Pathological features of olfactory neuroblastoma in an axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum)

A one-year-old, female Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) had a rough-surfaced, polypoid, pink tumor mass of approximately 10 mm in diameter in the oral cavity. Histologically, the tumor extended from the ethmoturbinate region and into the oral cavity and had replaced some of the maxillary bone tissue. The tumor mass was composed of a lobular architecture of small round-shaped tumor cells with occasional Flexner-Wintersteiner-like rosette formation. There were no metastatic lesions in the other organs. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were partly positive for several neural markers (class III beta-tubulin, S-100 protein, and doublecortin) and intensely positive for an epithelial marker (cytokeratin AE1/AE3). These results suggest that the present tumor originated from neuroectodermal tissue. Considering the location and histological and immunohistochemical features of the tumor, a diagnosis of olfactory neuroblastoma was made.     

Monoclonal antibodies preventing invasion of Neospora caninum tachyzoites into host cells

Twelve monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against Neospora caninum tachyzoites were produced to specify the antigens related to the invasion of tachyzoites into host cells. In the assay to evaluate the inhibition activity, all these MAbs prevented the cultured Vero cells from the invading by the tachyzoites. These MAbs recognized approximately a 73 kDa antigen in Western blot analysis. Immunofluorescence assay and immune electron microscopy revealed that this 73 kDa antigen is a part of the surface antigens of N. caninum tachyzoite, and that the tachyzoite antigen identified plays an important role for invasion of host cells.     

Two cases of feline malignant craniopharyngioma

Tumors at the cranial base in 2 cats (a 9 1/2-year-old, castrated male Chinchilla and a 7-year-old, castrated male American Shorthair) were diagnosed as malignant craniopharyngioma. The tumor lesion was histopathologically divided into four parts: 1) a small acinus part, in which relatively large cells with a pale cytoplasm composed small acini; 2) a duct part, in which small cuboidal cells composed ducts; 3) a cyst part, in which there were large cysts lined with flat cells; and 4) a pavement part, in which large multi-angular-shaped cells proliferated in a pavement pattern. The epithelial cells of some parts were positive for keratin by immunohistochemistry. Histopathologic findings of the present feline cases were identical to those of malignant craniopharyngioma in other animal species.     

Molecular clonings and sequences of Djungarian (Phodopus sungorus) and Chinese (Cricetulus griseus) hamster interferon-gammas

Djungarian (Phodopus sungorus) and Chinese (Cricetulus griseus) hamster IFN-gamma genes were cloned and sequenced. The Djungarian and Chinese hamster genes were both 525bp nucleotides, resulting in 174 amino acids in full length with a predicted molecular weight (MW) of 19,560 dal and 19,775 dal, respectively. The first 23 amino terminal amino acids consisted of a hydrophobic signal sequence when cleavaged, which would result in a mature 151 amino acid polypeptide with a predicted MW of 17,115 dal in the Djungarian hamster IFN-gamma and 17,255 dal in the Chinese hamster one.     

The effects of feeding a low level of distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) to yearling Holstein steers

We examined the effects of feeding a low percentage of distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) to yearling Holstein beef steers during the late stage of the fattening period on growth performance and carcass quality. Fifteen animals were fed a total mixed ration (TMR) feed plus a DDGS supplement equal to 10% of the total feed weight for 3 months (DDGS group). The other 15 animals were fed TMR with no DDGS (Control group). The vitamin E (VE) levels in the blood from the DDGS group showed a tendency to be higher in the DDGS group (P = 0.056). Blood urea nitrogen levels in the DDGS group were also higher (P < 0.05). The Beef Color Standard (BCS) number for the DDGS group was also higher than that for the Control group (P < 0.05). Forty‐eight hours after cutting, the yellowness (b*) value for Longissimus muscle in the DDGS group was significantly higher (P < 0.05) and the redness (a*) value in the DDGS group tended to be higher than that in the Control group (P = 0.05). The study results show a potential for adding value to yearling beef by improving the ability to maintain meat color with an increase in VE content.     

