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Glutathione (GSH) concentration, the activity of its metabolizing enzymes, glutathione transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and the antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT) in O. niloticus ovary and testis were examined. GSH concentration of O. niloticus testis exhibited high concentration (129 ± 21 nmol/g tissue) compared with GSH concentration (49.2 ± 8.3 nmol/g tissue) in the ovary. GST, GPx, GR, and CAT activities of O. niloticus testis exhibited high values compared with their corresponding values in ovary homogenates. However, protein concentration in ovary homogenates exhibited higher values (175 ± 40.6 mg) compared with testis homogenates (27.1 ± 3.7 mg). O. niloticus ovary was less effective in excretion of xenobiotices compared with the testis, where its function is mainly in increasing the protein content of the eggs; however, in O. niloticus testis, the glutathione cycle operated in accelerated way in the direction of reduced GSH production in order to protect the maturation stages in a save way. A simple reproducible procedure for the purification of GST from O. niloticus ovary was established. The enzymes proved to be homogenous as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and its molecular weight was calculated to be 25.1 kDa. GST of O. niloticus ovary exhibited maximum activity at pH 7.5. The Michaelis-Menten constant (K(m)) of the purified ovary GST for GSH and CDNB was 0.076 mM and 1.0 mM, respectively. Cibacron blue was the most potent inhibitor of ovary GST activity (IC50 value, concentration of inhibitor that will give 50% inhibition, equal 0.002 μM). The specific activity of GST toward different electrophilic substrates was determined. GST activity toward benzyl isothiocyanate was the highest compared with phenethyl isothiocyanate and allyl isothiocyanate.

To gain better understanding of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Dubai we studied the clinical and immunological manifestations in a cohort of 151 patients attended Rheumatology Clinic in Dubai Hospital between January 2002 and January 2007. We found that the female to male ratio was 20.5:1, with a mean age of 35.5 years (0.9). The mean age at disease onset was 28.9 years (0.8) and mean disease duration 6.7 years (0.4). Five-year survival rate in our cohort was 94%. The commonest clinical manifestations in this cohort were arthritis (88%), haematological abnormalities (61.6%), and malar rash (60.3%). Leucopenia, fever, hair loss and proteinuria were observed in approximately half of the patients. Anaemia was found in 44.3% but only 9.9% had haemolytic anaemia. Photosensitive rash was seen in 43% of patients. Approximately one-third of the patients had serositis and mouth ulcers, 30.5 and 27.2% respectively. Vasculitis was observed in 19.2% of patients. Neuropsychiatric manifestations (15.9%), discoid lupus lesions (12.6%), and brain infarcts (13.2%) were infrequent. Subacute cutaneous lupus (6%) was also uncommon. Anti-nuclear antibodies were detected in 98%, anti-double stranded DNA antibodies in 88.7%, anti-Sm antibodies in 19.7%, anti-RNP in 40.4%, anti-Ro antibodies in 52.3% and anti-La antibodies in 19.8%. Anti-cardiolipin IgM and IgG were detected in 25.3 and 22.4%, respectively. This study suggests that Arabs with SLE residing in Dubai have comparable clinical features to their counterparts in other Arab countries and Western countries. The high prevalence of positive anti-Ro antibodies among our Arab patients probably reflects a character, that is, commonly seen in SLE patients of Middle East origin.

Objective—To determine whether cross-reactivity exists between canine chromogranin A (CgA) and anti-human CgA antibody and investigate the usefulness of plasma CgA concentration measurements as an index of acute stress responses in dogs. Animals—12 healthy Beagles. Procedure—Canine CgA was extracted and purified from canine adrenal glands of cadaver dogs for studying cross-reactivity with anti-human CgA antibody. Western blotting with anti-human CgA antibody was performed. Blood samples were collected from dogs at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 120, and 180 minutes after IV administration of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution or insulin. Canine plasma CgA concentrations were determined by use of a CgA ELISA kit with rabbit antiserum against the carboxy-terminal fragment of human CgA. Plasma cortisol and catecholamine (ie, norepinephrine and epinephrine) concentrations were measured by use of an ELISA and a high-performance liquid chromatography method, respectively. Results—Purified canine CgA was specifically detected by use of western blot analysis and an ELISA with anti-human CgA antibody. An increase in plasma CgA concentrations was observed in insulin-induced hypoglycemic dogs. Changes in plasma CgA concentration were correlated with changes in plasma cortisol or catecholamine concentrations of hypoglycemic dogs. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Use of the CgA ELISA kit for determination of human plasma CgA concentrations is applicable to the measurement of canine plasma CgA concentrations. Canine plasma CgA concentrations, along with measurements of plasma cortisol and catecholamine concentrations, correctly reflect insulin-induced hypoglycemic stressed conditions in dogs. Measurement of canine plasma CgA concentrations may provide a useful index for evaluation of an acute stress response. (Am J Vet Res 2005;66:1830–1835)

