Seminal plasma does not aid in the transport of phenolsulfonphthalein across the uterotubal junction in mares.

This study tested the hypothesis that the presence of prostaglandin E2 in seminal plasma would aid in the transport of phenolsulfonphthalein (PSP) across the uterotubal junction. Five mares in estrus were inseminated during estrus with PSP dissolved in phosphate-buffered saline and during the subsequent estrus with PSP added to a standard insemination dose. Serum and urine samples were obtained at hours 0, 1, 2, and 3 following treatment and examined for the presence of PSP. Phenolsulfonphthalein could not be detected in any of the urine samples collected from mares following either treatment. None of the serum samples collected following intrauterine installation of PSP in PBS contained PSP. Phenolsulfonphthalein was detected in serum samples from 1 mare following insemination with semen containing PSP. Components in seminal plasma such as PGE2 did not facilitate the transport of PSP across the uterotubal junction as had been hypothesized.

Le plasma séminal ne facilite pas le transport de la phénolsulfonphtaléine au travers de la jonction utéro-tubaire des juments. Cette étude a testé l'hypothèse voulant que la présence de la prostaglandine E2 dans le plasma séminal facilite le transport de la phénolsulfonphtaléine (PSP) au travers de la jonction utéro-tubaire. Cinq juments en oestrus ont été inséminées avec de la PSP dissoute dans une solution saline tamponnée au phosphate et, durant l'oestrus subséquent, avec de la PSP ajoutée à une dose d'insémination standard. Des prélèvements de sérum et d'urine ont été obtenus aux heures 0, 1, 2 et 3 ainsi qu'après le traitement et examinés pour déceler la présence de la PSP. La phénolsulfonphtaléine n'a pas pu être détectée dans aucun des échantillons d'urine prélevés auprès des juments après l'un ou l'autre des traitements. Aucun des échantillons de sérum prélevés après l'installation intra-utérine de la PSP dans PBS ne contenait de PSP. La phénolsulfonphtaléine a été détectée dans des échantillons de sérum provenant d'une jument après l'insémination avec du sperme contenant de la PSP. Des composants dans le plasma séminal comme le PGE2 n'ont pas facilité le transport de la PSP au travers de la jonction utéro-tubaire conformément à l'hypothèse émise.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Skin diseases of old dogs and cats.

The ageing process tends to predispose dogs and cats to certain skin diseases. Impaired immunosurveillance is believed to render the animals more susceptible to neoplasia which can affect any organ including the skin. Endocrinopathies are also more common in older animals. There are some diseases of internal organs which can affect the skin, and some of these tend to occur with increased frequency in old animals. Finally, seborrhoeic diseases are either more common in older animals, or become increasingly severe with age.

Papillomatosis of conjunctiva and adnexa in dogs.

Ocular or periocular papillomatosis was diagnosed in seven dogs. The periocular tumors (in 4 dogs) were located on the eyelids or the mucocutaneous junctions of the eyelids. Six of the tumors were removed surgically, using either superficial keratectomy and conjunctival dissection or lid resection techniques; the seventh was biopsied but not removed. In all cases, confirmation of the clinical diagnosis was made by light microscopy. The differential clinical considerations included squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, histiocytoma, and mastocytoma. In all cases of surgical removal, the dogs were free of recurrence 6 months following surgery.

Use of the phenolsulphonphthalein dye test for fallopian tube patency in cattle.

Results of preliminary investigations of fallopian tube patency in cattle using a method based on intrauterine instillation of PSP dye, and detection of the dye in the urine, suggest that this test can provide a useful diagnostic aid in cases of bilateral occlusion. In such cases PSP dye is not evident in the urine two hours later. In normal animals dye is present within 30 minutes. In two animals with unilateral blockage dye appeared at an intermediate time between the normal and bilaterally occluded cases. Repetition of the test and the use of adequate volumes of dye to cause uterine distension may be necessary to eliminate false negatives.

Uterine tube abnormalities in cattle.

A total of 250 reproductive tracts from nonpregnant cows were obtained from a slaughterhouse. Uterine tubes were tested for patency by infusing methylene blue solution, and gross lesions were recorded. Of the 500 uterine tubes, 24 were occluded (unilateral in 20 tracts and bilateral in 2 tracts), and 26 had gross lesions (unilateral in 16 tracts and bilateral in 5 tracts). Approximately one-half of the occluded tubes were not associated with gross lesions. Approximately one half of the tubes with gross lesions were patent.

The incidence of ovarian activity, pregnancy and bovine genital abnormalities shown by an abattoir survey.

All female genital tracts removed during the slaughtering process in a West Country abattoir were collected on two days a week from February 1974 to May 1974 inclusive and thereafter collections were made on one day each week from June 1974 until September 1975 inclusive. A total of 8071 tracts was examined; 1885 (23-36 per cent) of these were pregnant. The stage of pregnancy and the number and location of the fetuses is recorded. Cyclic activity in the non-pregnant tracts was assessed by the presence of a current corpus luteum on one or both ovaries and the number and location of these are reported. Any macroscopic abnormalities of ovaries, Fallopian tubes and uteri were recorded, 804 (9-96 per cent) of the tracts were affected. The most commonly encountered abnormality was cystic ovaries and 307 (3-80 per cent) of the genitalia showed this condition.