Inflammatory cytokines induce a reduction in E-cadherin expression and morphological changes in MDCK cells

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a fundamental phenomenon in organisms that occurs during gastrulation, wound healing, and cancer metastasis. Various cytokines induce EMT processes through complex mechanisms. Inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), induce EMT in human cell lines. However, whether inflammatory cytokines can affect EMT processes in canine cell lines remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), TNF-α, and IL-6 in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. We found that the localization of E-cadherin, a cell adhesion molecule, was shifted and that its expression was decreased. We also observed morphological changes in MDCK cells under persistent stimulation of inflammatory cytokines. Morphological changes in cells may occur during late stages of EMT processes; inflammatory cytokines may be important in these changes.     

Sedative effects of medetomidine in pigs.

Sedative effects of medetomidine, a potent selective and specific alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist, were evaluated in pigs using 5 different doses (30, 50, 80, 100 and 150 micrograms/kg of body weight) and compared with those of xylazine (2 mg/kg). Atropine (25 micrograms/kg) was mixed with both drugs to prevent severe bradycardia. All drugs were administered intramuscularly. Medetomidine at a dosage of 30 micrograms/kg produced more potent sedation than xylazine. The depth of sedation induced by medetomidine was dose dependent within the range from 30 to 80 micrograms/kg. At 100 or 150 micrograms/kg, the depth of sedation was mostly the similar level to that at 80 micrograms/kg but the duration was prolonged. The degree of muscle relaxation produced by medetomidine also seemed to be dose dependent from 30 to 80 micrograms/kg and was stronger than that produced by xylazine. An increase in the duration of muscle relaxation was dose dependent up to 150 micrograms/kg. No analgesic effect was produced by xylazine, however moderate analgesia was obtained by medetomidine. There were no marked changes in heart rate and respiratory rate during the observation period in pigs of any groups, however mild hypothermia after the administration of both drugs was observed. From these results, medetomidine has a significant and dose-dependent sedative effects which are much more potent than that of xylazine, and a combination of 80 micrograms/kg of medetomidine and 25 micrograms/kg of atropine is suitable for sedation with lateral recumbency and moderate muscle relaxation without notable side effects in pigs.     

Isolation of Getah virus from dead fetuses extracted from a naturally infected sow in Japan.

Three viruses producing a cytopathic effect in cell culture were isolated from dead fetuses extracted from a naturally infected sow, and were found to be serologically identical by neutralization tests. One of the viruses was cloned and named the Sakura strain. The Sakura strain was identified as Getah virus by cross-neutralization tests.     

Enhancing effect of butorphanol on medetomidine-induced sedation in pigs.

Enhancing effect of an opiate agonist-antagonist butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg) on sedation induced by medetomidine (80 micrograms/kg) was evaluated in pigs. Butorphanol significantly enhanced the depth of medetomidine-induced sedation and prolonged the duration of that assessed by posture score and spontaneous movement of pigs. The combination of medetomidine and butorphanol produced excellent muscle relaxation and moderate surface analgesia which was enough for procedures with mild pain in pigs.     

Effects of alkyl groups attached to the carbamoyl nitrogen atom of an N-arylcarbamoylpyrazoline on insecticidal activity

N-Alkylated analogs (C₁–C₃) of an N-arylcarbamoylpyrazoline were prepared. The introduction of these alkyl groups completely changed the crystal structure in respect of the torsion angle of the amide C–N bond of the non-alkyl compound. The introduction of methyl and ethyl groups slightly, and that of an isopropyl group markedly, decreased insecticidal activity against American cockroaches and house flies. Conformational analyses of the compounds suggested that the insecticidally active conformer of this class of compounds is in the anti-position regarding the N′–C(=O) and N-aryl bonds in which the non-alkyl compound is energetically the most stable. The most stable conformers of the alkylated compounds are in the syn-position, and these compounds would interact with target sites in the less stable anti-form. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of dopamine, dobutamine, amrinone and milrinone on regional blood flow in isoflurane anesthetized dogs

The effects of cyclic AMP increasing cardiotonics (dopamine, dobutamine, amrinone and milrinone) on the blood flow in most organs were compared using colored microsphere technique in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs. Dopamine increased blood flow in ventricular myocardium. Furthermore dopamine induced the increase in blood flow in intestine and kidney at low to middle dose, but not at high dose. Dobutamine induced the highest increase in blood flow in ventricular myocardium and skeletal muscle among the drugs evaluated at middle and high doses. Amrinone and milrinone increased blood flow in ventricular myocardium almost same with catecholamines, and milrinone decreased vascular resistance moderately in most other organs. Milrinone might be more useful than catecholamines for improvement of congestive heart failure or peripheral circulatory failure accompanied with exceeded vasoconstriction.     

