The present study is an endeavor for profound exploration about the effects of 2 commonly used molluscicides in Egypt (bayluscide and copper sulfate ) on some reproductive aspects in mature male Albino rats. For this purpose, 180 mature male Albino rats were used. Animals were equally divided into 3 groups; the 1st group was considered as controls administered distilled water while those of the 2nd and 3rd groups were administered distilled water containing 1 / 20 LD50 of either baylucide or copper sulfate every 3 days for 8 successive weeks. The results of the present study revealed that administration of either molluscicides induced a serious drastic decline in the levels of the reproductive hormones; an effect which was not completely reversed after removal of the molluscicide for 8 successive weeks. This disruption upon reproductive hormones was concomitant with a significant deviation of semen parameters represented by a drop in the individual motility concomitant with an increase in dead sperm percentage as well as total sperm abnormalities. Moreover, stoppage of molluscicides administration along 8 successive weeks failed to improve all studied semen parameters. Moreover, evaluation of total antioxidant activity disclosed that application of either bayluscide or copper sulfate resulted in significant reduction in the total antioxidant capacity as compared with the corresponding control values; a finding which persisted after prevention of molluscicides administration along 8 weeks.

Wound healing is a fundamental response to tissue injury and several natural products have been shown to accelerate the healing process. The present study was undertaken to determine the safety and efficacy of the topical treatment of acetone leaf extracts of <em>Combretum imberbe, Combretum nelsonii,Combretum albopuntactum</em> and <em>Terminalia sericea</em> based on their in <em>vitro</em> antimicrobial activity. Four circular full-thickness skin wounds were made on the backs of eight anaesthetised Wistar rats using aseptic techniques. The treatments were administrated topically using 10% and 20% concentrations of each extract in aqueous cream in separate treatments. Indications of erythema, exudate, crust formation,swelling and ulceration were used to determine the wound healing process. All of the wounds closed completely within 17 days. Throughout the experiment, a subcutaneous probe was used to determine that the body temperature and body weight of the rats were within the normal range. <em>C. imberbe</em> and <em>C. nelsonii</em> extracts accelerated wound healing, but there was no significant difference in wound contraction using 10% and 20% concentrations of the extracts in cream. The results also showed the potential usefulness of this model to measure accelerating wound healing.The extracts could perhaps overcome defects associated with healing failure in chronic wounds and prevent secondary bacterial and fungal infections.

The pharmacokinetic aspects of cephradine were studied after intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), subcutaneous (SC) and oral administration of a single dose of 50 mg kg-1 b.wt. in chickens. Tissue distribution and residues of cephradine after repeated oral administration for 5 consecutive days were also estimated. After IV injection of cephradine in a dose of 50 mg kg-1 b.wt., the serum concentration time curves were best described by a two compartment-open model. The drug was rapidly distributed with a distribution half-life (t0.5(α)) of 0.120 h and apparent volume of distribution (Vdss) was 2.187 L kg-1. The drug was rapidly eliminated with a half-life of elimination (t0.5(β)) of 1.047 h and the body clearance (ClB) was 2.35 L kg-1 h-1. The drug was rapidly absorbed after IM, SC and oral administration as indicated by short half-lives of absorption (t0.5(ab)) of 0.154, 0.364 and 0.65 h., respectively. While the elimination half-lives (t0.5(el)) and systemic bioavailabilities were 0.859, 2.652, 1.74 h and 59.386, 84.5, 97.97 %, respectively. Repeated oral administration of cephradine (50 mg kg-1 b.wt twice daily) for 5 consecutive days caused no change in serum enzyme activities of ALT and AST but induced a significant increase in serum uric acid concentration at 72 to 120 hours post administration.

