Serum bile acids: reference values in healthy dogs and comparison of two kit methods

Serum bile acid (SBA) reference intervals were established by use of a radioimmunoassay method for fasting dogs to be 0.2 to 4.3 micro mol/L (n = 60) and for 2 hour postprandial samples to be 0.6 to 24.2 micro mol/L (n = 37). The SBA reference intervals estimated using an enzymatic method were 0 to 8.6 micro mol/L for fasting (n = 26) and 0 to 29.8 micro mol/L for 2 hour postprandial samples (n = 36). The correlation between the two methods including samples from healthy dogs and clinical cases is good (n = 128, r = 0.82, p < 0.0001). The radioimmunoassay method is linear to 50 micro mol/L and the enzymatic method is linear to 100 micro mol/L, thus both methods require serum dilutions to be made in many cases of primary liver disease. The enzymatic method is less expensive and more convenient for use in a clinical laboratory but requires a greater sample volume (400 micro I) than the RIA method (50 micro I). Both methods have adequate precision and accuracy to be useful as diagnostic tests of liver function in dogs.     

Examination of the origin of increased equine serum alkaline phosphatase concentrations

Serum alkaline phosphatase activity was found to be increased in 32.6% of equine samples analyzed at the Ontario Veterinary College over an 18 month period. An attempt was made using sensitivity to L-phenylalanine and heat to identify the origin of increased serum alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes present in 44 clinical cases. No difference in sensitivity to either procedure was observed for serum alkaline phosphatase from groups of foals and horses representing different clinical problems. Alkaline phosphatase of osseous tissue origin appeared to be the major source of activity for each group of animals reported.     

Flow Cytometry Identification of X- and Y-Chromosome-Bearing Goat Spermatozoa

Flow cytometric sorting technology was used to measure the difference in DNA content between X- and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa in bucks. Spermatozoa were analysed by flow cytometry to characterize X- and Y-chromosome-bearing sperm populations and to quantify the DNA difference between them. Two symmetrical, overlapping and clearly separated peaks, corresponding to X- and Y-bearing spermatozoa, were detected. The difference in fluorescence intensity between the peaks was 4.4 +/- 0.03% without any significant inter- or intra-animal variations. Therefore, the identification and selection of high-purity samples of sperm populations for sex sorting is easier in bucks compared with other domestic species.     

Effect of bovine seminal plasma on bovine endometrial epithelial cells in culture

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of seminal plasma (SP) from bulls of known fertility on bovine endometrial epithelial cells (bEEC) in culture. The bEEC from passage 5, approximately 5.0–13 × 10⁵ cells per flask, were challenged with SP from bulls of high or low fertility (n = 3 and 2, respectively) or PBS (control), at 1% (75 μl) or 4% (300 μl) and were incubated for 72 hr (n = 13 per challenge). Total cell number and viability of bEEC after challenge with 1% SP from either high‐ or low‐fertility bulls (75H or 75L, respectively) did not differ from controls. In contrast, challenge with 4% of SP from high‐ or low‐fertility bulls (300H or 300L) negatively affected bEEC cell number and viability. Challenge with 300 L had a greater adverse effect than 300H. These results suggest that the negative effect of bovine SP on bEEC is both dose‐dependent and fertility‐dependent.     

Subchondral cystic lesions of the proximal extremity of the tibia in horses: 12 cases (1983-2000)

