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The present study aimed to identify the role of dopaminergic and cannabinoidergic systems in the ghrelin-induced hypophagia among meat-type chickens. In the first experiment, intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection was applied to birds with control solution, D1 receptor antagonist (5 nmol), ghrelin (6 nmol), and D1 receptor antagonist plus ghrelin. The second to sixth experiments were similar to the first one, with the difference that D2 receptor antagonist (5 nmol), D3 receptor antagonist (6.4 nmol), D4 receptor antagonist (6 nmol), the precursor of dopamine (125 nmol), and 6-hydroxy dopamine (150 nmol) instead of D1 antagonist were injected into the broiler chickens. In experiment 7, control solution and different levels of ghrelin antagonists (5, 10, and 20 nmol) were injected. In experiment 8, the chickens were ICV injected with control solution, ghrelin antagonist (10 nmol), dopamine (40 nmol), and ghrelin antagonist plus dopamine. In experiments 9 and 10, CB1 and CB2 receptors antagonist (6.25µg and 5µg) were co-injected with ghrelin (6 nmol), respectively, measuring the food intake for 120 min after the injection. It was observed that ghrelin ICV injection considerably reduced food intake, whereas ghrelin antagonist increased food intake, depending on the dose (P

In this study, fetus samples were collected randomly from 200 pregnant goats which were slaughtered at Tabriz abattoir during autumn. The age of collected fetuses was calculated by the formula X=2.74 Y+30.15 proposed by Gull et al. After opening the abdominal cavity of the fetuses at different ages, the location of the testicles in the abdominal cavity and the time of their descent into the scrotum were investigated. Macroscopic studies indicated that the first testicular migration coincides with mesonephrous degeneration in 45 days old fetuses. At the age of 59 days, the mesonephrous is completely diminished and the remains of the mesonephric duct changed to epididymis. At this age, the gubernacular tissue is inflated and expanded. In days 89, testis is seen in the middle of the inguinal canal and until day 106 of pregnancy it descents from final of the inguinal canal into the opening of the scrotum. At the age of 153 days (birth time) complete descent of the testis into the scrotum takes place. On the basis of the results of the present study it can be concluded that the location of testis in the goat is similar to cattle, sheep, horse and humans at birth and its descent into scrotum follows retraction and degeneration of the gubernacular tissue.

ABSTRACT The present study was designed to examine the role of Opioidergic and Histaminergic systems on feeding behavior in 3-hour food deprived neonatal meat- type chicks. In experiment 1, chicks received intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of (A) control solution, (B) α-FMH (alpha fluoromethyl histidine; 250 nmol), (C) DAMGO (µ-opioid receptor agonist, 125 pmol) and (D) α-FMH + DAMGO. Experiments 2-4 were similar to experiment 1, except chicken ICV injected with Chlorpheniramine (histamine H1 receptors antagonist; 300 nmol), famotidine (histamine H2 receptors antagonist; 82 nmol) and Thioperamide (histamine H3 receptors antagonist; 300 nmol) instead of the α-FMH. In experiments 5-8, birds ICV injected with the same procedure as experiments 1-4, except they were injected with DPDPE (δ-opioid receptor agonist, 40 nmol) instead of DAMGO. Experiments 9-12 were similar to the experiments 1-4, except neonatal broilers ICV were injected with U-50488H (κ-opioid receptor agonist, 30 nmol) instead of DAMGO. Then the cumulative food intake was measured until 120 min post injection. According to the results, ICV injection of DAMGO, significantly decreased food intake (p0.05). Also, the hyperphagic effect of DPDPE and U-50488 had no affect by α-FMH, Chlorpheniramine, famotidine and Thioperamide (p>0.05). These results suggested that an interconnection between central opioidergic and histaminergic systems on feeding behavior is mediated via µ-opioid and H1/H3 receptors in neonatal broilers.

