Recent studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are able to differentiate into multi-lineage cells such as adipocytes, chondroblasts, and osteoblasts. Amniotic membrane from whole placenta is a good source of stem cells in humans. This membrane can potentially be used for wound healing and corneal surface reconstruction. Moreover, it can be easily obtained after delivery and is usually discarded as classified waste. In the present study, we successfully isolated and characterized equine amniotic membrane-derived mesenchymal stem cells (eAM-MSCs) that were cultured and maintained in low glucose Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium. The proliferation of eAM-MSCs was measured based on the cumulative population doubling level (CPDL). Immunophenotyping of eAM-MSCs by flow cytometry showed that the major population was of mesenchymal origin. To confirm differentiation potential, a multi-lineage differentiation assay was conducted. We found that under appropriate conditions, eAM-MSCs are capable of multi-lineage differentiation. Our results indicated that eAM-MSCs may be a good source of stem cells, making them potentially useful for veterinary regenerative medicine and cell-based therapy.
Adipogenesis ; Amnion/*cytology/physiology ; Animals ; *Cell Differentiation ; *Cell Lineage ; Cell Proliferation ; Chondrogenesis ; Female ; Flow Cytometry/veterinary ; Horses ; Immunophenotyping/veterinary ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/*cytology/physiology ; Osteogenesis

An age-dependent cellular change of DNA contents in the testis of Sprague-Dawley rats was investigated by flow-cytometric method. Testicular cell suspensions at the age of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 16 and 26 weeks were prepared and stained with propidium iodide. The relative proportions in the number of mature and immature haploid (1n), diploid (2n), S-phase and tetraploid (4n) cells were calculated. The proportion in the number of mature haploid cells was sharply increased to the age of 10 weeks (about 38%), thereafter increased slightly to the level of 42% at the age of 26 weeks. The proportion of immature haploid cells was dramatically increased to the age of 6 weeks, then maintained at the level of 20 to 30% thereafter. The proportion of diploid cells was 64% at the age of 4 weeks, then decreased gradually through the age of 26 weeks. The proportion of S-phase cells was increased to the age of 4 weeks, then maintained at a plateau level to the age of 26 weeks. The proportion of tetraploid cells were about 26% at the age of 4 weeks, then decreased gradually to the age of 26 weeks. These results suggest that the proportions of testicular cells may depend on the age of the rat and that the flow cytometric method may be useful in the evaluation of the spermatogenic status with regard to accuracy and sensitivity.
Animals ; DNA/*analysis/genetics ; Diploidy ; Flow Cytometry/methods/veterinary ; Haploidy ; Male ; Rats ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis/chemistry/*growth & development

Studies were performed to determine the effects of Bcell suppression on the pathogenesis of Subgroup J avian leukosis virus (ALV-J) in broiler chickens. Neonatal chickens were treated with cyclophosphamide (CY) or PBS, and then infected with ALV-J (ADOL-7501) at 2 weeks of age. CY treatment induced B cell specific immunosuppression throughout the experiment confirmed by decreased bursal weight, intact lymphocyte mitogenetic activity stimulated by Con A and increased relative subpopulation of CD3-positive cells as measured by flow cytometry. Chickens in this experiment had Mareks disease virus exposure prior to three weeks of age as determined by the presence of lymphocytic infiltration and antibody. Virus neutralizing antibody against ALV-J was first observed at 6 weeks post-infection in some of the infected chickens in the PBS group. As expected, none of the chickens from the CY group and uninfected chickens developed virus-neutralizing antibody. The viremic status was measured by real time RT-PCR using SYBR green I dye. The percentage of viremic chickens was significantly higher, and more chickens had high titered viremia, in the CY treated group. No neoplastic foci consistent with ALVJ infection were observed in any of the experimental chickens. The frequency and intensity of viral antigen expression determined by immunohistochemistry was significantly higher in tissues from CY treated birds than those of PBS treated chickens at 3 weeks post-infection. This study showed that B cell specific immunosuppression with CY treatment in chickens resulted in increase in viremia and viral antigen load in tissues.
Animals ; Avian Leukosis/*immunology/virology ; Avian leukosis virus/genetics/*immunology ; Body Weight/physiology ; Bursa of Fabricius/immunology ; *Chickens ; Concanavalin A/immunology ; Cyclophosphamide/*pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry/veterinary ; Immunocompromised Host ; Immunohistochemistry/veterinary ; Immunophenotyping/veterinary ; Immunosuppressive Agents/*pharmacology ; Lymphocyte Activation/drug effects/immunology ; Organic Chemicals/chemistry ; Poultry Diseases/immunology/*virology ; RNA, Viral/chemistry/genetics ; Random Allocation ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary ; Spleen/immunology/virology ; Statistics, Nonparametric ; Viremia/veterinary

