Testosterone regulates the emission of ultrasonic vocalizations and mounting behavior during different developmental periods in mice.

Testosterone masculinizes male sexual behavior by providing organizational and activational effects during the perinatal and peripubertal periods and during adulthood, respectively. We revealed that the emission of ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) and mounting behavior was regulated by different neural circuits. However, the detailed testosterone effects on these two behaviors have not been fully elucidated. Here, we evaluated the time-dependent effects of testosterone on USVs and mounting behavior in mice using a testosterone treatment model, in which females were treated with testosterone to assess the "gain-of-function" and a "loss-of-function" model. In the loss-of-function model, we used Ad4BP/SF-1ΔFLC/- male mice, in which testosterone production was abolished in prenatal and postnatal stages, and Ad4BP/SF-1ΔFLC/ΔFLC mice, in which testosterone production was markedly reduced only in prenatal stages. When testosterone was administered to female mice during the neonatal and peripubertal periods, but not during adulthood, USV emissions increased. Conversely, testosterone treatment in adult female mice increased the mounting behavior, but not USVs. In Ad4BP/SF-1ΔFLC/- mice, USVs and mounting behavior was completely absent. Ad4BP/SF-1ΔFLC/ΔFLC male mice displayed equivalent levels of USVs but less mounting behavior. Collectively, these results suggest that testosterone has dual regulatory roles in USV emissions and mounting behavior.

Contrast-enhanced computed tomography may be helpful for characterizing and staging canine gastric tumors.

In humans, computed tomography (CT) is a widely performed technique for the diagnosis and staging of gastric tumors. The purpose of this retrospective case series study was to describe CT findings in a group of dogs with confirmed gastric tumors. For each included dog, the following CT parameters were recorded: gastric tumor location, tumor shape, gastric involvement pattern, tumor enhancement pattern in early and late phases, presence and location of lymphadenopathy, gastric tumor attenuation values, attenuation values of enlarged lymph nodes, maximum short-axis diameter (mm) of enlarged lymph node, maximum long-axis diameter (mm) of enlarged lymph node, and short-axis diameter to long-axis diameter ratio (short axis/long axis). A total of 16 dogs met inclusion criteria and had the following final diagnoses: five lymphoma, six adenocarcinoma, three inflammatory polyps, and two leiomyoma. In the early- and delayed-phase postcontrast images, the mean CT attenuation value for lymphoma was lower than that of other gastric tumors. Lymphadenopathy was widespread in lymphomas and regional in adenocarcinomas. Lymphadenopathy was not detected in leiomyomas. Lymph node measurements in lymphoma were larger than lymph node measurements in adenocarcinoma. Although there were overlapping findings for the different types of gastric tumors, contrast-enhanced CT provided helpful information for characterizing gastric tumors based on the following criteria: early and late enhancement patterns, the site of origin of the mass lesion, and extent of local invasion and distant metastases. Lymphoma should be considered for canine gastric tumors with low mean attenuation values during early- and delayed-phase postcontrast images, and widespread, bulky, and rounded lymphadenopathy.

Testosterone Increases the Emission of Ultrasonic Vocalizations With Different Acoustic Characteristics in Mice.

Testosterone masculinizes male sexual behavior through an organizational and activational effects. We previously reported that the emission of ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in male mice was dependent on the organizational effects of testosterone; females treated with testosterone in the perinatal and peripubertal periods, but not in adults, had increased USV emissions compared to males. Recently, it was revealed that male USVs have various acoustic characteristics and these variations were related to behavioral interactions with other mice. In this regard, the detailed acoustic characteristic changes induced by testosterone have not been fully elucidated. Here, we revealed that testosterone administered to female and male mice modulated the acoustic characteristics of USVs. There was no clear difference in acoustic characteristics between males and females. Call frequencies were higher in testosterone propionate (TP)-treated males and females compared to control males and females. When the calls were classified into nine types, there was also no distinctive difference between males and females, but TP increased the number of calls with a high frequency, and decreased the number of calls with a low frequency and short duration. The transition analysis by call type revealed that even though there was no statistically significant difference, TP-treated males and females had a similar pattern of transition to control males and females, respectively. Collectively, these results suggest that testosterone treatment can enhance the emission of USVs both in male and female, but the acoustic characteristics of TP-treated females were not the same as those of intact males.

Association between polymorphisms in the promoter region of the sialyltransferase 8B (SIAT8B) gene and schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Sialyltransferase 8B (SIAT8B) and 8D (SIAT8D) are two polysialyltransferases that catalyze the transfer of polysialic acid (PSA) to the neural cell adhesion molecule 1 (NCAM1). PSA modification of NCAM1 plays an important role in neurodevelopment of the brain and disruption of this process is postulated as an etiologic factor in psychiatric disorders. Altered levels of the PSA-NCAM1 in the brain of schizophrenics have been reported, suggesting a role for this molecule in the disorder. METHODS: We performed an association study of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within SIAT8B and SIAT8D, using 188 schizophrenics and 156 age and gender matched controls. All genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and direct sequencing. RESULTS: Two polymorphisms, -1126T > C and -851T > C, located in the promoter region of SIAT8B showed nominally significant association with schizophrenia (allelic associations, p = .014 and p = .007, respectively), and haplotypes constructed from three additional SNPs located in the same linkage disequilibrium block were associated with schizophrenia. Furthermore an in vitro promoter assay revealed that a reporter construct containing a risk haplotype for SIAT8B had significantly higher transcriptional activity compared with one containing a protective haplotype (p = .021). In contrast, no significant association was observed between any variations in SIAT8D and schizophrenia. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that functional promoter SNPs of SIAT8B could confer a risk for schizophrenia in the Japanese population.

Molecular cloning and expression of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) interleukin-8.

The bottlenose dolphin interleukin (IL)-8 cDNA was molecularly cloned. The dolphin IL-8 has an open reading frame of 303-bp encoding 101 amino acids. The homology of the amino acid sequence with that of other species was: sheep, 89.1%; cattle, 88.1%; pig, 85.1%; dog, 85.1%; horse, 79.2%; human, 74.5%; and macaque, 72.3%. The amino acid sequence suggested that dolphin IL-8 was a CXC chemokine. The recombinant dolphin IL-8 protein was recognized with anti-ovine IL-8 monoclonal antibody.

Effects of a bacteria-based probiotic on subpopulations of peripheral leukocytes and their cytokine mRNA expression in calves.

Eight Holstein calves (10 ± 3 weeks) were used to examine the interaction between a bacteria-based probiotic agent (probiotic) and the function of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The probiotic, consisting of Lactobacillus plantarum, Enterococcus faecium and Clostridium butyricum, was administered orally at 3.0 g/100 kg body weight to calves once daily for 5 consecutive days. Calves given the vehicle alone with no probiotic served as the control. In the treatment group, increases in numbers of CD282(+) (TLR2) monocytes, CD3(+) T cells and CD4(+), CD8(+) and WC1(+) γδ T cell subsets were noted on day 7 post-placement compared to predose day and the control group. Expression of interleukin (IL)-6, interferon-gamma (INF-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) was elevated in peripheral leukocytes on days 7 and 14. These results suggest that peripheral blood leukocytes in healthy calves may be stimulated via the gastrointestinal microbiota, which was increased by the oral probiotic treatment, with overall stability of the rumen bacterial flora. The 5-day repeated administration of a bacteria-based probiotic may enhance cellular immune function in weaned calves.