The purpose of this investigation was to define the magnetic resonance imaging anatomy of the rostral part of the equine head. 10 mm-thick, T1-weighted images of two isolated equine cadaver heads were obtained using a 1.5 Tesla magnet and a body coil. MR images were compared to corresponding frozen cross-sections of the cadaver head. Relevant anatomic structures were identified and labeled at each level. The resulting images provided excellent anatomic detail of the oral and nasal cavities, paranasal sinuses and associated structures. Annotated MR images from this study are intended as a reference for clinical MR imaging studies of the equine head.

SUMMARYHypoxia is an important factor in the pathophysiology of vascular and inflammatory diseases. Leucocyte infiltration, as a consequence of adhesion molecule up-regulation and chemokine release, is a prominent feature of these diseases. The objective of our study was to investigate the potential role of resident fibroblasts in hypoxia-induced chemotactic responses. We show that MCP-1 and IL-8 mRNA are specifically induced by hypoxia in dermal fibroblasts. This response is paralleled by increased NF-kB p65/p50 binding activity, and it is inhibited by pretreatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine. MCP-1 secreted by fibroblasts is chemotactic for monocytic cells and this activity is significantly increased by hypoxia. Chemotactic index correlates with MCP-1 protein levels and is significantly decreased by neutralizing anti-MCP-1 MoAb. These findings demonstrate the ability of resident fibroblasts to mediate chemotaxis of leucocytes through the release of chemokines in response to hypoxia. Our data point to MCP-1 as an important component in this response, and therefore it may be a potential target in inflammatory responses associated with hypoxia.

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Objective Chemokines are important mediators in the chemoattraction of leukocytes to sites of inflammation. This study investigated the potential contribution of systemic sclerosis (SSc) fibroblasts to chemokine production and its potential relevance to the pathogenesis of SSc. Methods The expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) for different C‐C and C‐X‐C chemokines by SSc and normal fibroblasts was studied by RNase protection assay. Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP‐1) protein production was analyzed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The chemotactic effect of fibroblast‐derived MCP‐1 on monocytic cells was analyzed in a transmigration assay. Nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB) and activator protein 1 (AP‐1) activation in fibroblasts was studied by electromobility shift analysis. MCP‐1 expression in SSc skin sections was studied by immunohistochemistry. Results Among all chemokine genes studied, only MCP‐1 and interleukin‐8 mRNA were expressed by nonstimulated normal and SSc fibroblasts. SSc fibroblasts displayed increased constitutive expression of MCP‐1 mRNA and protein and showed a blunted response to oxidative stress. Increased MCP‐1 production was associated with higher chemotactic activity for monocytic cells. Increased NF‐κB or AP‐1 activation was not responsible for the constitutive overexpression of MCP‐1 by SSc fibroblasts. In SSc skin sections, MCP‐1 expression was detected in fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and mononuclear cells, whereas it was undetectable in normal skin. Conclusion SSc fibroblasts display a specific pattern of chemokine gene expression that is characterized by constitutively increased and abnormally regulated expression of MCP‐1 in vitro. MCP‐1 is also expressed in lesional skin and can participate in the pathogenesis of SSc.

The purpose of this investigation was to define the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging appearance of the brain and associated structures of the equine head. MR images were acquired in oblique dorsal (T2-weighted), sagittal (T1-weighted), and transverse planes (T2-weighted), using a magnet of 1.5 Tesla and a human body coil. Relevant anatomic structures were identified and labeled at each level. The resulting images provided excellent anatomic detail of the cranioencephalic structures. Annotated MR images from this study are intended as a reference for clinical imaging studies of the equine head, specially in the diagnosis of brain diseases in the horse.