Canine model of ischemic stroke with permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion: clinical and histopathological findings

The aim of the present study was to assess the clinical and histopathological findings in a canine model of ischemic stroke. Cerebral ischemic stroke was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion in four healthy beagle dogs using silicone plugs. They showed neurological signs of forebrain dysfunction such as reduced responsiveness, head turning, circling, postural reaction deficits, perceptual deficits, and hemianopsia. These signs gradually regressed within 4 weeks without therapy. On magnetic resonance imaging, T2 hyperintensity and T1 hypointensity were found in the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia. These lesions were well-defined and sharply demarcated from adjacent brain parenchyma with a homogenous appearance. No abnormalities of the cerebrospinal fluid were observed. At necropsy, atrophic and necrotic lesions were observed in the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, and thalamus were partially unstained with triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride. Histopathologically, typical features of infarction were identified in cortical and thalamic lesions. This study demonstrates that our canine model resembles the conditions of real stroke patients.     

Comparison of two types of CIDR-based timed artificial insemination protocols for repeat breeder dairy cows

This study compared two types of controlled internal drug release (CIDR)-based timed artificial insemination (TAI) protocol for treatment of repeat breeder dairy cows. In the first trial of the experiment, 55 repeat breeder cows were randomly assigned to the following two treatments. (1) In the EB group, a CIDR device was inserted into the cows, and then the cows were administered an injection of 1 mg estradiol benzoate (EB) plus 50 mg progesterone (P4; Day 0). On Day 7, they were given an injection of PGF(2alpha) and the CIDR device was removed. The cows were given an injection of 1 mg EB on Day 8 and were subjected to TAI 30 h later (n=27). (2) In the gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) group, a CIDR device was inserted into the cows, and then the cows were administered an injection of 250 microg gonadorelin (GnRH; Day 0). On Day 7, they were given an injection of PGF(2alpha) and the CIDR device was removed. The cows were given an injection of 250 microg GnRH on Day 9 and were subjected to TAI 17 h later (n=28). In the second trial, 41 repeat breeder cows that were confirmed as not pregnant in the first trial were randomly assigned to the same two treatments used in the first trial (an EB group of 20 cows and a GnRH group of 21 cows). The ovaries of 15 cows from each group were examined by transrectal ultrasonography in order to observe the changes in ovarian structures, and blood samples were collected for analysis of serum P4 concentrations. The pregnancy rates following TAI in the first (18.5 vs. 32.1%) and second (40.0 vs. 38.1%) trials and the combined rates (27.7 vs. 34.7%) did not differ between the EB and GnRH groups. The proportions of cows with follicular wave emergence within 7 days did not differ between the EB (12/15) and GnRH groups (13/15). The interval to wave emergence was shorter (P<0.01) in the GnRH group than in the EB group, but there was no difference in the mean diameters of dominant follicles on Day 7 between the groups. Moreover, the proportions of cows with synchronized ovulation following a second EB or GnRH treatment did not differ between the groups. In conclusion, treatment with either EB or GnRH in a CIDR-based TAI protocol results in synchronous follicular wave emergence, follicular development, synchronous ovulation, and similar pregnancy rates for TAI in repeat breeder cows.     

Thermographic evaluation for the efficacy of acupuncture on induced chronic arthritis in the dog

This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture on induced chronic arthritis of the dog by thermography. Complete Freund's adjuvant was injected into the left knee joint of 8 dogs to induce arthritis. Acupuncture was applied to BL-40, GB-33, GB-34, and LIV-8 once a week for 4 consecutive weeks, from 3 weeks after induction of chronic arthritis, in treatment group. At 3 weeks of acupuncture treatment, skin temperature difference (DeltaT) of treatment group returned to normal range (< 0.3 degrees C), while DeltaT remained high in non-treatment group. Infrared thermography (IRT) is useful to evaluate the treatment of acupuncture for induced canine chronic arthritis. Therefore, it is considered that clinical application of IRT in arthritis treatment would be also valuable.     

Changes in orexin-A and neuropeptide y expression in the hypothalamus of obese and lean Zucker Diabetic Fatty rats

This study was carried out to investigate the changes of orexin-A (OXA) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) expression in the hypothalamus of the obese and lean Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rats which have a missense mutation in the leptin receptor gene. The mean body weights (MBW) between the obese and lean ZDF rats were significantly different at 28 and 70 postnatal days. However, at 14 postnatal day, there was no significant difference in the MBW between the obese and lean ZDF rats in both male and female. The OXA immunoreactivities were not significantly different between the obese and lean ZDF rats in both sexes at 14, 28, and 70 postnatal days, respectively. The NPY immunoreactivity was higher in the obese than in the lean ZDF rats in both male and female at 28 and 70 postnatal days, whereas there was no significant difference between the obese and lean ZDF rats at 14 postnatal day. These results indicate that both OXA and NPY might halt their roles for food intake in the obese phenotype of the male and female ZDF rats in the preweaning period of 14 postnatal day, whereas NPY might play a main role in the obesity of these rats in the weaning period of 28 and 70 postnatal days.     

