Induction of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Conventional Domestic Swine Using N-Diethylnitrosamine and Phenobarbital.

Purpose: Large animal models are still used in many studies because of their likeness to humans. It has not been documented that regular-sized conventional farm-breed pigs, generally bred for meat production, can be used to generate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) animal models. The goal of this study was to investigate how N-diethylnitrosamine (DENA) and phenobarbital (PB) together can generate HCC in ordinary farmed pigs.

Leaves Extract Ameliorates Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity via Its Mitochondrial Biogenesis Modulatory Activity in Rats.

Background: Doxorubicin, an anthracycline class of anticancer, is an effective chemotherapeutic agent with serious adverse effects, mainly cardiotoxicity. Several possible causes of doxorubicin cardiotoxicity are increased oxidative stress, nucleic acid and protein synthesis inhibition, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and mitochondrial biogenesis disruptions. (MO), a naturally derived medicine, is known for its antioxidative properties and activity in alleviating mitochondrial dysfunction.

Effects of the Hydnophytum formicarum plant extract on collagen density, angiogenesis, wound length, and re-epithelialization in wound healing: Experimental study on rats.

Background: The formation of scar tissue in the wound healing process is associated with fibroblasts that are produced during the proliferation phase (3-14 days after surgery/injury). One of the strategies to suppress the formation of excessive scar tissue is to use wound care material. The use of herbal extracts is currently being investigated by researchers, as it allows avoiding the side effects of synthetic drugs.

First Molecular Detection of Coxiella burnetii in Beef Cattle in West Java, Indonesia.

Coxiella burnetii is a bacterial pathogen that causes Q fever, which is widespread worldwide. Livestock such as cattle, goats, and sheep are the main sources of C. burnetii infection.

High expressions of the cytoglobin and PGC-1α genes during the tissue regeneration of house gecko (Hemidactylus platyurus) tails.

Background: The tissue regeneration process requires high oxygen and energy levels. Cytoglobin (Cygb) is a member of the globin family, which has the ability to bind oxygen, plays a role in dealing with oxidative stress, and carries oxygen into the mitochondria. Energy production for tissue regeneration is associated with mitochondria-especially mitochondrial biogenesis.

Expression and role of HIF-1α and HIF-2α in tissue regeneration: a study of hypoxia in house gecko tail regeneration.

The house gecko () has evolved the ability to autotomize its tail when threatened. The lost part is then regrown via epimorphic regeneration in a process that requires high energy and oxygen levels. Oxygen demand is therefore likely to outstrip supply and this can result in relative hypoxia in the tissues of the regenerating tail.

Neuronal Cell Death and Mouse () Behaviour Induced by Bee Venom.

Neuronal cell death can occur in a tissue or organ, including the brain, which affects memory. The objectives of this study were to determine the dose of bee venom that causes neuronal death and analyse the alteration of mouse behaviour, focusing in particular on spatial memory. Fifteen male mice of Deutsche Denken Yoken (DDY) strain were divided into control and treatment groups.

Evidences of in vivo bioactivity of Fe-bioceramic composites for temporary bone implants.

Iron-bioceramic composites have been developed as biodegradable implant materials with tailored degradation behavior and bioactive features. In the current work, in vivo bioactivity of the composites was comprehensively studied by using sheep animal model. Five groups of specimens (Fe-HA, Fe-TCP, Fe-BCP composites, and pure-Fe and SS316L as controls) were surgically implanted into medio proximal region of the radial bones.

Immunohistochemical characterization of macrophages and myofibroblasts in fibrotic liver lesions due to Fasciola infection in cattle.

Histopathologically, fibrosis in Fasciola-infected cattle livers was characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration, such as eosinophils and macrophages, pseudo-lobule, pseudo-bile ducts and fibrotic bridges separating pseudo-lobules; the fibrotic lesions were developed in the Glisson's sheath. Pseudo-bile ducts consisting of epithelial cells reacted clearly to cytokeratin (CK) 19, indicating cholangiocyte origin. Immunophenotypes of macrophages and myofibroblasts were investigated in the fibrotic livers.

Slowly progressive cholangiofibrosis induced in rats by α-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT), with particular references to characteristics of macrophages and myofibroblasts.

A progressive cholangiofibrosis was developed as an animal model in 6-week-old male F344 rats by repeated intraperitoneal injections of α-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) for 19 weeks; liver samples were examined at post-first injection (PFI) weeks 3, 7, 10, 13, 16 and 19, focusing on characteristics of macrophages and myofibroblasts by immunohistochemical analyses. In the affected Glisson's sheath consisting of inflammatory cell infiltrates, bile duct proliferation and advancing fibrosis, the number of macrophages reacting to OX6 (recognizing MHC class II) increased consistently (PFI weeks 3-19), suggesting a central role of antigen presenting cells in the biliary fibrosis; macrophages reacting to ED1 (CD68, reflecting phagocytic activity) and ED2 (CD163, relating to proinflammatory factor production) showed a significantly increased number at PFI weeks 7-19 and PFI weeks 13-19, respectively. Interestingly, macrophages positive for SRA-E5 (CD204, reflecting lipid metabolism) increased at PFI weeks 7-19, and the appearance was limited in the sinusoids around the affected Glisson's sheath.

