Ultrastructural changes of the glomeruli were examined in the kidneys without gross lesions from 32 slaughtered pigs aged about six months. Of these, 24 pigs showed diffuse global mesangial enlargement with definite IgG and C3 deposition, and other eight had slight or no change in the glomeruli with little or no IgG or C3 deposition. The major ultrastructural abnormality was the electron-dense deposits in subendothelial, subepithelial and most frequently mesangial areas. Of the deposits in the mesangium, paramesangial ones were most characteristic. The degree of the deposition of electron-dense deposits generally coincided with that in light and immunofluorescence microscopy. In 20 of the 32 pigs, the clusters of spherical microparticles (SMP) were present in the mesangial, intramembranous, subendothelial and most frequently subepithelial areas. The incidence of SMP did not always coincide with the intensity in light microscopy, the immunofluorescent antibody test or the deposition of dense deposits. No conspicuous lesions of the glomerular basement membrane were observed except the electron-dense deposits and SMP.

View full abstract

The cells obtained from canine transmissible sarcoma (CTS) gradually divided into two types of floating and adherent cells after cultivation. From their histological findings and karyotype analysis, the floating cells were confirmed as CTS cells and the adherent cells were identified as fibroblasts. However, the floating cells were difficult to maintain in vitro beyond 2 weeks under the present cultivation system. CTS developed in all three dogs at the sites implanted of the floating cells, but no neoplasms appeared with the adherent cells.

View full abstract

Histopathological investigation of the distribution and characteristics of the lesions in beagle dogs given excessive vitamin D₂ was undertaken with special attention to changes in the vascular system. At the same time, the effects of simultaneous cholesterol loading upon these lesions were also examined. Oral administration of vitamin D₂ at the dose of 480, 000 I.U./kg/day for 21 days produced medial edema, disorganization of the elastic laminae and degeneration of smooth muscle cells in the aorta, and intimal edema, disruption of calcified internal elastic lamina and proliferation of smooth muscle cells in the coronary arteries. Metastatic calcification was observed in the lungs, trachea, kidneys, thyroid glands, parathyroid glands, choroid plexus, submandibular and parotid glands, prostate, stomach and retina. Simultaneous cholesterol loading at the dose of 300 mg/kg/day showed an additional deleterious effects on these changes, leading to the so-called Monckeberg's type sclerosis in the aorta characterized by the complex deposition of calcium, polysaccharides and a little amount of lipids in the media.

View full abstract

Toxicity of mist of fenthion (MPP), an organophosphorus insecticide, in rats by whole-body exposure was compared with that by snout-only exposure. During the snout-only exposure, each animal was confined in an animal holder. The 4-hr LC50 of MPP by the whole-body exposure was 0.22mg/l, and that by the snout-only exposure was 1.84mg/l. Results of the acute toxicities of MPP administered by p.o. and s.c. to rats with or without restraint in the holder indicated that the effect of restraint on the inhalation toxicity of MPP caused by the snout-only exposure seemed to be of little significance. Clipping the fur of animals immediately after the whole-body exposure reduced the toxicity. The whole-body exposure caused more marked inhibition of ChE activity of whole blood than the snout-only exposure at the same concentration. The fur clipping after whole-body exposure decreased the inhibition of the ChE activity. The whole-body exposure, the snout-only exposure, and the fur clipping after whole-body exposure caused similar inhibition of the ChE activity after exposure at each LC50. It is concluded that the acute toxicity of MPP mist by the whole-body exposure is 8 times as toxic as that by the snout-only exposure, and the difference may be caused by the chemical intake via non-inhalation route(s) during and after the whole-body exposurd.

View full abstract

The larger molecules of immunoglobulin G (LIgG) were found in ascites fluid containing monoclonal antibody against Clostridium botulinum toxin, and were purified by gel filtration and affinity chromatography. The purified material had the antigenicity and antibody activity similar to those of IgG obtained from the same ascites fluid. The molecular weight (Mr) estimated by gel filtration of the purified material was 250, 000, while LIgG molecules dissociated into a kind of molecule with Mr 245, 000 and nine kinds of the component molecules with Mr 220, 000, 188, 000, 152, 000, 135, 000, 105, 000, 75, 000, 67, 000, 52, 000 and 25, 000 in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS-PAGE) in the absence of 2-mercaptoethanol (2ME). In SDS-PAGE in the presence of 2ME, the bands of Mr above 135, 000 disappeared and three bands of Mr 120, 000, 82, 000 and 67, 000 newly appeared besides the usual hesvy and light chains of IgG. These results suggest that hybridoma cells produce not only normal IgG but also LIgG.

