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Oat straw, wheat straw and sugar-cane bagasse were treated by incubation for 21 days with various combinations of hydrogen peroxide, ammonia and urea. The polyester bag (in sacco) technique was employed to measure rumen microbial degradation of treated feeds. Analyses of treated material indicated that urea, and peroxide plus urea, were significant in solubilizing lignin and thus enhancing the cell contents. H2O2 treatment enhanced (P < 0·01) the extent of digestion of DM, NDF, ADF and cellulose over 48 h for wheat straw and sugar-cane bagasse. Ammoniation increased (P < 0·01) the rumen degradability of DM and CWC of the crop residues studied, though the response with sugar-cane bagasse was poor. Hydrogen peroxide in combination with aqueous ammonia treatments gave significantly (P < 0·01) higher in sacco degradability values than other alkaline H2O2 treatments. However, H2O2 treatment of sugar-cane bagasse increased (P < 0·01) the fermentability of structural carbohydrates more than alkaline hydrogen peroxide treatments.

SummaryThe rate of production of bacteria in the rumen of buffalo calves kept on two rations was measured using14C labelledStreptococcus bovisand35S whole ruminal bacterial cells. The animals received daily either 15–20 kg green maize or 25–30 kg green cow pea in 12 equal amounts at 2-h intervals. The bacterial cells from the rumen of animals maintained on the same diet were tagged with35S byin vitroincubation in the presence of35S-sodium sulphate. SimilarlyStreptococcus bovisof rumen origin was grown in the presence of U-14C dl-leucine. The cells were injected into the rumen in a single dose. The dilution of the specific radioactivity of bacterial cells in the rumen with time was taken for calculation of the turnover time and rate of production of bacteria.The average production rates of bacteria were 88·3 ± 3·88 and 92·3 ± 1·82 g/kg digestible organic matter and 101·8 ± 1·55 and 103·3 ± 1·49 g/kg digestible organic matter in animals fed green maize and cow pea, when estimated by using mixed rumen whole bacterial cells andStreptococcus bovisrespectively. There was no significant difference in the rate of bacteria production when estimated by either method.

The structural changes in the granulosa lutein cells in the pregnant cows between 60 and 245 days, were observed. The polyhedral or plump cells had an acido-philic cytoplasm around the spherical nucleus. The glycogen granules increased in number up to 230 days of pregnancy. The lipid globules increased in size and amount during advanced pregnancy. The mitochondria showed a wide range of variations in shape and size. The matrix of many mitochondria contained dense inclusions which replaced the entire matrix in late pregnancy. The endoplasmic reticulum was chiefly of smooth type but a few stacks of the rough variety could be seen in the early days of pregnancy. Sometimes, whorls of smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum enclosing mitochondria were seen. The Golgi complex was fully developed in the granulosa cells of all cases studied. The dense granules and lipid globules increased in size and number in the older corpora lutea. The cell surface showed numerous infoldings of the plasma membrane.

The relative efficiency of voluntary consumption, chemical composition, digestibility in vitro and in vivo, was tested for predicting the nutritive value of five forages: berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum); green oat (Avena sativa); oat hay; cow pea (Vigna spp.) and maize (Zea mays). The digestibility coefficients of dry matter (DM), crude protein, acid-detergent lignin and energy were significantly correlated with DM intake. Digestibilities in vitro of DM and cellulose after 12-h incubation were significantly related to digestibilities in vivo of DM and energy. The values for cellulose digestibility in vitro at 24 h were similar to those for digestibility of energy in vivo. Significant correlations were obtained between the crude protein content of forages and the voluntary DM intake and digestibility of nutrients. Increased cellulose and acid-detergent fibre contents were each related with decreased DM intake and digestibility of nutrients.

The testicular seminal pathway in the camel is divided into two portions: an intratesticular and an extratesticular portion. The intratesticular seminal pathway consists of three portions: a ‘tapering terminal segment’ of the seminiferous tubules opening into the receptacle, the tubuli recti with three parts and the rete testis. The extratesticular portion consists of the rete testis, as an extension of the intratesticular portion and an elongated sac from which 6–7 ductuli efferentes originated. The tapering terminal segments are lined by modified Sertoli cells. Both, the tubuli recti and rete testis, are lined by simple cuboidal to columnar cells. The epithelium of the ductuli efferentes which, at its origin from the sac is simply cuboidal, gradually changes to an epithelium that consists of alternating groups of high-columnar ciliated and low-columnar non-ciliated cells. The strongly PAS-positive basement membrane of the ductuli efferentes is surrounded by a thin circular layer of smooth muscle fibres. The pseudo-stratified columnar epithelium of the epididymis is supported by an intensely PAS-reactive basement membrane. Morphological changes in the epithelium of the head and body regions of the epididymis due to seasonal variations are well marked in the camels of all age groups.

