Comparative quantitative assessment of GnRH- and LH-receptor mRNA expression in the urinary tract of sexually intact and spayed female dogs

Ovariectomy interrupts the regulatory loop in the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis, leading to a several-fold increase in gonadotropin levels. This rise in hormonal secretion may play a causal role in ovariectomy-related urinary incontinence. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of ovariectomy in bitches on the expression of GnRH- and LH-receptors in the lower urinary tract, and assess the relationship between receptor expression and plasma gonadotropin concentrations. Plasma gonadotropins were measured in 37 client-owned bitches. Biopsies were harvested from the mid-ventral bladder wall in all dogs, and from nine further locations within the lower urinary tract in 17 of the 37 animals. Messenger RNA of the LH and GnRH receptors was quantified using RT-PCR with the TaqMan Universal PCR Master Mix. Gonadotropins were measured with a canine-specific FSH-immunoradiometric assay and LH-radioimmunoassay. The hierarchical mixed ANOVA model using MINITAB, Mann-Whitney U-test, unpaired means comparison and linear regressions using StatView were applied for statistical analyses. Messenger RNA for both receptors was detected in all biopsy samples. Age was negatively correlated to mRNA expression of the LH and the GnRH receptors. A relationship between the mRNA values and the plasma gonadotropin concentrations was not established. Evaluation of results within each of the biopsy locations revealed greater LH-receptor expression in the proximal second quarter of the urethra in spayed bitches than in intact bitches (P=0.0481). Increased mRNA expression of LH receptors in this location could possibly play a role in the decrease in closing pressure of the urethra following ovariectomy.     

Schistocephalus solidus infections increase gonadotropins and gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH3) mRNA levels in the three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus

Parasites often impair the reproduction of their hosts, one well known case being the cestode Schistocephalus solidus which is a common parasite in three-spined sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus. One of the possible ways that this could be exerted is by suppression on the brain-pituitary-gonadal (BPG) axis. In this study, mRNA levels of FSH-β and LH-β and of GnRH2 (cGnRH II) and GnRH3 (sGnRH) were measured via Q-PCR in infected and uninfected fish sampled from the field a few weeks before the onset of breeding. The pituitary mRNA levels of both FSH-β and LH-β were higher in infected males than in uninfected males. Also in females, FSH-β mRNA levels were higher in infected individuals than in others, whereas there was no significant difference found in LH-β expression. Brain mRNA levels of GnRH3 were higher in infected fish than in uninfected fish in both sexes, but no difference was found in GnRH2 mRNA levels. Thus, infection by S. solidus was able to alter the expressions not only of gonadotropins (GtHs), but also of GnRH which has not been observed previously. However, the effects are opposite to what should be expected if the parasite suppressed reproduction via actions on the brain-pituitary level. The gonads are perhaps more likely to be impaired by the parasites in other ways, and changed feedbacks on the BPG axis could then lead to the increases in GtHs and GnRH.     

Neutering affects mRNA expression levels for the LH- and GnRH-receptors in the canine urinary bladder

Neutering a bitch increases the incidence of acquired urinary incontinence (AUI) 20-fold. Mechanistically this effect is thought to be related to altered steroid/reproductive hormone concentrations and a recent study showed that gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue treatment improved continence in bitches with AUI. The aim of this study was to examine mRNA expression levels for luteinizing hormone (LH)- and GnRH-receptors in the canine bladder and the correlation between these and in vitro contractility of the bladder using age matched entire and neutered, male and female canines and canines with AUI.Biopsies from the dome of the bladder were dissected post mortem with informed owner consent. mRNA expression for LH- and GnRH-receptor was quantified by rtPCR (relative to β-actin). Contractility was assessed (cumulative concentration response curve for carbachol) in strips of bladder muscle using standard protocols.Analysis of variance (Tukey post-test) demonstrated thet neutering was associated with significantly increased levels of expression of LH- and GnRH-receptor mRNA in both sexes (P < 0.01). mRNA expression for both receptors was significantly higher in female versus male canines. Neither effect was affected by animals’ age and/or weight. A significant inverse correlation (Spearman's test) was found between bladder contractility and mRNA expression for both receptors. This effect was most pronounced in canines with AUI which demonstrated the highest mRNA expression levels yet had the lowest contractility of all animals studied. This suggests that increased LH- and GnRH-receptor mRNA expression is associated with changes in bladder function that increase an animal's predisposition to develop AUI.     

Luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone receptors and their transcribed genes (mRNA) are present in the lower urinary tract of intact male and female dogs

In dogs, one of the side effects of neutering is the development of urinary incontinence. The relationship between neutering and urinary incontinence caused by acquired urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (USMI) has been reported. Recently, GnRH analogue treatment that suppresses elevated plasma gonadotrophin concentrations post-spaying has been successfully used in incontinent bitches. These data and the fact that non-gonadal tissues may contain receptors for LH (LHR) and FSH (FSHR) suggest that there might be a functional relationship between gonadotrophins and the lower urinary tract in dogs. This study aimed to investigate the presence of LHR and FSHR in the lower urinary tract of intact male and female dogs. Four regions of the lower urinary tract, i.e. (i) body of the bladder, (ii) neck of the bladder, (iii) proximal urethra and (iv) distal urethra were collected from 10 healthy dogs (5 males and 5 anoestrous females). In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were performed to characterise the presence of receptor mRNA and receptor protein. Staining was rated semi-quantitatively, incorporating both the distribution and intensity of specific staining. The distribution of receptor expression in different tissue layers (epithelium, subepithelial stroma and muscle) in each region was statistically analyzed. Luteinizing hormone receptor and FSHR mRNA and protein were present in all four regions and in three tissue layers of males and females. Irrespective of region and layer, female dogs expressed significantly higher expression for LHR mRNA (P<0.001), LHR protein (P<0.05) and FSHR protein (P<0.001). The expression of LHR and FSHR mRNA and protein was not uniform and depended on region, tissue layer and gender. The expression of LHR mRNA was higher in the bladder, compared to the urethra (P<0.05). The FSHR mRNA significantly increased from the bladder to the urethra. Protein expression for LHR and FSHR was highest in the proximal urethra (P<0.05). The overall expression for LHR and FSHR at both mRNA and protein levels was highest in the epithelium, intermediate to low in the subepithelial stroma and muscle. A significant interaction between region and tissue layer showed that mRNA and protein expression for LHR and FSHR decreased from the bladder to the urethra in the epithelium and subepithelial stroma. In contrast, it gradually increased from the bladder to the urethra in the muscle. In conclusion, the present study showed that both mRNA and protein for LHR and FSHR were expressed in the canine lower urinary tract, and the expression levels varied between genders and among regions and tissue layers. The presence of these receptors suggests that gonadotrophins have a role in the physiology and/or pathology of the lower urinary tract function in the dog.     

Comparative Gene Expression Analyses Identify Luminal and Basal Subtypes of Canine Invasive Urothelial Carcinoma That Mimic Patterns in Human Invasive Bladder Cancer

More than 160,000 people are expected to die from invasive urothelial carcinoma (iUC) this year worldwide. Research in relevant animal models is essential to improving iUC management. Naturally-occurring canine iUC closely resembles human iUC in histopathology, metastatic behavior, and treatment response, and could provide a relevant model for human iUC. The molecular characterization of canine iUC, however, has been limited. Work was conducted to compare gene expression array results between tissue samples from iUC and normal bladder in dogs, with comparison to similar expression array data from human iUC and normal bladder in the literature. Considerable similarities between enrichment patterns of genes in canine and human iUC were observed. These included patterns mirroring basal and luminal subtypes initially observed in human breast cancer and more recently noted in human iUC. Canine iUC samples also exhibited enrichment for genes involved in P53 pathways, as has been reported in human iUC. This is particularly relevant as drugs targeting these genes/pathways in other cancers could be repurposed to treat iUC, with dogs providing a model to optimize therapy. As part of the validation of the results and proof of principal for evaluating individualized targeted therapy, the overexpression of EGFR in canine bladder iUC was confirmed. The similarities in gene expression patterns between dogs and humans add considerably to the value of naturally-occurring canine iUC as a relevant and much needed animal model for human iUC. Furthermore, the finding of expression patterns that cross different pathologically-defined cancers could allow studies of dogs with iUC to help optimize cancer management across multiple cancer types. The work is also expected to lead to a better understanding of the biological importance of the gene expression patterns, and the potential application of the cross-species comparisons approach to other cancer types as well.     

