Expression of estrogen receptor alpha and beta in the uterus and vagina of immature rats treated with 17-ethinyl estradiol

The action of estrogen on target organs has been actively studied with the discovery of estrogen receptor (ER) beta. This study was carried out to examine the expression of ERalpha and ERbeta in the uterus and the vagina of immature Sprague-Dawley rats treated with 17-ethinyl estradiol (EE). Twenty days old rats were subcutaneously treated with EE at the doses of 0 (vehicle control), 0.03, 0.3, 1.0, 3.0, and 10.0 microg/kg/day for three consecutive days. The treatment of EE at the doses of 0.3, 1.0, 3.0 and 10.0 microg/kg/day significantly increased the weights of the uterus and vagina of rats (p<0.01) and retained fluid in the uterus of rats. At the high doses of 3.0 and 10.0 microg/kg/day, the treatment of EE caused an increase in the uterine height, hypertrophy, and a decrease in the expression of ERalpha and ERbeta in the uterine luminal and glandular epithelium. The treatment of EE at the doses of 3.0 and 10.0 microg/kg/day also caused cornification and a decrease in the expression of ERalpha and ERbeta in the vaginal epithelium. These results suggest that the EE treatment decrease the expression of ERalpha and ERbeta in the uterus and vagina of immature rats and that may be associated with the morphological changes such as increase in the uterine height, hypertrophy of the uterine epithelium, and cornification of the vagina.     

Spectral waveform analysis of major arteries in conscious dogs by Doppler ultrasonography

Normal values of arterial blood flow velocity and waveforms in major arteries of 10 healthy conscious Beagle dogs were determined using Doppler ultrasonography. Peak systolic, early diastolic, and end-diastolic velocities of the basilar artery, common carotid artery, abdominal aorta, external iliac artery, femoral artery, and peak ejection velocity of the valvular aorta were evaluated. Pulsatility index (PI) of the basilar artery and blood pressure were recorded. All arteries had a high-resistance flow pattern with triphasic flow velocity except the basilar artery, which had a low-resistance pattern. Mean peak systolic velocities of the basilar artery, common carotid artery, abdominal aorta, external iliac artery, and femoral artery were 72 +/- 19, 115 +/- 17, 121 +/- 24, 105 +/- 25, and 110 +/- 17 cm/s, respectively. The PI of the basilar artery and peak ejection velocity of the valvular aorta were 1.37 +/- 0.13 and 96 +/- 16 cm/s, respectively. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 137 +/- 13 and 78 +/- 15 mmHg, respectively. Present findings may be used as references in future studies on vascular diseases and hemodynamics in dogs.     

Polymerase chain reaction analysis of eae gene subtypes present in attaching and effacing Escherichia coli isolated from pigs with diarrhea.

In this study the subtype of eae gene was determined by polymerase chain reaction for a total of 59 attaching and effacing Escherichia coli isolated from preweaned (38 isolates) and postweaned (21 isolates) pigs. The eae(beta) gene detected in 19 E. coli from preweaned pigs and 10 E. coli from postweaned pigs was found to be the most common subtype, followed by eae(gamma), eae(epsilon), and eae(zeta) genes. Subtypes were not determined for 7 E. coli isolates. No other subtype of the eae gene was detected in eae+ E. coli evaluated in this study.     

Calcium-Binding Proteins and Neurotransmitters in the Stomach Myenteric Plexus of the Korean Native Goat

The expression of calbindin D-28k (CB), calretinin (CR), substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the stomach myenteric plexus of the Korean native goat stomach was investigated by immunohistochemistry. The results demonstrated the presence of nerve fibers and cell bodies immunoreactive (IR) to CB, CR, SP and CGRP. In tissues of rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum, some distinct neuronal populations could be distinguished according to their morphologic and neuronal chemical properties: Dogiel type I cells which have irregular lamellar dendrites and a single axon, Dogiel type II cells which have large ovoid cell bodies and several long axon-like processes, and small filamentous interneurons. CB-, CR-, SP- and CGRP-IR neurons and fibers were observed in the myenteric plexus of stomach, and varicose nerve fiber immunostained to SP and CGRP also were found in the muscle layer. In myenteric plexus of the stomach, CB- and SP-positive neurons were characterized by Dogiel type II and CR-IR neurons were classified Dogiel type I with lamellar dendrites, and immunoreactivity of CGRP was very weak in the somata. SP- and CGRP-IR nerve fibers formed dense networks within the myenteric ganglia. SP-IR cell bodies and their fibers were found in the myenteric plexus, and the immunoreactivity and number of cell bodies were more than CB-, CR-, and CGRP-IR neurons. These results suggest that SP, CGRP, CB and CR in the myenteric neurons of Korean native goat stomach may have play an important role in the dynamic movement.
(Support contributed by: Korean Research Foundation 2003-015-E00195).     

