Comparison of behavioral and clinical effects of intravenous amitraz or romifidine administration in horses

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Intracranial variables in propofol or sevoflurane-anesthestized dogs subjected to subarachnoid administration of iohexol

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Late administration of a specific COX-2 inhibitor does not treat and/or prevent progression of gastric tumors in rats submitted to duodenogastric reflux procedure

PURPOSE:To assess whether late introduction of a specific COX-2 inhibitor (Meloxicam) can treat and/or prevent the progression of tumors in the stomach of rats submitted to duodenogastric reflux. METHODS: Seventy five male Wistar rats, weighing 150 grams, were submitted to the induction of duodenogastric reflux through the pylorus. At 36 weeks of follow-up were established three experimental groups: DGR36 sacrificed immediately, DGR54 and DGR54MLX both sacrificed at 54th week of follow-up . The animals of the latter group were fed with a rat chow premixed with Meloxicam (2.0 mg/ kg feed; 0.3 mg / kg bw / day) and the other two with standard rat chow. The lesions found in the pyloric mucosa and gastrojejunal anastomosis were analyzed macroscopically and histologically. For statistical analysis was adjusted a generalized linear model assuming a binomial distribution with LOGIT link function. RESULTS: No significant differences were found when comparing the incidences of benign tumor lesions (Adenomatous Hyperplasia), p=0.4915, or malignant (Mucinous Adenocarcinoma), p=0.2731, among groups. CONCLUSION: Late introduction of specific COX-2 inhibitor (Meloxicam) did not treat and was not able to prevent the progression of tumoral lesions induced by duodenogastric reflux in the rat stomachs.

THE EFFECT OF CARBOHYDRATE ADMINISTRATION ON EXPERIMENTAL-INFECTION WITH SALMONELLA SEROTYPES IN CHICKENS

Carbohydrates and cultures of faecal microflora were administered to newly hatched chicks to prevent infection with Salmonella typhimurium Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella agona and Salmonella infantis. Birds were killed 72 hours after challenge and the number of viable Salmonella organisms in their caecal contents estimated. Carbohydrates did not promote efficient control of infection with the Salmonella serotypes tested whereas cultures of faecal microflora completely prevented infection with all serotypes.

INFLUENCE OF DIETARY-PROTEIN INTAKE AND RECOMBINANT HUMAN SOMATOTROPIN ADMINISTRATION ON GROWTH AND BODY-COMPOSITION OF JUVENILE TAMBACU (A PIARACTUS-MESOPOTAMICUS X COLOSSOMA-MACROPOMUM CROSS)

This experiment was undertaken to study the interaction between level of dietary protein and recombinant human somatotropin (rhGH) administration on performance and body composition of juvenile tambacu (a crossbred Brazilian fish). A total of 72 juvenile tambacu, initially weighing and measuring (mean +/- s.e.m.) 23 +/- 2 g and 9 +/- 0.5 cm, respectively, were randomly divided into 18 groups of 4 fish each. Water temperature was 28 degrees C. Triplicate groups received one of two levels of dietary protein (15 and 30% as fed basis) and one of 3 doses of rhGH (0, 2 and 4 mu g/g) via intraperitoneal injection twice a week for 6 weeks, using a randomized complete block design. Somatotropin was noted to stimulate linear and body weight gain. The higher protein level supported increased growth in weight and length, but there was no interaction between protein level and rhGH dose for either parameter. Protein efficiency ratio and percentage protein deposited showed higher values on diets containing 15% protein. Somatotropin treatment did not significantly affect body composition, but there was a trend towards improved protein retention and reduced carcass lipid. In conclusion, the results of this experiment suggest that rhGH is able to stimulate linear gain in tambacu.

