Association among lipopolysaccharide, the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily, follicular growth, and transcription factors in spontaneous bovine ovarian cysts.

The aim of this study was to investigate some of the growth and transcriptional factors originating from oocytes and granulosa cells in follicular fluid and to identify the relationships between the basic blood metabolite-metabolic hormones and intrafollicular lipopolysaccharide (LPS) concentrations. Thirty cows included in the study were allocated into 2 groups comprising 15 cows with healthy preovulatory follicles (cyclic cows) and 15 cows with confirmed cystic follicles. The ovaries and uteri of all cows were assessed by transrectal ultrasonographic examination. Blood serum samples were collected at 15, 25, 35, 45, and 55 d after calving for analysis of nonesterified fatty acids, ß-hydroxybutyrate, insulin, glucose, IGF-I, ACTH, and cortisol. Ovaries and uteri were examined using transrectal ultrasound. Vaginal discharge was evaluated on the same days. Follicular fluid was also aspirated on days 35-55 from the healthy preovulatory follicles and cystic follicles using a transvaginal ovum pickup method. The densitometric levels of inhibin-α, growth and differentiation factor (GDF-9), bone morphogenetic protein (BMP-6), and GATA-4 and GATA-6 proteins were analyzed by the Western blotting technique; the concentrations of antimullerian hormone (AMH), IGF-I, estradiol-17 beta (E2), and progesterone (P4) were determined by ELISA; and the concentrations of LPS in the follicular fluid were measured by the Limulus amebocyte lysate test. The serum insulin, ACTH, and cortisol concentrations were higher in cystic cows than cyclic cows, but serum IGF-I concentrations were lower in cystic cows. The IGF-I concentrations of cystic follicular fluids were lower, whereas AMH levels were significantly greater than those of healthy preovulatory follicular fluids. The cystic follicles had significantly lower expression levels of GDF-9, BMP-6, GATA-4, and GATA-6; in contrast, inhibin-α expression and LPS concentrations were significantly higher than in healthy preovulatory follicles. The proportion of pathologic vaginal discharge within 25 d postpartum in cystic cows were higher than in the cyclic group. In conclusion, it is suggested that intrafollicular dysregulation of the transforming growth factor-ß superfamily, growth, and transcriptional factors is affected by high intrafollicular LPS concentrations and systemic metabolic changes and these disturbances may be responsible for the generation of ovarian cysts.

Clinical evaluation of different applications of misoprostol and aglepristone for induction of abortion in bitches.

The aim of the present study was to compare the clinical and endocrinological effects of different applications of misoprostol (MIS) and aglepristone (AGL) for the induction of abortion in bitches. For this purpose, 28 healthy pregnant bitches from different breeds, ages, body weights (Body weigt, BWs, 10-40 kg), and between Days 25 to 35 of gestation were used. Bitches were randomly assigned to four groups. In group 1 (GI, n = 7), AGL (10 mg/kg BW, s.c. on 2 consecutive days); in group 2 (GII, n = 7), AGL (as in GI), intravaginal MIS (IVag, 200 µg for bitches with ≤20 kg BW, 400 µg for bitches with >20 kg BW, daily intravaginally until completion of abortion); in group 3 (GIII, n = 7), AGL (as in GI), ICVag (as in GII), per os MIS (400 µg for bitches with ≤20 kg BW, 800 µg for bitches with >20 kg BW, daily orally, until completion of abortion); in group 4 (GIV, n = 7), AGL (as in GI), per os MIS (as GIII) were used. Clinical, vaginal, and ultrasonographic examinations were performed daily until abortion was completed. For measurement of serum progesterone, blood samples were collected in all groups immediately after the first AGL administration and every other day until completion of abortion. No statistical differences were found between groups concerning the duration until completion of abortion after treatment (nonsignificant); however, in GII, one bitch completed abortion 2 days after the start of treatment.

Perosomus elumbis in a Holstein calf infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus.

