The objective of this study was to evaluate the initial detection time and development of the fetal genital structures using ultrasound in twelve pregnant small bitches. The initial detection time of the fetal genital structures was as follows: genital tubercle at days 32.6; os penis at days 45.2; labia at days 45.7; scrotum at days 47.5. Ultrasonograms of fetal genital structure according to gestational stage were as follows: Undifferentiated stage (before day 35), the genital tubercle was observed to have a small elevation and just a hyper-echogenic structure in the midline between the umbilical cord and the tail in male and female fetus. Migration stage (between day 35∼45), the genital tubercle was observed as a hyper-echogenic, bilobular, oval shaped and the genital tubercle began to migrate from the initial position toward the umbilical cord in males, and toward the tail in females. Differentiated stage (after day 46), the penis and os penis were observed to stand out in the abdominal wall and the scrotum was observed toward the perineal region in male fetuses. The labia was detected at the base of the tail in female fetuses. These results indicate that ultrasound of fetal genital structures could be useful for fetal gender determination and a completely prepartum evaluation of the canine fetus.

A 10-year-old spayed female Yorkshire Terrier visited for a physical checkup. The bitch had a history of ovariohysterectomy for treatment of pyometra a year ago. On physical examination, the dog was bright and alert. Complete blood counts, serum biochemistry and blood gas analysis results did not show any deviations within normal ranges. Radiographic and ultrasonographic examinations revealed unilateral hydronephrosis and hydroureter of the right kidney and ureter, and obstruction of the distal ureter was observed. On the basis of these results, nephroureterectomy was performed. During the operation, the adhesion of the distal ureter and surrounding tissue cells were observed without the evidence of the ureteral ligation. The distal ureteral obstruction was presumed to be adhesion caused by fibrous tissue formation between ureter and retained broad ligament, or incompletely removed blood clots following ovariohysterectomy. This case report describes the occurrence of hydroureteronephrosis caused by adhesion of the distal ureter following ovariohysterectomy in a bitch.

A 6-year old, Greyhound bitch was presented with vaginal hemorrhage and dystocia. Physical examination revealed severe vaginal hemorrhage, abdominal pain, pale mucous membranes and the presence of solid structures to abdominal palpation. A hematological test revealed a marked hemorrhagic anemia, and abdominal radiography and ultrasonographic examination showed two dead fetuses in the uterus. Median laparotomy revealed a rupture of the left uterine horn adjacent to the bifurcation, region of weakened uterine wall in the right uterine horn, blood clots and uterine fluids in abdominal cavity without septic peritonitis. The bitch underwent ovariohysterectomy and recovered without complication.

This study was performed to establish a new parameter for estimating gestational age and predicting parturition day by ultrasonographic measurement of deep portion of telencephalic vesicle (DPTV) diameter in small dogs. Fetal head diameter (HD) and DPTV diameter were measured in 15 pregnant Pekingese bitches, from Day 15 to the parturition day, and evaluated the correlation between gestational age. HD was measured from day 29 of pregnancy to parturition day and increased from 4.9 ± 2 mm to 25.5 ± 0.7 mm. Especially, from day 38 of pregnancy to parturition day, HD uniformly increased about 0.6 mm per day and was significantly and linearly relative to gestational age during this period (r2>0.99). DPTV diameter was measured from day 35 to day 60 of pregnancy and increased from 3.2 ± 0.9 mm to 11.5 ± 0.7 mm. Especially from day 38 to day 60 of pregnancy, DPTV diameter uniformly increased about 1 mm per 3 days and was significantly and linearly relative to gestational age during this period (r2>0.99). In conclusion, DPTV diameter could to be a useful parameter for the estimation of gestational age and the prediction of parturition day when used alone or in combination with HD during the second half of pregnancy.

Cell-free fetal RNA has been highlighted as useful tools for the fetal sex determination or other genetic inherent disorder. However, there is no knowledge about the sex determination using cell free fetal RNA in bovine field. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the presence of transcripts of DDX3Y, USP9Y and ZRSR2Y genes in maternal plasma of pregnant cows to determine the sex of the fetus using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay, and verify its accuracy, sensitivity and specificity compared with the molecular testing and the calf sex at birth. Transcripts of USP9Y and DDX3Y genes were expressed in the all plasma of males and females both the control group and the experimental group. However, ZRSR2Y gene was matched up with the molecular testing and the true sex in control group and has an overall accuracy of 82.6%, a sensitivity of 75%, and a specificity of 100% in experimental group. Therefore, these results indicated that real time PCR technique, as a noninvasive and cost-efficient method, is possible to determination fetal sex in the bovine species using circulating cell free RNA in maternal plasma and especially ZRSR2Y gene could be a good candidate for the RNA based sex determination work.

