Male Pseudohermaphroditism in a raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procynoides)     

Weng Q  Murase T  Asano M  Tsubota T 《The Journal of veterinary medical science / the Japanese Society of Veterinary Science》2005,67(6):603-605

A wild raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procynoides) which died due to a traffic accident on 18 October 2001, and was determined to be 4.5 years old, was examined. Visual appearance of the external genitalia in this animal showed to be female with a large penis-like clitoris protruding from the vulvar juncture. Visual examination of the internal genitalia revealed that the animal possessed both testes and uterus. Histological appearance of the removed gonads showed only Sertoli cells but no spermatogenesis. Using polymerase chain reaction with skin biopsy directed against the sex-determining region on the Y chromosome (SRY) gene, the genomic SRY gene was expressed as a single band and sequenced. Based on these findings, this raccoon dog was diagnosed as male pseudohermaphrodite.  相似文献   

Participation of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae) in the epidemiology of canine visceral leishmaniasis     

Coutinho MT  Bueno LL  Sterzik A  Fujiwara RT  Botelho JR  De Maria M  Genaro O  Linardi PM 《Veterinary parasitology》2005,128(1-2):149-155

The vectorial competence of the tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus is discussed in relation to the epidemiology of canine visceral leishmaniasis, taking into account its strict association with dogs and the low indices of natural infection presented by its known vector, the phlebotomine sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis. In order to evaluate natural infection by Leishmania chagasi and the infectivity of these parasites in the tick, 39 specimens (6 females, 11 males and 22 nymphs) of R. sanguineus were removed from 21 dogs showing diverse symptoms of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL). Six ticks (15.4%) gave positive results for the genus Leishmania using the PCR technique. To determine the infectivity of the parasites, 36 hamsters were inoculated orally and peritoneally with macerates of ticks removed from nine dogs symptomatic for visceral leishmaniasis. After 6 months the hamsters were sacrificed and necropsied. Serum was removed for IFAT, as well as spleen and liver fragments to make imprint smears and for PCR. Eight (88.9%) of these dogs presented ticks that were infective for 14 hamsters (41.2%), 12 (85.7%) of them infected peritoneally and two (14.3%) orally. PCR revealed 27 smears (40.9%) to be positive, 20 (62.5%) of them infected peritoneally and seven (20.6%) orally. IFAT showed 14 positive animals (41.2%). Based on these findings, we suggest that the vectorial capacity of R. sanguineus for L. chagasi should be evaluated further, opening new perspectives in the epidemiology of ZVL.  相似文献   

Fipronil modulation of GABAA receptor single-channel currents   总被引：3，自引：0，他引：3  

Ikeda T  Nagata K  Kono Y  Yeh JZ  Narahashi T 《Pest management science》2004,60(5):487-492

Fipronil is the first phenylpyrazole insecticide introduced for pest control. Although fipronil is known to inhibit GABA receptors, the detailed mechanism of action remains to be seen. In order to elucidate the mechanism of fipronil interaction with the mammalian GABAA system, single-channel patch clamp experiments were performed using rat dorsal root ganglion neurons. The amplitude of main conductance state (27pS) current was not significantly altered by co-application of 10 microM fipronil and 10 microM GABA. The histograms of open time distribution were fitted to a sum of three exponential functions. After application of 10 microM fipronil, the proportion of the fastest component increased slightly and that of the slowest component decreased slightly. Thus, the mean open time was decreased from 11.4 ms to 7.8 ms by fipronil. The histograms of closed time distribution were fitted to a sum of four exponential functions. Fipronil 10 microM prolonged the slowest time constant resulting in a prolongation of the mean closed time from 29.7 ms to 52.8 ms. Thus, the frequency of channel openings was reduced. Thus, the fipronil suppression of GABA-induced whole-cell currents is caused in part by decreases in the channel open time and the frequency of channel openings.  相似文献   

Immunohistochemical localization of steroidogenic enzymes in corpus luteum of wild sika deer during early mating season     

Matsuura Y  Suzuki M  Hayakawa D  Asano M  Sasaki M  Kitamura N  Yamada J  Tsubota T  Ohtaishi N 《The Japanese journal of veterinary research》2004,51(3-4):167-172