Effects of prolonged oral administration of fumonisin B(1) and aflatoxin B(1) in rats

The effects of prolonged oral administration (21 days) of fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)) and aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) were evaluated on male Wistar rats. The animals were housed in individual metabolic cages and submitted to the following treatments: 1-0 mug AFB(1) + 0 mg FB(1)/100g bw.; 2-72 mug AFB(1)+ 0 mg FB(1)/100 g bw; 3-0 mug AFB(1) + 0.5 mg FB(1) g bw; 4-0 mug AFB(1) + 1.5 mg FB(1)/100 g bw; 5-72 mug AFB(1) + 0.5 mg FB(1)/100g bw; 6-72 mu gAFB(1) + 1.5 mg FB(1)/100g bw. on day 21, the rats were sacrificed for evaluation. The results showed that treated animals presented differences in body weight and absolute/relative weights of liver and kidney as well as altered hepatic function and cholesterol blood levels. Rats fed with the greatest doses of AFB(1) and FB(1) gained less weight (2.79 g/day) at the end of the experimental period; their blood concentrations of liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) were above control levels (130.35 mu /l and 471.00 mu /l, respectively). Blood cholesterol increased in the groups treated with the highest dose of FB(1) or FB(1) associated with AFB(1). Histopathology revealed the occurrence of apoptosis in the liver of rats exposed to FB(1). The association of aflatoxin B(1) with fumonisin B(1) at higher dose probably potentiated the effects of the higher dose of fumonisin B(1)acting singly.

Paraventricular nucleus administration of DuP753 or PD123319 inhibits the effects of angiotensin on water and sodium intake

We determined the effects of DuP753 and PD123319 (both nonpeptides and selective antagonists of the AT(1) and AT(2) angiotensin receptors, respectively), and [Sar(1), Ala(8)]ANG II (a non-selective peptide antagonist of angiotensin receptors) on water and 3%NaCl intake induced by administration of angiotensin II (ANG II) into the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of sodium-depleted Holtzman rats weighing 250-300 g. Twenty hours before the experiments, the rats were depleted of sodium using furosemide (10 ng/rat, sc). The volume of drug solution injected was 0.5 mu l over a period of 10-15 sec. Water and sodium intake were measured at 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 h. Pre-treatment with DuP753 (14 rats) at a dose of 60 ng completely abolished the water intake induced by injection of 12 ng of ANG II (15 rats) (6.4 +/- 0.6 vs 1.4 +/- 0.3 ml/2 h), where [Sar(1), Ala(8)]ANG II (12 rats) and PD123319 (10 rats) at the doses of 60 ng partially blocked water intake (6.4 +/- 0.6 vs 2.9 +/- 0.5 and 2.7 +/- 0.2 ml/2 h, respectively). In the same animals, [Sar(1), Ala(8)]ANG II, DuP753, and PD123319 blocked the sodium intake induced by ANG II (9.2 +/- 1.6 vs 3.3 +/- 0.6, 1.8 +/- 0.3, and 1.4 +/- 0.2 ml/2 h, respectively). These results indicate that both DuP753 and PD123319, administered into the PVN, blocked the water and sodium intake induced by administration of ANG II into the same site.

PROGESTERONE ADMINISTRATION TO OVARIECTOMIZED RATS REDUCES WATER AND SALT INTAKE INDUCED BY CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION OF ANGIOTENSIN-II

