Effects of Cholerella sp. microalgae extract on colonic anastomosis in rats with protein-energy malnutrition.

OBJECTIVE: Algae, which are used as supplementary nutrients in various countries, are products rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of algae extracts on the healing of colonic anastomosis in malnourished rats. METHOD: Seventy-two rats were randomized to three groups. Group 1 was fed with standard diet for 15 days, before and after the colonic anastomosis. Groups 2 and 3 were fed with a malnutrition diet for 15 days prior to colonic anastomosis and then with the basic diet for 15 days there after. Group 3 also received an extract of algae derived from Cholerella sp. via oral gavage postoperatively, in addition to the basic diet. Rats were killed on the 3rd, 7th and 15th postoperative day. Blood samples were collected to evaluate prealbumin, transferring and albumin levels. Anastomotic bursting pressures (BPs), histopathology and tissue hydroxyproline levels were evaluated after killing. RESULTS: In group 3, the prealbumin level on the 3rd postoperative day and transferrin and albumin levels on the 7th and 15th postoperative days were significantly increased compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). Tissue hydroxyproline levels and anastomotic BPs of group 3 were significantly higher than in group 2 on the 3rd, 7th and 15th postoperative days (P < 0.05). Histopathological examination of the anastomosis revealed significantly better healing patterns for group 3 than for groups 1 and 2 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Extract derived from Cholerella sp. microalgae has favourable effects on healing of experimental colon anastomoses.

Gross morphological features of the lung and air sac in the Japanese quail.

This study was conducted to reveal the morphological characteristics of the lung and air sacs in Coturnix coturnix japonica (Japanese quails). Ten quails were allocated into two groups. Tracheas of 5 quails with neoprene latex and 5 quails with methylmetacrylate were injected to fill the trachea and air sacs. Latex embalmed animals were stored in 10% formaldehyde solution for two months. Animals given methylmetacrylate were maserated in 30% potassium hydroxide at 40 degrees C for two days. Lungs were located in the dorsal part of the thorax and very close to the thoracic vertebrae and ribs. Shorter than the dorsal border, the ventral border lied between the 3rd and 6th ribs. Cervical, clavicular, cranial thoracic, caudal thoracic and abdominal sacs were identified. These sacs had connection with the 3rd, 4th and 5th lateroventral and 4th mediolateral bronchi. Saccus cervicalis was located on the left and right portions of the vertebrae cervicales et thoraricae with a pronounced communication ventromedially. However, the cervical sac aeration of only all cervical vertebrae was present in this study. Humerus was a non-aerated bone. Pneumatic foramen was absent and did not aerate the sternum. Cranial thoracic sac connected to the 1st, 2nd and 4th medioventral bronchi and gave no diverticulum for aeration. Cranial thoracic sac received air through the 4th medioventral and the 1st and 2nd lateroventral bronchi. Left and right abdominal air sacs paramedially produced diverticulum femorale, but this diverticulum did not enter the femur.

Osteoclast-like giant cell tumour arising from the kidney in a dog.

In this study, a case of osteoclast-like giant cell tumour arising from the kidney is reported in an eight-year-old female Anatolian Shepherd dog. Macroscopically, the tumorous mass covered the hilus of the left kidney. It was 26 x 22 x 12 cm in size and 3700 g in weight. Metastatic tumorous nodules, 0.5-2.0 cm in diameter, were found on the abdominal side of the diaphragm and in the lungs. Microscopically, numerous large osteoclast-like multinucleated giant cells and spindle-spheroidal-shaped cells were seen. Osteoblastic differentiation and osteoid matrix were noted in a few areas at the periphery of the tumour, near the connective tissue septa. The stroma of the tumour tissue was vascular, oedematous and loose. By immunoperoxidase staining, tumour cells showed immunoreactivity for vimentin but not for keratin and desmin, indicating that the tumour had mesenchymal origin. This is the first report in the literature on a malignant osteoclast-like giant cell tumour arising from a visceral organ in animals.

Anatomy of the guinea pig temporal bone.

The middle ear of guinea pigs has long been used for experimental studies, but no detailed information about its temporal bone anatomy is available. In 18 adult guinea pigs, the temporal bone, eustachian tube, and inner ear anatomy, in addition to the anatomy of the middle ear, were investigated under the dissection microscope. In addition to properties of the eardrum, ossicles, air cell system, and cochlea previously described, the appearance of Huschke's foramen and the crista stapedis in an adult guinea pig ear, the structure of the eustachian tube, the architecture of the internal auditory canal, and the communication of the mastoid cells with the tympanic bulla are described. Differences and similarities among guinea pigs, other experimental animals, and humans are discussed to show the advantages and disadvantages of the guinea pig ear for experimentation.

Squamous cell carcinoma in a puppy.

A tumour diagnosed histologically as a squamous cell carcinoma occurred in the umbilical region of a 4-month-old female mongrel puppy. The tumour was removed by cryosurgery. There has been no recurrence for nearly 3 years.