View full abstract

Antibodies to feline T-lymphotropic lentivirus (FTLV) were detected in the Japanese domestic cat population. The antibodies were shown to react with a 26 kd protein seen in the FrLV-infected lymphocytes. Almost all the 86 antibody-positive cats had chronic disease signs such as stomatitis/gingivitis, emaciation, upper respiratory diseases and lymphadenopathy in the absence of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection. The infected cats were found in all age groups, and most were either outdoor cats or previous free-roaming cats introduced into the house. The infection seemed common in multiple-cat households, and the overall infection rate in such contaminated households was 52.7%.

View full abstract

To study the effects of hexavalent and trivalent chromium on lipid peroxidation, isolated rat hepatocytes were incubated with different concentrations of chromium compounds at 37°C for 60min. Lipid peroxidation was determined as thiobarbituric acid (TBA)-reacting materials. Cellular injury was observed as a leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from hepatocytes into incubation medium. The contents of reduced glutathione(GSH) in hepatocytes were also assessed. Results obtained were as follows: (1) Lipid peroxidation of isolated rat hepatocytes which was expressed as TBA-reactant formation was inhibited by trivalent chromium at the range of concentrations tested in this experiment (125∼1000μM). Hexavalent one inhibited lipid peroxidation at low concentration (125μM), but facilitated that at high concentration (1000μM). (2) LDH-leakage was facilitated by the addition of hexavalent chromium (K₂Cr₂O₇, 125∼1000μM), on the other hand trivalent one (Cr(NO₃)₃) inhibited it significantly at concentrations more than 250μM. (3) The hexavalent chromium-induced lipid peroxidation was inhibited by antioxidants such as N, N'-dipheyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPPD), α-tocopherol and diethyl dithiocarbamate (DDTC). However, LDH-leakage from hepatocytes was not inhibited by these antioxidants. (4) After the pretreatment with GSH depleting agent such as diethyl maleate (DEM) on isolated hepatocytes, the lipid peroxidation induced by hexavalent chromium was significantly enhanced and was dependent on the chromium concentrations in the incubation medium. Furthermore this enhancement of lipid peroxidation was canceled by the addition of GSH (10mM). (5) The lipid peroxidation induced by ascorbate was significantly inhibited by the addition of hexavalent chromium as well as trivalent one. This effect of hexavalent chromium might be essentially due to the reduction of hexavalent chromium to trivalent one by ascorbate. These results suggest that chromium in trivalent form inhibits lipid peroxidation in isolated hepatocytes, while hexavalent one facilitates it but is not necessarily correlated to cellular injury.

View full abstract

Changes in plasma insulin concentrations in the pregnancy, lactation and after-weaning period in female rats were investigated. Plasma insulin concentrations increased as pregnancy progressed, but there was a sharp decrease before parturition and the values remained at 20 to 30% of those in virgin rats throughout the lactation period. The concentrations again returned to the same levels as in virgin rats 3 days after completion of lactation. Decreased plasma insulin concentrations during the lactation period were seen in the portal and abdominal veins and in the carotid artery. Plasma insulin concentrations in lactating rats decreased in dose-dependent manner with increased litter sizes, but they returned to the values in the virgin rats when the litter sizes were decreased and lactation stopped. Since the same amounts of insulin secretion as in virgin rats were observed in lactating rats after administration of glucose, it was evident that insulin secretion from the pancreas is suppressed in lactating rats. Because plasma insulin concentrations were not decreased in rats with the galactophores sectioned beforehand even when a sucking stimulus was applied, and there were dose-dependent decreases in the blood glucose levels in abdominal vein and simultaneous stepwise decreases in the portal insulin levels in lactating rats as the litters become larger, it was assumed that drops in peripheral blood glucose levels with milk secretion have an effect on the decreased plasma insulin conccntrations in lactating rats.

