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PubMed2003

Photolysis experiments on phosmet, an organophosphorus insecticide.

The organophosphorus insecticide phosmet is used in plant protection as well as against parasites on animals. Phosmet showed numerous photoinduced reaction pathways, which first were studied in the presence of model environments for animal fur lipids (e.g., wool wax). The model solvents for saturated and unsaturated lipids were cyclohexane and cyclohexene, whereas methanol and 2-propanol were used as models for primary and secondary alcohol moieties of lipids. The measured degradation rates over an irradiation period of 7 h in all solvents used were very similar (49-55%). The obtained photoproducts generally included phthalimide, N-hydroxymethylphthalimide, and N-methoxymethylphthalimide. Furthermore, depending on the solvent used, additional degradation products were detectable as N-isopropoxy- and N-methylphthalimide in the presence of 2-propanol and cyclohexene, respectively. However, in the presence of cyclohexene, despite the similar turnover, distinctly lower concentrations of photoproducts were found, indicating further still unknown degradation pathways. Irradiations in methanol with increasing percentages of water led to higher degradation rates; however, the products were found to be the same. Irradiation experiments with pure phosmet on silica TLC plates and glass surfaces resulted in degradation rates of 19 and 32%, respectively, after 6 h. The results obtained clearly demonstrate for the first time that the photoinduced degradation of phosmet is strongly dependent on the chemical environment, affecting less the turnover than the photoproducts formed. The results additionally demonstrate the need to investigate the degradation behavior of phosmet on wool and in the presence of wool wax.

Insecticides↗
PubMed2002

Degradation of keratin substrates by fungi isolated from sewage sludge.

Four fungal species including two dermatophytes and two saprophytes were isolated from sewage sludge samples at Basrah (Iraq) they were tested for their degradative ability towards three types of keratin substrates (human hair, chicken feathers and wool). The rate of keratin degradation was expressed as weight loss over three weeks of incubation using a liquid culture medium. Human hair had the highest degradation rate by colonization of Chrysosporium pannicola and Microsporum gypseum at a rate of 62% and 48% respectively. Chicken feathers were highly degraded by Aspergillus flavus (32%) while wool degradation was highest by C. pannicola (45.5%) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. erinacei (38%). There was a significant difference (p < 0.001) in keratin substrate degradation rates by the examined fungi. Keratinase activity was highest for C. pannicola and M. gypseum in the culture medium baited with human hair. Aspergillus flavus revealed the highest activity of this enzyme in cultures amended with chicken feathers while T mentagrophytes var. erinacei showed highest keratinase activity in cultures with wool substrate. The amount of protein released into the culture medium varied among the tested fungi. The medium's alkalinity increased over incubation time from 6.5 to 7.8. Microscopic examination showed maceration of the keratin substrates by the fungi.

Arthrodermataceae↗
PubMed1973

Influence of tumour growth on the evolution of cytotoxic lymphoid cells in rats bearing a spontaneously metastasizing syngeneic fibrosarcoma.

Regional and distant lymph node cells, thoracic duct cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes from rats bearing a spontaneously metastasizing and apparently non-immunogenic sarcoma were assayed for cytotoxic activity on microcultures of tumour cells at 7, 14 and 21 days of tumour growth. In the regional lymph nodes detectable cytotoxicity was present at 7 days and the overall activity remained constant at 14 and 21 days. At Day 7 of tumour growth the cytotoxic cell population in the regional node was tumour specific in its cytotoxic effect, very radiosensitive and could not be removed by nylon wool column purification. In contrast the cells in the regional nodes at Day 21 were nonspecifically cytotoxic and could be completely removed by nylon wool treatment. In the peripheral blood, cytotoxic lymphoid cells not removed by nylon wool, were detectable at all stages of tumour growth. The thoracic duct lymph cells were, however, without cytotoxic activity throughout the period of tumour growth studied. Distant lymph node cells were assayed for cytotoxicity and it was found that they acquired significant cytocidal properties only late in tumour growth. The sera from tumour-bearing rats were tested for inhibitory activity on the cytotoxicity of Day 7 regional lymph nodes from tumour-bearing rats. It was found that a specific inhibitor appeared in the serum and that its activity increased with tumour growth. The possible contributions of the changes in lymph node cytotoxicity and the development of specific serum inhibitors to continued growth and dissemination of the tumour are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Corynebacterium parvum stimulation of adherent and non-adherent cytotoxic cells in mice.

