78,XX testicular DSD syndrome in a mongrel dog.

Because of an apparent sexual ambiguity (enlarged clitoris), a 1-year-old mongrel dog was presented to the clinic. A positive result on a GnRH stimulation test revealed the existence of functional testicular tissue. A midline laparotomy was performed, and gonads resembling testes were resected along with the adherent parts of the uterine horns. Microscopic examination confirmed that the sampled gonads were testes. Cross-sections of the head and tail of the epididymis revealed their typical structures. All layers of the uterine wall were well-developed. The lumen was stellar, covered by columnar cylindrical epithelium, although locally some epithelial cells had changed in height from columnar to flat. The uterine glands were distributed in functional layer of endometrium in a non-uniform way. Cytogenetic analysis based on the evaluation of metaphase plates of blood lymphocytes showed a female karyotype, 78,XX. PCR amplification of the SRY gene was negative in the studied mongrel dog. This canine disorder may be genetically heterogeneous, potentially with a different mutation in different breeds. An autosomal recessive inheritance for the XX male is suggested in such cases. The present case of sex reversal syndrome concerns a non-purebred dog. In mongrels, it is definitely less likely for the defect to be inherited because of a recessive disorder. According to the recently proposed nomenclature, the described case should be classified as 78,XX testicular DSD syndrome.

Hypospadias in six dogs.

Six dogs, five males and one hermaphrodite, were diagnosed with hypospadias. Two of the five males had the penile form of the condition, two had the perineal form and one had the glandular form; the hermaphrodite had the scrotal form. The hermaphrodite had no prostate gland and no right testicle; it had a normal right ovary and horn of the uterus but the left horn was joined to the testicle. Its karyotype showed 78 chromosomes, all in metaphase, and two typical sex chromosomes X and Y.

Small intestinal and pancreatic microstructures are modified by an intraduodenal CCK-A receptor antagonist administration in neonatal calves.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of CCK on the upper gut and pancreas microstructure and on pancreatic juice secretion in neonatal calves assessed by a repetitive intraduodenal administration of FK480, a CCK-A receptor antagonist, during the first 6 days of life. The experiment was performed on 10 neonatal calves surgically fitted with a pancreatic accessory duct catheter and duodenal cannulas. Calves were sacrificed on day 7 for tissue sampling. Treatment with FK480 resulted in: reduction of preprandial pancreatic juice secretion at days 1-3, smaller size of pancreatic acini and number of cells per acinus, reduction in intestinal crypt depth (except in the duodenal bulb), numerous modifications of intestinal villi length and width, lower mitotic index of crypt cells, and increased number and size of enterocytes with 'empty vacuoles'. In conclusion, the blockade of CCK-A receptors during early life both reduced pancreatic exocrine secretion and induced complex changes in pancreatic microstructure. The influence of CCK on the upper gut microstructure in neonatal calves could be either direct via activation of CCK-A receptors located in the mucosa of the upper gut or indirect by modulation of the secretion of pancreatic juice.

An attempt at comparing external changes taking place during maturation of male mice with the development of the process of spermatogenesis.

Evaluation of the degree of sexual maturation was performed in male mice of two selected lines differing in respect of body weight. Four developmental stages were distinguished: (1) loosening of the skin between the urinary papilla and the anus, (2) projection of the scrotum, (3) descent of the testes to the scrotum, (4) demonstration of sexual drive. Histological examination of the testes revealed that at the first developmental stage the animals had clearly immature gonads. In a few, not numerous, seminiferous tubules spermatogenesis had reached the phase of primary spermatocytes. At the second stage of development the male gonads reached the phase of secondary spermatocytes and sporadically of early spermatids. At the third stage of the animals development, the spermatogenesis observed in numerous cross-sections of the seminiferous tubules reached the spermatid phase and in males at the fourth stage some sperm cells appeared in the lumen of the tubules. A greater diameter of the sperminiferous tubules was demonstrated in the heavy line males than in the light line animals. In males of the heavy line the diameter of the Leydig cells increased between the third and fourth stage. The investigation results suggest that the accepted criteria of determination of sexual maturation stages correspond to various phases of changes taking place in the process of spermatogenesis.