Evaluation of pelvic diaphragm muscles in dogs merits clinical attention because of the anatomical importance and their involvement in perineal hernia. This study aimed to evaluate the normal pelvic diaphragm muscles ( levator ani and coccygeus muscles) using the computed tomography (CT) scan. For this purpose, 10 male and 10 female clinically normal, adult intact mixed-breed dogs weighing 15.00 to 20.00 kg were selected randomly. All animals underwent CT examination under general anesthesia and positioned in sternal recumbency. All the CT images were taken and reconstructed with a same protocol. The measurements of the pelvic diaphragm muscles were performed based on the presented guideline to the observer. The results were presented descriptively. The mean lengths of the coccygeus muscle in CT images were evaluated 4.60 cm for males and 4.30 cm for females. The mean lengths of levator ani muscle in CT images were measured 4.90 cm in males and 4.50 cm in females. In conclusion, the results of the present study can be beneficial to clinicians and researchers for further evaluation of the supporting muscles in pelvic cavity and underlying anatomical changes in perineal hernia in dogs., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (© 2021 Urmia University. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objective: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a major disabling disorder for which no effective treatment has yet been found. Regenerative incapability of neuronal cells as well as the secondary mechanisms of injury are the major reasons behind this clinical frustration. Thus, here we fabricated an erythropoietin-chitosan/alginate (EPO-CH/AL) hydrogel and investigated its local therapeutic effects on the apoptotic and inflammatory indices of SCI secondary injury., Methods: EPO-CH/AL hydrogels were fabricated by the ionic gelation method, and they were characterized using SEM and FTIR. In vitro drug release profile of EPO-CH/AL hydrogels was evaluated by UV-vis spectroscopy. Experimental SCI was inflicted in rats which were then treated with CH/AL hydrogels containing different doses of EPO (1000, 5000 and 10,000 IU/kg). The relative expression of Bax and Bcl2 (apoptosis index) and active and inactive forms of NF-κB (inflammation index) were assessed using western blot. Total serum levels of TNF-α were also assessed with ELISA, and histopathological and immunohistochemistry studies were carried out to check the overall changes in the injured tissues., Results: In vitro drug release test indicated that the EPO-CH/AL hydrogels had a sustained- and controlled-release profile for EPO under these conditions. All the fabricated hydrogels dramatically reduced the elevated inflammation and apoptosis indices of the SCI-inflicted rats (p ≤ 0.05). Nevertheless, only EPO-CH/AL hydrogel (1000 IU/kg EPO) significantly improved the tissue repair and histopathological appearance of the spinal cord at the sites of injury., Conclusion: Based on our findings, EPO-CH/AL hydrogel (1000 IU/kg EPO) can effectively improve experimental SCI in rats via inhibiting apoptosis and inflammation. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the contributing role of the scaffold in the observed effects., (© 2021. Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The present study aimed to identify the role of dopaminergic and cannabinoidergic systems in the ghrelin-induced hypophagia among meat-type chickens. In the first experiment, intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection was applied to birds with control solution, D 1 receptor antagonist (5 nmol), ghrelin (6 nmol), and D1 receptor antagonist plus ghrelin. The second to sixth experiments were similar to the first one, with the difference that D 2 receptor antagonist (5 nmol), D 3 receptor antagonist (6.4 nmol), D 4 receptor antagonist (6 nmol), the precursor of dopamine (125 nmol), and 6-hydroxy dopamine (150 nmol) instead of D 1 antagonist were injected into the broiler chickens. In experiment 7, control solution and different levels of ghrelin antagonists (5, 10, and 20 nmol) were injected. In experiment 8, the chickens were ICV injected with control solution, ghrelin antagonist (10 nmol), dopamine (40 nmol), and ghrelin antagonist plus dopamine. In experiments 9 and 10, CB 1 and CB 2 receptors antagonist (6.25µg and 5µg) were co-injected with ghrelin (6 nmol), respectively, measuring the food intake for 120 min after the injection. It was observed that ghrelin ICV injection considerably reduced food intake, whereas ghrelin antagonist increased food intake, depending on the dose (P<0.05). In addition, ghrelin-induced hypophagia was significantly attenuated by D 1 receptor antagonist and 6-hydroxy dopamine (P<0.05), while the dopamine precursor considerably elevated the ghrelin-induced food intake (P<0.05). The dopamine-induced feeding behavior was diminished by the co-administration of [D-Lys-3]-GHRP-6 (10 nmol)+dopamine (40 nmol) (P<0.05). In addition, CB 1 receptor antagonists enhanced the ghrelin influence on food intake (P<0.05). The results implied that the hypophagic impact of ghrelin was probably mediated by D 1 and CB 1 receptors within neonatal broilers.

