The urinary lipid profile in cats with idiopathic cystitis

Although feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) distresses of many cats, its pathogenesis is unknown and the diagnosis is challenging. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are metabolized into various lipid mediators. Lipid mediators such as prostaglandins (PGs) modulate inflammation and many of them are excreted into the urine. Thus, the investigation of the urinary lipid profile may reveal pathogenesis and help diagnosis of FIC. We collected urine samples from five FIC cats by spontaneous urination and analyzed 158 types of lipid mediators in urines using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The urinary levels of PUFAs were higher in FIC compared to those of the healthy group. The excretions of a major inflammatory mediator, PGD₂, were less in FIC. Other well-known inflammatory mediators such as PGE₂, PGI₂, and their metabolites did not show a difference. In contrast, the levels of PGF_2α and its 2 metabolites and PGF_3α were higher in FIC. These results may provide new insights into the future management of cat FIC.     

Central somatostatin-somatostatin receptor 2 signaling mediates lactational suppression of luteinizing hormone release via the inhibition of glutamatergic interneurons during late lactation in rats

Reproductive function is suppressed during lactation owing to the suckling-induced suppression of the kisspeptin gene (Kiss1) expression in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and subsequent suppression of luteinizing hormone (LH) release. Our previous study revealed that somatostatin (SST) neurons mediate suckling-induced suppression of LH release via SST receptor 2 (SSTR2) in ovariectomized lactating rats during early lactation. This study examined whether central SST-SSTR2 signaling mediates the inhibition of ARC Kiss1 expression and LH release in lactating rats during late lactation and whether the inhibition of glutamatergic neurons, stimulators of LH release, is involved in the suppression of LH release mediated by central SST-SSTR2 signaling in lactating rats. A central injection of the SSTR2 antagonist CYN154806 (CYN) significantly increased ARC Kiss1 expression in lactating rats on day 16 of lactation. Dual in situ hybridization revealed that few ARC Kiss1-positive cells co-expressed Sstr2, and some of the ARC Slc17a6 (a glutamatergic neuronal marker)-positive cells co-expressed Sstr2. Furthermore, almost all ARC Kiss1-positive cells co-expressed Grin1, a subunit of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. The numbers of Slc17a6/Sstr2 double-labeled and Slc17a6 single-labeled cells were significantly lower in lactating dams than in non-lactating rats whose pups had been removed after parturition. A central injection of an NMDA antagonist reversed the CYN-induced increase in LH release in lactating rats. Overall, these results suggest that central SST-SSTR2 signaling, at least partly, mediates the suppression of ARC Kiss1 expression and LH release by inhibiting ARC glutamatergic interneurons in lactating rats.     

Successful treatment of feline hyperadrenocorticism with pituitary macroadenoma using radiation therapy: a case study

A 10-year-old castrated male cat showing behavioral (irritation, prowling, and tumbling) and cutaneous abnormalities such as dermal fragility was diagnosed as hyperadrenocorticism with pituitary macroadenoma, concurrent with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Pituitary enlargement (18.0 mm) was observed during magnetic resonance imaging. High endogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone levels (>2,500 pg/ml) were also observed. Although trilostane treatment (5–10 mg/head, daily) was commenced, the clinical signs did not disappear. Insulin and trilostane treatment were discontinued on day 86 after first day of radiation therapy (4 Gy/12 fractions). After radiation therapy, a decreased pituitary tumor size (10.7 mm) was observed on day 301; neurological and dermatological signs exhibited remission. Radiation therapy is the treatment of choice for feline hyperadrenocorticism with pituitary macroadenoma with neurological signs.     

Correction to: Geographical variation in spawning histories of age-1 Pacific saury Cololabis saira in the North Pacific Ocean during June and July

Fisheries Science - The article "Geographical variation in spawning histories of age 1 Pacific saury Cololabis saira in the North Pacific Ocean during June and July", written by Satoshi...     

Genetic structure and diversity of the wild Ussurian pear in East Asia

The Ussurian pear is the most important cultivated pear in the northern part of China. Cultivated Ussurian pears are considered to have derived from Pyrus ussuriensis Maxim. which is native to the northeast of China. In Japan, two varieties of P. ussuriensis, P. ussuriensis var. aromatica and var. hondoensis are native to the northern area and the central area of the main island respectively. In order to reveal the origin of Pyrus ussuriensis var. aromatica distributed in the northern area of main island of Japan, more than 40 explorations have been performed in Japan and in China, and more than 30 natural habitats were recognized. These natural habitats are at risk of extinction because of human development and forest degradation caused by climate change. Population structure and genetic diversity of P. ussuriensis in China and P. ussuriensis var. aromatica in Japan have been investigated using both morphological and molecular markers in order to define appropriate conservation units, and to provide a good focus for conservation management. Distant evolutionary relationships between P. ussuriensis Maxim. in China and P. ussuriensis var. aromatica in Japan inferred from population genetic structure and phylogenetic analysis are also discussed.     