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is one of the main mechanisms used to kill microbes during innate immune response. D-lactic acid, which is augmented during acute ruminal acidosis, reduces platelet activating factor (PAF)-induced ROS production and L-selectin shedding in bovine neutrophils in vitro. This study was conducted to investigate whether acute ruminal acidosis induced by acute oligofructose overload in heifers interferes with ROS production and L-selectin shedding in blood neutrophils. Blood neutrophils and plasma were obtained by jugular venipuncture, while ruminal samples were collected using rumenocentesis. Lactic acid from plasma and ruminal samples was measured by HPLC. PAF-induced ROS production and L-selectin shedding were measured in vitro in bovine neutrophils by a luminol chemiluminescence assay and flow cytometry, respectively. A significant increase in ruminal and plasma lactic acid was recorded in these animals. Specifically, a decrease in PAF-induced ROS production was observed 8 h after oligofructose overload, and this was sustained until 48 h post oligofructose overload. A reduction in PAF-induced L-selectin shedding was observed at 16 h and 32 h post oligofructose overload. Overall, the results indicated that neutrophil PAF responses were altered in heifers with ruminal acidosis, suggesting a potential dysfunction of the innate immune response.
Acidosis/chemically induced/immunology/*veterinary ; Animals ; Blood ; Cattle ; Cattle Diseases/chemically induced/*immunology ; Female ; Flow Cytometry/veterinary ; *Immunity, Innate ; L-Selectin/metabolism ; Neutrophils/*drug effects ; Oligosaccharides/*pharmacology/toxicity ; Platelet Activating Factor/*pharmacology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Rumen

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis was induced in macaques. T cell clones infiltrated into the brain lesion area were compared with those in blood. Intradermal immunization of macaques with brain white matter derived from healthy macaque in combination with pertussis toxin, induced neurological symptoms in two macaques. One died on day 25 after immunization, whereas the other survived. Gross examination of the brain from the dead macaque, showed clear hemorrhagic lesions in the white matter. Hematological analysis showed that drastic T cell response was induced in macaques immunized with white matter, but not in control macaques. Flow cytometric analysis of blood cells from the affected macaques demonstrated an increase of CD4 and CD8 T cell populations expressing the CD69 early activation marker. Single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of T cell receptor beta chain showed T cell clones infiltrated into the brain lesion, which were different from those found in the peripheral blood of the same monkey. The present paper shows that SSCP analysis of TCR is useful in studying clonality of T cells infiltrating into the brain tissue of macaque with EAE.
Animals ; Antigens, CD3/analysis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental/immunology/*pathology ; Flow Cytometry/veterinary ; Leukocyte Count/veterinary ; *Macaca fascicularis ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta/genetics ; T-Lymphocytes/cytology/immunology

