An immunohistochemical study of protein kinase C in the bovine retina

The expression of protein kinase C (PKC) was studied in the bovine retina by immunohistochemical analysis. Western blot analysis showed that PKC isoforms, including alpha, betaI, delta and theta, were detected in the bovine retina. By immunohistochemistry, both PKC alpha and betaI were expressed in all retinal layers, with an intense localization of both PKC alpha and betaI detected in bipolar cells in the inner nuclear cell layer and in some glial cells in ganglion cell layers. The immunoreactivity of both PKC delta and theta was quite weak in the retinal layers, compared with that of PKC alpha and betaI. These findings suggest that both conventional and novel PKCs are differentially expressed in the bovine retina.     

Sodium bicarbonate protects uranium-induced acute nephrotoxicity through uranium-decorporation by urinary alkalinization in rats

To evaluate the effectiveness of sodium bicarbonate (SB) in removing uranium and protecting animals from uranium toxicity, we intramuscularly administered 1 mg/kg of uranyl nitrate to 8-wk-old male SD rats, and 20 min after administration of uranyl nitrate, the animals were given a single oral administration of SB at 0.1, 0.3 or 1 g/kg. The SB treatment at a dose of 0.3 g/kg or more raised the pH of the rats’ urine until 4 h after treatment, and it significantly reduced the uranium amounts in the kidneys at 1 day after treatment. In another experiment, rats were intramuscularly administered 1 mg/kg of uranyl nitrate, and 20 min later, the animals were treated with sodium bicarbonate (0.1 or 1 g/kg). The rats were autopsied at 1, 3 and 7 days after uranium treatment. High-dose SB resulted in a significant increase in urinary uranium excretion in the first 24 h and a reduction of uranium deposition in the kidneys and femurs, and it also significantly suppressed uranium-induced renal toxicity, as shown by both histopathology and clinical chemistry at 3 days after uranium treatment. Low-dose SB did not show such marked effects. Our findings demonstrated that the uranium decorporation effect of sodium bicarbonate was observed at the dosage showing urine alkalinization in rats and that decorporation effect of sodium bicarbonate might be beneficial if it is administered immediately after incorporation of soluble uranium.     

Detection and molecular characterization of calf diarrhoea bovine coronaviruses circulating in South Korea during 2004-2005

Although the widespread occurrence of calf diarrhoea (CD) bovine coronavirus (BCoV) infections have been reported in most cattle producing countries, only the genetic differences in the BCoVs from American and Canadian isolates and/or strains have been identified and compared. Hence, it is unclear if the BCoVs circulating in the other countries have distinct genetic characteristics. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and genetic diversity of CD BCoVs based on the deduced amino acid (aa) sequences of the spike (S) and haemagglutinin/esterase (HE) proteins in South Korea. RT-PCR and nested PCR using the primer pairs specific to the nucleocapsid gene, BCoVs detected the BCoVs in 56 (15.6%) of 359 diarrhoeic faecal samples. Phylogenetic analysis of the entire S gene indicated that 10 Korean CD BCoV strains clustered with other Korean BCoV strains with different clinical forms but were different from the American and Canadian BCoV strains. Moreover, the phylogenetic data of the aa sequences of the HE gene revealed all the Korean CD strains to be distinct from the other Korean BCoV strains with different clinical forms. These results suggest that the Korean BCoVs cause endemic infections in diarrhoeic calves in Jeonnam province and have taken a different evolutionary pathway from the BCoVs in other countries. Moreover, the different BCoV strains are circulating in the different clinical forms in South Korea. These results also suggest that vaccines against the BCoVs can be developed with each Korean BCoV in different clinical forms.     

Effect of topical anesthesia on evaluation of corneal sensitivity and intraocular pressure in rats and dogs

Objective To determine the effect of 0.5% proparacaine in tonometry by evaluating corneal touch threshold (CTT) and intraocular pressure (IOP). Animal studied Nine rats (18 eyes, Sprague–Dawley) and 10 dogs (20 eyes, Beagle) Procedures The IOP and CTT were measured in each eye before and after topical anesthesia with 0.5% proparacaine. The IOP was evaluated using Tonopen for dogs and Tonolab for rats. The corneal sensitivity was evaluated by CTT through a Cochet–Bonnet aesthesiometer. Results The mean IOP was not significantly changed in rats or dogs before and after topical anesthesia. However, after application of proparacaine, CTT was significantly increased in both animal groups compared with that before application of proparacaine. Conclusion From this study, topical anesthesia was found to significantly lower the corneal sensitivity but have little effect on IOP measurements. In ophthalmologic examination, topical anesthesia can be used to reduce corneal sensation without an effect on IOP.     

