Loss of the Protective Effect of Estrogen Contributes to Maternal Gestational Hypertension‐Induced Hypertensive Response Sensitization Elicited by Postweaning High‐Fat Diet in Female Offspring

Background A recent study conducted in male offspring demonstrated that maternal gestational hypertension (MHT) induces hypertensive response sensitization (HTRS) elicited by postweaning high‐fat diet (HFD). In this study, we investigated the sensitizing effect of MHT on postweaning HFD‐induced hypertensive response in female rat offspring and assessed the protective role of estrogen in HTRS. Methods and Results The results showed that MHT also induced a sensitized HFD‐elicited hypertensive response in intact female offspring. However, compared with male offspring, this MHT‐induced HTRS was sex specific in that intact female offspring exhibited an attenuated increase in blood pressure. Ovariectomy significantly enhanced the HFD‐induced increase in blood pressure and the pressor response to centrally administered angiotensin II or tumor necrosis factor‐α in offspring of normotensive dams, which was accompanied by elevated centrally driven sympathetic activity, upregulated mRNA expression of prohypertensive components, and downregulated expression of antihypertensive components in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. However, when compared with HFD‐fed ovariectomized offspring of normotensive dams, the MHT‐induced HTRS and pressor responses to centrally administered angiotensin II or tumor necrosis factor‐α in HFD‐fed intact offspring of MHT dams were not potentiated by ovariectomy, but the blood pressure and elicited pressor responses as well as central sympathetic tone remained higher. Conclusions The results indicate that in adult female offspring MHT induced HTRS elicited by HFD. Estrogen normally plays a protective role in antagonizing HFD prohypertensive effects, and MHT compromises this normal protective action of estrogen by augmenting brain reactivity and centrally driven sympathetic activity.

A Case of Ovarian Dysplasia and a Vaginal Fibroleiomyoma in a Young Golden Retriever

This case demonstrates a unique ovarian congenital anomaly that likely contributed to the development of a rare fibroleiomyoma in the cranial vagina of a young bitch. A 13 month old intact female Golden Retriever presented to the veterinary teaching hospital for urinary incontinence, hematuria, and persistent vaginal discharge. Physical examination revealed a mucopurulent serosanguinous malodorous vulvar discharge, and after further diagnostics was reclassified as persistent estrus. Abdominal palpation and ultrasound revealed uterine thickening and poorly visualized ovaries. The reproductive tract was removed during an ovariohysterectomy, revealing small ovaries and a white anterior vaginal mass. Histopathology revealed dysplastic ovaries with hyperplastic granulosa cells and a benign vaginal fibroleiomyoma. These morphologic changes are consistent with elevated estrogen levels. It was thus concluded that her persistent estrus and the fibroleiomyoma were both secondary to persistent estrogen production by the hyperplastic granulosa cells.

Auranofin and ICG-001 Emerge Synergistic Anti-tumor Effect on Canine Breast Cancer by Inducing Apoptosis via Mitochondrial Pathway

Canine breast cancer (CBC) is the most common spontaneous tumor in intact female dogs, especially in developing countries. The effective anti-tumor agents or therapies for the clinical treatment of CBC are still in need. Auranofin (AF) is a gold complex that has been attested by FDA for treating human rheumatism, which has been found as a great anti-tumor agent in recent years. ICG-001 is a small molecule inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin pathway. In the present study, we demonstrated that a combination of AF and ICG-001 could synergistically suppress the proliferation of CBC in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the synergistical effect was related with apoptosis caused by mitochondrial damage and ROS production. In conclusion, combination of AF and ICG-001 could synergistically suppress the growth of CBC in vitro and in vivo by leading apoptosis via mitochondrial signaling pathway and might provide a novel potential choice for the clinical treatment of CBC.

