Extracutaneous viral inclusions in psittacine beak and feather disease. (17/34)

Thirty-five birds that died with naturally acquired psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD) were necropsied to identify extracutaneous viral inclusions. Inclusions were found in various tissue sections from 34 of 35 birds. By immunoperoxidase staining, intranuclear and intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies were shown to contain PBFD viral antigen. Inclusion-bearing lesions were widely disseminated but often closely associated with the alimentary tract. Lesions within the palate, esophagus, crop, intestine, bursa of Fabricius, and liver probably serve as sources for viral shedding into the feces.  (+info)

Lactobacillus gigeriorum sp. nov., isolated from chicken crop. (18/34)

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Effect of electrical field stimulation on muscle strips from chicken crop. (19/34)

The effect of electrical field stimulation (EFS) on smooth muscle strips from the chicken crop was investigated. The EFS (5 Hz, 2 ms, 400 mA; 10 Hz, 2 ms, 400 mA; 5 Hz, 2 ms, 500 mA; 10 Hz, 2 ms, 500 mA) produced contractions in all preparations. Atropine (10(-5) mol l-1) diminished muscle contraction in response to EFS. Tetrodotoxin (5 X 10(-6) mol l-1) fully suppressed the contractile responses to EFS. A serotonin antagonist (methysergide, 10(-4) mol l-1) did not alter contractions elicited by EFS. Propranolol (10(-5) mol l-1) led to an increase of contractions induced by EFS. Noradrenaline (10(-6)-10(-4) mol l-1) reduced acetylcholine-induced (1.1 X 10(-6) mol l-1) contraction of the crop smooth muscle strips. Propranolol (10(-5) mol l-1) abolished noradrenaline-induced relaxation almost fully. Tetrodotoxin (5 X 10(-6) mol l-1) did not change the relaxing effect of noradrenaline. These results suggested that the responses of crop smooth muscle to EFS involve excitatory cholinergic and non-cholinergic (probably peptidergic) as well as inhibitory adrenergic nerves.  (+info)

Fossil evidence of avian crops from the Early Cretaceous of China. (20/34)

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Histological and global gene expression analysis of the 'lactating' pigeon crop. (21/34)

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Comparative analyses of foregut and hindgut bacterial communities in hoatzins and cows. (22/34)

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Sites of organic acid production and pattern of digesta movement in the gastrointestinal tract of geese. (23/34)

Sixteen geese were used to assess the movement of fluid and particulate digesta through their gastrointestinal tracts and to determine the diurnal variation in organic acid levels for the various segments of the tract. Fluid (polyethylene glycol and chronium-labeled ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) and particulate markers (2 and 5 mm long) were administered with the meal. Animals were killed at given intervals after the administration of markers. The gastrointestinal tract was divided into nine segments for measurement of markers, pH, volatile fatty acids (VFA), and lactic acid contents. The data indicated a rapid evacuation of fluid marker from the foregut (crop, ventriculus, and proventriculus), while particulate markers were retained for extended periods of time. Retention of fluid marker was observed only within the cecum. Retrograde movement of particulate marker was demonstrated from the duodenum to ventriculus and proventriculus. Retrograde movement of fluid marker was observed from the cloaca to the colon, cecum, and distal third of the small intestine. However, particulate marker showed no retrograde movement in these segments of tract. Highest VFA levels were observed in the cecum. Retention of digesta and production of VFA within the colon were less than those noted for the dog, pig and pony. Lactic acid comprised less than 10% of the organic acids present in the gastrointestinal tract and were at their highest levels in the proximal and mid small intestine.  (+info)

Factors determining gastrointestinal transit time of several markers in the domestic fowl. (24/34)

The aim of this study was to find out how marker characteristics could affect digestive transit time in Gallus gallus. One soluble marker, Cr-EDTA, and two insoluble markers, Cr2O3 and chromium-mordanted plant cells of two sizes, were used. Three- to six-week-old chickens were killed in series after the oral administration of the markers at intervals of 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 9 h. The amount of chromium in each digestive segment was determined by atomic absorption. There were some differences in the initial distribution of markers; whereas almost the total amount of the chromium-mordanted rice husk of the largest size was found in the crop at time 0, less than half of the Cr-EDTA was found. Marker emptying out of the crop was fast and not related to either the type or size. In contrast, the emptying rate of the gizzard depended on marker particle size. As far as the caeca were concerned, the ileocaecal junction allowed the passage of soluble Cr-EDTA whereas solid markers were impeded (Cr2O3) or not allowed to pass through at all (vegetable fibre of any size). It can be concluded that marker selection is of major importance to transit time studies in chickens, since its characteristics can determine transit time in an absolute way.  (+info)