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 theY neuronal class.     

Aortopulmonary window with patent ductus arteriosus and interrupted aortic arch: A case report

Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery -     

Australian-German collaborative studies on the immunology of Sarcocystis infections.

This paper reviews a decade of collaborative studies performed between two laboratories in Germany and Australia on the life cycle, pathogenicity and immunology of infections by the cyst-forming sporozoan parasites Sarcocystis spp. in domestic animals. Experimental transmission studies demonstrated that certain parasite species could cause an acute clinical disease in sheep and pigs severely affecting their health, productivity and reproductivity. Despite the high prevalence of infections found in farm animals, few outbreaks of naturally-occurring clinical disease have ever been recorded. Host animals exposed to low levels of infection were found to develop a strong protective immunity against subsequent lethal challenge and clinical disease even though parasites were not completely eliminated nor prevented from further establishment (premunitive immunity rather than sterile immunity). Modern molecular biological techniques are currently being used to examine the parasite antigens and host immune responses involved in the acquisition of the protective immunity.