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Biomedical subjects

A B Caudle

Publications and source records attributed to A B Caudle.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Follicular cystic ovaries and cystic endometrial hyperplasia in a bitch.

Treatment of cystic ovaries in a bitch was unsuccessful with human chorionic gonadotropin, but aspiration of the follicles at laparotomy was successful. Follicular aspiration is described, with special emphasis on preventing bursal adhesions. Aspiration of persistent follicles is a simple treatment for cystic ovarian disease that is nonresponsive to parenterally administered hormones. The persistent estrus associated with cystic follicles is a primary cause of cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH) and severe cases of CEH are associated with infertility. Rapid intervention (surgical or hormonal) will limit the severity of CEH and, therefore, decrease infertility in breeding bitches.

Animals

Infertility in a ewe as a result of ovotestis.

A ewe with apparently normal estrous cycles was unable to conceive as a result of a single ovotestis. The ovotestis was diagnosed on the basis of results from laparoscopic examination, human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation, and histologic examination of the gonad. The report reinforces the necessity of considering all causes of infertility in affected sheep, and not simply infective causes.

Animals

Characterization of equine zona pellucida glycoproteins by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunological techniques.

This study was designed to explore the composition of the equine zona pellucida (EZP) by one- and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (1D- and 2D-PAGE), silver staining and immunoblotting techniques. Antral follicles palpable on frozen-thawed equine ovaries were aspirated with a needle and syringe, and the resultant follicular fluid, cellular material and oocytes were pooled. Oocytes were placed in Petri dishes, moved by narrow-bore pipette to droplets of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and mechanically cleaned of cumulus cells. The EZP from these collected oocytes was solubilized, and then analysed by 1D- and 2D-PAGE. Silver stained 2D-PAGE of the EZP revealed the presence of three EZP glycoprotein families of apparent molecular mass ranges of 93-120 kDa, 73-90 kDa and 45-80 kDa. Immunoblot analysis of EZP glycoproteins resolved by 2D-PAGE using rabbit antisera against pig zonae pellucidae (R alpha HSPZ) confirmed the presence of three EZP glycoprotein families and established the existence of common epitopes between equine and porcine ZP glycoproteins. Further immunodetection using 2D-PAGE-separated glycoproteins illustrated that the 45-80 kDa family is recognized by the monoclonal antibody R5, developed against the porcine ZP glycoprotein of molecular mass 55-120 kDa. Guinea-pig antiserum against endo-beta-galactosidase-treated rabbit ZP 55 kDa glycoprotein (R55K), which specifically recognizes the rabbit ZP glycoprotein with the lowest molecular mass, also recognized the EZP 45-80 kDa glycoprotein family. Guinea-pig polyclonal antisera developed against total heat-solubilized rabbit ZP (GP alpha HSRZ) recognized the 73-90 kDa EZP glycoprotein family exclusively. After heat solubilization and treatment of EZP with endo-beta-galactosidase to remove polylactosaminoglycans, silver stained 1D-PAGE again demonstrated the presence of three glycoproteins with apparent molecular masses of 60, 75 and 90 kDa. The partially deglycosylated 60 kDa equine glycoprotein is recognized on immunoblot by the monoclonal antibody R5; the 75 kDa EZP glycoprotein is recognized by GP alpha HSRZ; and all three EZP glycoproteins separated by 1D-PAGE are recognized by R alpha HSPZ. These data add further support to the concept of cross-species zona pellucida glycoprotein antigenicity.

Animals

Influence of endophyte-infected tall fescue on serum prolactin and progesterone in gravid mares.

Thirty mares in late gestation were used in a 3-yr study to assess effects of the tall fescue endophyte Acremonium coenophialum on serum prolactin (PRL) and progesterone. Two paddocks of each treatment, 0 or 100% infected 'Kentucky 31' tall fescue, were grazed by the mares for 21 d. Blood was collected three times per week until parturition. At 7-d intervals, mares were challenged with thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) while grazing and blood was collected postinjection. Mares grazing 100% infected tall fescue (E+) had decreased serum PRL compared with mares grazing the 0% infected tall fescue (E-) in 2 of 3 yr. Within 8 d postgrazing, serum PRL for E+ mares equaled or surpassed values of the E- mares. Serum PRL was not different during the 3rd yr. In response to TRH, serum PRL rate of increase was similar between treatments but remained elevated (P less than .01) in the E+ mares at the 180-, 240-, and 300-min sample times. Serum progesterone was lowered (P less than .05) by E+ but increased to control values within 10 d postgrazing. It is concluded that serum PRL and progesterone in the gravid mare were decreased by the presence of A. coenophialum in 'Kentucky 31' tall fescue grass but normal levels were reestablished within 2 to 3 wk.

