Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S E Long.
A 1;30 tandem translocation was found in an 8-yr-old thoroughbred stallion referred because of reduced fertility. The diagnosis was confirmed by GTG and CBG staining. This is the first report of a tandem translocation in the horse.
A survey of ovine reproductive tracts was undertaken in 2 abattoirs in the south west of England, in which 23,536 tracts from nulliparous animals and 9970 tracts from cull ewes were examined. The ovaries were fused in 15 nulliparous animals. In 13 of these animals, 2 ovarian structures could be separately identified macroscopically, whilst in the 2 other animals, a single structure was seen. On histological examination of the ovaries in which 2 structures could be separately identified, the capsules were confluent and formed a septum between them. In the 2 cases with complete ovarian fusion, a narrow connective tissue septum separating the 2 ovaries was present. No cases of ovarian fusion were found amongst the cull ewes, but prominent strands of fibrous tissue connecting the ovaries were present in 2 animals. It is probable that fusion of the ovaries occurs as a developmental abnormality; evidence from the 2 cull ewes suggests that the ovaries separate once oestrous cyclicity has commenced.
The rates of evaporation of moisture from the skin in the lumbodorsal, perineal and scrotal regions of cattle were measured in thermoneutral and high environmental temperatures. The rates of evaporation from the perineal and scrotal regions of heifers and bulls were significantly (P < 0.001) greater than those from the lumbodorsal areas. The lumbodorsal rate of evaporation increased significantly (P < 0.001) when cows and bulls were transferred from a thermoneutral to a hot environment and the rate of evaporation from the scrotum of bulls showed a similar increase; the rate of evaporation from the perineum of cows increased to a smaller extent (P < 0.05) under the same conditions. The rate of evaporation from the perineum of cows reached a maximum on the day of oestrus but the stage of the oestrous cycle had no effect on the lumbodorsal rate of evaporation.
In gene mapping, it is obviously essential that gene assignment errors are minimized. Recently, confusion has arisen in sheep gene mapping, as a result of contradictions in chromosome nomenclature. The purpose of this brief communication, prepared by the International Sheep Karyotype Standardization Committee, is to minimize any further confusion that may arise, while new sheep standard Q, G and R karyotypes and ideograms are being prepared. This paper reviews the history of previous sheep karyotype standards, explains the errors that have been detected and presents a correlation table so that, whichever nomenclature is used, the exact chromosome can be identified.
Two techniques for the preparation of boar spermatozoa for in vitro fertilization were studied: a simple washing procedure and centrifugation on a discontinuous Percoll gradient. Their respective effects on motility of spermatozoa were analysed by computer-assisted sperm analysis. The Percoll density gradient technique selected spermatozoa with significantly (P < 0.0001) enhanced motility and movement characteristics. In vitro matured oocytes inseminated with spermatozoa prepared by Percoll gradient centrifugation had significantly (P < 0.0001) greater cleavage rates than did oocytes inseminated with washed spermatozoa. This increased penetration ability was not due to an increased proportion of acrosome-reacted spermatozoa. Transmission electron microscopy revealed no unique ultrastructural differences between the spermatozoa from either preparation. Spermatozoa prepared by Percoll gradient centrifugation are recommended for insemination and studies of porcine in vitro fertilization.
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Chromosomal fragile sites were studied in blood lymphocytes of the pig after induction with 0, 5, 10 and 20 micrograms of fluorodeoxyuridine (FudR) ml-1 of culture. The percentage of cells showing fragile sites and total breaks and gaps in 100 cells was significantly higher in all treated cultures than the control (P < 0.001). A concentration of 5 to 10 micrograms of FudR ml-1 of medium is recommended as the optimum for mitotic index and fragile site expression in the pig. Localisation of the fragile sites was by GTG banding after destaining of the conventionally stained Giemsa preparations. Common fragile sites in the pig were identified in 24 sites on 10 chromosomes. Some fragile sites corresponded to the breakpoints in known reciprocal translocations.
Cytogenetic examination of G-banded lymphocyte chromosomes of an Icelandic ram from a line with a history of poor fertility revealed a rcp (13;20) (q12;q22) translocation. Meiotic studies showed a quadrivalent configuration at diakinesis and this was confirmed by C-banding.
