Space-occupying leiomyoma in the pelvic canal of a dog.

A large space-occupying mass was found in the pelvic canal of an 11-year-old, entire female shih tzu with rectal tenesmus and dyschezia. Computed tomography revealed an extraluminal mass located on the dorsal aspect of the rectum, causing complete rectal obstruction. Histopathological examination of biopsy tissue identified it as a leiomyoma. The tumour was successfully removed by blunt dissection, via a dorsal approach to the rectum, and there were no complications after surgery.

Nitroblue tetrazolium reduction of neutrophils in heat stressed goats is not influenced by selenium and vitamin E injection.

Experiment was designed to determine whether heat stress suppresses neutrophil function and injections of selenium and vitamin E prior to heat stress prevent suppression of neutrophil function in goats. Twelve female goats were divided into 2 groups of 6 each and were kept at 25 degrees C. Goats in the treatment group were injected intramuscularly with 0.1 mg/kg of selenium and 2.72 IU/kg of vitamin E at 8 and 1 day prior to the initiation of heat stress. The other group was kept as control. All goats were exposed to hot environment at 38 degrees C from day 0 through 8. Decreased tendency in plasma cortisol concentrations and temporary increase in plasma glucose concentrations were shown in both groups. In the control group, plasma selenium concentration gradually increased and alpha-tocopherol concentration decreased during the first 2 days. After the second injection with selenium and vitamin E, plasma selenium and alpha-tocopherol concentration significantly increased and remained higher than those in the control group. Whole blood glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in the treatment group tended to be greater than that in the control group, but no significant difference was observed between 2 groups. The nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction by activated neutrophils significantly decreased on day 6 in the control group but not in the treatment group. The NBT reduction by resting neutrophils significantly decreased in both groups. These data suggest that heat stress depresses neutrophil function, and selenium and vitamin E injection prior to heat stress has no apparent effect on neutrophil function during the stress.

In vitro cytotoxicity of recombinant human-TNF-alpha and actinomycin D on canine normal and tumor cells.

The in vitro cytotoxicity of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rh-TNF-alpha) and actinomycin D (ACT-D) on canine normal and tumor cells was investigated. rh-TNF-alpha showed dose-dependent cytotoxic and cell-growth inhibitory effects on cultured canine kidney carcinoma cells (CKCa-1). rh-TNF-alpha alone produced little cytotoxic effect on canine normal cells. However, combined with ACT-D, it showed moderate cytotoxicity on normal canine cells from the kidney medulla, spleen, heart muscle and lung. When the effects on the spontaneous tumor cells were examined, the combination of rh-TNF-alpha and ACT-D produced substantial cytotoxic effect on 60% of the tumor cells. All mammary mixed tumors and perianal gland tumors tested were susceptible to this combination. The data indicated the combination of rh-TNF-alpha and ACT-D have in vitro cytotoxicity on certain canine tumor cells.

Cytotoxicity induced by recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha dependent on the types of its receptors on canine cells.

Based on the recent findings that show how recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (rh-TNF)-alpha has potent antitumor activity on human cancer patients when it locally administrated, we have tested the cytotoxicity of rh-TNF-alpha on 3 canine cultured cells: (1) canine kidney carcinoma (CKCa-1), (2) mastocytoma and (3) Mardin Darby canine kidney cells (MDCK). The cell surface expression of TNF-alpha receptors on these canine cells was also determined with anti-human TNF RI and RII polyclonal antibodies. Our data shows that on CKCa-1 which has TNF RI receptors rh-TNF-alpha induced cytotoxicity. By contrast, it exhibited no toxicity on canine mastocytoma which has mainly RII receptors. The data also suggest actinomycin D (ACT-D), an anticancer antibiotic, enhanced the cytotoxicity of rh-TNF-alpha. Combined with ACT-D, rh-TNF-alpha showed the cytotoxicity on MDCK which possessed both TNF RI and RII receptors. The results indicate that the cytotoxicity of rh-TNF-alpha depends on the presence of TNF RI receptors on canine tumor cells.

Lipoprotein profile in canine pancreatitis induced with oleic acid.

Lipid and lipoprotein concentrations and apolipoprotein profile were investigated in canine pancreatitis induced by infusion with oleic acid (OA) into the accessory pancreatic duct. Pancreatitis was diagnosed by physical, hematological, biochemical and pathological examinations. In OA-treated dogs, serum triglyceride (TG) concentration was increased; however, there were no changes in serum total cholesterol (TC) and phospholipid (PL) concentrations. Serum concentrations of TG, TC, PL and total lipids (TL) in beta lipoprotein and those of TC, PL and TL in pre-beta lipoprotein were increased and those of TC, PL and TL in alpha, lipoprotein were decreased. In apolipoprotein profile, the proportions of apolipoprotein B100 in low density lipoprotein fraction and apolipoprotein A-IV in high density lipoprotein fraction were increased. In addition, decreased proportion of apolipoprotein A-I and the appearance of serum amyloid A protein in high density lipoprotein fraction were observed. These results suggest that lipoprotein profiles observed in canine acute pancreatitis are attributed to the alterations in apolipoprotein compositions.

Lipogenic and lipolytic activities in isolated adipocytes from cattle with fat necrosis.

