Culture Media Supplemented With 10% Equine Serum Provided Chondroprotection in an In Vitro Co-Culture of Cartilage and Synovial Membrane.

No studies have evaluated the effect of culture in serum-free media (SF) vs. media supplemented with equine serum (ES) on co-culture of synovial membrane and cartilage tissue explants. The study objective was to evaluate the effects of equine serum supplementation on induced production of inflammatory and catabolic mediators from articular cartilage and synovial explants while in co-culture. Articular cartilage and synovial membrane explants were harvested from femoropatellar joints of five adult horses. Cartilage and synovial explants were harvested from the stifle of five horses, placed in co-culture, stimulated with IL-1ß (10 ng/ml) and maintained in culture for 3, 6 and 9 days in 10% ES or SF. At each time point, media was harvested for analysis of cellular viability (Lactate dehydrogenase) and elution of glycosaminoglycans (Dimethylene Blue Binding Assay). Tissue explants were harvested for histopathologic and gene expression analyses. No differences in cell viability were observed between SF and ES groups. SF culture produced an upregulation of TNF-α in synovial membrane and ADAMTS-4 and five in articular cartilage at 9 days of culture. ES produced an upregulation of aggrecan expression in cartilage at 9 days of culture. No differences in tissue viability were found between culture media, but SF media produced a higher glycosaminoglycan concentration in media at 3 days of culture. The addition of 10% ES produced a slight chondroprotective effect in an inflamed co-culture system. This effect should be considered when designing studies evaluating treatment of serum or plasma-based orthobiologic studies in vitro.

Histomorphometric evaluation of the Göttingen minipig eye.

OBJECTIVE: The Göttingen minipig is becoming a popular nonrodent animal model in ocular research; however, there is a paucity of literature regarding normative ocular reference data in this breed. We, therefore, investigated the characteristics of the cornea, retina, and sclera in order to establish baseline histomorphometric data in male and female Göttingen minipigs. PROCEDURES: This study utilized paraffin-embedded, Davidson's-fixed, control Göttingen minipig eyes (six males and eight females). Hematoxylin and eosin stained slides of the eyes were scanned via an Aperio slide scanner and analyzed using Aperio ImageScope™. Linear measurements were made of the cornea, retina, and sclera. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between males and females in corneal or scleral measurements or total retinal thickness. There were, however, statistically significant differences between the sexes in the thickness of the ventral peripheral ganglion cell layer [13.15 µm (±3.65) in males; 10.68 µm (±3.37) in females; P = 0.03], ventral peripheral inner plexiform layer [23.47 µm (±2.85) in males; 21.16 µm (±3.62) in females; P = 0.03], ventral central outer plexiform layer [7.97 µm (±2.43) in males; 6.63 µm (±1.73) in females; P = 0.02], and ventral peripheral outer plexiform layer [8.79 µm (±1.82) in males; 11.23 µm (±3.11) in females; P = 0.01]. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides normative histomorphometric reference data for the Göttingen minipig eye. These data will aid researchers in study design and interpretation of findings in Göttingen minipig ocular studies.

Characterization of Australian Labradoodle dystrophinopathy.

In humans, dystrophin mutations cause the X-linked recessive disorder known as Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). These mutations result in skeletal and cardiac muscle damage with mortality increasingly associated with cardiomyopathy. We have identified a novel dystrophin mutation in exon 21 in a line of Australian Labradoodles; affected dogs develop progressive clinical signs including poor weight gain and weight loss, gait abnormalities, exercise intolerance, skeletal muscle atrophy, macroglossa, ptyalism, dysphagia, kyphosis, and a plantigrade stance. Echocardiographic abnormalities include hyperechoic foci in the left ventricular papillary muscles, septal hypokinesis, and decreased left ventricular systolic and diastolic volume and internal diameter. Holter recordings found a Mobitz type II second-degree atrioventricular (AV) block in one affected dog. Analysis of phosphocreatine-to-ATP ratios (PCr/ATP) (obtained via cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy evaluation), found no statistically significant difference in the mean PCr/ATP between groups. Histopathologic skeletal muscle changes included fibrofatty infiltration, myocyte degeneration, necrosis, and regeneration, lymphohistiocytic inflammation, and mineralization; cardiac changes were limited to a focal area of mineralization adjacent to the sinoatrial node in the dog with a second-degree AV block. Due to rapidly progressive clinical signs, a severe phenotype, and potential for cardiac involvement, Australian Labradoodle dystrophinopathy may be a useful model to further study DMD pathogenesis.

Göttingen Minipigs in Ocular Research.

Since their development in the 1960s, Göttingen minipigs have become a popular nonrodent animal model in biomedical research, especially for ocular studies, because of their ease of handling, size, well-monitored genetics, and ocular anatomy that is similar to humans. The purpose of this mini-review is to introduce the reader to the various ways in which this animal model is currently being utilized in ocular research and to provide an overview of the diagnostic modalities that aid in this research. To date, the Göttingen minipig has been used for a variety of ocular research endeavors, including studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of ocular therapeutics, glaucoma etiopathogenesis and treatment, novel biomaterials, surgical procedures, and implantable materials/devices. In addition to histopathologic evaluation of enucleated globes, the majority of these studies make use of advanced in vivo diagnostic techniques, including electroretinography, optical coherence tomography, fundoscopic imaging, and fluorescein angiography.

A case of basal cell carcinoma of the nictitating membrane in a dog.

A case of a basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the nictitating membrane (NM) in a 9-year-old female spayed dachshund is reported. Computed tomography and resection of the NM followed by cryosurgery was performed. Although uncommon, BCC should be considered as a differential diagnosis for tumors of the NM.