alcian-blue and Swine-Diseases

Fragments of ileum from 663 pigs were collected in abattoirs, prepared with the use of standard histological methods and stained with a novel sensitive histochemical method for the detection of porcine proliferative enteropathy. The method is a combination of the following 3 well-known methods, the Warthin-Starry method, alcian blue and hematoxylin-eosin. In 11 cases, mucus-producing cells were completely absent, severe adenomatous proliferation was observed and intracellular bacteria were found in enterocytes. Disappearance of goblet cells and the presence of adenomatous proliferation without any detectable intracellular bacteria were observed in 16 cases. In the remaining 636 cases, histological changes and intracellular bacteria were not found. When comparing the conventional Warthin-Starry method with the modified staining method presented here, the same 16 cases were found. However, the method presented here enables examination of large numbers of sections in a relatively short period of time.

Topics: Alcian Blue; Animals; Cell Division; Coloring Agents; Eosine Yellowish-(YS); Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Hematoxylin; Ileum; Immunohistochemistry; Intestinal Diseases; Intestinal Mucosa; Lawsonia Bacteria; Silver Staining; Swine; Swine Diseases; Time Factors

This study was undertaken to investigate the morphological characteristics and lectin affinity of the testicular lamina propria in healthy boars and in unilateral and bilateral abdominal cryptorchid boars. The lamina propria of scrotal testes from healthy boars and unilateral cryptorchid boars was constituted by an innermost noncellular layer, the basal lamina, and by 2 layers of peritubular cells, each separated by a fibrous layer. The noncellular layers contained collagen fibres and glycoconjugates with abundant N-acetylgalactosamine, galactose, fucose, N-acetylglucosamine and neuraminic acid residues. The inner peritubular cell layer was composed of myoid cells, the outer layer of fibroblasts. In the abdominal testes of unilateral and bilateral cryptorchid boars, the lamina propria of nondegenerating and degenerating seminiferous tubules appeared thickened due to an increased content of collagen fibres and glycoconjugates. Glycoconjugates showed decreased amounts of fucose, neuraminic acid and galactose, and increased amounts of N-acetylglucosamine residues. The basal lamina formed infoldings toward the seminiferous epithelium and contained small cells. Both inner and outer peritubular cells were fibroblasts of immature appearance. In degenerated seminiferous tubules of bilateral cryptorchid boars, the lamina propria was composed of a thickened and collagenised basal lamina, without peritubular cells and with a low content of glycoconjugates. In scrotal testes, therefore, the lamina propria was implicated in tubular contractility and in mediating the communication and the substrate diffusion between seminiferous tubules and interstitial tissue. Cryptorchidism induced morphological and histochemical alterations in the lamina propria of abdominal testes, which may be linked to evidence from other studies of lack of tubular contractility and defective cell-cell communication and substrate diffusion. The severity of these anomalies correlated with the severity of Sertoli cell alterations.

Topics: Alcian Blue; Animals; Cell Communication; Collagen; Cryptorchidism; Glycoconjugates; Histocytochemistry; Lectins; Male; Microscopy, Electron; Seminiferous Epithelium; Sertoli Cells; Sexual Maturation; Sulfhydryl Compounds; Swine; Swine Diseases; Testis

Growth cartilages with dyschondroplastic foci (osteochondrosis) or areas of chondrolysis were selected from the ribs and bones of the appendicular skeleton of 132 commercial pigs euthanased between one and 169 days old or at a liveweight of 100 kg. Histochemical staining techniques that identified proteoglycans, collagen and deposits of calcium enhanced the visualisation of the lesions, were valuable for recognising the distribution of lesions, and helped to elucidate the development of the lesions. On the basis of the histochemical and morphological differences, it was considered that the lesions associated with growth plates and the lesions associated with articular-epiphyseal cartilage complexes should be considered as different entities. Lesions were identified in the articular-epiphyseal cartilage complexes of pigs at 15 days old, earlier than has been reported previously. Toluidine blue and safranin O were more useful than alcian blue and, in terms of staining intensity, toluidine blue gave more consistent results than safranin O.

Topics: Age Factors; Alcian Blue; Animals; Calcium; Cartilage, Articular; Collagen; Female; Growth Plate; Indoles; Male; Osteochondritis; Phenazines; Proteoglycans; Radiography; Swine; Swine Diseases; Tolonium Chloride

A phloxine-alcian blue (PhAB) method has been used to stain the porcine nasal mucosa for macroscopic examination. Applied to either fresh or fixed specimens it stains respiratory epithelium dark blue and non-cilated epithelium, including the metaplastic epithelia of rhinitis, bright pink. The PhAB technique is simple, inexpensive and dependable, and is suitable for routine application in the post mortem room. Stained and fixed specimens may be preserved virtually indefinitely.

Topics: Alcian Blue; Animals; Fluoresceins; Pyronine; Rhinitis, Atrophic; Staining and Labeling; Swine; Swine Diseases