Publications
| Title | Abstract | Year Filter | PMID(sorted ascending) Filter |
|---|
| distribution of metabotropic glutamate receptors in the superior colliculus of the adult rat, ferret and cat. | the distribution of different metabotropic glutamate receptors (mglurs 1a, 1b, 1c, 2/3, 4 and 5) has been compared in the superior colliculus of the rat, cat and ferret using immunohistochemical techniques and light microscopy. we found that although there are differences in labelling patterns between the species, there are also substantial similarities. in general, there was only light staining for the various mglur1 splice variants, whereas labelling for the other group i receptor, mglur5, was ... | 2002 | 11927160 |
| vagal mechanoreceptors and chemoreceptors in mouse stomach and esophagus. | we used a novel in vitro mouse vagus-gastro-esophageal preparation to study the properties of peripheral vagal afferent endings. we found two types of mechanoreceptive fiber, mucosal receptors and tension receptors. these were distinguished by their sensitivity to mucosal stroking with von frey hairs and circular tension applied via a claw-cantilever system. a comparison was made with gastro-esophageal afferents found in a similar preparation of ferret tissue. responses of mouse tension receptor ... | 2002 | 11929927 |
| neuromodulatory role of serotonin in the ferret thalamus. | serotonergic fibers broadly innervate the thalamus and may influence the sleep wake cycle, attention, and other processes through modulation of neurons in this structure. however, the actions of serotonin in the dorsal thalamus have been investigated in detail only in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus. in the present study, we examined the action of serotonin in several different regions of the ferret dorsal thalamus, including the associative nuclei, using the in vitro slice preparation and ... | 2002 | 11929930 |
| pathogenesis of avian influenza a (h5n1) viruses in ferrets. | highly pathogenic avian influenza a h5n1 viruses caused outbreaks of disease in domestic poultry and humans in hong kong in 1997. direct transmission of the h5n1 viruses from birds to humans resulted in 18 documented cases of respiratory illness, including six deaths. here we evaluated two of the avian h5n1 viruses isolated from humans for their ability to replicate and cause disease in outbred ferrets. a/hong kong/483/97 virus was isolated from a fatal case and was highly pathogenic in the balb ... | 2002 | 11932409 |
| substance p afferent terminals innervate vagal preganglionic neurons projecting to the trachea of the ferret. | airway disorders, such as asthma and chronic obstructive bronchitis, are, in part, due to abnormalities in the nervous control of the airways. however, the ultrastructural circuitry and neurochemical anatomy of afferents modulating the output of airway-related vagal preganglionic neurons (vpns) in the nucleus ambiguus are poorly understood. we have examined the potential role of substance p (sp) immunoreactive afferents in the regulation of anatomically identified airway vpns. cholera toxin b-su ... | 2002 | 11958475 |
| organization of the ferret lateral cervical nucleus and cervicothalamic tract. | to elucidate the organization of the ferret spinocervicothalamic pathway (sctp), we examined the lateral cervical nucleus (lcn) and the termination of the cervicothalamic tract (cty) in this species. in thionin-stained sections, the ferret lcn appeared as an easily delineated column of cells in the dorsolateral funiculus from about mid-c3 to the rostral end of c1, with most cells located in the c1 and c2 segments. in transverse sections, the lcn was elongated along a dorsolateral to ventromedial ... | 2002 | 11962645 |
| conditions for in vitro maturation and artificial activation of ferret oocytes. | the ferret represents an attractive species for animal modeling of lung diseases because of the similarity between ferret and human lung biology and its relatively small size and short gestation time. in an effort to establish experimental protocols necessary for cloning ferrets, optimized conditions for in vitro maturation and artificial activation of ferret oocytes were examined. cumulus-oocyte complexes were harvested from ovaries of superovulated ferrets, and in vitro maturation was evaluate ... | 2002 | 11967201 |
| dna vaccination of ferrets with chimeric influenza a virus hemagglutinin (h3) genes. | recently a technology was established based on homologous recombination that allowed the rapid generation of chimeric ha genes of influenza viruses, containing the antigenic determinants obtained from various influenza virus a (h3n2) viruses. in the present report plasmids were generated using a h3 ha vector handle and the hypervariable regions of two genetically distinct influenza a h3n2 viruses, a/stockholm/7/97 and a/netherlands/18/94. in a ferret model it was shown that immunisation with pla ... | 2002 | 11972972 |
| inhibitory interactions between ferret thalamic reticular neurons. | the thalamic reticular nucleus (nrt) provides an important inhibitory input to thalamic relay nuclei and is central in the generation of both normal and abnormal thalamocortical activities. although local inhibitory interactions between these neurons may play an important role in controlling thalamocortical activities, the physiological features of this interaction have not been fully investigated. here we sought to establish the nature of inhibitory interaction between nrt neurons with intracel ... | 2002 | 11976393 |
| radial mass transfer of cross-bridges in a tetanized ferret heart muscle. | an x-ray diffraction experiment on ferret heart muscle was made to examine the relationship between tension and mass transfer from the thick to the thin filament associated with the interaction of cross-bridges with actin. a ferret papillary muscle was electrically stimulated for 8 s in the presence of 5 microm ryanodine to give a tetanus. at different extracellular ca2+ concentrations (2-20 mm), a linear relationship was found between the tension and the mass transfer. it was concluded that a c ... | 2002 | 11976914 |
| husbandry and management of the domestic ferret. | domesticated thousands of years ago and used for their hunting skills, ferrets have in more recent times proven to be excellent models for several fields of study, including virology and immunology. the author reviews the basic care and management of ferrets in the animal facility. | 2002 | 11984551 |
| hepatobiliary inflammation, neoplasia, and argyrophilic bacteria in a ferret colony. | hepatobiliary disease was diagnosed in eight of 34 genetically unrelated cohabitating pet ferrets (mustela putorios furo) during a 7-year period. the eight ferrets ranged in age from 5 to 8 years and exhibited chronic cholangiohepatitis coupled with cellular proliferation ranging from hyperplasia to frank neoplasia. spiral-shaped argyrophilic bacteria were demonstrated in livers of three ferrets, including two with carcinoma. sequence analysis of a 400-base pair polymerase chain reaction product ... | 2002 | 12009055 |
| cats differ from mink and ferrets in their response to commercial vaccines: a histologic comparison of early vaccine reactions. | early histologic changes in lesions at vaccine sites were compared in cats, mink, and ferrets. twenty-four 4-month-old cats, 20 4-month-old mink, and 20 12-month-old ferrets were vaccinated with three rabies virus vaccines, two feline leukemia virus vaccines, alum adjuvant, and saline. injection sites were excised at selected time points up to 21 days postvaccination. histologic examination of the tissue revealed significant differences among the cats, mink, and ferrets in the local response to ... | 2002 | 12009059 |