We tested the effects of estradiol, progesterone and testosterone on water and salt intake induced by angiotensin II (ANG II) injected into the third ventricle of female Holtzman rats weighing 250-300 g. The water and salt ingestion observed after 120 min in the control experiments (injection of 0.5 mu l of 0.15 M NaCl into the third ventricle) was 1.6 +/- 0.3 ml (N = 10) and 0.3 +/- 0.1 ml (N = 8) in intact rats, respectively, and 1.4 +/- 0.3 ml (N = 10) and 0.2 +/- 0.1 (N = 8) in ovariectomized rats, respectively. ANG II injected in intact rats (4, 6, 12, 25, and 50 ng, icv, in 0.5 mu l saline) induced an increase in water intake (4.3 +/- 0.6, 5.4 +/- 0.7. 7.8 +/- 0.8, 10.4 +/- 1.2, 11.2 +/- 1.4 ml/120 min, respectively) (N = 43). The same doses of icv ANG II in intact rats increased the 3% NaCl intake (0.9 +/- 0.2; 1.4 +/- 0.3, 2.3 +/- 0.4, 2.2 +/- 0.3. and 2.5 +/- 0.4 ml/120 min, respectively) (N = 42). When administered to ovariectomized rats ANG II induced comparable amounts of water intake (4.0 +/- 0.5, 4.8 +/- 0.6, 6.9 +/- 0.7. 9.6 +/- 0.8, and 10.9 +/- 1.2 ml/120 min, respectively) (N = 43) but there was a significant decrease of 3% NaCl solution ingestion (0.3 +/- 0.1, 0.4 +/- 0.1, 0.8 +/- 0.2, 0.7 +/- 0.2, and 0.6 +/- 0.2 ml/120 min, respectively) (N = 44). Estrogen (50 mu g), progesterone (25 ng), and testosterone (300 mu g) were injected daily into ovariectomized rats for 21 days. Treatment with estrogen decreased the water intake and abolished the saline ingestion induced by icy injection of ANG II (12 ng (2.8 +/- 1.2 and 0.3 +/- 0.1 ml/120 min, respectively) (N = 8). Treatment with progesterone also reduced the water intake (3.3 +/- 0.6 ml/120 min) (N = 8) and abolished the ANG II-induced saline ingestion (0.4 +/- 0.1 ml/120 min) (N = 8), but these effects were not observed with testosterone (6.4 +/- 0.8 and 2.2 +/- 0.3 ml/120 min, respectively) (N = 8). These results indicate that ANG II induces a greater increase in sodium intake in intact female rats than in ovariectomized rats and that estrogen and progesterone impair water and sodium intake in ovariectomized rats.

Non-ventilation during early incubation in combination with dexamethasone administration during late incubation: 1. Effects on physiological hormone levels, incubation duration and hatching events

This study investigated the effect of non-ventilation of the incubator during the first 10 days of incubation and its combination with dexamethasone administration at day 16 or 18 of incubation on hatching parameters and embryo and post-hatch chick juvenile physiology. A total of 2400 hatching eggs produced by Cobb broiler breeders were used for the study. Blood samples were collected at day 18 of incubation, at internal pipping stage (IP), at the end of hatch (day-old chick) and at 7-daypost-hatch for T-3, T-4 and corticosterone levels determination. From 448 to 506 h of incubation, the eggs were checked individually in the hatcher every 2 h for pipping and hatching. The results indicate that non-ventilation during the first 10-day shortened incubation duration up to IP, external pipping (EP) and hatch, had no effect on hatchability and led to higher T-3 levels at IP but lower corticosterone levels at 7-day-post-hatch. The injection of dexamethasone at days 16 and 18 of incubation affected hatching and blood parameters in both the ventilated and non-ventilated embryos differentially and the effect was dependent on the age of the embryo. Dexamethasone increased T-3 levels and T-3/T-4 ratios but the effect was greater with early non-ventilation of eggs. Dexamethasone decreased hatchability but the effect was greater when injected at day 16 and especially in ventilated embryos. The effects of incubation protocols and dexamethasone treatments during incubation were still apparent in the hatched chicks until 7 days of age. The changes in T-3, T-4 and corticosterone levels observed in response to the early incubation conditions and late dexamethasone treatments in this study suggest that incubator ventilation or non-ventilation may influence the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) regulation of stress levels (in terms of plasma corticosterone levels) and thyroid function in the embryo with impact on incubation duration, hatching events and early post-hatch life of the chick. Our results also suggest that some stages of development are more sensitive to dexamethasone administration as effects can be influenced by early incubation protocols. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Vascular effects of long-term propranolol administration after chronic nitric oxide blockade

