Enteroendocrine profile of α-transducin immunoreactive cells in the gastrointestinal tract of the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

In vertebrates, chemosensitivity of nutrients occurs through the activation of taste receptors coupled with G-protein subunits, including α-transducin (G_αtran) and α-gustducin (G_αgust). This study was aimed at characterising the cells expressing G_αtran immunoreactivity throughout the mucosa of the sea bass gastrointestinal tract. G_αtran immunoreactive cells were mainly found in the stomach, and a lower number of immunopositive cells were detected in the intestine. Some G_αtran immunoreactive cells in the stomach contained G_αgust immunoreactivity. Gastric G_αtran immunoreactive cells co-expressed ghrelin, obestatin and 5-hydroxytryptamine immunoreactivity. In contrast, G_αtran immunopositive cells did not contain somatostatin, gastrin/cholecystokinin, glucagon-like peptide-1, substance P or calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivity in any investigated segments of the sea bass gastrointestinal tract. Specificity of G_αtran and G_αgust antisera was determined by Western blot analysis, which identified two bands at the theoretical molecular weight of ~45 and ~40 kDa, respectively, in sea bass gut tissue as well as in positive tissue, and by immunoblocking with the respective peptide, which prevented immunostaining. The results of the present study provide a molecular and morphological basis for a role of taste-related molecules in chemosensing in the sea bass gastrointestinal tract.     

Effects of the nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita and of venom from the endoparasitic wasp Pimpla hypochondriaca on survival and food consumption of the pest slug Deroceras reticulatum; implications for novel biocontrol strategies

BACKGROUND: Controlling pests through disruption of biochemical pathways by physiologically active compounds/factors from animals and plants represents an expanding field of research. The authors investigated whether such factors in venom from the wasp Pimpla hypochondriaca (Retzius) can affect the viability and food consumption of the slug Deroceras reticulatum (Müller), and whether they can improve the efficacy of nematode-induced slug mortality. RESULTS: Exposure of slugs to 4 mL of water containing 500, 1000 and 5000 Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita (Schneider) resulted in significant increases in mortality (with hazard ratios of 3.5, 3.9 and 5.8 respectively) and significant reductions in total food consumption and mean food consumption each day for 21 days. Injection of slugs with 4, 8 or 12 microL of P. hypochondriaca venom resulted in significant increases in mortality (with hazard ratios of 3.3, 4.5 and 9.0 respectively) and significant reductions in total food consumption compared with the controls. However, there was no significant effect of venom on the mean food consumption on individual days of the 21 day assay period, although significant reductions occurred for the 8 and 12 microL doses up to day 10. Injecting slugs with 4 microL of venom prior to exposure to 500 nematodes had no synergistic effect on either mortality or food consumption compared with either of the individual treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Pimpla hypochondriaca venom contains factors capable of killing and reducing food consumption by D. reticulatum. The utilization of these factors as components of integrated pest management strategies is discussed.     

In vitro inhibitory effect of trichostatin A on canine grade 3 mast cell tumor

Mast cell tumor (MCT) is one of the most prevalent neoplasms that affect skin and soft tissue in dogs. Because mast cell tumors present a great variety of clinical appearance and behavior, their treatment becomes a challenge. Trichostatin A (TSA), an antifungal antibiotic, has shown inhibitory effects on the proliferation and induction of apoptosis in various types of cancer cells. In order to evaluate the potential of trichostatin A as a therapeutic drug, cells of grade 3 MCT were cultured and treated with concentrations of 1 nM to 400 nM of TSA. MTT assay and trypan blue exclusion assays were performed to estimate cell growth and cell viability, and cell cycle analysis was evaluated. TSA treatment showed a reduction in numbers of viable cells and an increase of cell death by apoptosis. The cell cycle analysis showed an increase of hypodiploid cells and a reduction of G0/G1 and G2/M –phases. According to these results, trichostatin A may be an interesting potential chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of canine MCT.     

