Computed tomographic findings of experimentally induced neurogenic muscular atrophy in dogs.

Neurogenic muscular atrophy was examined using computed tomography (CT) in dogs induced by crushing the sciatic nerve. The CT number and cross-sectional area in denervated muscles decreased in 1 to 2 weeks after denervation. Those were significant after 3 weeks. The examination with CT might be useful to diagnose canine neurogenic muscular atrophy.

Transvenous retrograde angiography for detection of portal-caudal caval shunt.

A retrograde angiography method for the detection of a portosystemic shunt was studied. The retrograde angiography was done by compressing the caudal vena cava in the chest by applying pressure to the thoracic cavity, then feeding a contrast medium into the caudal vena cava without releasing the pressure loading. The angiography could detect shunt vessels in experimental cases as well as clinical cases. This method is useful for the confirmation of a portal-caudal caval shunt, which can be performed without technical difficulty and without the need for a special kind of catheter.

Pressure-volume relationships of the respiratory system in normal cats.

We studied the pressure-volume (PV) relationships of the total respiratory system, lung and chest wall in 8 anesthetized and paralyzed normal adult cats. The PV relationships of the total respiratory system had a sigmoid shape with a relatively linear portion with an alveolar pressure between 0 to +15 cmH2O. The relative impact of the lung and chest wall to the total elastic recoil forces of the respiratory system was approximately equal within a physiological pressure range. The results suggest that measurements of PV relationships of the respiratory system may offer a physiologic basis for accurate interpretation of pulmonary functions, leading to a better therapeutic strategy in animals with lung diseases.

A new surgical method for canine congenital patellar luxation.

Canine patellar luxation is seen in toy and miniature breeds, and in the majority of cases the problem is medial patellar luxation. When the luxation is left alone, it causes deformity and disorder in the growth of the affected limb. In severe cases, the limb may cease to afunction. Early surgical correction is therefore essential, but the owners are not able to detect the disorder at an early age and surgical intervention in most cases will take place after 6 months of age. The authors were able to have the opportunity to operate at an earlier age by educating breeders and owners. Various techniques have been developed and implemented to correct this disorder with varying therapeutic results. The authors have devised a unique surgical method which has been applied to the numerous cases with good results since 1985. The procedure is to make a longitudinal groove on the medical cortical bone of the tibial tuberosity along the tibial crest, and to place small pieces of artificial ceramic bone or autoplastic bone grafts in the groove, thus laterally transposing the tibial tuberosity and crest. This method makes it possible to put the quadriceps muscles of the thigh, the patella and the patellar ligament in the correct alignment over the femoral trochlea. It is considered appropriate to conduct this operation at 1.0-3.0 months of age when the dog has matured enough to be able to withstand anesthesia and surgical stress.

Effect of change in body position on cardiopulmonary function and plasma cortisol in cattle.

The aim of these studies was to investigate the effect of body posture on circulatory and respiratory system function in unmediated cattle. The plasma cortisol concentration was also measured and served as an indication of the level of stress imposed by animal handling and positional manipulation. Six mature, healthy Holstein cows were physically restrained and studied in standing, supine and right lateral postures. The plasma cortisol concentration increased with the change in body position. In a supine position, the value was increased to more than three times the control value (p < 0.001). The arterial oxygen tension and oxygen saturation were significantly decreased (p < 0.001) with changes in body position. The decrease was most pronounced when cattle were restrained in a supine position. Arterial carbon dioxide tension, heart rate, mean arterial pressure and central venous pressure did not change significantly with changes in body posture. Restraining of cattle in a lateral recumbent or supine position without introducing anesthesia was found to exert a strong stress which affected the respiratory function and increased the plasma cortisol level.

Usefulness of computed tomography after myelography for surgery on dogs with cervical intervertebral disc protrusion.

Computed tomography after myelography (CTM) was performed pre- and postoperatively on four dogs diagnosed as having cervical intervertebral disc protrusion. The surgery was performed by ventral slot technique in all the cases. The direction of the ventral slot was precisely adjusted according to the location of the protruded discs as seen on CTM. Postoperative values for the transversal area of the spinal cord were greater than those measured preoperatively, suggesting effective decompression of the cord. The prognosis for these patients was excellent. In view of these results, it was considered that preoperative confirmation of the positional relationship between the spinal cord and the protruded disc by CTM was quite useful in planning the surgical technique for disc disease in the dog.

