Comparison of Systemic Effects of Midazolam, Ketamine, and Isoflurane Anaesthesia in Rabbits.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical doses of anaesthetic agents were administered to rabbits and effects on the brain, heart, and liver were investigated biochemically and histopathologically. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The rabbits were randomly divided into three main groups (16 rabbits each) and each group into study (n = 8) and control (n = 8) groups. All study group rabbits received 3 mg/kg of midazolam (M) intramuscularly. Group 1.1 (M) received nothing further, group 2.1 (MK) also received 25 mg/kg of ketamine, and group 3.1 (MKI) besides ketamine was also given 2% isoflurane to induce anaesthesia for 30 min. NaCl solution in the same volume as midazolam and ketamine was injected into the controls. RESULTS: In clinical evaluation significant differences were detected in respiratory and heart rates. In blood gas analysis the PO2 and PCO2 values showed statistical differences in anaesthesia intervals. Significant biochemical value changes were recorded in creatine kinase-Mb, glucose, and total protein. Histopathological liver examinations revealed higher total apoptotic and normal cell numbers in the MK than in the M and MKI groups. Apoptotic cell numbers were statistically significant in M and MK groups. CONCLUSION: Anaesthetic agents may increase programmed apoptosis. The MKI anaesthetics combination was found to cause less cell destruction in general than the other study groups. It was indicated that MKI was the safer anaesthetic combination in rabbits.

Resveratrol ameliorates cisplatin-induced oxidative injury in New Zealand rabbits.

This study investigated the preventive role of resveratrol in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. The study used groups of New Zealand rabbits that were treated as follows: group C (cisplatin treated), group R (resveratrol treated), group R+C (resveratrol + cisplatin treatment), and group E (control group). Kidney levels of glutathione were significantly lower in group C than in groups E and R, whereas glutathione levels in group R+C were found to be similar to the control values. Malondialdehyde levels in group C were significantly higher than in groups E and R. However, malondialdehyde levels in group R+C were similar to group E. Kidney levels of nitric oxide were significantly higher in the cisplatin group than in the control, whereas nitric oxide levels were at basal values in group R+C. Cisplatin treatment significantly reduced kidney levels of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activity compared with those of group E, whereas resveratrol treatment significantly increased levels of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activity in group R+C. However, cisplatin injection did not affect mRNA levels of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, or catalase enzymes. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses indicated that cisplatin caused kidney damage, which was mostly prevented by resveratrol treatment. In conclusion, resveratrol ameliorates cisplatin-induced oxidative injury in the kidney of rabbit.

Effects of intra-articular administration of autologous bone marrow aspirate on healing of full-thickness meniscal tear: an experimental study on sheep.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell and bone marrow elements on the healing of meniscal tears. METHODS: This study was performed on twelve, 2-year-old male Tahirova sheep. In each subject, one knee was used for experiment purposes and the other knee was used as a control. After creating a longitudinal full-thickness tear in the red-white zone of the medial meniscus, aspirated autologous bone marrow material was injected into the tear site in the experiment group. The control group received no intervention for secondary healing. RESULTS: In the macroscopic evaluation of meniscus, a bridging reparation tissue and adhesion were observed between the rims of the tear in the experiment group. There was no statistical difference in collagen fibril formation between the groups (p=0.16). There was significantly more neovascularization in the experiment group than the control group (p=0.003). The cell count was also a significantly higher in the experiment group (p=0.004) and formation of cartilage plaques was more frequent in the experiment group (p=0.016). There was no evidence suggesting intrinsic repair in the meniscus of control group by light and electron microscopy. CONCLUSION: An injection of bone marrow into the meniscus tear site improves healing in a meniscal tear model as demonstrated by both light and electron microscopic findings.

Comparison of ventral coccygeal arterial and jugular venous blood samples for pH, pCO2, HCO3, Be(ecf) and ctCO2 values in calves with pulmonary diseases.

