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L G Coghlan

Publications and source records attributed to L G Coghlan.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

PCR-based microsatellite analysis for differentiation and genetic monitoring of nine inbred SENCAR mouse strains.

Sixteen DNA microsatellites or simple sequence length polymorphisms (SSLPs), generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were selected for use in the genetic quality control of the nine inbred SENCAR strains currently available. The SENCAR strains constitute a powerful tool for mechanistic studies of multi-stage skin carcinogenesis, as well as for studies to understand the underlying genetic basis of resistance to tumour promotion and progression. SSLP analysis is a fast and economical way for detecting genetic contamination (unexpected outcrosses) among these closely-related albino strains, where standard immunological and biochemical markers have been shown to be insufficient.

Animals↗

Microsatellite DNA variants between the inbred SENCAR mouse strains.

The two-stage model, initiation with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and promotion with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, of mouse skin carcinogenesis has been the protocol of choice to study the genetic susceptibility to carcinogens, the outbred SENCAR mouse being the most widely used skin tumor-sensitive animal model. Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) develop from many of the papillomas, making these mice a useful model for epithelial tumorigenesis and for the progression to malignant tumors. Nine different inbred strains derived from outbred SENCAR mice have been recently reported. Interestingly, these strains display different sensitivities to two-stage carcinogenesis, and, in particular, some of them show a dissociation between susceptibility to papilloma development and the malignant conversion of these into SCC. However, the utility of these SENCAR strains for genetic mapping is limited by the lack of information regarding DNA variant alleles among them. Therefore, we analyzed the nine inbred strains with microsatellite markers distributed along the 20 chromosomes and in this article report the variant alleles found. The information presented is likely to be helpful for linkage analysis and marker-assisted development of congenic strains between SENCAR-derived inbred strains.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Development and initial characterization of several new inbred strains of SENCAR mice for studies of multistage skin carcinogenesis.

The development and initial characterization of five new inbred strains of SENCAR mice are described in this paper. Ten randomly selected pairs of outbred SENCAR mice were mated and offspring from each separately maintained parental line were sib mated at each successive generation to result in inbred strains. Due to poor reproductive performance only five of the original 10 lines were bred to homogeneity. Initial characterization of the five remaining lines (referred to as SL2/sprd, SL5/sprd, SL7/sprd, SL8/sprd and SLl0/sprd) at F12 for their responsiveness to a two-stage carcinogenesis protocol (10 nmol 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and 0.25 microg 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13 acetate) revealed three groups of responders in terms of the number of papillomas per mouse: SL2/sprd and SL8/sprd > SL7/sprd and SL10/sprd >> SL5/sprd. The papilloma responses in SL2/sprd and SL8/sprd were very similar to SENCAR B/Pt compared at the same doses. Papillomas induced on SL2/sprd had the highest propensity to progress to squamous cell carcinomas, similar to that observed in outbred SENCAR and SENCAR B/Pt mice. More detailed comparison of the responsiveness of SL2/sprd and SL5/sprd at Fl5 showed that these two inbred strains differed in their sensitivity to TPA-induced epidermal hyperplasia and that the dose of TPA required to produce a tumor response in SL5/sprd in comparison with that in SL2/sprd was 4-20 times higher. Overall, the availability of the different inbred SENCAR strains will greatly aid mechanistic studies of multistage skin carcinogenesis as well as studies to understand the underlying genetic basis of resistance to tumor promotion and progression in this model system.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Changes in protein expression during multistage mouse skin carcinogenesis.

