OBJECTIVE To evaluate and compare regulation of diabetes mellitus (DM) in dogs with cataracts and well-controlled DM that received an ophthalmic preparation of prednisolone acetate versus diclofenac sodium. ANIMALS 22 client-owned dogs with cataracts and well-controlled DM. PROCEDURES A prospective, randomized, double-masked, experimental study was conducted. On days 0 and 32, serum fructosamine concentrations (SFCs), clinical scores, and body weights were determined. Dogs were assigned to receive a topically administered ophthalmic preparation of either prednisolone acetate 1% or diclofenac sodium 0.1% in each eye 4 times daily for 28 days. Data analysis was conducted with generalized linear mixed models. RESULTS Findings indicated no meaningful differences in SFCs, clinical scores, or body weights between the treatment groups on days 0 or 32. Clinical score on day 0 was positively associated with SFC, as indicated by the corresponding rate of change such that each 1 -unit increase in clinical score was associated with an approximately 45.6 ± 9.4 μmol/L increase in SFC. In addition, the least squares mean ± SEM SFC was higher in spayed females (539.20 ± 19.23 μmol/L; n = 12) than in castrated males (458.83 ± 23.70 μmol/L; 8) but did not substantially differ between sexually intact males (446.27 ± 49.72 μmol/L; 2) and spayed females or castrated males regardless of the treatment group assigned. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Findings indicated no evidence for any differential effect on DM regulation (assessed on the basis of SFCs, clinical scores, and body weights) in dogs treated topically with an ophthalmic preparation of prednisolone versus an ophthalmic preparation of diclofenac. Additional research investigating plasma concentrations of topically applied ophthalmic glucocorticoid medications is warranted.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of 4.7-mg deslorelin acetate implants on egg production and plasma concentrations of 17β-estradiol and androstenedione in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) over 180 days and assess safety of the implants in quail via gross and histologic examination. Animals: 20 female Japanese quail. Procedures: Following a 7-day period of consistent egg laying, quail were anesthetized and received a 4.7-mg deslorelin implant (treatment group; n = 10) or identical placebo implant (control group; 10) SC between the scapulae. Egg production was monitored daily. Plasma concentrations of 17β-estradiol and androstenedione were measured on days 0 (immediately prior to implant injection), 14, 29, 62, 90, 120, 150, and 180 via radioimmunoassay. Birds were weighed periodically and euthanized at day 180 for complete necropsy. Results: Egg production was significantly decreased in the treatment group, compared with the control group, from 2 to 12 weeks after implant injection. Egg production ceased in 6 of 10 quail in the treatment group (mean duration of cessation, 70 days). Plasma androstenedione and 17β-estradiol concentrations were significantly lower on day 29 in the treatment group than in the control group. Plama androstenedione and 17β-estradiol concentrations were significantly lower on day 29 in the treatment group then in the control group. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: 4.7-mg deslorelin acetate implants reversibly decreased egg laying for approximately 70 days in most of the Japanese quail evaluated. Further studies evaluating implants containing different concentrations of the drug are needed in quail and other avian species.

Objective: To determine the pharmacokinetics of methylprednisolone (MP) and the relationship between MP and hydrocortisone (HYD) concentrations in plasma and urine after intra-articular (IA) administration of 100 or 200 mg of MP acetate (MPA) to horses. Animals: Five 3-year-old Thoroughbred mares. Procedures: Horses exercised on a treadmill 3 times/wk during the study. Horses received 100 mg of MPA IA, then 8 weeks later received 200 mg of MPA IA. Plasma and urine samples were obtained at various times for 8 weeks after horses received each dose of MPA; concentrations of MP and HYD were determined. Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic estimates for noncompartmental and compartmental parameters were determined. Results: Maximum concentration of MP in plasma was similar for each MPA dose; concentrations remained greater than the lower limit of quantitation for 18 and 7 days after IA administration of 200 and 100 mg of MPA, respectively. Maximum concentration and area under the observed concentration-time curve for MP in urine were significantly higher (approximately 10-and 17-fold, respectively) after administration of 200 versus 100 mg of MPA. Hydrocortisone concentration was below quantifiable limits for ≥ 48 hours in plasma and urine of all horses after administration of each MPA dose. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Pharmacokinetics of MP may differ among IA MPA dosing protocols, and MP may be detected in plasma and urine for a longer time than previously reported. This information may aid veterinarians treating sport horses. Further research is warranted to determine whether plasma HYD concentration can aid identification of horses that received exogenous glucocorticoids.

