Canine ocular gliomas: a retrospective study

Objective The purpose of this paper is to classify glial tumors observed in the canine retina and optic nerve, describe the histopathological features and provide prognostic information on these neoplasms. Methods The database of the Comparative Ocular Pathology Laboratory of Wisconsin (COPLOW) was searched to collect canine glioma cases. Clinical and follow-up information was gathered from submission forms and an extensive follow-up survey. Slides were reviewed to describe the histopathological characteristics of the neoplasm and classify them. Immunohistochemistry for Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) was performed in all cases. Results 18 canine glioma cases were found in the COPLOW database. There was no breed or gender predilection. The mean age was 9.33 ± 3.67 years. Follow-up information was available for 12 dogs, 8 of which were dead at the time of most recent contact, with a survival time ranging from 0 days (globes received after euthanasia) up to 20 months post-enucleation. In 6 of the 8 dogs that had died during this stud), tumor extended to the margin where the optic nerve had been sectioned. Light microscopic examination of the optic nerve of the affected eyes of four dogs that were still alive during this study revealed no tumor at this surgical margin. One neoplasm was classified as low-grade astrocytoma, 5 tumors as medium-grade astrocytoma, 11 tumors as high grade-astrocytoma and 1 tumor as oligodendroglioma. GFAP was positive in all but two tumors. Conclusion Retinal and optic nerve gliomas may be considered as differential diagnoses of intraocular and orbital masses. The metastatic potential appears to be low, but ascending invasion into the ventral aspect of the brain is possible.     

Differential patterns of nestin and glial fibrillary acidic protein expression in mouse hippocampus during postnatal development

Intermediate filaments, including nestin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), are important for the brain to accommodate neural activities and changes during development. The present study examined the temporal changes of nestin and GFAP protein levels in the postnatal development of the mouse hippocampus. Mouse hippocampi were sampled on postnatal day (PND) 1, 3, 6, 18, and 48. Western blot analysis showed that nestin expression was high at PND 1 and markedly decreased until PND 18. Conversely, GFAP expression was acutely increased in the early phase of postnatal development. Nestin immunoreactivity was localized mainly in the processes of ramified cells at PND 1, but expression subsequently decreased. In contrast, GFAP was evident mainly in the marginal cells of the hippocampus at PND 1, but immunoreactivity revealed satellite, radial, or ramified shapes of the cells from PND 6-48. This study demonstrates that the opposing pattern of nestin and GFAP expressions in mouse hippocampus during postnatal development occur in the early development stage (PND 1-18), suggesting that the opposing change of nestin and GFAP in early postnatal development is important for neural differentiation and positioning in the mouse hippocampus.     

胶质纤维酸性蛋白在黄羽肉鸡肠道中的分布研究

本研究旨在探究胶质纤维酸性蛋白（glial fibrillary acidic protein,GFAP）在黄羽肉鸡肠道中的分布规律。使用免疫组织化学SABC-AP法,观察鸡肠道中GFAP的分布规律。结果显示,GFAP在鸡小肠黏膜上皮、小肠腺细胞腔面、小肠黏膜下神经丛和肌间神经丛及其血管壁周围均呈强阳性表达,在黏膜固有膜上呈阳性表达;GFAP在鸡大肠黏膜上皮、大肠腺中呈阳性表达,在大肠黏膜下神经丛和肌间神经丛均呈强阳性表达。GFAP是肠神经胶质细胞的特异性标记物之一,观察其在鸡肠道的分布特征有助于阐明肠神经胶质细胞在肠道各段的分布规律,为研究鸡肠神经胶质细胞的功能提供形态学依据。     

Study on the Distribution of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein in Intestine of Yellow Feather Broiler

The experiment was conducted to explore the distribution of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in Yellow feather broiler,and to investigate the morphological characteristics of glial cells of chicken. The distribution of GFAP was studied by immunohistochemistry SABC-AP method. The results showed that GFAP were expressed strong positively in chicken small intestinal mucosa epithelium, intestinal gland cell cavity surface, submucosal plexus and myenteric plexus; The expressions of GFAP were positive in the mucosal lamina propria and myenteric nerve plexus around the blood vessel; In avian escherichia sticky epithelial membrane, colorectal adenocarcinoma,GFAP were expressed positively, and the expressions were strong positive in mucosa epithelium, submucosal plexus and myenteric plexus. GFAP was one of the specific marker of enteric glial cells, and the observation of distribution of GFAP in chicken intestinal tract was help for elucidating the enteric glial cells in the distribution of the intestine and providing the morphological basis for the study of chicken glial cell function.     

