Biomedical subjects

T Hirai

Publications and source records attributed to T Hirai.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Superselective arterial infusion chemotherapy for squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity: histopathologic effects on metastatic neck lymph nodes.

We have performed superselective intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy (SIC) on carcinomas of the oral cavity according to a protocol in which the distribution of the drug was evaluated by the use of a combined CT and angiography system, and the chemotherapy was combined with medium-dose conformal radiation therapy (CRT). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pathological effect of this treatment on the metastatic neck lymph nodes (LNs). Twenty consecutive patients who had metastatic neck LNs from squamous cell carcinomas of the mouth and who underwent both SIC and CRT were included in this study, in which a total of 22 LNs were evaluated. A microcatheter was placed in the appropriate feeding artery of the tumor, such as the internal maxillary artery, facial artery, lingual artery and external carotid artery (ECA), and cisplatin (50 mg/body) was infused twice through a microcatheter. The CRT was administered with a dual-energy (4 and 10 MV) linear accelerator. The total and daily doses delivered were 30 and 2.0 Gy, respectively. Intra-arterial infusion to the LNs was divided into two groups: superselective infusion (mainly to the submandibular LNs via the facial artery, n = 10) and nonsuperselective infusion via the ECA (n = 12). The distribution of cisplatin into the LNs was confirmed by slow-infusion CT. Histopathologic effects on the LNs were evaluated on the specimens obtained during the operation and classified into five grades (0: no or minimal response: I: disappearance of less than three quarters of the tumor cells: II: disappearance of more than three quarters of the tumor cells: III: disappearance of viable tumor cells with a small amount of residual nonviable tumor cells: IV: complete disappearance of all viable and nonviable tumor cells). Grade 0 or 1 was defined as poor response and Grade II or more as good response. Twenty-three LNs from nine patients without CRT and SIC were served as control. In the superselective infusion group, all 10 LNs showed good response (response rate, 100%: grade II = 4, grade III = 3, grade IV = 3). In the non-superselective group, however, 6 of 12 LNs showed poor response (response rate, 50%: grade 0 = 2, grade I = 4, grade II = 2, grade III = 2, grade IV = 2). All 23 control LNs with no treatment showed grade 0 response. Superselective infusion seems necessary to obtain good histopathologic effects on the metastatic LNs. SIC combined with CRT can be applied to the metastatic LNs.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Survival benefit of high ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery in sigmoid colon or rectal cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) root nodal dissection before high ligation of the artery on survival in patients with sigmoid colon or rectal cancer. METHODS: Data on 1188 consecutive patients who underwent resection for sigmoid colon or rectal cancer, with high ligation of the IMA, were identified from a prospective database (April 1965 to December 1999). Survival of patients with involvement of nodes along the IMA proximal to the origin of the left colic artery (root nodes, station 253) through the bifurcation of the superior rectal artery (trunk nodes, station 252) was determined. RESULTS: Twenty patients (1.7 per cent) had metastatic involvement of station 253 lymph nodes and 99 (8.3 per cent) had metastases to station 252. The 5- and 10-year survival rates of patients with metastases to station 253 were 40 and 21 per cent, and those for patients with metastases to station 252 were 50 and 35 per cent, respectively. CONCLUSION: High ligation of the IMA allows curative resection and long-term survival in patients with cancer of the sigmoid colon or rectum and nodal metastases at the origin of the IMA.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Effects of perinatal stress on the anxiety-related behavior of the adolescence mouse.

