The ability of polysulfated glycosaminoglycans (PSGAG) to inhibit the complement cascade was evaluated. The role of complement in inflammation and infection has been well documented. Inhibition of the complement cascade by PSGAG could explain why intra-articularly administered PSGAG diminish diarthrodial joint inflammation and potentiate septic arthritis in horses. Hemolytic complement testing was performed to evaluate the effect of PSGAG on the equine classical and alternate pathways of complement, using rabbit erythrocytes as the target cells. Concentration of PSGAG between 0.2 mg/ml and 0.6 mg/ml significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited equine complement in dose-related fashion. Further increase in complement inhibition was not observed at PSGAG concentration > 0.6 mg/ml. Difference was not apparent in the extent of inhibition of complement from each of the 4 horses tested. Polysulfated glycosaminoglycans appeared to inhibit the classical and alternate complement pathways equally, indicating possible effect on complement components common to both pathways. Heat inactivation of complement function completely inhibited (P < 0.01) the hemolytic activity of the serum from all horses.

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.

A nerve muscle pedicle (NMP) graft was placed in the cricoarytenoideus dorsalis (CAD) muscle of 6 horses with induced left laryngeal hemiplegia. The NMP graft was created by use of the first cervical nerve and omohyoideus muscle. In 1 horse (control), the first cervical nerve was transected after placement of the NMP graft. One year after the surgical procedure, horses were examined endoscopically and then anesthetized. While the larynx was observed endoscopically, the first cervical nerve was stimulated. Horses were subsequently euthanatized, and the larynx was harvested. Prior to anesthesia, the endoscopic appearance of the larynx of all horses was typical of laryngeal hemiplegia. During anesthesia, stimulation of the first cervical nerve produced vigorous abduction of the left arytenoid in principal horses but not in the control horse. The right cricoarytenoideus lateralis and CAD muscles were grossly and histologically normal. Also, the left cricoarytenoideus lateralis was atrophic in all horses as was the left CAD muscle of the control horse. In contrast, the left CAD muscle harvested from principal horses had evidence of reinnervation with type 1 or type 2 fiber grouping. One year after the NMP graft procedure, horses with left laryngeal hemiplegia had reinnervation of the left CAD muscle. In another study, reinnervation was sufficient to allow normal laryngeal function during exercise. Combined, these data suggest that the NMP graft procedure is a viable technique for the treatment of left laryngeal hemiplegia in horses.

Conditions for purification of the ninth component of bovine complement (C9) were established. The conditions for binding and elution from diethylaminoethyl cellulose and hydroxylapatite were different than for human C9. Serum albumin, a frequent contaminant of bovine C9 preparations, was removed by chromatography on reactive-red agarose. The calculated molecular weight of bovine C9 was 66,000, and reduction with 2-mercaptoethanol affected its migration on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Some preparations of bovine C9 migrated as 2 bands when partially reduced, but extensively reduced preparations had a single band.

The pharmacokinetic properties of butorphanol tartrate were determined in 7 rabbits after iv and sc injection (0.5 mg/kg of body weight). A 2-compartment model (biexponential) best represented the concentration vs time curve after IV injection. The half-life was calculated to be 1.64 hours via IV administration, whereas SC injection resulted in an elimination half-life of 3.16 hours.

Changes in the common bile duct that contained adult Fasciola hepatica of sheep were evaluated by light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Nine ewes were inoculated with F hepatica metacercariae and necropsied 18 weeks after inoculation. The proximal portion of the common bile duct (CBD) that contained adult flukes was recovered and examined by Lm and SEM. The CBD from 2 noninoculated ewes were used for control. On gross examination, CBD were markedly large because of the adult flukes, which were free in the lumen of the ducts. Extensive hemorrhage was not found either in intrahepatic or in extrahepatic bile ducts of any sheep. Histologic examination revealed changes, such as villous hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the epithelium; cell infiltration, predominately with eosinophils or macrophages; and arterial intimal proliferation. By SEM, the epithelial surface of the CBD appeared intact. Villous hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the epithelium observed by LM was clearly seen by SEM. Epithelial damage, seen as small areas of denuded surface by LM and SEM, was confined to a few areas of the mucosa. Lack of extensive hemorrhage and confined epithelial damage were evaluated relative to the mode of feeding of adult flukes.

