Publications

review article: helicobacter pylori vaccines-the current status.	in this review, we take a look at the current status in the development of a vaccine against the human pathogenic bacterium, helicobacter pylori, a major aetiological factor in peptic ulcer disease and gastric adenocarcinoma. various animal models are now in use from mice infected with h. pylori, through gnotobiotic pigs and primates to ferrets naturally infected with their own helicobacter, h. mustelae. a significant problem remains the requirement for a suitable mucosal adjuvant. detoxificatio ...	2000	10971226
efficient gene transfer to airway epithelium using recombinant sendai virus.	clinical studies of gene therapy for cystic fibrosis (cf) suggest that the key problem is the efficiency of gene transfer to the airway epithelium. the availability of relevant vector receptors, the transient contact time between vector and epithelium, and the barrier function of airway mucus contribute significantly to this problem. we have recently developed recombinant sendai virus (sev) as a new gene transfer agent. here we show that sev produces efficient transfection throughout the respira ...	2000	10973218
an immunohistological study of cytokeratin 20 in human and mammalian oral epithelium.	cytokeratin (ck) 20 is a low molecular-weight intermediate filament reportedly expressed only by benign and malignant gastrointestinal epithelium, urothelium and merkel cells. the main aims here were to map its expression in normal oral mucosa of humans and other mammals, and to determine whether it was expressed by abnormal human oral epithelium. salivary and odontogenic epithelium were also analysed. an immunoperoxidase method was used on wax-embedded and cryostat sections. in addition, double ...	2000	10973561
ozone-induced epithelial injury in the ferret is similar to nonhuman primates.	extrapolation to humans from rodent ozone exposure is limited by the anatomic differences between the species. ferrets have similar pulmonary structures to humans, with well developed respiratory bronchioles and submucosal glands. we exposed adult ferrets, monkeys, and rats to 1 ppm ozone (o(3)) or filtered air for 8 h followed by 1 h in filtered air. bronchoalveolar lavage (bal) analysis, histopathology, and confocal microscopy were used to evaluate ozone-induced epithelial injury and inflammat ...	2000	10988145
a novel phosphodiesterase type 4 inhibitor, ym976 (4-(3-chlorophenyl)-1,7-diethylpyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2(1h)-one), with little emetogenic activity.	we synthesized a novel phosphodiesterase type 4 (pde4) inhibitor, ym976, that is structurally different from the other pde4 inhibitors like rolipram. in the present study, the pharmacological profile of ym976 was investigated. ym976 exhibited a strong and competitive inhibition against pde4 purified from human peripheral leukocytes with an ic(50) of 2.2 nm. ic(50) values of rolipram and rp73401 were 820 and 0.43 nm, respectively. test compounds had no effects on the other pde isozymes, pde1, -2, ...	2000	10991987
eosinophilic gastroenteritis in a domestic ferret.	eosinophilic gastroenteritis without peripheral eosinophilia was diagnosed histologically in a 5-year-old neutered male ferret showing acute signs of projectile vomiting, dark mucoid diarrhea, and chronic weight loss for 2 mo. the ferret was clinically normal after 4 days of treatment with parenteral fluids, antibiotics, and corticosteroids.	2000	10992990
evidence for involvement of the pkc-alpha isoform in myogenic contractions of the coronary microcirculation.	the role of protein kinase c (pkc) isoforms in myogenic tone of the ferret coronary microcirculation was investigated by measuring fura 2 ca(2+) signals, pkc immunoblots, contractile responses, and confocal microscopy of pkc translocation. phorbol ester-evoked contractions were completely abolished in the absence of extracellular ca(2+) but involved a ca(2+) sensitization relative to kcl contractions. immunoblotting using isoform-specific antibodies showed the presence of pkc-alpha and -iota and ...	2000	10993750
preclinical study of the systemic toxicity and pharmacokinetics of 5-iodo-2-deoxypyrimidinone-2'-deoxyribose as a radiosensitizing prodrug in two, non-rodent animal species: implications for phase i study design.	we have demonstrated previously an improved therapeutic index for oral 5-iodo-2-deoxypyrimidinone-2'-deoxyribose (ipdr) compared with oral and continuous infusion of 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine (iudr) as a radiosensitizing agent using three different human tumor xenografts in athymic mice. ipdr is a prodrug that is efficiently converted to iudr by a hepatic aldehyde oxidase, resulting in high ipdr and iudr plasma levels in mice for > or =1 h after p.o. ipdr. athymic mice tolerated oral ipdr at up to ...	2000	10999760
genomic homology of the domestic ferret with cats and humans.	we used chromosome paints from both the domestic cat and humans to directly establish chromosomal homology between the genome of these species and the domestic ferret. the chromosome painting data indicate that the ferret has a highly conserved karyotype closer to the ancestral carnivore karyotype than that of the cat. the cat chromosome paints revealed 22 homologous autosomal regions in the ferret genome: 16 ferret chromosomes were hybridized by a single cat paint, while 3 ferret chromosomes we ...	2000	11003701
gangliosides as modulators of dendritogenesis in normal and storage disease-affected pyramidal neurons.	pyramidal cells initiate the formation of dendritic arbors in a prolific burst of neurite outgrowth during early cortical development. although morphologically mature pyramidal neurons do not normally sprout additional primary dendrites, the discovery of ectopic dendritogenesis in neuronal storage diseases has revealed that these cells do retain this ability under appropriate stimulation. the capacity for renewal of dendritogenesis has been found to exhibit a species gradient with human > cat, d ...	2000	11007553
definition of neuronal circuitry controlling the activity of phrenic and abdominal motoneurons in the ferret using recombinant strains of pseudorabies virus.	during a number of behaviors, including vomiting and some postural adjustments, activity of both the diaphragm and abdominal muscles increases. previous transneuronal tracing studies using injection of pseudorabies virus (prv) into either the diaphragm or rectus abdominis (ra) of the ferret demonstrated that motoneurons innervating these muscles receive inputs from neurons in circumscribed regions of the spinal cord and brainstem, some of which have an overlapping distribution in the magnocellul ...	2000	11007904
vagal neurotransmission to the ferret lower oesophageal sphincter: inhibition via gaba(b) receptors.	gaba(b) receptors modulate the function of the lower oesophageal sphincter (los) in vivo by inhibiting neurotransmitter release in the vagal pathway controlling los relaxation. we aimed to determine whether this effect was mediated peripherally on vagal motor outflow to the ferret los in vitro. the los, with intact vagal innervation, was prepared from adult ferrets and los tension measured. vagal stimulation (0.5 - 10 hz, 30 v) evoked a tetrodotoxin-sensitive, frequency-dependent relaxation. bot ...	2000	11015316
