Endoscopic Examination and Tissue Sampling of the Bovine Teat and Udder Cistern

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the application of an endoscopic technique to investigate the teat and udder cisterns of the bovine mammary gland, and to biopsy tissues within the cisterns. An anesthetic protocol for application in standing animals was designed, using a combination of general and local anesthesia. Individual quarter milk production (QMP), quarter somatic cell count (SCC), and occurrence of new intramammary infection were assessed after application of the technique, and possible applications for biopsies collected were investigated. Bovine teat and gland cistern lining could be visualized and small biopsy samples could be collected. The collected biopsy samples were successfully used in histological-histopathological examination and PCR analysis. To study the impact of endoscopy on QMP, milk SCC, and bacteriology, endoscopic examination of 12 low SCC (<200,000 cells/ mL) quarters was performed in 8 different first-and second-lactation cows. Immediately following endoscopy, 8 quarters received antibiotic treatment, whereas 4 quarters remained untreated. During a 15-d follow-up, no new intramammary infection could be observed in the endoscopically treated quarters. For QMP, no significant interaction between time and treatment could be observed throughout the 15-d follow-up period. Quarter SCC did not differ among treatments (control, endoscopy with antibiotics, and endoscopy without antibiotics). In conclusion, the endoscopic technique is suitable for examination and tissue biopsy collection of the bovine mammary gland cisterns without major interference with QMP and quarter SCC.

Validation of RNA isolated from milk fat globules to profile mammary epithelial cell expression during lactation and transcriptional response to a bacterial infection

“…In addition, they do not provide opportunities for multiple sampling, to perform longitudinal studies and follow-up on local epithelial changes at the early stages of infection. An alternative is to use endoscopic techniques for the collection of fresh MG biopsies (Vangroenweghe et al, 2006;VanKlompenberg et al, 2012). However, with such techniques, it is difficult to collect biopsy samples from the alveolar tissue in the upper part of the MG Validation of RNA isolated from milk fat globules to profile mammary epithelial cell expression during lactation and transcriptional response to a bacterial infection P. Brenaut ,* R. Bangera , † C. Bevilacqua ,* ‡ E. Rebours ,* ‡ C. Cebo ,* and P. Martin * ‡ 1 6131 rich in secretory parenchyma.…”

Technical Note: Validation of Internal Control Genes for Gene Expression Analysis in Bovine Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

“…By using conventional PCR, it is possible to identify genes in small samples (Vangroenweghe et al, 2006), but by using real-time PCR, it is possible to quantify genes in small quantities of tissue or in a limited number of cells. Real-time PCR also has the potential to quantify rare transcripts (Bustin, 2000;Goossens et al, 2005).…”