View full abstract

From a feline patient, monoclonal-IgA (M-IgA) and Bence Jones (B-J) proteins were isolated and charaterized for their biochemical properties. The molecular weight of the purified M-IgA was estimated to be approximately 230, 000 daltons and the molecular weights of the B-J proteins were estimated to be 28, 500 and 25, 000 daltons, by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The biochemical and immunochemical data support our earlier conclusion that the feline patients suffered from an M-IgA gammopathy associated with B-J proteinuria. Furthermore, B-J proteins in the patient's urine appeared to contain at least five B-J protein components, when analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. These M-IgA and B-J have common antigenic determinants and identical polypeptide segment, as demonstrated by immunological tests and by the analysis of amino acid composition. The analysis of the amino acid composition of the feline B-J proteins also indicated that it is similar to that of the human B-J protein.

View full abstract

Serum total glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (t-GOT), mitochondrial GOT (m-GOT)and glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) activities were determined in 26 calves and 86 cows as healthy controls and in 232 cases of liver disorders. In addition, the changes in GOT isoenzymes were examined in 4 calves experimentally induced liver damage. GOT isoenzymes were separated both by a simplified column chromatographic method coupled with UV assay and by an enzyme-electrophoretic method. The m-GOT activities of healthy controls by the chromatographic method were about three times higher than those by the electrophoretic method. Clinically, the electrophoretic method was proved to be more practical than the chromatographic method in bovine. The cleaf rise and fall in serum m-GOT activity indicated that the m-GOT and the m-GOT/t-GOT ratio were sensitive markers for experimentally induced hepatic lesions at acute stages in cows. In the clinical cases, m-GOT increased moderately or remarkably in hepatocellular necrosis, liver fibrosis, tumor of the liver and amyloidosis, but it showed little increase in hydropic droplet degeneration, fascioliasis and fatty change of the liver. As the m-GOT/t-GOT ratio had less effect on muscular damage in cows than the individual t-GOT and m-GOT, the ratio was thought to be a very useful diagnostic aid in clinical cases.

View full abstract

Fine structures of the "Medulla-like tissue (MT)" and the lymph sinuses facing the MT of pig lymph nodes were studied by electron microscopy. The MT consisted mainly of reticular cells and strands of collagen fibers, and there were no obvious structures of the so-called medullary sinuses. In the MT of the cortico-medullary junction and near the sub-capsular lymph sinuses, there found the clusters of dendritic cells, which were furnished with a number of thin, elongated cytoplasmic processes connected to one another or to macrophages to form fine networks. In the sub-capsular areas of the MT where the efferent lymph vessels were restrictively absent, no genuine lymphatic sinuses were identified. The endothelial cells which configure the trabecular side of the peri-trabecular lymph sinuses (PTLS) were constantly covered with a basallamina and the surface of which has well-developed layer of collagen fibers. Inner walls of the sub-capsular lymph sinuses (SCLS) and parenchymal walls of the PTLS consisted of bi-layers of sinus lining cells with gaps and strands of collagen fibers. These results suggest that the MT in the pig lymph nodes has connective tissue-like structure, which is a characteristic ultrastructure, and enhances the filtration of materials and cellular elements in the pig lymph nodes.

View full abstract

Effect of triflumuron, a benzoylphenylurea, to inhibit the fly emergence from chicken feces was examined under a simulated field condition. Thirty 0.5 kg fecal samples, collected from a poultry house, were divided into 5 groups of 6 samples each and each sample was placed in a container. One of the 5 groups was used as the non-treated control and another group was sprayed with 300 ml tap water per m² bottom area of container. The remaining three groups were sprayed with 300 ml triflumuron-water suspension to give 250 mg triflumuron per m² bottom area, 500 mg/m², and 1000mg/m², respectively. The numbers of adult flies, Musca domestica, emerging from the fecal samples wefe 18.8±4.4 (average ±SD) and 18.3±3.8 in the non-treated and the water sprayed groups, respectively, whereas those in the triflumuron sprayed groups were 9.0±0.6 in 250 mg/m² group, 6.8±0.8 in 500 mg/m² group, and 1.2±0.4 in 1000 mg/m² group. Deformed pupae were recovered from the fecal samples treated with triflumuron. From these results, it is concluded that triflumuron is sufficiently larvicidal against fly larvae in chicken feces.