Acremonium

Galactosyltransferase activity is restricted to the plasma membranes of equine and bovine sperm.

beta 1, 4-Galactosyltransferase (GalTase) is localized to the plasma membrane of mouse sperm, in which it mediates the binding of sperm to glycoconjugate residues in the egg zona pellucida. In this study, the presence of subcellular distribution of sperm GalTase were determined in two other mammalian species that yield sufficient sperm for subcellular fractionation. Equine and bovine semen were collected, and the plasma membranes (PM), outer acrosomal membranes (OAM), and inner acrosomal membranes (IAM) were sequentially removed. The purities of the isolated membrane preparations were determined by transmission electron microscopy and found to be greater than or equal to 90%, 96%, and 98% for equine PM, OAM, and IAM, respectively, and greater than or equal to 80%, 94%, and 97% for bovine PM, OAM, and IAM, respectively. GalTase activity was assayed under optimal conditions in all membrane preparations and was preferentially localized to the isolated PM both in equine and in bovine spermatozoa. The selective localization of GalTase to the sperm PM in two other species suggest that it may serve as a generalized gamete receptor during initial sperm-egg binding in mammals.

Animals

Equine oocyte in vitro maturation: influences of sera, time, and hormones.

Objectives of the present research were to determine the influences of types of media, sera, time and hormones on equine oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM). The following types of media and sera were evaluated: Menezo's B2 medium (B2), modified Tissue Culture Medium 199 (TCM), Defined Medium (DM), fetal calf serum (FCS), mare serum collected on the first day of estrus (MS), and mare serum collected on the day of ovulation (MSO). Resultant oocyte maturation was compared with the control: DM with bovine serum albumin (BSA). Effect of culture time (0, 15, and 32 hr) and the following hormones on oocyte IVM were evaluated: none, bovine luteinizing hormone (bLH; 1, 10, 100 micrograms/ml), equine luteinizing hormone (eLH; 100 micrograms/ml), bovine follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH; 5 micrograms/ml), and equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG; 1 and 100 IU/ml). Cumulus expansion in the media and sera experiments was 50% (DM with BSA), 80% (TCM, B2, and DM with MS or MSO), and 100% (FCS with any medium). The proportion of metaphase II (MII) oocytes was significantly (P less than 0.05) increased the percentage of MII oocytes as compared with 0 hr of culture. Cumulus expansion in the hormone experiments was 80% (none, bLH, and eLH), and 100% (eCG and FSH). Freshly prepared bLH significantly (P less than 0.05) inhibited nuclear maturation of equine oocytes. In summary, 15 hr of culture was sufficient time for equine oocyte IVM and all combinations of medium, serum, and hormone addition were equally effective in achieving IVM except fresh bLH and DM with BSA.

Animals

Prostaglandin F2 alpha metabolite levels in normal and uterine-infected postpartum cows.

The stable metabolite of prostaglandin F2 alpha,15 keto-13,14-dihydroprostaglandin F2 alpha (PGFM), was measured from peripheral blood samples collected at specified intervals postpartum from 7 normal dairy cows and 4 cows with apparent endometritis. Plasma PFGM levels were significantly (P less than .05) elevated for the first 5 days postpartum in the cows with endometritis (ranging from 4.0 to 5.0 ng/ml) compared to the controls (approximately 1.0 ng/ml). Beyond 5 days postpartum, plasma PGFM levels were not significantly different and decreased to approximately 0.4 ng/ml by day 13 in both groups. Time to uterine involution was not different between groups (less than 30 days). Therefore, uterine infections in cows during the puerperium was associated with elevated circulating PGFM levels. These findings and the observation that PGF2 alpha is not uterotonic in the puerperal cow do not suggest a therapeutic use of PGF2 alpha in order to evacuate the uterus.

Animals

Restraint.

The object of restraint is to limit, restrict, and keep under control the animal's movement while performing different procedures. The author discusses the importance of evaluating the horse and its owner prior to employing any type of restraint, various concepts of restraint, and examples of situations in which restraint may be required.

Animal Communication

Effect of induced prostatic infection on semen quality in the dog.

Chronic Escherichia coli prostatitis was induced in 6 dogs, with 5 sham-operated dogs serving as controls. Semen volume and sperm motility, concentration, and appearance were measured 3 times (every other day) before surgery and 3 times during the 3rd and 5th week after surgery. When values for these collections were compared, using a 2-factor analysis of variance, no significant differences (P greater than 0.05) were found. However, the percentage of normal sperm decreased markedly (from 92% to 61% to 64%) in 2 infected dogs because of an increase in primary (from 6% to 32%) or secondary (from 2% to 28%) sperm abnormalities. Testes from both of these dogs were histologically normal.

Analysis of Variance

Association of blood cholesterol with occurrence of fat necrosis in cows and tall fescue summer toxicosis in steers.

