The present study revealed in detail the subcellular localization of lysozyme and beta-defensin in the apocrine glands of the equine scrotal skin, a specific body region. The apocrine glandular cells were equipped with a varying number of secretory granules, a well-developed Golgi apparatus and abundant cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum within their cytoplasm. In these cells, reactive gold particles representing lysozyme were detectable in the secretory granules as well as the Golgi apparatus and elements of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Additionally, the antimicrobial peptide group of beta-defensin was also localized in the above-mentioned ultrastructures of the secretory cells. The presence and secretion of such substances that may serve as a non-specific defense against microorganisms are suggestive of the protective effect of the secretory production elaborated by the apocrine glands.

The functional properties of sialic acids appear to be manifold. Therefore, they are considered as essential components of saliva. In this study, the localization of sialoglycoconjugates in the submandibular glands of Japanese miniature (Shiba) goat was examined by light and electron microscopic histochemical methods. The submandibular glands exhibited a large amount of sialic acids. Additionally, sialic acids with O-acetyl substitutions were detectable in the mucous acinar cells and serous demilunar cells. According to lectin histochemical methods, the mucous and serous cells mainly contained the Siaα2-6Gal/GalNAc sequence. These sialoglycoconjugates generated by the submandibular glands may specifically participate in the maintenance of the viscoelastic properties of saliva, protection of oral tissues and prevention of pathogenic microbial attacks. Therefore, our results suggest that they are essential components of saliva to maintain oral health.

ABSTRACT. The effects of a timolol maleate gel-forming solution (TMGS) on intraocular pressure (IOP), blood pressure (BP), and pupil size (PS) were evaluated in normotensive dogs. TMGS was administered once daily to six normotensive beagle dogs. TMGS administration reduced IOP and PS. The hypotensive effect persisted for 24 hr after the administration. The mean reduction in IOP was 5.3 mm Hg (P<0.01). The changes in BP and PS were not significant. These results suggest that TMGS can potentially be used in the treatments of glaucoma and ocular hypertension in dogs. KEY WORDS: canine, gellan gum, timolol.J. Vet. Med. Sci. 68(6): 631-633, 2006 Glaucoma is a painful disease and is characterized by retinal ganglion cell death, optic nerve damage that is usually associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), and progressive loss of vision that could result in blindness. Glaucoma therapy aims to lower IOP in order to preserve ocular function and reduce pain [1].Timolol maleate (TM) is a nonselective beta-adrenergic that substantially reduces the volume of aqueous humor and thereby reduces IOP [1,3,20]. TM ophthalmic solution is widely used to treat glaucoma in humans and dogs. However, TM has the potential to cause systemic side effects [4, 6, 8-10, 15-17, 19, 20]. The TM gel-forming solution (TMGS) is delivered in a gellan gum solution and can be administered to the eye as a drop; this drop forms a viscous solution on contact with the ocular surface. TMGS holds TM for a longer period of time than the TM aqueous solution; consequently, TMGS is administered once daily [2,10,[12][13][14]. In this study, we evaluated the effects of TMGS on IOP, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), and pupil size (PS) in normotensive beagle dogs.All animals were treated in accordance with the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Statement for the Use of Animals in Ophthalmic and Vision Research. Six clinically normal beagle dogs (two males and four females) were used in this study. Their body weights ranged from 9.7 to 13.0 kg (median weight: 12.2 kg), and their ages ranged from 4 to 11 years (median age: 8.0 years). Dogs were defined as normotensive after a complete physical and ophthalmic examination, including tonometry, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, and ophthalmoscopy; these examinations did not reveal any abnormalities. A 0.5% TMGS (Timoptol XE 0.5%, Banyu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tokyo) was used in this study. TMGS was administered in one eye (treated eye) of each dog. Once-a-day administration (9:00 AM) was continued for 7 days. The contralateral eyes (nontreated eyes) were not treated. IOP was measured using an applanation tonometer (Tono-Pen XL, Medtronic, FL, U.S.A.); BP, an oscillometric hematomanometer (BP100D, Fukuda M-E Kogyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan); and PS, a pupillometer (Mita's pupillometer, Inami, Tokyo, Japan). IOP, BP, and PS were measured before administration of TMGS; 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, and 24 hr after administration on the first day; and at 7:00 PM everyday from the second day until the en...

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The localization and chemical nature of complex carbohydrates in the ceruminous glands of the Japanese miniature (Shiba) goat were studied using light and electron microscopic histochemical methods, particularly lectin histochemistry. The epithelial cells and luminal secretion of the caprine ceruminous glands contained large amounts of neutral and smaller amounts of acidic glycoconjugates with different terminal sugars (alpha- d-mannose, alpha-L-fucose, alpha-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, beta-D-galactose, beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, and N-acetyl-neuraminic acid). Several sugars (alpha-L-fucose, beta-D-galactose, beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, and N-acetyl-neuraminic acid) were also detectable in the secretion of the sebaceous glands. The results obtained are discussed with regard to the specific function of the glandular secretion mixture. The complex glycoconjugates found in the ceruminous gland secretion may control viscoelasticity of and bacterial proliferation within the cerumen in order to protect the external auditory canal against physical damage or microbial attacks.