Understanding utilitarian and hedonic values determining the demand for rhino horn in Vietnam

We examined utilitarian and hedonic values as motivations for rhino horn use in Vietnam. We also evaluated consumers’ response to consequences of the illegal trade in behavior modification campaigns and the likely outcome of a legalized trade. The most prevalent use was for treatment of hangovers indicating utilitarian values, although difficult to separate from the hedonic value in projecting success in business. A ritualized way of honoring terminally ill relatives represented a hedonic value replacing belief in effective treatment. Demand reduction campaigns need to appropriately reflect all relevant values determining specific uses. The plight of rhino populations, Vietnam’s penal code, and the possible contribution to international crime mattered little to consumers. Horn from wild rhino was preferred over farmed, and respondents would demand more if available in a legalized trade. This suggested that a legalized trade could maintain or even increase demand for poached rhino horn.     

Electroencephalography (EEG) spectral edge frequency for assessing the sedative effect of acupuncture in dogs

Electroencephalography (EEG) is an effective method for the evaluation of sedation or anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to examine the sedative effect of acupuncture by electroencephalographic spectral edge frequency (SEF) in Miniature Schnauzer dogs (4.2-6.1 kg, 1-2 years old). The acupuncture points "GV20 and Yintang" were applied for 20 min. Sedation level was assessed before, during, and after acupuncture by spectral edge frequency 95 values and the Ramsay sedation score. The spectral edge frequency 95 values were significantly reduced during acupuncture on GV20 or Yintang point and returned to the baseline values after acupuncture releasing. The Ramsay sedation score (RSS) also showed the acceptable sedation level during acupuncture. It was concluded that an acupuncture application at GV20 or Yintang point used in the present study would be a valuable method to induce the sedation in dogs.     

Age-related changes in calretinin-immunoreactive periglomerular cells in the rat main olfactory bulb

The changes of calretinin (CR)-immunoreactive periglomerular cells in the glomerular layer of the main olfactory bulb (MOB) were investigated in rats differing ages from postnatal month 1 (PM 1) to PM 24. The number of cresyl violet-positive periglomerular cells was similar between PM 1 and PM 12, but they decreased slightly in the PM 24 group. The size of CR-immunoreactive periglomerular cells in the glomerular layer increased with age, while their numbers did not change significantly in the PM 6-PM 24 groups. In the PM 24 group, numbers of CR-positive periglomerular cell bodies and their processes decreased, while the size of CR-positive cell bodies in the glomeruli was larger than that of the previous groups. These results suggest that CR-immunoreactive periglomerular cells in the rat MOB are well-developed in the PM 6 group, and that periglomerular cells in the PM 24 group show poor CR-immunoreactivity compared to those in the PM 6 group.     

Silk fibroin hydrolysate exerts an anti-diabetic effect by increasing pancreatic β cell mass in C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice

Components of silk including silk fibroin have long been used as anti-diabetic remedies in oriental medicine. However, detailed mechanisms underlying these anti-diabetic effects remain unclear. In this study, we examined the anti-diabetic activity of silk fibroin hydrolysate (SFH) in C57BL/KsJ-db/db (db/db) mice, a well-known animal model of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. When the db/db mice were administered SFH in drinking water for 6 weeks, hyperglycemia in the animals gradually disappeared and the level of glycosylated hemoglobin decreased, indicating that SFH plays important role in reducing the symptoms of diabetes. In addition, SFH-treated db/db mice exhibited improved glucose tolerance with increased plasma insulin levels. Immunohistochemical and morphological analyses showed that SFH up-regulated insulin production by increasing pancreatic β cell mass in the mice. In summary, our results suggest that SFH exerts anti-diabetic effects by increasing pancreatic β cell mass in a non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus mouse model.     

