Japanese Journal of Veterinary Research最新文献

This study was undertaken to investigate the constitutive response of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes (XMEs) to lead (Pb2+) exposure in cultured rat liver (H4IIE) cell lines. Phase I enzymes such as CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 had mRNA expressions that were slightly induced after exposure to low concentrations of Pb2+; however, under higher concentrations of Pb2+, the mRNA expressions of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 were significantly down-regulated. These effects were in correspondence with AhR mRNA expression. Phase II enzymes had mRNA expressions that were reduced upon exposure to Pb2+. Metallothionein mRNA expression was induced after treatment with Pb2+ in a dose-dependent trend. In conclusion, Phase I and II enzymes were significantly modulated upon lead exposure indicating some toxicological implications for lead exposure in cultured H4IIE cells.

Reptile population decrease is an alarming trend all around the world. Yet little is known about the role of xenobiotics in this decrease. In this study, we investigated the metabolism of pyrene in three freshwater turtle species (Red-EARED sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans), Chinese pond turtles (Mauremys reevesii) and Chinese softshell turtles (Pelodiscus sinensis). Compared to other vertebrates, all turtles showed an unique metabolite distribution, pyrene-1-sulfate being the main metabolite. The observed low phase II enzyme metabolic rates raises the question of the effect of long-time exposure.

The Katanga province is well known for its copper and cobalt reserves. During the early 2000s a boom of mining projects in Katanga brought again hope for better future to Congolese people. The paper aims to evaluate the impact of recent production recovery on economy and environment. We collected primary and secondary sources on copper industry for economic analysis. We use results of laboratory analysis conducted at the Congolese Office of Control by provincial division of environment for toxicological analysis. The comparison of heavy metal concentration to standards shows that mining industry is the main source of environmental pollution in Katanga. Copper industry generates income for economic growth of the region.

It is reported that seabirds accumulate high levels of metals, prompting concerns regarding poisoning. The present study investigated the accumulation patterns of metals in tissues among four species of seabirds (Fratercula corniculata, Uria lomvia, Puffinus tenuirostris, and Fulmarus glacialis). Furthermore, we focused on Slaty-backed Gulls, which accumulated high levels of cadmium and mercury, and compared the areal differences. Geographic variation of metal levels could also contribute to differences in metal accumulation levels in these bird species. Therefore, the concentrations of metals in seabirds are considered to reflect their habitat. There are differences in the accumulation pattern among the seabird species. The high accumulation of metals could affect seabirds even if they do not show any symptoms.

This study was conducted to establish the potential of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. buttercrunch) seeds as a bioindicator (BI), or a biological tool for detecting the presence of some toxic materials used in tanning industry and determining their concentrations using the germination percentage as a parameter (indicator). Samples of Gezira Tannery Corporation (GTC) wastewater (WW) were collected from both the mouth and the tail of the drainage stream. Lettuce seeds (10/Petri dish, replicated 3x and each experiment was repeated 3x) were treated by GTC WW and other important tanning agents (chromium oxide, sodium sulfide, Preventol WB) in solution using different concentrations of each and their mixture. The bioassay experiment revealed that the seeds were intoxicated (i.e. reduced the germination percentage), when exposed to the WW. On exposure to several concentrations from each input, the concentrations that can be measured by this BI (i.e. sensitivity and reliability) are: chromium oxide from 0.1 to 3.25%, sodium sulfide from 0.19 to 1.5% and Preventol WB from 18.75 to 150 ppm. Lower concentrations cannot be measured, and higher concentrations resulted in 100% inhibition. The IC50 was determined by probit analysis for the WW, mixture of the three inputs, chromium oxide alone, sodium sulfide alone and Preventol WB alone were: 35.5, 14.5, 0.44, 0.45 and 0.005%, respectively. The slopes of the log-dose probability lines (Ld-P) showed that this BI response to all treatments was homogeneous (> 2) (tabulated X2 (df = n - 2) at 5% = 0.172, 0.11, 0.064, 0.05 and 0.05). It is concluded that lettuce seeds satisfy almost all the required properties of the ideal BI.

