31 research outputs found
Serial MRI Features of Canine GM1 Gangliosidosis: A Possible Imaging Biomarker for Diagnosis and Progression of the Disease
GM1 gangliosidosis is a fatal neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disease caused by an autosomal recessively inherited deficiency of β-galactosidase activity. Effective therapies need to be developed to treat the disease. In Shiba Inu dogs, one of the canine GM1 gangliosidosis models, neurological signs of the disease, including ataxia, start at approximately 5 months of age and progress until the terminal stage at 12 to 15 months of age. In the present study, serial MR images were taken of an affected dog from a model colony of GM1 gangliosidosis and 4 sporadic clinical cases demonstrating the same mutation in order to characterize the MRI features of this canine GM1 gangliosidosis. By 2 months of age at the latest and persisting until the terminal stage of the disease, the MR findings consistently displayed diffuse hyperintensity in the white matter of the entire cerebrum on T2-weighted images. In addition, brain atrophy manifested at 9 months of age and progressed thereafter. Although a definitive diagnosis depends on biochemical and genetic analyses, these MR characteristics could serve as a diagnostic marker in suspect animals with or without neurological signs. Furthermore, serial changes in MR images could be used as a biomarker to noninvasively monitor the efficacy of newly developed therapeutic strategies
Appearance and distribution of stromal myofibroblasts and tenascin-C in feline mammary tumors
Myofibroblasts and extracellular matrix
protein tenascin-C (Tn-C) are known to be implicated in
cancer progression in human cancer. In feline mammary
tumors that are a suitable model for human breast
cancer, however, little is known about stromal
myofibroblasts and no information is available on the
expression of Tn-C. Feline samples of normal mammary
glands and proliferating mammary lesions were
routinely processed and serial sections were cut and
immunostained with anti-α-smooth muscle actin (α-
SMA) or Tn-C antibody. Myofibroblasts were not
included in the stroma of 90% (9/10) of normal
mammary gland tissues, 92% (12/13) of adenosis, and
63% (5/8) of simple adenomas. On the other hand, all 40
simple carcinomas contained stromal myofibroblasts to a
varied extent. Tn-C expression was detected in the
stroma of 92% (37/40) of carcinomas, and its global
distribution almost coincided with that of
myofibroblasts. In addition, Tn-C immunoreactivity was
occasionally observed in the basement membrane zone
around ducts in some cases of normal mammary glands
and benign lesions, but barely observed in the stroma.
These results suggest that stromal myofibroblasts may
be a major cellular source of Tn-C and be involved in
malignant progression of feline mammary tumor
Clonal deletion of T cell repertoires with specific T cell receptor Vβ chains by two endogenous superantigens in NC/Nga mice
<p>Superantigens (SAgs) are powerful T-cell stimulatory proteins. Because an atopic dermatitis (AD) model NC/Nga mice had two endogenous SAgs, namely <i>minor lymphocyte-stimulating locus-1</i><sup><i>a</i></sup> <i>(Mls-1</i><sup><i>a</i></sup><i>)</i> and <i>mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)(SHN)</i>, SAg-responsive T-cells bearing Vβ5.1, Vβ6, Vβ8.1, Vβ8.2, Vβ8.3, Vβ9, and Vβ11 should be endogenously deleted. Here, we discuss that the endogenous SAgs-expression may be involved in AD-sensitivity in NC/Nga mice.</p
Malignant rhabdoid tumor of the musk gland and systemic T-cell lymphoma in a masked palm civet (<i>Paguma larvata</i>)
Magnetic resonance findings of the corpus callosum in canine and feline lysosomal storage diseases.
Several reports have described magnetic resonance (MR) findings in canine and feline lysosomal storage diseases such as gangliosidoses and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. Although most of those studies described the signal intensities of white matter in the cerebrum, findings of the corpus callosum were not described in detail. A retrospective study was conducted on MR findings of the corpus callosum as well as the rostral commissure and the fornix in 18 cases of canine and feline lysosomal storage diseases. This included 6 Shiba Inu dogs and 2 domestic shorthair cats with GM1 gangliosidosis; 2 domestic shorthair cats, 2 familial toy poodles, and a golden retriever with GM2 gangliosidosis; and 2 border collies and 3 chihuahuas with neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses, to determine whether changes of the corpus callosum is an imaging indicator of those diseases. The corpus callosum and the rostral commissure were difficult to recognize in all cases of juvenile-onset gangliosidoses (GM1 gangliosidosis in Shiba Inu dogs and domestic shorthair cats and GM2 gangliosidosis in domestic shorthair cats) and GM2 gangliosidosis in toy poodles with late juvenile-onset. In contrast, the corpus callosum and the rostral commissure were confirmed in cases of GM2 gangliosidosis in a golden retriever and canine neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses with late juvenile- to early adult-onset, but were extremely thin. Abnormal findings of the corpus callosum on midline sagittal images may be a useful imaging indicator for suspecting lysosomal storage diseases, especially hypoplasia (underdevelopment) of the corpus callosum in juvenile-onset gangliosidoses
Polyglucosan bodies in the prostatic stromal smooth muscles of aged dogs
Polyglucosan bodies (PGB) in the prostate of
aged dogs without neurological signs were examined by
light microscopy, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. Prostatic PGB were round or oval and slightly
basophilic. Most of the bodies were situated within the
stromal smooth muscle cells. PGB were intensely
positive for PAS, Best’s carmine, Lugol’s iodine and
Grocott’s methenamine silver method. Moreover, canine
prostatic PGB were immunoreactive for monoclonal
antibodies raised against human polyglucosan. The
frequency of PGB in the smooth muscle cells was
significantly correlated with the age of dogs. The
occurrence of PGB in the canine prostate might be a
non-specific finding related to ageing