SummaryExperiments were conducted on 12 male growing calves of zebu cattle (Bos indicus) and buffalo (Bos bubalis) to study the effect of feeding wheat straw presoaked with water on the voluntary feed intake, digestibility coefficients of nutrients and volatile fatty acid concentration and production. The feed intake was improved significantly (P < 0·05) in both the species as a result of soaking. The digestibility of crude protein and crude fibre was depressed (P < 0·05), whereas the nitrogen-free extract utilization increased significantly (P < 0·01) on soaking of straw. The availability of digestible energy and metabolizable energy was also more as a result of water treatment of wheat straw. The production rates of total volatile fatty acids and acetic acid were higher in both the species fed on water-soaked wheat straw. It is concluded that pre-soaking of wheat straw for 1–2 h with ordinary tap water may give an overall beneficial effect in both zebu and buffalo calves.

SUMMARYThe digestibility of protein of mixed whole rumen bacterial cells and Streptococcus bovis were determined in Bos bubalis and goats. The bacterial cells were labelled either with 35S or 14C in vitro incubation and were injected in a single dose into the rumen after protecting by formaldehyde treatment. Faeces were collected for 6 consecutive days and radioactivity excreted in the faeces was measured. The digestibility of bacterial protein ranged from 81·7 to 96·8% in both the species.

SummaryThe production rates of bacteria have been measured in the rumen of zebu calves and buffalo calves. The animals were fed green oat continuously at 2 h intervals. [35S]sodium sulphate was fed to the animals for 5 days at 2 h intervals by mixing in the feed. On the sixth day the radioactive feed was stopped and replaced by non-radioactive feed. The decline in the specific radioactivity of bacterial cells in the rumen as a function of time was taken for calculatingt/2. Simultaneously rumen volume was determined and pool size of bacterial cells was calculated in the rumen. A mathematical equation was applied to calculate the production rates of bacteria. The production rates of bacteria, on average, were 100·5 and 72·3 mg/min for buffalo calves and zebu calves, respectively.

1. The production rates of bacteria in the rumen of buffalo (Bos bubalis) calves were estimated using an isotope-dilution technique. A series of fifteen experiments was done with animals given green maize and nine experiments with animals given cowpea (Vigna unguiculata).2. The turnover time ranged from 205 to 567 min in the group given green maize and from 330 to 648 min in animals offered cowpea. The production rates of bacteria were (mean±SE; g/d) 145.77±7.240 and 237.09±11.847 in animals given green maize and cowpea respectively.3. There was a significant correlation between bacterial production rates and dry matter intake, digestible organic matter and total volatile fatty acids formed in the rumen.4. Regression equations obtained for the two foodstuffs were different suggesting that the bacterial growth rate may vary depending upon the quantity and quality of foodstuff digested and possibly the ratio nitrogen: energy of the foodstuff.

The testicular seminal pathway in the camel is divided into two portions: an intratesticular and an extratesticular portion. The intratesticular seminal pathway consists of three portions: a 'tapering terminal segment' of the seminiferous tubules opening into the receptacle, the tubuli recti with three parts and the rete testis. The extratesticular portion consists of the rete testis, as an extension of the intratesticular portion and an elongated sac from which 6-7 ductuli efferentes originated. The tapering terminal segments are lined by modified Sertoli cells. Both, the tubuli recti and rete testis, are lined by simple cuboidal to columnar cells. The epithelium of the ductuli efferentes which, at its origin from the sac is simply cuboidal, gradually changes to an epithelium that consists of alternating groups of high-columnar ciliated and low-columnar non-ciliated cells. The strongly PAS-positive basement membrane of the ductuli efferentes is surrounded by a thin circular layer of smooth muscle fibres. The pseudo-stratified columnar epithelium of the epididymis is supported by an intensely PAS-reactive basement membrane. Morphological changes in the epithelium of the head and body regions of the epididymis due to seasonal variations are well marked in the camels of all age groups.

