The ability of two plasmid DNA vaccines to stimulate lymphocytes from normal human donors and to generate antigen-specific responses is demonstrated. The first vaccine (truncated; tPSMA) encodes for only the extracellular domain of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). The product, expressed following transfection with this vector, is retained in the cytosol and degraded by the proteasomes. For the ''secreted'' (sPMSA) vaccine, a signal peptide sequence is added to the expression cassette and the expressed protein is glycosylated and directed to the secretory pathway. Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) are transiently transfected with either sPSMA or tPSMA plasmids. The DCs are then used to activate autologous lymphocytes in an in vitro model of DNA vaccination. Lymphocytes are boosted following priming with transfected DCs or with peptide-pulsed monocytes. Their reactivity is tested against tumor cells or peptide-pulsed T2 target cells. Both tPSMA DCs and sPSMA DCs generate antigen-specific cytotoxic T-cell responses. The immune response is restricted toward one of the four PSMA-derived epitopes when priming and boosting is performed with sPSMA. In contrast, tPSMA-transfected DCs prime T cells toward several PSMA-derived epitopes. Subsequent repeated boosting with transfected DCs, however, restricts the immune response to a single epitope due to immunodominance.

Purpose: To determine the normal sonographic features of rabbit kidneys with regard to their use in diagnostic imaging of renal lesions in this species. Materials: Twelve sexually mature clinically healthy New Zealand White rabbits weighing 2.8 kg to 3.2 kg were examined after anaesthesia. Methods: A diagnostic ultrasound system with microconvex multifrequency 6.5 MHz probe was used. The animals were positioned in dorsal recumbency. The transabdominal paravertebral imaging approach was used. Longitudinal and transverse scans of the kidneys were obtained. Six rabbits were sacrificed, their kidneys removed and studied in isotonic liquid medium. Results: The shape of kidneys was elliptical. The fibrous capsule was visualized as a straight hyperechoic band. The fatty capsule was hyperechoic and with irregular borders. The cortex exhibited a heterogeneous echogenicity. The acoustic density of the cortex was lower than that of the liver. The echoicity of the medulla was lower as compared to the cortex and the structures of the kidney pelvis. The latter appeared as a centrally located hyperechoic structure. The post mortem examination showed that kidneys were oval and hyperechoic. The kidney pelvis was seen as a centrally located longitudinal finding, and the renal hilum -as a centrally located hyperechoic finding. Conclusions: The transabdominal paravertebral approach was a good method for visualization of rabbit kidneys. The dorsal recumbency of the subjects allowed the visualization. The in vivo results corresponded to those from the post mortem study. The rabbit kidney was oval in shape. The hypoechoic peripheral zone is occupied by the cortex and the medulla, while the hyperechoic central zone -by the kidney pelvis. The cortex was less echoic than the liver parenchyma. The kidney pelvic cavity had a lower acoustic density than its walls, due to the presence of peripelvic adipose tissue. The present results could be used in the interpretation of normal and pathological renal findings in the rabbit.

The anatomical features of the rabbit adrenal glands have been investigated in some aspects, either via classic anatomical methods and routine histology, either using imaging modalities in our previous experiments. The present study is focused for obtaining data, concerning the objective values of three macrometric indices -lateromedial, craniocaudal and dorsoventral diameters. We used the cadavers of thirty-four 8-month old (sexually mature) healthy white New Zealand rabbits weighing 2.8-3.2 kg. We reached the abdominal cavity after median incision. The both kidneys were kept in abdominal cavity with a view to find more easily the location of the right and left adrenal glands. The material was documented using a digital camera. The craniocaudal, dorsoventral and lateromedial diameters have been measured using a digital caliper, as the obtained values were accurate to the second sign. Descriptive analysis of the results using Statistica 8 -StatSoft DELL was performed. The lateromedial diameter of the right adrenal gland was 5.1 mm ± 1.0, craniocaudal diameter was 9.3 mm ± 1.2 and the dorsoventral diameter -5.0 mm ± 0.8. For the left adrenal gland were measured the following values -the lateromedial diameter was 6.5 mm ± 1.2, the craniocaudal diameter was 10. 2 mm ± 1.4 and the dorsoventral diameter was 6.3 mm ± 0.9. Our results showed that the studied parameters of the left gland were with higher values compared to the right gland. The results from the conducted anatomical study deepens the knowledge for the macroscopic features of the rabbit adrenal glands.

The study aims to perform comparative analysis of the metric anatomy of the spleen and pancreas in rabbit, determined by applying of transabdominal ultrasonography and convectional anatomical research. Twelve mature, clinically healthy New Zealand White rabbits 8 months of age from and weighed between 2.8 kg and 3.2 kg were looked at. The transabdominal B-mode ultrasonography was performed by Diagnostic Ultrasound System. The spleen and pancreas were imaged sagittally and transversally. The approaches wеre percutaneous transabdominal hypochondral left and percutaneous transabdominal epigastric. After euthanizing the animals a laparotomy was performed. The topography, shape and morphometry were made. In longitudinal ultrasongraphic study of the spleen has been seen its elongated shape. There were ultrasonographic metric data presented. The organ was seized to the greater curvature of the stomach in the area of the bottom and portions of the body of the stomach. The ultrasonography and postmortem study showed that the pancreas in rabbit is disseminated organ. The body of the pancreas was localized in the mesoduodenum of the duodenal sigmoid flexure, immediately behind the porta hepatic, as it has been cut through by the portal vein. From the comparative analysis of the obtained results could be conclude, that the study of some quantitative parameters of the structure of the pancreas in rabbit should contribute to the accurate diagnostics of the pancreatic lesions and the abdominal surgical practice in the animals.

The aim of the study was to prove analogy of the results from ultrasonographic, computed tomographic and post mortem transverse study of the rabbit heart and select mediastinal vessels. Ten sexually mature, healthy New Zealand White rabbits, aged 12 months, with a body weight of 2.8 kg to 3.2 kg were investigated. Two -dimensional transthoracic echocardiography was performed in right and left lateral recumbency. The transducer was placed on the thorax for imaging the heart in standard planes (short and long axis). Transverse computed tomography of the thorax was carried out before and after intravenous contrast administration. The animals were positioned in ventrodorsal recumbency. The post mortem transverse frozen cuts of the thorax were 10 mm thick. By the ultrasonographic study the centrally situated hypoechoic lumen of the ascending aorta was found. The hypoechoic left and right atria (proventricles), parts of the right ventricle and pulmonary ostium with the pulmonary valve were visualized peripherally. The entire heart silhouette was observed via computed tomography. The atrioventricular septum was seen as a hypo attenuating structure. The heart ventricles, atria, ascending and descending aorta, esophagus and trachea were visualized. The four heart cavities and major vessels were marked by the post mortem transverse frozen study. The comparative analysis of the data from the ultrasonographic, computed tomographic and post mortem transverse frozen study of the rabbit heart and its mediastinal vessels showed that the results could be applied in the interpretation and diagnosis of the heart and vascular lesions in this species.