Long-term propranolol treatment reduces arterial blood pressure in hypertensive individuals mainly by reducing peripheral vascular resistance, but mechanisms underlying their vasodilatory effect remain poorly investigated. This study aimed to investigate whether long-term propranolol administration ameliorates the impairment of relaxing responses of aorta and mesenteric artery from rats made hypertensive by chronic nitric oxide (NO) deficiency, and underlying mechanisms mediating this phenomenon. Male Wistar rats were treated with N-omega-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 20 mg/rat/day) for four weeks. DL-Propranolol (30 mg/rat/day) was given concomitantly to L-NAME in the drinking water. Treatment with L-NAME markedly increased blood pressure, an effect largely attenuated by DL-propranolol. In phenylephrine-precontracted aortic rings, the reduction of relaxing responses for acetylcholine (0.001-10 mu M) in L-NAME group was not modified by DL-propranolol, whereas in mesenteric rings the impairment of acetylcholine-induced relaxation by L-NAME was significantly attenuated by DL-propranolol. In mesenteric rings precontracted with KCl (80 MM), DL-propranolol failed to attenuate the impairment of acetylcholine-induced relaxation by L-NAME. The contractile responses to extracellular CaCl2 (1-10 mM) were increased in L-NAME group, and co-treatment with DL-propranolol reduced this response in both preparations in most Ca2+ concentrations used. The NO2/NO3 plasma levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were reduced in L-NAME-treated rats, both of which were significantly prevented by DL-propranolol. In conclusion, propranolol-induced amplification of the relaxation to acetylcholine in mesenteric arteries from L-NAME-treated rats is sensitive to depolarization. Additional mechanisms involving blockade of Ca2+ entry in the vascular smooth muscle and increase in NO bioavailability contributes to beneficial effects of long-term propranolol treatment. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of zinc administration on thyrotropin releasing hormone-stimulated prolactinemia in healthy men

Previous in vitro studies have demonstrated zinc (Zn++) inhibition of basal and of potassium (K+) or thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-stimulated prolactin (PRL) secretion, in a selective, reversible, and dose-dependent manner. Thus, Zn++ may regulate physiologically pituitary PRL secretion. Furthermore, studies with patients with uremia, cirrhosis or prolactinoma, have shown the coexistence of hypozincemia and hyperprolactinemia and zinc supplementation did not correct hyperprolactinemia in these patients. In normal individuals Zn++ administration produced controversial results on PRL secretion. Here, we investigated whether zinc administration affects TRH-stimulated PRL in healthy men. We found that Zn++ administration does not change the TRH-stimulated PRL. Therefore, in normal conditions, Zn++ does not inhibit TRH-stimulated prolactinemia. In addition, we found that acute increases of blood PRL and TRH do not alter blood Zn++ levels.

Cortisol in saliva and plasma of cattle after ACTH administration and milking

Interest in the measurement of salivary cortisol has increased recently because saliva can be easily collected before and after an imposed stress. This study evaluated the relationship between plasma and salivary concentrations of cortisol following ACTH administration in calves ( experiment 1) and machine milking of adult cows ( experiment 2). A catheter was inserted into the jugular vein of all animals 72 h before the beginning of experiments. Blood and saliva samples were collected before and after ACTH administration (0.6 IU/kg BW) in calves or before and after machine milking of cows. Using a cotton swab, each saliva sample was taken immediately following the blood sample. In general, cortisol profiles were similar in plasma and saliva and correlated in both experiments; however, plasma concentrations were significantly higher than salivary concentrations. In addition, the differences between cortisol concentrations measured in saliva and plasma within each experiment varied substantially between animals and samples. Furthermore, in experiment 2, nearly 10% of salivary samples were below limits of detection. The sharp peaks in cortisol after ACTH administration in both the plasma and saliva were reflected adrenal stimulation. In addition, increases in cortisol in response to milking in both the plasma and saliva suggest that salivary sampling is a reliable option when studying cortisol responses to normal physiological events.