cellular and network mechanisms of rhythmic recurrent activity in neocortex.	the neocortex generates periods of recurrent activity, such as the slow (0.1-0.5 hz) oscillation during slow-wave sleep. here we demonstrate that slices of ferret neocortex maintained in vitro generate this slow (< 1 hz) rhythm when placed in a bathing medium that mimics the extracellular ionic composition in situ. this slow oscillation seems to be initiated in layer 5 as an excitatory interaction between pyramidal neurons and propagates through the neocortex. our results demonstrate that the ce ...	2000	11017176
temperature-controlled high frequency ablation for creation of transmyocardial channels: in vivo validation of a novel method.	we investigated the feasibility and short-term effects of a novel procedure to create intramyocardial channels by means of high frequency (hf) ablation in a rabbit in vivo model.	2000	11025349
effect of time and vascular pressure on permeability and cyclic nucleotides in ischemic lungs.	we previously found that increased intravascular pressure decreased ischemic lung injury by a nitric oxide (no)-dependent mechanism (becker pm, buchanan w, and sylvester jt. j appl physiol 84: 803-808, 1998). to determine the role of cyclic nucleotides in this response, we measured the reflection coefficient for albumin (sigma(alb)), fluid flux (), cgmp, and camp in ferret lungs subjected to either 45 min ("short"; n = 7) or 180 min ("long") of ventilated ischemia. long ischemic lungs had "low" ...	2000	11045940
activity-dependent patterning of retinogeniculate axons proceeds with a constant contribution from ampa and nmda receptors.	neural activity is critical for the refinement of neural circuitry during development, although the mechanisms involved in stabilizing appropriate connectivity remain unclear. it has been proposed that the insertion of ampa receptors at synapses with only nmda receptors ("silent synapses") mediates this stabilization, leading to an increasing contribution from ampa receptors as development proceeds. here we show in a mammalian system known to undergo activity-dependent development [the segregati ...	2000	11050126
plasticity in the neural coding of auditory space in the mammalian brain.	sound localization relies on the neural processing of monaural and binaural spatial cues that arise from the way sounds interact with the head and external ears. neurophysiological studies of animals raised with abnormal sensory inputs show that the map of auditory space in the superior colliculus is shaped during development by both auditory and visual experience. an example of this plasticity is provided by monaural occlusion during infancy, which leads to compensatory changes in auditory spat ...	2000	11050215
m-mode and doppler echocardiographic findings in normal ferrets sedated with ketamine hydrochloride and midazolam.	m-mode and doppler echocardiographic values were obtained from 30 normal adult ferrets (14 neutered females, 13 neutered males, 3 intact males) sedated with an intramuscular combination of ketamine hydrochloride and midazolam. routine m-mode measurements of the left and right ventricle, left atrium (la) and aorta (ao) and doppler measurements of aortic and pulmonic outflow, and mitral inflow were recorded. the following values were calculated: la:ao diameter, ratio of peak e: peak a wave velocit ...	2013	11052370
effects of sevoflurane on the contractility of ferret ventricular myocardium.	isotonic and isometric variables of contractility and relaxation of isolated ferret right ventricular papillary muscles were measured before and during exposure to incremental concentrations of sevoflurane (0-4.9% vol/vol) (30 degrees c) (n = 9). in a second group of muscles (n = 8), effects of sevoflurane were compared with those of low [ca(2+)](o) (0.45-2.25 mm in steps of 0.45 mm). sevoflurane caused a reversible concentration-dependent decrease in contractility (ed(50) of developed force 4.6 ...	2000	11053326
in vitro and in vivo assay systems for study of influenza virus inhibitors.	evaluation of potential influenza virus inhibitors may utilize multiple steps. first would be to determine if the viral target (e.g. influenza virus neuraminidase) being focused upon will be inhibited in the appropriate assay. standard in vitro antiviral assays, used next in antiviral evaluations, may utilize inhibition of viral plaques, viral cytopathic effect (cpe), and viral hemagglutinin or other protein, with inhibition of viral yield used in follow-up evaluations. the cpe can be determined ...	2000	11080536
early development of ocular dominance columns.	the segregation of lateral geniculate nucleus (lgn) axons into ocular dominance columns is believed to involve a prolonged, activity-dependent sorting process. however, visualization of early postnatal ferret lgn axons by direct lgn tracer injections revealed segregated ocular dominance columns <7 days after innervation of layer 4. these early columns were unaffected by experimentally induced imbalances in retinal activity, implying that different mechanisms govern initial column formation and t ...	2000	11082053
effect of a novel anti-inflammatory compound, ym976, on antigen-induced eosinophil infiltration into the lungs in rats, mice, and ferrets.	we evaluated the effects of ym976, a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 4, on antigen-induced eosinophil infiltration into the lungs in rats, mice, and ferrets. in rats, ym976 inhibited the accumulation of eosinophils at an oral ed(50) value of 1.7 mg/kg, and in c57black/6 mice, exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition at an ed(50) value of 5.8 mg/kg. in the same dose range in the same mouse model, ym976 suppressed interleukin-5 production. we then compared the inhibitory effect of chron ...	2000	11082452
development of anti-influenza drugs: ii. improvement of oral and intranasal absorption and the anti-influenza activity of stachyflin derivatives.	the in-vivo anti-influenza-virus activity of stachyflin derivatives (iii and its phosphate ester, iii-phos), a new class of haemagglutinin fusion inhibitor, and the improvement of their absorption after oral or intranasal administration were studied in mice, rats, and ferrets. the absorption of iii in peg 4000 and iii-phos aqueous solution increased about three and four fold in auc after oral administration to uninfected mice compared with that of 0.5% hpmc (hydroxypropyl-methylcellulose) suspen ...	2000	11092569
sequence differences in the diagnostic target region of the oocyst wall protein gene of cryptosporidium parasites.	nucleotide sequences of the cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein (cowp) gene were obtained from various cryptosporidium spp. (c. wrairi, c. felis, c. meleagridis, c. baileyi, c. andersoni, c. muris, and c. serpentis) and c. parvum genotypes (human, bovine, monkey, marsupial, ferret, mouse, pig, and dog). significant diversity was observed among species and genotypes in the primer and target regions of a popular diagnostic pcr. these results provide useful information for cowp-based molecular diff ...	2000	11097936
