Plasma levels and urinary excretion of iodine after oral administration of iohexol in dogs and cats.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Plasma and urinary iodine concentrations were assessed after oral administration of iohexol in five dogs and five cats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ventrodorsal and right lateral radiographs were taken; a 3-mL blood sample was collected 30 minutes and 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours after dose in each animal; and the bladder was emptied at 2 and 6 hours in dogs and at 6 hours in cats after oral administration of 700 mg I/kg iohexol (300 mg I/mL). Iodine concentration was measured using a sequential inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer system. RESULTS: Peak concentrations of plasma iodine were detected in samples taken from both dogs (0.33 mg I/mL) and cats (0.28 mg I/mL) 30 minutes after iohexol administration, with a gradual decline at 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours. Total urinary excretion during the 6 hours after the administration does of iohexol was higher (4.3%) in cats than in dogs (2.0%). In each species, there was a relationship between gastrointestinal motility observed radiographically and the subsequent excretion of iodine in the urine. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that approximately 2% of the oral dose is absorbed and excreted in the urine of dogs within 6 hours, and approximately 4% of the dose is absorbed and excreted in cats.

Local and systemic effects of water-soluble contrast media and barium in rats with chronic small bowel obstruction.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The local effects on the small intestine and systemic changes produced by different contrast media in small bowel obstruction, with time courses of 4 days, were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four groups, each with 10 normal rats and another four groups (also each with 10 rats) that had ligation of the terminal ileum (obstructed rats) for 4 days were given 3 mL of barium, meglumine sodium diatrizoate, iohexol, or saline (control animals). Radiographs were taken immediately, 1 and 4 hours after administration of contrast media. Immediately before sacrifice, blood samples were taken to determine the hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin (Hb), white blood cell count (WBC), red blood cell count (RBC), and serum sodium, and potassium and chloride concentrations. Specimens of small bowel were taken for histologic and morphometric analysis. RESULTS: In obstructed rats, the image quality with iohexol improved on final radiographs despite being diluted in the great intestinal contents. There was an improvement in the serum electrolyte concentrations in the obstructed animals that were given any one of the contrast media, the best improvement being in the iohexol groups. A shortening of the length of epithelial cells when any one of the contrast media was administered was observed, as was an increase in the lymphatic space area in the diatrizoate group in normal rats. In the bowel proximal to the obstruction, the lymphatic space area was increased in the diatrizoate group and the size of the epithelial cells was higher in the diatrizoate and iohexol groups compared to the barium and saline groups. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that iohexol offers good radiologic efficacy and excellent systemic and local tolerance in small bowel obstruction.

Method of recording cerebrospinal fluid pressure at three anatomic places in conscious and unrestrained adult wistar rats.

There does not appear to be a consensus on the normal values of cerebrospinal fluid pressure (Pcsf) in rats because of the different conditions in which each experiment has been done. Anaesthesia, restraint or recordings from different anatomical places and the use of simultaneous infusions could produce a great variability in the obtained results and because of that the average Pcsf in rats has been reported to be between 2 and about 18.5 cm H2O. The aim of this study is to provide new information about the normal values of Pcsf in adult, conscious rats by carrying out long-term measurements, for 3 consecutive days, from different anatomical places. Thirty male Wistar rats divided in three experimental groups of ten animals each were used. A catheter of silicone was implanted into the lateral ventricles in group I, the cisterna magna in group II, and the lumbar subarachnoid space in group III to record the Pcsf values. This catheter was attached to a swivel system to allow unrestrained and free behaviour in the rats. Mean values of normal Pcsf values were 13.03 +/- 0.73 cm H2O from the lateral ventricles, 15.9 +/- 0.73 cm H2O from the cisterna magna, and 16.73 +/- 1.14 cm H2O from the lumbar subarachnoid space.

Seasonal variations of semen quality in male goats: study of sperm abnormalities.

