Ultrazvučne značajke bulbouretralnih žlijezda kunića (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

The aim of the study was to describe some of the ultrasonographic features of domestic rabbit bulbourethral glands, with regard to their relevance to reproductive pathology. The glands of ten sexually mature, clinically healthy, white, male New Zealand rabbits, aged 18 months, with body masses ranging from 2.8-3.2 kg, were investigated following anaesthesia. A perineal sonographic approach was applied. The glands were observed in two planes. They were viewed sonographically as solid, hyperechoic, heterogeneous structures. A hyperechoic gland without a hypoechoic center was visualized in sagittal section. In transverse section, normal bulbourethral glands were visualized dorsolaterally to the bulbar urethra, and a hypoechoic urethra was located ventromedially. As part of the study, the sonographic features of the bulbourethral glands were compared in a liquid isotonic medium. The analogous results of both methods allowed us to propose the use of perineal ultrasonography as a sufficiently definitive, non-invasive method for visualizing rabbit bulbourethral glands.Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je opisati neke ultrazvučne značajke bulbouretralnih žlijezda kunića s obzirom na njihovu važnost u patologiji spolnih organa. Nakon anestezije bile su pretražene žlijezde 10 spolno zrelih, klinički zdravih kunića bijele novozelandske pasmine u dobi od 18 mjeseci, tjelesne mase 2,8 - 3,2 kg. Ultrazvučna pretraga obavljena je u perinealnom području. Žlijezde su bile pretražene u dvije ravnine. Ultrazvučno su se vidjele kao dvije hiperehogene solidne, heterogene tvorevine. Hiperehogena žlijezda bez hipoehogenog centra bila je uočljiva na sagitalnoj ravnini. U poprječnoj ravnini normalne bulbouretralne žlijezde uočavale su se dorzolateralno od bulbarne uretre, a hipoehonogena uretra bila je smještena ventromedijalno.Ultrazvučne značajke bulbouretralnih žlijezda bile su uspoređivane u odnosu na izotonični tekući medij. Na osnovi postignuća sličnih rezultata dvjema metodama može se predložiti perinealni ultrazvučni pristup kao primjerena neinvazivna metoda za vizualizaciju bulbouretralnih žlijezda kunića

Ultrasound imaging, biochemical blood analyses, and weight investigations of dissectible fat depots in New Zealand white rabbits

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate changes in real-time ultrasound imaging traits and weight of dissectible fat depots (inguinal, interscapular, and perirenal) in rabbits with different body weights and to monitor the changes in blood glucose and constituents of lipid profiles. In this study, 18 clinically healthy male New Zealand white rabbits were used. The rabbits were fed with standard diet and were divided into 3 groups according to their body weight: group 1 at 1.06 +/- 0.03 kg, group 2 at 2.1 +/- 0.05 kg, and group 3 at 3.06 +/- 0.03 kg. Examined by ultrasonography, the inguinal and interscapular fat depots appeared as bands with weak to moderate echogenicity, whereas perirenal fat was moderate to hyperechoic. The thickness of subcutaneous fat depots measured by ultrasound increased along with body weight and differences between the groups were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.001). The differences in perirenal fat thickness between rabbits from group 1 and group 2 were not found to be statistically significant. Perirenal fat thickness in the rabbits from group 3 was higher (P < 0.001) than that of the other groups. Perirenal fat weight in group 3 correlated positively (r = 0.82; P < 0.05) to body weight. Blood biochemical analysis showed that blood glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were in the reference range for all groups regardless of the fact that TG and HDL-C in groups 2 and 3 were significantly higher than those in rabbits from group 1. The in vivo ultrasound screening of adipose tissue, together with blood lipid profile, is an indicator of good health and proper energy balance in rabbits bred for meat or as companion animals.Ministry of Education and Science of Bulgaria - 08/09Trakya Üniversites

A morphometric study on the skull of the turkeys (meleagris gallopavo)

In this study, 80 turkey skulls (40 females and 40 males) were used. Turkeys slaughtered at the age of 128 days. The females had an average weight of 11.5 kg and the males had 19 kg. We measured 14 features and determined 6 indices on the skulls of turkeys. Our study focused on morphometric differences and comparison of determined features of those skulls for males and female turkeys. Correlations between all features and indices of the skulls were examined for each male and female group, separately. All morphometric measurements were significantly higher in male group. All indices except skull index and foramen magnum index were significantly higher in female group. These measurements showed that males have bigger skulls. Cranial index, facial index, index 1 and index 2 showed that males have narrower and longer skulls while the females have smaller and wider. According to foramen magnum index, foramen magnum of turkeys is slightly vertical oval. Also, ratio of skull length and width is similar for both sexes. This study is the morphometric evaluation of the skull in turkeys. Therefore, this study will lead to further studies on turkeys and other bird specie

Doku lipoprotein lipaz aktivitesinin erkek kedilerde urethra’nın pars pelvina’sındaki lokalizasyonunun rolü