We analyzed the localization of steroidogenic enzymes (P450 scc, 3 beta HSD, P450 arom and P450 c17) in the corpora lutea of two Hokkaido sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) during the early mating season. Two corpora lutea were found in each female and the timing of formation of the corpora lutea seemed different. P450 scc, and 3 beta HSD, positive luteal cells were found in both corpora lutea. The existence of two functional corpora lutea from the early mating season through pregnancy suggests that progesterone secreted by two or more corpora lutea is necessary for maintenance of pregnancy in sika deer.  相似文献   

Electroejaculation and semen cryopreservation of free-ranging Japanese black bears (Ursus thibetanus japonicus)     

Okano T  Murase T  Tsubota T 《The Journal of veterinary medical science / the Japanese Society of Veterinary Science》2004,66(11):1371-1376

The Japanese black bear (Ursus thibetanus japonicus) is endangered for extinction in some areas of Japan, and semen collection and cryopreservation are an important means to preserve genetic resources. The aim of this study was to characterize and cryopreserve semen of free-ranging Japanese black bears. Semen was collected by electroejaculation procedure from 4 free-ranging Japanese black bears at the capture point in the field. Ejaculates containing motile sperm were recovered from all of the animals and ejaculate volume, total sperm count, % motility (percentage of motile spermatozoa), % viability (percentage of spermatozoa that excluded eosin) and % abnormal morphology (range (mean)) were 0.65-2.20 (1.51) ml, 99-1082 (490) x 10(6), 5-100 (31), 42-97 (66) and 20-87 (53), respectively. Three of the 4 ejaculates were diluted with an egg yolk-TRIS-citrate-glucose extender and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen. Motile spermatozoa were observed after freezing and thawing in all cases. This study showed that electroejaculation would be a useful method for collecting semen from free-ranging Japanese black bears and that at least motile spermatozoa would be obtained by freezing the thus collected electroejaculates.  相似文献   

Immunohistochemical localization of steroidogenic enzymes in the testis of Hokkaido Sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis)     

Hayakawa D  Sasaki M  Akabane C  Kitamura N  Tsubota T  Suzuki M  Yamada J 《The Journal of veterinary medical science / the Japanese Society of Veterinary Science》2004,66(11):1463-1466

The testes from 15 adult male Hokkaido Sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) were collected during the rutting season (October and November). We investigated the localization of 4 kinds of steroidogenic enzymes (P450scc, 3betaHSD, P450c17 and P450arom) immunohistochemically in these testicular samples. The specific immunoreactivities to these enzymes were detected only in the cytoplasm of Leydig cells. This differs to the enzyme distributions reported previously in Japanese black bear, Japanese raccoon dog, Hokkaido brown bear and American black bear, in which the same immunoreactivities were detected in Leydig cells, Sertoli cells and/or spermatogenic cells. The current study suggests that in the testes of the Hokkaido Sika deer, testosterone and estradiol-17beta may be synthesized in the Leydig cells only.  相似文献   

Cathepsin gene expression in mouse placenta during the latter half of pregnancy     

Ishida M  Ono K  Taguchi S  Ohashi S  Naito J  Horiguchi K  Harigaya T 《The Journal of reproduction and development》2004,50(5):515-523

Gene expressions and their interaction are complex and have not been definitely clarified in the placenta. To identify interactions of gene products previously not studied, we applied cDNA subtraction analyses to the placenta between days 12 and 16, days 12 and 14, days 14 and 16 of pregnancy. Among subtracted cDNAs cathepsin M, Q and R in PECs were specifically identified on days 14 and 16 pregnancy. All of these gene expressions exhibited a similar pattern to the mPL-II gene expression determined by northern blot and RT-PCR analyses. By means of in situ hybridization, these mRNAs were localized in the basal and labyrinth zones of the placenta on day 16 of pregnancy. Double staining studies of cathepsin Q or cathepsin R mRNA by in situ hybridization followed by immunohistochemical staining of mPL-II in the same section revealed that signals for cathepsin Q and cathepsin R mRNAs were colocalized in mPL-II immunopositive trophoblast cells in the basal and labyrinth zones of the placenta on day 16 of pregnancy. Possible association of cathepsins with mPL-II may play important roles in placental functions during the latter half of pregnancy in mice.  相似文献   

Genetic and enzymatic analyses of metalloprotease (aureolysin) from Staphylococcus aureus isolated from domestic animals.     

