绵羊发情周期子宫内膜微血管密度与VEGF的表达关系

以绵羊发情周期的子宫内膜为研究对象,采用免疫组化方法定量检测绵羊发情周期子宫内膜的微血管密度（MVD）和血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）表达量。结果表明：MVD的标记物CD34和VEGF在绵羊发情周期的子宫内膜中呈现相同的表达特征,即表达位点均在子宫内膜上皮固有层及肌层;两者均在发情后0d开始表达,5d最高。5d开始到15d表达量缓慢下降。子宫内膜VEGF表达量和MVD相关系数r=0.669,P=0,表明子宫角中VEGF表达量和MVD显著正相关。     

血管内皮生长因子基因在辽宁绒山羊胎儿期皮肤毛囊发育中表达及其与微血管密度关系的研究

为探讨血管内皮生长因子(vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF)在辽宁绒山羊胎儿期皮肤毛囊发育中的表达规律及其与皮肤微血管密度(microvessel density,MVD)的关系,采用免疫组化方法对VEGF辽宁绒山羊胎儿期不同阶段的表达及MVD进行检测。结果表明,VEGF在辽宁绒山羊胎儿期75 d后的各个时期皮肤毛乳头及毛囊内根鞘上表达,同时随着胎龄的增加,VEGF阳性区域的平均光密度亦随之增加;且皮肤中MVD也随着日龄的增加而逐渐增加,毛囊上的VEGF平均光密度与MVD呈极强正相关(r=0.966,P=0.007)。     

Does the tumour microenvironment alter tumorigenesis and clinical response in transmissible venereal tumour in dogs?

The canine transmissible venereal tumour (CTVT) is a transmissible cancer that is spread naturally between dogs, with the ability to develop and evade the immune system, despite strict immune surveillance of the host. Furthermore, molecular signalling between cells of the immune system and the tumour microenvironment appear to influence the behaviour and development of the tumour. Thus, this study aimed to quantify the expression of genes related to the immune system such as IL‐6, IFN‐γ, and TGF‐β, as well as angiogenic factors (VEGF, CXCR4), in CTVT cells in vivo and in vitro (primary culture), correlating with the clinical response of the animals treated with vincristine. As expected, the most prevalent subtype was plasmacytoid cells, although lymphocytic cells were also found, indicating the possibility of polyclonality. When we compared the gene expressions of IFN‐γ and IL‐6, we mostly found low expression, concluding that MHC expression was probably not occurring in tumour cells, and no activation of immune cells to eliminate the tumour. The TGF‐β gene was normal in the majority of animals but demonstrated decreased expression in vincristine resistant animals, leading to the hypothesis that the concentration of tumour‐derived TGF‐β was affecting and even suppressing the real TGF‐β expression, favouring tumour proliferation and progression in these cases. VEGF expression was extremely high, demonstrating its angiogenic role in tumour growth, while CXCR4 was decreased, possibly because of CTVT’s low metastatic potential. Thus, we concluded that the tumour microenvironment, together with the immune system of the host, influences CTVT, presumably altering its tumorigenesis and the animal’s clinical response to treatment.     

不同日龄滩羊皮肤组织化学特征比较

为比较2、35日龄滩羊皮肤毛囊的发育特点与血管内皮生长因子（vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF）和血管内皮生长因子受体2（vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2,VEGFR2）的分布特征,探究出生后滩羊被毛生长发育的变化特点,试验应用常规HE染色及改良Masson胶原纤维染色、Gomori银氨法染色、磷钨酸染色等特殊染色观察2与35日龄滩羊皮肤组织结构特点;应用免疫组织化学法结合免疫荧光染色法观察VEGF及VEGFR2在2与35日龄滩羊皮肤组织中的分布定位,并用IPP图像分析软件进行定量分析。结果显示：与2日龄滩羊皮肤组织比较,35日龄滩羊表皮与真皮间界限更加清晰,毛囊结构发育完整;毛囊密度显著降低（P<0.05）;胶原纤维与弹性纤维含量增加,形成网格状分布。免疫组化及免疫荧光结果显示,VEGF及VEGFR2在滩羊皮肤表皮及毛囊外根鞘、皮脂腺上均有表达。统计表明,VEGF及VEGFR2在2日龄滩羊皮肤组织中的表达量均显著高于35日龄（P<0.05）。综合上述结果,滩羊毛囊发育过程中,胶原纤维和弹性纤维增加明显;VEGF与VEGFR2通路在毛囊角质形成中起直接调节作用。     

In vivo confocal microscopy in the normal corneas of cats, dogs and birds

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the applicability of in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) in veterinary ophthalmology and analyze the morphology of living, healthy cornea. ANIMALS EXAMINED: Thirty-seven dogs, 34 cats and five birds. PROCEDURE: Various corneal sublayers were visualized in the central region using an in vivo confocal corneal microscope (HRTII/RCM). RESULTS: An investigation method was developed and adapted for use on animals with varying skull forms and eye positions. Real-time images of the epithelial cells, the corneal stroma and the endothelial layer were obtained. The corneal stromal nerve trunks and the subepithelial and basal epithelial nerve plexus were visualized. In dogs, full corneal thickness (FCT) was 585 +/- 79 microm (mean +/- SD) and endothelial cell density (ECD) 3175 +/- 776 cells/mm(2) (mean +/- SD). In cats, FCT was 592 +/- 80 microm and ECD 2846 +/- 403 cells/mm(2). There were no significant differences between canine and feline FCT and ECD and no morphologic differences could be seen between dogs and cats. The bird images revealed a number of structural differences. CONCLUSION: Noninvasive IVCM allows accurate detection of corneal sublayers, corneal pachymetry, endothelial cell density and corneal innervation in various animal species. For clinical usage, patients must be under general anesthesia. The confocal images provided anatomic reference images of various healthy corneal structures in dogs, cats and birds.     

Prolactin – to be reconsidered in canine mammary tumourigenesis?

Mammary tumours represent the most common neoplastic disease of the female dog, and the incidence in female dogs is much higher than in women. Whereas the influence of sexual steroids on breast cancer (BC) development in dogs has been studied, very little is known about the role of prolactin (PRL). New studies show that until recently, the importance of PRL in human BC development and progression has been highly underestimated. PRL plays a role in promoting benign as well as malignant neoplastic cell growth in BC in vitro and in vivo. Sporadic publications proposed a tumour promotor role in the dog. The goal of this review is to summarize our knowledge about PRL and human BC as well as canine mammary tumourigenesis, and propose future research in this area.