Malate dehydrogenase activities are lower in some types of peripheral leucocytes of dogs and cats with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

The activities of the enzymes in the malate-aspartate shuttle were measured in peripheral leucocytes of spontaneous type 1 diabetic dogs and cats treated with insulin injections. In the diabetic dogs and cats, fasting plasma glucose concentrations were three- or fourfold greater than the control levels in spite of insulin injections and the activities of cytosolic malate dehydrogenase (MDH), one of pivotal enzymes in the malate-aspartate shuttle, were remarkably lower than the controls. Depressed expression of cytosolic MDH mRNA was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis in the diabetic animals.

Activities of enzymes in some types of peripheral leucocytes may reflect the differences in nutrient metabolism between dogs and cats.

Plasma metabolites and immunoreactive insulin (IRI) concentrations and enzyme activities of some types of peripheral leucocytes were measured to clarify one aspect of the differences in nutrient metabolism between dogs and cats. There were no significant differences in plasma concentrations of glucose, triglyceride, free fatty acids and IRI between dogs and cats. Higher total cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol concentrations were observed in feline plasma, and H/T ratio (HDL/total cholesterol concentrations) was significantly lower than that in canine plasma.

Fine mapping of the region including hypogonadism (hgn) locus on rat chromosome 10.

The hypogonadic rat (hgn/hgn) shows male sterility, reduced female fertility, and renal hypoplasia, controlled by a single recessive gene located on rat chromosome 10. We developed a fine map around the hgn locus using 565 rat backcross progeny and a Rat/Hamster radiation hybrid panel. The hgn locus was linked to Aldoc (aldolase c) and whn (winged helix of nude), and located in a 0.

Relationship between the sperm count and the fertilization rate of ova ovulated from the contralateral ovary in intrauterine horn insemination in cats.

Unilateral intrauterine horn insemination (UIUI) was carried out in cats, and we investigated the fertilization rate of ova ovulated from the contralateral ovary. Various numbers of sperm were used to inseminate the uterine horn on the side where ovulation was inhibited. The rates of conception were 1/11 (9.

Breeding season in female cats acclimated under a natural photoperiod and interval until puberty.

The breeding season was investigated in 174 female cats that were acclimated under a natural photoperiod, and determined the interval between birth and initial estrus (puberty) was determined in 125 cats. Although the breeding season differed noticeably among individual animals, the mean was 180.4 +/- 3.

Development of spermatogenic function in the sex maturation process in male cats.

The spermatogenic function and plasma testosterone (T) level in the sex maturation process were investigated as to 180 mixed breed cats ranging from 4 months to 2 years in age to be castrated. Testis/epididymis weights reached a peak at 10 and 8 to 9 months of age, respectively. In the testis, sperm appeared at 5 months of age.

Evaluation of QT interval prolongation in dogs with heart failure.

Comparison of the QT interval and corrected QT interval values that were calculated by the methods of Bazett (QTc1) and Fridericia (QTc2) were made between dogs with or without cardiac diseases to determine the influence of the QT interval on canine heart failure. Upon comparison of the measured values on ECG between the cardiac disease and non-cardiac disease groups, it was observed that the heart rate(HR) was significantly higher in the cardiac disease group than in the non-cardiac disease group, although the QT interval was similar in the two groups. The QTc1 and QTc2 were significantly longer in the cardiac disease group than in the non-cardiac disease group.

Effects of various selective phosphodiesterase inhibitors on carbachol-induced contraction and cyclic nucleotide contents in guinea pig taenia coli.

Effects of various selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors on muscle contractility and cyclic nucleotide contents in guinea pig taenia coli were investigated. Forskolin and sodium nitroprusside inhibited carbachol (CCh)-induced contraction in a concentration-dependent manner. Various selective PDE inhibitors, vinpocetine (type 1), erythro -9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine (EHNA, type 2), milrinone (type 3), Ro20-1724(type 4) and zaprinast (type 5) inhibited CCh-induced contraction in a concentration-dependent manner, but the inhibition of milrinone was noticeably smaller than that of the other PDE inhibitors.