Protective potential of an attenuated Pasteurella multocida,which expresses only the N-terminal truncated fragment of P. multocida toxin

Pasteurella multocida serogroup D causes progressive atrophic rhinitis in pigs and produces a potent, intracellular, mitogenic toxin known as P. multocida toxin (PMT), which is encoded by the toxA gene. Highly toxic to cells, PMT is a poor antigen and becomes more immunogenic after its native structure has been destroyed. Previously, we found that the N-terminal fragment of PMT (N-PMT) can induce a strong immune response that is protective against wild-type challenge. Here, an attenuated P. multocida mutant expressing only N-PMT was developed and its protective effect was evaluated. The mutant provides protective immune responses against bacterial and toxin challenges, and so is a good live vaccine candidate.     

Cerebrospinal fluid flow in normal beagle dogs analyzed using magnetic resonance imaging

BackgroundDiseases related to cerebrospinal fluid flow, such as hydrocephalus, syringomyelia, and Chiari malformation, are often found in small dogs. Although studies in human medicine have revealed a correlation with cerebrospinal fluid flow in these diseases by magnetic resonance imaging, there is little information and no standard data for normal dogs.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to obtain cerebrospinal fluid flow velocity data from the cerebral aqueduct and subarachnoid space at the foramen magnum in healthy beagle dogs.MethodsSix healthy beagle dogs were used in this experimental study. The dogs underwent phase-contrast and time-spatial labeling inversion pulse magnetic resonance imaging. Flow rate variations in the cerebrospinal fluid were observed using sagittal time-spatial labeling inversion pulse images. The pattern and velocity of cerebrospinal fluid flow were assessed using phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging within the subarachnoid space at the foramen magnum level and the cerebral aqueduct.ResultsIn the ventral aspect of the subarachnoid space and cerebral aqueduct, the cerebrospinal fluid was characterized by a bidirectional flow throughout the cardiac cycle. The mean ± SD peak velocities through the ventral and dorsal aspects of the subarachnoid space and the cerebral aqueduct were 1.39 ± 0.13, 0.32 ± 0.12, and 0.76 ± 0.43 cm/s, respectively.ConclusionsNoninvasive visualization of cerebrospinal fluid flow movement with magnetic resonance imaging was feasible, and a reference dataset of cerebrospinal fluid flow peak velocities was obtained through the cervical subarachnoid space and cerebral aqueduct in healthy dogs.     

The effects of increasing the level of dietary wormwood (Artemisia montana Pampan) on intake, digestibility, N balance and ruminal fermentation characteristics in sheep

This study investigated the effect of replacing concentrates with dry wormwood (Artemisia montana) on the performance of sheep. Four Corriedale × Polwarth sheep (41.3 ± 1.3 kg) were fed diets with an 8 : 2 straw to supplement ratio, for four, consecutive 16 d periods (10 d adaptation, 6 d collection) in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Supplements were made by substituting 0 (Control), 30 (LW), 50 (MW) or 100 (HW) g/kg DM of concentrate (15.6% CP, 72.1% of TDN) with dried, ground wormwood. Ruminal pH, NH₃–N and volatile fatty acids (VFA) were measured on d 6 of collection. Ether extract (EE) intake was linearly decreased (P < 0.001) with increasing wormwood inclusion, otherwise intake was unaffected. The Control diet had lower (P < 0.05) DM and CP digestibility than LW and MW diets and lower EE digestibility than the LW diet. Retained N (P < 0.05) and microbial N yield (P < 0.01) linearly increased with dietary wormwood level, but efficiency of microbial N synthesis linearly decreased (P < 0.001). Mean concentrations of rumen NH₃–N, total VFA and propionic acid were quadratically increased (P < 0.05) by increasing wormwood inclusion. Replacing concentrates with 30–50 g/kg DM of wormwood increased N retention, microbial N yield and EE digestibility.