The type, frequency and seasonal variation of sperm abnormalities in male goats inhabiting in Mediterranean region were evaluated. Semen was collected twice a week with an artificial vagina from 9 10-month-old Murciano-Granadina male goats weighing 41 to 48 kg. Distal cytoplasmic droplets and acrosomal damage were the predominant abnormalities. Increase in age (10 to 27 months) did not reveal itself as a main effect on the occurrence of sperm abnormalities. All types of sperm abnormalities studied showed significant (P<0.01) seasonal variation. The poorest quality semen was collected during winter and spring. In spite of a seasonal variation in sperm quality, semen of Murciano-Granadina goats in the Mediterranean area is good all year long, since the proportion of abnormal spermatozoa was well within the accepted range for normal fertility.

Comparison of different doses of iohexol with amidotrizoate for excretory urography in cats.

In five cats with normal renal function, doses of 200, 400, 600 and 800 mg iodine kg(-1)bodyweight of iohexol (350 mg iodine ml(-1)) were assessed in comparison to a dose of 880 mg iodine kg(-1)bodyweight of meglumine-sodium amidotrizoate (370 mg iodine ml(-1)) to determine the smallest dose which produces diagnostically adequate results for excretory urography. Urographic quality, haematologic and biochemical parameters, urinalysis and urinary osmolality, pulse and respiratory rates, blood pressure and adverse effects were determined. Iohexol presented fewer adverse reactions and influenced blood pressure less than amidotrizoate. The smallest dose of iohexol which provided urograms of similar quality to amidotrizoate was 400 mg iodine kg(-1)bodyweight. This study suggests that iohexol is safer and produces urograms of better quality than amidotrizoate.

Efficacy of the Komesaroff anaesthetic machine for delivering isoflurane to dogs.

The Komesaroff machine is a low-flow, closed-circle circuit with a low resistance vaporiser, of the Goldman type, in circuit. This trial assessed the mechanical consistency of the delivery of isoflurane by the vaporisers, and used six dogs to compare the in vivo cardiorespiratory effects of the anaesthetic agent delivered by the Komesaroff machine with the effects of a circle system with high flows in the semi-closed mode. The delivery of isoflurane was constant for each vaporiser setting and no potentially dangerous concentrations of isoflurane were observed. The mean (sem) percentages of isoflurane were 0.18 (0.019) at setting I, 1.46 (0.055) at setting II, 3.12 (0.066) at setting III and 3.01 (0.047) at setting IV. There were no significant differences between the two types of circuit in vivo, and the measured haemodynamic variables were satisfactory throughout the experiments.

Comparative study of air coagulation, fibrin sealant, and suture in experimental liver injury.

OBJECTIVE: To test the effects of hot air coagulation, fibrin sealant, and horizontal mattress sutures on haemostasis and regeneration in experimental hepatectomy. DESIGN: Randomised laboratory experiment. SETTING: Teaching hospital, Spain. MATERIAL: 200 rats divided into four groups (three experimental [n=60 in each] and one control [n=20]). INTERVENTIONS: Hepatic injuries were repaired by suture, coagulation, or fibrin sealant in the three experimental groups. The control group was used only to supply baseline blood samples. 10 animals in each experimental group were killed at 3, 5, 10, 25, 40, and 60 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Time taken to achieve haemostasis, and histopathological scores of healing. RESULTS: Mattress sutures took mean (SEM) of 346 (7) seconds to control the haemorrhage and allow the liver to regain its shape and 4 rats developed abscesses (7%). Fibrin sealant achieved haemostasis immediately and the liver regained its shape in 58 (2) seconds; 2 rats (3%) developed abscesses. Hot air coagulation achieved haemostasis in 27 (1) seconds and there were no abscesses. CONCLUSION: Fibrin sealant was the best technique because it achieved immediate haemostasis and speedy regeneration. However, hot air coagulation is a useful and cheaper alternative.

Comparison between the effects of electrosurgical coagulation and hot air coagulation on blood vessels.

Hot air coagulation (HAC) was tested directly on small isolated bleeding vessels, in comparison with two conventional methods of electrosurgical haemostasis, to assess haemostasis and histological damage. Eighty rats, divided into nine experimental and one control group, were used to carry out bipolar (BC) and monopolar coagulation (MC) and HAC at three different output powers, on sectioned and bleeding femoral arteries and veins. Haemorrhages were controlled by the minimum time of coagulation necessary to stop them. Four animals in each group were studied immediately after coagulation, and 4 a week after coagulation. Vascular closures induced by HAC were observed to be as safe as electrosurgical closures, and no complications such as secondary haemorrhage were found. The degree of histological damage and postoperative regeneration induced by HAC was more similar to BC than to MC.

