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At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Childhood asthma and continuous exposure to cats since the first year of life with cats allowed in the child's bedroom.

BACKGROUND: There are controversial data as to interdependencies of exposure to furred pets in infancy and the prevalence of asthma and hay fever in children. Does the timing, intensity and type of pet exposure matter? METHODS: Cross-sectional questionnaire data on 8216 German schoolchildren aged 5-7 years not living on a farm in ten rural districts in Bavaria in 1997 were analysed. The diagnosis of asthma and hay fever was ascertained with the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) core questions. Wheeze and asthma were classified as 'atopic' in children who also had hay fever or atopic dermatitis. Prevalence and intensity of exposure to pets in the first year of life and at present were assessed via questionnaire. RESULTS: Although the study was of considerable size we found no convincing association between atopic disease and pet exposure in general. Exposure to cats from the first year of life to school entry, however, was associated with a reduced prevalence of atopic asthma, if cats were allowed to be in the child's bedroom: no case of atopic asthma in 296 children exposed and an aOR 0.11 (95% CI:0.01-0.52) for atopic wheeze in the last 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Allowing cats to be in the child's bedroom from the first year of life onwards may be an indicator of intensive exposure to cats and appears to prevent the development of childhood asthma.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

A chimeric human-cat fusion protein blocks cat-induced allergy.

Animal allergens are an important cause of asthma and allergic rhinitis. We designed and tested a chimeric human-cat fusion protein composed of a truncated human IgG Fcgamma1 and the major cat allergen Fel d1, as a proof of concept for a new approach to allergy immunotherapy. This Fcgamma-Fel d1 protein induced dose-dependent inhibition of Fel d1-driven IgE-mediated histamine release from cat-allergic donors' basophils and sensitized human cord blood-derived mast cells. Such inhibition was associated with altered Syk and ERK signaling. The Fcgamma-Fel d1 protein also blocked in vivo reactivity in FcepsilonRIalpha transgenic mice passively sensitized with human IgE antibody to cat and in Balb/c mice actively sensitized against Fel d1. The Fcgamma-Fel d1 protein alone did not induce mediator release. Chimeric human Fcgamma-allergen fusion proteins may provide a new therapeutic platform for the immune-based therapy of allergic disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Cat-301 immunoreactivity in the lateral geniculate nucleus and visual cortex of the strabismic amblyopic cat.

PURPOSE: It was investigated whether alterations in neuronal structure and function occasioned by strabismic amblyopia also may be reflected in alterations in the expression on Y type neurons of a Cat-301 antibody sensitive antigen in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and cortex of our cat model of strabismic amblyopia. METHODS/RESULTS: The percentage of positively labelled cells was reduced in LGN laminae that received input from the deviated eye in strabismic amblyopic cats compared with normal cats. In the strabismic cortex, the density of immunopositive neurons was significantly reduced compared with normal the effect being most pronounced in layer IV. CONCLUSIONS: Despite previous physiological recordings indicating a decrease in X-cell associated acuity in strabismic amblyopia, the present findings imply that the changes in the early visual experience occasioned by strabismus also produce specific molecular changes in the Y neuronal class.

Amblyopia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Motor cortical kindling in cats: a comparison of adult cats and kittens.

We compared the establishment of motor cortex kindling by daily electrical stimulation in adult cats and in 4-week-old kittens. All the adult cats and kittens examined reached a stable state of kindled seizures. There was no significant difference in afterdischarge (AD) thresholds, the course of clinical seizure development, or the number of stimuli required for the establishment of kindling between adult cats and kittens. During the development of the kindling stage, AD frequency increased in both adult cats and kittens, although AD duration did not show a clear change.

Aging↗
PubMed2004

Identification of Bartonella species in rodents, shrews and cats in Denmark: detection of two B. henselae variants, one in cats and the other in the long-tailed field mouse.

