Adipose tissue-derived stem cell therapy for prevention and treatment of erectile dysfunction in a rat model of Peyronie's disease.

Peyronie's disease (PD) is a localized connective tissue disorder that involves the tunica albuginea (TA) of the penis. While surgical correction remains the gold standard, the search for an effective and less invasive therapy continues. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of intratunical injection of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) for the prevention and treatment of erectile dysfunction in a rat model of PD. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats (300-350 g) were randomly divided into four groups: sham, PD, PD + ADSC (prevention) and PD + ADSC (treatment). All rats underwent penile injections into the TA with 50 µL vehicle (sham) or 0.5 µg transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 (remaining groups). The ADSC groups received intratunical injections with 0.5 million rat-labelled ADSCs on day 0 (prevention) or day 30 (treatment). Forty-five days following TGF-ß1 injection, rats underwent cavernous nerve stimulation (CNS) with total intracavernous-to-mean arterial pressure ratio (ICP/MAP) and total ICP recorded to measure response to therapy. Tissues were evaluated histologically and for mRNA expression of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and zymographic activity of MMPs. Statistical analysis was performed by analysis of variance followed by the Tukey test for post hoc comparisons. In both prevention and treatment groups, intratunical injection of ADSCs resulted in significantly higher ICP/MAP and total ICP in response to CNS compared with the PD group. Local injection of ADSCs prevented and/or reduced Peyronie's-like changes by decreasing the expression of TIMPs, and stimulating expression and activity of MMPs. This study documents the preventive and therapeutic benefits of ADSC on penile fibrosis and erectile function in an animal model of PD.

Comparative impact of live chicken infectious anaemia virus vaccine versus natural exposure in meat chicken breeders on immunity to infectivity by CIA and inclusion body hepatitis viruses in their offspring.

The immunology and histopathology and the distribution of viral antigen in infections with chicken infectious anaemia virus (CIAV) and inclusion body hepatitis virus (IBHV) were compared in the broiler offspring of CIAV-vaccinated meat chicken breeders versus those in the offspring of breeders naturally exposed to field CIAV. No significant difference in the humoral antibody level specific for CIAV was observed between 5 and 33 weeks of age in the two breeder groups (p > 0.05). The maternal humoral immunity to CIAV in the day-old offspring of the groups did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). The humoral immunity to CIAV at 40 days of age indicated an absence of clinical signs of CIAV in the broiler offspring of both groups of breeders and this was associated with mean serum thymulin levels in offspring of both groups not differing significantly at 1 or 40 days of age. Histopathological and immunofluorescence observations did not differ significantly in the offspring of either group by CIAV or IBHV.

Immunopotentiation of a developed Salmonella enterica serotype enteritidis vaccine by thymulin and zinc in meat chicken breeders.

The humoral immunity, spleen and thymus weight indices, lymphocyte count in the thymus cortex, and granuloma diameter at vaccination sites were assessed in four differently immunopotentiated groups of meat chicken breeders. Breeders in the first two groups were given a killed Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis (SE) vaccine subcutaneously at 15 and 19 weeks of age. Breeders in the third and fourth groups were left unvaccinated. Breeders in the first group were further immunopotentiated with zinc and thymulin. Each bird in the first group was given the immunopotentiators intraperitoneally in a volume of 0.1 ml at intervals of 3 days for a period of 3 weeks, starting at 15 weeks of age. At each time, each bird in the first group received thymulin (10 ng) and ZnCl2 (1 micromol/L), using a carboxymethyl cellulose carrier, totalling 90 ng thymulin and 9 micromol of ZnCl2 per bird. Each bird in the first three groups was challenged orally with 6.7 x 10(6) cfu/ml of highly virulent SE organisms, at an age of 22 weeks. The first group, which had received zinc and thymulin, had the earliest and highest humoral immune response to SE (p<0.05). This was observed at 2 and 4 weeks after the first vaccination. In addition, the first group had the highest mean thymus weight index, and the highest mean lymphocyte count in the thymus cortex. No significant difference was observed between the first two vaccinated groups in the mean granuloma diameter developed at the two vaccination sites 48 h after administration of the vaccine (p>0.05).

Induction of early immunopotentiation to Fimbriae of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) by administering thymulin and zinc to SE-vaccinated chicken breeders: relationship to protection.

