Effects of perineural capsaicin treatment on compound action potentials of superior laryngeal nerve afferents in sevoflurane-anesthetized dogs

Effects of perineural capsaicin (CAPS) treatment on compound action potentials of the superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) afferents were studied in 6 sevoflurane-anesthetized dogs. Perineural CAPS (100 microg/ml) to the bilateral SLNs reduced (P<0.01) the peak and integral amplitudes of the C-wave of the compound action potential. By contrast, the perineural CAPS had no effect on the A-wave component (P>0.05). Removal of the perineural CAPS recovered the C-wave to pretreatment level. The perineural CAPS treatment selectively blocks C-wave compound action potentials of the SLN afferents, providing a useful tool for studies of laryngeal C-fibers in respiratory physiology.     

Changes in concentrations of plasma immunoreactive follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol-17beta, testosterone, progesterone, and inhibin in heifers from birth to puberty

This study was designed to clarify the characteristics of changes in plasma concentrations of reproductive hormones in heifers from birth to puberty. Weekly or daily hormonal changes were observed in 39 heifers. Daily changes in the concentration of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) demonstrated a consistent cycle of hormone changes over a 7- to 8-day period in heifers from approximately 10 days to 9 months old. Weekly changes in reproductive hormones showed that there were three brief periods in heifers between birth and puberty in which dramatic changes occur. The first period was the first week after birth, during which a reciprocal relationship between steroid hormones and gonadotropins was observed. At birth, the concentrations of steroid hormones were higher than those at any other age. These hormone levels rapidly decreased within the first week after birth. Gonadotropin levels, however, increased from birth to 1 week of age. The second period of major change was at approximately 4 weeks of age when there was an increase in the concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol-17beta, testosterone, and immunoreactive inhibin. The third period was the last 5 weeks before the first ovulation, when there was an increase in the concentrations of estradiol-17beta followed by an increase in (LH). These results suggest that regular hormone changes start from 10 days after birth and that the periods from birth to 4 weeks of age and the last 5 weeks before the first ovulation in heifers are important to the development of reproductive functions before puberty.     

The effect of adipocyte and heart fatty acid-binding protein genes on intramuscular fat and backfat content in Meishan crossbred pigs

Effects of genetic variation in porcine adipocyte and heart fatty acid-binding protein genes, A-FABP and H-FABP, respectively, on intramuscular fat (IMF) content and backfat thickness (BFT) were examined in F2 crossbreds of Meishan and Western pigs. The involvement of each FABP gene in IMF accretion was studied to confirm previous results for Duroc pigs. The F2 crossbred pigs were genotyped for various markers including microsatellite sequences situated within both FABP genes. Linkage analysis assigned the A-FABP and H-FABP genes to marker intervals S0001-S0217 (20 cM) on SSC4 and Sw316-S0003 (16.6 cM) on SSC6, respectively, refining previous chromosomal assignments. Next, the role of both chromosome regions/genes on genetic variation in IMF content and BFT was studied by 1) screening SSC4 and SSC6 for QTL affecting both traits by performing a line-cross analysis and 2) estimation of the effect of individual A-FABP and H-FABP alleles on both traits. In the first analysis, suggestive and chromosome-wise significant evidence for a QTL affecting IMF was detected on SSC6. The H-FABP gene is a candidate gene for this effect because it resides within the large region containing this putative QTL. The second analysis showed a considerable but nonsignificant effect of H-FABP microsatellite alleles on IMF content. Suggestive evidence for a QTL affecting BFT was found on SSC6, but H-FABP was excluded as a candidate gene. In conclusion, present and previous results support involvement of H-FABP gene polymorphisms in IMF accretion independently from BFT in pigs. Therefore, implementation of these polymorphisms in marker-assisted selection to control IMF content independently from BFT may be considered. In contrast to previous findings for Duroc pigs, no evidence was found for an effect of the A-FABP gene on IMF or BFT in this population.     

Prevalence of Bartonella henselae, Bartonella clarridgeiae and the 16S rRNA gene types of Bartonella henselae among pet cats in Japan

The authors investigated bacteriologically the prevalence of Bartonella infection among 690 pet cats derived from 10 private animal hospitals in six cities (Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture; Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture; Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture; Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecutre; Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture; Sanda, Hyogo Prefecutre) and 4 counties (Mishima, Osaka Prefecture; Hikawa, Shimane Prefecture; Aira, Kagoshima Prefecture; Shimajiri, Okinawa Prefecture) located from the north to the south of Japan. Bartonella species were isolated from 7.2% (50/690) of all the cats examined. No Bartonella species were isolated from the cats in Sapporo or Sendai. The isolation rate varied from 2% in Joetsu and Sanda to 20% in Shimajiri. Bartonella clarridgeiae was isolated from two of 50 cats in Kyoto, three of 50 in Mishima and one of 50 in Shimajiri, but not in cats from the other cities or counties. Though the cats of Joetsu, Fujisawa, Kyoto, Sanda, Aira and Shimajiri were infected with either B. henselae or B. clarridgeiae, one of eight infected cats in Mishima was harboring both Bartonella species. Type I of 16S rRNA gene was the predominant type among the isolates of B. henselae, but only one isolate derived from Shimajiri was found to be of type II. Prevalence of B. clarridgeiae and the 16S rRNA gene type of B. henselae among cats in Japan was demonstrated for the first time in this investigation.     