Risk analysis of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy in Korea

The occurrence of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE, so called mad cow diseases) that was first identified in England in 1986 was considered as being limited to only European countries, including England. However, the outbreak in Asia as well as North America since 2001 has amplified the fear that there isn't any nation in the world that is a safe area. In order to assess the risk of BSE outbreak in each country, the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) and EU have respectively established criteria, where OIE has set 5 levels and EU has set 4 levels. The Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) of the European Commission conducted a Geographical BSE Risk(GBR) assessment for 64 nations, such as the United States, etc., as of April 29, 2003. However, as of July 1, 2005, the duty of GBR assessment is expected to be transferred to a newly established body called EFSA (European Food Safety Authority, located in Parma, Italy). As Korea has not undergone a GBR assessment up to now, this study analyzed the risk of BSE outbreak in Korea by reviewing BSE prevention measures, etc., that have been put in place. This study shall be a barometer for estimating the GBR assessment level of Korea.     

Anti-protozoal efficacy of high performance liquid chromatography fractions of Torilis japonica and Sophora flavescens extracts on Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii

We previously reported that alcoholic extracts of Sophora flavescens and Torilis japonica from South Korea demonstrated good efficacy in reducing replication of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum. To characterize the chemical component associated with anti-protozoal activity, specific fractions were isolated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and used for in vitro testing. These fractions were evaluated in vitro against T. gondii and N. caninum. Fractions of the herb extracts were serially diluted to final concentrations of 2.850 to 0.356 ng/ml in medium and added to wells containing replicating T. gondii and N. caninum. To determine the ability of each fraction to inhibit parasite proliferation, 3H-uracil incorporation was used to determine parasite replication. In cultures infected with T. gondii, a fraction of T. japonica (TJ2) inhibited T. gondii proliferation by 99.2, 94.4, 88.6 and 27.0% in the range from 2.850 to 0.356 ng/ml. Four fractions of S. flavescens (SF1-SF4) inhibited T. gondii proliferation by 99.6-60.6, 96.9-48.1, 92.3-68.2 and 95.4-52.9% in the range from 2.850 to 0.356 ng/ml. In cultures infected with N. caninum, a fraction of T. japonica (TJ2) inhibited N. caninum proliferation by 98.3, 95.5, 79.7 and 30.6% in the range from 2.850 to 0.356 ng/ml. Four fractions of S. flavescens (SF1-SF4) inhibited N. caninum proliferation by 97.1-25.9, 94.8-35.5, 95.9-33.7 and 95.4-49.4% in the range from 2.850 to 0.356 ng/ml. These fractions of T. japonica and S. flavescens extracts are currently undergoing in vivo evaluation in experimentally infected mice.     

不同光周期条件下PhyB和ABA对不同苜蓿品种的秋眠性调控

短日照和低温是导致苜蓿秋眠的主要环境因子。本研究检测了3个不同秋眠型苜蓿在8,12和16 h光照光周期条件下叶片和顶芽中PhyB和ABA的含量,并探讨其对秋眠的影响机制。结果表明,1)和非秋眠苜蓿相比,秋眠苜蓿叶片中PhyB含量高,PhyB作为绿色植物主要光受体可能通过光周期调控或参与了苜蓿的秋眠;并且3个品种均是在8 h光照下PhyB合成量高,暗示长暗期利于其合成。2)和12,16 h光照相比,8 h处理顶芽和第一展开叶中ABA含量最高,显然短日照利于ABA的合成;8 h光照处理时,秋眠型苜蓿品种Vernal ABA含量分别比半秋眠型CW5 0 2和非秋眠型CUF1 0 1高2.1 2和2.0 3倍,1 2 h光照处理ABA含量Vernal比CW5 0 2和CUF1 0 1分别高3 6.2 4%和46.46%,但16 h光照处理ABA含量并不表现上述规律,说明8和12 h光照程度不同地为苜蓿创造了逆境效应,ABA可能是调控或诱导秋眠的激素。3)8 h光照下苜蓿秋眠特征明显,生长严重受抑,不开花;12 h光照下苜蓿秋眠特征比8 h光照处理轻,生长受抑但抑制程度低于8 h光照处理,不开花;16 h光照下3个品种生长、开花正常。可能是PhyB含量多寡程度不同地调控了光周期反应,进而影响了ABA合成,而ABA在不同光周期诱导下通过合成量不同调控了不同秋眠基因表达,诱发了秋眠。