Objective: To evaluate platelet-neutrophil aggregate (PNA) formation and neutrophil shape as indicators of neutrophil activation in dogs with systemic inflammatory diseases and after blood sample incubation with various platelet and neutrophil agonists. Animals: 20 dogs with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and 10 healthy Beagles. Procedures: Neutrophils were isolated from blood samples directly after blood sample collection and after incubation of blood samples with phorbol myristate acetate, collagen, adenosine diphosphate, epinephrine, or various concentrations of lipopolysaccharide or arachidonic acid. CD61+ neutrophils as an indicator of PNA formation were evaluated, and neutrophil size and granularity were assessed via flow cytometry. Results: Dogs with SIRS had more PNA formation, larger neutrophil size, and less granularity relative to control dogs, but no differences were evident when these dogs were grouped by whether they had sepsis (n = 6) or disseminated intravascular coagulation (12). A significant increase in PNA formation occurred after neutrophil incubation with all agonists, and incubation with phorbol myristate acetate elicited the strongest response. Neutrophils increased in size and decreased in granularity after incubation with all agonists except epinephrine. Incubation with lipopolysaccharide or arachidonic acid resulted in a dose-dependent effect on PNA formation and neutrophil shape. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: SIRS appeared to increase the degree of PNA formation and neutrophil shape change. Similar changes after neutrophil incubation with platelet agonists suggested that platelet activation has a role in PNA formation. Additional studies are necessary to determine the clinical importance and diagnostic value of PNA formation in dogs with SIRS and sepsis.

Disinfection is key for controlling microbial contamination and ensuring the safe production of milk and dairy products. In this study, we developed a new disinfection method using quaternary ammonium surfactant N-dodecyl-2-(pyridin-1-yl) acetamide chloride as the main component to form a bactericidal complex with either chlorhexidine acetate or glutaraldehyde, and we evaluated the bactericidal effects, safety, and clinical application value of the compound disinfectants. An in vivo acute oral toxicity assay in mice showed an LD50 > 5000 mg/kg body weight without abnormality in pathological tissue sections. Comparison with commercially available products also showed that they have outstanding bactericidal effects. Clinical trials proved that the compound disinfectants have excellent bactericidal effects on the air and ground of the dairy farm and on the skin of cattle, especially in a dairy farm environment. Our findings confirm that the new compound disinfectants have excellent bactericidal performance and are safe to use as disinfectants to prevent mastitis and contamination of the cattle farm environment.

OBJECTIVE To compare the effects of 3 equimolar concentrations of methylprednisolone acetate (MPA), triamcinolone acetonide (TA), and isoflupredone acetate (IPA) on equine articular tissue cocultures in an inflammatory environment. SAMPLE Synovial and osteochondral explants from the femoropatellar joints of 6 equine cadavers (age, 2 to 11 years) without evidence of musculoskeletal disease. PROCEDURES From each cadaver, synovial and osteochondral explants were harvested from 1 femoropatellar joint to create cocultures. Cocultures were incubated for 96 hours with (positive control) or without (negative control) interleukin (IL)-1β (10 ng/mL) or with IL-1β and MPA, TA, or IPA at a concentration of 10(−4), 10(−7), or 10(−10)M. Culture medium samples were collected from each coculture after 48 and 96 hours of incubation. Concentrations of prostaglandin E2, matrix metalloproteinase-13, lactate dehydrogenase, and glycosaminoglycan were determined and compared among treatments at each time. RESULTS In general, low concentrations (10(−7) and 10(−10)M) of MPA, TA, and IPA mitigated the inflammatory and catabolic (as determined by prostaglandin E2 and matrix metalloproteinase-13 quantification, respectively) effects of IL-1β in cocultures to a greater extent than the high (10(−4)M) concentration. Mean culture medium lactate dehydrogenase concentration for the 10(−4)M IPA treatment was significantly greater than that for the positive control at both times, which was suggestive of cytotoxicosis. Mean culture medium glycosaminoglycan concentration did not differ significantly. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that the in vitro effects of IPA and MPA were similar to those of TA at clinically relevant concentrations (10(−7) and 10(−10)M).

The study of alterations of some hematological parameters in a experimentally induced lead toxicosis were carried out on a total of 15 (15 days old) male weaning Long- Evans (ICDDRB strain) rats. The rats were randomly divided in to three equal groups, each consisting of fiverats. Rats of group A were kept as control (without giving any treatment), group B received lead acetate alone @ 6 mg/ml drinking water and group C receivedlead acetate @ 6 mg/ml plus whole milk (Star ship®) 150 mg/ml drinking water. The result showed a most significantly (p< 0.01) decreased TEC, TLC and Hb%observed on day 56 in group B but in group C, these counts decreased significantly (p< 0.05) on days 56 of experiment. From the study, it was concluded that treatment with lead acetate at low doses has harmfuleffects on experimental animals including hematological alterations.

