NASAL SALT EXCRETION AND THE POSSIBLE FUNCTION OF THE CLOACA IN WATER CONSERVATION

Secretion of concentrated salt solutions from the nasal region was observed in several terrestrial birds and reptiles. In the secreted fluid potassium usually exceeded sodium concentrations, with chloride and bicarbonate as the major anions. It is suggested that the extrarenal excretion of salts is related to the reabsorption of water in the cloaca, that it is necessary for the production of urine with a particularly low water content, and perhaps was prerequisite for the evolution of efficient cloacal water conservation.     

Effect of capsaicin on cholecystokinin and neuropeptide Y expressions in the brain of high-fat diet fed rats

Capsaicin, one of the pungent principles of hot pepper, has been reported to cause a cessation of increases in body weight and fat gain induced by high-fat feeding. Especially, in body weight and feeding control, cholecystokinin (CCK) has been well known as a satiety signal and neuropeptide Y (NPY) has been described as one of the most potent orexigenic signals. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of capsaicin on CCK- and NPY- immunoreactivities (IR) in the brain of high-fat fed rats. The animals were divided into normal-fat diet (NF), high-fat diet (HF) and high-fat diet containing capsaicin (HF-CAP) groups. Mean body weight gain (MBWG) of HF group was higher than that of NF group. However, in HF-CAP group, MBWG was lower than that of HF group. CCK-IR in suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), paraventricular nucleus (PVN), median eminence (ME), arcuate nucleus (ARC) and amygdala was not prominent in all the groups. In cerebral cortex, CCK-IR was more reduced in HF-CAP group than in the other groups. In the HF-CAP group, NPY-IR in the hypothalamic nuclei, amygdala and cerebral cortex was more poorly found than in the NF and HF groups. It is concluded that (1) NPY-IR may react more sensitively on capsaicin than CCK-IR, (2) no rapid increase of body weight in capsaicin treated rats may result from the diminished food intake through the low expression of NPY in hypothalamus in HF-CAP group.     

Dynamic computed tomography evaluation of the nasopharynx in normal Beagle dogs

Pharyngeal collapsibility has been used as diagnostic criteria in dogs, whereas the normal range and quantitative method have not been studied. Dynamic and static computed tomography (CT) was performed in 23 normal Beagle dogs to quantify the nasopharyngeal collapsibility at different locations. Using dynamic CT, maximum and minimum nasopharyngeal cross-sectional areas (CSAs) were measured at the level of the cranial end of the soft palate, pterygoid hamulus, foramen lacerum, bony labyrinth, and caudal end of the soft palate. The ratio of all maximum and minimum CSA to nasopharyngeal CSA at the level of the caudal hard palate (rCSAmax and rCSAmin) and the nasopharyngeal collapsibility were calculated. The differences of rCSAmax, rCSAmin, and nasopharyngeal collapsibility were analyzed at various locations. The nasopharyngeal collapsibility at the level of foramen lacerum, bony labyrinth, and caudal end of soft palate were higher than the others. At the level of the caudal end of the soft palate, rCSAmin was lower than that of the foramen lacerum and bony labyrinth, whereas rCSAmax at foramen lacerum was higher than that of the caudal end of the soft palate. These results indicated that the nasopharynx at the level of foramen lacerum and caudal end of the soft palate were considered notable locations for evaluating collapsibility. Dynamic CT could show the nasopharyngeal dynamic profile and will be an adequate modality for evaluating nasopharynx. Our results will be helpful for further comparative studies in dogs with and without nasopharyngeal collapse.     

Evidence of Toxoplasma gondii Exposure among Horses in Korea

The present study investigated the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) antibodies by ELISA in horses reared in Korea. Serum samples were collected from 2009 through 2013 from 816 horses reared in Korea. Analysis was performed using a commercial toxoplasmosis ELISA kit to detect anti-T. gondii antibodies. Overall, 24 out of 816 horses (2.9%) were seropositive for T. gondii. The result was analyzed by age, gender, breed and region. Significant differences were observed according to breed and region (P<0.05). This is the first nationwide serological investigation of T. gondii in horses reared in Korea. The study results reveal that T. gondii occurs nationwide in Korean horses.