Shotaro Takeuchi  Minoru Saito  Keisuke Imaizumi  Toshio Kaidoh  Hiroki Higuchi  Sachiko Inubushi 《Veterinary microbiology》2002,84(1-2):135-142

The gene (aur) encoding the metalloprotease (aureolysin) of Staphylococcus aureus from domestic animals was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and sequencing. The aur gene was detected in all 74 isolates from cows, pigs and chickens by PCR amplification and was classified into types I and II by PCR-RFLP patterns. The type II aur gene was contained in 36 (94.7%) of 38 protease-positive isolates as judged by skim milk agar plate culture, while type I was contained in 28 (77.8%) of 36 protease-negative isolates. The deduced amino acid sequences of aureolysins from type I and II isolates were almost identical with those of the published data. Subsequently, the two aureolysins were purified from the culture supernatants of type I and II isolates. The molecular weights of purified type I and II aureolysins were both estimated at 34kDa by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These aureolysins had maximum proteolytic activity at 30-50 degrees C and pH 7.0-8.0. Their activity was inhibited by metal- and zinc-specific inhibitors, such as EDTA, EGTA and 1,10-phenanthroline. Specific activity (activity/protein) of type II aureolysin was two times higher than that of type I. These results indicated that the aur gene is highly conserved with two allelic forms (types I and II) among bovine, porcine and avian isolates of S. aureus.  相似文献   

Reliability in somatic cell count measurement of clinical mastitis milk using DeLaval cell counter     

Kazuhiro Kawai  Tomohito Hayashi  Yoshio Kiku  Tomoyuki Chiba  Hajime Nagahata  Hidetoshi Higuchi  Tetsu Obayashi  Seigo Itoh  Ken Onda  Sachiko Arai  Reiichiro Sato  Toshio Oshida 《Animal Science Journal》2013,84(12):805-807

Somatic cell counts (SCC) measurements are typically performed using quantitative methods, such as the Breed method (Breed) and the Fossomatic method (FSCC). The DeLaval cell counter (DCC) developed recently is a quantitative somatic cell counter with a low initial cost and superior portability. However, since the DCC was specifically developed for measuring SCC of ≤ 4 × 10⁶ cells/mL milk from bulk tanks or individual cows, its reliability for estimating SCC that exceed this concentration has not yet been clarified. This study therefore examined whether it is possible to accurately measure SCC by diluting milk samples with initial SCC of 4 × 10⁶ cells/mL, as seen in clinical mastitis milk. We collected milk samples from 99 quarters of 99 Holstein cows with clinical mastitis. These milk samples were diluted 10‐fold with saline and thoroughly mixed before performing SCC measurement with the DCC. The correlation coefficients of SCC measured by the FSCC, Breed and DCC methods indicated strong correlations between each pair of methods. The findings showed that DCC can be used to identify bovine clinical mastitis milk and is useful as a quantitative SCC measurement device on farm sites.  相似文献   

Effects of warming basal ends of Carolina poplar (Populus × canadensis Moench.) softwood cuttings at controlled low-air-temperature on their root growth and leaf damage after planting     

Toshio Shibuya  Shuhei Tsukuda  Ayako Tokuda  Shuji Shiozaki  Ryosuke Endo  Yoshiaki Kitaya 《Journal of Forest Research》2013,18(3):279-284

We investigated the effects of warming the basal ends of Carolina poplar (Populus × canadensis Moench.) softwood cuttings at controlled low-air-temperature on their root growth and leaf damage after planting. The warming treatment was applied to the cuttings by soaking 10 mm beyond the cut end in warmed water maintained at 30 °C in a cold chamber maintained at an air temperature of 10 °C and a photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 10 μmol m^?2 s^?1 (near the light compensation point at 10 °C) until rooting was observed. The warmed cuttings were then grown in a growth chamber at an air temperature of 30 °C, relative humidity 85–90 %, and a PPFD of 100 μmol m^?2 s^?1. Control cuttings were grown in the growth chamber throughout the experiment. Rooting occurred simultaneously for both warmed and control cuttings, irrespective of air temperature. Root development was greater and leaf damage, evaluated on the basis of extent of necrosis, was less for warmed cuttings than for control cuttings. The reduction of leaf damage for warmed cuttings probably resulted from reduced post-planting water stress and leaf senescence, because of improved root development as a result of the pre-planting warming treatment. This technique could improve the propagation of cuttings of woody plants, because it would ensure that the cuttings are ready to develop roots with minimum loss of carbohydrates, irrespective of weather conditions.  相似文献