Estudio comparativo de dos regímenes de preanestesia: acepromacina/petidina y medetomidina sobre la anestesia con Ketamina o alfaxalona/Alfadolona en el gato / Comparative study of two preanaesthetic protocols: acepromacine/petidine and medetomidine before ketamine or alfaxolone/alfadolone anaesthesia in the cat

Se estudian cuatro protocolos de anestesia inyectable Acp (0,1mg/kg) - Pet (3,3mg/kg) - Ket (10mg/kg), Med (80 microg/Kg) - Ket (5mg/kg), Acp (0,1mg/kg) - Pet (3.3mg/kg) - Saf (10mg/kg) y Med (80 microg/kg) - Saf (5mg/Kg) en cinco gatos. La preanestesia fue administrada vía intramuscular. Posteriormente, se administró endovenosamente el anestésico general. Se intubó a los animales y se valoró la calidad y tiempo de intubación. Para cada protocolo, se determinó la duración y calidad de la anestesia, registrando diversas constantes vitales (FR, FEFCO2, SpO2, FC, ECG, PAS y temperatura rectal) cada 5 min. La combinación preanestésica Acp-Pet no indujo sedación adecuada y su uso con ketamina aportó una anestesia superficial. La combinación Acp-Pet-Saf produjo anestesia de calidad moderada e hipotensión. La medetomidina produjo profunda sedación y un buen plano anestésico tras la administración de ketamina y Saffan®. (AU)

Síndrome de mala adaptación asociado a hipoactividad adrenocortical en una potra recien nacida / Neonatal maladjustment syndrome and hipoadrenocortical activity in a foal

El síndrome de maladaptación del neonato afecta a potros en su primera semana de vida (generalmente en las primeras 24 horas) y se manifiesta con alteraciones importantes del comportamiento de causa no infecciosa. Este síndrome también incluye los déficits neurológicos que presentan los potros prematuros, que se asocian con hipoactividad adrenocortical. Resultan escasos los trabajos publicados sobre hipoactividad adrenocortical en la especie equina, en concreto en potros, en relación con el síndrome de maladaptación. Este trabajo describe los hallazgos clínicos y laboratoriales en una potra con pocas horas de vida, las técnicas diagnósticas seguidas así como el tratamiento empleado, que dio lugar a la curación del animal. (AU)

Acupunto Renzhong en el caballo. Estudio anatómico e histológico / Acupoint renzhong (jenchung GV-26) in the horse. Anatomical and histological study

El propósito de este estudio es documentar las características histológicas y anatómicas del acupunto Renzhong GV-26 en diez caballos de raza española. Primero, se midió la resistencia eléctrica para la localización del acupunto, y posteriormente se insertó una aguja de acupuntura a una profundidad de 1 cm dentro del acupunto. Luego se obtuvieron muestras del acupunto y fueron procesadas por técnicas histológicas de rutina. Los resultados muestran que el acupunto Renzhong GV-26 está situado en el estrato intermedio del labio superior, representado por diferentes estructuras, como tejido conectivo denso, músculo estriado esquelético, fibras nerviosas y estructuras vasculares. Es decir, numerosas estructuras conforman el acupunto Renzhong GV-26 en el caballo (AU)

The purpose of this study was to document the anatomic and histologic characteristics of acupoint Renzhong GV-26 in ten Spanish horses. First, the electrical skin resistance was measured to locate the acupoint, and the needles were inserted to a depth of 1cm into the acupoint. Then, the tissue surrounding the acupoint was removed, sectioned serially, and processed by routine histologic techniques. The results show that the acupoint Renzhong GV-26 is situated in the intermediate area of the upper lip, represented by several structures of dense connective tissue, skeletal muscle tissue, nerve fibers and vascular structures. Therefore, numerous structures conform part of the acupoint Renzhong GV-26 in the horse (AU)