Immunohistochemical and molecular analysis of caveolin-1 expression in canine mammary tumors

Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is a structural protein present in invaginations of the cell membrane. In human breast cancer, the cav-1 gene is believed to be a tumor suppressor gene associated with inhibition of tumor metastasis. However, little is known about its expression, regulation and function in canine mammary tumors. Expression levels of cav-1 were investigated using real-time PCR and immunohistochemical detection with an anti-human Cav-1 antibody. Gene expression stability of different samples was analyzed using the geNorm software. Mammary tumors from 51 female dogs were compared to normal mammary tissue from 10 female dogs. Malignant mammary cells showed a loss of Cav-1 expression by quantitative RT-PCR and weak Cav-1 staining by immunohistochemistry compared to normal mammary gland tissue. There was a significant relationship between outcome and immunostaining as well as with tumor size, indicating that caveolin subexpression has a positive predictive value and is related to higher survival and smaller tumor size. Our findings indicate that Cav-1 is a potential prognostic marker for canine mammary tumors.     

NMR-based metabolomics study of canine bladder cancer

Bladder cancer is one of the leading lethal cancers worldwide. With the high risk of recurrence for bladder cancer following the initial diagnoses, lifelong monitoring of patients is necessary. The lack of adequate sensitivity and specificity of current noninvasive monitoring approaches including urine cytology, other urine tests, and imaging, underlines the importance of studies that focus on the detection of more reliable biomarkers for this cancer. The emerging area of metabolomics, which deals with the analysis of a large number of small molecules in a single step, promises immense potential for discovering metabolite markers for screening and monitoring treatment response and recurrence in patients with bladder cancer. Since naturally-occurring canine transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder is very similar to human invasive bladder cancer, spontaneous canine transitional cell carcinoma has been applied as a relevant animal model of human invasive transitional cell carcinoma. In this study, we have focused on profiling the metabolites in urine from dogs with transitional cell carcinoma and healthy control dogs combining nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and statistical analysis methods. ¹H NMR-based metabolite profiling analysis was shown to be an effective approach for differentiating samples from dogs with transitional cell carcinoma and healthy controls based on a partial least square-discriminant analysis of the NMR spectra. In addition, there were significant differences in the levels of six individual metabolites between samples from dogs with transitional cell carcinoma and the control group based on the Student's t-test. These metabolites were selected to build a separate partial least square‐discriminant analysis model that was then used to test the classification accuracy. The result showed good classification between transitional cell carcinoma and control groups with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.85. The sensitivity and specificity of the model were 86% and 78%, respectively. These results suggest that urine metabolic profiling may have potential for early detection of bladder cancer and of bladder cancer recurrence following treatment, and may enhance our understanding of the mechanisms involved.     

A multiplex biomarker approach for the diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma from canine urine

Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), the most common cancer of the urinary bladder in dogs, is usually diagnosed at an advanced disease stage with limited response to chemotherapy. Commercial screening tests lack specificity and current diagnostic procedures are invasive. A proof of concept pilot project for analyzing the canine urinary proteome as a noninvasive diagnostic tool for TCC identification was conducted. Urine was collected from 12 dogs in three cohorts (healthy, urinary tract infection, TCC) and analyzed using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The presence of four proteins (macrophage capping protein, peroxiredoxin 5, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins A2/B, and apolipoprotein A1) was confirmed via immunoblot. Of the total 379 proteins identified, 96 were unique to the TCC group. A statistical model, designed to evaluate the accuracy of this multiplex biomarker approach for diagnosis of TCC, predicted the presence of disease with 90% accuracy.     

TaqMan 荧光定量RT-PCR 检测犬瘟热病毒方法的建立与初步应用

犬瘟热（Canine distemper,CD）是由犬瘟热病毒（Canine distemper virus,CDV）感染引起的一种急性、高度接触性、致死性传染病.CDV属副粘病毒科麻疹病毒属成员,宿主谱很广,可感染犬（Canis familiaris）、狐狸（Vulpes vulpes）、貉（Ussuriensis）、狼（Canis lupus）、雪貂（Lepus zibellina）、虎（Panthera tigris）、狮（Panthera leo）、大熊猫（Ailuropoda melanoleuca）、小熊猫（Ailures fulgens）、黑熊（Selenarctas thibetanus）等动物,严重危害养犬业、经济动物养殖业的健康发展以及野生动物的生存.     

