Infrared spectroscopy of synovial fluid as a potential screening approach for the diagnosis of naturally occurring canine osteoarthritis associated with cranial cruciate ligament rupture.

Objective: To evaluate infrared (IR) spectroscopy of synovial fluid (SF) as tool to differentiate between knees of dogs with naturally occurring OA associated with cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CrCLR) and controls.

Method: 104 adult dogs with CrCLR (affected group) and 50 adult control dogs were recruited in a prospective observational study. Synovial fluid (SF) samples were collected preoperatively from dogs with CrCLR and from a subset of these at 4-, and 12-week post-surgery.

In vitro cultivation of Hematodinium sp. isolated from Atlantic snow crab, Chionoecetes opilio: partial characterization of late developmental stages.

Hematodinium is a parasitic dinoflagellate of numerous crustacean species, including the economically important Atlantic snow crab, Chionoecetes opilio. The parasite was cultured in vitro in modified Nephrops medium at 0 °C and a partial characterization of the life stages was accomplished using light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In haemolymph from heavily infected snow crabs two life stages were detected; amoeboid trophonts and sporonts.

The effects of temperature and body size on immunological development and responsiveness in juvenile shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum).

Sturgeon are an important evolutionary taxa of which little is known regarding their responses to environmental factors. Water temperature strongly influences growth in fish; however, its effect on sturgeon immune responses is unknown. The objective of this study was to assess how 2 different temperatures affect immune responses in shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) relevant immune organs such as the meningeal myeloid tissue, spleen, thymus and skin.

Ontogeny of the immune system in Acipenserid juveniles.

Sturgeon aquaculture has increased considerably worldwide but little is known about their immunological development and competence in early life stages. Culture of larvae is one of the most critical stages in intensive sturgeon farming, often associated with high mortality rates. The objective of this study was to characterize the developmental morphology (light and transmission electron microscopy, LM and TEM) of the meningeal myeloid tissue, spleen and thymus in Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) from hatching until 5 months old (2895°C·day (dd)).

Estimation of total glomerular number using an integrated disector method in embryonic and postnatal kidneys.

Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract (CAKUT) are a polymorphic group of clinical disorders comprising the major cause of renal failure in children. Included within CAKUT is a wide spectrum of developmental malformations ranging from renal agenesis, renal hypoplasia and renal dysplasia (maldifferentiation of renal tissue), each characterized by varying deficits in nephron number. First presented in the Brenner Hypothesis, low congenital nephron endowment is becoming recognized as an antecedent cause of adult-onset hypertension, a leading cause of coronary heart disease, stroke, and renal failure in North America.

Osteoprogenitor cell therapy in an equine fracture model.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of osteoprogenitors in fibrin glue to fibrin glue alone in bone healing of surgically induced ostectomies of the fourth metacarpal bones in an equine model.

Study Design: Experimental.

Animals: Adult horses (n = 10).

Ontogeny and disease responses of Langerhans-like cells in lymphoid tissues of salmonid fish.

The ontogeny and disease responses of Langerhans-like cells within lymphoid tissues of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, and rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, were investigated. These cells were studied in situ with the use of two markers: the ultrastructural presence of Birbeck-like granules and immunohistochemistry with an antibody against human langerin/CD207 that cross-reacts with salmonid tissues. The appearance of Birbeck-like granules was observed in rainbow trout at 2 weeks post-hatch (PH) in the thymus and anterior kidney prior to the development of the spleen.

Comparative ultrastructure of Langerhans-like cells in spleens of ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii).

We studied the morphology and occurrence of splenic Langerhans-like (LL) cells in species representing 11 orders of ray-finned fishes, Actinopterygii. LL cells were frequent in spleen tissue of species among Cypriniformes, Esociformes, Salmoniformes, and Pleuronectiformes. These cells contained granules which resembled Birbeck granules known to occur in mammalian Langerhans cells.

Developmental anatomy of lampreys.

Lampreys are a group of aquatic chordates whose relationships to hagfishes and jawed vertebrates are still debated. Lamprey embryology is of interest to evolutionary biologists because it may shed light on vertebrate origins. For this and other reasons, lamprey embryology has been extensively researched by biologists from a range of disciplines.

Langerin/CD207 positive dendritic-like cells in the haemopoietic tissues of salmonids.

The presence of dendritic cells in fish is studied with immunohistochemistry using a commercially available antibody developed against Langerin/CD207 present in human Langerhans cells. Langerin/CD207, a protein known to be associated with the development of Birbeck granules in human and murine systems, was found to be expressed within the cytoplasm of spleen and head kidney cells of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Reactivity was also observed within a few number of cells within the head kidney of Atlantic salmon, but not observed in any other tissues examined.

Effects of dexamethasone on host innate and adaptive immune responses and parasite development in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss infected with Loma salmonae.

The effects of dexamethasone (dex) treatment on infections with the microsporidian parasite, Loma salmonae and the effects of dex on initiation of the adaptive immune response were investigated in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss experimentally infected with the parasite. Dex treatment resulted in significantly higher infections with the parasite in the gills and other internal organs, suggesting that dex inhibits aspects of the innate immune response to L. salmonae; the heavier infections in the gills and organs of rainbow trout resembled infections seen in Chinook salmon.

Infectious salmon anaemia virus replication and induction of alpha interferon in Atlantic salmon erythrocytes.

Background: Infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) virus (ISAV), which causes ISA in marine-farmed Atlantic salmon, is an orthomyxovirus belonging to the genus Isavirus, family Orthomyxoviridae. ISAV agglutinates erythrocytes of several fish species and it is generally accepted that the ISAV receptor destroying enzyme dissolves this haemagglutination except for Atlantic salmon erythrocytes. Recent work indicates that ISAV isolates that are able to elute from Atlantic salmon erythrocytes cause low mortality in challenge experiments using Atlantic salmon.

