Carolina Natalia Zanuzzi

Malignant tumors originating in connective tissue cells of mesenchymal origin are considered soft tissue sarcomas. Soft tissue sarcomas represent between 7%-9% of malignant tumors of the skin and subcutaneous tissue in cats. Among the sarcomas affecting cats, there is a specific group known as inoculation site-associated sarcomas. Sarcomas that do not occur at sites typically used for the injection of substances will be classified in this review as non-inoculation site-associated sarcomas. Fibrosarcoma is the most common histological type and accounts for 80–92% of soft tissue sarcomas in cats. The prevalence of non-inoculation site sarcomas in cats is 17 in 100,000, while the prevalence of inoculation site sarcomas is estimated to be between 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 10,000 vaccinated cats. The present study aimed to compare the information present in the available literature in relation to the morphological characteristics, biological behavior, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of both inoculation site-associated and non-associated sarcomas in cats. A more complete understanding of these neoplasms and their differences is essential to deepen the understanding of their genesis and progression. A better understanding could lead to the development of more effective intervention strategies that improve the quality of life and survival of cats affected by these sarcomas.

This article describes the carbohydrate composition of early and mature placentas from bitches, detected by lectin histochemistry. Formalin‐fixed placental samples from 11 mixed‐breed bitches have been assigned to the ‘early’ or the ‘mature’ placenta group, processed by the routine histological technique and labelled with a panel of 14 biotinylated lectins. The glycan distribution was almost completely preserved over pregnancy. Cytotrophoblast cells expressed high‐mannose N‐linked residues and N‐acetyl‐D‐glucosamine, whereas mannose N‐linked residues, N‐acetyl‐D‐glucosamine and β‐ and α‐D‐galactose/N‐acetyl‐D‐galactosamine have been found in the syncytiotrophoblast. The maternal and foetal endothelial binding pattern was enriched in β‐D‐galactose, α‐D‐mannose in non‐bisected bi/tri‐antennary N‐linked complex and Galα1,3Gal‐Galα1,4Gal. Both deep and superficial glands showed a great variety of glycoconjugates, such as D‐mannose, D‐glucose, N‐acetyl‐D‐glucosamine, N‐acetyl‐D‐galactosamine, galactose, N‐acetylneuraminic acid and fucose. Most results in this study were consistent with those previously reported in canine and feline mature placentas; here, early placentas have been analysed and the lectin binding pattern of mature placentas has been further described. These studies on canine placentas contribute to detecting and understanding glycome changes in pathophysiological conditions.

Vertebrates’ tongues reflect part of their adaptations to diverse feeding strategies, the types of food items they eat, and the environments where they live. Our contribution was to analyze the macro- and microscopic morphology of the tongues of two porpoise species (Phocoena dioptrica and Phocoena spinipinnis; juveniles and adults), whose biology is little known. Macroscopic and microscopic studies (conventional histology, scanning electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and morphometry) were performed. Differences between juvenile and adult individuals of the same species, as well as between juveniles and adults of both species, were found, probably related to their feeding and/or geographical distribution. In addition, novel aspects related to ontogenetic morphological differences, thermoregulation, and immune system components were described. We found a lingual countercurrent vascular system (periarterial venous retia), only mentioned for mysticetes and Physeter macrocephalus (never for smaller odontocetes). In addition, we identified mechanoreceptors (lamellar corpuscles). Both species showed marginal papillae, but only in P. spinipinnis were small (probably vestigial) taste buds observed. Finally, lingual lymphoid aggregates were found.

El alfaherpesvirus equino 1 (EHV-1) produce enfermedad respiratoria, abortos, muerte perinatal y desórdenes neurológicos en miembros de la familia Equidae. Las glicoproteínas de la envoltura viral son los antígenos inmunodominantes que generan respuesta inmune en animales infectados. La infección natural y las vacunas disponibles proporcionan protección parcial y de corta duración contra la reinfección. En este trabajo se expresó la glicoproteína C viral utilizando un baculovirus recombinante y se analizó la capacidad de inducir inmunidad protectora en ratones BALB/c al ser desafiados con el virus. Se evaluaron diferentes rutas de administración y distintos adyuvantes. La glicoproteína C indujo una respuesta IgG específica en suero; sin embargo, no logró evitar la entrada del virus al pulmón ni la aparición de signos clínicos, los cuales fueron variables entre los diferentes grupos de ratones. En todos los grupos inmunizados se retrasó la entrada del virus al pulmón y, cuando se usaron adyuvantes, el título viral fue significativamente menor que en el grupo control, así como en el grupo inmunizado por vía intranasal. Se concluye que la glicoproteína C producida indujo protección parcial frente al desafío viral según el adyuvante y la vía de inmunización.