mycobacterium genavense infection in two aged ferrets with conjunctival lesions.	mycobacterium genavense infection was diagnosed in two adult ferrets. disseminated mycobacteriosis was diagnosed in a castrated 5-year-old sable ferret with generalised peripheral lymph node enlargement and a proliferative lesion of the conjunctiva of the nictitating membrane. the diagnosis was based on characteristic cytology and sequence analysis of the 16s rrna gene amplified using the polymerase chain reaction from fresh biopsy material. therapy with rifampicin, clofazimine and clarithromyci ...	2000	11098383
an analysis of orientation and ocular dominance patterns in the visual cortex of cats and ferrets.	we report an analysis of orientation and ocular dominance maps that were recorded optically from area 17 of cats and ferrets. similar to a recent study performed in primates (obermayer & blasdel, 1997), we find that 80% (for cats and ferrets) of orientation singularities that are nearest neighbors have opposite sign and that the spatial distribution of singularities deviates from a random distribution of points, because the average distances between nearest neighbors are significantly larger tha ...	2000	11110128
pde4 inhibitors induce emesis in ferrets via a noradrenergic pathway.	the objective of this work was to assess the role of alpha(2)-adrenoceptors in emesis induced by inhibitors of type 4 phosphodiesterase (pde4) in ferrets. pre-treatment with yohimbine, mk-912 or mk-467 (alpha(2)-adrenoceptor antagonists) caused sudden and unexpected vomiting. in contrast, clonidine (alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonist) did not induce emesis at doses ranging from 62.5-250 microg/kg s.c. at the dose of 250 microg/kg, clonidine also provided protection against emesis induced by the pde4 ...	2001	11114405
logistic time constant of isometric relaxation force curve of ferret ventricular papillary muscle: reliable index of lusitropism.	we have found that a logistic function fits the left ventricular isovolumic relaxation pressure curve in the canine excised, cross-circulated heart more precisely than a monoexponential function. on this basis, we have proposed a logistic time constant (tau(l)) as a better index of ventricular isovolumic lusitropism than the conventional monoexponential time constant (tau(e)). we hypothesize in the present study that this tau(l) would also be a better index of myocardial isometric lusitropism th ...	2000	11120914
topographical projection from the superior colliculus to the nucleus of the brachium of the inferior colliculus in the ferret: convergence of visual and auditory information.	the normal maturation of the auditory space map in the deeper layers of the ferret superior colliculus (sc) depends on signals provided by the superficial visual layers, but it is unknown where or how these signals influence the developing auditory responses. here we report that tracer injections in the superficial layers label axons with en passant and terminal boutons, both in the deeper layers of the sc and in their primary source of auditory input, the nucleus of the brachium of the inferior ...	2000	11122340
synthesis, structure-activity relationships, and pharmacological profile of 9-amino-4-oxo-1-phenyl-3,4,6,7-tetrahydro[1,4]diazepino[6, 7,1-hi]indoles: discovery of potent, selective phosphodiesterase type 4 inhibitors.	the synthesis, structure-activity relationships, and biological properties of a novel series of potent and selective phosphodiesterase type 4 (pde4) inhibitors are described. these new aminodiazepinoindoles displayed in vitro pde4 activity with submicromolar ic(50) values and pde4 selectivity vs pde1, -3, and -5. specifically, one compound (ci-1044, 10e) provided efficient in vitro inhibition of tnfalpha release from hpbmc and hwb with ic(50) values of 0.34 and 0.84 microm, respectively. this co ...	2000	11123995
responses to innocuous, but not noxious, somatosensory stimulation by neurons in the ferret superior colliculus.	the intermediate and deep layers of the superior colliculus (sc) are known for their role in initiating orienting behaviors. to direct these orienting functions, the sc of some animals (e.g., primates, carnivores) is dominated by inputs from the distance senses (vision, audition). in contrast, the rodent sc relies more heavily on non-visual inputs, such as touch and nociception, possibly as an adaptive response to the proximity of dangers encountered during their somatosensory-dominant search be ...	2000	11125873
effects of physiological versus pharmacological beta-carotene supplementation on cell proliferation and histopathological changes in the lungs of cigarette smoke-exposed ferrets.	there remains a remarkable discordance between the results of observational epidemiological studies and intervention trials using beta-carotene as a potential chemopreventive agent. one question that needs to be examined is whether the adverse outcomes of human beta-carotene trials are related to the large doses of beta-carotene that were administered. in the present study, ferrets were given a physiological (low) dose or a pharmacological (high) dose of beta-carotene supplementation (0.43 mg ve ...	2000	11133814
organization and neurochemistry of vagal preganglionic neurons innervating the lower esophageal sphincter in ferrets.	the motor control of the lower esophageal sphincter (les) is critical for normal swallowing and emesis, as well as for the prevention of gastroesophageal reflux. however, there are surprisingly few data on the central organization and neurochemistry of les-projecting preganglionic neurons. there are no such data in ferrets, which are increasingly being used to study les relaxation. therefore, we determined the location of preganglionic neurons innervating the ferret les, with special attention t ...	2001	11135258
patient monitor for small creatures.	a prototype patient monitor has been developed for monitoring various physiological parameters during surgery. the system displays ecg, temperature and co2 as well as the envelope of heart sounds in real time. subsequent clinical studies will involve ferrets.	1999	11143359
effects of sevoflurane on the intracellular ca2+ transient in ferret cardiac muscle.	sevoflurane depresses myocardial contractility by decreasing transsarcolemmal ca2+ influx. in skinned muscle fibers, sevoflurane affects actin-myosin cross-bridge cycling, which might contribute to the negative inotropic effect. it is uncertain to what extent decreases in ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile proteins play a role in the negative inotropic effect of sevoflurane in intact cardiac muscle tissue. the aim of this study was to assess whether sevoflurane decreases myofibrillar ca2+ sensi ...	2000	11149446