The immune response in Taenia solium neurocysticercosis in pigs is associated with astrogliosis, axonal degeneration and altered blood–brain barrier permeability

Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the immuno-pathological changes and the extent of neuronal damage caused by either viable or dead Taenia solium cysticerci during porcine neurocysticercosis. Thirty pig brains with cerebral cysticercosis and 5 brains from T. solium free pigs were used in this study. Results revealed extensive astrogliosis, neuronal and mostly axonal damage in both early (grade I) and late (grades III and V) lesions as evidenced by an increased expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament protein (NFP). In many late lesions, astrocyte end-feet formed glial scars that surrounded the dead parasite. Rapid angiogenesis resulted in blood vessels lacking astrocyte end-feet suggesting loss of blood–brain barrier (BBB) hence allowing an influx of peripheral blood immune cells such as eosinophils, macrophages, CD3+ T cells, B lymphocytes and plasma cells into lesions. This study showed that porcine NCC was associated with severe nervous tissue damage, the host response of which is a collaborative effort between the local and peripheral immune responses comparable to that observed in human NCC. Results further implied that porcine NCC could be a useful model for understanding the course of NCC in human as well as provide useful information for therapeutic and/or immune strategies.     

Long-term treatment with standardized Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) attenuates cognitive deficits and hippocampal neuron loss in a gerbil model of vascular dementia

The standardized extract of Ginkgo biloba EGb 761 has been used to reduce cognitive dysfunction. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of postischemic oral treatment with EGb 761 in a model of vascular dementia in gerbils. Daily oral posttreatment with EGb 761 led to a significant recovery of spatial memory assessed by the object location test, inhibited the decrease in plasma SOD activity and protected the hippocampal CA1 neurons, even when administered after the insult. These data provide further evidence for the therapeutic potential of EGb 761 in the treatment of vascular dementia.     

威宁绵羊SOCS7和GFAP基因组织表达研究

试验旨在检测细胞因子信号传导抑制蛋白7（suppressor of cytokine signaling 7，SOCS7）和胶质纤维酸性蛋白（glial fibrillary acidic protein，GFAP）基因在威宁绵羊不同组织中的表达水平。以6月龄、1周岁和2周岁的威宁绵羊公、母羊为研究对象，采用实时荧光定量PCR测定威宁绵羊不同性别及不同生长阶段心脏、肝脏、脾脏、肺脏、肾脏及脑6个组织中SOCS7和GFAP基因的相对表达量，从mRNA水平上的探究两个基因之间的表达规律。结果显示，SOCS7基因在威宁绵羊不同组织中均有不同程度的表达，其中脾脏中相对表达量最高，其次是肺脏、肾脏、心脏、肝脏和脑组织，随着威宁绵羊年龄的增大，SOCS7基因在组织中的相对表达量呈现小幅度上升的趋势；GFAP基因在威宁绵羊脑组织中相对表达量最高，其余组织中表达量较低，随着年龄增长总体呈现下降趋势。从性别差异来看，威宁绵羊SOCS7基因相对表达量母羊普遍高于公羊，而GFAP基因则是公羊普遍高于母羊，推测SOCS7基因很有可能负向调控GFAP基因的表达。     

Morphology and quantification of sheep pineal glands at pre‐pubertal,pubertal and post‐pubertal periods

The pineal gland is a neuroendocrine organ associated with photoperiodic regulation in mammals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pineal gland at the pre‐pubertal, pubertal and post‐pubertal periods by means of morphology and stereology. The study examined at total of 24 ovine pineal glands collected from healthy female Akkaraman breed. Thick sections (40 μm) were cut and treated with synaptophysin. Following each thick section, six consecutive sections at a thickness of 5 μm were cut. Each thin section was stained with one of the following dyes: Crossman’s modified triple dye, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), melatonin marker, periodic acid–Schiff, Von Kossa and AgNOR. The pineal gland volume was measured using Cavalieri’s method. The optical fractionator was used to estimate the total number of pinealocytes. The percentage of parenchyma and connective tissue and degree of vascularization were estimated by the area fraction fractionator method. The pineal gland volumes in the pre‐pubertal, pubertal and post‐pubertal groups were 7.53 ± 1.715 mm³, 11.20 ± 1.336 mm³ and 17.75 ± 1.188 mm³, respectively (p < .5). The number of pinealocytes in the pre‐pubertal, pubertal and post‐pubertal groups was 3,244,000 ± 228,076, 4,438,000 ± 243,610, 7,381,766 ± 406,223, respectively (p < .05). The glands of the post‐pubertal group contained the highest amount of connective tissue (11.49 ± 2.103%; p < .5) and the largest GFAP staining area (p < .05). The melatonin staining density was the highest in the pubertal group. The density of lipofuscin staining was higher in the pubertal and post‐pubertal groups.