赶黄草总黄酮对小鼠肝损伤的保护作用

为研究赶黄草总黄酮对脂多糖(LPS)诱发的肝损伤的保护作用,将50只昆明种小鼠随机分为空白组、模型组、联苯双酯阳性对照组及赶黄草总黄酮高、低剂量组,每组10只。赶黄草总黄酮高、低剂量组分别按照10 mg/kg、2 mg/kg的剂量灌服;联苯双酯阳性对照组按照5 mg/kg的剂量灌服;空白组和模型组分别灌胃等容积的生理盐水。连续给药14 d,观察小鼠生长状况,末次给药之后2 h,空白组尾静脉注射生理盐水2 m L/kg,其余各组尾静脉注射5 mg/kg LPS,12 h后眼球取血处死小鼠,测定小鼠血清中谷丙转氨酶(ALT)和谷草转氨酶(AST)活性以及肝匀浆中的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性和丙二醛(MDA)含量。同时将肝脏进行HE染色,观察小鼠肝脏组织病理学变化。结果显示,赶黄草总黄酮对小鼠生长有抑制作用。与模型组比较,赶黄草总黄酮高、低剂量组血清中ALT活性分别降低26.53%(P0.01)、16.74%(P0.05),AST活性分别降低12.50%(P0.05)、9.88%(P0.05),SOD活性分别升高26.46%(P0.05)、21.77%(P0.05),MDA含量分别降低48.73%(P0.05)、59.80%(P0.01);小鼠肝脏指数分别降低10.36%(P0.05)、3.80%(P0.05);赶黄草总黄酮各剂量组肝组织病变程度明显减轻。以上结果表明,赶黄草总黄酮对LPS诱导的小鼠肝损伤有保护作用。     

咖啡因Na_2─EDTA对辐照大豆和油菜幼苗DNA合成的影响

本文研究了咖啡固和Ｎａ２一ＥＤＴＡ后处理对不同辐照敏感性作物幼苗ＤＮＡ、ＲＮＡ含量和修复能力的影响。结果表明，随着辐照剂量的增大，大豆（对辐射敏感）和油菜（抗辐射）７天龄幼苗下胚轴内ＤＮＡ，ＲＮＡ含量随之增大，且大豆的ＤＮＡ含量比油菜高２倍多。咖啡固和Ｎａ２一ＥＤＴＡ后处理，均高于对照。放射性３Ｈ─ＴｄＲ标记６渗入法证实，种子辐照后，７日龄幼苗体内仍存在着非按期的ＤＮＡ合成，且油菜的非按期ＤＮＡ合成能力强于大豆。咖啡固、Ｎａ２─ＥＤＴＡ和二者复合作用的后处理，抑制了ＤＮＡ的非按期修复合成，加重了辐射损伤，其抑制程度，咖啡因＋Ｎ８２－ＥＤＴＡ＞咖啡固＞Ｎ８２─ＥＤＴＡ。     

Effects of light spectrum on growth and physiological status of gilthead seabream Sparus aurata and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss reared under recirculating system conditions

Previously reported data clearly indicate that depending on species, ambient light spectrum can affect fish growth, physiology, behaviour, reproduction, etc. Since light spectrum can be easily controlled in intensive indoor fish farming facilities, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of coloured light on growth performance (body weight, growth rate, food utilization, carcass composition, etc.) and physiological status (blood and plasma parameters, brain neurotransmitters, tissue fatty acid composition, etc.) of two widely reared fish species, gilthead seabream Sparus aurata and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. For this purpose, 240 specimens of S. aurata (29.8 ± 0.13 g) and 60 specimens of O. mykiss (71.4 ± 0.30 g) were exposed to white (full-spectrum, fluorescent lamps), red (605 nm) and blue (480 nm) light (lamps covered with appropriate filters) for 11 weeks under recirculating water systems. Blue light had a significantly negative impact on O. mykiss growth performance accompanied with reduced liver total lipids and plasma glucose and increased brain serotonergic and dopaminergic activity. In the case of S. aurata, red light significantly increased brain dopaminergic activity, while a tendency towards reduced growth was also observed. Since these results indicated the establishment of stressful conditions, O. mykiss and S. aurata should not be reared under blue and red light, respectively. For each species, the effect of the remaining light colours tested, was not clearly differentiated so that an appropriate light spectrum for the most efficient farming of O. mykiss and S. aurata could not be suggested, at least for the time period examined. Nevertheless, present results suggest that light colour should be regarded as a rearing factor worth to be further investigated, especially when recirculating systems are concerned.     

A fructose‐based extender protects Colossoma macropomum spermatozoa against chilling injuries

Our study assessed the efficiency of a formulated new extender in maintaining viability and morphological integrity of Colossoma macropomum spermatozoa under chilling storage. Semen was diluted in the test extender and BTS? (Beltsville Thawing Solution) and exposed to a short‐term storage at 4.6 ± 0.6°C for 96 hr. Both extenders were able to maintain 17% ± 8% motile spermatozoa by the end of experiment. Sperm dilution in test extender did not affect the morphologically normal cells (61% ± 6%) up to 48 hr of chilling, being higher than in BTS? (50% ± 6%) (p < 0.05). After 96 hr, samples kept in the test extender had 50% of normal spermatozoa, whereas those kept in BTS? presented only 38% of normal cells. Chilling storage increased the incidence of cells with strongly coiled flagella in BTS^?. Our study is the first to evaluate in detail the spermatozoa morphology as indicative of C. macropomum semen viability. The new extender was able to protect the spermatozoa against increase in coiled flagellum injuries.     