| effects of volatile anesthetics on elastic stiffness in isometrically contracting ferret ventricular myocardium. | the effects of halothane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane on elastic stiffness, which reflects the degree of cross-bridge attachment, were studied in intact cardiac muscle. electrically stimulated (0.25 hz, 25 degrees c), isometrically twitching right ventricular ferret papillary muscles (n = 15) at optimal length (l(max)) were subjected to sinusoidal length oscillations (40 hz, 0.25- 0.50% of l(max) peak to peak). the amplitude and phase relationship with the resulting force oscillations was decomp ... | 2002 | 12015364 |
| characterization of neuromedin u effects in canine smooth muscle. | two endogenous receptors for the potent smooth muscle-stimulating peptide neuromedin u (nmu) have recently been identified and cloned. pharmacological, binding, and expression studies were conducted in an attempt to determine the receptor(s) involved in the smooth muscle-stimulating effects of nmu. the nmu peptides caused a concentration-dependent contraction of canine isolated urinary bladder. nmu did not have this same effect in the urinary bladder from rat, guinea pig, rabbit, mouse, or ferre ... | 2002 | 12023529 |
| cdp840. a prototype of a novel class of orally active anti-inflammatory phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors. | the discovery, synthesis and biological activity of a series of triarylethane phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors is described. structure-activity relationship studies are presented for cdp840 (29), a potent, chiral, selective inhibitor of pde 4 (ic(50) 4nm). cdp840 is non-emetic in the ferret at 30mgkg(-1) (po), active in models of inflammation and reverses ozone-induced bronchial hyperreactivity in the guinea pig. | 2002 | 12031318 |
| discovery of l-791,943: a potent, selective, non emetic and orally active phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor. | structure-activity relationship studies directed toward improving the potency and metabolic stability of cdp-840 (3) resulted in the discovery of l-791,943 (11n) as a potent (hwb tnf-alpha = 0.67 microm) and orally active phosphodiesterase type 4 (pde4) inhibitor. this compound, which bears a stable bis-difluoromethoxy catechol and a pendant hexafluorocarbinol, exhibited a long half-life in rat and in squirrel monkey. it is well tolerated in ferret with an emetic threshold greater than 30 mg/kg ... | 2002 | 12031319 |
| solitary dermal leiomyosarcomas in 12 ferrets. | twelve 3-6-year-old ferrets (8 males, 3 females, 1 unknown) were presented with single cutaneous nodules. these dermal tumors were characterized histologically by nodular proliferation of neoplastic smooth muscle fibers with marked anisokaryosis and a mitotic rate of >2 mitoses per 10 high-power fields. neoplastic cells stained strongly for vimentin in all tumors and for smooth muscle actin and desmin in all but 1 tumor. histologic and immunohistochemical findings suggested a diagnosis of pilole ... | 2002 | 12033688 |
| melanin-concentrating hormone receptor subtypes 1 and 2: species-specific gene expression. | to assess the contribution of potential central nervous system pathways implicated in the control of appetite regulation and energy metabolism, it is essential to first identify appropriate animal models. melanin-concentrating hormone (mch), a conserved cyclic neuropeptide implicated in the modulation of food intake, has been shown to bind and activate two g-protein-coupled receptors, called gpr24 and mchr2, expressed in human brain and other tissues. here we show that several non-human species ... | 2002 | 12036292 |
| peramivir (bcx-1812, rwj-270201): potential new therapy for influenza. | the cyclopentane peramivir (bcx-1812, rwj-270201) is a highly selective inhibitor of influenza a and b virus neuraminidases and a potent inhibitor of influenza a and b virus replication in cell culture. the in vitro potency appears to be greater than either zanamivir or oseltamivir carboxylate based on the generally lower ec(50) values seen using peramivir in studies run in parallel with each compound. in mice infected with influenza a or b viruses, oral treatment with peramivir was highly effec ... | 2002 | 12036429 |
| the ferret as a model for vitamin a metabolism in carnivores. | 2002 | 12042529 | |
| distinct origins of neocortical projection neurons and interneurons in vivo. | recent studies in rodents have suggested that some cortical gabaergic interneurons arise within the neuroepithelium of the subcortical telencephalon then migrate dorsally into the cerebral cortex. these studies have relied heavily on short-term organotypic culture methods and on the analysis of mutant mice that die during the neonatal period. the purpose of this study is to ascertain directly whether cells labeled in the subcortical telencephalon in vivo differentiate into mature cortical intern ... | 2002 | 12050082 |
| immunohistochemical characterization of tuberculous and non-tuberculous lesionsin naturally infected european badgers (meles meles). | a panel of species cross-reactive antibodies was established for the immunohistochemical labelling of phagocytic and lymphoid cells in formalin-fixed normal badger tissues. these reagents were used to investigate the immunopathogenesis of both tuberculous and non-tuberculous granulomas in badgers. in normal badger tissues, antisera specific for the cd79a and cd79b epitopes strongly labelled follicular b lymphocytes and plasma cells in lymph nodes, bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue and peyer's ... | 2002 | 12056773 |
| lower oesophageal sphincter relaxation evoked by stimulation of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus in ferrets. | an understanding of the neural control of lower oesophageal sphincter (los) relaxation is clinically relevant because transient los relaxations (tlosrs) are a mechanism of acid reflux into the oesophagus. preganglionic motor neurones innervating the los are localized in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (dmv). based on a single study in cats, it is now widely accepted that these neurones are functionally organized into two separate populations, such that stimulation of the caudal and rostral ... | 2002 | 12061915 |
| neural plasticity: how the eye tells the brain about sound location. | recent studies in owls and ferrets seem to have identified the origin and nature of the visual signals that shape the development of the auditory space map in the midbrain, which ensures that the neural representations of both sensory modalities share the same topographic organization. | 2002 | 12062073 |
| influenza virus carrying neuraminidase with reduced sensitivity to oseltamivir carboxylate has altered properties in vitro and is compromised for infectivity and replicative ability in vivo. | oseltamivir phosphate (tamiflu, ro 64-0796) is the first orally administered neuraminidase (na) inhibitor approved for use in treatment and prevention of influenza virus infection in man. oseltamivir phosphate is the pro-drug of the active metabolite oseltamivir carboxylate (ro 64-0802). extensive monitoring throughout the oseltamivir development programme has identified a very low incidence of patients who have carried drug-resistant virus. the predominant mutation seen is the substitution of a ... | 2002 | 12062393 |
