Spinal projections of cat primary afferent fibers innervating caudal facet joints

The spinal projections of afferent fibers innervating the facet joints between caudal vertebrae were examined by the use of anterograde transport of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP). Experiments were performed on 5 adult cats in which spinal dorsal roots below the 2nd sacral segment (S2) on the right side were cut. Injections of WGA-HRP into the caudal facet joints gave rise to extensive cranio-caudal distribution of WGA-HRP positive products along the spinal cord, indicating that many afferent fibers innervating unilateral facet joints terminate bilaterally in laminae I-II, V-VI and X of the thoracic, lumbar, sacral and caudal spinal cord. These afferent fibers may convey a series of sensory information from the caudal facet joints to the spinal cord.     

Treatment with an aromatase inhibitor induces complete sex change in the protogynous honeycomb grouper (Epinephelus merra)

To study the mechanism of protogynous sex change in honeycomb grouper, the wild fish of both sexes and transitionals were collected for one year, and changes in gonadal structures and serum levels of sex hormones in each individual were examined. The onset of sex change was associated with low serum estradiol - 17β (E2) levels. In order to clarify whether E2 deprivation causes sex change, maturing females were implanted with the non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor (Fadrozole, AI). AI caused complete sex change from female to functional males in two and half months. The present results suggest that E2 is an important endogenous factor which regulates protogynous sex change in the honeycomb grouper.     

Electromyographic activity of cubital joint muscles in horses during locomotion

Electromyographic (EMG) activity of 4 muscles of the cubital joint and the strain of forelimb hooves were recorded telemetrically in 4 Thoroughbreds (with and without a rider) standing, walking, trotting, and cantering. Bipolar fine wire electrodes were inserted into the muscles, and strain gauges were attached to the hoof wall. Motion pictures (16 mm), synchronized with EMG tracings, were taken to obtain kinematic data. When horses were standing, the biceps brachii had tonic activity, but the brachialis and the caput longum and the caput laterale of the triceps brachii had no EMG activity. The biceps brachii had EMG activity during the stance phase. The brachialis had EMG activity from the end of the stance phase to the middle of the swing phase. Unlike the biceps brachii, the brachialis acted as a flexor muscle of the cubital joint during locomotion. The EMG activity of the caput longum of the triceps brachii was detected from midswing phase to early stance phase. The EMG activity of the caput laterale of the triceps brachii began in midswing or late-swing phase and ceased in early stance or midstance phase. During locomotion, caput longum EMG activity always preceded caput laterale activity. When horses were cantering, the brachialis and the caput longum (acting mainly in the swing phase) had an EMG activity phase different from those in leading and trailing forelimbs. These 4 muscles had similar EMG activity patterns during locomotion in horses with and without a rider.     

Effect of high intensity training on anaerobic capacity of middle gluteal muscle in Thoroughbred horses

We hypothesize that high intensity training for Thoroughbred horses that have been subjected to conventional training could further improve the metabolic properties of the middle gluteal muscle. Nine well-trained horses were subjected to high intensity (80-100% Vdot;O(2)max, 5 minx2) training for 12 weeks. Biopsy samples were obtained from the muscle before and after 4 and 12 weeks of training. Three of the 9 horses did not complete the training programme. In the remaining 6 horses, activities of succinic dehydrogenase (SDH), phosphofructokinase (PFK) and 3-hydroxy acyl CoA dehydrogenase (HAD), and the composition of myosin heavy chain isoforms were analyzed by biochemical techniques. After 12 weeks of training, a significant increase was found in PFK activity but not in the SDH and HAD activities. There were no significant changes in the composition of myosin heavy chain isoforms. The high intensity training in this study was effective at increasing glycolytic enzyme activity, indicating the possibility to improve anaerobic capacity, which potentially could contribute greatly to performance in Thoroughbred horses. This study also highlighted a fact that high intensity training should be given with the great care to prevent the skeletal muscle injuries.     

The incidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation in dogs with malignant tumor

The incidence of DIC in 208 dogs with a malignant tumor was evaluated. The incidence of DIC was 9.6% in dogs with a malignant tumor which was a solid tumor in all. In 164 dogs with a malignant solid tumor, the incidence of DIC was 12.2%. The incidence of DIC in dogs with hemangiosarcoma, mammary gland carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung was significantly higher than that in dogs with other malignant tumors. These results suggested that special care in looking for DIC should be taken in dogs with a malignant solid tumor.     

A case of feline pancreatitis

A 14-year-old, spayed female, domestic shorthair cat was referred to us with anorexia, pyrexia, and jaundice. Total bilirubin (TBIL) and feline trypsin-like immunoreactivity (fTLI) levels were remarkably high. Based on laparoscopic biopsy of the pancreas, the cat was diagnosed as having pancreatitis. As a result of treatment with a synthetic protease inhibitor and corticosteroid, the TBIL and fTLI values returned to normal and the clinical course was good.     

Phenotypic analysis of hepatic T lymphocytes in a dog with chronic hepatitis

We evaluated hepatic T lymphocyte phenotypes in a dog with chronic hepatitis. Before treatment, numerous CD3+ lymphocytes were demonstrated in the liver, and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ was remarkably high (2.96; reference range, 0.33+/-0.12). After treatment, CD3+ lymphocyte infiltration in the liver was reduced, and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ decreased to 0.31. Therefore, hepatic T lymphocytes, especially CD4+ lymphocytes, might play a central role in the pathogenesis of this dog with chronic hepatitis.     

Root and crown rot of strawberry caused by Pythium helicoides and its distribution in strawberry production areas of Japan

Pythium species were isolated from seedlings of strawberry with root and crown rot. The isolates were identified as P. helicoides on the basis of morphological characteristics and sequences of the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer regions. In pathogenicity tests, the isolates caused root and crown rot similar to the original disease symptoms. Multiplex PCR was used to survey pathogen occurrence in strawberry production areas of Japan. Pythium helicoides was detected in 11 of 82 fields. The pathogen is distributed over six prefectures.     

Molecular cloning of canine thrombomodulin cDNA and expression in normal tissues

Thrombomodulin (TM) is a glycoprotein localized mainly on endothelial cell surfaces, and is a major regulator of vascular thromboresistance. The entire open reading frame of canine TM cDNA comprises 1737 bp, encoding 578 amino acid residues. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence from canine TM with those of human, mouse, rat, rabbit and bovine (partial) TM sequences revealed 73.1%, 69.1%, 65.8%, 74.3% and 69.5% identity, respectively. Canine TM mRNA expression was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis in lung, liver, spleen, kidney, pancreas and lymph node, and was relatively low in heart, cerebrum, urinary bladder and uterus. The present results provide valuable data for research into canine coagulation disorders.