Effects of methylprednisolone, dantrolene, and their combination on experimental spinal cord injury.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of methylprednisolone sodium succinate, dantrolene sodium, and their combination on experimental spinal cord injury. We used 25 rats (Rattus norvegicus) that were divided into five groups. The negative control group (NC) consisted of animals without spinal cord trauma. In the groups with spinal cord trauma, the positive control group (PC) was given no treatment, the MS group was treated with methylprednisolone, the MS/DS group was treated with methylprednisolone and dantrolene, and the DS group was treated with dantrolene alone. The animals' motor function was evaluated daily, as measured with the open field test. Eight days after surgery, the animals were euthanized for spinal cord collection. Descriptive morphological evaluation, anti-NeuN immunohistochemistry, TUNEL, and anti-Bax immunofluorescence were performed. There was no significant difference between the PC, MS, MS/DS and DS groups with respect to BBB scores, neuronal and glial staining, or Bax expression (P < 0.05). Therefore, we conclude that methylprednisolone sodium succinate, dantrolene sodium, or the combination of these drugs did not reduce neuronal and glial loss, intrinsic pathway apoptosis, or promote functional recovery.

Systemic effects induced by intralesional injection of ?-conotoxin MVIIC after spinal cord injury in rats

Calcium channel blockers such as conotoxins have shown a great potential to reduce brain and spinal cord injury. MVIIC neuroprotective effects analyzed in in vitro models of brain and spinal cord ischemia suggest a potential role of this toxin in preventing injury after spinal cord trauma. However, previous clinical studies with MVIIC demonstrated that clinical side effects might limit the usefulness of this drug and there is no research on its systemic effects. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the potential toxic effects of MVIIC on organs and to evaluate clinical and blood profiles of rats submitted to spinal cord injury and treated with this marine toxin. Rats were treated with placebo or MVIIC (at doses of 15, 30, 60 or 120 pmol) intralesionally following spinal cord injury. Seven days after the toxin administration, kidney, brain, lung, heart, liver, adrenal, muscles, pancreas, spleen, stomach, and intestine were histopathologically investigated. In addition, blood samples collected from the rats were tested for any hematologic or biochemical changes.

Systemic effects induced by intralesional injection of ?-conotoxin MVIIC after spinal cord injury in rats

Calcium channel blockers such as conotoxins have shown a great potential to reduce brain and spinal cord injury. MVIIC neuroprotective effects analyzed in in vitro models of brain and spinal cord ischemia suggest a potential role of this toxin in preventing injury after spinal cord trauma. However, previous clinical studies with MVIIC demonstrated that clinical side effects might limit the usefulness of this drug and there is no research on its systemic effects. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the potential toxic effects of MVIIC on organs and to evaluate clinical and blood profiles of rats submitted to spinal cord injury and treated with this marine toxin. Rats were treated with placebo or MVIIC (at doses of 15, 30, 60 or 120 pmol) intralesionally following spinal cord injury. Seven days after the toxin administration, kidney, brain, lung, heart, liver, adrenal, muscles, pancreas, spleen, stomach, and intestine were histopathologically investigated. In addition, blood samples collected from the rats were tested for any hematologic or biochemical changes.

Head trauma as a possible cause of central diabetes insipidus in a cat.

A 13-month-old female domestic shorthair cat presented with a 10-month history of polyuria and polydipsia that began after having been hit by a car. Neurological examination revealed visual deficits and an absent bilateral menace response. Hematological and serum biochemical analyses were within reference values, but hyposthenuria was identified. Failure to concentrate urine during the water deprivation test followed by an increase in urine specific gravity after administration of synthetic antidiuretic hormone (ADH) suggested a diagnosis of central diabetes insipidus. Subcutaneous or oral administration of synthetic ADH was effective in central diabetes insipidus treatment during the 19-month follow-up.

Cardiorespiratory and blood gas alterations during laparoscopic surgery for intra-uterine artificial insemination in dogs.

Cardiorespiratory and blood gas alterations were evaluated in 6 healthy dogs that underwent a laparoscopic procedure using isoflurane anesthesia and carbon dioxide (CO(2)) pneumoperitoneum for 30 min. Heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, venous blood pH, partial pressure of CO(2) and oxygen, oxygen saturation, total carbon dioxide (TCO(2)) and bicarbonate were monitored. Significant alterations were hypercapnia, hypoventilation, and respiratory acidosis.

Idiopathic hypertrophic osteopathy in a cat.

This report describes the first case of idiopathic hypertrophic osteopathy (HO) in a cat. No causes for the bone pathology were found following evaluation of the physical and laboratory examinations (complete blood count, albumin, creatinine, urea, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyltransferase and urinalysis), and after histopathological evaluation of organs at necropsy. Based on the radiographic, clinical and anatomopathological findings, idiopathic HO was diagnosed.