<div><strong>Background: </strong>The present investigation was envisaged to find out the impact of extreme hot environmental temperature period (ETP) on marker enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in male and female non-descript sheep of various age groups<em> i.e.</em> 4 to 13 months from arid tracts of Rajasthan. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) marker enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism were considered for study.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Methods:</strong> During the period October 2016-June 2017 blood samples were collected to harvest sera for spectrophotometric method from 240 healthy animals selected from private slaughter house during moderate and extreme hot environmental temperature periods (ETPs). The mean values of markers attained during moderate ETP were reckoned as the control. It was 10.00 &plusmn; 0.10 UL-1 and 42.00&plusmn;1.00 respectively.<br />
<br />
<strong>Conclusion: </strong>The mean value of MDH was significantly (p&le;0.05) higher while G-6-PDH significantly (p&le;0.05) lowers during extreme hot temperature in comparison to moderate period. Therefore, it could be concluded that variations in enzyme markers were associated with changes in environmental temperatures. Probably ETP were able to produce a profound effect on carbohydrate metabolism in sheep. Therfore it can be suggested that during the period of extreme temperature balanced ration must be provided to the animal along with proper management to decrease the severity of temperature impact.</div>


<div>Impact of Extreme Hot Environmental Temperature Period on Marker Enzymes of Carbohydrate Metabolism in Non-descript Sheep from Arid Tracts of Rajasthan</div>


<div><strong>Background:</strong> Heart is the principal organ of circulatory system that pumps blood into the blood vessels and performs many vital functions. Studies on its development before birth of utmost important to safeguard the animal from the occurrence and consequences of various developmental anomalies. The ultrastructural details of ventricular architecture of heart especially in pre-natal sheep has not yet been reported. &nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Methods: </strong>The collected foeti of sheep were divided into three age groups<em> viz.</em> early prenatal (up to 50 days), mid prenatal (51-100 days) and late prenatal (101 to 150 days). The samples from ventricles were processed for scanning electron microscopic study and subsequently, the samples were viewed and the photographs were taken in the facility available at Central Instrumentation Facility (CIF), OUAT, Bhubaneswar. The measurements of various parameters of ventricles were also taken at the ultrastructural level. The recorded data were subjected to routine statistical analysis. &nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Result:</strong> It was observed that the endocardium of the ventricles consisted of a simple squamous epithelium. The endothelial cells were elongated in shape and arranged linearly on the surface of ventricles in 33 days prenatal non-descript sheep. The boundaries among the endothelial cells were indistinct in this age group. There was presence of pores among the endothelial cells on the surface of the ventricles. In late prenatal period, the endothelial cells of the ventricles became elongated in shape. The subendocardial layer consisted of connective tissue fibers and conducting purkinje fibers, which were quite predominant in the late prenatal period, <em>i.e</em>. at the age of 120 days of gestation. The endocardial fibers were distinctly coiled around the endothelial cells of the ventricles in this age group. The myocardium comprised of cylindrical and highly branched cardiac muscle fibers with pores all over the surface of the myocardium of the ventricles. Each muscle bundle in the myocardium consisted of muscle fibers extending parallel to each other longitudinally and that these fibers made collateral connections with each other in some regions. The papillary muscles were ridge like structures projecting into the lumen of the ventricles of heart. The chordae tendinae connected the papillary muscles and the bicuspid and tricuspid valves. The endothelial surface of the chordae tendinae consisted of elongated endothelial cells with pores among them. The pores of various sizes were arranged linearly in patches on the endothelial surface of the chordae tendinae of the ventricles especially in the late prenatal period, <em>i.e</em>. at about 105 days of gestation. &nbsp; &nbsp;</div>


<div>Scanning Electron Microscopic Studies on the Ventricular Architecture of Pre-natal Non-descript Sheep</div>


