Vincristine-associated total antioxidant and oxidant status of ovaries and in vitro nuclear oocyte maturation in dogs with canine transmissible venereal tumor.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of scheduled vincristine sulfate therapy on canine oocyte quality and nuclear oocyte maturation, associated with total antioxidant and oxidant status of ovaries and Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) concentrations in dogs with Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumor (CTVT). Six bitches suffering from CTVT and six healthy bitches were included in the study. Hemogram was carried out weekly. AMH measurements and ovariohysterectomy operations were performed after the termination of vincristine sulfate therapies. Tissue samples from ovaries were utilized for Malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced Glutathione (GSH), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Total Anti-oxidative Status (TAS), Total Oxidative Status (TOS) measurements, and Oxidative Stress Index (OSI) was calculated. Collected oocytes were evaluated for meiotic competence, after In Vitro Maturation (IVM) and parthenogenetic activation. No difference between the two groups was observed in hematologic parameters (P > 0.05). Meiotic stages of Germinal Vesicle Break Down (GVBD), Metaphase I (MI), and Metaphase II (MII) were significantly different between groups (P < 0.05). The number of oocytes reaching MII and meiotic resumption was lower in the CTVT group. Furthermore, AMH concentrations, oxidant parameters (OSI, TOS, and MDA), and antioxidant parameters (GSH, SOD, and TAS) were also statistically different between groups (P < 0.05). The results of this study show that vincristine sulfate application in the treatment of CTVT could alter oxidant/antioxidant status in ovaries. Apart from these, oocyte quality and IVM rates seem to decline related to gonadotoxicity. Moreover, AMH could be an important marker in the evaluation of oocyte qualities in bitches, as it is in women.

Evaluation of an alternative treatment protocol by aglepristone to induce parturition in ewes with an experimental model of early pregnancy toxemia.

A new protocol with aglepristone to induce parturition in ewes with pregnancy toxemia has been reported in the present manuscript. Four experimental groups were defined: Group AG5 (n = 10), Group DEX (n = 10), Group NC (n = 5) and Group PT (n = 5) in which ewes were injected twice with 10 mg/kg of aglepristone and 5 ml dexamethasone in first two groups, respectively; whereas negative control and pregnancy toxemia groups received no treatment for parturition induction. Different clinical parameters associated with parturition in ewes and their newborns were investigated. Blood hematology and biochemical measurements were carried out both in ewes and lambs. Blood pH values of lambs were recorded during the study. The injection time-lambing time, injection time-vaginal discharge intervals, placental expulsion periods, placental weight and vaginal delivery interval between lambs, hematological and biochemical results were not statistically different among the groups (p > 0,05). Increased NEFA and ß-HBA concentrations accompanied the disease and all ewes in AG, DEX and PT Groups developed clinical pregnancy toxemia (NEFA; P = 0,009) and ß-HBA; (P = 0,039). The differences in rectal body temperature of lambs were not significant (p > 0,05), whereas birth weight was found statistically significant among groups (p < 0,05). Blood pH, biochemical and hematologic measurements of lambs had also significant differences depending on different time points. Parturition pathology by means of incomplete cervical dilatation was severely observed in DEX Group. The results of this study show that aglepristone application in pregnancy toxemia to induce parturition could precisely control lambing time without any side effects in either mothers or lambs. Apart from these, it could be speculated that dexamethasone seems to induce parturition causing crucial pathologies, which results in important and risky changes in newborns' life. Incomplete cervical dilatation and continued ineffective uterine contractions could be a major factor of newborn losses because of placental separation and cessation of blood supply.

Somatic SNPs of the BRCA2 gene at the fragments encoding RAD51 binding sites of canine mammary tumors.

Mammary tumors are the most common tumor type both in women and in female dogs. In women, heritable breast cancers have been linked mutations in the breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA2 and it contains eight BRC repeats in exon 11 that bind to RAD51. In this study, we investigated the sequence variations of BRC1-BRC8 and C-terminus of canine BRCA2 gene. From a total of 64 canine patients with mammary tumors, 31 mammary tumors with benign and malign carcinomas and the 3 normal mammary glands were used for the study. In this study, 19 SNPs of exon 11 of BRCA2 in canine mammary tumors were detected for the first time. The c.2383A>C (T1425P) SNP was found to be the most probable disease-associated nsSNP. Our findings suggest that T1425P variation in BRC3 to be the most probable disease-associated nsSNP and may affect RAD51 binding strength.

