Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin notably produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium spp. Bacillus subtilis fermentation extract (BSFE) contains specific enzymes which hydrolyse OTA. This study evaluated the efficiency of BSFE in ameliorating the immunotoxic and nephrotoxic effects of OTA in broiler chickens. Day-old broiler chicks were divided equally into four groups of ten: control, OTA (0.5 mg/kg feed), BSFE product (1 mL/L water) and OTA + BSFE at the same concentrations. The chicks were vaccinated against avian influenza, Newcastle disease, and infectious bronchitis, and lymphoproliferation was induced in all birds by phytohaemagglutinin-P (PHA-P). Serum samples were taken before sacrifice and organ tissue samples were taken after, in which renal function biomarkers were assayed and the presence of OTA residue was evaluated by high-performance thin-layer chromatography. Protein markers of apoptosis were determined by qPCR, and tissue lesions were examined histopathologically. Exposure to OTA significantly decreased the antibody response to the vaccines and the lymphoproliferative response to PHA-P, and significantly elevated the renal function indicators: serum urea, uric acid and creatinine. It also induced oxidative stress (reduced catalase activity and glutathione concentration), lipid peroxidation (increased malondialdehyde content), apoptosis (increased Bax and Caspase-3 and decreased Bcl-2 gene levels) and pathological lesions in kidney, bursa of Fabricius, spleen and thymus tissue. Residues of OTA were detected in the serum and tissue. BSFE mitigated most of these toxic effects. BSFE counters OTA-induced immunotoxicity and nephrotoxicity because of its content of carboxypeptidase and protease enzymes.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of hydrogen on the therapy of onion poisoned dogs. Material and Methods: A total of 16 adult beagle dogs were divided into two groups (control and hydrogen) and all were fed dehydrated onion powder at the dose of 10 g/kg for three days. The dogs of the experimental group were given subcutaneous injection of 0.2 mL/kg of hydrogen for 12 days after making the poisoned model successful. Blood samples were collected before feeding onions, one day before injecting hydrogen, and 2 h after the injection of hydrogen on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 12. Control dogs were not treated with hydrogen. Results: The levels of leukocyte production, anaemia, red blood cell degeneration which was reflected by the values of Heinz body count, haemolytic ratio, and oxidative products in hydrogen treated group were lower than in control dogs on some days. The capacity of medullary haematopoiesis that was based on reticulocyte counts, and the antioxidation in hydrogen group were higher compared with control group. However, the differences in renal function were not obvious in both groups. Conclusion: Accordingly, it was concluded that subcutaneous injection of hydrogen could alleviate the symptoms in onion poisoned dogs.

Adrenaline is widely used drug to combat several conditions such as allergy and anaphylaxis. The current work was to investigate the renal and hepatic complications following adrenaline injection, in addition, the impact of Cleome (SAMWA) methanolic extract on adrenaline- induced renal and hepatic alterations. Twenty-four male Wister rats were divided equally into four groups; Normal control group received oral distilled water for 30 consecutive days and administered subcutaneous saline on the 31st and 32nd days. The Cleome extract (200 mg/kg) group received Cleome methanolic extract (200 mg/kg, P.O) for 30 consecutive days and administered subcutaneous saline on the 31st and 32nd days. The adrenaline group received distilled water orally for 30 consecutive days and administered subcutaneous adrenaline (2 mg/kg, s.c.) divided into two doses (1 mg/kg, s.c) each on the 31st and 32nd days. Cleome extract (200 mg/kg)/ adrenaline received Cleome methanolic extract (200 mg/kg, P. O) for 30 consecutive days and administered subcutaneous adrenaline (2 mg/kg, s.c.) divided into two doses (1 mg/kg, s.c) each on the 31st and 32nd days. Liver and kidney function biomarkers in addition to histopathological analyses were evaluated. Adrenaline caused alteration in liver and kidney function biomarkers without affecting the histological structure of the liver and the kidney. SAMWA methanolic extract pretreatment significantly decreased serum urea, uric acid, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP). SAMWA ameliorated serum albumin reduction and total protein induced by adrenaline injection. SAMWA methanolic extract could protect liver and kidney of rats exposed to adrenaline.

