Comparative study between atropine and hyoscine-N-butylbromide for reversal of detomidine induced bradycardia in horses

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

Cholangiocarcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Stratified Epithelial Portion of the Stomach in a Horse: A Case Report

Both cholangiocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the stomach stratified squamous epithelial portion are rarely found in equine medicine despite being more common in human beings, dogs, and cats. The objective of the present article was to report the simultaneous occurrences of these two types of neoplasias in an 11-year-old mare. Numerous firm, whitish nodules were distributed throughout the liver parenchyma and those protruding over its surface were umbilicated in their appearance. It was verified that the nodules adhered to the peritoneum and omentum, diaphragm, spleen, and stomach serosa compressed the adjacent structures. The stomach stratified squamous epithelial portion, particularly originating in the margo plicatus toward the cardia, was covered by numerous smooth, whitish spherules. Microscopic examination allowed the liver, tumor, and the abdominal implants to be identified as a cholangiocarcinoma, and the stomach neoplasia as a carcinoma of its stratified squamous epithelial portion. Considering this as an uncommon finding, although when considered individually, the presence of a cholangiocarcinoma and a squamous cell carcinoma of the stratified squamous epithelial portion of the equine stomach in the same specimen is worthy of reporting. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The workload and plasma ion concentration in a training match session of high-goal (elite) polo ponies

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

Comparison of pharmacopuncture, aquapuncture and acepromazine for sedation of horses

Pharmacopuncture, the injection of subclinical doses of drugs into acupoints reduces drug undesirable side effects, residues in animal consumption products and treatment costs in large animals. Acepromazine (Acp) produces several undesirable effects, such as hypotension. Previous studies with the injection of 1/10 of Acp dose in dog acupoints showed its advantage for sedation, minimizing undesirable effects. Eight horses were randomly submitted to four different treatment protocols according to a Latin Square double-blind design: (i) 0.1 ml kg(1) of saline subcutaneously injected at the cervical region, (ii) 0.1 mg kg(1) of Acp injected subcutaneously at the cervical region, (iii) 0.01 ml kg(1) of saline injected into GV1 acupoint (aquapuncture) and (iv) 0.01 mg kg(1) of Acp injected into GV1 acupoint (pharmacopuncture). Heart rate, respiratory rate, head height and degree of sedation were measured before and at 30, 60 and 90 min after treatments. Signs of sedation were observed in all treated groups at 30 min and only in 1/10Acp-GV1 at 60 min after the treatments. Only the group treated with 0.1 mg kg(1) of Acp s.c. had significantly lower values of head height at 30 min. Respiratory rate tended to reduce in all groups but was significantly lower only in horses treated with 0.1 mg kg(1) of Acp s.c. Heart rate remained unchanged in all groups. Acp-pharmacopuncture on GV1 in horses produced a mild sedation when compared with the conventional dose of Acp. More investigations are necessary to determine the optimal dosage of Acp-pharmacopuncture for sedation in horses.

Renal interstitial foam cells are macrophages

Immunohistochemical studies on renal biopsies from eight patients with various types of glomerulonephritis showed that the interstitial foam cells belonged to the monocyte-macrophage lineage. There was a strong association between hypercholesterolaemia and the presence of renal interstitial foam cells.

Yolk sac remnant in a mini-pony foal

Few reports are available concerning yolk sac remnants in the equine species, with little information on histopathological findings. A stillborn mini-pony foal showed a fluid-filled mass, measuring about 10 cm in circumference, close to the umbilical cord. Microscopic examination better defined the structures seen in the cyst.

Follicular dynamics in Mangalarga mares.

Ovarian follicular activity was studied by ultrasonography during 17 oestrous cycles in 9 Mangalarga mares during the second half of the ovulatory season. Sixteen oestrous cycles were considered normal and one 3-wave cycle showing a prolonged luteal phase was considered atypical. Daily ultrasonographic examinations were performed and the compiled data on follicular dynamics were studied retrospectively. One major wave of follicular growth was observed in 13 of the 16 normal cycles (81.25%), whereas 2 major waves occurred in 3 cycles (18.75%). The mean (+/- s.d.) days of emergence of the primary wave of follicular development in cycles containing one or 2 waves were Day 6.0 +/- 2.3 and Day 11.0 +/- 1.0, respectively. The secondary wave of follicular development in 2-wave cycles emerged on Day 0.0 +/- 3.6. The day of wave divergence for primary waves of follicular development in cycles which exhibited one or 2 major waves were Day 12.2 +/- 3.5 and Day 17.3 +/- 3.0, respectively. Divergence of secondary waves occurred in only one of the 3 cycles which exhibited 2 major follicular waves (Day 7). The mean (+/- s.d.) maximum diameters of the dominant follicle in the primary wave of oestrous cycles exhibiting one and 2 major waves were 39.0 +/- 3.9 mm and 34.7 +/- 2.5 mm, respectively. The mean (+/- s.d.) maximum diameter of the dominant follicle present in the secondary wave was 34.3 +/- 11.0 mm. The mean (+/- s.d.) lengths of the interovulatory intervals for cycles containing one and 2 major waves were 19.4 +/- 2.2 and 23.3 +/- 2.5 days, respectively. These data indicate that most Mangalarga mares show one major follicular wave during the oestrous cycle but a small percentage of mares show 2 major waves.

