Hexosamine concentration, DNA concentration, and [35S]sulfate incorporation for articular cartilage obtained from various sites in the metacarpophalangeal and carpal joints of horses were measured. The same measurements were made on the repair tissue filling full-thickness articular defects in the intermediate carpal bone and on cartilage surrounding partial-thickness defects 6 weeks after the defects were created arthroscopically. Cellularity (measured as DNA concentration), proteoglycan content (measured as hexosamine concentration), and proteoglycan synthesis (measured as [35S]sulfate incorporation) varied according to the site sampled. Cartilage from the transverse ridge of the head of the third metacarpal bone and the radial facet of the third carpal bone had the lowest hexosamine concentration, whereas rate of proteoglycan synthesis was lowest in cartilage from the transverse ridge of the head of the third metacarpal bone and the distal articular surface of the radial carpal bone. Repair tissue filling a full-thickness cartilage defect at 6 weeks was highly cellular. It was low in proteoglycan content, but was actively synthesizing these macromolecules. In contrast, the cartilage surrounding a partial-thickness defect was unchanged 6 weeks after the original defect was made.

During this investigation, the use of iohexol was compared with iotrolan for canine cisternal myelography. Iohexol and iotrolan myelography was done in 6 dogs by cisternal puncture with a 6-week interval between both procedures; each dog served as its own control. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected for baseline analysis from each dog immediately before the contrast agent was injected. Cerebrospinal fluid samples were obtained at 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after injection of each contrast medium for cytologic and chemical analysis. Total CSF leucocyte count and glucose concentration did not change significantly in comparison with baseline data in any of the samples. After the injection of iohexol, protein concentration increased significantly in the 24-hour sample, and lactate dehydrogenase activity increased significantly in the 3-day sample. Significant difference was not found between the different samples collected at 1, 3, 7, and 14 days, compared with both contrast media. None of the dogs had seizure activity during a 5-hour postmyelographic observation period. Pathologic changes were not found by gross or microscopic examination of the spinal cord. Although a degradation in time of radiographic quality of all myelograms took place, the average radiographic score decreased more rapidly with iohexol. The average score at 90 minutes with iotrolan was comparable with the score at 45 minutes with iohexol, and the average score at 150 minutes with iotrolan was better than the score at 90 minutes with iohexol. At 5 and 10 minutes after cisternal injection, no significant difference wasobservable between the myelograms, but from 45 minutes onward, myelograms with iotrolan were superior.

Twenty mature Holstein cows were randomized into 5 treatment groups. Cows of groups 2 to 5 were given 2 mg of elemental Pb/kg of body weight for 28 days. Clinical signs of plumbism were scored, and blood for Pb, progesterone, and hematologic analyses was collected weekly. Cows also were examined weekly for anomalous ovarian cycles. Starting on study day 28, cows in group 3 were treated once daily with 2 mg of thiamine HCl/kg (IM) for 13 days, cows in group 4 were treated twice daily with 62 mg of Na2,Ca-EDTA/kg (IV) for 4 days, and cows in group 5 were given thiamine (dosage regimen the same as for group 3) plus Na2,Ca-EDTA (dosage regimen the same as for group 4). On study days 96 through 139, cows were slaughtered in a commercial abattoir and samples of blood, skeletal muscles, bones, liver, and kidneys were collected and assayed for Pb concentration. Thiamine was not effective in reducing blood Pb concentration, and treatment with Na2,Ca-EDTA and thiamine plus Na2,Ca-EDTA was effective in reducing the concentration of Pb in blood. However, treatment with thiamine was more effective than treatment with Na2,Ca-EDTA or thiamine plus Na2,Ca-EDTA in inducing remission of clinical signs of plumbism. The concentration of Pb in blood was significantly (P < 0.05) correlated to the concentration of Pb in liver, kidneys, skeletal muscles, and bones. Significant (P < 0.05) relationship existed between number of days from Pb exposure to slaughter and concentration of Pb in blood, liver, and skeletal muscles. Exposure to Pb did not significantly alter CBC values. On the basis of progesterone analysis and ovarian examination, exposure to Pb and treatment for plumbism did not induce changes in the ovarian cycle.