Distribution of nociceptin-like immunoreactivity in the central nervous system of the Mongolian gerbil: an immunohistochemical study

This study is designed to demonstrate the distribution of nociceptin, endogenous ORL1 receptor ligand, in the central nervous system of the Mongolian gerbil. To intensify the nociceptin-like immunoreactivity (NOC-LI), colchicine was administered into the lateral ventricle, at 48 h prior to the transcardiac perfusion. In the group without colchicine treatment, NOC-LI was observed in the fibres of the spinal dorsal horn, specifically in the superficial layers. However, the NOC-LI in the superficial layers disappeared after the administration of colchicine. In the brain, NOC-LI was prominent in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, cerebral peduncle, substantia nigra, dorsal raphe, periaqueductal grey, locus coeruleus and trapezoid nucleus. Colchicine treatment markedly intensified the NOC-LI in the somata of the central nervous system, whereas the untreated sections were too weak to observe and analyse. The distribution of NOC-LI provides informative data for studies of the neuronal circuit that nociceptin may be involved in.     

酵母培养物具有抗大肠杆菌和抗真菌而不影响健康微生物区系的特性

<正>由产生肠毒素的大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)所引起的腹泻是威胁家畜健康和存活的主要因素之一,尤其是对于仔猪和犊牛(Nagy等,2005;Fairbrother等,     

Doublecortin-immunoreactive neuronal precursors in the dentate gyrus of spontaneously hypertensive rats at various age stages: comparison with Sprague-Dawley rats

Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) are widely accepted in medical research because this model has been used for studies in neurodegenerative diseases such as vascular dementia and stroke. In the present study, we observed newly generated neuronal precursors using doublecortin (DCX, a marker of neural proliferation and differentiation) in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus in SHRs compared to Sprague-Dawley rats (SDRs) at various age stages. DCX immunoreactivity, immunoreactive cell numbers and its protein level in the dentate gyrus of the SHRs were higher than those in the SDRs at postnatal month 1 (PM 1). At PM 8, DCX immunoreactivity, immunoreactive cell numbers and protein levels in both groups were markedly decreased compared to those at PM 1; however, they were higher than those in the SDRs. They were decreased in the both groups with age: DCX immunoreactive cells in the SDRs were few at PM 12. Our results indicate that newly generated neuronal precursors are more abundant in SHRs than in SDRs during their life.     

Differences in lipid peroxidation and Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase in the hippocampal CA1 region between adult and aged dogs

Reactive oxygen species have been long associated with oxidative stress relevant to many pathological damages. In brain, 4-hydroxy-2E-nonenal (HNE), a major cytotoxic end product of lipid peroxidation, is produced. In contrast, superoxide dismutase (SOD), one of the major antioxidant enzymes, protects neurons from oxidative stress. The aim of this study is to observe differences in the distribution of HNE and Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) in the hippocampal CA1 region of adult (2-3 years of age) and aged (10-12 years of age) dogs. The HNE immunoreactivity and protein level in the CA1 region were significantly high in the aged dogs compared to those in the adult dogs. SOD1 immunoreactivity and its protein level were also higher in the aged dogs than those in the adult dogs. However, there were not significant differences in NeuN (a neuron-specific soluble nuclear antigen) immunoreactivity in CA1 neurons between the adult and aged dogs. These differences may be associated with oxidative stress in aged dogs compared to that in adult dogs.     

Bilateral pubic and ischial osteotomy for surgical management of caudal colonic and rectal masses in six dogs and a cat

CASE DESCRIPTION: 6 dogs and a cat were evaluated because of caudal colonic and rectal masses. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Tumors were identified in the caudal portion of the colon (n = 2), in the area of the colorectal junction (2), or in the rectum (3). TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: In all 7 animals, bilateral pubic and ischial osteotomy was performed to provide exposure of the rectum and associated tumor. Masses were successfully removed, and all 7 animals were able to ambulate normally within 3 days after surgery. No complications associated with the osteotomy procedure were identified. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Findings suggested that bilateral pubic and ischial osteotomy provided sufficient exposure for resection of intrapelvic tumors in dogs and a cat with minimal complications.     

Reproduction of fowl typhoid by respiratory challenge with Salmonella Gallinarum

Fowl typhoid is a disease of adult chickens and is caused by Salmonella Gallinarum infection via the alimentary tract. The experimental reproduction of fowl typhoid per os (PO) requires artificial conditions to minimize the effect of gastric acid, and several Salmonella serovars have been known to be transmitted via the respiratory route. Therefore, we have hypothesized the existence of a respiratory route for Salmonella Gallinarum infection and have attempted to reproduce fowl typhoid via intratracheal challenge. In accordance with our hypothesis, the intratracheal challenges of Salmonella Gallinarum reproduced exactly same lesions as fowl typhoid and induced higher mortality and morbidity than those of the PO challenge. Therefore, this study represents the first reproduction of fowl typhoid via respiratory route, and our findings may be useful for understanding the transmission of Salmonella Gallinarum in the field.