<div><strong>Background: </strong>Heart is the principal organ of circulatory system that pumps blood into the blood vessels and performs many vital functions. Its development before birth must be studied to safeguard the animal from the occurrence and consequences of various developmental anomalies. The detailed morphometry of different external parameters of heart especially in pre-natal sheep has not yet been reported.<br />
<br />
<strong>Methods: </strong>The foeti of sheep were divided into three age groups <em>viz</em>. early prenatal (up to 50 days), mid prenatal (51-100 days) and late prenatal (101 to 150 days) with fifteen animals in each age group. The various external parameters were recorded by using digital weighing machine, graduated measuring cylinder, digital Vernier&rsquo;s calliper, non-stretchable nylon thread and graduated scale. The data recorded was statistically analysed by one way ANOVA with IBM SPSS 25.0 version software.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Result: </strong>It was revealed that the average width of heart at its base was 4.82&plusmn;0.22mm, 10.52&plusmn;0.72mm and 21.57&plusmn;1.03mm in early prenatal, mid prenatal and late prenatal stages respectively. The average dorso-ventral length of left ventricle of heart was measured as 4.82&plusmn;0.14mm, 12.07&plusmn;1.16mm and 25.58&plusmn;0.88mm in early prenatal, mid prenatal and late prenatal stages respectively. The average distance between the left longitudinal groove and cranial border of heart at base was measured as 2.93&plusmn;0.11mm, 6.38&plusmn;0.39mm and 9.78&plusmn;0.41mm in early prenatal, mid prenatal and late prenatal stages respectively. Similarly, the average distance between the right longitudinal groove and cranial border of heart at middle was measured as 1.96&plusmn;0.09mm, 5.01&plusmn;0.34mm and 8.31&plusmn;0.50mm in early prenatal, mid prenatal and late prenatal stages respectively. All these parameters recorded showed significant (p &le; 0.01) differences among the ages.</div>


<div>Morphometrical Studies on the Exterior of the Heart of Pre-natal Non-descript Sheep</div>


<div><strong>Background:</strong> Heart is the central organ of circulatory system that pumps blood into the blood vessels and performs many vital functions. Its development before birth must be studied to safeguard the animal from the occurrence and consequences of various developmental anomalies. The detailed morphometry of different internal parameters of heart especially in pre-natal sheep has not yet been reported. &nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Methods:</strong> The foeti of sheep were divided into two age groups <em>viz</em>. mid prenatal (51-100 days) and late prenatal (101 to 150 days) with fifteen animals in each age group. The various internal parameters were recorded by using digital weighing machine, graduated measuring cylinder, digital Vernier&rsquo;s calliper, non-stretchable nylon thread and graduated scale. The data recorded was statistically analysed by independent t test with IBM SPSS 25.0 version software.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Result: </strong>The average thickness of left ventricular wall of heart was measured as 2.85&plusmn;0.15 mm and 4.28&plusmn;0.07 mm in mid prenatal and late prenatal stages respectively with significant (p&le;0.01) differences between the ages. Similarly, the average diameter of left atrio-ventricular opening of heart was measured as 2.06&plusmn;0.27 mm and 6.08&plusmn;0.36 mm in mid prenatal and late prenatal stages respectively with significant (p&le;0.01) differences between the ages. The average length of septal papillary muscle in right ventricle was measured as 1.12&plusmn;0.10 mm and 3.29&plusmn;0.21 mm in mid prenatal and late prenatal stages respectively with significant (p&le;0.01) differences between the ages. Further, the average length of moderator band in heart was measured as 1.45&plusmn;0.11 mm and 4.34&plusmn;0.23 mm in mid prenatal and late prenatal stages respectively with significant (p&le;0.01) differences between the ages. Similarly, the average length of chordae tendinae in right ventricle of heart was measured as 0.97&plusmn;0.09 mm and 3.50&plusmn;0.34 mm in mid prenatal and late prenatal stages respectively with significant (p&le;0.01) differences between the ages.&nbsp;</div>


<div>Age Wise Internal Morphometrical Studies on the Heart of Pre-natal Non-descript Sheep</div>