Development of alternative therapies for treating functional deficits after different neurological damages is a challenge in neuroscience. Insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) is a potent neurotrophic factor exerting neuroprotective actions in brain and spinal cord. It is used to prevent or treat injuries of the central nervous system using different administration routes in different animal models. In this study, we evaluated whether intracisternal (IC) route for IGF‐1 gene therapy may abrogate or at least reduce the structural and behavioral damages induced by the intraparenchymal injection of kainic acid (KA) into the rat spinal cord. Experimental (Rad‐IGF‐1) and control (Rad‐DsRed‐KA) rats were evaluated using a battery of motor and sensory tests before the injection of the recombinant adenovector (day −3), before KA injection (day 0) and at every post‐injection (pi) time point (days 1, 2, 3 and 7 pi). Histopathological changes and neuronal and glial counting were assessed. Pretreatment using IC delivery of RAd‐IGF‐1 improved animal's general condition and motor and sensory functions as compared to Rad‐DsRed‐KA‐injected rats. Besides, IC Rad‐IGF‐1 therapy abrogated later spinal cord damage and reduced the glial response induced by KA as observed in Rad‐DsRed‐KA rats. We conclude that the IC route for delivering RAd‐IGF‐1 prevents KA‐induced excitotoxicity in the spinal cord.

Los sarcomas asociados a sitios de inoculación son neoplasias de origen mesenquimático que aparecen en las regiones corporales utilizadas rutinariamente para la aplicación de vacunas u otros inóculos. Con el objetivo de caracterizar estas neoplasias se seleccionaron 117 tumores diagnosticados como sarcomas posinoculación. Se realizaron estudios histopatológicos e inmunohistoquímicos que permitieron reclasificar los diferentes sarcomas hallados y establecer el porcentaje de células proliferantes. Además, se consideraron los datos demográficos y se realizaron encuestas a los médicos veterinarios para conocer la evolución de los pacientes. El diagnóstico más frecuente fue el de fibrosarcoma (87,18%). También, se encontraron, en menor proporción, otros tumores como: sarcomas pleomórficos (HFM), osteosarcomas extraesqueléticos y mixosarcomas. El grado histológico más frecuente fue el II y la mayoría presentó abundante inflamación. El promedio de células proliferantes alcanzó el 50,12%. La edad de los pacientes al momento del diagnóstico fue mayor que la informada por otros autores. Si bien los sarcomas asociados a sitios de inoculación en la República Argentina comparten características histopatológicas y clínicas con aquellos informados en otros países, existen diferencias vinculadas a la edad al momento del diagnóstico, a la presentación de las recidivas y al tiempo de sobrevida, entre otras características.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a common pathological condition that leads to permanent or temporal loss of motor and autonomic functions. Kainic acid (KA), an agonist of kainate receptors, a type of ionotropic glutamate receptor, is widely used to induce experimental neurodegeneration models of CNS. Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) therapy applied at the injured nervous tissue have emerged as a promising therapeutic treatment. Here we used a validated SCI experimental model in which an intraparenchymal injection of KA into the C5 segment of rat spinal cord induced an excitotoxic lesion. Three days later, experimental animals were treated with an intracerebroventricular injection of human umbilical cord (hUC) MSC whereas control group only received saline solution. Sensory and motor skills as well as neuronal and glial reaction of both groups were recorded. Differences in motor behavior, neuronal counting and glial responses were observed between hUC-MSC-treated and untreated rats. According to the obtained results, we suggest that hUC-MSC therapy delivered into the fourth ventricle using the intracerebroventricular via can exert a neuroprotective or neurorestorative effect on KA-injected animals.