Performing various perceptual actions elicits differentiable P300 responses.

Several studies have explored the differentiation of visual action verbs (e.g., see, perceive, and notice). The vast number and variety to choose from, along with a common understanding between the meanings of the words, suggests that they may represent measurable differences in perceptual processing. The present study investigated how manipulating the visual action verb embedded into a common instruction could produce either differentiable electrophysiological or behavioral effects, or possibly both. It was hypothesized that the P300 component elicited during an oddball task would differ depending on the visual action that participants had been instructed to perform. Results support this hypothesis, but suggest that response bias also could contribute to action performance. When participants were asked to 'sense' deviants in an oddball task, the P300 differed in amplitude compared to when they were asked to 'distinguish' the deviants. In addition, participants displayed varying response times for the instructions 'notice' versus 'view', 'distinguish' versus 'sense', and 'notice' versus 'sense'. When considering the behavioral and ERP results together, we can conclude that response biases and perceptual cognitive processing both contribute to how identical stimuli can be processed depending on the visual action performed.

Twin pregnancy experimental model for transvaginal ultrasound-guided twin reduction in mares.

Multiple pregnancies are still an important cause of noninfectious abortion, stillbirth, neonatal mortality, and significant delays in reproductive performance in mares. Despite new management techniques, reduction in multiple pregnancies is an ongoing preoccupation and challenge for the equine veterinarian. The aim of the present study was to establish a twin pregnancy experimental model in the mare to study the effectiveness of a transvaginal ultrasound-guided embryonic vesicle injection. Mares in heat were inseminated and then received an embryo at day 7 of the estrous cycle. At days 14 and 30, 53.5% (n = 23) and 23% (n = 10) of the mares, respectively, were carrying twins. Twin pregnancies were reduced at day 30 by transvaginal ultrasound-guided puncture of the embryonic vesicle (control, n = 5) or by transvaginal ultrasound-guided injection (TVUEVI) of 25 mg of amikacin into the embryonic vesicle (n = 5). The TVUEVI treatment had a 40% success rate and no significant variations in progesterone and prostaglandin metabolite were observed. Even though the technique does not seem very effective, the experimental model could be useful for clinical research in embryo reduction and early embryonic loss.

Clinical diagnosis of uterine didelphia in Ayrshire heifer.

A 24-month-old Ayrshire heifer was referred because of infertility. A clinical diagnosis of uterus didelphys was established after a complete genital examination before the animal was culled from the herd.

Ovarian teratoma and endometritis in a mare.

An 8-year-old Arabian mare was admitted for a large ovarian anovulatory follicle. A clinical diagnosis of ovarian tumor and endometritis was established. Histological examinations revealed an ovarian teratoma and a grade II endometritis. Three months after unilateral ovariectomy, the mare was confirmed pregnant and eventually gave birth uneventfully.

Idiopathic prolapse of 1 uterine horn in a yearling filly.

A yearling filly was presented for protrusion of a mass at the vulvar margins. A diagnosis of prolapse of the right uterine horn was made after vaginoscopy, transrectal palpation, and ultrasonography. It was confirmed later by biopsy of the tissue. Recovery was uneventful after easy replacement of the uterine horn.

Hemoperitoneum caused by the rupture of a granulosa cell tumor in a Holstein heifer.

A case of a hemoperitoneum caused by the rupture of a granulosa cell tumor in a 9-month-old Holstein heifer is reported. Management of hemorrhagic shock in cattle is discussed.

Novel purification method for mammalian seminal plasma phospholipid-binding proteins reveals the presence of a novel member of this family of protein in stallion seminal fluid.

A family of bull seminal plasma (BSP) phospholipid-binding proteins (BSP proteins), potentiate heparin- and HDL-induced capacitation. The homologous proteins have been purified from stallion and boar seminal plasma, and detected in low concentrations in other mammalian seminal plasma. In this study, we developed a new isolation method for mammalian seminal plasma choline phospholipid-binding proteins wherein they are present in low concentrations. The method is based on the interaction of this family of proteins with egg yolk low-density lipoprotein fraction (LDF). In order to demonstrate the feasibility of the method, we incubated LDF with alcohol precipitates of bull, boar, and stallion seminal plasma. LDF were re-isolated by ultracentrifugation along with bound proteins. LDF with associated proteins were dialyzed, lyophilized, and delipidated. BSP homologous proteins were finally purified by p-aminophenyl phosphorylcholine (PPC)-agarose and/or gelatin-agarose chromatographies, and analyzed by SDS-PAGE. With this new protocol, phospholipid-binding proteins of bull, boar, and stallion seminal plasma were recovered almost 100%. A new 12 kDa stallion seminal plasma protein of the same family was also isolated and partially sequenced. The radio-immunoassay (RIA) data showed that 10 mg of LDF can bind all BSP proteins present in 120 mg of alcohol precipitated BSP proteins. These results confirm the efficiency of the method and that the LDF step could be used for the isolation of all BSP proteins homologs from different mammalian species.

Expression of key prostaglandin synthases in equine endometrium during late diestrus and early pregnancy.

Luteolysis in domestic species is mediated by the release of luteolytic pulses of prostaglandin (PG) F(2alpha) by the uterus at the end of diestrus, which must be suppressed by the conceptus to permit maternal recognition of pregnancy. In many species, including the horse, both the conceptus and the endometrium also synthesize PGE(2), which may antagonize PGF(2alpha) by playing a luteotropic and/or antiluteolytic role. While the release of PGE(2) and PGF(2alpha) by the equine endometrium in late diestrus and early pregnancy has been previously studied, the underlying prostaglandin synthase gene regulatory mechanisms remain poorly defined. To resolve this issue, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), microsomal PGE(2) synthase (PGES), and PGF(2alpha) synthase (PGFS) expression were examined in a series of endometrial biopsies obtained from cycling mares on Days 10, 13, and 15 postovulation, as well as from pregnant mares on Day 15. Quantification of COX-2 expression revealed significant (P < 0.01) increases in both mRNA and protein levels at Day 15 in cycling endometrium relative to other timepoints. Importantly, the level of COX-2 expression in Day 15 pregnant endometrium was found to be comparable with that observed in Day 10 and Day 13 cycling animals, suggesting that the presence of the conceptus blocks the induction of COX-2. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the induction of COX-2 expression on Day 15 occurs specifically in surface epithelial cells in cycling animals only. As equine PGFS had not been previously characterized, a 1380-base pair (bp) cDNA transcript was cloned by a combination of reverse transcription-PCR techniques and found to be highly homologous to bovine liver-type PGFS. The pattern of expression observed for the terminal PG synthases was distinct from that of COX-2, as PGES and PGFS mRNA and protein levels were found to be invariant throughout the timecourse and unaffected by pregnancy. Similar to COX-2, however, the PGES and PGFS proteins were found to localize mainly to the surface epithelium. Thus, this study describes for the first time the regulation and spatial distribution of COX-2, PGES, and PGFS expression in equine endometrium in late diestrus, with a marked induction of COX-2 but not of PGES and PGFS expression in uterine epithelial cells at Day 15. Furthermore, the presence of the conceptus was shown to block the induction of COX-2 expression at Day 15, suggesting an important mechanism by which it may suppress uterine PGF(2alpha) release and prevent luteolysis during early pregnancy.