depletion, HaCat cell developed a spacious intracellular vacuole together with the transient influx of trypan blue. WST-1 signal, which tested the function of mitochondrial enzyme in viable cells, also decreased concomitantly. On the other hand, BMEC excluded trypan blue and vacuolation was not observed throughout the experiment. We conclude that mammary epithelial cells resist the toxin better than keratinocytes. This is the first report showing that α-toxin enhances transient membrane permeability to large molecules, temporary vacuole formation and the transient defect of mitochondrial enzyme in viable cells without cell lysis.