| influenza virus carrying an r292k mutation in the neuraminidase gene is not transmitted in ferrets. | a model of influenza transmission has been established in ferrets in which wild-type influenza infection in a donor ferret can be transmitted sequentially to other ferrets. we have studied the transmission in ferrets of a clinical isolate of a/sydney/5/97 (h3n2) carrying the neuraminidase 292k mutation compared with the corresponding wild-type virus from the same subject. donor ferrets (n=four per group) were inoculated intranasally with mutant or wild-type virus and each housed with three naïve ... | 2002 | 12062395 |
| resiniferatoxin antagonizes cisplatin-induced emesis in dogs and ferrets. | we evaluated the antiemetic activity of resiniferatoxin, an ultrapotent capsaicin analogue, on cisplatin- and apomorphine-induced emesis in dogs, and on cisplatin-induced acute and delayed emesis in ferrets. in the dog, resiniferatoxin (10 microg/kg, s.c.) 30 min before the injection of cisplatin markedly prevented acute emesis induced by cisplatin. when animals were given resiniferatoxin (10 microg/kg, s.c.) 24 h prior to cisplatin, the emesis was still inhibited, but not significantly. resinif ... | 2002 | 12065081 |
| pharmacology of n-(3,5-dichloro-1-oxido-4-pyridinyl)-8-methoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)-5-quinoline carboxamide (sch 351591), a novel, orally active phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor. | n-(3,5-dichloro-1-oxido-4-pyridinyl)-8-methoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)-5-quinoline carboxamide (sch 351591) has been identified as a potent (ic(50) = 58 nm) and highly selective type 4 phosphodiesterase (pde4) inhibitor with oral bioactivity in several animal models of lung inflammation. n-(3,5-dichloro-4-pyridinyl)-8-methoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)-5-quinoline carboxamide (sch 365351), the only significant in vivo metabolite, is also a potent and highly selective pde4 inhibitor (ic(50) = 20 nm). both s ... | 2002 | 12065709 |
| the genome phylogeny of domestic cat, red panda and five mustelid species revealed by comparative chromosome painting and g-banding. | genome-wide homology maps among stone marten (martes foina, 2n = 38), domestic cat (felis catus, 2n = 38), american mink (mustela vison, 2n = 30), yellow-throated marten (martes flavigula, 2n = 40), old world badger (meles meles, 2n = 44), ferret badger (melogale moschata, 2n = 38) and red panda (ailurus fulgens, 2n = 36) have been established by cross-species chromosome painting with a complete set of stone marten probes. in total, 18 stone marten autosomal probes reveal 20, 19, 21, 18 and 21 p ... | 2002 | 12067210 |
| differential laws of left ventricular isovolumic pressure fall. | an attempt has been made to test for a reliable method of characterizing the isovolumic left ventricular pressure fall in isolated ejecting hearts by one or two time constants, tau. alternative nonlinear regression models (three- and four-parametric exponential, logistic, and power function), based upon the common differential law dp(t)/dt = - [p(t)-p ]/ tau(t) are compared in isolated ejecting rat, guinea pig, and ferret hearts. intraventricular pressure fall data are taken from an isovolumic s ... | 2002 | 12071284 |
| comparison of granisetron and ramosetron for the prevention of nausea and vomiting after thyroidectomy. | postoperative nausea and vomiting (ponv) are common after thyroidectomy. granisetron, a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 (5-ht3) receptor antagonist, is more effective than the traditional antiemetics droperidol and metoclopramide for the prevention of ponv after thyroidectomy. ramosetron, another new selective antagonist of 5-ht3 receptor, has been shown to have more potent and longer-acting properties than granisetron against cisplatin-induced emesis in ferrets. | 2002 | 12075944 |
| cholinergic modulation of the basal l-type calcium current in ferret right ventricular myocytes. | the effects of the cholinergic muscarinic agonist carbachol (cch) on the basal l-type calcium current, i(ca,l), in ferret right ventricular (rv) myocytes were studied using whole cell patch clamp. cch produced two major effects : (i) in all myocytes, extracellular application of cch inhibited i(ca,l) in a reversible concentration-dependent manner; and (ii) in many (but not all) myocytes, upon washout cch produced a significant transient stimulation of i(ca,l) ('rebound stimulation'). inhibitory ... | 2002 | 12096055 |
| the thalamic reticular and perireticular nuclei in developing rabbits: patterns of parvalbumin expression. | due to its strategic position, the thalamic reticular nucleus (trn) plays an important role within the thalamo-cortical circuits. the perireticular thalamic nucleus (prn) is a smaller group of cells, which is associated with the trn and lies among the fibres of the internal capsule (ic). studies of nuclei in rodents and carnivores have been conducted employing a number of different tools. the use of calcium-binding proteins is one example. it needs to be noted that rabbits have been regarded as ... | 2002 | 12101029 |
| cutaneous melanoma in a ferret (mustela putorius furo). | a 4-year-old spayed female ferret (mustela putorius furo) was clinically evaluated for a slightly raised subcutaneous mass in the dorsal lumbar area. the mass was surgically excised and submitted for histopathologic evaluation. histologically, the mass was composed of closely packeted large, atypical, polygonal to spindle-shaped cells arranged in sheets and short bundles. a few cells contained variable amounts of granular, brown to black intracytoplasmic pigment. warthin-starry and fontana-masso ... | 2002 | 12102207 |
| the h274y mutation in the influenza a/h1n1 neuraminidase active site following oseltamivir phosphate treatment leave virus severely compromised both in vitro and in vivo. | oseltamivir carboxylate is a potent and specific inhibitor of influenza a and b neuraminidase (na). oseltamivir phosphate, the ethyl ester prodrug of oseltamivir carboxylate, is the first orally active na inhibitor available for the prophylaxis and treatment of influenza a and b. it offers an improvement over amantadine and rimantadine which are active only against influenza a and rapidly generate resistant virus. the emergence of virus resistant to oseltamivir carboxylate in the treatment of na ... | 2002 | 12103431 |
| prechiasmatic reordering of fibre diameter classes in the retinofugal pathway of ferrets. | this study examines the distribution of fibre diameter classes at various sites along the retinofugal pathway of adult ferrets. light microscopic observations were made on semi-thin sections, and regional fibre diameter spectra were constructed from diameter measurements taken from electron micrographs of thin sections of the intraorbital optic nerve (2.5 mm from the optic disc), the intracranial optic nerve (1 mm rostral to the fusion of the nerves), and the optic tract (just caudal to the opti ... | 1990 | 12106100 |
| the course of fibre diameter classes through the chiasmatic region in the ferret. | the present study has examined the transition of fibre order from the optic nerve through the optic chiasm and into the optic tract in the ferret's retinofugal pathway. semi-thin sections through the chiasmatic region were examined in normal and in monocularly enucleated ferrets in order to display the segregation of the different axon diameter classes as the fibres pass from the optic nerve into the optic tract, and to determine, for each diameter class, where the crossed and uncrossed componen ... | 1990 | 12106101 |
