Novel Canine Tumour Suppressor Gene p53 Mutations in Cases of Skin and Mammary Neoplasms

Exons 4 to 8 of the tumour suppressor gene p53 were analysed in 25 skin and 25 mammary tumours of 50 dogs. A 1 bp deletion (ACCAC) was detected in codon 89 in exon 4 in a squamous cell carcinoma. A missense mutation CGCCAC (argininehistidine) was present in codon 162 in exon 5 in a mammary adenocarcinoma. Moreover, a silent mutation occurred in codon 103 (serine) of exon 4 in a mammary adenoma. The somatic nature of the three mutations was demonstrated.     

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC QUANTIFICATION OF CANINE ADRENAL GLAND VOLUME AND ATTENUATION

We conducted a retrospective study in presumed normal dogs to determine the adrenal gland attenuation and volume values. Multidetector computer tomography (MDCT 16) analysis of the gland was carried out in 48 adult dogs without evidence of adrenal gland disease that underwent CT examination for acute spinal injuries. The mean nonenhanced attenuation value +/- SD of the left adrenal gland was 36.0 +/- 5.3 HU (range: 22.0-42.0 HU). The mean nonenhanced attenuation value +/- SD of the right gland was 34.3 +/- 7.0 HU (range: 20.4-48.6HU). The mean enhanced attenuation value +/- SD were: left gland 101.5 +/- 10.6HU (range: 86.8-128.0 HU), and right gland 97.4 +/- 12.4 HU (range: 58.9-123.6 HU). The mean CT volume +/- SD were: left gland was 0.60 cm3 (range: 0.20-0.95; SD 0.17), and right gland (0.55cm3, range: 0.22-1.01; SD 0.19). Attenuation values and volume data were related to age, weight, and gender, using ANOVA. There was no statistically significant difference between the left and right side or in adrenal measurements, because of body weight class effects. The animal effect was the most important source of variation for all adrenal measurements. Based on our study, CT is an effective method for assessing adrenal characteristics in the dog. Normative CT data are provided to allow estimation of normal adrenal gland size and volume.     

高温应激诱导奶牛乳腺细胞生长周期阻滞

实验通过台盼蓝染色、MTT、细胞流式等方法研究高温(40℃/41℃)对乳腺细胞活性、细胞周期及凋亡的影响。结果表明,高温可以抑制乳腺细胞的增殖,使细胞产生S、G2期阻滞,诱导乳腺细胞凋亡,并随高温强度的增加而作用增强。试验提示高温可诱导乳腺细胞周期阻滞,抑制细胞增殖。     

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF CANINE MASTITIS

Ultrasonographic images were acquired of the mammary glands of 40 bitches with physiologically lactating (n = 20) or inflamed glands (n = 20). Echogenicity, structure, homogeneity, thickness, and distinguishability of each tissue layer were assessed. Additionally, overall echogenicity was noted. In the normal lactating gland, different tissues could be differentiated easily. The parenchyma was, without exception, separated from adjacent tissues and was visible as medium echogenic tissue with a coarse-grained structure. The tissue always had some echogenic lines and anechoic areas and was slightly heterogeneous. The loss of distinct layering of the tissue was characteristic of an inflamed mammary gland and inflamed regions had reduced echogenicity. Additionally in five bitches with mastitis, the ultrasound examination was repeated five times for documentation of the progress of the illness and associated changes, supplemented with a color Doppler sonogram to assess changes in blood vessel density. Information from the examinations carried out via B-mode did not allow treatment success to be predicted. Two bitches with reduced blood vessel density centrally had a poor outcome whereas three bitches with increased blood vessel density had a good outcome. Thus, Doppler sonography might be a useful tool to obtain information of the prognosis in acute canine mastitis.     