To directly compare the expression patterns of different proteins known to be altered during mouse skin carcinogenesis, serial sections of normal and hyperplastic skin and tumors from various stages of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-initiated, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-promoted female SENCAR mice were examined by immunohistochemistry. In untreated, normal mouse skin, keratin 1 (K1) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFbeta1) were strongly expressed in the suprabasal layers, whereas integrin alpha6beta4 was expressed only in basal cells and only moderate staining for transforming growth factor-alpha (TGFalpha) was seen. In hyperplastic skin, TGFalpha expression became stronger, whereas expression of another epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor ligand, heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF), was strongly induced in all epidermal layers from no expression in normal skin. Likewise, the gap-junctional protein connexin 26 (Cx26) became highly expressed in the differentiated granular layers of hyperplastic skin relative to undetectable expression in normal skin. Expression of cyclin D1 in the proliferative cell compartment was seen in all benign and malignant tumors but not in hyperplastic skin. Beginning with very early papillomas (after 10 wk of promotion), expression of alpha6beta4 in suprabasal cells and small, focal staining for keratin 13 (K13) were seen in some tumors. Later (after 20-30 wk), focal areas of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activity appeared in a few papillomas, whereas TGFbeta1 expression began to decrease. Cx26 and TGFalpha staining became patchier in some late-stage papillomas (30-40 wk), whereas suprabasal alpha6beta4, K13, and GGT expression progressively increased and K1 expression decreased. Finally, in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), there was an almost complete loss of K1 and a further decline in TGFalpha, HB-EGF, TGFbeta1, and Cx26 expression. On the other hand, almost all SCCs showed suprabasal staining for alpha6beta4 and widespread cyclin D1 and K13 expression, whereas only about half showed positive focal staining for GGT activity.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Rhesus thymic/liver xenografts in severe combined immunodeficient mice: immunologic reconstitution and intrathymic infection with simian immunodeficiency virus.

By serving as host recipients of xenografts from both humans and animals, severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice have become valuable to many laboratories interested in examining the pathophysiology of different diseases. To gain insight into the usefulness of the SCID mutation in retrovirus research, rhesus monkey fetal hematolymphoid tissues (liver and thymus) were used to construct a SCID-rhesus chimeric mouse (SCID-rh) and were engrafted in the renal capsule. The size and maturation of the thymic engrafts were monitored grossly, histologically, and immunologically. SCID mice were tolerant to rhesus tissues, and thymic engrafts contained thymocytes at different stages of maturation and differentiation that had morphologic features similar to age-matched rhesus thymus. Mature single positive CD2+, CD4+, and CD8+ T lymphocytes that were phenotypically similar to rhesus T lymphocytes were present at low levels (2% to 5%) in the peripheral blood and at moderately higher levels (7% to 15%) in the spleens of SCID-rh mice obtained between 12 and 15 weeks after thymus/liver engraftment. Within 3 weeks after engraftment, > 85% of the thymocytes in the thymic engrafts were immature double positive CD4+CD8+ T cells. The highest number of positive cells were seen in thymic engrafts obtained at 12 to 18 weeks. During these weeks, > 90% of the cells were double positive (CD2+CD4+, CD2+CD8+, and CD4+CD8+). After infection of the engrafted thymus tissue with simian immonodeficiency virus (SIVmac239), PCR analysis revealed successful viral infection of engrafts at 2 and 4 weeks after infection. No significant histopathologic and flow cytometric changes were observed in the thymic engrafts at 2 and 4 weeks after infection. An unrelated lesion of thymic lymphomas involving the SCID host thymus was seen in 12% of the mice. The data presented herein suggest that the SCID-rh is a valuable model for specific studies related to thymus-retrovirus interaction and that it could be used for further studies. The results are discussed in relation to current knowledge of thymus involvement during simian and human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Animals↗

Practical and effective eradication of pinworms (Syphacia muris) in rats by use of fenbendazole.

