BMP7 expression in mammalian cortical radial glial cells increases the length of the neurogenic period

The seat of human intelligence is the human cerebral cortex, which is responsible for our exceptional cognitive abilities. Identifying principles that lead to the development of the large-sized human cerebral cortex will shed light on what makes the human brain and species so special. The remarkable increase in the number of human cortical pyramidal neurons and the size of the human cerebral cortex is mainly because human cortical radial glial cells, primary neural stem cells in the cortex, generate cortical pyramidal neurons for more than 130 days, whereas the same process takes only about 7 days in mice. The molecular mechanisms underlying this difference are largely unknown. Here, we found that bone morphogenic protein 7 (BMP7) is expressed by increasing the number of cortical radial glial cells during mammalian evolution (mouse, ferret, monkey, and human). BMP7 expression in cortical radial glial cells promotes neurogenesis, inhibits gliogenesis, and thereby increases the length of the neurogenic period, whereas Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling promotes cortical gliogenesis. We demonstrate that BMP7 signaling and SHH signaling mutually inhibit each other through regulation of GLI3 repressor formation. We propose that BMP7 drives the evolutionary expansion of the mammalian cortex by increasing the length of the neurogenic period.

Emerging New Phylogenetic Groups of Rabies Virus in Chinese Ferret Badgers / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

Chinese ferret badger (FB)-transmitted rabies is a serious threat to public health in southeast China. Although mostly associated with dogs, the rabies virus (RABV) presents genetic diversity and has a significantly wide host range in China. Instead of the dog- and wildlife-associated China II lineage in the past decades, the China I lineage has become the main epidemic group hosted and transmitted by dogs. In this study, four new lineages, including 43 RABVs from FBs, have been classified within the dog-dominated China I lineage since 2014. FB RABVs have been previously categorized in the China II lineage. Moreover, FB-hosted viruses seem to have become the main independent FB-associated clade in the phylogenetic tree. This claim suggests that the increasing genetic diversity of RABVs in FBs is a result of the selective pressure from coexisting dog rabies. FB transmission has become complicated and serious with the coexistence of dog rabies. Therefore, apart from targeting FB rabies, priority should be provided by the appropriate state agencies to perform mass immunization of dog against rabies.

Influenza virus vaccine for neglected hosts: horses and dogs

This study provides information regarding vaccine research and the epidemiology of influenza virus in neglected hosts (horses and dogs). Equine influenza virus (EIV) causes a highly contagious disease in horses and other equids, and outbreaks have occurred worldwide. EIV has resulted in costly damage to the horse industry and has the ability of cross the host species barrier from horses to dogs. Canine influenza is a virus of equine or avian origin and infects companion animals that live in close contact with humans; this results in possible exposure to the seasonal epizootic influenza virus. There have been case reports of genetic reassortment between human and canine influenza viruses, which results in high virulence and the ability of transmission to ferrets. This emphasizes the need for vaccine research on neglected hosts to update knowledge on current strains and to advance technology for controlling influenza outbreaks for public health.

A Dunnione Compound MB12662 Improves Cisplatin-Induced Tissue Injury and Emesis

The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of MB12662, a synthetic dunnione compound, on cisplatin-induced vomiting reflexes and intestinal, renal, immune system, and hematopoietic toxicities in ferrets and mice, respectively. Male ICR mice were orally administered MB12662 (5, 10, 25 or 50 mg/kg) for 10 days, during which intraperitoneally challenged with cisplatin (3.5 mg/kg) from day 4 to 7, and sacrificed on day 10 for the pathological examination. Male ferrets were orally administered MB12662 (25, 50 or 100 mg/kg) for 7 days, subcutaneously challenged with cisplatin (5 mg/kg), and monitored for vomiting reflexes and survival of the animals. Four-day injection of cisplatin (3.5 mg/kg) to mice caused body weight loss and degeneration and atrophy of intestinal villi, reducing villi/crypt ratio to a half level of control animals. Cisplatin also induced renal and hepatic toxicities, and depletion of splenocytes and bone marrow progenitor cells. The systemic toxicities including decreased villi/crypt ratio, immune system atrophy, splenocyte depletion, and decreased cellularity in bone marrow were improved by MB12662. Cisplatin (5 mg/kg) induced retching and emetic responses of ferrets, which were remarkably attenuated by MB12662 in a dose-dependent manner. All the ferrets pretreated with MB12662 survived the challenge of cisplatin, in comparison with 40% mortality in vehicle-treated animals, and blood parameters of nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity were markedly recovered. It is expected that MB12662 could be a candidate for the body protection against burden, including emesis, of chemotherapeutic agents.