Vincristine modulates the expression of Ki67 and apoptosis in naturally occurring canine transmissible venereal tumor (TVT).

We investigated eight adult dogs that were brought to veterinary clinics with a history of transmissible venereal tumors (TVT). Our goal was to demonstrate the occurrence of apoptosis and the cessation of cell proliferation at every phase of scheduled chemotherapy for naturally occurring TVT. Tissue samples were collected immediately after weekly treatments with vincristine sulfate and processed for histological purposes. Sections 5 µm thick were stained by the TUNEL reaction for apoptosis and immunostained for Ki67 as a proliferation marker. We observed that after vincristine applications, tumor cell proliferation ceased and apoptosis increased. Ki67 HSCORE values were significantly lowered after the first and second treatments with the chemotherapeutic agent compared to controls, whereas TUNEL HSCORE values were significantly higher after two applications of vincristine compared to controls. Our results suggest that scheduled vincristine sulfate applications stabilize the induction of tumor regression by inducing apoptosis and preventing cell proliferation.

Expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-14 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-2 during bovine placentation and at term with or without placental retention.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and counteracting tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are balancing extracellular matrix (ECM) formation and degradation. The latter is believed to be an important aspect for the detachment of fetal membranes postpartum when loosening the feto-maternal connection which is a prerequisite to avoid placental retention a common disease in cows leading to considerable economic loss. Membrane-type (MT) MMPs have been suggested as potential activators controlling ECM remodelling. In particular, MT1-MMP (MMP-14) is able to degrade ECM substrates and activate MMP-2 through binding TIMP-2 at the cell surface. Since the connection between the trophoblast and the maternal caruncular epithelium is supported by integrin receptors bound to ECM, we hypothesize that impaired modulation of the ECM by TIMPs/MMPs participates in the aetiology of bovine retained fetal membranes. To analyse this involvement, placentomes were collected from cows after term parturition and timely release of fetal membranes (n = 4) and cows with retained fetal membranes after various treatments for the induction of parturition using progesterone antagonist (aglepristone), PGF(2α) analogue, glucocorticoid, and after elective caesarean sections (each group n = 3). The expression of MMP-14, MMP-2 and of TIMP-2 was examined by real-time-PCR, immunohistochemistry, Western blot and zymography. The relative mRNA expression levels of MMP-14 remained unchanged, while the expression levels of TIMP-2 and MMP-2 partly increased in animals with induced parturition and retention of fetal membranes compared to animals without placental retention. MMP-14 protein was expressed in cells of the uninucleated trophoblast, the fetal mesenchyme and maternal stroma. TIMP-2 was present exclusively in trophoblast giant cells, while MMP-2 could be detected in uninucleated trophoblast cells and the fetal mesenchyme. The presence of the activated enzyme was confirmed by zymography. In conclusion, MMP-14, MMP-2 and TIMP-2 are co-localized in the fetal compartment and therefore could influence the timely release of fetal membranes in cattle.

A case of schistosoma reflexum in a cat with chromosomal aberrations.

A 2-year-old, female Persian cat was presented with a history of distocia. In her first pregnancy, she had whelped four kittens and had eaten all of them right after parturition. She had mated again with the same tomcat. Well-developed foetuses with weak foetal heart beats were observed in the ultrasonographic examination. En block ovariohysterectomy was performed. Three live and mature foetuses were obtained from the uterus; two of them were female foetuses and had no anatomical problem but the third one exhibiting multiple malformations was a male and diagnosed as 'schistosoma reflexum' (SR). The vertebral column deviated markedly to the right (scoliosis) at thoracolumbar region, and the middle lumbar and the sacral vertebrae were directed dorsocranially (lordosis). The entire small intestine, a part of large intestine, stomach, spleen and the right kidney were displayed out of the body, and it seemed that the listed internal organs were protruded from an abdominal cleft associated with the allantoic membrane. Liver, lungs and heart were hypoplastic. The large intestine was seen to have blind end (atresia recti), but anus was normal. Cerebrum and cerebellum were noticed as normal in sizes. Chromosome preparations from lymphocyte cultures of the foetus showed chromosomal aberrations including chromatid and chromosome breaks, exchange figures, non-homologous pairing, whereas no abnormalities were detected in the chromosome preparations from mother's cultures. This is probably the first case of SR in a cat, which was examined in detail from clinical, pathological, radiological and chromosomal angles.

