Analysis of Alternative Methods of Environmental Monitoring for Listeria in Food Production Facilities.

Validated alternative test methodologies may be used in place of culture-based methods recommended for environmental monitoring programs (EMPs) for Listeria in food production facilities. In order to help guide decisions on which testing method to use to simplify Listeria EMP implementation in food production facilities, alternative methods were compared to the culture-based method in actual EMPs for Listeria. Seventy-two samples collected from two facilities of souzai production businesses that use meat and meat products as ingredients, one facility of processed meat product production business, and one facility of processed meat product and souzai production business were applied to EMPs for Listeria using the culture-based method, 3M Molecular Detection System (MDS), and InSite L.

Placental activin A is required for follicular development during the second half of pregnancy in the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus).

Numerous antral follicles develop during the second half of pregnancy in the golden hamster even though LH and FSH are maintained at basal levels. To investigate the possible hormone actions of activin A associated with follicular development, pregnant golden hamsters were placentectomized on day 6 of pregnancy and animals were sacrificed at day 8, 10, 12, or 14 of pregnancy. There was a drastic decrease in the plasma concentrations of activin A from day 10 of pregnancy in the operated group compared to the controls.