Measurement of plasma chromogranin A concentrations for assessment of stress responses in dogs with insulin-induced hypoglycemia

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether cross-reactivity exists between canine chromogranin A (CgA) and anti-human CgA antibody and investigate the usefulness of plasma CgA concentration measurements as an index of acute stress responses in dogs. ANIMALS: 12 healthy Beagles. PROCEDURE: Canine CgA was extracted and purified from canine adrenal glands of cadaver dogs for studying cross-reactivity with anti-human CgA antibody. Western blotting with anti-human CgA antibody was performed. Blood samples were collected from dogs at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 120, and 180 minutes after IV administration of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution or insulin. Canine plasma CgA concentrations were determined by use of a CgA ELISA kit with rabbit antiserum against the carboxy-terminal fragment of human CgA. Plasma cortisol and catecholamine (ie, norepinephrine and epinephrine) concentrations were measured by use of an ELISA and a high-performance liquid chromatography method, respectively. RESULTS: Purified canine CgA was specifically detected by use of western blot analysis and an ELISA with anti-human CgA antibody. An increase in plasma CgA concentrations was observed in insulin-induced hypoglycemic dogs. Changes in plasma CgA concentration were correlated with changes in plasma cortisol or catecholamine concentrations of hypoglycemic dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Use of the CgA ELISA kit for determination of human plasma CgA concentrations is applicable to the measurement of canine plasma CgA concentrations. Canine plasma CgA concentrations, along with measurements of plasma cortisol and catecholamine concentrations, correctly reflect insulin-induced hypoglycemic stressed conditions in dogs. Measurement of canine plasma CgA concentrations may provide a useful index for evaluation of an acute stress response.     

Changes in the ovary and the peripheral concentrations of sex hormones after the aspiration of follicular fluid from the spontaneous follicular cysts of dairy cows

The aim of the present study was to clarify the ovarian and hormonal dynamics after the aspiration of follicular fluid in cows with follicular cysts. Follicular fluid was aspirated from the follicular cysts and follicles that were fated to become cystic follicles and other coexisting normal follicles, respectively, in lactating cows (n = 3). After the aspiration procedure, new follicles developed and reached a diameter of 25 mm without ovulation within 13–19 days. The plasma concentrations of inhibin decreased and follicle-stimulating hormone increased rapidly after the aspiration procedure, and subsequently increased and decreased, respectively, as a new follicle grew. No luteal structures developed after the aspiration procedure, and the animals’ plasma progesterone levels remained low. The present study indicates that the cystic follicles are never luteinized by the aspiration of follicular fluid, and consequently, new follicular cysts are observed to repeatedly develop.     

Toward the development of a weather index insurance for rice farmers in the coastal region of Myanmar

Paddy and Water Environment - Climate change is expected to exacerbate damage to agricultural production from natural disasters. Examination of measures to adapt to the damage represents an urgent...     

Progesterone Profiles in the Caudal Vena Cava and Jugular Vein in Response to Pulsatile Luteinizing Hormone Stimulation Induced by GnRH Treatment During the Mid-luteal Phase in Lactating Dairy Cows

The aim of this study was to examine whether increased frequency of luteinizing hormone (LH) pulses influences luteal progesterone (P₄) secretion by measuring progesterone concentrations at the secreted (caudal vena cava) and circulating levels (jugular vein) in lactating dairy cows. Cows received six intravenous administrations of 2.5 μg of GnRH (gonadorelin acetate, n=4) or 2 ml saline (n=3) at 1-h intervals on 12.4 ± 0.4 (mean ± SE) days after ovulation. Blood samples were collected from the caudal vena cava and jugular vein every 12 min for 12 h (6 h before and after treatment). During the 6 h after treatment, frequency of LH pulses (5.3 ± 0.3 and 3.0 ± 0.0 pulses/6 h) and mean LH concentration (0.50 ± 0.06 and 0.38 ± 0.05 ng/ml) were greater (P<0.05) in GnRH-treated cows than in saline-treated cows. Mean P₄ concentration and amplitude of P₄ pulses in the caudal vena cava during the 6 h after treatment were greater (P<0.05) in GnRH-treated cows than in saline-treated cows, but the frequency of P₄ pulses was not different between the groups. Mean P₄ concentration in the jugular vein during the 6 h after treatment was also higher (P<0.05) in GnRH-treated cows than in saline-treated cows (7.0 ± 1.3 and 5.4 ± 0.9 ng/ml). These results indicate that the increased frequency of LH pulses stimulates progesterone secretion from the functional corpus luteum and brings about higher P₄ concentrations in the circulating blood in lactating dairy cows.     

