Ovarian mixed germ-cell tumor comprising mature teratoma and embryonal carcinoma in a four-toed hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris)

This report describes the clinical and histopathological characteristics of a rare mixed germ-cell tumor comprising teratoma and embryonal carcinoma in the left ovary of a 10-month-old four-toed hedgehog, with chief complaints of loss of appetite and lethargy. Laparotomy revealed a swollen left ovary with small disseminated peritoneal nodules, and bilateral ovariohysterectomy was performed. The left ovary had a mature teratoma with well-differentiated fat, bone, cartilage, salivary gland, trachea, keratin cyst, and nervous tissues, and an embryonal carcinoma consisting of poorly-differentiated epithelial cells arranged in tubular, alveolar, or solid patterns. Immunohistochemically, the embryonal carcinoma cells were positive for placental alkaline phosphatase and c-KIT. This is the first case of mature teratoma with embryonal carcinoma in the ovary of a hedgehog.     

Purification and characterization of feline ghrelin and its possible role

Ghrelin, a novel 28-amino acid peptide with an n-octanoyl modification at Ser3, has been isolated from rat and human stomach as an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor. Here, we purified feline ghrelin and examined its possible physiological role in cats. The major active form of feline ghrelin is a 28-amino acid peptide octanoylated (C8:0) at Ser3; except for one amino acid residue replacement, this structure is identical to those of rat and human ghrelins. However, much structural divergence in peptide length and fatty acid modification was observed in feline ghrelin: peptides consisting of 27 or 26 amino acids lacking Gln14 and/or Arg28 were found, and the third serine residue was modified by octanoic acid (C8:0), decanoic acid (10:0), or unsaturated fatty acids (C8:1, C10:1 and C10:2). In agreement with the structural divergence, two kinds of cDNA with different lengths were isolated. Administration of synthetic rat ghrelin increased plasma growth hormone levels in cats, with a potency similar to that in rat or human. Plasma levels of ghrelin in cats increased approximately 2.5-fold after fasting. The present study indicates the existence of structural divergence in feline ghrelin and suggests that, as in other animals, ghrelin may play important roles in GH release and feeding in cats.     

Prognostic significance of surgical margin, Ki-67 and cyclin D1 protein expression in grade II canine cutaneous mast cell tumor

The prognosis for canine cutaneous mast cell tumor (CCMT) is thought to be correlated with histopathological grading. However, the wide variety of histopathologic types of grade II is one of the most troublesome and difficult points for prognosis. The objective of this study is to determine the prognostic value of surgical margin, ki-67 and cyclin D1 protein expression in grade II tumor. Surgically resected specimens of solitary grade II CCMT from 48 dogs with follow-up periods over 360 days (median was 1080 days) were used in this study. The expression of cyclin D1 and ki-67 proteins was determined by morphometrically using slides stained immunocytochemically, and the correlations among the results, survival rate, and recurrence and/or metastasis rate of each dog were analyzed statistically. The recurrence and/or metastasis and mortality rate in the incomplete surgical excision group within 30 months postoperatively were higher than that of the complete surgical excision group. In the incomplete surgical excision group, dogs with low positive staining of ki-67 had a significantly better survival, but the recurrence and metastasis rate and ki-67 positivity failed to show a significant correlation. Only a small number of cases showed cyclin D1-positive tumor cells, but most of them had a poor outcome with a high recurrence rate. In grade II CCMT, incomplete excision induced a relatively high metastasis rate and poor prognosis. Ki-67 positivity is a marker for the estimation of overall survival in incomplete surgical excision cases. Cyclin D1 positivity was low and may not have a prognostic role.     

Fine structure and differentiation of the alimentary canal in captive-bred Japanese eel Anguilla japonica preleptocephali

ABSTRACT:   The fine structure of the alimentary canal in preleptocephali produced by artificially matured Japanese eel was examined. At 1 day posthatch (dph), the alimentary canal was found only above the dorsal side of the yolk mass, and the epithelium was composed of a single layer of epithelial cells. By 5 dph, the alimentary canal was divided into three segments based on the structure of the epithelial cells: foregut, midgut and hindgut, corresponding to the future esophagus, intestine and rectum, respectively. After 7 dph, the epithelium in the foregut was surrounded by a circular muscle layer, suggesting a role in the transportation of food materials. The epithelial cells of the midgut exhibited well-developed membranous structures, which are deduced to be invaginations of the cytoplasmic membrane. Pinocytotic invaginations and vacuoles were observed in the epithelial cells of the hindgut; this observation suggests that this region is involved in the uptake of food. Significant changes in morphological features of the epithelial cells in each segment were observed until 7 dph; however, these were not evident between 7 dph and 13 dph. Consequently, the differentiation of the alimentary canal was completed by 7 dph, and preleptocephalus had developed the ability to absorb food by 7 dph.     