Renal effects of the selective alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonist, medetomidine, were investigated in anesthetized dogs. Animals were administered medetomidine 20 and 40 microg/kg intravenously (IV) and 80 mug/kg intramuscularly (IM) or 1 ml of saline IV. Urine and blood samples were collected before and at 30, 60, 90 and 120 min following medetomidine injection. Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), renal blood flow (RBF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urine volume (U(v)), urine osmolality (U(osm)), free water clearance (C(H2O)), fractional clearance of sodium (F(Na)), plasma osmolality (P(osm)), plasma glucose levels and plasma antidiuretic hormone (ADH) concentrations were measured. The results showed that IV administration of medetomidine initially increased MABP 5-15 min followed by long-lasting decrease. The initial hypertension was not observed after IM administration, which was accompanied by a more profound hypotensive effects. RBF, GFR, U(v), C(H2O) increased after IV injection and decreased after IM. Medetomidine increased FNa and Posm and decreased U(osm). Plasma glucose levels initially increased and subsequently decreased. Plasma ADH concentration was decreased by IV injection but increased by IM administration. Our data imply that: 1) IV administration of medetomidine at dose rates of 20 and 40 microg/kg results in profound diuresis up to 2 hr; 2) Suppression of ADH release from the CNS is one of the mechanisms of medetomidine-induced diuresis although it may not be the principal one.

This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant effect of two herbal plant ethanolic extracts, Moringa Oleifera and Sweet Marjoram against paracetamol-induced toxicity in male albino rats. The study was conducted on 64 male albino rats (150–200 g) classified into eight groups each of 8. The first group received only 0.5 ml of distilled water/day and was served as control. The second, third and fourth groups were administered Moringa Oleifera or Sweet Marjoram alone or in combination at a dose of 250mg/kg/day. Paracetamol drug was added as powder to rat diet of the fifth group as 3000 ppm. The sixth, seventh and eighth groups were given paracetamol as 3000 ppm in diet in addition to Moringa, Marjoram or Moringa+Marjoram respectively. All treatments were administered daily for one month. The results clarified that paracetamol toxicity resulted in significant adverse effects on hematological, serum biochemical and oxidant-antioxidant status as well as histopathological picture of liver and kidney. Moringa and Marjoram successfully improved the undesirable effects of paracetamol and restored almost all variables to near their control levels. It was concluded that oxidative stress appeared to contribute in the pathogenesis of paracetamol-induced toxicity in rats and using Moringa and Marjoram herbal extracts as natural supplementary herbs beside their health benefits can protect against oxidative damage caused by paracetamol.

This study aimed to shed light on the response of proinflammatory cytokines in camels with respiratory diseases and investigate their relationship with other immunological parameters like acute phase proteins (APPs), oxidant-antioxidant parameters, complement and immunoglobulins to explore their clinical importance as diagnostic markers or therapeutic targets for treating respiratory diseases. Forty she-camels (Camelus dromedarius) were used in this study. Twenty she-camels were experiencing respiratory signs in light of clinical examination and was considered as the diseased group. Another 20 she-camels were apparently healthy and served as control group. Blood samples were collected from both groups and were assayed for the selected biochemical and immunological parameters. The results showed that compared to control group, the diseased camels demonstrated significant increases in the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α), acute phase proteins (fibrinogen, ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin and serum amyloid A), oxidative markers (malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide), immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG and IgM), phagocytic activity and phagocytic index of neutrophils and serum elecrophoretic profiles ( total protein, alpha 1 globulins, alpha 2 globulins, beta globulins, gamma globulins and total globulin). On the other hand significant decreases were reported in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, complement 3, complement 4, serum enzymatic activities of the antioxidants (catalase, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase), serum levels of albumin and A/G ratio. In conclusion, the study can document the importance of proinflammatory cytokines signaling in the development of respiratory diseases in camels and thus they can serve as prognostic and diagnostic markers for the disease. Further, their role as the main generator for the inflammatory response may rise their importance as therapeutic targets for treating the disease in camels. This study also suggests fibrinogen to be a more reliable diagnostic acute phase protein in camels suffering respiratory diseases.