Oxyurid parasites are common contaminants of laboratory rodents, and despite many described treatments, no method has assumed preeminence. Limitations in drug efficacy and the general inability to control for exposure to infective eggs are the primary contributors to treatment failure. In addition, some effective drugs must be eliminated from consideration because of narrow safety margins, other toxic aspects, or concerns related to particular uses of the experimental animals. As an alternative to currently described treatments or surgical derivation, we conducted an efficacy study against Syphacia muris in rats with a new fenbendazole-based protocol. Fenbendazole is a highly efficacious broad-spectrum anthelmintic with adulticidal, larvicidal, and ovicidal actions. Its pharmacokinetic behavior, ovicidal activity, and exceptionally wide safety margin in rats and mice make it an attractive choice for pinworm treatment. We used a 150-ppm medicated feed formulation to reach a targeted dose of 8.0 to 12.0 mg/kg/day in three separate studies designed to assess drug intake and efficacy under different housing conditions and in breeding and nonbreeding populations of ACI rats. In all cases, drug was given on alternating weeks, and nonbreeding populations were medicated for a cumulative period of 14 days. The same schedule was used for breeding populations, but the treatment was repeated after a 2-week rest period to ensure sufficient exposure for newly weaned animals. The results of our study indicate that our described treatment, in combination with environmental control measures against pinworm eggs, is capable of eliminating S. muris.

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Subcutaneous immunization of rabbits with nitrocellulose paper strips impregnated with microgram quantities of protein.

The desire to produce specific antibodies to substances available only in minute quantities and increased concern for laboratory animal welfare have each contributed to heightened interest in alternative immunization methods. In this report, we describe the production of polyclonal antibodies against microgram quantities of a weakly immunogenic tumor-associated protein of canine origin. Our technique employs the subcutaneous implantation of nitrocellulose electroblot strips without the use of adjuvant. The method is simple, appears reliable, can be used to improve antigen purity, and is applicable for either polyclonal or monoclonal antibody production in different host species. In addition, because traditional adjuvants are not required with this system, severe inflammatory responses and associated animal discomfort are reduced.

Animals↗

Effect of protein and zinc deficiencies on vaccine efficacy in guinea pigs following pulmonary infection with Listeria.

Specific pathogen-free guinea pigs were maintained for 3 weeks on purified diets containing 30% protein (ovalbumin) and 50 ppm added zinc (Control-C), 10% protein and 50 ppm added zinc (low protein-LP), or 30% protein and no added zinc (low zinc-LZ). Half of the animals in each diet group were vaccinated intraperitoneally with 2.5 x 10(3) viable Listeria monocytogenes organisms after 8 days of diet treatment. Ten days later, all animals received an aerosol challenge of 250 L. monocytogenes organisms and were killed 4 days later. Both zinc and protein deficiency resulted in animals that were growth retarded as compared to controls. Specific nutrient effects were observed as significant reductions in total serum proteins (LP group) and plasma zinc concentrations (LZ group). In vaccinated guinea pigs, both protein and zinc deprivation resulted in significant impairment of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses following the intradermal injection of listeria antigen. Diet did not exert a measurable impact on the response of nonvaccinated guinea pigs to pulmonary listeriosis. Prior vaccination allowed both malnourished groups to control the challenge infection successfully as measured by significant reductions in viable bacilli recovered from the lung, spleen and hilar lymph nodes. The diet and vaccine effect varied depending on the tissue examined. Thus, although both protein and zinc deficiencies resulted in loss of peripheral antigen-specific T lymphocyte function (DTH), vaccine efficacy was not impaired.

Animals↗

Chronic zinc deficiency and listeriosis in rats: acquired cellular resistance and response to vaccination.

The functional significance of zinc deficiency on primary and secondary host responses to infection with a facultative intracellular pathogen was studied in specific pathogen free rats. Groups of female rats fed either a low zinc or normal diet for 8 or 10 weeks were infected with Listeria monocytogenes five days prior to sacrifice. Zinc-deficient rats demonstrated thymic atrophy, reduced delayed hypersensitivity responses to listeria antigen, and impaired lymphocyte response of spleen cells to phytohemagglutinin, but not to Concanavalin A. Separate groups of zinc-deficient or control rats were vaccinated with viable L. monocytogenes 10 days prior to respiratory challenge. Vaccination resulted in successful control of bacteria in both dietary groups.

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