The hooded phenotype is one of the coat color phenotype seen peculiarly in the rat. The hooded locus showing autosomal recessive inheritance is mapped to chromosome (Chr) 14 and that the hooded phenotype receives modification by hooded-modifier gene showing the linkage to the hooded locus. However, a gene responsible for either the hooded or hooded-modifier gene is not yet identified. To clarify genetic control of hooded phenotype, we carried out genetic linkage studies using BN and LEA rats. For determination of phenotypic variation, we measured ratio of pigmented coat area in parental and their Fsub(1) and Fsub(2) rats. We, then, conducted a genome-wide scan on 152 Fsub(2) rats for linkage with ratio of pigmented coat area for the dorsal, ventral and total regions. A major quantitative trait locus (QTL), D14Got40, showing highly significant linkage contributing 70-90% of the variance for hooded phenotype was detected on Chr 14, which may be correspondent to the hooded locus. In addition, another QTL, D17Rat2, showing highly significant linkage was also detected on Chr 17 in dorsal region phenotype as well as a QTL showing suggestive linkage on Chr15 in ventral region phenotype. We, further, investigated a genome-wide scan for epistatic interactions and detected significant interactions between D14Got40 and D20Mit1, and between D14Got40 and D17Rat2 in the dorsal region phenotype. These results suggest that a major QTL in Chr 14, which is possibly correspondent to the hooded locus, mainly regulates the hooded phenotype with some modifier loci, two of which show epistatic interactions with the hooded locus.

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.

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.

Heat stress is major concern for maintaining optimum production in livestock. The improvement of productivity in dairy animals, exposed to adverse environmental conditions, is primarily focused on improving the microclimate and nutritional management of the animals. The experiment was conducted on three groups of animals comprising six adult buffaloes in each group. Two groups were exposed to heat stress in the psychrometric chamber (40oC), the third group was kept under ambient conditions as control. One of the exposed groups was offered ascorbic acid (20g/day/animal). The blood samples were taken at every 4th day up to 16th day. Samples were analyzed for the total plasma protein and plasma albumin. Results showed that as the days of exposure progressed, the level of stress increased which is evident from the elevated level of total proteins. When compared with the ascorbic acid supplemented group (7.28±0.09 gm/dl), the non-supplemented group had higher protein content (7.93±0.13 gm/dl). There was significant difference (P 0.05) in protein levels among the groups. The level of albumin also followed the same pattern as that of total protein but in heat stressed (2.42±0.17gm/ dl) and ascorbic acid supplemented animals (2.41±0.19 gm/dl), the globulin levels declined as compared to group kept at ambient conditions (2.79±0.33 gm/dl). Further, the Albumin:Globulin ratio was significantly (P 0.05) higher in heat stressed animals (2.78±0.43) and ascorbic acid supplemented animals (2.19±0.30) as compared to control group (1.61±0.37). It can be concluded that ascorbic acid supplementation would be beneficial to buffalo producers of the arid/ semi-arid regions in amelioration of stress challenge imposed by the harsh weather.

Haematology and serum chemistry was studied in young (5-6 months) and adult (2-2½ years) changthangi goats (Capra hircus) to investigate the age associated changes in blood constituents. Significant difference was recorded in most of the haematological and biochemical indices between two age groups. Higher values were recorded for total erythrocytes (16.63 ± 0.61 and 12.79 ± 0.56 x 106 / cumm) in young and adult respectively when compared to reference values for goats which speaks of its adaptation to high altitude hypoxic conditions. The total leukocyte count (9.99 ± 0.72 x 103/ cumm) in young was significantly (P0.01) higher as compared to the adults (6.38 ± 0.65 x 103/ cumm). Present study has shown significant (P0.01) age related difference in differential leukocyte count, with neutrophils high in young and lymphocytes in adults. Biochemical studies revealed age associated difference with total proteins (7.48 ± 0.08 g/ dl), cholesterol (108.40 ± 6.26 mg/ dl), triglycerides (99.20 ± 7.79 mg/dl), LDL (20. 20 ± 2.01mg/dl), HDL (68.14 ± 3.65mg/ dl) and creatinine (0.92 ± 0.04 mg/ dl) higher in adults and enzymes like ALP (151.31 ± 10.26 u/l) and AST (165.43 ± 4.7 u/l) higher in young. The study indicated that age be considered while interpreting the clinical and experimental data.

The calf was a congenital abnormal stillbirth of Sahiwal breed of zebu cattle, with multiple musculoskeletal defects. It was born to a heifer in its first calving. The calving was normal; however, calf born had multiple anomalies. The body of the calf was flashy just like a rubber balloon filled with water (case of hydropsy). The body was without hairs (hypotrichosis). Skeleton was noncalcified and ribs were cartilaginous. The body was identifiable in three regions: head, thoraxabdomen, and limbs. Morphologically limbs were developed but were quite short in length with well-developed hoof. There was one eye like structure just above the mouth (case of cyclopia). The tongue was developed and was protruded from mouth. There was one additional structure on the head, looked like outgrowth of muscles covered with thin skin, had openings of nostrils on the end. In autopsy abdominal body cavity was found filled with fluid. The visceral organ seemed normal. It was identified as female; however, ovaries and genital tract could not be traced and examined. It was the first calving of its dam with the complete gestation period of 287 days like a normal period in cattle. Pieces of tissue from lung and blood from the heart and vena cava were collected; however, cultures were found heavily contaminated with bacterial growth. The actual cause of the defects could not be established, might be defects of certain genes responsible for incomplete growth and development.