The metabolic activity and cellularity of adipocytes isolated from the abdominal adipose tissue of normal heifers and heifers with fat necrosis were compared. The basal rate of U-14C glucose incorporation into total lipids in adipocytes from the periphery of the necrotic mass was higher than that in the colonic mesentery of both the affected and normal heifers. In the affected animals. adipocytes from the mesentery of the spiral colon and adipocytes from the periphery of the necrotic mass failed significantly to increase the incorporation of labelled acetate and glucose, respectively, in response to insulin. In the presence of adrenalin, adipocytes from the colonic mesentery and the periphery of the necrotic mass of the affected heifers released more glycerol than adipocytes from the colonic mesentery of normal animals. In addition, the mean diameters of adipocytes from the colonic mesentery and the periphery of the necrotic mass of the affected heifers were significantly greater than those from the colonic mesentery of normal animals. These results indicate that excessive fattiness in abdominal adipose tissue may predispose cattle to fat necrosis.

Lipoprotein lipase activity of post-heparin plasma in Japanese black cattle affected with fat necrosis.

Post-heparin plasma (PHP) lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity and serum lipoprotein concentration were examined in Japanese Black cows affected with fat necrosis. The PHP-LPL activity in the affected cows was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than in normal animals and tended to reduce 4 weeks after treatment with isoprothiolane. This finding indicates that affected cows have a predisposition to deposit more fat into adipose tissue than normal animals. The serum concentrations of triglyceride in beta-lipoprotein and of cholesterol, phospholipid and total lipid in alpha-lipoprotein were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the affected cows. Elevated levels of phospholipid and total lipid in alpha-lipoprotein as well as decreased levels of non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) were observed after medication. It is suggested that isoprothiolane produces an improvement in hepatic lipid metabolism including acceleration of plasma NEFA uptake and alpha-lipoprotein secretion in affected cows.

Serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in obese dogs.

Serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in 10 obese and 16 control dogs were examined. The serum triglyceride (TG) concentration in obese dogs was significantly higher than in control dogs. The serum concentrations of TG and phospholipid (PL) in beta lipoprotein and PL in pre-beta lipoprotein were significantly higher in obese dogs, while the serum PL concentration in alpha 1 lipoprotein was significantly lower in obese animals. In the serum total cholesterol concentration in obese dogs, a higher tendency for beta and pre-beta lipoproteins and lower tendency for alpha 1 lipoprotein were observed. These abnormal lipoprotein profiles were similar to those in diabetes mellitus in men and acute pancreatitis in dogs.

Magnetic resonance imaging in a dog with choroid plexus carcinoma.

Choroid plexus carcinoma was diagnosed in a 10-year-old maltese dog with chief complaint of progressive ataxia and head tilt. No abnormalities was observed on hemogram, radiographs of the skull, and electroencepharograph (EEG). Neurological examination suggested central vestibular lesions. On the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination, images after contrast enhancement with Gadolinium DTPA-dimeglumine showed a rough circular lesion with an increased signal intensity in caudal fossa. This lesion was histopathologically confirmed to be choroid plexus carcinoma.

Effects of isoprothiolane and phytosterol on adipocyte metabolism and fatty acid composition of serum and tissue lipids in rats.

Isoprothiolane at a dose of 250 mg/kg or phytosterol 50 mg/kg was orally administered to rats once a day for 2 weeks. Basal [U-14C]glucose conversion rate to total lipids in isolated adipocytes of the rats was significantly decreased by treatment with isoprothiolane (54%) or phytosterol (82%). Adipocytes from the rats with isoprothiolane released less glycerol than those from control rats only at an epinephrine concentration of 10 microM. The serum level of total cholesterol was depressed by phytosterol ingestion. The level of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) was increased by isoprothiolane. Desaturation in fatty acid composition of phospholipid or cholesterol ester was observed in serum, liver and adipose tissue of the rats treated with either drug. These results suggest that either drug may have common effects by preventing lipid deposition into adipocytes and accelerating fatty acid desaturation in tissue lipids.

Effects of isoprothiolane and phytosterol on lipogenesis and lipolysis in adipocytes from rats of dietary fat necrosis.

To study effects of isoprothiolane and phytosterol on dietary fat necrosis, 3 groups of rats were fed hardened-tallow (HT) diet. Two groups of rats received either isoprothiolane (50 mg/kg) or phytosterol (20 mg/kg) orally once a day consecutively for 10 weeks. One group of rats received standard diet (CE-2) as a control. Fat necrotic lesions were observed in epididymal and perirenal adipose tissues from all rats in the 3 groups fed HT diet. Rats with fat necrosis were characterized by visceral type obesity and saturation in fatty acid composition of triglyceride in adipose tissue. The highest glucose conversion to total lipids was seen in adipocytes from the rats given phytosterol. There was no lipolytic response to epinephrine stimulation (1-100 microM) in adipocytes from the rats given only HT diet, while similar response of adipocytes from the 2 groups treated with either drug to those from the rats fed standard diet was observed. The levels of total saturated fatty acids of phospholipid in adipose tissue from the rats given either drug were lower than that of the rats given only HT diet. These data suggest that either drug alters fatty acid composition of phospholipid in fat cell membrane and enhances lipolysis of the cells.

Effects of isoprothiolane and phytosterol on serum lipids and adipose tissue of rats given saturated fat diet.

Rats received hardened-tallow (HT) diet continuously for 18 weeks. After 8 weeks of feeding, isoprothiolane (50 mg/kg) or phytosterol (20 mg/kg) was administered orally to the rats once a day consecutively for 10 weeks. In the rats given isoprothiolane, serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) phospholipid concentration increased. Decreased serum very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol concentration was seen in the rats given phytosterol. Isoprothiolane increased the level of palmitoleic acid (16:1), while phytosterol increased the level of palmitic acid (16:0) in phospholipid of adipose tissue. In the frozen tissue sections, the multiple crystals were seen in fat cells of the rats fed HT diet. Less crystals were seen in the rats given either drug when compared with the rats fed HT diet without drug.