Glycated hemoglobin fractions in normal and diabetic dogs measured by high performance liquid chromatography.

We established a new analytical condition to measure the canine glycated hemoglobin by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using cation exchange column. The canine hemoglobin gave five peaks consisting of 2 major and 3 minor hemoglobin fractions such as HbA1a, HbA1b and HbA1c. Measurement was done in 38 clinically normal dogs and 10 diabetic dogs. Mean HbA1c values (% of total Hb) in normal and diabetic dogs were 2.60 and 6.41%, respectively. And mean HbA1 values were 3.58 and 7.41%, respectively. The mean values of the canine HbA1c and HbA1 in diabetic dogs was higher than those in normal dogs, significantly (p less than 0.01). Advantages of the HPLC method and applicability for monitoring effectiveness of insulin therapy in the canine diabetes mellitus are discussed.     

Interleukin 1 alpha mRNA-expressing cells on the local inflammatory response in feline infectious peritonitis.

By in situ hybridization with biotinylated human interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) cDNA probe, distribution of feline IL-1 alpha mRNA-expressing cells was examined in the tissues from 49 cases diagnosed as feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) by pathological examination. IL-1 alpha mRNA-expressing cells were found in visceral peritoneum, lymphoid organs, liver, kidney, pancreas, digestive tract, lung, pleura, brain, palpebral conjunctiva, and bone marrow. Hybridization signals for IL-1 alpha mRNA were mostly located in the local inflammatory lesions on the serosal surface of various organs and omentum, which were frequently involved in the lesions of FIP (27.8 +/- 5.1 cells/mm2). Morphological examination suggested that they were infiltrated macrophages. However, few IL-1 alpha mRNA-expressing macrophages were in the lesions of other organs. These data suggested that IL-1 alpha produced from macrophages in the local inflammatory sites might participate in the initiation and development of the lesions on the visceral peritoneum in FIP.     

Experimental transmission of rabbit syphilis

Rabbit syphilis was experimentally transmitted from clinical cases to healthy rabbits. The purpose was to evaluate changes in RPR titers during the course of infection and to detect the pathogenic organism. Two of three littermate rabbits were inoculated topically. One rabbit became symptomatic, with typical clinical signs on its genitalia about 8 weeks after inoculation and a marked rise in RPR titers, another remained asymptomatic with a moderate rise in titers, and the control rabbit remained negative. These results supported the specific relationship between clinical signs and RPR titers. Histopathological examination of the skin lesion from the symptomatic rabbit revealed spirochetes.     

cDNA of Canine Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70)

Full-length canine HSP70 cDNA was sequenced and the expression of HSP70 mRNA was investigated. The full-length cDNA sequence of the HSP70 gene (2322 bp) contained a single long open reading frame (1920 bp) coding a protein of 640 amino acids. The amino acid sequence of the canine HSP70 gene shared about 90-95% sequence similarity with bovine, human and mouse HSP70 proteins. Southern blot analysis with HSP70 probe gave three distinct bands of 9.4 kb, 5 kb and 4.4 kb in BamHI digests and two distinct bands of 19 kb and 4 kb in EcoRI digests. Canine HSP70 mRNA was detectable in canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells and stomach but not in liver, kidney, spleen, small intestine, large intestine and skin of dogs.