Vaccination of pigs against pseudorabies virus with plasmid DNA encoding glycoprotein D.

We analysed the ability of a plasmid carrying the gene encoding glycoprotein D (gD) of pseudorabies virus (PRV) to induce humoral and cell-mediated immune responses and assessed the protection provided by PRV-gD DNA vaccination against challenge infection with PRV. Immunization with plasmid PRV-gD induced neutralizing antibodies and lymphocyte proliferative responses both in mice and pigs. Moreover, when challenged with virulent PRV six weeks following the last immunization, PRV-gD DNA vaccinated pigs excreted virus for a significantly shorter period and showed less clinical symptoms than pigs vaccinated with a control plasmid.

Depletion of endogenous dopamine stores and shift in beta-adrenoceptor subtypes in cardiac tissue following five weeks of chronic denervation.

Surgical ablation of extrinsic cardiac nerve fibers results in a chronically denervated state of the left ventricle of the heart. The present study was performed to elucidate the effect of a period of 5 weeks of chronic denervation on cardiac catecholamine levels in general and dopamine in particular. Moreover, the possible effect on cardiac beta-adrenoceptor subtypes was investigated.

Mechanism of volume adaptation in the awake early pregnant rat.

The objective of the present study was to determine whether the increase in plasma volume (PV) during pregnancy is established by fluid retention or by a shift within the extracellular fluid volume (ECFV) from the interstitium toward the intravascular compartment. To this end, we simultaneously, measured total body water, (TBW), ECFV, and PV together with the hematocrit (Hct) and plasma osmolality 4, 8, and 12 days postsurgery in chronically instrumented pregnant (P) and nonpregnant (NP) rats. The P rats were instrumented with a catheter in the femoral artery on day 1 postconception.

Metabolic alterations in the chronically denervated dog heart.

Objective: Previous studies have shown that chronic cardiac denervation impairs myocardial glucose oxidation. To investigate this further we tested whether the tissue content of glucose transporters, activity of glycolytic enzymes or metabolic capacity of pyruvate dehydrogenase were altered. Moreover, we investigated whether the decline in glucose utilization was associated with an upregulation of proteins and enzymes involved in fatty acid handling.

L-carnitine combined with minimal electrical stimulation promotes type transformation of canine latissimus dorsi.

In the first part of this study, in four dogs the left latissimus dorsi was equipped to perform in vivo contraction measurements and the right latissimus dorsi served as control. After a control period, the dogs received L-carnitine intravenously for 8 wk. We found that carnitine caused the percentage of type I fibers to increase from 30 to 55% in the left latissimus dorsi but no change in the right latissimus dorsi.