Specificities of antinuclear antibodies detected in dogs with systemic lupus erythematosus

Five hundred and eighty dogs with at least one clinical sign compatible with a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were entered in a prospective study aimed at evaluating the prevalence of antinuclear antibodies (ANAb). SLE was diagnosed in 38 of these dogs (group A) which fulfilled at least four American Rheumatism Association (ARA) criteria; of these, sixteen had ANAb titers greater than or equal to 4096. The 23 dogs which met three or two ARA criteria (group B) had an ANAb geometric mean titer (GMT) of 259. Dogs (group C) with only 1 criterium had an ANAb GMT of 75. Anti-ds-DNA Ab were present in 6 dogs from group A (16%), and 2 dogs from group B (9%). Anti-histone Ab were present among dogs from group A, B and C with frequencies of 81%, 67% and 26%, respectively. Among dogs from group A, the ANAb titers and the levels of anti-histone Ab correlated positively when individual sera were considered. Antibodies against the soluble nuclear antigen (SNA) were detected in 74%, 39% and 13% of the dogs from groups A, B and C, respectively. Antibodies initially described in human SLE also exist in SLE dogs. Anti-Sm Ab were found in 24% of dogs in group A. With anti-RNP Ab the frequency was still lower (10%). However, two other types of anti-SNA Ab against RNAse and trypsin-resistant antigens, not found in human "reference sera", were often detected. The first type (anti-type 1 Ab) was found in 26% and 9% of group A and group B, The first type (anti-type 1 Ab) was found in 26% and 9% of group A and group B, respectively; the second type (anti-type 2 Ab) is less frequent, and was found in 13% and 17% of group A and B, respectively. It appears that testing for anti-Sm, anti-type 1 and anti-histone Ab should be performed in order to improve the diagnosis of SLE in dogs.     

Fine needle aspiration biopsy of malignant tumors in dogs and cats: a report of 102 cases

Fine needle aspiration biopsy is a fast and inexpensive technique well tolerated by animals. Its efficacy for the diagnosis of malignancy and determination of cellular origin was investigated for 97 malignant tumors and five benign lesions in 83 dogs and 19 cats. Histological examination of the lesions was performed in each case. Malignancy was detected by cytology in 69% of the malignant tumors. The cellular origin of the lesion was determined in 74% of the cases. Confirmation of malignancy and determination of cellular origin permitted an early diagnosis and prognosis. Since fine needle aspiration biopsy and cytology cannot definitely rule out malignancy, a surgical biopsy and histopathology should be done when malignancy is suspected clinically and not confirmed cytologically. Specimens of good quality, adequate collaboration between the cytologist and clinicians, and sufficient knowledge of pathology and cytology are basic requirements for obtaining good results with fine needle aspiration biopsy and cytology.     

Expression of interleukin-1beta in the digital laminae of horses in the prodromal stage of experimentally induced laminitis

OBJECTIVE: To study expression of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in the digital laminae of horses in the prodromal stage of experimentally induced laminitis. ANIMALS: 8 healthy adult horses with no signs of laminitis. PROCEDURES: Black walnut extract was administered via nasogastric tube to 4 horses, and water was administered to the remaining 4 (controls). Complete blood counts and physical examinations were performed every 30 minutes after administration of black walnut extract or water. General anesthesia was induced when total WBC count decreased by 30% in horses given the black walnut extract and 3 hours after water administration in control horses. The left forefoot was perfusion fixed with neutral-buffered 10% formalin, and paraffin-embedded sections of the digit were used for in situ hybridization with an equine-specific IL-1beta probe. RESULTS: IL-1beta mRNA expression was observed in perivascular cells of the small laminar venules and capillaries in all 4 horses given black walnut extract and in interstitial cells remote from the microvasculature in 1 of the 4. Other cellular components of the laminar tissue and cellular components of the digital arterioles and veins did not exhibit IL-1beta mRNA expression. Expression of IL-1beta mRNA was not detected in laminae from control horses. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that IL-1beta mRNA is expressed by perivascular cells in the laminar tissues of horses in the prodromal stage of experimentally induced laminitis. This provides evidence of an inflammatory process during the prodromal stage of laminitis, indicating that local digital proinflammatory cytokine expression may be an initiating factor in laminitis.     

Evaluation of a rapid method of determination of plasma fibrinogen in swine.

