Choroid epithelial cells: Source cerebrospinal fluid progesterone in sheep?

The present study was conducted to immunolocalize 3?-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3?-HSD), an enzyme metabolizing pregnenolone to progesterone in the choroid plexus of the lateral ventricle in sheep, as well as to measure progesterone concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma using radioimmunoassay (RIA). Akkaraman breed rams (n = 16) and ewes (n = 16) were utilized in the study. 3?-HSD was immunolocalized in choroid epithelial cells of the choroid plexus with an apparent cytoplasmic immunoreactivity. Progesterone was detected in CSF with no significant differences between the ewes (0.76 ± 0.14 ng/mL) and rams (0.74 ± 0.13 ng/mL) (p > 0.05). However, the plasma progesterone concentration in the ewes (0.27 ± 0.04 ng/mL) was significantly higher than that of the rams (0.11 ± 0.02 ng/mL) (p < 0.001). Consequently, CSF in sheep contains progesterone in significant levels. As evidenced by 3?-HSD immunoreactivity, choroid epithelial cells may be a site of progesterone synthesis in sheep

Listériose expérimentale chez le lapin: Altérations biochimiques du sérum et du liquide céphalo-rachidien

This study was focused on serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biochemical changes in experimental Listeria monocytogenes infection in rabbits. Total of 20 New Zealand White rabbits were used. 14 New Zealand White rabbits were inoculated with Listeria monocytogenes 1/2a (L.m. 1/2a) by intracerebral way and 6 rabbits served as controls. Ten hours after the inoculation of the bacteria the rabbits developed symptoms of meningitis, with stiffness of the neck and fever. The existence and the severity of the inflammatory reaction were controlled by microscopic observation. The presence of bacteria into the cytoplasm of neutrophils and macrophages localised in inflammatory areas was confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis using rabbit polyclonal antibodies. We have analysed in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) the concentrations of glucose, total protein, and the enzymatic activities of aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). After intracerebral inoculation of bacteria the glucose concentrations in the serum and CSF decreased to 428.69 ± 5.50 mg/l and 309.56 ± 3.93 mg/l (mean ± SE) respectively compared to control values of 975.33 ± 84.34 mg/l and 689.22 ± 65.13 mg/l (p ? 0.001). Total protein contents, the activities of ASAT, ALAT and LDH in the serum of infected animals increased to 98.92 ± 1.97 g/l, 327.87 ± 22.18 U/l, 292.39 ± 4.66 U/l, 153.28 ± 3.04 U/l respectively compared to 64.42 ± 1.14 g/l, 67.91 ± 7.79 U/l, 74.25 ± 1.79 U/l, 49.35 ± 1.20 U/l in control rabbits. In CSF, increases in total protein concentrations and in enzyme activities were also evidenced in inoculated rabbits. Moreover, serum and CSF LDH activities were correlated with brain injury (p < 0.05)

Increased circulating concentrations of PDGF-BB and TGF-?1 in canine generalised demodicosis

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of circulating concentrations of platelet derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-?1) in dogs with generalised demodicosis. Fifteen dogs with generalised demodicosis diagnosed on clinical findings and microscopic examination of the cutaneous scrapings and 10 healthy dogs were included in the study. Circulating concentrations of PDGF-BB and TGF-?1 were measured by commercial specific ELISA assays. Marked and significant increases in plasma PDGF-BB and in serum TGF-?1 concentrations were evidenced in diseased dogs. Circulating PDGF-BB concentrations were closely and positively associated with TGF-?1 concentrations in affected dogs (r = 0.92, p < 0.001). These results indicate that the increased concentrations of circulating PDGF-BB and TGF-?1 play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of the canine demodicosis