Effects of the progesterone receptor antagonist aglepristone on implantation administered on days 6 and 7 after mating in rabbits.

There is no safe and accurate method for early termination of pregnancy in the rabbit. So this study was carried out to determine the effect of aglepristone administration in preventing early pregnancy before implantation in this species. Twenty-two animals (10-12 months old, New Zealand White rabbits) were naturally mated and pregnancies were confirmed in all animals by ultrasonographic examinations on day 6 after mating (5-7.5 MHz linear array transducer Dynamic Imaging Sonostar, UK) and the animals were grouped randomly: Group I & Group III: Aglepristone (Alizin, Virbac; 10 mg/kg, subcutaneously) was injected twice, 24 h apart, on days 6 and 7 after mating (n = 5; n = 8). Group II & Group IV: The same volume of 0.9% NaCl solution was subcutaneously injected in the same interval and served as controls (n = 5; n = 3). Ultrasonographical examination of the uterus was performed daily from day 7 to day 11 post-mating to test aglepristone efficiency. Blood samples were collected between days 6 and 30, centrifuged at 3070 g for 10 min and stored at -20 degrees C. The does in aglepristone groups (Group I, III) were not pregnant whereas all animals in control groups were pregnant (Group II, IV). The does in group I & III were examined only clinically and ultrasonographically; however, does in groups III and IV were laparomized on days 6, 7, 9 and 11 post-mating to control countable implantation sites. No implantation sites were present in group III whereas they were seen obviously in group IV. Side effects were not observed. The mean serum progesterone (P4) concentrations were not significantly different between control and treated does (p > 0.05). The results indicate that aglepristone treatment on days 6 and 7 after mating could prevent pregnancy after unwanted matings without any side effects in the rabbit. Aglepristone treatments are possibly not affecting further fertilities before implantation.

Recrudescence of spermatogenesis in the dog following downregulation using a slow release GnRH agonist implant.

The present study examined the degree to which downregulation with a GnRH agonist impaired spermatogenesis and the time course of morphological and hormonal changes that occurred during recrudescence of spermatogenesis. Using a control group (group 1, n = 5) of dogs, the effect of a removable slow release GnRH-agonist implant was investigated in beagle dogs (group 2, n = 30). The implant was removed after 5 months (week 0) and three to four dogs were castrated at weeks 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24. The degree of downregulation and recrudescence of spermatogenesis was assessed by evaluation of 200 tubular cross-sections, resulting in an assigning of dogs of group 2 to testis developmental groups (DG) according to the most developed germ cell observed: DG A, spermatocytes; DG B, round spermatids; DG C, elongating spermatids and DG D, elongated spermatids. Downregulation led to an arrest of spermatogenesis at the level of spermatogonia/primary spermatocytes. The time course of recrudescence showed high individual variations and the number of dogs falling into DG A, B, C and D was 4, 3, 6 and 17 respectively. Spermatogenesis in group 2, DG D was not different from group 1 (control). In DG A, mean area of Leydig-cell nuclei was lower (p < 0.001) than in the other DG and group 1 and resembled that of juvenile dogs (group 3, n = 3); nuclei of Sertoli cells had changed from more flat/polygonal (group 1, group 2, DG C and D) to round/ovoid and had moved to a more luminal position. As indicated by basal testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations at implant removal, full downregulation had been obtained. Testosterone, LH and FSH concentrations [X(g) (DF), ng/ml] increased (p < 0.05) from implant removal to DG B [T: 0.1 (1.24) vs 2.12 (2.31); LH: 0.2 (2.15) vs 1.11 (1.7); FSH: 0.37 (3.50) vs 6.37 (1.68)] and were more or less constant thereafter indicating that onset of spermatogenesis was related to an increase of plasma T occurring in a very narrow time window. Following GnRH implantation, the size of the testes and the prostate decreased by approximately 55% (p < 0.001), they increased to sizes similar to pre-treatment values following implant removal.

Placental steroids in cattle: hormones, placental growth factors or by-products of trophoblast giant cell differentiation?