View full abstract

The ontogeny of the six main types of gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) endocrine cells was immunohistochemically studied in developing mouse and pig. Glucagon-immunoreactive cells first appeared in the duodenum and the primordial pancreas in 9-day-old mouse and 0.8 cm (18-day-old) porcine fetuses. In the mouse pancreas, following the appearance of the glucagon-immunoreactive cells, pancreatic polypeptide (PP)-, insulin-, gastrin/cholecystokinin (gastrin/CCK)- and somatostatin-immunoreactive cells were detected in 10-, 11-, 13- and 15- day-old fetuses. In the porcine pancreas, insulin-, somatostatin- and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-immunoreactive cells were demonstrated in 1.0 cm (20-day-old) fetuses, while PP-immunoreactive cells were observed in 2.5 cm (30-day-old) fetuses. In contrast, in the mouse gastrointestinal tract, PP- and gastrin/CCK-immunoreactive cells were first found in 14-day-old fetuses, then 5-HT- and somatostatin-immunoreactive cells in 15- and 16-day-old fetused, respectively. In the porcine gut, four kinds of immunoreactive cells appeared in 2.0-3.0 cm (28-32 day-old) fetuses. It was demonstrated that insulin-immunoreactive cells were rarely seen in the porcine antrum and duodenum in the initial stage of development. These results indicate that the glucagon-immunoreactive cells first appear in the GEP endocrine system and that the endocrine cells in the primordial pancreas appear prior to those in the digestive tract proper. Therefore, it is suggested that the ontogenic patterns of GEP endocrine cells are basically similar in mice and pigs.

View full abstract

Selective medium for the isolation of urinary corynebacteria from samples contaminated with feces or urine of cows was prepared by incorporating 200 μg/ml fosfomycin and 2 μg/ml amphotericin B into standard blood agar. Using this medium, distribution of the organisms was examined from the vulva and vaginal vestibule of 210 apparently healthy cows. C. pilosum was isolated from the vulva and vaginal vestibule at the ratio of 16.2%, and C. renale was isolated from the same sites at 5.7% and 6.6%, respectively. Number of colonies detected from the vulva was greater than that from the vaginal vestibule. The findings suggest that bovine vulva may be a suitable habitat for C.pilosum and C. renale, and the results correlated with the fact that these organisms adhered best to the epithelial celld of the vulva in in-vitro experiments.

View full abstract

The superficial glial limiting membrane (SGLM) of the parietal and cerebellar cortices and the spinal cord was studied in the adult cat by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The SGLM of the parietal cortex was generally thick, and it consisted of protoplasmic astrocytes and their processes. These processes varied in shape, and they were complexly interwined. The processes included foot processes, consisting of the end-feet and the ascending processes, sheet-like processes, cylindrical processes, thick processes with large extensions, and other processes with irregular outlines. The end-feet in the parietal cortex had numerous, denticular processes and a few cylindrical and sheet-like processes. The thick processes extended cylindrical, secondary processes. The SGLM of the cerehellar cortex consisted primarily of end-feet originating from Bergmann cells, and secondarily of marginal, subpial astrocytes generally arranged in a single layer. The end-feet on the cerebellar cortex were disk-like, with numerous denticular processes. The SGLM of the spinal cord consisted of fibrous astrocytes. Their processes were less complex than those in the parietal cortex, and also contained foot processes, consisting of end-feet and ascending processes, and cylindrical processes. The end-feet had numerous, fine processes and some long, unbranched processes.

View full abstract

Prophylactic efficacy of ivermectin by monthly interval medication against Dirofilaria immitis natural infection was evaluated. Thirty five mongrel dogs were used and divided into three groups of Group A, B and C in this study. All dogs were exposed to D. immitis natural infection through mosquitos for three months from July 1 to September 30 in 1984. Dogs of Group A and B were experimentally inoculated three times with every 10 of infective larvae of D. immitis, 30 of the larvae in total, per dog in July and August. Fifteen dogs of Group A were orally given ivermectin at 6 μg/kg on the first days of August, September, October and November. Fifteen dogs of Group B were given placebo on the same days as ivermectin. Five dogs of Group C were kept nontreated. Average 49.1 worms were recovered from all dogs of Group B, and the average recovery ratio of the worms recovered for the infective larvae inoculated was 163.7%. Average 33.6 worms were recovered from all dogs of Group C. The recovery numbers of Group B and C suggest that severe D. immitis natural infection occurred to dogs in this study. No worms were recovered from dogs of Group A which were given ivermectin. The results of this study showed that ivermectin prevented migration of the larvae to the right ventricle, and caused no toxic findings in this study. It is proven that monthly interval medication of ivermectin at 6 μg/kg during the period from one month after the first infection to one month after the last infection of D. immitis prevents dogs from D. immitis infection completely.

