MENSURATION OF THE NORMAL PITUITARY GLAND FROM MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGES IN 96 DOGS

The pituitary gland was measured from transverse magnetic resonance T1-weighted images after Gadolinium administration in 96 dogs weighing from 13 to 45 kg. The measurements were done by hand with calipers. The mean (+/- standard deviation) pituitary gland height was 5.1 mm (+/-0.9 mm). The mean width was 6.4 mm (+/- 1.1 mm). The correlation coefficient between pituitary and brain measurements, between pituitary measurement and body weight, and brain measurements and body weight was 0.0 to 0.3. A hyperintense region was present on T1-weighted images in the center of the pituitary gland in 64% of the dogs. At necropsy the pituitary glands were grossly and histologically normal. No pituitary gland measurements were performed at necropsy.     

安普霉素对仔猪内分泌的调控作用及血液生化指示的影响

采用单因子试验设计 ,28日龄大长北三元杂交断奶仔猪72头随机分为3组 ,研究饲料中添加不同剂量的安普霉素 (0、20、90mg/kg)对仔猪内分泌的调控作用及血液生化指标的影响。试验期为4周。结果表明 :仔猪日粮中添加90mg/kg的安普霉素可促进机体与生长有关的内分泌活动 ,提高内源激素 (生长激素、胰岛素、甲状腺激素T3)水平 (P<0.05),从而促进肌肉蛋白沉积 ;并具有显著降低血液中氨、尿素氮含量和提高血糖水平的作用 (P<0.05) ,表明安普霉素对仔猪具有增加氮沉积 ,促进蛋白质合成、抑制蛋白质分解的作用     

金霉素与赖氨酸和蛋氨酸交互作用研究

采用3×2×2因子饲养试验和2×2×2因子代谢试验,研究金霉素与赖氨酸和蛋氨酸的交互作用对肉仔鸡生产性能的影响,及金霉素对两种氨基酸代谢的影响。金霉素在饲料中添加150 mg/kg时,对0-3周肉仔鸡具有显著的促生长作用（P<0.01）;并显著提高肉仔鸡的饲料采食量和饲料转化率（P<0.01）,促进氮沉积（P<0.01）。对4-6周肉仔鸡的生产性能无显著影响（P>0.05）;金霉素、赖氨酸和蛋氨酸存在显著的互作关系（P<0.05）。金霉素的促生长效果受饲料中赖氨酸和蛋氨酸含量的影响,当日粮中赖氨酸水平为1.3％,蛋氨酸水平为0.6％时,肉仔鸡的生长性能最高。金霉素对赖氨酸的利用率没有显著影响（P>0.05）,对蛋氨酸和胱氨酸的表观利用率具有显著抑制作用（P<0.05）。研究结果表明持续低剂量金霉素与蛋氨酸和赖氨酸具有交互作用,这种互作关系影响彼此对肉仔鸡生产性能的作用效果,金霉素具有提高肉仔鸡赖氨酸需要量的作用。     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FEATURES OF EQUINE NIGROPALLIDAL ENCEPHALOMALACIA

Magnetic resonance imaging (MR) was used to make a diagnosis of equine nigropallidal encephalomalacia in a horse. Equine nigropallidal encephalomalacia is a neurodegenerative disease that has many characteristics with Parkinson-like diseases in humans. Historically, horses were euthanized based on clinical signs and exposure to the toxic weed, yellow star thistle (Centaurea solstitialis). Previously, the disease has only been confirmed on necropsy. MR imaging can provide accurate and sensitive visualization of typical lesions seen in the brain of horses affected with equine nigropallidal encephalomalacia. Lesions were seen on T1-weighted, T2-weighted and proton density images. There was no contrast enhancement following Gd-DTPA administration. Lesions seen on MR were confirmed at necropsy. Using MR to confirm a diagnosis of equine nigropallidal encephalomalacia will prevent unnecessary suffering of horses and expense to owners that would otherwise incur, while further diagnostics are performed.     

Comparison of Three Solvent Systems for Extraction of Chlorophyll a from Fish Pond Phytoplankton Communities

Chloroform-methanol (2:1 v/v), absolute methanol, and 90% acetone were evaluated for their effectiveness as extractants of chlorophyll a from samples of phytoplankton communities collected from catfish ponds. Chloroform-methanol consistently extracted more chlorophyll a than either 90% acetone or methanol. Precision for the methanol extraction was also unacceptably low, with an average coefficient of variation of 17%. Average coefficients of variation for the chloroform-methanol and 90% acetone extraction procedures were 6 and 5%, respectively. Filtered samples should be steeped in chloroform-methanol for at least 4 h to obtain maximum chlorophyll extraction, and the addition of MgCO₃ to the extractant as a buffer is not necessary.     

Diploid-Triploid Mosaicism: An Unusual Phenomenon in Side-Necked Turtles (Platemys platycephala)

Diploid and diploid-triploid mosaic individuals of Platemys platycephala were found in natural populations. In mosaic specimens, the blood, spleen, liver, and testis contained both diploid and triploid cells. The ratio of triploid to diploid cells was more variable among individuals than among somatic tissues within an individual. Only diploid cells underwent meiosis in males; haploid gametes were produced. There appears to be geographic variation for mosaicism in that only diploids were found in Bolivia, whereas diploids and diploid-triploid mosaics occured in Surinam.     

The role of histamine and fish meal in the incidence of gizzard erosion and pro‐ventricular abnormalities in the fowl

1. The role of certain fish meals in the production of localised gizzard erosion is confirmed.

2. Lesions typical of gizzard erosion could be produced by the addition of histamine to the diet.

3. The amount of histamine occurring naturally in fish meal depends on the species of fish and the extent and nature of bacterial spoilage.

4. These variables may explain why histamine has not been implicated previously and also why there have not been consistent associations between the condition and geographical source or common factors in bulk consignments of the meal.     

Effects of Confluent, Roscovitine Treatment and Serum Starvation on the Cell-cycle Synchronization of Bovine Foetal Fibroblasts

The present study was designed to examine the effects of cell-cycle synchronization protocols, such as confluent, roscovitine treatment and serum starvation, in bovine foetal fibroblasts on synchronization accuracy at G0/G1, viability, apoptosis, necrosis and ploidy for use as a nuclei donor. The cells in 5-10 passages were randomly allocated into three treated groups. Cells were cultured either in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) + 10% foetal bovine serum (FBS) until 90% confluent (group 1, confluent), in DMEM + 10% FBS + 30 microM roscovitine for 12 h (group 2, roscovitine), or in DMEM + 0.5% FBS for 5 days (group 3, serum starvation). Most of the cells (>80%) in all groups were arrested at the G0/G1 stage. Although the rates did not differ, cells in group 1 showed an increased cell population arrested at the G0/G1 phase. Significantly (p < 0.05) higher rates of apoptosis occurred in group 3 than in group 1 and 2 (10% vs 6% and 6%, respectively). No differences in chromosomal abnormality were observed among groups. However, by increasing the number of cell culture passages up to 15, significantly (p < 0.05) higher chromosomal abnormality was observed than in 5 and 10 passages (39% vs 28% and 23%, respectively) in group 1. The results clearly indicated that bovine foetal fibroblasts could be effectively synchronized at G0/G1 stages by all the three different treatments, confluent, roscovitine and serum starvation. However, cells in confluent showed reduced apoptosis and necrosis when they underwent 5-10 passages, exhibiting increased percentage of cells with stable chromosome diversity. Hence, cells in confluent merit further studies before they could be used as nuclear donors.