The bovine placenta produces large amounts of steroids, mainly estrone (E1) and progesterone (P4). Specific features of bovine placental steroidogenesis are 1) the expression of all enzymes needed for the production of estrogens from cholesterol in the trophoblast 2) an only marginal and temporal contribution to peripheral maternal P4 levels restricted to a period between approx. days 150 - 240 of gestation 3) the predominance of sulfoconjugated over free E1 and 4) a complementary setting of steroidogenic enzymes in the two morphologically discriminable trophoblast cell types, the uninucleated trophoblast cells (UTC) and the trophoblast giant cells (TGC). In cattle so far no definite information is available on the specific biological roles of placental estrogens and P4. However, the detection of estrogen receptors and progesterone receptors in the placentomes suggests a role primarily as local regulators of caruncular growth, differentiation and functions. Inconsistent with a function as a caruncular growth factor is the strong evidence that in cattle placental estrogens enter the maternal compartment almost completely as estrone sulfate (E1S), which is not active at classical nuclear receptors. On the other hand, E1S may be converted locally to free active estrogens via the action of steroid sulfatase (StS), which has been detected in specific parts of the bovine caruncular epithelium. Alternatively or in addition, StS expression in the caruncular epithelium may serve the utilization of sulfated neutral steroid precursors (e.g. pregnenolone sulfate or cholesterol sulfate) supplied with maternal blood, thus providing free substrates for further metabolization in the adjacent trophoblast. The down-regulation of P450scc and P450c17 and the up-regulation of 3beta-HSD and aromatase during the differentiation of TGC from UTC in parallel with the up-regulation of ER beta and estrogen sulfotransferase in maturing TGC suggests a function of placental estrogens primarily as autoor intracrine regulators during this process and assigns to conjugated placental estrogens a role as inactivated by-products of TGC differentiation intended for excretion. Collectively, despite some evidence from recent studies for putative roles of placental steroids in cattle their exact functions in the bovine species remain still undefined.

Mid-gestation pregnancy termination in rabbits by the progesterone antagonist aglepristone.

UNLABELLED: The efficacy of aglepristone treatment to induce abortion in does 15 and 16 days after mating was investigated. The pregnant does were randomly allocated into two groups: For group I, aglepristone was injected twice (10mg/kg, subcutaneously) on days 15 and 16 after mating (n=10); for group II the does got no treatment but the same volume of 0.9% sodium chloride solution was subcutaneously injected at the same days of pregnancy (n=5). RESULTS: group I, termination of pregnancy was successful in all does. The mean interval between the first administration of aglepristone and the beginning of vaginal discharge was 32.4+/-5.6h (range 19-72h). Complete expulsion of all fetuses was observed in four does with first occurrences of vaginal discharge on the same day. The duration between the first occurrence of vaginal discharge to expulsion of all fetuses ranged between 21 and 130h (mean 70.2+/-12.2h). As important side effects, decrease in food consumption during abortion time and irregular mating behaviour (52.3+/-2.0 days/range 46-63) were recorded. But after this time all does were mated again, 8/10 became pregnant and they whelped normal and live kittens. Group II, all does gave birth to live kittens after a mean pregnancy length of 31.2+/-0.37 days (range 30-32 days). The mean serum progesterone (P(4)) concentrations were significantly different between control and treated does after day 20 of pregnancy (P<0.05). The results indicate that aglepristone treatment is effective to induce abortion in does and causes no serious negative effects on further fertility except a short non-receptive period after abortion and short time decrease in food consumption.

Acupressure for postoperative nausea and vomiting in gynaecological patients receiving patient-controlled analgesia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of acupressure in preventing nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing gynaecological operations and receiving a patient-controlled analgesia device. METHODS: Patients aged between 40 and 65 yr were included. Exclusion criteria were obesity, diabetes mellitus, and history of motion sickness, postoperative nausea and vomiting, or smoking. Patients were randomized into one of two groups, acupressure and control. In the acupressure group, acupressure bands were placed on both wrists with the plastic bead positioned at the P6 point. In controls, beads were placed at a non-acupoint site. All patients received a standard general anaesthetic. Postoperatively, patients were connected to a patient-controlled analgesia device with morphine (loading dose 5 mg, background infusion 1 mg h-1, bolus dose 1 mg and lock-out time 10 min). Pain and sedation scores, respiratory rate, heart rate, arterial pressure and oxygen saturation were recorded for 24 h. Metoclopramide 10 mg was administered intravenously as a rescue antiemetic. RESULTS: Fifty patients received acupressure and 50 were controls. In the acupressure group, 33% of patients had nausea compared with 63% controls. The cumulative incidence of vomiting at 24 h was 25% with acupressure and 61% in controls. The incidence of nausea, vomiting and antiemetic use was significantly lower with acupressure. CONCLUSIONS: Acupressure at the P6 meridian point is an effective alternative for the prevention of nausea and vomiting in patients receiving patient-controlled analgesia with morphine after gynaecological surgery.

