First description of hypospadias and inguinal bilateral cryptorchidism in mouflon (Ovis Gmelini Musimon) - short communication.

A mouflon showing severe weight loss and cachexia was examined. The animal had horns and a male-like body frame but the preputial fur was missing. The scrotum was completely absent. Both testicles were located next to the inguinal canal under the skin, and appeared only slightly smaller than normal. The prepuce was located in a perianal position under the anus and it resembled a vulva. The penis was underdeveloped and curled up inside the prepuce like an enlarged clitoris. The bulbourethral region and the urinary bladder looked normal. The orifice of the urethra was located in its normal position, but the glans penis appeared deformed. Microscopic examination of the testicles revealed mild degeneration of the seminiferous tubules and a marked proliferation of the interstitial connective tissue with Leydig cells still present. There were no marked changes in the bulbar part of the penis but the apical part exhibited marked interstitial fibrosis. This is the first description of hypospadias and cryptorchidism in mouflon.

Hematologic and plasma biochemistry values in white storks (Ciconia ciconia).

Hematologic and plasma biochemistry parameters of the white stork (Ciconia ciconia) were studied. Blood samples were taken from a total of 80 adult white storks kept in captivity in Hungarian zoos and bird repatriation stations, between 2002 and 2006. Hematologic (packed cell volume, 46.3% +/- 5.3%; hemoglobin concentration, 127.8 +/- 20.4 g/L; red blood cell counts, 2.28 +/- 0.35 10(12)/l/l; white blood cell counts, 21.6 +/- 4.2 10(9)/l/ l; heterophils, 61.0% +/- 9.8% [13.1 +/- 3.2 x 10(9)/L]; lymphocytes, 34.3% +/- 9.1% [7.4 +/- 2.5 x 10(9)/L]; monocytes, 3.44% +/- 2.3% [0.78 +/- 0.57 x 10(9)/L]; eosinophils 0.75% +/- 0.91% [0.16 +/- 0.21 x 10(9)/L]; basophils 0.38% +/- 0.56% [0.04 +/- 0.07 x 10(9)/L]) and plasma biochemistry values (aspartate aminotransferase, 267.5 +/- 145.8 U/L; L-gamma-glutamyltransferase, 47.6 +/- 49.3 U/L; lipase, 70.3 +/- 60.6 U/L; creatine kinase, 443.9 +/- 182.2 U/L; lactate dehydrogenase, 880.4 +/- 293.6 U/L; alkaline phosphatase, 177.5 +/- 116.6 U/L; amylase, 917.6 +/- 314.3 U/L; glutamate dehydrogenase, 7.3 +/- 4.0 U/L; total protein, 45.2 +/- 8.1 g/L; uric acid, 459.2 +/- 254.3 micromol/L; and bile acids, 46.3 +/- 20.5 micromol/L) were determined. The results obtained can be used as reference values, because there are no established values previously reported for adult white storks.

Effects of isoflurane exposure on oncogene and tumour suppressor gene expressions in vital organs of CBA/CA mice.

BACKGROUND: Isoflurane is a halogenated volatile anesthetic. It is generally believed that modern inhaled anesthetics are not themselves toxic but their intermediates might be. Whether isoflurane exposure results in any alteration in oncogene and tumour suppressor gene expression was investigated here. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CBA/CA H-2(k) mice were anesthetized with isoflurane for 1 hour. The expression alterations of c-myc, Ha-ras and p53 genes were investigated in the vital organs 3, 24 and 48 hours later. RESULTS: Expression patterns of the investigated genes differed both in magnitude and time course according to gender. Overexpressions were detected after 24 hours in both sexes, but in females, overexpression of all investigated genes remained high in all organs at 48 hours, except in the bone-marrow. DISCUSSION: Considerable overexpression of two oncogenes and a tumour suppressor gene after isoflurane exposure were found.