Immunocytochemical Study of the Ultimobranchial Tubule in Wistar Rats

A systematic immunohistochemical study of the ultimobranchial tubule (UBT) has been carried out in 45 Wistar rats of different ages (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 60 and 120 days). The existence of calcitonin immunoreactive cells in the UBT wall has been demonstrated in a 5-days old rat. In addition, immunohistochemical studies for thyroglobulin revealed positive staining in follicular cells connected to the UBT and, occasionally, in isolated cells lying within solid clusters from the UBT. These last results together with the continued and repeated existence of numerous mitosis and PAS (+) microfollicles, apparently rising from the UBT, support the hypothesis that the ultimobranchial body (UBB) may contribute partially to the formation of a part of the follicular component.     

Influence of various feeding conditions, the migrating myoelectric complex and cholinergic drugs on antral slow waves in sheep.

The presented study was designed to elucidate whether the cholinergic mechanisms control ovine antral slow waves in various physiological conditions, including feeding and various phases of migrating myoelectric complex (MMC). The investigations were carried out on six adult sheep of Polish Merino breed with seven bipolar electrodes surgically implanted onto the antral and small intestinal wall. In the course of chronic experiments, the myoelectric activity was recorded from these regions using the multichannel electroencephalograph. Experiments were performed on 48 h fasted and non-fasted animals. During some of these experiments, sheep were fed with standard fodder. During control experiments 0.15 M NaCl was slowly administered i.v. through the indwelling catheter and during other experiment, hexamethonium bromide (2.0 and 5.0 mg/kg). atropine sulfate (0.02; 0.1; 0.5 and 1.5 mg/kg) and pirenzepine dihydrochloride (0.02; 0.5 and 2.0 mg/kg) were administered i.v. during phase 1-2a or 2b MMC. The drugs were also given in combinations. The recordings were analysed and the antral slow wave amplitudes and frequencies were calculated. Unlike the slow wave amplitude, either feeding or the anticholinergic drugs significantly increased slow wave frequency, especially when the given procedure was started during phase 2b MMC. The most pronounced effects were observed after hexamethonium given alone or in combinations. Thus, the cholinergic system modulates antral slow wave frequency in sheep.     

Differential effects of heparin on NO and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production in bovine blood mononuclear cells stimulated with Salmonella typhimurium lipopolisaccharide.

We investigated the influence of heparin, one of the extracellular matrix (ECM) components, on nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production by bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and monocytes left to adhere for 2 (freshly adherent monocytes) and 48 h (resting monocytes), activated with Salmonella typhimurium lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After 24-h stimulation with LPS, heparin (100 microg/ml) increased (by about 40%) NO production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells and by freshly adherent monocytes. However, it did not change NO synthesis by the resting monocytes. Unlike its influence on NO level, heparin diminished TNF-alpha production by PBMC and monocytes stimulated with LPS. Microscopical examination of PBMC stained with biotin-labeled heparin, showed that both lymphocytes and monocytes were able to bind this glycosaminoglycan. We suggest that heparin, as a component of ECM, modulates the early response of monocytes to exogenous stimuli.     

The effects of agricultural fields and human settlements on the use of rivers by wildlife in the mid-Zambezi valley,Zimbabwe

After the eradication of the Tse-Tse fly in the Mid-Zambezi valley, human settlements and fields extended mainly along the main rivers. In order to investigate the consequences of this human development on wildlife diversity we monitored three rivers of the Mid-Zambezi valley in Zimbabwe: Angwa, Manyame and Kadzi. The rivers were divided in segments of 200 m which were checked for spoors in order to assess the number of species and the number of individuals that used the segments. Human settlements were also recorded. We used a GIS to define the spatial characteristics of the fields present along the rivers, and related them to the distribution and abundance of wild species spoors in the river beds and banks. Our results show that the number of species in one segment of the river decreased with the increasing size of the field area bordering the segment. For all the major ungulate species, the numbers of individuals recorded per segment decreased with increasing field area. A similar trend was observed for small and medium-sized carnivores, though they were in lower numbers when present. Our analyses thus confirm that the extension of human agriculture in wildlife areas has an impact on most wild species, but we also define some threshold value of field size above which there seem to be an acceleration of the decrease in wildlife density and diversity: 3.2 ha for medium and small herbivores and carnivores; only the elephant seem to tolerate larger field area with a threshold value of 32 ha.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid and 2,4-dimethylphenol on human erythrocytes

The effects of exposure of human erythrocytes to different concentrations of 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) and its metabolite—2,4-dimethylphenol (2,4-DMP) were studied. The investigations concerned mainly the content of glutathione (GSH and GSSG), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione transferase (GST), and the level of adenine energy charge (AEC). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydroxyl radical, superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide are produced during normal processes in the cell. Under normal conditions, antioxidant systems of the cell minimize damage caused by ROS. When ROS generation increases to an extent that it overcomes the cellular antioxidant systems, the result is oxidative stress. We observed that MCPA and 2,4-DMP decreased the level of GSH in erythrocytes in comparison with control. MCPA did not affect glutathione peroxidase and glutathione transferase activity, while 2,4-DMP increased their activity. 2,4-DMP decreased the level of ATP and increased the content of ADP and AMP, leading to the fall of the level of AEC. MCPA and 2,4-DMP transform hemoglobin into methemoglobin, thus preventing oxygen transport. Comparison of the toxicity of MCPA and 2,4-DMP revealed that the most prominent changes occurred in human erythrocytes incubated with 2,4-DMP.     