steroidal modulation of scent investigation and marking behaviors in male and female ferrets (mustela putorius furo).	gonadectomized male and female ferrets (mustela putorius furo) given either testosterone propionate (tp) or oil vehicle preferred to investigate the side of a test cage previously soiled by a breeding male or female as opposed to a clean side. male and female ferrets receiving tp showed more urogenital wiping than oil-treated animals in either side of the test cage. in a 2nd experiment, ferrets treated sequentially with tp, oil, and estradiol benzoate (eb) were given simultaneous access to sides ...	2000	11149544
projections and pathways of vip- and nnos-containing airway neurons in ferret trachea.	airway ganglia in ferret trachea are organized into two identifiable plexuses, the longitudinal trunk (lt) ganglia and the superficial muscular plexus (smp) ganglia. lt ganglia contain cholinergic neurons and neurons in smp ganglia synthesize vasoactive intestinal peptide (vip) and nitric oxide (no). both plexuses of ganglia project to airway smooth muscle, but communications between lt and smp ganglia have not been extensively studied. ganglia of the lt were injected with neural tracers, either ...	2001	11152648
effect of the long-acting tachykinin nk(1) receptor antagonist men 11467 on tracheal mucus secretion in allergic ferrets.	1. we investigated the effect of men 11467 ((1r,2s)-2-n[1(h)indol-3-yl-carbonyl]-1-n-[n(alpha)(p-tolylacetyl)-n(alpha)(methyl)-d-3-(2-naphthyl)alanyl]diaminocyclohexane) on tachykinin-induced mucus secretion in ferret trachea in vitro and determined its effect on secretion by tracheae from allergic ferrets in response to allergen challenge. 2. repeated administration of [sar(9),met(o(2))(11)]-substance p ([sar(9)]sp, 1 microm) maintained mucus output above control values for at least 1.75 h. men ...	2001	11156577
coordinated control of cell ca(2+) loading and triggered release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum underlies the rapid inotropic response to increased l-type ca(2+) current.	the aim of this study was to investigate how sarcoplasmic reticulum (sr) ca(2+) content and systolic ca(2+) are controlled when ca(2+) entry into the cell is varied. experiments were performed on voltage-clamped rat and ferret ventricular myocytes loaded with fluo-3 to measure intracellular ca(2+) concentration ([ca(2+)](i)). increasing external ca(2+) concentration ([ca(2+)](o)) from 1 to 2 mmol/l increased the amplitude of the systolic ca(2+) transient with no effect on sr ca(2+) content. this ...	2001	11157672
allosteric regulation of na/ca exchange current by cytosolic ca in intact cardiac myocytes.	the cardiac sarcolemmal na-ca exchanger (ncx) is allosterically regulated by [ca](i) such that when [ca](i) is low, ncx current (i(ncx)) deactivates. in this study, we used membrane potential (e(m)) and i(ncx) to control ca entry into and ca efflux from intact cardiac myocytes to investigate whether this allosteric regulation (ca activation) occurs with [ca](i) in the physiological range. in the absence of ca activation, the electrochemical effect of increasing [ca](i) would be to increase inwar ...	2001	11158165
effect of changing vascular volume on measurement of protein reflection coefficient in ischemic lungs.	in ischemic organs, the protein reflection coefficient (sigma) can be estimated by measuring blood hematocrit (hct) and protein after increasing static vascular pressure (p(v)). our original equation for sigma (j appl physiol 73: 2616-2622, 1992) assumed a constant vascular volume during convective fluid flux (). in this study, we 1) quantified the rate of vascular volume change (dv/dt) still present in ischemic single ferret lungs after 20 min of p(v) = 30 torr and 2) developed an equation for ...	2001	11158994
new models of the tracheal airway define the glandular contribution to airway surface fluid and electrolyte composition.	antibacterial defenses in the airway are dependent on multifactorial influences that determine the composition of both fluid and/or electrolytes at the surface of the airway and the secretory products that aid in bacterial killing and clearance. in cystic fibrosis (cf), these mechanisms of airway protection may be defective, leading to increased colonization with pseudomonas aeruginosa. submucosal glands, a predominant site of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (cftr) protein ex ...	2001	11159054
can rhesus monkeys spontaneously subtract?	animals, including pigeons, parrots, raccoons, ferrets, rats, new and old world monkeys, and apes are capable of numerical computations. much of the evidence for such capacities is based on the use of techniques that require training. recently, however, several studies conducted under both laboratory and field conditions have employed methods that tap spontaneous numerical representations in animals, including human infants. in this paper, we present the results of 11 experiments exploring the c ...	2001	11165213
development of visual cortical axons: layer-specific effects of extrinsic influences and activity blockade.	during normal cortical development, individual pyramidal neurons form intracortical axonal arbors that are specific for particular cortical layers. pyramidal neurons within layer 6 are able to develop layer-specific projections in cultured slices of ferret visual cortex, indicating that extrinsic influences, including patterned visual activity, are not required (dantzker and callaway [1998] j neurosci 18:4145-4154). however, when spontaneous activity is blocked in cultures with tetrodotoxin, lay ...	2001	11169470
growth dynamics of the developing lateral geniculate nucleus.	segregated binocular maps in the lateral geniculate nucleus (lgn) develop from stages where they initially completely overlap. here, we show that segregation occurs at different rates across the depth of the nucleus and that the volume of the ipsilateral projection does not decrease significantly during this period, rather lgn volume expands markedly and its shape changes. hence, we have examined the differential growth of the ferret lgn during the process of segregation by using novel shape mod ...	2001	11169471
calmodulin levels are dynamically regulated in living vascular smooth muscle cells.	the total unbound calmodulin (i.e., not bound to target proteins) level in living smooth muscle cells from the ferret portal vein was monitored with a low-affinity, calmodulin-binding peptide tagged with an environmentally sensitive fluorophore. gs17c, a previously characterized peptide, from the calmodulin-binding domain of caldesmon was tagged with iodoacetyl nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (nbd) or, as a negative control, with iodoacetylfluorescein isothiocyanate. increases in nbd-gs17c fluoresce ...	2001	11179093
reproductive inefficiency in male black-footed ferrets (mustela nigripes).	the black-footed ferret (mustela nigripes), once considered extinct, has benefited from captive breeding and subsequent reintroduction into native habitat. a high proportion of females (>90%) exhibit estrus in captivity during the spring breeding season. however, many males considered to be prime-breeding age (1-3 years old) fail to sire offspring. breeding records in 1995 revealed that 40 of 73 males (55%) managed under the black-footed ferret species survival plan did not reproduce, despite be ...	2000	11180413
