Impacts of acute imipramine treatment on plasma and brain amino acid metabolism in mice given graded levels of dietary chicken protein

Several studies have shown a relationship between depression and animal protein intake. To evaluate whether the difference of dietary chicken protein levels induces an antidepressant‐like effect and potentiates acute antidepressant effects, three levels of dietary chicken protein were used as the representative animal protein with imipramine used as the antidepressant. In addition, the effects of dietary chicken protein on brain metabolism were evaluated. Open field test (OFT) and forced swimming test (FST) were conducted on the 27th and 28th days, respectively. OFT and FST were not influenced by both imipramine and dietary protein levels. However, characteristic effects of imipramine treatment on brain monoamine metabolism were observed in the cerebral cortex and hypothalamus. In addition, dietary protein significantly increased taurine and L‐ornithine levels even though these amino acids were not contained in the diets. In conclusion, the metabolism of several amino acids in the plasma and brain were altered by dietary chicken protein.     

Changes in circulating adiponectin and metabolic hormone concentrations during periparturient and lactation periods in Holstein dairy cows

Although our previous report demonstrated that adiponectin and AdipoR1 gene expressions changed among different lactation stages in the bovine mammary gland, its in vivo kinetics remain unclear in ruminant animals. In this study, we investigated the changes in circulating concentrations of adiponectin, as well as other metabolic hormones and metabolites, (i) during the periparturient period and (ii) among different lactation stages, in Holstein dairy cows. In experiment 1, serum adiponectin concentrations increased after parturition. Serum insulin concentrations were lower in the postpartum than prepartum period, whereas serum growth hormone (GH) concentrations increased in the postpartum period. Serum nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) levels were increased during the postpartum period and were dependent on the parity. In experiment 2, there was no significant difference in plasma adiponectin concentrations among lactational stages. Plasma insulin concentrations tended to be lower in early lactation while plasma GH levels tended to be higher. Plasma NEFA concentrations were significantly lower in mid‐ and late‐lactation stages than non‐lactation stages. These findings indicate that elevation of serum adiponectin might be involved in energy metabolism just around parturition, and might exert its action through regulation of receptor expression levels in target tissues in each lactational stage in Holstein dairy cows.     

Surgical correction of a partial atrioventricular septal defect with a ventricular septal defect in a dog

Echocardiography of a dog with a cardiac murmur revealed an ostium primum septal defect, a ventricular septal defect, and mitral valve malformation with regurgitation. The mitral valve and tricuspid valve were separated and displaced at the same level as the ventricular septum. The mitral valve had a cleft in the septal cusp. Cardiac catheterization and angiocardiography showed a left-to-right shunt and a "goose-neck sign," which indicated an elongated left ventricular outflow tract. The diagnosis of a partial atrioventricular septal defect with ventricular septal defect was made. Surgical correction was successfully performed under extracorpo-real circulation using a cardiopulmonary bypass system.     

Genetic and antigenic analyses of bovine respiratory syncytial virus detected in Japan

Genetic and antigenic analyses of bovine respiratory syncytial virus were conducted on 12 field strains from Tohoku and Hokuriku districts in Japan during from 2002 to 2004. On the phylogenetic tree of the nucleotide sequences of the glycoprotein region, the examined strains fell in the same cluster as the strain isolated in Nebraska and were classified as the subgroup III. The examined strains were subdivided into 2 lineages (A, B). Isoleucine 200 of the epitope domain was replaced by threonine as a feature of the lineage B strains. The examined strains showed the nucleotide sequence homologies of 88.3-93.3% with the known Japanese strains classified as the subgroup II and of 86.1-96.6% with those in the subgroup III. No significant difference was found on the neutralization index between the examined strain and the 52-163-13 phylogenetically similar to the Japanese vaccine one. The results suggest that the subgroup III strains have existed in Japan and that epidemics of the strains could be protected due to the present vaccination.     