垂体GnRHR,FHS-β和LH-β基因表达与GnRHR生物信息学研究

为探讨GnRH-A激动剂主动免疫对雌兔垂体GnRHR、FSH-β和LH-βmRNA表达的影响及调节动物生殖功能的分子机理.24只日本大耳白兔分为4组,在EG-I、EG-Ⅱ和EG-Ⅲ兔的颈背侧注射100 ? g 、100? g和50? g GnRH-A抗原,EG-Ⅱ和EG一Ⅲ 20d加强注射一次,用荧光定量PCR分析垂体中GnRHR、FSH-β和LH一βmRNA的表达,并测定GnRHR的核苷酸序列.结果表明雌兔垂体中存在GnRHR、FSH-β和LH-β基因.EG-Ⅱ和EG-Ⅲ的GnRHR、FSH-β和LH-βΔΔCt均显著高于EG-I(P < 0.05).GnRHR、FSH-β和LH-β的核苷酸序列的同源性分别为98%、100%和94%;GnRHR中a-螺旋占36.63%,理论等电点(pI)5.01,不稳定指数57.08,脂肪指数29.1,疏水性平均值(GRAVY)0.872,表明该蛋白为不稳定的疏水性信号蛋.GnRH-A能明显的影响兔GnRHR、FSH-β和LH-βmRNA在垂体中的表达,而且重复注射会加大这种变化.     

犬SLAM受体mRNA荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立和初步应用

目的建立荧光定量PCR方法,检测犬不同组织中SLAM受体mRNA的表达水平。方法以犬GAPDH为内参基因采用△△ct法,分析SLAM受体mRNA在犬体内不同组织中的表达。结果此方法有较高的重复性,变异系数在0．89％-2．35％。以SLAM受体在心脏的表达为1倍值,结果显示受体mRNA在脾脏中表达最高,为38．49倍;肺门淋巴结、肠系膜淋巴结、腹股沟淋巴结中表达次之,分别为9．13、8．58、6．24倍;膀胱中表达最低。结论成功建立了检测SLAM受体mRNA在不同组织中表达水平的荧光定量PCR检测方法。     

Neo-regeneration of urinary bladder: a desired metaplasia of autologous membrane from rectosigmoid colon containing stem cells of intestinal crypts

The current management of diseases of urinary bladder requiring resection is by augmentation cystoplasty or transplantation of ureters. Transplantation of ureters is associated with morbidity and mortality. Ideal management will be by regenerating urinary bladder in vivo. Neo-regeneration of tissues and organs like abdominal wall, aponeurosis etc., has been attempted and patented. After neo-regeneration of mesoderm tissues and organs, regeneration of urinary bladder (developed from endoderm) was. In vivo surgical techniques were developed in dogs. It is known that the embryonic morphogenesis of urinary bladder is from uro-genital sinus of hind gut. A membrane, containing endoderm stem cells in crypts of recto-sigmoid colon, was surgically isolated and colonized with remnant of urinary bladder wall after extensive resection. Experimental study was performed in dogs, for 60 days to one and a half year. Regeneration of all the layers of tissues of the wall of urinary bladder was observed. The neo-regeneration phenomenon has been recognized as "desired metaplasia". The regenerated neo tissue/organ on histological examination and cystometry studies was found compatible with normal urinary bladder. The hypothesis, neo-regeneration and desired metaplasia, is discussed.     

