Twelve biotinylated lectins and an avidin-biotin-peroxidase method were used to detect and localize specific carbohydrate residues on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded female canine mammary gland sections. Histologic sections from 3 lactating and 7 nonlactating mixed-breed dogs (age 5.6 +/- 0.35 years) were incubated with Arachis hypogea agglutinin (peanut agglutinin; PNA), Concanavalia ensiformis agglutinin (conA), Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), Glycine max agglutinin (SBA), Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin-I (GS-I), Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA), Lycopersicon esculentum agglutinin (LEA), Phytolacca americana mitogen (pokeweed mitogen; PWM), Ricinus communis agglutinin-I and-II (RCA-I and -II), Triticum vulgaris (WGA), and Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I (UEA-I). Each lectin had a specific binding pattern, except SBA and DBA. In nonlactating glands, PNA, conA, LEA, and UEA-I stained duct cells in a linear-binding pattern, with a mean percentage of positive ducts per section of 28.7 (+/- 0.6), 65.7 (+/- 0.3), 100 (+/- 0), and 8.4 (+/- 0.2), respectively. Strong apical, lateral, basal, and cytoplasmic positivity on duct cells was seen after incubation of the sections with RCA-I, RCA-II, and WGA in all ducts. In acinar cells, the binding pattern and the staining distribution of all the lectins studied were similar to those in duct cells. However, for PNA, conA, and UEA-I, the mean percentage of positive lobules per section was 33.7 (+/- 0.9), 62 (+/- 0.5), and 10.5 (+/- 0.2), respectively. In glands from lactating dogs, conA and UEA-I did not stain. The cytoplasm of all myoepithelial cells was moderately stained with RCA-I, RCA-II, and WGA. Endothelial cells stained with GS-I, PWM, RCA-I, RCA-II, WGA, conA, and LCA. The extracellular matrix, especially the periacinar and periduct regions, and the interstitial fibroblasts were positive for LCA, RCA-I, RCA-II, and WGA. Peripheral unmyelinated nerve fibers of the nipple were strongly positive for GS-I, PWM, RCA-1, RCA-II, and WGA. Some of the lectins used (ie, PNA, conA, UEA-I, GS-I, PWM, and LEA) appear to have selective staining of mammary gland structures that seems to be correlated with various physiologic functions. The contrasting binding pattern of lectins specific for the same sugar indicates a lack of knowledge of interactions between lectins and carbohydrate residues in tissue sections.

Detection of capsular polysaccharide (CP) in milk of cows with natural intramammary infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus was attempted. Five quarters of 5 cows harboring S aureus strains that produce type-8 CP were selected. Using an ELISA with a monoclonal antibody, type-8 CP was not detected in extracts prepared from fresh milk collected aseptically. By contrast, CP was easily detectable after incubation of infected milk at 38 C for 20 hours. Quantitation of CP in extracts from incubated milk samples by use of ELISA indicated a great variation of CP expression by strains. Although an incubation step was necessary to detect CP, results of the study indicate that CP may be expressed in vivo during intramammary infection caused by S aureus.

Absorption rate and plasma and fat disposition oflindane after various lindane percutaneous treatments in shorn and unshorn sheep were investigated. To analyze data with a deconvolution method, IV administration was performed to determine the basic pharmacokinetic values of lindane in sheep. After IV administration, the steady state volume of distribution was very high (8.07 +/- 3.60 L/kg of body weight), and the mean residence time was long (28.1 +/- 11.7 hours). Deconvolution analysis indicated that lindane absorption was continuous until 33 to 41 days after spraying with a 0.025% lindane solution. Total amount of absorbed lindane in shorn (15,171 +/- 4,463 microgram/kg) sheep was about twice that in unshorn (7,615 +/- 3,128 microgram/kg) sheep; from deconvolution analysis, it was calculated that the time required for 50% of the available dose to be absorbed was between 115 and 179 hours. After percutaneous lindane administration, the fat concentration was compared with the available lindane dose. The apparent half-life of lindane elimination in fat was 225 +/- 47.4 hours, which is similar to the value calculated for the absorption rate constant. By comparing fat and plasma concentrations, it was calculated that for a mean plasma concentration of 5 ng/ml, the fat lindane concentration was 1.65 +/- 0.87 microgram/g (ie, lower than the generally accepted tolerance level of 2 microgram/g).

Hip dysplasia is an affection of the coxofemoral joint that progresses until stabilization is caused by fibrosis and osteoarthritic changes. This stabilization process can be examined by clinical and radiographic methods. The capability of evaluating the procollagen concentrations in liquids, such as serum and synovial fluid, has further offered the basis for an objective biochemical evaluation of the stabilization process. Our study was performed to evaluate whether determination of procollagen concentrations was suitable for the use in practice. The procollagen type-III aminoterminal peptide (P-III-NP) concentration was measured in serum and in synovial fluid from coxofemoral joints in 20 dogs. Dogs were grouped on the basis of evidence of dysplasia and osteoarthritic changes of the hip: (1) a control group of 6 dogs without clinical or radiographic signs of hip dysplasia, and (2) dysplastic group of 14 dogs, which was further grouped with respect to the coxofemoral joint laxity, as determined by the Ortolani test. Synovial fluid concentration of P-III-NP was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in fluid from dysplastic joints than in fluid from normal joints. Serum concentrations of P-III-NP were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in dogs in which results of the Ortolani test were positive.

