A rat model for the immune response to the intrauterine administration of BCG

This study was designed to investigate the changes in the numbers of lymphocytes, macrophages and plasma cells in the uterus and ileocecal lymph nodes of rats exposed to the intrauterine administration of Baeillus-Calmette Guerin (BCG). Thirty female Wistar Albino rats, age 6 months and weighing between 200-250 g, were assigned to the two experimental groups BCG treated and controls (n = 15). The intrauterine BCG injections were made using laparatomy in the diestrous cycle under Rompun and Ketalar anesthesia. 0.1 ml BCG were injected for each into cornu uteri while the control group received 0.1 ml sterile saline in the same place. Two weeks later, the rats in both groups were anesthetized with ether and decapitated. Uterus and ileocecal lymph nodes were processed to determine alpha naphthyl acid esterase (ANAE) - positive T lymphocytes and macrophages. The plasma cells were stained with the methyl green-pyronin method; It was found that the numbers of lymphocytes macrophages and plasma cells on the uterus increased (P<0.01) in BCG treated rats. In addition, the number of these cells also increased in the ileoeeeal lymph nodes indicating the presence of an immune response to the intrauterine BCG administration, It is concluded that although the rat was chosen as a model and ECG was given by the process of laparatomy in this study, intracervical administration of BCG tn the uterus should be studied clinically in cases of immune deficiency disorders related to the uterus. such as endometritis, myometritis, pyometra, endometriosis. infertility and implantation problems of domestic animals, to see if there is an increase in the immune response

Effects of different raising systems on colour and quality characteristics of Turkish Pekin duck meats

The current trial was conducted to determine the influence of different raising systems on the meat quality properties of male Turkish Pekin ducks. Ninety male ducklings were randomly allocated to three experimental groups: an animal-fish integrated farming group (IG), a non-animal-fish integrated farming group (NIG) and a poultry house group (PHG). All ducklings were fed a starter diet from weeks 2 to 6 and a finisher diet from weeks 6 to 10. Feed and water were offered ad libitum. At the end of the trial all ducks were slaughtered and the carcasses were stored at 3 °C for 24 hours, after which L*, a* and b* values of the carcass skins were measured. After standard dissection of carcasses, pectoralis muscles were obtained on which pH, colour (L*, a*, b*, C and H), total aerobic mesophilic, total aerobic psychrotrophic, lactic acid bacteria, Micrococcus/Staphylococcus, yeast-mould and Enterobacteriaceae counts were determined. The different raising systems of the ducks had significant effects on the pH, total aerobic mesophilic, Enterobacteriaceae, and L* and b* values of the pectoralis muscle. The lowest pH, total aerobic mesophilic and Enterobacteriaceae counts were found in the PHG group. The lowest L* values for the pectoralis muscle were found in the IG group while the highest a* value was recorded in the IG group. Significant differences in skin colour were observed between the experimental groups. For all production groups, all microbial counts were found to be within acceptable ranges. However, pH, total aerobic mesophilic and Enterobacteriaceae results were found to be lower in the PHG group than in the other groups. Different raising systems were thus found to affect the meat and skin colour of ducks, which may influence the preference of consumers. Keywords: Pekin duck, integrated farming, carcass and meat colour, microbial propertiesSouth African Journal of Animal Science Vol. 38 (3) 2008: pp. 217-22

The value of Nigella sativa in the treatment of experimentally induced rhinosinusitis

Obiettivo del presente studio è stato quello di investigare leffetto della Nigella sativa e della cefalexina nel trattamento della rinosinusite batterica indotta in setting sperimentale. La rinosinusite batterica è stata indotta mediante stafilococco aureo. I conigli sono stati suddivisi in 5 gruppi; uno di controllo (n = 6), N. sativa 50 mg/kg/d (n = 6), N. sativa 100 mg/kg/d (n = 6), N. sativa 200 mg/kg/d (n = 6), e cefalexina 20 mg/kg/d (n = 6). La N. sativa è stata somministrata per via orale per 7 giorni. Lo stesso volume di soluzione salina (% 0,9 NaCl) è stato quindi somministrato al gruppo di controllo per lo stesso periodo di tempo. Dopo il periodo di trattamento i campioni di mucosa dei seni mascellari sono stati valutati utilizzando metodologie istopatologiche e stereologiche. La metà dei campioni di mucosa del seno mascellare sono stati congelati a -80°C per una successiva analisi dei livelli di ossido nitrico. Lanalisi patologica ha rivelato un intenso processo infiammatorio in atto nei conigli trattati con sola soluzione salina. Solo un lieve grado di infiammazione è stato invece rilevato nei conigli nei gruppi trattati con cefalexina, N. sativa 100 mg/kg/d, e N. sativa 200 mg/kg/d. Il livello di ossido nitrico, elevato nel gruppo placebo, è risultato invece essere ridotto negli altri gruppi. La N. sativa potrebbe prevenire i ambiamenti istopatologici indotti dalla rinosinusite mediante una riduzione dei livelli di ossido nitrico con andamento dose dipendente, e potrebbe essere usata nel trattamento della rinosinusite

Antitumor effect of sFlt-1 gene therapy system mediated by Bifidobacterium Infantis on Lewis lung cancer in mice

Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase receptor (sFlt-1) is a soluble form of extramembrane part of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) that has antitumor effects. Bifidobacterium Infantis is a kind of non-pathogenic and anaerobic bacteria that may have specific targeting property of hypoxic environment inside of solid tumors. The aim of this study was to construct Bifidobacterium Infantis-mediated sFlt-1 gene transferring system and investigate its antitumor effect on Lewis lung cancer (LLC) in mice. Our results demonstrated that the Bifidobacterium Infantis-mediated sFlt-1 gene transferring system was constructed successfully and the system could express sFlt-1 at the levels of gene and protein. This system could not only significantly inhibit growth of human umbilical vein endothelial cells induced by VEGF in vitro, but also inhibit the tumor growth and prolong survival time of LLC C57BL/6 mice safely. These data suggest that Bifidobacterium Infantis-mediated sFlt-1 gene transferring system presents a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of cancer