Cerebrospinal fluid from a 10-year-old dog with a single seizure episode

A cerebrospinal fluid sample collected from the cerebellomedullary cistern of a 10-year-old Shetland Sheepdog with a recent history of seizures was submitted for fluid analysis and cytologic examination. Key findings included a total nucleated cell count of 520/microL (reference interval 0-5 cells/microL), with a predominance of mononuclear cells, a protein concentration of 51.8 mg/dL (reference interval 0-35 mg/dL), and a glucose concentration of 44.7 mg/dL (reference interval 52-105 mg/dL). There was marked atypia of the mononuclear cells, with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, marked anisocytosis and anisokaryosis, occasional binucleated cells, mitotic figures, and rare erythrophagia. The cytologic interpretation was marked, monocytoid-rich, mixed cell pleocytosis with cellular atypia worrisome for neoplasia. In addition to histiocytic neoplasia, differentials included granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis, necrotizing meningoencephalitis, and granulomatous inflammation. The dog did not respond to anti-inflammatory and anticonvulsive therapy. At necropsy, a mass involving the meninges and subtending the neuropil of the right temporal lobe of the cerebrum was found. Histologically, the mass was composed of large, bizarre histiocytic cells with multinucleated forms and numerous mitotic figures. Using immunochemistry on cytologic and histologic samples, the pleomorphic histiocytic cells were positive for CD1c, CD11ad, CD45, lysozyme, and vimentin, and were negative for CD3, CD4, CD79a, CD90, and pancytokeratin. These findings supported a diagnosis of primary CNS malignant histiocytosis of dendritic antigen-presenting cell (CD1c+) origin. To our knowledge, this is only the third reported case of primary CNS histiocytic sarcoma in dogs, and the first to demonstrate strong immunochemical evidence for dendritic antigen-presenting cell origin.     

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS—MRI CHARACTERISTICS OF A FOURTH VENTRICULAR CHOLESTEROL GRANULOMA IN A DOG

A 2‐year‐old male American Bulldog experienced paroxysmal staggering, altered consciousness, and hyperesthesia. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging enabled recognition of a fourth ventricular mass causing compression of the cerebellum and brainstem and obstructive hydrocephalus. The mass was uniformly T2‐hyperintense and predominantly T1‐hypointense. A fluid line was evident on the fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery images. A thin rim of contrast enhancement was noted. Histopathologic diagnosis was a cholesterol granuloma. We were unable to identify any other reports of a cholesterol granuloma residing in the fourth ventricle of a dog. This case report documents the clinical, diagnostic imaging, and histopathologic findings of a canine intracranial cholesterol granuloma. © 2012 Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound.     

Feline intracranial neoplasia: retrospective review of 160 cases (1985-2001)

The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of different tumor types within a large cohort of cats with intracranial neoplasia and to attempt to correlate signalment, tumor size and location, and survival time for each tumor. Medical records of 160 cats with confirmed intracranial neoplasia evaluated between 1985 and 2001 were reviewed. Parameters evaluated included age, sex, breed, FeLV/FIV status, clinical signs, duration of signs, number of tumors, tumor location(s), imaging results, treatment, survival times, and histopathologic diagnosis. Most of the cats were older (11.3 +/- 3.8 years). Primary tumors accounted for 70.6% of cases. Metastasis and direct extension of secondary tumors accounted for only 5.6 and 3.8% of cases, respectively. Twelve cats (7.5%) had 2 or more discrete tumors of the same type, whereas 16 cats (10.0%) had 2 different types of intracranial tumors. The most common tumor types were meningioma (n = 93, 58.1%), lymphoma (n = 23, 14.4%), pituitary tumors (n = 14, 8.8%), and gliomas (n = 12, 7.5%). The most common neurological signs were altered consciousness (n = 42, 26.2%), circling (n = 36, 22.5%), and seizures (n = 36, 22.5%). Cats without specific neurological signs were common (n = 34, 21.2%). The tumor was considered an incidental finding in 30 (18.8%) cats. In addition to expected relationships (eg, meninges and meningioma, pituitary and pituitary tumors), we found that lesion location was predictive of tumor type with diffuse cerebral or brainstem involvement predictive of lymphoma and third ventricle involvement predictive of meningioma.     

Cholecystokinin and neuroprotection

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is one of the first discovered gastrointestinal hormones and one of the most abundant neuropeptides in the brain. CCK, as a neurotransmitter or modulator, is involved in many different biological processes. This review presents an updated overview of the anatomical distribution of CCK in brain, the changes of cerebral CCK gene expression and CCK level during brain injury, the neuroprotective effects of CCK and its underlying mechanisms.