Oral keratinocytes from dogs were cultured on either collagen gels or artificial matrices at the air-liquid interface, and the expression of keratinocyte antigens and basement membrane components was determined, using various monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Keratinocytes grown on collagen gels expressed pemphigus vulgaris, pemphigus foliaceous, and bullous pemphigoid antigens. Diffuse, suprabasal, and superficial keratinocyte membrane differentiation antigens identified by various monoclonal antibodies also were expressed in a pattern identical to that observed in the native tissue. Laminin and type-IV collagen were deposited at the keratinocyte-collagen interface in a patchy distribution. When synthetic matrices were used, the oral keratinocytes differentiated, but to a lesser extent than cells grown on collagen gels. Antigen expression for cells grown on synthetic matrices was similar to that for cells on collagen, except for failure of the keratinocytes on synthetic membranes to express superficial cell antigens and pemphigus foliaceous antigens.

Pili from 11 distinct serotypes of Bacteroides nodosus were examined for diversity of pilin polypeptide subunits among serotypes and for purity of the pilin preparations. The pilin of all 11 samples was shown to be homogeneous. Mean +/- SD molecular weight of the pilin of 7 serotypes (A198, IV, V, VI, IX, XVII, and XVIII) was 18,500 +/- 100. The pilin of serotypes I, III, and VIII had molecular weight of 17,600, 19,400, and 19,000, respectively. Serotype XV differed greatly from the other 10 serotypes in that 2 distinct polypeptide bands with molecular weight of approximately 7,800 and 6,200 were detected. We suggest that these 2 low molecular weight bands resulted from proteolytic cleavage of the pilin protein.

The purpose of the study was to determine whether there were circadian variations in serum osteocalcin in normal horses and to determine whether it was important to regulate the time of blood sampling in clinical investigations. Osteocalcin or bone Gla-protein (BGP), alkaline phosphatase, total calcium, phosphate and total protein were studied over a 24 h period. Blood samples were taken every 60 min from nine adult Standardbred horses. There was a correlation between serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (r = 0.3, p < 0.01), phosphate (r = 0.42, p < 0.01) and serum osteocalcin levels. There was a very marked individual effect on serum levels of osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase (p < 0.01). This effect was present for phosphate levels but not significant for total calcium. The individual effect was lower and time effect was higher for serum osteocalcin if the subjects were divided into two age groups, one of horses of five years or less (n = 4) and a second group older than five years (n = 5). In both groups a circadian rhythmicity was observed. Serum osteocalcin showed a biphasic pattern. Levels were constant during daytime (light period) and underwent significant variations during the night (dark period), going through a nadir at 2000 h and through a maximum peak at 0500 h. It was concluded that in normal horses the blood osteocalcin level follows a circadian variation. Also daytime (light period) seems to be the more appropriate period for blood sampling.

Six calves with suppurative arthritis were given a single IM injection of sodium cephapirin at a dosage of 10 mg/kg of body weight. Cephapirin concentrations were serially measured in serum and in normal and suppurative synovial fluid over a 24-hour period. Mean peak serum concentration was 6.33 microliter/ml at 20 minutes after injection. The highest cephapirin concentrations in normal and suppurative synovial fluid were 1.68 and 1.96 microgram/ml, respectively, 30 minutes after injection. Overall mean cephapirin concentration in normal synovial fluid for the first 4 hours (1.04 +/- 0.612 microgram/ml) was not significantly different from that in suppurative synovial fluid (0.88 +/- 0.495 microgram/ml; P > 0.05). Elimination half-life was 0.60 hours and clearance was 1,593 ml/h/kg.