旱稻水分利用率与碳同位素识别值之间的关系

通过温室盆栽试验 ,分析和探讨了三个水平的土壤水分条件对分蘖期和成熟期收获的旱稻(OryzasativaL .)生物量累积、水分利用率 (WUE)、植株不同部位的碳同位素识别值 (CID)的影响 ,并了解了它们之间的相互关系。水分条件包括 :饱和含水量 (W1 )、饱和含水量的 70 %(W2 )、饱和含水量的 4 0 %(W3)。结果表明当土壤水分条件从W1降低到W2时 ,分蘖期收获的生物量降低 4 5 %左右 ,成熟期收获的生物量降低 1 6 %～ 1 9%;而当从W1降低到W3时 ,分蘖期收获的生物量降低 73%左右 ,成熟期收获的生物量降低 5 5 %～ 5 7%。然而 ,根据地上部干重计算而来的WUE(WUE 地上部 )和根据全株干重计算而来的WUE(WUE 全株 )则随土壤含水量的降低而增加 ,其增幅在分蘖期为 0 .0 7～ 0 .2 8gkg-1 ,在成熟期为 0 .0 7～ 0 .4 5gkg-1 。植株的CID值变幅为 1 7.0～ 2 0 .6 ,但植株不同部位间差别显著 ,分蘖期收获的样品CID值从小到大的顺序为 :根 <最近完全伸展叶 <叶芽 <茎秆 ;而成熟期收获的样品CID值从小到大的顺序为 :籽粒 <根 <茎秆 <旗叶。随着土壤含水量的降低 ,植株所有部位的CID值亦显著减小。叶部的CID值与WUE 地上部(和WUE 全株 )之间呈一致的负相关关系。     

The effects of potato pulp and feeding level of supplements on digestibility, in situ forage degradation and ruminal fermentation in beef steers

Six ruminally cannulated Wagyu (Japanese Black) steers (average initial bodyweight (BW) 387 ± 29 kg) were used in a split‐plot design experiment, comprising a 3 × 3 Latin square design (whole plot) and a randomized block design (subplot). The whole plot treatments were three different feeding levels of supplemental diet, fed at 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6% of BW, on a dry matter (DM) basis. Subplot treatments were two different supplemental diets: a potato pulp silage‐based diet (PPS) and a grain‐based diet (GRAIN). Chopped, medium‐quality cool‐season grass hay (predominately Timothy, Phleum pratense L) was fed daily at 0.7% BW (on a DM basis) as the basal diet. Each period consisted of 21 d, which included 11 d of adaptation to the diets and 10 d of the collection period. Chromium oxide was used as an indigestible marker. In situ forage degradation was measured using the nylon bag technique. The dry matter intake increased (linear; P < 0.01) as the feeding level increased and was not affected by the diet. Digestibility was not affected by any treatments. The GRAIN diet tended to decrease the rate of in situ forage degradation as the feeding level increased, but this trend was not found in the steers fed the PPS diet. Steers fed the GRAIN diet had a lower (P < 0.1) ruminal pH compared with steers fed the PPS diet. Ruminal pH was not significantly affected by feeding level; however, it was numerically higher for steers supplemented at 0.2% per BW than that for the steers supplemented above 0.4% per BW due probably to the higher starch intake. The total volatile fatty acids concentration numerically increased as the feeding level increased and was not affected by the diet. Increasing the feeding level decreased (linear, P < 0.01) the proportion of acetate. Neither diet nor the feeding level had any effects on the proportion of ruminal propionate. The results suggested that, for steers fed the PPS diet, there are not adverse effects on forage digestion in the rumen that occur as the feeding level is increased.     

Developmental changes in pituitary–thyroid axis, and formation of gonads in leptocephali and glass eels of Anguilla spp.

SUMMARY: Pituitary, thyroid gland and gonads in leptocephali of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica (19.8–32.6 mm in total length), A. obscura (45.0 mm), and A. bicolor pacifica (49.5 mm) and those in glass eels of the Japanese eel were histologically and immunohistochemically examined in order to observe the developmental changes of these endocrine organs in the Anguillidae. The pituitary, consisting of adenohypophysis and neurohypophysis in Japanese eel leptocephali over 22.5 mm, did not contain thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) immunoreactive cells. Such cells were, however, detectable in the more developed pituitaries of leptocephali of A. obscura and A. bicolor pacifica and in those of glass eels. Conversely, thyroxine (T₄)-immunoreactive thyroid follicles could be detected in all specimens, both leptocephalic and glass eel. Only in glass eels, gonads were found in the body cavity, and these gonads harbored one or two primordial germ cells (PGC) per cross-section. Our results indicate that thyroid hormones (TH) production started prior to TSH production, and that TSH and TH are both secreted during the metamorphosis from leptocephalus to glass eel. Therefore, it is plausible that the TSH–TH axis is involved in the metamorphosis from leptocephalus to glass eel, but not in the early growth from preleptocephalus to leptocephalus.     

Isolation of Staphylococcus species from the tonsils of healthy cattle and phage patterns of isolates

Staphylococci were found in the tonsils of 121 (75.2%) of 161 cattle. There were 15 different species, 10 belonging to novobiocin-sensitive species. The most predominant species was S. simulans (79.3% of the 121 carriers), followed by S. aureus (20.7%), S. chromogenes (10.7%) and S. epidermidis (8.3%). The other 11 species were present in 0.8 to 5.8%. Twenty-six unidentifiable isolates were isolated from 26 (21.5%) carriers. Sixty-two (51.2%) of the 121 carriers yielded two to five Staphylococcus species together while only one species could be found in each of the other 59 (48.8%). Combinations of S. simulans and other species were most frequently encountered in 50 (41.3%) of the 121 carriers. Twenty-four (96.0%) out of 25 S. aureus isolates, 3 (42.9%) of 7 S. hyicus isolates and 45 (25.4%) of 177 coagulase-negative staphylococci (13 species and unidentifiable isolates) isolates were phage typable. Most of S. aureus isolates were lysed by bovine phages 119 (n = 16) or 116 (n = 5). Thirty-three (25.4%) of 45 coagulase-negative staphylococci typable isolates with Pulverer's phage set showed the phage pattern ph5/ph9/ph10/ph12/ph13/U4/U14/U16/++ +U20/U46. The tonsils of cattle thus appear to be a suitable environment for Staphylococcus species, particularly novobiocin-sensitive species.