Changes of serum alkaline phosphatase activity in dry and lactational cows

Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were measured during dry and lactational periods to investigate the influence of lactation on serum ALP activity in cows. Higher levels of serum ALP activity were seen in lactational periods than in dry periods. The serum activities of bone-specific ALP (BALP), liver ALP (LALP), tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and aspartate aminotransferase also increased in lactational periods. ALP activities in the bone extract and in whey were decreased at similar rates by the addition of lectin. Moreover, since the ALP band in whey was observed to have the same migration in polyacrylamide gel (PAG) disk electrophoresis as that of the bone extract, analysis of ALP isoenzymes by lectin affinity or PAG disk electrophoresis could not distinguish ALP originating from the mammary gland from that of bone. In this study, it was clear that the increased level of serum ALP activity was due to increases of BALP and LALP in lactational periods. However, the extent of the influence of ALP originating from the mammary glands on serum ALP activity was unknown. Judging from changes of BALP and TRAP activities in the serum and the correlation between the both, it was guessed that ALP originating from the mammary glands influenced serum ALP activity.     

Implantation of permanent transvenous endocardial pacemaker in a dog with atrioventricular block

A 10-year old male mongrel dog was presented to the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital with a two-month history of episodic syncope. Twenty-four hr Holter electrocardiographic (ECG) recording revealed frequent episodes of advanced atrioventriculer block with long periods of ventricular asystole. The cause of syncope was determined to be Adams-Stokes syndrome exhibited bradyarrhythmia. After the animal failed to respond to medical therapy, permanent transvenous pacemaker implantation was performed. Postoperative Holter ECG showed 100 beat per min programmed pacemaker rhythm, which indicated successful capture of the artificial pacing. The dog recovered smoothly from the operation and syncopal episodes completely disappeared. Six months after the surgery, no complications were observed and the dog's quality of life has dramatically improved.     

Association between changes in plasma calcium concentration and plasma tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity in periparturient cows

Eight periparturient Holstein Friesian cows were examined for plasma tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity to assess the degree of bone metabolic activity and to evaluate the association between the change in calcium (Ca) concentration and bone metabolism during the periparturient period. Milk fever occurred in 1 of 8 cows just after parturition. Plasma TRAP activities did not markedly change in 5 of 8 cows during the experimental period. The changing rate of Ca between preparturition and just after parturition was under -20% in 3 of 8 cows, and low TRAP activities were observed in 2 of these 3 cows. This study suggests that cows with a low TRAP activity are at risk of developing milk fever in comparison to cows with high TRAP activity. Temporary increases of parathyroid hormone were observed in 7 cows, but not in the cow with milk fever.     

Characterization of Staphylococcus intermedius from pigeons, dogs, foxes, mink, and horses by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

Staphylococcus intermedius from pigeons, dogs, foxes, mink, and horses, was characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to evaluate the use of this typing method for discriminating among strains. SmaI cut the chromosomal DNA into 7-13 fragments ranging from approximately 48 kb to 655 kb, with most of the detectable fragments being smaller than 172 kb. S. intermedius from various animals had a high degree of restriction fragment length polymorphism. Pigeon strains have a similar genotype, despite the difference in their isolation area. Phage typing indicated that the dog, fox, and mink strains belong to the canine I or canine II type. The PFGE method further differentiated the mink strains from the dog and fox strains with regard to three fragments between 256 kb and 570 kb. As such, genomic DNA fingerprinting by PFGE appears to be an effective technique for discriminating S. intermedius strains from various animals. A combination of PFGE typing and phage typing would provide more detailed information than the single method for ecological investigations of S. intermedius.     

Omental herniation through the esophageal hiatus in a cat

A four-year-old male cat was presented with regurgitation. Thoracic radiography and contrast radiogram showed a large oval mass and elevated esophagus. Exploratory thoracotomy showed omental herniation into the posterior mediastium through the esophageal hiatus. Because the mass of the omental herniation was so large, celiotomy through a paracostal incision was combined in order to return the omentum to its normal position. The diameter of the esophageal hiatus was approximately 1 cm but no fibrous adhesion was observed around the hiatus. Continuous 1-0 surgical sutures on the hiatus reduced the diameter of the hiatus. The cat made a successful postoperative recovery without complications.