The bacteria production rates in the rumen have been estimated by injecting 14C- and 35S-labelled mixed rumen bacteria, either live or killed by treatment with formaldehyde, into the rumen and applying isotope dilution technique. The rate of bacteria production when estimated by using either live- or dead-(protected-)labelled bacterial cells were comparable.

Total microbial protein synthesis rates in the rumen of buffaloes were estimated by isotope dilution technique, using 131I-albumin treated with tannic acid as a marker. The animals were fed groundnut cake treated with formaldehyde to meet 50% of their digestible crude protein (DCP) requirement and 2.5% urea molasses mixture was given to meet the remaining requirement of DCP. Wheat straw was fed as the basal roughage. The total average microbial protein synthesis was 58.14 g/day.

Histological and a few histochemical studies were done on the testes of 34 camels between 4 and 20 years of age, during three seasons: the tunica albuginea of the testes was composed of collagenous and a few elastic fibers. Isolated bundles of the smooth muscle fibers were observed in the capsule. The mediastinum testis and its radiating septula into the parenchyma also consisted of mainly collagenous and a few elastic fibers. The interstitial tissue was composed of Leydig cells and a network of reticular fibers. These cells increased in volume in the rutting period from December to March, and were distorted and reduced in volume in the nonrutting period from April to November. The seminiferous tubules were 113--250 micrometer in diameter, and were lined by many layers of spermatogenic cells and a single layer of Sertoli cells. The spermatogenesis was observed as a continuous process throughout the year, particularly in the camels between 4 and 15 years of age. Almost in all the testes studied, three types of spermatogonia, two to three layers of primary spermatocytes, rarely secondary spermatocytes and spermatids in two stages were observed. The spermatozoa were present attached to the Sertoli cells as well as free in the lumen of the tubules. The oval head of the spermatozoa was characterized by the presence of an elongated pointed, strongly PAS-positive acrosome.

SummaryThe rates of production of protozoa in the rumen of buffalo calves have been estimated using a single-injection isotope dilution technique. The calves were fed at 2 levels of crude protein, namely, 13% lower and 19% higher than that recommended by the National Research Council. The animals were given their rations at 2-h intervals for 3 weeks. Thereafter 14C-labelled rumen protozoa were injected into the rumen of each calf in a single injection. Samples of the rumen liquor were drawn at various time-intervals for 10 h and were analysed for the concentration of protozoa and radioactivity. The decline in the specific radioactivity of protozoa cells in the rumen as a function of time was used for calculating half life (t½). A mathematical equation was used to calculate the rate of production of protozoa. The average t½ was 1077 min for both groups and the rates of production of protozoa were 73·9 and 92·1mg/min in groups fed on low and high planes of crude protein respectively, showing that the production of protozoa is significantly (P < 0·01) higher in animals consuming a ration high in crude protein.

Im Gelbkorper von Kuhen wurden wahrend der Periode von 80–240 Trachtigkeitstagen in den Granulosaluteinzellen Einschlusse gefunden, die beinahe ganze Mitochondrien ausfullten. Die Elektronendichte war der von Fett-Tropfchen ahnlich. Die Einschlusse konnten morphologisch dahin deuten, dass die Mitochondrien zur Steroidsynthese der Granulosazellen enge Beziehungen haben.

— Monkeys exposed to a rhythmically flickering light (flicker frequency 7/sec, intensity 1614 lumens/m2) show a higher incorporation of intracisternally administered l-(U-3H)-lysine into proteins of the visual cortex as compared to monkeys kept in darkness. An increase in specific radioactivity is noticed in both the soluble and particulate (including membrane linked) proteins. The 105,000 g supernatant proteins from the visual cortex have been fractionated on DEAE-cellulose columns followed by resolution of each fraction on polyacrylamide gels. The results suggest that there is a group of acidic low molecular weight proteins whose synthesis is significantly stimulated during the exposure of the animal to flickering light. The fractions give immunological cross-reaction with anti S-100 Serum.

A new process of removing saponins from Mahua seed cake, a commonly available tree of genusBassia, has been developed. The processed cake when added to the rations of calves to the extent of 50% digestible crude protein replacement, had no adverse effect on growth rate of cross-bred dairy calves.