The present study aimed to clarify the light and electron microscopic structure of the prostate gland of mature (one-humped camels) during different seasons of the year. Glands of seventy-two mature healthy animals (5-7 years old) were collected from the Cairo slaughter house during one year, (6 samples each month) and prepared to be studied microscopically by the light and electron microscope. The prostate gland was found to be consisted of an external dorsal part dorsal to the neck of the bladder and an internal part situated in the submucosa of the prostatic urethra. During active season (winter and spring), the corpus prostate was enveloped by a thick fibromuscular capsule which sent septa, to divide the gland into lobules. The parenchyma formed of compound tubuloalveolar adenomeres. The alveoli and tubules were lined by high columnar cells and few basal ones. The acini appeared at different stages of secretory activity (synthesis, storage, secretion and exhaustion). Ultrastructurally, the acinar cells contained well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER), numerous mitochondria and a variable number of secretory granules. The duct system began as central collecting sinuses lined by simple columnar secretory epithelium. The pars interna occurred in the submucosa of the prostatic urethra enveloped by a thick fibro-muscular band. The branched tubuloalveolar parenchyma contained adenomeres lined with simple cuboidal epithelium. During the inactive season (summer and autumn), the stroma showed a marked proliferation of the fibromuscular tissue on the expense of the parenchymatous tissue. The adenomeres became very small or even rudimentary with narrow lumina devoid of secretory materials. Marked reduction in the cytoplasmic organelles with a total absence of the secretory granules was also pronounced.

Male Japanese black bears (Ursus thibetanus japonicus) have an explicit reproductive cycle. The objective of this study was to clarify the variation of plasma testosterone, FSH, inhibin, LH levels and testicular gonadotropin receptor mRNA expression of male bears associated with their testicular activity. Notably, this study investigated peripheral FSH concentration and localization of gonadotropin receptor mRNAs for the first time in male bears. Blood and testicular tissue samples were taken from captive, mature, male Japanese black bears during testicular active, regressive and recrudescent phases. Plasma hormone concentrations were measured by immunoassays, and gonadotropin receptor mRNA expression in the testis was investigated by in situ hybridization technique and also by real-time PCR. There were significant variations in plasma testosterone and inhibin concentrations. Changes in FSH concentration preceded these hormones with a similar tendency. Hormones started to increase during denning, and achieved the highest values at the end of the recrudescent phase for FSH and in the active phase for testosterone and inhibin. These changes in hormone concentrations were accompanied by testicular growth. In situ hybridization analysis revealed that FSH and LH receptor mRNA was possibly expressed in Sertoli cells and Leydig cells, respectively, as they are in other mammals. However, neither plasma LH concentration nor testicular gonadotropin receptor mRNA expression level varied significantly among the sampling months. These results suggest that FSH, inhibin and testosterone have roles in testicular activity in male bears. This study provides important endocrine information for comprehending seasonal reproductivity in male Japanese black bears.

The objective of this study was to investigate the changes in synovial fluid concentration of collagen type II cleavage site (C2C) and pro collagen II C-propeptide (CPII), markers of joint cartilage degeneration and synthesis, respectively, in horses with intraarticular fracture or osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD), and to examine the relationship between arthroscopic findings and these biomarker levels. Synovial fluid was collected from 36 joints in 18 horses (6 fractures and 12 OCDs). Samples from contralateral normal joints, when available, served as controls (n=12). Concentrations of C2C and CPII were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbant assays. Moreover, the severity of the cartilage degradation was graded arthroscopically in 16 horses, and the correlation between the C2C and CPII levels and the arthroscopic scores were investigated. Compared to the control, the concentration of C2C was increased in OCD joints but not in fracture joints, whereas the concentration of CPII was increased in fracture joints but not in OCD joints. Within each disease group there was no correlation between biomarker levels and arthroscopic findings. Therefore, although C2C and CPII have diagnostic potential further knowledge is required to provide accurate analysis.