Exogenous creatinine clearance rate was determined in 8 partially (approx 75%) nephrectomized dogs fed 2 concentrations of dietary sodium, beginning 9 weeks after partial nephrectomy was performed. In a double crossover design, dogs were then fed low-sodium diet (0.18% sodium on a dry-weight basis) or high-sodium diet (1.3% sodium on a dry-weight basis) in 2 sequences (L/H/L or H/L/H) for 3 consecutive 4-week observation periods. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was measured by exogenous creatinine clearance before and after partial nephrectomy, and every 2 weeks during the experimental diet periods. Initial mean +/- SD GFR (3.76 +/- 0.78 ml/min/kg of body weight) decreased precipitously after nephrectomy (1.25 +/- 0.45 ml/min/kg); however, during the postnephrectomy and experimental diet periods, GFR gradually increased in all dogs to nearly half the prenephrectomy values (1.87 +/- 0.22 ml/min/kg). Significant differences in GFR were not observed when dogs were fed the IM or the H/L/H sequence. Therefore, it was concluded that abrupt change from high dietary sodium (1.3%) to restricted dietary sodium (0.18%), or vice versa, does not cause deterioration of renal function in dogs with moderate renal impairment. However, caution should be used in extrapolating these findings to dogs with clinically evident (azotemia, isosthenuria) renal failure.

We measured glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimated by plasma disappearance of 99mTc-labeled diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, serum concentrations of thyroxine (T4), creatinine, and urea nitrogen, and urine specific gravity in 13 cats with naturally acquired hyperthyroidism before and 30 days after treatment by bilateral thyroidectomy, and in a group of 11 control cats. Mean (+/- SD) serum T4 concentration decreased from a pretreatment value of 120.46 (+/- 39.21) nmol/L to a posttreatment value of 12.15 (+/- 6.26) nmol/L (P < 0.0001; reference range, 10 to 48 nmol/L). Treatment of hyperthyroidism resulted in a decrease in mean (+/- SD) glomerular filtration rate, from 2.51 (+/- 0.69) ml/kg of body weight/min to a posttreatment value of 1.40 (+/- 0.41) ml/kg/min (P < 0.0001). Mean serum creatinine concentration increased from 1.26 (+/- 0.34) mg/dl to 2.05 (+/- 0.60) mg/dl (P < 0.01). Mean serum urea nitrogen concentration increased from 26.62 (+/- 6.83) mg/dl to a mean postthyroidectomy concentration of 34.92 (+/- 8.95) mg/dl (P < 0.01). All changes were significant. Two cats developed overt renal azotemia after treatment of hyperthyroidism. Our results provide further evidence that treatment of hyperthyroidism can result in impaired renal function. In addition, our results suggest that, in some instances, thyrotoxicosis might mask underlying chronic renal insufficiency.

Renal electrolyte and net acid excretion were characterized during generation and maintenance of hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis in a ruminant model. Two phases of renal response with regard to sodium and net acid excretion were documented. An initial decrease in net acid excretion was attributable to increase in bicarbonate excretion with associated increase in sodium excretion. As the metabolic disturbance became more advanced, a second phase of renal excretion was observed in which sodium and bicarbonate excretion were markedly decreased, leading to increase in net acid excretion and development of aciduria. Throughout the metabolic disturbance, chloride excretion was markedly decreased; potassium excretion also decreased. These changes were accompanied by increase in plasma renin and aldosterone concentrations. There was apparent failure to concentrate the urine optimally during the course of the metabolic disturbance, despite increasing plasma concentration of antidiuretic hormone.

This study investigated the hematological parameters and renal function effects of Flunixin Meglumine (FM) and assessed the potential protective role of Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) in male rats. Hematological studies, kidney function tests, oxidative stress and antioxidant capacities, kidney weights and index weights, and histopathological studies were evaluated on the 4th and 8th weeks of the experiment. The experiment involved administering FM for 14 successive days and ALA for 56 successive days. Seventy-two (72) male rats were randomly divided into six groups (n=12 animals each): Group 1 (control) received saline and distilled water, Group 2 (ALA) received ALA at a dose level 100mg/kg bwt orally, Group 3 (FM-2.5) received Flunixin meglumine at a dose level (2.5mg/kg bwt) subcutaneously, Group 4 (FM-5) received FM subcutaneously, Group 5 (FM-2.5 and ALA) received FM and ALA, and Group 6 (FM-5 and ALA) received FM and ALA. Flunixin meglumine increased WBCs, serum urea and creatinine levels, MDA, some histopathological changes in kidney tissue, and decreased TAC. These alterations were mitigated by addition of alpha lipoic acid. Non-significant changes in Hb%, P.C.V.%, RBCs and kidney index weight among all treated and control groups. In conclusion, the administration of FM induced hematological and renal impairments in male rats. However, co-administration of ALA effectively mitigated these impairments, suggesting its potential protective role against FM-induced hematological and renal disturbances.

Urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (uL-FABP) is a clinically useful biomarker for monitoring chronic kidney disease (CKD) in humans. However, long-term monitoring of uL-FABP in CKD cats has not been reported. The objective of this preliminary study was to investigate whether the urinary excretion of L-FABP could predict the deterioration of renal function in 2 CKD model cats. Urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (uL-FABP) increased before standard renal biomarkers, including serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and symmetric dimethylarginine, in 1 cat with deteriorating renal function, but remained low and relatively stable in another cat with stable renal function. Our results suggest that uL-FABP is a potential clinical biomarker for predicting the progression of CKD in cats, as it is in humans.

OBJECTIVE To assess the expression of inflammatory cytokines and enzymes in venous whole blood of dogs with impaired renal function attributable to various causes. ANIMALS 46 dogs with acute kidney injury (AKI), 8 dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and 10 healthy dogs. PROCEDURES Dogs with AKI and CKD were prospectively enrolled during 2010 if they met inclusion criteria. Demographic and laboratory characteristics were evaluated for each dog, and expression of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1α, IL-1β, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, IL-10, and transforming growth factor [TGF]-β) and enzymes (inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS] and 5-lipoxygenase [5-LO]) was measured in venous whole blood obtained at initial evaluation. RESULTS Dogs with impaired renal function had markedly higher expression of the cytokines IL-1α, IL-1β, and TGF-β and the enzyme 5-LO, compared with expression in healthy dogs. Additionally, 17 of 46 AKI dogs (but none of the CKD dogs) had higher IL-8 mRNA expression and 3 of 8 CKD dogs (but only 2/46 AKI dogs) had higher TNF-α expression, compared with results for healthy dogs. No significant difference between renal disease groups was detected for inflammatory markers and laboratory variables, degree of azotemia, or cause of impaired renal function. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE In this study, expression of the cytokines IL-1α, IL-1β, and TGF-β and the enzyme 5-LO was clearly increased in dogs with renal disease, which suggested that these markers were part of an inflammatory response in animals with AKI or CKD.

Thirty-one clinically normal Cocker Spaniels, Miniature Schnauzers, and Doberman Pinschers (28 female, 3 male) 7 to 8 years old were uninephrectomized (month -2) to increase the risk of renal damage associated with reduction of renal mass. Two diets, differing principally in protein concentration, were used to test the hypothesis that high dietary protein intake causes renal damage in aging dogs. For 2 months after uninephrectomy, all dogs were fed diet A (18% protein). After glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was measured (month 0), 16 dogs were assigned to group A and were fed diet A for an additional 48 months. The other 15 dogs were assigned to group B, and were fed diet B (34% protein) for the subsequent 48 months. At 6-month intervals, GFR and urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UP/C) were determined. At 48 months, terminal studies were done, survivors were euthanatized, and tissues were examined. Of 16 dogs in group A, 10 survived, compared with 13 of 15 in group B. Among survivors, a significant difference in GFR was not found between groups A and B, and decrease in GFR was not evident with time in either group. At 48 months, oral administration of casein caused minor acute effects on GFR and renal plasma flow in dogs of groups A and B. The UP/C values increased significantly (P = 0.001) from baseline values, but the increase was not progressive. The UP/C values were not affected by diet. Some dogs in both groups developed UP/C > 1.0. Morphologic studies performed on kidneys removed at -2 months (nephrectomy) and at 48 months (necropsy) revealed increased kidney weight in both groups at month 48, compared with month -2 (P = 0.003); at month 48, kidney weight change was significantly (P = 0.004) greater in group-B than in group-A dogs. Increased glomerular area at month 48, compared with month -2, was significantly (P= 0.000) related to time, but not to diet. Significant (P = 0.000) increase in glomerular mesangial matrix, interstitial fibrosis (P = 0.001), cell infiltration (P = 0.000), and lesions of the renal pelvis (P = 0.04) was observed between month -2 and month 48. Time, representing combined effects of uninephrectomy and aging, was the major factor responsible for the morphologic changes. Diet effects were significance (P = 0.008) for cell infiltration, but did not reach significance for mesangial matrix accumulation, fibrosis, or pelvic lesions. Kidney mineral analysis revealed no renal mineralization in either group between -2 and 48 months. Results indicated that GFR did not decrease with time during the geriatric period studied, but severity of renal lesions was increased. Effects of time and uninephrectomy, although not separable, were more important than those of dietary protein intake on progression of renal lesions.