The effects of different anesthetics on blood steroid concentrations in domestic tom-cats

Testosterone and androstenedione were measured in the plasma of mature tom-cats before, during and after anesthesia with thiopentone, ketamine, xylazine and alphaxolone/alphadolone. Samples were collected via an indwelling jugular catheter at 30 min intervals before anesthesia (5 samples) and during the recovery phase (8 samples), and at intervals of 15 min during anesthesia (7 samples). Thiopentone and ketamine anesthesia significantly depressed testosterone and androstenedione concentrations during and after anesthesia. Xylazine significantly increased testosterone concentrations during anesthesia but they returned to pre-anesthetic concentrations during recovery. Androstenedione concentrations were significantly depressed during the recovery phase from xylazine anesthesia. Alphaxolone/alphadolone anesthesia had no significant effect of testosterone concentrations but significantly increased and androstenedione concentrations during anesthesia and recovery. Testosterone and androstenedione concentrations in cats were significantly altered by these 4 commonly used anesthetics and this must be taken into account if hormone concentrations are measured while cats are anesthetised.     

Genetic foci of Solanum species, Petota Dumort, resistant to Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) De Bary

The present paper provides a review of data from literature sources and results of research carried out at the Institute of PlantIndustry with the aim of identifying genetic centres of formation of late blight resistant genotypes. For the research results, speciesfrom the potato collection of VIR were used.     

Mycotic abortion in cattle

Placentas and foetuses from 1107 bovine abortions were examined and a fungal infection was diagnosed in 131 instances. Fungi seen in silver impregnated sections of tissues could be placed into 3 categories designated aspergillus, phycomycete and atypical. Culture indicated that the first 2 of these categories were due to Aspergillus sp and Mortierella wolfii respectively. The infections in the atypical category are probably also due to Aspergillus sp. Gross or microscopic examination or culture of the placenta were valuable diagnostically but examination of the foetus was seldom of value as infection in most instances did not involve foetal tissues. Questionnaires indicated that many M. wolfii abortions were associated with the feeding of poorly prepared or stored grass silage. As the majority of cattle are fed hay or silage, no association could be demonstrated between Aspergillus sp abortion and these feeds. Fertility following fungal abortion was apparently unimpaired.     

Mycotic pneumonia, placentitis and neonatal encephalitis in dairy cattle caused by Mortierella wolfii

SUMMARY Within 22 days after 30 pregnant cows inadvertently received silage ad libitum, one had a mycotic abortion and 2 gave birth to calves with mycotic encephalitis. The latter 2 cows both developed severe mycotic pneumonia within 3 days of parturition. Variable diameter, non-septate, irregularly branching fungal hyphae were found in all lesions. Mortierella wolfii was cultured from the cow's lung, both calf brains and the silage, which was the probable source of infection.     

The Effect of Soil pH and Manganese Toxicity Upon the Growth and Mineral Composition of the Hop Plant

Summary

The productivity of ornamental foliage plants is related to their capacity to increase their leaf number and leaf size. In Monstera deliciosa, a change in leaf shape is also a pre-requisite for successful marketing. The aim of this work was to describe the effects of different concentrations of exogenous 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP; 5, 50, 100, or 200 mg l^–1) on the control of both leaf size and leaf shape in M. deliciosa, and the impact of these changes on commercial plant productivity. We found an increase of between 15.4 – 23.1% in the rate of leaf appearance (RLA), which reflected a shortening of the phyllochron, and an increase of between 17.5 – 34.9% in the relative rate of leaf area expansion (RLAE) at most of the BAP concentrations tested. This resulted in higher biomass accumulation in both roots and shoots through an increase of between 5.4 – 7.9% in the relative growth rate (RGR), mainly associated with higher net assimilation rates (NAR; increases from 9.0-fold to 11.0-fold) and increased photoassimilate partitioning to the shoots. The most important result of this work was the early appearance of perforated leaf laminae in M. deliciosa plants sprayed with 50 – 200 mg l^–1 BAP, which made them ready for sale.     

Chronic Nicotine Toxicity is Prevented by Aqueous Garlic Extract

Based on the potent antioxidant effects of garlic, we investigated the putative protective role of aqueous garlic extract (AGE) against nicotine-induced oxidative organ damage. Male Wistar albino rats (200–250 g) were injected with nicotine hydrogen bitartrate (0.6 mg/kg; i.p.) alone or with aqueous garlic extract (125 mg/kg; i.p.) for 21 days. At the end of the experimental period (22^nd day) rats were killed by decapitation. The aorta, heart, kidney and urinary bladder tissues were taken for the determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and collagen contents. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine concentrations and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in blood were measured for the evaluation of renal functions and tissue damage, respectively. Tissues were also examined microscopically.The decrease in GSH levels and increases in MDA level, MPO activity and collagen contents induced by chronic nicotine administration indicated that tissue injury involves free radical formation. Treatment of rats with AGE restored the reduced GSH levels while it decreased MDA levels as well as MPO activity. Increased collagen contents of the tissues by chronic nicotine were reversed back to the control levels with AGE. Since AGE administration reversed these oxidant responses, improved renal function and histological damage, it seems likely that AGE protects the tissues against nicotine-induced oxidative damage.     

C, N, and noble gas isotopes in grain size separates of presolar diamonds from efremovka

Nanometer-size presolar diamonds from the Efremovka CV3 chondrite were physically separated into several grain size fractions by ultracentrifugation. The coarsest size fraction is the most enriched in carbon-12; the others have broadly similar carbon isotopic compositions. Measurement of noble gases shows that their concentration decreases with decreasing grain size. This effect is attributed to ion implantation. Such an episode could occur in the envelope of a supernova that produced the diamonds, or in interstellar space; in either case, ions with energies above a certain threshold pass completely through the smaller diamond grains without being captured. Concentrations of nitrogen show only minor variations with grain size, indicating a different mechanism of incorporation into the diamonds.