Excitement-Induced Cutaneous Bleeding (Haematidrosis-like) in a Dog

A 15-month-old intact female Pitbull was referred because of recurrent, episodic, self-limiting, excitement-induced bleeding from nontraumatised skin. No abnormalities were detected upon physical examination. Subsequently, the dog went for a walk under the direct supervision of one of the authors, became overexcited and, after approximately five minutes, bloody liquid, with a patchy distribution, appeared along the hair shafts of the face and neck. The affected skin was congested, partially blanching on diascopy and bloody liquid was oozing from the follicular openings. Urticaria, dermographism and hypertension were excluded, the complete blood count and coagulation profile were within the reference ranges and an analysis of the bloody exudate confirmed its blood components. The cutaneous bleeding of the dog followed a self-limited course, with no episodes during the last two years. Clinical and laboratory findings and the long-term evolution of this dog bear striking similarities to haematidrosis, a rare human disease of multifactorial aetiology and equivocal pathogenesis.

Case Report: Molecular and Pathological Investigations of Zoonotic Anatrichosoma Spp.-Induced Ulcerative Pododermatitis in a Domestic Cat in Thailand

Anatrichosoma spp. is a group of trichuroid nematodes that mainly infect non-human primates and domestic cats. The lifecycle of these nematodes remains unclear. In non-human primates, Anatrichosoma spp. were found in the nasal cavity. However, ulcerative dermatitis has been reported in infected cats. An adult, intact, female domestic short-haired cat was presented with ulcerative pododermatitis of all limbs. Punch biopsy was performed at the edge of the ulcerative wound for histopathological investigation and showed necrosis and infiltration of inflammatory cells around the nematode-like lesion. Eggs with Capillaria-like characteristics were present. Tissue sections were subjected to DNA extraction and PCR targeting 18S rRNA, using primers designed from Anatrichosoma 18S rRNA. The phylogenetic tree revealed that DNA obtained from the lesion of the domestic cat was grouped with Anatrichosoma spp. from the olive glass mouse (Abothirx olivacea), Capillaria plica and Eucoleus aerophilus, both from the red fox (Vulpes Vulpes). The study is the first report of feline anatrichosomiasis in Thailand, and we present both pathological findings and molecular evidence. The cat was successfully treated with emodepsine/praziquantel. The skin lesion recovered within 3 days after anthelmintic treatment. Because Anatrichosoma spp. have been reported in humans, the zoonotic potential of this parasite should be considered.

Metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma associated with hypertrophic gastropathy resembling Ménétrier's disease in an adult Labrador Retriever dog

We describe a case of hypertrophic gastropathy (Ménétrier’s like disease) with metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma in a seven-year-old intact female Labrador Retriever dog. The animal suddenly presented with emesis and died. Gross lesions included a marked diffuse thickening of the gastric mucosa and an ulcerated transmural neoplastic mass in the gastric body. Gastric body and fundus were affected by foveolar hyperplasia with loss of chief and parietal cells replaced by mucous cells and marked dilatation of gastric glands. An area of gastric adenocarcinoma with submucosal lymphatic vessels invasion was also present and metastases were observed in the gastric lymph nodes, small intestine, pancreas, lung and liver. Due to its similarity with other gastric proliferative disorders, including this condition in the list of differentials is a necessary step in the diagnostic investigation of canine gastropathies.

Study of Reproductive Toxicity of the Liposomal Photosensitizer Lipophthalocyan

Objective Study of embryotoxicity, teratogenicity and reproductive toxicity of the new drug Lipophtalocyan in rats. Material and Methods Studies were conducted on 210 non-inbred female rats and 105 non-inbred male rats. The drug was administered daily via i. v. injection for 48 days (males) and for 15 days (females) in 2 total doses corresponding to the therapeutic dose (TD) for mice when converted to rats and 10 TD. Results and Conclusion When mating with intact female rats, no changes in sexual behavior were observed, but the index of the ability to fertilize and conceive decreased when compared to the values of the control group by 35–40% (TD index=60%) and by 75–80% (10 TD index=20%). The index of the ability to fertilize and conceive differed from the values of the control group by 90% (TD index=5%) and by 15% (10 TD index=80%). There were no differences in the indicator of embryotoxicity and teratogenicity in intact and drug-treated female rats, compared with the control group. Lipophtalocyan has a negative effect on the male and female reproductive function in rats and has an embryotoxic effect according to the index of the ability to fertilize and conceive, as well as the indices of preimplantation and post-implantation fetal death. The drug does not have a teratogenic effect, neither it affects the physical development of offspring or the rate of maturation of sensory-motor reflexes during feeding.