The present study was designed to determine the effect of central injection of Nesfatin-1 and corticotropin and histaminergic systems on food intake in neonatal meat-type chicks. In this study, 7 experiments were designed, each with 4 treatment groups. In experiment 1, four groups of chicks received the ICV injection of (A) phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), (B) Nesfatin-1 (10 ng), (C) Nesfatin-1 (20 ng) and (D) Nesfatin-1 (40 ng). In experiment 2, (A) PBS, (B) Astressin-B (CRF 1 /CRF 2 receptors antagonist; 30 µg), (C) Nesfatin-1 (40 ng) and (D) Nesfatin-1 + Astressin-B were injected. In experiments 3-6, chicken received ICV injection of the Astressin2-B (CRF 2 receptor antagonist; 30 µg), α-FMH (alpha fluoromethyl histidine; as inhibitor of histidine decarboxylase, 250 nmol), Chlorpheniramine (histamine H 1 receptors antagonist, 300 nmol), Famotidine (histamine H 2 receptors antagonist, 82 nmol) and Thioperamide (histamine H 3 receptors antagonist, 300 nmol) instead of the Astressin-B. Then the cumulative food intake measured until 120 min post-injection. According to the results, ICV injection of Nesfatin-1 dose dependently decreased food intake in neonatal chicks (P < 0.05). Co-injection of the Nesfatin-1 and Astressin-B (CRF 1 /CRF 2 ) inhibited Nesfatin-1 induced hypophagia (P < 0.05). ICV inejction of the Nesfatin-1 + Astressin-B significantly inhibited the effect of Nesfatin-1 on food intake (P < 0.05). In addition, α-FMH and chlorpheniramine attenuated Nesfatin-1-induced hypophagia in chicks (P < 0.05); while thioperamide significantly amplified the effect of Nesfatin-1 on food intake in chicks (P < 0.05). These results suggested Nesfatin-1 has an anorectic effect in 3-hour food deprived neonatal meat-type chicks and this effect was mediated by corticotropin CRF 1 /CRF 2 as well as histamine H 1 and H 3 receptors.

The aim of this study was to develop a detailed and accessible set of reference images of the normal radiographic anatomy of the digits of the ostrich (Struthio camelus), with emphasis on the metatarsophalangeal joint and its arthrography. The distal excised pelvic limbs of 10 normal ostriches of different ages (ranging from 10 to 365 days of age) obtained from an abattoir were radiographed, and 2 arthrograms were performed. To illustrate the normal radiographic anatomy of the tarsometatarsal bone, 39 images were selected, labelled, and presented along with detailed descriptions and corresponding images of the bony skeleton. These results provide a valuable dataset to assist in understanding the normal anatomy of the ostrich metatarsophalangeal joint and digits and allow comparison of abnormal corresponding structures in clinical cases in ostriches.