<p><strong>Background: </strong>Being the vital organ of circulatory system, the development of the heart before birth must be studied to safeguard the animal from the incidence of various developmental anomalies. The histochemical and biochemical details of cardiac architecture especially in pre-natal sheep have not yet been reported.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Methods:</strong> The collected foeti of sheep were divided into three age groups <em>viz</em>. early prenatal (up to 50 days), mid prenatal (51-100 days) and late prenatal (101 to 150 days). The samples of heart were processed by routine paraffin technique and cryo technique and after section cutting, the slides were stained by various histochemical staining methods. Further, fresh pieces of the heart samples were also processed for getting tissue extracts for the biochemical analysis.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Result:</strong> It was revealed that the PAS activity was observed in the cardiac wall, interatrial septum and interventricular septum in the sheep foeti at all stages of gestation. A variable degree of acid phosphatase activity was noted in the myocardium of heart wall in the sheep foeti at all stages of gestation. The lipid deposition also increased with advancing age in the myocardium of cardiac wall, interatrial septum and interventricular septum in the heart of sheep foeti. The activities of various enzymes like creatine kinase, alkaline phosphatase, serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase and serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase were high in left ventricle than the right ventricle in the heart of sheep foeti. Certain protein bands of specific molecular weight appeared in the ventricular tissue at specific age of gestation in addition to a group of common proteins which appeared in ventricular tissue of sheep foeti in all age groups under study.</p>


<p>Histochemical and Biochemical Developmental Studies on the Heart in Pre-natal Non-descript Sheep (<em>Ovis aries</em>)</p>


<div><strong>Background: </strong>Being the vital organ of circulatory system, the development of the heart before birth must be studied to safeguard the animal from the incidence of various developmental anomalies. The ultrastructural details of auricular and atrio-ventricular valvular architecture of heart especially in pre-natal sheep has not yet been reported. &nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Methods:</strong> The collected foeti of sheep were divided into three age groups <em>viz</em>. early prenatal (up to 50 days), mid prenatal (51-100 days) and late prenatal (101 to 150 days). The samples of auricle, bicuspid and tricuspid valves were processed for scanning electron microscopic study (Scanning Electron Microscope, Make: Hitachi and Model: S-3400N) and subsequently, the samples were viewed and the photographs were taken in the facility available at Central Instrumentation Facility (CIF), OUAT, Bhubaneswar. The measurements of various parameters of auricles and valves were also taken at the ultrastructural level by the inbuilt software programming system. The recorded data were subjected to routine statistical analysis.<br />
<br />
<strong>Result:</strong> It was revealed that the endocardium was the inner layer of the auricles of heart. The endothelial surface of the auricles was occupied by the simple squamous epithelium. The endothelial cells were elongated in shape in all the age groups. The subendothelial layer was consisted of connective tissue fibers and conducting fibers. The pectinate muscles covered the inner side of the right and left atria and were interconnected having a network like appearance except in mid prenatal stage, <em>i.e.</em> at 96 days of gestation, where they were arranged linearly. There was presence of pores among the pectinate muscles in both the atria in all the age groups under study. The endothelial surface of the bicuspid or mitral and tricuspid valves was lined by simple squamous endothelium that projected into the lumen of the valve. There was presence of pores among the endothelial cells of the valves. Further, the subendothelial layer was present just below the endothelium and comprised of connective tissue fibers and conducting fibers in both the valves. The width of the fibers in bicuspid valve was not uniform and was further categorized into thick and thin fibers especially in the mid prenatal stage,<em> i.e.</em> at 96 days of gestation. There was presence of clusters of pores among the endothelial cells of the tricuspid valve in the heart especially in the late prenatal stage, i.e. at 120 days of gestation period.</div>


<div>Scanning Electron Microscopic Studies on the Auricular and Atrio-ventricular Valvular Architecture of Pre-natal Non-descript Sheep</div>