Small mammals and stray cats were trapped in two areas of North Zealand, Denmark, and their blood cultured for hemotrophic bacteria. Bacterial isolates were recovered in pure culture and subjected to 16S rDNA gene sequencing. Bartonella species were isolated from five mammalian species: B. grahamii from Microtus agrestis (field vole) and Apodemus flavicollis (yellow-necked field mouse); B. taylorii from M. agrestis, A. flavicollis and A. sylvaticus (long-tailed field mouse); B. tribocorum from A. flavicollis; B. vinsonii subsp. vinsonii from M. agrestis and A. sylvaticus; and B. birtlesii from Sorex vulgaris (common shrew). In addition, two variant types of B. henselae were identified: variant I was recovered from three specimens of A. sylvaticus, and B. henselae variant II from 11 cats; in each case this was the only B. henselae variant found. No Bartonella species was isolated from Clethrionomys glareolus (bank vole) or Micromys minutus (harvest mouse). These results suggest that B. henselae occurs in two animal reservoirs in this region, one of variant I in A. sylvaticus, which may be transmitted between mice by the tick Ixodes ricinus, and another of variant II in cats, which may be transmitted by the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis). To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of B. henselae and B. tribocorum in Apodemus mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Comparison of the effect of somatostatin on gastrointestinal function in the conscious and anaesthetized cat and on the isolated cat pancreas.

1. Somatostatin, 10 microgram kg-1 hr-1, inhibited gastric acid and pepsin secretion stimulated by pentagastrin, 8 microgram kg-1 hr-1, in conscious and anaesthetized cats with chronically implanted gastric fistulae. In the acutely surgically prepared anaesthetized cat, Somatostatin inhibited pepsin secretion but produced little inhibition of gastric acid secretion or mucosal blood flow. 2. Secretin stimulated pancreatic juice volume was not significantly reduced in acutely prepared anaesthetized cats, but there was a limited reduction of cholecystokinin-pancreozymin stimulated pancreatic amylase secretion and gall bladder contraction. 3. Somatostatin had neither stimulatory nor inhibitory effects on electrolyte and amylase secretion in the isolated saline-perfused cat pancreas. 4. The results suggest that some of the effects of Somatostatin may depend on the interaction on the target cell of other factors, nervous or humoral which may vary in different experimental preparations.

Amylases↗
PubMed1994

Central hypoxic depression of respiration determined by perfusing a recipient cat's carotid bodies with blood from a donor cat.

The respiratory response to sustained hypoxia reflects the net effect of the peripheral chemoreceptor excitation and the central depression. To obtain a pure depressant effect of central hypoxia (alv. PO2, 35-75 mmHg) on respiration, the recipient cat's carotid bodies were vascularly isolated and bilaterally perfused with blood from a donor cat. Cats were anesthetized, vagotomized, paralyzed, and artificially ventilated. Alv. PCO2 was kept at a normal value (iso- and normocapnia) throughout the experiment. The minute integrated phrenic nerve activity (Min. PNA) was used as an indication of inspiratory activity. The Min. PNA at which the recipient and donor cats were both breathing room air (central normoxia and peripheral chemoreceptor normoxia) was taken as 100% (control), and Min. PNA expressed as a percentage of the control was measured in a series of three experiments (A, B, and C): experiment A (normoxia-hypoxia; central normoxia and peripheral chemoreceptor hypoxia), experiment B (hypoxia-hypoxia; central hypoxia and peripheral chemoreceptor hypoxia), and experiment C (hypoxia-normoxia; central hypoxia and peripheral chemoreceptor normoxia). At alv. PO2 of about 50 mmHg, Min. PNA was 169.7 +/- 23.6% (mean +/- SD) in experiment A, 127.3 +/- 22.0% in experiment B, and 71.6 +/- 17.3% in experiment C. Thus, a pure depressant effect of normocapnic hypoxia (alv. PO2 of 50 mmHg) was 42.4% (= 169.7-127.3) or 28.4% (= 100-71.6). At alv. PO2 of about 40 mmHg, Min. PNA was 185.2 +/- 16.8% in experiment A, 146.2 +/- 19.0% in experiment B, and 54.8 +/- 15.2% in experiment C. Thus, a pure depressant effect of normocapnic hypoxia (alv. PO2 of 40 mmHg) was 39.0% (= 185.2-146.2) or 45.2% (= 100-54.8). From these results, we concluded that a pure depressant effect of normocapnic central hypoxia (alv. PO2, 40-50 mmHg) was 28-45% and this was affected by a stimulating drive from the peripheral chemoreceptors.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Correlation of cat-hair (Fel d1) prick skin test to airway response using a live-cat-room challenge model.

The purpose of this study was to document the relationship between prick skin test, airway, and common allergy symptom responses to natural cat exposure. Twenty-nine volunteers with a history of cat-hair allergy and asthma were recruited. Subjects had spirometry and prick skin test with Fel d1 on Visit 1. On Visit 2, subjects had a live-cat-room challenge with airway responses and allergy symptoms monitored. All 29 subjects had a positive skin test (wheal > or = 4 mm), but only 12 (41%) had a positive airway response (fall in FEV1 > or = 15%). There was no significant correlation between the fall in FEV1 and wheal size. All symptom scores increased significantly from baseline, but the change was not significantly related to wheal size. In summary, prick skin test response is not a good predictor of airway response or changes in allergy symptoms using the live-cat-room challenge model.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Katkor cat litter, a non-invasive method of collecting cat urine for phosphate determination.

This study was done to compare the collection of cat urine, for phosphate concentration determination, by catheterisation with that via a proprietary cat litter (Katkor). The passage of urine through the litter or its retention in the litter for a period of 2 hours did not affect the concentration of phosphates compared with that of the original sample. Apart from a small volume of urine trapped in the litter by capillary action, and some urine adhering to the funnel in which the litter was placed, the litter proved to be an excellent medium for routine urine collection from cats, and more especially as an alternative to catheterisation when regular collection from a particular cat is required.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

[Fur color gene profiles and length of hair of several cat populations in Cuba, Costa Rica, Colombia, Paraguay, Chile and Argentina, and possible genetic origins of these cat populations].

Until the present moment, only a scarce number of Latin American domestic cat populations have been studied from a population genetic standpoint. For this reason, the cat populations of La Havana (Cuba), San José (Costa Rica), Bogota and Ibagué (Colombia), Asuncion (Paraguay), Santiago (Chile) and Buenos Aires (Argentina) were sampled for several coat genes. The results obtained were as follows: (1) there was a strong genetic resemblance between several Hispanic American cat populations (especially, those of Buenos Aires, San José and the two Colombian populations studied) and those from South Western United States (California, Texas and Colorado), which adds support to the suspicion that these populations probably have a common origin; (2) The cat population of Santiago (Chile), contrarily to the other Hispanic American populations studied, showed a strong genetic resemblance with some Anglo North American populations; and (3) The l (long hair) and d (dilution) alleles showed systematic higher frequencies in the Hispanic American populations than those observed in Spain. Although the Hispanic American populations were not identical to the current Spanish populations (with the exception of Asuncion), this historic genetic experiment was very different to that found for the British populations and their overseas colonies.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Evaluation of the cat brain activation using ECoG on the cat striate cortex].

The striate cortex electrocorticogram has been analyzed in 12 cats in following states: at rest with the eyes closed and with the eyes opened; after light electrical stimulation of ears; somnolence; eye opening after somnolence+; barbituric sleep. The behaviour of cats was controlled and the state of emotional excitability was determined. Spectral and periodometric analysis of ECoG has revealed state-dependent differences of cats in power spectra from 2 frequency ranges (2.8-5.0 Hz and 13.8-20.8 Hz). It is suggested that the ratio of ECoG power spectra in these frequency ranges can be used to evaluate the brain activation of cats.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Analysis of electrically evoked response (EER) in relation to the central visual pathway of the cat (1). Wave shape of the cat EER].

To analyze the Electrically evoked response (EER) in relation to the central visual pathway, the authors studied the properties of wave patterns and peak latencies of EER in 35 anesthetized adult cats. The cat EER showed two early positive waves on outward current (cornea cathode) stimulus and three or four early positive waves on inward current (cornea anode) stimulus. These waves were recorded within 50 ms after stimulus onset, and were the most consistent components in cat EER. The stimulus threshold for EER showed a less individual variation than amplitude. The difference of stimulus threshold between outward and inward current stimulus was also essentially negligible. The stimulus threshold was higher in early components than in late components. The peak latency of EER became shorter and the amplitude became higher, as the stimulus intensity was increased. However, this tendency was reversed and some wavelets started to appear when the stimulus was extremely strong. The recording using short stimulus duration and bipolar electrodes enabled us to reduce the electrical artifact of EER. These results obtained from cats were compared with those of humans and rabbits.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Development and distribution of B lineage cells in the domestic cat: analysis with monoclonal antibodies to cat mu-, gamma-, kappa-, and lambda-chains and heterologous anti-alpha antibodies.

To trace the development and distribution of B lineage cells in the domestic cat (Felis catus), we have produced monoclonal antibodies against mu-, gamma-, kappa-, and lambda-chains of feline immunoglobulins (Ig). Goat antibodies against human mu-, alpha-, and lambda-chains, which are reactive with shared determinants on their feline counterparts, were used in conjunction with the panel of mouse monoclonal antibodies. Cytoplasmic mu+ pre-B cells and surface IgM+ B lymphocytes were observed in 42 day fetal liver in which pre-B cells were more abundant than IgM+ B cells. Pre-B cells also were found in bone marrow in young cats, and continued to be generated in the marrow throughout life. In the spleen, adult levels of B cells were attained by 12 wk of age, at which time the frequencies of surface IgM+, IgG+, and lambda+ cells were 49, 3, and 40%, respectively. The distributions of Ig isotypes also were determined among plasma cells as a function of age and tissue localization. IgM plasma cells were predominant in the bone marrow of 1-wk-old cats, whereas IgG plasma cells were the prevalent isotype in adult bone marrow. In the mesenteric lymph nodes of adult animals, the frequency distributions of IgM, IgG, and IgA plasma cells were similar to the frequency distributions of IgM, IgG, and IgA isotypes among bone marrow plasma cells. IgA+ plasma cells predominated in the intestinal lamina propria, in which IgG+ and IgM+ plasma cells were relatively infrequent. In the tissues of both young and adult animals, the ratio of lambda:kappa expression was approximately 3:1. We conclude that the pattern of B cell development in the cat resembles that found in other mammals, except that the kappa to lambda ratio is reversed.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[The pork-cat syndrome or crossed allergy between pork meat and cat epithelia (2)].

Is there a port-cat syndrome in food allergy? Many clinical observations have revealed a frequent association between allergy to cat epithelia in subjects who have allergy to pork meat. This second part, from clinical tests such as skin tests and laboratory tests such as CAP RAST, electrophoresis, Western blot and chromatography, confirms the existence of a crossed reaction between pork meat and cat extract. This crossed reaction is linked with a common epitope. A common protein has been found that has a molecular weight of 67,000 d. for subjects who are sensitive to cat extracts and pork meat.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Human T and B cell immune responses to Fel d 1 in cat-allergic and non-cat-allergic subjects.

BACKGROUND: In allergic individuals exposure to allergen leads to the induction of allergen-specific IgE which, upon binding to its high affinity receptors on mast cells and basophils, primes these cells for degranulation. This degranulation, a result of specific IgE/allergen-interaction, initiates the debilitating symptoms of allergy and the potentially life-threatening symptoms of anaphylaxis. The lack of symptoms following antigen encounter by non-allergic individuals is probably due to the undetectable levels of allergen-specific IgE in the plasma of non-allergic individuals. OBJECTIVE: To compare the immune responses of allergic and non-allergic individuals. METHOD: We compared the immune responses of 42 cat-allergic subjects with 16 non-cat-allergic subjects to the major cat allergen, Fel d 1. We have measured plasma immunoglobulin levels and the proliferative responses of fel d 1 primed T cell lines to Fel d 1 peptides. RESULTS: While these two groups have similar levels of Fel d 1 specific IgG, only subjects in the cat-allergic group have detectable Fel d 1 specific IgE. Affinity purified Fel d 1 was used to generate T cell lines from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of these same subjects. The proliferative responses of these T cell lines to intact Fel d 1 and a set of overlapping peptides covering the entire sequence of the molecule demonstrated that the pattern of epitope recognition was similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that factors other than T cell recognition of specific epitopes are responsible for the nature of allergic immune responses generated when allergen is encountered.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Cat-2 gene expression. Developmental control of translatable CAT-2 mRNA levels in maize scutellum.

Poly(A)+ RNA was isolated from maize scutella of different stages of post-germinative development and translated in vitro in a rabbit reticulocyte translation system. Immunoprecipitation of the translation products with CAT-2-specific antibody was used to quantitate the relative levels of translatable CAT-2 mRNA at each stage. The results show a close correlation between the developmental profile of Cat2 gene expression and the profile of CAT-2 mRNA levels. Evidence that the levels of CAT-2 mRNA are regulated by a temporal regulatory gene (Car1) is presented and the possible mechanism(s) of this regulation discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Stable transfection of androgen receptor and MMTV-CAT into mammalian cells: inhibition of cat expression by anti-androgens.

A hormone-inducible transcriptional system has been established, based on the stable transfection of the rat androgen receptor (rAR) and a reporter plasmid containing the mouse mammary tumour virus promoter linked to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene (pMMTV-CAT) into steroid receptor-negative CV-1 cells. First, the rAR was stably introduced into CV-1 cells. Single clones were tested for stable expression of functionally active AR by analysing the effect of dihydrotestosterone on induction of transiently transfected pMMTV-CAT. Stable transfection and the expression of AR was confirmed by steroid-binding assays. In a second step, a clone expressing physiological amounts of AR protein (30 fmol/mg protein) was stably transfected with pMMTV-CAT to yield a permanent cell line that stably expresses functional AR and MMTV-CAT sequences. This cell line provides a powerful tool for the efficient and accurate determination and quantification of the effects of androgens and anti-androgens on reporter gene transcription. This was demonstrated by investigating the action of the three anti-androgens hydroxyflutamide, casodex and cyproterone acetate. The three compounds were shown to reverse the effects of the androgen R1881 on gene expression but were themselves devoid of agonistic activity.

Androgen Antagonists↗
PubMed1988

Direct measurement of CAT activity by incubation of CAT-expressing cells in medium containing chloramphenicol.

We describe a simple, flexible, rapid, sensitive and accurate in vivo assay of the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) enzyme expressed in mammalian cells. The assay is based on the ability of the substrate and products of this enzyme reaction (viz. chloramphenicol and its acetylated derivatives) to equilibrate rapidly between the cells and the surrounding tissue culture medium. We find that chloramphenicol added to the culture medium readily enters the cells and becomes acetylated by the intracellular CAT enzyme. The acetyl derivatives leave the cell and appear rapidly in the culture medium. Due to the large excess of the extracellular compared to the intracellular fluid and due to rapid equilibration of chloramphenicol and its derivatives between them, we find that the bulk of the chloramphenicol and its acetyl derivatives are present in the culture medium at any given time point. Chloramphenicol and its acetylated products are extracted from the medium with ethyl acetate and resolved by thin layer chromatography giving an accurate measurement of the intracellular CAT activity. Sensitive and accurate quantitation of CAT activity in this assay is made possible by the addition of trace amounts of 14C-labeled chloramphenicol to the medium.

Animals↗