Two naturally occurring cytotoxic cell populations have been identified in the peritoneal cavity of mice inoculated with C. parvum (CP), and are distinguishable on the basis of target-cell reactivity and intrinsic properties. The first effector cell was non-adherent to nylon wool and glass and non-phagocytic. These cells were selectively cytotoxic to the NK-sensitive target cell line K562, and present in the peritoneal cavity of mice 2 days after treatment with 700 micrograms of CP. The second cytotoxic effector cell was adherent to nylon wool and glass, and killed EL4 lymphoma cells derived from in vivo tumour transplants; these target cells are susceptible to phagocytic cell killing, but not NK-cell cytotoxicity in short-term (4h) assays. The adherent cytotoxic population of effector cells was present 4 days after inoculation of CP. In vivo studies showed that CP injected i.p. induced resistance to i.p. challenge with lymphoma EL4 cells, but no resistance was evident when the challenge dose was administered s.c. Adoptive-transfer studies showed that the effector cell type responsible for inhibiting tumour growth was nylon-wool adherent, probably CP-activated macrophages.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Characterization of the normal lymphocyte population cytolytic to Burkitt's lymphoma cells of the EB2 cell line.

The normal human lymphocyte population which exhibits "spontaneous" cytolysis of EB2 Burkitt's lymphoma cells has been characterized. The effector cell has EA and EAC' receptors but lacks E receptors and probably surface Ig. "Spontaneous" anti-EB2 cytotoxicity was not reduced by preincubation of the effector cells with plastic or iron carbonyl or by passage through cotton wool or agarose columns but was reduced by passage through nylon wool columns. Thymocytes were not cytotoxic to EB2 cells, and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells (of B cell characteristics) had reduced cytotoxicity compared with normal lymphocytes. Cells from various lymphoid organs of rats and guinea-pigs were also cytotoxic to EB2 cells with reactivity in spleen greater than or equal to blood greater than lymph nodes. Spleen cells from neonatally thymectomized rats had increased cytotoxicity compared with normal rat spleen cells, suggesting that T lymphocytes are not essential. The effector cell in rat spleen did not adhere to cotton wool or agarose columns, indicating some resemblance to its counterpart in human peripheral blood.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Babesia microti in mice. Adoptive transfer of immunity with serum and cells.

Protection against infection with Babesia microti in mice was passively transferred with either serum or cells. Immune spleen cells were more effective than were immune mesenteric lymph node (MLN) cells in reducing parasitaemias in recipient mice, and the level of protection correlated with the donor to recipient ratio rather than with the number of cells transferred. Protection against primary infection in recipient mice was adoptively transferred by nylon wool adherent, B cell enriched subpopulations of spleen cells. In contrast, higher peak parasitaemias were apparent in mice which received nylon wool non-adherent, T enriched spleen cells in comparison with the control mice. However, if the recipient mice were reinfected, control of this second infection was greatest in the recipients of the T enriched cell subpopulation. Treatment of the protective nylon wool adherent, B cell subpopulation with anti-theta serum and complement abolished both the protective effect and the anamnestic antibody response in the recipient mice. This suggested that primed T cells controlled the expression of the protective antibody response by primed B cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Combined negative and positive selection of mobilized CD34 blood cells.

We tested four negative and two positive selection methods for separation of CD34+ cells from mobilized blood cells, and analysed fold-enrichment, purity and recovery of CD34+ cells after selection procedures. The elimination of mature CD34- cells was achieved by adhesion to nylon-wool fibre (5.9 +/- 1.0 mean fold-enrichment and 65.2 +/- 2.3 mean recovery of CD34+ cells). Standard or modified Ficoll-Hypaque and Percoll density gradients, as well as phagocytosis with magnetic beads, were less effective in eliminating CD34- cells, both purity and fold-enrichment of CD34+ cells being lower than those obtained with separation by nylon-wool. Both positive selection methods tested. Ceprate and MiniMacs System, generated highly purified CD34+ cell populations ranging from 80% to 90%. The recovery of CD34+ cells was optimal with MiniMacs (77.9 +/- 3.6) and low with Ceprate (28.8 +/- 2.8). Based on these results, in two large-scale experiments we combined nylon-wool fibre and MiniMacs System in a two-step separation procedure obtaining a 36.9 +/- 2.6 mean fold-enrichment and a 50.5 +/- 0.3 mean recovery of CD34+ cells. In this way we achieved optimal enrichment and recovery of CD34+ cells, with a substantial saving of cost compared to either selection method alone.