1. Egg production records of 31,455 individually caged hens, 27 to 34 weeks of age and of 4 genotypes, were examined. 2. Sixty-nine non-layers were identified in the 30 to 40 week age group, and examined post mortem; an incidence of 2.1 per 1000. 3. Some of the 69 individuals had more than one abnormality. Forty-two percent were internal layers, 34% had some form of neoplasia, 24% had an abnormal or diseased oviduct, 18% were sex reversals, 16% had a diseased ovary, 8% were of poor condition and considered culls, and 7% were in good condition, but with small, immature ovaries. 4. Of 54 birds not in lay at 27 weeks, 43 (80%) had come into lay by 34 weeks of age. 5. Genotype influenced the incidence of neoplasia and, in turn, the number of non-layers.
The incidence and effect of 29 different reciprocal translocations in the pig are reviewed. It is concluded that heterozygosity for these translocations causes major reproductive loss. The chromosome anomaly appears to occur spontaneously and between 42 per cent and 50 per cent of hypoprolific boars are carrier animals. The incidence in the general population is calculated to be 0.6 per 1000.
Samples were collected post mortem from 28 cycling parous cows. At all stages of the oestrous cycle, the cranial vaginal epithelium was thinner (P less than 0.001), had fewer cell layers (P less than 0.001) and proportionally more superficial columnar cells (P less than 0.001) than more caudal regions. At all stages of the cycle there were more intraepithelial lymphocytes caudally than in more cranial regions (P less than 0.001). At oestrus the proportion of superficial columnar cells was maximal, having increased from the late dioestrus proportions of 1, 29 and 40 per cent of all superficial cells to 15, 54 and 83 per cent in caudal, middle and cranial regions, respectively (P less than 0.02). However, the epithelial thickness in all regions of the vagina was greatest at metoestrus (P less than 0.02). At this stage, the number of cell layers was greater than at any other stage (P less than 0.05).
Two cows with synchronised oestrous cycles were housed with a Friesian bull. During the midcycle period of the cows, one cow was given an intradermal injection of adrenaline in the perineal region. This caused local sweat gland discharge. The other cow was treated with water. The number and types of bull-to-cow behaviours were recorded before, during and after the day of treatment. This was repeated at three-weekly intervals for a total of four times. On the day of treatment the bull directed a greater proportion of olfactory behaviours towards the adrenaline-treated cow than the other cow (P less than 0.05). There was no difference between the cows before or after the day of treatment. The above experiments were repeated with a Hereford bull who showed the same response as the Friesian for the first two but not the last two experiments. The increased proportion of bull olfactory behaviours elicited by an increased perineal skin gland discharge, adds support to our hypothesis that the perineal skin glands are the source of an oestrous pheromone in the cow.
We reviewed the medical records and technetium bone/joint scans of 160 children presenting to the inpatient Pediatric Rheumatology service over a 3-year period. When the scan result (normal versus abnormal) was considered for each patient as a whole, scan sensitivity and specificity were both approximately 75%. However, when each joint was considered individually, sensitivity decreased to 37%, while specificity rose to more than 95% when compared to clinical examination. Reasons for these variations and their clinical correlation are discussed. Overall, radionuclide bone/joint scanning was found to be very useful in the evaluation of monoarticular and nonrheumatic disorders, but it did not alter therapy in children with known connective tissue disorders or other polyarticular diseases.
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Lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LG) is a rare condition with histological similarities to Wegener's granulomatosis and malignant lymphoma. Characteristically there is an angiocentric, angiodestructive lymphoreticular cell infiltrate. The lungs are usually affected, and, less frequently, the skin, nervous system, kidney, and bowel are involved. The prognosis is poor and frank lymphoma develops, in some cases terminally. The usual radiological appearance of the lungs consists of bilateral nodular lower zone opacities. The authors report two patients (siblings) with LG, and their gallium scans are presented. In each case there was a significant accumulation of gallium in the lungs at times of clinically active disease. The limited role of gallium imaging in this disease is discussed.
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Nine reproductively normal mares, 25 infertile mares and one set of heterosexual twins were examined cytogenetically using conventional giemsa staining, C-banding and G-banding. It was concluded that G-banding was necessary to identify even gross anomalies. Three (12 per cent) of the infertile mares, but none of the controls, had a chromosomal anomaly. One was 63,XO, one a 63,XO/64,XX mixoploid and one a 64,XY sex reversed male. It is argued that a cytogenetic examination is a useful diagnostic technique but that routine screening of the whole population would be uneconomic.