Short-term oral treatment of canine benign prostatic hypertrophy with chlormadinone acetate.

Ten beagle dogs (4-8 years of age) with benign prostatic hypertrophy were treated daily for 7 or 14 days by a daily oral administration of chlormadinone acetate (CMA), an anti-androgenic preparation, at a dose of 0.5 or 2.0 mg/kg/day. The groups of dogs treated with CMA at a dose of 2.0 mg/kg showed a greater reduction of the prostatic volume during 7 or 14 days of treatment than the group treated with 0.5 mg/kg of CMA. At 56 and 84 days after the start of CMA treatment, prostate volume was reduced to 63 and 79% of the pre-administration volume, respectively. No marked decrease in plasma LH or testosterone was found after the CMA treatment. These results indicate that the therapeutic effects of 7-day oral treatment with CMA at 2.0 mg/kg/day in dogs with BPH last for about three months or longer without side effects.

Regression of prostatic hypertrophy by osaterone acetate in dogs.

The prostatic regression effect of oral administration of a new steroidal anti-androgen, osaterone acetate, was investigated in dogs with prostatic hypertrophy. To dogs with prostatic hypertrophy, 0.1-1.0 mg/kg of osaterone acetate was orally administered for one week, and the regression rate was observed. It was shown that administration of osaterone acetate at 0.2 mg/kg or higher, sharply regressed prostatic hypertrophy during the early stage. Therefore, this agent may be clinically applicable as a therapeutic agent for benign prostatic hypertrophy.

Regression of hypertrophic osteopathy following removal of intrathoracic neoplasia derived from vagus nerve in a dog.

Surgical removal of an intrathoracic tumor derived from a vagus nerve was undergone in a dog with hypertrophic osteopathy. The tumor was pathologically diagnosed as malignant schwanoma. Soft tissue swelling, lameness, and itchiness in four limbs disappeared within 7 days after surgery. The proliferated periosteal osteophytes of the four limbs was progressively reduced with time by follow-up radiography on the 58th day after surgery. On the 710th day after surgery, these osteophytes were greatly decreased as osteopathy, malignant schwanoma.

Effect of chlormadinone acetate-pellet implantation on the volume of prostate, peripheral blood levels of sex hormones and semen quality in the dog.

Chlormadinone acetate (GS implant, CMA) pellet, a synthetic luteal hormone preparation, was subcutaneously implanted at 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg in four normal male dogs ranging in age from 3 to 10 years to determine the changes in the prostatic volume, peripheral plasma levels of sex hormones and semen quality. The plasma levels of CMA, LH, testosterone (T) and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) were measured by radioimmunoassay. The prostatic volume was measured by computed tomography. The semen was collected by digital manipulation. The pellet was removed 26 weeks after implantation. The effects of CMA pellet implantation were examined during implantation and until 22 weeks after removal. The prostatic volume was reduced to 61 +/- 3 (mean +/- S.E., n = 4), 52 +/- 5 (n = 4) and 53 +/- 9 (n = 4)% of the preimplantation volumes in the 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg groups, respectively. The plasma CMA levels in the 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg groups peaked at 2 weeks, but were gradually decreased. At 22 weeks after removal of the pellet, the prostatic volume returned to 74-85% of the preimplantation volumes. The plasma LH levels tended to increase after implantation in all groups. The plasma T and DHT levels were slightly decreased in all groups. In the 10 and 20 mg/kg groups, the number of sperm and motility sperm was reduced, and the rate of abnormal sperm increased.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of oral administration of chlormadinone acetate on canine prostatic hypertrophy.