Prevalence of autoantibody in cerebrospinal fluids from dogs with various CNS diseases

To examine the prevalence of autoantibody in canine cerebrospinal fluids (CSFs), CSFs were collected from 14 healthy controls and 88 clinical cases with various diseases in the central nervous system (CNS), and were analyzed by an indirect fluorescence antibody test on frozen sections of the cerebrum from normal Beagle dogs. An anti-astrocyte autoantibody was detected in 31 clinical cases with titers ranging from 1:1 to >/=1:100. All tested cases with necrotizing meningoencephalitis (NME: n=22) and granulomatous meningoencephalitis (GME: n=3) possessed the anti-astrocyte autoantibody, while the autoantibody was negative in most cases with other inflammatory CNS diseases. The autoantibody was also detected in 4 of 12 cases with brain tumors. Hence, examination of the autoantibody in the canine CFS would be significant for diagnosing NME and/or GME, as well as for understanding peritumoral events in cases with brain tumors.     

Effects of a synthetic progestogen, altrenogest, on oestrus synchronisation and fertility in miniature pigs

Groups of six, six and eight miniature gilts, respectively, received 5, 10 or 15 mg/day of altrenogest for 18 days, and the numbers of corpora lutea and residual follicles were counted approximately 14 days after the treatment by an exploratory laparotomy. They were compared with the numbers in a control group of eight gilts which were examined six to eight days after oestrus. The interval between the last dose of altrenogest and the onset of oestrus increased with the dose of altrenogest, and was significantly longer after the treatments with 10 or 15 mg/day than after 5 mg/day (P < 0.01). Significantly more corpora lutea were observed in the gilts receiving 5 or 10 mg/day of altrenogest than in the control gilts (P < 0.1). Groups of six, seven and six miniature gilts that had respectively received 5, 10 or 15 mg/day of altrenogest were artificially inseminated; four, six and five of the gilts in these groups farrowed, and their mean (sd) litter sizes were 5.5 (2.4), 6.8 (1.2) and 5.0 (2.3), respectively. All six of a group of control gilts farrowed and their mean litter size was 5.8 (1.2).     

Two New Lyngbyatoxin Derivatives from the Cyanobacterium,Moorea producens

The toxin-producing cyanobacterium, Moorea producens, is a known causative organism of food poisoning and seaweed dermatitis (also known as “swimmer’s itch”). Two new toxic compounds were isolated and structurally elucidated from an ethyl acetate extract of M. producens collected from Hawaii. Analyses of HR-ESI-MS and NMR spectroscopies, as well as optical rotations and CD spectra indicated two new lyngbyatoxin derivatives, 2-oxo-3(R)-hydroxy-lyngbyatoxin A (1) and 2-oxo-3(R)-hydroxy-13-N-desmethyl-lyngbyatoxin A (2). The cytotoxicity and lethal activities of 1 and 2 were approximately 10- to 150-times less potent than lyngbyatoxin A. Additionally, the binding activities of 1 and 2 possessed 10,000-times lower affinity for the protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ)-C1B peptide when compared to lyngbyatoxin A. These findings suggest that these new lyngbyatoxin derivatives may mediate their acute toxicities through a non-PKC activation pathway.     

The postspinel phase boundary in Mg2SiO4 determined by in situ X-ray diffraction

The phase boundary between spinel (gamma phase) and MgSiO3 perovskite + MgO periclase in Mg2SiO4 was determined by in situ x-ray measurements by a combination of the synchrotron radiation source (SPring-8) and a large multianvil high-pressure apparatus. The boundary was determined at temperatures between 1400 degrees to 1800 degreesC, demonstrating that the postspinel phase boundary has a negative Clapeyron slope as estimated by quench experiments and thermodynamic analyses. The boundary was located at 21.1 (+/-0.2) gigapascals, at 1600 degreesC, which is approximately 2 gigapascals lower than earlier estimates based on other high-pressure studies.