Cytologic examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), including phenotypic analysis of lymphocytes, was performed on 32 Standardbreds with poor race performance and endoscopic examination findings characteristic of inflammatory airway disease (IAD). Nucleated cell counts in BALF from IAD-affected horses were higher than those in control horses; the cytologic profile of BALF in affected horses included mixed inflammation, characterized by mild neutrophilia, lymphocytosis, and monocytosis. Eosinophil and mast cell counts were not higher in the IAD-affected group, compared with those in the control group; however, 4 IAD-affected horses had marked eosinophilia (24.7 +/- 4.8% SEM) in BALF. Phenotypic analysis of lymphocytes in BALF obtained from IAD-affected horses revealed a low proportion of CD4-positive cells and B cells, compared with those in the control group; these findings may have been representative of a greater proportion of non-B, non-T cells (null cells) in horses with IAD. The cytologic profile of BALF obtained from horses with IAD differed from that in horses affected with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, suggesting that the pathogenesis of inflammation in horses with IAD may differ from that of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The size and quality of muscle specimens obtained by use of a percutaneous biopsy technique were studied. All biopsies were performed under local anesthesia, using an 11-gauge biopsy needle. The mean +/- SEM size of specimens obtained from 128 biopsies of the semitendinosus muscles of 16 Alaskan Huskies was 23.8 +/- 4.4 mg. All biopsy specimens were of sufficient quality to permit histochemical differentiation of the fiber types by use of myosin ATPase staining. An additional 8 biopsy specimens were obtained from 1 dog and analyzed for muscle glycogen content. These specimens contained 50.6 +/- 7.2 mmol of glucose/kg of muscle wet weight. This modified biopsy procedure was free of notable complications, and repeatable use produced specimens of adequate size and quality for histologic and biochemical analysis. It is concluded that this procedure is a safe and reliable alternative to open biopsy for diagnosis and management of neuromuscular, metabolic, and nutritional myopathies.

Reference values for hematologic variables change with increasing age in cattle. Therefore, the purpose of the study reported here was to describe the peritoneal fluid constitutents of clinically normal young calves, and to compare cellular concentration and distribution in blood and peritoneal fluid of young calves with those of adult cattle. Eight healthy 8-week-old male Holstein calves and 8 healthy 3- to 8-year-old Holstein cows were studied. Peritoneal fluid was collected from calves along the ventral midline, 4-cm cranial to the umbilicus. Abdominocentesis was performed in the region of the lower right flank in adult cattle. Correlation analysis, using the Pearson's correlation coefficient, and regression analysis were performed for blood and peritoneal fluid data from calves. Data from calves were compared with those of cows, using Wilcoxon's rank sum test. A P value < 0.05 was considered significant for all tests. Calves had significantly lower blood eosinophil count (P < 0.003) and plasma protein concentration (P < 0.001) than did cows. Calves had significantly higher peritoneal fluid nucleated cell (P < 0.05) and mononuclear cell (P < 0.05) counts, but lower peritoneal fluid eosinophil cell count (P < 0.003) than did cows. For calves, nulceated cell and lyhocyte cell counts in the blood had a high, positive correlation with those of peritoneal fluid. However, the prediction equation for nucleated cell count accounted for a modest proportion of variability. A prediction equation for peritoneal fluid lymphocyte cell count was established. On the basis of results of this study, reference ranges established for peritoneal fluid constituents of clinically normal adult cattle may not be appropriate for interpretation of peritoneal fluid analysis of calves.

Adhesion of equine spermatozoa to homologous oviduct epithelial cells (OEC) in vitro results in specific changes in spermatozoa and OEC function. To test the hypothesis that adhesion of spermatozoa affects protein synthesis and secretion by OEC, the following treatment groups were established in culture: OEC with culture medium only; control spermatozoa in culture medium only; OEC in coculture with spermatozoa; and OEC and spermatozoa in coculture, but physically separated by a microporous membrane. The experiment was replicated within each of 4 ejaculates from 3 stallions. De novo protein secretion by OEC was measured and compared by incorporation of [35S]methionine, and evaluated, using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography. Monolayers of OEC secreted a large number of proteins of molecular mass ranging from 14 to 205 kd. Adhesion of spermatozoa consistently caused reduced synthesis of 2 OEC secretory proteins and new or increased synthesis of 6 proteins. When spermatozoa and OEC were separated by a microporous membrane, some but not all of these changes were duplicated. Synthesis of 3 OEC secretory proteins, unaffected by binding of spermatozoa, was reduced when spermatozoa were prevented from contact with OEC by a microporous membrane. Adhesion of equine spermatozoa to homologous OEC monolayers and presence of equine spermatozoa resulted in qualitative and quantitative changes in synthesis and secretion of proteins by OEC. These changes have implications for storage, longevity, and maturation of spermatozoa.

Bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) is prevalent in beef and dairy cattle, yet the mode(s) of BIV transmission are undefined. Using polymerase chain reaction, which specifically targeted a 235-bp, highly conserved region of the BIV pol gene, BIV-infected leukocytes were detected in the blood and milk of BIV-seropositive cows. These data confirm the presence of BIV in milk and identify the potential for lactogenic transmission of this virus.