The efficacy of paste and granule formulations of pyrantel pamoate against concurrent infections of Toxocara cati and Ancylostoma tubaeforme in cats was examined in a controlled trial. Three groups of 8 cats received either no medication (controls) or pyrantel pamoate in paste or granule formulations at a dosage of 20 mg/kg of body weight. After administration of the paste formulation, fecal egg counts of A tubaeforme and T cati were decreased by 98.6 and 96.4%, respectively, and 100% of hookworms and 93.5% of ascarids were removed from the intestine. After administration of the granule formulation, fecal egg counts of A tubaeforme and T cati were decreased by 99.4 and 78.2%, respectively, and 100% of adult hookworms and 88.9% of ascarids were removed. All reductions of egg counts and worm numbers were significant (P < 0.01). The clinical safety of pyrantel pamoate was evaluated in 4- to 6-week-old kittens. Three groups of 10 kittens received either no medication (controls) or pyrantel pamoate in paste or granule formulations at the rate of 100 mg/kg for 3 consecutive days. Adverse effects were not observed in young kittens following administration of the high dose of pyrantel pamoate.

In a 4 x 4 crossover-design study, pharmacokinetic variables of 2 injectable formulations of netobimin (trisamine salt solution and zwitterion suspension) were compared after SC administration in calves at dosage of 12.5 mg/kg of body weight. Netobimin parent drug was rapidly absorbed, being detected between 0.25 and 12 hours after treatment, with maximal plasma drug concentration (Cmax) values of 2.20 +/- 1.03 micrograms/ml achieved at 0.75 +/- 0.19 hour (trisamine) and 1.37 +/- 0.59 micrograms/ml at 0.81 +/- 0. 18 hour (zwitterion). Netobimin area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) was 7.59 +/- 3.11 micrograms.h/ml (trisamine) and 6.98 +/- 1.60 micrograms.h/ml (zwitterion). Elimination half-life (tl/2 beta) was 2.59 +/- 0.63 hours (trisamine) and 3.57 +/- 1.45 hours (zwitterion). Albendazole was not detected at any time. Albendazole sulfoxide was detected from 4 hours up to 20 hours (trisamine) and from 6 hours up to 24 hours (zwitterion) after administration of the drug. The Cmax values were 0.48 +/- 0.16 micrograms/ml and 0.46 +/- 0.26 micrograms/ml for trisamine and zwitterion formulations, respectively, achieved at time to peak drug concentration (Tmax) values of 9.50 +/- 1.41 hours (trisamine) and 11.30 +/- 1.04 hours (zwitterion). Albendazole sulfoxide AUC was 3.86 +/- 1.04 micrograms.h/ml (trisamine) and 4.40 +/- 3.24 micrograms.h/ml (zwitterion); tl/2 beta was 3.05 +/- 0.75 hours (trisamine) and 3.90 +/- 1.44 hours (zwitterion). Albendazole sulfone was detected from 4 (trisamine) or 6 hours (zwitterion) to 24 hours after treatment. The AUC was 6.98 +/- 1.60 micrograms.h/ml (trisamine) and 10.51 +/- 7.41 micrograms.h/ml (zwitterion); Cmax was 0.76 +/- 0.21 micrograms/ml at Tmax of 12.00 +/- 1.85 hours (trisamine) and 0.70 +/- 0.24 micrograms/ml at Tmax of 12.50 +/- 2.33 hours (zwitterion). Albendazole sulfone t1/2 beta was significantly (P < 0.05) longer for the zwitterion formulation (7.77 +/- 4.72 hours) than for the trisamine salt (2.87 +/- 0.61 hours). Albendazole sulfone AUC was higher than albendazole sulfoxide AUC, resulting in AUC ratio of 1.8 (trisamine) and 2.4 (zwitterion). The 2 formulations were not significantly different in terms of AUC or Tmax for netobimin and albendazole sulfone, AUC for albendazole sulfoxide, or tl/2 beta for netobimin and albendazole sulfoxide. It was concluded that the 2 netobimin injectable formulations were bioequivalent. Experimental phase had a significant effect on the AUC and Cmax for albendazole sulfoxide and on the Cmax for netobimin. One possible explanation for the differences between phases could be induction of liver microsomal enzymes by netobimin and its metabolites, resulting in increased rate of metabolism during phase 2 of the study.

An alcian blue precipitation method for quantifying the hyaluronic acid (HA) and sulphated glycosaminoglycan concentration (SGAG) in solutions containing both compounds was assessed. The assay was found to be rapid and reliable in solutions containing 0 to 200 mg of HA/dl and 50 to 1,000 microgram of SGAG/dl, and was not affected by the presence of protein, hemoglobin, or methemoglobin in concentrations normally found in synovial fluid. The HA and SGAG concentrations in intercarpal synovial fluid from 13 clinically normal and 11 arthritic horses were evaluated. A relationship was not found between the concentration of HA and SGAG and any other synovial fluid variable. The SGAG concentration was found to be markedly high in several of the synovial fluid samples from arthritic horses, but did not correlate with the degree of articular cartilage erosion.