Body composition and metabolic profiles associated with puberty in beef heifers

Rapid growth large frame (RL, n = 61) or average growth medium frame (AM, n = 71) biotype heifers fed to achieve either moderate (MOD, .6 kg/d) or high ADG (HI, 1.0 kg/d) were used to determine whether puberty occurs at similar body composition or metabolic status. A heifer was considered pubertal after being detected in estrus and then forming a functional corpus luteum. Live animal estimates of body composition and blood samples for assessment of metabolic status were taken at 13 +/- .2 d after estrus for all heifers. Body composition and metabolic status were assessed every 56 d from 7 mo of age until puberty in a subset of 80 heifers representing all biotype-diet combinations. At puberty, 32 of these 80 heifers were slaughtered and physical and chemical composition of the empty body were determined. High-gain diet heifers were younger, heavier, taller, and more muscular (all P < .01) at puberty than MOD heifers. Slaughter measurements paralleled live animal estimates; bodies of HI and RL heifers contained more (P < .01) carcass and noncarcass components than those of MOD and AM heifers, respectively. Carcasses of RL and HI heifers were more (P < .05) muscular and fatter than AM and MOD heifers. At puberty, HI heifers had a greater (P < .01) mass of moisture, fat, and fat-free organic matter (FFOM) than MOD, whereas RL heifers had more moisture, ash, and FFOM than AM. Percentage of fat was greater (22.1 +/- 1.0 vs 1.0 vs 19.1 +/- 1.0; P < .05) and percentage of moisture was less (55.4 +/- .6 vs 58.1 +/- .6; P < .01) in bodies of HI than in those of MOD heifers. Concentrations of blood urea nitrogen and insulin were greater (P < .05) in HI than in MOD heifers. Diet did not influence concentration of IGF-I or glucose, and metabolic markers were unaffected by biotype. No dramatic changes in body composition or metabolic signals were detected before puberty. Puberty did not occur at similar body composition or metabolic status in all heifers.     

Plasma progesterone in heifers treated with prednisolone during the oestrous cycle

The purpose of the trial was to investigate the effect of prednisolone treatment during pro-oestrus and oestrus on the ovarian function in heifers. Four heifers were treated daily with 30 mg prednisolone i.m. per 100 kg body weight from pro-oestrus until ovulation was palpated. Treatment with prednisolone did not appear to have any effect on the length of the follicular phase or on ovulation. In three of the treated heifers, the urinary excretion of oestrous behaviour was normal but in the remaining heifer the excretion of oestrogen was found to be lower and oestrous behaviour weakly expressed. The effects of corticosteroids on the follicular phase, ovulation and oestrous behaviour in different species are discussed.     

Inhibition of ovarian follicular development associated with a decrease in luteinizing hormone levels during the estrous cycle of the rat

The orientation of microtubules (MTs) was examined in epidermal cells of azuki bean (Vigna angular is Ohwi et Ohashi) epicotyls. The orientation of MTs adjacent to the outer tangential wall of the cells, which has a crossed polylamellate structure with lamellae of longitudinal cellulose microfibrils alternating with lamellae of transverse cellulose microfibrils, differed from one cell to another. Treatment with an auxin-free solution caused the accumulation of cells with longitudinal MTs and subsequent treatment with a solution that contained auxin resulted in the accumulation of cells with transverse MTs, showing that sequential treatments with auxin-free and auxin-containing solutions can synchronize the reorientation of MTs. The MTs, once reoriented from longitudinal to transverse, returned to longitudinal and then back to transverse once again, the duration of the cycle being about 6h. Gibberellic acid, known to increase the percentage of cells with transverse MTs, promoted reorientation of MTs from longitudinal to transverse and inhibited that from transverse to longitudinal. Cytochalasin D, an agent that disrupts actin filaments, speeded up the reorientation from transverse to longitudinal and slowed down that from longitudinal to transverse. It caused an increase in the percentage of cells with MTs in mixed orientation, and the percentage of such cells was highest when the percentage of cells with longitudinal MTs was decreasing and that of cells with transverse MTs was increasing.     

