Clinical aspects and surgical treatment of hyperadrenocorticism in the domestic ferret: 94 cases (1994-1996).

The signalment, clinical findings, laboratory values, and histopathological results of 96 ferrets with signs (i.e., bilaterally symmetrical alopecia, return to male sexual behavior, or an enlarged vulva) suggestive of hyperadrenocorticism were evaluated retrospectively. Of these 96 ferrets, 94 (98%) were diagnosed with hyperadrenocorticism histologically. Treatment consisted of unilateral adrenalectomy for unilateral tumors (84%) and subtotal bilateral adrenalectomy for bilateral adrenal tumors (16%). The histopathological diagnosis included nodular hyperplasia (56%), adrenocortical carcinoma (26%), and adrenocortical adenoma (16%). Common concurrent diseases included splenomegaly (87%), islet-cell tumor (27%), and cardiomyopathy (10%).

Immunolocalization of the G protein alpha subunit encoded by the GPA1 gene in Arabidopsis.

Heterotrimeric GTP binding proteins (G proteins) are important signal transducers in lower eukaryotes and in animal cells. In plants, the occurrence of GTP binding proteins has been reported, but their biological function remains unclear. Two genes coding for G protein alpha subunits have been cloned: GPA1 in Arabidopsis and TGA1 in tomato. To gain some insights into the function of GPA1, we describe an extensive immunolocalization of GPalpha1, the gene product of GPA1, during Arabidopsis development. Our results show that the GPalpha1 is present through all stages of development and in all organs examined, with the exception of mature seeds. It is expressed in roots, floral stem, rosette leaves, cauline leaves, flowers, and seed pods. Interestingly, the level of GPalpha1 protein is higher in immature organs than in mature organs. GPalpha1 is present at a high level in the root meristem and elongation zone, in the shoot and floral meristems, and in the leaf primordium and floral organ (sepal, petal, stamen, and gynoecium) primordia. During flower development, dividing microspores, but not mature pollen, show high levels of GPalpha1. During pollination, GPalpha1 is present in the growing pollen tubes. The protein is also present in nectaries and developing ovules and, after fertilization, in developing embryos. In mature tissue, GPalpha1 is preferentially found in the vascular system but is also present in other cell types. The complexity of the GPalpha1 localization pattern suggests that GPalpha1 might be involved in different signaling pathways depending on the developmental stage.