In order to assess the effects of metal contamination on wildlife, we collected wild black rats (Rattus sp.) from mining areas (Kabwe and Chingola) and a control area (Lusaka) in Zambia and compared metal and metallothionein (MT) levels in their tissues. Furthermore, we exposed metal-contaminated soil from Kabwe to laboratory Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) for one year in order to determine the accumulation factors and effects of metals caused by soil exposure. Results of both the field and laboratory studies suggested that metal-contaminated soil caused accumulation and biological responses such as elevation of MT-2 mRNA expression levels in rats.

Environmental contamination by OCPs has a great concern, since most of these pesticide compounds are very toxic and harmful to human and ecosystems. This study was conducted to determine the concentrations of OCPs residues in the edible offal (livers, kidneys and tongues) of Egyptian buffalo collected from three locations (Zagazig, Ismailia and Mansoura) in Egypt. Examined samples from Mansura city had the highest OCPs contamination load. Tongues had the highest concentration of these toxic residues in a comparison to livers and kidneys in the examined samples. The overall results showed that OCPs residues did not exceed the Egyptian maximum permissible limits in all of the samples analyzed from the three different locations.

The present study compared the efficiency of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) using porcine oocytes that were denuded of their cumulus cells at different maturation time. In pre-denuded group, the cumulus cells from cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were removed at 29 hr post in vitro maturation (hpm) and followed by further culture for 12 hr. In control group, as a commonly followed procedure, cumulus cells were removed from COCs at 41 hpm. The majority of porcine oocytes at 29 hpm were observed in metaphase of the first meiotic division (MI). At 41 hpm, no significant (P>0.05) differences were observed in nuclear maturation and mitochondrial distribution of oocytes between pre-denuded and control groups. However, in pre-denuded group oocytes, metaphase II (MII) plate and spindle were located closely as 'adjacent' to the first polar body (PB1), resulting in an increased enucleation rates than in control group oocytes by blind enucleation method. Following SCNT and parthenogenesis (PA) using pre-denuded group and control group oocytes, no significant (P>0.05) differences were observed with respect to the development, total cell number, incidence of apoptosis and the expression profile of developmentally important genes (Pou5f1, Dnmt1, Dnmt3a, Igf2r, Bax, Bcl2 and Glut1) at the blastocyst stage. In conclusion, the removal of cumulus cells at 29 hpm in porcine oocytes increased the enucleation rates through proper positioning of PB1 without compromising the quality of SCNT embryos during preimplantation development. Hence, this could be a valuable strategy to improve the SCNT efficiency in a porcine model.

The cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A family is involved in the elimination processes of almost 50% of commonly used drugs. CYP3A mRNA expressions in goat and rat gastrointestinal tracts in comparison to the liver were investigated using real-time PCR. In goats, the expression of CYP3A-like mRNAs was comparatively higher in the liver than in the gastrointestinal tract. The intestinal expression of CYP3A-like mRNA showed a gradual decrease from the duodenum to the ileum. In rats, the highest CYP3A62 mRNA expression was found in the duodenum followed by the liver. This study provides insights into the contribution of CYP3A enzymes to xenobiotic metabolism, especially in small ruminants such as goats.

We investigated the role of endoscopic ultrasound in the evaluation of rectal polypoid lesions in 25 dogs. Twenty-five cases of rectal polypoid lesions in dogs who underwent surgery after endoscopic and EUS assessment were studied. The invasion depth of the polypoid lesion was classified as M stage (lesions in the mucosa only), SM stage (lesions in the mucosa and submucosa), and MP stage (lesions extending to the muscularis propria). Transabdominal ultrasound was performed in nine cases, but not all were evaluated in detail. EUS provided detailed images for all cases and showed a significant correlation with surgical pathology in the T stage (accuracy, 92%; K = 0.77). As per classification by invasion depth, inflammatory polyps were only M polypoid lesions, whereas SM and MP polypoid lesions were only adenocarcinomas (P < 0.05). The average survival time according to specific condition was as follows: 1,235 days for inflammatory polyps, and 804 days for M adenocarcinoma. The survival time of two SM adenocarcinoma cases was 756 and 2,114 days, respectively, and the survival time of two MP adenocarcinoma cases was 16 and 42 days, respectively. EUS were useful for the evaluation of rectal polypoid lesions in dogs, whereas transabdominal ultrasound was not. Determination of the invasion depth of polypoid lesions using EUS may be useful for the evaluation of malignancy and prognosis.