We evaluated the effects of sound noise or forced swim stress applied to pregnant mice or to neonatal mice on the anxiety-related behavior using the elevated plus-maze test performed during the age of 5 weeks. The forced swim stress applied at the late gestation period, days 10-18 of pregnancy, caused a significant reduction of the body weight gain of the dams. However, the anxiety-related behavior of the male and female offspring were not affected by the antenatal stress treatment. When the forced swim stress was applied to the neonatal mice during the late lactation period, 14-18 days after birth, the male mice showed an elevated level of anxiolytic behavior accompanying the reduction of the emotion-related motor activity. The anxiety-related behavior of the female mice was not affected by the stress treatment. Furthermore, we applied the sound noise or forced swim stress to the neonatal mice immediately after the weaning, 21-25 days after birth. The stress applied after the weaning period had no effect on the anxiety-related behavior. These results suggested that the stress applied during the lactation period, but not that during the antenatal period, nor after the weaning period, might have gender-dependently reduced the anxiety level of the male mouse. It was shown that the effects of perinatal stress on the anxiety-related behavior of the adolescent mouse varied according to the period of application and gender. The hypothesis that gender-dependent abnormalities in neurodevelopment might be caused by the excess stress applied to the breast-fed infant is of importance in elucidating the relationship between the psychoneurotic disorder in childhood and the environment stress of the breast-fed infant.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2006

Usefulness of measurement of the temporal stem on magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether measurements of brain structures on routine magnetic resonance (MR) images can be used to distinguish between normal subjects and patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) or Alzheimer's disease (AD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: MRI studies were performed on 30 patients with dementia (FTD, n = 15; AD, n = 15) and 15 age-matched controls. Width measurements, obtained at the corpus callosum, the cingulate gyri, the hippocampi, and the temporal stem of the anterior temporal lobes, were compared among FTD and AD patients and control subjects on oblique-coronal T2-weighted images. RESULTS: The width of the temporal stem was significantly narrower in FTD than in AD patients and control subjects (6.3 +/- 1.3 mm, 7.8 +/- 1.1 mm, and 8.2 +/- 0.9 mm, respectively) (P < 0.05), although there was some overlapping between AD and FTD patients. All patients whose temporal stem width was < 6 mm had FTD. While the width of the corpus callosum, cingulate gyri, and hippocampi was significantly narrower in patients with AD and FTD than in the controls, there was no significant difference between the AD and FTD patients. CONCLUSION: The width of the temporal stem was significantly narrower in patients with FTD than in those with AD and controls. The described measurements can easily be obtained and may be useful for the diagnosis of FTD.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

PDGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor suppresses mesangial cell proliferation involving STAT3 activation.

Proliferation of mesangial cells is a hallmark of glomerular disease, and understanding the regulatory mechanisms is critically important. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between mesangial cell proliferation and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 and to determine whether the PDGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor STI 571 inhibited mesangial cell proliferation via modulation of STAT3. In this study, we investigated for the first time, the glomerular expression of phosphorylated STAT3 in paraffin sections from animals with experimental mesangial proliferative glomeronephritis. Phosphorylated STAT3 colocalized with many proliferating mesangial cells. We also demonstrated that treatment with STI 571 reduced mesangial cell proliferation and phosphorylated STAT3 signalling both in vitro and in vivo. In vivo, STI 571 treatment reduced the number of glomerular mesangial cells positive for both phosphorylated STAT3 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen. In summary, phosphorylated STAT3 is strongly expressed during mesangial cell proliferation and STI 571 induced suppression of mesangial cell proliferation involves inhibition of phosphorylated STAT3 signalling.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Quality of life and masticatory function in denture wearers.

Successful prosthodontic treatments for a patient with removable partial dentures including maxillofacial prostheses hopefully brings about psychological wellbeing as well as improved health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between quality of life (QOL) and the various aspects of denture function. At first, a questionnaire with a visual analog scale with 16 question items concerning denture and/or eating problems, the present state of health, psychological and physical wellbeing, life satisfaction, and QOL was developed. To discuss the validity and reliability of the questionnaire, 48 outpatients who wore a denture were asked to fill it out. Next, to discuss the difference in QOL of the patient with various kinds of dentures and conditions, 103 outpatients were asked to complete the newly developed questionnaire. The questionnaire which contained four factor areas with eight questions for denture patients was developed by factor analysis with Varimax rotation. The reliability of the QOL scale was confirmed by reliability analysis (Cronbach's alpha = 0.784). The QOL score of edentulous patients with a complete denture having some trouble chewing was significantly lower than that of other denture patients. It was suggested that the wearing of a denture significantly affected the QOL of elderly persons.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

The expression of IGF-I and myostatin mRNAs in skeletal muscle of hypophysectomized and underfed rats during postnatal growth.