Quantitative measurement of influenza virus replication using consecutive bronchoalveolar lavage in the lower respiratory tract of a ferret model

The ferret is an established animal model of influenza virus infection. Although viral replication in the upper respiratory tract is usually measured with consecutively collected nasal washes, daily evaluation of viral replication in the lung is limited because a large numbers of ferrets need to be sacrificed at consecutive time points. To overcome this limitation, we performed a virus quantification assay using bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. This non-invasive BAL technique allows consecutive quantification of virus replication in the lungs of living ferrets. Our method can be used for the longitudinal evaluation of virus tropism in the lower respiratory tract.

A case of metastatic cholangiocarcinoma in a ferret / 동물의과학연구지

Cholangiocarcinoma is a relatively rare neoplasm in animals and humans. A four-year-old, neutered male ferret presented with depression, anorexia, cachexia, diarrhea, and icterus. Necropsy findings included ascites, multiple white nodules on the surface of the liver, stomach, and duodenum, gross enlargement of the bile duct and right atrium, hemorrhage of the gastric and duodenal mucosa, and icterus of the mesenteric fat. Infiltrative well-differentiated neoplastic biliary epithelial cells forming ducts and acini with a prominent collagenous stroma were observed on microscopic examination of neoplastic lesions within the liver, mesentery, and the serosa of the stomach and duodenum. This is a report on a rare case of obstructive jaundice due to cholangiocarcinoma in a ferret.

Anatomia ultrassonográfica dos linfonodos abdominais de furões europeus hígidos / Ultrasonographic anatomy of abdominal lymph nodes in the normal ferret

Nos últimos anos o furão (Mustela putorius furo) tornou-se um conhecido animal de estimação sendo observada uma população em constante crescimento no Brasil, e por conseqüência cada vez mais presente em clínicas veterinárias. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a anatomia ultrassonográfica dos linfonodos abdominais de furões-europeus hígidos. Foram utilizados 20 animais, dentre os quais nove eram machos e onze fêmeas, com idade média total de três anos. Localizaram-se em 100 por cento dos furões os linfonodos mesentéricos, em 55 por cento dos animais os linfonodos pancreático-duodenal e esplênico, em 20 por cento o linfonodo gástrico e em 5 por cento o linfonodo hepático. Conclui-se que a localização e características ultrassonográfica dos linfonodos abdominais em furões são muito similares aos linfonodos abdominais de gatos, sendo este estudo uma orientação preliminar para a localização dos linfonodos abdominais de furões hígidos.

In recent years the ferret (Mustela putorius furo) has become popular pet featuring a ever growing population in Brazil, and being increasingly found in veterinary clinics. This study aimed to evaluate the ultrasound anatomy of abdominal lymph nodes of healthy ferrets. We used 20 animals, nine of which males and eleven females, with overall mean age of three years. We located the mesenteric lymph nodes in 100 percent of the ferrets, the pancreatic-duodenal lymph nodes and the splenic ones in 55 percent, the gastric lymph node in 20 percent, and the hepatic lymph node in 5 percent. We measured their lengths. It is concluded that the location and sonographic characteristics of the abdominal lymph nodes in ferrets are very similar to the abdominal lymph nodes of cats. This is a preliminary orientation for the location of abdominal lymph nodes of healthy ferrets.

Chordoma in the Tail of a Ferret / 한국실험동물학회지

A chordoma is an uncommon tumor that originates from the remnants of the notochord and most commonly involves the cranial and caudal regions of the axial skeleton. Chordoma has been described in laboratory animals such as dogs, rats, minks, and ferrets. This report describes a case of a chordoma in the tail of a ferret. Grossly, a grayish-white, expansile, subcutaneous soft-tissue mass was observed in the tail. Histopathologically, the mass was a loosely placed, nodular, unencapsulated neoplasm within the dermis. In the mass, tumor lobules were intermingled with fibrous tissues. Fibrous tissues contained abundant extracellular basophilic material that was consistent with mucin. The tumor was composed of a close pack of adipocyte-like vacuolated cells (physaliferous cells). The cells were centrally or eccentrically located round nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm with large vacuoles. Immunohistologically, neoplastic cells were positive for vimentin and S-100 protein. Based on histopathologic findings and special staining characteristics, this case was diagnosed as chordoma.

