Cytological, Immunocytochemical and Ultrastructural Study of the Adenohypophyseal Pars Distalis of the Kid (Capra hircus): The TSH cell

The structure and ultrastructure of the adenohypophyseal pars distalis in kids of the Murciano-granadiana breed (18 males and 12 females), aged 2-3 months and with an average carcass weight of 8 kg has been studied. Techniques of staining (Tetrachrome Herlant's, and Cleveland-Wolfe) and histochemistry (PAS, PAS-OG and BA-PAS-OG) contrasted with immunolabelling (PAP) have been used. In addition an ultrastructural study has been made and nucleus and cytoplasm, secretory granules, mitochondria and lysosomes have been measured with a semiautomatic image analyzer (IBAS-1). TSH cells are found in sagittal section in the anterior area and in an antero-caudodorsal band, and transversally in the ventral and medial region; they are 6% and their average size is 14.15 microns. Ultrastructurally they are a single cellular type with spherical granules whose size is 195 nm in males and 149 in females; these granules are characterized by a clear halo and a variable electronic density. The rough endoplasmic reticulum is found as slightly enlarged vesicles with a homogeneous and moderately electro-dense content or in concentric stratifications.     

Morphogenesis in leaf and single-cell cultures of mature Juniperus oxycedrus

Single cells were mechanically isolated from leaf-derived callus of mature Juniperus oxycedrus L. These cells divided and gave rise to callus when plated on medium containing growth regulators. Best plating efficiency was obtained on a modified Schenk and Hildebrandt medium supplemented with 0.6 micro M 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 100 mg l(-1) casein hydrolyzate. Although single-cell-derived callus showed poor morphogenic potential, both adventitious shoots and embryogenic tissues differentiated from the callus. We also achieved induction of somatic embryogenesis in leaf explants of mature J. oxycedrus trees cultured in the presence of 6.0 or 10.0 micro M 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid or picloram. Frequency of embryogenic callus ranged from 6 to 18%; however, under the culture conditions tested, isolated embryos failed to develop into plants.     

The effect of aging of milk samples on the accuracy of infrared analysis of milk composition]

The effect of a decrease (and/or fermentation) in the lactose content during milk storage under different conditions was investigated on the accuracy of the results obtained on a Milko-Scan apparatus to contribute to the present knowledge of this problem. The results were in agreement with some results cited in the literature. These wavelengths are used for infrared spectrophotometry on the above apparatus: for fat 3.48 microns, for proteins 6.46 microns and for lactose 9.60 microns. Bulk milk samples used for the tests were untreated or treated with potassium dichromate, bronopol, sodium azide and Milkofix at the temperatures of storage in darkness 20 degrees C and 4 degrees C. The differences against the reference values (measured on the first day) were determined and evaluated in milk composition and characteristics as arising during milk storage. These differences were used in form of either cumulative means of differences (Figs. 1 to 5) or individual differences (Fig. 8). In the first part significant correlation coefficients (P less than 0.001) were calculated for the relationship between the variations of lactose content and the fat and protein contents: r = -0.59 and/or -0.73 (Figs. 6 and 7). This suggests that the decrease in the lactose content by 0.10% recorded by the infrared analysis and caused by lactose decomposition is accompanied by a "seeming" increase in the fat and protein content by about 0.04%. In the second part the correlation coefficients for the fat and protein contents r = -0.96 and -0.96 (P less than 0.001; Figs. 9 and 10; Tab. II) were calculated on the basis of an observation of the lactose decrease in an untreated milk sample (20 degrees C for 28 hours). These coefficients are somewhat different from the preceding ones; this is due to the lower homogeneity of the first set where the milk samples were treated in a different way, but the coefficients confirm the same conclusions. The values of the correlation coefficients for the dependence between the development of the acquired titratable acidity (SH) and the variations of fat (F), protein (P) and lactose (L) contents were as follows: r = 0.95; 0.95; -0.99 (P less than 0.001; Figs. 12, 13; Tab. II). Thus the above-mentioned "seeming" increase in the F and P contents can be explained to the extent of 92.2% from the decrease in the L content, which also causes the increase in titratable acidity to the extent of 98.0%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Use of two doses of cloprostenol in different intervals for estrus synchronization in hair sheep under tropical conditions

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This study evaluated the effect of two doses of prostaglandin at different intervals on reproductive parameters of crossbred ewes. In Experiment 1, 30 ewes...     