AIM: To determine the roles of myostatin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) during postnatal growth, we examined IGF-I and myostatin mRNA expression in the skeletal muscles of hypophysectomized and underfed rats during postnatal growth. METHODS: Five-week-old rats were divided into four groups: freely fed control, moderately underfed, severely underfed and hypophysectomized. Four weeks later, blood and muscle samples were gathered to determine serum IGF-I, myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms, IGF-I Ea, IGF-I Eb and myostatin mRNA. RESULTS: The weights of soleus, plantaris and masseter muscles were decreased in underfed and hypophysectomized rats. Hypophysectomy resulted in significant increases of type I MHC at the expense of type IIx in plantaris muscle and of neonatal MHC at the expense of types IIx and IIb in masseter muscle. Serum IGF-I was decreased by underfeeding and hypophysectomy. Plantaris muscle IGF-I Ea mRNA in underfed and hypophysectomized rats was significantly lower than in normal controls. Plantaris muscle IGF-I Eb mRNA in underfed rats was significantly lower than in normal controls. Masseter muscle IGF-I Eb mRNA in severely underfed rats was significantly lower than in normal control and hypophysectomized rats. Soleus muscle myostatin mRNA in hypophysectomized rats was significantly higher than in normal and significantly underfed rats. No significant differences in plantaris and masseter muscle myostatin mRNA were observed between groups. CONCLUSION: Suppressed muscle growth caused by hypophysectomy and underfeeding may be attributed mainly to reduced circulating IGF-I and partially to reduced IGF-I mRNA, rather than to a change in myostatin.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

High sensitivity C-reactive protein in asthma.

Asthma is characterised by chronic inflammation of the airways, but the relevance of high-sensitivity assays for C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), which are known to be a sensitive marker of low-grade systemic inflammation, has not been fully studied in asthma. The objective was to examine serum hs-CRP levels in patients with asthma and their relationship to clinical characteristics and degree of airway inflammation. Serum hs-CRP levels were cross-sectionally examined in steroid-naive (n = 22) and steroid-inhaling (n = 23) adult patients with asthma and healthy controls (n = 14). All were nonsmokers. Serum hs-CRP levels were significantly increased in steroid-naive patients (mean+/-sd 1.33+/-1.48 mg.L(-1)) compared with controls (0.21+/-0.30 mg.L(-1)), but not in patients on inhaled corticosteroid. Among steroid-naive patients, serum hs-CRP levels significantly negatively correlated with indices of pulmonary function (forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity and forced mid-expiratory flow) and positively with sputum eosinophil count. Among patients on inhaled corticosteroid, hs-CRP levels did not correlate with any indices. In conclusion, an increase in serum C-reactive protein levels measured by high-sensitivity assays may be associated with airflow obstruction and airway inflammation, and may serve as a surrogate marker of airway inflammation in asthma.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Diffusion-weighted imaging of metastatic brain tumors: comparison with histologic type and tumor cellularity.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: On diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), metastatic tumors of the brain may exhibit different signal intensities (SI) depending on their histology and cellularity. The purpose of our study was to verify the hypotheses (1) that SI on DWI predict the histology of metastases and (2) that apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values reflect tumor cellularity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed conventional MR images, DWI, and ADC maps of 26 metastatic brain lesions from 26 patients, 13 of whom underwent surgery after the MR examination. Two radiologists performed qualitative assessment by consensus of the SI on DWI in areas corresponding to their enhancing portions. We measured the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) on T2-weighted images and normalized ADC (nADC) values, and compared them with tumor cellularity. RESULTS: The mean SI on DWI and the CNR on T2-weighted images were significantly lower in well differentiated than in poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas and lesions other than adenocarcinoma. The mean nADC value was significantly higher in well differentiated than poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas and lesions other than adenocarcinoma. All 3 small-cell carcinomas and 1 large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma exhibited high SI on DWI. The nADC value showed a significant inverse correlation with tumor cellularity. There was no significant correlation between the CNR and tumor cellularity. CONCLUSION: The SI on DWI may predict the histology of metastases; well differentiated adenocarcinomas tended to be hypointense, and small- and large-cell neuroendocrine carcinomas showed hyperintensity. Their ADC values reflect tumor cellularity.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2005

