Clinical observations on changes in concentrations of hormones in plasma of two stallions with thermally-induced testicular degeneration

To investigate effects of thermally-induced testicular degeneration on hormonal and seminal parameters in stallions, the scrotum was insulated for 36 hours in two mature (5-year-old mixed breed and 11-year-old Throughbred) stallions. Semen was collected daily for 10 days (DSO) prior to, and at intervals after, scrotal insulation. When DSO determinations were not being made, semen was collected 3 times weekly. Jugular blood samples were collected at 15-minute intervals for 6 hours from each stallion prior to, and at intervals after, scrotal insulation. A mouse interstitial cell testosterone assay was modified to quantify biologic activity of equine luteinizing hormone (BLH) in plasma samples. Immunoactive luteinizing hormone (ILH) and testosterone (T) concentrations were determined in plasma samples by routine RIA procedures. Percentages of progressively motile and morphologically normal spermatozoa began to decrease by 1 to 2 weeks postinsulation, reached nadir values at 3 to 3-1/2 weeks postinsulation, and returned to preinsulation values by 7 weeks postinsulation. Total number of spermatozoa and total number of progressively motile, morphologically normal spermatozoa in ejaculates at DSO returned to normal by 8 weeks postinsulation in stallion 2 and 12 weeks postinsulation in stallion 1. Concentrations of BLH and ILH increased, and while T concentrations decreased, immediately postinsulation. The increase in ILH concentrations was greater than the increase in BLH concentrations, resulting in a decrease in the BLH:ILH (B:I) ratio. Following the peak in LH secretion immediately postinsulation, LH concentrations gradually decreased while T concentrations increased. The B:I ratio was elevated from 1 to 13 weeks postinsulation compared to immediately postinsulation. In addition to changes in spermatozoal quality in ejaculates, stallion response to scrotal insulation included increased secretion of luteinizing hormone and impaired Leydig cell function (as determined by reduced testosterone concentration in circulating plasma). The proportion of biologically active LH secreted in response to thermal testicular injury increased during the recovery phase.     

Radio Frequency Signals in Jupiter's Atmosphere

During the Galileo probe's descent through Jupiter's atmosphere, under the ionosphere, the lightning and radio emission detector measured radio frequency signals at levels significantly above the probe's electromagnetic noise. The signal strengths at 3 and 15 kilohertz were relatively large at the beginning of the descent, decreased with depth to a pressure level of about 5 bars, and then increased slowly until the end of the mission. The 15-kilohertz signals show arrival direction anisotropies. Measurements of radio frequency wave forms show that the probe passed through an atmospheric region that did not support lightning within at least 100 kilometers and more likely a few thousand kilometers of the descent trajectory. The apparent opacity of the jovian atmosphere increases sharply at pressures greater than about 4 bars.     

The laboratory culture of Dichelobacter nodosus in a footrot eradication program

SUMMARY As part of a program to eradicate virulent footrot from Western Australia, 2745 isolates of Dichelobacter nodosus were isolated from 5263 specimens from 1883 submissions. The virulence of each isolate was assessed using protease thermostability and isoenzyme zymogram. We describe changes to the materials and methods required to handle these specimens and to reduce the interval between submission and report to 8 days.     

Experimental acute yellow-wood (Terminalia oblongata) intoxication in sheep

SUMMARY An aqueous suspension of air-dried, hammer-milled leaf of Terminalla oblongata (yellow-wood) was administered to sheep by gavage, as a single dose of 5 to 20 g (dry weight)/kg body weight. Doses of 15 g/kg, or more, caused depression, Inappetence, abdominal pain and reduced ruminal movements within 24 to 48 h and some sheep also showed dyspnoea, oplsthotonus and champing of the Jaws. Haematology and blood gas and acid-base measurements were unaffected. In sheep given a dose of 12.5 g/kg, or more, plasma osmolality, aspartate aminotransferase activity and potassium and bilirubin concentrations Increased while plasma total protein markedly decreased and plasma sodium concentration and alkaline phosphatase activity remained normal. Most sheep were necropsled 48 h after dosing. The liver showed zonal hepatocellular necrosis, the pattern of which varied with the dose given. No renal lesions were observed, although one sheep given a very high dose became azotaemic and hyperkalaemic. Hydrothorax, hydroperlcardlum and ascltes developed In sheep given doses of 15 or 20 g/kg.     

Genotype and treatment biases in estimation of carcass lean of swine.

Carcasses of 181 barrows, representing five genotypes, 1) H x HD, 2) SYN, 3) HD x L[YD], 4) L x YD, and 5) Y x L (H = Hampshire, D = Duroc, SYN = synthetic terminal sire line, L = Landrace, and Y = Yorkshire), and two levels of ractopamine (RAC) treatment (0 and 20 ppm) were completely dissected and the data were used to examine genotype and treatment (RAC) biases in estimation of fat-standardized lean weight and to evaluate accuracies and precisions realized by use of equations based on variables derived from different technologies. Independent variables used to establish regression equations represented technologies of direct carcass measurements, optical probe data, TOBEC (total body electrical conductivity) readings, and dissected (DHMLN) and fat-standardized (FSHMLN) ham lean. Genotype bias existed when any equation from a single technology was used and was minimized by combining FSHMLN with one TOBEC reading, carcass length, and the probe measurement of 10th rib fat depth. Large RAC biases appeared when equations from direct carcass measurements or optical probe data were used and were minimized by an equation using either DHMLN or FSHMLN. A practical equation with relatively high R2 value and small genotype and RAC biases were developed by combining TOBEC readings with direct carcass measurements of 10th rib fat depth and warm carcass weight.     

Detection of Aphanomyces invadans and epizootic ulcerative syndrome in the Murray‐Darling drainage

Epizootic ulcerative syndrome was diagnosed, and the presence of Aphanomyces invadans confirmed, from an outbreak of clinical disease in wild‐caught bony bream (Nematalosa erebi) from the Darling River near Bourke, in New South Wales, Australia, during 2008. This confirms a significant extension of the agent beyond its historical range.     

The Effects of Growth Factor on Testicular Germ Cell Apoptosis in the Stallion

Apoptosis is necessary for both initiation and control of spermatogenesis; however, an increase in apoptosis can lead to subfertility/infertility in stallions, causing substantial financial loss in the equine industry. The ability of stem cell factor (SCF), leukemia-inhibiting factor (LIF), granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and estradiol (E₂), alone or in combination, to prevent apoptosis of germ cells in short-term equine testicular cultures was examined. Testicular tissue was sectioned into approximately 2-mm cubes and placed in media-filled culture chambers. Concentrations of SCF (100 ng/mL), LIF (10 ng/mL), GM-CSF (5 ng/mL), and E₂ (10⁻⁹ mol/l) were added alone or in combination to each well. After 6 hours in culture, the tissue was fixed and immunohistochemically (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick-end labeling; TUNEL) stained for apoptosis detection. Apoptotic cells per 100 Sertoli cell nuclei within seminiferous tubules were counted until the 500^th Sertoli cell nuclei was reached. This counting procedure was used for each slide. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a Tukey's test was used to compare apoptotic rates. In comparison with the control, GM-CSF alone lowered apoptosis by 34.77%. GM-CSF–treated tissue combined with SCF and LIF as well as GM-CSF combined with SCF, LIF, and E₂ reduced apoptosis when compared with the control (37.45% and 44.40%, respectively) or other treatment combinations. GM-CSF alone reduced apoptosis; results suggest possible synergy for the combinations of SCF and LIF with GM-CSF and for E₂ with SCF, LIF, and GM-CSF.