Efeito da duração do cio sobre a fertilidade de éguas inseminadas com sêmen eqüino diluído, resfriado a 20°C e transportado

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different interval from the beginning of the heat to the ovulation on the fertility of inseminated mares with diluted equine semen, cooled at 20°C and transported. The mares were grouped with the following interval periods: T1 - period less than five days, T2 - period from five to seven days and T3 - period from 8 to 21 days. The conception rates in the first cycle were 53.85 (7/13), 52.17 (12/23) and 66.67% (10/15) for treatments 1, 2 and 3, respectively, and after three cycles, 50.00 (9/18), 48.15 (13/27) and 64.71% (11/17), in the same preceding order. The duration of heat, in the conditions of this experiment, did not influence the fertility of inseminated mares.

Efeito de diferentes concentrações espermáticas sobre a fertilidade de éguas inseminadas com sêmen eqüino diluído, resfriado a 20°C e transportado

One hundred and one estral cycles of 92 Mangalarga Marchador breed mares were analyzed to study the effect of different spermatic concentrations on different reproductive characteristics. The mares were inseminated with diluted equine semen, cooled at 20°C and transported: T1 - concentrations below 250×10 6 (177.58±41.74×10 6 viable spermatozoa per inseminate dose), T2 - concentrations between 250 and 350 10 6 sptz (315.51±20.78×106), and T3 - concentrations above 350×10 6 sptz (477.71±136.83×10 6). The conception rates in the first cycle were 43.75 (7/16), 57.89 (11/19) and 54.55% (18/33) for treatments 1, 2 and 3, respectively. After five cycles, the conception rates were 36.00 (9/25), 44.12 (15/34) and 54.76% (23/42) for treatments 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Concentrations of 177.58±41,74×10 6 viable spermatozoa per inseminate dose had moderate fertility index in a commercial program using cooled and transported semen.

The hemolytic uremic syndrome as a complication of adriamycin nephropathy

Rats treated with two injections of adriamycin (week 0 and week 12) developed glomerusclerosis and severe tubulointerstitial lesions as described in the literature. In addition, a number of glomerular alterations were present. These included capillary loop dilation, insudation of eosinophilic material, necrosis, duplication of the glomerular basement membrane, severe mesangiolysis with disruption of the mesangial matrix and segmental double- contours. The renal arterioles and interlobular arteries showed endothelial cell swelling. The subendothelial space was infiltrated by fibrinoid material and there was intensive fibrinoid necrosis of the wall of both arteries and arterioles extending into the glomerular tuft. These alterations were very similar to those observed in the hemolytic uremic syndrome. This observation suggests that the two injections of adriamycin, with a long interval in between them, might induce renal lesions similar to those observed in the hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Effects of cyclosporine on adriamycin induced nephropathy

The effect of cyclosporine on adriamycin nephropathy was studied over both short (6 weeks) and long (26 weeks) periods. In the short-term study, cyclosporine was introduced 2 weeks after nephritis induction and in the long-term study, 14 weeks after the first adriamycin injection. The animals with adriamycin nephropathy treated with cyclosporine, studied for 6 weeks, developed proteinuria with increased renal size and glomerular area. The nephrotic animals treated with cyclosporine showed less proteinuria than the nephrotic control animals. There were no differences in glomerular area, creatinine clearance or serum creatinine and kidney weight between the treated nephrotic group and the health control group. The nephrotic animals, studied for the longer period, developed intense proteinuria, decreased creatinine clearance, glomerular necrosis and sclerosis, severe tubulointerstitial nephritis, increased hydroxyproline concentration and tubulointerstitial area. No difference was observed between the nephrotic animals treated with cyclosporine and those not treated. In conclusion, Cyclosporine A reduced proteinuria, glomerular hypertrophy and kidney weight in rats with short-term nephropathy but had no effect on the established nephropathy.

Effect of allopurinol in the course of adriamycin induced nephropathy

The role of superoxide in adriamycin-induced nephropathy (single dose; i.v. 3 mg/kg) has been studied by blocking superoxide synthesis through the administration of allopurinol (500 mg/L in drinking water). In Experiment I (EI), allopurinol administration was started 3 days prior to nephropathy induction and continued until day 14. In Experiment II (EII) allopurinol administration was started 2 weeks after nephropathy induction and was maintained until the end of the experiment (26 weeks). Affected glomeruli frequency and tubulointerstitial lesion index (TILI) were determined at Weeks 2 and 4 (EI) and Week 26 (EII). In EI, and 24 h mean proteinuria in the nephrotic control group (NCG-I) differed from that of the treated nephrotic group (TNG-I) at Week 1 (TNG = 33.3 ± 6.39 mg/24 h; NCG = 59.8 ± 6.3 mg/24 h; p < 0.05) and 2 (NCG-I = 80.0 ± 17.5 mg/24h; TNG-I = 49.1 ± 8.4 mg/24 h; p < 0.05). No glomerular alterations were observed and TILI medians were not different in both nephrotic groups at week 2 (NCG-I = 1+: TNG = 1+) and 4 (NCG = 4+; TNG = 4+). In EII, NCG-II and TNG-II presented different 24 h proteinuria values only at Week 6, (136.91 ± 22.23 mg/24 h ad 72.66 ± 10.72 mg/24 h, respectively; p < 0.05). Between nephrotic groups, there was no statistical difference in the median of affected glomeruli (CNG-II = 56%; TNG-II = 48% and TILI (NCG-II = 8+; TNG-II = 9+). Thus, allopurinol was associated with a transient reduction in proteinuria and it did not alter the progression of the nephropathy.