Protease-induced hyperactivation of canine spermatozoa associated with disappearance of lectin-binding glycoproteins on their surface.

The relationship between the disappearance of glycoproteins from the surface of canine sperm and sperm capacitation was investigated in vitro. The protease (PR) concentration in flush fluids of the uterine horns and oviducts removed from 6 estrous, 5 diestrous, and 5 anestrous bitches was measured with a protease assay kit. Ejaculated sperm collected from 10 dogs were incubated for 4 hr in Eagle's MEM supplemented with 1 or 5 microg/ml PR, or to which no PR had been added (control).

Testicular compensatory hypertrophy related to hemicastration in prepubertal dogs.

Several studies have reported that the plasma testosterone (T) level and semen volume are compensated after hemicastration (HEC) in adult dogs, but that the sperm count is not. Nevertheless, the effects of HEC in prepubertal dogs have not been reported. In this study, HEC was performed at 16 weeks of age in 8 male beagles, and the function of the residual testis was investigated until 48 weeks of age.

Pituitary hormone responses to luteal regression after administration of prostaglandin F2alpha-analogue.

As an experiment to elucidate the canine luteal function maintenance system, a PGF2alpha-analogue, fenprostalene (PGF-F), was administered 24 and 54 days after ovulation to induce luteal regression, and the responses of luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin (PRL), which are considered to support the canine corpus luteum, were investigated. The plasma progesterone (P(4)) level was rapidly decreased, by which the plasma PRL level was increased, but no change was observed in the plasma LH level. The decrease in the plasma P(4) level after PGF-F administration may have induced positive feedback to the superior system, and stimulated secretion of the pituitary hormones.

Fusarium incarnatum isolated from black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon Fabricius, with black gill disease cultured in Vietnam.

Fusarium incarnatum was isolated from gill lesions of cultured black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon, in every crop during 2000-2002 in Nghe An province, Vietnam. Infected shrimps showed typical signs of black gill disease and mortalities about a month prior to harvest. Detailed morphological examinations, as well as molecular phylogenic analyses based on partial nucleotide sequences of ribosomal DNA, were made on the isolates.

An evaluation of radiographic hepatic size in dogs with portosystemic shunt.

Radiographically, the hepatic sizes of portosystemic shunt (PSS) cases were evaluated. In this study the hepatic area was compared in PSS and non-PSS dogs by utilizing the right lateral radiography. The top three breeds of PSS dogs of Maltese, Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terrier, were included and these dogs had a significantly smaller hepatic area ratio of 46.

A suspected case of ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency in a cat.

An 18 month-old, intact female American Shorthair cat was presented for evaluation of stunted growth and postprandial depression. Fasting serum ammonia and serum bile acid concentrations were above reference ranges at 396 microg/dl and 6.5 micromol/ l and their postprandial concentrations were 785 microg/dl and 9.

Enzyme activities in some types of peripheral leukocytes of thoroughbred race horses before and after the races.

Glucose, free fatty acid (FFA), triglyceride (TG) and immunoreactive insulin (IRI) concentrations in plasma and activities of enzymes related to energy metabolism in some types of peripheral leukocytes were measured in thoroughbred race horses before and after racing. Glucose, FFA, TG and IRI concentrations and enzyme activities did not change significantly in plasma. However, the activities of cytosolic hexokinase, malate dehydrogenase (MDH), mitochondrial MDH and aspartate aminotransferase decreased significantly in leukocytes of the horses after the races.

Disappearance of the PHA-E lectin binding site on the surface of ejaculated sperm and sperm capacitation in the dog.

Ejaculated semen and cross sections of the cauda epididymides collected from 3 normal dogs were smeared or stamped on glass slides, and the sperm on the slides were stained with 7 different FITC-lectins (Con A, DBA, GS-1, PHA-E, PSA, UEA-1, WGA) to examine the relation between sperm-binding glycoprotein derived from the canine prostate and sperm capacitation. The only lectin that stained the ejaculated sperm but not the cauda epididymal sperm was PHA-E. The sperm ejaculated by 5 other dogs were incubated for 4 hr in fluid flushed from the uterine horns or oviducts of estrous bitches, and then the percentages of actively motile sperm and hyperactivated sperm (HA-sperm) were determined.