neurobiology. heretical view of visual development.	for decades, neurobiologists have believed that so-called ocular dominance columns--neat columns of brain cells that respond to visual activity from one eye or the other--form as a result of visual activity. now, in work described on page 1321, neuroscientists report that ocular dominance columns in ferrets appear long before the columns can be modified by visual experience. they propose instead that innate molecules that guide growing axons to their locations in the developing brain may be prim ...	2000	11185393
calcitonin gene-related peptide modifies the ectopic discharge from damaged nerve fibres in the ferret.	previous studies in our laboratory have shown that the neuropeptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide (cgrp) accumulates at a site of inferior alveolar nerve injury at the time when high levels of spontaneous activity and mechanical sensitivity are recorded electrophysiologically. the present study was undertaken to determine whether or not the cgrp could be playing a role in initiating or modulating the neuronal activity. in 18 anaesthetised adult ferrets the left inferior alveolar nerve was sec ...	2001	11207377
contribution of angiotensin ii, endothelin 1 and the endothelium to the slow inotropic response to stretch in ferret papillary muscle.	we investigated the contribution of angiotensin ii and endothelin i to the slow positive inotropic response observed following stretch of isolated ferret papillary muscle from 88% to 98% of the length at which maximum force is generated. angiotensin antagonists losartan and saralasin did not affect the magnitude of the slow response in ferret papillary muscle. the eta-selective antagonist bq123 slightly reduced the magnitude of the slow response (p > 0.05). in the presence of pd145065 (an eta an ...	2001	11212215
ferret, rabbit, and rodent anesthesia.	ferrets, rabbits, and rodents are increasingly being presented to veterinarians for evaluation and treatment. the owners of these animals expect high-level medical and surgical care. consequently, veterinarians are more often required to provide intensive anesthetic management of these animals. the variability of anesthetic agents used and patient responses are addressed. the consequences of size for anesthetic management are discussed. successful small mammal anesthesia requires following gener ...	2001	11217459
changes in neuropeptide expression in the trigeminal ganglion following inferior alveolar nerve section in the ferret.	changes in neuropeptide expression in afferent nerve fibres may play a role in the persistent sensory abnormalities that can be experienced following trigeminal nerve injuries. we have therefore studied changes in the expression of the neuropeptides substance p, calcitonin gene-related peptide, enkephalin, galanin, neuropeptide y and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in the trigeminal ganglion following peripheral nerve injury. in anaesthetised adult female ferrets, the left inferior alveolar ne ...	2001	11226702
ferret nutrition.	the unusually short intestinal tract of ferrets and closely related mustelids lacks a cecum and ileocolic valve. as a result, the transit time of ingesta in these carnivores is very rapid compared with other animals, and their food is inefficiently digested. although the precise nutritional requirements of ferrets have not been determined by feeding defined diets, information has been compiled from experience feeding commercial and analyzed homemade diets to breeding ferrets, fitch, and mink at ...	1999	11228691
emergency and critical care of ferrets.	gastrointestinal disease, neoplasia, cardiac disease, and endocrinopathy are among the most common syndromes affecting the ferret that presents in an emergency situation. knowledge of these and other disease processes, indicated diagnostic testing, and immediate treatment protocols are critical to provide efficient and effective care to the ferret in crisis.	1998	11228730
ferrets. examination and preventive medicine.	as ferrets are anatomically and physiologically similar to dogs and cats, the basic elements of ferret examination, disease processes, and preventive health are familiar to small-animal practitioners. like other domestic carnivores, ferrets are tolerant of handling and medical procedures, especially compared with rabbits, rodents, and most nondomestic mammals. these characteristics make ferrets amenable to many of the highly specialized diagnostic and therapeutic techniques that are now availabl ...	1999	11228740
therapeutics in ferrets.	the domestic ferret (mustela putorius furo) continues to grow in popularity as a pet species in north america as well as many countries around the world. with this rapid growth comes an increased potential for small and exotic animal practitioners to expand their ferret clientele. this article reviews the commonly used therapeutics in ferrets, as well as the general principles and guidelines for their use.	2000	11228824
ferret respiratory diseases.	ferret behavior often brings them into close contact with potential respiratory pathogens and traumatic insults. although respiratory disease accounts for a small percentage of cases, they are usually dramatic. acute and chronic conditions occur, and many lesions are confined to the upper or lower respiratory tree but may not involve both. pathogens such as influenza a account for a large percentage of upper respiratory infections and often mirror the "flu" season of humans. traumatic insults to ...	2000	11228888
abdominal surgery in ferrets.	surgical procedures in ferrets share similarities with those performed in other species, but attention must be paid to important anatomic and physiologic differences. as the numbers of these endearing animals kept as pets is steadily increasing, veterinary practices are presented with more requests for a greater variety of surgical procedures.	2000	11228923
miscellaneous surgeries in ferrets.	this article describes the most common extra-abdominal surgeries performed in ferrets, including anal sacculectomy for descenting, mammary and prepucial adenoma or adenocarcinoma removal, chordomas, and perineal urethrostomy. thoracotomy and special considerations for performing surgery on ferrets also are discussed.	2000	11228924
ferrets. clinical pathology and sample collection.	diagnostic sampling and interpretation in the ferret are similar to other small mammals in many ways. there are several aspects of clinical pathology and diagnostic procedures, however, that are unique to the ferret. this article is designed to assist the clinician in obtaining and interpreting diagnostic samples for the ferret. methods for blood and urine collection, bone marrow and organ aspirations, and organ biopsy techniques are discussed.	1999	11229043