Early resynchronization protocols for goats: Progestogens can be used prior to an early pregnancy diagnosis without affecting corpus luteum functionality

This study aimed to evaluate the exogenous progesterone (P4) effect on the luteal function from Day 16 to Day 21 of the oestrous cycle in inseminated goats with unknown pregnancy status. A total of 54 does passed through a short progestin-based synchronization protocol and, on Day 16 of the following oestrous cycle, 27 does received a new P4 device which was retained until Day 21. Blood samples were collected daily from all does during this period, as well as on Day 24. Pregnancy diagnoses were performed on Day 30. Serum P4 values from 26 animals (G_NPSP: Group of non-pregnant does with second sponge: n = 8; G_NPNSP: Group of non-pregnant does without second sponge: n = 6; G_PSP: Group of pregnant does with second sponge: n = 5; G_PNSP: Group of pregnant does without second sponge: n = 7) were determined by radioimmunoassay commercial kits. No P4 differences were found between groups (G_NPSP: 3.1 ± 2.8; 1.7 ± 1.8; 0.4 ± 1.0; and 0.0 ± 0.0 vs. G_NPNSP: 4.4 ± 1.8; 3.0 ± 2.2; 0.8 ± 0.8; and 0.0 ± 0.0 or G_PSP: 4.2 ± 1.0; 3.4 ± 0.6; 3.3 ± 1.6; 3.2 ± 0.9; 3.6 ± 1.2; 3.5 ± 1.3; 2.7 ± 1.3 vs. G_PNSP: 4.4 ± 1.6; 3.6 ± 1.5; 3.7 ± 1.5; 3.8 ± 1.4; 3.2 ± 1.2; 3.1 ± 1.2; 3.6 ± 1.1; D16, D17, D18, D19, D20, D21, D24, respectively) or for the interaction of group and time. In conclusion, a second progestogen device had no effect on luteolysis or early pregnancy in the following oestrous cycle.     

Morphological and Immunohistochemical Characterization of Canine Osteosarcoma Spheroid Cell Cultures

Spheroid cell culture emerges as powerful in vitro tool for experimental tumour research. In this study, we established a scaffold‐free three‐dimensional spheroid system built from canine osteosarcoma (OS) cells (D17). Spheroids (7, 14 and 19 days of cultivation) and monolayer cultures (2 and 7 days of cultivation) were evaluated and compared on light and electron microscopy. Monolayer and spheroid cultures were tested for vimentin, cytokeratin, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin and collagen I by means of immunohistochemistry. The spheroid cell culture exhibited a distinct network of collagen I in particular after 19‐day cultivation, whereas in monolayer cultures, collagen I was arranged as a lamellar basal structure. Necrotic centres of large spheroids, as observed in 14‐ and 19‐day cultures, were characterized by significant amounts of osteocalcin. Proliferative activity as determined by Ki‐67 immunoreactivity showed an even distribution in two‐dimensional cultures. In spheroids, proliferation was predominating in the peripheral areas. Metastasis‐associated markers ezrin and S100A4 were shown to be continuously expressed in monolayer and spheroid cultures. We conclude that the scaffold‐free spheroid system from canine OS cells has the ability to mimic the architecture of the in vivo tumour, in particular cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions.     

Welfare and environmental benefits of integrating commercially viable free-range broiler chickens into newly planted woodland: A UK case study

The commercial, welfare and environmental impacts of rearing small colonies of free-range chickens in newly planted woodland at two sites in the UK, during the first 2 years of the enterprise, were investigated. Newly planted rather than established trees were used so that commercially viable species could be planted in a way that would suit the management of the chicken enterprise, and small colonies were used so that farmers wishing to diversify could buy into the system progressively. It was anticipated that marketing a high specification product would provide an immediate income, whilst waiting for the future investment in trees to grow.     

Identity of mass-flowering crops moderates functional trait composition of pollinator communities

Landscape Ecology - Pollinator declines and functional homogenization of farmland insect communities have been reported. Mass-flowering crops (MFC) can support pollinators by providing floral...