Primary lung squamous cell carcinoma in a Lary breed cock (Gallus gallus domesticus) with multiple skin metastases

The present study describes for the first time a case of primary lung squamous cell carcinoma with multiple skin metastases in a 7-year-old Lary breed cock. On physical examination, multiple, firm, mobile, ulcerative nodules, 3 to 4 cm in diameter were observed on the neck. Atypical squamous cells were observed in the skin fine needle aspiration. Histopathologically, variably sized masses of con-centrically arranged neoplastic squamous epithelial cells with the horn pearl formation were observed in the dermis. At necropsy, the lung was consolidated and had multifocal tan masses containing a tenacious exudate. Similar nodules were observed in the liver. On the histopathological sections, the lung and liver contained large multifocal areas of necrosis intermixed with cords, sheets, and nests of round to oval neoplastic cells. The presence of keratin material was common in the center of neoplas-tic cells islands as keratin pearls. Given the morphologic features of the neoplasm, a diagnosis of primary lung squamous cell carcinoma was made. Although the incidence of primary lung SCC is likely too low in the birds, but it should be considered in the differential diagnosis

Effects of different concentrations of sucrose and fetal bovine serum on viability rate of lamb spermatogonial stem cells before and after cryopreservation

Background: Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) have diverse applications in reproductive medicine and biotechnology. Cryopreservation is the well-known method for long-term storage of these cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different concentrations of fetal bovine serum (FBS) and Sucrose on the viability rate of spermatogonial cells. Materials and Methods: Testicular cells of pre-pubertal lambs were separated in a two-step enzymatic isolation and purified by differential plating. Then, the cells were divided in 6 groups. Groups 1, 2 and 3 were treated with FBS (10) and Sucrose (0.07, 0.14 and 0.21 molar concentration (M) ) and groups 4, 5 and 6 with FBS (20) and Sucrose (0.07, 0.14 and 0.21 M), respectively. The viability rate of the cells was evaluated immediately after isolation, addition of cryoprotectant agents and thawing procedures. Identification of spermatogonial cells in the culture was performed using the immunocytochemistry staining against PGP9.5. Results: The results showed that cryoprotectant do not have any harmful effects on lamb´s SSCs. Moreover, viability rate of the cells in freezing media containing FBS (10) is significantly higher than the media containing FBS (20). Furthermore, increasing concentrations of Sucrose (0.07, 0.14 and 0.21 M) had no beneficial effect on the spermatogonial viability rate. Conclusion: It was concluded that freezing media containing dimethyl sulfoxide (10) and FBS (10) and Sucrose (0.07 M) is appropriate for cryopreservation of lamb spermatogonial cells

Wound healing activity of Pimpinella anisum methanolic extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Objective: To assess the wound healing potential of Pimpinella anisum on cutaneous wounds in diabetic rats. Method: Full-thickness excisional wounds were made on the back of male, Sprague-Dawley rats with diabetes. The rats were randomly allocated into four treatment groups: 1 ml basal cream; tetracycline (3); Pimpinella anisum 10 for 14 days; and a control group. At days seven, 14 and 21 post-injury, five animals of each group were euthanised, and wounds were assessed through gross, histopathological and oxidant/antioxidant evaluations. Additionally, the dry matter and hydroxyproline contents of the skin samples were measured. Results: A total of 60 rats were used in the study. A significant decrease in the wound size was observed in treated animals with Pimpinella anisum compared with other groups during the experiment. Additionally, treatment with Pimpinella anisum decreased the number of lymphocytes and improved the number of fibroblasts at the earlier stages and increased a number of fibrocytes at the later stages of wound healing. Other parameters such as re-epithelialisation, tissue alignment, greater maturity of collagen fibres and large capillary-sized blood vessels revealed significant changes when compared with the control. Pimpinella anisum significantly reverted oxidative changes of total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde and glutathione peroxidase induced by diabetic wounds (p<0.05). Furthermore, it significantly increased the dry matter and hydroxyproline contents at various stages of wound healing (p<0.05). Conclusion: The present study showed that application of Pimpinella anisum extract promotes wound healing activity in diabetic rats. The wound-healing property of Pimpinella anisum can be attributed to the phytoconstituents present in the plant

Effect of ascorbic acid in heat-stressed poultry

Two reviews are available in published literature relating to the effects of ascorbic acid on poultry performance. The first review was written by Pardue and Thaxton in 1986 who reviewed the role of ascorbic acid in alleviating the negative effect of heat stress in poultry birds. The second review was presented by Whitehead and Keller in 2003, who detailed the general effects of ascorbic acid in poultry birds, not taking into consideration 'heat stress'. The first review is deficient in the literature published after 1986, while the second review does not describe the effect of ascorbic acid in heat stressed birds. The present review describes the past and present knowledge of ascorbic acid in alleviating heat stress in poultry birds with new aspects. Heat stress is associated with compromised performance and productivity through a decline in feed intake, nutrient utilisation, growth rate, egg production and quality, feed efficiency and immunity. Heat stress is also characterised by a reduced antioxidant status in birds, resulting in increased oxidative stress. Moreover, male fertility is decreased when birds are exposed to heat stress. Supplementation of 250 mg of ascorbic acid per kg of feed has been found to be optimum to improve feed intake, body weight gain, feed efficiency, egg production and quality, nutrient digestibility, immune response and antioxidant status in poultry birds. This work compiles past and present information about the role of ascorbic acid in heat-stressed poultry