Spermatogenetic disorders in adult rats exposed to tributyltin chloride during puberty

Adverse effects of tributyltin (TBT) chloride were investigated on the reproductive system in male adult rats as exposed during puberty. Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats at the age of 35 days were assigned to five different groups: negative control receiving vehicle, methyltestosterone (10 mg/kg B.W.), and TBT chloride treatments (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg B.W.). Animals were treated by oral gavage for ten consecutive days and sacrificed at 5 weeks after final treatment. The treatment of TBT chloride at the high dose of 20 mg/kg B.W. significantly decreased homogenization-resistant testicular sperm counts (p<0.05). The TBT chloride treatment at the doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg B.W. also significantly decreased caudal epididymal sperm counts (p<0.01). Some of motion kinematic parameters (motility, mean angular displacement, lateral head displacement, and dance) of sperms retrieved from vasa deference were significantly decreased in rats treated with the TBT chloride at the dose of 20 mg/kg B.W. (p<0.05). These results provide a further evidence that an exposure to TBT chloride during pubertal period in male rats produces spermatogenic disorders characterized by decreasing testicular and epididymal sperm counts and some motion parameters of sperms in the vasa deference.     

Expression of estrogen receptor alpha and beta in the uterus and vagina of immature rats treated with 17-ethinyl estradiol

The action of estrogen on target organs has been actively studied with the discovery of estrogen receptor (ER) beta. This study was carried out to examine the expression of ERalpha and ERbeta in the uterus and the vagina of immature Sprague-Dawley rats treated with 17-ethinyl estradiol (EE). Twenty days old rats were subcutaneously treated with EE at the doses of 0 (vehicle control), 0.03, 0.3, 1.0, 3.0, and 10.0 microg/kg/day for three consecutive days. The treatment of EE at the doses of 0.3, 1.0, 3.0 and 10.0 microg/kg/day significantly increased the weights of the uterus and vagina of rats (p<0.01) and retained fluid in the uterus of rats. At the high doses of 3.0 and 10.0 microg/kg/day, the treatment of EE caused an increase in the uterine height, hypertrophy, and a decrease in the expression of ERalpha and ERbeta in the uterine luminal and glandular epithelium. The treatment of EE at the doses of 3.0 and 10.0 microg/kg/day also caused cornification and a decrease in the expression of ERalpha and ERbeta in the vaginal epithelium. These results suggest that the EE treatment decrease the expression of ERalpha and ERbeta in the uterus and vagina of immature rats and that may be associated with the morphological changes such as increase in the uterine height, hypertrophy of the uterine epithelium, and cornification of the vagina.     

Effect of electroacupuncture on minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane in dogs

The effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane was evaluated in dogs. After determination of baseline MAC, EA was applied at each acupoints (LI-4, SP-6, ST-36 and TH-8) and nonacupoint for 30 min. MAC was determined again. EA at acupoints significantly lowered the MAC of isoflurane in dogs (17.5 +/- 3.1%, 21.3 +/- 8.0%, 21.2 +/- 7.5% and 15.4 +/- 3.1%, respectively). In control group and nonacupoint electrical stimulation group MAC were not decreased significantly. From these results, electroacupuncture at each acupoints used in the present study would have an advantage in isoflurane anesthesia with reducing its requirement.     

Calcium-Binding Proteins and Neurotransmitters in the Stomach Myenteric Plexus of the Korean Native Goat

The expression of calbindin D-28k (CB), calretinin (CR), substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the stomach myenteric plexus of the Korean native goat stomach was investigated by immunohistochemistry. The results demonstrated the presence of nerve fibers and cell bodies immunoreactive (IR) to CB, CR, SP and CGRP. In tissues of rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum, some distinct neuronal populations could be distinguished according to their morphologic and neuronal chemical properties: Dogiel type I cells which have irregular lamellar dendrites and a single axon, Dogiel type II cells which have large ovoid cell bodies and several long axon-like processes, and small filamentous interneurons. CB-, CR-, SP- and CGRP-IR neurons and fibers were observed in the myenteric plexus of stomach, and varicose nerve fiber immunostained to SP and CGRP also were found in the muscle layer. In myenteric plexus of the stomach, CB- and SP-positive neurons were characterized by Dogiel type II and CR-IR neurons were classified Dogiel type I with lamellar dendrites, and immunoreactivity of CGRP was very weak in the somata. SP- and CGRP-IR nerve fibers formed dense networks within the myenteric ganglia. SP-IR cell bodies and their fibers were found in the myenteric plexus, and the immunoreactivity and number of cell bodies were more than CB-, CR-, and CGRP-IR neurons. These results suggest that SP, CGRP, CB and CR in the myenteric neurons of Korean native goat stomach may have play an important role in the dynamic movement.
(Support contributed by: Korean Research Foundation 2003-015-E00195).