The pelvic urethra has been investigated in seven sexually mature, clinically healthy European shorthair male cats, aged 12-18 months, weighing 2.8-4 kg, obtained from a licensed animal breeder. All experiments were carried out under strict observance of the European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and Other Scientific Purposes and law on Animal Protection in the Republic of Bulgaria. Cryostat cross sections of 5-7 µm were used for detection of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) by Tween method of Gomori. The reaction was positive when clusters of dark-brown lead sulfide precipitates were present. The localization of tissue LPL expression was determined by light microscopy. The intensity of the reaction was assessed by a semi-quantitative analysis using the score system. The enzyme histochemical investigation of feline pelvic urethra showed that the highest intenstiy of LPL expression, occurred in the muscular layer that was mainly of skeletal muscle. A medium intensity was observed in epithelial cells of disseminated part of the prostate and in the lumen of its glandular tubules. The urethral propria exhibited weak LPL expression, whereas no LPL activity was detected in the urethral lumen epitheliumLisanslı bir hayvan yetiştiricisinden elde edilmiş, 12-18 aylık yaşta, 2,8-4 kg ağırlığında, klinik olarak sağlıklı ve seksüel olgunluğa ulaşmış, Avrupa Short-hair ırkı yedi adet erkek kedide urethra’nın pars pelvina’sı incelenmiştir. Tüm deneyler, Avrupa Deneysel ve Diğer Bilimsel Amaçlar için Kullanılan Omurgalı Hayvanları Koruma Konseyi’ne ve Bulgaristan Cumhuriyeti’ndeki Hayvanları Koruma Kanunu’na çok sıkı riayet edilerek uygulanmıştır. Lipoprotein lipaz (LPL) tespiti için Gomori’nin Tween metodu vasıtasıyla 5-7 mikrometrelik cryostat kesitler kullanıldı. Koyu kahverengi kurşun sülfit presipitat kümeleri gözlendiğinde sonuç pozitifti. Dokudaki LPL ekspresyonunun lokalizasyonu ışık mikroskobu ile saptandı. Reaksiyonun yoğunluğu skorlama sistemi kullanan yarı kantitatif bir analiz ile tayin edildi. Kedi urethra’sının pars pelvina’sının enzim histokimyasal incelemesi gösterdi ki, LPL enziminin en yoğun ekspresyonu kas katmanında, özellikle iskelet kaslarında meydana gelmekte idi. Orta yoğunlukta ekspresyon ise prostatın pars disseminata’sında gözlendi. Urethra’nın propriya katmanı zayıf LPL ekspresyonu gösterirken, urethra’nın lumen epitelyumunda hiçbir LPL aktivitesi gözlenmedi

Horse serum potentiates cellular viability and improves indomethacin-induced adipogenesis in equine subcutaneous adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs)

ABSTRACTSubcutaneous fat tissue is an accessible and abundant source of multipotent stem cells for cell therapy in regenerative medicine. Successful trilineage differentiation is required to define the stemness features of the obtained mesenchymal cells, and adipogenesis is a part of it. Since indomethacin is bound to serum albumin, replacing foetal bovine serum (FBS) with horse serum (HS) in adipogenic induction protocols would suppress its cytotoxic effect and reveal a better adipogenic potential in equine MSCs. The equine subcutaneous adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) were separately induced in adipogenesis by three different concentrations of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, IBMX (0.5 mM; 0.25 mM and 0.1 mM) and indomethacin (0.1 mM; 0.05 mM and 0.02 mM) for 48 h. In contrast to the IBMX, indomethacin in all concentrations caused dramatic cellular detachment. Further, the same induction concentrations were used in FBS and HS conditions for adipogenic induction. The MTT assay revealed that the culture media supplemented with HS raised cellular vitality by about 35% compared to those cultured in FBS. Based on those results, an adipogenic cocktail containing indomethacin (0.05 mM) and IBMX (0.5 mM), supplemented with HS and FBS, respectively, was applied for 18 days. The adiponectin gene expression was significantly up-regulated in HS-supplemented media since established changes in PPAR-gamma were insignificant. The tri-lineage differentiation was successful, and a cross-sectional area of adipocytes was performed. The albumin concentration was higher in HS than in FBS. In conclusion, our study revealed that HS is an appropriate supplement in induced adipogenesis since it probably suppresses the indomethacin-related cytotoxic effect and increases adipogenic ability in equine subcutaneous ASCs

n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids provoke a specific transcriptional profile in rabbit adipose-derived stem cells in vitro

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) possess multipotent properties, and their proper functionality is essential for further development of metabolic disorders. In the current study, we explored the impact of two n-3 LC-PUFAs (long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, DHA-docosahexaenoic; C22:6, and EPA-eicosapentaenoic; C20:5) on a specific profile of lipolytic-related gene expressions in the in vitro-differentiated subcutaneous and visceral ADSCs from rabbits. The subcutaneous and visceral ADSCs were obtained from 28-day-old New Zealand rabbits. The primary cells were cultured up to passage 4 and were induced for adipogenic differentiation. Thereafter, the differentiated cells were treated with 100 µg EPA or DHA for 48 hr. The total mRNA was isolated and target genes expression evaluated by real-time RCR. The results demonstrated that treatment of rabbit ADSCs with n-3 PUFAs significantly enhanced mRNA expression of Perilipin A, while the upregulation of leptin and Rab18 genes was seen mainly in ADSCs from visceral adipose tissue. Moreover, the EPA significantly enhanced PEDF (Pigment Derived Epithelium Factor) mRNA expression only in visceral cells. Collectively, the results suggest activation of an additional lipolysis pathway most evident in visceral cells. The data obtained in our study indicate that in vitro EPA up-regulates the mRNA expression of the studied lipolysis-associated genes stronger than DHA mainly in visceral rabbit ADSCs. Eкaterina Vackova1| Darko Bosnakovski2| Bodil Bjørndal3| Penka Yonkova4|Natalia Grigorova1| Zhenya Ivanova1| Georgi Penchev4| Galina Simeonova5|Lyuba Miteva6| Anelya Milanova1| Tatyana Vachkova7| Spaska Stanilova6|Ivan Penchev Georgie