The aim of this work was to investigate developmental changes in cell proliferation and apoptosis in normal duck bursa of Fabricius using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Studies were carried out on Tianfu ducks on days 24 and 27 of embryogenesis (E24 and E27) along with days 20, 70, and 200 of postnatal development (P20, P70, and P200). Results showed that the percentage of G0/G1 bursa cells significantly increased between E24 and P200 while the percentage of cells in the S phase or G2 + M phase as well as the proliferating index obviously decreased during the same period. Proliferation cell nuclear antigen was detected in lymphocyte and interfollicular epithelium. The proliferative lymphocyte density tended to decrease from E24 to P200. Apoptotic bodies in macrophages, free apoptotic bodies, or nuclei with condensed chromatin in lymphocytes in follicles were identified by transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling. Both flow cytometry and microscopic analysis reveal that the proportion of apoptotic cells and apoptotic lymphocyte density increased from E24 to P20, fell on P70, then rose again on P200. Our foundings demonstrate that cell proliferation decreases and apoptosis increases with age. These changes may account for duck bursa development and involution.
Animals ; *Apoptosis ; Bursa of Fabricius/*cytology/embryology/growth & development/*physiology ; Cell Proliferation ; Ducks/embryology/*physiology ; Embryo, Nonmammalian/cytology/embryology ; Embryonic Development ; Epithelium/physiology ; Female ; Flow Cytometry/veterinary ; Immunohistochemistry/veterinary ; Lymphocytes/physiology ; Male

To determine the immune responses in pigs to hog cholera virus after treatment with an ionized alkali mineral complex (IAMC), 40 healthy pigs (28-32 days old) from a commercial swine farm were purchased and housed into 4 groups (n=10 each). All pigs were vaccinated intramuscularly (1 ml) with an attenuated live hog cholera virus (HCV, LOM strain) at 28-32 days old and challenged with a virulent hog cholera virus at 8 weeks after vaccination. Each group was treated with PowerFeelTM sprayed diet as 0.05% (w/w) in a final concentration (T-1, n=10), a diet mixed with SuperFeedTM as 3% (w/w) in a final concentration (T-2, n=10), or a diluted PowerFeelTM solution (1:500, v/v) as drinking water (T-3, n=10), respectively. A group (n=10) served as a non-treated control. Proportions of expressing CD2+ and CD8+ cells increased significantly (p<, 0.05) at 8-week post-application. Mean antibody titers of each group against HCV gradually increased to higher levels after vaccination and with challenge of the virulent virus. In conclusion, the IAMC-treated diets can be helpful for the improvement of growth in pigs with proper vaccination program, while the IAMC-treated diets have no effects on the clinical protection against hog cholera.
Alkalies/immunology/*pharmacology ; Animals ; Antibodies, Viral/blood ; Classical Swine Fever/*immunology/prevention & control ; Classical swine fever virus/*immunology ; Flow Cytometry/veterinary ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect/veterinary ; HLA Antigens/immunology ; Minerals/immunology/*pharmacology ; Swine ; Vaccination/*veterinary ; Vaccines, Attenuated/immunology ; Viral Vaccines/*immunology

Bovine mastitis is an infectious disease with a major economic influence on the dairy industry worldwide. Many factors such as environment, pathogen, and host affect susceptibility or resistance of an individual cow to bovine mastitis. Recently, there has been considerable interest in defining genetic and immunological markers that could be used to select for improved disease resistance. In this study we have analyzed the lymphocyte subpopulations of mastitis-resistant and susceptible cows using monoclonal antibodies specific for bovine leukocyte differentiation antigens and flow cytometry. We have also used a microarray typing technique to define the bovine leukocyte antigen (BoLA) class I and class II haplotypes associated with resistance or susceptibility to bovine mastitis. A striking finding of the present study is that susceptibility to mastitis was associated with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) haplotypes that have only a single set of DQ genes. The study also revealed that susceptible cows had CD4:CD8 ratios of less than one in both their mammary gland secretions and peripheral blood. These results raise the possibility that the number of DQ genes that a cow has and/or a cow's CD4:CD8 ratio could be used as indicators of susceptibility to bovine mastitis.
Alleles ; Animals ; Antigens, Differentiation/immunology ; Cattle ; Cell Count/veterinary ; Female ; Flow Cytometry/veterinary ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Histocompatibility Antigens/genetics/immunology ; Korea ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/cytology/*immunology/microbiology ; Lymphocyte Subsets/*immunology/microbiology ; Mastitis, Bovine/genetics/*immunology/microbiology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis/veterinary ; Statistics, Nonparametric