Overland water and salt flows in a set of rice paddies

Cultivation of paddy rice in semiarid areas of the world faces problems related to water scarcity. This paper aims at characterizing water use in a set of paddies located in the central Ebro basin of Spain using experimentation and computer simulation. A commercial field with six interconnected paddies, with a total area of 5.31 ha, was instrumented to measure discharge and water quality at the inflow and at the runoff outlet. The soil was classified as a Typic Calcixerept, and was characterized by a mild salinity (2.5 dS m⁻¹) and an infiltration rate of 5.8 mm day⁻¹. The evolution of flow depth at all paddies was recorded. Data from the 2002 rice-growing season was elaborated using a mass balance approach to estimate the infiltration rate and the evolution of discharge between paddies. Seasonal crop evapotranspiration, estimated with the surface renewal method, was 731 mm (5.1 mm day⁻¹), very similar to that of other summer cereals grown in the area, like corn. The irrigation input was 1874 mm, deep percolation was 830 mm and surface runoff was 372 mm. Irrigation efficiency was estimated as 41%. The quality of surface runoff water was slightly degraded due to evapoconcentration and to the contact with the soil. During the period 2001–2003, the electrical conductivity of surface runoff water was 54% higher than that of irrigation water. However, the runoff water was suitable for irrigation. A mechanistic mass balance model of inter-paddy water flow permitted to conclude that improvements in irrigation efficiency cannot be easily obtained in the experimental conditions. Since deep percolation losses more than double surface runoff losses, a reduction in irrigation discharge would not have much room for efficiency improvement. Simulations also showed that rice irrigation performance was not negatively affected by the fluctuating inflow hydrograph. These hydrographs are typical of turnouts located at the tail end of tertiary irrigation ditches. In fact, these are the sites where rice has been historically cultivated in the study area, since local soils are often saline-sodic and can only grow paddy rice taking advantage of the low salinity of the irrigation water. The low infiltration rate characteristic of these saline-sodic soils (an experimental value of 3.2 mm day⁻¹ was obtained) combined with a reduced irrigation discharge resulted in a simulated irrigation efficiency of 60%. Paddy rice irrigation efficiency can attain reasonable values in the local saline-sodic soils, where the infiltration rate is clearly smaller than the average daily rice evapotranspiration.     

Cronología de Osificación Postnatal del Autópodo Torócico en el Gato Siamés (Felis catus L.)*

Chronology of the postnatal ossification of the Thoracic autopodo in the Siam cat (Felis catus L.) A study was done by radiological techniques to show the chronology of ossification of the thoracic autopodo of the Siam cat from birth up to the 25th week of postnatal development. For this experiment we used 40 little cats (19 males and 21 females) belonging to 11 litters subjected to different controls: pattern race, healthy, feeding, grow up and radioactivity. The time of the appearance and evolution of the centres that form the basipodo, metapodo and acropodo of the thoracic limb is determined. Likewise it is analized the phenomenon of fusion during that time to define the main ossification sequence in the carpo. The aspects of the postnatal ossification of the thoracic autopodo in the Siam cat are compared with the literature of differents authors about the common cat.     

The relationship within and between production performance and meat quality characteristics in pigs from three different genetic lines