The aim of this study was to determine whether venous blood samples can be used as an alternative to arterial samples in calves with respiratory problems and healthy calves. Jugular vein and ventral coccygeal artery were used to compare blood gas values. Sampling of the jugular vein followed soon after sampling of the ventral coccygeal artery in healthy calves (group I) and calves with respiratory problems (group II). Mean values of arterial blood for pH, pCO2, HCO3act in healthy calves were 7.475 +/- 0.004, 4.84 +/- 0.2 kPa, 28.45 +/- 1.30 mmol/L compared with venous samples, 7.442 +/- 0.006, 6 +/- 0.3 kPa, 30.93 +/- 1.36 mmol/L, respectively. In group II, these parameters were 7.414 +/- 0.01, 5.93 +/- 0.3, 27.73 +/- 1.96 mmol/L for arterial blood and 7.398 +/- 0.008, 6.85 +/- 0.2 kPa, 29.77 +/- 1.91 mmol/L for venous blood, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between arterial and venous pH, HCO3act, Be(ecf), ctCO2 values with the exception of pCO2 (P = 0.001) in group II. In group I, correlation (r2) between arterial and venous blood pH, pCO2, HCO3act were 84.5%, 87.5%, 95.7%, respectively compared with the same parameters in group II, 80.8%, 77.1%, 70.3%. In conclusion, venous blood gas values can predict arterial blood gas values of pH, pCO2 and HCO3ecf, Be(ecf) and ctCO2- for healthy calves but only pH values in calves with acute respiratory problems (r2 value>80%).

Effects of xylazine, medetomidine, detomidine, and diazepam on sedation, heart and respiratory rates, and cloacal temperature in rock partridges (Alectoris graeca).

In this study, heart and respiratory rates, cloacal temperature, and quality of sedation were evaluated before (0 min) and after (10, 20, and 30 min) i.m. administration of xylazine (10 mg/kg; n = 7), medetomidine (75 li; n = 6), detcmidine (0.3 mg/kg; n = 6), or diazepam (6 mg/kg; n = 7) in rock partridges (Alectoris graeca). All partridges recovered from sedation without any disturbance. Xylazine and diazepam administration did not induce significant changes in heart rate, which did decrease significantly after medetomidine and detomidine administration (P < 0.001). Mean respiratory rate was decreased dramatically at 20 and 30 min after xylazine (P < 0.001) and medetomidine (P < 0.005) administration, and at all stages of sedation after detomidine injection (P < 0.001), whereas there was not any significant change after diazepam injection. In all groups, cloacal temperature measured at 10, 20, and 30 min tended to decrease compared with baseline values. Sedative effects of the drugs started within 2.1+/-0.2 min for detomidine, 2.6 +/- 0.4 min for diazepam, 3.1 -+/-.4 min for xylazine, and 4.8+/-0.8 min for medetomidine application. There was an extreme variability in time to recovery for each drug: 205 +/-22.2 min for xylazine, 95 -12.2 min for medetomidine, 260+/-17.6 min for detomidine, and 149 + 8.3 min for diazepam. In conclusion, xylazine, medetomidine, detomidine, and diazepam produced sedation, which could permit some clinical procedures such as handling and radiographic examination of partridges to occur. Of the four drugs, xylazine produced stronger and more efficient sedation compared to the others, which could permit only minor procedures to be performed. However, depending on the drug used, monitoring of heart and respiratory rates and cloacal temperature might be required.

Repair of urethral defects using fascia lata autografts in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of urethroplasty using a free fascia lata (FL) graft in the dog. STUDY DESIGN: In vivo experimental study. ANIMALS: Mixed-breed dogs (n=14). METHODS: Half of the circumference of the urethra, approximately 1.5 cm long, was excised in 14 male dogs to induce a urethral defect. FL (approximately 2 cm x 2 cm) harvested from the lateral thigh was sutured to the urethra using a 3-0 polyglactin 910 continuous pattern. Dogs were monitored daily for bladder distention and had urethral catheters until normal voiding was observed. On day 60, each dog had a positive contrast urethrogram, and then 8 dogs were euthanatized for gross and histologic examination. Six dogs were monitored for urologic problems for 6 months, and a positive contrast urethrogram was repeated. RESULTS: All dogs recovered successfully; 4 dogs had difficulty voiding for 2-3 days and urine was aspirated from these dogs every 3 hours until signs of painful urination disappeared. On positive contrast urethrograms, urethral anatomy was considered normal except in 4 dogs that had an irregular contour. Gross urethral examination confirmed an absence of ulceration, stricture, diverticula, or fistula formation, and the FL-lined graft survived in all dogs. No degenerative and reparative responses were observed. On histologic examination of the penile urethra, the lumen was intact, covered with transitional epithelium, and surrounded by corpus spongiosum with cavernous spaces and blood-filled vessels. CONCLUSIONS: Free FL grafts are incorporated satisfactorily and would appear to be useful for repairing urethral defects. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: FL grafts should be considered for repair of urethral defects in dogs.