In this study, we investigated the effects of T-cell suppression on the pathogenesis of subgroup J avian leukosis virus (ALV-J). Chickens were treated with cyclosporin A (CSP) 50 mg/Kg body weight or a corresponding volume of olive oil per every three days after hatching until the end of experiment. Some of the chickens from each treatment group were infected with an isolate of ALV-J, ADOL-7501, at 2 weeks of age. The effects of viral infection were compared to uninfected birds in same treatment group. Intramuscular injection of CSP induced significant T-cell specific immunosuppression determined by decreased cutaneous basophilic hypersensitivity response and decreased lymphocyte mitogenic activity using concanavalin A. Most of the chickens examined had Marek's disease virus infection prior to 3 weeks of age. The percentage of antibody-positive birds and antibody titers were similar in infected chickens between both treatment groups. The ratio of viremic chickens was significantly higher in CSP treated group than that of the Oil treated group. Microscopically, one CSP treated chicken had a nephroblastoma at 10 weeks post infection. At 7 and 10 weeks post-infection, more chickens had myeloid cell infiltrations in multiple organs including heart, liver and occasionally lung. Expression of ALV-J viral antigen determined by immunohistochemical staining was significantly higher in CSP treated chickens than Oil treated chickens at 10 weeks post-infection. This study indicated that chemically-induced T-cell suppression may enhance pathogenicity of the AVL-J virus in broilers.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral/blood ; Avian Leukosis/*immunology/virology ; Avian leukosis virus/genetics/*immunology ; Body Weight ; *Chickens ; Cyclosporine/*pharmacology ; Dermatitis, Contact/immunology/virology ; Flow Cytometry ; Immunocompromised Host ; Immunohistochemistry/veterinary ; Immunophenotyping ; Immunosuppressive Agents/*pharmacology ; Lymphocyte Activation/immunology ; Marek Disease/*immunology/virology ; RNA, Viral/chemistry/genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary ; T-Lymphocytes/*immunology/virology ; Viremia/veterinary

The purpose of our study was to investigate changes in immunological parameters induced by weaning stress (including milk restriction) in calves. Fifteen Holstein calves were subjected to weaning at 6 weeks of age. Blood samples were collected at -14, -7, -2, 1, 3, and 5 days post-weaning (DPW; 0 DPW = 42 days). Weaning caused significant (p < 0.01) increases in the neutrophil (NE):lymphocyte (LY) ratio at 5 DPW with a significant (p < 0.05) reduction of LYs. The concentration of acute-phase proteins (haptoglobin and serum amyloid A) also increased significantly (p < 0.05) at 3 and 5 DPW compared to -2 DPW. Levels of the iron-binding protein lactoferrin decreased significantly (p < 0.05) after weaning. Serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha and cortisol levels were elevated (p < 0.05) at 3 DPW, while those of serum interferon-gamma decreased (p < 0.05) at 1 and 3 DPW compared to levels observed before weaning. Weaning significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the percentage of CD25+ T cells in the peripheral blood. In conclusion, weaning stress affected the NE:LY ratio along with the levels of acute phase proteins, lactoferrin, cortisol, and inflammatory cytokines in the peripheral blood of calves. Weaning stress may induce an acute phase response possibly through the elevation of cortisol production and modulation of inflammatory cytokines.
Acute-Phase Proteins/*immunology/metabolism ; Acute-Phase Reaction/immunology/*veterinary ; Animals ; Cattle/*immunology ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Haptoglobins/analysis/immunology ; Hydrocortisone/blood/immunology ; Interferon-gamma/blood/immunology ; Lactoferrin/analysis/immunology ; Leukocyte Count/veterinary ; Leukocytes/cytology/*immunology ; Male ; Serum Amyloid A Protein/analysis/immunology ; Stress, Physiological/*physiology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/blood/immunology ; Weaning