Sequencing and analysis of complete genome of rabies viruses isolated from Chinese Ferret-Badger and dog in Zhejiang province / 病毒学报

Based on sequencing the full-length genomes of four Chinese Ferret-Badger and dog, we analyze the properties of rabies viruses genetic variation in molecular level, get the information about rabies viruses prevalence and variation in Zhejiang, and enrich the genome database of rabies viruses street strains isolated from China. Rabies viruses in suckling mice were isolated, overlapped fragments were amplified by RT-PCR and full-length genomes were assembled to analyze the nucleotide and deduced protein similarities and phylogenetic analyses from Chinese Ferret-Badger, dog, sika deer, vole, used vaccine strain were determined. The four full-length genomes were sequenced completely and had the same genetic structure with the length of 11, 923 nts or 11, 925 nts including 58 nts-Leader, 1353 nts-NP, 894 nts-PP, 609 nts-MP, 1575 nts-GP, 6386 nts-LP, and 2, 5, 5 nts- intergenic regions(IGRs), 423 nts-Pseudogene-like sequence (psi), 70 nts-Trailer. The four full-length genomes were in accordance with the properties of Rhabdoviridae Lyssa virus by BLAST and multi-sequence alignment. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences among Chinese strains had the highest similarity, especially among animals of the same species. Of the four full-length genomes, the similarity in amino acid level was dramatically higher than that in nucleotide level, so the nucleotide mutations happened in these four genomes were most synonymous mutations. Compared with the reference rabies viruses, the lengths of the five protein coding regions had no change, no recombination, only with a few point mutations. It was evident that the five proteins appeared to be stable. The variation sites and types of the four genomes were similar to the reference vaccine or street strains. And the four strains were genotype 1 according to the multi-sequence and phylogenetic analyses, which possessed the distinct district characteristics of China. Therefore, these four rabies viruses are likely to be street viruses already existing in the natural world.

Occurrence of ferret enteric coronavirus in Brazil (Preliminary Report) / Ocorrência de coronavírus entérico de ferrets no Brasil - Nota Prévia

Ferret enteric coronavirus (FECV) is associated to the epizootic catarrhal enteritis (ECE) in ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). In this study, we report the occurrence of this agent in four diarrheic stool samples of domestic ferrets, analyzed by negative staining transmission electron microscopy and a specific RT-PCR assay targeting the nucleocapsid (N) gene. These findings are the first report of FECV in Brazil and address the importance of this virus on the etiology of enteric disorders in ferrets.

Coronavírus entérico de furões (FECV) é associado à enterite catarral epizoótica (ECE) em furões (Mustela putorius furo). Neste estudo, relatamos a ocorrência deste agente em quatro amostras fecais diarreicas de furões domésticos, analisadas por microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (contrastação negativa) e RT-PCR específica e direcionada ao gene de nucleocapsídeo (N). Estes achados constituem o primeiro relato de FECV no Brasil e remetem para a importância deste vírus na etiologia de quadros entéricos nestes animais.

A new record of Paragonimus other than P. westermani in southern Thailand.

Field surveys of Paragonimus in Surat Thani Province, southern Thailand, revealed a new record of a lung fluke species other than P. westermani. The metacercariae were obtained from the crab, Ranguna smalleyi. The cysts of the metacercariae were spherical in shape and the larval body in the cysts contained pinkish granules. Fully mature adult worms were obtained from experimental infections with a rat and a ferret. The adult worms from the two host animals resembled each other, except for size, and had the anatomical characteristics of P. bangkokensis, ie the cuticular spines were arranged mainly in groups, the ovaries were highly branched, while the testes were more simply divided. Chromosomal preparations of the testes showed a haploid number of 11. As no sequence data of P. bangkokensis has been deposited in the GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ nucleotide database, the ITS2 region was sequenced using the metacercariae as starting material. A similarity search of P. bangkokensis ITS2 sequence using the BLAST program revealed that there was only one base difference between this population and P. harinasutai occurring in central Thailand. The result may suggest a close relationship between P. bangkokensis and P. harinasutai. This is the first description of Paragonimus species other than P. westermani occurring in southern Thailand.

Effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids on cardiac voltage-activated K(+) currents in adult ferret cardiomyocytes / 生理学报

This study was carried out in adult ferret cardiomyocytes to investigate the effects of the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on voltage-gated K(+) currents. We report that the two outward K(+) currents: the transient outward K(+) current (I(to)) and the delayed rectifier K(+) current (I(K)), are both inhibited by the n-3 PUFAs, while the inwardly rectifying K(+) current (I(K1)) is unaffected by the n-3 PUFAs. Docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n-3, DHA) produced a concentration dependent suppression of I(to) and I(K) in adult ferret cardiomyocytes with an IC(50) of 7.5 and 20 micromol/L, respectively; but not I(K1). In addition, eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n-3, EPA) had the effects on the three K(+) channels similar to DHA. Arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6, AA) at 5 or 10 micromol/L, after an initial inhibitory effect on I(K), caused an activation of I(K),AA which was prevented by pretreatment with indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor. Monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids, which are not antiarrhythmic, lack the effects on these K(+) currents. Our results demonstrate that the n-3 PUFAs inhibit cardiac I(to) and I(K) with much less potency compared to their effects on cardiac Na(+) and Ca(2+) currents as we reported previously. This inhibition of the cardiac ion currents by the n-3 PUFAs may contribute to their antiarrhythmic actions.

Mucin Secretion by Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide and Nitric Oxide in the Ferret Airway

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and nitric oxide (NO) are important neurotransmitters involved in the regulation of bronchial tone and pulmonary blood tone. Published studies of the effects of VIP on airway mucus secretion have yielded conflicting results and the effects of VIP in airway mucus secretion still remain uncertain. The purpose of this study was to determine whether VIP and NO stimulate or inhibit mucus secretion in the ferret trachea and to investigate the interaction between VIP and NO on airway mucus secretion. We used a sandwich enzyme-linked lectin assay (ELLA) to measure mucin secretion and a turbidimetric assay to measure lysozyme secretion from isolated ferret tracheal segments. VIP stimulated mucin secretion in a dose-dependent fashion. At all concentrations tested, neither N-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase) nor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP)(NO donor) had any significant effect on basal and VIP-induced mucus secretion. We conclude that VIP stimulates mucin and lysozyme secretion, and NO does not play as a stimulator or inhibitor in mucus secretion in the ferret trachea.

Mucin Secretion by Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide and Nitric Oxide in the Ferret Airway

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and nitric oxide (NO) are important neurotransmitters involved in the regulation of bronchial tone and pulmonary blood tone. Published studies of the effects of VIP on airway mucus secretion have yielded conflicting results and the effects of VIP in airway mucus secretion still remain uncertain. The purpose of this study was to determine whether VIP and NO stimulate or inhibit mucus secretion in the ferret trachea and to investigate the interaction between VIP and NO on airway mucus secretion. We used a sandwich enzyme-linked lectin assay (ELLA) to measure mucin secretion and a turbidimetric assay to measure lysozyme secretion from isolated ferret tracheal segments. VIP stimulated mucin secretion in a dose-dependent fashion. At all concentrations tested, neither N-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase) nor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP)(NO donor) had any significant effect on basal and VIP-induced mucus secretion. We conclude that VIP stimulates mucin and lysozyme secretion, and NO does not play as a stimulator or inhibitor in mucus secretion in the ferret trachea.

Ultrastructure of the ferret nodose ganglia

The Nodose gangalia of two male and two female adult ferrets were examined using electron microscopy. The nodose ganglion appeared as a very compact structure completely surrounded by a connective tissue capsule, occupied by nervous and glial elements and also by bundles of nerve fibers. The nerve cells with large nucleus and with one or two prominent nucleoli were recognized, and each had an intact and irregular cell membrane envelope. The nerve cells were surrounded by glial cells which were recognized by their shape and darkly stained nuclei. The common feature of the nerve cell cytoplasm was lysosome like dense bodies, clusters of ribosomes and numerous mitochondria. Myelinated and unmyelinated axons were seen between the nerve cells, among them the dense nuclei of Schwann cells were observed. No synaptic contact between the axons and the nerve cells or vesiculated axon profiles were observed in the ferret nodose ganglion, so the nerve cells are pseudounipolar type which are similar to the nodose ganglia of man and other experimental animal species. No sexual dimorphism was observed in the ferret nodose ganglion. Therefore, the ferret nodose ganglion is recommended for use in laboratory studies, concerned with the central and peripheral connections of the ganglion

