Neurofascin, one of the members of L1CAM, has been known to have some important roles during the development of nerve fibers. In order to investigate the role of neurofascin associated with the formation of Schmidt-Lantermann incisure in the sciatic nerve, the localization of neurofascin was studied with electron microscopy, immuno-fluorescence and immuno-electron microscopy. In the electron microscopy, the first formation of Schmidt-Lantermann incisure was checked at postnatal day 6 and the complete form of incisures traversing the whole myelin sheath began to be observed at postnatal day 8. In the immunofluorescence, neurofascin immunoreactive Schmidt-Lantermann incisures were first checked at postnatal day 6 and dramatically increased with aging by postnatal day 56. In the immunoelectron microscopy, neurofascin immunoreactive gold particles at the incisure forming sites were first observed at postnatal day 6 and the number of gold particles was increased as the animal was getting old by postnatal day 56. According to the present study, neurofascin is likely to have some relationships with Schmidt-Lantermann incisure formation.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are synthetic organic compounds with two benzene rings and well known environmental pollutants. This study examined the effect of persistent exposure to 2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB118) on the proinflammatory and proapoptotic factors in male rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats were administered weekly intraperitoneal injections of either PCB118 (20 mg/kg) dissolved in corn oil or corn oil alone. One week after 2 and 5 administrations, the rats were sacrificed by a pentobarbital injection. The effect of PCB118 on the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, Bcl and Bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX) was investigated. The level of COX-2 and cPLA2 expression was higher in the PCB118-treated rats than the control. These results suggest that PCB118 has a proinflammatory effect in rats.

A miniature schnauzer (8 years old, male castrated), diagnosed as diabetes mellitus 6 months ahead, were referred to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of our University with hindlimb stiffness, facial rubbing and tetany. Serum chemistry showed severe hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, and measured iPTH (intact pharathyroid hormone) concentration was low (less than 3.0 pmol/L). Consistent rate injection of calcium gluconate (282 mg/kg over 30 min) resulted in prompt relief of the tetany. Then typical treatment for hypoparathyroidism (calcium gluconate and dihydrotachysterol per os) with magnesium administration could control the neuromuscular signs. Diabetes mellitus is being controlled by insulin therapy and prescription diet. Hypomagnesemia in diabetic dog may be induced hypoparathyrodism.

The ubiquitin-proteasome mediated protein degradation pathway plays an important role in regulating both cell proliferation and cell death. Proteasome inhibitors are well known to induce apoptosis in various human cancer cell lines. We investigated the effect of combined treatment with proteasome inhibitor and TRAIL, and a possible mechanism of the enhancing apoptosis by the both treatment, on TRAIL-resistant non-small cell lung cancer. A549 cells were exposed to the N-Acetyl-Leu-Leu-Norleu-al(ALLN) as a proteasome inhibitor and then treated with recombinant TRAIL protein. In A 549 cells under proteasome inhibition conditions by pretreatment with ALLN, TRAIL treatment significantly decreased cell vibility compared to that ALLN and TRAIL alone treatment. Also, the both treatment induced cell damage through DNA fragmentation and p53 expression. In addition, the combined treatment of both markedly increased caspase-8 activation, especially the exposure for 2h, and Bax expression and induced the dissipation of mitochondrial transmembrane potential in A549 cells. Taken together, these findings showed that proteasome inhibition by ALLN enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis via DNA degradation by activated P53 and mitochondrial transmembrane potential loss by caspase-8 activation and bax expression. Therefore, our results suggest that proteasome inhibitor may be used a very effectively chemotherapeutic agent for the tumor treatment, especeally TRAIL-resistant tumor cell.

The present study was carried out to examine the sustained release effect of the implantable bovine somatotropin (SRI-BST) formula. In the blood profile test in steers, the bovine somatotropin concentration in serum by radioimmunoassay showed the peak concentration on the first day after the implantation of the SRI-BST formula, and concentration proceeded for 5 days (p less than 0.05). The insulin-like growth factor-1 concentration showed the peak concentration on the seventh day after implantation of the SRIF-BST formula, and concentration proceeded for 10 days (p less than 0.05). The glucose showed the peak concentration on the first day after implantation of the SRI-BST formula, and concentration continued for 3 days (p less than 0.05). The blood urea nitrogen showed the lowest concentration on the third day after implantation of the SRI-BST formula, and concentration continued for 7 days (p less than 0.05). these results proved that the SRIF-BST formula was the sustained release effects in steers.