| relation between putative transmitter phenotypes and connectivity of subplate neurons during cerebral cortical development. | during development, the earliest generated neurons of the mammalian telencephalon reside in a region of the white matter, the subplate, just beneath the cortical plate. neurons in the subplate are only transiently present in the telencephalon: shortly after birth in the cat the majority have disappeared. during their brief life, however, subplate neurons mature; they extend long-distance and local projections, and express immunoreactivity for gaba and several neuropeptides. in the present study ... | 1990 | 12106275 |
| the effect of the selective 5-ht(3) receptor agonist on ferret gut motility. | the effect of the selective 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-ht)(3) receptor agonist ym-31636 (2-(1h-imidazol-4-ylmethyl)-8h-indeno[1,2-d]thiazole monofumarate) on gut motility of fed ferrets was investigated. ym-31636 (0.1 mg/kg p.o.) induced a giant migrating contraction (gmc)-like, high-amplitude, ungrouped colonic contraction although it did not change the basal colonic motility pattern. this gmc-like contraction was always accompanied by defecation. both gmc-like contraction and defecation were inhib ... | 2002 | 12106596 |
| validity of species status of the parasitic mite otodectes cynotis. | a combined molecular and phenotypic approach was used to determine whether ear mites of the genus otodectes (acari: psoroptidae) belong to a single species. the second internal transcribed spacer (its 2) of the rdna of 16 isolates from 11 cats, two dogs, one arctic fox and two ferrets originating from four different continents was characterized. in addition, mites from dog, cat and arctic fox were investigated morphologically. sequence comparisons revealed five different, but closely related gen ... | 2002 | 12109706 |
| two-dimensional analysis of the spacing of ocular dominance columns in normally raised and strabismic kittens. | in the primary visual cortex of cats, ferrets and macaque monkeys, the thalamocortical afferents conveying signals from the two eyes terminate in alternating regions of layer iv known as ocular dominance columns. previous experiments have indicated that the periodicity of these columns can be influenced by visual experience: compared to normally raised animals both strabismic cats and cats raised with alternating monocular exposure displayed an increased spacing of adjacent ocular dominance colu ... | 2002 | 12110955 |
| application of n-pcr for diagnosis of distemper in dogs and fur animals. | the immunofluorescence test, routinely used for laboratory diagnosis of canine distemper virus (cdv) in poland, is not sufficiently sensitive and specific. therefore, the application of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rt-pcr), nested pcr (n-pcr) and southern blot hybridization for detection of phosphoprotein (p) gene of cdv in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (pbmcs) or internal organs of dogs and fur animals was the aim of these studies. the optimal parameters for two-step pc ... | 2002 | 12119141 |
| secretion from submucosal salivary glands of the ferret in response to a cholinesterase inhibitor applied onto the oral mucosa. | parasympathomimetics or cholinesterase inhibitors taken orally may relieve dry-mouth symptoms, but this route of administration is often associated with adverse systemic reactions. in the present study, an animal model was worked out aimed at stimulating the submucosal glands and avoiding systemic effects. in the anesthetized ferret, saliva from the parotid, sublingual and submandibular glands was prevented from reaching the mouth. vehicle or physostigmine was applied topically for 10 min on the ... | 2002 | 12120709 |
| studies for the emetic mechanisms of ipecac syrup (tjn-119) and its active components in ferrets: involvement of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors. | ipecac syrup, prepared from a galentical ipecac, contains the nauseant alkaloids cephaeline and emetine. the involvement of receptors and serotonin- and dopamine-metabolizing enzymes in the emesis induced by ipecac syrup and these components was investigated. 1) in ferrets, the selective 5-ht3-receptor antagonist ondansetron (0.5 mg/kg, p.o.) prevented each emesis induced by tjn-119 (0.5 ml/kg, p.o.), cephaeline (0.5 mg/kg, p.o.) and emetine (5.0 mg/kg, p.o.), but the intraperitoneal administrat ... | 2002 | 12120752 |
| effects of ach and adenosine mediated by kir3.1 and kir3.4 on ferret ventricular cells. | the inotropic effects of ach and adenosine on ferret ventricular cells were investigated with the action potential-clamp technique. under current clamp, both agonists resulted in action potential shortening and a decrease in contraction. under action potential clamp, both agonists failed to decrease contraction substantially. in the absence of agonist, application of the short action potential waveform (recorded previously in the presence of agonist) also resulted in a decrease in contraction. u ... | 2002 | 12124209 |
| pharmacological profile of (2r-trans)-4-[1-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-2-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-n-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-1-acetamide (s)-hydroxybutanedioate (r116301), an orally and centrally active neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist. | in comparison with a series of reference compounds, (2r-trans)-4-[1-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]-2-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidinyl]-n-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-1-acetamide (s)-hydroxybutanedioate (r116301) was characterized as a specific, orally, and centrally active neurokinin-1 (nk(1)) receptor antagonist with subnanomolar affinity for the human nk(1) receptor (k(i): 0.45 nm) and over 200-fold selectivity toward nk(2) and nk(3) receptors. r116301 inhibited substance p (sp)-induced peripheral effe ... | 2002 | 12130734 |
| activation of the midbrain periaqueductal gray induces airway smooth muscle relaxation. | in this study, we examined effects of chemical stimulation of the ventrolateral region of the midbrain periaqueductal gray (vl pag) on airway smooth muscle tone. we observed that in anesthetized, paralyzed, and artificially ventilated ferrets, vl pag stimulation elicited airway smooth muscle relaxation. to clarify the mechanisms underlying this observation, we examined the gaba-gaba(a) receptor signaling pathway by 1) examining the expression of gaba(a) receptors on airway-related vagal pregangl ... | 2002 | 12133848 |
| emergence of an influenza b virus with antigenic change. | influenza b virus yamagata group strains, isolated in the 2000 to 2001 influenza epidemic season, reacted poorly to the polyclonal ferret sera prepared against strains isolated earlier. the results of genetic analysis clarified that a point mutation of the nucleotide at position 126 in the ha1 region and the corresponding one-amino-acid substitution altered viral antigenicity. | 2002 | 12149383 |
| the effect of beta-carotene on lung and skin carcinogenesis. | the induction of pre-cancerous squamous metaplasia in lungs of ferrets by high doses of dietary beta-carotene (bc) and cigarette smoke is compared with and contrasted to the different effects of high doses of dietary bc on skin papilloma and carcinoma induction by the two-stage carcinogenesis protocol. whereas high dietary bc can inhibit the conversion of skin papillomas to carcinomas, such treatment would not be expected to inhibit smoke-induced lung tumors. | 2002 | 12151342 |