TGF-beta 1 inhibits polyamine biosynthesis in K 562 leukemic cells.

The present study proved that TGF-beta 1 significantly inhibited the growth of K 562 cells. The drop in cell numbers after 24 h incubation with increasing concentrations of TGF-beta 1 (0.01, 0.1, 1.0, 10.0 ng/ml) was accompanied by significant suppression of the activity of two key enzymes of polyamine biosynthesis: ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC). In contrast to ODC and SAMDC activity, TGF-beta 1 did not significantly affect the absolute concentration of spermidine and spermine in K 562 cells. We suppose that the lack of an evident drop in concentration of spermidine and spermine in spite of a significant decrease in ODC and SAMDC activity in K 562 cells exposed to TGF-beta 1 resulted from the uptake of polyamines from the extracellular space.

[The occurrence of hyena disease in young cattle]. / Uber das Vorkommen der Hyänenkrankheit bei Jungrindern.

Eight juvenile cattle with symptoms of hyena disease are described. This represents the first occurrence of the condition in the Republic of Poland. The growth of the affected animals was retarded, with a marked difference in longitudinal growth of the femoral, humeral, tibial and metatarsal bones. The animals showed altered nickel, manganese and inorganic phosphate concentrations, which may be related to the disease. The genetic studies did not reveal any aetiological factors.

[Cytogenetic studies of hybridization in wild boars (Sus scrofa ferus) and domestic swine (Sus scrofa dom.)]. / Uwagi na temat badan cytogenetycznych nad krzyzówka dzika (Sus scrofa ferus) i swini domowej (Sus scrofa dom.).

In cytogenetic studies on 2 domestic sows (male) crossed with a wild boar (female) karyotype 2n = 37,XX was found. The localization of G brands permitted to confirm that the submetacentric chromosome in in the hybrids inherited from the European wild boar corresponds to 2 acrocentric chromosomes of pair 15 and 17 fused by centromeres in the domestic pig. Both sows had regular, 18-day sexual cycles. After covering with the wild boar they become pregnant and gave birth to alive progeny. Polymorphism of chromosomes in Suidae and its relation to the effects of hybridization is discussed.

[Cytogenetic studies of crossing of the wild boar (Sus scrofa ferus) and the domestic pig (Sus scrofa dom.)]. / Uwagi na temat badan cytogenetycznych nad krzyzówka dzika (Sus scrofa ferus) i swini domowej (Sus scrofa dom.).

In cytogenetic studies on 2 domestic sows (male) crossed with a wild boar (female) karyotype 2n = 37, XX was found. The localization of G brands permitted to confirm that the submetacentric chromosome in the hybrids inherited from the European wild boar corresponds to 2 acrocentric chromosomes of pair 15 and 17 fused by centromeres in the domestic pig. Both sows had regular, 18-day sexual cycles. After covering with the wild boar they become pregnant and gave birth to alive progeny. Polymorphism of chromosomes in Suidae and its relation to the effects of hybridization is discussed.

[Case of male pseudohermaphroditism in cattle. (Bos taurus L.) with a 60 XY karyotype]. / Przypadek pseudohermafrodytyzmu samczego u bydla. (Bos taurus) L.) z kariotypem 60,XY

The clinical, anatomical, histological and cytogenetical evaluation has been made of a case of pseudohermaphroditism in domestic cattle. A 1,5 year old bull of unknown origin with general male features and male sexual orientation has been studied. It showed an underdeveloped udder and external female reproductive organs. The internal male genital organs showed underdeveloped testes and epididymis, vasa deferentia, vesicular glands, small penis and the clitoris-like glans penis. There were also remnants of female genital organs: uterus with uteri horns situated along the vasa deferentia and the vagina. The testes lacked germinal cells. The 60,XY karyotype has been stated on the basis of the blood lymphocyte culture. No Barr bodies have been found in the tissues. The possibility of development of this anomaly as freemartinism syndrome has been discussed. The obtained cytogenetical results enabled us to put forward the hypothesis that the bull did not derive from a heterosexual twin pregnancy. The possibility of absence of the hypothetic "X" factor (according to Jost), as a cause of this male external and internal pseudohermaphroditism has also been reviewed.