Transmission of avian viruses both bird-to-bird and from birds to non-avian species is a major health concern. Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is an economically important avian virus that poses substantial risks to the poultry industry. Rapid and sensitive diagnostic methods, such as the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), are required to track such infections. To develop an ELISA for detecting anti-NDV antibody in avian sera, the nucleocapsid protein (NCP) gene of the NDV La Sota strain was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli and the 513-amino acid recombinant NCP was purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. To evaluate its ability to replace NDV whole virus antigen as a coating antigen, NCP-coated and whole NDV-coated ELISAs were tested and compared using a panel of NDV positive antisera from chickens. Results using purified NCP were highly correlated with those obtained using whole NDV (r=0.927), demonstrating that recombinant NCP expressed in Escherichia coli is a suitable substitute antigen for whole NDV in a diagnostic ELISA.

Susceptibility to chronic wasting disease (CWD) in cervid species has been associated with polymorphisms in the prion protein gene (PRNP). The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found in the PRNP of the Korean subspecies of Chinese water deer via analyses of the DNA sequences obtained from 34 individual deer. Two SNPs were detected at codons 77 and 100. One SNP at codon 77 encoding Glycine was determined to be a silent mutation but the other SNP detected at codon 100 induced an amino acid change, from Asparagine to Serine. The prion protein (PrP) amino acid sequence of the water deer showed 98.8-99.2% homology with those of American elk, white-tailed deer and mule deer. The PrP of the water deer contained amino acid residues closely related with CWD-susceptibility. This study is the first to describe genetic variations in the PRNP of the Korean subspecies of Chinese water deer.

Cutaneous leiomyomas (leiomyosarcomas) are smooth muscle tumors that occur single or as multiple lesions. They usually arise from the arrector pili muscles (piloleiomyomas) and less commonly from the muscle of veins (angioleiomyomas). This report describes histologic and immunohistochemical features of one cutaneous piloleiomyoma and two angioleiomyosarcomas. Three 7-12-year-old female dogs were presented with single or double cutaneous nodules. Histologically, the neoplastic masses were composed of densely or loosely arranged interlacing bundles. The neoplastic cells were ovoid to elongate, and had eosinophilic cytoplasms and perinuclear cytoplasmic vacuolation. Nuclei were central to eccentric, cigar shaped, oval to elongate. In two cases high mitotic index in high power field, multifocal necrosis and local invasion were also noted. Masson's trichrome and van Gieson staining revealed muscle origin tumors in these cases. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were strongly positive for smooth muscle actin. In our best knowledge, this is the first report of cutaneous smooth muscle tumors in dogs in Korea.

A 6-year-old, spayed female Miniature Pinscher dog with chronic vomiting lasted for 7 weeks was referred to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of Chungnam National University. Physical examination, complete blood counts, serum chemistry, gastroscopy, upper gastrointestinal series, endoscopic biopsy and histopathological examination were performed for the diagnosis. The complete blood counts and serum biochemistry revealed no remarkable effect to the patient's general condition. Gastroscopy revealed erosion, erythema in mucosal surface of gastric lesions and endoscopic biopsy performed. No significant findings in upper gastrointestinal series were observed, and histopathologic examination revealed infiltration of lymphocyte in the gastric mucosa. Based on these findings, the dog was diagnosed with lymphocytic gastritis. The dog were treated by metronidazole and ranitidine with hypoallergenic diet, and then the patient showed no vomiting or other complications.

The concept about zoo is changing from the animal exhibition which simply contained the animals to the ecological zoo which has the function of preserving the animal species. At the central point of maintaining such role, the basic principle called the animal welfare lies obviously. Korea has applied the animal welfare principles such as carrying out the enrichment in the zoos since 2003, but there has not been any institutional device to evaluate and examine the application of the animal welfare so far. This study aims to confirm the level of animal welfare in Korea and suggest a developmental direction. For the purpose of the study, 12 zoos in Korea were evaluated according to 68 evaluating categories. 'Five Principles of Animal Welfare' in the Secretary of State's Standards of Modern Zoo Practice were selected and carried out as the evaluation categories, and the result, from the highest to lowest score given, was 'provision of food and water', 'provision of protection from fear and distress', 'provision of health care', 'provision of an opportunity to express most normal behaviours', and 'provision of a suitable enrichment' with the overall score of the entire Korean zoos being 2.86 (± 0.56). It was also confirmed that in order to improve the animal welfare of the Korean zoos, the animal management system must be standardized and organized. The evaluation and feedback, the active practice of animal welfare and its legislative support should be provided to establish an effective institutional device as well.