Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T A Bertram

Publications and source records attributed to T A Bertram.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Neutrophilic leukocyte structure and function in domestic animals.

Differences in neutrophil morphology between various species of domestic animals are evident when morphometric techniques are used. Morphometric analysis can be coupled with functional assays of degranulation to demonstrate changes in granule volume after neutrophil activation (Bertram and Jensen, 1984). Morphometric and functional analysis of the neutrophil can also be used to evaluate the response of neutrophils to infectious agents (Coignoul et al., 1984a). Comparison of these assays between animal species may provide insight into the susceptibility of animals to various microbial pathogens. The enzyme content of neutrophil granules has been extensively studied, but the process of enzyme release from granules is poorly understood. Granule contents are assumed to be released in an "all or none" fashion. The presence of unique forms of granules (granules with a flocculent matrix) seen in degranulating neutrophils suggests that partial granule-content release as well as total granule-content release may be controlled by similar processes. If a selective process of granule enzyme release occurs, a more refined control of degranulation may exist than has been previously believed. Functions of neutrophilic leukocytes include phagocytosis, killing, and digestion of microbes which invade the host. The neutrophil is also able to increase vascular permeability, help or suppress some T and B lymphocyte responses, and modify some phases of the inflammatory process. Research into the role of neutrophils in killing tumor cells has demonstrated the potential beneficial effects of neutrophil-mediated tissue-damaging mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Pathogenicity of equine herpesvirus 1 subtype 2 for foals and adult pony mares.

Three pony mares and 4 pony foals were inoculated with a subtype 2 strain of equine herpesvirus 1. Foals had periods of fever 12 h and 2.5 days after inoculation and leukopenia, involving both neutrophils and lymphocytes, followed by leukocytosis. Mares had transient fever and leukopenia 24 hours after inoculation that were less severe than in foals. An increase in circulating virus-neutralizing antibody was seen in 2 of 3 inoculated mares, but not in foals. Attempts to isolate virus from blood were unsuccessful. These studies show that equine herpesvirus 1 subtype 2 is a mild pathogen for ponies and infection may result in inapparent clinical disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Functional and ultrastructural changes in neutrophils from mares and foals experimentally inoculated with a respiratory tract strain of equine herpesvirus-1.

Neutrophils isolated from venous blood of adult and foal ponies inoculated with equine herpesvirus-1 were evaluated by in vitro function tests and by electron microscopy. Foals had fever and severe neutropenia 24 hours after inoculation; increased neutrophil random migration under agarose and decreased antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity were significant at 24 hours, but values had returned to preinoculation levels by 72 hours. Mares had fever and leukopenia of less severity, increases in neutrophil migration, and longer persistence of primary granule release than were seen in foals. Reduced migration and degranulation, and a decrease in antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity seen with neutrophils from foals, as compared with mares, may relate to the high susceptibility of foals to equine herpesvirus-1 infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Functional and ultrastructural evaluation of neutrophils from foals and lactating and nonlactating mares.

Neutrophils from 4 pony foals, 3 lactating pony mares, and 3 nonlactating mares were evaluated ultrastructurally and by in vitro function tests. Neutrophils from foals had significantly (P = 0.05) less random migration than neutrophils from mares; values in tests for iodination and Staphylococcus aureus ingestion were also lower with foal neutrophils. Neutrophils from lactating mares had lower responses to iodination, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and random migration tests than did neutrophils from nonlactating mares. Ultrastructurally, granule concentration did not differ significantly among groups. A slight decrease in primary granules and a corresponding increase in granules with a flocculent matrix indicates partial spontaneous neutrophil degranulation in foals and lactating mares.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Responses of equine neutrophils to contagious equine metritis organism and its lipopolysaccharides.