Reciprocal expression of 17alpha-hydroxylase-C17,20-lyase and aromatase cytochrome P450 during bovine trophoblast differentiation: a two-cell system drives placental oestrogen synthesis.

No definitive information is yet available on the steroidogenic capacity of the two morphologically distinct cell types forming the bovine trophoblast, the uninucleated trophoblast cells (UTCs) and the trophoblast giant cells (TGCs). Hence, in order to localise 17alpha-hydroxylase-C17,20-lyase (P450c17) on a cellular level and to monitor its expression as a function of gestational age, placentomes from pregnant (days 80-284; n = 19), prepartal (days 273-282; 24-36 h prior to the onset of labour; n = 3) and parturient cows (n = 5) were immunostained for P450c17 using an antiserum against the recombinant bovine enzyme. At all stages investigated, P450c17 was exclusively found in the UTCs of chorionic villi (CV), where staining was ubiquitous between days 80 and 160, but was largely restricted to primary CV and the branching sites of secondary CV between days 160 and 240. Thereafter, a distinct ubiquitous staining reoccurred in the UTCs of all CV in late pregnant, prepartal and parturient animals. Using an antiserum against human aromatase cytochrome P450 (P450arom), specific cytoplasmic staining was observed in TGCs. In placentomes from pregnant cows, staining intensity was higher in mature compared with immature TGCs and was more pronounced in the trophoblast covering big stem villi compared with the trophoblast at other sites of the villous tree. In placentomes of a parturient cow, specific staining was only found in mature TGCs that survived the normal, but substantial, prepartal decline in TGC numbers. These results clearly showed that bovine UTCs and TGCs exhibit different steroidogenic capacities, constituting a 'two-cell' organisation for oestrogen synthesis. P450c17 expression appears to be quickly down-regulated and P450arom is up-regulated when UTCs enter the TGC differentiation pathway.

Preoperative emotional states in patients with breast cancer and postoperative pain.

BACKGROUND: The present study examined the relationship between psychological variables, including anxiety, depression, and patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) use in patients who underwent radical mastectomy. METHODS: Ninety-nine ASA I-II women with breast cancer between 18 and 60 years scheduled for modified radical mastectomy completed the state scale of the state-trait anxiety inventory and the Beck depression inventory before the day of surgery. Standard general anesthesia, surgery, and IV-PCA therapy was conducted. Postoperative ratings of pain intensity, opioid consumption and satisfaction with PCA were recorded for the first 24 h on the ward. The degree of pain intensity was evaluated by a visual analog scale (VAS, 1-10). Satisfaction with pain control was reported using an five-point scale from 1 (very dissatisfied) to 5 (very satisfied). RESULTS: The pain intensity, total analgesic consumption and dose/demand ratio were significantly related to preoperative anxiety and depression (P<0.05). Degree of dissatisfaction with PCA was significantly correlated with preoperative anxiety and depression (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Patients with higher anxiety and depression levels had higher postoperative pain and analgesic requirements in this study.

Effect of high salinity on anaerobic treatment of low strength effluents.

In anaerobic treatment, it is obligatory to know the effect of potentially inhibitory compounds due to the fact that methane formation may retard severely and may proceed slower than organic acid production. One of the most important inhibitory substances in anaerobic treatment is high salinity. In many cases, the main collectors of a municipal sewer system should have been built in the coastal zone and below the ground water level due to the available topography of wastewater catchments area, which is carrying the risk of seawater infiltration. Besides, one of the most convenient methods for leachate control is to treat landfill leachates with domestic wastewaters in the central municipal wastewater treatment plants such as in Istanbul. Thus, the nitrogen load of the treatment plants increase significantly. In this study, the effects of high salinity and ammonium nitrogen levels on mesophilic anaerobic tretament processes were investigated. In the first part of the study, high salinity effect on anaerobic treatment was investigated by feeding synthetic wastewater containing high salinity between 0.15%-1.5% ratios. In the second part of the study, the simultaneous effect of high salinity and ammonia (1.5% salinity+1,000 mg NH3/l) was examined by a lab-scale Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Bed Reactor (UASBR). Results indicated no significant inhibition in both cases and effective COD removals (89%) and total biogas productions having methane content of 84% could be achieved.