The aim of this study was to determine the drainage routes of the corpus cvernosum penis and the corpus spongiosum penis in the cat using contrast cavernosography. Five male cats, 1.5-2.5 years old, weighing between 4.5 and 5.5 kg were investigated. The cats were anesthetized and the root and the proximal part of the penis were exposed by an incision on the perineum reaching the scrotum. Each cat was radiographed in lateral and dorsal recumbency before and during injection of contrast medium into the erectile bodies. The corpus spongiosum penis was injected at the bulb of the penis and the corpus cavernosum penis at the root. Injection of contrast media into the cavernous bodies showed that both the external and internal iliac veins drain the erectile bodies into the caudal vena cava. Drainage from the corpus spongiosum penis was from the bulb for the proximal part and from the glans for the distal part. The corpus cavernosum penis was drained only proximally, from the crura. There was a network of veins above the pelvic symphysis and the drainage of erectile bodies where through various routes into the internal and external iliac veins.

This study aims at clarifying the detailed morphological and topographical changes of the thoracic part of the sympathetic trunk of sheep during fetal development. Bilateral micro-dissection of the thoracic sympathetic trunk was performed on 40 sheep fetuses aged 6-20 weeks (18 males and 22 females) under a stereomicroscope. The cervicothoracic ganglion (CTG) was observed on 75/80 sides (93.7%) and was composed of the caudal cervical and the first thoracic ganglia on 45/80 sides (56.2%), and of the caudal cervical and the first two thoracic ganglia on 30/80 sides (37.5%). The presence of the two last (12th-13th) thoracic ganglia was not constant. The influence of the sex, the side of the body, and the ages of the fetus on the morphology and topography of the thoracic sympathetic trunk in sheep were identified. In spite of the differences in the morphology and topography of the thoracic sympathetic trunk between early and late fetal developments, the morphology and topography of the older fetal thoracic sympathetic trunk tended to be similar to that of the adult sheep. To comprehend the comparative morphology of the fetal thoracic sympathetic trunk more completely, our results were compared with previous studies. Consequently, differences and similarities in the composition and position of the CTG, presence of single caudal cervical ganglion without fusion to the thoracic ganglia, and absence of the thoracic ganglia, and presence of splitting of the interganglionic branch were found among sheep, pig, and human fetuses. Therefore, sheep might be the appropriate animal model to be applied in human sympathetic nervous system., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The Caspian miniature horse is one of the rare small breeds in the north of Iran. In the present study, the position of the heart and its valves were determined topographically in 4 miniature horses. We found that Caspian miniature horses have general similarities, with certain topographical variability, with other horses.

The present study was designed to compare the anatomical parameters of the cardiopulmonary system in three different lines of chickens with different susceptibility to ascites syndrome. Eggs from three different genetic lines-commercial broiler and layer lines and one native to Iran--were incubated and hatched, and 1-day-old chicks used. The relative heart and lung weights, the volumes of the heart, lung and thorax cavity, the incidence of ascites, and the related physiological parameters in these chickens were followed. Lung weight as a percentage of body weight, the relative lung and heart volume, and the volumes of the thorax cavity, before and after removing heart and lung tissues, were lower in fast-growing broiler chickens compared with the layer and native chickens. Additionally, most of these parameters (e.g. relative lung weight, lung volume and thorax cavity) were significantly decreased with age in broiler chickens but were increased in layer and native chickens, which was concomitant with the incidence of ascites in broiler chickens. Our data indicate that all cardiopulmonary parameters investigated are extremely unfavourable to broiler chickens and suggest a reduction in gas exchange area in broilers, and therefore higher susceptibility to pulmonary hypertension and ascites.

1. The activity of rhodanese in different tissues of some domestic animals was measured. 2. Rhodanese was present in all tissues studied. 3. The activity of rhodanese in most tissues of sheep was higher than other animals studied. 4. In sheep and cattle the epithelium of rumen, omasum and reticulum were the richest sources of rhodanese. Significant activity of rhodanese was also present in liver and kidney. 5. In camel the liver contained the highest level of rhodanese followed by lung and rumen epithelium. Camel liver contained a third of the activity of sheep liver. 6. Equine liver had a third of the activity of sheep liver. Other tissues showed low levels of rhodanese activity. 7. Dog liver contained only 4% of the activity of sheep liver. In this animal, brain was the richest source of rhodanese. 8. The results are discussed in terms of efficacy of different tissues of animals in cyanide detoxification.

