Microinjection of a conserved peptide sequence of p34cdc2 induces a Ca2+ transient in oocytes

The product of the yeast cell cycle control gene cdc2, and its homologs in higher eukaryotes (p34cdc2), all contain a perfectly conserved sequence of 16 amino acids that has not been found in any other protein sequence. Microinjection of this peptide triggers a specific increase in the concentration of intracellular free Ca2+ that originates from intracellular stores in both starfish and Xenopus oocytes. Thus, p34cdc2 might interact through its conserved peptide domain with some component of the Ca2(+)-regulatory system.     

Decreased respiratory burst activity in neonatal bovine neutrophils stimulated by protein kinase C agonists.

Newborn calves have a high susceptibility to bacterial infections, which may be related to the impaired neutrophil defense functions in newborns. The oxygen-dependent production of the free radical superoxide anion (O2-) represents an important part of the leukocyte respiratory burst central to neutrophil-directed defenses against bacterial infection. Because protein kinase C (PKC) activation is considered to be an important step in the signal transduction pathway for the O2- generating system, we compared O2- production by newborn and adult bovine neutrophils stimulated with 3 different PKC agonists. When the phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) was used, PKC-dependent O2- generation from newborn neutrophils was significantly reduced (P less than 0.01) for all concentrations of PMA tested (10, 100, and 500 ng/ml). In addition, newborn neutrophils had a significantly (P less than 0.01) reduced lag time for O2- generation. Similar significantly (P less than 0.01) reduced O2- generation from newborn neutrophils was observed with an additional phorbol ester (phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate); lag times were not calculated for phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. When O2- generation was stimulated with a synthetic diacylglycerol analogue (1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol), less O2- was generated from both adult and newborn neutrophils than was obtained with the phorbol esters, and newborn neutrophils produced significantly (P less than 0.01) less O2- only at 50 microM 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Ovarian teratoma and endometritis in a mare

An 8-year-old Arabian mare was admitted for a large ovarian anovulatory follicle. A clinical diagnosis of ovarian tumor and endometritis was established. Histological examinations revealed an ovarian teratoma and a grade II endometritis. Three months after unilateral ovariectomy, the mare was confirmed pregnant and eventually gave birth uneventfully.     

Estrogen-dependent induction of cyclooxygenase-2 in the canine prostate in vivo

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is involved in several physiologic and pathologic processes. COX-2 is overexpressed in human and canine prostate cancer, but little is known about COX-2 inducers in the prostate. Our objective was to investigate the effect of sex steroid hormones on COX-2 expression in the canine prostate in vivo. COX-2 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in intact and castrated dogs treated with exogenous androgen or estrogen. Results showed that no COX-2 staining was observed in prostates of untreated or androgen-treated castrated or intact dogs. However, treatment of intact and castrated dogs with estrogen resulted in squamous metaplasia with intense COX-2 expression observed in both squamous epithelial cells and in cells of acini without metaplasia. This is the first report to demonstrate the induction of COX-2 by estrogen in the prostate in vivo.     

Congenital enlargement of the suburethral diverticulum in a Holstein calf

A 3-month-old, female Holstein calf was examined because of marked perineal swelling and tenesmus of 4-days duration. A congenitally enlarged urethral diverticulum was diagnosed using fluoroscopic and ultrasonographic imaging techniques. The urethral diverticulum was surgically resected and the perineal area was reconstructed.     

Fusarium verticillioides as a new pathogen of the parasitic weed Orobanche spp.

A strain of Fusarium verticillioides was isolated from the tubercles of the parasitic weed Orobanche cumana in Israel. The pathogenicity was tested in polyethylene bags on O. cumana, O. crenata, O. aegyptiaca and O. ramosa and in pots on O. cumana and O. crenata. F. verticillioides was highly pathogenic to O. aegyptiaca, O. ramosa and O. cumana in the polyethylene bags. In pots, the fungus caused wilting and necrotic areas on flowering shoots of O. cumana, but did not cause disease symptoms on O. crenata. F. verticillioides grown on liquid Czapek growth medium produced a phytotoxic metabolite, which in leaf-puncture bioassay caused large necrotic areas on Orobanche shoots and on leaves of various crops. An extract of the fungal growth medium caused complete mortality of O. cumana and O. aegyptiaca seedlings in vitro. The toxic metabolite was isolated and identified by spectroscopic methods as fusaric acid. The identity of the compound was confirmed by conversion into the corresponding methyl ester, and by TLC comparison against authentic fusaric acid. No other phytotoxic metabolites could be detected in the growth medium extracts.     

A retrospective study of 29 cases of otitis media/interna in dairy calves

Epidemiological data, clinical findings, laboratory data, medical imaging, and outcomes were reviewed in 29 dairy calves with otitis media/interna. Age at admission ranged from 1 to 24 wk. The majority of calves were referred during winter. Clinical signs included drooping ear, ptosis, head tilt, abnormal nystagmus, strabismus, dysphagia, regurgitation, stiff neck, opisthotonos, facial hyperesthesia, and purulent aural discharge. Intranasal endoscopic examination of 5 animals revealed nasopharyngeal collapse in 4. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was abnormal in all of 7 cases. Mycoplasma bovis was cultured from all but 1 case with external ear or tympanic bullae samples (n = 12), and Mycoplasma arginini was cultured from the remaining ear sample. Radiographs of the tympanic bullae were performed in 24 calves, tomodensitometry (CT) in 3 calves and ultrasound in 4 calves. According to medical imaging techniques or necropsy, 69% of the cases were classified as chronic. Mean duration of treatment was 23.3 d. The rate of clinical recovery was 75%.     

Chronic desmitis and enthesiophytosis of the radio-ulnar interosseous ligament in a dog

A 10-year-old golden retriever dog was presented for chronic right forelimb lameness associated with a painful swelling at the lateral aspect of the proximal ulna. Proximal ulnar ostectomy and stabilization resulted in a good clinical outcome. The proposed diagnosis is chronic desmitis and enthesiophytosis of the radio-ulnar interosseous ligament.