Analysis of hepatic enzyme activities in serum samples from 1- to 3-day-old pups revealed alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities that were 30 times higher and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activities that were 100 times higher than activities in clinically normal adult dogs. A study was conducted to investigate high enzyme activity in pups and to determine whether there is any association between serum enzyme activity and colostrum ingestion, passive transfer of maternal serum enzyme (in colostrum or in utero), or excessive renal or hepatic tissue enzymes. Serum enzyme activity was quantified in 15 neonatal pups before and after ingestion of colostrum and in 3 colostrum-deprived neonates fed a milk substitute. Serum samples were collected on postpartum days 0, 1, 10, 15, and 30. Enzyme activity was also quantified in serum from pregnant and lactating bitches (collected on days - 2, 0, 1, 10, 30), hepatic and renal tissue from clinically normal adult dogs and 1-day-old pups, colostrum, milk (collected on days 10 and 30), and milk replacer. Significant (P < 0.01) differences in serum GGT and ALP activities between colostrum-deprived and suckling pups did not exist before initial feeding. Significant (P < 0.001) increases in serum GGT and ALP activities developed within 24 hours in suckling pups, but not in the colostrum-deprived pups. At 10 and 30 days after birth, serum GGT and ALP activities were less than values before suckling in all pups. Enzyme activities in bitches' serum remained within the normal range for adult dogs throughout whelping and lactation. Renal GGT and ALP activities were substantially greater than hepatic enzyme activities in neonates and adults. Renal tissue from adults contained 3 times greater GGT and 2 times greater ALP activities than that from neonates. Hepatic tissue from neonates contained 5 times more GGT activity than did hepatic tissues from clinically normal adults; however, hepatic ALP activity was similar in adults and neonates. Colostrum and milk bad substantially higher enzyme activities than did bitches' serum. Activities of GGT and ALP in milk were 100 times and 10 times greater, respectively, than activities in serum through day 10. By day 30, GGT and ALP activities in milk were less than before suckling. Enzyme activity was not detected in the milk substitute. These studies reveal an association between colostrum ingestion by suckling and acute, profound increases in serum GGT and ALP in 1- to 3-day-old pups. Although this phenomenon might be useful as an indicator of colostrum ingestion, it precludes the diagnostic use of either enzyme as an indicator of hepatobiliary disease in 3-day-old pups.

Eighteen healthy dogs were allotted to 3 groups (n = 6 dogs each). All dogs were evaluated at the beginning of the study by complete physical examination; total and differential WBC counts; serum biochemical analysis (alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase activities and bilirubin and albumin concentrations); sulfobromophthalein excretion, ammonia tolerance, and glucagon response testing; portal and intraparenchymal pressure determinations; operative mesenteric portography; and histologic assessment of hepatic biopsy specimens. The left hepatic vein was ligated completely in dogs of groups 1 and 2. Group-3 (control) dogs had a ligature placed loosely around the left hepatic vein. Dogs of groups 1 and 3 were reevaluated 24 hours after surgery by use of the aforementioned hematologic and biochemical tests. Group-1 dogs were reevaluated by use of portal and intraparenchymal pressure determinations, jejunal vein portography, and complete necropsy at 48 hours after surgery. At 4 weeks after surgery, dogs of groups 2 and 3 were reevaluated by use of all aforementioned tests. Results indicated transient hepatic congestion, which resolved by the fourth postoperative week. Longstanding effect on hepatic structure, circulation, or function was not found. We concluded that left hepatic vein ligation in clinically normal dogs does not cause severe or permanent liver damage.

Thirty-seven local isolates of Actinobacillus suis-like organisms from diseased and clinically normal horses and 1 Ilama were compared with reference strains of A suis, A lignieresii, A equuli, A capsulatus, A hominis, A (Pasteurella) ureae, and equine A suis-like organisms (ASLO) previously described in literature. Comparison was by cultural characteristics, carbohydrate fermentation, enzyme profiles, and whole-cell protein polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Carbohydrate fermentation, determined by API-CH gallery, divided 36 equine ASLO isolates into 6 API-CH biotypes. The Ilama isolate was an additional distinct biotype. The biochemical comparisons between A suis and ASLO did not reveal remarkable and consistent differences. Enzyme analysis revealed 5 API-ZYM biotypes, one of which included the same strains as one of the API-CH biotypes and consisted in both instances of 4 esculin-negative ASLO cultures and the reference strain of A lignieresii. We conclude that the 4 strains were hemolytic variants of A lignieresii. Protein electrophoresis disclosed 15 banding patterns, 10 of which represented equine ASLO strains. The reference strains of A suis shared the pattern predominant among equine ASLO. Four of the remaining reference strains of Actinobacillus species each had a unique profile, whereas the type strain of A capsulatus and the Ilama isolate had similar profiles. The groupings of cultures resulting from the different testing methods had little relation to each other and to the anatomic source of the strains except the strains comprising API-CH biotype III, which originated in the equine respiratory tract, and the A lignieressi cluster.