Cytotoxicity for porcine islet cells by complement of six animal species

Complement-mediated cytotoxicity for porcine islet cells (PICs) was evaluated using sera of six animal species. Then soluble complement receptor type-1 (sCR1) as an anti-complement agent was added to those sera, and the changes in 50% hemolytic unit of complement serum (CH50) and cytotoxic effect of those sera on PICs were examined. All the sera except for that of pig showed cytotoxicity. However, the extent of toxicity was considerably different between species. In the rat and human serum, sCR1 significantly reduced CH50 and cytotoxicity, however in the dog serum, sCR1 had no suppressive effects. These results may suggest that complement contribute to humoral cytotoxicity for PICs as a main factor, and the compatibility of complement with PICs differs between animal species.     

Percutaneous ultrasound-guided over-the-wire catheterization of the portal and hepatic vessels in cattle

A new method for catheterization of the portal and hepatic veins in cattle by means of the over-the-wire system was investigated to maintain more reliable long-term patency of catheters. Four cattle were used to evaluate the success rate, patency and safety of the procedure. The catheters, coated by urokinase were patent as long as they were in situ. In addition, the introducer was useful to prevent the catheter from being broken. No complications developed during the10 days after the procedure. Two cows were then euthanized. Post mortem findings were minimal. The results of the study reported here are promising, the benefits are significant and there is no apparent disadvantage to its use.     

Histochemical detection of glycoconjugates in the male reproductive system of the horse

Lectins are glycoproteins of plant and animal origin that have the ability to bind specific carbohydrate residues of cell glycoconjugates, particularly in terminal positions. In this study, the binding of lectins, Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), soybean agglutinin (SBA), Bandeiraea simplicifolia BS-1 (isolectin B4), Triticum vulgaris (WGA), Arachis hypogaea (PNA), and Ulex europaeus (UEA-I), was studied in the reproductive systems of male thoroughbred horses.DBA was detected in the stereocilia of the caput and corpus epididymis, and in the vas deferens. It was weakly detected in connective tissue of the corpus epididymis. Strong SBA staining was seen in epithelial cells in the testis, stereocilia of the corpus and cauda epididymis, and in the vas deferens. There were intense positive reactions for isolectin B4 in interstitial cells in all tissue and serosa of the vas deferens. PNA staining was seen only in stereocilia in the caput and corpus epididymis, and in the vas deferens. Strong WGA staining was seen throughout the testis, except in Sertoli cells, stereocilia, and connective tissue. UEA-I was detected in secondary spermatids, stereocilia, and epithelial cells of the cauda epididymis. These results show that degenerating cells in the testis, epididymal tubules, and vas deferens have differential affinities for lectins, and suggest that lectins play a role in the reproductive system of the horse. The heterogeneity of the lectin staining pattern in the reproductive tubules of adult horses suggests that the carbohydrate composition of each cell type is region specific.     

Pax-7 immunoreactivity in the post-natal chicken central nervous system

In this immunocytochemical study on the constitutive expression of Pax-7 protein in the postnatal chicken brain, Pax-7 showed region and cell type specific expression. In the optic tectum, only cells in grey matter showed positive immunoreactivities (IRs), whereas those in the white matters did not show any IRs. In thalamic nuclei and several pontine nuclei, we also localized Pax-7 positive IRs. On the contrary, in the cerebellum, Pax-7 was mainly localized within the Bergmann glia, whereas Purkinje cells did not show any IRs. In double immunolabelling studies, most of the Pax-7 IRs did not originate from neuroglial cells such as oligodendrocytes, microglia or astrocytes, but from neurons, with the exception of Bergmann glia in the cerebellum. The presence of Pax-7 IRs in the adult chicken brain could suggest that Pax-7 might play a role in maintaining normal physiological function in some postnatal chicken brain cells.     

Polymorphisms and the antiviral property of porcine Mx1 protein

We determined the cDNA sequences of the type I interferon-inducible proteins, pig Mx1 from PK(15) and LLC-PK1 cells, and compared the antiviral activities of both Mx proteins, including Mx1 polymorphisms against vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). Mx1 cDNA derived from PK(15) cells had an 11 bp-deletion in the 3' end of the coding region, and was estimated to encode 8 amino acid substitutions and a 23 amino acid extension compared to that from LLC-PK1 cells. VSV replication was inhibited in the 3T3 cells expressing Mx1 mRNA after the cDNA was transfected. However, the efficiency of this inhibition was not different between the cells expressing Mx1 mRNA from both PK and LLC. These results indicate that pig Mx1 protein confers resistance to VSV.     