spectro-temporal response field characterization with dynamic ripples in ferret primary auditory cortex.	to understand the neural representation of broadband, dynamic sounds in primary auditory cortex (ai), we characterize responses using the spectro-temporal response field (strf). the strf describes, predicts, and fully characterizes the linear dynamics of neurons in response to sounds with rich spectro-temporal envelopes. it is computed from the responses to elementary "ripples," a family of sounds with drifting sinusoidal spectral envelopes. the collection of responses to all elementary ripples ...	2001	11247991
mating-activated brainstem catecholaminergic neurons in the female rat.	central catecholaminergic systems play an important role in the control of reproductive activities including sexual behavior, luteinizing hormone (lh) and prolactin secretion. it has been reported that catecholaminergic neurons in the locus coeruleus (a6) are activated by mating in rabbits and ferrets, animals known as reflex ovulators. this study used fos as a marker of neuronal activity to examine whether brainstem catecholaminergic neurons are activated by mating in the spontaneous ovulator, ...	2001	11251189
gaba(b) receptors on vagal afferent pathways: peripheral and central inhibition.	to investigate gaba(b) receptors along vagal afferent pathways, we recorded from vagal afferents, medullary neurons, and vagal efferents in ferrets. baclofen (7-14 micromol/kg i.v.) reduced gastric tension receptor and nucleus tractus solitarii neuronal responses to gastric distension but not gastroduodenal mucosal receptor responses to cholecystokinin (cck). gaba(b) antagonists cgp-35348 or cgp-62349 reversed effects of baclofen. vagal efferents showed excitatory and inhibitory responses to dis ...	2001	11254492
antigastric autoantibodies in ferrets naturally infected with helicobacter mustelae.	infection with helicobacter pylori has been associated with induction of autoantibodies that cross-react with the gastric mucosa. there have been discordant reports as to whether or not these autoantibodies arise due to molecular mimicry between h. pylori and host cell antigens on parietal cells. in this study, we investigated whether molecular mimicry by h. mustelae causes autoantibodies in infected ferrets. serum from h. mustelae-infected ferrets reacted with parietal cells in the ferret gastr ...	2001	11254638
developmental expression of catenins and associated proteins during submucosal gland morphogenesis in the airway.	although lymphoid enhancer binding factor-1 (lef-1) plays an obligatory role in airway submucosal gland (smg) development, its expression alone is not an adequate signal for initiating gland morphogenesis. because lef-1 forms a bipartite transcription factor with beta-catenin to mediate wnt pathway signaling, we investigated the expression of beta-catenin and associated proteins during smg development with both in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. unexpectedly, high levels of e-cadheri ...	2001	11258801
radiation-induced acute intestinal inflammation differs following total-body versus abdominopelvic irradiation in the ferret.	the studies were designed to investigate the differences in the intestinal inflammatory response following abdominopelvic or total-body irradiation in a ferret model.	2001	11258854
therapeutic effects of environmental enrichment on cognitive function and tissue integrity following severe traumatic brain injury in rats.	postinjury environmental enrichment (ee) has been shown to alter functional and anatomical outcomes in a number of injury paradigms, including traumatic brain injury (tbi). the question of whether ee alters functional outcome following tbi in a model which produces overt histopathological consequences has not been addressed. we investigated this question using the severe, parasagittal fluid percussion injury (fpi) model. rats (n = 7 per group, enriched and standard for behavior; n = 15 per group ...	2001	11259125
mating induces gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuronal activation in anosmic female ferrets.	in females of both spontaneously and induced ovulating species, pheromones from male conspecifics can directly stimulate gnrh neuronal activity, thereby inducing pituitary lh secretion and stimulating the onset of estrus. however, whether pheromones contribute to the steroid- or mating-induced preovulatory activation of gnrh neurons is less clear. previous studies in the ferret, an induced ovulator, raised the possibility that olfactory cues contribute to the ability of genital-somatosensory sti ...	2001	11259255
move over, mouse: make way for the woodchucks, ferrets, and zebrafish.		2001	11259460
vagal ganglionic and nonadrenergic noncholinergic neurotransmission to the ferret lower oesophageal sphincter.	in the present study we aimed to discretely characterise ganglionic and neuroeffector transmission to the ferret lower oesophageal sphincter (los) using a novel preparation of los muscle with intact vagal innervation in conjunction with isolated los muscle strips. in this way we could compare vagally mediated los relaxation with that of enteric inhibitory motorneurones which were directly stimulated. preparations of los muscle, with or without attached vagus nerves, were dissected from adult fer ...	2000	11269922
responses of neurons in neonatal cortex and thalamus to patterned visual stimulation through the naturally closed lids.	in studies of the developing mammalian visual system, it has been axiomatic that visual experience begins with eye-opening. any role for neuronal activity earlier in development has been attributed to the patterned spontaneous activity found in retina and lateral geniculate nucleus (lgn). here we show that, as early as 2 wk before eye-opening, visual stimuli presented through the closed eyelids can drive neuronal activity in lgn and striate cortex of the ferret. at this age, spontaneous activity ...	2001	11287467
sequence and antigenic variability of the helicobacter mustelae surface ring protein hsr.	we have identified an array of more than 500 repetitive sequences flanking the hsr gene, which encodes the major surface protein of the ferret pathogen helicobacter mustelae. the repeats show identity exclusively to the amino-terminal half of hsr. analysis of hsr from three strains indicated variability of exposed epitopes. characterization of an hsr mutant showed that hsr is not an adhesin.	2001	11292773
trophoblast-uterine interactions in the first days of implantation: models for the study of implantation events in the human.	the most profound changes in the relationship of the trophoblast to endometrial tissues occur in the first 5 days after the initiation of implantation. not only have the earliest stages--adhesion and epithelial penetration--never been seen in the human, but also the trophoblastic plate and lacunar stages that follow are not available for modern investigative methods. studies of appropriately timed endometrium and of trophoblast- and endometrium-derived cell lines have important implications for ...	2000	11299964