Variations in uterine innervation during the estrous cycle in rat

Uterine innervation undergoes profound remodeling during puberty, pregnancy, and after parturition. However, the extent to which uterine innervation may change during the estrous cycle is uncertain. The objective of the present study was to determine whether nerve fiber density of the uterine horn is altered during the estrous cycle and, if so, which subpopulations are affected. Immunostaining for the pan-neuronal marker protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 revealed fibers within the vascular zone, myometrium, and endometrium, with greater density in the ovarian and cervical regions than in the middle. In most structures, nerve density was reduced during estrus. This could not be accounted for by increased target volume, as the reduction in longitudinal muscle innervation persisted after correction for changes in target size. Immunostaining for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-immunoreactive parasympathetic nerves revealed fibers associated predominantly with the vascular zone and circular muscle within the cervical region. No cyclical variation was detected. Calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive nerves were present within all structures, and density was highest at the ovarian end. These fibers also did not vary significantly through estrous. Dopamine beta-hydroxylase-immunoreactive sympathetic nerves innervated all structures, with greater density in the ovarian end. These fibers were reduced substantially during estrus, but the decline was also significant in proestrus, thus preceding that detected by using the pan-neuronal marker. We conclude that the estrous cycle in rat is accompanied by structural remodeling of sympathetic nerves by way of retraction or degeneration of terminal fibers during estrus. The structural loss of the terminal axon apparently is preceded by depletion of catecholamine-synthesizing enzyme.     

Spontaneous and prostaglandin- or oxytocin-induced motility of rat ovaries isolated during different stages of the estrous cycle: effects of norepinephrine

Ovaries isolated from rats in different stages of the sex cycle were explored for spontaneous or drug-induced contractile activity. The number of spontaneously active ovaries as well as the magnitude of the isometrically developed tension and frequency of contractions were greater during the periovulatory interval (late proestrus and estrus) than during early proestrus or metestrus. Furthermore, during estrus or late proestrus the left ovaries exhibited a mechanical activity significantly greater than that of the right ovaries. The oxytocin-triggered motility was clearly more marked immediately prior to ovulation (late proestrus) and greater in left ovaries than in right ovaries. In contrast, the contractions induced by prostaglandin F2alpha were similar during early proestrus and late proestrus. Ovarian contractile reactivity to norepinephrine indicated the presence in the tissue of alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors. During early proestrus this agent stimulated the motility of left and right ovaries, whereas close to the ovulatory interval (late proestrus) it depressed the contractions of left ovaries. This last influence was blocked by propranolol. The existence of a close relationship between ovarian contractile activity and ovulation is reinforced by the present results in the rat. A tentative participation of oxytocin is also suggested. In addition, the influences of other possible regulatory agents of ovarian contraction, such as catecholamines and prostaglandins, are presented and discussed.     

Electric activity of the rat myometrium in vivo during the estrous cycle

Electric activity of the uterus was recorded by 6 chronically implanted wire electrodes in 17 unrestrained 5-day cycling rats. Results obtained during 196 h of recording revealed consistent changes in frequency, amplitude, temporal pattern and in direction and distance of propagation of electric activity. In estrus, bursts were short and of variable amplitude and frequency, while in metestrus bursts had high amplitude, longer duration and regular frequency. The activity decreased from metestrus to the first diestrous day and still more to the second diestrous day. In diestrus and proestrus long bursts appeared once to twice within an hour. In proestrus the morning level of activity was still low, but high at night, when it resembled the activity in estrus. Electric activity spread in both directions but with a higher frequency in the cervical direction in all phases of the cycle. Cervical electric activity appeared in synchrony with that of the uterine body and did not differ from it in type.     

Acetylcholine-induced relaxation of rat aorta is greatest during estrus in the sexual cycle

This report describes NeuroPage, a simple and portable paging system, developed in California by the engineer father of a son with head injury working together with a neuropsychologist. Using an ABA single case experimental design, the efficacy of NeuroPage was evaluated with 15 neurologically impaired subjects all of whom had significant everyday memory problems because of organic memory impairment or because of problems with planning and organisation consequent on frontal lobe damage. Data were analysed with an odds ratio test which takes into account different underlying success rates for each target and calculates an average improvement factor. This test showed a significant improvement between the baseline and the treatment phases for each subject (P<0.05).     

Cytosolic estrogen receptor concentrations in the lumbosacral spinal cord fluctuate during the estrous cycle

Estrogen responsive neurons have been anatomically identified with autoradiographic and immunohistochemical techniques and their distribution mapped in the lumbosacral spinal cord of female rats. Such neurons contain estrogen receptors (ERs). The present study was undertaken to: 1) quantify cytosolic estrogen receptor (ER) concentrations in the lumbosacral spinal cord and 2) determine if there is a relationship between cytosolic ER concentrations and fluctuations in serum estradiol (SE2) levels during the estrous cycle. Lumbosacral spinal segments were removed from intact cycling rats during the morning of proestrus, the afternoon of proestrus, and the morning of estrus, metestrus and diestrus. Trunk blood was collected at euthanasia and SE2 levels were determined using radioimmunoassay. Cytosolic ER concentrations were measured using a dextran-charcoal coated tube method. Concentrations of cytosolic ERs were low during estrus and metestrus, increased during diestrus with maximum concentrations during the afternoon of proestrus. These changes in ER concentrations paralleled SE2 levels measured in intact cycling animals; i.e., during estrus SE2 levels were low, but began to rise during metestrus, diestrus, and during the morning of proestrus with a maximum peak increase during the afternoon of proestrus. These data indicate there are fluctuations of cytosolic ER concentrations during the estrous cycle and that these changes coincide with changing SE2 concentrations suggesting that ER content is influenced by SE2.     

Effects of oxytocin on in vitro ovarian contractility during the estrous cycle of the rat

Necrotizing skin lesions developed in a man with chronic ulcerative colitis. No evidence of intrinsic disease of medium or small-sized vessels was found. A circulating cryofibrinogen was thought to be responsible for in situ thrombosis leading to skin infarctions. Sodium warfarin in a daily dose of 2.5 to 5 mg appears to have thwarted progression of developing lesions and the occurrence of new ones.     

Patterns of follicular development during the estrous cycle in monovular Merino del Paris ewes

Growth and regression of ovarian follicles with antral diameters > or = 2 mm were characterized during 15 estrous cycles by daily transrectal ultrasonography (7.5 MHz probe) in 9 ewes of Merino del Pais, a consistently monovular Spanish breed. Mean interovulatory interval was 17.5 +/- 0.5 days and ovulation rate was 1 in all ewes; of 60 to 116 follicles, > or = 2 mm observed during the entire estrous cycle, 13.0 +/- 1.2 reached a maximum diameter > or = 4 mm and 7.9 +/- 0.6 different follicles became the largest follicle in the animal at some point during the cycle. An average of 4.5 new follicles per ewe were detected each day, with no significant effect of day of cycle. Appearance of new follicles that grew to > or = 4 mm tended to differ during the first 8 days of the cycle, being highest on day 3 and lowest on day 6 (P < 0.10), but did not vary significantly during the last 6 days. Growth of new follicles from the day of detection to the next day differed between, but not within, periods, averaging 1.4 +/- 0.3 mm of the first 8 days of the cycle and 1.8 +/- 0.5 mm from day -6 through -1 (P < 0.05). Total number of follicles > or = 2 mm per ovary on days 1 through 8 varied with the interaction of ovary by day, being more variable in the non-CL ovary. During the last 7 days, a linear decline in total follicles was coupled with a linear increase in number of large follicles (P < 0.05). Differences in the size between the largest and second largest follicles were greater on days 5 through 8 than on days 1 through 4, did not differ with day of cycle on days -6 through -1, then increased on the last day from 1.5 mm to 2.9 mm (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the monovular Merino del Pais ewe showed a more rapid growth and turnover of ovarian follicles than other breeds studied, but identified 3-mm follicles did not emerge in other than a random distribution. There was little evidence of dominance until the ovulatory follicle had been identified.     

Selection, dominance and atresia of follicles during the oestrous cycle of heifers

This study examined the correlation between measurement of follicle growth by ultrasound, and measurement of intrafollicular ratios of oestradiol and progesterone concentrations and the serum concentrations of FSH during selection, dominance and atresia or ovulation of dominant follicles in heifers. Heifers were ovariectomized on days 0 (before LH surge), 1 (after LH surge, preovulation), 1 (postovulation), 3, 6 and 12 of the oestrous cycle. Blood samples were collected at 4-6 h intervals. After ovariectomy all follicles > or = 5 mm were measured and follicular fluid was aspirated. Follicles were classified by size according to ultrasound (F1, largest; F2, second largest; F3, all remaining follicles > or = 5 mm) and by the ratio of oestradiol:progesterone concentrations. During the follicular phase, a single dominant oestrogen-active follicle increased in diameter while serum concentrations of LH increased and FSH decreased (P < 0.05). On day 1 (after LH surge, preovulation), serum LH and FSH decreased to pre-surge concentrations (P < 0.0001), while follicle size and intrafollicular progesterone concentration increased and oestradiol concentration decreased (P < 0.05). A dominant nonovulatory follicle, classified as oestrogen-active on days 1, 3 and 6 and oestrogen-inactive on day 12, increased in size from day 1 to day 7 and lost dominance during days 10-12, coincident with the growth of multiple oestrogen-active follicles. The serum FSH concentration increased transiently (P < 0.05) before each new wave of dominant follicular growth. The overall correlation of ultrasound measurements of follicle diameter with measures of follicle size after ovariectomy was high.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Changes in equine endometrial retinol-binding protein RNA during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy and with exogenous steroids