Nutritional evaluation of sunflower seed and products derived from them. Effect of oil extraction

1. Apparent MEn and oil digestibility of hulled sunflower seed (SFS) and the products derived from the oil extraction process: press extracted SFS (PESFS), sunflower seed meal (SFSM), and press and solvent oils (PO and SO) were determined with 198 cockerels. Recombined products (mix of meal and oil) were also evaluated to study the effect of the 2 consecutive oil extraction steps. Each foodstuff was included in a basal diet, according to the proportions resulting from processing, at 100, 200, and 300 g SFS/kg. 2. Dietary energy value and digestible fat content were linearly related to rate of inclusion of test ingredients. Extrapolation values for AMEn (MJ/kg DM) were: SFS, 16.20; PESFS, 9.46; SFSM, 7.62. A decreasing quadratic trend was also found in the AMEn of PESFS, with interpolation values ranging from 11.77 to 9.33 MJ/kg DM between 70 and 210 g/kg DM of inclusion. No differences were observed between PO and SO. The AMEn of of sunflower oil, calculated from its digestibility, was 33.70 MJ/kg DM. 3. The oil extraction process affected the nutritional value of sunflower products. Recombined materials showed greater values than original foodstuffs: R-SFS, 17.47; R-PESFS, 11.49 MJ/kg DM. The increase in oil digestibility (from 0.814 to 0.862 g/kg DM in SFS; from 0.778 to 0.892 in PESFS) accounted for most of the increase observed in AMEn values. 4. As the form in which oil is incorporated in diets (released or within SFS or PESFS) affects the utilisation of sunflower products, their nutritional value is less than maximal and should not be calculated from their ingredients. Solvent oil seems to be the less available fraction of sunflower oil within SFS as the effect of the 2nd extraction proved to be greater than that of the previous press extraction.     

Disseminated transmissible venereal tumor in a dog.

Transmissible venereal tumor (TVT) is a well-documented transplantable tumor in dogs, with no breed or sex predilection and a low metastatic rate. In this report, a 2-year-old intact female Mastiff that had numerous, rapidly growing masses throughout the subcutis mainly at the dorsal body plane, the caudal half of the ventral abdomen, and around the vulva was euthanized due to poor prognosis. Neoplastic nodules similar to those seen in the subcutis were also noted in the lung, anterior mediastinum, liver, spleen, kidney, and superficial and deep lymph nodes in both abdominal and thoracic cavities. The neoplastic nodules from the subcutis as well as metastatic foci revealed similar cytologic and histologic features, which were consistent with canine TVT. By immunohistochemical staining, the neoplastic cells were positive for lysozyme and vimentin but were negative for cytokeratin, desmin, CD3, and CD79a. The diagnosis of the TVT was further supported by the identification and analysis of long interspersed nuclear elements (LINE) from paraffin-embedded tumor tissue. This case is a rare example of TVT with multiorgan metastasis. In this case, the polymerase chain reaction technique was useful in differential diagnosis of canine round cell tumors because this technique can be applied in retrospective as well as future study.     

The effects of increasing the level of dietary wormwood (Artemisia montana Pampan) on intake, digestibility, N balance and ruminal fermentation characteristics in sheep

This study investigated the effect of replacing concentrates with dry wormwood (Artemisia montana) on the performance of sheep. Four Corriedale × Polwarth sheep (41.3 ± 1.3 kg) were fed diets with an 8 : 2 straw to supplement ratio, for four, consecutive 16 d periods (10 d adaptation, 6 d collection) in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Supplements were made by substituting 0 (Control), 30 (LW), 50 (MW) or 100 (HW) g/kg DM of concentrate (15.6% CP, 72.1% of TDN) with dried, ground wormwood. Ruminal pH, NH₃–N and volatile fatty acids (VFA) were measured on d 6 of collection. Ether extract (EE) intake was linearly decreased (P < 0.001) with increasing wormwood inclusion, otherwise intake was unaffected. The Control diet had lower (P < 0.05) DM and CP digestibility than LW and MW diets and lower EE digestibility than the LW diet. Retained N (P < 0.05) and microbial N yield (P < 0.01) linearly increased with dietary wormwood level, but efficiency of microbial N synthesis linearly decreased (P < 0.001). Mean concentrations of rumen NH₃–N, total VFA and propionic acid were quadratically increased (P < 0.05) by increasing wormwood inclusion. Replacing concentrates with 30–50 g/kg DM of wormwood increased N retention, microbial N yield and EE digestibility.