<p><strong>Background:</strong> Being the vital organ of circulatory system, the development of the heart before birth must be studied to safeguard the animal from the incidence of various developmental anomalies. The histological and histomorphometrical details of cardiac architecture especially in pre-natal sheep have not yet been reported.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Methods: </strong>The foeti of sheep were collected from the local slaughter houses situated at Laxmisagar and Jadupur of Bhubaneswar city. The collected foeti were divided into three age groups viz. early prenatal (up to 50 days) or G-I, mid prenatal (51-100 days) or G-II and late prenatal (101 to 150 days) or G-III. The heart samples of the sheep foeti were processed by routine paraffin technique and after section cutting, the slides were stained by routine Haematoxyline and Eosin stains, Masson&rsquo;s trichrome stain, Verhoeff&rsquo;s stain and Gomori&rsquo;s stain for studying the detailed histological and histomorphometrical parameters.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Result: </strong>It was revealed that the cells lining the endocardium and epicardium became elongated from flat shape with advancing age. The intercalated discs appeared continuous from broken lines with advancing age in the myocardium of cardiac wall in sheep foeti. The frequency of blood vessels, connective tissue fibres and connective tissue cells increased with age in the subendothelium, subepicardium, myocardium and epicardium in the sheep foeti. The average thickness of heart chambers, average diameter of the myocardiocytes and their nuclei in atrial and ventricular walls, papillary muscles, pectinate muscles and Purkinje fibre cells revealed an age dependent rise in sheep foeti of G-I to G-III. The frequency distribution of myocardiocytes and fibroblast in myocardium also increased with in sheep foeti of G-I to G-III.</p>


<p>Histological and Histomorphometrical Characterization of the Cardiac Architecture in Pre-natal Non-descript Sheep <em>(Ovis aries</em>)</p>


<div><strong>Background: </strong>Buffaloes are economically important in particular region and also buffalo milk are nutritionally rich. In Konkan region, buffalo should be rarely used only to get female buffalo for milk production. To improve the non-descript buffalo population for milk production and reproduction performance.<br />
<br />
<strong>Methods:</strong> During survey period January, 2021 to February, 2021, record of 400 non-descript buffalo, 270 non-descript buffalo having more than 4 years age old to be selected.<br />
<br />
<strong>Result: </strong>The average daily milk yield, peak milk yield, total lactation milk yield, lactation length and dry period in non-descript buffaloes were 6.45&plusmn;0.16 liters, 7.6&plusmn;0.14 liters, 2007.66&plusmn;45.83 liters, 302.86&plusmn;0.34 days and 146.66&plusmn;0.48 days, respectively. The average age at first calving, calving interval, service period, gestation period and number of calving were 45.96&plusmn;0.18 months, 449.30&plusmn;0.53 days, 128.86&plusmn;0.31 days, 303.66&plusmn;0.49 days, 2.72&plusmn;0.12 numbers, respectively and autumn season of calving was more than another season.</div>


<p>Milk Production and Reproduction Performance of Non-descript Buffaloes in Konkan Region</p>