Detection of BRAF Mutation in Urine DNA as a Molecular Diagnostic for Canine Urothelial and Prostatic Carcinoma

Urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the lower urinary tract and prostatic carcinoma (PC) are aggressive genitourinary cancers in dogs, characterized by invasion to surrounding tissues and high metastatic potential. Current diagnosis of canine UC and PC requires histopathological examination of a biopsy. Such specimens require specialized medical equipment and are invasive procedures, limiting the availability of diagnosis by histopathology for many canine patients. Access to a non-invasive means to confirm diagnosis is currently an unmet need. Recently, the canine BRAF V595E mutation was detected in ~80% of canine UCs and PCs. In this study, we developed a droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assay for detection of the canine BRAF V595E mutation in canine urogenital tumors. The assay was evaluated in DNA samples prepared from biopsy specimens of UC (n = 48) and PC (n = 27), as well and non-neoplastic bladder epithelium (n = 38). In addition the assay was assessed for use with DNA isolated from free catch urine samples derived from canine patients with UC (n = 23), PC (n = 3), as well as from dogs with cystitis and healthy controls (n = 37). In all cases the sensitivity to detect the mutant allele was compared with conventional Sanger sequencing. ddPCR had superior sensitivity for detection of the V595E mutation: 75% of UC, 85% of PC, and 0% of control samples were mutation positive, respectively, and the V595E mutation was detected at a level as low as just 1 in 10,000 alleles (~0.01%). Furthermore, the ddPCR assay identified the mutation in free catch urine samples from 83% of canine UC and PC patients, demonstrating its utility as a non-invasive means of diagnosis. We have shown that ddPCR is a sensitive molecular technique with the potential to facilitate accurate and non-invasive means of canine UC and PC diagnosis.     

Effects of doxazosin on blood flow and mRNA expression of nitric oxide synthase in the spontaneously hypertensive rat genitourinary tract

Hypertension may impact pelvic arterial blood flow resulting in reduction of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) levels. Although doxazosin, an alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist, has been shown to improve erectile dysfunction as well as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and hypertension, it is not clear whether these improvements using doxazosin are primarily due to direct actions on the prostate, urinary bladder and penis, possibly via inhibition of vascular alpha(1)-adrenoceptors, or other sites of actions. Therefore, we investigated effects of doxazosin to the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) on blood flow and NOS levels in the genitourinary tract. Four groups of rats were assessed: group 1, SHRs treated with doxazosin (30 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks; group 2, SHRs treated with nifedipine (30 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks; group 3, untreated SHRs; and group 4, untreated Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Blood flow to the ventral prostate, dorsolateral prostate, urinary bladder and penis was determined using a fluorescent microsphere infusion technique. Expression levels of nNOS and eNOS mRNAs were quantified by real-time RT-PCR using SYBR Green I. Blood flow to the ventral prostate, dorsolateral prostate, urinary bladder and penis was significantly lower in untreated SHRs than WKY rats. Treatment with doxazosin increased blood flow to each tissue studied in SHRs. RT-PCR data indicated that untreated SHRs had lower mRNA expression levels of nNOS in the bladder and penis and eNOS in the penis than WKY rats and that administration of doxazosin to the SHR caused an increase in expression levels of these genes, i.e., up-regulation of nNOS in the bladder and penis and eNOS in the penis. However, nifedipine had no significant effects on blood flow and NOS levels in the SHR genitourinary tract. Our data demonstrate that doxazosin treatment causes differential alterations in blood flow and NOS levels in the SHR genitourinary tract. These findings may provide insight into the beneficial effects of alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonists, on prostate, bladder and penile function, when used to treat symptoms of BPH and elevated blood pressure.     

雄兔垂体GnRHR的序列测定与生物信息学分析

目的探讨GnRH-A激动剂(阿拉瑞林)主动免疫对垂体GnRHR基因表达的影响和生物信息学特性。方法 30只日本大耳白兔(Oryctolagus cuniculus)随机均分为三组,在EG-Ⅰ和EG-Ⅱ皮下注射1.0 mL(100μg/mL)阿拉瑞林抗原,EG-Ⅱ于20 d以原剂量加强免疫1次;从兔垂体中提取总RNA,PCR扩增GnRHR基因,进行反转录、克隆和测序;实时荧光定量PCR分析垂体中GnRHR、FSH-β和LH-βmRNA的表达,用DNAman、Tm-pred、Signal P 3.0、Target P 1.1、Expasy、PSORT II prediction等生物信息学分析软件和在线工具,对GnRHR序列及其蛋白的理化特性、跨膜结构、信号肽和二级结构等进行分析与预测。结果①雄兔GnRHR的核苷酸为1179 bp,同源性达96%。ssDNA分子量362.66×103,dsDNA 726.78×103。②GnRHR二级结构中151(40.27%)个氨基酸组成α-螺旋,15(4.00%)个氨基酸组成β-折叠。③GnRHR由389个氨基酸组成,蛋白质的序列长度为375;理论等电点(pI)5.02,不稳定指数58.08,脂肪指数28.67,疏水性平均值(GRAVY)0.869,表明该蛋白为不稳定的疏水性蛋白。④GnRHR蛋白TM螺旋长度为17～23,有34个强跨膜螺旋区,从内到外有35个螺旋。⑤GnRHR信号肽的概率0.999,最可能的酶切部位在17和18位点。结论阿拉瑞林免疫可以明显降低垂体GnRHR、FSH-β和LH-β基因表达,加强免疫效果更佳。GnRHR是一种含有信号肽序列的不稳定的疏水性跨膜蛋白,具有明显的生物信息学特征。     