Antigens, CD34↗
PubMed2001

Atypical retinal microvasculopathy after bone marrow transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: Typical early ischaemic retinal microvascular changes with cotton wool spots after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) are well recognised. In the study an atypical non-ischaemic late retinopathy is described. METHODS: Sequential cases of late retinal microvasculopathy following allogeneic BMT were reviewed. Demographic features and clinical and angiographic data were collected. RESULTS: Of 399 patients undergoing allogeneic BMT between 1992 and 1999, eight eyes of four patients developed atypical retinopathy. All patients were male and the age range was 27-50 (mean 37.5) years. The indications for BMT were acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (two patients), chronic myeloid leukaemia (one patient) and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (one patient). Two patients had conditioning regimens including irradiation. All had cyclosporine and methotrexate as graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis. All but one had cyclophosphamide and busulphan as conditioning treatment. One had interferon. No patients had sustained hypertension or diabetes mellitus. Atypical retinopathy was identified 13-62 (mean 50) months after BMT and clinical features consisted of microaneurysms (MA; 4/4), hard exudates (1/4) and macular oedema (1/4). No patient had cotton wool spots. The median acuity was 6/5. Angiographic features were MA (4/4), late leak (2/4) and peripheral (1/4) or central (1/4) ischaemia. One patient underwent focal photocoagulation for macular oedema. CONCLUSION: Retinal microvascular incompetence (without cotton wool spots) with good vision may occur in a small number of patients as a late complication of allogeneic BMT

Adult↗
PubMed1991

White cell depletion of red cell and pooled random-donor platelet concentrates by filtration and residual lymphocyte subset analysis.

This study comparing the relative white cell (WBC)-depleting efficiency of single and double filtration used two filters and new, sensitive, and reliable methods for performing WBC counts on WBC-depleted blood products. A single filtration of red cell (RBC) concentrates with a cotton-wool filter reduced WBC content by 98.64 percent, but the range of residual WBCs was wide, and many filtered units still contained more than the theoretical immunizing dose of 5 to 10 x 10(6) WBCs. A second filtration, however, always produced RBC units that had less than 5 x 10(6) WBCs. Although the degree of WBC depletion observed after a single filtration of a 6-unit pool of random-donor platelet concentrates was greater with a polyester filter than with the cotton-wool filter (98.92 vs. 98.14% reduction, respectively, when mean prefiltration WBC count was less than 600 x 10(6], in both cases, 25 percent of filtered products still contained greater than 5 x 10(6) WBCs; a second filtration (with the cotton-wool filter), however, produced units that were always below the immunizing dose. All double-filtered platelet concentrates had less than 10(6), and one-half had less than 10(4) residual WBCs. Platelet loss was similar with both filters (+/- 16% loss with one filtration). The effectiveness of the filters in producing products that were WBC-depleted below the immunizing dose was dependent on the prefiltration WBC content (but not on the age of the units), and it may be worthwhile to employ methods to ensure that total prefiltration WBC count of the product is less than 400 x 10(6).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed2004

[Reversible Perimacular Retinopathy by Long-Time Interferon alpha Therapy].

