Canine pulmonary clearance during feto-neonatal transition according to the type of delivery.

The success of immediate adaptation to extrauterine life depends on appropriate lung function, however, elective cesarean section can increase the risk of respiratory distress as a result of reduced pulmonary fluid absorption. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of birth mode on pulmonary clearance and respiratory performance of canine neonates in the transition period. For this purpose, 37 neonates were selected according to the obstetric condition: Vaginal Eutocia (n = 17) and Elective C-section (n = 20). Neonates were evaluated for neonatal vitality score, as well as evaluation of heart and respiratory rates, body temperature and body weight, venous hemogasometric evaluation, blood lactate and glucose, pulse oximetry and radiographic evaluation during the first 24 h of life. Additionally, amniotic fluid electrolyte composition of each puppy was evaluated. There was no influence of the type of delivery on electrolyte composition of canine amniotic fluid and neonatal pulmonary liquid content, analyzed by thoracic X-Rays. On the other hand, elective cesarean section delayed pulmonary adaptation, resulting in hypoxemia and less efficient compensatory response to acid-base imbalance and thermoregulation. In conclusion, elective c-section does not delay pulmonary clearance, whilst alters pulmonary adaptation by less efficient gas exchange and lower oxygenation, hindering the compensatory response to acid-base imbalance during the fetal-neonatal transition in dogs.

Frozen-Thawed Sperm Analysis of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Dogs Treated With Finasteride.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a pathological condition that directly interferes with the reproductive potential of senile dogs, by leading to prostate enlargement and sperm injury, which in turn may compromise sperm freezeability. Moreover, albeit finasteride treatment reduces prostatic volume and blood supply and maintains seminal quality and testicular integrity, the effects of sperm samples submitted to cryopreservation after the finasteride treatment are still unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate frozen-thawed semen of BPH dogs, as well as dogs subjected to BPH pharmacological treatment with finasteride. For such purpose, 20 dogs were previously selected and assigned to three experimental groups, according to BPH diagnosis and treatment with finasteride: Control (n = 9), BPH Group (n = 5) and BPH-Finasteride Group (n = 6). Semen was subjected to one-step cryopreservation protocol with tris-fructose-citric acid extender with 5% glycerol and thawed at 37°C for 30 sec. Fresh and post-thaw sperm samples were evaluated for macroscopic parameters, sperm concentration, sperm motility kinetics, sperm mitochondrial activity and potential, oxidative stress, plasmatic and acrosome membrane integrity, sperm DNA fragmentation and sperm binding test on perivitelic membrane of chicken egg yolk. Regarding fresh semen, BPH-Finasteride group had the lowest ejaculate visual aspect (opacity), higher frequency of sperm flagellar beating (BCF) and percentage of sperm with medium velocity. Control group had the highest percentage of sperm DNA integrity compared to BPH group. For the frozen-thawed semen, Control group presented the highest percentage of spermatozoa with high mitochondrial activity. However, the BPH-Finasteride group showed higher number of sperm bound to the perivitelline membrane of chicken egg yolk compared to the BPH Group. Conversely, BPH group had higher percentage of DNA damage. In conclusion, the ejaculate of BPH dogs has higher susceptibility to cryoinjury, whereas finasteride-treated dogs have increased spermatozoa functional performance, suggesting a promising use of BPH dogs as semen donors in sperm cryopreservation programs.

Both spontaneous vaginal delivery and elective caesarean section influence neonatal redox status in dogs.

BACKGROUND: The influence of birth mode on redox balance is unknown in dogs. We aimed to compare antioxidant activity and oxidative stress of puppies born by elective c-section or vaginal delivery. METHODS: Twenty-one bitches were elected for spontaneous vaginal delivery (n = 10) and elective cesarean section (n = 11) groups, considering only the first and last puppies born. Neonatal oxygen saturation, lactatemia, superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total antioxidant capacity; marker of oxidative stress (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS]) and protein oxidation were analysed at birth, 1 h, 12 h, 24 h and 72 h. RESULTS: C-section newborns had lower oximetry at birth and 1 h. Lactatemia was higher in the last vaginal delivery puppies and higher at birth, and 1 h. Regardless of birth mode, last puppies had hyperlactatemia at birth. Vaginal delivery puppies had higher TBARS, while protein oxidation was higher in c-section, mostly in last puppies. C-section puppies had higher GPx activity, whereas GSH concentration decreased overtime. Surgically born puppies had lowering SOD between 12 h and 72 h. CONCLUSIONS: Vaginal delivery enhances lipid peroxidation, counteracted mostly by GPx. Conversely, c-section triggers protein oxidation, acutely scavenged by SOD and GSH, thus puppies are less exposed to the negative consequences of oxidative stress.