View full abstract

A 10-day-old calf was affected with disseminated aspergillosis involving the central nervous system. The primary lesion was thought to be bronchioli. The metastatic lesions were found in the kidney, heart, lymph node and ischiadic nerve. Alimentary aspergillosis and mucormycosis were observed independently. Weak costitution resulting from premature delivery, dislocation of the right hip joint and administration of antibiotics and dexamethasone were considered as predisposing factors for the mycotic infection.

View full abstract

The gingival blood flow was measured by hydrogen gas clearance method in rats with naturally occurring gingivitis (SUS rat). A significant increase in the blood flow was observed in the gingiva of 2- to 4-month-old SUS rats with acute gingivitis. Thereafter, the gingival blood flow gradually decreased. The blood flow in the gingiva with subacute gingivitis showed almost similar to that in the gingiva of SUS rats at pre-experimental stage. The control rats (RES rats) showed constant gingival blood flow during the experimental period. The findings suggest that changes in the gingival blood fiow are associated with the process of gingivitis.

View full abstract

Chickens and chicken embryos were infected with a vaccine or with wild strain of fowlpox virus (FPV), and the effect of complement activation on the pathogenicity of FPV was examined in terms of histological lesions, mortality, virus growth, and host response. In chicken embryos and in chickens, the complement was activated by the vaccine strain but not by the wild strain. The vaccine strain was avirulent in chickens, whereas it was highly virulent in chicken embryos. Carrageenan treatment that inhibited heterophile infiltration of the pock lesions in chicken embryos reduced the virulence of the vaccine strain. Virus-specific antibody response, as well as protective immunity to challenge from another attenuated strain, developed earlier and at highef levels following inoculation by the vaccine strain than by the wild virus. These findings indicate that complement-mediated reactions are involved in the expression of virus pathogenicity as well as in the induction of immune responses.

View full abstract

The presence and quantity of protein A in Staphylococcus hyicus subsp. hyicus isolates from pigs, chickens and cows were examined. Cell-bound protein A was demonstrated in 42 (89.4%) of 47 isolates from diseased pigs and in 105 (79.5%) of 132 isolates from healthy pigs by a slide hemagglutination test, but not in any isolates from chickens and cows. In the immunodiffusion test with digested cell supernatants, almost all of these swine isolates formed a precipitating line against human IgG, which fused with the precipitating line formed by protein A of Staphylococcus aureus strain Cowan I. When the quantity of cell-bound protein A was determined by a microplate hemagglutination test with digested cell supernatants, most of the swine isolates showed lower titers of 32 to 256, as compared with S. aureus (5, 120). On the other hand, protein A was also demonstrated in the culture supernatants of swine isolates, but it seemed to be cell-bound protein A, which was released into the medium from the bacterial cell walls.

View full abstract

Glands were observed in the reticular groove of all the sheep examined. They were compound tubulo-alveolar and seromucous glands and situated mostly in the submucosa or muscle layer of the left lip of the groove around the reticulo-omasal orifice. Their terminal portion consisted of serous and mucous cells and was surrounded by myoepithelial cells. The serous cells contained large electron-lucent vacuoles with serous granules in the peri- and supranuclear region of the cytoplasm. Myoepithelial cells were observed between the glandular cells and the basement membrane. They extended cell processes over the acinar surface and formed a network by their end-to-end junctions. These glands resembled the esophageal glands with regard to the location in the mucosa and the histological structure. They seemed to appear in juvenile animals with a high frequency. Therefore, it is considered that the area containing these glands may be related to the esophagus in the organogenesis of the forestomach in the sheep.

