J. H. Sautter

Preparation of a chronic thoracic duct-venous shunt in calves.

Summary A technique is described for the preparation of a chronic thoracic duct-venous shunt in calves. These shunts remained functional up to 18 days, usually 7 to 10 days. Calves were found to be excellent animals for experiments involving thoracic duct lymph.

Enzyme and Nucleic Acid Content of Thrombocytes from Normal and Thrombocytopenic Calves.

Summary 1. Bovine thrombocyte concentrates contained acid phosphatase, beta-D-glucuronidase, arylsulfatase, aliesterase (active with three fatty acid esters of carbon chain lengths: C2, C12 and C18) and acetyl-cholinesterase but no alkaline phosphatase. Benzoylcholine was not hydrolyzed by thrombocytes. 2. There was no significant difference in these enzyme activities of thrombocytes from normal or thrombocytopenic calves calculated in terms of activity per 1010 thrombocytes. 3. There was no significant quantity of deoxypentosenucleic or pentosenucleic acid in bovine thrombocyte concentrates from either normal or thrombocytopenic calves. 4. Thrombocytes released by hypoplastic bonemarrow could not be differentiated from normal thrombocytes by the tests used.

Effects of Endotoxin on Turkey Poults.

Summary Attempts to produce the generalized Shwartzman phenomenon in the turkey poult were unsuccessful. Large (1,000-15,000 μg) single doses of endotoxin, administered intravenously, failed to produce vascular collapse or other clinical signs in the poult. Attempts to reproduce a syndrome with lesions similar to aortic dissecting aneurysm as it occurs under field conditions, by use of endotoxin alone, or in combination with adrenalin, were unsuccessful. These experiments cast some doubt on the likelihood of Gram-negative organisms or sensitization by them being responsible for the naturally-occurring syndrome of dissecting aneurysm.

Effect of triparanol on beta-aminopropionitrile-induced dissecting aneurysm and blood lipid levels in the turkey.

Summary Addition of 25-1600 ppm triparanol to the diet of turkey poults lowered the ratio of plasma cholesterol to phospholipid. Incidence of beta-aminopropionitrile-induced dissecting aneurysms was not lessened by triparanol. Degree of growth depression due to triparanol was proportional to logarithm of dose.

Failure of DL-batyl alcohol to prevent aplastic anemia in calves.

Summary Feeding of 3/4 or 1/2 lb trichloroethylene-extracted soybean oil meal/day/100 lb to young calves for 10 days induced aplastic anemia and caused death 14-25 days after feeding of the toxic material had ceased. DL-batyl alcohol injected by various routes after feeding of the toxic agent had ceased, but before appearance of clinical symptoms, failed to prevent development of aplastic anemia.

Effect of phenylalanine on toxicity of S-(dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine in the rat and the calf.

Summary Both enantiomers of phenylalanine when injected intraperitoneally into rats can greatly reduce the toxicity of S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine. To be most effective the DCVC and Phe must be administered simultaneously, a delay of one hour in injection of phenylalanine reducing its effectiveness markedly. Administration of L-phenylalanine to calves failed to reduce the toxic effects of S-(dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine and development of fatal aplastic anemia.

SURVIVAL OF CALVES TREATED WITH AUTOLOGOUS BONE MARROW AFTER EXPOSURE TO LETHAL DOSE OF WHOLE-BODY IRRADIATION

Summary Intravenous injection of homologous bone marrow or of a mixture of fetal liver, spleen and thymus after exposure to a lethal dose of whole-body gamma-radiation failed to protect calves against death from bone marrow damage. Nine of 15 calves treated with autologous bone marrow recovered after a severe hematologic crisis; 8 of these developed normally, showed no apparent signs of late radiation damage, had regular estrous cycles and 7 are now pregnant.

Effect of S-(dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine on incorporation of precursors into deoxypentose nucleic acid of leukocytes.

Summary 1. When sodium P32-phosphate was injected intravenously into calves, there was an early labeling of leukocyte DNA. 2. DCVC decreased but did not abolish this uptake of P32 when given concurrently with P32 or when calves were pre-treated with DCVC for 2 or 4 days. 3. When normal calf blood was incubated in presence of H3-thymidine, there was a rapid nuclear uptake by mononuclear leukocytes. 4. DCVC did not inhibit incorporation of H3-thymidine in either blood from DCVC-treated calves or in normal blood incubated in presence of DCVC. 5. Abolishment of DNA synthesis in leukocytes or leukopoietic tissue does not appear to be a primary biochemical lesion through which DCVC induces fatal blood dyscrasia in calves.