Comparative cellular morphology suggesting the existence of resident dendritic cells within immune organs of salmonids.

This report is the first morphological description of cells that resemble dendritic cells, which appear to form resident populations within the spleen and anterior kidney of fish. Based on examination of three salmonid species, including, rainbow trout, brook trout, and Atlantic salmon, the cells were most abundant in the spleen, although they were always present in the anterior kidney. The cells appeared diffusely distributed, often near blood vessels of the spleen and kidney of healthy fish and within the epithelium, connective tissue, and blood vessels of rainbow trout gills with experimentally induced microsoporidial gill disease.

Mutated ATP synthase induces oxidative stress and impaired insulin secretion in beta-cells of female BHE/cdb rats.

Background: Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a critical determinant of beta-cell insulin secretion in response to glucose. BHE/cdb rats have a mutation in ATP synthase that limits ATP production, yet develop mild diabetes only with ageing. We investigated the cellular basis for reduced insulin secretion and compensatory mechanisms that mitigate the effects of the ATP synthase mutation.

Pathological effects caused by chronic treatment of rainbow trout with indomethacin.

The purpose of this study was to determine adequate dose ranges and to test for side effects associated with chronic treatment of fish with indomethacin. Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss were orally treated with indomethacin at various nominal concentrations: a negative control (0 mg/kg) and low (5 mg/kg), medium (10 mg/kg), and high doses (15 mg/kg) daily for 30 d. A dose-associated mortality was observed, as cumulative mortality was 3, 13, and 33%, respectively, in the three indomethacin dose groups.

Demonstration of infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) endocytosis in erythrocytes of Atlantic salmon.

Infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) virus (ISAV) is a fish orthomyxovirus that has recently been assigned to the new genus Isavirus within the family Orthomyxoviridae. It possesses the major functional characteristics of the virus family including haemagglutinating, receptor destroying enzyme (RDE), and fusion activities associated with the virion surface proteins. It is generally accepted that ISAV agglutinates erythrocytes of several fish species and that the ISAV RDE activity dissolves this haemagglutination reaction except for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) erythrocytes.

In vitro heterogeneity of osteogenic cell populations at various equine skeletal sites.

Bone cell cultures were evaluated to determine if osteogenic cell populations at different skeletal sites in the horse are heterogeneous. Osteogenic cells were isolated from cortical and cancellous bone in vitro by an explant culture method. Subcultured cells were induced to differentiate into bone-forming osteoblasts.

Ultrastructural examination of the host inflammatory response within gills of netpen reared chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) with Microsporidial Gill Disease.

The sequence of host changes following the rupture of spore-laden xenomas of the microsporidian Loma salmonae during Microsporidial Gill Disease of Salmon was deduced from ultrastructural examination of the gills of naturally infected, moribund, chinook salmon from a commercial aquaculture site. The gills contained many stages of parasite development suggesting fish were chronically exposed to the parasite. Intact xenomas were generally found beneath the endothelium in arteries and arterioles and were encapsulated by a layer of collagen containing fibroblasts sometimes joined by desmosomes.

The mechanical function and structure of aortic microfibrils in the lobster Homarus americanus.

Marfan syndrome, a connective tissue disorder affecting the cardiovascular system, is caused by mutations of fibrillin-based microfibrils. These mutations often affect the calcium-binding domains, resulting in structural changes to the proteins. It is hypothesized that these Ca+2 binding sites regulate the structure and mechanical properties of the microfibrils.

Ultrastructural evidence of autoinfection in the gills of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua infected with Loma sp. (phylum Microsporidia).

Infection by a microsporidian of the genus Loma was found in gills of cod Gadus morhua. Xenomas contained parasites in multiple stages of development. Some spores looked empty and had everted polar tubes, which were either straight or coiled.

Recombinant human elastin polypeptides self-assemble into biomaterials with elastin-like properties.

Processes involving self-assembly of monomeric units into organized polymeric arrays are currently the subject of much attention, particularly in the areas of nanotechnology and biomaterials. One biological example of a protein polymer with potential for self-organization is elastin. Elastin is the extracellular matrix protein that imparts the properties of extensibility and elastic recoil to large arteries, lung parenchyma, and other tissues.

Developmental transformations in a normal series of embryos of the sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus (Linnaeus).

Lamprey development is of interest to evolutionary biologists because it can inform our understanding of primitive vertebrate developmental patterns. In this study, we describe and illustrate some of the principle landmarks of organogenesis in the embryonic sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus L. at different chronological ages.

Comparative equilibrium mechanical properties of bovine and lamprey cartilaginous tissues.

In contrast to all other vertebrate cartilages, the major extracellular matrix protein of lamprey cartilages is not collagen. Instead, there exists a unique family of noncollagenous structural proteins, the significance of which is not completely understood. A custom-built uniaxial testing apparatus was used to quantify and compare equilibrium stress-relaxation behavior (equilibrium moduli, stress decay behavior, recovery times and relaxation times) of (1) lamprey pericardial cartilages with perichondria tested in tension (young adult and aged), (2) annular cartilages without perichondria tested in compression (young adult and aged) and (3) bovine auricular cartilage samples without perichondria tested in both tension and compression.

Ultrastructure of the adenohypophysis in the anadromous sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus, during metamorphosis.

The ultrastructural changes occurring in the adenohypophysis (AH) of the anadromous sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus, during metamorphosis (stages one through seven) were examined. The rostral pars distalis initially contains one granulated (secretory) cell type A and one nongranulated type I cell. A second granulated cell (type B) appears during the later stages (stages six and seven) of metamorphosis.