Response of Biochemical Markers of Bone Metabolism to Exercise Intensity in Thoroughbred Horses

We studied the response of biochemical markers of bone metabolism to exercise intensity in horses. Four horses were walked on a mechanical walker for one week (pre-exercise). Then they performed low-speed exercise on a high-speed treadmill in the first week and medium-speed exercise in the second week and high-speed exercise in the third week of training. We measured two indices of bone resorption, serum hydroxyproline concentration and the urinary deoxypyridinoline/creatinine ratio, and serum osteocalcin (OC) concentration as an index of bone formation. Both indices of bone resorption gradually decreased during the experiment. Serum OC concentration did not change in the first week but was significantly lower in the second and the third weeks compared to in the pre-exercise period and in the first week. These results suggest that the low-speed exercise decreased bone resorption but did not affect bone formation, which possibly results in increasing bone mineral content and strengthening of bones. The high-speed exercise decreased bone formation and bone resorption, i.e., bone turnover was suppressed. The low-speed exercise may be preferable for increasing bone mineral content.     

Black Spot of Peach Caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alternaria alternata</Emphasis> (Fr.) Keissler

A new disease of peach (Prunus persica Batsch var. vulgaris Maxim.), causing brown, sunken lesions and brownish to blackish brown spots with cracks on peach fruits, was found in Okayama prefecture, Japan, in 1995. The disease was observed not only on peach fruits but also on twigs and leaves. An Alternaria sp. was consistently isolated from these diseased fruits, twigs and leaves. The isolates were pathogenic to peach fruits and leaves. Based on the morphological characteristics, the causal fungus was identified as Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler. After cross-inoculation with isolates from peach, Japanese pear and apple, the isolates were found to be pathogenic only to their original host. This is the first report on a peach disease caused by a host-specific A. alternata; therefore, the common name of black spot (`Kokuhanbyo' in Japanese) was proposed. Received 25 June 1999/ Accepted in revised form 12 October 1999     

Impact of nutrient enrichment in a waterchestnut ecosystem at Takahama-iri Bay of Lake Kasumigaura,Japan

The waterchestnut ecosystem of Lake Kasumigaura is at the climax stage of eutrophication. Organic debris in the ecosystem showed highly dynamic fluctuations throughout the year. This was chiefly attributed to high viable fractions of organic matter in the hypereutrophic water. The stability of steady-state equilibrium of organic debris was found to be maintained even in such a dynamic ecosystem, likely due to the precedence of heterotrophic processes over autotrophic processes. Using a mathematical model approximated by in situ data, the turnover time of organic solutes was analyzed to be between four and six months through these active heterotrophic processes.     

Elimination of the major allergen tropomyosin from shrimp muscle by boiling treatment

Fisheries Science - Tropomyosin (TM) is the major allergen found in invertebrates, including shrimp. To reduce the allergenicity of shrimp muscle, attempts were made to eliminate TM from the muscle...     

Effects of duration of exposure to ethylene on dormancy release in freesia corms

The exposure of freesia corms to ethylene (C₂H₄) at ca. 10 μl/l air for only 5 h was sufficient to promote sprouting, either under a closed system in which corms were treated in a sealed space of 3–10 1 or under a flow system in which corms were exposed to a continuous flow of air containing C₂H₄. Under the closed system, little change in corm response to C₂H₄ was found with increasing duration of exposure from 5 to 48 h, and the C0₂ concentration reached nearly 4% after 48 h. On the other hand, under the flow system, in which CO₂ did not accumulate above 0.1%, the promotive effect of C₂H₄ was diminished by extended exposure from 5 to 48 h.Repeated treatment with C₂H₄ for 23 h daily on 4 successive days resulted in the lowering of the promotive effect as compared with a single treatment, but repeated application of C₂H₄ for 5 h daily showed the same effect as a single application and gave a high sprouting rate similar to smoke treatment, independent of ambient temperature ranging from 25 to 35° C.Corms exposed to C₂H₄ for 5 h daily, or to smoke for 4 days, exhibited a better chilling response and advanced flowering.