The detection of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in a female Holstein calf presented with perosomus elumbis, a congenital anomaly, is reported here. A cow with dystocia was evaluated and an abnormal dead calf was detected during vaginal examination. The calf was retrieved via caesarean section and exhibited abnormalities characteristic of PE, such as vertebral and pelvic malformations. These abnormalities were further confirmed using radiographic and necropsy examinations. At necropsy cerebellar hypoplasia was an additional finding, which is a typical lesion associated with bovine virus diarrhea (BVD). Several tissue samples from the calf were tested for the presence of antigens of BVDV and bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) by ELISA. In addition, sera samples from the dam and calf were tested for the presence of antibodies against BVDV, BHV-1, and bluetongue disease virus (BTV) using a virus neutralization assay. Results indicated that the calf was congenitally infected with BVDV, whereas there was no evidence for the presence of BHV-1 and BTV. In the dam's serum no antibodies against BVDV, BHV-1, and BTV were detected. Even though the etiology of perosomus elumbis is unknown, BVDV, which causes fetal anomalies at early gestation in cows, may have been a contributing factor in this case.

Relation between intravascular electrolyte level and course of parturition in dairy cows.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the intravascular electrolyte status in dairy cows with respect to age and different courses of parturition to clarify etiological factors influencing peri- or intrapartal imbalances of electrolyte homeostasis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 64 cows at birth were evaluated (primiparous n = 34, pluriparous n = 30). Thirty-three cows showed normal delivery, while 31 cows had a complicated birth. Blood samples were collected intra partum (i. p.) and 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24 h post partum (p. p.) as well as [2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10 days p. p. and levels of total calcium (Catotal), ionized calcium (Caion), inorganic phosphate (Pa), Mg, Na, K, Cl were determined. RESULTS: The results revealed that electrolytes show great fluctuation during and immediately p. p. in relation to age. Already during parturition pluriparous cows had a lower Catotal and Pa concentration compared to primiparous animals. Cows with dystocia exhibited a more intensive and longer lasting decrease of Ca compared to cows with normal birth. In relation to age and severity of birth Pa concentration showed a differing but basically typical course for this electrolyte. Mg, Na, K and Cl concentrations were higher during and immediately after birth compared to p. p. values. Until day 10 p. p. these electrolyte concentrations declined more in older cows with dystocia compared to younger animals. However, the influence of dystocia on concentration of these electrolytes was milder in contrast to Ca and Pa. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, primarily older cows are predisposed to imbalances of electrolyte homeostasis intra partum and at the beginning of the lactation. These changes are potentiated in case of complications during parturition. Intravascular Catotal, Caion as well as Pa are most severely affected. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These results may constitute the basis for a comprehensive metaphylaxis during the peripartal period, especially in cows after dystocia, to positively influence the early convalescence phase.

Prevalence and accompanying signs of pneumovagina and urovagina in dairy cows in the Southern Marmara region.

OBJECTIVE: Studies on the prevalence of pneumo- and urovagina in cows are rare. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and the most common accompanying clinical signs of pneumo- and urovagina in dairy cows. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 2007 and 2010 a total of 1167 Holstein and Brown Swiss cows were examined clinically and bacteriologically. Pneumovagina was diagnosed if air was sucked in or expelled from the vagina spontaneously at any time. Urovagina was defined as the accumulation of urine at the fornix of the vagina. RESULTS: The prevalence of pneumovagina and urovagina were 19.2% (n=224) and 3.1% (n=36), respectively. Several clinical findings were accompanying pneumovagina in affected cows. 77.7% of cows having pneumovagina additionally displayed foamy vaginal discharge during estrous. Passive urinary flow out of the vulva could be observed due to pressure during rectal examination in some cows with urovagina. Bacteriological examination of uterine swaps from 111 cows with pneumovagina yielded a positive result in 95.5% of the cases. Uterine samples from 20 control animals were bacteriologically positive in 45% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Pneumovagina in cows has a much higher prevalence than published before and causes uterine infection, endometritis and infertility due to fecal contamination. Urovagina is always an accompanying sign in severe cases of pneumovagina. Foamy vaginal discharge during estrous can be regarded as pathognomonic and early sign of pneumovagina also in very mild cases. Evacuation of the uterus after parturition and a decrease in body condition score due to negative energy balance causes an increased negative intraabdominal pressure. These conditions seem to trigger the development of pneumo- and urovagina. For this reason repeat-breeders and especially cows with foamy vaginal discharge during estrous, passive urinary leakage and an angulated vulva dorsal to the ischiadic arch should be carefully examined for pneumovagina.

Effects of the progesterone receptor antagonist aglepristone on implantation administered on days 6 and 7 after mating in rabbits.