| reorganization of exuberant axonal arbors contributes to the development of laminar specificity in ferret visual cortex. | layer-specific cortical axons are believed to develop precisely from the outset without making exuberant branches in incorrect cortical layers. we tested this hypothesis by following the development of axonal arbors of layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons in ferret visual cortex, which in the adult have dense axonal arbors in layers 2/3 and 5 and not in layer 4. we began our studies at earlier ages and sampled at closer intervals than in previous studies. our studies reveal that between postnatal day (p) ... | 2002 | 12151547 |
| a quantitative assessment of tpp-induced delayed neuropathy in the retina and lateral geniculate nucleus of the european ferret (mustela putorius furo). | triphenyl phosphite (tpp) has been examined extensively in our lab to assess its degenerative effects on the visual pathway of the european ferret. tanaka et al. [fundam. appl. toxicol 22 (1994) 577; j. toxicol. environ. health 58 (1999) 215] reported an age-related pattern of fiber and cell body degeneration progressing from retinal axons and lateral geniculate nucleus (lgn) neurons to the visual cortex. these studies, however, did not address whether tpp exposure results in retinal ganglion ce ... | 2002 | 12164546 |
| effects of volatile anesthetics on sarcolemmal calcium transport and sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium content in isolated myocytes. | the surface membrane ca(2+)-adenosine triphosphatase and na(+)-ca(2+) exchanger transport ca(2+) out of the ventricular myocyte, competing for cytosolic ca(2+) with the ca(2+)-adenosine triphosphatase located in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. in this study the authors examined the effects of halothane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane on ca(2+) extrusion from the cell and sarcoplasmic reticulum ca(2+) content. | 2002 | 12170060 |
| ocular disorders of pet ferrets. | ocular disorders in pet ferrets are becoming more widely recognized as the popularity of these animals as companions increases. knowledge of the anatomy of ferrets and a thorough examination are critical to accurately diagnosing ocular disease. if recognized early, some conditions can be managed successfully. veterinarians should continue to report ocular conditions that are encountered in this species to help increase knowledge about these disorders. | 2002 | 12170636 |
| radiographic and ct imaging of a skull associated osteoma in a ferret. | 2002 | 12174998 | |
| effect of sex steroids and coital experience on ferrets' preference for the smell, sight and sound of conspecifics. | previous research showed that ferrets of both sexes recognize potential opposite-sex mates on the basis of volatile body odors. we compared the ability of estrogen and androgen treatments to activate a preference in gonadectomized male and female ferrets for distal cues (volatile body odors alone or volatile odors+sight+sounds) from male versus female stimulus ferrets using an airtight y-maze and a "stimulus proximity" or a "discrete trials" testing paradigm. sexually naive, gonadectomized male ... | 2002 | 12175583 |
| a search for an animal model of the spanish toxic oil syndrome. | to date, pathology characteristics of toxic oil syndrome (tos), a disease associated with consumption of a contaminated cooking oil in spain in 1981, have not been reproduced in an animal model. as vasculitis, eosinophilia, and a rise in circulating ige levels were features of the acute phase of tos, leading to an autoimmune outcome, a review of predisposition to these aspects across species was conducted. the intent was to determine predisposed strains or species that potentially might be effec ... | 2002 | 12176082 |
| effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids on cardiac voltage-activated k(+) currents in adult ferret cardiomyocytes . | this study was carried out in adult ferret cardiomyocytes to investigate the effects of the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (pufas) on voltage-gated k(+) currents. we report that the two outward k(+) currents: the transient outward k(+) current (i(to)) and the delayed rectifier k(+) current (i(k)), are both inhibited by the n-3 pufas, while the inwardly rectifying k(+) current (i(k1)) is unaffected by the n-3 pufas. docosahexaenoic acid (c22:6n-3, dha) produced a concentration dependent suppress ... | 2002 | 12195273 |
| mycobacterium microti infection (vole tuberculosis) in wild rodent populations. | mycobacterium microti (vole tuberculosis) infections in small wild mammals were first described more than 60 years ago in several populations in great britain. few studies of vole tuberculosis have been undertaken since then, and little is known about the relationship between m. microti isolates originating from different populations or at different times or of the prevalence of this infection in wild rodent populations, despite human cases of m. microti infections being increasingly reported. i ... | 2002 | 12202566 |
| optical imaging of intrinsic signals in ferret auditory cortex: responses to narrowband sound stimuli. | this paper describes optical imaging of the auditory cortex in the anesthetized ferret, particularly addressing optimization of narrowband stimuli. the types of sound stimuli used were tone-pip trains and sinusoidal frequency and amplitude modulated (sfm and sam) tones. by employing short illumination wavelengths (546 nm), we have successfully characterized the tonotopic arrangement, in agreement with the well-established electrophysiological tonotopic maps of the ferret auditory primary field ( ... | 2002 | 12205174 |
| a systematic review of the prevalence of chlamydia trachomatis among european women. | the study aim was to establish by systematic review the prevalence of asymptomatic chlamydia trachomatis infection of the lower female genital tract in europe and also to assess the extent and effect of screening. the search process was wide ranging, using the electronic databases medline, embase and aidsline and the internet using the search engines netscape and euro-ferret. studies published in any language during 1980-2000 were included if they unambiguously reported prevalence of c. trachoma ... | 2002 | 12206472 |
| firing pattern modulation by oscillatory input in supragranular pyramidal neurons. | neocortical neurons in vivo receive periodic stimuli due to feedforward input from the periphery as well as local cellular and circuit properties. in order to understand how neurons process such information, the responses of neurons to periodic sine wave current stimuli of varying frequencies and amplitudes were investigated. sine wave stimuli were injected into pyramidal cells of young adult ferret visual cortical slices in vitro using sharp microelectrodes. to simulate higher resting membrane ... | 2002 | 12207969 |
| dental eruption and exfoliation chronology in the ferret (mustela putorius furo). | substituting ferrets for rats and dogs as animal models for craniofacial research is favourable because of the similarity of many of the ferret's anatomical, metabolic and physiological features to those of man. other advantages are cost-effectiveness and possibly less ethical controversy. however, information on the dental chronology of ferrets needs to be supplemented if this animal is to be promoted as an alternative model. dental development was here examined in 16 ferrets (eight males, eigh ... | 2002 | 12221020 |