Body and testis weights, serum luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and prolactin values and volume fractions of Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, early and late primary spermatocytes, and round and long spermatids were evaluated in 70-day-old male rats treated orally with 20 mg of zearalenone/kg of body weight daily for 5 weeks. A significant (P < 0.05) increase in serum prolactin concentration was consistently observed during the 5 weeks of treatment with zearalenone. Significant changes were not observed in any of the other variables evaluated.

To examine the postnatal development of equine small intestine, biopsy specimens of jejunal mucosa from 8 ponies, between 6 and 28 weeks old, were subjected to analytical subcellular fractionation and assay of organelle marker enzymes. Fractionation revealed a reduction in the particulate brush border component of beta-galactosidase (lactase) activity between 6 and 28 weeks, and a corresponding increase in soluble activity, although the reduction in mean specific activity was not significant. There also was a decrease in the proportion of brush border to soluble aminopeptidase N activity, a relative loss of brush border gamma-glutamyltransferase activity, and a considerable decrease in the specific activity of alkaline phosphatase throughout the gradient fractions. In contrast, there were marked increases in activities of (alpha-glucosidase (maltase) and sucrase in the older ponies, accompanied by considerable changes in the intracellular distribution of particulate alpha-glucosidase activity, which was predominantly associated with endoplasmic reticulum at 6 weeks, whereas the large increase in activity observed by 28 weeks was clearly associated with the brush border. The modal density of brush borders also increased with age, suggestive of an increase in the glycoprotein-to-lipid ratio of the microvillar membrane. In contrast to these brush border changes, there was relatively little alteration in the activities or density distributions of marker enzymes for endoplasmic reticulum, basolateral membranes, mitochondria, or lysosomes. These findings indicate that maturation of equine intestinal epithelium during the first few months of life results in major changes in the properties and enzyme composition of enterocyte brush borders.

Cytologic examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), including phenotypic analysis of lymphocytes, was performed on 32 Standardbreds with poor race performance and endoscopic examination findings characteristic of inflammatory airway disease (IAD). Nucleated cell counts in BALF from IAD-affected horses were higher than those in control horses; the cytologic profile of BALF in affected horses included mixed inflammation, characterized by mild neutrophilia, lymphocytosis, and monocytosis. Eosinophil and mast cell counts were not higher in the IAD-affected group, compared with those in the control group; however, 4 IAD-affected horses had marked eosinophilia (24.7 +/- 4.8% SEM) in BALF. Phenotypic analysis of lymphocytes in BALF obtained from IAD-affected horses revealed a low proportion of CD4-positive cells and B cells, compared with those in the control group; these findings may have been representative of a greater proportion of non-B, non-T cells (null cells) in horses with IAD. The cytologic profile of BALF obtained from horses with IAD differed from that in horses affected with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, suggesting that the pathogenesis of inflammation in horses with IAD may differ from that of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The degree and type of tissue reactivity and the absorption of a new suture material was determined by implantation within rat gluteal muscles. Amount and type of tissue inflammatory reaction was compared among the new suture material, polypropylene, and coated polyamide. Histologic evaluation of the tissues in which sutures were implanted indicated that the new suture material, polypropylene, and coated polyamide had similar amounts and types of reaction at 30 days or less after implantation, but differed after 30 days. The new suture material and polypropylene had an inflammatory reaction zone measuring less than 25% of the high-power field after 60 days, but the coated polyamide still induced reaction greater than 45% of the field at 90 days. At 60 and 90 days after implantation, the new suture material and polypropylene induced a mature fibrous reaction; the reaction to coated polyamide was either immature fibrous or granulomatous, depending on whether there was rupture of the suture coat. There was no observable absorption of the new suture material at 90 days. This study indicated that the new suture material is nonabsorbable and is minimally reactive in rat muscle. The tissue reactions induced by this suture material are similar to those of polypropylene and significantly less than those induced by coated polyamide after 30 days following implantation.

The role of interleukin 1 (IL-1) as an inflammatory mediator during mastitis and the therapeutic effect of recombinant human IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) for bovine mastitis was studied. Cows were intramammarily infused with lipopolysaccharide (25 g) in 1 mammary gland. Half the cows also received infusions of 5 mg of IL-1ra into the same mammary gland just prior to endotoxin infusion and 4, 8, and 12 hours later. After endotoxin infusion, tumor necrosis factor and high IL-1 bioactivity were detected in whey from infused glands. Vascular permeability changes and neutrophil accumulation in milk paralleled the appearance of cytokines. A systemic reaction, characterized by pyrexia and an increase in blood cortisol concentration, also were observed. Milk yield was inhibited and milk composition was altered in infused and noninfused glands. The increase in IL-1 bioactivity in milk after endotoxin infusion was almost completely prevented in glands receiving IL-1ra. However, IL-1ra had no effect on local inflammation, systemic reaction, or impairment in productive performance. These results indicate that IL-1 does not mediate its effect within the milk compartment, and suggest either that IL-1 is not critical to the mastitic response or that intramammary infusion of IL-1ra does not place the antagonist where IL-1 interacts with its receptor.