The lacrimal drainage system of the sheep (Ovis aries) was studied, using radiographic and anatomic techniques. The straight course of the nasolacrimal duct and the adequate diameter of different parts of the system facilitates radiography and catheterization of the lacrimal drainage system.

Lack of penile erection was diagnosed in nine bulls (Poll Hereford three; Aberdeen Angus two; Friesian two; horned Hereford; Sussex). Five had previously served successfully but four had proved impotent when first put to use. In each bull, the dorsal longitudinal canal of the corpus cavernosum penis (ccp) was occluded by fibrous tissue and this was considered to be the immediate cause of impotence. The ventral canals were also occluded in four bulls. In every case, the lesions were so extensive that treatment would not have been likely to succeed. In two bulls the dorsal canal and the tunica albuginea were ruptured proximal to the sigmoid flexure. Radiography of the cavernous spaces and veins during life, and anatomical injections of post mortem specimens, showed that in four bulls the ccp was drained by the dorsal venous system at or distal to the sigmoid flexure. The aetiology and the diagnosis are discussed and the possible physiological implications of occlusions of the canals are considered in terms of the functional anatomy of the ccp.

1. The activities of rhodanese and beta-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MST) in different organs of sheep and cattle were measured. 2. Liver, kidney, omasum, and rumen were the richest sources of both enzymes. The activities of both enzymes in other organs of the sheep and the cattle decreased in the order of lung, brain, heart, abomasum, lymph node, urinary bladder, spleen, and the skeletal muscle. 3. The activities of both enzymes in most organs of the sheep were higher than the cattle. 4. Both enzymes showed higher activities in the epithelial layers than the muscular layers of rumen, omasum and reticulum. 5. In most of the tissues of both species the level of rhodanese activity was greater than MST.

1. A total of 450 fertilized eggs were used to study the concentrations of uric acid, urea and ammonia in allantoic and amniotic fluids, and some enzymes of nitrogen metabolism in the liver and kidney during the development of the chick embryo from the 5th to 21st day of incubation. 2. Concentrations of the compounds studied were higher in allantoic fluid. The molar concentration of allantoic uric acid increased steadily with time. The pattern of urea and ammonia in both allantoic and amniotic fluids were the same. 3. Arginase (E.C.3.5.3.1) activity in both embryonic kidney and definitive kidney was higher than that in the liver. The specific activity of arginase (mumole urea formed/hr per g wet wt kidney) dropped during development. 4. Little arginine synthetase activity (argininosuccinate synthetase, E.C.6.3.4.5; and argininosuccinate lyase, E.C.4.3.2.1) was found in kidney, but none in the liver. 5. The complete urea cycle function was absent in both the liver and the kidney of the chick embryo.

Sixty-one single mechanoreceptive fibers were surgically isolated from the dorsal nerve of the penis in anesthetized, mature, and sexually intact male cats. Impulse activity was recorded extracellularly. Receptive fields on the glans penis were stimulated with an accurate computer controlled mechanostimulator. Thirty-four units were categorized as rapidly adapting (RA) based on the absence of a response to sustained skin displacement. The remaining were slowly adapting (SA) units responding to sustained displacement. Most of the SA units were located in the distal smooth glans whereas RA units predominated in the proximal spiny glans. Displacement thresholds were significantly lower for RA units. All units encoded indentation velocity although the SA units were better suited to discriminate slowly moving stimuli. In addition, SA units encoded sustained displacement amplitude. Male cats with a denervated glans penis display disoriented mounting behavior disabling intromission. The presence of distally located SA mechanoreceptors suggests they may be the primary penile proprioceptors, mediating, along with the RA mechanoreceptors, successful completion of intromission.