Neuroradiologic and clinicopathologic features of oculoleptomeningeal type amyloidosis.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the pathogenesis of leptomeningeal amyloidosis in familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy amyloidogenic transthyretin Y114C (FAP ATTR Y114C). METHODS: The authors analyzed eight FAP ATTR Y114C patients. Six patients showed CNS symptoms associated with leptomeningeal amyloidosis. To examine the function of the blood-CSF barrier and blood-brain barrier (BBB), the authors performed CSF and MRI studies. The authors also performed a histopathologic study of autopsy specimens to examine the distribution of amyloid deposition in the CNS. RESULTS: CSF study showed high total protein concentrations and increased albumin CSF/serum concentration quotients (Qalb; an indication of blood-CSF barrier function). MRI with gadolinium (Gd) revealed enhancement from brainstem to spinal cord. Serial brain MRI studies with FLAIR images after Gd administration showed Gd leakage into the subarachnoid space (two patients). These findings suggested the blood-CSF barrier and BBB dysfunctions. Constructive interference in steady state (CISS) three-dimensional Fourier transformation (CISS-3DFT) sequence analysis demonstrated amyloid-induced funiculus structures joining the spinal cord and dura mater (one patient). Histopathologic study revealed intense amyloid deposition in leptomeninges, vessel walls, and parenchyma in spinal cord and the brain. These distributions of amyloid deposition are unique compared to other TTR related leptomeningeal amyloidosis. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy amyloidogenic transthyretin Y114C had CNS disorders related to amyloid deposition in leptomeninges, vessel walls, and parenchyma in spinal cord and the brain. The pathogenesis of CNS disorders may reflect disruption of the blood-CSF barrier and blood-brain barrier by amyloid deposition.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Effects of (Z)-3-hexenol, a major component of green odor, on anxiety-related behavior of the mouse in an elevated plus-maze test and biogenic amines and their metabolites in the brain.

In the present study, the effect of (Z)-3-hexenol, one of the main constituent of green odor, on the anxiety-related behavior of mouse and the content of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), dopamine and their metabolites in the brain were investigated. Evaluation of anxiety-related animal behavior was performed by measuring the percent of time spent on the open arms and the percent of open-arm entries as conventional anxiety indices. The number of times displaying risk-assessment from a closed arm was also measured as an ethological anxiety index. Diazepam, an anxiolytic agent, enhanced the percent of time spent on the open arms and the percent of open-arm entries. The number of times displaying risk-assessment was not affected by diazepam in the present study. The percent of time on the open arms were depressed, and the number of times displaying risk-assessment were stimulated by 1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)piperazine (TFMPP), indicating that TFMPP acts as an anxiogenic agent. (Z)-3-Hexenol revealed anxiolytic activity and increased the percent of time spent on the open arms and decreased the number of times displaying risk-assessment. In the neurochemical study, diazepam had no effect on the content of 5-HT and its metabolite in the brain cortex or hippocampus. On the other hand, TFMPP inhibited the 5-HT turnover rate accompanied by the elevation of the 5-HT content and reduction of the 5-HIAA content in the brain cortex and hippocampus. (Z)-3-Hexenol significantly increased the 5-HT content without affecting the 5-HIAA content or the 5-HT turnover rate in the brain cortex or hippocampus. Changes in serotonergic activity in the cortex and hippocampus were suggested to be involved in the anxiolytic effect of (Z)-3-hexenol observed in the elevated plus-maze test.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Functional MRI detection of activation in the primary gustatory cortices in humans.

