Hypocalcemia in grazing ewes in relation to pregnancy and parturition [a clinical report]

Acute hypocalcaemia [HCa] was diagnosed in 77 out of 600 ewes grazed on stubbles of corn, rice and cotton shrubs for about 30 days with no additional grains or concentrates. Affected ewes were severely depressed with excessive salivation, ruminal stasis and bloat. Antipartum vaginal prolapse of various degrees and weak labour were observed in 14 affected ewes. The propable cause and the results of hormonal and /or surgical treatment in addition to Ca therapy were discussed

Effect of light on fertility: an experimental study

To assess the influence of various light-dark cycles on the reproductive system of sexually immature male albino rats, 64 immature rats were included in this study. The rats were grouped into 4 equal groups: Group I: exposed to long photoperiod, Group II: exposed to short photoperiod. a Group III: exposed to complete darkness Group IV: control group exposed to natural day light. These groups were divided into 2 equal subgroups and received treatment for 1 and 3 months respectively. The rats were sacrificed following daily exposure, blood was collected, and plasma was separated and used for determination of L.H.-and testosterone by RIA. The testes were dissected, weighed and prepared for histological study. The rats exposed to long photoperiod had reached puberty earlier than the control. While those exposed to short photoperiod and complete darkness remained immature. Testicular weight and number of round spermatids had significantly increased in long photoperiod group compared with control, while those exposed to short photopericd and complete darkness group had significantly reduced testicular weight and less number of round spermatids compared with controls. LH and testosterone were significantly increased in Icng photoperiod group compared with control, short photcperiod and complete darkness group. The alterations observed in short photoperiod and complete darkness exposed rats were presumably due to inhibitory effect of melatonin on the neuroendocrine gonadal axis in those animals

[ treatment of acido-ketosis by small intramuscular doses of insulin]

The authors have examined 90 cases of acido-ketosis treated either by a discontinous insulin treatment with high indirect intravenous doses or small intramuscular doses, or by continuous perfusion of small doses of ordinary insulin. It is a fact that the best results on the duration of the ketosis as well as on the glycemia decrease, or on the full dose of insulin have been obtained by the continuous perfusion of insulin which was considered as a major disadvantage in the University hospitals of Morocco for many reasons: affected equipment, high cost, qualification of the medical personnel, intensive supervision. On the other hand, the intramuscular way is the way of the future in our country, first for its very good results barely inferior to the continuous perfusion, its harmlessness, its simplicity of execution and small cost. Furthermore it requires neither specialized services to the utmost, nor very qualified personnel