| urinary excretion patterns of 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid and 5-hydroxytryptophol in various animal species: implications for studies on serotonin metabolism and turnover rate. | the concentrations of the serotonin metabolites 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5hiaa) and 5-hydroxytryptophol (5htol) were determined in spot urine samples of 12 mammalian and one fish species (cat, cow, dog, ferret, golden hamster, guinea pig, horse, monkey, mouse, rabbit, rainbow trout, rat, sheep) and compared with human data. the highest urinary concentrations of 5htol were found in the sprague-dawley rat (mean 9.5 micromol/l) and nmri mouse (8.2 micromol/l), and the lowest in rainbow trout, ... | 2002 | 12231396 |
| effect of 6-hydroxydopamine treatment in the area postrema on morphine-induced emesis in ferrets. | to investigate the role of catecholamine release in emesis, we examined the effects of pretreatment with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-oh-da) administered into the area postrema in morphine-induced emesis in ferrets. in the 6-oh-da pre-treated animals, the latency to the first emetic response induced by morphine hydrochloride (1.0 mg/kg, s.c.) was significantly prolonged and the number of retches and emetic episodes was markedly reduced. in the medulla oblongata, the levels of dopamine and homovanilic ac ... | 2002 | 12233822 |
| trigeminal c-fos expression and behavioral responses to pulpal inflammation in ferrets. | injury to peripheral dental tissues evokes dynamic alternations in central sensory pathways. we have previously reported that transient stimulation of the dental pulp with noxious heat evokes the induction of the immediate early gene product fos in the transitional region between subnucleus interpolaris and caudalis (vi/vc) and subnucleus caudalis (vc). a question arises as to whether similar changes occur in response to inflammation to the tooth pulp. in this study, the effects of pulpal inflam ... | 2002 | 12237184 |
| sperm capacitation and fertilization in mammals. | current evidence and speculations concerning the nature of sperm capacitation in mammals are reviewed and critically assessed. capacitation, a subtle functional change which must occur at least in some mammals before fertilization can take place, occurs in sperm as a result of exposure to secretions of the female tract. in some species the noncapacitated state may enable sperm to undergo a period of storage in the cauda epididymidis after completion of maturation in the mate; alternatively, th ... | 1970 | 12254592 |
| the impact of population growth on environment: the debate heats up. | a proposed framework, which was introduced at the 1989 meetings of the american association for the advancement of science, included political constraints as well as population growth as a proximate cause with potentially important impacts on the environment in paul and ann ehrlich's well-known pat equation. pat limitations are identified as the 1.2 billion people caught in the debt-poverty trap, less developed countries' balance of payments deficits, and "distortionary factors" that undermined ... | 1992 | 12290504 |
| influence of radial glia and cajal-retzius cells in neuronal migration. | normal development of cerebral cortex depends on proper sequential genesis of cortical neurons and glia. disruption of corticogenesis in ferret by short-term arresting of cell division using injections of methylazoxy methanol (mam) leads to a specific constellation of effects, including disruption and early differentiation of radial glia into astrocytes and disorganization of reelin-containing cajal-retzius cells. we hypothesize that early interference of normal cortical development removes a fa ... | 2002 | 12353469 |
| relationship of correlated spontaneous activity to functional ocular dominance columns in the developing visual cortex. | utilizing a multielectrode array to record spontaneous and visually evoked activity of cortical neurons in area 17, we investigate the relationship between long-range correlated spontaneous activity and functional ocular dominance columns during early ferret postnatal development (p24-p29). in regions of visual cortex containing alternating ocular dominance patches, periodic fluctuations in correlated activity are observed in which spontaneous activity is most highly correlated between cortical ... | 2002 | 12354401 |
| characterization of 2 influenza a(h3n2) clinical isolates with reduced susceptibility to neuraminidase inhibitors due to mutations in the hemagglutinin gene. | previous studies have shown that amino acid changes in the hemagglutinin (ha) gene of influenza viruses may result in decreased susceptibility to neuraminidase inhibitors (nais) in vitro. however, the emergence and characteristics of such ha variants in the clinical setting remain poorly studied. herein, we report 2 influenza a(h3n2) isolates, from untreated patients, harboring an arg229-->ile substitution in the ha1 gene. the ile229 variants were as sensitive as the arg229 viruses to zanamivir ... | 2002 | 12355356 |
| chemoarchitecture of gabaergic neurons in the ferret superior colliculus. | gamma-aminobutyric acid (gaba)ergic neurons are thought to play a key role both in visual processing and in the complex sensory-motor transformations that take place in the mammalian superior colliculus. to understand the organization of gabaergic neurons in the ferret superior colliculus, we applied antisera to several markers of gabaergic function, including gaba, two isoforms of its synthetic enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase (gad-65 and gad-67), and the gaba transporter, gat-1. we also appl ... | 2002 | 12355417 |
| cannabinoid receptor agonism inhibits transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations and reflux in dogs. | transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations (tlesrs) are the major cause of gastroesophageal acid reflux, and are triggered by postprandial gastric distention. stimulation of gaba(b) receptors potently inhibits triggering of tlesr by gastric loads. the functional similarity between gaba(b) and cannabinoid receptors (cbrs) prompted us to study the role of cbrs on mechanisms of gastric distention-induced tlesrs. | 2002 | 12360475 |
| no on-off maps in supragranular layers of ferret visual cortex. | primary visual cortex contains functional maps of a number of stimulus properties including ocular dominance, orientation, direction, color, and spatial frequency. these maps must be organized with respect to each other and to a single continuous retinotopic map of visual space such that each stimulus parameter is represented at each point in space. in the ferret, geniculo-cortical inputs to cortical layer iv are segregated into on- and off-center patches, suggesting the possibility that there m ... | 2002 | 12364539 |
| neuropeptide expression following constriction or section of the inferior alveolar nerve in the ferret. | some of the sensory abnormalities that follow peripheral nerve injury may result from the development of ectopic discharge from the damaged axons. previous studies in our laboratory have shown that, following tight ligation of the inferior alveolar nerve (ian), there is a close association between the time-course of this neural activity and the accumulation of neuropeptides at the injury site. in this study we investigated whether the type of injury has any effect on the time-course or level of ... | 2002 | 12365565 |