Experimental infection of the mouse mammary gland with Campylobacter coli.

Campylobacter coli strains of bovine and avian origin were inoculated into the mammary gland of mice. A bovine strain isolated from a case of mastitis produced gross and histological changes in most of the glands; one bovine and one avian faecal isolate did not. Histologically, lesions were characterised by neutrophil infiltration in the alveolar spaces and necrosis and oedema in the interalveolar tissue. On bacteriological examination, the bovine mastitis strain could be isolated from most of the glands, but neither of the faecal strains. The mouse, therefore, appears to provide a convenient model for studying campylobacter mastitis.

The eustachian tube caliber and craniofacial skeleton in guinea pigs.

The temporal bone and eustachian tube (ET) keep developing up to adulthood in conjunction with facial growth, and the researchers considered that insufficient tubal function in childhood might be related to size, shape and position of the ET. In this study, we performed correlation and stepwise regression analyses between craniofacial skeletal parameters and diameter of the cartilaginous ET in 90 guinea pigs. Data showed that, not the potency of the lumen at the superior part of the cartilaginous ET, but the configuration of the cartilage surrounding the superior part of the ET, and position of the lateral lamina appeared to be significantly associated with the balance of the growth potentials between the naso-premaxillary unit, maxillo-zygomatic unit and the anterior cranial base. Therefore, we may hypothesize that the balance between these subunits of the developing craniofacial skeleton has determinative effect on tensor veli palatini muscle (TVPM).

Helicobacter felis as a cofactor alone or together with stress in cryptosporidial activation in mice.

Cryptosporidiosis is caused by a protozoan parasite, mainly found in animals, which usually results in transient, mild gastroenteritis in humans but can cause severe and prolonged disease in immunocompromised individuals. Immunocompetent mice, naturally infected with Cryptosporidium muris, were used to investigate the effects of inoculation with Helicobacter felis and of stress on the activity of the C. muris infection, as indicated by histopathological examination of their stomachs. The results indicate that both H. felis inoculation and/or stress activate C. muris and cause gastric inflammation. The extent of the activation of C. muris depends on the duration of the stress.

Duplication of the jejunum in a dog.

Duplication of the jejunum in a dog was morphologically reported. A solitary lesion with a diameter of 4 mm was incidentally found near the mesenteric side of the intestinal wall. On the intestinal mucosa, a crater-like focus was observed. Histologically the nodular lesion was detected as a round and clearly circumscribed canal within the normal muscular layer of the small intestine. The inner surface of the canal had mucosa which was similar to the normal intestinal mucosa with villi in light and electron microscopy.

Immunoperoxidase evaluation of pneumonic lesions induced by Pasteurella haemolytica in calves.

Calves inoculated with Pasteurella haemolytica serovar 1 developed lesions of coagulation necrosis in the lungs that were sharply demarcated by leukocytes. The P haemolytica antigen was detected in the area of coagulation necrosis in histologic sections, using an immunoperoxidase technique. In the central area of the necrotic tissue, the bacterial antigen was diffusely presented in the necrotic alveolar wall, fibrin, serous exudate, and degenerated leukocyte. The bacterial antigen also was found in some groups of degenerating leukocytes around the necrotic tissue. The bacterial colonies among these leukocytes had strong specific reactions against P haemolytica. The bacterial antigen was observed in the cytoplasm of macrophages in alveoli around the necrotic lesion. These findings confirmed that coagulation necrosis is an important lesion in calves with pneumonia caused by P haemolytica.

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Pasteurella haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida isolated from pneumonic ovine lungs.

The in vitro susceptibilities of Pasteurella haemolytica biotypes A and T and P multocida from pneumonic ovine lungs to penicillin, ampicillin, oxytetracycline, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, kanamycin, neomycin, gentamicin, streptomycin and lincomycin were determined by the disk diffusion method. All the isolates were sensitive to chloramphenicol and resistant to lincomycin. The isolates of P haemolytica biotype A were consistently more sensitive to penicillin, ampicillin, oxytetracycline, erythromycin and streptomycin than those of biotype T.

Fetal thymus development in vitamin D deficient rats.

The morphological characteristics of the thymus in vitamin D-deficient rats were evaluated in utero. The thymus weight, thymus weight/body weight ratio and histological findings were found to be similar when the vitamin D-deficient rats were compared with the control animals. It is therefore concluded that vitamin D is not required for the morphological development of rat thymus.

Is L-carnitine protective in hypoxic cerebral edema in newborn mice?

The value of carnitine in the prevention of cerebral edema due to acute severe hypoxia in 38 newborn mice was studied. Twenty-nine animals received normal saline (0.25 ml) or carnitine (16 mmol/kg) intraperitoneally, thirty minutes before exposure to 0% oxygen in inspired air for two minutes. Nine mice received no drug and were exposed to room air. After hypoxic insult, brain water content was measured and was found to be similar in all groups. These findings suggest that carnitine pretreatment does not prevent brain edema associated with cerebral hypoxia in newborn mice.

