The relation of the glycated serum protein, fructosamine, to serum protein, albumin, and glucose concentrations was examined in healthy dogs, dogs with hypo- or hyperproteinemia, and diabetic dogs. Fructosamine was determined by use of an adaptation of an automated kit method. The reference range for fructosamine in a composite group of control dogs was found to be 1.7 to 3.38 mmol/L (mean +/- SD, 2.54 +/- 0.42 mmol/L). Fructosamine was not correlated to serum total protein, but was highly correlated to albumin in dogs with hypoalbuminemia. To normalize the data with respect to albumin, it is suggested that the lower limit of the reference range for albumin concentration (2.5 g/dl) be used for adjustment of fructosamine concentration and only in hypoalbuminemic dogs. In 6 hyperglycemic diabetic dogs, fructosamine concentration was well above the reference range. It is concluded that although fructosamine may be a potentially useful guide to assess the average blood glucose concentration over the preceding few days in dogs, further study is required to establish its value as a guide to glucose control in diabetic dogs.

Fructosamine, a glycated serum protein, was evaluated as an index of glycemic control in normal and diabetic cats. Fructosamine was determined manually by use of a modification of an automated method. The within-run precision was 2.4 to 3.2%, and the day-to-day precision was 2.7 to 3.1%. Fructosamine was found to be stable in serum samples stored for 1 week at 4 degrees C and for 2 weeks at -20 degrees C. The reference range for serum fructosamine concentration in 31 clinically normal colony cats was 2.19 to 3.47 mmol/L (mean, 2.83 +/- 0.32 mmol/L). In 27 samples from 16 cats with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, the range for fructosamine concentration was 3.04 to 8.83 mmol/L (mean, 5.93 +/- 1.35 mmol/L). Fructosamine concentration was directly and highly correlated to blood glucose concentration. Fructosamine concentration also remained high in consort with increased blood glucose concentration in cats with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus over extended periods. It is concluded that measurement of serum fructosamine concentration can be a valuable adjunct to blood glucose monitoring to evaluate glycemic control in diabetic cats. The question of whether fructosamine can replace glucose for monitoring control of diabetes mellitus requires further study.

Concentrations of serum and vitreous humor constituents at time of death, and concentrations of vitreous humor constituents at time of death and at 7 postmortem intervals were compared in 70 domestic, female New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Urea nitrogen concentration was significantly (P = 0.0094) different, but was linearly correlated in serum and vitreous humor at time of death and at the 4- and 8-hour postmortem intervals. Concentrations of gamma-glutamyltransferase were not significantly different in serum and vitreous humor at time of death, nor were concentrations significantly different in vitreous humor at time of death and at the 4-hour postmortem interval. The vitreous humor concentrations of glucose, triglycerides, sodium, potassium, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, aspartate transaminase, bilirubin, cortisol, and IgG were neither similar to nor predictive of serum constituents. Vitreous humor can be used as a source for estimates of serum urea nitrogen and gamma-glutamyltransferase up to 8 and 4 hours after death, respectively.

Macromolecular permeability of the small intestine was tested in four 3-week-old gnotobiotic pigs inoculated with porcine rotavirus strain RV277 (group A). Pigs were administered 125I-labeled polyvinylpyrrolidone (molecular weight [mol wt], 40,000) orally 1 day before and 2 and 24 hours after virus inoculation, and blood samples were obtained every 6 hours. Eight hours after rotavirus inoculation, pigs had watery diarrhea. Increased permeation of 125I-labeled polyvinylpyrrolidone was not observed after clinical signs of infection had developed. Serum total protein and urea nitrogen concentrations increased slightly at the end of the study, probably as a consequence of dehydration. Differences in blood glucose concentration were not seen. At 48 hours after viral inoculation, macromolecular permeability was tested morphologically by injecting horseradish peroxidase (mol wt, 40,000) into the jejunal lumen just distally to the ligamentum colicoduodenale. After an incubation period of 20 minutes, small segments of jejunum were obtained for stereomicroscopic, histologic, and ultrastructural investigations. Moderate hyperregenerative villus atrophy was found. Ultrastructural changes of the villus epithelium were minor, and increased macromolecular permeation was not observed.

Hemorrhagic shock was induced in nonsplenectomized dogs by removing 41% of their blood volume over a 15-minute period. Hemodynamic and metabolic variables were determined prior to and for 3 hours after completion of hemorrhage. One group of 5 dogs was not treated. After the 30-minute sample was collected, a second group of 5 dogs was given lactated Ringer solution (LRS) at 88 ml/kg of body weight, IV. A third group of 5 dogs was given LRS (88 ml/kg, IV) and prednisolone sodium succinate (11 mg/kg, IV) 30 minutes after hemorrhage. The IV administration of LRS was completed within 15 minutes. The glucocorticoid was administered as an IV bolus after 500 ml of LRS had been given. The large volume and administration of LRS significantly (P = 0.05) improved many of the hemodynamic and metabolic effects of acute hemorrhage and hemorrhagic shock. At one time or another during the 2.5-hour observation period after the initiation of treatment, mean arterial pressure, cardiac index, systemic vascular resistance, heart rate, respiratory rate, lactate, glucose, and arterial and venous blood gas values were significantly (P = 0.05) improved, compared with baseline values. The addition of prednisolone sodium succinate to the treatment regimen improved the effectiveness of LRS alone only in some dogs at random sampling times. Significant trends were not observed except, possibly, the improvement of venous pH and A-V pH and P(CO)2 differences.