| bdnf release from single cells elicits local dendritic growth in nearby neurons. | in cultured neurons, the exogenous application of neurotrophins (in homogenous concentrations) alters many features of axonal and dendritic arbors. in vivo, however, release of endogenous neurotrophins from neuronal processes creates spatially heterogeneous neurotrophin distributions. to probe the consequences of such endogenous neurotrophin distribution, we produced 'donor neurons' in ferret cortex brain slices that co-expressed brain-derived neurotrophic factor (bdnf) and red fluorescent prote ... | 2002 | 12368805 |
| i plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotrophic hormone and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in ferrets (mustela putorius furo) with hyperadrenocorticism. | to determine plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (acth) and alpha-melanocyte stimulating-hormone (alpha-msh) in healthy ferrets and ferrets with hyperadrenocorticism. | 2002 | 12371766 |
| anti-emetic activity of the novel nonpeptide tachykinin nk1 receptor antagonist ezlopitant (cj-11,974) against acute and delayed cisplatin-induced emesis in the ferret. | the anti-emetic effects of a novel tachykinin nk(1) receptor antagonist, ezlopitant ((2s,3s-cis)-2-diphenylmethyl)- n-[(2-methoxy, 5-isopropylphenyl)methyl]-1-azabicyclo- [2.2.2]octan-3-amine), were investigated in ferrets. ezlopitant inhibited [(3)h]substance p ([(3)h]sp) binding to the human, guinea pig, ferret and gerbil nk(1) receptors (k(i) = 0.2, 0.9. 0.6 and 0.5 nmol/l, respectively), but had no affinity to nk(2) and nk(3) receptors up to 1 micromol/l. ezlopitant also inhibited sp-induced ... | 2002 | 12372904 |
| interleukin-1beta-induced airway hyperresponsiveness enhances substance p in intrinsic neurons of ferret airway. | interleukin (il)-1beta causes airway inflammation, enhances airway smooth muscle responsiveness, and alters neurotransmitter expression in sensory, sympathetic, and myenteric neurons. this study examines the role of intrinsic airway neurons in airway hyperresponsiveness (ahr) induced by il-1beta. ferrets were instilled intratracheally with il-1beta (0.3 microg/0.3 ml) or saline (0.3 ml) once daily for 5 days. tracheal smooth muscle contractility in vitro and substance p (sp) expression in trache ... | 2002 | 12376343 |
| access to microdata on the internet: web-based analysis and data subset extraction tools. | the internet is increasingly being recognized as an invaluable component of education. at the college and university level, online databases and statistical tools for web-based analysis and data subset extraction have become important instructional resources. these internet resources enable students to formulate specific research hypotheses, identify relevant variables, and analyze large existing databases. this article describes three of these resources: the federal electronic research and revi ... | 2002 | 12385537 |
| neurochemical phenotypes of mrf neurons influencing diaphragm and rectus abdominis activity. | in prior studies that used transneuronal transport of isogenic recombinants of pseudorabies virus, we established that medial medullary reticular formation (mrf) neurons sent collateralized projections to both diaphragm and abdominal muscle motoneurons. furthermore, inactivation of mrf neurons in cats and ferrets increased the excitability of diaphragm and abdominal motoneurons, suggesting that mrf neurons controlling respiratory activity are inhibitory. to test this hypothesis, the present stud ... | 2003 | 12391091 |
| actions of prostanoids to induce emesis and defecation in the ferret. | several prostanoids were investigated for their ability to induce emesis and/or defecation and tenesmus in the ferret. the rank order of emetic potency (dose producing four episodes, d4) was: sulprostone (5 microg/kg)>11alpha,9alpha-epoxymethano-15s-hydroxyprosta-5z,13e-dienoic acid (u46619; 8 microg/kg)>misoprostol (27 microg/kg)>17-phenyl-omega-trinor prostaglandin e2 (53 microg/kg)>prostaglandin e2 (94 microg/kg)>5-(6-carboxyhexyl)-1-(3-cyclohexyl-3-hydroxypropyl) hydantoin (bw245c; 148 micro ... | 2002 | 12398918 |
| genetic diversity and fitness in black-footed ferrets before and during a bottleneck. | the black-footed ferret (mustela nigripes) is an endangered north american carnivore that underwent a well-documented population bottleneck in the mid-1980s. to better understand the effects of a bottleneck on a free-ranging carnivore population, we used 24 microsatellite loci to compare genetic diversity before versus during the bottleneck, and compare the last wild population to two historical populations. we also compared genetic diversity in black-footed ferrets to that of two sibling specie ... | 2002 | 12407208 |
| segregation of on and off retinogeniculate connectivity directed by patterned spontaneous activity. | in many parts of the developing nervous system, the early patterns of connectivity are refined by processes that require neuronal activity. these processes are thought to involve hebbian mechanisms that lead to strengthening and maintenance of inputs that display correlated pre- and postsynaptic activity and elimination of inputs that fire asynchronously. here we investigated the role of patterned spontaneous retinal activity and hebbian synaptic mechanisms on segregation of on and off retinal a ... | 2002 | 12424272 |
| bioavailability of all-trans and cis-isomers of lycopene. | lycopene, the predominant carotenoid in tomatoes, is among the major carotenoids in serum and tissues of americans. although about 90% of the lycopene in dietary sources is found in the linear, all-trans conformation, human tissues contain mainly cis-isomers. several research groups have suggested that cis-isomers of lycopene are better absorbed than the all-trans form because of the shorter length of the cis-isomer, the greater solubility of cis-isomers in mixed micelles, and/or as a result of ... | 2002 | 12424334 |
| areal organization of the posterior parietal cortex of the ferret (mustela putorius). | on grounds of electrophysiological mapping, cytoarchitecture, myeloarchitecture and callosal and thalamic connectivity, we have identified two cortical areas in the posterior parietal cortex of the ferret: posterior parietal caudal and rostral (ppc and ppr). these areas occupy the lateral and suprasylvian gyri, from the cingulate sulcus (medially) to the suprasylvian sulcus (laterally) and lie between visual areas 18 and 21 (posteriorly) and the somatosensory areas (anteriorly). within both area ... | 2002 | 12427679 |
| temporary tube cystostomy as a treatment for urinary obstruction secondary to adrenal disease in four ferrets. | adrenal neoplasia is a common problem in middle-aged to older ferrets. male ferrets may present for stranguria and dysuria due to prostatic/paraurethral tissue enlargement secondary to elevation in androgens produced by the neoplastic tissue. progressive urethral compression followed by complete urinary obstruction can result. urinary obstruction can persist for days following surgery requiring urinary diversion. four ferrets presenting with signs consistent with urinary obstruction secondary to ... | 2004 | 12428883 |
| retinofugal projections following early lesions of the visual cortex in the ferret. | extensive lesions of the occipital cortex comprising the developing occipital visual areas and beyond in young ferrets (postnatal day 5) are followed by massive, but incomplete, degeneration of the lateral geniculate (lgn) and lateralis posterior (lp) nuclei of the thalamus, and minor volumetric reduction of the superior colliculus. retinal projections (revealed by intraocular tracer injections), while reduced, remain confined to their territories of normal termination, both in the adult and thr ... | 2002 | 12431224 |