BACKGROUND: Recently interferon therapy has become increasingly important in the treatment of viral and malignant diseases. Subsequently, a variety of adverse effects of interferon use has been reported. Ocular complications following interferon therapy include retinal ischaemia with cotton wool spots, retinal haemorrhages, capillary nonperfusion, vasospasm, and arteriolar occlusion. CASE REPORT: A 37-year old male complained about increasingly blurred vision in his right eye. Because of a chronic type B hepatitis he has been treated with interferon alpha for a total of 35 weeks. Visual acuity was slightly reduced (OD cc 0.9, OS cc 1.0 p). Dilated fundus examination and fluorescein angiography showed an incipient ischaemic retinopathy with perimacular arteriolar alterations in both eyes and single cotton wool spots in his right eye. Perimetry showed a slight reduction of the mean deviation. Amsler-grid did not show any pathology. As the retinopathy was thought to be related to the interferon treatment, it was decided to discontinue this therapy immediately. 2 weeks later visual acuity was improved (OD cc 1.25 p, OS cc 1.0) and dilated fundus examination showed no signs of perimacular ischaemic retinopathy and the initial cotton wool spots had been resolved. CONCLUSION: In patients with long-time interferon treatment non-specific visual complaints like blurred vision or dark spots might be symptoms of an early ischaemic retinopathy. Retinal alterations might be reversible if treatment is discontinued. If an ischaemic retinopathy is present it should be considered to abandon interferon therapy, since permanent loss of vision has been described in advanced capillary non-perfusion and arteriolar occlusion. However, the decision to discontinue the interferon therapy should be made interdisciplinary while considering diagnosis and therapy indication.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

[Health significance of inhaled particles].

Particulates refer to particles, dust, dirt, soot and aerosol mists that has suspended in the surrounding air. They may consist of solids of various forms including fibres or liquids. Long term exposure to silicon dioxide containing dusts (crystalline silica: quartz, tridymite, cristobalite, coesite, stishovite) may cause pneumoconiosis in the form of acute or/either chronic silicosis. Asbestos refers to a divers family of crystalline hydrated fibrous siliates typically exhibiting a greater tha 3:1 length ot diameter ratio. It is subdivided into serpentine (Chrysotile) and amphibole (crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite, tremolite, actinolite). Exposure to asbestos fibres may cause lung fibrosis and promote cancer of the lung or the pleura. Besides the induction of malignant diseases dust exposure may result in obstructive as well as restrictive lung diseases which may be compensate in case of the recognition as a occupational diseases. Other occupational exposures leading to pneumoconiosis are caused be talc, or metals including aluminium containing dusts. Also the group of man-made mineral (MMMFs) or vitreous fibres (MMVFs), including glass wool, rock wool, slag wool, glass filaments, microfibres, refractory ceramic fibres are bioactive under certain experimental conditions. Although it has been shown that MMMFs may cause malignancies when injected intraperitoneally in high quantities in rodents, inhalation trials and human studies could not reproduce these results in the same precision. Fine particles (particulate matter = PM) comprise one of the most widespread and harmful air pollutants in the industrialized world. PM may cause worsening of asthma and other respiratory diseases, reduce lung function development in children, potentially increased the risk of premature death in the elderly and enhance mortality from cardiac diseases. Because of the small size PM2.5 is seen to be even more hazardous than PM10.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Investigation of bites and itching in a word processing department.

This study investigated arthropod and nonarthropod sources of reported bites and itching in a word processing division of a St. Louis, Mo., municipal department. Bird and rodent mites were suspected as causes of the bites because of the large population of pigeons around window ledges on some floors and the sighting of mice in the office. No mites or other arthropods were found to be responsible for the problem. Air samples were negative for fiber glass. Surface-vacuum samples collected around desks contained small quantities or traces of fiber glass or mineral wool. Humidity in the occupied space was considered low, about 35% relative humidity, with carbon dioxide measurements exceeding 1000 ppm. A single cause of the bites was not identified; however, a combination of surface-borne dust on desk tops and floors, the presence of minute quantities of mineral wool and fiber glass, relatively dry conditions, little or no outdoor air supplied to the work space, evidence of seasonally associated high work load, labor/management strife, and the presence of over 17 computers being used on a 24-hour basis (possibly leading to high levels of static electricity) were suspected as multiple causes of most of the "bites." After removal of loose mineral wool and dirt from an air handling unit and implementation of an aggressive cleaning routine, no more bites or itching were reported after a 6-month, 1- and 2-year follow-up period. Further research is needed to determine the relative importance of surface-borne dust and fibers, work stress, psychosocial support, and static electric fields, to produce bite-like sensations.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

An evaluation of a modified preventive drenching programme on commercial sheep farms.