Three vaccination regimes based on Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) type A, C or combined AC toxoids were evaluated to detect if toxoid vaccines can prevent necrtotic enteritis (NE) caused by clostridial infection in broilers. The vaccines were administered two times at two weeks interval, then the birds were challenged with virulent strains of C. perfringens type A, C or combined AC. Blood samples were taken after both first and second vaccination doses as well as after challenge. Evaluating parameters included clinical signs, gross intestinal lesions, hemogram [red blood cell count (RBCs), packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb), total leukocytic count (TLC) and differential leukocytic count],serum biochemical assays [total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), globulin (Glob), albumin globulin ratio (A/G), serum activities of alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and uric acid (UA) values] and ELISA test for detecting serum antibody titers. Results revealed that affected birds showed marked depression, anorexia, reluctance to move, ruffled feathers and diarrhea. Numbers of chickens with intestinal lesions in immunized challenged groups were greatly fewer than the infected non immunized ones. There was an increase in RBCs, PCV and Hb. TLC decreased in infected non immunized birds and increased in vaccinated ones. Heterophils were increased in infected groups while, lymphocytes decreased. Prominent lymphocytosis was observed in immunized birds. Results of biochemical assays showed that there was a significant increase in TP, Alb, Glob, ALP, ALT, AST and UA and decrease in A/G. Results of ELISA test showed that there was a significant increase in antibody titer after immunization paricularly after the second dose of vaccination. The combined AC toxoid provided the greater antibody titer and best protection followed by toxoid A and finally toxoid C. We concluded that results provide an evidence that immunization of broilers with toxoid vaccines paricularly the combined type AC is safe, welltolerated and can protect broiler chickens against NE after the second booster dose of the vaccine.

This study aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological and immunological profiles of two pesticides widely used in Egypt, Lampcon and Saturn in rats. Thirty male Sprague Dawley rats divided into three groups each of 10 were used in this study. The first group received no treatment and served as control, the second group received Lampcon at a dose of 11.2 mg/kg body weight, and the third group received Saturn at a dose of 282 mg/kg body weight. The treatments were administrated daily via food for 60 successive days. Blood samples were collected for evaluating the selected hematological, biochemical and immunological parameters. The results of hematological variables implicated no significant effect on red blood cell parameters, but there was a significant leukopenia, lymphopenia and neutrophilia in both treated groups. The blood biochemical parameters showed a significant increase in serum levels of urea and enzymatic activities of ALT, AST and ALP. The findings of immunological studies clarified that Lampcon and Saturn induced oxidative stress in leukocytes and had immunosuppressive effects. The main histopathological alterations induced by Lampcon and Saturn included lymphoid depletion in lymphoid organs. Conclusion: The results from the study have shown that exposure of rats to Lampcon and Saturn pesticides pose many hematological, biochemical, and histopathological alterations in addition to immunotoxic effects. It is thus advisable that Lampcon and Saturn should be used with caution and at the recommended levels indicated by the producing company to ensure minimal exposure to these pesticides during domestic, veterinary, agricultural or industrial use.

Bovine and canine chromogranin A were extracted and purified from each specie's adrenal glands. Isolated bovine 70 kDa protein showed 100% identity to bovine CgA reported previously, whereas isolated canine 68 kDa protein showed 83.3% identity to bovine CgA by the NH(2)-terminal amino acid sequence analysis. Rabbit antibody to purified bovine protein (CgA) was found to immunologically cross-reacted with purified canine protein (CgA). In sandwich ELISA with anti-bovine CgA, concentration-dependent curves were obtained ranging from 0.3 to 20 mug/ml for canine CgA. From these findings, sandwich ELISA with anti-bovine CgA is found to be useful to determine the concentration of canine CgA.