Morphology and function of equine neutrophils were evaluated after combination with contagious equine metritis organism (CEMO) or 1 of 2 CEMO lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The 2 LPS (LPS-a; LPS-p) isolated from the CEMO contained 14- and 16-carbon fatty acids, ketodeoxyoctanate, hexose, and heptose, but were morphologically distinct. Neutrophils exposed to LPS had fewer granules, whereas those exposed to CEMO had more granules than did the controls (phosphate-buffered saline solution). Neutrophil iodination was significantly increased with 10 and 25 micrograms of LPS-a, but not significantly altered by LPS-p or CEMO. Staphylococcus aureus ingestion was not influenced by CEMO and was mildly decreased by LPS-a. These results indicate that CEMO may have at least 2 functionally and morphologically distinct, but chemically similar, LPS and that 1 of these LPS (LPS-a) may enhance neutrophil killing by stimulating neutrophil iodinating mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Phagocytosis and intracellular killing of the contagious equine metritis organism by equine neutrophils in genital secretions.

Equine neutrophils were combined with contagious equine metritis organism (CEMO) or Escherichia coli in vitro in the presence of seminal plasma, uterine flushings, or Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS). Phagocytosis and intracellular killing were estimated by bacterial culture and light and electron microscopy. With lysed neutrophils, the numbers of colony-forming units of CEMO and E coli increased in seminal plasma and uterine flushings. Numbers of CEMO decreased in HBSS. The numbers of CEMO increased more in the presence of seminal plasma than the other media. When neutrophils were in the various media, 29% to 32% of the CEMO were phagocytized by 120 minutes. At all sampling times and in all media types, more E coli than CEMO were observed to be associated with neutrophils. By 210 minutes' incubation in uterine flushings, seminal plasma, and HBSS, 60% to 75% of the intracellular CEMO were killed. Of the intracellular E coli in the various media, 85% to 90% were killed by 210 minutes. Seemingly, CEMO is an extracellular pathogenic bacteria and immunoglobulins in seminal plasma and uterine flushings from horses not previously infected with CEMO do not enhance CEMO phagocytosis or intracellular killing.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Phagocytosis and intracellular killing of the contagious equine metritis organism by equine neutrophils in serum.

Equine neutrophils were combined with Haemophilus equigenitalis (contagious equine metritis organism; CEMO) or Escherichia coli in low- and high-antibody-titer serum to evaluate the neutrophils ability to phagocytize and kill these bacteria. More E. coli than CEMO were phagocytized at each time period. After 120 min in low-antibody-titer serum, 56.3% of the E. coli and 34.3% of the CEMO were phagocytized. A total of 45% of CEMO and 74.9% of E. coli were phagocytized by 120 min when neutrophils were in high-antibody-titer serum. More than 75% of the ingested E. coli and 90% of the ingested CEMO were killed within 210 min of incubation. Fewer E. coli than CEMO were killed at any given time period. Ultrastructural examination showed CEMO to be degraded in the neutrophil. Degradation was the most extensive in neutrophils in high-titer serum. It is suggested that CEMO is a pathogenic extracellular bacterium incapable of prolonged intracellular survival and that it is slower to be phagocytized than a nonpathogenic E. coli.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Morphometry of equine neutrophils isolated at different temperatures.

Equine neutrophils were evaluated ultrastructurally and by morphometric analysis. Homogeneous populations of neutrophils were isolated from peripheral blood at 4 degrees and 22 degrees C by centrifugation on two sequential Ficoll-Hypaque density gradients. Isolation procedures at both temperatures resulted in neutrophil degranulation but not cell swelling. Degranulation was more extensive in cells isolated at 22 degrees C. Isolation temperature affected the neutrophil content of secondary granules more than primary granules. A granule similar to immature specific granules of human neutrophils was observed. Granules with a flocculent matrix were more frequent in cells processed at 22 degrees C. These granules were considered to be involved in the degranulation process.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Gastritis associated with infection by Helicobacter pylori: comparative pathology in humans and swine.