Improvement in spermatogenic function after subcutaneous implantation of a capsule containing an aromatase inhibitor in four oligozoospermic dogs and one azoospermic dog with high plasma estradiol-17beta concentrations.

A capsule containing an aromatase inhibitor (4-androsten-4-ol-3,17-dione) was subcutaneously implanted in four oligozoospermic beagle dogs and one azoospermic beagle dog with high plasma estradiol-17beta (E2) concentrations (15-19 pg/ml) and low plasma testosterone (T) concentrations (0.6-0.8 ng/ml) for 8 weeks and the effect of the aromatase inhibitor on spermatogenic dysfunction was assessed.

Comparison between broilers and layers for growth and protein use by embryos.

Three experiments were conducted to compare the growth and protein utilization of embryo between broilers and layers. In experiments 1 and 2, the average weight of eggs was the same for broilers and layers. Nothing or an amino acid (AA) solution was injected into the eggs of broilers at d 7 of incubation, and the plasma AA concentration of newly hatched chicks was determined in broilers in experiment 1.

Characterization of a 39kDa capsular protein of avian Pasteurella multocida using monoclonal antibodies.

The role of a 39kDa protein of avian Pasteurella multocida in pathogenesis of fowl cholera was investigated using monoclonal antibodies (Mabs). Mabs were prepared by immunization of BALB/c mice with a crude capsular extract (CCE) of P. multocida strain P-1059 (serovar A:3).

A simple calculation for obtaining shunt fractions of portosystemic shunts.

Since the isotopes can not be utilized for veterinary patients in Japan, the authors developed a simple calculation formula of shunt fraction of portosystemic shunt based on the hepatic circulation model. The shunt fraction can be calculated utilizing only 2 portal pressure measurements of pre-shunt ligation and temporary or permanent shunt ligation. The calculated shunt fraction can obtained pre-ligation and post-ligation either temporally or permanent complete shunt ligation: complete ligation group of PSS (n=59) had 48.

Specific detection and identification of herpes B virus by a PCR-microplate hybridization assay.

Herpes B virus DNA was specifically amplified by PCR, targeting the regions that did not cross-react with herpes simplex virus (HSV). The amplified products, which were shown to be highly genetic polymorphisms among herpes B virus isolates, were identified by microplate hybridization with probes generated by PCR. The products immobilized in microplate wells were hybridized with the biotin-labeled probes derived from the SMHV strain of herpes B virus.

Vanadium contamination and the relation between vanadium and other elements in wild birds.

There is little information on vanadium (V) contamination in wildlife. In the present study, the mean V contents in liver and kidney from 41 wild Japanese water birds were less than 3.69 and 8.

Rumen ciliate protozoal fauna of reindeer in Inner Mongolia, China.

Rumen ciliate species and composition were surveyed on the reindeer kept in Inner Mongolia, China. As a result of survey, all the reindeer had the same 18 species of 8 genera of the ciliates in their rumen. Appearance of Entodinium parvum is the first record in this host species.

Copulatory behavior and fertility of male house musk shrews (Suncus murinus) paired with one, two and four females each.

In order to improve the productivity of house musk shrews, we investigated whether a male could impregnate more than one female within 24 h. Eighteen males and 40 females aged one year were used in this experiment. The mating systems were as follows: one male was paired with one female, one male was paired with two females, and one male was paired with four females.

Comparative study on circadian rhythms of body temperature, heart rate, and locomotor activity in three species hamsters.

Circadian rhythms of body temperature, heart rate, and locomotor activity were observed in the unanesthetized and unrestrained Syrian hamsters, Djungarian hamsters and Chinese hamsters, and the differences in these biological characters among the three species of hamster were investigated. In each species, body temperature, heart rate, and locomotor activity in the dark period were higher than those in the light period. Heart rate of Chinese hamsters was higher than that of the others in both the light and dark periods.