Malignant fibrous histiocytoma in a Djungarian hamster

A subcutaneous malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) was observed in the region between the right posterior trunk and right hind limb of a 2-year-old male Djungarian hamster weighing 45 g. Histologically, the tumor consisted of bizarre multinucleated giant cells, histiocytic cells, and fibroblastic cells with a storiform pattern, and was considered to be of the storiform-pleomorphic type of MFH. Severe nuclear atypia with prominent nucleoli and many mitotic figures was also observed. Electron microscopy demonstrated fibroblastic cells and histiocytic cells. The fibroblastic cells were spindle-shaped, and sometimes had an invaginated nucleus. The histiocytic cells were polygonal with an oval or kidney-shaped nucleus. The cytoplasm of both cells contained numerous free ribosomes, small amounts of rough endoplasmic reticulum, and round mitochondria. Tumor cells were immunohistochemically positive for vimentin, and were thought to be of undifferentiated mesenchymal cell origin. This is the first report of spontaneous MFH in a hamster.     

Effect of Japanese catfish Silurus asotus lipid intake on the lipid components of plasma and liver in adult mice

SUMMARY: The effect of Japanese catfish Silurus asotus lipid intake on the lipid metabolism of male adult mice was determined by measuring the total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, phospholipid, and fatty acid content of plasma and liver. Mice were fed diets containing 5% lard, 5% Thai catfish oil, 5% Japanese catfish lipids, or 5% sardine lipids for 4 weeks. The arachidonic acid (20 : 4n-6) content was highest in the livers of mice fed the Japanese catfish lipid diet and docosahexaenoic acid (22 : 6n-3) content was higher in livers of the Japanese catfish lipid and sardine lipid diet groups than those of the lard and Thai catfish diet groups. However, no significant differences were observed in the 22 : 6n-3 levels in either plasma or liver between the Japanese catfish lipid and sardine lipid diet groups. Although the Japanese catfish lipid diet contains, by far, the highest cholesterol content (143 mg/100 g), there was no significant difference in the plasma cholesterol levels between the lard, Thai catfish oil and Japanese catfish lipid diet groups. However, the liver cholesterol levels of mice fed the Japanese catfish lipid diet were lower than those of mice fed the Thai catfish oil diet, and were similar to those of animals fed a sardine lipid diet. These results suggest that Japanese catfish lipids are suitable components of the diet for ingestion of 20 : 4n-6 and 22 : 6n-3, and for decreasing the cholesterol content of liver.     

Generation of recombinant bovine interferon tau in the human embryonic kidney cell line and its biological activity

The objective of this study was to generate recombinant bovine interferon tau (rbIFNT) in mammalian hosts. The complementary DNA encoding bovine IFNT2 was cloned for the construction of pRcRSV‐bIFNT2 expression vector. The expression vector was transfected to 293 cells. Transfected cells harboring expression vector were selected with G418. Highly expressing clonal line was adapted to serum‐free suspension culture in a spinner flask. The recombinant protein had 24 kDa apparent molecular mass, suggesting being expressed as a glycoprotein, and was purified from serum‐free conditioned medium by the combination of Diethylaminoethanol Sepharose ion exchange and Sephacryl S‐200 HR gel filtration. A total of 7.3 mg rbIFNT was obtained from 13.5 L conditioned medium. Generated rbIFNT was biologically active in terms of antiviral activity measured by the plaque inhibition assay with Madin‐Darby bovine kidney cells and the vesicular stomatitis virus. The recombinant protein was also utilized for immunization to raise antibodies in the rabbit. The generated antibody was capable of use in both Western blotting and the binding assay. The results in the present study suggest that a certain amount of rbIFNT is raised in mammalian hosts by using conventional plasmid vector and its antibody provides useful tools for studies in the biology of bovine IFNT.