Therapeutic potential of canine bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) in the carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced chronic liver dysfunction mouse model

Regenerative medicine using bone marrow cells is an attractive therapy for the cure of patients with severe liver disease. Here, we show the therapeutic potential of canine bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) in mouse models of CCl(4)-induced chronic liver dysfunction. We used two different models for xenotransplantation, nude mice and cyclosporine A (CSA) immunosuppressed mice. Serum parameters from a standard liver panel were not improved following transplantation. However, fibrotic liver lesions with severe inflammation were decreased in CCl(4)-treated CSA mice following BMSC transplantation. Effective migration of transplanted canine BMSCs was limited to persistently injured liver in CCl(4)-treated CSA mice, where they may be effective in resolving inflammatory fibrotic lesions. These results suggest that canine BMSCs are an effective cell source for liver regeneration.     

Antimicrobial susceptibility of pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from sick cattle and pigs in Japan

We examined the 12 antimicrobial susceptibilities of 175 E. coli isolates from sick cattle and pigs by an agar dilution method. Resistance was found in 78.3% of isolates for oxytetracycline, 70.3% of isolates for dihydrostreptomycin, and 49.1% of isolates for ampicillin. When compared with healthy animals reported by Kijima-Tanaka et al., resistance rates for 11 antimicrobial agents were higher in sick cattle than in healthy cattle, and resistance rates for all antimicrobial agents were higher in sick pigs than in healthy pigs. Comparing cattle and pigs, resistance rates to colistin was higher in porcine isolates than in bovine isolates, but was lower in porcine isolates than in bovine isolates for cefazolin. With regard to the association of virulence factors, higher resistance rates to colistin and enrofloxacin were observed in STEC (61 strains) than in non-STEC (57 strains) among porcine isolates, while there were no significant differences in bovine isolates. In conclusion, these results can be considered helpful for adequate selection and prudent use of antimicrobial agents for several types of colibacillosis.     

Hepatic lesions caused by migrating larvae of Ascaris suum in chickens

Group A consisted of chickens infected with a single dose of Ascaris suum and group B of chickens infected with two successive doses. At days 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 after the first or second infection dose, six chickens from each group were sacrificed. In both groups, larvae were recovered from the livers on days 1, 3, and 7 and lungs on days 3 and 7. No larvae were detected in chickens on day 14. Clear white lesions were noticed only on the livers from chickens of group B at day 7 but had disappeared at day 14. A comparison with group B showed mild histological changes that developed relative to the livers from group A.     

Thymic carcinoma of the thymic hormone secretory type in a cow.

An 8-year-old Holstein cow had tumor nodules and enlarged lymph nodes in the mediastinum, and metastatic tumor masses in the pelvic cavity. The neoplastic cells were characterized by squamous features and intracytoplasmic vacuoles carrying microvilli, some of which contained periodic acid Schiff-positive globular cores, but tubular structures or goblet cells were absent. Many neoplastic cells stained positively for keratin, and occasional cells were positive for thymosin. The presence of secretory granules in the cytoplasm was confirmed by electron microscopy. This neoplasm was considered to be of thymic hormone-secreting epithelial cell origin.     

Variation in wood properties of six natural acacia hybrid clones in northern Vietnam

Wood properties of six 8-year-old natural acacia hybrid clones between Acacia mangium and Acacia auriculiformis, planted in Bavi, Vietnam, were studied. The hybrid clones possessed obvious heterosis in growth and in some wood properties. The characteristics of growth, air-dry specific gravity, lengths of fibers and vessel elements, S₂ microfibril angle, green moisture content, and shrinkage were examined to clarify the variation among clones. From the results, the differences among the clones in growth and in some wood properties were significant. The pattern of distribution of specific gravity showed that there were low and high specific gravity zones in the stem. Specific gravity at stump height or at 3.0 m was useful for prediction of specific gravity in the whole tree stem. Moreover, clones with high specific gravity can be predicted at a young age. There was no significant correlation between diameter growth and specific gravity. Of the six clones studied, clone BV5 was selected as the best based on its growth ability and specific gravity. Part of this report was presented at the 57th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Hiroshima, August 2007     