During the last ten years, numerous species have been treated with deslorelin implants to induce contraception. The aims of the study were 1) to assess contraceptive efficacy of 4.7 mg subcutaneous deslorelin implants in rats, 2) to determine the latency of contraceptive effect, and 3) to determine potential side effects. Three experimental females were implanted and their estrous cycle was studied by vaginal smear. Two weeks after implantation, a male whose fertility was previously assessed with a control female, was introduced into their cage. No female conceived during the 4 mo following implantation. Additionally, 38 pet rats were recruited from clients in practice to test for potential side effects, including 6 males and 32 females with a mean age of 14 mo. Local reaction and transient weight gain during the first 2 wk, as well as behavioral changes were recorded. According to this pilot study, deslorelin implant could be used as a contraceptive method in female rats. The latency period is about 2 wk. Nevertheless, it might be possible to refine the treatment further using hormonal measurements. The duration of contraceptive effect is to be determined in an upcoming study.

Atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP) is a hormone with potent natriuretic, diuretic and relaxing properties on vascular smooth muscle. Specific chemical modulator in response for the ANP secretion has not been found yet. Therefore, we have investigated the role of Ca2+ responsible for the regulation of ANP induced by protein kinase C(PKC) on mechanically stretch-induced ANP secretion in the rat atria. The results obtained were as follows; 1. ANP secretion and ANP concentration were increased to more in Ca2+-free buffer than in the Kreb-Henseleit buffer on mechanically stretch-induced ANP secretion(p0.05), but extracellular fluid translocation(ECF) was not significant. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate(PMA, 10-7M) induced ANP secretion and ANP concentration in Ca2+-free buffer shown to more accentuate on mechanically stretch-induced ANP secretion than in the Ca2+-free buffer(p0.05), but ECF translocation was not significant. 2. In the presence of ryanodine(3*10-6M), PMA(10-7M) induced ANP secretion and ANP concentration in the Kreb-Henseleit buffer were shown to more increase on mechanically stretch-induced ANP secretion than in the ryanodine(3*10-6M) with the Kreb-Henseleit buffer(p0.05), but ECF translocation was not significant. 3. In the presence of ryanodine(3*10-6M), PMA(10-7M) induced ANP secretion and ANP concentration in the Ca2+-free buffer was shown to more increase on mechanically stretch-induced ANP secretion than in the ryanodine(3*10-6M) with the Ca2+-free buffer on mechanically induced ANP secretion(p0.05), but ECF translocation was not significant. The results suggest that PKC-induced ANP secretion may not be related to the change of Ca2+ on mechanically induced ANP secretion in the rat atria.

Health and ruminal variables were intensively measured during adaptation to grain-based diets in 6 beef cattle with fistulated rumens. The cows had been maintained on prairie grass hay-supplemented diets, and were converted to a grain-based finishing ration by feeding each successive diet (diets 1-4, respectively) for a period of 7 days. Each cow was evaluated and samples were obtained 3 times each day for the first 5 days that each diet was fed. Health variables monitored were rectal temperature, pulse, respiratory and rumen motility rates, fecal consistency, demeanor, blood pH, and blood glucose and L(+) lactate concentrations. Ruminal variables monitored were pH and glucose, DL-lactate, and volatile fatty acid concentrations of rumen contents. Data were analyzed by use of a multivariate ANOVA. We determined that most of the health variables were within reference rang limits throughout the adaptation period; however, analysis of pulse and respiratory rates indicated that diets 2 and 4 were stressful. Although blood pH continually decreased during feeding of the 4 diets (7.38 to 7.30), blood L(+) lactate and glucose concentrations had large increases only within diet 4. The pH of ruminal contents decreased progressively from 6.8 to 5.3. Rumen glucose concentration was low (< 1 micromole/ml), except with diet 4 in which values were 8 times higher than for other diets. By the end of the study, the ruminal contents of all animals were acidic (pH < 5.5), and, on the basis of higher than background amounts of ruminal glucose and DL-lactate, it was determined that rumen microbial equilibrium had not yet been achieved. Analysis of results of this study suggested that ruminal imbalance could be evaluated by monitoring pulse and respiratory rates, blood pH, and blood glucose concentrations. Assessment of the rumen alone could be accomplished by monitoring the variables of rumen pH, rumen glucose, and DL-lactate concentrations. Respiratory rate, blood and rumen content pH, and blood L(+) lactate concentrations were significantly (P < 0.001) affected by time after feeding.