Utilization of flow cytometry for festulolium breeding (Lolium multiflorum (2x) × Festuca arundinacea (6x))

Festulolium is a hybrid between Festuca and Lolium species that has valuable agronomic traits from both grass species. The purpose of our breeding program is to produce hexaploid festulolium that introduces tolerance to summer depression into Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) by crossing it with tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). However, we found the DNA ploidy of hexaploids was not stable and was reduced in successive generations. We aimed to find out how to obtain stable high-ploidy festulolium. F1 hybrids of L. multiflorum and F. arundinacea were produced. The F3 generation was produced from putative hexaploid F2 individuals by open pollination. The F4 to F6 generations were obtained by polycrossing. The DNA ploidy levels of F2 to F6 individuals were estimated by flow cytometry. Cytological characteristics of the F5 and F6 individuals were investigated by FISH and GISH. The DNA ploidy level of hexaploid festulolium was reduced and stabilized at almost the same level as a tetraploid. Seed fertility was inversely correlated with an increase in ploidy level. GISH revealed no preferential Lolium transmission. FISH with a telomere probe revealed that counting the exact number of chromosomes in festulolium was difficult. DNA ploidy level was strongly correlated with the number of chromosomes.     

Imatinib mesylate treatment in a dog with gastrointestinal stromal tumors with a c-kit mutation

A 13-year-old spayed mixed-breed dog was diagnosed with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) after histopathological examination of an abdominal mass. Five months after surgical resection of the tumor, we detected the recurrence of GIST with multiple disseminated abdominal lesions. A sequence analysis of cDNA obtained from a biopsy of the recurrent tumors revealed a mutation within exon 9 of the c-kit gene (1523A>T, Asn⁵⁰⁸Ile), which has been shown to cause ligand-independent phosphorylation of the KIT protein in GISTs and canine mast cell tumors (MCTs). Upon detection of the recurrent tumors, we initiated treatment with imatinib mesylate (10 mg/kg, q 24 hr). After 2 months, the dog achieved complete remission. Our findings indicate that canine GIST, and possibly MCT, may be responsive to molecular-targeted therapy.     

Cloning and expression analysis of prohibitin mRNA in canine mammary tumors

Prohibitin is an antiproliferative protein that is a product of a putative tumor suppressor gene. However, there is little information on prohibitins in companion animals. In this study, we cloned canine prohibitin mRNA using RT-PCR and 3′-RACE (Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends). The sequence was well conserved compared with those of other mammals, including human. The deduced amino acid sequence translated from the open reading frame completely corresponded to the human sequence. Canine prohibitin mRNA was expressed in all normal mammary and tumor samples examined. These results suggest that this protein plays a vital role in cell growth mechanisms and may be related to the occurrence of canine mammary tumors.     

Resistance phenotypes and genotypes among multiple-antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Choleraesuis strains isolated between 2008 and 2012 from slaughter pigs in Okinawa Prefecture,Japan

A total of 349 Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Choleraesuis (S. Choleraesuis) strains, which were isolated between 2008 and 2012 from 349 pigs at two slaughterhouses in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, were investigated for antimicrobial susceptibility and the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes. All isolates were resistant to at least four antimicrobial agents. The antimicrobial agents for which isolates showed a high incidence of resistance were as follows: ampicillin (100%) and streptomycin (100%), followed by gentamicin (99.7%), oxytetracycline (99.7%), sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (99.4%), nalidixic acid (40.1%) and oxolinic acid (40.1%). All isolates were sensitive to cefuroxime, ceftiofur, colistin, fosfomycin, enrofloxacin, orbifloxacin and danofloxacin. The predominant resistance phenotypes and genotypes were: resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, gentamicin, oxytetracycline and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (58.5%, 204/349) and blaTEM-strA-strB-aadA1-aadA2-aacC2-tet (B)-sul1-sul2-dhfrXII-dhfrXIII (36.1%, 126/349). The quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs) of gyrA, gyrB, parC and parE of the quinolone-resistant isolates (n=12) showed amino acid substitutions of Ser-83→Phe or Asp-87→Tyr in GyrA and Ser-107→Ala in ParC. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the molecular characterization of antimicrobial resistance among S. Choleraesuis strains in Japan.