The purpose of this study is to attempt the induction of early immunopotentiation of antibodies specific to fimbriae of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE), by administering thymulin and zinc to SE-vaccinated chicken breeders, and the improvement of protection against a controlled-live challenge by SE. The first two groups of breeders were administered subcutaneously at 15 and 19 weeks of age a killed SE vaccine. Breeders of the third and fourth groups were left unvaccinated. Breeders of the first group, immunopotentiated by thymulin and zinc, were able to induce the earliest antibodies in their pooled sera at 2 weeks post the first SE-vaccination, specific to fimbriae (approximately 21 KDa) of SE. However, the second group that was only vaccinated with the same SE-vaccine produced specific antibodies to fimbriae at 3 weeks following the second vaccination (22 weeks of age). Breeders of the third group, that were neither SE-vaccinated nor immunopotentiated by thymulin and zinc, but were challenged by live SE at 22 weeks of age, were able to show specific antibodies to fimbriae at 3 weeks post challenge (25 weeks of age). The fourth group that was deprived of SE-vaccination, immunopotentiators, and challenge didn't show any background antibodies specific to SE-fimbriae. The presence of the earliest antibody-immunopotentiation to fimbriae of SE in breeders of the first group, administered thymulin and zinc, was associated with the lowest frequency of SE-infected ceca (10%) among the challenged groups. In addition, breeders of the first group were the only challenged birds resulting in absence of SE infection in their cecal tonsils. The first group-vaccinated, immunopotentiated, and challenged, and the second group-vaccinated and challenged only resulted in breeders with absence of SE infection in their oviducts and spleens. In conclusion, immunopotentiation of chicken breeders by thymulin and zinc induces the earliest specific antibodies to fimbriae of SE associated with the lowest frequency of SE-infected ceca, and absence of SE infection from cecal tonsils, oviducts and spleens.

Chronological recognition by chicken of antigenic polypeptides in Salmonella enteritidis with different plasmid profiles: relationship to infection rate.

The antigenic polypeptides in Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) were chronologically recognized by the chicken immune system, using Western immunoblotting. Broiler chicks challenged at three days of age with SE strain carrying the most prevalent plasmid profile of 14.1 and about (approximately) 50 kb were bled at 17, 24, 31, 38 and 45 days of age. Pooled sera of blood collected at each age was reacted by Western immunoblotting with banded polypeptides of three predominant SE strains that acquired the following respective plasmid profiles: 14.1 kb; 14.1 and approximately 50.0 kb; and 1.8, 14.1 and approximately 50.0 kb. The immunoblots of each pooled sera collected at a specific age against the three SE strains were similar. More specifically, the early immune response at 17 days of age had antibodies recognizing only one polypeptide in the three SE strains namely, the 35.8 kDa. At 24 or 31 days of age, the acquired immunity to infection had antibodies recognizing five similar polypeptides in the three SE strains namely, the 14.4 (fimbriae protein), 21.5 (fimbriae protein), 30.5, 35.8, and 66.2 kDa. At 38 and 45 days of age, the antibodies recognized additional polypeptides namely, the 41.5 and 55.6 kDa, respectively. The recognition of the 41.5 and 55.6 kDa polypeptides at 45 days of age was associated with higher invasiveness of SE to spleens and livers (15.6%) and in higher cecal colonization (59.4%) in comparison to absence of recognition to the two polypeptides at 31 days of age associated with low infectivity to spleens (0%), livers (3.1%), and ceca (9.4%).

Hepatoblastoma with erythrocytosis in a young female horse.

A 2.5-year-old female Thoroughbred was examined because of lethargy, anorexia, and weight loss. Analysis of a CBC revealed erythrocytosis and an increase in PCV. Serum biochemical analysis revealed increases in activities of several hepatic enzymes. Ultrasonography revealed hepatomegaly and a heterogeneous appearance of the hepatic parenchyma. The horse did not improve despite supportive care, and it was euthanatized. Necropsy revealed numerous raised white to gray foci in the liver. Histologically, these foci consisted of neoplastic cells that resembled fetal hepatocytes, embryonal-type cells, and cells with features intermediate between those 2 cell types. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that hepatocytes stained strongly with anti-alpha-fetoprotein. On the basis of these results, hepatoblastoma was diagnosed. Diagnosis of hepatoblastoma is difficult, because it can appear histologically similar to other hepatic tumors, such as hepatocellular carcinomas. Definitive diagnosis requires histologic evaluation of tumor architecture and cell morphology. Immunohistochemical staining for alpha-fetoprotein in tumor cells may serve as a tumor marker but is not pathognomonic of hepatoblastoma. Paraneoplastic syndromes, such as erythrocytosis, can accompany hepatoblastoma. The prognosis for horses with hepatoblastoma is grave.