Twenty-three crossbred cows with endometritis were randomized into three groups. The animals of group I and II were treated with methanol fraction of neem oil and neem seed powder (25 ml each by intra-uterine route), respectively. Whereas, the control cows (gr III) were administered with groundnut oil at similar times. Efficacy of both neem preparations was assessed by Whiteside test (color reaction to cervico-vaginal mucus) and bacterial load at subsequent estrus. The results indicate that the administration of neem preparations retrieved the cows from endometritis as majority of them showed negative to Whiteside test (100 % in gr I and 62.5% in gr II) following treatment. Reduction in bacterial load was also of higher magnitude in neem-oil (96.02±2.02%) and seed-powder fraction (98.70±0.46%) treated animals compared to controls (24.97±29.64 %). Further, a higher pregnancy rate (71.42%) was obtained in oil fraction-treated cows than seed powder fraction-treated or control cows (25% each). In this study, the therapeutic efficacy of methanol fraction of neem oil appeared superior to neem seed powder in endometritic cows.

This study aimed to evaluate a system that identifies cartilage turn over and/or degradation through measurement of a new keratan sulfate (KS) epitope concentration in equine sera. Blood samples were collected from 30 horses, 1 (n=15) and 2 year-olds (n=15). Serum samples were analyzed for an epitope of keratan sulfate by 1/20/5D4 (KS5D4) and new epitopes of keratan sulfate using high sensitive keratan sulfate (HSKS), measured by two respective enzyme-linked immunosorbant assays (ELISAs). There was no correlation in serum concentration of KS evaluated using 5D4 and HSKS. Age had no significant effect on concentrations of KS measured with KS5D4 while 1 year-old horses showed significantly higher amounts than 2 year-olds with HSKS. Results suggest that HSKS could detect early signs of cartilage metabolic changes.

Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be used to repair articular cartilage defects, these cells should be properly stimulated so that they could differentiate morphologically and hold cellular synthetic features closer to maturely differentiated chondrocytes. It is well known that tissue specific environment plays an important role in cell fate determination. Once improved isolation, proliferation and differentiation protocols have been developed, the likelihood of spontaneous differentiation of MSCs into divergent lineages will be reduced, thus increasing their value for cartilage repair. The purpose of this study was to improve chondrogenic differentiation of equine MSCs using coculture with mature equine articular chondrocytes (ACs), along with the determination of the effect of adding transforming growth factor (TGF) beta1 in the pellet culture system. Following confirmation of multilineage (adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic) differentiation, isolated MSCs, ACs and coculture of both cell types were transferred into pellet culture system in a DMEM-based medium supplemented with or without TGFbetal. Chondrogenic differentiation was evaluated histologically and the relative mRNA expressions of collagen type 1 alpha1 (COL1A1), collagen type 2 alpha1 (COL2A1), aggrecan (ACAN) and SRY-box 9 (SOX9) were estimated by quantitative RT-PCR. Cocultured cells showed diffuse distribution of extracellular matrix (ECM), whereas in chondrocyte pellets it was more localized to central regions. Expression of COL2A1, ACAN and SOX9 genes were higher in cocultured pellets when compared to MSCs and ACs-composed pellets. Addition of TGFbeta1 in chondrogenic differentiating medium did not consistently amplify expression of the above mentioned genes. Differentiation of equine MSCs was enhanced by coculturing in association with mature ACs, improving expression of cartilage-specific genes and producing a more homogeneous production of ECM within the newly formed cocultured cartilage. The use of the coculture system could possibly enhance the capacity of MSC-derived chondrocytes to build up stable articular cartilage-like constructs, which could play an important role in articular cartilage repair and regeneration.

The present study characterizes canine reticulocyte exosomes. Exosomes are small membrane vesicles involved in membrane remodeling that are released from reticulocytes during the final maturation step of red blood cells. The vesicles collected from reticulocyte culture supernatants by differential centrifugation contained major exosomal proteins including heat shock protein cognate 70 (Hsc70) and transferrin receptors (TfR), consistent with the definition of the exosome. In addition, the Na,K-ATPase alpha-subunit and stomatin, a lipid raft-associated protein, were extruded by the exosome pathway, possibly leading to the absence of these proteins in erythrocytes, while the major protein constituents of erythrocyte membranes, spectrin and band 3 were retained in reticulocytes and not expelled into exosomes. The Na,K-ATPase alpha-subunit, as well as TfR and about half of the stomatin contained in exosomes, was obtained in a detergent-soluble fraction that was distinct from the lipid raft micro domain. Moreover, Na,K-ATPase and a portion of stomatin were distributed differently to Hsc70, TfR, stomatin, and ganglioside Gsub(M1) in vesicles separated with sucrose density gradient centrifugation. These results demonstrate that a heterogeneous group of exosomes participates in the loss of Na,K-ATPase and membrane remodeling during reticulocyte maturation in dogs.