The occurrence and comparative phenotypic characteristics of Staphylococcus spp. from healthy and diseased, household and shelter dogs, based on routine biochemical diagnostic methods

To determine the staphylococcal colonization pattern in healthy and diseased dogs, living in two particular environments, a number of microbiological samples were taken. Overall, twenty dogs, either healthy or with infected skin lesions, were examined. In each case bacterial swabs were collected from the nasal mucosa, ear, perineum, lumbo-sacralis triangle, and from the infection sites if such were present. A total number of 104 isolates representing different staphylococcal species were isolated and identified using routine biochemical methods applied in diagnostic laboratories. Among 17 isolated staphylococcal species, Staphylococcus intermedius was the most common species isolated from both healthy or diseased dogs living either in animal shelter or household environments. The pattern of Staphylococcus sp. colonization differs considerably for animals living in the two tested habitats. In particular, S. aureus MRSA and MSSA isolates were detected only in infected skin lesion samples from animals that dwelled in the animal shelter. As could be expected, S. intermedius was found to be a predominant causative agent in canine skin infections. In our study, we demonstrated that S. intermedius in its carrier-state, inhabits mainly the mucosal membrane of the nasal vestibule. It was also found in the samples taken from the skin, the lumbo-sacralis triangle and perineum, but was rarely isolated from the ears.     

Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in the canine lower urinary tract with regard to the effects of gonadal status and gender

As pituitary gonadotrophins can induce prostaglandin (PG) synthesis and receptors for LH and FSH are present in the canine lower urinary tract (LUT), the objectives of this study were to (i) investigate the expression of COX-2, a key rate-limiting enzyme in PG production, in the canine LUT and (ii) determine if COX-2 expression differs between gender, gonadal status (intact and gonadectomised) and LUT regions. Four regions (body and neck of the bladder as well as proximal and distal urethra) of the LUT were obtained from 20 clinically healthy dogs (5 intact males, 5 intact anoestrous females, 4 castrated males, 6 spayed females). In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were performed to determine the presence of COX-2 mRNA and protein, respectively. The mRNA and protein expression was semi-quantitatively assessed. The scoring system combined both the distribution and intensity of positive staining and was carried out separately on the three tissue layers (epithelium, sub-epithelial stroma and muscle) for each of four regions of the LUT. In comparison to intact dogs, lower expression (P < 0.001) of COX-2 and its mRNA in gonadectomised males and females was observed in all tissue layers of each region of the LUT except in the distal urethra where there was no difference in mRNA expression between gonadal statuses. Regardless of region and tissue layer, intact females expressed more (P < 0.05) COX-2 and its mRNA than intact males. However, in gonadectomised dogs, mRNA expression of COX-2 did not differ between genders; males had higher (P < 0.001) protein level of COX-2 compared to females. In conclusion, both COX-2 and its mRNA were expressed in the canine LUT and COX-2-regulated PG synthesis in the canine LUT may differ between gonadal statuses and genders. The lower expression of COX-2 in gonadectomised dogs may impair normal function of the LUT and probably implicated in the development of neutering-induced urinary incontinence in the dog.     

