Thoracic compliance measurements by use of readily available equipment were determined to be practical and safe in dogs. Twenty healthy dogs (age 1 to 16 years, weight 2.3 to 49.5 kg) were anesthetized for routine procedures such as dentistry or neutering. The animals were first hyperventilated to reduce pulmonary atelectasis, to check for leakage at the endotracheal tube cuff, and to induce mild hypocarbia, thus minimizing voluntary respiratory efforts. Total thoracic compliance measurements were calculated as the difference between exhaled volumes at static inspiratory pressures of 15 and 20 cm of H2O, divided by the pressure difference, and expressed as a function of body weight. The procedure was easy, took 5 to 10 minutes, and caused no recognizable ill effects in any of the dogs studied. Mean total thoracic compliance was 42.25 +/- 32 ml/cm of H2O. There was a significant correlation with weight, but no significant relationship was seen between compliance and age, or gender. The mean weight-adjusted total thoracic compliance was 1.85 +/- 0.56 ml/cm of H2O/kg. In studies in a small group of dogs with documented respiratory tract disease, 4 of 7 had a mean compliance > 2 SD below the normal range. Thus, this test may become part of the routine workup of any animal being anesthetized for procedures such as bronchoscopy to evaluate respiratory tract disease. Routine monitoring of animals on ventilators could provide early warning of complications such as pneumonia, pleural effusion, or pulmonary edema.

Two test specimens of skin were cut from the lateral aspect of each hind limb of 9 rats. Specimens were contiguous, thereby providing matched pairs. One specimen was immediately placed in liquid nitrogen for 5 minutes, then stored at -70 C and tested within 3 to 4 weeks. Within 5 minutes of harvest, the second specimen was used for immediate material testing. Basic engineering material tests were used to measure strength, loading response, and elastic and viscous properties. Each matched pair of tissues was used for the same procedure. Quasistatic uniaxial tensile tests were used to apply deformations to the test specimens, and resulting loads were recorded. Stress and strain were calculated from the recorded data, providing information on yield strength, ultimate strength, fracture strength, and loading response. Each matched pair of specimens represented 1 repetition; 6 repetitions were made of each observation. Statistical analysis indicated that tissue freezing significantly (P<0.05) increased fracture strength, but did not affect strength, ultimate strength, or loading response. Dynamic vibration response tests were used to find mechanical mobility of the specimens, thereby providing information on elastic and viscous behaviors, which were quantified by calculation of spring and damping coefficients, respectively. As before, 6 repetitions were used. Statistical analysis indicated that tissue freezing did not affect these coefficients.

The functional characteristics of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), considered to be the first line of host defense against infections, from rhesus macaques confirmed to have simian retrovirus (SRV)-induced simian acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (SAIDS), were evaluated. The PMN from SRV antibody-positive macaques without clinical signs were chemotactically responsive. Their phagocytic and killing capabilities were normal, and their cell membranes were highly deformable. However, PMN from SRV antibody-positive macaques and with persistent lymphadenopathy, as well as having at least 3 of the 11 common clinical signs of SAIDS, were chemotactically nonresponsive. Their phagocytic and killing capabilities were compromised, and their cell membranes were rigid and nondeformable. In general, PMN from macaques with clinically confirmed SAIDS were functionally deficient. The results are similar to those obtained in other retroviral infections and can be clinically significant, because the host defense deficiency may be responsible for the recurrent and opportunistic infections in SAIDS.