Seven of the 25 dogs (4 to 15 years old) with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) at the teaching hospital of Nippon Veterinary and Animal Science University from 1989 through 1990 were treated orally with chlormadinone acetate (CMA), a synthetic anti-androgen, 2 mg/kg/day, twice a day for 3 or 4 weeks. Prostatic size was measured by radiography and ultrasonography before and after CMA treatment, and prostatic volume was calculated from the images. Semen quality was examined in 3 of the dogs with BPH. Peripheral blood samples were collected and plasma levels of LH, 4-androstenedione, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, testosterone and estradiol-17 beta were measured. Clinical signs disappeared within 10 days after the start of CMA treatment. The mean (+/- S.E.) prostatic volume 3 or 4 weeks after treatment decreased to 39 +/- 4% of the pretreatment volume. The mean level of plasma testosterone in the dogs with BPH before treatment was significantly lower than that in the normal dogs (P < 0.01). In 6 of the CMA-treated dogs the levels of all hormones examined, except LH, were significantly lower after CMA treatment than before (P < 0.05). The sperm count and motility decreased and the percentage of abnormal sperms increased after CMA treatment. These results demonstrate that, although CMA treatment in dogs with BPH inhibits testicular function, the prostatic volume is markedly reduced and clinical signs disappear in a short period after the therapy. However, a relapse of BPH was observed approximately 6 months after oral CMA treatment in some dogs.

Surgery of hepatic cysts in a cat.

A 2-year-old female Japanese domestic cat weighing 3.6 kg was presented due to marked abdominal distention and was diagnosed as hepatic cyst. The bile acid concentration of the hepatic cyst was as low as the serum bile acid concentration. The membrane of the cysts was excised from the edge of the compressed hepatic tissue and no other surgical manipulation was performed. This surgical procedure is simple and quick compared to hepatic lobectomy, however, it is necessary to evaluate the fluid of the cyst before performing this procedure.

Clinical evaluation of uniaxially oriented poly-L-lactide rod for fixation of experimental femoral diaphyseal fracture in immature cats.

Transverse diaphyseal fractures of the femur were experimentally made in immature cats, and were fixed by an intramedullary pinning technique using an uniaxially oriented poly-L-lactide (PLLA) rod, a biodegradable polymer. The healing process was evaluated radiographically and histologically. Formation of bony callus was completed in 8 weeks, and cortical bony union followed. The remodeling process was then observed form 12 to 16 weeks. The healing process was almost the same as when a metallic implant was used. Abundant periosteal callus formation may be attributable to the lower elasticity of the PLLA rod compared with metallic implants. Since no other abnormalities such as growth deformities were detected, it was concluded that the combined use of a uniaxially oriented PLLA rod and an external splint is clinically useful for the repair of diaphyseal fractures in immature cats.

Application of oriented poly-L-lactide screws for experimental Salter-Harris type 4 fracture in distal femoral condyle of the dog.

The clinical usefulness of biodegradable oriented poly-L-lactide (PLLA) screws for experimental Salter-Harris type 4 fracture in the distal femoral condyle of dogs was evaluated. Bony union of the osteotomized fragment of the condyle was almost completed radiographically and histologically within 1 to 2 months after surgery, suggesting that PLLA screws maintained strength long enough to fix the fragment until bone healing. At 4 to 6 months after surgery, minute fissures were histologically confirmed on the surface of the screw thread, suggesting the early stage of biodegradation and absorption of the polymer. During the observational period, no significant difference between the treated femur and the contralateral non-treated femur in either total femoral length or maximum condyle width was observed, indicating no growth disturbance in the treated femur. From these results it was concluded that the PLLA screw might be an ideal implant for the reduction and fixation of epiphyseal plate fractures such as Salter-Harris type 3 or type 4 fractures.

Cardiovascular effects of dibutyryl cyclic AMP and milrinone under right heart bypass in anesthetized dogs.