The effectiveness of a commonly advocated five drench preventive drenching programme in lambs was assessed on nine farms in the Gisborne, Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa districts between December 1983 and March 1985. The productive performance of two groups of preventively drenched lambs was compared with lambs in which parasitism was suppressed by fortnightly drenching from weaning until mid-August 1984. One of the groups received the standard five drench programme commencing at weaning and finishing in March 1984. The other group received six additional 4-weekly drenches, with the last drench in mid-August 1984. All the other lambs on the farms were drenched according to the five drench programme. The availability of infective larvae on pasture and the build-up of parasitic infection in the lambs was monitored. The effects of the different drenching programmes on liveweight and faecal egg counts was followed until March 1985, when the animals were 18 months old. Between March and July 1984 on all nine farms there was a significant depression of growth rates of the standard five drench group when compared with the suppression-drenched group (P<0.01). The mean liveweight difference from December 1983 to July 1984 for all farms was 4.0 kg (P<0.05). Hogget wool weights were significantly depressed (mean difference 0.37 kg, P<0.05). Faecal egg counts rose steadily after the completion of the five drench programme in March, exceeding 1000 eggs per gram on seven farms and 4000 eggs per gram on three of these farms. Trichostrongylus spp. was the major constituent of the winter parasite increase except on one farm when Cooperia spp. succeeded a previous Haemonchus dominance. Two farms had major build-ups of Haemonchus spp., one in early May, the other in June. Six farms salvage-drenched the standard five drench groups. The lambs in the standard drench groups on these farms recovered about half the bodyweight difference between August and March. The mean weight gains to July and wool weights of the modified drench programme groups were reduced slightly compared with the suppression-drenched group (mean liveweight difference 1.4 kg; mean wool weight difference 0.15 kg). No major rises in faecal egg counts occurred. Herbage larval counts exceeded 1000 larvae/kg at some stage on seven farms and, of these, the counts exceeded 4000 larvae/kg on three farms.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1977

Evidence for contractile protein translocation in macrophage spreading, phagocytosis, and phagolysosome formation.

Macrophage pseudopodia that surround objects during phagocytosis contain a meshwork of actin filaments and exclude organelles. Between these pseudopodia at the base of developing phagosomes, the organelle exclusion ceases, and lysosomes enter the cell periphery to fuse with the phagosomes. Macrophages also extend hyaline pseudopodia on the surface of nylon wool fibers and secrete lysosomal enzymes into the extracellular medium instead of into phagosomes. To analyze biochemically these concurrent alterations in cytoplasmic architecture, we allowed rabbit lung macrophages to spread on nylon wool fibers and then subjected the adherent cells to shear. This procedure caused the selective release of beta-glucoronidase into the extracellular medium and yielded two fractions, cell bodies and isolated pseudopod blebs resembling podosomes, which are plasma-lemma-bounded sacs of cortical cytoplasm. Cytoplasmic extracts of the cell bodies eluted from nylon fibers contained two-thirds less actin-binding protein and myosin, and approximately 20 percent less actin and two-thirds of the other two proteins were accounted for in podosomes. The alterations in protein composition correlated with assays of myosin-associated EDTA-activated adenosine triphosphatase activity, and with a diminution in the capacity of extracts of nylon wool fiber-treated cell bodies to gel, a property dependent on the interaction between actin-binding protein and F-actin. However, the capacity of the remaining actin in cell bodies to polymerize did not change. We propose that actin-binding protein and myosin are concentrated in the cell cortex and particularly in pseudopodia where prominent gelation and syneresis of actin occur. Actin in the regions from which actin-binding protein and myosin are displaced disaggregates without depolymerizing, permitting lysosomes to gain access to the plasmalemma. Translocation of contractile proteins could therefore account for the concomitant differences in organelle exclusion that characterize phagocytosis.

Actins↗
PubMed1986

Experimental systemic amyloidosis induced by immunization with syngeneic organ extracts in mice.