Prevalence of Cryptosporidium in sheep and goats bred on five farms in west-central region of Poland

Faecal specimens were taken from 205 sheep and goats housed in five different localities in the west-central part of Poland. All faecal specimens were examined for Cryptosporidium by using microscopy screening of smears stained by modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique and commercial enzyme immunoassay. PCR technique using genus specific primers was additionally applied in the surveys of 10 faecal specimens collected from lambs. C. parvum infection was identified in 16 of 159 sheep (10.1%). Lambs were more often infected than adult sheep, and the intensity of infection was higher in lambs than in sheep, as a rule. Both lambs and sheep examined in the study were asymptomatically infected with Cryptosporidium. Both microscopy and enzyme immunoassay methods gave one false negative result. The examination of 10 faecal samples revealed 100% agreement among the results obtained by microscopic, immunologic and molecular methods. None of the goats raised on three farms were infected with Cryptosporidium.     

Nitric oxide metabolite production in the cranial cruciate ligament, synovial membrane, and articular cartilage of dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture

OBJECTIVE: To measure concentrations of nitric oxide metabolites (nitrite-nitrate [NOt]) in cartilage, synovial membrane, and cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) in dogs and evaluate associations with osteoarthritis in dogs with CCL rupture. ANIMALS: 46 dogs with CCL rupture and 54 control dogs without joint disease. PROCEDURE: Tissue specimens for histologic examination and explant culture were harvested during surgery in the CCL group or immediately after euthanasia in the control group; NOt concentrations were measured in supernatant of explant cultures and compared among dogs with various degrees of osteoarthritis and between dogs with and without CCL rupture. RESULTS: Osteoarthritic cartilage had significantly higher NOt concentration (1,171.6 nmol/g) than did healthy cartilage (491.0 nmol/g); NOt concentration was associated with severity of macroscopic and microscopic lesions. Synovial membrane NOt concentration did not differ between dogs with and without CCL rupture. Ruptured CCL produced less NOt than did intact ligaments. In control dogs, NOt concentrations were similar for intact ligaments (568.1 nmol/g) and articular cartilage (491.0 nmol/g). Synthesis of NOt was inhibited substantially by coincubation with inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that NOt in canine joint tissues originates from the inducible nitric oxide synthase pathway. Nitric oxide metabolite production in cartilage was greater in dogs with osteoarthritis than in healthy dogs and was associated with lesion severity, suggesting that nitric oxide inhibitors may be considered as a treatment for osteoarthritis. The CCL produces substantial concentrations of NOt; the importance of this finding is unknown.     

Exogenous testosterone modulates tumor necrosis factor-alpha and acute phase protein responses to repeated endotoxin challenge in steers

Clinical responses to some disease agents differ between sexes and this dimorphism has been attributed to the immunomodulating effects of steroid hormones. Our objective was to determine in steers the effect of testosterone on circulating concentrations of immune response mediators (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, TNF-alpha; serum amyloid-A, SAA; haptoglobin, HG; xanthine oxidase, XO; nitric oxide, NO) after two consecutive endotoxin challenges (LPS1 and LPS2, 5 days apart; 0.25 microg/kg BW). Sixteen crossbred steers (328+/-6 kg) were assigned to control (CON, n=8) or testosterone cypionate treatment (TES, n=8; 100 mg/m2 body surface; i.m. injection 12 and 2 days before LPS1). The response to LPS was calculated as area under the timexconcentration curve (AUC) for the parameter measured. After LPS1, TNF-alpha AUC was greater in TES than CON (P<0.05). Plasma HG and SAA concentrations increased (P<0.01) after LPS1 and LPS2. In all steers SAA AUC was greater after LPS1 than LPS2 (P<0.01) but the response was augmented over CON with testosterone treatment (P<0.05). HG response to LPS1 within 24 h was not affected by testosterone. However, 5 days after LPS1 mean plasma HG concentration remained higher in TES than CON (P<0.01). HG response to LPS2 was greater in TES than CON (P<0.01). Plasma nitrate+nitrite concentration (NO production marker) and XO activity increased after each LPS challenge but responses were not affected by testosterone treatment. Results indicate that the presence of circulating testosterone increases the magnitude of the TNF-alpha response to LPS challenge as well as the subsequent increases in acute phase proteins (APP). Effects of testosterone on increases in TNF-alpha and APP may underlie a differential presentation of disease symptoms between sexes or between steers and bulls. The data also suggest a role for testosterone in the development of tolerance to repeated immune challenge through its effect on the increased magnitude and duration of HG response.     

Chronic progressive autonomic dysfunction in a dog

A 3.5-year-old intact male American Pit Bull was presented because of urinary incontinence and dysuria. Constipation, followed by diarrhoea, ocular disturbances and finally regurgitation developed over the next 4 years. Autonomic dysfunction was evidenced by clinical presentation, as well as positive ophthalmic pilocarpine test and subnormal Schirmer tear test. Diagnosis, however, was established through histopathological and immunohistochemical examination. Lesions attributable to inflammatory degenerative neuropathy of the autonomic ganglia, which represents one of the various types of human autonomic failure, were detected.