<div><strong>Background: </strong>The diversity of different climatic conditions and altitudes of UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh (erstwhile J&amp;K state) has given rise to differential adaptive mechanisms that enable goats to cope effectively with a variety of stressful environmental conditions. Jammu city (with an altitude of 327m to 412 m), like the rest of north-western India, features a&nbsp;humid subtropical climate. Ladakh is the dry temperate region and the highest plateau in the state of&nbsp;Jammu and Kashmir&nbsp;with much of it ranging from 3,000&nbsp;m (9,800&nbsp;ft) to 5,000&ndash;5,500&nbsp;m (16,000&ndash;18,050&nbsp;ft). There has been no systemic study on the probable comparative variation in micrometry of lungs in high altitude Pashmina goats of Ladakh and migratory Bakerwali and non-descript goats of Jammu and Kashmir, which live in regions with varied altitudes. Respiratory system plays a vital role in exchange of oxygen, olfaction, phonation and thermoregulation of the body. No literature on the comparative micrometry of the lungs in these three goat populations was found and such paucity of available literature prompted this present study.<br />
<br />
<strong>Methods: </strong>The work was done in the lung samples of adult Pashmina, Bakerwali and non-descript goats (N=10 each) collected from slaughter houses of UT of Ladakh and in and around Jammu city of UT of J&amp;K. The representative tissue samples from lungs of all the goats were preserved in 10% Neutral Buffered Formalin (NBF) solution, processed for paraffin block preparation, tissue sections of 5 mm thickness were obtained and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin to record various micrometrical parameters.<br />
<br />
<strong>Results: </strong>Our study revealed that significantly largest alveolar diameter and thinnest inter alveolar septal thickness was recorded in Pashmina goats followed by Bakerwali and non-descript goats. This might be due to the adaptive morphological phenomenon of the Pashmina goats which are natural habitants of high altitudes of the Himalayan regions for better utilization of the oxygen in hypoxic conditions.</div>


<div>Comparative Micrometrical Studies on the Lungs of Pashmina, Bakerwali and Non-descript Goats of the Union Territories of Jammu &amp; Kashmir and Ladakh</div>


<div style="text-align: justify;">The present karyotype analysis was carried out on 15 females and 15 males of Large White Yorkshire crossbred and non-descript pigs to study their cytogenetic profile and morphometric measurements by using short term leukocyte culture technique. The diploid chromosome number (2n) in both the breeds was found to be 38 with a fundamental number of 64 as in exotic.The least squares mean relative length of autosomes in Large White Yorkshire crossbred pigs ranged from 2.80&plusmn;0.17 to 10.85&plusmn;0.17 and the values for non-descript pigs from 2.88&plusmn;0.10 to 11.03&plusmn;0.18. The relative contribution of X and Y-chromosome in Large White Yorkshire crossbred pigs was 4.66&plusmn;0.15 and 2.05&plusmn;0.17, whereas these values were 4.81&plusmn;0.17 and 2.19&plusmn;0.17 in non-descript pigs respectively. The overall mean arm ratio of autosomes ranged from 1.01&plusmn;0.03 to 2.45&plusmn;0.03 and 1.02&plusmn;0.01 to 2.43&plusmn;0.02 in Large White Yorkshire crossbred females and males respectively. The mean centromeric indices of autosomes differs from 0.50&plusmn;0.04 to 0.71&plusmn;0.02 in females and 0.51&plusmn;0.02 to 0.72&plusmn;0.03 in males of Large White Yorkshire crossbred pigs. The average morphological index value of autosomes ranged from 2.43&plusmn;0.06 to 7.29&plusmn;0.11 in females and 2.41&plusmn;0.05 to 7.31&plusmn;0.12 in males of Large White Yorkshire crossbred pigs.</div>

Impact of Extreme Hot Environmental Temperature Period on Marker Enzymes of Carbohydrate Metabolism in Non-descript Sheep from Arid Tracts of Rajasthan

Scanning Electron Microscopic Studies on the Ventricular Architecture of Pre-natal Non-descript Sheep

Morphometrical Studies on the Exterior of the Heart of Pre-natal Non-descript Sheep

Age Wise Internal Morphometrical Studies on the Heart of Pre-natal Non-descript Sheep

Histochemical and Biochemical Developmental Studies on the Heart in Pre-natal Non-descript Sheep (Ovis aries)

Scanning Electron Microscopic Studies on the Auricular and Atrio-ventricular Valvular Architecture of Pre-natal Non-descript Sheep

Histological and Histomorphometrical Characterization of the Cardiac Architecture in Pre-natal Non-descript Sheep (Ovis aries)

Milk Production and Reproduction Performance of Non-descript Buffaloes in Konkan Region

Comparative Micrometrical Studies on the Lungs of Pashmina, Bakerwali and Non-descript Goats of the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh

A comparative study on cytogenetic profile of Large White Yorkshire crossbred and non-descript pigs