A cDNA library was constructed from poly(A) RNA obtained from Day 14 nonbred equine endometrium. A cDNA probe for porcine retinol-binding protein (RBP) was used to screen the library, and a complete cDNA sequence (1133 bp, excluding the poly(A) tail) was obtained. Endometrial biopsies were obtained from cycling, nonbred mares at Days 0, 1, 4, 8, 10, 11, 13, and 15 and from pregnant mares at Days 11, 13, 15, and 17 after ovulation (n = 2 mares each day). Endometrial biopsies were also taken from 18 noncycling anestrous mares after the following treatments: C (vehicle control for 1 day, n = 3), E (estradiol-17 valerate, 5 mg/day for 6 days, n = 3), P (progesterone, 250 mg/day for 6 days, n = 4), ESP (E for 6 days followed by, P for 6 days, n = 4), and ELP (E for 6 days followed by P for 12 days, n = 4). Northern blot analyses were performed on total RNA (30 micrograms) using cDNA probes to equine (e) RBP and human glyceraldehyde-3 phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PDH). The RBP RNA levels (normalized to G3PDH) from nonbred mares were low during early diestrus and increased after Day 10, and RBP RNA levels from pregnant mares were similar to those of nonbred mares for corresponding days. E tended to decrease endometrial RBP RNA; and P, ESP, and ELP increased it compared to C. There were no significant differences among P, ESP, and ELP RBP RNA levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Reproductive hormonal responses to ergotamine and ergonovine in cows during the luteal phase of the estrous cycle

We report the abnormal albumin in members of a Thai family that presented with high serum total T3 but not T4 when measured by radioimmunoassay. In contrast, total T3 values were very low when measured by ELISA and chemiluminescence. The subjects have no goiter, and clinically euthyroid. Their serum free T4, free T3, and TSH were normal. Spiking of T3 to affected serum showed good recovery by radioimmunoassay, but very poor recovery by ELISA and by chemiluminescence. The immunoprecipitation with labeled T3 bound to albumin showed high percent precipitation in affected serum. T3-binding studies showed that the association constant of serum albumin in affected subjects was 1.5 x 10(6) M-1 or 40-fold that of unaffected relatives of 3.9 x 10(4) M-1. In contrast, the Ka of HSA for T4 in an affected subject was only 1.5-fold that of a normal. Albumin complementary DNA from leukocytes of affected member was amplified and sequenced. We found the second nucleotide of normal codon 66 (CTT), a thymine, was substituted by a cytosine (CCT), resulting in the replacement of the normal leucine by proline. This is the first report of variant albumin causing familial dysalbuminemic hypertriiodothyroninemia.     

Pulsatile release of LH and secretion of ovarian steroids in sheep during the luteal phase of the estrous cycle

The concentration of LH and progesterone in jugular venous plasma and the secretion of steroids by the ovary were measured every 10 minutes for 2 hours on days 12, 14, and 16 of the estrous cycle in 5 ewes with utero-ovarian autotransplants. A pulse of LH occurred about once every 2 hours, when the concentration rose from a basal level of 0.57 +/- 0.08 ng/ml to a peak of 2.97 +/- 0.57 ng/ml. Within 5 minutes of the pulse of LH, the secretion of estradiol (an exclusive product of the follicle) rose rapidly from a basal level of 0.75 +/- 0.12 ng/min to reach a peak value of 2.16 +/- 0.33 ng/min in about 30 minutes. In contrast, the secretion of progesterone from the corpus luteum, and the concentration of progesterone in the peripheral plasma changed very little following the pulse of LH. The secretion of androstenedione, which arises from the follicle and corpus luteum, increased from 3.03 +/-0.75 ng/min to 7.85 +/- 1.78 ng/min by 30 minutes after the pulse of LH. These findings indicate that the follicle, and possibly the stroma, respond rapidly to episodic fluctuations in the concentration of LH and are probably involved in the negative feedback loop between the ovary and the hypothalamic pituitary system. The fluctuations in the secretion of progesterone from the corpus luteum, on the other hand, are unrelated to pulses of LH.     