Emergence of Salmonella enteritidis outbreaks in broiler chickens in the Lebanon: epidemiological markers and competitive exclusion control.

This study investigates the first emergence of Salmonella Enteritidis outbreaks among chickens in the Lebanon and identifies the epidemiological markers of selected recovered Enteritidis strains. In addition, the authors evaluate a competitive exclusion approach to control infection in broiler chickens by Enteritidis organisms which possess the prevalent identified markers. The basic procedure in this investigation involved recording signs and lesions in eleven broiler chicken flocks on eleven farms, and culturing livers, spleens, and caeca of ten randomly selected birds per flock for Salmonella isolation and serotyping. Furthermore, culturing for Salmonella and serotyping was attempted from the livers, spleens, caeca and oviduct swabs of ten hens in four broiler breeder flocks which provided hatching eggs for the broilers under study. The identification of epidemiological markers in recovered S. Enteritidis included the determination of drug-resistance patterns and plasmid profiling. The competitive exclusion was evaluated by spraying the microflora on day-old broilers in the hatchery, followed by a controlled oral challenge at three days of age, with 2.85 x 10(5) colony-forming units of S. Enteritidis organisms per bird. Exclusion was evaluated by culturing for S. Enteritidis in anal swabs, spleens, livers, and caeca of individual challenged birds treated with the microflora and in untreated challenged birds. A total of 112 invasive S. Enteritidis strains were recovered on eleven farms from individual organs of broiler chickens with typical signs and lesions of salmonellosis. The prevalent resistance to drugs in such strains was to furaltadone and gentamycin, a marker identified in 93 strains (83%), recovered from nine out of eleven farms. The same resistance pattern was present in S. Enteritidis strains recovered from breeders on one out of four farms. The prevalent plasmid profile in nine S. Enteritidis organisms selected randomly from a pool of 93 strains (one per each of the nine broiler farms) was 14.1 kilobases (kb) and approximately 50.0 kb, a typical pattern to that identified in S. Enteritidis organisms recovered from oviducts of breeders on one out of four breeder farms. The exclusion significantly reduced cumulative mortality in birds of up to 45 days of age by 3.93%, in comparison to that observed in untreated challenged birds (P < 0.05). At 45 days of age, exclusion resulted in a 15.6% reduction in the percentage infection rate by S. Enteritidis in spleens or livers and a 34.4% reduction in the percentage infection rate of the caeca (P < 0.05).

Dynamics of protein 27 of avian leukosis virus and transforming growth factor beta2 in lymphoid leukosis susceptible and resistant broiler chicken breeding stock.

The dynamics of the serum concentration of protein 27 (P27) of avian leukosis virus and transforming growth factor beta2 (TGF-beta2) were compared during the period between 29 and 59 weeks of age in two flocks of broiler chicken breeding stock undergoing outbreaks of severe lymphoid leukosis (LL) associated with persistent high mortality (susceptible) and in another two flocks of breeding stock with the presence of avian leukosis virus in association with low mortality due to LL (resistant). The average mean concentration of serum P27 in the LL-susceptible flocks was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that in the LL-resistant flocks in six out of seven samplings performed at 5-week intervals, between 29 and 59 weeks of age. The peak in the average rise of serum P27 in the LL-resistant flocks (309 pg/ml) was associated with the highest level of TGF-beta2 (1282 pg/ml) among all flocks and at all sampling times. The significance of TGF-beta2 in inhibition of lymphoid tumour development is discussed.

Pharmacokinetics of ketoprofen in the donkey (Equus asinus).

The pharmacokinetic parameters of ketoprofen were determined in four donkeys after a single intravenous injection of a dose of 2.2 mg/kg body weight. The total body clearance (ClB) was 414.0 +/- 98.70 ml/h/kg (mean +/- SD), the volume of distribution at steady state (Vss) 263.10 +/- 55.43 ml/kg and the elimination half-life 1.30 +/- 0.75 h. These values were compared to those obtained in horses.