Repeated administration intensifies the reinforcing effect of fencamfamine in rats

1. In the present study, we evaluated the role of repeated administration on conditioning place preference (CPP) induced by fencamfamine (FCF) in male rats.2. Repeated FCF (3.5 mg/kg) or saline once or daily for ten consecutive days enhanced sniffing du ration and decreased locomotion and rearing duration.3. At the 3.5 mg/kg dose, FCF produced a significant place-preference effect.4. Repeated exposures to FCF intensified its reinforcing properties.5. These results suggest that repeated FCF administration sensitizes its rewarding effects, as with other addictive substances. GEN PHARMAC 29;2:265-261, 1997. (C) 1997 Elsevier B.V.

Inhibitory effect of DUP-753 on the drinking responses of rats to central administration of noradrenaline and angiotensin II and to dehydration

We investigated the effect of losartan (DUP-753) on the dipsogenic responses produced by intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of noradrenaline (40 nmol/mu l) and angiotensin II (ANG II) (2 ng/mu l) in male Holtzman rats weighing 250-300 g. The effect of DUP-753 was also studied in animals submitted to water deprivation for 30 h. After control injections of isotonic saline (0.15 M NaCl, 1 mu l) into the lateral ventricle (LV) the water intake was 0.2 +/- 0.01 ml/h. DUP-753 (50 nmol/mu l) when injected alone into the LV of satiated animals had no significant effect on drinking (0.4 +/- 0.02 ml/h) (N = 8). DUP-753 (50 nmol/mu l) injected into the LV prior to noradrenaline reduced the water intake from 2.4 +/- 0.8 to 0.8 +/- 0.2 ml/h (N = 8). The water intake induced by injection of ANG II and water deprivation was also reduced from 9.2 +/- 1.4 and 12.7 +/- 1.4 ml/h to 0.8 +/- 0.2 and 1.7 +/- 0.3 ml/h (N = 6 and N = 8), respectively. These data indicate a correlation between noradrenergic pathways and angiotensinergic receptors and lead us to conclude that noradrenaline-induced water intake may be due to the release of ANG II by the brain. The finding that water intake was reduced by DUP-753 in water-deprived animals suggests that dehydration releases ANG II, and that AT(1) receptors of the brain play an important role in the regulation of water intake induced by deprivation.

Role of early GnRH administration in sexual behavior disorders of rat pups perinatally exposed to lead

The effects of maternal exposure to lead (Pb) during the perinatal ( 1% and 0.1% Pb) periods of sexual brain differentiation were studied in adult male offspring. Maternal Pb levels were measured after treatment. Behavioral (open field and sexual behavior), physical (sexual maturation, body and organ weights), and biochemical (testosterone levels and hypothalamic monoamine and respective metabolite levels) data were assessed in perinatally exposed offspring. The effects of gonadrotopin-releasing hormone (GnRH) administration to pups at birth on puberty and sexual behavior were also investigated in offspring postnatally exposed to the metal. Results showed that perinatal administration of the two Pb concentrations did not modify maternal weight gain; 1% Pb exposure reduced offspring body weight during the 7 days of treatment while no changes were observed after 0.1% Pb exposure; neither ph concentration altered offspring sexual maturation; the higher Pb concentration improved sexual behavior while the 0.1% concentration reduced it; exposure to 0.1% Pb caused decrease in testis weight, an increase in seminal vesicle weight and no changes in plasma testosterone levels; hypothalamic VMA levels were increased compared to the control group; GnRH administration reversed the effects of 0.1% Ph administration on male sexual behavior. These results show that perinatal exposure to ph had a dose-dependent effect on the sexual behavior of rats and that a decrease in GnRH source in the offspring was probably involved in the reduction of their sexual performance. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.