ABSTRACT. Two cases of bovine male pseudohermaphrodites (PH) were subjected for clinical investigation with transrectal ultrasonography, endocrinology with adoption of hCG-stimulation test, cytogenetics with analysis of sex chromosome and Y-specific DNA, and finally histological examination. Results were compared with normal calves. Case 1 was a 10-month-old calf with XX/XY chimeras, showing elevation of testosterone (T) levels, but no change in progesterone (P 4 ) after hCG test, and possessed atrophied testes in the cavitas pelvis. Case 2 was an 18-month-old calf with SRY positive-XY chromosome, showing lower level of plasma T and P 4 after hCG test, and possessed atrophied testes and undifferentiated genital ducts. Both cases possessed female-like external genitalia with similar pathological findings, however endocrinological and cytogenetical aspects were different each other.KEY WORDS: atrophied testis, hCG stimulation test, male pseudohermaphrodite, sex chromosome, ultrasonography.J. Vet. Med. Sci. 72(4): 507-510, 2010 Abnormal development of the reproductive organs occurs with different incidence in several species [11,17]. A male or a female pseudohermaphrodite (PH) depends upon the nature of the gonadal tissues. PH has either a testis or an ovary, and possesses external genitalia resembling the opposite sex [8,9,12,15]. PH has been reported in several species, but sporadic in cattle. There are limited cases reports concerning bovine PH, however these often lack general investigation in endocrinological aspect for gonadal function, comparing external and internal genitalia using ultrasonography, or chromosomal examination [5,8,16]. In the present study, we investigated two cases of male PH, which had different nature of endocrinological, cytogenetical and pathophysiological findings. In comparison with PH cases for novel trial, normal male and female calves were examined in the same manner as controls on the stand point for clinical investigation.Case 1: A 10-month old Japanese brown was born to male calf co-twins, and possessed female-like external genitalia showing urination toward upper direction. Coat and skin in neck region seemed to be masculine as the animal had grown. The animal showed a 3 cm in length of labia-like orifice (not vagina), but neither uterus and ovary nor testes were detected in the cavitas pelvis by rectal palpation. In addition, spiral stick-like structure (4  3 cm ) beneath the anal orifice was observed with trasrectal ultrasonography equipped with a 7.5 MHz linear-array transducer (SonoSite Case 2: An 18-month-old Japanese black, which had normal female-like external genitalia, but lacked estrous behavior in life. The vestibule of vagina was 13 cm in length; however neither uterus nor ovary was detected with rectal palpation. With transrectal ultrasonography, a pair of testes like organs (5  3 cm) with mediastinum was depicted (Fig. 1c).In order to investigate endocrinological aspects, 3,000 IU of human chronic gonadotropin (hCG; Veterinary Puberogen ® , Sankyo, Tokyo, Ja...

The association between pancreatic disorder and abdominal fat necrosis in cattle remains unclear. The pancreases of 29 slaughtered cattle with or without fat necrosis were collected to investigate pathological changes. Japanese Black (JB) cattle were classified into the FN group (with abdominal fat necrosis; n=9) and N group (without fat necrosis; n=5). The pancreases were also collected from 15 Holstein Friesian (HF) cows. All JB cattle showed high body condition scores. Regarding the pathological findings, fatty pancreas which involves adipocyte infiltration into the pancreas and fat necrosis (saponification) were observed in 25 and 27 cases, respectively. Immunohistochemical staining with anti-Iba-1 antibody showed large numbers of macrophages surrounding the saponified fat in the pancreas. CD3-positive T cells were significantly more common in the pancreas of both the FN and N groups compared with the HF group (P<0.05). Furthermore, fibrosis in the pancreas exhibited a correlative tendency with the formation of necrotic fat mass in the peritoneal cavity (P<0.1). These results indicate that obesity leads to increased severity of pancreatic disorder, including fatty pancreas and pancreatitis. The pathological lesions in the pancreas may play a key role in abdominal fat necrosis through the inflammatory process.

This study aimed to clarify the effectiveness of foetal body weight estimation by measuring foetal coronet width using transrectal ultrasonography in beef cows during near‐term pregnancy. A characteristic ‘gull wing’ pattern was obtained from the foetal coronet cross‐section from the dewclaw side using ultrasonography. This pattern was matched to the bone surface of the distal part of the middle phalanx. Then, the relationship between coronet width and body weight at birth of 22 Japanese Brown calves was analysed and a high correlation coefficient of 0.8965 (P < 0.001) was obtained. In conclusion, the coronet width of the fetus is depicted as a ‘gull wing’ hyperechoic structure and can be measured by ultrasonography per rectum during near‐term pregnancy. This technique may be a useful tool to identify high‐risk cows with dystocia before calving. High foetal coronet values may predispose cattle to dystocia.

ABSTRACT. In order to improve the reproductive performance during the summer period, embryo transfer (ET; Japanese black embryo) following artificial insemination (AI; Holstein semen: ETFAI) was conducted in dairy cows in south-western Japan (n=56). The conception rate was improved in cows with ETFAI compared with conventional AI, which served as the control (n=195; 30.4% vs. 13.8%, P<0.01). However, higher fetal loss was observed in ETFAI compared with the controls (38.1% vs. 7.4%, P<0.05). Four cases of twin pregnancy resulted in 2 singletons and a set of twins. There was no difference in the plasma progesterone level on d0 or d7 (d0=AI), but rather lower rectal temperature was observed on d7 or d8 (38.7C vs. 39.4C and 38.8C vs. 39.1C, P<0.05) in pregnant cows compared with those that were open. ETFAI could improve reproductive performance in dairy cows during the summer period in southwestern Japan.KEY WORDS: dairy cow, ET following AI, fetal loss, rectal temperature, summer period.

Two Holstein heifers and a cow were diagnosed with White Heifer Disease by ultrasonography. Case 1 was a 14 month-old heifer with aplasia of both sides of the uterine horn. In case 2, a primiparous cow and case 3, an 18 month-old heifer, both showed aplasia of the right uterine horn. Case 2 became pregnant by artificial insemination at ipsilateral ovulatory follicle and corpus luteum in the left ovary, while case 3 became pregnant by embryo transfer at 7 days after oestrus with contralateral corpus luteum in the right ovary.