unusual immunophenotype of a soft tissue sarcoma in a european polecat (mustela putorius).	the most commonly reported tumors in ferrets are carcinomas, followed by round cell tumors. soft tissue sarcomas are reported and characterized much less frequently. because domesticated ferrets (mustela putorius furo) are direct descendants of european polecats (mustela putorius), the types and prevalence of tumors are expected to be similar in the two species. presented here is a case report of unusual immunohistochemical staining characteristics of an abdominal wall leiomyosarcoma in a close ...	2001	11300678
discovery of novel n-phenylglycine derivatives as potent and selective beta(3)-adrenoceptor agonists for the treatment of frequent urination and urinary incontinence.	with a novel assay using isolated ferret detrusor to estimate beta(3)-adrenoceptor agonistic activity, we found that a series of glycine derivatives of ritodrine, a beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonist, are potent beta(3)-adrenoceptor agonists, with excellent selectivity versus beta(1) and beta(2) subtypes. substitution of halogens in the phenyl ring increased potency and selectivity for the beta(3)-adrenoceptor, and this was dependent upon the position of the halogens. the chlorine-substituted derivati ...	2001	11311067
disruption of layers 3 and 4 during development results in altered thalamocortical projections in ferret somatosensory cortex.	the precision of projections from dorsal thalamus to neocortex are key toward understanding overall cortical organization and function. to identify the significance of layer 4 cells in receiving the bulk of thalamic projections in somatosensory cortex, we disrupted layer 4 genesis and studied the effect on thalamic terminations in ferrets. second, we ascertained the result of layer 4 disruption on functional responses and topographic organization. methylazoxy methanol (mam) was injected into pre ...	2001	11312303
comparison of l-758,298, a prodrug for the selective neurokinin-1 antagonist, l-754,030, with ondansetron for the prevention of cisplatin-induced emesis.	substance p is localised in brainstem regions associated with emesis. based on studies in the ferret, it was postulated that a neurokinin-1 (nk1) receptor antagonist would have antiemetic activity as monotherapy in humans receiving chemotherapy. l-758,298 is a water-soluble, intravenous (i.v.) prodrug for l-754,030, a potent and selective nk1 receptor antagonist. this double-blind, randomised, active-agent (ondansetron)-controlled study enrolled 53 cisplatin-naïve patients and evaluated the prev ...	2001	11313170
the selection of marmoset monkeys (callithrix jacchus) in pharmaceutical toxicology.	prior to controlled clinical trials in human volunteers or patients it is required that novel pharmaceuticals are evaluated for pre-clinical safety in a rodent and a non-rodent ('second') species. in most cases the rodent species used has been the rat and the second species has been the dog or macaque (usually cynomolgus or rhesus) monkey. however, there is an increasing trend within the united kingdom (uk) pharmaceutical industry to use the common marmoset (callithrix jacchus) for pre-clinical ...	2001	11315160
for whales and seals the ocean is not blue: a visual pigment loss in marine mammals.	most terrestrial mammals have colour vision based on two spectrally different visual pigments located in two types of retinal cone photoreceptors, i.e. they are cone dichromats with long-to-middle-wave-sensitive (commonly green) l-cones and short-wave-sensitive (commonly blue) s-cones. with visual pigment-specific antibodies, we here demonstrate an absence of s-cones in the retinae of all whales and seals studied. the sample includes seven species of toothed whales (odontoceti) and five species ...	2001	11328346
laminar specific alterations of thalamocortical projections in organotypic cultures following layer 4 disruption in ferret somatosensory cortex.	the developing neocortex influences the growth of thalamocortical projections. layer 4 in particular receives the majority of input from the thalamus and is important in instructing thalamic afferents to terminate. previous in vivo experiments demonstrated that disruption of layer 4 during corticogenesis in ferret somatosensory cortex by application of methylazoxy methanol acetate (mam) prevents proper termination of thalamic afferents in appropriate cortical regions. to further explore the role ...	2001	11328350
the 26-kilodalton, ahpc homologue, of helicobacter pylori is also produced by other helicobacter species.	the 26 kda protein, which is an alkyl hydroperoxide reductase (ahpc) homologue, has earlier been described as specific for helicobacter pylori. the aims of this study were to analyse whether this protein, or the corresponding gene, could be identified in other helicobacter species.	2001	11328365
leuprolide acetate treatment of adrenocortical disease in ferrets.	to determine the effects of leuprolide acetate, a long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog, in ferrets with adrenocortical diseases.	2001	11330611
action of glucocorticoids to antagonise cisplatin-induced acute and delayed emesis in the ferret.	cisplatin 5 mg/kg, i.p. induced an acute (day 1) and delayed (days 2 and 3) emetic response in the ferret that was used to investigate the potential anti-emetic activity of several glucocorticoids. betamethasone (0.3-3 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced the emesis occurring during the initial 0-24-h period by 71.1-99.5% (p<0.05). the action of methylprednisolone (1.0-10.0 mg/kg, i.p.) and hydrocortisone (1.0-30.0 mg/kg, i.p.) could not be assessed because the controls exhibited weak emetic responses and dexam ...	2001	11334855
serologic evaluation, efficacy, and safety of a commerical modified-live canine distemper vaccine in domestic ferrets.	to determine efficacy and safety of a commercial modified-live canine distemper virus (cdv) vaccine used for prophylaxis in domestic ferrets.	2001	11341395
ferret allergy.		2001	11344368
consistent mapping of orientation preference across irregular functional domains in ferret visual cortex.	the mammalian visual cortex harbors a number of functional maps that represent distinct attributes of stimuli in the visual environment. how different functional maps are accommodated within the same cortical space, especially in species that show marked irregularities in one or more functional maps, remains poorly understood. we used optical imaging of intrinsic signals and electrophysiological techniques to investigate the organization of the maps of orientation preference, ocular dominance, a ...	2001	11347817
regulation of secretion from mucous and serous cells in the excised ferret trachea.	mucus hypersecretion is an important characteristic of many airway diseases. mucin is the major component of mucus, and is secreted from surface goblet cells of the airway epithelium and mucous cells of submucosal glands. lysozyme is an enzyme secreted by serous cells of airway submucosal glands. we hypothesized that secretagogues acting through different pathways would have different effects on tracheal mucin and lysozyme secretion. we used a sandwich enzyme-linked lectin assay (ella) to measur ...	2001	11348643
