The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of diets containing Lactobacillus plantarum CJLP243 on the growth and cytokine response of weaning pigs (Sus scrofa) challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). In a 28-d experiment (14 d before and 14 d after challenge), a total of 108 pigs at 20 ± 1 d of age were allotted to 1 of 6 diets. These were a control diet without ETEC challenge (CON) and 5 treatment diets with ETEC challenge, including a control diet with ETEC challenge (negative control, NC); a positive control diet containing antibiotics (PC); control diet plus (10(8), 10(9), or 10(10)) cfu/kg L. plantarum CJLP243 (T1, T2, and T3, respectively). After challenge, NC showed the least ADFI, whereas PC and T3 had the greatest ADFI (P = 0.002). The ADG of PC, T2, and T3 were greater (P = 0.001) than that of CON, NC, and T1 during wk 1 to wk 2. During wk 3 to wk 4, a marked decline was seen in NC (P = 0.001) compared with CON, whereas PC and T3 showed increased ADG (P = 0.001). The overall ADG of PC and T3 were greater (P < 0.001) than the remaining groups. The PC and T3 had the greatest G:F during the second 2 wk (P = 0.002), and the overall 4-wk experimental period (P = 0.003). At 3 h after challenge, all groups except CON had greater rectal temperatures (RT; P < 0.05). The RT decreased to prechallenge temperatures at 9 h (PC and T3), 24 h (T1 and T2), and remained increased until d 7 in NC. At 7 and 14 d postinfection, the number of animals detected positive for ETEC by PCR assay was the greatest in NC; however, the PC group had the fewest ETEC-positive animals (P < 0.05), which was similar to T3. All challenged pigs, except T2, had greater concentrations of serum haptoglobin compared with CON, with the greatest concentration observed in NC (P < 0.001). Challenged pigs had increased serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) 3 to 48 h postinfection, with the greatest concentration of TNF-α at 48 h observed in NC (P < 0.05). Similarly, greater (P < 0.05) serum concentrations of interferon-γ were observed for 9 h (T1 and T3), 24 h (T2 and PC), and 48 h (NC) postinfection. The serum concentration of IL-6 increased (P < 0.05) for 3 h in T3 and 24 h in NC. In conclusion, our findings suggest that L. plantarum CJLP243, at a concentration of 10(10) cfu/kg, may serve as a potential alternative to antibiotic supplementation to improve the growth and health performance of weaning pigs, especially during acute inflammation of the gut after bacterial infections.

Several factors influence the limited application of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in the canine species. Most problems arise because of the complex nature of reproductive physiology of the dog. For example, dogs are monoestrus, generally exhibiting oestrus only once every 6 month to 1 year. In the canine species, there has been little research on the ART because of difficulties associated with anatomy and reproductive physiology. Because in vitro maturation of canine oocytes has been particularly difficult, in vivo matured oocytes have been used in somatic cell nuclear transfer. However, the number of oocytes that can be obtained using this approach is limited, with ∼6 to 10 good oocytes being obtained per collection. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of different dosages of eCG on folliculogenesis in the dog and to determine the number of oocytes that might be obtained after ovulation. The experimental design involved 3 groups that were treated with different dosages of eCG at the early stage of proestrus; Group A was a nontreatment (control) group, Group B received 200-IU eCG SC injections every day, and Group C was injected with 500 IU of eCG every 2 days until reaching 2 to 3 ng mL–1 serum progesterone concentration, respectively. Dogs in Groups B and C received a 1 000-IU hCG SC injection when progesterone concentrations reached 2 to 3 ng mL–1. The serum progesterone concentration was examined with a Radioimmunoassay Kit (Diagnostic Systems Laboratories Inc., Webster, TX, USA). The day of ovulation was considered as the day when serum progesterone concentration reached 4.0 to 7.2 ng mL–1. Approximately 70 to 76 h after ovulation, the dogs were subjected to the oocyte collection procedure. One-way ANOVA followed by Duncan’s multiple range tests was performed. The significance level was <0.05. In total, 446 oocytes were recovered from 60 bitches, with an average of 6.4 oocytes/dog in Group A (from 49 bitches), 16.6 oocytes/dog in Group B (from 5 bitches), and 8.5 oocytes/dog in Group C (from 6 bitches). The oocytes collection rate (number of oocytes per dog) in Group B was higher (P < 0.05) than those in the other 2 groups. In conclusion, the results showed that eCG treatment with hCG in early-proestrus-stage bitches can result in a greater number of recovered in vivo matured oocytes. This technology could become a useful research tool for canine cloning and ART.

The amniotic fluids contain mesenchymal stem cells and can be readily available for tissue engineering. Recently, regenerative treatments such as tissue engineering, cell therapy, and transplantation have shown potential in clinical trials of degenerative diseases. Physiologically, disease presentation and clinical responses in the dog are much more similar to that in the human compared with other traditional mammalian models. In addition, several researchers have demonstrated Canis familiaris is a suitable model for human diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether canine amniotic fluid (cAF)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) can differentiate into neural precursor cells in vitro by neural induction reagent. The conditions of differentiation of MSC into neural cells were DMEM and N2-supplement, dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate, and butylated hydroxyanisole. During neural precursor differentiation, cAF-MSC can progressively acquire neuron-like morphology. Expressions of neuron cell-specific markers were examined before and after in vitro induction of differentiation. Changes in mRNA levels of specific genes were quantified by RT-PCR. The mRNA levels of NEFL (730%), GFAP (350%), β-tubuline 3 (2900%), and NSE (960%) were significantly increased after induction. The value of change in mRNA levels before and after induction was evaluated with the Image J program. In addition, the nestin, β-tubuline 3, and tyrosine hydroxylase protein expressions were confirmed by immunocytochemistry assay following the induction of differentiation, compared with the noninduction. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that cAF-MSC have great potential for neural precursor differentiation in vitro. Therefore, amniotic fluid may be a suitable alternative source of stem cells and can be applied to cell therapy in neurodegeneration diseases including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and Huntington’s disease.