Rat hair follicle-constituting cells labeled by a newly-developed somatic stem cell-recognizing antibody: a possible marker of hair follicle development.

A3 was generated as an antibody recognizing somatic stem cells in rat tissues. We investigated the distribution of A3-positive cells in developing rat hair follicles by immunolabeling. A3-positive cells began to be seen in the hair germ and peg in fetuses and neonates; the positive cells were epithelial cells above basal cells.

Expressions of Iba1 and galectin-3 (Gal-3) in thioacetamide (TAA)-induced acute rat liver lesions.

Ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) is associated with membrane ruffling and motility of cells. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a β-galactoside binding animal lectin, and regulates fibrogenesis probably through transforming growth factor-β1. To evaluate macrophage properties, expressions of Iba1 and Gal-3 were investigated, in relation to macrophages expressing CD68 (ED1; reflecting increased phagocytosis) and CD163 (ED2; implying proinflammatory factor productions) in centrilobular lesions induced in rat livers with thioacetamide (TAA; 300 mg/kg body weight, once intraperitoneally).

Thy-1 expression, a possible marker of early myofibroblast development, in renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis induced in rats by cisplatin.

Interstitial fibrosis is regarded as the common final pathway in chronic renal failure. Myofibroblasts play an important role in the renal fibrosis through producing extracellular matrices. In addition to expressions of cytoskeletons such as vimentin, desmin and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), Thy-1 expression was investigated in cisplatin-induced rat renal interstitial fibrosis, to clarify the characteristics of myofibroblasts.

Immunophenotypical analysis of myofibroblasts and mesenchymal cells in the bleomycin-induced rat scleroderma, with particular reference to their origin.

Cellular characteristics of myofibroblasts and its possible origin with mesenchymal stem cell nature in scleroderma remain to be investigated. We analyzed these cells in scleroderma induced in F344 rats by bleomycin (BLM) by immunolabeling using a panel of marker antibodies for cytoskeletons (vimentin, desmin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)) and stromal stem cells (Thy-1, A3). Skin samples were collected at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after initiation of subcutaneous injections of BLM (100 μl of 1 mg/ml, daily).

Relationship of Cell Proliferating Marker Expressions with PGE(2) Receptors in Regenerating Rat Renal Tubules after Cisplatin Injection.

Cisplatin, an anticancer drug, is well known to have nephrotoxicity as an adverse effect. We investigated the expressions of cell cycle markers and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) receptors (EP) in the affected renal tubules in rats injected with a single dose (6 mg/kg body weight) of cisplatin. On days 1-3 after dosing, the affected renal epithelial cells were almost desquamated, showing necrosis.

Amelioration of cisplatin-induced rat renal lesions by a cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 selective inhibitor.

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, an inducible form of COX, plays important roles in inflammatory lesions. We investigated effects of a COX-2 selective inhibitor, NS-398, on cisplatin (CDDP)-induced rat renal lesions. As compared with rats injected with a single dose of CDDP (6 mg/kg; CDDP group), rats who were treated everyday with NS-398 (3mg/kg) after the CDDP injection (inhibitor group), showed the declines of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine values, and the delay of the peak of regenerating renal epithelial cell number (demonstrable with 5'-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine immunohistochemistry); these findings suggested cytoprotective effects of the inhibitor.

Involvement of endogenous prostaglandin E2 in tubular epithelial regeneration through inhibition of apoptosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cisplatin-induced rat renal lesions.

In the kidney, prostaglandin (PG) E2 is the main PG, playing important roles in maintaining homeostasis or development of pathological settings. Roles of PGE2 in renal lesions remain to be clarified. The expression patterns of PGE2 synthesis enzymes such as cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, COX-2 and microsomal PGE synthase (mPGES)-1, and PGE2 receptors (EP2 and EP4) were examined in cisplatin-induced rat renal failure.

The kinetics and distribution of different macrophage populations in the developing rat skin.

Macrophages play important roles in host defense and homeostasis. In contrast to adulthood, far less is known about macrophage populations in fetuses and neonates. Macrophages were evaluated in the developing rat skin at different anatomical sites (head, anterior dorsal, posterior dorsal, and abdomen) of F344 rats obtained on gestational days 18 and 20, on neonatal days 1-21, and at adult weeks 5-15.

Gastrointestinal candidiasis in an Aldabra giant tortoise (Geochelone gigantea).

An adult female Aldabra giant tortoise (Geochelone gigantea) was found dead with a 2 month-history of decreased appetite. At necropsy, multiple ulcers were seen in the mucosa of stomach and colon. Histopathologically, the ulcers were characterized by extensive necrosis, hemorrhage, and marked edema, along with numerous chlamidospores and aseptate fungal hyphae.