A 11-year, 9-month-old female Shih-tzu was referred for evaluation of the body conditions. According to the physical examination and ultrasonography, the left ovarian mass was detected. For the removal of ovarian mass, an ovariohysterectomy was performed. Grossly, the ovarian mass was full of hairmatrix on the cut surface of the mass. Histopathological findings revealed a characteristic of teratoma, such as laminated keratines, hair, sebaceous glands, neuron tissue, differentiated bone and cartilage. The ovarian mass was well-differentiated components of 2 germ layers, and diagnosed as a mature teratoma.

The aim of this study was to estimate of ovulation time and parturition day at the same time as breeding in small dog by vaginal cytology and to confirm the accuracy by comparing the expected parturition day and the real one. Characteristic features of vaginal cytology during the estrous cycle were the high proportion of large intermediate cell, superficial cell, anuclear cell and erythrocyte in proestrus, superficial cell and anuclear cell in estrus, parabasal cell, small intermediate cell, large intermediate cell and leukocyte in diestrus, parabasal cell and small intermediate in anestrus, respectively. When day 0 was the parturition day, the period of pregnancy is 67.45(64～75) days when the cornification index (CI) is over 90%. Also, on the basis of ovulation day, 63.65(59～66) days was confirmed, and 57.0(52～60) days was confirmed based on the first day of diestrus. There are the gap of 4 days between the day being over 90% in CI and ovulation day. On the basis of this, when expecting parturition day based on the day being over 90% in CI by vaginal cytology, 18.1% was produced in the same of the expected parturition day and the real one, 30.3% and 33.3% were produced in the gap of one day and two days, respectively so, the accuracy within two days was 81.7%. In addition, based on the first day of diestrus, it also was identified to 81.7% as the difference between the expected parturition day and the real one within 2 days. It demonstrated there are any difference between any expected parturition day by vaginal cytology. Thus on the basis of the day of being over 90% CI, it is fully thought to using clinically due to the possibility of prediction the parturition day at the same time as the determination of the proper time of the optimal mating time.

Common buckwheat has the sporophytic self-incompatibility mechanism and that’s why it has the ability to cross pollinate between two plants with different styles (thepin type and thrum type). The S supergene is thought to govern self-incompatibility, flower morphology and pollen size in buckwheat. Already, we have produced self-compatible buckwheat lines by an interspecific hybridization between Fagopyrum esculentum and F. homotropicum by embryo culture. The pollen size of F1 plants produced by a cross between a pin type plant and the self-compatible plant was similar to that of the self-compatible lines and segregated together with flower morphology without exception. The pollen tubes of the self-compatible plants were compatible with styles of the pin plants but incompatible with the styles of thrum plants. But, the pollen tubes of thrum flowers were compatible with the styles of self-compatible plants. Also, the pollen tubes of pin flowers were incompatible with the styles of self-compatible plants. Already, from these results, we have reported a tentative genotype for heterostyle and homostyle flower types. Homomorphism was controlled by a single allele Sh, while the pin/thrum-complex gene was governed by a single genetic locus S, with two alleles, S and s, which control Ss (thrum-type) as well as the ss (pin-type), respectively. Corresponding represents the case of a single locus S with three alleles, Sh, S and s, and the phenotypes, homomorphic, pin and thrum. It can be characterized by relationship of dominance, S>Sh>s. Using the two self-fertile lines, one is considered as the long-homostyle flowers and the other is considered as the short homostyle flowers. If the short-homostyle trait had arisen by recombination in the S supergene, its genotype would be considered to be GIs ip a/GIs ip a. The pollen tubes of the short-homostylous plant should be compatible with the styles of thrum plants. Also, the pollen tubes of short-homostylous plants should be incompatible with the style of long-homostylous plants, and the reciprocal cross also should be incompatible, because the genotype of long homostyle is gis Ip PA/gis Ip PA. Furthermore, the flower morphology of F1plants produced by the cross between cross and short homostyle flowers should be thrum or short homostyle and only short-homostylous plants should be produced by the cross between pin and short homostyle flowers. However, the compatibility or incompatibility of short homostyle flower was not clarified. So, we need to clarify the compatibility or incompatibility of the style of short homostyle flowers for the next step.