OBJECTIVE: To determine clinical and radiographic features of subchondral cystic lesions (SCL) of the proximal extremity of the tibia in horses that could be used to classify these lesions as being related to osteochondrosis or osteoarthritis and to evaluate results of surgical debridement. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 12 horses with 14 SCL. PROCEDURE: Medical records and radiographs obtained before and after treatment were reviewed. RESULTS: In 6 young horses (8 lesions), SCL were considered to be related to osteochondrosis; all involved the lateral tibial condyle. The remaining 6 horses were mature and had radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis in addition to SCL. Arthroscopic debridement was performed in 4 horses in which lesions were considered to be a result of osteochondrosis and in 3 horses with osteoarthritis. Three horses in which SCL were considered to be a result of osteochondrosis performed athletically after debridement. Two horses with moderate osteoarthritis returned to work after arthroscopic debridement but at a lower level of athletic performance. One horse with SCL related to osteochondrosis responded to medical treatment and went on to race. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that arthroscopic debridement of SCL is feasible in horses in which lesions involve the cranial portion of the lateral or medial tibial condyle, and that treated horses may be able to perform athletically.     

Effects of interferents on the kinetic Jaffé reaction and an enzymatic colorimetric test for serum creatinine concentration determination in cats, cows, dogs and horses.

The effects of acetoacetic acid, acetone, bilirubin, beta-carotene, three cephalospoprin antibiotics, glucose, hemoglobin and lipid on the kinetic Jaffé reaction and an enzymatic reaction for the determination of creatinine concentration were studied in bovine, canine, feline and equine serum. There were no obvious species' differences. The kinetic Jaffé reaction was unaffected by the addition of beta-carotene and hemoglobin. Acetone, cefazolin, cefoxitin, ceftiofur and glucose caused a positive bias while acetoacetic acid, bilirubin, and lipid caused a negative bias when added to the kinetic Jaffé reaction. The enzymatic reaction was unaffected by the addition of acetoacetic acid, acetone, beta-carotene, cefazolin, cefoxitin, glucose and hemoglobin while added lipid, bilirubin and ceftiofur caused a negative bias in the test results. Over all species and interferents, there was no difference in the precision of the two assay methods. In a series of sera from hospitalized patients, the two methods were highly correlated in a linear fashion. The enzymatic creatinine assay deals effectively with most interferents but has a greater cost and shorter shelf-life compared with the kinetic Jaffé reaction.     

Colony Formation in Culture by Bovine Granulopoietic Progenitor Cells

Calf bone marrow cells cultured in a semi-solid medium of 0.8% methyl cellulose produced colonies of granulocytic cells and macrophages by seven days. A prerequisite for colony growth was the presence of serum obtained from a calf three hours after intravenous injection of endotoxin. Three morphological types of colonies were seen but cell types within these types of colonies did not differ. Cultured cells were identified by morphological and cytochemical characteristics.

Optimum growth occurred when serum from endotoxin stimulated calves and fetal calf serum were present in a volumetric ratio of 7:3. Inhibition of colony growth occurred when endotoxin-stimulated serum was present at greater than optimum concentration. Normal calf serum, fetal calf serum, mouse L-cell conditioned medium and bovine urine did not stimulate significant colony growth when 8.0 x 10⁴ marrow cells were cultured.

There was a linear relationhip between the number of marrow cells in the cultures and the number of colonies produced. Colony forming efficiency ranged from 13 to 59 colonies per 10⁵ cells plated.

The behaviour of calf colony forming units in suspension culture was similar to that reported for mouse colony forming units.

     

Infleuce of dietary levels of vitamin E and selenium on tissue and blood parameters in pigs.

Eighteen barrows approximately three weeks of age were used in a 3 X 3 factorial arrangement to investigate the effect of level of supplemental vitamin E and selenium on tissue and blood parameters. Tissue selenium concentrations increased in a quadratic manner with increased selenium intake with kidney tissue containing considerably greater concentrations than liver, heart or muscle. Supplementation of the diet caused a three-fold increase in serum selenium within the first week with a slight tendency to further increases in subsequent weeks. Serum vitamin E of unsupplemented pigs declined by fifty percent during the experiment, whereas supplemental vitamin E resulted in increased serum vitamin E. There was a considerable viration in percent peroxide hemolysis. Correlation of -0.63 between percent peroxide hemolysis and vitamin E intake and -0.85 between percent peroxide hemolysis and serum vitamin E were observed.