A quantitative approach to nematode lungworm burdens in goats.

Nematode lungworm burdens are difficult to evaluate of necropsy. The recovery of protostrongylid worms was achieved by three different post-mortem quantification techniques. Perfusion of the lungs under watertap pressure was successful in washing out Protostrongylus rufescens and Cystocaulus ocreatus but not Muellerius capillaris and Neostrongylus. Incubation of the lungs by pepsin and hydrochloric acid solution prior to perfusion helped to recover trapped Muellerius and Neostrongylus. Worm nodules were classified into type A, B and C, on increasing calcification process. Examination of these nodules showed that 75 to 80% of type A and B contained a parasite. Worms recovered by perfusion added to the sum of type A and B nodules were used to construct formula for quantifying the total lungworm burdens from naturally infected goat lungs and may provide a reasonable basis for assessing anthelmintic efficacy.

Gross and light-microscopic features of ovine pulmonary hydatidosis and verminous pneumonias in Morocco.

Verminous pneumonias appear to be common in sheep in Morocco, therefore, a systematic study was undertaken to classify the pulmonary changes induced by various parasites in Morocco. A total of 613 pairs of lungs with parasitic pneumonias were diagnosed in 1152 young and adult sheep either slaughtered at two abattoirs in Morocco (487 out of 1152 sheep) or received at necropsy services (126 out of 1152 sheep) over a 15-month period. Based on gross and microscopic findings, four types of pulmonary changes were classified. Included were those associated with: 1. The larvae of Taenia echinococcus (Echinococcus granulosus (canine tapeworm); 520 out of 613 lungs (84.8%)); 2. Muellerius capillaris (450 out of 613 lungs (79.9%)); 3. Protostrongylus rufescens (375 out of 613 lungs (61.1%)); and 4. Dictyocaulus filaria (285 out of 613 lungs (46.4%)). Mixed infestations, involving the presence of two, three, or four species of parasites in the same lung, were encountered in 325 out of 613 (53%) lungs studied. Red-to-brownish consolidated areas, confined to the cranial parts of the lung, were observed frequently in some lungs affected with M. capillaris and P. rufescens. In most of the lungs, co-existent emphysematous, atelectatic, and abscessed areas were seen.

An ultrastructural study of pulmonary bronchiolar and alveolar epithelium in sheep.

The cellular population lining the bronchiolar and alveolar epithelium of the lower respiratory tract of three clinically healthy, purebred Suffolk lambs of both sexes and 3-4 months old was studied using a transmission-electron microscope. The epithelium of primary and secondary bronchioles consisted of four cell types: basal cells, intermediate cells, ciliated cells, and non-ciliated (Clara) cells, whereas the epithelium of terminal and respiratory bronchioles consisted of only two kind of cells: ciliated and Clara cells. The alveolar wall, including alveolar ducts and saccules, was covered by type I and type II pneumocytes. In addition, the presence of pulmonary intravascular macrophages was a constant in most of the alveolar capillaries. The morphologic characteristics of all these cells are described in detail and discussed.

Ovine lentiviral infection (maedi/visna) in Morocco: a serologic and postmortem survey.

In an attempt to estimate the importance of maedi/visna virus infection in Moroccan sheep and to assess the relationship, if any, between seroreactivity and pulmonary lesions, an abattoir-based serologic survey was undertaken over a period of 2 years. A total of 1000 blood samples and related lungs were collected from sheep of different breeds and ages slaughtered at three major municipal abattoirs in Morocco (Casablanca, Kénitra and Rabat). The agar gel immunodiffusion test showed that the seropositivity for all samples was 24.8%. At post-mortem examination, 107 out of the 248 (43.1%) sheep scored seropositive had gross lesions of maedi; typical microscopic lesions were observed in 125 (50.4%) seropositive sheep, including the 107 with gross lesions. Of the 752 seronegative animals, only 13 (1.7%) sheep had macroscopic maedi-like lesions. Seventeen (2.2%) of these seronegative cases, including those with gross lesions, had histologic pulmonary changes consistent with maedi. No other maedi/visna-associated lesions were found during this study; however, coexisting secondary bacterial bronchopneumonia was frequently encountered. The association between serologic and pathologic findings is reported and discussed.