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) has recently revealed that the transitions between the parietal operculum (Pop) and the insula (area G) and the ventral end of the central sulcus (cs) were activated with the shortest latency by instrumental gustatory stimulation, which suggests that the location of the primary gustatory area is in these two regions. However, studies using other noninvasive brain-imaging methods such as positron-emission tomography or functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with manual application of tastants into the mouth have been unable to confirm this. The present study examined cortical activation by repetitive stimulation of the tongue tip with 1 M NaCl with a computer-controlled stimulator and used fMRI to detect it. In individual brains, activations were detected with multiple comparisons (false discovery rate) across the whole brain corrected (threshold at P < 0.05) at both area G and frontal operculum (Fop) in 8 of 11 subjects and at the rolandic operculum (Rop) in 7 subjects. Activations were also found at the ventral end of the cs (n = 3). Group analysis with random-effect models (multiple comparison using familywise error in regions of interest, P < 0.02) revealed activation at area G in both hemispheres and in the Fop, Rop, and ventral end of the cs on the left side. The present study revealed no activation on the gyrus of the external cerebral surface except for the Rop. Taking MEG findings into consideration, the present findings strongly indicate that the primary gustatory area is present at both the transition between the Pop and insula and the Rop including the gray matter within a ventral part of the cs.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Relationship of airway wall thickening to an imbalance between matrix metalloproteinase-9 and its inhibitor in asthma.

BACKGROUND: The balance between matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) may be critical in extracellular matrix remodelling, a characteristic of asthmatic airways. An excess of TIMP-1 over MMP-9 has been associated with chronic airflow obstruction but the mechanisms underlying this association remain unknown. Recent computed tomographic (CT) studies indicate that airway wall thickening is associated with chronic airflow obstruction. METHODS: Sputum levels of MMP-9, TIMP-1, and their molar ratio were examined in 26 patients with stable asthma and their relationship with pulmonary function and airway wall thickness, assessed by a validated CT technique which measured wall area corrected by body surface area (WA/BSA), the ratio of WA to outer wall area (WA%), and the absolute wall thickness corrected by radicalBSA of a segmental bronchus (T/ radicalBSA), was examined. RESULTS: Sputum MMP-9 levels were inversely correlated with WA% and TIMP-1 levels were positively correlated with WA/BSA and T/ radicalBSA. The MMP-9/TIMP-1 molar ratio was inversely correlated with WA% and T/ radicalBSA and positively correlated with post-bronchodilator values of mid-forced expiratory flow and maximum expiratory flow at the quartile of lung volume. CONCLUSION: Excess TIMP-1 may have a pathogenetic role in airway wall thickening in asthmatic patients which may result in chronic airflow obstruction.

Asthma↗

PubMed2004

Preoperative probability model for predicting overall survival after resection of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was identify readily available factors most helpful in predicting survival and to develop a prognostic nomogram for patients with pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer who are candidates for thoracotomy. METHODS: Pretreatment data on 313 patients with metastases who underwent thoracotomy were analysed. Fourteen preoperative clinical and pathological variables were used to develop a probability model, in which their association with 3-year survival was tested. A nomogram to predict median, 1- and 3-year survival was constructed and validated internally using the concordance index (c-index). The nomogram was then validated with an external data set. RESULTS: Five variables were identified as independent predictors of 3-year survival: prethoracotomy carcinoembryonic antigen level, number of pulmonary tumours, presence of hilar or mediastinal tumour-infiltrated lymph nodes, histology of the primary tumour and presence of extrathoracic disease. The nomogram was well calibrated for predicting 3-year overall survival. The internal validated c-index of the nomogram was 0.72. Applied to another data set, the external validated c-index was 0.66. CONCLUSION: This model has moderate predictive ability to discriminate between patients who are likely to survive after thoracotomy for pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Pilot study of pancreatoscopic lithotripsy using a 5-fr instrument: selected patients may benefit.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Despite advances in endoscopic procedures and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), the removal of impacted pancreatic duct stones demands a certain amount of time. The aim of this study was to determine which patient group might suitable for our single-session treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 17 patients who were symptomatic due to relapsing pancreatitis with pancreatic duct stones. A 5-Fr miniscope was inserted via the papilla to the impacted pancreatic duct stone and pancreatoscopic laser lithotripsy (PSLL) was performed, under direct vision, in only one session. If complete extraction of the pancreatic duct stones was not achieved with PSLL, ESWL was adopted in subsequent sessions. RESULTS: Complete extraction of the pancreatic duct stones using PSLL in a single session was achieved in eight of 17 patients. Single-session PSLL was only suitable for patients with pancreatic duct stones smaller than 17 mm in diameter and with no severe stricture or sharp bend in the pancreatic duct proximal to the stones. CONCLUSIONS: Our single-session endoscopic treatment of pancreatic duct stones was useful in a selected patient group.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