The mRNA from distal ileum of Indian goat was cloned and characterized after purification. cDNA was synthesized using goat ileal epithelial RNA, omniscript and sensiscript reverse transcriptase and amplified by Hotstart Taq DNA polymerase with primers designed by taking conserved regions of cattle enteric _Ò-defensin, cattle lingual antimicrobial peptide(LAP) and goat _Ò-defensin-2 sequences. The amplified cDNA of 253bp was, ligated to linearised TA cloning vector and transformed into XLblue strain of E.coli which was grown overnight at 37oC in a LB plate containing ampicillin, IPTG and X-Gal. The recombinant plasmid was isolated and digested with NcoI. The white colonies showed a release of 253bp insert. The sequence analysis showed 26, 16 and 5-nucleotide substitution having 85.6%, 91.3%, 97.4% homology with reported cattle EBD, buffalo EBD and goat BD2 mRNA respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence encodes for a 64 amino acid precursor peptide showing 12,18 and 4 amino acid substitution having 80%, 70.8%, 93.8% homology with buffalo EBD, cattle EBD and goat BD2 peptide respectively. Both nucleotide and amino acid sequence homology showed that the cloned sequence was closer to goat BD2.

The effect of addition of Melia azedarach (fruit), Pimpinella anisum (seed), Cuminum cyminum linn (seed), Murraya koenigii (leaves), Emblica officinalis (fruit), Allium sativum linn (bulb), Terminalia arjuna (bark), Sapindus trifoliatus (seed), Zingiber officinale (rhizome), Trigonella foenun-graecum (seed) at three dose level (1.5%, 2.0% and 3.0% of DM) on pH, dry matter and organic matter digestibility of feed was studied with rumen liquor of goat. There was no significant change in the in vitro fluid pH, showing no adverse effect of herb addition. The addition of all the herbs at 1.5% level had no significant (P 0.05) effect on in vitro dry matter and organic matter digestibility. There was slight improvement in dry matter and organic matter digestibility with the addition of Trigonella foenungraecum at 2% level as compared to control. At 3% level of addition of this herb, there was significant (P 0.05) increase in the in vitro dry matter digestibility (%) with Trigonella foenun-graecum (51.97) as compared to control (43.95). Similarly there was significant (P 0.05) increase in the in vitro organic matter digestibility (%) with Trigonella foenun-graecum (54.95) as compared to control (46.87) having with no addition of herbs. So Trigonella foenun-graecum (seed) at 3% dose level can be further explored in in vivo experiment to utilize it as a feed additive to increase the digestibility of feed in goats.

Therapeutic and anti-inflammatory potential of aqueous extract of Phyllanthus emblica (Common name - Amla) was evaluated in mastitic cows. The milk Somatic Cell Count (SCC) and ceruloplasmin concentration was significantly (P0.05) higher in mastitic cows prior to treatment. The parameters of mastitic cows treated with P. emblica (group III) and with amoxicillin sulbactum combination (group IV) were compared to that of healthy cows (group I and II). Significant reduction (P0.05) in Somatic Cell Count (SCC) was observed in both the treated groups. The level of ceruloplasmin significantly (P0.05) reduced in group III and IV after treatment. Results of the present experiment indicate reduction of SCC and ceruloplasmin level in the mastitic animals treated with the P.emblica extract. The extract of P. emblica significantly reduced (P0.05) the udder inflammation and helped in lowering the concentration of inflammatory marker ceruloplasmin. Therefore P. emblica extract could be advised for the treatment of bovine mastitis.

Recombinant LipL32 and LipL41 outer membrane proteins of Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola were produced, and used as a pooled antigen in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect leptospiral antibodies in bovine sera samples. The optimum concentration of the pooled antigen was found to be 50ng of each antigen per well by using known positive and negative cattle sera. Using a total of 500 bovine sera samples the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of pooled antigen based ELISA as compared to microscopic agglutination test (MAT) were 100%, 88.1% and 91.6%, respectively. The results suggested that antigen in ELISA could be preferred for detection of all those cases, which might have remained undiagnosed by performing MAT.