Factors associated with fat necrosis in cows and tall-fescue summer toxicosis in steers were studied. In the cow study, fescue pastures were fertilized, using 3 rates of N: high N (703 to 483 kg and 0 kg of N/ha/year from broiler litter in 1972 to 1974 and 1975, respectively), moderate N, and low N (224 and 74 kg of N/ha/yr from NH4NO3, 1972 to 1975, respectively). Bermuda grass pastures were fertilized at 2 rates of N: moderate N and low N (280 and 20 kg of N/ha/year from NH4NO3, 1972 to 1975, respectively). Fat necrosis developed only in cows grazing tall fescue, with an occurrence of 60%, 8%, and 3% for high-N, moderate-N, and low-N pastures, respectively. Cows grazing the high-N fescue, and to some extent those grazing the moderate-N fescue, had clinical signs of summer fescue toxicosis. Plasma cholesterol concentrations were lowest in cattle grazing the high-N fescue, averaging 114 mg/dl, followed by 134 and 127 mg/dl in cattle grazing the moderate-N and low-N fescue, respectively. In the steer grazing study, 24 paddocks of 0.49 ha each were seeded with tall-fescue lines G1-307 or G1-306 or with tall-fescue cultivars, KY-31 or Kenhy. All paddocks were fertilized with 170 kg of N/ha/year. Serum cholesterol concentrations were lower in steers grazing on G1-307 than in steers grazing on G1-306 or cultivars. Serum total lipids followed a similar trend, with a positive correlation (r = 0.49) between cholesterol and total lipids.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adipose Tissue

Effect of a once-daily suckling program on gastrointestinal parasitism in Angus cows and calves.

Over a 2-year period involving a total of 168 Angus cows and their calves, 2 studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of once-daily suckling on cow reproduction, calf growth, and gastrointestinal parasitism. Experiment I compared 2 restricted suckling (RS) groups with 1 normal suckling (NS) group. Each group consisted of 24 cows with their calves (24 cows-calves/group = 24 cows and 24 calves/group). In the RS groups, suckling by the calves was restricted to once a day for 45 days, and then the calves were allowed to suckle normally throughout the remainder of the experiment. In the NS group, the calves suckled normally throughout the experiment. Experiment II compared 2 groups of RS cow-calves (24 cow-calves/group) with 2 groups of 24 NS cow-calves/group. In experiment I, there were no differences (P less than 0.05) in pregnancy rate or in the average number of nematode eggs/g of feces (epg) between the cows from the 2 treatment groups. The RS calves consistently had higher epg counts than did the NS calves during the 45 days of RS (169 vs 62 epg, P less than 0.05) and from the time of their return to pasture until weaning (266 vs 186 EPG, P = 0.27). The RS calves also had a higher average coccidia oocyst count during the RS period only. In experiment II, RS cows had a higher pregnancy rate (87.6% vs 66.0%, P less than 0.05) and a shorter postpartum interval (83 vs 101 days, P less than 0.05) than did NS cows.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animal Population Groups

Morphometric studies of the bovine uterus: microscopic lesions and retrospective reproductive history.

A survey of reproductive tracts from nonpregnant cows at an abattoir was conducted. Reproductive tracts from 98 cows were studied microscopically and evaluated with a grading system to determine the severity of pathologic changes. Inflammatory reaction (type and distribution), fibrosis, gland morphology, and appearance were measured, quantified, and scored (1 to 4). Category 1 endometrium (normal) was found in 18 cows, category 2 in 23, category 3 in 34, and category 4 in 23. The category of endometrium was then compared with the retrospective reproductive status, and it was found that reproductive problems had occurred in 6 cows (33.3%) in category 1, in 13 cows (56.5%) in category 2, in 25 cows (73.5%) in category 3, and in 21 cows (91.3%) in category 4. Cervicitis was found in 43 (43.8%) genital tracts; 16 cows (16.3%) had salpingitis. Ovarian lesions were not observed. Serum samples were tested for certain antibodies. Only 1 was seropositive for brucellosis, but 61 of 81 sera had leptospira titers greater than 1:100 and 1:50 (hardjo). The serovar hardjo was the most prevalent. All sera had neutralizing titers against parainfluenza type 3 virus; 74.2% and 56.7% of the sera had neutralizing antibodies against bovine viral diarrhea virus and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus, respectively.

Animals

Testosterone concentrations in plasma of dairy cows with ovarian cysts.

Testosterone in plasma was measured by radioimmunoassay in cows with ovarian cysts and in cows during the estrous cycle. Concentrations of testosterone in plasma (60.8 +/- 2.7 pg/ml; mean +/- standard error) in cows with ovarian cysts were variable but within the range in cows during the estrous cycle. Mean concentrations of testosterone in plasma increased from 46.3 pg/ml at estrus to 85.1 pg/ml on day 13 of the estrous cycle. In cows with ovarian cysts, concentrations of testosterone in plasma declined within 24 h following prostaglandin F2 alpha and tended to increase by 9 days following gonadotropin releasing hormone. The role of testosterone in estrual behavior and inhibiting resumption of ovarian cycles is likely minimal.

Animals