The relationship between salivary secretion rate and masticatory efficiency.

In order to elucidate the relationship between the salivary secretion rate and masticatory efficiency, experimental hypo- and hyper-salivation were produced by the administration of atropine sulphate presenting an anticholinergic effect and pilocarpine hydrochloride having a muscarine effect orally in 10 healthy fully dentates. To confirm the pharmaceutical effect of these drugs, the unstimulated whole salivary secretion rate during 10 min, and masticatory efficiency using the sieve method were measured before and after medication. The unstimulated whole salivary secretion rate during 10 min decreased significantly by the administration of atropine sulphate (P < 0.05), and increased significantly by pilocarpine hydrochloride (P < 0.01). The masticatory efficiency after atropine sulphate medication was significantly lower than that before (P < 0.01). The increase in salivary secretion by pilocarpine hydrochloride did not lead to a higher masticatory efficiency. The evidence supports the understanding that saliva plays an important role in masticatory function.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Intracerebroventricular administration of histamine H3 receptor antagonists decreases seizures in rat models of epilepsia.

The effects of histamine H3 antagonists on amygdaloid kindled and maximal electroshock seizures in rats were studied to determine their potential as new antiepileptic drugs. Under pentobarbital anesthesia, rats were fixed to a stereotaxic apparatus and a stainless steel guide cannula for drug administration was implanted into the lateral ventricle. In amygdaloid kindled seizures, electrodes were implanted into the right amygdala and electroencephalogram was recorded bipolarly; stimulation was applied bipolarly every day by a constant current stimulator and continued until a generalized convulsion was obtained. In the maximal electroshock (MES) seizure test, electroconvulsion was induced by stimulating animals through ear-clip electrodes, and the durations of tonic and clonic seizures were measured. Thioperamide, clobenpropit, iodophenpropit, VUF5514, VUF5515 and VUF4929 caused a dose-dependent inhibition of both seizure stage and afterdischarge (AD) duration of amygdaloid kindled seizures. The duration of tonic seizure induced by MES was also inhibited by H3 antagonists, but the duration of clonic seizures were unchanged. Among the H3 antagonists tested, clobenpropit and iodophenpropit were somewhat more potent than the other drugs on amygdaloid kindled seizures and MES seizures, respectively. These results indicate that some H3 antagonists may be useful as antiepileptic drugs, especially for secondary generalized seizures and/or tonic-clonic seizures in humans.

Amygdala↗

PubMed2003

Quantitation of bovine macrophage colony-stimulating factor in bovine serum by ELISA.

We established an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system for the quantitation of bovine macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and used it to measure the serum M-CSF levels in bovine fetuses and calves. The average serum M-CSF level was 2.7+/-1.5 ng/ml in 39 calves under 100 days old, and 1.8+/-0.8 ng/ml in 15 cattle between 101 and 418 days old. Fetal sera samples (n = 6) prepared from cattle between 150 and 280 days of gestational age had a higher average level of M-CSF (8.8+/-1.4 ng/ml). Alteration in serum M-CSF levels in each individual calf was also measured. The serum levels of M-CSF in calves at 0-1 day after birth ranged from 0.52 to 7.3 ng/ml. During the period 113-125 days after birth, serum levels were around 1.4+/-0.39 ng/ml. Although serum M-CSF levels generally decreased as the age of calves advanced, differences among individuals, especially among newborn calves, were observed.

Age Factors↗