Palliative analgesic effect of Re-186 HEDP in various cancer patients with bone metastases.

UNLABELLED: The clinical picture of bone metastases is manifested by pain and loss of mechanical stability. Standard treatment options for bone metastases include external beam radiotherapy and the use of analgesics. Due to a large number of lesions in many patients, the use of radionuclide therapy with beta emitters may be preferable. Re-186 hydroxyethylidene diphosphonate (Re-186 HEDP) is one of the radiopharmaceuticals suitable for palliative treatment of metastatic bone pain. The aim of this study was to investigate palliative and side effects of Re-186 HEDP in patients with different types of cancers. MATERIAL & METHOD: Thirty one (17 male, 14 female) patients with various cancers (10 prostate, 10 breast, 4 rectum, 5 lung, 2 nasopharynx) and bone metastases were included in the study. Therapy was started with a fixed dose of 1295 MBq of Re-186 HEDP. If necessary, the same dose was repeated at least 3 times after an interval of 10-12 weeks; A total of 40 standard doses were given; 6 patients received repeated doses (3 doses in 3 patients, 2 doses in 3 patients). The patients with bone marrow suppression were excluded from the study. The pain relief was assessed the Eastern Cooperative Oncologic Group (ECOG) and the Karnofsky status index. All patients were evaluated with standard evaluation forms filled in daily for a maximum of 10 weeks. RESULTS: The mean response rate was 87.5% in patients with breast and prostate cancer, 75% in patients with rectum cancer and 20% in patients with lung cancer. The overall response rate was 67.5%. The palliation period varied between 6 and 10 weeks, with a mean of 8.1+/-1.3 weeks. The maximal palliation effect was observed between the 3rd and 7th weeks. No serious side effects were seen except mild hematologic toxicity. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION: It is concluded that Re-186 HEDP is a highly effective agent in the palliation of metastatic bone pain in patients with prostate, breast and rectum cancer, but not effective in lung cancer. On the other hand, Re-186 seems to be a good alternative to Sr-89 because of its preferable physical characteristics (such as short half life and gamma energy emission), low side effect profile, early response and repeatability.

Postoperative patient-controlled epidural analgesia with opioid bupivacaine mixtures.

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy and safety of patient-controlled epidural analgesia of morphine or fentanyl in combination with bupivacaine for postoperative pain relief. METHODS: Forty ASA I-II patients scheduled for major abdominal surgery were studied. After insertion of a lumbar epidural catheter, patients were given a non-opioid general anaesthetic. After surgery patients complaining of pain, received a loading dose of 2 mg morphine (Group I) or 50 micrograms fentanyl (Group II). For continuing pain, 1 mg morphine in 4 ml bupivacaine 0.125% (0.25 mg.ml-1 morphine and 1 mg.ml-1 bupivacaine, Group I) or 20 micrograms fentanyl in 4 ml bupivacaine 0.125% (5 micrograms.ml-1 fentanyl and 1 mg.ml-1 bupivacaine Group II) were administered. Blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and SpO2 were monitored. Assessments of pain (VAS), nausea-vomiting, motor block, pruritus and sedation were recorded for 24 hr. RESULTS: No difference in pain or sedation was observed between groups. The 24 hr postoperative opioid consumption was 15.50 +/- 7.53 mg morphine and 555.10 +/- 183.85 micrograms fentanyl. Total bupivacaine 0.125% consumption was 58.00 +/- 30.14 ml in Group I and 101.05 +/- 36.77 ml in Group II. One patient in Group II complained of motor weakness in one leg. The incidence of nausea (Group I 45%, Group II 10% P < 0.05) and pruritus (Group I 30%, Group II 5% P < 0.05) was less in patients receiving fentanyl. CONCLUSION: Both methods were effective in the prevention of pain but, because of fewer side effects, fentanyl may be preferable to morphine.