Electron microscopic and autoradiographic studies of the myenteric ganglia of the ferret stomach after highly selective vagotomy

In this study, the preganglionic fibres of the vagus nerve were investigated in the myenteric ganglia of the ferret stomach three and four months after highly selective vagotomy. Autoradiographic technique at the electron microsscopic level was used to analyze the vagal nerve terminals after injection of tritiated leucine as an anterograde labeling tracer into the vagal dorsal motor nucleus. Electron microscopic examination of the body of the stomach of control animals showed normal ulrastructure of the myenteric ganglia and labeled nerve fibres were seen distributed in the myenteric ganglia of the body and pyloric areas of the stomach. In the acute experimental animals injection of tritiated leucine was carried out immediately after surgery. After 48 hours survival period, electron mictoscopic examination of the body of the stomach showed no morphological changes, and no labeled nerve fibres as a results of highly selective vagotomy while the pylorus showed many labeled nerve fibres. In the chronic experiments, the animals were left to survive for three months after highly selective vagotomy. After injection of tritiated leucine and analysis by autoradiography, two important findings were observed in the denervated areas of the body of the stomach [i] Morphological changes affecting the ganglionic cell bodies, axons and nerve terminals [ii] Re-appearance of labeled nerve fibres in the body of the stomach. Interstingly, electron microscopic examination of the same areas of the body of the stomach four months after highly selective vagotomy showed normal ultrastructure of the myenteric ganglia with labeled nerve fibres in the same areas. It is concluded that the deprivation of the preganglionic input to the myenteric ganglia produced trans-synaptic neurological changes. These morphological degenerative changes disappeared when the stomach was re-innervated. Re-appearance of the labeled nerve fibres in the denervated areas of the stomach is due either to regeneration of the cut branches of the vagal nerve or due to the sprouting of the intact vagal nerve terminals which spread from the pyloric areas to innervate the denervated areas of the body of the stomach. This phenomenon of sprouting of the intact vagal nerve terminals or regeneration of the cut nerves, which was demonstrated by autoradiography at the electron microscopic level may explain the recovery of gastric function after vagotomy and may account for the failure of vagotomy for the treatment of peptic ulcer patients. It also could reduce the need for surgical intervention in peptic ulceration

Sprouting of the vagus nerve after highly selective vagotomy: an autoradiographic study in the ferret stomach

In this study, the sprouting of the vagal nerve terminals were investigated in the ferret stomach after highly selective vagotomy by using the autoradiographic technique. The acute experimental animals which had highly selective vagotomy were injected immediately with tritiated leucine into the vagal dorsal motor nucleus. autoradiographic examination of the body of the stomach failed to show any labelled nerve fibres, while the pylorus showed many labelled nerve fibers. These observations indicate that the highly selective vagotomy has been performed successfully. Abdominal examination, of the chronic experimental animals, three months after highly selective vagotomy. bridges of scar tissue were observed by passing the vagotomy ligatures to supply the stomach. Histological examination of the regrown tissue showed that it was normal nerve fibres. After cutting this regrown tissue and injection of these chronic animals with tritiated leucine into the vagal dorsal motor nucleus, labelled nerve fibres were seen in the body of the stomach. This indicates that terminals reactive sprouting of the vagus nerve has spread from the pylorus to supply the body of the stomach. This phenomenon of the compensatory reactive sprouting of the vagal nerve terminals may explain the recovery of gastric function and may account for the failures of highly selective vagotomy in humans. However, modification of surgery may decrease the high rate of incidence of recurrent peptic ulcer after highly selective vagotomy

Trypanorhyncha from sharks of southern brazilian coast: Eutetrarhynchus vooremi sp. n. and two other species parasites of Mustelus (Pisces, Triakidae)

In the present paper, Eutetrahynchus vooremi sp. n., a cestode of the order Trypanorhyncha is proposed. The new species was recovered from sharks under the genus Mustelus (Pisces, Triakidae) and was compared to E. ruficollis, E. lineatus, E. leucomelanus, E. litocephalus and E. macrotrachelus. The main character, among others, considered to differ the species refers to the eggs filament, size of proglottids, tentacular hooks and lenght of pars postbulbosa. Two other known species are studied: Callitetrarhynchus gracilis (Rudolphi, 1819) from M. canis (Mitchill, 1815) and Nybelinia (N.) lingualis (Cuvier, 1817) from M. schmitti Springer, 1939 representing new host records.