Effects of heat stress on the redox status in the oviduct and early embryonic development in mice

This study examined the association between redox status in the oviduct and early embryonic death in heat-stressed mice. In Experiment 1, non-pregnant mice were heat-stressed at 35 C with 60% relative humidity for 12, 24, or 36 h, and the maternal redox status was verified by measuring the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radical scavenging activity (FRSA) in the oviduct, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in the liver. In Experiment 2, zygotes were collected from mice heat-stressed for 12 h on the day of pregnancy, and their developmental abilities were assessed in vitro, along with the intensity of DNA damage at the 2-cell stage. The TBARS value and GSH-Px activity in the liver, and ROS level in the oviduct were significantly higher in heat-stressed mice, and this increase appeared to depend on the duration of the heat stress. Maternal heat stress significantly reduced the percentage of zygotes that developed to the morula and blastocyst and the total cell number in the blastocyst. In addition, DNA damage at the 2-cell stage was significantly higher in maternally heat-stressed embryos. These results suggest that heat stress induces systemic changes in redox status in the maternal body, and the resultant increase in oxidative stress in the oviduct is possibly involved in heat stress-induced early embryonic death .     

A comparison of progestin-based protocols to synchronize estrus in postpartum beef cows

Two progestin-based protocols for estrus synchronization in postpartum beef cows were compared following treatment administration on the basis of estrous response, interval to and synchrony of estrus, and pregnancy. Cows were assigned to one of the two treatment protocols by age, body condition score (BCS), and days postpartum (DPP). The MGA Select-treated cows (MGA Select; n = 109) were fed melengestrol acetate (MGA; 0.5mg x cow-1 x d(-1)) for 14 d, fed carrier for 8 d, GnRH (100 microg of Cystorelin) was injected i.m. 12 d after MGA withdrawal, and PG (25 mg of Lutalyse) was administered i.m. 7 d after GnRH. Cows assigned to the 7-11 Synch protocol (7-11 Synch; n = 111) were fed carrier for 15 d, fed MGA for 7 d, injected with PG on d 22 (d 7 of MGA), injected with GnRH on d 26, and injected with PG on d 33. Mean BCS (4.8 +/- 0.1, MGA Select; 4.7 +/- 0.1, 7-11 Synch) and DPP (40 +/- 1, MGA Select; 40 +/- 1, 7-11 Synch) did not differ between treatments. Blood samples were collected 8 d and 1 d before feeding of MGA or carrier to determine the pretreatment estrous cyclicity (progesterone > or = 1 ng/mL; 10/109 [9%], MGA Select; 12/111 [11%], 7-11 Synch), and again at PG on d 33 to evaluate treatment response (81/109 [74%], MGA Select; 84/111 (76%), 7-11 Synch). Serum concentrations of progesterone at PG on d 33 differed (P < 0.01) between treatments (3.3 +/- 0.3 ng/mL [MGA Select] vs. 1.7 +/- 0.1 ng/mL [7-11 Synch]). HeatWatch was used for 6 d after PG on d 33 to detect estrus, and AI was performed 12 h after the onset of estrus. Estrous response did not differ between treatments (100/109 [92%], MGA Select; 101/111 [91%], 7-11 Synch). Mean interval to estrus (65 +/- 2.7 h, MGA Select; 52 +/- 1.8 h, 7-11 Synch) and synchrony of estrus differed (P < 0.01) between treatments. Synchronized conception and pregnancy rates (61/100 [61%], 61/109 [56%], MGA Select; 71/101 [70%], 71/111 [64%], 7-11 Synch), and final pregnancy rates (94/109 [86%], MGA Select; 99/110 [90%], 7-11 Synch) did not differ between treatments. In summary, estrous response and fertility did not differ among cows assigned to the MGA Select or 7-11 Synch protocols. Synchrony of estrus, defined as the variance in the interval to estrus from PG, however, was improved following treatment with the 7-11 Synch protocol.     

Extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma with systemic metastasis in a five-month-old irish setter dog

Extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma was found in a five-month-old male Irish setter dog. At necropsy, the largest mass, measuring 15 × 13 × 13 cm, was found in the right caudal lobe of the lung, and metastatic small masses were observed in multiple organs. Microscopically, the tumor comprised mainly atypical mesenchymal cells and myxoid stroma, which stained positively with Alcian blue. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells stained positively for vimentin, S-100 protein, neuron-specific enolase, calretinin, and chromogranin A. Ultrastructurally, the cytoplasm of the tumor cells was comprised abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, Golgi complex, free ribosomes and short irregular microvillous processes extending from the cytoplasm. Based on these pathological findings, this tumor was diagnosed as extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma.     

Transglutaminase 2: a novel autoantigen in canine idiopathic central nervous system inflammatory diseases

Necrotizing meningoencephalitis (NME), necrotizing leukoencephalitis (NLE) and granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis (GME) are common idiopathic inflammatory central nervous system (CNS) diseases with unknown etiology in dogs. We previously showed that IgG autoantibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of NME cases reacted to unknown brain proteins as well as to glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). In the present report, we evaluated the autoantibodies against transglutaminase2 (TG2) in the canine CNS diseases. CSF samples obtained from dogs with NME (n=19), NLE (n=7), GME (n=11) and miscellaneous CNS diseases (n=12) were subjected. CSFs from 20 healthy dogs were used as controls. Indirect fluorescent antibody test on the canine cerebrum revealed astrocyte-binding IgG in the CSF of NME. After absorption of the CSF with bovine GFAP, the CSF still possessed the reactivity to astrocytes. Double-color staining showed clear colocalization of the autoantibodies and anti-human TG2 rabbit polyclonal IgG. An immunoblot assay against human recombinant TG2 revealed anti-TG2 IgG in the CSF from dogs with NME, NLE and GME. The CSF of canine idiopathic encephalitis cases, notably of NME, tended to show high ELISA OD values against human recombinant TG2 compared to healthy controls. The presence of anti-TG2 autoantibodies in the CSF may contribute to the elucidation of the etiology of canine NME, NLE and GME.     

A case report of traumatic neuroma of the cervical spinal cord in a dog

Traumatic neuroma of the cervical spinal cord was diagnosed in a 14-year-old male mixed-breed dog. A gross view showed two intradural extramedullary masses, measuring 1 and 0.6 cm in length and 0.7 and 0.4 cm in diameter, attached to the left side of the spinal cord at the level of the sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae. Microscopically, the cervical spinal masses comprised interlacing fascicles of axons and Schwann cells surrounded by collagenous stroma. Immunohistochemically, the fascicles were stained positively for neurofilament and S-100 proteins. Ultrastructurally, variably sized myelinated fibers and onion bulb-like structures were observed. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a traumatic neuroma in the cervical spinal cord of a dog.