To compare the cardiovascular effects of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (DBcAMP) and milrinone, we used the right heart bypass method in intact anesthetized dogs. The preload of the left ventricle was maintained constant throughout the experiment. Therefore, the effects of DBcAMP and milrinone on cardiac contractility and afterload of the left ventricle were investigated respectively without preload influence. DBcAMP and milrinone exhibited marked positive chronotropic-, positive inotropic-, vasodilative- and diuretic-activity. DBcAMP expressed these effects gradually and continuously, whereas milrinone expressed its pharmacological actions rapidly, but for a short duration of time. Both the afterload-reducing and the cardiac contractile force-enhancing activities of DBcAMP were longer lasting than those of milrinone. Mean arterial pressure was not altered by DBcAMP infusion, whereas it was increased significantly (p < 0.05) by milrinone infusion. The results of this study suggested that DBcAMP appeared to be indicated when there is a need to increase cardiac output by reducing afterload and increasing cardiac contractile force gradually and continuously. On the other hand, milrinone would seem to be indicated when the goal is to raise blood pressure rapidly and to increase cardiac output simultaneously.

Tracheal narrowing secondary to airway obstruction in two cats.

Tracheal narrowing is described in two cats. In both cases, inspiratory radiographs demonstrated tracheal narrowing just cranial to the thoracic inlet; no narrowing was seen on expiratory radiographs. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed suspected nasal tumours in both cases, but no abnormalities were identified in the region of the narrowed trachea. Nasal biopsy confirmed intranasal lymphoma in one cat and nasal adenocarcinoma in the other. The former cat was treated with chemotherapy. The owner of the latter cat declined further treatment. The tracheal narrowing disappeared after the initiation of chemotherapy in the cat with intranasal lymphoma and it is suggested that the narrowing might have been associated with the nasal tumour. A careful evaluation of the airway, especially cranial to the narrowing, is recommended in cases of tracheal narrowing in cats.

[UFT therapy of experimental gastric cancer in beagles induced by ENNG].

Therapeutic effects and dynamics of UFT were studied using beagles with ENNG-induced gastric cancers. Nine canine subjects confirmed to have gastric cancers by punch biopsy under gastrofiberscopy were divided into 3 group given 5 mg/kg/day of UFT for 101 days, 7.5 mg/kg/day for 67 days and 12 mg/kg/day for 45 days, respectively. Although the extent of macroscopic change revealed by gastrofiberscopy was minor, one of the dogs in the third group did show a Grade II b effect according to the criteria of Histopathological Effects on Cancer Tissues by Chemotherapy proposed by Oboshi and Shimozato. Animals were sacrificed by bleeding 4 hours after the last administration of anticancer agent and concentration of 5-FU and tegafur in the serum and each organ were determined. It was recognized that the concentration of anticancer agent in gastric cancer tissue was higher than that in neighboring normal gastric tissue.

[Experimental study on abdominal arterial infusion of anti-cancer agents].

The distribution of Adriamycin (ADM), Mitomycin C (MMC) and 7-N-(p-Hydroxyphenyl)-Mitomycin C (KW 2083) in various organs inclusiding plasma level after intraarterial or intravenous infusion was determined in mongrel dogs and experimental dogs. Similar plasma time-course of ADM was obtained with both routes, showing the maximum level at 5 minutes after infusion. The maximum level with intravenous infusion was twice as highs as that with intraarterial administration. High levels of ADM were encountered in the liver, gallbladder and kidney after proper hepatic arterial infusion, in the angular region of the stomach after left gastric arterial infusion and in the gastric antrum after right gastroepiploic arterial infusion (0.8 mg/kg). There was no significant difference in plasma levels of MMC (0.2 mg/kg) and KW 2083 (1.0 mg/kg) between intraarterial and intravenous infusion. It was of interest that MMC was hardly measurable in the liver after proper hepatic arterial infusion of 0.4 mg/kg. On the other hand, rather high level of KW 2083 was observed in the liver, gallbladder and pancreas after proper hepatic arterial infusion of 1.0 mg/kg. Hepatic necrosis around the central hepatic vein noted at the histological examination seems to be due to infusion of above-mentioned anticancer agents. It is worth mentioning that the concentration of KW 2083 in tumor tissue of the stomach of experimental dog after right gastroepiploic arterial infusion was twice as high as that in intact gastric wall. Grade IIA histological alterations of tumor cells by Oboshi and Shimosato's Classification such as vacuolation of cytoplasm and pyknosis of nuclei were noted after KW 2083 infusion.