Time-dependent central compensatory mechanisms of finger dexterity after spinal cord injury

Transection of the direct cortico-motoneuronal pathway at the mid-cervical segment of the spinal cord in the macaque monkey results in a transient impairment of finger movements. Finger dexterity recovers within a few months. Combined brain imaging and reversible pharmacological inactivation of motor cortical regions suggest that the recovery involves the bilateral primary motor cortex during the early recovery stage and more extensive regions of the contralesional primary motor cortex and bilateral premotor cortex during the late recovery stage. These changes in the activation pattern of frontal motor-related areas represent an adaptive strategy for functional compensation after spinal cord injury.     

Effects of fibroblasts derived from the olfactory bulb and nasal olfactory mucosa on proliferation of olfactory ensheathing cells harvested from the olfactory bulb

Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) have been reported to promote axonal regeneration when transplanted to rodent spinal cord injury models. OECs are available from the olfactory bulb (OB) and olfactory mucosa (OM). Although harvesting OECs from the OM is less traumatic, OECs originating from the OM are less proliferative than those from the OB (OB-OECs). One possible reason for this difference is coexisting fibroblasts. Here, we examined the effect of coculturing either fibroblasts from the OB (OB-Fibs) or fibroblasts from the OM (OM-Fibs) on the proliferation of OB-OECs. Proliferation of OB-OECs was significantly higher in 5:5 coculture with OB-Fibs and in 7:3 and 5:5 cocultures with OM-Fibs than without fibroblasts. These results indicated that coculture with both OB-Fibs and OM-Fibs promoted the proliferation of OB-OECs.     

Comparison of feasibility and safety of epidural catheterization between cranial and caudal lumbar vertebral segments in dogs

To compare the technical difficulty and safety of epidural catheterization between cranial and caudal lumbar region, thirteen dogs were randomly assigned to a cranial lumbar group (group CraL, n=6) or a caudal lumbar group (group CauL, n=6) depending on different epidural sites, and one dog was used as a negative control without catheterization. After general anesthesia, an epidural catheter was advanced 10 cm cranially from the interspace of L1-L2 in group CraL or from lumbosacral space in group CauL. Dogs were euthanized and catheter position and tip location were confirmed by laminectomy. Spinal cord samples were examined by macro- and microscopic observations. Success rate, time taken for epidural space confirmation and catheter insertion were compared, and overall technical difficulty was evaluated subjectively. Epidural catheter was inserted successfully in all dogs. Time needed from needle skin puncture to catheter placement and saline injection was 226 ± 63 and 229 ± 26 sec in groups CraL and CauL without significant differences. Three dogs in group CraL suffered subcutaneous blood, but no spinal cord injuries were found. Subjective evaluation score of the overall technical difficulty was slightly but significantly higher in group CraL than in group CauL (P=0.009). Epidural catheterization in cranial lumbar region could be performed as feasible and safe as that at the caudal lumbar vertebral region in medium or large dogs.     

Above- and belowground carbon stocks of two organic,agroforestry-based oil palm production systems in eastern Amazonia

Ecosystem-level assessments of carbon (C) stocks of agroforestry systems are scarce. We quantified the ecosystem-level C stocks of one agroforestry-based oil palm production system (AFS_P) and one agroforestry-based oil palm and cacao production system (AFS_P+C) in eastern Amazonia. We quantified the stocks of C in four pools: aboveground live biomass, litter, roots, and soil. We evaluated the distribution of litter, roots, and soil C stocks in the oil palm management zones and in the area planted with cacao and other agroforestry species. The ecosystem-C stock was higher in AFS_P+C (116.7 ± 1.5 Mg C ha^?1) than in AFS_P (99.1 ± 3.1 Mg C ha^?1). The total litter-C stock was higher in AFS_P+C (3.27 ± 0.01 Mg C ha^?1) than in AFS_P (2.26 ± 0.06 Mg C ha^?1). Total root and soil C stocks (0–30 cm) did not differ between agroforestry systems. Ecosystem-C stocks varied between agroforestry systems due to differences in both aboveground and belowground stocks. In general, the belowground-C stocks varied spatially in response to the management in the oil palm and non-oil palm strips; these results have important implications for the monitoring of ecosystem-level C dynamics and the refinement of soil management.