Effect of the gonadal status and the gender on glycosaminoglycans profile in the lower urinary tract of dogs

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) form a functional component of connective tissues that affect the structural and functional integrity of the lower urinary tract (LUT). The specific GAGs of physiological relevance are both nonsulfated (hyaluronan) and sulfated GAGs (chondroitin sulphate [CS], dermatan sulphate [DS], keratan sulphate [KS], and heparan sulphate [HS]). As GAG composition in the LUT is hormonally regulated, we postulated that gonadectomy-induced endocrine imbalance alters the profile of GAGs in the canine LUT. Four regions of the LUT (body and neck of the bladder as well as the proximal and distal urethra) from 20 clinically healthy dogs (5 intact males, 5 intact anoestrus females, 4 castrated males, and 6 spayed females) were collected, wax-embedded and sectioned. Alcian blue staining at critical electrolyte concentrations was performed on the sections to determine total GAGs, hyaluronan, total sulfated GAGs, combined components of CS and DS, as well as KS and HS. The amount of staining was evaluated in 3 tissue layers, i.e., epithelium, subepithelial stroma and muscle within a region. Overall, hyaluronan (67.1%) was the predominant GAG in the LUT. Among sulfated GAGs, a combined component of KS and HS was found to be 61.8% and 38.2% for CS and DS. Gonadal status significantly affected GAG profiles in the LUT (P < 0.01). All GAG components were lower (P < 0.05) in body of the bladder of gonadectomized dogs. Total sulfated GAGs and a combined component of KS and HS were lower (P < 0.05) in all 4 regions of gonadectomized dogs. Except for a combined component of CS and DS, decreases in all GAGs were found more consistently in the muscle compared to other tissue layers. Differences between genders became obvious only when considered along with the effect of gonadal status. In gonadectomized dogs, changes in GAG components in the LUT were more consistent in females compared to males; this may partly explain different levels of risk in the development of urinary incontinence between genders. Quantitative differences in GAG profiles found between intact and gonadectomized dogs indicate a potential role of gonadectomy-induced endocrine imbalance in modifying GAG composition in the canine LUT. Profound alteration in the pattern of GAGs in gonadectomized dogs may compromise structural and functional integrity of the LUT and is possibly involved in the underlying mechanism of urinary incontinence post neutering.     

De novo reconstitution of a functional mammalian urinary bladder by tissue engineering

Human organ replacement is limited by a donor shortage, problems with tissue compatibility, and rejection. Creation of an organ with autologous tissue would be advantageous. In this study, transplantable urinary bladder neo-organs were reproducibly created in vitro from urothelial and smooth muscle cells grown in culture from canine native bladder biopsies and seeded onto preformed bladder-shaped polymers. The native bladders were subsequently excised from canine donors and replaced with the tissue-engineered neo-organs. In functional evaluations for up to 11 months, the bladder neo-organs demonstrated a normal capacity to retain urine, normal elastic properties, and histologic architecture. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that successful reconstitution of an autonomous hollow organ is possible using tissue-engineering methods.     

Feasibility of using gene expression analysis to study canine soft tissue sarcomas

The prognosis given for canine soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) is based primarily on histopathologic grade. The decision to administer adjuvant chemotherapy is difficult since less than half of patients with high-grade STSs develop metastatic disease. We hypothesize that there is a gene signature that will improve our ability to predict development of metastatic disease in STS patients. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of using cDNA microarray and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis to determine gene expression patterns in metastatic versus nonmetastatic canine STSs, given the inherent heterogeneity of this group of tumors. Five STSs from dogs with metastatic disease were evaluated in comparison to eight STSs from dogs without metastasis. Tumor RNA was extracted, processed, and labeled for application to the Affymetrix Canine Genechip 2.0 Array. Array fluorescence was normalized using D-Chip software and data analysis was performed with JMP/Genomics. Differential gene expression was validated using qRT-PCR. Over 200 genes were differentially expressed at a false discovery rate of 5%. Differential gene expression was validated for five genes upregulated in metastatic tumors. Quantitative RT-PCR confirmed increased relative expression of all five genes of interest in the metastatic STSs. Our results demonstrate that microarray and qRT-PCR are feasible methods for comparing gene signatures in canine STSs. Further evaluation of the differences between gene expression in metastatic STSs and in nonmetastatic STSs is likely to identify genes that are important in the development of metastatic disease and improve our ability to prognosticate for individual patients.