the broad-spectrum anti-emetic activity of as-8112, a novel dopamine d2, d3 and 5-ht3 receptors antagonist.	the anti-emetic and pharmacological profile of as-8112 ((r)-5-bromo-n-(1-ethyl-4-methylhexahydro-1h-1,4-diazepin-6-yl)-2-methoxy-6-methylamino-3-pyridinecarboxamide.2 fumarate), a novel and potent dopamine d2, d3 and 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 (5-ht3) receptors ligand, was investigated in the present study. in guinea-pig isolated colon, as-8112 produced a rightward shift of the concentration-response curves of 2-methyl-5ht, a 5-ht3 receptor agonist (pa2 value of 7.04). other 5-ht3 receptor antagonist ...	2001	11350861
pathogenesis of two strains of lion (panthera leo) morbillivirus in ferrets (mustela putorius furo).	canine distemper virus (cdv) was previously considered to have a host range restricted to the canid family. in 1994, the virus was associated with sporadic outbreaks of distemper in captive felids. however, after severe mortality occurred in the serengeti lions (panthera leo), attention became focused on the pathogenesis of the virus and a concerted effort was made to identify the virus as cdv or a closely related feline morbillivirus. the present study was designed to explore the susceptibility ...	2001	11355661
adrenal teratoma in four domestic ferrets (mustela putorius furo).	teratomas are histologically complex neoplasms that are composed of structures derived from multiple germ cell layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm). these neoplasms are uncommon in domestic animals and are usually found in the gonads. this paper describes teratomas of the adrenal gland in four domestic ferrets (mustela putorius furo). three of four of the neoplasms contained tissues from ectodermal, mesodermal, and endodermal germ cell layers; two of four contained rudimentary teeth. in one ...	2001	11355665
disruption of retinogeniculate pattern formation by inhibition of soluble guanylyl cyclase.	during development of the visual system of the ferret, the terminals of retinal ganglion cell axons first segregate to form eye-specific layers and subsequently on-center and off-center sublayers within the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dlgn). sublamination requires the activity of the afferent fibers, nmda receptors, and nitric oxide synthase (nos). we here report that soluble guanylyl cyclase (sgc), which in turn produces cgmp, is critically involved in the process of sublamination. cgmp ...	2001	11356875
a phase-variable capsule is involved in virulence of campylobacter jejuni 81-176.	campylobacter jejuni strain 81-176 (hs36, 23) synthesizes two distinct glycan structures, as visualized by immunoblotting of proteinase k-digested whole-cell preparations. a site-specific insertional mutant in the kpsm gene results in loss of expression of a high-molecular-weight (hmw) glycan (apparent mr 26 kda to > 85 kda) and increased resolution of a second ladder-like glycan (apparent mr 26-50 kda). the kpsm mutant of 81-176 is no longer typeable in either hs23 or hs36 antisera, indicating ...	2001	11359581
site of action of gaba(b) receptor for vagal motor control of the lower esophageal sphincter in ferrets and rats.	stimulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid b metabotropic receptors (gbrs) by baclofen reduces the incidence of transient lower esophageal sphincter (les) relaxations. the gbr effect may be a result of a central site of action in the dorsal vagal complex, where upper gastrointestinal vagal reflexes are integrated. therefore, we first localized gbr immunostaining in the dorsal vagal complex. next, we tested the hypothesis that baclofen modulates les motor tone via gbr expressed by vagal efferent neur ...	2001	11375956
effects of isoflurane on intracellular calcium and myocardial crossbridge kinetics in tetanized papillary muscles.	isoflurane depresses the intracellular ca2+ transient and force development during a twitch, but its effects on crossbridge cycling rates are difficult to predict because of the transient nature of the twitch. measurements of the effects of isoflurane on crossbridge cycling kinetics during tetanic contractions, which provide a steady state level of activation in intact cardiac muscle, have not been previously reported.	2001	11388538
the cannabinoid agonist win55,212-2 suppresses opioid-induced emesis in ferrets.	cannabinoid receptor agonists reverse nausea and vomiting produced by chemotherapy and radiation therapy in animals and humans but have not been tested against opioid-induced emesis. this study tests the hypothesis that cannabinoid receptor agonists will prevent opioid-induced vomiting.	2001	11388542
neuropeptide expression in the ferret trigeminal ganglion following ligation of the inferior alveolar nerve.	previous studies have found changes in neuropeptide expression in trigeminal ganglion cells after inferior alveolar nerve (ian) section. these changes may play a part in the persistent sensory abnormalities that can be experienced after trigeminal nerve injuries. here, neuropeptide expression after ian ligation was studied, as this type of injury is thought to be more likely to result in sensory disturbances. the neuropeptides investigated were substance p, calcitonin gene-related peptide, enkep ...	2001	11389865
species of flea (siphonaptera) infesting pets and hedgehogs in germany.	the species of flea infesting pets and hedgehogs in germany were investigated through a survey of small animal practitioners throughout the country who were asked to collect specimens at their veterinary practices. a total of 625 veterinarians/veterinary practices responded and provided 2445 intact anti identifiable flea specimens. these fleas originated from 294 dogs (795 fleas), 334 cats (1152 fleas), 76 hedgehogs (481 fleas), five domestic rabbits (10 fleas), one golden hamster (four fleas) a ...	2001	11393815
persistent fetal intraocular vasculature in the european ferret (mustela putorius): clinical and histological aspects.	to describe the clinical and histological appearance of persistent fetal intraocular vasculature in a colony of ferrets. design prospective study.	2001	11397316
bone repair of experimentally induced through-and-through defects by gore-tex, guidor, and vicryl in ferrets: a pilot study.	the purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate whether improved bone regeneration can be achieved in experimentally induced through-and-through mandibular defects in ferrets and whether there is a quantitative and qualitative difference of regenerated bone with different guided tissue regeneration membranes.	2001	11402287
suppression of cortical nmda receptor function prevents development of orientation selectivity in the primary visual cortex.	selectivity to visual stimulus orientation is a basic cortical functional property believed to be crucial for normal vision. maturation of this neuronal property requires neural activity. still, it is unclear what might be the molecular basis for such activity-dependent processes and whether activity has an instructive or permissive role in development of orientation selectivity. there is strong evidence that the nmda subtype of the glutamate receptor regulates activity-dependent mechanisms of o ...	2001	11404415