View full abstract

The characteristics of the antigens in larval flukes of Paragonimus westermani were examined. The agar gel double-diffusion test and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, using the antiserum against the antigen extracted from larval flukes, showed cross-reactivity between the larval and adult antigens. In immunoblotting analysis, there was a decrease in reactivity of the antiserum absorbed with the adult fluke antigen against the band with a molecular weight of 26, 000. However, the bands corresponding to 34, 000 or higher molecular weights were still detected. The immunoperoxidase-staining technique revealed that the antigens reacting to the unabsorbed and absorbed antisera were both located on the surface of the gut epithelium and in the luminal contents of larval flukes. These results suggest that the extract of larval P. westermani possesses at least two antigens, originating probably from the gut, one being common to the adult and the other characteristic of the larva.

View full abstract

A mineral balance (Ca, Mg and P) was examined in five non-pregnant ewes that had been fed on a fixed ration for 10 days (C-1 period), the ration supplemented with calcium carbonate (CaCO₃;750 mg/kg b.w.) for the following 14 days (E period), and again the ration solely for the last 7 days (C-2 period). Increased dietary Ca content (E period) resulted in significant increases in the apparent absorption and retention of Ca, but the urinary excretion of Ca did not change and the serum concentration of Ca rose only transiently and slightly. High dietary Ca content resulted in gradual increases in the fecal excretions of Mg and P, and consequently in decreases in the apparent absorptions and retentions of them. Though the urinary excretion of Mg did not change, that of P increased, especially in the last half of E period, and after this the retention of P showed a negative value. The serum concentration declined transiently in Mg and rose transiently in P regardless of their balances. In C-2 period, the apparent absorption and retention of Ca showed negative values, but the urinary excretion and serum concentration of Ca did not change. The apparent absorption and retention of Mg were decreased by increased fecal and urinary excretions of it, and the serum Mg level remained low. Though the apparent absorption of P increased, there was only a slight positive retention of P because the urinary excretion rate of P remained high. These results indicate that the transient increase of Ca absorption resulted from high dietary Ca content inhibits metabolisms of both Mg and P.

View full abstract

The posthatching development of lymphoid tissues and the distributions of immunoglobulin-containing cells (cIg: cIgG, cIgA, cIgM) or thymus-derived lymphocytes (T cells) which appeared in the upper alimentary tract (AT) and the respiratory tract (RT) of chickens were estimated immunohistochemically and histoplanimetrically. In adults, a marked amount of well-developed lymph nodules was noted in the upper AT as esophageal tonsils, and also in the RT as mesobronchial lymph nodules. Histoplanimetry showed the highest relative frequency in eacll class of cIg in the area of esophageal tonsils. A predominant frequency of cIgG compared to cIgA and cIgM was observed throughout upper AT and RT, and during the course of posthatching development, a small number of cIgG were found first in the esophageal tonsils and in the mesobronchial lymph nodules at 5 days of age. In these regions an active increase of cIgG was shown until 2 weeks of age, when the formation of germinal centers (GC) was first noted in the lymphoid tissues. In the lamina propria of the upper AT and RT, a large number of T cells appeared on the 20th day of incubation. And then the frequencies of cIg and T cells gradually increased with aging. These results suggested that the esophageal tonsils and the mesobronchial lymph nodules might act as local immune system corresponding to the Peyer's patches of cecal tonsils in the lower AT.

View full abstract

The intravaginal artificial insemination was carried out in bitches with fresh semen and the number of sperms and the quantity of semen required for conception was examined. Bitches were inseminated with 1 ml (group 1) or 3 ml (group 2) of semen. Each group was divided into 4 subgroups (A-D) inseminated with semen containing 2.0, 1.0, 0.5 or 0.25×10⁸ viable sperms, respectively. The conception rates in groups A, B, C and D were 7/8 (89%), 5/15 (33%), 6/13 (46%) and 0/8 (0%), respectively, and in naturally mated group, 18/19 (95%). Groups B, C and D were significantly different in the rate of conception from the control and group A. No significant difference was observed among groups in the number of puppies born. In case of intravaginal artificial insemination with fresh semen in bitches, semen should contain 2.0×10⁸ sperms/ml to obtain a similar rate of conception and number of offspring as in naturally breeding bitches.