Gangrene of the lung: treatment in two stages

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary gangrene is a rare complication of severe lung infection with devitalization of lung parenchyma and secondary infection. If untreated, gangrene of the lung leads to sepsis, multiple-organ failure, and death. Resection of all gangrenous tissue is mandatory and is lifesaving. Pleural empyema commonly accompanies gangrene of the lung; in its presence, dissection of hilar structures for resection can lead to mediastinitis or bronchopleural fistula and should be avoided. METHODS: Three patients with pulmonary gangrene were treated in two stages: immediate fenestration first and then delayed resection of gangrenous lung in a clean field and immediate closure of the pleural window. RESULTS: Two patients underwent pneumonectomy and 1 patient, lobectomy. All patients recovered without complications. CONCLUSIONS: Creation of a pleural window (fenestration) for 1 week enables safe and curative resection of a gangrenous lung or lobe in a clean field and in a patient in stable condition.     

Identification of matrix metalloproteinases and metalloproteinase inhibitors in bovine corpora lutea and their variation during the estrous cycle

Corpora lutea (CL) were collected from cattle to study key physiologic events in angiogenesis. Our objective was to evaluate the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and endogenous inhibitors. Corpora lutea were collected 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 d (n = 3/d) after estrus was first detected. In zymograms, a band of protein migrating at a relative molecular mass (M(r)) of 98 kDa was increased early in the cycle; a M(r) = 88 kDa band was detectable on all days. The molecular weights of these proteins are consistent with the MMP-9 family members. In all samples, a band of enzyme activity was detected at M(r) = 62 kDa, and another band of lesser density was detected at M(r) = 60 kDa. The molecular weights of these proteins are consistent with the MMP-2 family members. An immunoreactive band, detected in all samples with equal density, migrated between M(r) = 27 and 29 kDa, as did the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1) standard. A second band, which was less dense in samples from d 2 through 6, migrated at M(r) = 19 kDa, as did the TIMP-2 standard. A third band was detected in all samples; it migrated at M(r) = 35 kDa, as did the cartilage-derived inhibitor (CDI) standard, and was less dense in d 8 and d 12 through 16 samples. In summary, MMP (gelatinases) and MMP inhibitors are present in developing luteal tissue, and the M(r) = 98 kDa enzyme, CDI, and TIMP-2 varied during the estrous cycle.     

Oocyte competence for in vitro maturation is associated with histone H1 kinase activity and is influenced by estrous cycle stage in the mare

The in vitro maturation rate of equine oocytes remains low, regardless of culture conditions. Our objective was to determine the reasons for failure of equine oocytes to resume meiosis during in vitro maturation and to ascertain the influence of the estrous cycle stage on meiotic competence. In 10 cyclic mares, 7 ultrasound-guided follicular punctures were performed alternately during the follicular phase (group DF; n = 3 punctures), at the end of the follicular phase (group EF; n = 2), and during the luteal phase (group DL; n = 2). We evaluated the competence of the oocytes for in vitro maturation and measured their maturation-promoting factor activity by histone H1 kinase assay. Puncturing once at the end of the follicular phase and once during the luteal phase, or three times during the follicular phase, yielded about 11 cumulus-oocyte complexes per 22 days. The maturation rate was different between the groups, 51% in group EF, 34% in group DL (p < 0.05), and 15% in group DF (p < 0.01), and it increased with an increase in follicular diameter (p < 0.05). After in vitro culture, the H1 kinase activity was lower in oocytes that remained in germinal vesicle or dense chromatin stages than in oocytes that reached metaphase I or metaphase II (p < 0.05). The H1 kinase activity was not different between oocytes in germinal vesicle stage after in vitro maturation and immature oocytes that were not cultured in vitro, and was higher in preovulatory oocytes that reached metaphase II in vivo than in the oocytes that reached metaphase II after in vitro maturation (p < 0.001). This is the first report on kinase activity in the equine oocyte.