Clinical assessment of epidural analgesia induced by xylazine-lidocaine combination accompanied by xylazine sedation in calves.

: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether epidural administration of a xylazine-lidocaine combination accompanied by xylazine sedation would provide satisfactory analgesia for some surgical procedures on 10 calves admitted to the Department of Veterinary Surgery, University of Kafkas with perineal urolithiasis (n:2), rectovaginal fistula (n:1), atresia ani (n:2), omphalophlebitis (n:2), omphaloarteritis (n:1) and umbilical hernia (n:2).Following intramuscular injection of xylazine at a dose of 0.05 mg/kg for sedation, xylazine-lidocaine combination (0.2 mg/kg lidocaine + 0.02 mg/kg xylazine + 5 ml 0.9% NaCl) was administrated into the lumbosacral (L6-S1), sacrococcygeal (S5-Co1) or intercoccygeal (Co1-Co2) space. Heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature were recorded prior to and during analgesia at 5, 10, 15, 30 and 60 minutes. Furthermore, depth and duration of analgesia were evaluated during surgical intervention.The study revealed that the combination of epidural xylazine-lidocaine with xylazine sedation was highly satisfactory for surgery of the lower urinary tract and the perineal region, but it was less so for surgery of the umbilical area.

Effect of time delay and storage temperature on blood gas and acid-base values of bovine venous blood.

The aim of this study was to investigate possible changes in the gas composition and acid-base values of bovine venous blood samples stored at different temperatures (+4, 22 and 37 degrees C) for up to 48 h. Five healthy cattle were used in the study. A total of 15 blood samples collected from the animals were allocated into three groups, which were, respectively, then stored in a refrigerator adjusted to +4 degrees C (Group I, n=5), at a room temperature of about 22 degrees C (Group II, n=5) and in an incubator adjusted to 37 degrees C (Group III; n=5) for up to 48 h. Blood gas and acid-base values were analysed at 0 (baseline), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h of storage. A significant decrease (p<0.001) was found, in the pH of the refrigerated blood after 5 h and its maximum decrease was recorded at 48 h as 0.04 unit. There were also significant alterations (p<0.001) in the blood pH of the samples stored at room temperature and in the incubator after 2 and 3 h, respectively. The maximum mean alteration in pCO(2) value for Group I was -0.72 kPa during the assessment, while for groups II and III, maximum alterations in pCO(2) were detected as +2.68 and +4.16 kPa, respectively. Mean pO(2) values increased significantly (p<0.001) for Group I after 24 h and for Group II after 6 h, while a significant decrease was recorded for Group III after 24 h (p<0.001). Base excess (BE) and bicarbonate (HCO(3)) fractions decreased significantly for all the groups during the study, compared to their baseline values. In conclusion, acid-base values of the samples stored at 22 and +4 degrees C were found to be within normal range and could be used for clinical purposes for up to 12 and 48 h, respectively, although there were small statistically significant alterations.

Urine volume estimations in dogs recovering from intervertebral disc prolapse surgery.

Ultrasonographic estimations of residual bladder urine volume (expressed as a percentage of the estimated bladder volume before micturition--the "percentage residual urine") and calculations of the amount of urine voided were performed in 15 dogs before and up to 25 days after surgery for thoracolumbar disc prolapse. The percentage residual urine was influenced by the grade of disc prolapse (F = 9.223; p < 0.01). Over the first four days after surgery, there was a significant change in percentage residual urine (F = 3.995; p < 0.05) and an increase in the calculated amount of urine voided (F = 12.305; p < 0.01). It is suggested that ultrasonographic estimation of percentage residual urine may be valuable in monitoring the progress of dogs undergoing treatment for thoracolumbar disc disease.