Optic nerve head morphology of the Eastern gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis.

The objective of this study was to characterize the morphology of the Eastern gray squirrel optic nerve head, using histochemical techniques and scanning electron microscopy, in order to make comparisons with other mammalian species. Eyes of three Eastern gray squirrels were enucleated, fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, and embedded in paraffin. Sections through the optic nerve head were made in the three different planes, and staining was accomplished with hematoxylin and eosin and Gomori's trichrome stain.

Factors associated with first service conception in artificially inseminated nulliparous Holstein heifers.

Animal and management factors associated with first service conception in nulliparous dairy heifers were determined in 601 Holstein heifers from a dairy farm in north central Florida. Animal data collected included body weight, height at the withers and tail head, body condition score at 6 months of age and just prior to first artificial insemination (AI), and pelvimetry measurements taken just prior to first AI. Management data included season of first AI, inseminator, service sire, method of estrus detection, whether the estrus of first insemination was induced using prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGF(2alpha)), and whether the heifer received a modified live virus (MLV) vaccine within 21 days of first insemination.