| the role of luteinizing hormone in the pathogenesis of hyperadrenocorticism in neutered ferrets. | four studies were performed to test the hypothesis that gonadotrophic hormones, and particularly luteinizing hormone (lh) play a role in the pathogenesis of ferrets: (i) adrenal glands of ferrets with hyperadrenocorticism were studied immunohistochemically to detect lh-receptors (lh-r); (ii) gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (gnrh) stimulation tests were performed in 10 neutered ferrets, with measurement of androstenedione, 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone and cortisol as endpoints; (iii) gnrh stimulat ... | 2002 | 12431804 |
| elucidating kchip effects on kv4.3 inactivation and recovery kinetics with a minimal kchip2 isoform. | kv channel interacting proteins (kchips) are ca(2+)-binding proteins with four ef-hands. kchips modulate kv4 channel gating by slowing inactivation kinetics and accelerating recovery kinetics. thus, kchips are believed to be important regulators of kv4 channels underlying transient outward k(+) currents in many excitable cell types. we have cloned a structurally minimal kchip2 isoform (kchip2d) from ferret heart. kchip2d corresponds to the final 70 c-terminal amino acids of other kchips and has ... | 2002 | 12433945 |
| reproductive medicine of rabbits and rodents. | the small animal practitioner is likely to be called upon to help nontraditional pets such as rabbits, rodents, and ferrets. the more information veterinarians have regarding normal anatomy, physiology, reproduction, medicine, anesthesia, and surgery of these unusual pets, the more likely they will be able to help their owners. this article presents an overview of routine and emergency reproductive concerns that the small animal practitioner may face when presented with nontraditional mammalian ... | 2002 | 12442713 |
| an evaluation of the genetic stability and pathogenicity of the russian cold-adapted influenza a donor strains a/leningrad/134/17/57 and a/leningrad/134/47/57 in ferrets. | the influenza a components of live attenuated vaccines used in russia have been prepared as reassortants of the cold-adapted (ca) h2n2 viruses, a/leningrad/134/17/57-ca (len/17) and a/leningrad/134/47/57-ca (len/47), and virulent epidemic strains. the lesions responsible for attenuation within the six internal genes of each donor strain have been sequenced and described, but relatively little is known as to their stability before and after passage in susceptible hosts. in the work reported in th ... | 2003 | 12445939 |
| electric currents applied during refractory period enhance contractility and systolic calcium in the ferret heart. | we investigated the mechanism of positive inotropism of electric currents applied during the absolute refractory period. ten langendorff-perfused ferret hearts were instrumented to measure isovolumic left ventricular pressure (lvp) and the aequorin luminescence. biphasic square-wave electric currents (+/-20 ma, total duration 30 ms) were delivered between pairs of electrodes. six hearts were perfused at different extracellular ca(2+) concentrations ([ca(2+)](o); 1, 2, 4, and 8 mm). these signals ... | 2003 | 12446280 |
| epidemiology of neoplasia in captive black-footed ferrets (mustela nigripes), 1986-1996. | the epidemiology of neoplastic disease was studied retrospectively in the captive population of black-footed ferrets (mustela nigripes). postmortem reports were reviewed and archived tissues examined from 184 of the 227 adult (>1 yr old) black-footed ferrets that died from the beginning of the current captive propagation program in late 1985 to the end of 1996. a total of 185 neoplasms, of 28 distinct phenotypes, were seen in 102 (55.4%) of these ferrets. there was more than one tumor type prese ... | 2002 | 12462486 |
| visual experience before eye-opening and the development of the retinogeniculate pathway. | visual experience before eye-opening is not usually thought to have any developmental significance. here we show that naturalistic visual stimuli presented through unopened eyelids robustly activate neurons in the ferret dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus. further, dark-rearing prior to natural eye-opening has striking effects upon geniculate physiology. receptive field maps after dark-rearing show increased convergence of on- and off-center responses, and neurons frequently respond to both brigh ... | 2002 | 12467590 |
| [ferrets in veterinary practice]. | ferrets (mustela putorius furo) show up with increasing frequency in veterinary practice. originally domesticated for hunting of rodents and rabbits, they became very popular pets which require legal permission though and the further fulfillment of various husbandry needs. ferrets have to be maintained on a high protein diet which in practice is often done with commercial feline products. physical examination is similar to dogs and cats whereas the frequent occurrence of non-specific symptoms re ... | 2002 | 12481538 |
| functional gabab receptors are present in guinea pig nodose ganglion cell bodies but not in peripheral mechanosensitive endings. | the effects of the gabab-selective agonist baclofen were studied on guinea pig nodose ganglion neurones using grease gap and intracellular recording techniques, and on peripheral mechanosensitive endings in the guinea pig oesophagus and stomach with extracellular recordings. gaba dose-dependently reduced the amplitude of the compound action potential of c-type neurones (c spikes, ec50 = 30.9 microm), which was prevented by the gabaa antagonist bicuculline (10 microm). the gabab agonist baclofen ... | 2002 | 12492132 |
| relationship between stereochemistry and the beta3-adrenoceptor agonistic activity of 4'-hydroxynorephedrine derivative as an agent for treatment of frequent urination and urinary incontinence. | this report proposes a beta(3)-adrenoceptor (ar) selective agonist, 2-[2-chloro-4-(2-([(1s,2r)-2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-methylethyl]amino)ethyl)phenoxy]acetic acid (1a), as a novel agent for treating urinary bladder dysfunction. this compound and its relatives have a unique feature among beta(3)-ar agonists: two chiral carbons are adjacently structured on the left side of the molecule. to study the relationship between the stereoconfiguration of the vicinal chiral carbons in 1a and beta-a ... | 2003 | 12502364 |
| the transmission of mycobacterium bovis infection to cattle. | the prevalence of mycobacterium bovis infection in cattle is increasing rapidly in some countries, including the uk and ireland. the organism infects a wide range of mammalian hosts, and eradication of the disease is difficult if there is an extensive reservoir in the wildlife population. existing evidence suggests that wildlife vectors include the european badger in the uk and ireland, the brush-tailed possum and ferret in new zealand and ungulates in some other countries. cattle grazing field ... | 2003 | 12507561 |
| catecholaminergic microcircuitry controlling the output of airway-related vagal preganglionic neurons. | in this study, we have investigated the ultrastructure and function of the catecholaminergic circuitry modulating the output of airway-related vagal preganglionic neurons (avpns) in ferrets. immunoelectron microscopy was employed to characterize the nature of catecholaminergic innervation of avpn at the ultrastructural level. in addition, immunofluorescence was used to examine the expression of the alpha(2a)-adrenergic receptor (alpha(2a)-ar) on avpns, and norepinephrine release within the rostr ... | 2003 | 12514167 |