Systemic amyloidosis was induced consistently in mice by intramuscular injection of syngeneic organ (liver and kidney) extracts mixed with CFA six times at weekly intervals. Syngeneic organ extract with CFA also induced amyloidosis of a lesser degree. All three strains of mice (C57BL/6, C3H/He, and BALB/c) injected with a syngeneic liver extract mixed with CFA developed systemic amyloidosis; the most prominent amyloid deposition occurred in C57BL/6 (B6) mice, followed by C3H/He and BALB/c. The amyloid substance deposited in these animals was identified as mouse amyloid A protein (AA). Furthermore, an organ specificity of the immunogen in inducing amyloidosis was suggested with liver and kidney extracts. Primed spleen cells of the immunized B6 mice were fractionated by a nylon-wool column and injected to normal recipient mice via the tail vein. Organs of the recipient mice developed systemic amyloidosis 8 wk after the transfer, and the most prominent histological changes occurred in the recipient mice given nylon-wool column adherent spleen cells. Using anti-Thy-1,2; Ly-1; Ly-2, antibody and complement, it was suggested that T cells, especially Ly-1,2,3+ T cell populations in the primed nylon-wool adherent cells, play an important role in the induction of systemic amyloidosis. It was shown further that the amyloidosis-inducing substance in liver extract was composed of unstable proteins or protein-bound substance.

Amyloidosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Identification and quantification of phencyclidine pyrolysis products formed during smoking.

As a result of frequent phencyclidine (PCP) abuse, pyrolysis studies were conducted to further investigate its fate during smoking. Marijuana placebo cigarettes were impregnated with 3H-PCP X HCI and burned under conditions simulating smoking. Mainstream smoke was passed through glass wool filters as well as acidic and basic traps. Approximately 90% of the starting material could be accounted for in the first glass wool trap and cigarette holder. HPLC and GC/MS analysis of methanol extracts of these glass wool traps revealed the presence of 1-phenyl-1-cyclohexene (47% of the starting material) greater than PCP (40%) greater than piperidine (15%) greater than N-acetylpiperidine (9%). It was not possible to fully account for the remainder of the piperidine moiety. It has been reported that at high temperatures PCP is converted to numerous polynuclear aromatic compounds which include styrene, alpha-methylstyrene, naphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, biphenyl, cyclohexylbenzene, acenaphthene, phenanthrene, and anthracene. These compounds were not formed from PCP under smoking conditions.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pyrolytic fate of piperidinocyclohexanecarbonitrile, a contaminant of phencyclidine, during smoking.

The pyrolysis products of 1-(1-piperidino)cyclo-hexanecarbonitrile (PCC), the major contaminant of illicit phencyclidine (PCP), have not been previously reported. In order to quantify PCC in mainstream smoke as well as to identify the pyrolysis products, [3H]piperidino-[14C]cyano-PCC was synthesized. Marijuana placebo cigarettes were impregnated with this double-labeled PCC and burned with an apparatus that simulated smoking. The mainstream smoke was passed through a series of traps containing glass wool, H2SO4, or NaOH. Approximately 75% of the 3H was collected in these traps, and 46, 11, and 5% of the 14C was found in the glass wool, H2SO4, and NaOH traps, respectively. Contents of the traps were analyzed by GC/MS. The glass wool trap contained 1-(1-piperidino)-1-cyclo-hexene, PCC, piperidine, and N-acetylpiperidine, and cyanide ion was detected in all three traps. Approximately 47% of the PCC was found intact in mainstream smoke. Approximately 58% was cleaved to form cyanide and 1-(1-piperidino)-1-cyclohexene. The latter was further broken down to cyclohexanone (which represented 21% of the starting material), piperidine (29%), and N-acetylpiperidine (7%), and about 2% remained intact.

Drug Contamination↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Studies on tail length of Rambouillet and Mouflon sheep.

Data are presented on tail length of various breeds or crosses of sheep and various combinations of Mouflon X Rambouillet breeding. Mouflons sheep had 11 coccygeal vertebrae, and Rambouillet had 18-24. Others were intermediate between these types. Finewool sheep (Merino or Rambouillet) had longer tails than medium wool (Dorset, Suffolk or Hampshire), crossed, or Rambouillet breeds. Heritability estimates for tail length of Rambouillet were 0.387 (intra-sire regression), 0.344 (half-sib method), and 0.706 for inter se matings in a population containing some Mouflon breeding. In the Rambouillet breed, tail length was shown to be correlated with various measures of wool production. However, this relationship was low and only wool covering and staple length were significant. The significance of this to the development of long tails in animals under domestication is discussed.

Animals↗