Infection of humans with Helicobacter pylori elicits a multifocal, active, chronic inflammatory response and moderate to severe atrophy of the gastric mucosa. Currently, piglets are the only reported animal model of H. pylori infection. Our objective was to compare the inflammatory response induced in humans with that induced in piglets by H. pylori infection. Samples of gastric mucosa were obtained from H. pylori-infected and uninfected piglets and humans. The composition of the inflammatory cell infiltrate and mucosal atrophy were evaluated by histomorphometric analysis of the biopsied gastric tissue. Infection with H. pylori resulted in a three-fold increase in the volume of inflammatory cells in the gastric mucosa of both humans and piglets. In H. pylori-infected humans, neutrophils composed the bulk of the cellular infiltrate; in piglets, the primary inflammatory cell was the lymphocyte. Both humans and piglets had severe epithelial cell vacuolation and significant reduction of the gastric mucosal surface area. We concluded that pathologic processes induced by infection with H. pylori, which include relatively severe mucosal inflammation, mucosal atrophy, and epithelial vacuolation, are similar in piglets and humans but that the primary inflammatory cell types are distinctly different in the two species.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Atypical tubule hyperplasia and renal tubule tumors in conventional rats on 90-day toxicity studies.

Bilateral, multicentric renal tubule tumors were found in 4 rats at the termination of 3 separate 90-day toxicity studies during the safety evaluation of 3 unrelated chemicals. The 3 studies were conducted at 2 separate locations, but the rats used were obtained from the same commercial source. The rat strains were Fischer-344 (1 male and 1 female case) and Sprague-Dawley (2 female cases). Three of the renal tumor cases were from either the high-dose or mid-dose treatment groups, and 1 case was an untreated control. The tumors were accompanied by multiple foci of atypical tubule hyperplasia but only in the tumor-bearing rats. There were no lesions associated with renal tumor pathogenesis in any of the remaining treated or untreated animals in the 3 studies. In addition, there was no indication of nephrotoxicity in the treated or untreated animals. Tumor morphology was characterized by a generally vacuolated appearance, eosinophilia, cytoplasmic and nuclear pleomorphism, and conspicuously hypertrophied nucleoli. The renal tubule tumors in these 90-day studies were compared to hereditary renal tubule tumors occurring in the Eker rat, a Long-Evans derivative with a genetic predisposition to this tumor type. The multiplicity of renal tubule tumors, early age of onset, and tumor morphology described in the cases from the 90-day studies were very similar to those characterizing the hereditary renal tumor model.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The interactions of diet and colonic microflora in regulating colonic mucosal growth.

The colonic mucosa can adapt its growth to alterations in diet. Metabolites from colonic microflora are frequently implicated as the primary factor in mediating the colonic mucosal response to diet; however, there is also evidence indicating that diet may have a direct effect in mediating this response. The aim of this study was to determine the role of diet, microflora, and microflora metabolites in altering the growth of the colonic mucosa. Two 28-day feeding studies were conducted using Sprague-Dawley rats. The first study compared the growth of the colonic mucosa in germ-free and conventional rats fed 6 different diets. The second study compared the growth of the colonic mucosa to the concentration of bacterial-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFs), bile acids, and ammonia. The diets that were fed consisted of (1) AIN-76a diet without dietary fiber; (2) standard AIN-76a diet, which contained 5% cellulose; (3) AIN-76a diet with 5% guar gum; (4) a "Western" human diet with 20% fat and 10% cellulose; (5) AIN-76a diet formulated to mimic Diet 4 in fat content but with 2.5% cellulose; and (6) Purina Rodent Chow. Quantitative volumetric and stereologic analysis was used to assess changes in total colonic mucosal volume as a measure of mucosal growth. In germ-free rats, Diets 2-4 and 6 induced a significant increase (18-38%) in mucosal volume compared to Diet 1. In conventional animals, only Diets 4 and 6 induced a significant increase (up to 63%) in mucosal volume compared to Diet 1. Relative to the germ-free animals, only conventional animals on Diets 4 and 6 had an increase in mucosal volume. The increases in mucosal volume in Diets 4 and 6 were not consistently associated with increased SCFAs, ammonia, or bile acids. There was a wide range in the colonic concentrations of SCFAs (2-fold), ammonia (6-fold), and bile acids (10-fold). The presence of colonic microflora in and of itself does not lead to enhanced colonic mucosal growth. Rather, there are unique interactions between specific types of diet and microflora that lead to a growth-promoting effect. This effect could not be explained by alterations in the concentration of SCFAs, ammonia, or bile acids in colonic contents.

Ammonia↗