Spread of potato virus Y in potato cultivars (Solanum tuberosum L.) with different levels of sensitivity

The aim of this work was to correlate the appearance of the symptoms, multiplication and spread of virus after mechanical inoculation of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars showing different levels of susceptibility and sensitivity to Potato virus Y^NTN (PVY^NTN). The potato cultivars used were the resistant cultivar Sante and susceptible cultivars Igor, Pentland squire and Désirée. The spread of the virus PVY^NTN in infected plants was monitored using different methods: DAS-ELISA, tissue printing, immuno-serological electron microscopy and real-time PCR. In all three susceptible cultivars, the virus was detected in the inoculated leaves 4–5 days after inoculation. From there virus spread rapidly, first into the stem, then more or less simultaneously to the upper leaves and roots. Real-time PCR was shown to be very sensitive and enabled viral RNA to be detected in non-inoculated leaves of susceptible cultivar Igor earlier than other methods. Therefore, for exact studies of plant–virus interaction, a combination of methods which detect viruses on the basis of their different properties (coat protein, morphology or RNA) should be used to monitor the spread of viruses.     

Finding best exotic breed proportion in crossbred lactating sheep kept under farmers’ conditions in Ethiopia determined by use of nested Legendre polynomials with limited data

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted to estimate milk production performance and fit lactation curves for groups of ewes of Local and of Awassi crosses, with a variable blood level, reared under farmer’s environment. The Weigh-Suckle-Weigh method plus hand milking was used to estimate milk yield for ewes. A total of 466 observations from 115 ewes were used. Estimated least-squares adjusted means for the milk production over 120 days were 0.56?kg day^?1 (Local), 0.67 (<30% Awassi), 0.86 (30–50% Awassi), and 0.96 (>50% Awassi). Groups with 30–50% Awassi and >50% Awassi ewes produced significantly (p?<?0.05) more milk than Local ewes. Significant differences were observed between <30% Awassi and >50% Awassi crossbred groups. The best crosses (>50% Awassi) produced over 70% more milk than the local ewes which demonstrates the potential that exists in increasing milk production through the initiated crossbreeding programme with sheep in Ethiopia.     

Secondary sexual traits and semen characteristic of chicken germline chimeras

Birds obtained by embryo engineering are used to study embryo development and to produce transgenic birds. As this method of producing birds still generate strong emotions of the public opinion head ornaments, testes and semen characteristics of sex chimera roosters were examined to check whether they differ from chickens obtained by non‐manipulated methods. Measurements of head ornaments, testes and semen were correlated with each other. Semen quality factor (SQF) was calculated, as well as the level of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of bilateral traits (wattles and testes). Positive correlation was found for comb width and wattle length and comb thickness and sperm concentration. Semen characteristics and FA did not exceed the level encounter in other chicken lines. Results obtained indicate that germline chimeras are similar in appearance of secondary sexual traits, and semen and testes characteristics to chickens produced in non‐manipulated way.     

Response of confection sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) grown in a semi‐arid environment to planting date and early termination of irrigation

Adjustments on planting date and on the time to terminate irrigation may reduce agricultural water use. However, such management practices in regions with extreme weather conditions have the potential to negatively affect yield. A 3‐year (2012–2014) study was conducted on a clay‐loam soil in a cool, semi‐arid environment to (i) determine the response of confection sunflower to planting date and irrigation termination timing and (ii) identify the relative importance of yield components in irrigated confection sunflower across planting dates. Early May planting had considerable negative effects on all studied variables, except on the percentage of large seeds. The highest yield of total and large seeds was obtained from the late May plantings, averaging 3,777 and 3,379 kg/ha, respectively. None of the irrigation strategies affected the measured variables. However, the interaction between planting date and termination of irrigation significantly affected the 1,000‐seed weight. Our study revealed the last week of May as suitable planting period for confection sunflower in the semi‐arid north‐western region of Wyoming, USA, and that irrigation on heavy soils may be terminated as early as at R5.5 stage without a significant yield reduction. The path‐coefficient analysis indicated head diameter and the number of seeds per head as important traits that significantly influence the yield of confection sunflower across planting dates.