Adult female ocelots (Felis pardalis) were treated with one of four dosages of equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) (100 iu eCG/75 iu hCG, n = 3; 200 iu eCG/150 iu hCG, n = 4; 400 iu eCG/150 iu hCG, n = 5; 500 iu eCG/225 iu hCG, n = 5); hCG was administered 80 h after eCG. Ovaries of each animal were evaluated by laparoscopy 39-43 h after hCG, and blood was collected for progesterone and oestradiol analysis. With progressive increases in gonadotrophin dosage, female ocelots produced more (P< 0.05) unovulated follicles (> or = 2 mm in diameter), ranging from 1.3 +/- 0.7 (mean +/- SEM) follicles per female at the lowest dosage to 8.8 +/- 2.8 follicles per female at the highest dosage. Similarly, ocelots produced more (P < 0.05) corpora lutea with increasing gonadotrophin dosages, with mean values ranging from 0-5.0 +/- 1.2 corpora lutea. However, across treatment groups, a similar proportion (P > 0.05) of females ovulated in response to each dosage. At laparoscopy, serum concentrations of oestradiol (overall mean, 330.2 +/- 62.2 pg ml-1) and serum concentrations of progesterone (overall mean, 18.5 +/- 6.4 ng ml-1) in ovulating females did not differ (P > 0.05) across treatment groups. Ten ovulating ocelots were laparoscopically inseminated with fresh (4.7 +/- 0.2 x 10(6); n = 2 females) or frozen-thawed (10.7 +/- 1.8 x 10(6); n = 8 females), motile spermatozoa. One female treated with 500 iu eCG/225 iu hCG and inseminated with 7.5 x 10(6) motile, frozen-thawed spermatozoa conceived and gave birth to a healthy male kitten after a gestation of 78 days. We conclude that ocelots are relatively insensitive to exogenous gonadotrophins, requiring much higher dosages (on a per body mass basis) to elicit an appropriate ovarian response than do any other felid species studied to date. Nonetheless, the gonadotrophin-treated female can become pregnant and carry offspring to term after laparoscopic intrauterine insemination with frozen-thawed spermatozoa.
Summary The continuous cell line UCRU BL 17CL was derived from a human invasive bladder cancer and expresses elements of transitional, squamous and glandular differentiation. Nine clones of this line were established by limit dilution and have been extensively characterised. Only six of these clones grew subcutaneously in nude mice. Of these, three have exhibited local invasion, each in one of five implanted mice. Although all xenografts expressed transitional, squamous and glandular elements, different histological subtypes predominated within each clone. Only clones which grew in nude mice formed colonies in semi-solid medium, and each responded differently to the influence of medium that had been conditioned by the growth of UCRU BL 17CL, suggesting the possible secretion of a growth factor by these cells. The DNA content and lectin binding profiles of the clones also reflected the heterogeneity of the line. UCRU BL 17CL and the nine clones provide a unique model for the study of tumour heterogeneity, progression and differentiation, and the potential autocrine regulation of growth of bladder cancer.In human bladder cancer, and in many other cancer types,
The annual reproductive cycle of the male snow leopard (Panthera uncia) was characterized by evaluating seminal and endocrine traits monthly. Testicular volume was greatest (P < 0.05) during the winter months when the quality of ejaculate was optimal. Ejaculate volume, total sperm concentration ml-1, motile sperm concentration per ejaculate, sperm morphology and sperm motility index were lowest during the summer and autumn months compared with the winter and spring. Peripheral LH, FSH and testosterone concentrations were also lowest during the summer months, increasing during the autumn just before the increase in semen quality, and were maximal during the winter months. There was a direct relationship (P < 0.01) between: (1) testosterone and testicular volume, total sperm concentration ml-1, motile sperm concentration per ejaculate and ejaculate volume, and (2) LH and testicular volume and motile sperm concentration per ejaculate. In summary, although spermatozoa were recovered throughout the year, optimal gamete quality was observed during the winter and spring. Although previous studies in felids have demonstrated seasonal effects on either seminal or endocrine traits, this is the first study to demonstrate a distinct effect of season on both pituitary and testicular function.
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