Re-examination of age and growth of daggertooth pike conger Muraenesox cinereus in the western Seto Inland Sea, Japan

Age determination and growth using otolith rings in Muraenesox cinereus was re-examined in the western Seto Inland Sea, Japan. Previous study in this area indicated that new rings were formed annually from March to May, and then from September to October once individuals had achieved four or five rings. In this study, monthly changes in marginal growth rate indicated that the first ring was formed before November in the year following hatching, and from then on another ring was formed annually in July or August. The birth month was determined to be August based on a peak in monthly change in the gonad somatic index. Estimated von Bertalanffy growth functions were L = 806.6{1 ? exp[? 0.33(t + 0.06)]} and L = 1264.0{1 ? exp[? 0.19(t + 0.15)]} for males and females, respectively. Lengths after 3 years of age in this study were 100 mm longer than those in a previous study for both sexes.     

Causes of defoliation and low survival rate of grafted sweet pepper plants

We investigated the cause of defoliation in sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants after grafting. Grafted plants of old-stage sweet pepper showed a higher defoliation rate than young-stage grafted plants. Old-stage grafted plants had lower stomatal resistance and water potential than young-stage plants, and showed poorly developed xylem connections at the graft site. Foliar application of abscisic acid (ABA) to the grafted plants increased stomatal resistance and water potential, decreased the defoliation rate, and promoted graft take among old-stage plants. Our results indicated that low stomatal resistance under low humidity induces water stress, defoliation, and low survival rate in old-stage grafted sweet pepper plants. ABA treatment increased stomatal resistance, water potential, and survival rate, and decreased the defoliation rate among old-stage sweet pepper plants.     

Possibility of improvement in fundamental properties of wood of acacia hybrids by artificial hybridization

Growth, specific gravity, and wood fiber length of Acacia mangium, Acacia auriculiformis, artificial acacia hybrid clones, and combinations, which were planted in a trial forest in Bavi, Vietnam, in July 2001, were examined. The radial variations from pith to bark were investigated to clarify the effect of genetic factors on these traits. Superiority of hybrids over their parents ranged from 36.3% to 41.6% for diameter, from 20.0% to 25.3% for height, from 6.9% to 20.7% for specific gravity, and from 6.1% to 12.8% for wood fiber length. The hybrid possessed heterosis in diameter, height, specific gravity, and wood fiber length regardless of whether the female parent was A. mangium or A. auriculiformis. The profiles of wood fiber length and specific gravity in the radial direction were similar for all the trees investigated. Wood fiber length was initially 0.5–0.6 mm near the pith and then increased slowly, finally reaching 1.0–1.2 mm near the bark. The specific gravity of acacia increased from 0.49–0.58 near the pith to 0.63–0.74 near the bark. From a relative distance of 30% from the pith, the specific gravity increased slightly and seemed to be stable. The relations among tree diameter, specific gravity, and wood fiber length were fair and could be represented by positive linear regression formulas. Hybrids for which A. auriculiformis was the female parent and A. mangium was the male parent had a faster growth rate and longer wood fibers than the inverse hybrids. Part of this report was presented at the 6th Pacific Regional Wood Anatomy Conference, Kyoto, Japan, December 2005     

Clinical effects of bovine lactoferrin on two canine cases with familial neutrophil dysfunction

This study reported detailed clinical effects of bovine lactoferrin on 2 canine littermates (1 female and 1 male) with familial neutrophil dysfunction and an investigation of their genetic background. Clinical signs caused by severe upper respiratory bacterial infections were observed in these dogs. Oral administration of bovine lactoferrin for a long duration improved their clinical signs (severe uveitis in the female dog and coughing from pneumonia in the male dog). Their backcross dogs that have the same father didn't show clinical signs of bacterial infection. Neutrophil function tests revealed that the backcross dogs didn't have any disorders. It is likely that abnormal clinical signs are associated with neutrophil dysfunction in the colony, and the mother dog of these cases might be the genetic carrier of this dysfunction.