Malignant pheochromocytoma presenting as a bradyarrhythmia in a dog

Objective: To describe a case of atrioventricular block and syncope secondary to systemic hypertension in a dog with malignant pheochromocytoma. Case Summary: A 13‐year‐old spayed female mixed‐breed dog presented following an acute onset of collapse. The dog was hypertensive and had paradoxical high‐grade second‐degree atrioventricular block with concurrent syncope. Initial emergent therapy included a nitroprusside infusion for the systemic hypertension and vagolytic therapy for the bradyarrhythmia. A left adrenal mass was seen on abdominal ultrasound and was further characterized by MRI. Following medical stabilization with phenoxybenzamine and propantheline, a left adrenalectomy was performed. Histological diagnosis was consistent with a malignant pheochromocytoma. Following tumor removal there has been no further hypertension, atrioventricular block or syncope. Unique information provided: This is the first documented case of a malignant pheochromocytoma presenting as syncope secondary to hypertension induced atrioventricular block.     

Mammary fibroadenoma in a lamb

A fibroadenoma was diagnosed in the left udder of a 3-month-old female Chios lamb. No recurrence was observed after surgery. Grossly, the tumor had a whitish-gray lobular appearance, and the lobules were interlaced with thin septa. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of proliferating fibroepithelial tissue, including differentiated ducts lined by whorls and interlacing bundles of abundant loose fibrovascular stroma. Immunohistochemistry revealed the ductal epithelium to be positive for pancytokeratin (AE1/AE3) and loose fibrovascular stroma was positive for vimentin and basal cells covering the ductal epithelium of alpha-smooth-muscle actin. Immunostaining for the estrogen and progesterone receptors was negative. A diagnosis of mammary fibroadenoma was made based on the histological and immunohistochemical findings.     

Expression of E‐cadherin in canine anal sac gland carcinoma and its association with survival*

The objective of this study was to determine whether an association could be demonstrated between survival and the expression of the adhesion molecule E‐cadherin by the neoplastic cells in a group of dogs with anal sac gland carcinomas (ASGCs). Archived formalin‐fixed, paraffin wax‐embedded primary tumour specimens were obtained for 36 cases of canine ASGC with known clinical management and survival data. Immunohistochemical methods were used to evaluate E‐cadherin expression by the neoplastic cells and data were evaluated for an association between E‐cadherin expression and survival. On univariate analysis, the median survival time for cases with tumours expressing E‐cadherin in more than 75% of cells was significantly greater than that for cases with tumours expressing E‐cadherin in fewer than 75% of cells (1168 versus 448 days, P = 0.0246). Both E‐cadherin expression and presence or absence of distant metastases were significantly associated with survival on multivariate analysis. This study demonstrates that expression of E‐cadherin at the cytoplasmic membrane in canine ASGCs is variable and potentially predictive of survival.     

乳腺分泌物中体细胞的研究进展

不同物种的乳腺分泌物中含有的细胞成分被称为体细胞,其中包括淋巴细胞、白细胞、巨噬细胞和上皮细胞。物种、乳腺感染情况、不同生理阶段和饲养管理条件等因素均会影响乳中的体细胞数量和细胞类型。近年来,乳中体细胞得到了人们的关注和深入研究,显示出广阔的应用前景。人们利用从初乳和常乳中得到的乳腺上皮细胞已经成功进行了乳腺细胞的原代培养和建立了乳腺细胞系,为乳生成、被动免疫转移和乳腺癌的研究提供了良好平台。体细胞中提取的RNA代表了乳腺组织的基因表达,因此为研究乳腺组织的基因表达提供了方便、良好的来源。     

亚洲璃眼蜱差异表达新基因P18的克隆和鉴定

为了进行抗蜱和蜱传病疫苗的研究,本实验对亚洲璃眼蜱雌蜱吸血前后唾液腺消减文库中获取的一个全长编码基因P18进行了研究。该基因全长519bp,共编码170个氨基酸,分子量为18.36Ku,等电点为4.28。BLAST分析表明,该基因预测的氨基酸与肩突硬蜱、篦子硬蜱唾液腺的抗凝血小肽有30%～40%低度同源性。将该基因亚克隆到pET-32a( )表达载体,转化BL21(DE3)宿主菌,经IPTG诱导,重组融合蛋白以可溶性形式高效表达。将可溶性重组蛋白免疫小鼠后获得的抗血清。经免疫印迹分析表明,该重组蛋白抗体可特异性的识别半饱雌蜱唾液腺中的天然蛋白抗原,而未吸血雌蜱唾液腺中则不显现特异条带。RT-PCR结果进一步证实,该基因在蜱吸血后的唾液腺中差异表达。