View full abstract

Uptake by mouse polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) of piliated (P⁺) and non-piliated (P^-) bacteria of Corynebacterium renale strain No.115 was studied. P⁺ bacteria were significantly less phagocytized than P^- bacteria by PMNs in the absence of opsonins, in the presence of 5% complement alone, and in the presence of either anti-pili serum alone, anti-P⁺ bacteria serum alone or anti-P^- bacteria serum alone. Uptake of P⁺ bacteria was enhanced and became nearly equal to P^- bacteria in the presence of anti-pili serum plus complement and in the presence of anti-P⁺ bacteria serum plus complement. The anti-pili monoclonal antibodies 16/5 and 13/4 were opsonic, regardless of the pressence of complement, for P⁺ but not P^- bacteria, but there was less effect than that of anti-pili polyclonal antibody plus complement. Uptake of P^- bacteria in the presence of opsonins was similar to that in the absence of opsonins.

View full abstract

Feline alveolar macrophages were inoculated with feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV). Cultured macrophages produced substantial amounts of interleukin 1 (IL-1) in the supernatants, as determined by C3H/HeJ mouse thymocyte proliferation assay. FIPV by itself did not affect this IL-1 assay system. IL-1 activity in FIPV-inoculated macrophage cultures was partially reduced by heating at 56°C for 30 min, and completely eliminated by heating at 70°C for 30 min. FIPV-induced feline IL-1 was found to have a molecular weight of approximately 15000 daltons and isoelectric points (pI) of 4.1, 4.8, 5.3 and 6.8, as estimated by Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration and chromatofocusing, respectively. These physicochemical properties of FIPV-induced IL-1 were similar to those of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced IL-1 from feline alveolar macrophages. However, IL-1 with pI 6.8 was more prominent in FIPV-induced IL-1 than in LPS-induced IL-1. Taken together with our previous findings that high levels of IL-1 were produced by peritoneal exudate cells from cats with spontaneous effusive FIP, FIPV infection may trigger the IL-1 production in many kinds of macrophages.

View full abstract

We established tuberculin-active peptide (TAP)-reactive T cell-line, by repeating cycles of antigen-stimulation and resting culture, from the popliteal lymph node of BALB/cA nu/+ mice immunized with Freund's complete adjuvant containing Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain Aoyama B.Surface phenotype of anti-TAP and anti-SV T cell lines was determined as Thy1.2⁺, Lyt1.2⁺, L3T4⁺, and Lyt2^- by flow cytometry. They produced IL-2 assessed by [³H]-thymidine incorporation of CTLL-2, and also produced MIF assessed by the indirect capillary tube method. T cell lines exhibited the delayed-type footpad response by a local passive transfer. Anti-TAP T cell line could produce hepatic granulomas 2 weeks after adoptive transfer via the tail or the portal vein to BCG-infected nude mice, but recipients of anti-SV T cell line and controls without cell transfer did not. From the observation of the tissue section of these mice, granulomas were also produced in the splenic white pulps of mice which developed hepatic granulomas. This findings suggested that a portion of transferred lined T cells had homed and functioned in the lymphoid tissues.

View full abstract

Orchiopexy was performed to 12 unilateral cryptorchid adult, 3 unilateral cryptorchid young, and one bilateral cryptorchid adult dogs. The testicular sizes of these dogs were measured, biopsy performed on the testes and peripheral and spermatic venous blood samples were collected at intervals of 2, 4 or 8 weeks after the operation. Biopsy tissue specimens were examined after staining with PAS-hematoxylin. Blood plasma testosterone (T) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Semen was collected by digital manipulation every week. In all the dogs the cryptorchid testicular size increased after orchiopexy. Neither spermatids nor spermatozoa were observed in any cryptorchid testes at the time of operation. Spermatozoa first appeared found in the seminiferous tubules in the young and adult cryptorchid dogs 8 and 10 weeks after the operation, respectively. In these dogs the histological findings of the cryptorchid testis were the same as those of the scrotal testis 20 weeks after orchiopexy. There was an increase in the number of germ cells in the seminiferous tubules of the scrotal testis in these dogs after the operation. Though the semen became worse temporarily in quality in the adult cryptorchid dogs, it recovered in the young cryptorchid dogs some weeks after orchiopexy. Plasma T levels increased gradually both in peripheral blood and in bilateral testicular venous blood after orchiopexy.

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract