The horizontal ladder test (HLT) protocol: a novel, optimized, and reliable means of assessing motor coordination in Sus scrofa domesticus

Pigs can be an important model for preclinical biological research, including neurological diseases such as Alcohol Use Disorder. Such research often involves longitudinal assessment of changes in motor coordination as the disease or disorder progresses. Current motor coordination tests in pigs are derived from behavioral assessments in rodents and lack critical aspects of face and construct validity. While such tests may permit for the comparison of experimental results to rodents, a lack of validation studies of such tests in the pig itself may preclude the drawing of meaningful conclusions. To address this knowledge gap, an apparatus modeled after a horizontally placed ladder and where the height of the rungs could be adjusted was developed. The protocol that was employed within the apparatus mimicked the walk and turn test of the human standardized field sobriety test. Here, five Sinclair miniature pigs were trained to cross the horizontally placed ladder, starting at a rung height of six inches and decreasing to three inches in one-inch increments. It was demonstrated that pigs can reliably learn to cross the ladder, with few errors, under baseline/unimpaired conditions. These animals were then involved in a voluntary consumption of ethanol study where animals were longitudinally evaluated for motor coordination changes at baseline, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10% ethanol concentrations subsequently to consuming ethanol. Consistent with our predictions, relative to baseline performance, motor incoordination increased as voluntary consumption of escalating concentrations of ethanol increased. Together these data highlight that the horizontal ladder test (HLT) test protocol is a novel, optimized and reliable test for evaluating motor coordination as well as changes in motor coordination in pigs.

Dysregulation of Ceramide Metabolism Is Linked to Iron Deposition and Activation of Related Pathways in the Aorta of Atherosclerotic Miniature Pigs

The miniature pig is a suitable animal model for investigating human cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, the alterations in lipid metabolism within atherosclerotic plaques of miniature pigs, along with the underlying mechanisms, remain to be comprehensively elucidated. In this study, we aim to examine the alterations in lipid composition and associated pathways in the abdominal aorta of atherosclerotic pigs induced by a high-fat, high-cholesterol, and high-fructose (HFCF) diet using lipidomics and RNA-Seq methods. The results showed that the content and composition of aortic lipid species, particularly ceramide, hexosyl ceramide, lysophosphatidylcholine, and triglyceride, were significantly altered in HFCF-fed pigs. Meanwhile, the genes governing sphingolipid metabolism, iron ion homeostasis, apoptosis, and the inflammatory response were significantly regulated by the HFCF diet. Furthermore, C16 ceramide could promote iron deposition in RAW264.7 cells, leading to increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, apoptosis, and activation of the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-қB) inflammatory pathway, which could be mitigated by deferoxamine. Our study demonstrated that dysregulated ceramide metabolism could increase ROS production, apoptosis, and inflammatory pathway activation in macrophages by inducing iron overload, thus playing a vital role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. This discovery could potentially provide a new target for pharmacological therapy of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis.

The Horizontal Ladder Test (HLT) protocol: A novel, optimized, and reliable means of assessing motor coordination in Sus scrofa domesticus

Pigs can be an important model for preclinical biological research, including neurological diseases such as Alcohol Use Disorder. Such research often involves longitudinal assessment of changes in motor coordination as the disease or disorder progresses. Current motor coordination tests in pigs are derived from behavioral assessments in rodents and lack critical aspects of face and construct validity. While such tests may permit for the comparison of experimental results to rodents, a lack of validation studies of such tests in the pig itself may preclude the drawing of meaningful conclusions. Here, we present a novel, optimized, and reliable horizontal ladder test (HLT) test protocol for evaluating motor coordination in pigs and an initial validation of its construct validity using voluntary alcohol consumption as an experimental manipulation.

Obesity Development and Signs of Metabolic Abnormalities in Young Göttingen Minipigs Consuming Energy Dense Diets Varying in Carbohydrate Quality

Consumption of fructose has been associated with a higher risk of developing obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS). The aim of this study was to examine the long-term effects of fructose compared to starch from high-amylose maize starch (HiMaize) at ad libitum feeding in a juvenile Göttingen Minipig model with 20% of the diet provided as fructose as a high-risk diet (HR, n = 15) and 20% as HiMaize as a lower-risk control diet (LR, n = 15). The intake of metabolizable energy was on average similar (p = 0.11) among diets despite increased levels of the satiety hormone PYY measured in plasma (p = 0.0005) of the LR pigs. However, after over 20 weeks of ad libitum feeding, no difference between diets was observed in daily weight gain (p = 0.103), and a difference in BW was observed only at the end of the experiment. The ad libitum feeding promoted an obese phenotype over time in both groups with increased plasma levels of glucose (p = 0.005), fructosamine (p < 0.001), insulin (p = 0.03), and HOMA-IR (p = 0.02), whereas the clinical markers of dyslipidemia were unaffected. When compared to the LR diet, fructose did not accelerate the progression of MetS associated parameters and largely failed to change markers that indicate a stimulated de novo lipogenesis.

Establishment of Pulp Damage Repair Models in Miniature Pigs Using Diode Lasers

Objective: To establish a controlled pulp damage repair model in miniature pigs by using a diode laser. Background: Laser is a novel kind of controllable energy, and it is widely used in dentistry. Methods: The premolars of four 24- to 28-month-old miniature pigs were divided into three laser groups, according to the output powers of a diode laser, and the nonirradiated first molars acted as controls. The teeth in laser groups were irradiated under three parameters (output powers 1.5, 2.5, 4 W, continuous wave, frequency 50 Hz for 60 sec). The dental and gingival morphology was observed at 0, 7, 14, and 21 days after laser irradiation. The animals were sacrificed for qualitative and quantitative pulp histopathological analysis. Results: The three laser groups present no seriously irreversible dental and gingival damage. In the 1.5-W group, dental pulp exhibited angiectasis and hyperemia with no inflammation, and did not significantly differ with the control groups at 21 days (p > 0.05). In the 2.5-W group, pulpal inflammation was highest at 7 days and then decreased significantly at 21 days, and the tissue repair appeared at 14 days (p < 0.05). In the 4-W group, pulpal inflammation was significantly highest at 7 days, with an increase in the degree of tissue repair (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The output power of 1.5 W developed a reversible pulpitis model; the output powers of 2.5 and 4 W within 7 days led to the development of irreversible pulpitis models, which proceeded as chronic pulpitis with obvious tissue repair.

Subcutaneous Injection Performance in Yucatan Miniature Pigs with and without Human Hyaluronidase and Auto-injector Tolerability in Humans

Recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20 (rHuPH20) facilitates subcutaneous (SC) delivery of co-administered therapeutic agents by locally and transiently degrading hyaluronan in the SC space, and can be administered with therapeutics using a variety of devices. Two SC delivery studies were carried out to assess auto-injector (AI) performance, each in 18 Yucatan miniature pigs. Abdominal injections were administered using three auto-injectors of 1 mL (AI1) and 2 mL (AI2 and sAI2) with different injection speeds and depths (5.5–7.5 mm) and two pre-filled syringe (PFS) devices of 1 and 2 mL. The injection included a placebo buffer with and without rHuPH20 to evaluate the effect of rHuPH20 on SC injection performance. The feasibility of using similar devices to deliver a placebo buffer in humans was investigated. rHuPH20 was not studied in humans. In miniature pigs, postinjection swelling was evident for most PFS/AI injections, particularly 2 mL. Swelling heights and back leakage were typically lower with rHuPH20 co-administration versus placebo for most device configurations (1 or 2 mL PFS or AI). Auto-injections with versus without rHuPH20 also resulted in reduced swelling firmness and faster swelling resolution over time. Slow injections with rHuPH20 had shorter and more consistent injection time versus placebo. In humans, minimal injection site swelling and negligible back leakage were observed for 2-mL injections of placebo, while more erythema was observed in humans versus miniature pigs. Even at high delivery rates with PFS or AI, the addition of rHuPH20 resulted in improved SC injection performance versus placebo in miniature pigs.

Hematological patterns and histopathological assessment of Miniature Pigs in the experiments on human mesenchymal stem cell transplantation

Background: Multipotent and immune privileged properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were investigated for the treatment of various clinical diseases. For the years, many researches into the animal studies evaluated human stem cell therapeutic capacity related to the regenerative medicine. However, there were limited reports on immune privileged properties of human MSCs in animal studies. The present study investigated hematological and biochemical parameter and lymphocyte subset in mini-pigs following human MSCs transplantation as a means of validation of reliability that influence the animal test results. Methods: The miniature pigs were transplanted with human MSCs seeded with scaffold. After transplantation, all animals were evaluated by CBC, biochemistry and lymphocyte subset test. After 9 weeks, all pigs were sacrificed and organs were histologically analyzed. Results: CBC test showed that levels of RBC were decreased and reticulocyte, WBC and neutrophil were increased in transient state initially after transplantation, but returned to normal value. The proportion of B lymphocyte and cytotoxic T cell were also initially enhanced within the normal range temporarily. The female and male miniature pigs showed normal ranges for blood chemistry assessments. During the 9 weeks post-operative period, the animals showed a continuous increase in body weight and length. Furthermore, no abnormal findings were observed from the histological analysis of sacrificed pigs. Conclusions: Overall, miniature pigs transplanted with human MSCs seeded with scaffold were found to have physiologically similar results to normal animals. This result might be a reliable indicator of the animal experiments using miniature pigs with human MSCs.

Obesity-Related Metabolome and Gut Microbiota Profiles of Juvenile Göttingen Minipigs-Long-Term Intake of Fructose and Resistant Starch

The metabolome and gut microbiota were investigated in a juvenile Göttingen minipig model. This study aimed to explore the metabolic effects of two carbohydrate sources with different degrees of risk in obesity development when associated with a high fat intake. A high-risk (HR) high-fat diet containing 20% fructose was compared to a control lower-risk (LR) high-fat diet where a similar amount of carbohydrate was provided as a mix of digestible and resistant starch from high amylose maize. Both diets were fed ad libitum. Non-targeted metabolomics was used to explore plasma, urine, and feces samples over five months. Plasma and fecal short-chain fatty acids were targeted and quantified. Fecal microbiota was analyzed using genomic sequencing. Data analysis was performed using sparse multi-block partial least squares regression. The LR diet increased concentrations of fecal and plasma total short-chain fatty acids, primarily acetate, and there was a higher relative abundance of microbiota associated with acetate production such as Bacteroidetes and Ruminococcus. A higher proportion of Firmicutes was measured with the HR diet, together with a lower alpha diversity compared to the LR diet. Irrespective of diet, the ad libitum exposure to the high-energy diets was accompanied by well-known biomarkers associated with obesity and diabetes, particularly branched-chain amino acids, keto acids, and other catabolism metabolites.

KIT gene mutation causes deafness and hypopigmentation in Bama miniature pigs

Waardenburg syndrome (WS) is a common syndromic hearing loss disease. A large group of patients affected by WS were found no mutations in the existed gene panel, indicating that there are still potential genes responsible for WS yet to be detected. In our previous study, we established an autosomal-dominant KIT (OMIM# 164920) mutation (c.2418T>A, p.Asp806Glu) pig pedigree which presented congenital bilateral severe sensorineural hearing loss and hypopigmentation, exact the same as human WS. Histological analysis showed nearly normal structures of the organ of Corti, stria vascularis (SV) and spiral neuron ganglions at E85. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) exhibited that hair cells started to degenerate at E100, and totally gone at P1. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) showed disorganization of SV and disappearance of intermediate cells. The absence of endocochlear potentials also demonstrated the dysfunction of stria. Our study demonstrated that KIT mutation (c.2418T>A, p.Asp806Glu) interrupted the development of melanocytes in cochlea, which led to SV malformation and dysfunction, resulting in degeneration of hair cells and finally hearing loss. Therefore, KIT was highly supposed to be a newly found gene associated with WS and be added to the WS related gene screening panel clinically.

[Thrombolytic effects of recombinant staphylokinase on coronary thrombosis in miniature pigs]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the thrombolytic effects of recombinant staphylokinase and compare it with those of recombinant streptokinase.

METHODS

Thirty Chinese experimental miniature pigs were divided into five groups, namely, solvent control group, positive drug control group and three recombinant staphylokinase groups, six in each group. The thrombus of coronary artery was formed by surgical thoracotomy and direct current stimulation in anesthetized animals. Intravenous administration was started after the thrombus of coronary artery was formed for 30 minutes, and the method of first injection and then constant speed infusion by peristaltic pump was used. The solvent control group was injected intravenously with solvent, the positive drug control group was given recombinant streptokinase 4 mg·kg^-1 intravenously, and the three recombinant staphylokinase groups were given recombinant staphylokinase at the doses of 4, 2 and 1 mg.kg^-1 intravenously. The volume of intravenous injection was 5 ml, which was completed within 1 min, the speed of infusion was 0.5 ml·min^-1, which was completed within 60 min, and the animals were sacrificed 120 minutes later. Before and 30, 60 and 120 min after administration, the venous blood samples were collected. At the end of the experiment, the coronary artery segments of the thrombosis site were taken, and the euglobulin dissolution time (ELT), blood fibrinogen content (FBG), fibrinogen degradation product (FDP) and wound bleeding volume were measured respectively. The coronary thrombolysis rate, myocardial ischemia degree and ischemia range were measured.

RESULTS

Compared with the solvent control group, ELT in the experimental group was significantly shortened (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01), FBG degradation in a few experimental animals was more than 20%, FDP was significantly increased (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01), and there was no significant effect on blood pressure and heart rate of small pigs. Compared with the control group, the maximum thrombus area was decreased by 34.3% and 15.4% (P＜0.05) in the high and middle dose groups of the experimental group. Compared with the same dose of recombinant streptokinase, recombinant staphylokinase had stronger thrombolytic effect (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01) on the coronary thrombus caused by electrical stimulation, less bleeding side effects and the same effect on the degree and range of myocardial infarction as recombinant streptokinase.

CONCLUSION

Compared with recombinant streptokinase, recombinant staphylokinase has faster thrombolysis speed, higher fibrin specificity and less bleeding side effects. In general, 2 mg.kg^-1 recombinant staphylokinase has better efficacy and safety.

Evidence of vasculature and chondrocyte to osteoblast transdifferentiation in craniofacial synovial joints: Implications for osteoarthritis diagnosis and therapy

Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) leads to permanent cartilage destruction, jaw dysfunction, and compromises the quality of life. However, the pathological mechanisms governing TMJ OA are poorly understood. Unlike appendicular articular cartilage, the TMJ has two distinct functions as the synovial joint of the craniofacial complex and also as the site for endochondral jaw bone growth. The established dogma of endochondral bone ossification is that hypertrophic chondrocytes undergo apoptosis, while invading vasculature with osteoprogenitors replace cartilage with bone. However, contemporary murine genetic studies support the direct differentiation of chondrocytes into osteoblasts and osteocytes in the TMJ. Here we sought to characterize putative vasculature and cartilage to bone transdifferentiation using healthy and diseased TMJ tissues from miniature pigs and humans. During endochondral ossification, the presence of fully formed vasculature expressing CD31⁺ endothelial cells and α-SMA⁺ vascular smooth muscle cells were detected within all cellular zones in growing miniature pigs. Arterial, endothelial, venous, angiogenic, and mural cell markers were significantly upregulated in miniature pig TMJ tissues relative to donor matched knee meniscus fibrocartilage tissue. Upon surgically creating TMJ OA in miniature pigs, we discovered increased vasculature and putative chondrocyte to osteoblast transformation dually marked by COL2 and BSP or RUNX2 within the vascular bundles. Pathological human TMJ tissues also exhibited increased vasculature, while isolated diseased human TMJ cells exhibited marked increased in vasculature markers relative to control 293T cells. Our study provides evidence to suggest that the TMJ in higher order species are in fact vascularized. There have been no reports of cartilage to bone transdifferentiation or vasculature in human-relevant TMJ OA large animal models or in human TMJ tissues and cells. Therefore, these findings may potentially alter the clinical management of TMJ OA by defining new drugs that target angiogenesis or block the cartilage to bone transformation.

Six-month evaluation of novel bioabsorbable scaffolds composed of poly-L-lactic acid and amorphous calcium phosphate nanoparticles in porcine coronary arteries

Objective Using coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound methods to evaluate the performance of the novel fully bioabsorbable scaffold (NFBS) composed of poly-L-lactic acid/amorphous calcium phosphate (PLLA/ACP) at six-month follow-up by comparing with PLLA scaffolds Methods Twelve PLLA/ACP scaffolds and 12 PLLA scaffolds were implanted into the coronary arteries of 12 miniature pigs. Quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) was used to measure the reference vessel diameter (RVD), mean lumen diameter (MLD) and late lumen loss (LLL). According to IVUS images, we calculated the strut malapposition rate (SMR) at post implantation, strut overlap rate (SOR), reference vessel area (RVA), mean stent area (MSA), mean lumen area (MLA) and luminal patency rate (LPR) at six-month follow-up. The radial strength of the scaffold was evaluated using a catheter tensile testing machine. Results QCA results indicated that, at six month, MLD of PLLA/ACP scaffolds was greater than those of PLLA scaffolds (2.47 ± 0.22 mm vs. 2.08 ± 0.25 mm, P < 0.05); LLL of PLLA/ACP scaffolds was less than those of PLLA scaffolds (0.42 ± 0.20 mm vs. 0.75 ± 0.22 mm, P < 0.05). IVUS results showed the SMR and SOR were all significantly less with the PLLA/ACP scaffolds than the PLLA scaffolds (5.84% ± 3.56% vs. 17.72% ± 4.86%, P < 0.05) (6.17% ± 4.63% vs. 17.65% ± 4.29%, P < 0.05). MSA, MLA and LPR of the PLLA/ACP scaffolds were all greater than those of PLLA scaffolds (6.35 ± 0.45 mm² vs. 5.35 ± 0.51 mm², P < 0.05) (4.76 ± 0.46 mm² vs. 3.77 ± 0.46 mm², P < 0.05) (78.01% ± 12.29% vs. 61.69% ± 9.76%, P < 0.05). Radial strength of PLLA/ACP scaffold at six month was greater than that of PLLA scaffold (76.33 ± 3.14 N vs. 67.67 ± 3.63 N). Conclusion The NFBS had less stent recoil, better lumen patency rate and greater radial strength than PLLA scaffolds. The results suggest the NFBS scaffolds can maintain the structural strength and functional performance, which are effective for up to six months when implanted in porcine coronary arteries.

Influence of Hydrogen-rich Saline on Hepatocyte Autophagy During Laparoscopic Liver Ischaemia-reperfusion Combined Resection Injury in Miniature Pigs

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effect of hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) against liver ischaemia-reperfusion combined resection injury.

Material and Methods

Eighteen miniature pigs were randomly divided into three groups: a sham operated group (sham group, laparoscopic liver ischaemia-reperfusion combined resection injury group (IRI group), and a hydrogen-rich saline intervention group (IRI + HRS group). Samples of hepatic tissue and serum were collected at the time of reperfusion and then 3 h, 1 d, and 3 d post reperfusion. Liver function, oxidative stress, autophagy-related mRNA genes, and protein expression were evaluated. Changes in cell and tissue ultrastructure were examined by transmission electron microscopy.

Results

Compared with the sham group, the level of autophagy of hepatocytes increased in the IRI and IRI + HRS groups, corresponding to high oxidative stress and severe liver function injury. Liver function, antioxidant content, autophagy levels, and liver injury were improved after intervention with HRS in the IRI + HRS group compared with the IRI group.

Conclusion

Intervention with hydrogen-rich saline could exert a protective effect against liver ischaemia-reperfusion combined resection injury through the reduction of oxidative stress and hepatocyte autophagy.

Key Genes and Pathways Associated With Inner Ear Malformation in SOX10 p.R109W Mutation Pigs

SRY-box 10 (SOX10) mutation may lead to inner ear deformities. However, its molecular mechanisms on inner ear development are not clear. In this work, the inner ear morphology was investigated at different embryonic stages of the SOX10 mutation miniature porcine model with sensorineural hearing loss, and high-throughput RNA-seq and bioinformatics analyses were applied. Our results indicated that the SOX10 mutation in the miniature pigs led to an incomplete partition (IP) of the cochlea, a cystic apex caused by fusion from middle and apical turns, cochlear modiolar defects and a shortened cochlear duct. The model demonstrated 173 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 185 differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). The down-regulated DEGs most significantly enriched the inflammatory mediator regulation of the TRP channels, arachidonic acid metabolism, and the salivary secretion pathways, while the up-regulated DEGs most significantly enriched the systemic lupus erythematosus and alcoholism pathways. Based on gene cluster analysis, we selected four gene groups: WNT1, KCNQ4, STRC and PAX6.

Testosterone Deficiency Induces Changes of the Transcriptomes of Visceral Adipose Tissue in Miniature Pigs Fed a High-Fat and High-Cholesterol Diet

Testosterone deficiency causes fat deposition, particularly in visceral fat, and its replacement might reverse fat accumulation, however, the underlying mechanisms of such processes under diet-induced adiposity are largely unknown. To gain insights into the genome-wide role of androgen on visceral adipose tissue (VAT), RNA-Seq was used to investigate testosterone deficiency induced changes of VAT in miniature pigs fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol (HFC) diet among intact male pigs (IM), castrated male pigs (CM), and castrated male pigs with testosterone replacement (CMT) treatments. The results showed that testosterone deficiency significantly increased VAT deposition and serum leptin concentrations. Moreover, a total of 1732 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between any two groups. Compared with gene expression profiles in IM and CMT pigs, upregulated genes in CM pigs, i.e., LOC100520753 (CD68), LCN2, EMR1, S100A9, NCF1 (p47phox), and LEP, were mainly involved in inflammatory response, oxidation-reduction process, and lipid metabolic process, while downregulated genes in CM pigs, i.e., ABHD5, SPP1, and GAS6, were focused on cell differentiation and cell adhesion. Taken together, our study demonstrates that testosterone deficiency alters the expression of numerous genes involved in key biological processes of VAT accumulation under HFC diet and provides a novel genome-wide view on the role of androgen on VAT deposition under HFC diet, thus improving our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in VAT changes induced by testosterone deficiency.

Role of Toll-like receptors in diabetic renal lesions in a miniature pig model

The mechanisms of diabetic renal injury remain unclear. Recent studies have shown that immunological and inflammatory elements play important roles in the initiation and development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Toll-like receptors (TLRs) comprise a superfamily of innate immune system receptors. The roles and mechanisms of TLRs in the pathogenesis of diabetic renal lesions are mostly unknown. Compared with rodents, miniature pigs are more similar to humans with respect to metabolism, kidney structure, and immune system, and therefore represent an ideal large-animal model for DN mechanistic studies. A diabetes model was established by feeding miniature pigs with high-sugar and high-fat diets. Functional and pathological markers, expression and activation of endogenous TLR ligands [HSP70 (heat shock protein 70) and HMGB1], TLR1 to TLR11 and their downstream signaling pathway molecules (MyD88, IRAK-1, and IRF-3), nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway molecules (IKKβ, IκBα, and NF-κBp65), inflammatory cytokines [IL-6 (interleukin-6), MIP-2, MCP-1, CCL5, and VCAM-1 (vascular cell adhesion molecule-1)], and infiltration of inflammatory cells were systematically evaluated. The expression of HSP70 was significantly increased in diabetic pig kidneys. The expression of MyD88-dependent TLR2, TLR4, TLR5, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR11 and their downstream signaling molecules MyD88 and phospho-IRAK-1 (activated IRAK-1), as well as that of MyD88-independent TLR3 and TLR4 and their downstream signaling molecule phospho-IRF-3 (activated IRF-3), was significantly up-regulated. The expression and activation of NF-κB pathway molecules phospho-IKKβ, phospho-IκBα, NF-κBp65, and phospho-NF-κBp65 were significantly increased. Levels of IL-6, MIP-2, MCP-1, CCL5, VCAM-1, and macrophage marker CD68 were significantly increased in diabetic pig kidneys. These results suggested that the metabolic inflammation activated by TLRs might play an important role in diabetic renal injuries.

Comparison of measurements of mandible growth using cone beam computed tomography and its synthesized cephalograms

BACKGROUND

The current study aimed to compare the measurements of the mandible morphology using 3D cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images with those using 2D CBCT-synthesized cephalograms; to quantify errors in measurements based on 2D synthesized cephalograms; and to clarify the effects such errors have on the description of the mandibular growth.

METHODS

Mandibles of six miniature pigs were scanned monthly using CBCT over 12 months and the data were used to reconstruct the 3D bone models. Five anatomical landmarks were identified on each bone model, and the inter-marker distances and monthly distance changes were calculated and taken as the gold standard. Synthetic 2D cephalograms were also generated for each bone model using a digitally reconstructed radiography (DRR)-generation method. Errors in cephalogram measurements were determined as the differences between the calculated variables in cephalograms and the gold standard. The variations between cephalograms and the gold standard were also compared using paired t-tests.

RESULTS

While the inter-marker distance increases varied among the marker pairs, all marker pairs increased their inter-marker distances gradually every month, reaching 50% of the total annual increases during the fourth and fifth months, and then slowing down in the subsequent months. The 2D measurements significantly underestimated most of the inter-marker distances throughout the monitoring period, in most of the monthly inter-marker distance changes during the first four months, and in the total growth (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Significant errors exist in the measurements using 2D synthesized cephalogram, underestimating the mandibular dimensions and their monthly changes in the early stages of growth, as well as the total annual growth. These results should be considered in dental treatment planning at the beginning of the treatment in order to control more precisely the treatment process and outcome.

Production of cloned NIBS (Nippon Institute for Biological Science) and α-1, 3-galactosyltransferase knockout MGH miniature pigs by somatic cell nuclear transfer using the NIBS breed as surrogates

BACKGROUND

Nuclear transfer (NT) technologies offer a means for producing the genetically modified pigs necessary to develop swine models for mechanistic studies of disease processes as well as to serve as organ donors for xenotransplantation. Most previous studies have used commercial pigs as surrogates.

METHOD AND RESULTS

In this study, we established a cloning technique for miniature pigs by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) using Nippon Institute for Biological Science (NIBS) miniature pigs as surrogates. Moreover, utilizing this technique, we have successfully produced an α-1, 3-galactosyltransferase knockout (GalT-KO) miniature swine. Fibroblasts procured from a NIBS miniature pig fetus were injected into 1312 enucleated oocytes. The cloned embryos were transferred to 11 surrogates of which five successfully delivered 13 cloned offspring; the production efficiency was 1.0% (13/1312). In a second experiment, lung fibroblasts obtained from neonatal GalT-KO MGH miniature swine were used as donor cells and 1953 cloned embryos were transferred to 12 surrogates. Six cloned offspring were born from five surrogates, a production efficiency of 0.3% (6/1953).

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate successful establishment of a miniature pig cloning technique by SCNT using NIBS miniature pigs as surrogates. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of successful production of GalT-KO miniature swine using miniature swine surrogates. This technique could help to ensure a stable supply of the cloned pigs through the use of miniature pig surrogates and could expand production in countries with limited space or in facilities with special regulations such as specific pathogen-free or good laboratory practice.