The lungs of sensitized horses were exposed to aerosolized ovalbumin. Some horses (n = 4) were given ovalbumin in 1 lung only, whereas in others (n = 7), ovalbumin or vehicle were inoculated in the cranial, ventral, and caudal regions of the caudal lung lobe. Horses were exercised 5 hours after ovalbumin exposure. Immediately before exercise, endoscopy failed to reveal any abnormality. After exercise, endoscopic examination of horses subjected to unilateral ovalbumin exposure revealed extensive blood in airways leading to the exposed lung in all horses. Blood was not observed in the airways leading to the control lung. Mean (+/- SEM) minimum volume of the exposed and control lungs was 9.5 +/- 1.5 and 5.5 +/- 1.6 L, respectively; this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Bronchoscopy of horses subjected to regional ovalbumin or vehicle exposure and exercise revealed a small amount of blood-tinged fluid in the bronchi serving the regions of the lung inoculated with ovalbumin. Minimum volumes of such regions were not significantly different from one another. However, their minimum volume was significantly (P < 0.05) larger than that of vehicle-inoculated regions. Gross and histologic examination confirmed inflammation and hemorrhage in the ovalbumin-exposed, but not the control lungs or lung regions. Thus, exercise can cause blood from an injured region of lung to appear in the larger airways. Regional differences in lung structure and function do not influence the appearance of blood in the airways.

Body condition scoring (using a 5-point with quarter-point divisions) was performed on 66 Holstein dairy cows that began their second or later lactation in August, September, or October 1988. Cows' body condition was scored beginning on postpartum day 4 (+/- 1) and subsequently at postpartum days (+/- 1) 18, 32, 46, 60, 73 and 87. Blood samples were obtained on the same dates. Reproductive health examinations were conducted by 1 of 2 veterinarians beginning at postpartum day 21. Reproductive performance was evaluated in relation to body condition score and serum urea nitrogen and cholesterol concentrations. Number of days to first recorded signs of estrus and first breeding were not related to body condition score at calving, amount of condition loss, cumulative 80-day milk yield, or 305-day fat corrected milk yield. Cows that calved with body condition score greater than or equal to 3.50 required more days to conceive. Cows losing > 0.75 points of condition had longer days of conception. Body condition score at calving and amount of condition lost were not related to services per conception or diagnosis of follicular cyst. Cumulative 80-day milk yield was not related to days to conception or services per conception. Cows that produced greater than or equal to the mean 305-day milk yield required more services and had longer days to conception than cows that produced < the mean 305-day milk yield. Cows with diagnosis of ovarian follicular cysts had greater cumulative 80- and 305-day milk yields than did cows that were not diagnosed with follicular cysts. Cows conceiving with less than or equal to 2 services did not differ in average daily milk production, body condition score, or serum urea nitrogen concentration from cows conceiving with > 2 services, but cows that conceived with less than or equal to 2 services had higher serum cholesterol values than did cows requiring more services.

Effects of a protein meal (2.7 g of casein/kg of body weight) on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal plasma flow (RPF) were assessed in dogs after 15/16 nephrectomy (n = 10), and were compared with observations in dogs with intact kidneys (n = 5). Increase in GFR and RPF was observed in both groups of dogs between 1.5 and 8 hours after protein ingestion. A maximal value for GFR was observed between 4 and 5 hours after protein ingestion in dogs of both groups. Enhancement of urinary protein excretion was evident in partially nephrectomized dogs after protein ingestion (P < 0.05), a result that was confirmed by 24-hour total urine collection from partially nephrectomized dogs fed a balanced ration. A qualitatively similar vasodilatory response was observed in partially nephrectomized dogs and in dogs with intact kidneys, and the mean maximal increase of GFR and RPF expressed as a percentage of baseline values in the latter dogs (47.0 +/- 8.1 and 43.6 +/- 10.3%, respectively) exceeded that observed in partially nephrectomized dogs (20.8 +/- 2.2 and 22.7 +/- 6.3%, respectively; P < 0.01). The incremental response of the kidneys to protein ingestion was directly related to the degree of renal function, as reflected in the linear regression relationship between the incremental increase in GFR and the baseline value for GFR (P < 0.01, R2 = 0.721).

The effects of subcutaneous administration of a commercially available estradiol 17 beta implant on hematologic values and the chemiluminescence response of neutrophils were evaluated in 14 steers. Chemiluminescence and hematologic values were measured in treated (n = 8) and nontreated (n = 6) steers on days -14, -7, and -1 prior to implantation. Estradiol 17 beta was implanted into the treated group of steers on day 0, and blood samples were obtained from all steers on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, 43, and 50. The concentration of estrogen in serum was significantly (P = 0.0120) higher following implantation. Chemiluminescence and hematologic indices were not significantly affected by either implant status or serum concentrations of estrogen. The results of this study suggested that the use of implants containing estradiol 17 beta for promotion of weight gain in steers will not result in alterations of hematologic values or the neutrophil respiratory burst.