This study was carried out to observe the histological changes of the parenchymal organs of the rats, rabbits and dogs intramuscularly injected with Rompun. There were severe hyperemia of spleen, hyperemia and extension of the central vein of the liver, centrilobular degeneration of liver, hyperemia and hemorrhage of the kidney, necrosis and hydropic degeneration of renal tubule, hyperemia of pulmonary alveolar septa and pulmonary edema, and in the cases injected with Rompun and histamine or pentothal sodium at the same time, the microscopical findings described above were more conspicuous than the cases injected with Rompun alone.

This study was undertaken to obtain basic data of the sternal development in Korean native cattle from the earliest sternal formation to the ossification using histological and histochemical methods. Thirty three sterna were collected from a series of embryos and fetuses ranging from 11 to 225mm (estimated age 37-120 days) in crown rump length. The bilateral sternal bars were observed in the 2nd group (CRL 21-30mm) of Korean cattle embryos. Those bars initiated to be fused in the 3rd group (CRL 31-40mm) and completed in the 7th group (CRL 71-80mm). The ossification centers were detected in the 8th group (CRL 81-90mm) also bilateral ossification centers were found in the same group. The typical epiphyseal plates, endochondral bone and calcium deposit were found in the 9th group (CRL 91-100mm). Osteocytes, osteoblasts, osteoclasts and myeloid cells appeared in ossification centers in the 10th group (more than CRL 101mm). The alcianophility responded markedly in the 9th group that was decreased and showed slightly positive reaction in territorial matrix of the 10th group. Marked positive reaction to PAS was observed in bony trabeculae in the 10th group. The positive reaction to calcium deposit by trichrome stain was observed initially in the hypertrophied zone of epiphyseal plate in the 9th group and was conspicuous in the calcified zone of epiphyseal plate in the 10th group. The 1st positive reaction to the von Kossa stain was observed in the 9th group.

In order to investigate the morphological characteristics of epididymal duct of the squirrel, the histological and histochemical studies were carried out. The epididymal duct can be divided into 9 segments by histological and histochemical features. Segments 1 to 5 were located in the head, segments 6 and 7 in the body, and segments 8 and 9 in the tail of the epididymis. The apical cells were numerous in the segment. Clear cells which has a compact, deeply staining nucleus and a characteristically clear cytoplasm were scattered in the epithelium throughout the duct. Interepithelial clear cells which had PAS-positive granules tended to increase in number caudally. Strong PAS-positive reaction was detected at the intralumen of the segments 3, 8 and 9. Acid phosphatase activity was relatively high in the basal cytoplasm of the segment 7, and then in the supranuclear region of the segments 8 and 9. Alkaline phosphatase activity was weakly positive or negative except the segments 3 and 4. ATPase activity was strong in the free surface of the epithelium in the head and the entire cytoplasm in the body and tail, and SDH activity was generally weak except for the body where it was more intense.

peer reviewed | OBJECTIVE: To assess sensitivity of scintigraphic alveolar clearance rate as an indicator of alveolar epithelium damage in horses. ANIMALS: 5 healthy horses (group A) and 5 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; group B). PROCEDURE: Horses underwent clearance rate (k [%/min]) determination. Clearance rate of group-B horses was determined after remission of the disease following 2 months at pasture (remission 1), stabling in a controlled environment (remission 2), and during crisis induced by exposure to moldy hay and straw. Methacholine challenge test was performed at each investigation period to determine nonspecific pulmonary airway hyperresponsiveness. Pulmonary function tests (PFT) also were performed, and cell populations in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were determined on another occasion. RESULTS: Group-B horses had significantly faster mean clearance rate during crisis (k = 4.30+/-0.95%/min), compared with that for remission 1(k = 1.98+/-0.55%/min), which did not differ from the rate in group-A horses (k = 1.95+/-0.33%/min). Despite lack of clinical signs of COPD during remission when stabled in a controlled environment, an intermediate value was found (k = 3.20+/-0.72%/min). CONCLUSIONS: This technique allowed grading of lung damage induced by COPD, whereas use of PFT and determination of BAL fluid cell populations failed to differentiate between remission 1 and remission 2. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Determination of alveolar clearance rate by use of scintigraphy is a sensitive indicator of lung damage. A modified clearance rate was found despite the lack of clinical and functional changes