Ninety-six pigs from Large White (LW), Synthetic Genex 3000 (SG) and Meishan-derived dam line (M) genetic lines, each with a mean live body weight (BW) of 20.7 ± 4.2 kg, were used to investigate the relationship that exist between production performance and meat quality parameters for these three genotypes. The animals were assigned to pens in groups of eight and slaughtered at 109.6 ± 3.78 kg BW. At the end of the trial, the LW pigs had the highest (P < 0.001) average daily feed intake and average daily gain and protein deposition rates, the M pigs showed (P < 0.001) the worst feed conversion, the highest daily backfat gain and the lowest residual energy intake, and the SG pigs had the lowest (P < 0.001) daily fat deposition rate. The longissimus muscle of the M pigs had higher a (P < 0.01) and b (P < 0.05) values than the LW pigs, with the SG pigs in between. The M loins also had the highest (P < 0.01) shear force value, which may be explained by the lower (P < 0.01) soluble collagen content. In spite of their lowest fat deposition rate, the highest (P < 0.001) intramuscular fat content was measured in the SG loins, and the highest (P < 0.01) protein content was found in the M loins. Eight canonical correlations were obtained between performance and meat quality data, with the first three correlation coefficients of 0.87, 0.66 and 0.64 being significant. Performance and meat quality data were related to a certain extent. Pigs with a higher average daily feed intake also had a higher average daily gain, an average protein deposition rate, residual energy intake and gain-to-feed ratio, and lower meat dry matter, intramuscular fat, a values and pigment content. Body water content seems to be higher in fast-growing pigs. Furthermore, fast-growing pigs also have lower intramuscular fat, a values and pigment content. However, there is some indication that the magnitude of these correlations can be breed-dependent. The differences among the studied genotypes are much higher in terms of growth performance than in terms of meat quality traits.     

Anatomy of the equine temporomandibular joint: study by gross dissection, vascular injection and section

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: The minute anatomy of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in horses is poorly documented in the literature. OBJECTIVES: To examine in detail the anatomy of the normal equine TMJ and the relationship of the joint to adjacent structures. METHODS: The anatomy of the TMJ was examined in 12 equidae using dissections, synovial and vascular injections and frozen and plastinated sections. Relevant structures were photographed. RESULTS: Rostral and caudal compartments were identified in the dorsal and ventral synovial pouches of the TMJ. Lateral and caudal ligaments were identified and attachments of the masticatory muscles over the TMJ were documented. Direct relationships between the TMJ and components of the ear were found, and the vascular supply described. CONCLUSIONS: This joint is related to some components of the ear as in man, and has its own peripheral vascular supply. Potential relevance: A knowledge of the detailed anatomy of the equine TMJ is a prerequisite to interpreting the imaging techniques, and will enable improved diagnosis of TMJ pathologies.     

Clinical features, survival times and COX-1 and COX-2 expression in cats with transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder treated with meloxicam

Records of 11 cats with transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder, which had been treated with meloxicam, were reviewed for signalment, duration of clinical signs prior to diagnosis, results of diagnostic imaging, whether or not concurrent surgery was performed and survival. Immunohistochemical expression of cyclo-oxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) was assessed in the tumours of seven cats. Tumour location varied greatly. The cats had a mean age of 13 years. Three cats had a previous diagnosis of feline idiopathic cystitis of up to 2008 days duration. Ten of the cats showed clinical improvement (reduction of haematuria and/or dysuria), with a mean survival time (MST) of 311 days (range 10-1064); 1-year survival of 50%. All seven bladders assessed for COX staining were COX-1 positive and five were COX-2 positive. The MST for the COX-2-positive cats was 123 days, the MST for the COX-2-negative cases was 375 days.     

Nasopharyngeal disease in cats: 1. Diagnostic investigation

PRACTICAL RELEVANCE: Nasal discharge, sneezing and upper respiratory noise are frequent presenting signs in feline practice. CLINICAL CHALLENGES: The small nasal cavity of the cat can make visualisation of lesions challenging. In addition, investigations may identify only secondary complications of a disease process, rather than the initial aetiological agent. GLOBAL IMPORTANCE: Nasopharyngeal disease is a worldwide problem. However, fungal disease shows regional variations in prevalence. AUDIENCE: This review, aimed at general practitioners as well as those undertaking more specialist investigations in feline respiratory disease, aims to provide practical guidance on the approach necessary to obtain a diagnosis in cats with nasopharyngeal disease. It should also help to explain why a specific diagnosis may not always be possible. EQUIPMENT: While access to endoscopy and computed tomography is advantageous, extensive information can be gained from equipment readily available in all practices. EVIDENCE BASE: The information presented in this article is based on peer-reviewed publications and the clinical experience of the authors.