Histological Study of Canine Mammary Gland During the Oestrous Cycle

The development of the mammary gland is a puzzling phenomenon and the research on this field has been focussed mostly on the carcinogenesis, with a less goal‐oriented concern in basic histology. In order to determine the histological features of normal mammary gland in the different oestrous phases we used 39 non‐pregnant female dogs of various breeds and ages. The animals were grouped in: pre‐pubertal, pro‐oestrous, oestrous, early and late dioestrous, early and late anoestrous phases. Major changes of the canine mammary histology throughout the oestrous cycle were identified in this study. A rudimentary gland with few ducts in the base of the nipple was observed in pre‐pubertal female individuals and pubertal pro‐oestrous female ones. In the oestrus, small inactive lobules associated with ductal branching and inconspicuous regressive changes were observed, while in early dioestrus, a ductal arborization was present. In late dioestrus, a complete lobuloalveolar differentiation and secretory capacity was achieved. The regressive histological features were abundant on early anoestrus, and markedly generalized on late anoestrus. The regressive process was longer in the more caudal gland pairs. This work provides baseline knowledge of canine mammary gland that may be relevant for interspecies comparative purposes and for pathologists dealing with mammary gland tumours.     

Phage Therapy and Photodynamic Therapy: Low Environmental Impact Approaches to Inactivate Microorganisms in Fish Farming Plants

Owing to the increasing importance of aquaculture to compensate for the progressive worldwide reduction of natural fish and to the fact that several fish farming plants often suffer from heavy financial losses due to the development of infections caused by microbial pathogens, including multidrug resistant bacteria, more environmentally-friendly strategies to control fish infections are urgently needed to make the aquaculture industry more sustainable. The aim of this review is to briefly present the typical fish farming diseases and their threats and discuss the present state of chemotherapy to inactivate microorganisms in fish farming plants as well as to examine the new environmentally friendly approaches to control fish infection namely phage therapy and photodynamic antimicrobial therapy.     

Ecological drivers of fish metacommunities: Environmental and spatial factors surpass predation in structuring metacommunities of intermittent rivers

Metacommunity theory is a new approach for explaining how local and regional processes contribute to community organisation and integrative studies are needed to fully characterise the processes underlying its structure and function. We analysed, through variation partitioning and distance decay relationships, how metacommunities of fish in pools of intermittent rivers are structured by environmental, species interaction and spatial factors. The results indicate that both species sorting and dispersal limitation (spatial factors) were important in shaping fish metacommunities. Species sorting was the most influential driver within fish metacommunities, but predation was much less relevant and did not show any pure effect in metacommunity structure. However, environmental factors were determinant among metacommunity patches.     

A femorotibial joint swelling with popliteal lymph node enlargement in a Rottweiler

A 9-year-old male Rottweiler was presented to the Veterinary Medical Hospital Montenegro, Porto, Portugal with a large mass medial to the left stifle and radiographic signs of bone lysis involving the proximal tibia, fibula, and distal femur. A fine-needle aspiration was obtained from left popliteal lymph node, which was markedly enlarged. Cytologic examination revealed a highly cellular sample consisting of pleomorphic cells with marked anisocytosis and anisokaryosis and other criteria of malignancy. Some cells contained intracytoplasmic, granular, dark brown material, consistent with hemosiderin. Histologic evaluation of the surgically-excised lymph node revealed a neoplastic proliferation of histiocytic cells, with marked pleomorphism; occasional cells were erythrophagocytic. Mitotic figures were frequently observed, and many were atypical. Histologic findings were consistent with malignant histiocytosis. Necropsy examination confirmed the diagnosis of malignant histiocytosis with systemic involvement affecting most organs examined. This case of malignant histiocytosis case had an atypical clinical presentation, mimicking a musculoskeletal disorder. It underlines the importance of cytology as a simple, inexpensive, rapid and noninvasive complementary exam in routine clinical practice that can permit early diagnosis of the disease and timely selection of the most adequate therapy.     

First report and molecular characterization of Trypanosoma vivax in cattle from state of Pernambuco, Brazil

This paper describes an outbreak of Trypanosoma vivax for the first time in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, affecting dairy cattle in the municipality of Itambé in the northern coastal zone of the state. Clinical signs compatible with infection by blood protozoa and epidemic miscarriages were observed. The diagnosis of T. vivax was confirmed through biometric microscopy and molecular analysis with PCR and DNA sequencing. The T. vivax isolate detected in the present study proved to be genetically very close to other Brazilian isolates of the protozoan despite being geographically distant.     