An evaluation was made of a rapid semiautomated method for determining fibrinogen level in swine plasma. This method, referred to as thrombin time method or fibrometer method, is based on the principle that when thrombin is added to suitably diluted plasma, the time of clotting is linearly related to the fibrinogen concentration. The linear regression model for the standard curve prepared using swine plasma had an r value of 0.998. A comparison between the fibrometer and the Grannis methods done on 189 swine plasma samples showed good correlation between these two mehtods (r value 0.847). It was concluded that although the fibrometer method may not be as precise as the Grannis method, it would still be acceptable for clinical use in swine.     

Cytotoxic constituents from Plumbago zeylanica

The bioassay-guided fractionation of the dichloromethane extract of aerial parts of Plumbago zeylanica led to the isolation of beta-sitosterol, beta-sitosteryl-3beta-glucopyranoside, beta-sitosteryl-3beta-glucopyranoside-6'-O-palmitate (1), lupenone, lupeol acetate, plumbagin and trilinolein. Compound 1 showed cytotoxic activity against MCF7 and Bowes cancer cell lines (IC50 113 microM and 152 microM, respectively), beta-sitosterol inhibited Bowes cell growth (IC50 36.5 microM) and plumbagin was cytotoxic against MCF7 and Bowes cells (IC50 1.28 microM and 1.39 microM, respectively).     

Differential distribution and response to experimental sexual maturation of two forms of brain gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in the European eel,Anguilla anguilla

Using specific radioimmunoassays for the two GnRH molecular forms present in the European eel, Anguilla anguilla, (mGnRH and cGnRH II), we compared their distributions in the pituitary and different parts of the brain of female silver eels, as well as the modifications of their levels in experimentally matured female eels (treated with carp pituitary extract). In control eels, mGnRH levels were higher than cGnRH II levels in the pituitary, olfactory lobes and telencephalon, di- and mesencephalon, while the opposite was found in the posterior part of the brain (met- and myelencephalon). Experimental sexual maturation of the gonads significantly increased mGnRH levels in the pituitary and anterior parts of the brain; such a positive effect was not observed on the low cGnRH II levels, which were, in contrast, reduced. These data indicate that the positive feedback of gonadal hormones on GnRH, that we previously demonstrated, would specifically affect the mGnRH form. The differential distribution and control of mGnRH and cGnRH II suggest that these two forms have different physiological roles in the eel. The large increase in mGnRH during sexual maturation suggests the prime implication of this form in the neuroendocrine control of reproduction.     

Mortality and non-specific immune response of Eurasian perch, Perca fluviatilis, during the spawning season

Perch breeders showed high mortality rates during the spawning season. This could be linked to immunosuppressive effects of environmental conditions or reproduction.     

Off-Season Spawning of Eurasian Perch Perca Fluviatilis

This study was designed to determine the effects of the selection for body weight and of two final warming durations during an out-of-season reproductive cycle on gonad recrudescence, plasma steroid levels and spawning in Eurasian perch Perca fluviatilis males and females. Two different bodyweight classes (200–250 and 350–400 g) and two different warming periods (1 or 2 months) were studied.At the end of the chilling period, a significant effect of the selection for body weight was observed on gonad development whereas fish were the same age. According to higher levels in testosterone (12 ng mL^–1), a better development was recorded for smaller breeders (P < 0.05). A short water warming period up to 14°C (1 month v.s. 2 months) allowed higher rates of females with completed gonadogenesis (33–38% v.s. 7–8%) and spawning (31–33% v.s. 0%) (P < 0.05). Spontaneous out-of-season spawning (17 ribbons) and larvae were obtained. Relative fecundity was about 100 eggs g^–1 of female body weight. Five ribbons were partly fertilized with a rate ranging from 5 to 90%. These studies have shown that delayed spawning in Eurasian perch can be obtained by a temperature manipulation, but results are not sufficient because of low stimulation rate of females, low spawning rates and high heteroge-neity of fertilization rates. The effects of other environmental factors like photoperiod should be tested in further experiment to improve the protocol inducing out-of-season spawning production.     

Influence of photoperiod regimes on the Eurasian perch gonadogenesis and spawning

The effects of photoperiod regimes under ambient temperature on gonadal growth and spawning were investigated in Eurasian perch, Perca fluviatilis. This study showed that continuous lighting inhibited reproduction in male and female fish with very low sex steroid levels being measured. Constant LD 16:8 resulted in heterogeneous gonad development and sex steroid levels compared to natural regime, with only 54% of females and <?30% of males maturing. Seasonal variations in daylength also seem to be required to control reproduction.