peer reviewed | The aim of this work was to measure the myeloperoxidase (MPO) concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid collected from horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), both in crisis and in remission, as well as from healthy horses. Seven horses with RAO were exposed to moldy hay until the maximum change in pleural pressure was greater than 1.5 kPa. At that point, BAL was performed, and the total cell counts and percentages in the fluid were immediately determined. To measure the MPO concentration in BAL-fluid supernatant, we used a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with polyclonal antibodies against equine MPO. The tests were repeated on the horses with RAO after they had spent 2 mo on pasture. Six healthy horses serving as controls underwent the same tests. The absolute and relative neutrophil counts and the MPO concentration in the BAL fluid were significantly greater in the horses with an RAO crisis than in the control horses. After 2 mo on pasture, the horses that had been in RAO crisis were clinically normal, and their neutrophil counts and MPO levels in BAL fluid had significantly decreased; during remission their neutrophil counts were not significantly different from those in the healthy horses, but their MPO concentration remained significantly higher. This study showed that determining the MPO concentration in a horse's BAL fluid is technically possible and that during remission from RAO the concentration remains higher than normal. Thus, MPO may be a marker of neutrophil presence and activation in the lower airways. | Le but de cette étude était de mesurer la concentration de myéloperoxydase (MPO) dans le liquide de lavage broncho-alvéolaire (BAL) récolté chez des chevaux avec obstruction respiratoire récurrente (RAO), en période de crise et en rémission, ainsi que chez des chevaux en santé. Sept chevaux avec RAO ont été exposés à du foin moisi jusqu’à ce que le changement maximal dans la pression pleurale soit plus grand que 1,5 kPa. À cet instant on procéda au BAL et le dénombrement cellulaire total de même que les pourcentages dans le liquide furent immédiatement déterminés. Afin de mesurer la concentration de MPO dans le liquide de BAL on procéda à une épreuve immunoenzymatique spécifique utilisant des anticorps polyclonaux dirigés contre MPO. Les épreuves ont été répétées chez les chevaux avec RAO après qu’ils eurent passé 2 mois au pâturage. Six chevaux en santé servant de témoin ont subi les mêmes tests. Les comptes absolus et relatifs de neutrophiles et les concentrations de MPO dans le liquide de BAL étaient significativement plus élevés chez les chevaux avec RAO en période de crise que chez les chevaux témoins. Après 2 mois au pâturage, les chevaux qui avaient été en crise de RAO étaient cliniquement normaux et leurs comptes en neutrophiles et niveaux de MPO dans le liquide de BAL avaient diminué de manière significative; durant la rémission les comptes de neutrophiles n’étaient pas significativement différents de ceux des chevaux témoins, mais les concentrations de MPO sont demeurées significativement plus élevées. Cette étude a permis de démontrer qu’il était techniquement possible de déterminer la concentration de MPO dans du liquide de BAL équin et que durant la période de rémission d’une crise de RAO la concentration est demeurée plus élevée que la normale. Ainsi, la MPO pourrait être un marqueur de la présence et de l’activation des neutrophiles dans les voies respiratoires inférieures. (Traduit par Docteur Serge Messier)

The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of nitrate (KNO3) on the thyroid glands in rabbits which were administrated KNO3 of 1g/kg/day for 6 weeks. Growth rate, and serum levels for T4, T3 and TSH were observed every week. The histological changes and the weights of the thyroid glands were observed in 6 weeks. The mean growth rates of experiments were decreased significantly in the 1st week, but were increased a little from the 5th to 6th week compared with those of controls. The serum levels for T4 of the experimental group manifested significantly decreased values than those of control through the experimental term consistently and the serum levels for T3 were greatly decreased in the 3rd and 4th weeks. TSH contents of the serum were not changed through the experimental term. The mean weight of the thyroid gland in the experiment was decreased significantly after 6 weeks compared with that of cotrol. In the experimental group, the color of colloid in the thyroid follicles revealed deeper eosinophilic and the heights of the follicular epithelial cells were taller than those of controls. The colloid in the thyroid follicles revealed depletion. As summarized above, the observations suggest that nitrate can be an antithyroid substance in rabbits and it leads the thyroid glands to hypofunctional state