Interaction between ascorbic acid and follicle-stimulating hormone maintains follicular viability after long-term in vitro culture of caprine preantral follicles

This study evaluates the effects of ascorbic acid and its interaction with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) on the morphology, activation, and in vitro growth of caprine preantral follicles. Ovarian fragments were cultured for 1, 7, or 14 d in minimum essential medium (MEM) containing ascorbic acid (50 or 100 μg/mL), FSH (50 ng/mL), or both of these substances. Ovarian tissue that was either fresh (control) or cultured for 1, 7, or 14 d was processed for histological and ultrastructural evaluation. The results showed that after 14 d of culture, medium supplemented with 50 μg/mL of ascorbic acid alone or combined with FSH showed higher rates of follicular survival compared with MEM. After 7 d of culture, FSH, ascorbic acid at 50 μg/mL with or without FSH, and ascorbic acid at 100 μg/mL increased the percentage of follicular activation compared to fresh control. In addition, FSH alone significantly increased the percentage of growing follicles after 14 d. The combination of 50 μg/mL of ascorbic acid and FSH promoted a significant increase in oocyte and follicular diameter after 7 d of culture. Ultrastructural and fluorescent analysis confirmed the integrity of follicles cultured with 50 μg/mL of ascorbic acid and FSH after 14 d. In conclusion, the combination of 50 μg/mL of ascorbic acid and FSH maintained follicular integrity and promoted follicular activation and growth after long-term in vitro culture of caprine preantral follicles.     

New polyether triterpenoids from Laurencia viridis and their biological evaluation

The red seaweed Laurencia viridis is a rich source of secondary metabolites derived from squalene. New polyethers, such as iubol (2), 22-hydroxy-15(28)- dehydrovenustatriol (3), 1,2-dehydropseudodehydrothyrsiferol (4), and secodehydrothyrsiferol (5) have been isolated and characterized from this alga. The structures were determined through the interpretation of NMR spectroscopic data and the relative configuration was proposed on the basis of NOESY spectrum and biogenetic considerations. All new compounds exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against a panel of cancer cell lines.     

Soybean drought-stressed plants impair Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) midgut proteolytic activity and survival

Phytoparasitica - Soybean plants are exposed to multiple stresses during development. Co-occurring stresses can activate common defense pathways on plants, increasing end products concentrations,...     

Hydraulic properties of Eucalyptus grandis in response to nitrate and phosphate deficiency and sudden changes in their availability

Some herbaceous plant species have been shown to dynamically alter the hydraulic properties of their roots in response to sudden changes in the concentrations of mobile nutrients. These hydraulic adaptations effectively allow plants to ‘chase' mobile nutrients across the rhizosphere. Trees, on the other hand, could mitigate effects of heterogeneous, dynamic soil environments with extensive root systems as such systems would effectively equalize nutrient availability. In addition, large dendritic root systems would reduce the effectiveness of rapid, localized, physiological hydraulic changes as these local changes might cancel each other at lower‐order root junctions. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine if trees (Eucalyptus grandis) employ short‐term (minutes to hours), physiological hydraulic changes or rely on long‐term (days), growth‐based hydraulic acclimations to enhance mobile nutrient uptake. We used two nutrients, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), that are characterized by contrasting soil mobility: N being mobile and P immobile. Transpiration, whole‐plant hydraulic resistance (liquid phase), and the hydraulic resistance of single roots of E. grandis plants grown in high and low N combined with high and low P availability were measured. In general, plants grown with high N availability had lower whole‐plant hydraulic resistance than plants grown with low N availability. When N or P were in short supply, a sudden addition of N or P did not change either single‐root or whole‐plant hydraulic resistance at a given leaf water potential. However, addition of N reduced the transpiration rate, thus, enhancing plant water status, suggesting that E. grandis behavior prioritizes water conservation over N uptake in short‐term. Prolonged exposure to low nutrient availability resulted in high overall hydraulic resistance further suggesting prioritization of water conservation over N gain.