There is no safe and accurate method for early termination of pregnancy in the rabbit. So this study was carried out to determine the effect of aglepristone administration in preventing early pregnancy before implantation in this species. Twenty-two animals (10-12 months old, New Zealand White rabbits) were naturally mated and pregnancies were confirmed in all animals by ultrasonographic examinations on day 6 after mating (5-7.5 MHz linear array transducer Dynamic Imaging Sonostar, UK) and the animals were grouped randomly: Group I & Group III: Aglepristone (Alizin, Virbac; 10 mg/kg, subcutaneously) was injected twice, 24 h apart, on days 6 and 7 after mating (n = 5; n = 8). Group II & Group IV: The same volume of 0.9% NaCl solution was subcutaneously injected in the same interval and served as controls (n = 5; n = 3). Ultrasonographical examination of the uterus was performed daily from day 7 to day 11 post-mating to test aglepristone efficiency. Blood samples were collected between days 6 and 30, centrifuged at 3070 g for 10 min and stored at -20 degrees C. The does in aglepristone groups (Group I, III) were not pregnant whereas all animals in control groups were pregnant (Group II, IV). The does in group I & III were examined only clinically and ultrasonographically; however, does in groups III and IV were laparomized on days 6, 7, 9 and 11 post-mating to control countable implantation sites. No implantation sites were present in group III whereas they were seen obviously in group IV. Side effects were not observed. The mean serum progesterone (P4) concentrations were not significantly different between control and treated does (p > 0.05). The results indicate that aglepristone treatment on days 6 and 7 after mating could prevent pregnancy after unwanted matings without any side effects in the rabbit. Aglepristone treatments are possibly not affecting further fertilities before implantation.

Mid-gestation pregnancy termination in rabbits by the progesterone antagonist aglepristone.

UNLABELLED: The efficacy of aglepristone treatment to induce abortion in does 15 and 16 days after mating was investigated. The pregnant does were randomly allocated into two groups: For group I, aglepristone was injected twice (10mg/kg, subcutaneously) on days 15 and 16 after mating (n=10); for group II the does got no treatment but the same volume of 0.9% sodium chloride solution was subcutaneously injected at the same days of pregnancy (n=5). RESULTS: group I, termination of pregnancy was successful in all does. The mean interval between the first administration of aglepristone and the beginning of vaginal discharge was 32.4+/-5.6h (range 19-72h). Complete expulsion of all fetuses was observed in four does with first occurrences of vaginal discharge on the same day. The duration between the first occurrence of vaginal discharge to expulsion of all fetuses ranged between 21 and 130h (mean 70.2+/-12.2h). As important side effects, decrease in food consumption during abortion time and irregular mating behaviour (52.3+/-2.0 days/range 46-63) were recorded. But after this time all does were mated again, 8/10 became pregnant and they whelped normal and live kittens. Group II, all does gave birth to live kittens after a mean pregnancy length of 31.2+/-0.37 days (range 30-32 days). The mean serum progesterone (P(4)) concentrations were significantly different between control and treated does after day 20 of pregnancy (P<0.05). The results indicate that aglepristone treatment is effective to induce abortion in does and causes no serious negative effects on further fertility except a short non-receptive period after abortion and short time decrease in food consumption.

[Accuracy of current rapid milk progesterone assays in comparison with a routine laboratory method]. / Die Anwendungseignung aktueller Milch-progesteron-Schnelltests für Rinder im Vergleich zu einer laborgebundenen Routinemethode.

Four current commercially available rapid milk progesterone assays (Cowside rapid tube kit [test No. 1], Hormonost-Schnelltest Milch [test No. 2], Hygia Diagnostic RPT Progesterone Test [test No. 3] and Target-Milch-Progesterone-Schnelltest [test No. 4]) for dairy cows were tested for their accuracy in comparison with the gynecological status on the one hand and by using an approved quantitative laboratory-bound assay on the other hand. Milk samples were taken from 23 dairy cows with behavioural oestrus. From 18 species with expected intermediate levels of progesterone milk probes were taken between day 3 and day 6 post insemination and also from 26 gravid cows. The clinically established gynecological status of the dairy cows correlated completely with their milk progesterone values investigated with the laboratory-bound EIA. In contrast the accuracy levels of the rapid progesterone kits differed. The accuracy of test No. 1 was 81% regarding all milk probes, whereas test No. 2 achieved 91%, test No. 3 73.5% and test No. 4 only 69.5%. Milk samples yielding low progesterone levels partly showed big differences. The highest rates of false semiquantitative classifications were recorded in milk samples with intermediate progesterone values. Test No. 2 was the only one with satisfactory results in this range. Milk samples yielding high progesterone values proved to be the best in all four assays.