Effect of D-penicillamine on the fetal lung of rats: a model for congenital emphysema.

D-Penicillamine administered orally in daily doses of 300 mg or 400 mg to pregnant rats during the last six days of gestation caused marked growth retardation, a decrease in the lung weight to body weight ratio and histological features characteristic of pulmonary emphysema in the newborn animals studied. It was also demonstrated that a normal diet given to the dams for a period of three weeks after delivery did not restore the lung tissue of the offspring to normal.

The effect of D-penicillamine in the developing rat cerebellum.

The effect of D-penicillamine (DPA), a copper chelator, on the cerebellar maturation of the offspring of pregnant rats is evaluated. Pups of the mothers which received DPA in a daily dose of 300-400 mg during their last six days of gestation, showed an appreciable decrease in body and cerebellum weights, and cerebellar degenerative changes on histological examination. A postnatal diet DPA-free given to lactating mothers appeared to have a significant effect in reversing the cerebellar degenerative changes in their offspring.

Pulmonary dysplasia with renal malformations: a common connective tissue disorder?

The effect of D-penicillamine (DPA) on the development of lung and kidney tissues was evaluated to determine whether the association of lung and kidney malformation results from a common generalized disorder of connective tissue in the fetal rat. Ten animals received a daily dose of 300 mg DPA in their drinking water during the last six days of their gestation. Ten other pregnant rats were used as controls. At the end of the gestation period all the animals were delivered by cesarean section. We found that DPA treatment during gestation caused marked growth retardation in the offspring. Although the lung weight to body weight ratios did not differ between the study and control groups, the left-kidney weight to body weight ratios were found to be lower in the study group. Histologic sections showed pulmonary dysplasia with bronchomegaly, cystic alveoli, atelectasis, vascular aneurism, perivascular loose of connective tissue, small hemorrhagic foci in the lungs and caliechtasis. We hypothesize that a common connective tissue disorder induced by DPA during intrauterine life may cause lung and kidney malformations.

Mitosis and apoptosis in canine cutaneous histiocytoma and transmissible venereal tumour.

Cell proliferation and apoptosis in canine cutaneous histiocytomas and transmissible venereal tumours were examined in twenty cases. The Ki-67 immunohistochemistry and Tunel methods were used to detect mitotic activity and apoptosis, respectively. The number of Ki-67 immunoreactive cells was 11.65 (+/- 1.1706) in canine cutaneous histiocytomas and 17 (+/- 2.1751) in transmissible venereal tumours. The mean values of apoptotic cells for canine cutaneous histiocytomas and transmissible venereal tumours were 13.25 (+/- 1.8758) and 8.52 (+/- 1.1007), respectively. It was considered that mitotic activity and apoptotic indices were useful in differentiation of canine cutaneous histiocytomas and transmissible venereal tumours. The correlation values for canine cutaneous histiocytomas and transmissible venereal tumours were 0.359 (+/- 0.330) and -0.232 (+/- 0.344), respectively. No significant (P > 0.05) correlation was found between mitosis and apoptosis in these two tumour types.

Canine gastritis associated with Helicobacter felis.

Naturally occurring gastritis associated with Helicobacter felis was detected in two dogs. Histologically, chronic changes characterized by lymphofollicular aggregation were observed. Ultrastructurally, organisms located on the mucosal surface, within gastric pits and glandular epithelial cells. H. felis was isolated and urease activity was detected in all areas of the stomachs.

Association of Pasteurella haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida and Haemophilus somnus with pneumonia in calves.

Pathological and bacteriological observations were made on 100 (0.98%) pneumonic lungs of 10140 slaughtered beef calves during March 1995-June 1996 period. Gross lesions were mainly lobular and occasionally lobar pattern and, were frequently observed in the pars cranialis of lobus cranialis dexter. In histological examination, proliferative-exudative pneumonia was observed in 79 cases, and proliferative pneumonia alone in 21 cases. In bacteriological examination, Pasteurella haemolytica. Pasteurella multocida and Haemophilus somnus were isolated from 42.8 and 10 of pneumonic lungs respectively. In 7 cases, P. haemolytica and H. somnus were isolated from the same sample P. haemolytica and P. multocida were also found in the same sample in 2 cases. There was a close relation among these organisms and exudative inflammation (P < 0.01).

Studies of the pathology and microbiology of pneumonic lungs of lambs.

The characteristics of lung lesions of slaughtered lambs and the presence of microorganisms in the lesions were investigated. Pneumonia was detected in 500 (3.6%) of 13,588 lambs. Macroscopical lesions were of atypical pneumonia and were often seen in the pars cranialis of lobus cranialis dexter. Histologically, proliferative pneumonia was detected in most cases and was often accompanied by exudative characteristics. Pasteurella haemolytica was isolated from 258 (51.6%) and Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae from 215 (43.0%) of 500 pneumonic lungs. In 131 (26.2%) cases both organisms were isolated from same samples. A close relationship was found between P. haemolytica and exudative inflammation (p < 0.05).